"The Bread Of The Face"

"You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times."
(Exodus 25:30, NASB)

Literally, "The bread of the Face on the table before Me continually."  I told Sarah today that this is something beyond me, "I just cannot understand," or maybe it's, "I cannot fathom."  More and more I find this to be so with Biblical Principles of which at one time I would have said I understand; I don't.  "Understanding," is what the Bible says we should, "get."  I accept that, and attempt to pursue that.  But it cannot mean "intellectual grasp."  If it does, I'm sunk. 

My Pentateuch/History section reading today had me in our text.  I'm no Hebrew scholar, but from what I could gather from further study, it has to do with the Face of God always before us, "The Presence," but also a reminder that we can "see" His Face because we are accepted with/in Him.  Remember that the first "article" which we encounter in the tabernacle is the "altar of sacrifice."  Here, in the Blood of Jesus you and I are cleansed and forgiven of all sin, so that when we come to, "The Bread of the Presence/Face," we are received.  That is a one time "act."  No coming and going in relationship to, "The Presence/Face."  The psalmist said, "I have set the Lord always before me," not just in that sanctimonious gathering place or your "quiet time."  It is always.

You and I live in the Tabernacle, "which the Lord Jesus pitched and not man."  It is an Eternal Tabernacle.  Maybe there is not actual "furniture," but the reality of what the Living Triune God has done, is doing, "is now and ever shall be," is a great redeeming reality.  "The Bread of the Face," is Jesus.  "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."  Of course, if you and I attempt to grasp this wonderful reality in, "your own understanding," we will fall so short of the releasing peace in, "The Bread of the Face."

Regardless of what I "understand" or do not "understand," I can say with complete certainty that right now, right there in that room, whatever the configuration, you have, "The Bread of the Face," and Jesus' Presence is, "continually."   Followers of Jesus live in the Eternal Tabernacle.  It is now our natural habitat.  Look up, out with your heart, and you will "see" Jesus, again I say, right now, right there/here-- "....the Face...continually."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I feed on You, "Bread of the Presence/Face."  Amen.
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* Berlin Mission:  Right now we are looking at September 14-October 5.  We are in the process of purchasing airline tickets. 
* Washington, DC Mission: January 27
Some have asked how to contribute toward these missions:
        FHMP
        505 LIBERTY AVE.       
        JOHNSTOWN   
        PA
        15905 

Our bank is a participant in the "popmoney" transfer service.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

The Cure For Heart Problems

"Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, and the end of mirth may be grief." (Proverbs 14:13)

The NIV says, "Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief."  It will, that is, if the depth of, "the heart...ache," is not dealt with.

I have seen this.  Sometimes the deeper the sorrow, the more raucous the laughter.  It sounds so contradictory, but man will do anything to heal, "heart...sorrow."  Laughter is no cure for the aching, sorrowful, broken heart.  There can be, "sorrow," and, "ache," with anticipation of what one fears may yet be, what may come to past.  But most, perhaps the greatest sorrow and heartache, is over what has been.  Those are things which all too often are unchangeable, irreversible.  "Let bygones be bygones," is a colloquialism which is just another example of an attempt to deal with a broken heart.  I often wonder how such a trite statement really works for people.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding."  How many hearts may have been spared sorrow, if they had lived these words!  "Apply your heart to wisdom.... When wisdom enters your heart....Let you heart keep my commands."  Such are some previous words of the Book of Proverbs.  Our hearts ache because of what we put into them, expectations unfulfilled, joys sought where they are but fleeting.  Jesus says in another Proverb, "My son, give me your heart."  This is it.  Yield, surrender my heart to Jesus and there can be no, "heart...sorrow/ache," which cannot be healed.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are my Greatest Heart Medicine.  Amen.
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* Please pray for our Berlin Mission September/October, 2016.  We need to secure our airline reservation soon.
* Read, "Is Europe Choosing to Self Destruct?" at:    jhs58blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

I Celebrate the Birth of "A Good Person"

"A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous."  (Proverbs 13:22)

Edna Elizabeth Sherwood Barnette left me Jesus, His Church and Kingdom.  She prayed for me every morning of my life until her journey here ended.  There is no price one can put on that.  Edna Barnette defined, "a good person."  Everyone I knew who knew her loved her and spoke nothing but "praise" of her, from my Dad, siblings, to, well, the rest.  If there is a "genetic" disposal to common sense, whatever I have of it was surely passed on from her.

