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Table of ContentsLinda's LetterWho We Are Names of God Bible Study Yahweh-Tsid'Ke-nu |
God Sees through These Fig-Leaves! When God Paints No Condemnation, Only Love Our Anchor No Greater Love Judging by Particular Acts Long Forbearance Heartbeats from Heaven Desiring What Christ Gives For the Children Bear in the Big Blue House™ Pages to Color The Baptism Tunnels BC Comic The Great Writer Thoughts on Aging |
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Greetings, dear friends & family! Muslims claim He was a prophet of God who, like Enoch in Genesis 5:24, ascended to Heaven without dying; Hindus acknowledge Him as a teacher who revealed God to us; some people say He was certainly a good man; and one well-known world leader has called Him his "favorite political philosopher". In a conversation with His disciples one day, Jesus asked, "Who do men (the people) say that I am?" Not satisfied with the crowds' speculation about His identity, Jesus went on to ask, "Who do you say I am?" Why did He ask that? Does it really matter? Yes, it matters! Our understanding of the identity of the man called Jesus of Nazareth profoundly influences what we will do with Him, whether we will follow Him, and how we will follow Him. True, Jesus prophesied many things that have been fulfilled and others that are yet to be fulfilled, thus fulfilling the role of a prophet. In addition, he was unquestionably the greatest teacher and example of selfless, systematic morality the world has ever known. That He was a good person, no one would dare argue. But these designations fall short of who Jesus really is. He is more than a prophet . . . more than a moral man . . . more than a good teacher . . . When Jesus asked, "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16) And as Jesus related immediately afterward, to grasp the true identity of Jesus as the Messiah requires divine revelation. (Matthew 16:17) In other words, left to our own devices, we cannot fully discern and appreciate the nature and work of Christ. But God doesn't leave us as He finds us — like pigs wallowing in the mire, hopelessly floundering in our own righteousness, striving to attain to the impossible, strictest excellence of a perfectly holy God. Through His Word and the Holy Spirit, He opens our hearts to discern the truth of who Jesus is, to understand not only what Jesus did to rescue us from the mire, but why. In previous newsletters and the "Names of God" Bible studies, we've discussed the perfect holiness and righteousness of God. And we've considered the fact that we simply don't measure up. Remember, the Bible says that "all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). So, who among us can say that he/she hasn't sinned? The reason Jesus came . . . the reason He lived among us . . . the reason He died . . . was to pay the penalty for sin that's required by a perfectly holy God. Sin must be paid for! The Bible says, "The soul who sins, he shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20) and "According to the law . . . apart from shedding of blood there is no remission [forgiveness of sins]" (Hebrews 9:22). In the Old Testament, the shedding of animals' blood temporarily atoned for people's sins. But when Jesus — the perfect, sinless Lamb of God (John 1:29) — died on that crude splintery cross, His blood paid the penalty, once and for all time, that you and I owe for our own sins. No longer can our sins separate us from communion with Yahweh-Tsid'Ke-nu (Yahweh the Righteous One). Why did Jesus do that? Because the whole reason God created us was to fellowship with us, for us to enjoy His presence and to bask in the light of His eternal love. But sin thwarted that plan, so it needed a permanent fix. God's perfect righteousness demanded payment; and in His love, He provided that payment through the selfless, sinless sacrifice of Jesus the Christ. Jesus' love for the Father and for us compelled Him to come to earth and walk as a servant among us. His extravagant love compelled Him to take a beating for us. His unreasonable love compelled Him to go to the cross for us. His outrageous love compelled Him to stay there in spite of the mockings and the shame. Has any other person ever loved you like that?!? Jesus once asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" You now have to answer that same question! Oh, precious soul, come to the Cross of Christ and receive the free gift of eternal life with the Lover of your soul! I'm not talking about religion. I'm talking about relationship!  Be blessed in Jesus' name, and remember: Christianity isn't about going to church; it's about coming to Christ!
