Today Our Daily Bread Romans 2 ( Message Version- Awesome text)

Romans 2: 1 - 29
1 Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. 2 But God isn't so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you've done. 3 You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? 4 Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. 5 You're not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it's going to blaze hot and high, God's fiery and righteous judgment. 6 Make no mistake: In the end you get what's coming to you - 7 Real Life for those who work on God's side, 8 but to those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, Fire! 9 If you go against the grain, you get splinters, regardless of which neighborhood you're from, what your parents taught you, what schools you attended. 10 But if you embrace the way God does things, there are wonderful payoffs, again without regard to where you are from or how you were brought up. 11 Being a Jew won't give you an automatic stamp of approval. God pays no attention to what others say (or what you think) about you. He makes up his own mind. 12 If you sin without knowing what you're doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you're doing, that's a different story entirely. 13 Merely hearing God's law is a waste of your time if you don't do what he commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God. 14 When outsiders who have never heard of God's law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. 15 They show that God's law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong. 16 Their response to God's yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.
17 If you're brought up Jewish, don't assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you're an insider to God's revelation, 18 a connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on the latest doctrines! 19 I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God's revealed Word inside and out, 20 feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. 21 While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I'm quite serious. While preaching "Don't steal!" are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? 22 The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. 23 You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and his law. 24 The line from Scripture, "It's because of you Jews that the outsiders are down on God," shows it's an old problem that isn't going to go away. 25 Circumcision, the surgical ritual that marks you as a Jew, is great if you live in accord with God's law. But if you don't, it's worse than not being circumcised. 26 The reverse is also true: The uncircumcised who keep God's ways are as good as the circumcised - 27 in fact, better. Better to keep God's law uncircumcised than break it circumcised. 28 Don't you see: It's not the cut of a knife that makes a Jew. 29 You become a Jew by who you are. It's the mark of God on your heart, not of a knife on your skin, that makes a Jew. And recognition comes from God, not legalistic critics.
The Message
~Lena’s Comments~
It is so funny, how we are, how I am. As I was first reading this, I found myself saying "Yeah, that’s right!" "Yeah, I know, people do that don’t they?" Umm, excuse me! Hey- me! The word is talking about YOU! Yes You! Remember when David was found before the priest and he’d done a sad and sinful act. The priest described the event as though another party had done the act, and described David as the judge and king over the sinful situation. David found himself fitting right into that judgement seat and settling in there. (Just as I just did). The priest asked "the judge" what he would have done to the sinner, David (the judge) answered how he would take care of things as king and judge. Then the priest graciously pointed out that David – great judge and king, was the sinner! He revealed it by saying, David, YOU are THE man! When we really realize that we are the sinners and not the judges, we suddenly get a greater perspective of the situation and then we desire mercy to be considered on our behalf. If we desire mercy, we need to desire it for others, just as we do for ourselves. Lately I’ve been asking myself how much I love god, when I come upon a hard to love through situation with a hard to show love to person involved. The word says I cannot love God if I do not love this person, but I find myself in places where love is very extremely hard. I’m very quick to say I love God, I also need to be that quick to extend mercy, grace and love to my not so easy to love brethren. I keep thinking about how we all want our words to mean so much, yet where God is concerned, we don’t only want Him to tell us something, but we want Him to do something! This trait we have to desire action, was passed down to us by our Father God. He wants action also, along with the words. People do not believe what you say, no matter how much you say it, they believe what you do. We also want God to confirm, validate and prove His words to us. If we say we love God, but never even give Him our thoughts Monday through Friday, why would He "believe" we love Him. That reminds me of Jesus’ conversation w/ Peter, "Do you love me?" Peter said he did and Jesus knew he did, where Peter was at, so Jesus called his love to grow by actions and told Him how love would act. God is calling for action in us. Worship is an action word. Worship is about a life of actions towards, for and with God. One thing I think of is how we assume we are ok, saved, marked for God or whatever, if we go to church, hang around Christians, or have been made by our Christian parents to live right somehow. This version is so clear to understand. We all must choose to serve God in our own minds and hearts. This does not mean have our faith to ourselves and keep it private. No, it means enter in to the participation with God’s whole family. This is evidence of your faith, that you obey His words and do what He knows is good for you. The standing before God alone part is what happens at Judgement time. Not here, here is where we walk out, and by demonstration, live out our faith. If we are continually in right relationship with our Maker, Our Father, when we stand before Him in that place, it will be just another time for communion with Him. Don’t assume you have faith, because your parents had faith or you were born in a religious heritage. That is NOT what God is looking for. We all must be born and then we also must be born again of and by His spirit.

Today Our Daily Bread Acts 10

Acts 10: 1 - 48
1 In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man who feared the God of Israel, as did his entire household. He gave generously to charity and was a man who regularly prayed to God. 3 One afternoon about three o'clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. "Cornelius!" the angel said. 4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. "What is it, sir?" he asked the angel. And the angel replied, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have not gone unnoticed by God! 5 Now send some men down to Joppa to find a man named Simon Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon, a leatherworker who lives near the shore. Ask him to come and visit you." 7 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. 8 He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.
9 The next day as Cornelius's messengers were nearing the city, Peter went up to the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat them." 14 "Never, Lord," Peter declared. "I have never in all my life eaten anything forbidden by our Jewish laws. F48 " 15 The voice spoke again, "If God says something is acceptable, don't say it isn't." F49 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was pulled up again to heaven. 17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found the house and stood outside at the gate. 18 They asked if this was the place where Simon Peter was staying.
19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Three men have come looking for you. 20 Go down and go with them without hesitation. All is well, for I have sent them." 21 So Peter went down and said, "I'm the man you are looking for. Why have you come?" 22 They said, "We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout man who fears the God of Israel and is well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to send for you so you can go to his house and give him a message." 23 So Peter invited the men to be his guests for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some other believers F50 from Joppa. 24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for him and had called together his relatives and close friends to meet Peter. 25 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell to the floor before him in worship. 26 But Peter pulled him up and said, "Stand up! I'm a human being like you!" 27 So Cornelius got up, and they talked together and went inside where the others were assembled. 28 Peter told them, "You know it is against the Jewish laws for me to come into a Gentile home like this. But God has shown me that I should never think of anyone as impure. 29 So I came as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me." 30 Cornelius replied, "Four days ago I was praying in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31 He told me, 'Cornelius, your prayers have been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32 Now send some men to Joppa and summon Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a leatherworker who lives near the shore.' 33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now here we are, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you."
34 Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God doesn't show partiality. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 I'm sure you have heard about the Good News for the people of Israel – that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what happened all through Judea, beginning in Galilee after John the Baptist began preaching. 38 And no doubt you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with him. 39 "And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Israel and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by crucifying him, 40 but God raised him to life three days later. Then God allowed him to appear, 41 not to the general public, F51 but to us whom God had chosen beforehand to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is ordained of God to be the judge of all – the living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name."
44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who had heard the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles, too. 46 And there could be no doubt about it, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, 47 "Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?" 48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
~Lena's Comments~
What a beautiful story of the church’s history and foundational truth. I love this story because it shows us God’s heart. It shows how far off men can get and how God can and will take and turn that around. No matter what man does, he seems to have this tendency to make a kingdom, even if it ends up being unto Himself. He tends to make a way or place for himself. Man has been given a lot of strength, a lot of creativity, a sense of rulership and a desire to reproduce who he is in others. It also seems men have a leaning towards separation. All of these traits can actually be applied to God’s kingdom if steered the right way, yet they can be so off track if steered the opposite way. Man had buried themselves in tradition which started from things that they had taken from God’s word, but suing the word alone was detrimental, in that it’s principles are correct if applied by the understanding of the person of God. But men who had no relationship with God as a person and only saw God as a boss, took His words, with no understanding and misused them. Separation was for the sake of seeing darkness compared to light and distinguishing between God and what is not God, yet men took that separation and removed themselves from one another and in doing this they also removed themselves from the potential of a relationship for understanding of God. This kingdom and its ideas had to fall down, The Lord was bringing down its walls here in Acts 10 with Cornelius and Peter. I see Peter representing the old religious way, mans way, the way of the separation of men. Cornelius represents our unsaved world in need of Gods love and the communion of His spirit. Jesus was the breaker of the stronghold, the one who made a way for the walls to come down and truth to be revealed. The truth is that God wills that all men be saved. He paid the price for sin for all men who will believe in Him. The only separation God wants us a part of is where we pull ourselves away from whatever it is that keeps the understanding of Him from coming our way, and whatever keeps our relationship with Him hindered. Without the empowerment of God’s Holy Spirit we will tend towards building a kingdom of men who have great and godly ideas, but lack the love and heart of God for the world. The world needs to see the heart of God, unadulterated. One of the 10 commandments has to do with reproduction. "You shall not make for yourselves any graven (carved) image, after your own likeness" I always thought this meant ceramic or stone work, statues etc. Those thoughts I had were an example of taking a word and misunderstanding it. I could have used it literally and made sure I had no dolls around our home, no figurines, no yard decorations, fountains etc. I could have inflicted my "conviction" upon the lives of others (in my household) and applied the law of "You shall not have statues". In standing on my conviction I could have started arguments to prove my points and separate myself from others who did not have the same "convictions". This is an example of what religions of men does. It takes what I "believe" and makes it into law and sets it above even the relationships of people, at the expense of relationships with people. Rather than drawing them to God it pushes them away from God, because it misunderstands who God is. It builds me up as "holy" and makes me king, because I know the word and how we are supposed to live by it. After many years of misunderstanding this commandments, the Lord helped me see that when I create my own laws and inflict them on others, I am actually fashioning them (people are living stones- a carved work of the Lord) to be as I believe they should be, rather than cultivating in them a relationship with God so they can gain their own convictions and hear from the Lord for themselves. I’ve carved an image unto or like me. True conviction comes from our relationship with the Lord, it draws me closer to being as he is, it changes me into the likeness of Him, it carves me a work of His hand. True conviction leads me to obey Him more and know Him more and to love others enough to lay down my life and my ideas so they can also know Him. It separates out from me whatever keeps me from loving people and God enough to do this very thing. Peter’s love for God superceded His "convictions". His relationship with God led him to go above even what he thought he believed to win another’s heart to the lord and to empower another to be like Christ. Religion empowers me to be a ruler, and belittles others to stay below me, so I appear more holy. Relationship reproduces what I have been given in others. It even allows others the possibility of going further than I have gone with Him. It cultivates growth in others. It lays down its life for a friend (Jesus did that for all).

