Matthew 27:45–47, 50—54 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hours Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying “Eli, Eli, lama sabahthani?” that is “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah.” … And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Mark 15:33-34, 37-39 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthini?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” … And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God.”
Luke 23:44-47 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last. So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”
God created man to be with Him, to enjoy the company, and relationship with Him. Instead, after a period of time, the LIVE man and woman, chose EVIL, and brought sin into the Garden, and were banished. There was a VEIL separating man from God and the relationship God had created man to share with Him. Man and woman and sinned, thus created a VILE divide between themselves and God. It’s interesting to me that Live, Evil, Vile, and Veil all have the same letters—yet they all show different aspects of what man had and now caused—separation from God.
That one four letter word – LIVE, EVIL, VEIL, and VILE, all share the same letters, but all indicate we seem incapable of living life without sinning. We can all reflect how the lives of man sinned, committing a vile offense, causing God to cast them from the Garden, and basically separated them with a veil, since even Moses and Abraham were not allowed to see Him in the same manner that Adam and Eve had been privileged to live. The sin they committed was vile to God, and they were cast out.
Several hundred years later, as God showed Moses how to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt and how to live following His guidance and commands, He showed Him how to construct a tent of worship while they resided in the desert. God instructed the Tabernacle to have a thick and impressive curtain designed to separate it from the high priest and the people. Only the priests could have access to the interior of the Tabernacle, and the High Priest of the year was the only one who could enter the Holiest of Holies on the Day of Atonement, and that was one day a year. God kept them separate, hopefully so they could respect and revere the Creator; they could teach, lead, and guide His people in the ways they should live, not committing evil, vile sins.
A few thousand years after they traversed the desert and finally reached the Promised Land, Jesus’s sacrificial death atoned for our sins, and tore our separating veil, IF we believe, and recognize Him as Savior and willingly follow Him.
Our Lord and Savior took all sin on Himself and became the final Sacrifice and Atonement for us so we could have everlasting life upon our physical death and could live forever with the trinity of God. The veil was torn in two distinct and separate parts when Jesus breathed His last. The sky became dark during the last three hours he hung on the cross, laboring for breath, and the earth erupted with earthquake, and darkness covered the area. It amazes me that there is little written in the gospels about the earthquake…it is only recorded in Matthew 27. Mark 15:33 and Luke 23:44,45 only record the darkness and the curtain in the temple being torn in two from top to bottom. There would be no question in my mind seeing any of those things that this was the Son of God, and we, the people had followed meekly allowing the Pharisees and church leaders to kill God’s chosen One.
However, in the International Geology Review published in May 2012, stated there was significant seismic activity at the Dead Sea, 13 miles from Jerusalem on April 3, 33 AD, which seems to coincide with Matthew’s account. Reports of the earthquake only occur in the book of Matthew. I wonder why it was not mentioned in other accounts. It seems so huge to me that (an earthquake) and things occurred yet were only documented by one of the witnesses. Mark and Luke mention darkness covering the land during the time of hanging on the cross, and the curtain being torn. Never being in much of an earthquake, I know that would make an impression for me!
And I cannot believe those arrogant Pharisees did not fall to their knees in fear and trepidation and confession for what they had done which caused these visual and frightening occurrences. What was their reaction entering the temple and seeing the torn curtain? Did they try to blame that on vandals also?
Lord, You know the flash of the letters of one of these words triggered the idea for this blog. Thank You for the gift of Your Son who opened the way so we could live without a veil if we recognize and confess our vile and evil sins. I thank You for opening my way to You through Your Son and His gift and Atonement for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 13:1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct and teach you in the way which you shall go; I will guide you with my eye.
Isaiah 54:13 All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.
Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”
Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.
Parenting fears.
I saw a very agitated Canadian goose today. I don’t know if it was male or female, but it was definitely a parent. One of the goslings had wandered out to the street as traffic was passing. The drivers slowed, and suddenly the parent goose put itself between the oncoming traffic and the baby goose. It scolded the youngster back to the side of the road, wings flapping and squawking, and then hurried to the sidewalk. The baby was safe, but the parent continued raising and lowering its head, feathers ruffling, wings still occasionally expanding, and still letting out an annoyed sounding squawk.
And I knew, because I recognized the symptoms from years ago in myself, that that parent goose was trying to ease the fright, the panic, the adrenalin which surged at the potential loss of its child. Adrenalin surges when you have a big fear. And to any parent, the potential loss of a child is the worst fear.
Years ago, when my son was still in diapers, about 18 months old, I was gardening while he played with toys nearby. Suddenly, I could hear a large truck downshifting fairly rapidly. I glanced around, spotted my son missing, and jumped up to find he had toddled into the street. I have no idea how I made it from the garden to him in the road as fast as I did, maybe it was a kind of flight, but thankfully, I was there and snatching him back. And I knelt and hugged him, then spanked the diaper-covered bottom, then hugged him again, crying and thanking God. The fear, the ‘almost’ which was prevented, and the relief had this cluster of feelings storming my system—the same as the poor goose who strutted trying to “smooth its feathers.”
