He didn't want to do it.  John, that is.  John did not want to baptize Jesus.  In fact, the original text states John FORBADE Him.  Matthew 3:14. In the Greek it is G1254 diakoluo - to hinder altogether, that is, utterly prohibit.  Then John explained himself by saying "I have need to be baptized by You, and You come to me?  Eugene Peterson's The Message puts it this way:  John objected, "I'm the one who needs to be baptized, NOT YOU!"

PLEASE listen to this episode prior to THE KINGDOM IS AT THE DOOR.  Something happened to me that helped me understand that episode.  It was an eye opener for me.

Do you know what hurts YOUR pride and what comes out of you when it is hurt?  One is never too old to learn :)

Isaiah heard the words of John the Baptist centuries before they were actually spoken.  Isaiah was God's servant and understood these words meant the THE SERVANT Jesus was ready to begin His ministry. John thundered "REPENT"! and people listened.  People came to repent and be baptized in the Jordan River.  Somehow they found this wild man and his message to be true / attractive and meaningful for their lives.  The Kingdom and the King had arrived.   

Have you had a miracle given to you?  My husband considers surviving two mortar rounds in VietNam and early detection of pancreatic cancer both miracles.  I consider our marriage to be one.  The Genealogy of Jesus Christ has many miracles in it.  It is not boring.  There are women in it which one scholar called a 'phenomenon'.  

What if you were sitting at a table . . any table . . and Jesus walked up to you . . His steady gaze waiting until you turned your head and looked into His eyes?  What would you say?  What could you say?  Better yet, if He said "follow Me" . . .. what would you do?

Happy Anniversary to us!

Flowers in memory of my son who died in June 2020                       Daddy's Memorial Service this month

We live in a cosmic shooting gallery . . . 

She could not tell anyone she was in a dark pit.  But she could tell God. She could pray.  After all, Jesus is the Light of the world.  He draws us to the light.  He spent 9 months in the dark of Mary's womb just so He could become one of us.

Let's imagine you were picked up for speeding today and are instructed to go to court tomorrow.  Perhaps you blew it off until lying in bed, trying to go to sleep.  Now you are working hard to figure out what to wear / how to act / what to say / what the judge will say.  Will they play this recording?  

Do you remember the TV sitcom "Laverne & Shirley"?  Laverne's favorite drink was mixing Pepsi and milk.  Once mixed, it was no longer either one.  Have you tried it?  Me neither . . but if we did and didn't like it, it's no big deal.  However, if we apply this to a scripture . . . watch what happens . . . 

Have you ever felt the Lord's Presence?  Today's episode is my puny effort to describe one experience in an ICU room.