Shortchanged

"Led by mistaken reason they think, 'Life is short and sad and there is no cure for death. It was never heard that anyone came back from the netherworld.

"Let us set a trap for the righteous, for he annoys us and opposes our way of life; he reproaches us for our breaches of the Law and accuses us of being false to our upbringing.

"He claims knowledge of God and calls himself son of the Lord. He has become a reproach to our way of thinking; even to meet him is burdensome to us. He does not live like others and behaves strangely.

"According to him we have low standards, so he keeps aloof from us as if we were unclean. He emphasizes the happy end of the righteous and boasts of having God as father.

"Let us see the truth of what he says and find out what his end will be. If the righteous is a son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from his adversaries.

"Let us humble and torture him to prove his self-control and test his patience. When we have condemned him to a shameful death, we may test his words.'

"This is the way they reason, but they are mistaken, blinded by their malice. They do not know the mysteries of God nor do they hope for the reward of a holy life; they do not believe that the blameless will be recompensed."

WISDOM 2:1, 12-22

"Grant us Wisdom, Lord. Grant us Love."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

"Cliqued"

Canon S45, f4.9, 1/8 sec

"If I bore witness to myself, my testimony would be worthless. But Another One isb earing witness to me and I know that his testimony is true when he bears witness to me. John also bore witness to the truth when you sent messengers to him, but I do not seek such human testimony; I recall this for you, so that you may be saved.

"John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were willing to enjoy his light. But I have greater evidence than that of John--the works which the Father entrusted to me to carry out. The very works I do bear witness: the Father has sent me. Thus he who bears witness to me is the Father who sent me. You have never heard his voice and have never seen his likeness; then, as long as you do not believe his messenger, his word is not in you.

"You search in the Scriptures thinking that in them you will find life; yet Scripture
bears witness to me. But you refuse to come to me, that you may live. I am not seeking human praise; but I have known that love of God is not within you, for I have come in my Father's name and you do not accept me. If another comes in his own name, you will accept him. As long as you seek praise from one another instead of seeking the glory coming from the only God, how can you believe?

"Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father. Moses himself in whom you placed your hope, accuses you. If you belived Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how wil you believe what I say?"

JOHN 5:31-47

"Thank you, Lord, that in Your protection,
You are merciful."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Revolutionary

Pentax Optio S50

"Jesus replied, 'My Father goes on working and so do I.' And the Jews tried all the harder to kill him, for Jesus not only broke the sabbath observance, but also made himself equal with God, calling him his own Father.

"Jesus said to them, 'Truly, I assure you, the Son cannot do anything by himself, but only what he sees the Father do. And whatever he does, the Son also does. The fater loves the Son and shows him everything he does; and he will show him even greater things than these, so that you will be amazed.

"As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to whom he wills. In the same way the Father judges no one, for he has entrusted all judgment to the Son, and he wants allt o honr the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever ignores the Son, ignores as well the Father who sent him.

"Truly, I say to you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; and there is no judgment for him because he has passed from death to life.

"Truly, the hour is coming and has indeed come, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and, on hearing it, will live. For the Father has life in himself and he has given to the Son also to have life in himself. And he has empowered him as well to carry out Judgment, for he is a son of man.

"Do not be surpirsed at this: the hour is coming when all those lying in tombs will hear my voice and come out; those who have done good shall rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

"I can do nothing of myself, and I need to hear Another One to judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will, but the will of him who sent me."

JOHN 5:17-30

"Teach me in what way I can make You, Jesus,
alive in our midst today."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Water

Canon S45, f8, 1/40 sec

"The man brought me back to the entrace of the Temple and I saw water coming out from the threshold of the Temple and flowing eastwards. The Temple faced the east and the water flowed from the south side of the Temple, from the south side of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing the est and there I saw the stream coming from the south side.

"The man had a measuring cord in his hand. As he went towards the east he measured off a thousand cubits and led me across the water which was up to my ankles. He measured off another thousand cubits and made me cross the water which came to my knees. He measured off anotehr thousand cubits and we crossed the water which was up to my waist. When he had again measured a thousand cubits, I could not cross the torrent for it ha swollen to a depth which was impossible to cross without swimming.