My Mom would have been 107 today.  From my Grandparents and Dad to her, "I have a goodly heritage," and so do our children and their children.  I see "traces" of her in them all.  "A good person," does not do what everyone wants, does not praise the un-praiseworthy, does not tell us we are doing fine when we are not, but is a support and encourager to those around them, supporting and encouraging the "good" in others, the "potential," while dissuading others from that which will harm them.  In short, to others, "a good person," is a manifestation of the presence of Jesus and His Words.  I have often spoke of the lives which my Grandpa and Dad affected for Jesus.  She has many "crowns" also.

"A good person," does good things to others.  An evil person does evil to others.  Jesus said that in the judgment all humanity will be judged by doing good or doing evil, "....those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:29).  Now of course, Mom was "born of the Spirit."  But she didn't go around mouthing it or the "Roman Road," or other evangelical phrases which, even though Biblical, have become an alternative for far, far too many as the "ticket" to Heaven, and being, "a good person," as some sort of rejected work.  What idiocy. 

Today's text speaks of, "a good person."  I let that up to our Lord Jesus to define, and pray sincerely that I am one.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "a good person," before You is what I want to be.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Your People Shall Be Delivered"

"At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.  And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book." (Daniel 12:1)

Are you, "in the book."  Everyone in Jesus is, "in the book."  All in whom Jesus Christ lives are a part of, "the sons of your people."

When the, "time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation,..your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book."  No matter how "bad it gets," no matter the hopelessness of those around us, you and I who trust Jesus, "shall be delivered."

I don't know what else to say but to simply write and, "Amen," to our text.  You may have your favorite "end time prophet," but I highly recommend, "The Word of God," as such.  You and I will have exactly what we need to navigate those days.  And, we will not have what we don't need, nor what just adds to confusion.  Our future is secured in Jesus as we totally depend on Him and His Words.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I trust your preparing me.  Amen.
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* I have been out of town for a few days and will not be able to send a devotional tomorrow. 

* Now planning the Berlin Mission for September/October, 2016.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"The Goodness of God Endures Continually"

"You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking righteousness.  You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue....But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever."  (Psalm 52)

"....Boast in evil," all you wish, "O might man," and boast they have/do/will do.  I boast in, "The goodness of God," which, unlike any attempt at "goodness" apart from Jesus Christ, "endures continually."

Notice the photo on the right.  This is the fundamental intent of Arab Islamism.  And people still have the nerve to say that all of the Crusades and Crusaders were bad/wrong.  Nonsense.


One of the most beautiful hymns ever written, and one of my favorite, came from early "crusaders."  Nothing has ever surpassed "Fairest Lord Jesus."  Many "scholars" dismiss the connection of this song with the Crusaders, but I suspect a prejudice here.  Regardless,  "Fairest Lord" Jesus rules.

I am a realist, which is why, in the words of Phillips' paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13, I do not, "cherish inflated ideas of [my] own importance."  I am no better than an abortionist, liar or thief.  I too, "have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  I am of the, "there is none righteous, no, not one."  Perhaps it is the refusal to accept the Bible's  pronunciation on all humanity which drives the humanist and hence, the blind of humanity.  I believe what the Bibles says, "....of this they are willingly ignorant," will be the end of Western Civilization.

Trump has many flaws and disqualifying aspects of a President, but then again, who hasn't?!?  He has revealed, however, a willingness to face reality, a quality which few, if any, have of the other candidates of both parties.  This is not who Followers of Jesus are.  We take our life style from the Words of Jesus Christ, aka, the Bible, which is ultimate Realism.  Jesus teaches us from Genesis to Revelation that evil resides in the heart of man, but in Jesus, "The goodness of God endures continually."  I know I must sound like the proverbial "broken record," but if we do not read, meditate, pray on and obey, "The Words of God," we too will succumb to the same self deception of those whom so many seem to loath.  Apart from Jesus and His Words we are of the same "stuff."  Our confidence today is in the Words of Jesus, "The goodness of God endures continually."  Any other "goodness" is fleeting.  Jesus in you and me Is, "The goodness of God...."  Anything or anyone else called, "goodness," is an impostor.  I deplore any attempt I ever made to be good.  I laud and receive only, "The goodness of God," Who is Jesus Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I reaffirm today that I only accept and trust, "The goodness of God."  Amen.
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* Read more of what is going on in Germany.  It is just a precursor of what will happen in the US, that is, if the humanists rule.   Go to:      jhs58.blogspot.com
* Berlin Mission planned for sometime after September 1 of this year.  If you would like to invest in this Mission, we will be making the necessary reservations this month.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2