Today Our Daily Bread 1 Peter 2 ( English)

Dear Ones,
I'm postponing the Russian a bit till I see it's being read, don't want to take the extra time if not in use :-), Olga's had company and is preparing for a move soon.
Speaking of moving, my Mom is here now from WY, truck unloaded and all. Lots and lots of boxes ! Whew. It is so nice to have she and my sister here. Kim leaves on Monday, but is also talking of moving our direction someday in the near future. her husband wants me to catch him a pet gator! I do Pet Sitting Services, but I think that is taking it a bit too far!
Have a Blessed Day, Lena


1 Peter 2: 1 - 25
1 So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing. 2 You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.
4 Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by the people, but he is precious to God who chose him. 5 And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are God's holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ. 6 As the Scriptures express it, "I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, F6 a chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes in him will never be disappointed. F7 " 7 Yes, he is very precious to you who believe. But for those who reject him, "The stone that was rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone." F8 8 And the Scriptures also say, "He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that will make them fall." F9 They stumble because they do not listen to God's word or obey it, and so they meet the fate that has been planned for them. 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 "Once you were not a people; now you are the people of God. Once you received none of God's mercy; now you have received his mercy." F10 11 Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls. 12 Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world. F11
13 For the Lord's sake, accept all authority – the king as head of state, 14 and the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish all who do wrong and to honor those who do right. 15 It is God's will that your good lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you. 16 You are not slaves; you are free. But your freedom is not an excuse to do evil. You are free to live as God's slaves. 17 Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. F12 Fear God. Show respect for the king. 18 You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters. Do whatever they tell you – not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are harsh. 19 For God is pleased with you when, for the sake of your conscience, you patiently endure unfair treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing right and are patient beneath the blows, God is pleased with you. 21 This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps. 22 He never sinned, and he never deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds! 25 Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

~Lena's Comments~
This is talking about what is deep, deep inside of us, what our gut responses are based upon. If our inward responses are not good, that can be changed by the work of God’s spirit inside of us. He is at work in our inward parts and the response is a revelation of that work that either needs to be concentrated upon or known that the work is being done. So what do I do when something arises in me that is ungodly or an ungodly response? Do I try to fix it or pretend it does not exist? Do I do my best to be better by trying to be better? Well, maybe, if you can, but what if you can’t, alone? This is why we live and walk and abide in Christ, because what is impossible with me is possible with Him and His continual work in me. I give myself over to His work and the power of God alive inside of me. I am not alone and am not independent of His work in me. I trust in Him to care enough for me to help show me how to change and then to obey and do whatever he shows me to do. He is building my life up as a place He can stay in on earth, and as people pass by, or through, they will be able to find Him there, and know what He is like and receive His work too. That work that will make them become a house for His will to dwell and be shown forth and known.
Our disappointments usually come from our own failures in trying to be be our own gods. We are NOT God and we cannot do what He can without His power in us, which is dependant, not independent of Him. If we take that charge and do it ourselves we will set ourselves up for failure and we will be disappointed. He does not disappoint, as we believe in Him. All of the instructions we need for success are contained in His words, in His life, In His spirit. He has chosen us as houses for His presence. Let’s choose to follow Him, giving Him headship of the house he has built. Headship is not a derogatory term. Headship is a structural term. Without headship (i.e. cornerstone) there is no accuracy to the structure and it just may fall. If you spent time & money building a house, would you want it to fall and collapse? If you knew how to help it stand, build it to stand and withstand, wouldn’t you? Of course. We are more than investments, we are God’s home. The reason He’d like for us to have Him as head is he cares for us, cares that our home is structurally sound and safe. People are looking for safety. There is NO safety with No headship! We get to practice this principle of headship in our everyday lives by obeying men and women in earth, even when they are not perfected. This solidifies our ability to keep covenant that will withstand through thick and thin. If we can honor a mere man or woman than we can also honor our God and in honoring mere men and women we do honor God. Could this be a "reason" we are not able to receive the goodness and the benefits of God’s promises? Is it that we don’t participate in them as declarants of the covenants? It clearly outlines here how one would honor one who is made in God’s very image. Respect others, fear God, love others, show respect, accept authority even when it seems like slavery, do what you are told by bosses, even when they seem unfair, patiently and enduringly suffering if necessary to be a doer of honor. JESUS DID NOT DEFEND HIMSELF and He WAS PERFECT!!! When we really get this one , healing will spring forth, I believe it. What He did was not at all fair, and our sins did this for and to Him; Yet He chose to endure in order to bless us with eternal life. Even to give to us natural things like health so that we would to be able to stay here awhile in order to be available and obedient to God’s will and the working of His earthly plan. That is awesome!

Today Our Daily Bread 2 Cor 8 (English)

2 Corinthians 8:24
1 Now I want to tell you, dear brothers and sisters, F22 what God in his kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia. 2 Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem. 5 Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them. 6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to complete your share in this ministry of giving.
7 Since you excel in so many ways – you have so much faith, such gifted speakers, such knowledge, such enthusiasm, and such love for us F23 – now I want you to excel also in this gracious ministry of giving. 8 I am not saying you must do it, even though the other churches are eager to do it. This is one way to prove your love is real. 9 You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was. Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. 10 I suggest that you finish what you started a year ago, for you were the first to propose this idea, and you were the first to begin doing something about it. 11 Now you should carry this project through to completion just as enthusiastically as you began it. Give whatever you can according to what you have. 12 If you are really eager to give, it isn't important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don't have. 13 Of course, I don't mean you should give so much that you suffer from having too little. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help them. Then at some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, everyone's needs will be met. 15 Do you remember what the Scriptures say about this? "Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough." F24
16 I am thankful to God that he has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have. 17 He welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was eager to go and see you. 18 We are also sending another brother with Titus. He is highly praised in all the churches as a preacher of the Good News. 19 He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem F25 – a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help. 20 By traveling together we will guard against any suspicion, for we are anxious that no one should find fault with the way we are handling this generous gift. 21 We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to know we are honorable. 22 And we are also sending with them another brother who has been thoroughly tested and has shown how earnest he is on many occasions. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his increased confidence in you. 23 If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And these brothers are representatives F26 of the churches. They are splendid examples of those who bring glory to Christ. 24 So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified

~Lena’s Comments~
Giving is not required, because it is a responsive action of who we are and of the character of God in us. It is also a sign of that character being developed in us, because our Father is the Giver of Life. When He created us- He gave, when He wanted to express love for us- He gave, when He wanted to redeem us-he also gave. Isn’t it funny how society has put even $ into the meaning of the word "redemption"? There is a payment due and God stepped up, because of Love and paid it’s high penalty. Trust is expressed in Giving. God gives, we receive. It’s almost like buying and selling, but because of the love and trust relationship it is far more than that, It is expressed in giving and receiving. With buying and selling, there is a price and we pay it and the transaction is over. With giving and receiving, we give and another receives then there is an account set up where the action is stored up and it begins to multiply more seed to give, it grows and increases in its potential of and for great blessing. No, we don’t have to give, but when we do become participators of God’s character, WOW we begin to act and see ourselves acting in accordance with and in fellowship with His nature. It’s like we join in the play on the field rather than standing on the sidelines. God is pleased to have us in the "game" of eternal life as participating and beneficial members of the active "team." We don’t only look like and act like Him, but we are showing Him to others. How can it be that a person of meager means can give more than one with much? It is not counted in Quantity as in #’s. It’s counted in Quality as in participation. That giver is rich in the kingdom, because they are becoming one with the heart of God.