"The man then said to me, 'Son of man, did you see?' He led me on futher and then brought me back to the bank of the river. There I saw a number of trees on both sides of the river. He said to me, 'This water goes to the east, down to the Arabah, and when it flows into the sea of foul-smelling water, the water will become wholesome. Wherever the river flows, swarms of creatures will live in it; fish will be plentiful and the sea water will become fresh. Wherever it flows, life will abound.

"Near the river on both banks there will be all kinds of fruit trees with foliage that will not wither and fruit that will never fail; each month they will bear a fresh crop because the water comes from the Temple. The fruit will be good to eat and the leaves will be used for healing."

EZEKIEL 47:1-9, 12

"May I be sensitive to those who are thirsty.
May my life quench their thirst on Your behalf."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Act!

Canon S45

"When the two days were over, Jesus left for Galilee. Jesus himself said that no prophet is recognized in his own country. Yet the Galileans welcomed him when he arrived, because of all the things he had done in Jerusalem during the Festival and which they had seen. For they, too, had gone to the feast.

"Jesus went back to Cana of Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. At Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill, and when he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked him to come and heal his son, for he was to come and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

"Jesus said, 'Unless you see signs anbd wonders, you will not believe!' The official said, 'Sir, come down before my child dies!' And Jesus replied, 'Go, your son is living.'

"The man had faith in the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. He was already going down the hilly road when his servants met him with the news. 'Your son has recovered!' So he asked them at what hour the child had begun to recover and they said to him, 'The fever left him yesterday in the afternoon about one o'clock.' And the father realized that it was the time when Jesus told him, 'Your son is living.' And he became a believer, he and all his family.

"Jesus performed this second miraculous sign when he returned from Judea to Galilee."

JOHN 4:43-54

"Lord, this is my prayer, right now I am going to act on Your Word!"

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Yes, Lord

Canon S45

"But God, who is rich in mercy, revealed his immense love. As we were dead through our sins, he gave us life with Christ. By grace you have been saved! And he raised us to life with Christ, giving us a place with him in heaven.

"In showing us such kindness in Christ Jesus, God willed to reveal and unfold in the coming ages the extraordinary riches of his grace. By the grace of God you have been saved through faith. This has not come from you: it is God's gift. This was not the result of your works, so you are not to feel proud. What we are is God's work. He created us in Christ Jesus for the good works he has prepared that we should devote ourselves to them."

EPHESIANS 2:4-10

"Here I am Lord; I've come to do Your will."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

True Blessing

Canon EOS 350D, f2, 1/25 sec

"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

"The angel came to her and said, 'Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.' Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.

"But the angel said, 'Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great and shall rightly be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever and his reign shall have no end.'

"Then Mary said to the angel,'How can this be if I am a virgin?' And the angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of God. Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible.

"Then Mary said, 'I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said.' And the angel left her."

LUKE 1:26-38

"Thank You Father, for bringing to forth those that I need."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

The Subscriber Can Be Reached

Pentax Optio S50

"Return to your God Yahweh, O Israel!
Your sins have caused your downfall.
Return to Yahweh with humble words. Say to him,
'Oh you who show compassion to the fatherless
forgive our debt, be appeased.
Instead of bulls and sacrifices,
accept the praise from our lips.

"Assyria will not save us:
no longer shall we look for horses
nor ever again shall we say 'Our gods'
to the work of our hands.

"I will heal their wavering
and love them with all my heart
for my anger has turned from them.
I shall be like dew to Israel
like the lily will he blossom.
Like a cedar he will send down his roots;
his young shoots will grow and spread.

"His splendor will be like an olive tree,
his fragrance, like a Lebanon cedar.
They will dwell in myh shade again,
they will flourish like the grain,
they will blossom like a vine,
and their fame will be like Lebanon wine.

"What would Ephraim do with idols,
when it is I who hear and make him prosper?
I am like an ever-green cypress tree;
all your fruitfulness comes from me.

"Who is wise enough to graph all this?
Who is discerning and will understand?
Straight are the ways of Yahweh:
the just walk in them, but the sinners stumble."