Your sister & servant in Christ,  My Redeemer Lives Christian Ministry Because of the volume of e-mail I receive, it is impossible for me to respond to every person who writes. If you have an opinion or question, please understand that I will not offer personal advice or debate theological issues. You are welcome to send your opinions, corrections and questions, but I can't guarantee I'll be able to respond. If you're looking for some good Bible study sources, I recommend: Bible.org — Trustworthy Bible Study Resources, Blue Letter Bible Study Resources, Christian Courses by RBC Ministries, Precept Ministries International, In Touch Ministries, Shepherd Serve, Today In the Word, Today's Turning Point, all of which offer hundreds of pages of well-organized teaching articles, Bible studies, and/or daily email devotionals. |
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Yahweh-Tsid'Ke-nu "Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His Name alone is excellent; His glory [is] above the earth and heaven." Psalm 148:13 (KJV) Editor's Note: As there is considerable variance among Bible scholars as to former customs, usage, and translations of the numerous names of God in the Bible, the neutrality and factual accuracy of this article may be disputed. These studies are a summation of those ideas and conclusions on which most scholars agree. Yahweh-Tsid'Ke-nu (Tsidkenu, Tzidkaynu, Tsidqenuw) — Yahweh Our Righteousness / Yahweh the Righteous One Pronounced Yä-wá' (or Yä-vá') Tsid-kay'-noo, the compound name itself appears only twice, both times in Jeremiah:
As a result of Judah's rejection of the one true God and their turning to idols, the time for Judah's punishment by exile was drawing near. In sharp contrast to God's laws (cf. Deuteronomy 16:18b), the people of Judah further added to their sin by perverting righteous judgment and ordaining unrighteous decrees, as in...
It is in these contexts, therefore, that Yahweh pronounced judgment against Judah and Israel, while at the same time promising through the Prophet Jeremiah that a time was coming when He would save Judah once again and execute justice and righteousness in the land through the "righteous Branch", none other than Jesus the Christ. Origin of and Other Uses of "Tsid'Ke-nu" The word "tsid'ke-nu" derives from the Hebrew word "tsedek", which means "stiff", "straight", or "righteous". No matter how hard we try or what words we use, mere human language is totally insufficient to convey a full understanding of the ideas of righteousness and justification contained in the word "tsid'ke-nu". Only when we study it in the context of God's character as the "Perfectly Righteous One" can we begin to see it clearly. The words "tsedek" or "tsid'ke-nu" appear hundreds of times in Scripture in reference to outward obligations and relationships with each other as well as with a holy God...
 Click here for a print-friendly copy of this Bible study. The names God has used to reveal Himself to humankind represent His power, actions, and reputation. The Almighty cannot be conjured or treated as an object, as He is the Master of the universe and is neither subject to nor dependent on anyone. The Bible strictly forewarns us not to invoke the name of God for selfish or manipulative purposes. The materials provided here are for educational purposes only and are not intended to offer some sort of mystical insight into the Divine nature of Almighty God. Sources for this study include: Lambert Dolphin's Library Precept Ministries "The Names of God" by J. Hampton Keathley III "The Names of God" by Nathan Stone To view all of the "Names of God" studies to date, go to www.myredeemerlives.com/biblestudies/namesofgodstudy.html. Back to top |
though notorious bad, will certainly condemn, where God acquits." Thomas Brooks Back to top |
"My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from Me, nor is their sin concealed from My eyes!" Jeremiah 16:17
folly of hypocrisy. Hypocrites carry it fair with men — but care not how bad their hearts are; they live in secret sin. "They say — How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" "What does God know? Can He judge through thick darkness?" "God has forgotten, He hides His face, He will never see it!" But, "His understanding is infinite!" He has a window to look into men's hearts! He has a key to open up the heart. "Your Father who sees in secret." God sees in secret. As a merchant enters debts in his book, so God has His debt-book, in which He enters every sin! The hypocrite thinks to disguise and juggle with God--but God will unmask him. "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing." "For they have done outrageous things . . . I know it and am a witness to it — declares the Lord." Jeremiah 29:23 The hypocrite hopes he shall color over his sin, and make it look very good. Absalom masks over his treason with the pretense of a religious vow. Judas cloaks his covetousness, with the pretense of "charity to the poor." Jehu makes religion a cloak for his selfish design. But God sees through these fig-leaves! He who has an eye to see — will find a hand to punish! Since God is infinite in knowledge, we should always feel as under His omniscient eye. "I have set the Lord always before me." The consideration of God's omniscience would be preventive of much sin. The eye of man will restrain from sin; and will not God's eyes much more? "Will he even assault the queen right here in the palace, before my very eyes? the king roared." Esther 7:8. Will we sin when our Judge looks on? Would men speak so vainly, if they considered God overheard them? What care would people have of their words, if they remembered that God heard, and His pen was writing everything down in heaven? Would they commit immorality, if they believed God was a spectator of their wickedness, and would punish them in hell for it? Would they defraud in their dealings, and use false weights, if they knew God saw them; and for making their weights lighter — would make their damnation heavier? Is God omniscient, and His eye chiefly upon the heart? Then be sincere — be what you seem! "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Sam. 16:7 God judges the actions — by the heart. by Thomas Watson (1620-1686), "Body of Divinity" Received from Grace Gems (choice electronic books, sermons, and quotes) Back to top |