Today Our Daily Bread Luke 8

Luke 8
Women Who Followed Jesus
1 Not long afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby cities and villages to announce the Good News concerning the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women he had healed and from whom he had cast out evil spirits. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.
Story of the Farmer Scattering Seed
4 One day Jesus told this story to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 "A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds came and ate it. 6 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. This seed began to grow, but soon it withered and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop one hundred times as much as had been planted." When he had said this, he called out, "Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!"
9 His disciples asked him what the story meant. 10 He replied, "You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I am using these stories to conceal everything about it from outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: `They see what I do, but they don't really see; they hear what I say, but they don't understand.'
11 "This is the meaning of the story: The seed is God's message. 12 The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the message, but then the Devil comes and steals it away and prevents them from believing and being saved. 13 The rocky soil represents those who hear the message with joy. But like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep. They believe for a while, but they wilt when the hot winds of testing blow. 14 The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 But the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people who hear God's message, cling to it, and steadily produce a huge harvest.
Illustration of the Lamp
16 "No one would light a lamp and then cover it up or put it under a bed. No, lamps are mounted in the open, where they can be seen by those entering the house. 17 For everything that is hidden or secret will eventually be brought to light and made plain to all. 18 So be sure to pay attention to what you hear. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they think they have will be taken away from them."
The True Family of Jesus
19 Once when Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, they couldn't get to him because of the crowds. 20 Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to see you."
21 Jesus replied, "My mother and my brothers are all those who hear the message of God and obey it."
Jesus Calms the Storm
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and started out. 23 On the way across, Jesus lay down for a nap, and while he was sleeping the wind began to rise. A fierce storm developed that threatened to swamp them, and they were in real danger.
24 The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" So Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waves. The storm stopped and all was calm! 25 Then he asked them, "Where is your faith?" And they were filled with awe and amazement. They said to one another, "Who is this man, that even the winds and waves obey him?"
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man
26 So they arrived in the land of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. 27 As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. Homeless and naked, he had lived in a cemetery for a long time. 28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell to the ground before him, screaming, "Why are you bothering me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don't torture me!" 29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was shackled with chains, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon's power. 30 "What is your name?" Jesus asked.
"Legion," he replied--for the man was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the Bottomless Pit. 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons pleaded with him to let them enter into the pigs. Jesus gave them permission. 33 So the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake, where they drowned. 34 When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby city and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. 35 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, for they wanted to see for themselves what had happened. And they saw the man who had been possessed by demons sitting quietly at Jesus' feet, clothed and sane. And the whole crowd was afraid. 36 Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 And all the people in that region begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.
So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. 38 The man who had been demon possessed begged to go, too, but Jesus said, 39 "No, go back to your family and tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you." So he went all through the city telling about the great thing Jesus had done for him.
Jesus Heals in Response to Faith
40 On the other side of the lake the crowds received Jesus with open arms because they had been waiting for him. 41 And now a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell down at Jesus' feet, begging him to come home with him. 42 His only child was dying, a little girl twelve years old.
As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. 43 And there was a woman in the crowd who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years. She had spent everything she had on doctors and still could find no cure. 44 She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. 45 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, "Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you." 46 But Jesus told him, "No, someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me." 47 When the woman realized that Jesus knew, she began to tremble and fell to her knees before him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. 48 "Daughter," he said to her, "your faith has made you well. Go in peace."
49 While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from Jairus's home with the message, "Your little girl is dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now." 50 But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just trust me, and she will be all right." 51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn't let anyone go in with him except Peter, James, John, and the little girl's father and mother. 52 The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, "Stop the weeping! She isn't dead; she is only asleep." 53 But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. 54 Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, "Get up, my child!" 55 And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.
New Living Translation (NLT)

~Lena’s Comments~
So why would we even want to know the meaning of the parable? Jesus said he spoke in this form on purpose, to see who really wanted to know (how God thinks), compared to those who really did not care to know (Him well). Those who truly want to know Him stand around long enough to even get up the guts to ask, and then they hang around long enough to hear an answer or explanation. But still, why would you want to know the meaning? Don’t you usually place yourself in the text when you read a story? Jesus wanted us to see where we are at in this parable and then to do something about it. If a farmer needs a harvest, but he finds "fault" with the soil type or condition, does he not simply adjust the type or condition? God is the farmer of the world, of the harvest of souls. If the conditions do not promote the reception of salvation, what would a good farmer do? Change it. Once identified the problem does not have to remain, in fact if one plans a harvest it must be changed. One would never change the situation if he did not know the need for change existed.
Is it natural blood birth that makes us family? Yes, and not only that. God calls us children, sons & daughters, etc which are all family names. How does family that is not natural become established and maintained? This family is of an eternal nature and begins with the eternal birth by receiving Jesus Christ. Once we have received Him, He also receives us into His large, large family of the spirit. God is a covenant God and covenant is based on promises kept. I’ve often thought of how we make promises based on truth presented and from our desire to embrace truth and live and walk in it. Yet think about it, do we ever fully know how to keep a promise when it is made? When you got married did you know what "I do" meant? How about when you swore an oath for a job or said "yes" to being a parent or signed a mortgage? We rarely know full well what we’ve gotten ourselves into when we promise. BUT God, being a covenant God expects us to keep our word, just as we expect Him to keep His. Only through His strength can we really and truly keep covenants and the key to keeping them is listening to His wisdom and walking in obedience to His ways. If we do not at least purpose to do this we will find it almost impossible and unbearable to keep our promises, But He is making us like Him, men and women of integrity whom others can also believe in and follow after the words of. How else will any storm of life ever obey us if we have had, exercised, practiced and lived with no integrity. If we live this way, we will see power arise from our very beings. The wind and waves have to do with us, the crazy man has to do with others. We’ve got to obey and become empowered by that obedience to God for our own lives first, THEN we can cross over and release that power that is just like or just as, in the same form as God’s power towards the needs of others. This whole passage is about the power in God’s words and how they should be used in the earth. How they can be released in the earth being birthed in us first as we enter God’s family and join in with His ways and speak forth His truths.
~ For Olga …
От Луки 8
1 После сего Он проходил по городам и селениям, проповедуя и благовествуя Царствие Божие, и с Ним двенадцать, 2 и некоторые женщины, которых Он исцелил от злых духов и болезней: Мария, называемая Магдалиною, из которой вышли семь бесов, 3 и Иоанна, жена Хузы, домоправителя Иродова, и Сусанна, и многие другие, которые служили Ему имением своим.
4Когда же собралось множество народа, и из всех городов жители сходились к Нему, Он начал говорить притчею: 5 вышел сеятель сеять семя свое, и когда он сеял, иное упало при дороге ибыло потоптано, и птицы небесные поклевали его; 6 а иное упало на камень и, взойдя, засохло, потому что не имело влаги; 7 а иное упало между тернием, и выросло терние и заглушило его;
8 а иное упало на добрую землю и, взойдя, принесло плод сторичный. Сказав сие, возгласил: кто имеет уши слышать, да слышит! 9 Ученики же Его спросили у Него: что бы значила притча сия?
10 Он сказал: вам дано знать тайны Царствия Божия, а прочим в притчах, так что они видя не видят и слыша не разумеют. 11 Вот что значит притча сия: семя есть слово Божие; 12 а упавшее при пути, это суть слушающие, к которым потом приходит диавол и уносит слово из сердца их, чтобы они не уверовали и не спаслись; 13 а упавшее на камень, это те, которые, когда услышат слово, с радостью принимают, но которые не имеют корня, и временем веруют, а во время искушения отпадают; 14 а упавшее в терние, это те, которые слушают слово, но, отходя, заботами, богатством и наслаждениями житейскими подавляются и не приносят плода; 15 а упавшее на добрую землю, это те, которые, услышав слово, хранят его в добром и чистом сердце и приносят плод в терпении. Сказав это, Он возгласил: кто имеет уши слышать, да слышит! 16 Никто, зажегши свечу, не покрывает ее сосудом, или не ставит под кровать, а ставит на подсвечник, чтобы входящие видели свет. 17 Ибо нет ничего тайного, что не сделалось бы явным, ни сокровенного, что не сделалось бы известным и не обнаружилось бы. 18 Итак, наблюдайте, как вы слушаете: ибо, кто имеет, тому дано будет, а кто не имеет, у того отнимется и то, что он думает иметь. 19 И пришли к Нему Матерь и братья Его, и не могли подойти к Нему по причине народа.20 И дали знать Ему: Матерь и братья Твои стоят вне, желая видеть Тебя. 21 Он сказал им в ответ: матерь Моя и братья Мои суть слушающие слово Божие и исполняющие его. 22 В один день Он вошел с учениками Своими в лодку и сказал им: переправимся на ту сторону озера. И отправились. 23 Во время плавания их Он заснул. На озере поднялся бурный ветер, и заливало их [волнами], и они были в опасности. 24 И, подойдя, разбудили Его и сказали: Наставник! Наставник! погибаем. Но Он, встав, запретил ветру и волнению воды; и перестали, и сделалась тишина. 25 Тогда Он сказал им: где вера ваша? Они же в страхе и удивлении говорили друг другу: кто же это, что и ветрам повелевает и воде, и повинуются Ему? 26 И приплыли в страну Гадаринскую, лежащую против Галилеи. 27 Когда же вышел Он на берег, встретил Его один человек из города, одержимый бесами с давнего времени, и в одежду не одевавшийся, и живший не в доме, а в гробах. 28Он, увидев Иисуса, вскричал, пал пред Ним и громким голосом сказал: что Тебе до меня, Иисус, Сын Бога Всевышнего? умоляю Тебя, не мучь меня. 29 Ибо [Иисус] повелел нечистому духу выйти из сего человека, потому что он долгое время мучил его, так что его связывали цепями и узами, сберегая его; но он разрывал узы и был гоним бесом в пустыни.30 Иисус спросил его: как тебе имя? Он сказал: легион, --потому что много бесов вошло в него. 31 И они просили Иисуса, чтобы не повелел им идти в бездну. 32 Тут же на горе паслось большое стадо свиней; и [бесы] просили Его, чтобы позволил им войти в них. Он позволил им. 33 Бесы, выйдя из человека, вошли в свиней, и бросилось стадо с крутизны в озеро и потонуло. 34 Пастухи, видя происшедшее, побежали и рассказали в городе и в селениях.35 И вышли видеть происшедшее; и, придя к Иисусу, нашли человека, из которого вышли бесы, сидящего у ног Иисуса, одетого и в здравом уме; и ужаснулись.36 Видевшие же рассказали им, как исцелился бесновавшийся.
37 И просил Его весь народ Гадаринской окрестности удалиться от них, потому что они объяты были великим страхом. Он вошел в лодку и возвратился.38 Человек же, из которого вышли бесы, просил Его, чтобы быть с Ним. Но Иисус отпустил его, сказав: 39 возвратись в дом твой и расскажи, что сотворил тебе Бог. Он пошел и проповедывал по всему городу, что сотворил ему Иисус. 40 Когда же возвратился Иисус, народ принял Его, потому что все ожидали Его.
41 И вот, пришел человек, именем Иаир, который был начальником синагоги; и, пав к ногам Иисуса, просил Его войти к нему в дом, 42 потому что у него была одна дочь, лет двенадцати, и та была при смерти. Когда же Он шел, народ теснил Его. 43 И женщина, страдавшая кровотечением двенадцать лет, которая, издержав на врачей всё имение, ни одним не могла быть вылечена,
44 подойдя сзади, коснулась края одежды Его; и тотчас течение крови у ней остановилось.
45 И сказал Иисус: кто прикоснулся ко Мне? Когда же все отрицались, Петр сказал и бывшие с Ним: Наставник! народ окружает Тебя и теснит, --и Ты говоришь: кто прикоснулся ко Мне?
46 Но Иисус сказал: прикоснулся ко Мне некто, ибо Я чувствовал силу, исшедшую из Меня.
47 Женщина, видя, что она не утаилась, с трепетом подошла и, пав пред Ним, объявила Ему перед всем народом, по какой причине прикоснулась к Нему и как тотчас исцелилась. 48Он сказал ей: дерзай, дщерь! вера твоя спасла тебя; иди с миром. 49 Когда Он еще говорил это, приходит некто из дома начальника синагоги и говорит ему: дочь твоя умерла; не утруждай Учителя. 50 Но Иисус, услышав это, сказал ему: не бойся, только веруй, и спасена будет. 51 Придя же в дом, не позволил войти никому, кроме Петра, Иоанна и Иакова, и отца девицы, и матери. 52 Все плакали и рыдали о ней. Но Он сказал: не плачьте; она не умерла, но спит. 53 И смеялись над Ним, зная, что она умерла. 54 Он же, выслав всех вон и взяв ее за руку, возгласил: девица! встань. 55 И возвратился дух ее; она тотчас встала, и Он велел дать ей есть. 56 И удивились родители ее. Он же повелел им не сказывать никому о происшедшем.
Russian Synodal Version (RSV)
Public Domain