HOSEA 14:2-10


"Change my heart, O God.
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God.
May I be like You."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

His Ways

Pentax Optio S50

"One thing I did command them: Listen to my voice and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in the way I command you and all will be well with you. But they did not listen and paid no attention; they followed the bad habits of their stubborn heart and turned away from me.

"From the time I brought their forefathers out of Egypt until this day I have continually sent them my servants, the prophets, but this stiff-necked people did not listen. They paid no attention and were worse than their forefathers.

"You may say all these things to them but they will not listen; you will call them but they will not answer. This is a nation that did not obey Yahweh and refused to be disciplined; truth has perished and is no longer heard from their lips."

JEREMIAH 7:23-28

"May Your will be done, O Lord.

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Just Obey

"Do not think that I have come to remove the Law and the Prophets. I have not come to remove but to fulfill them. I tell you this: as long as heaven and earth last, not the smallest letter or stroke of the Law will change until all is fulfilled.

"So then, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be the least in the kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys them and teaches others to do the same will be great in the kingdom of heaven."

MATTHEW 5:17-19

"Lord, teach me to go boldly when You call.
May obedience be my sweet offering. Amen."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

His Mercy And Love

Canon S45, f4.9, 1/101 sec

"Then Peter asked him, 'Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?' Jesus answered, 'No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'

"This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A king decided to settle the accounts of his servants. Among the first was one who owed him ten thousand gold ingots. As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, children and all his goods in payment.

"The official threw himself at the feet of the king and said, 'Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.' The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt.

"This official then left the king's presence and he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He grabbed him by the neck and almost strangled him, shouting, 'Pay me what you owe!' His companion threw himself at his feet and asked him, 'Give me time, and I will pay everything.' The other did not agree, but sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt.

"His companions saw what happened. They were indignant and so they went and reported everything to their lord. Then the lord summoned his official and said, 'Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed when you begged me to do so. Weren't you bound to have pity on you?' The lord was now angry, so he handed his servant over to be punished, until he had paid his whole debt.

"Jesus added, 'So will my heavenly Father do with you unless each of you sincerely forgive your brother or sister.'"

MATTHEW 18:21-35

"Dear Lord, thank You that Your love
knows no height, breadth and depth. Amen."

---

<<PREV |HOME | NEXT>>

Afraid?

Canon S45, f3.5, 1/636 sec

"Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and from her came Jesus who is called the Christ--the Messiah.

"This is how Jesus Christ was born. Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

"Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

"While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a son. You shall call him "Jesus" for he will save his people from their sins.'

"When Joseph woke up, he did waht the angel of the Lord had told him to do and he took his wife to his home."

MATTHEW 1:16, 18-21, 24

"Fear holds me back in many areas of my life, Lord,
sometimes even from doing Your will.
Pour faith and courage into my heart
so that I can move forward in Your plan. Amen."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

No Monopoly Of Grace

"As the Passover of the Jews was at hand, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the Temple court he found merchants selling oxen, sheep and doves, and money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the Temple court, together with the oxen and sheep. He knocked over the tables of the money-changers, scattering the coins, and ordered the people selling doves, 'Take all this away and stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!'

"His disciples recalled the words of Scripture: Zeal for your House devours me as a fire.

"The Jews questioned Jesus, 'Where are the miraculous signs which give you the right to do this?' And Jesus said, 'Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews then replied, 'The building of this temple has already taken forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?'

"Actually, Jesus was referring to the temple of his body. Only when he ha risen from the dead did his disciples remember these words; then they believed both the Scripture and the words Jesus has spoken.

"Jesus stayed in Jerusalem during the Passover Festival and many believed in his Name when they saw the miraculous signs he performed. But Jesus did not trust himself to them, because he knew all of them. He had no need of evidence about anyone for he himself knew what there was in each one."

JOHN 2:13-25

"Lord, thank You for grace.
Overflowing, rampaging, reckless grace!"

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Christian Duty

Canon S45, f4.5, 1/807 sec

"Shepherd your people with your staff, shepherd the flock of your inheritance that dwells alone in the scrub, in the midst of a fertile land. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old, in the days when you went out of Egypt.