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After a hardy rainstorm filled all the potholes in the streets and alleys, a young mother watched through her kitchen window as her two little boys played in the puddle. The older of the two, a five-year-old lad, grabbed his sibling by the back of his head and shoved his face into the water hole. As the boy recovered and stood laughing and dripping, the mother ran to the yard in a panic. "Why on earth did you do that to your little brother?" she said as she shook the older boy in anger. "We were just playing church, mommy," he said. "And I was just baptizing him in the name of the Father, the Son and . . . in the hole-he-goes." Back to top |
The following photographs are the second set in a series of 10 photos I'm sharing with you during the coming months that beautifully portray our loving Father's handiwork in nature. Enjoy!  ...... Back to top |
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Thomas Watson (1620 — 1686), Puritan Preacher & Author Back to top |
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death." Romans 8:1-2 (WEB) Ephesians 3:18 says the Father's love for His children is so wide, long, high, and deep that we can never fully understand its scope. God's love is constant, and it lasts forever. But sometimes, our emotions tell us otherwise. In our minds, we often associate divine love with our behavior. When we're good, we believe we're loved. But when we make mistakes, we question how much He cares for us. After a series of missteps, we might think He disapproves of us far more often than He loves us. Some of us even think God's judgment hangs over us like a dark cloud. The truth is, there's no condemnation for any believer. At the cross, Jesus accepted everything that would condemn us before almighty God. In the Father's divine court of law, His Son was found guilty in our place so we could be set free from condemnation. It's as if God stamped "Paid in Full" on the record of our sin-debt. The Christian's transgressions are completely covered by the blood of Jesus. It doesn't matter if the offense occurred before salvation or years in the future. No believer is indebted to God for sin. We need to understand that He doesn't excuse our sin. Our loving, heavenly Father uses discipline to bring us back to godly behavior. He allows us to experience sins consequences. But divine condemnation isn't one of them. Will you open your heart and mind to receive God's love today? Back to top |
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It ought to make a difference." Vance Havner Back to top |
There was once a young man who, in his youth, professed his desire become a great writer. When asked to define "great" he said, "I want to write stuff that the whole world will read, stuff that people will react to on a truly emotional level, stuff that will make them scream, cry, howl in pain and anger!" He now works for Microsoft, writing error messages. |
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A recent college graduate took a new job in a hilly Eastern city and began commuting each day to work through a tiring array of tunnels, bridges and traffic jams. To make the task less onerous, he invited several of his co-workers to share the ride. He soon found, however, that the commute continued to get more stressful, especially the trips through the tunnels. He consulted the company doctor. "Doc," the frustrated commuter complained, "I'm fine on the bridges, in the traffic, in the day and at night, and even when Joe forgets to bathe all week long. But when I get in the tunnels and I've got those four other guys crowded around me in the car, I get anxious and dizzy and feel like I'm going to explode." Without further analysis, the doctor announced he had identified the ailment. "What is it, Doc? Am I going insane?" "No, no, no, my boy. You have something very common in these parts." "Tell me! What is it?" "You have what is known as Carpool Tunnel Syndrome." |
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Our Anchor "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." Isaiah 40:8 (KJV) Often in our lives we have trials and heartaches that we have to go through, but we have an anchor, our blessed Savior, who will keep us from drowning. When there is no rain for a long time, or there is too much rain, the flowers and grass fade and wither. It is the same with us if we don't have a steady diet of the Word of God. Sometimes our strength grows weak, and our determination falters, it is then that we need to cling to Jesus, our Anchor in the storms of life. If we are unable to run to Jesus, or even walk to Him because we are hurting so badly, then we need to crawl to Him, or ask someone to lift us up to Him. It does not matter what heartache, problem or crisis we are facing, the Word of God is true and will stand forever. Many people scoff at the Bible and at those who believe it. Get a rope and tie yourself to the anchor of love, Jesus. As long as we are anchored in Him, all hell can come against us but we will be held safe and secure by His Love and faithfulness. Is your strength weak today? Do you feel that you aren't able to go another day? Turn to the only one who can give lasting comfort and support. Yes, Jesus is our blessed anchor of hope and safety. Thank God for His Anchor of Love! Received from AllWorship.com Back to top |