Today Our Daily Bread Joshua 1(English & Russian)

Joshua 1
The LORD’s Charge to Joshua
1 After the death of Moses the LORD's servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant. He said, 2 "Now that my servant Moses is dead, you must lead my people across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3 I promise you what I promised Moses: `Everywhere you go, you will be on land I have given you—4 from the Negev Desert in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River on the east to the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and all the land of the Hittites.' 5 No one will be able to stand their ground against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. 6 "Be strong and courageous, for you will lead my people to possess all the land I swore to give their ancestors. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. 9 I command you--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshuas Charge to the Israelites
10 Joshua then commanded the leaders of Israel, 11 "Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the LORD your God has given you." 12 Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He told them, 13 "Remember what Moses, the servant of the LORD, commanded you: `The LORD your God is giving you rest and has given you this land.' 14 Your wives, children, and cattle may remain here on the east side of the Jordan River, but your warriors, fully armed, must lead the other tribes across the Jordan to help them conquer their territory. Stay with them 15 until the LORD gives rest to them as he has given rest to you, and until they, too, possess the land the LORD your God is giving them. Only then may you settle here on the east side of the Jordan River in the land that Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave you." 16 They answered Joshua, "We will do whatever you command us, and we will go wherever you send us. 17 We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses. And may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against your word and does not obey your every command will be put to death. So be strong and courageous!"
New Living Translation (NLT)
~Lena’s Comments~
This passage is so awesome to me. Moses’ name means "drawn out" and he was a savior of sorts, drawing God’s people (us) out of Egypt (darkness) and bringing them on their new walk of faith with a destination of a promised land ahead of them. Moses led them, interceded to God for them, spoke to and for God with them, etc. That was ok for the first part of their journey, but God was leading them into a personal relationship with Him. Joshua (means Jehovah or THE LORD is salvation) would lead them to a place of maturity, where they would walk out their faith in a new land, in a new way. Moses (or the old way of doing it) had to die off for a new way to be revealed. I’m thinking Moses was a type of John the Baptist (i.e. wilderness, leading them out by way of repentance, drawing them to God). John the Baptist pointed us to Jesus, Jesus pointed us to The Father God. The promise is/was the same, to take the earth and give it back to God. This is a deliberate action, an engagement in an enlistment in the battle of Light & Darkness. Taking the land is an offensive action. If we go we take, if we do we take, if we obey we take, if we study we take, if we stay in Him we take, if we meditate on His word we take the land back.. Our weapons are mighty in God, our weapons are not natural, yet have great effect on natural things. Isn’t it nice we do not have to shed natural blood, to take "the land" for "land" is really the hearts and lives of people given over to the love and Lordship of Christ. One must be strong to go into a dark place and turn on lights, by being a light. For the light will reveal things that have kept men from God and this is not always pleasant. Why do you think it says, be strong? Be brave? Etc. If we walk in light we are lights in darkness and we will be able to see our way around. I think it is neat here that the Lord gave them notice that they were going on to maturity, going on to the next place and that they would need to get ready. 3 day is representative of a new time , a time of harvest, a time of resurrection. It seems not everyone is ready for this at the same time, but all are at least steered that way and given the choices to go on or stay where they are at. The Lord wants us all to go on. If we don’t go on we will die in whatever place we got to or stayed at. Death is the consequence of not going on to another place. Think of if there was a fire coming to a town and people the alarm was sounded and the leaders of that town were calling for evacuations, some answer the call, gather their things and go, others choose to stay where they are at. Death is inevitable for those who choose to stay and life for those who chose to go on. It was/is a matter of choice. Our faith has to be that the reason God would call us out would be for our safety, well being and the furtherance of His kingdom in us and on earth. He knows the future more than we do. Our actions and responses to the call to go on show our level of faith and trust in Him.

~ For Olga & Friends ~
Иисус Навин 1
1 По смерти Моисея, раба Господня, Господь сказал Иисусу, сыну Навину, служителю Моисееву:
2 Моисей, раб Мой, умер; итак встань, перейди через Иордан сей, ты и весь народ сей, в землю, которую Я даю им, сынам Израилевым. 3 Всякое место, на которое ступят стопы ног ваших, Я даю вам, как Я сказал Моисею: 4 от пустыни и Ливана сего до реки великой, реки Евфрата, всю землю Хеттеев; и до великого моря к западу солнца будут пределы ваши. 5 Никто не устоит пред тобою во все дни жизни твоей; и как Я был с Моисеем, так буду и с тобою: не отступлю от тебя и не оставлю тебя. 6 Будь тверд и мужествен; ибо ты народу сему передашь во владение землю, которую Я клялся отцам их дать им; 7 только будь тверд и очень мужествен, и тщательно храни и исполняй весь закон, который завещал тебе Моисей, раб Мой; не уклоняйся от него ни направо ни налево, дабы поступать благоразумно во всех предприятиях твоих. 8 Да не отходит сия книга закона от уст твоих; но поучайся в ней день и ночь, дабы в точности исполнять все, что в ней написано: тогда ты будешь успешен в путях твоих и будешь поступать благоразумно.
9 Вот Я повелеваю тебе: будь тверд и мужествен, не страшись и не ужасайся; ибо с тобою Господь Бог твой везде, куда ни пойдешь. 10 И дал Иисус повеление надзирателям народа и сказал:
11пройдите по стану и дайте повеление народу и скажите: заготовляйте себе пищу для пути, потому что, спустя три дня, вы пойдете за Иордан сей, дабы придти взять землю, которую Господь Бог [отцов] ваших дает вам в наследие. 12 А колену Рувимову, Гадову и половине колена Манассиина Иисус сказал: 13 вспомните, что заповедал вам Моисей, раб Господень, говоря: Господь Бог ваш успокоил вас и дал вам землю сию; 14 жены ваши, дети ваши и скот ваш пусть останутся в земле, которую дал вам Моисей за Иорданом; а вы все, могущие сражаться, вооружившись идите пред братьями вашими и помогайте им, 15 доколе Господь не успокоит братьев ваших, как и вас; доколе и они не получат в наследие землю, которую Господь Бог ваш дает им; тогда возвратитесь в наследие ваше и владейте землею, которую Моисей, раб Господень, дал вам за Иорданом к востоку солнца. 16 Они в ответ Иисусу сказали: все, что ни повелишь нам, сделаем, и куда ни пошлешь нас, пойдем; 17 как слушали мы Моисея, так будем слушать и тебя: только Господь, Бог твой, да будет с тобою, как Он был с Моисеем; 18 всякий, кто воспротивится повелению твоему и не послушает слов твоих во всем, что ты ни повелишь ему, будет предан смерти. Только будь тверд и мужествен!
Russian Synodal Version (RSV)
Public Domain