"Who is a god like you, who takes away guilt and pardons crime for the remnant of his inheritance?

"Who is like you whose anger does not last? For you delight in merciful forgiveness.

"Once again you will show us your loving kindness and trample on our wrongs, casting all our sins into the depths of the sea.

"Show faithfulness to Jacob, mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors from the says of old."

MICAH 7:14-15, 18-20

"May the work of my hand glorify You, Lord."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Buried Talent

Pentax Optio S50

"'Listen to another example: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a hole for the winepress, built a watchtower, lesed the vineyard to tenants and then went to a distant country. When harvest time came, the landowner sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the harvest. But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another and stoned another.

"Again the owner sent more servants, but thye were treated in the same way.

"Finally, he sent his son, thinking: "They will respect my son." But when the tenants saw the son, they thought: "This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard. Let us kill him and his inheritance will be ours." So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

"Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do with the tenants when he comes?' They said to him, 'He will bring those evil to an evil end, and lease the vineyard to others who will pay him in due time.'

"And Jesus replied, 'Have you never read what the Scriptures say? The stone which the builders rejected has become the keystone. This was the Lord's doing; and we marvel at it. Therefore I say to you: the kingdom of heaven will be taken from you and given to a people who will yield a harvest.'

"When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard these parables, they realized that Jesus was referring to them. They would have arrested him but they were afraid of the crowd who regarded him as a prophet."

MATTHEW 21:33-43, 45-46

"Let us discern the many blessings God has poured out
and use them for His glory."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Fully Paid

"This is what Yahweh says,

"'Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings and depends on a mortal for his life, while his heart is drawn away from Yahweh!

"He is like a bunch of thistles in dry land, in parched desert places, in a salt land where no one lives and who never finds happiness.

"Blessed is the man who puts his trust in Yahweh and whose confidence is in him! He is like a tree planted by the water, sending out its roots towards the stream.

"He has no fear when the heat comes, his leaves are always green; the year of drought is no problem and he can always bear fruit.

"Most deceitful is the heart. What is there within man, who can understand him? I, Yahweh, search the heart and penetrate the mind. I reward each one according to his ways and the fruit of his deeds.'"

JEREMIAH 17:5-10

"Lord, You are my shield.
You protect me from harm and trouble.
You provide for my every need.
Teach me to trust in You more."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Mockery Continued

"When Jesus was going to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve aside and said to them on the way, 'See, we are going to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be given over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law who will dondemn him to death. They will hand him over to the foreigners who will mock him, scourge him and crucify him. But he will be raised to life on the third day.'

"Then the mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, and she knelt down to ask a favor. Jesus said to her, 'What do you want?' And she answered, 'Here you have my two sons. Grant that they may sit, one at your right and one at your left, when you are in your kingdom.'

"Jesus said to the brothers, 'You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?' They answered, 'We can.' Jesus replied, 'You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right or at my left is not for me to grant. That will be for those for whom the Father has prepared it.'

"The other ten heard all this and were angry with the two brothers. Then Jesus called them to him and said, 'You know that the rulers of the nations act as tyrants, and the powerful oppress them. It shall not be so among you; whoever wants to be more important in your group shall make himself your servant. And if you want to be first, make yourself the servant of all. Be like the Son of Man who has come, not to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many.'"

MATTHEW 20:17-28

"Forgive me, Lord, for the ways
that I spit and jeer at You with my sins.
Point these out to me and show me
how I can keep myself from hurting You more."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Heroes In Our Midst

"Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

"'The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees sat on the seat of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say, but do not do as they do, for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even raise a finger to move them. They do everything in order to be seen by people; so they wear very wide bands of the Law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels. They enjoy the first place at feasts and reservedseats in the synagogues, and being greeted in the marketplace and being called "Master" by the people.

"But you, do not let yourselves be called Master because you have only one Master, and all of your brothers and sisters. Neither should you call anyone on earth Father, because you have only one Father, he who is in heaven. Nor should you be called leader, because Christ is the only leader for you. Let the greatest among yu be the servant of all. For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be made great.'"

