Learning to See God

 

Many of us ask how to hear God better, but maybe it’s more basic to first learn how to see.

 

The Bible gives us a comprehensive picture of God.

 

We get a wide-angle view of God and His ongoing interactions with mankind by reading the Bible cover to cover, preferably in more than one translation.

 

For an up close and personal relationship, we zoom in by becoming acquainted with Old Testament worshipers and by reading the Gospels and seeing how God clearly shows Himself in the character, wisdom, healing acts, forgiveness, and love of His Son Jesus.

 

Creation reveals the power and majesty of God.

 

The universe invites us into the unknown and helps us to see and acknowledge the ongoing mystery of God.

 

The earth displays the colorful variety and creative beauty of our Creator. As we exercise our own creativity in the light of God’s image, we see tiny details, enormous diversity, and infinite possibilities.

 

Personal, local, and world events help us to see our need for God.

 

As we become aware of a problem, large or small, we might see something specific to pray about, trusting God has a purpose for whatever He allows.

 

Godly friends and family help us to see God.

 

In both the Old Testament and the New, God calls us into community through family, friends, and fellow worshipers, each of whom has a unique way of seeing God’s hand in their lives and ours. These perspectives help us to expand our own view of our loving God.

 

Confession removes blinders so we can better see.

 

Bible Gateway provides many translations of a key-to-seeing verse in Matthew 7:5. As you look through a few of these, notice the repetitive phrase involving seeing:

 

“…first get the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye,” Amplified (AMP.)

 

“First take the log out of your eye, and then you’ll see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s or sister’s eye,” Common English Bible (CEB.)

 

“…first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye,” King James Version (KJV.)

 

“…remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye,” New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE.)

 

“…first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye,” New International Version (NIV.)

 

Confessing our mistakes allows us to see clearly again, which brings discernment and a faultless view of God.

 

With clear, discerning vision, we can see and perceive God in circumstances, other people, and ourselves.

 

Then we can recognize the light in and around us.

 

Then we’ll be apt to look for good.

 

Then we can see and be love as God sees us into His Kingdom.

 

 

©2021, Mary Sayler, poet-writer, lifelong student of the Bible

 

 

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You're Cordially Invited to the Reading of God’s Will

 

We, the people of God, often speak of God’s Will, and each of us most likely has an idea of what that means. For an accurate reading of God’s Will, however, let's see what God's Word says:

 

God’s Will is for no one to perish. God wants us to turn from ungodly ways.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance,” 2 Peter 3:9, New King James Version.

 

God’s Will is for everyone to be saved. We agree with His Will – and help to put it into motion – as we pray for everyone.

“…I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone… for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth,” 1 Timothy 2:1-4, New American Bible (Revised Edition.)

God’s Will is for us to trust Him, no matter what!

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, King James Version.

A Will does not go into effect until death occurs.

God’s Will went into effect with the death of Jesus Christ, Who overcame death to save us for Eternal Life in the Lord.

 

God’s Will is for all to live in God forever.

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day,” John 6:40, New International Version.

 

God Wills to save the world!

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him,” John 3:16-17, Holman Christian Standard Bible.

 

 

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler, poet-writer, Bible reviewer, and compiler and paraphraser of the Book of Bible Prayers, which was researched on Bible Gateway as was this post

 

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Wising up! Praying for wisdom

 [Note: Our rural church, Lake Como Community of Hope in Lake Como, Florida, is non-denominational with several retired pastors of varied church backgrounds gracing our pulpit each week. Every now and then, however, scheduling conflicts or unexpected personal concerns leave us without a pastor to lead that day’s worship service. Since Sunday August 17 was such a day, I read the recommended Bible readings from the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many Christian denominations then presented the following “Bible Talk,” based on the reoccurring theme of wisdom.]

