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(John 11,1-44: Jesus performed miracles for the dead Lazarus was resurrected)

John 11: 45 - 56

45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him;

46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council, and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on thus, every one will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation."

49 But one of them, Ca'iaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all;
50 you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish."

51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation. 52 and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

53 So from that day on they took counsel how to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore no longer went about openly among the Jews, but went from there to the country near the wilderness, to a town called E'phraim; and there he stayed with the disciples.

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.

56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?"



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Do we need special meditations for women?

No. Meditation is concerned with your consciousness – and
consciousness is neither man nor woman. This is one of the fundamentals
I want the world to be aware of.

All the religions have denied the woman any possibility for spiritual growth, thinking that her body is different, her biology is different: she will not be able to reach to the ultimate flowering of consciousness.
But it is strange that nobody down the centuries ever inquired:

Who reaches the ultimate flowering – the body, the mind or consciousness?
The body is different. If the body was going into meditation, then there
would be certainly a need of different meditations for women than for men.
Because the body is not involved in meditation, there is no question of any
difference.

For example, in yoga, where the body is very important – all the yoga
postures are basically rooted in physiology – there are many postures
which are not suitable for a woman’s body, and there are many which are
more suitable for a woman’s body than for a man’s body. So yoga can
make a distinction: yoga for men, yoga for women.

Mind is also different. Man thinks logically, linguistically. The woman is
more affected by emotions, sentiments, which are nonverbal. That’s why
she tends to be not willing to argue. Rather, she would like to scream and
fight, cry and weep. That’s the way she has been for centuries, and she
wins in it – because the man simply feels embarrassed. He may be right
logically, but the woman does not function logically.

So if meditation was concerned with mind, then too there would be a
different kind of meditation for women than for men. But meditation is
concerned with the very essential core of your being, which cannot be
divided into male and female.
Consciousness is simply consciousness.

A mirror is a mirror.
It is not male, it is not female.
It simply reflects.

Consciousness is exactly like a mirror which reflects. And meditation is
allowing your mirror to reflect, simply to reflect the mind in action, the body
in action. It doesn’t matter if the body is a man’s or a woman’s; it does not
matter how the mind functions – emotionally or logically. Whatever the
case, the consciousness has simply to be alert to it. That alertness, that
awareness, is meditation.

So there is no possibility of any difference in meditation between man
and woman. OSHO

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. Revelation 21:21 ESV

Precious in My sight

You are precious to Me. You’re beautiful in My sight. There are many things about you that I love; if I were to enumerate them all‚ I could go on forever and ever! I created you, so I know everything about you, and I love you unconditionally.

I love the way you love My Word, and how your spirit longs for My truth. I love it when you get into your times in My Word and your times with Me, and then when the time is up‚ you feel it’s so hard to pull away.

I love your tenderness. I love how you reach out to others as much as you can, and how you want to love others more and show them My love more. I have put this desire in you, and I am so happy that you are embracing it and wanting to be that way more and more.

Thank you for staying close to Me. Thank you for loving Me and giving your life to Me each and every day. I love you dearly!

True beauty

This world’s portrayal of beauty has become so distorted‚ and people have become so easily dissatisfied with themselves due to the false standards of beauty they feel they must attain to. But you’re beautiful! I know you don’t think so highly of your looks or of the reflection you see in the mirror; however, I look at you and I see exquisite beauty.

I see your beautiful heart. A heart that gives and lives for others is always beautiful and emits a radiance that no outstanding physical attribute could ever compare with.

Your smile—it’s gorgeous! Each individual that I have created has a unique smile—a smile that makes you different from everyone else, that makes you who you are.

Your spirit—it exudes beauty! When you allow yourself to be free from the burdens of the day and the struggles of life by giving them all to Me, you then become light and carefree. You become filled with a spirit of freedom and happiness that will compensate for seeming physical flaws and will shine through with divine beauty.

Take a moment to try to see what I see when I look at you—the real and beautiful you. There’s so much to love and enjoy about you, and that’s why I created you. You’re always beautiful to Me. No matter how icky you may feel about yourself, or how dirty you may feel because of your sins and mistakes, I see your beautiful heart—the heart that I know loves Me. You’re beautiful to Me.




Anchor TFI [Video Posted - Weird Animals - All Around the World - VBS]

"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!"

Mark 11:1-10

The Triumphal Entry

1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’”

4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it.

5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”

6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.

7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.

9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”



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Very interesting documentary I wanted to share...I often wondered what are the characteristics of a cult and what makes people want to join them? Are cults increasing in their numbers?...share your thoughts

It's all there! Everything we need to know about communicating with God, in the prayer of Jesus. It is the perfect prayer. That being said, it is also tragic to think that, in some circles, the Lord's prayer has been reduced to vain repetition, while in others it has been all but forgotten. While the prayer of Jesus is not a prayer mantra, it is a prayer manner. As such, it has been eloquently described as the most majestic of all model prayers:


It is a model prayer and, as such, commends itself to the most superficial glance- approves itself at once to the conscience of man. It is beautiful and symmetrical, like the most finished work of art. The words are plain and unadorned, yet majestic; and so transparent and appropriate that, once fixed in the memory, no other expressions ever mix themselves up with them; the thought of substituting other words never enters the mind. Grave and solemn are the petitions, yet the serenity and tranquil confidence, the peace and joy which they breath, prove attractive to the heart. The prayer is short, that it may be quickly learned , easily remembered, and frequently used; but it contains all things pertaining to life and godliness ( Philip Ryken, When You Pray ,9).