Yesterday Our Daily Bread - sorry John 8

John 8
A Woman Caught in Adultery
1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4 "Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?" 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!" 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?" 11"No, Lord," she said. And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more."
Jesus, the Light of the World
12 Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." 13 The Pharisees replied, "You are making false claims about yourself!" 14 Jesus told them, "These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don't know this about me. 15 You judge me with all your human limitations, but I am not judging anyone. 16 And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone--I have with me the Father who sent me. 17 Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. 18 I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other." 19 "Where is your father?" they asked.
Jesus answered, "Since you don't know who I am, you don't know who my Father is. If you knew me, then you would know my Father, too." 20 Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.
The Unbelieving People Warned
21 Later Jesus said to them again, "I am going away. You will search for me and die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going." 22 The Jewish leaders asked, "Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, `You cannot come where I am going'?" 23 Then he said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I say I am, you will die in your sins." 25"Tell us who you are," they demanded. Jesus replied, "I am the one I have always claimed to be. 26I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is true." 27 But they still didn't understand that he was talking to them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will realize that I am he and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak what the Father taught me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me--he has not deserted me. For I always do those things that are pleasing to him." 30 Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
Jesus and Abraham
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 "But we are descendants of Abraham," they said. "We have never been slaves to anyone on earth. What do you mean, `set free'?"
34 Jesus replied, "I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because my message does not find a place in your hearts. 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father." 39 "Our father is Abraham," they declared. "No," Jesus replied, "for if you were children of Abraham, you would follow his good example. 40I told you the truth I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham wouldn't do a thing like that. 41 No, you are obeying your real father when you act that way." They replied, "We were not born out of wedlock! Our true Father is God himself." 42 Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can't you understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to do so! 44For you are the children of your father the Devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 Anyone whose Father is God listens gladly to the words of God. Since you don't, it proves you aren't God's children." 48 The people retorted, "You Samaritan devil! Didn't we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?" 49 "No," Jesus said, "I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father--and you dishonor me. 50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God wants to glorify me. Let him be the judge. 51 I assure you, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!" 52 The people said, "Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say that those who obey your teaching will never die! 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Are you greater than the prophets, who died? Who do you think you are?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I am merely boasting about myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who says these glorious things about me. You say, `He is our God,' 55 but you do not even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But it is true--I know him and obey him. 56 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad." 57 The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus answered, "The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!" 59 At that point they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself from them and left the Temple.
New Living Translation (NLT)

~ Lena’s Comments ~
I noticed again that Jesus started his "assignment" that day with prayer, after prayer He set out to do what He was to do that day, After he prayed, He spoke and taught. After He prayed. He ministered to sin. Adultery is a sin we all have been guilty of if we have not given our lives to God. The Pharisees were placing degrees on sin. All have sinned and the penalty for sin is death. All need God’s grace, all need Jesus and the redemption that His death brought. The Pharisees thought they were holy, but no one can be holy without Jesus and believing in His work enough to follow after Him. Jesus pointed out to them that they too have sinned and need grace to be saved from their sin’s penalty It is enlightening to me that we can think we are OK and then Jesus comes in and tells us we’re not. Many years ago I heard it said that if a room has the light off and it is dusty, no one can see the dust, but that does not mean it is not there. So the light brings the reality of dust? No, it shows the dust that was previously there. So should we feel condemned by the light? No, we should feel thankful for the light, even though it shows us the work that needs to be done, at least we can see to do it or have it done. The work was needed, just not yet seen. Jesus, shed some light on religious minds. It makes me wonder how religious my mind has been. If we knew religious mindsets were not godly mindsets would we not want the work that light reveals to be done in us? Notice the response of pride does not want any light to shine. That is the work of darkness. Obedience to and following after the Lord is the way out of the darkness of our pride or sin.
~ For Olga & Friends too ~
От Иоанна 8
1 Иисус же пошел на гору Елеонскую. 2 А утром опять пришел в храм, и весь народ шел к Нему. Он сел и учил их. 3 Тут книжники и фарисеи привели к Нему женщину, взятую в прелюбодеянии, и, поставив ее посреди, 4 сказали Ему: Учитель! эта женщина взята в прелюбодеянии; 5 а Моисей в законе заповедал нам побивать таких камнями: Ты что скажешь? 6 Говорили же это, искушая Его, чтобы найти что-нибудь к обвинению Его. Но Иисус, наклонившись низко, писал перстом на земле, не обращая на них внимания. 7 Когда же продолжали спрашивать Его, Он, восклонившись, сказал им: кто из вас без греха, первый брось на нее камень. 8 И опять, наклонившись низко, писал на земле. 9 Они же, услышав [то] и будучи обличаемы совестью, стали уходить один за другим, начиная от старших до последних; и остался один Иисус и женщина, стоящая посреди. 10 Иисус, восклонившись и не видя никого, кроме женщины, сказал ей: женщина! где твои обвинители? никто не осудил тебя? 11 Она отвечала: никто, Господи. Иисус сказал ей: и Я не осуждаю тебя; иди и впредь не греши. 12 Опять говорил Иисус [к народу] и сказал им: Я свет миру; кто последует за Мною, тот не будет ходить во тьме, но будет иметь свет жизни. 13 Тогда фарисеи сказали Ему: Ты Сам о Себе свидетельствуешь, свидетельство Твое не истинно. 14 Иисус сказал им в ответ: если Я и Сам о Себе свидетельствую, свидетельство Мое истинно; потому что Я знаю, откуда пришел и куда иду; а вы не знаете, откуда Я и куда иду. 15 Вы судите по плоти; Я не сужу никого. 16 А если и сужу Я, то суд Мой истинен, потому что Я не один, но Я и Отец, пославший Меня. 17 А и в законе вашем написано, что двух человек свидетельство истинно. 18 Я Сам свидетельствую о Себе, и свидетельствует о Мне Отец, пославший Меня. 19 Тогда сказали Ему: где Твой Отец? Иисус отвечал: вы не знаете ни Меня, ни Отца Моего; если бы вы знали Меня, то знали бы и Отца Моего. 20 Сии слова говорил Иисус у сокровищницы, когда учил в храме; и никто не взял Его, потому что еще не пришел час Его. 21 Опять сказал им Иисус: Я отхожу, и будете искать Меня, и умрете во грехе вашем. Куда Я иду, [туда] вы не можете придти.
22 Тут Иудеи говорили: неужели Он убьет Сам Себя, что говорит: 'куда Я иду, вы не можете придти'?23 Он сказал им: вы от нижних, Я от вышних; вы от мира сего, Я не от сего мира. 24 Потому Я и сказал вам, что вы умрете во грехах ваших; ибо если не уверуете, что это Я, то умрете во грехах ваших. 25 Тогда сказали Ему: кто же Ты? Иисус сказал им: от начала Сущий, как и говорю вам. 26 Много имею говорить и судить о вас; но Пославший Меня есть истинен, и что Я слышал от Него, то и говорю миру. 27 Не поняли, что Он говорил им об Отце. 28 Итак Иисус сказал им: когда вознесете Сына Человеческого, тогда узнаете, что это Я и что ничего не делаю от Себя, но как научил Меня Отец Мой, так и говорю. 29 Пославший Меня есть со Мною; Отец не оставил Меня одного, ибо Я всегда делаю то, что Ему угодно. 30 Когда Он говорил это, многие уверовали в Него. 31Тогда сказал Иисус к уверовавшим в Него Иудеям: если пребудете в слове Моем, то вы истинно Мои ученики, 32 и познаете истину, и истина сделает вас свободными. 33 Ему отвечали: мы семя Авраамово и не были рабами никому никогда; как же Ты говоришь: сделаетесь свободными? 34 Иисус отвечал им: истинно, истинно говорю вам: всякий, делающий грех, есть раб греха. 35 Но раб не пребывает в доме вечно; сын пребывает вечно. 36 Итак, если Сын освободит вас, то истинно свободны будете. 37 Знаю, что вы семя Авраамово; однако ищете убить Меня, потому что слово Мое не вмещается в вас. 38 Я говорю то, что видел у Отца Моего; а вы делаете то, что видели у отца вашего. 39 Сказали Ему в ответ: отец наш есть Авраам. Иисус сказал им: если бы вы были дети Авраама, то дела Авраамовы делали бы.40 А теперь ищете убить Меня, Человека, сказавшего вам истину, которую слышал от Бога: Авраам этого не делал. 41 Вы делаете дела отца вашего. На это сказали Ему: мы не от любодеяния рождены; одного Отца имеем, Бога. 42 Иисус сказал им: если бы Бог был Отец ваш, то вы любили бы Меня, потому что Я от Бога исшел и пришел; ибо Я не Сам от Себя пришел, но Он послал Меня. 43 Почему вы не понимаете речи Моей? Потому что не можете слышать слова Моего. 44 Ваш отец диавол; и вы хотите исполнять похоти отца вашего. Он был человекоубийца от начала и не устоял в истине, ибо нет в нем истины. Когда говорит он ложь, говорит свое, ибо он лжец и отец лжи.45 А как Я истину говорю, то не верите Мне.46 Кто из вас обличит Меня в неправде? Если же Я говорю истину, почему вы не верите Мне? 47 Кто от Бога, тот слушает слова Божии. Вы потому не слушаете, что вы не от Бога. 48На это Иудеи отвечали и сказали Ему: не правду ли мы говорим, что Ты Самарянин и что бес в Тебе? 49 Иисус отвечал: во Мне беса нет; но Я чту Отца Моего, а вы бесчестите Меня. 50 Впрочем Я не ищу Моей славы: есть Ищущий и Судящий. 51 Истинно, истинно говорю вам: кто соблюдет слово Мое, тот не увидит смерти вовек. 52 Иудеи сказали Ему: теперь узнали мы, что бес в Тебе. Авраам умер и пророки, а Ты говоришь: кто соблюдет слово Мое, тот не вкусит смерти вовек. 53 Неужели Ты больше отца нашего Авраама, который умер? и пророки умерли: чем Ты Себя делаешь? 54 Иисус отвечал: если Я Сам Себя славлю, то слава Моя ничто. Меня прославляет Отец Мой, о Котором вы говорите, что Он Бог ваш. 55 И вы не познали Его, а Я знаю Его; и если скажу, что не знаю Его, то буду подобный вам лжец. Но Я знаю Его и соблюдаю слово Его. 56 Авраам, отец ваш, рад был увидеть день Мой; и увидел и возрадовался.57 На это сказали Ему Иудеи: Тебе нет еще пятидесяти лет, --и Ты видел Авраама? 58 Иисус сказал им: истинно, истинно говорю вам: прежде нежели был Авраам, Я есмь. 59 Тогда взяли каменья, чтобы бросить на Него; но Иисус скрылся и вышел из храма, пройдя посреди них, и пошел далее.
Russian Synodal Version (RSV)
Public Domain

