"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointedme to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me tobind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedomfor the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaimthe year of the LORD's favorand the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."~fromISAIAH 61 Bible verse for this Blog
APOLOGY to READERS who followed a SEARCH to HERE & didn't find it
On July 18, 2017, I drafted almost 3000 blog posts that I had published since 2008 when I began blogging, rather than edit each one. So if you clicked here from somewhere else and ended up with the post unavailable or error, I am sorry but this is why. It'd be too much work for me to go back and fix them. There's an explanation on7/19/17as I'm still learning.
When I came back online (after Lent, besides the time offline at the beginning of the year), I really did not think that I'd be writing that many blog posts this year, not even the weekly 6 pm SONday ones, but here I am again. The biggest reason has been because of "The Blue Book" and its weekly One Word choices, Scripture & Reflection Readings really have been speaking to me personally that are inspiring me to share. As I look ahead to the upcoming themes for May, in particular, I am sure that this will continue ... especially the next one. How could I not?
The GRACE of God
{after all, it's my CHOSEN Blog title}
Actually I felt it was given to me
by God
way back when I started .
aMazing GRACE
which was added to
Mazes, Messes & Miracles
which I decided summed up my life journey
a recurring series of events
that fit or transitioned
throughout
my walk
whether it was through a Maze,
or a Mess, that ended in
a Miracle by God
reminding
me
constantly of His
aMazing GRACE!
"GRACE is God's best idea"
~Max Lucado~
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So even before I begin Monday's new chapter in "The Blue Book" by Jim Branch, I thought I'd share the next few weeks of May with these upcoming themes:
15. The GRACE of God 16. LOVED by God 17. UNDONE 18. The CROSS
Once again, we are being led back to The CROSS
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Of course, it's at The CROSS that
The GRACE of GOD
is poured out
on us
GRACE
is defined as
"unmerited favor"
"The Hebrew word for “grace” is cḥēn, pronounced like “hen.” This word is commonly translated as “favor,” which means acceptance and goodwill regardless of whether we've earned it. In other words, grace is undeserved favor. Grace can't be earned; it is something freely given to us by God." from Compassion International
One of the most well-known acronym for GRACE that I learned quite awhile ago is
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense
so once again, we come to The CROSS
One can never express
just how really
aMazing
God's GRACE truly is
{at least I can't}
I found another acronym quote by Stephanie Cacioppo that says GRACE stands for:
Gratitude
Reciprocity
Action
Compassion
Energy
I understand the first 4 but not too sure of the last one. I like it, but I think I prefer the original well-known (or used by pastors & authors most) and then there's the following one of the 5 elements of GRACE from a book by John Baldoni (having more GRACE in a crisis) with almost the same words for each letter:
Generosity
Respect
Action
Compassion
Energy
Whichever acronym choice, we know that GRACE is/was greatly shown by Jesus Christ - all the way to the Cross. I also found an 8 page document on "The Principles of GRACE" but just saved it rather than read it now. I will trust that by the time I (we) read in "The Blue Book" this week that we will be saturated by the goodness of God's GRACE. Meanwhile, I believe that Jesus Christ's GRACE encompassed all God's Riches and definitely had sufficient portions of Generosity (and we should have much Gratitude for the GRACE of God); that there's much Respect & Reciprocity received & given in moments of GRACE; and that GRACE takes our ACTION and our COMPASSION just as Jesus showed us; certainly maintaining & reflecting Jesus' GRACE will take alot of Energy for us humans, but since we are made in God's image, it's available in us so let's be aware that we all need more GRACE and we all need to offer more GRACE in our daily interactions. I have always been aMazed by God's GRACE and after a week focusing on the GRACE of God, I know that I will be refreshed by His GRACE once again. It is not through anything that I have done, and as I already have written, it is not earned or deserved by any one of us. So much can be written about the GRACE of God, in fact most of us are aware of one of my favorite author, who has written many books already on GRACE - our dear Pastor & Author Max Lucado. One quote by Pastor Max is shared in the Readings for Reflection and it's one that we can immerse ourselves in, over & over:
"The more we immerse ourselves in GRACE, the more likely we are to give GRACE." -- In the Grip of Grace (1996)
I have quite a few of Max's books, but not on GRACE
(more are on being CALM, not anxious)
Perhaps if I had a few more on
"GRACE
for the Moment"
or
"In the Grip of GRACE"
I would be more focused on God's GRACE
and have much less fret and worry in me,
with my firm grip on
GRACE
I'd know much more on how
truly
aMazing
the GRACE of God is
so my blog would not have the
rest of my subtitle of
Mazes, Messes
but
wrapped in all the
Miracles
found in His
GRACE
{but still I really do realize just how aMazing GRACE is & has been in my entire life}
I recall being immersed frequently in
the GRACE of God
According to Pastor Max
"Grace is simply another word for God's tumbling, rumbling reservoir of strength and protection. It comes at us not occasionally or miserly but constant -ly and aggressively, wave upon wave. We've barely regained our balance from one breaker, and then bam, here comes another."
