Just a butterfly...

I woke up before dawn today and started to work on the computer before 7 am.  Life is both variable and strange during retirement.  Right now, this cup of coffee looks great to me.  Not just because its coffee, but because of the little something extra; the butterfly.  Somehow, this simple addition makes it enticing.  And then Jesus does this...

WEB: Matthew Chapter 19

[13] Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. [14] But Jesus said, "“Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”" [15] He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.

There is so much in the Bible that it is almost beyond belief (no pun intended).  Even though I have been through it many times, still, I always manage to find something new.  It has concepts in it that almost defy understanding (read the book of Revelation lately?) and yet its simplicity is also profound.  The above passage from Matthew is an example.  Little children belong in the Kingdom of Heaven; now there is a thought!!!  Scribes and Pharisees, with all their intellect and religious studies fell short, but CHILDREN DIDN'T!!!  Tells you something about SIMPLE FAITH, DOESN'T IT?  That's today's thought... simple faith and the simple beauty of a cup of coffee (with a butterfly).  If God gave me a cup of coffee in heaven, I wonder what design he would put on it????

Feb. 29 Exodus 10

Feb. 29
Exodus 10

Exo 10:1 Yahweh said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs in the midst of them,
Exo 10:2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son's son, what things I have done to Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am Yahweh."
Exo 10:3 Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, "This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Exo 10:4 Or else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country,
Exo 10:6 Your houses shall be filled, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; as neither your fathers nor your fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.' " He turned, and went out from Pharaoh.
Exo 10:7 Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh, their God. Don't you yet know that Egypt is destroyed?"
Exo 10:8 Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, "Go, serve Yahweh your God; but who are those who will go?"
Exo 10:10 He said to them, "Yahweh be with you if I will let you go with your little ones! See, evil is clearly before your faces.
Exo 10:11 Not so! Go now you who are men, and serve Yahweh; for that is what you desire!" They were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.
Exo 10:16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and he said, "I have sinned against Yahweh your God, and against you.
Exo 10:17 Now therefore please forgive my sin again, and pray to Yahweh your God, that he may also take away from me this death."
Exo 10:18 He went out from Pharaoh, and prayed to Yahweh.
Exo 10:20 But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he didn't let the children of Israel go.
Exo 10:22 Moses stretched forth his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.
Exo 10:25 Moses said, "You must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our God.
Exo 10:26 Our livestock also shall go with us. There shall not a hoof be left behind, for of it we must take to serve Yahweh our God; and we don't know with what we must serve Yahweh, until we come there."
Exo 10:27 But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he wouldn't let them go.
Exo 10:29 Moses said, "You have spoken well. I will see your face again no more."

"THE BOOK OF PSALMS" Psalm 15 - The Marks Of A True Worshiper by Mark Copeland


               Psalm 15 - The Marks Of A True Worshiper


1) To note the character of those whom God would have worship Him

2) To be reminded of basic principles of righteous conduct required by


The heading attributes this psalm to David, and may have been written
in anticipation of the ark's restoration to Israel and establishment of
public worship in Jerusalem (cf. 2Sa 6:1-19).  It is didactic in
nature, and is entitled by Leupold as "The Marks Of A True Worshiper."

The psalm begins with two questions addressed to Jehovah (LORD),
perhaps prompted by the incident involving Uzzah touching the ark when
it was being transported improperly on the back of a cart (cf. 2 Sam
6:3-7; Num 4:5-15; 7:9).  Since no one could actually take up residence
in the tabernacle, the inquiry could be paraphrased "Whom will You
accept when he comes to Your house, O Lord?" (1).

The answer provided begins with a general description of a true
worshiper as one who walks uprightly and works righteousness.  More
specifically, the true worshiper is one who does not lie (cf. Ep 4:25),
backbite with his tongue (cf. Jm 4:11), do evil to his neighbor, or
take up a reproach against his friend (cf. Ps 101:5-8).  He despises a
vile person, but honors those who fear the Lord (cf. Ps 16:3;
119:63).  His upright character is illustrated by his unwillingness to
go back on his word even if he has sworn to his own detriment (e.g.,
Josh 9:18-20; Judg 11:35).  He also will not loan money at interest (cf.
Exo 22:25; Deut 23:19,20), or take bribes (cf. Exo 23:8) against the
innocent (2-5a).

The psalm ends with a declaration that one who does these things shall
never be moved.  This is because he is privileged to draw near to God
(cf. Ps 16:8), and is reminiscent of the blessed man of Psalms 1 who
prospers in every thing he does (5b).






      1. He who walks uprightly
      2. He who works righteousness

      1. He who speaks truth in his heart
      2. He who does not...
         a. Backbite with his tongue
         b. Do evil to his neighbor
         c. Take up a reproach against his friend
      3. In whose eyes...
         a. A vile person is despised
         b. One who fears the Lord is honored
      4. He who swears to his own hurt and does not change
      5. He who does not...
         a. Put out his money at usury (interest)
         b. Take a bribe against the innocent
      -- He who does these things shall never be moved


1) What are the main points of this psalm?
   - The question posed (1)
   - The answer provided (2-5)

2) Who is the author of this psalm?
   - David

3) What is the character or style of this psalm?
   - Didactic (designed to teach or instruct)

4) What question(s) does the psalmist ask at the beginning? (1)
   - Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
   - Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

5) What is the answer in general terms? (2a)
   - He who walks uprightly and works righteousness

6) What is the answer in more specific terms? (2b-5a)
   - He who speaks the truth in his heart
   - He who does not backbite with his tongue
   - He who does no evil to his neighbor
   - He who does not take up a reproach against his friend
   - He who despises a vile person
   - He who honors those who fear the Lord
   - He who swears to his own hurt and does not change
   - He who does not put out his money at usury
   - He who does not take a bribe against the innocent

7) What is said of one who does all these things? (5b)
   - He shall never be moved