Today Our Daily Bread John 4 ( English & Russian w/ Russian Lena's Comments also)

John 4
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
1 Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, "Jesus is baptizing and making more disciples than John" 2 (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them--his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea to return to Galilee.
4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?" 10 Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." 11 "But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this is a very deep well. Where would you get this living water? 12And besides, are you greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his cattle enjoyed?" 13 Jesus replied, "People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. 14But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life." 15 "Please, sir," the woman said, "give me some of that water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to haul water." 16 "Go and get your husband," Jesus told her.
17 "I don't have a husband," the woman replied. Jesus said, "You're right! You don't have a husband-- 18for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now." 19 "Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet. 20So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?" 21 Jesus replied, "Believe me, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know so little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." 25 The woman said, "I know the Messiah will come--the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." 26 Then Jesus told her, "I am the Messiah!" 27 Just then his disciples arrived. They were astonished to find him talking to a woman, but none of them asked him why he was doing it or what they had been discussing. 28The woman left her water jar beside the well and went back to the village and told everyone, 29 "Come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Messiah?" 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.
31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus to eat. 32 "No," he said, "I have food you don't know about." 33 "Who brought it to him?" the disciples asked each other. 34 Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, `One person plants and someone else harvests.' And it's true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant; others had already done the work, and you will gather the harvest."
Many Samaritans Believe
39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, "He told me everything I ever did!" 40 When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay at their village. So he stayed for two days, 41 long enough for many of them to hear his message and believe. 42 Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe because we have heard him ourselves, not just because of what you told us. He is indeed the Savior of the world."
Jesus Heals an Officials Son
43 At the end of the two days' stay, Jesus went on into Galilee. 44 He had previously said, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own country." 45 The Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen all his miraculous signs. 46 In the course of his journey through Galilee, he arrived at the town of Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in the city of Capernaum whose son was very sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea and was traveling in Galilee, he went over to Cana. He found Jesus and begged him to come to Capernaum with him to heal his son, who was about to die. 48 Jesus asked, "Must I do miraculous signs and wonders before you people will believe in me?" 49 The official pleaded, "Lord, please come now before my little boy dies." 50 Then Jesus told him, "Go back home. Your son will live!" And the man believed Jesus' word and started home. 51 While he was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. 52 He asked them when the boy had begun to feel better, and they replied, "Yesterday afternoon at one o'clock his fever suddenly disappeared!" 53 Then the father realized it was the same time that Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." And the officer and his entire household believed in Jesus. 54 This was Jesus' second miraculous sign in Galilee after coming from Judea.
New Living Translation (NLT)
~Lena’s Comments~
Ever feel you know where you are headed7 Even on your journey with the Lord, you feel you know it is very clear what He is showing you to do and where to go and now you find yourself having to stop off somewhere unplanned? Maybe you have to go through a few things before actually arriving at your destination? (Think of the word- Destiny in that word destination) Jesus was always headed somewhere and even he had to go through a few things and stop of at places along the way. Why would our walks be any different than his when he came to show us the walk? He showed us examples we don’t always tie together. Remember before His ministry appearance, He spent time alone with God, and daily He’d go off to prayer? Prayer with God is where he found his rest, the rest His soul might need when he went through a few things. We’re being called to the same place He lived, in constant communication with our Father God. The world is actually hungry for someone like Jesus to show them the father God and that they too can be led into a relationship of an eternal nature with God. Everyone is drinking and eating to live, but the eating and drinking they are doing is for life here, not for life after here. This is the food and drink the core of their very being yearns for. Only by being with the father can we ever have the keys to unlock doors to people’s hearts, the keys that will release them from their bondages and tear down the wall that have blinded them from seeing their need for eternal water. The woman at the well was actually looking for a savior, but she needed a Master, a Lord and she needed to know what he looked like. We show what he looks like to the world, just as Jesus showed the Father to the world. True conversion is evidenced by the opening of the mouth,, telling others about who He is. Also a spiritual baby is very hungry and very thirsty for Him, cannot get enough of Him, wants to see Him, wants Him to stay, wants Him to speak. No matter our ages we are all children of God and lovers of God, and should never lose that hunger and thirst and desire. If we have there’s only one place for it to be restored a new, in His presence. The raising of the dead in the next passages, show how our faith and our responses to Jesus when we hear of Him or from Him are all matters of death or life. The call of death is upon us everyday, we have to choose life. In His words we find life. He spoke the word and the child was made alive. If the child in you, seemed dead, go to His word and let Him speak life over you and raise you up to life again. Be resurrected and made ALIVE! God is the God of the miraculous, be made alive by the miraculous work of His word, of His voice. Get to where you HAVE to hear His voice in whatever form it comes in. It can come in many forms. Bible reading and prayer, teachings, songs, preaching, and fellowship with believers. I want to be surrounded by His words.
~ For Olga ~
От Иоанна 4
1 Когда же узнал Иисус о [дошедшем до] фарисеев слухе, что Он более приобретает учеников и крестит, нежели Иоанн, -- 2 хотя Сам Иисус не крестил, а ученики Его, -- 3 то оставил Иудею и пошел опять в Галилею. 4 Надлежало же Ему проходить через Самарию. 5 Итак приходит Он в город Самарийский, называемый Сихарь, близ участка земли, данного Иаковом сыну своему Иосифу. 6 Там был колодезь Иаковлев. Иисус, утрудившись от пути, сел у колодезя. Было около шестого часа. 7 Приходит женщина из Самарии почерпнуть воды. Иисус говорит ей: дай Мне пить. 8 Ибо ученики Его отлучились в город купить пищи. 9 Женщина Самарянская говорит Ему: как ты, будучи Иудей, просишь пить у меня, Самарянки? ибо Иудеи с Самарянами не сообщаются.