Have you ever watched a mother cat or dog, when those rowdy youngsters start escaping from their box or pen, or maybe they are just driving the mother to distraction and giving her no free rest. There may be a swat or a nip to warn the youngster enough is enough. If you watch nature shows, you’ll see how dolphins care for their young, and steer them to making right decisions, not endangering themselves. Bear mothers train their young for eighteen months teaching them to avoid adult males which could harm or even kill them, teaching them the best places to acquire food whether it be berries, carcass of a dead animal, seeking honey, how to fish and so forth. Parents of many species care for and train their youngsters for a period of time, then, as God has encouraged, we release them and hope and pray they have the skills and strength to make good decisions. For many animals, there is an innate caring for the young. And it’s pretty awesome to see how our Creator has structured this in His universe.
Animals which raise their children have concern for their safety, supply their needs, teach their children until the child is old enough to be out on its own. But until then the worry, concern, and diligence are all there. And sometimes one can see parents of other species have the same feelings we have. And I find that awesome to see! It breaks my heart to see a dead baby deer or whatever and know the family has been disrupted and there is a loss in the herd, clan, group.
Amazing that God has made us similar. Wonderful stories help me realize how similar he has made many of His creatures. They give me and ‘mybellaviews’ surges with delight and thankfulness. Glad your baby is safe, goose.
Lord, I so appreciate the beauty You have created and allow me to see glimpses of. You are in charge for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Today, I was again enthralled with the changes which come in early spring. The trees are full of red buds and each day this week, they have become fuller and richer maroon. Tomorrow some may have burst forth with a granny smith apple green color–the newest show of green leaves, baby leaves ready to burst forth. Tiny blossoms not yet fully free from the buds cradling the leaves they will develop into. It amazes me the daily progression you can watch as the trees develop their new growth and finally explode into the green color that proclaims it an oak, an elm, a glorious maple. I just love this birth of spring; a true blessing given to us at the beginning of time by our Creator.
And I also saw some crab apple trees in full blossom of pink flowers just dotting landscapes with their happy blushing buds. With no other sound except the rustling of leaves, the buds dance, another proof to me that all living things change and enjoy spring.
And because I can’t seem to contain my impatience for flowers and my garden to sprout at this time of year, I went to Lowes and purchased some plants and some shrubs and spent the day planting. Today, it feels I worked out for a half hour with a football team and was tackled often, but my garden looks vibrant. Because of lessons learned in the past, I was able to not purchase so many flowers forgetting bulbs and plants that will be poking upwards in the next couple of weeks. As I was out cutting this dead branches, pulling a couple of weeds, it was obvious that some greenery was emerging, pushing at the mulch covering it.
I am so blessed to have eyes to see, ears to hear, nose to smell, and the ability to enjoy the warmth and brightness of the sun.
I hope you are enjoying God’s blessing this spring….and every spring. Thanks for sharing some favorites of mybellaviews.
Exodus 20:3-5 You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of ANYTHING that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God . . .
Exodus 34:14 for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God
Deuteronomy 4:35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.
Deuteronomy 32:39 Now see that I, even I, am He and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.
2 Samuel 7:22 Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
Isaiah 44:6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; and besides Me, there is no God.’
Isaiah 45:5-7 I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, that they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other;
Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever
James 2:19 You believe there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble.
I think this first commandment is pretty important to God…not only is it number one listed of all the commandments, but it is repeated throughout centuries of different authors who received God’s given Word to repeat, teach to us, and direct us. Yes, important! THERE IS NONE, NO OTHER GOD, BUT HIM.
As the Israelites first were led out of Egypt, they were relieved, excited, apprehensive, and had to be expectant. Yet, they soon realized the Egyptians had changed their minds and were now pursuing them. Of course, they were fearful, mistrustful, and wished for the certainty of what they had known even though the conditions they had lived under were not wonderful. They knew what those were, and out in the open desert were now getting frightened for what they could not see, the travel and the fear of the unknown.
While in Egypt, the Israelites witnessed the miracles of the plagues God sent on Pharaoh and the Egyptians. They saw this. They saw how they were protected from the loss of their firstborns, animals as well as children. They were told to sprinkle blood over their doorpost with hyssop, and then heard the crying, wailing, and utter bereavement of the Egyptians who had lost their firstborns, children and animals. They had witnessed miracles.