1 Kings 3:3-14
Psalm 111
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58

With COVID again on the rise, we’re wise to wear masks in public, but Lord willing, we will all have unveiled faces soon! Meanwhile, let’s keep praying for the Lord’s healing presence in our lives. In fact, let’s pray right now:

Lord God, heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us together in prayer, worship, and fellowship with You and with each other. In many ways, Lord, these are troubled times, but we trust You to protect, heal, and guide us, our families, and our church. We praise You and thank You for being with us as we come into Your presence and Your Word in Jesus’ Name.

As you probably noticed, the big theme in the Bible readings this morning is wisdom. So, truth time: Are you wise?

Do you want to be wise?

Have you ever asked God to give you a gift of wisdom? If not, ask! If so, you have it! Believe it. Claim it. It’s yours.

Hearing Solomon’s prayer again this morning, I remember the first time I heard that Bible story in 1 Kings. Solomon was wise enough to ask for wisdom, and the request pleased God so much, He gave the king gifts of wisdom, understanding, and discernment – unsurpassed until Jesus came.

But God also promised to honor Solomon with riches and a long life. And the truth is: that’s what I wanted. I probably wasn’t as interested in having wisdom as having more money than my 50-cent allowance allowed!

Despite my questionable motivations, wisdom is ageless. I first saw wisdom in my children when they were too young for an allowance of any kind! For example, my daughter was about 5 when she came home from Sunday School, puzzled. The teacher had been talking about people in other countries who didn’t know about God and/or did not believe in Him. My daughter looked at me sadly and asked, “But wouldn’t we believe that too if we lived in another country?”

Most likely, yes. And that brings us to a message about wisdom in verse 10 of Psalm 111. i.e., Knowing God, believing in God, and, especially, being in awe of God is the beginning of wisdom.

Wisdom keeps us out of trouble! As we’re reminded by today’s Epistle reading in Ephesians 5, we’re to live – not as unwise people – but as wise. This can require head knowledge, but mostly it requires the ability to know how and when to apply knowledge in a wise and timely manner.

Ephesians 5 goes on to point out the need to be filled with the Spirit as we sing scripturally-sound songs, regularly read God’s Word, and faithfully give thanks to God the Father for everything – everything – in Jesus’ Name.

Christ lives in us and redeems us from humanity’s Fall from Grace in the Beginning of Time. Before that one act of disobedience brought spiritual death and troubles to everyone in the world, Adam and Eve had wisdom! They walked with God. They heard God speak. They had fellowship with Him – until opting for Knowledge over the Wisdom they already possessed.

Remember? They disobeyed God when they ate from the forbidden fruit of the Tree of KNOWLEDGE of Good and Evil. From that moment on, they no longer had the innocence still apparent in today’s young children, but they could not turn back. No one could – until Jesus came along!

Jesus redeems the times. Jesus renews our fellowship with God and breathes new life into us – the life of the Holy Spirit. Jesus gives us peace with God, peace with other people, and peace with ourselves.

As the Wisdom of God with us on earth and beyond, the Lord knows what we need. He alone has full KNOWLEDGE of the good and no-so-good thoughts, acts, and traits in us. He alone can rescue us from ourselves.

The Gospel reading in John reassures us that Jesus gave Himself for the life of the world to be transformed into life with God. But that’s only the beginning. To live out our time on earth more fully and faithfully – and joyfully – we need Wisdom to guide us. And all we have to do is ask!

As we read, study, and talk about the Bible, we can see that God has made promise after promise to us, individually, and to the church Body of Christ throughout the world. Our part is to believe, respond, claim those promises, and ask for whatever we lack, knowing God will provide. And why wouldn’t He? We are His ambassadors – representatives of Christ in the world. Surely, the Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, and Heavenly Father of All does not want us to speak for Him foolishly nor would He want us to act unkindly – unwisely – toward anyone else.

God has not only given us wisdom for the asking, but He’s also given us power to use that gift as we’re enabled and guided by His Holy Spirit.