[celebration of Mexico's victory over the 2nd French Empire at their Battle of Puebla (1862)]
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and adding a
Blessed & Happy Mother's Day!
[because at the end of this week's reading will be Mother's Day]
remembering our mothers fondly
🌹🌹🌹
Such the right time
to beginning that next week on Monday with
LOVED
by God
&
our mothers "loved by God" and
vessels of His Love
&
our love for them!
{the good and not so good}
but nonetheless they are our moms
we're all human yet still
LOVED by GOD
💓
ADDING THIS HERE later in the week from an important email from Women of Welcome:
Towards the beginning:
"Immigration headlines can feel overwhelming, and the conversations are often complex. But Scripture calls us to love our neighbors and speak up for the vulnerable—and that includes our immigrant and refugee neighbors. That’s why we’ve partnered with our friends at Be the Bridge to create an updated guide to help you speak up with both confidence and compassion. Using Your Voice: For Our Immigrant Neighbors answers the most common questions Christians have about immigration and equips you to engage conversations with biblical clarity, truth, and grace."
[You're invited to download a free copy @ https://womenofwelcome.com/use-your-voice/ ]
" —and take the next faithful step toward LOVE in action!"
If you know me at all through this blog or in person or somehow, you know that this
issue touches my heart & life deeply. I appreciate your prayers and "LOVE in action" as the Women of Welcome & Be the Bridge encourage us
... and the final part:
"... As we celebrated Mother's Day this past week, we reflected on how often love looks like sacrifice. Like a mother’s brave steps toward an unfamiliar border. Like holding tight to faith when everything else feels uncertain. To the migrant mothers making unimaginable choices out of deep love—we see you. To the moms sacrificing their time to welcome and to teach their children the way of biblical hospitality, your faithful efforts are seen by God. Thank you for loving in small, Christlike ways every day, ladies! {and men}
More in the Comments [Let's Pray Together] What a wonderful way to show others that we ALL are LOVED by God! There are no borders in being LOVED by GOD.
"*"I Am Chosen" is a heartfelt worship song inspired by the deep truths of Scripture, celebrating Elohim's love and purpose for His people. This song reminds us that we are chosen by the Creator, called by name, and redeemed by His grace. With every lyrics, it speaks to the unshakable identity we have in Yeshua (Jesus) and the eternal hope found in Him.
Remember, You are chosen! Elohim has called you into His family, and His Torah is a light to guide your steps. Return to His commandments, because Yeshua Himself said, 'If you love Me, keep My commandments.' His love is not just an invitation but a call to action. Take up your cross daily, as Yeshua said in Luke 9:23: 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.' YAH promises strength for the journey and blessings beyond measure for those who walk in His ways." *THT (see * at the end)
I'm allowing the lyrics to soak into my spirit as I read, listen, watch & pray
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continuing in
"The Blue Book"
this week with
CHOSEN
by God
[April 28-May 4]
14. CHOSEN by God
Psalm 135
Monday: Matthew 20:1-16
Tuesday: Matthew 22:1-14
Wednesday: Ephesians 1:3-14
Thursday: John 15:9-17
Friday: 1 Peter 2:1-10
Saturday: John 6:35-51
Sunday: Romans 8:28-39
Long ago I shared on this blog about "Our Identity in Christ" - there's a remnant of that at the bottom of the blog, if you scroll all the way down. I'm not too sure that the various blog posts are still available since I drafted so many of my earlier blog posts. {I found the CHOSEN video that I shared way back in 2010 and repeated in other years, so I had to include & repost this}
But more recent and was currently in the theaters, there is a well-known series called "The CHOSEN". I am not as familiar with this as some others, who watch as much as they can & enjoy immensely. From what I know, Season 5 is in Production (Season 6 is coming) but 5 is also what was in the theaters in 3 different movies (parts) of great lengths: 3 hours, 2 hours, and 2 hours. Good thing they broke it down because 7 hours would be quite the theatrical performance of endurance. Those of you, who watch and are familiar probably know much more than I do, so consider yourselves the experts on being "The CHOSEN". But as we seek more about CHOSEN by God this week, I was thinking about why was "The CHOSEN" selected as the title of this wonderful series. Surely, Jesus is the real One that is "The CHOSEN" by God to be our Savior, however the story of Jesus shared in The CHOSEN series is really about the people that Jesus chose to be His followers.
