Month July 2021

Courteous

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Tonight as I was praying about a word to write about as I was washing dishes. The word, “courteous” came to me. The next questions were, “Is that even in the Bible?” And “what does it mean?”

Courteous (according to Merriam and Webster):

1: marked by polished manners, gallantry, or ceremonial usage of a court

2: marked by respect for and consideration of others

dictionary.com: having or showing good manners; polite.

Basically, it has to do with being polite and showing respect.

The following information comes from this website:

https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/CGG/ID/5985/Courtesy.htm

The ISV renders the Greek word praiotes as “courtesy,” while other versions translate it as “meekness,” “gentleness” or “humility.” The ISV has taken some liberties, but it gives a sense, in today’s English, of what Paul is saying. A humble attitude is necessary to show courtesy to others.

So, if the English “courtesy” is not literally in Titus 3:2, is it elsewhere? The Greek word philophron, which translates directly to the English “courtesy,” is used only once in the Bible. It comes from two other Greek words, philos, meaning “friend,” and phren, meaning “understanding,” “perceiving,” and “judging.” These two words indicating “understanding a friend” are put together to suggest the idea of courtesy.

Philophron appears in I Peter 3:8: “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one for another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous” (King James Version). Many translations interpret philophron as “kind” or “humble,” and this is correct as well. Both Thayer’s Greek Lexicon and Strong’s Concordance define philophron as “friendly” and “kind,” but Strong’s goes a little further, saying it can be summed up as the English word “courteous.”

The above information is very helpful to understand what “courteous” is in the Bible. Here is the verse that (according to the KJV) uses the word, “courteous.”

I Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (KJV)

Finally, all of you, be one in mind and feeling; love as brothers; and be compassionate and humble-minded, (CJB)

I see lack of courtesy today. In fact, I see lack of humility. People are so focused on moving forward that they only think of themselves. This isn’t really what God intended. Yes, He wants us to take care of ourselves. Yes, in order to love others we have to love ourselves first.

Somehow those concepts have gotten twisted. We have forgotten compassion and humbleness.

Friends, it is time to think about others and show the courteous behavior God grants to us. Rethink humility. Find a way to LOVE.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rose Horton

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Glory

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“I could tell you all,

The sorrow of the long night

In the dungeon,

The bliss in the elevation to glory

But all these stories come and go

And often at times you will find yourself alone.

No story to tell,

No glory to rejoice for.

Just you and your soul

Face to face

No noise

No chirping of bird

just you and you.

All that would come,

Will not at this time.

This is a measure

of make or break

A meeting in solitude,

Gift to Giver;

Treasure the solitude,

listen to The Giver.

The treasure is in the long silence.

The gold in the mute agony.

Humility in the process,

Glory the end result! ….”

—Solitary Prospector

Lovingkindness

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Lovingkindness…

This is a word we often hear, but what does it actually mean? As is usual, the word in the Bible isn’t always what the Hebrew word really means. It is often difficult to really translate what the Hebrew word is. This article explains it well:

https://www.gotquestions.org/lovingkindness.html

The verses below have the word lovingkindness in them in older translations. Newer ones use grace or mercy. As you read these WORDS of LOVE below, let HIS LOVINGKINDESS overflow to you. May you KNOW in your heart that HE is all you need!! He overlooks ALL you have done and will give you LIFE everlasting! Then let HIS LOVE flow to all those you meet.

Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like you, pardoning the sin and overlooking the crimes of the remnant of his heritage? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in grace. He will again have compassion on us, he will subdue our iniquities. You will throw all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Jeremiah 31:3 From a distance Adonai appeared to me, [saying,] “I love you with an everlasting love; this is why in my grace I draw you to me.

As you let HIS LOVE flow through you, let this song bring NEW understanding to WHO your Father is for you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSyrPa_QPuM&list=OLAK5uy_mo83CEOniqTZTmfydI5Sfxg7N1_6ShxMo&index=22

Let your heart be HIS home.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rose Horton

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

Our New Normal

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Stumbled upon this place in You

My journey through hills and 

valleys lead me here

Never knew this place existed

I am on holy ground 

I can hardly stand

I fall to the ground

Never felt this close to You

Everything is beginning to make sense 

In this wide, open place in You

Is this the path that leads to portals 

and realms and atmospheres 

No eye has seen?

No ear hear has heard?

Reserved for those who laid down 

their lives and hearts to be One with You?

Sobs race through my body

I feel unworthy to be with You

So much of the world still clings to me

You read my heart and remove the 

last debris that could potentially hurt our covenant with a burning flame

Your love gushes through my whole being

This uninhibited love new to me

I cannot get enough of Your presence 

In awe of Your meticulous hand at 

work in my life

I resign my life again

A living sacrifice to be used by You

Time stands still….

In our place of meeting 

You and me

I – in You

Our new normal…

— Ebigale Wilson

The Journey

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