is to be bought off by little trinkets, never to own the great treasure of His indwelling presence." Calvin Miller |
Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty. But everything else starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out. There are three signs of old age. The first is your loss of memory. I forget the other two. You're getting old when you don't care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don't have to go along. Middle-age is when work is a lot less fun and fun is a lot more work. Statistics show that at the age of seventy, there are five women to every man. Isn't that a bad time for a guy to get those odds? Middle-age is when it takes longer to rest than to get tired. By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere. Middle-age is when you have stopped growing at both ends, and have begun to grow in the middle. A man has reached middle-age when he is cautioned to slow down by his doctor instead of by the police. You know you're into middle-age when you realize that caution is the only thing you care to exercise. Back to top |
 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field." Matthew 13:44 Back to top |
For the Children Bear in the Big Blue House™ Pages to Color Click on an image to open a page for printing it full-size.  ...... ...... ...... ...... Provided by All About Coloring Back to top |
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 (NIV) Maxwell Maltz tells the story of a man who'd been severely injured while attempting to rescue his parents from a fire. His heroic efforts proved to be in vain, though. His mom and dad died in the burning house. During his rescue attempt the fire badly scorched his face and disfigured it. He was so ashamed of his appearance that he refused to allow anyone — including his wife — to see his face. For help, his wife went to Maltz, a plastic surgeon. "Not to worry," he assured her, "I can restore his face." Despite the good news, the wife still felt disheartened. Her husband had always refused any medical treatment. Assuming he wouldn't change his mind, she said to Maltz, "I want you to disfigure my face so I can be like him! If I can share in his pain, then maybe he will let me back into his life." Maltz tried to mask his horror at the request. He refused to perform the operation, but was so moved by this woman's love for her husband that he went to visit her husband. Through closed door, he yelled, "I'm a plastic surgeon. I want you to know that I can restore your face." No reply. "Please, won't you come out? At least let me see your face. At least talk to me." Silence. Still speaking through a door, Maltz told the man of his wife's request. "She wants me to mutilate her face in order to make her face like yours. She hopes that you will then let her back into your life. That's how much she loves you." Ever so slowly the doorknob turned.1 True, it must be extremely painful to be disfigured and feel that no one will ever accept you. May God help all of us, including me, to love and accept those who suffer so. At the same time it is important that each of us realizes how totally repulsive our sinfulness is to God because he is a God of absolute holiness. In spite of this he loves and accepts us unconditionally. God also hates our sin because it is totally destructive of those whom he loves — us. But because of his great love for us, God gave his Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the penalty for all our sin so we can be tot ally "healed from sin's deathly disfigurement," and be freely forgiven and saved from sin's deadly consequences — eternal separation from God, the author of all love and life. If you have never accepted God's love and forgiveness, I urge you to do that today. For help read "How to Find and Know God". "Dear God, thank you that, in spite of the ugliness of my sinfulness, you love and accept me totally and unconditionally. Help me to truly appreciate what you have done for me and live a life that will bring honor to your name. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen." by "Daily Encounter" from ACTS International 1 Maxie Dunnam, "This Is Christianity" (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994), pp. 60-61, ISBN 0687084105. Cited on WITandWISDOM. Back to top |
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My Redeemer Lives Christian Ministry™ has a vision for a great Christ awakening and revival around the world, and a passion to help bring this about, directly or indirectly, irrespective of national boundaries, languages, denominations, or ethnic, racial or social/economic castes or classes. We are a non-denominational, Christ-centered Free Church Ministry and Missions Society. In accordance with IRS Code § 508(c)(1)(A), all donations are tax-deductible. National Association of Evangelicals United Christian Ministries International Scripture taken from: King James Version (KJV), Copyright © 1990 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. New King James Version (NKJV), Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. New International Version (NIV), Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society World English Bible (WEB), 2001 MT-based public domain update of 1901 American Standard Version (ASV) Copyright © 2007. My Redeemer Lives Christian Ministry™. All rights reserved. |