10 Иисус сказал ей в ответ: если бы ты знала дар Божий и Кто говорит тебе: дай Мне пить, то ты сама просила бы у Него, и Он дал бы тебе воду живую. 11 Женщина говорит Ему: господин! тебе и почерпнуть нечем, а колодезь глубок; откуда же у тебя вода живая? 12 Неужели ты больше отца нашего Иакова, который дал нам этот колодезь и сам из него пил, и дети его, и скот его?
13 Иисус сказал ей в ответ: всякий, пьющий воду сию, возжаждет опять, 14 а кто будет пить воду, которую Я дам ему, тот не будет жаждать вовек; но вода, которую Я дам ему, сделается в нем источником воды, текущей в жизнь вечную. 15 Женщина говорит Ему: господин! дай мне этой воды, чтобы мне не иметь жажды и не приходить сюда черпать. 16 Иисус говорит ей: пойди, позови мужа твоего и приди сюда. 17 Женщина сказала в ответ: у меня нет мужа. Иисус говорит ей: правду ты сказала, что у тебя нет мужа, 18 ибо у тебя было пять мужей, и тот, которого ныне имеешь, не муж тебе; это справедливо ты сказала. 19 Женщина говорит Ему: Господи! вижу, что Ты пророк. 20 Отцы наши поклонялись на этой горе, а вы говорите, что место, где должно поклоняться, находится в Иерусалиме. 21 Иисус говорит ей: поверь Мне, что наступает время, когда и не на горе сей, и не в Иерусалиме будете поклоняться Отцу. 22 Вы не знаете, чему кланяетесь, а мы знаем, чему кланяемся, ибо спасение от Иудеев. 23 Но настанет время и настало уже, когда истинные поклонники будут поклоняться Отцу в духе и истине, ибо таких поклонников Отец ищет Себе. 24 Бог есть дух, и поклоняющиеся Ему должны поклоняться в духе и истине.
25 Женщина говорит Ему: знаю, что придет Мессия, то есть Христос; когда Он придет, то возвестит нам все. 26 Иисус говорит ей: это Я, Который говорю с тобою. 27 В это время пришли ученики Его, и удивились, что Он разговаривал с женщиною; однакож ни один не сказал: чего Ты требуешь? или: о чем говоришь с нею? 28 Тогда женщина оставила водонос свой и пошла в город, и говорит людям: 29 пойдите, посмотрите Человека, Который сказал мне все, что я сделала: не Он ли Христос? 30 Они вышли из города и пошли к Нему. 31 Между тем ученики просили Его, говоря: Равви! ешь. 32 Но Он сказал им: у Меня есть пища, которой вы не знаете. 33 Посему ученики говорили между собою: разве кто принес Ему есть? 34 Иисус говорит им: Моя пища есть творить волю Пославшего Меня и совершить дело Его. 35 Не говорите ли вы, что еще четыре месяца, и наступит жатва? А Я говорю вам: возведите очи ваши и посмотрите на нивы, как они побелели и поспели к жатве. 36 Жнущий получает награду и собирает плод в жизнь вечную, так что и сеющий и жнущий вместе радоваться будут, 37 ибо в этом случае справедливо изречение: один сеет, а другой жнет. 38 Я послал вас жать то, над чем вы не трудились: другие трудились, а вы вошли в труд их. 39 И многие Самаряне из города того уверовали в Него по слову женщины, свидетельствовавшей, что Он сказал ей все, что она сделала. 40 И потому, когда пришли к Нему Самаряне, то просили Его побыть у них; и Он пробыл там два дня. 41 И еще большее число уверовали по Его слову. 42 А женщине той говорили: уже не по твоим речам веруем, ибо сами слышали и узнали, что Он истинно Спаситель мира, Христос. 43 По прошествии же двух дней Он вышел оттуда и пошел в Галилею, 44 ибо Сам Иисус свидетельствовал, что пророк не имеет чести в своем отечестве. 45 Когда пришел Он в Галилею, то Галилеяне приняли Его, видев все, что Он сделал в Иерусалиме в праздник, --ибо и они ходили на праздник. 46 Итак Иисус опять пришел в Кану Галилейскую, где претворил воду в вино. В Капернауме был некоторый царедворец, у которого сын был болен. 47 Он, услышав, что Иисус пришел из Иудеи в Галилею, пришел к Нему и просил Его придти и исцелить сына его, который был при смерти. 48 Иисус сказал ему: вы не уверуете, если не увидите знамений и чудес. 49 Царедворец говорит Ему: Господи! приди, пока не умер сын мой. 50 Иисус говорит ему: пойди, сын твой здоров. Он поверил слову, которое сказал ему Иисус, и пошел. 51 На дороге встретили его слуги его и сказали: сын твой здоров. 52 Он спросил у них: в котором часу стало ему легче? Ему сказали: вчера в седьмом часу горячка оставила его. 53 Из этого отец узнал, что это был тот час, в который Иисус сказал ему: сын твой здоров, и уверовал сам и весь дом его. 54 Это второе чудо сотворил Иисус, возвратившись из Иудеи в Галилею.
Russian Synodal Version (RSV) Public Domain
Kommentarii ~Lena ~
Kogda-libo chuvstvo, kotoroye Vy znayete, gde Vy - headed7 Dazhe na vashej poyezdke s Bogom, Vy chuvstvuyete, chto Vy znayete, chto ochen' yasno, chto On pokazyvayet Vam, chtoby sdelat' i gde pojti, i teper' Vy imeyete neobhodimost', chtoby ostanovit's'a gde-nibud' nezaplanirovannyye? Vozmozhno Vy dolzhny projti neskol'ko veschej prezhde, chem fakticheski dostignut' vashego prednaznacheniya? (Dumajte o slove - Sud'ba v tom prednaznachenii slova), Iisus vsegda vozglavl'als'a gde-nibud', i dazhe on dolzhen byl projti neskol'ko veschej i ostanovki v mestah po puti. Pochemu nashi progulki dejstvitel'no li l'uboj, byt' otlichnym chem yego, kogda on pribyl, chtoby pokazat' nam progulku? On pokazal nam primery, kotoryye my ne vsegda sv'azyvayem vmeste. Pomnite pered YEgo poyavleniyem ministerstva, On tratil vrem'a odno s Bogom, i yezhednevno On ujdet k pros'be? Pros'ba s Bogom - to, gde on nashel yego otdyh, ostal'nyye, YEgo dusha, vozmozhno, nuzhdayets'a, kogda on proshel neskol'ko veschej. Nas nazyvayut k tomu zhe samomu mestu, On zhil, v postoyannoj kommunikacii s nashim Bogom Otca. Mir fakticheski zhazhdet kogo - to kak Iisus, chtoby pokazat' im Boga otca i chto oni takzhe mogut vestis' v otnosheniya vechnoj prirody s Bogom. Kazhdyj p'et i yest, chtoby zhit', no zdes'. Eto - pischa i napitok, po kotoromu yadro togo, chto oni ochen' byli toskuyet. Tol'ko buduchi s otcom mozhet my kogda-libo imet' kl'uchi, chtoby otperet' dveri v serdca l'udej, kl'uchi, kotoryye osvobod'at ih ot ih nevoli i sorvut stenu, kotoryye oslepili ih ot nabl'udeniya ih potrebnosti v vechnoj vode. ZHenschina v horosho fakticheski iskala spasitel'a, no ona nuzhdalas' vo Vladel'ce, Bog i ona dolzhny byli znat' to, chto on napominal. My pokazyvayem to, chto on napominayet k miru, tak zhe, kak Iisus pokazal Otcu miru. Istinnoye preobrazovaniye dokazano otkrytiyem rta, govor'a drugim o tom, kto On. Takzhe duhovnyj rebenok ochen' hochet yest' i ochen' izmuchennyj zhazhdoj dl'a Nego, ne mozhet poluchit' dostatochno YEgo, hochet videt' YEgo, hochet, chtoby On ostals'a, hochet, chtoby On govoril. Nezavisimo ot togo nashi vozrasty my - vse deti Boga i l'ubitelej Boga, i nikogda ne dolzhny ter'at' tot golod i zhazhdu i zhelaniye. YEsli my imeyem yest' tol'ko odno mesto dl'a etogo, chtoby byt' vosstanovlennym novoye, v YEgo prisutstvii. Pod"em mertvyh v sleduyuschih prohodah, pokazhite, kak nasha vera i nashi otvety Iisusu, kogda my slyshim o Nem ili ot Nego - vse voprosy smerti ili zhizni. Zapros smerti nahodits'a na nas kazhdyj den', my dolzhny vybrat' zhizn'. V YEgo slovah my nahodim zhizn'. On govoril slovo, i rebenok byl sdelan zhivym. YEsli rebenok v Vas, kazals'a mertvym, pojdite v YEgo slovo i pozvol'te YEmu govorit' zhizn' po Vam i vospityvat' Vas do zhizni snova. Bud'te vozrozhden i sdelan ZHIVYM! Bog - Bog udivitel'nogo, byt' sdelan zhivym udivitel'noj rabotoj YEgo slova, YEgo golosa. Doberites' tuda, gde Vy DOLZHNY slyshat' YEgo golos v l'uboj forme, eto vhodit. Eto mozhet vojti vo mnogiye formy. CHteniye biblii i pros'ba, obucheniye, pesni, propovedovaniye, i tovarischestvo so storonnikami. YA hochu byt' okruzhennym YEgo slovami.

