JESUS RESURRECTED - the WORD made FLESH - ALIVE

As we begin the week after the Celebration ofJesus Christ's Resurrection,we start anew in "The 📘" *with
The WORD Made FLESH[April 21-27] 

Psalm 85 Monday: John 1:1-14  Tuesday: Colossians 1:15-23 Wednesday: Colossians 2:9-15 Thursday: Philippians 2:1-13 Friday: Hebrews 1:1-13 Saturday: Matthew 1:18-25 Sunday: Isaiah 53:1-12

* an actual book - "The Blue Book" - Jim Branch{there's a Spotify playlist companion to his book}

Beginning with the gospel book of John, which contains the most well-known verse that contains "and the Word was made flesh" or "and the Word became flesh" ... certainly ties the glorious event of Jesus' Resurrection back to the beginning of Jesus that we celebrate at Christmas and even connects the beginning of God's Word in the book of Genesis. The entire Word of God connects from Genesis to Revelation yet this particular verse allows us to know that there is a beautiful golden thread all the way through all the books of God's Word and the purpose of these powerful events as well. 

I read various versions of the Bible for the reading on Monday and this particular verse but then I saw an image with these words for John 1:14-18 (copyright prevents me from sharing the purple image) but here are the words in a version that I didn't check:

"...the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love & faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father."

I believe it's New Century Version and as you see I linked to verses 14-18 and our daily  reading given only went to verse 14.

Verse 14 continues with some form of "and dwelt among us" - one says "made His dwelling among us". I personally believe that His dwelling is not just among us but should be within us and that since Jesus dwells in us, we definitely should act more and more Christ-like, and reflect the image of Jesus/God to others among us, but that does not give us the right to insist that they believe as we believe rather we should act in a way that draws them to want what we have. Most of us need work in this daily so that is why we call upon the Name of Jesus and ask for the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and change us. Once again, taking a chance and sharing this image because I really love the peace and serene beauty in it (hoping it's ok)

[image credit: Daily Verse]

Reminds me of the image I think of when 

John baptizes Jesus

(the verses of this follow in this chapter from John)

Here are my own photos taken on February 1st, 2025 right outside 

but I missed capturing the one when the light shone through like the Daily Verse one

<>

I came here to explore the meaning of John 1:14 although the words seem quite clear. {right now the 1st "Reading for Reflection" by Jim Branch} gives us this in a significant, powerful "heart" description but if you desire more, iBelieve shares a very thorough one, so I need not expound. 

As usual, once I get off-track, I end up down a different path of where I intended to go - but this week is just getting started with "the WORD made FLESH", however, I believe this initial scripture from John 1 is the key verse for me. I probably will continue to explore and focus here, because I'm intrigued by this beautiful verse and its meaning. 

[Although I intended this week to be a break, thinking that it would be difficult to find more verses that contain "the WORD made FLESH" and I did not want to search for "the WORD" again (since we already covered that back in 6) and I have a pretty good idea of what verses I'd find on FLESH ... that would not be the same, so the complete phrase is more important and its significance in how we ABIDE in Jesus and Jesus in us. Perhaps you've forgotten, or I never shared this here on my blog yet, but the One Word that I was given when I took the (in)courage quiz for my One Word for 2025 was ABIDE. It's no surprise that God brought this one back to mind.]

Still I'm not sure where the rest of the Scripture readings this week will lead, nor the Readings for Reflection, but I'm sure that by the end of this week, I will have a better grasp - even while we PAUSE (break) I will ponder this even more, since I am so thankful that "the WORD became FLESH and dwelt among us" and that John, considered to be Jesus Beloved, begins with this; and yet I truly believe that when Jesus dwells in us, it's because HE sees each of us as His Beloved, so He's waiting for that best image as we ALL were created in His Image to shine forth, especially in the darkness of this current time; and my photos, I keep watch to see Jesus' return to burst forth and save us, redeem us & resurrect us. I always believe that Jesus' heart desperately loves each one of us & is just waiting for the good of God to reach out to one another in His love & aMazing Grace! That is God in the flesh - the best of you and the best of me shining the true light that Jesus lived, and can still live through us as we love one another. It's one of the two greatest commands that He summed up all the rest in these two: (Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-28) Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength & Love one another as He has loved us!