God gave a bunch of commands and rules and laws—what they could and could not eat, when they were considered clean and unclean, what was considered good, and what was considered not worthwhile. He also gave them the Ten Commandments—and while writing them, the Israelites decided they wanted to have a “god” they could see and worship, something visible to worship. It had only taken a few days for them to mistrust God, and obviously Moses, and they were quick to leave God behind, even after He had delivered water from a rock, parted the Red Sea and ensured their safety while crossing and then ensuring the Egyptians all died as the waters flowed over them. They had experienced all sorts of miracles; yet they chose to run to something THEY constructed, nothing that was a miracle, nothing that would help and feed or supply them with anything.
Although they saw how God ensured they were released from the Egyptians, brought forth water from rocks to feed their multitude as well as the huge herds of sheep, goats, and cattle, led them with fire by night and a cloud by day, and were promised a land of milk and honey, yet they could so easily be swayed away from God.
I do know that sometimes there are worldly allures which pull us, urge us, entice us away from God, and temptations which reach out to us. But I do find it hard to think these Israelites could so easily beg Aaron for a visible “god” and then they formed one, threw gold into a pot and formed a molten calf. Aaron had been beside Moses throughout all of this—ten plagues, parting of the Red Sea, seeing water delivered from a rock and so forth. How was it so easy for Aaron to turn aside from his brother and all he had seen? How could he be so easily led away from God and the miracles he had experienced? He was the priest, the religious leader of these people, and yet, he walked away from the true God, within days as his brother was gone for a total of forty days; at the pressure and complaints of the people, he was easily swayed.
And if the people made it, carved, formed it however, how can they then say it is a god? Human created or formed? Certainly not the God given water out of rock, the manna arriving each morning of their travels, not the birds that came every day….
How often do we give up waiting, losing patience with God’s promises, and reverting to something to assuage our feelings of loss, frustration, impatience, and try to take matters into our own hands? Certainly, I have railed against waiting, and waiting, and. . . . Oh, the number of times, I took matters into my hands and was utterly disappointed. But it was the MY desire, outcome, wish that became what I was worshiping and too impatient to see what, and when God would deliver. And I won’t know until I am sitting with Him and He imparts then, and maybe He won’t. But certainly, my hands have made some mistakes in my life, since I couldn’t wait for the “busy God.” so I’d help Him out.
Yet, Abraham waited for forty years to have his own son with his wife. He believed and held onto God’s promises. And when God told him to sacrifice Isaac, he willingly packed up the supplies, and carried the youngster to the mountain where he’d been told to sacrifice the boy. He trusted God would provide the sacrifice. He waited, expectantly, all the while doing exactly as God commanded
Before the child was born, Sara became impatient and encouraged her husband to have a child with her slave. And again, serious issues developed because she had taken matters into her hands; what does it take for us to believe and wait on Him with trust?
There’s an entire book written that encourages us to wait on His promises, that tells us He alone is the ONLY GOD; He alone is with us always; He alone tells us to not fear, not grow weary of trusting in Him. Yet, often, we drift as though on an air mattress tossed into the ocean and without anchor, we doze off, then waking find ourselves much further away from shore than is safe and healthy.
Story after story tells of the need to wait. A savior would be provided; a star would shine in the town to announce the birth; He would be borne of a virgin…. The Israelites waited hundreds of years for a savior. There is always waiting throughout the bible; because that is life. We wait for His promises.
I pray I don’t give in to further impatience about anything I am waiting for in my life. In truth, it has become easier to wait. I believe His timing is perfect. It may still not be my timing preference, but still, I have seen time and again, that He comes and answers. So I’ve learned to hand over my impatience; sometimes, annoyingly it pops back into my head. So, while thinking of it, I pretend it is in my hands, then raise it to God to take away, so I can no longer actually think of it. It’s in His hands; no longer mine to keep. This “god” of worry is no God, and therefore, should not be worshiped.
He alone is God, and the One to be feared and revered. Thank You for helping me grow through Your Words, Your promises to me fulfilled. You have been wonderfully with me as I travel and learn through this blessing of life You have given me. Thank You for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
John 13:34 A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
1 John 4:7-8 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Ephesians 2:4-10 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.
We are so blessed to be loved by God. I have just been listening to a Youtube with Rick Warren stating our purpose is to be loved by God and know that we are loved by Him; and in turn love Him and by virtue of His love, to love all others.
Because we are limited in our love–we are humans, and we may want to love unconditionally, there are some conditions we unwittingly put on it, which others feel. For instance, when that newborn first arrives, we love and feel as though our hearts will burst with the amount of love. We are thrilled, overjoyed, enthralled and amazed at the beauty of this child, at the amount of feeling surging through us, and with the overwhelming miracle of this innocent, helpless person, totally dependent on you and others for all its needs. It is humbling.
God’s love for us is similar. He does not put conditions on His love for us. Yes, He can be displeased with us sinning and not living as closely to His Son as we should, but He still loves us.