If you have CHOSEN to follow JESUS & His Way, I dare say that you, too are part of "The CHOSEN" and without watching regularly, I am sure that each show's purpose is to present the well-known Biblical characters in a very real sense and show that they are CHOSEN and why they CHOSE to become part of Jesus' story or why Jesus CHOSE these people as part of His story. All I know for sure is that I definitely am so very thankful that I have the awesome privilege to be part of The CHOSEN family of Jesus Christ, because I CHOSE Jesus as the center focus of my beliefs and life! HE is part of my life story so that I am able to learn and grow closer every day to Jesus, deepening our relationship - I cannot count all that has blessed my life because of this special relationship that I treasure with the hope to be more Christ-like each & every day so I might continue as a Beloved CHOSEN follower of Jesus Christ, my Savior, my Lord, and my Redeemer. In Jesus, I am secure; I am accepted and I am free! I am valuable, I am forgiven and I am complete!
"Jesus Calling" shared a recent podcast #442, with Dallas Jenkins and the cast of "The Chosen". I would not have any idea what You Tube video I should chose to exemplify this series so I chose the first LIVE one that came up of a Q & A glimpse into season 6 (maybe you can share in the comments, some of your favorite episodes or seasons):
A festal season in the liturgical year - marking the high point
of the Church's year and a "profound significance for our identity
as Christians (mainly Catholics) but it'd be great if we all
kept finding this season to celebrate with expectation
the Holy Spirit
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Because I am a linguistic nerd - lover of languages & origins of words
(etymology)
I can't resist sharing on "Paschal".
The only time that I can recall hearing this word,
it was connected to Lamb:
the Paschal Lamb
"Paschal is the English adjectival form of the Greek word pascha, which is derived from the Hebrew word pesah (or pesach), which means “passover.”The Pesach or Passover is the Jewish Feast celebrating the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt (see Exodus, chapter 12), focusing on the Tenth Plague and its results."... St. Mary's Press (a pdf for much more)
[a very informative 6 pages of background]
{If you're not a nerd like me, than the boxed portion is enough - it's enough for me too}
As GREAT as it is to continue celebrating this season
{and right about now, most of us need something to encourage us,
to celebrate and lift our Spirit, but that's Pentecost}
This time would be a wonderful season
to deepen & renew our walk
with Christ
to
*[image credit: Rachel Wojo]
Which is the real reason that I decided to share this blog post
During Holy Week, from Palm Sunday until Good Friday,
I discovered a beautiful new "music" to help me
through the week and also to calm my spirit
to sleep better & more peacefully.
The You Tube videos are so beautiful - the images are gorgeous!
and the music, so fresh & simply enjoyable
in a relaxing kind of way
but I believe that there are some more lively.
I do not know Hebrew, however if I did, or could learn
more than "Yeshua"; these would be good to reinforce some.
I could not choose my favorite yet and I began a private playlist
JESUS is so good & His Holy Spirit draws me more every time
I LISTEN & FOCUS & LEAN IN
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* Oh, and by the way, RESTORE MY SOUL by Rachel Wojo was the 1st study I got & did from her; right along with Wendy Blight's "Rest for Your Soul". Both were the best rest for my soul!
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)
(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
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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!
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