MATTHEW 23:1-12

"Lord, give me the heart of courage
to give my life for Your cause."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Measure of Generosity

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

"Don't be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back."

LUKE 6:36-38

"Father, blessed are You for You provide for us
to help others who are in need."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Squad Leader

Canon EOS 350D, f1.4, 1/30 sec

"What shall we say after this? If God is with us, who shall be against us? If He did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not give us all things with Him? Who shall accuse those chosen by God: He takes away their guilt. Who will dare to condemn them? Christ who died, and better still, rose and is seated at the right hand of God, interceding for us?"

ROMANS 8:31-34

"Lead me, Lord, in everything I will think, say and do."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Perfect versus Merciful

"You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy. But this I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. For He makes His sun rise on both the wicked and the good, and He gives rain to both the just and the unjust.

"If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do not even tax collectors do as much? And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that? Do not even the pagans do as much? For your part you shall be righteous and perfect in the way your heavenly Father is righteous and perfect."

MATTHEW 5:43-48

"Heavenly Father, I want to be perfect as You are perfect.
Make me merciful and forgiving like You. Amen."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Loving Is Forgetting

Canon EOS 350D, f1.4, 1/30 sec

"I tell you, then, that if you are not righteous in a better way than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard that it was said to our people in the past: Do not commit murder; anyone who does kill will have to face trial. But now I tell you: whoever gets angry with a brother or a sister will have to face trial. Whoever insults a brother or sister deserves to be thrown into the fire of hell. So, if you are about to offer your gift at the altar and you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with him, and then come back and offer your gift to God.

"Don't forget this: be reconciled with your opponent quickly when you are together on the way to court. Otherwise he will turn you over to the judge, who eill hand you over to the police, who will put you in jail. There you will stay, until you have paid the last penny."

MATTHEW 5:20-26

"Lord, teach me how to love so I can truly forgive."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

When God Winks

"Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; and the door will be opened to him who knocks. Would any of you give a stone to your son when he asks for bread? Or give him a snake, when he asks for a fish? As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

"So do to others whatever you would that others do to you: there you have the Law and the Prophets."

MATTHEW 7:7-12

"Father, thank You for answered prayer.
For all the times You say 'Yes', 'No' and 'Wait'--Thank You!"

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Definitely Better Than Oprah

Canon EOS 350D, f1.4, 1/30 sec

"As the crowd increased, Jesus began to speak in this way, 'People of the present time are evil people. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah. As Jonah became a sign for the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be a sign for this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and here there is greater than Solomon. The people of Nineveh will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for Jonah's preaching made them turn from their sins, and here there is greater than Jonah.'"

LUKE 11:29-32

"Lord, forgive me for the times
when I put my hope in people more than I do in You."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

A Prayer

Canon EOS 350D, f1.8, 1/3 sec

"When you pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans do, fo rthey hold that the more they say, the more chance they have of being heard. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need, even before you ask him.

"This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven,
holy be Your name,
Your kingdom come
and Your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today the kind of bread we need.
Forgive us our debts
just as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.
Do not bring us to the test
but deliver us from the evil one.

"If you forgive others their wrongs, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you either."

MATTHEW 6:7-15

"Our Father in heaven,
holy be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to the test
but deliver us from evil. Amen."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Jokester

"'When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his Glory. All the nations will be brought before him, and as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

"The King will say to those on his right: "Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your hosue. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to see me."

"Then the good people will ask him: "Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food; thirsty and give you drink, or stranger and welcome you, or a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we se you sick or in prison and go to see you?" The King will answer, "Truly, I say to you: whenever you did this to these little ones who are my brothers and sisters, you did it to me."

"Then he will say to those on his left: "Go, cursed people, out of my sight into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you did not give me anything to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked and you did not clothe me; I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me."

"They, too, will ask: "Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?" The King will answer them: "Truly, I say to you: whatever you did not do for one of these little ones, you did not doe for me."

"And these will go into eternal punishment, but the just to eternal life.'"

MATTHEW 25:31-26

"Change my heart O God, make it ever true...
may I be like You!"