What a powerful purpose we’ve been given – to help others and, indeed, to influence the whole world as we spread the Good News of forgiveness and salvation in the Resurrected Christ! Even Solomon didn’t have that. The young king had hope of a long life on earth because God Himself said he would. But to us, God promises an even longer life – one that never ends!

That’s not the kind of power I thought I might get as a child, and, as you might have expected, I haven’t received the massive wealth I had once hoped to get!  But what a wealth of wisdom widely available to all who ask – wisdom:

• In the book of Proverbs (attributed to Solomon!)
• Wisdom in the Gospels – the Good News of Jesus Christ
• Wisdom in communal worship, fellowship, and Bible study
• Wisdom in praying for ourselves and one another – in praying for our church home and Christians around the world
• Wisdom in the gift of God that comes to those who ask!

Let’s ask now:

Dear Lord God – Master, Possessor, and Provider of All Power, All Wisdom, and all the Wealth of the earth and universe, we ask You now for the gift of discernment and the wisdom to lead the kind of life to which You have called us. We praise You, Lord, for forgiving us and lifting us into Your compelling love. And we thank You for giving us the power, authority, and every other provision we need to carry out the work You have given us to do in Jesus’ Holy Name.

 

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler

 

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Bible Reviewer: Amplified Holy Bible XL Edition

Bible Reviewer: Amplified Holy Bible XL Edition:   

Besides preferring the capitalization of pronouns that refer to God in the Amplified Bible, I appreciate the synonyms and definitions that amplify, without changing, the meaning of the text. This particular edition, however, appeals to me because of its 12.5 font, quality leathersoft binding, and unique size that’s almost 8” square and opens flat on my lap as I sit in my comfy chair and read, read, read.

Beyond Belief

 

“By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ I appeal to all of you, my friends, to agree in what you say, so that there will be no divisions among you. Be completely united, with only one thought and one purpose,” 1 Corinthians 1:9, Good News Translation.

Despite our diverse cultures, radically opposing beliefs, and personal preferences for how things are to be done, we are all to be One in Christ.

 

First, we believe:

Yes! God DOES mean what He says!

Yes! God the Father gave us Jesus the Son.

Yes, the Lord eradicates our wrongs and resuscitates us to a new life in Christ.

 

Then, we obey:

We find out what God wants.

We read the Bible. We talk to God and listen.

We invite God’s Holy Spirit to guide and empower us.

We use the ministry gifts and other resources we have been given to build up the Body of Christ.

 

Together, we do even more:

In Christ, we worship God and work with God’s Family.

We pray for discernment and wisdom, compassion and mercy.

We invite others into our ever-widening circle of God’s Love.

Together, we encircle the world with the good news of God’s Son.

We extend respect to all peoples, knowing we are all made in the image of God.

We focus on needs and goals we share, rather than our differences.

As God enables us, we make peace in the Name of Jesus.

                                   

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler          

 

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Taking God at His Word

When I proof my work online, I have trouble spotting mistakes, but when I read a book in print, my eyes often go to whatever needs correcting. I'm sorry to say, I didn't proof a printed copy of Kneeling on the Promises of God until after publication.

I've now corrected those errors and re-uploaded the book, but if you find something I've missed, please let me know. Thank you.

And may God bless you and your prayer life as you believe God means what He says - always - no mistakes!

Mary Sayler

What Are Your Favorite Daily Devotional Books?

 

This year, my husband and I read Jesus Always every evening with additions from my book Kneeling on the Promises of God at various times of the day. I highly recommend Jesus Calling too. But, what about you? Do you have a daily devotional book that speaks to you?

 

This week, Group Publishing kindly sent me a review copy of the new 365-day devotional Jesus-Centered Daily by Rick Lawrence. Turning to today’s reading, “The Safety Fallacy” reminds us how people often say “Be Safe” or “Stay Safe” instead of “goodbye,” then adds this timely word:

 

“…’Be Safe!’ is not a kingdom-of-God imperative. The message of the Incarnation is a prod to adventure into the darkness, not retreat from it. Jesus invites us to walk with him into the ‘valley of the shadow of death’ because (as David reminds us) his ‘rod and staff’ will bring comfort to us. In his hand the Good Shepherd carries two metaphoric necessities – a staff to rescue and a rod to defend. That’s why his hello’s and goodbye’s so often convey the opposite of ‘Be Safe’.”

