Photos from Dad - Athens!

Look at this neat photo Dad sent us!
Dad was in Athens yesterday walking along the road named after the man in Acts 17 - Dionysius, the Areopagus (He's the man who heard St. Paul preach and became a Christian - the first bishop of Athens, too!).

I like trains!

Even sightseeing ones like this one!

How about you?

First Verse of Bible Books - Book # 5 - Deuteronomy 1:1

"These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the desert east of the Jordan--that is, in the Arabah--opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab."

(Deuteronomy 1:1)

What's important here, kids? Is it that the location given? Yes, that is important. But even more, it's the words that were spoken while Moses was in the location "in the desert east of the Jordan" - the Words of the Law that were given to him by God!

Deuteronomy comes from the two Greek words meaning "second" and "law." Before Moses was no longer with the new nation of Israel, he retold the laws that were given during the years in the desert. This retelling was from Moses' heart; he was as a grandfather telling the children he loved to never forget the Laws that were given to them. 
Why? 
Because only through these laws would they recognize God's Salvation - the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ - when He visited the earth!

The image of the scroll is from Gladsome Light Dialogues. 

Lucy's Devotional - A New Thing!

"See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"

Isaiah 43:19




Hi Everyone!!

What do you think God, through his servant the prophet Isaiah, is telling us here?
I think He means that everyday is new (He's said that in several places in the Bible before) and even if we failed at something yesterday, He can still make a new something that we do succeed at today! 
Like what? 
Well, maybe not getting into an argument today (as you might have yesterday!) with your brother or sister, or maybe getting an A on a Math test the next time, rather than a C as you did the last time. 

Remember: God is in the business of doing everything new each and every day! After all, the sun comes up fresh each day; so must we!

VERSES TO LIVE BY! (1 Peter 5:7)

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for YOU!!!"
1 Peter 5:7



What does this mean?
It means...don't worry about a thing!
Give God all your worries and because He cares for you he will take care of every single one! 
What kind of worries? 
It could be a kid bugging you in school, or it could be your mom and dad fighting too much, or it could be having to move houses or change towns.
Don't worry about any of it. Give your worry to God and see what wonderful things He will do! 
Why?
"Because He cares for you!" 
(Remember! St. Peter - who knew Jesus really really well - said it. So it must be true!)

The First Verse of Bible Books - Numbers 1:1

"The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said:"

The image of the Tent of Meeting is from the 1890 Holman Bible! Isn't it awesome!

The First Verse of Bible Books - Leviticus 1:1

"The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the 

Tent of Meeting. He said..."

The image of the Tent of Meeting is from the 1890 Holman Bible! Isn't it awesome!

Happy Holy Ghost Day! (Pentecost!)

Happy Holy Ghost Day!!

This is what Grandpa tells us all day long this day! 

It's the day that the Holy Spirit came to live in the hearts of all that believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He came to saved us from all our sins (He did! He really did!)! Grandpa says it's the best day of the year!

It's pretty cool, that's for sure!
 You can read all about it in Acts 2: 1-4.

We don't know who the painter of this painting is (If you do let us know so we can give credit to the artist...and also thank him or her for such a great painting) but it is one of our favorites.

What do you think?

Pentecost is for everyone!

The First Verse of Bible Books! - Exodus 1:1

Image courtesy: Wikipedia

"These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family:" 

(Exodus 1:1)

My Bible Verse - Fill in the Blank

My dear __ and __, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. 
(James 1:19)

Grandma always reminds Pete and me of this one when we get angry with one another! It always kind of helps us to "put the breaks" on our words. 
Thanks, Grandma!

Oh! The answer is:
brothers; sisters

The First Verse of Bible Books - Genesis 1:1

"In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

My Bible Verse - Fill in the Blanks

"If any of you lacks __, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be __ to him."
(James 1:5)

(Pete here: I put a picture of my cat, Caesar, here today because Dad says that sometimes... he seems to have a lot more wisdom than Lucy or me.

Oh, yeah... guess I kind of gave away the first word that needs to be filled in. It's wisdom.)

Dad says we should ask God to give us wisdom... and He will!

Answers: wisdom; given

Olive Grove!

An Olive tree grove!
Don't you think Jesus might have liked to walk through such a grove after Easter! 

(Caesar, our cat, certainly likes to!)
Many thanks to award winning,
 P.J. Kabos extra virgin Olive Oil 

for the use of their photo! 

Happy Easter!

HE IS RISEN!!

TRULY, HE IS RISEN!

Tuesday of Holy Week - The Parable of the Ten Virgins

I get it Pete! So today is Tuesday of Passion Week which means according to the reckoning of time during the last week of Jesus' earthly life "Tuesday - the third day of the week" was from our Monday Evening at sundown to Tuesday Evening at sundown.

That's it Lucy!

And today one of the things we remember is the Parable of the Ten Virgins!

Parable of the Ten Virgins

Artist: William Blake

Tate Gallery, London, UK

Jesus said:

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

Matthew 25: 1-13 (KJV)

Easter Week - Holy Monday - Withered Fig Tree

MONDAY OF PASSION WEEK

Pete here: According to the reckoning of time during the last week of Jesus' earthly life "Monday - the second day of the week" was from our Sunday Evening at sundown to Monday Evening at sundown. It can seem confusing (especially to my sister, Lucy) but it really isn't! I'll show you this week!

And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! 

(Matthew 21:19,20)

Easter Art! - Resurrection of Lazarus

The Resurrection of Lazarus

Artist: Giovanni di Paolo

Location: Siena, Italy

The Resurrection of Jesus' friend Lazarus happened about a month and a half before Easter. But it is about Easter too because it strengthened Jesus' disciple before He traveled to Jerusalem and willingly gave His life for the salvation of the world.  I mean, what better way to get people to understand that Jesus will raise Himself from the dead than to raise his good friend Lazarus? Pretty cool I'd say! 

Jesus said, "Lazarus, come forth!" (John  11:43) and Lazarus - who had been dead for four days - did!!

Easter Art!

Palm Sunday!

Fresco 

Assisi, Italy 

Easter Art! - The Last Supper

The Greatest Passover Meal Ever!

Lucy's Devotional - God's Favor

By this I know that thou favourest me;
because mine enemies doth not triumph over me.

(Psalm 41: 11 KJV)


As you saw last weekend, when you filled in the blanks of this verse with Grandma, she likes the King James Version. I think in modern day English it would say something like this:

"By this I Know that you favor me; because my enemies do not triumph over me!"

or 

"Because of Your favor, my enemies cannot triumph over me."

What does it mean? 
That if you walk with God that even though things seem to go against you -- maybe a bully at school is bothering you, or a teacher just doesn't like you, or your mom and dad seemed to be arguing too much, or your dad lost his job and your family has money worries, or someone you love is sick -- that you won't be defeated. That somehow God will bring you and your family through the hard times and even to better times than you could imagine! 

How will He do this? 
So many possible ways! Maybe he will use a relative  or a friend as His instrument of grace, or maybe he will send an angel to direct you the right way, or maybe he will just supernaturally (He is THE Super Natural One after all!) show you the way through.

Just know that if you are a child of God -- meaning you have asked God to live in your heart, that you believe Jesus is the Son of God -- that God's favor is on you. And if God's favor is on you, look out world!

"Dear Lord in Heaven, thank you so much for putting Your favor on me!"

Easter Art!

Entry into Jerusalem - Palm Suday

(2 Weeks from today!)