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Rainbow's End

Canon S45, f4.9, 1/1002 sec

"God spoke to Noah and his son, 'See I am making a covenant with you and with your descendants after you; also with every living animal with you: birds, cattle, that is, with every living creature of the earth that came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you. Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.'

"God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant I make between me and you, and every animal living with you for all future generations. I set my bow in the clouds and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears int he clouds, I will remember the covenant between me and you and every kind of living creature, so that never again will floodwaters destroy all flesh.'"

GENESIS 9:8-15

"Lord, help me discover You
in the beauty of Your creation."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Hope Springs Eternal

Canon EOS 350D, f22, 1/5 sec

"Then you will call and Yahweh will answer,
you will cry and he will say, I am here.
If you remove from your midst the yoke,
the clenched fist and the wicked word,
if you share your food with the hungry
and give relief to the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the dark,
your night will be like noon.
Yahweh will guide you always
and give you relief in desert places.
He will strengthen your bones;
he will make you as a watered garden,
like a spring of water
whose waters never fail.
Your ancient ruins will be rebuilt,
the age-old foundations will be raised.
You will be called the Breach-mender,
and the Restorer of ruined houses.

"If you stop profaning the Sabbath
and doing as you please on the holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a day of delight
and keep sacred Yahweh's holy day,
if you honor it by not going your own way,
not doing as you please
and not speaking with malice,
then you will find happiness in Yahweh,
over the heights you will ride triumphantly,
on the inheritance of your father Jacob
you will feast joyfully.

The mouth of Yahweh has spoken."

ISAIAH 58:9-14

"Father, help us to believe in ourselves
in the way you believe in us."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Fasting, Abstinence, Sacrifice

"Cry out aloud for all you are worth;
raise your voice like a trumpet blast;
tell my people of their offenses,
Jacob's family of their sins.

"Is it true that they seek me
day after day, longing to know my ways,
as a people that does what is right
and has not forsaken the word of its God?

"They want to know the just laws
and not to drift away fromt heir God.
'Why are we fasting,' they complain,
'and you do not even see it?
We are doing penance and you never notice it.'

"Look, on your fast days you push your trade
and you oppress your laborers.
Yes, you fast but end up quarreling,
striking each other with wicked blows.
Fasting as you do
will not make your voice heard on high.

"Is that the kind of fast that pleases me,
just a day for a man to humble himself?
Is fasting merely bowing down one's head,
and making use of sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call that fasting,
a day acceptable to Yahweh?

"See the fast that pleases me:
breaking the fetters of injustice
and unfastening the thongs of the yoke,
setting the oppressed free
and breaking every yoke.
Fast by sharing your food with the hungry,
bring to your house the homeless,
clothe the man you see naked
and do not turn away from your own kin.

"Then will your light break forth as the dawn
and your healing come in a flash.
Your righteousness will be your vanguard,
the Glory of Yahweh your rearguard.
Then you will call and Yahweh will answer,
you will cry and he will say, I am here.
If you remove from your midst the yoke,
the clenched fist and the wicked word."

ISAIAH 58:1-9

"Lord, teach me to naturally give myself to others
and find real joy in it."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Bed of Comfort

"And he added, 'The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the Law, and put to death. Then after three days he will be raised to life.'

"Jesus also said to all the people, 'If you wish be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me. For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it, and if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it. What does it profit you to gain the whole world while you destory or damage yourself?'"

LUKE 9:22-25

"May I constantly be aware, Lord,
of all the things in my life
that block me from following You--
and may I be ready to give them up for You!"

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>

Passport to Life

"So we present ourselves as ambassadors in the name of Christ, as if God Himself makes an appeal to you through us. Let God reconcile you; this we ask you in the name of Christ. He had no sin, but God made him bear our sin, so that in him we might share the holiness of God.

"Being God's helpers we beg you: let it not be in vain that you received this grace of God. Scripture says: At the favorable time I listened to you, on the day of salvation I helped you. This is the favorable time, this is the day of salvation."

2 CORINTHIANS 5:20-6:2

"Thank you, Lord, for the life You have given.
Only You have the right to this life."

---

<<PREV | HOME | NEXT>>