 

At the top of the page, the devotional suggests reading Psalm 23, and below the main text the layout consistently includes three columns followed by a prayer. For this day’s example:

 

Wonder

“What are the unintended consequences of using ‘Be Safe’ for ‘goodbye’?”

 

Jesus

“How can anyone enter the strong man’s house…unless he first binds [him]? (Matthew 12:29, NASB).”

 

DO

“Instead of ‘Be Safe!’ try ‘Be Christ’s!’ or ‘Stay awake!’ or ‘Live Large!’”

 

“Pray: Jesus you are my safety.”

 

 

And, of course, in perilous times or not, we have the option of saying the original phrase that was eventually compressed into “goodbye” – “God be with ye.”

 

Most of us will be glad to see this year end! Although we can’t control much of what’s going in the world, we can make next year better for ourselves and those around us if we choose to be Jesus-Centered Daily. Amen?

 

God be with ye!  

 

©2020, Mary Harwell Sayler, poet-writer, Bible reviewer

 

 

Jesus Always

 

Kneeling on the Promises of God

 

Jesus Calling

 

Jesus-Centered Daily

To order a devotional book to start your New Year, click on the above title of interest. If you have a favorite devotional book, let us know in the Comments below. Thanks and God bless.

 

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Kneeling on the promises of God

[The following article introduced the book, Kneeling on the Promises of God.]

As you have likely heard, the hymn “Standing on the Promises” encourages us to trust God and take Him at His word. But from the very beginning of time, the matter of believing God arose in the Garden of Eden with the doubt-producing question, “Does God really mean what He says?” That contagious thought gave mankind an excuse to disobey, and distrust gave birth to death!

Now, as then, wariness of God brings uncertainty and the ongoing scramble to find, “Who can I trust?” Sometimes we can’t even trust ourselves! So where do we turn? Do we place our hope and faith in money, power, politics, institutions, traditions, or trends?

The trouble with those options is that people change their minds. Money changes hands and value. Political leaders come and go. Institutions become something unlike their original selves, and trends are, well, trendy. Facts get disproven as new information comes to light. Even the ground beneath our feet trembles, and stars careen from the sky. Everything changes! But God does not change, and neither does God’s word.

Mysteriously and paradoxically, the Holy Spirit is invisible to us yet the most solid matter. So, too, are the promises God gives – promises so stabilizing, we can build our whole lives on them. Promises so truthful and trustworthy, they can become the basis of our most powerful prayers. But why should we believe those promises? Why should we place our faith in God?

According to the Bible, God is Love – forgiving, compassionate love that can always be trusted to do what’s best for us and our spiritual well-being. Nothing and no one is greater, kinder, holier, or more trustworthy than God.  Nothing and no one can offer us more power or purpose for our lives. Once we realize we can totally trust the Lord, we can build our marriages, families, churches, and occupations on the promises God gives.

We can build our prayer lives on those promises too. We can take God at His word, knowing He agrees with our prayer requests because He has already promised the very things we claim or ask Him to do. Therefore, to kneel on a promise God made means claiming that promise and praying it into our lives.

To put this belief into practice, the book Kneeling on the Promises of God includes heartfelt, conversational prayers following each Bible promise – promises found in a variety of translations but paraphrased into everyday English. These prayers are to give you an idea of how you, too, might kneel on the promises in God’s Word.

The hope is that relevant prayers will also come to you as you meditate on the scripture verses, and write down your prayers, claiming God’s promises in the space provided on the lower part of each page. But, before doing this:

Pre-pare with pre-prayer!

Pray for the prayers to pray.