Today Our Daily Bread John 1 ( English & Russian - Russian Comments later on)

John 1
Christ, the Eternal Word
1 In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. 4 Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. 5 The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
6 God sent John the Baptist 7 to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world.
10 But although the world was made through him, the world didn't recognize him when he came. 11 Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan--this rebirth comes from God.
14 So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.
15 John pointed him out to the people. He shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, `Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.' "
16 We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us--one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him.
The Testimony of John the Baptist
19 This was the testimony of John when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John whether he claimed to be the Messiah. 20 He flatly denied it. "I am not the Messiah," he said. 21 "Well then, who are you?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?" "No," he replied.
"Are you the Prophet?" "No." 22 "Then who are you? Tell us, so we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?" 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah: "I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, `Prepare a straight pathway for the Lord's coming!' "24 Then those who were sent by the Pharisees 25 asked him, "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?" 26 John told them, "I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not know, 27 who will soon begin his ministry. I am not even worthy to be his slave." 28 This incident took place at Bethany, a village east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
Jesus, the Lamb of God
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, `Soon a man is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.' 31 I didn't know he was the one, but I have been baptizing with water in order to point him out to Israel." 32 Then John said, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, `When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone, he is the one you are looking for. He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Son of God."
The First Disciples
35 The following day, John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and then declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" 37 Then John's two disciples turned and followed Jesus. 38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. "What do you want?" he asked them. They replied, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 "Come and see," he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place, and they stayed there the rest of the day. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of these men who had heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother, Simon, and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means the Christ). 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, "You are Simon, the son of John--but you will be called Cephas" (which means Peter). 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Come, be my disciple." 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's hometown.
45 Philip went off to look for Nathanael and told him, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth." 46 "Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from there?" "Just come and see for yourself," Philip said.
47 As they approached, Jesus said, "Here comes an honest man--a true son of Israel." 48 "How do you know about me?" Nathanael asked. And Jesus replied, "I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you." 49 Nathanael replied, "Teacher, you are the Son of God--the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus asked him, "Do you believe all this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." 51 Then he said, "The truth is, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down upon the Son of Man."
New Living Translation (NLT)
~ Lena’s Comments ~
This is Jesus- Jesus is God, Jesus is Life, Jesus is Light, Jesus is Creator, Jesus IS, Was and will always be. He is eternal. Those who find Him and receive Him, also receive God’s Spirit, His life, His light, His creativity, and eternal life where there was eternal death.
God sent John. God sends men in the earth to tell men in the earth about Him. John’s name means," God is Gracious". We sing a song at church that says people cannot sing about things they have not seen. People cannot really speak of who they do not know, and that is the same as saying they cannot speak of what they have not seen for themselves. We have to see Him for ourselves in order to speak about Him. We have to have experienced His grace firsthand and KNOW in an intimate way of His grace extended towards us personally. When one knows this they become very grateful, almost to the point to indebtedness. The graciousness we experience cause us to be overwhelmed with appreciation, so much so that we are inclined to do His will, do follow and answer His call. We have become a "John", one who knows God’s grace and cannot help but be God’s grace towards others in the earth. Our faith is like a match or a candlelight. He has lit our flame and when we tell others we in turn light their flames and the whole earth becomes lit up by many, many lights lit for his truth. How will the world be able recognize Him? We will show them what he looks like, by learning who He is and being as he is. Then when he appears to their understanding they will know Him as truth and be able to receive Him. If no one has prepared the way for His appearing, when he comes to present Himself to their understanding they will not be able to recognize Him. John said, "See the one I was telling you about!" John was faithful to foretell His coming. Many times we are presenters to people, and demonstrators of who God is merely so that when they see Him they will recognize Him. We should see ourselves as preparers of the way to Christ. Sometimes merely paving a roadway, and at others times only clearing the way so a roadway can someday be laid there, making it clear enough to see where the roadway should be laid so they can at least begin to see what will be ahead. We want to be the chariots on the road brining people straight to the Kingdom, but if there’s no road it would be a very bumpy ride and it would be an unclear pathway because it would be very hard to see where they were going. Prayer is really this road clearer. If we do not pray and just jump into someone’s life expecting to harvest them into the understanding of who Christ is in the kingdom, we will probably be a bit discouraged, because the chariot won’t be able to move it’s wheels on that rocky overgrown ground. Also if we think of a person being Born into God’s kingdom, coming to know Christ, we must think of it as a birth that is about to happen. In the natural it takes conception, which happens through intimacy (which happens in prayer), THEN the seed must grow into a new being and that takes time, nourishment, incubation (again prayer) before it is even time for the birth. God thinks more in seasons, as we have His mind we also must think this way. He brings people into our lives for seasons and we are responsible as John was, for the season we are in with that person at that time. We may be a road clearer or a road paver or a demonstrator of the Way, and not a birther or harvester in that persons life at all. Being content would be to know this. We can only know this through prayer and our intimacy with Him. We can have joy in every part we play in the creation, development and birth of a soul. As in birth of a living person, each and every step is crucial for the next step of development, so it is with birthing in His kingdom.
PRAY and then be the voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord in whatever season you are in. be bold about the words you use. Tell people and declare in the atmosphere of earth that you are sent to prepare the way. I do not hesitate to tell someone I believe I met them on purpose, that God brought them into my life or I into theirs. I’ve prayed for them to come into my life, not for harvest alone, but to come to Him, however long it takes or whatever stage I get to participate in. If they only pass through my life briefly, even only one time, I want it to be a time of influence for Him. My boldness will over ride whatever other voices are trying to get them focussed away from His truth. John was remembered. He was different, he was bold, he was an influencer- on PURPOSE! When they remembered John, they also remembered his message about Christ, and so his purpose was fulfilled in his season. What do we have to lose? Our reputation? Good, if it is not at the expense of losing the soul.
The Great Commission Jesus left us with when He left earth or the assignment he gives to all who have seen Him is to Make Disciples. One cannot make disciples if he himself is not a disciple. We follow Him and others follow us as we follow Him. Telling of Him through knowing Him is a sign of a disciple. Not telling about church services or special events, but telling about Him from the overflow of our hearts in tune with His heart for those who do not yet see Him.
От Иоанна 1
1 В начале было Слово, и Слово было у Бога, и Слово было Бог. 2 Оно было в начале у Бога.
3 Все чрез Него начало быть, и без Него ничто не начало быть, что начало быть. 4 В Нем была жизнь, и жизнь была свет человеков. 5 И свет во тьме светит, и тьма не объяла его. 6 Был человек, посланный от Бога; имя ему Иоанн. 7 Он пришел для свидетельства, чтобы свидетельствовать о Свете, дабы все уверовали чрез него. 8 Он не был свет, но [был послан], чтобы свидетельствовать о Свете. 9 Был Свет истинный, Который просвещает всякого человека, приходящего в мир.
10 В мире был, и мир чрез Него начал быть, и мир Его не познал. 11 Пришел к своим, и свои Его не приняли. 12 А тем, которые приняли Его, верующим во имя Его, дал власть быть чадами Божиими, 13 которые ни от крови, ни от хотения плоти, ни от хотения мужа, но от Бога родились.
14 И Слово стало плотию, и обитало с нами, полное благодати и истины; и мы видели славу Его, славу, как Единородного от Отца. 15 Иоанн свидетельствует о Нем и, восклицая, говорит: Сей был Тот, о Котором я сказал, что Идущий за мною стал впереди меня, потому что был прежде меня. 16 И от полноты Его все мы приняли и благодать на благодать, 17 ибо закон дан чрез Моисея; благодать же и истина произошли чрез Иисуса Христа. 18 Бога не видел никто никогда; Единородный Сын, сущий в недре Отчем, Он явил. 19 И вот свидетельство Иоанна, когда Иудеи прислали из Иерусалима священников и левитов спросить его: кто ты? 20 Он объявил, и не отрекся, и объявил, что я не Христос. 21 И спросили его: что же? ты Илия? Он сказал: нет. Пророк? Он отвечал: нет. 22 Сказали ему: кто же ты? чтобы нам дать ответ пославшим нас: что ты скажешь о себе самом? 23 Он сказал: я глас вопиющего в пустыне: исправьте путь Господу, как сказал пророк Исаия. 24 А посланные были из фарисеев; 25 И они спросили его: что же ты крестишь, если ты ни Христос, ни Илия, ни пророк? 26 Иоанн сказал им в ответ: я крещу в воде; но стоит среди вас [Некто], Которого вы не знаете. 27 Он-то Идущий за мною, но Который стал впереди меня. Я недостоин развязать ремень у обуви Его. 28 Это происходило в Вифаваре при Иордане, где крестил Иоанн. 29 На другой день видит Иоанн идущего к нему Иисуса и говорит: вот Агнец Божий, Который берет [на Себя] грех мира. 30 Сей есть, о Котором я сказал: за мною идет Муж, Который стал впереди меня, потому что Он был прежде меня. 31 Я не знал Его; но для того пришел крестить в воде, чтобы Он явлен был Израилю. 32 И свидетельствовал Иоанн, говоря: я видел Духа, сходящего с неба, как голубя, и пребывающего на Нем. 33 Я не знал Его; но Пославший меня крестить в воде сказал мне: на Кого увидишь Духа сходящего и пребывающего на Нем, Тот есть крестящий Духом Святым. 34 И я видел и засвидетельствовал, что Сей есть Сын Божий. 35 На другой день опять стоял Иоанн и двое из учеников его. 36 И, увидев идущего Иисуса, сказал: вот Агнец Божий. 37 Услышав от него сии слова, оба ученика пошли за Иисусом.
38 Иисус же, обратившись и увидев их идущих, говорит им: что вам надобно? Они сказали Ему: Равви, --что значит: учитель, --где живешь? 39 Говорит им: пойдите и увидите. Они пошли и увидели, где Он живет; и пробыли у Него день тот. Было около десятого часа. 40 Один из двух, слышавших от Иоанна [об Иисусе] и последовавших за Ним, был Андрей, брат Симона Петра.
41 Он первый находит брата своего Симона и говорит ему: мы нашли Мессию, что значит: Христос; 42 и привел его к Иисусу. Иисус же, взглянув на него, сказал: ты--Симон, сын Ионин; ты наречешься Кифа, что значит: камень (Петр). 43 На другой день [Иисус] восхотел идти в Галилею, и находит Филиппа и говорит ему: иди за Мною. 44 Филипп же был из Вифсаиды, из [одного] города с Андреем и Петром. 45 Филипп находит Нафанаила и говорит ему: мы нашли Того, о Котором писали Моисей в законе и пророки, Иисуса, сына Иосифова, из Назарета. 46 Но Нафанаил сказал ему: из Назарета может ли быть что доброе? Филипп говорит ему: пойди и посмотри. 47 Иисус, увидев идущего к Нему Нафанаила, говорит о нем: вот подлинно Израильтянин, в котором нет лукавства. 48 Нафанаил говорит Ему: почему Ты знаешь меня? Иисус сказал ему в ответ: прежде нежели позвал тебя Филипп, когда ты был под смоковницею, Я видел тебя. 49 Нафанаил отвечал Ему: Равви! Ты Сын Божий, Ты Царь Израилев. 50 Иисус сказал ему в ответ: ты веришь, потому что Я тебе сказал: Я видел тебя под смоковницею; увидишь больше сего. 51 И говорит ему: истинно, истинно говорю вам: отныне будете видеть небо отверстым и Ангелов Божиих восходящих и нисходящих к Сыну Человеческому.
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