We on the other hand, say things such as “Stop that tantrum or I will be very angry.” “You will be sent alone to your room if you continue to scream.” “If you’re going to be friends with her, then I don’t want to be friends with you anymore.” Although our feelings toward the person may not change—other than anger, you still love the naughty child, but you don’t want to be with it, or listen to the whining/tantrum/ misbehavior or whatever. Although it is not said, or even meant, there is a subtle message that is absorbed saying love is ‘conditional’…The interpretation could be “I could push so hard Mom’s/Dad’s/anyone’s/ love would disappear.”
We learn to believe actions over words. We may hear words of praise, love, and so forth frequently, but if what we see and experience is to be sent away, our needs just barely met, and not a lot of emotional sharing imparted, then we begin to feel a bit of doubt regarding the love others profess to have. You need to share time being with one another, to know more about one another, to solidify trust. And good, strong relationships are built on trust. Over time and situations, you have learned you can trust the other person.
Parents and others are busy. They work, they do house chores when home, spouses chat and reconnect and discuss schedules, plans, commitments and children—accomplishments as well as misbehavior; but it takes some time away from a child who may be patiently waiting for its turn to have some praise, some recognition, or some measure of quality time, which is one of the ways we express love and interest. It can feel oftentimes that love is conditional and because of the way we have grown up, experienced various love relationships—whether it be parent-child, friend to friend, or lover to lover, we feel conditions that add burden to some love. We believe it is somewhat conditional. that is not the kind of love God shows and gives. His is unconditional. Ours is somewhat conditional, even if it only feels that was, and is not–we tend to make it feel that it is or could be. And it then does not feel like God’s love which is s difficult kind of love for us to fully understand.
AGAPE is full on love all the time. No conditions, no reason to strive to achieve things because it is unconditional. God created us, chose us and loves us. It is our minds, our very human minds and hearts which have developed ideas saying love can be conditional. That does not mean we don’t trust, and that our love is not real, and not going to fade away, but often there is the slightest bit of angst that it might disappear, might fade, might, for some reason be withheld.
Rick Warren preached that God wants to love us, to show us His love, and takes delight in us. He states that God loves us unconditionally and that our purpose in this life is to be loved by God because He wants us in His family. He wants to take delight in us, to give us things to make us happy, to see the wonder and joy in us as we experience something new and impressive—a region you have never been before, and suddenly you are immersed in His creation. One will hear non-believers say they experience God in nature. This is true. But this does NOT allow you to share love with others, and to receive love from them. There needs to be a spiritual family, not just appreciating the beauties of this world.
There are bunches of beautiful, breath-taking areas throughout the world which will humble you and have you awed at our Creator. Nature and all His creation is beyond, beyond what any of us could fathom without experiencing. He loves to see our reactions, and is happy those things can be part of our happiness.
He wants us to worship Him. Life is about love—He loves us (ALWAYS) and wants us to know that, to be stirred by that wonderful fact, to be touched deeply in our hearts daily and to grow closer to Him. He wants a relationship; a sit down, ‘Hey my wonderful child, how was your day today? Did you see anything special, do anything special? What made you sad, happy, angered you? How did you handle it? I love you. I want to listen and spend time with you.’
How awesome is that? My parents were great, yet they did not have time carved out each day to spend time fully checking in with each of us. But that is how God wants to be with us. We have to open the door, and climb up and lean into Him, but He’s waiting.
Warren says life is all about love, and if we miss the importance of that, we have missed the whole point of God’s creating us. He wants a relationship with us, not sacrifices, not spending time out of duty, but looking forward to being with Him, confiding in Him, and LOVING Him.
He went on to say that a warning sign you are disconnected from God is worry. He called worry ‘practical atheism’ since you are not confiding and trusting Him to handle your life. You “mention” your concerns, but then do not hand them to Him with trust in heart, and see how things unfold. You don’t fully believe He can handle, will handle, loves you enough to handle. . .But bottom line that is a form of atheism.
We have a choice. God calls each of us; but we have to make the choice to answer the call and join His family. We are a spiritual family. According to Rick Warren, our prime purpose in this life is to be loved by God, and then love Him in return. As we experience that overwhelming, unconditional love of God, our hearts become so full we want to share it with others, and that is what God created us to do. He wants to see us live in peace, helpfulness, and love. We continue to drink in His living water, unconditional love and then want to share it with others. It’s a pyramid. A simple design; just not always easy since we attach too much thought and conditions on it.
Come to know in your HEART how much the Creator loves YOU, and feel it deep within, drink it in, and love Him in return. See the way life blossoms for you. You are His child, loved unconditionally—no ifs, ands, or buts—unconditionally and for always.
Thank You, God, for the blessing of walking with You daily—You have blessed me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!