Regardless of our denominational affiliations or cultural backgrounds, let’s agree to stand on the promises  of God throughout our lives and kneel on those promises as we claim God’s Word each day and night in prayer.

May God bless you and your prayer life in the Lord!

Mary Harwell Sayler

For actual prayers from the Bible, visit the Bible Prayers blog.

God’s Word on plagues and other disasters

For months we’ve been plagued by a pandemic of COVID-19 virus with subsequent outbreaks of crime, violence, joblessness, and a spirit of fear. In the midst of this turmoil, we’ve experienced weird weather patterns and natural disasters that make us wonder if all of this is supernatural.  

To get a biblical perspective on current events, I went to the Bible Gateway website and typed “plague” into the search box. Some translations immediately brought up 70+ relevant scriptures, while others showed over 100 Bible verses that included the word.

If you want to know more, just look up “plague” online or in your Bible, but for now, let’s focus on a few verses that convey God’s perspective on the subject:

“And the Lord said unto Moses, …stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God…, Let my people go, that they may serve me. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth,” Exodus 9:13-14, King James Version, KJV.

For 430 years, the pharaohs in Egypt had made slaves of God’s people, but God wanted (and still wants) His people to be free. He used several plagues to convince Pharaoh to let the people go, but, more than that, God used each plague to show His power over very particular Egyptian gods. This strengthened the faith of God’s people and also brought many Egyptians to Him.

“If you act with hostility toward Me and are unwilling to obey Me, I will multiply your plagues seven times for your sins,” Leviticus 26:21, Christian Standard Bible, CSB.

This might sound cruel at first, but remember: God is declaring spiritual warfare! He wants us to remain close to Him in faith and obedience. We have that choice for God gave us free will. And, because God is fair, just, and loving, He lets us know what consequences to expect when we reject God and set ourselves against Him.

“And Aaron (the priest) …ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed,” Numbers 16:47-48, KJV.

Is it possible for a plague to continue because God’s people forget to intercede? Through Jesus Christ, we have been declared “priests” and given the authority to pray in Jesus’ Name in the strength and power of the Risen Lord.

“And David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel,” 2 Samuel  24:25, English Standard Version, ESV.

King David responded to a plague threatening his people by building an altar and worshiping God. That’s not crazy! That’s faith. No matter what’s happening, God can be trusted to bring good out of the circumstances. Immediately, the plague ceased and, eventually, that place of worship became the location of the Jerusalem Temple.

"Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways,”  Psalm 91:9-11 KJV.

Think of it! We can inhabit the Lord. We can live within Him and He within us. What could possibly harm us when we seek refuge in God?

“In that hour (Jesus) cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight,” Luke 7:21, Revised Standard Version, RSV.

Jesus Christ has the power to cure – then and now! As His Body of Christ on earth, the church has been given the authority to bring health, healing, and restoration in Jesus’ Name. That means all power to you! All power to we who believe.

For now, the church must read, read, read God’s Word! With the power of Bible truths, prayer, and Holy Spirit guidance, we’re to represent Christ with faith and boldness. But then what?

What does the end time hold for us?

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God].He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.’

“The one who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ Then he said, ‘Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me, ‘They are accomplished. I [am] the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son. But as for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

“One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God,” Revelation 21:1-11a, New American Bible (Revised Edition), NABRE.

MaryHarwell Sayler, ©2020, poet, writer, and lifelong student of God’s Word; author-compiler of the Book of BiblePrayers and Kneeling on the Promisesof God

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Would We Recognize a Prophet if We Saw One?

As Christians, we’ve heard of the ministry gifts the Holy Spirit gives God’s people to build up the community of faith. Hopefully, we even know what our particular gifts are. If not, we can always ask God to reveal this as we reflect on the various gifts listed in Romans 12 and First Corinthians 12.