Are you ready? Let's begin!


Our Father in Heaven

To the disciples, the opening words of the Prayer of Jesus must have been nothing short of scandalous. Of all the things they had ever learned about prayer, this was certainly not one of them. The name of God was so sacred to the Jewish people that they were not even permitted to say the name of God aloud, let alone refer to Him as "our Father." Yet that is precisely how Jesus taught His disciples to pray.

There was however, a catch. As John explains, only those who received Jesus and believed on His name had the right to refer to God as "our Father (Jn. 1:12). In fact, Jesus made it clear that there are only two kinds of people in the world: those who should refer to Satan as "our father" and those who may refer to God as "our Father" (Jn. 8:44-47). There are no other options.

In one sense, Jesus is the only one who could legitimately address God as Father, for He is the unique Son of God and has been so throughout eternity (Jn. 1:2). However, as Paul explains in Romans 8, those who are lead by the Spirit of God are no longer illegitimate children. Instead, they, too, are sons and daughters by adoption through faith in Jesus. Thus, they can legitimately refer to God as "our Father."

Jesus continues the pattern by teaching his disciples to qualify the phrase "our Father" with the words, in heaven." In doing so He is teaching us that God transcends time and space. We can address Him with intimacy but never with impudence. He is the sovereign Creator, and we are but sinful creatures. Addressing God as "our Father" makes us mindful of our place, in relationship to God. Thus, adding the phrase,"in heaven" reminds us of the reverence due to his name.


Hallowed be your Name


The initial request of the prayer of Jesus is that God's name be made holy. To pray "hallowed be your name" is to put the emphasis on God first, exactly where it belongs. In other words, our daily lives should radiate a far greater commitment to God's nature and holiness than to our needs. To pray "hallowed be your name" is to pray that God be given the unique reverence (respect) that His holiness demands. That God's Word be preached without corruption; that our churches be led by faithful pastors and preserved from false prophets, that we be kept from language that profanes God's name; that our lives remain holy; and that we cease from seeking honor for ourselves and seek instead that God's name be glorified.


Continued....

When I am with you, the only place I want to be is closer. - Author Unknown

No measure

Never think that I’m far from you. Never think that I’ll tire of you. I know you often feel inadequate, or as if you don’t do enough, or aren’t good enough, or that you don’t learn your lessons in life fast enough, or that you’re not changing enough or in the way I want you to, or that if you did things differently, you would become more in My eyes or find more favor with Me. Please know that I don’t measure you like that.

I don’t judge you by how much you accomplish for Me or by what good works you do. I don’t compare you with others. I look at your heart, and the love you have for Me and for others, and your faith in Me; that’s what’s important to Me. Those are the important things in My eyes—not all your good works or efforts for self-improvement. All those things will come as a result of your love for Me and as a natural consequence of obeying and applying My Word.

So please don’t compare yourself to a standard that I have not set for you. Know that My love is not measured out in portions, according to how much you think you give to Me or do for Me. My love is not linked to any of that. It’s free and it’s abundant for you.

I’ve loved you from the beginning, and I will love you to the end of your days, and beyond that—through eternity! As you live your life for Me and experience My love for you daily, you will see how infinite it is‚ how free-flowing it is. I want you to accept it as is. Don’t even try to comprehend or understand it, for it is above your thoughts and human understanding.

Just know and accept that it’s there, that it’s never-ending, and then let it work in your heart. Let it change you, let it mold you, and let it inspire you to give to others also. You will see how it will compel you to reach out and share with others, and you will also see that it will never run out, that it will multiply as you give it away. The giving will not take away from it, but will add to it. That’s one of the marvels of My love. It’s heavenly and cannot be measured by any earthly means. That’s My love for you.
**
"LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US!" (HEB.12:1).

All of us are on probation to a certain extent--not regarding Salvation, but regarding our works and our faithfulness, our loyalty, our diligence, our effectiveness and our efficiency. We're all running a race!

The race is His Service! The race is for rewards, for crowns, not for Salvation. God is waiting on the outcome of the race to see what you'll do and how you'll do it before you get your reward.

It's a race in which some are going to win more than others. Some are going to receive greater rewards than others. If there weren't any losers there could not be any winners! Some people get the prize and win the crowns and some don't! Some people fight through to victory and there are other people who lose it for lack of faith or lack of stick-to-it-iveness, lack of determination, lack of sacrifice, lack of whatever it takes to win!--And it takes a lot to win!

So run this race by "looking unto Jesus!" (Heb.12:2). That's the only way you can run with patience! Keep your eyes on Jesus, "the Author and Finisher of our faith!" Fight the good fight, keep the faith and finish the course!--GBY!




Anchor TFI [Video Posted - The Easter Story -- The Bible Experience]

John 12,1-11

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.



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Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows,
you will disown me three times!

John 13:21-38

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"



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Matthew 26:14-25

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

The Last Supper
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, He said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

22 They were very sad and began to say to Him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, the one who would betray Him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”



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