For instance, some of us have a gift of wisdom, discernment, exhortation, or healing, while others have a God-given ability to teach, preach, evangelize, or do administrative work. Usually, we can recognize those gifts in the Christian community, but what about the gift of prophecy? Do we recognize that gift in other people of faith – or in ourselves?

According to a search on Bible Gateway, the word “prophet” comes up at least 450 to 500 times. However, we might have heard more about false prophets, which, ironically, the Bible only mentions a couple dozen times. Apparently, that’s enough to frighten us! But, that's enough of that!

Dare we ask God to reveal the prophets in our midst? Or – to be really daring – dare we ask, “Lord, am I a prophet?” God might stun you with a “yes!”

Anxieties over false prophets can make us wary of that gift in others – and unaware of that gift in ourselves. But, if we dare to pray about it and consider this possibility, we can tell if these descriptions fit us or someone we know.

• Are you drawn to read God’s word, again and again?
• Do your values often differ from those of other people?
• Do you see where things are headed long before they’re there?
• Do you recognize the Lord (or His absence) in the people or situations around you?
• Is truth truly important to you?
• Are you apt to look beneath the surface and beyond the way things seem?
• Can you see into the heart?
• Would you rather please God than people?
• Can you identify problems but also see solutions?
• Do you long to see wrongs corrected?
• Are you sensitive to God’s movement?
• Do you often feel an urgency to pray?
• Do you encourage God’s people to seek and obey Him?
• Do you speak up when no one else will?

Many people think of a prophet as judgmental or some kind of psychic able to tell the future, but that’s not it at all. A gift of prophecy does come with power to discern what’s going on and to see where it’s likely to end up, but, more often, a prophetic gift helps God’s people to wake up to spiritual realities and gain courage to use whatever gifts they have been given to serve the Lord.

Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2020

...

Why I murdered Jesus

[Spoiler Alert! We know we've all sinned, but this prose poem makes it personal.]

Even in the Garden of Eden, God wanted everything perfect. How could I fit in? I thought of fruit as food, not fare for knowing good and evil or other things over my head! Why entice me with beautiful berries wrapped in seamless silken skin – fragrance summoning me – and no seeds to navigate around, no hard core in the middle?

I admit I disobeyed. I ignored Your clear instructions, Lord. And then You murdered me!

You sent my now-limited life from the Garden in shame – spiritually dead, nothing the same, everything changed forever.

How hard I toil for fruit that spoils in a life filled with imperfection! I feel worthless. I question myself at every turn, fearing Your rejection.

Where do I go? How do I live with myself? How do I live without You?

Trying to be good and obey every dot and iota of the law didn’t do it! Neither did self-hatred nor mutilating remorse. I wanted to make things right, Lord, but I couldn’t, and You wouldn’t let me!

You sent Yourself –

Your Son –

The Perfect One –

Who perfectly suited

Your plan of redemption,

the Fruit of Yourself –

Your Pure Love – given

to exempt me from my own sin.

I’m sorry, Lord! I’m sorry, but

I could not stand

to look on such Whole and Holy Love

and live

as I’d been living.

What could I do but kill Him?

by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2017

[EPILOGUE/PRAYER: Lord, help us to confess anything that keeps us from You. Help us to truly accept Your forgiveness. Praise You, Lord, for overcoming death, forgiving all who turn to You, and bringing us new life and a fresh start each day in Jesus' Name.]

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Leaving every stone unturned to bread

As my Bible Study group discussed Luke 4, we read about the temptations Jesus endured in the wilderness. Significantly, those tests of faith came immediately after His baptism in the Jordan River and immediately before His ministry began.

Each of those tests ultimately tempted Jesus to do something to stop the crucifixion – the final sacrifice to undo the works of the devil and remove every trace of sin inherent in every race of people. But the temptations began on a very human level of weakness – hunger.

After fasting for 40 days, Jesus became so close to starvation that Satan tried to take advantage of this weakened state. In the first temptation, he challenged Jesus by saying, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread,” Luke 4:3, English Standard Version (ESV.)

For one thing, if Jesus had done that, He would have been trying to prove Himself – something God doesn’t do throughout scripture. (See Exodus 3:14.)

For another, if Jesus had given in to hunger and temptation, the results would have been magic or sorcery, rather than the power of God.

Later, when the Lord turned water into wine and fed many thousands with a few little fish and a small amount of bread, He used what was there to perform, not magic, but miracles! He took something natural and real and expanded its potential – something we might pray for at every church picnic or potluck when we have less food than people!

Jesus wants us to reach out to others and feed His sheep without holding back in fear or stinginess, but He would never, ever tempt us to turn stones into bread! Why?

It would be a lie.

In the desert terrain where the temptations occurred, an abundance of wind-smoothed, rounded stones actually look like big loaves of bread. But rocks were not meant to be eaten. To make bread from stones means totally changing what something was meant to be into something that’s untrue to itself and to God’s creation.

Bread is what it is. We are who we are.

May we become our most genuine and truest selves in our lives in Christ.

May we become all God created us to be in The Way and Truth of Jesus’ Name.

Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2017

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What you need to know before quoting Bible verses

God’s Word belongs to everyone! However, copyrights of English translations of the Bible belong to the translators or Bible publishers unless the text is in the public domain. This means we cannot quote more than X number of Bible verses from most of the contemporary translations without requesting permission from the publisher.

Most translations of the Bible will let you know in the front pages exactly how many verses you’re allowed to use in one manuscript. To give you an idea, I opened my New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and saw we can quote up to 500 verses – IF that constitutes LESS than half of what we’re writing. The New Living Translation (NLT) and New International Version (NIV) also allow up to 500 verse, but those quotes must comprise less than one-fourth or 25 percent of the manuscript.

Regardless of the translation used, each must be acknowledged at the end of a quotation.

For example, here’s a quotation taken from The Jerusalem Bible.

“Yes, God loved the world so much
that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world
not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.
No one who believes in him will be condemned,” John 3:16-18a, The Jerusalem Bible.

If you need to use more verses than the publisher allows, contact the company, describe your project, and request permission to quote your expected number of verses.

Another option is to find a translation in the public domain. With rare exception, this usually means an English translation published before or by the beginning of the 20th century since, by now, the copyright has most likely expired and not been renewed.

A quick search on the Bible Gateway website provided the following list of Bible translations in the public domain, which you can find in their online library – a real plus if you want to copy/paste large portions of scripture instead of retyping.

Some English Translations of the Bible in the Public Domain:

American Standard Version (ASV)
Darby Translation (DARBY)
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
King James Version (KJV)
World English Bible (WEB - a contemporary translation)
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
Reina-Valera Antigua (RVA)
Biblia Sacra Vulgata (VULGATE)

If you’re concerned about quoting scripture in your project, another option is to paraphrase, which is what I often do. Since quotation marks wouldn't be appropriate in such instances, I usually set the text apart with linebreaks and/or italics.

In my search on Bible Gateway for texts to paraphrase, I seldom seek translations in the public domain but am more apt to read at least a half-dozen or more contemporary versions of the many choices they have available on their website. Then I mix, mingle, and paraphrase those scriptures into a text I call “prayer-a-phrased” since I’m prayerfully counting on the Lord to give me discernment and whatever else is needed to be true to the meaning of the verses.

Why do I do this? I love it! I love the Bible in all of its English renditions. And I love translating passages of scripture into a poem, prayer, paragraph, or conversation that seems immediate, placing God’s Word in the now.

This process also helps me (and, hopefully, you as reader and/or writer) to internalize Holy Scripture, making it more “real” as though we’re there in person, experiencing the Bible as it unfolds. If, however, you’re unsure how scripture unfolds from Genesis to Revelation, I urge you to first read, read, read the Bible from cover to cover in several translations to prepare you for a lifetime of Bible-based writings in Jesus’ Name.


Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2017, with praise for God’s Word and many thanks to Bible Gateway 

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