October 31, 2018

Mel Brooks Presents: Young Frankenstein




I'm enjoying movie FRIGHT night on this Hallows' Eve! It's time for me to get the popcorn ready, order my pizza and turn off the lights. I always have to set the stage for a goosebump, hair-raising, spine-tingling night of HORROR movies! Bwahahahaha... Ahem. Nevertheless, this Mel Brooks classic has been a permanent fixture on my Halloween movie list. I always have to throw in a little bit of humor. See you later, alligators! :D ♥
Bwahahahahahaha...
laugh photo: kitty evil laugh kittyevillaugh.gif

Jack O'Lanterns and The Tale Of Stingy Jack. A Person Asked Me Today If I Knew How The Tradition Began. I Had No Idea. So I Looked It Up And Now I Am Sharing Info With You. :)

[source: Pumpkin Nook]

The Irish brought the tradition of carving pumpkins into Jack O'Lantern to America. But, the original Jack O'Lantern was not a pumpkin. Pumpkins did not exist in Ireland. Ancient Celtic cultures in Ireland carved turnips on All Hallow's Eve, and placed an ember in them, to ward off evil spirits.

The Tale of Stingy Jack and the Jack O' Lantern

Jack O'Lantern legend goes back hundreds of years in Irish History. Many of the stories, center round Stingy Jack. Here's the most popular story:

Stingy Jack was a miserable, old drunk who took pleasure in playing tricks on just about everyone: family, friends, his mother and even the Devil himself. One day, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree. After the Devil climbed up the tree, Stingy Jack hurriedly placed crosses around the trunk of the tree. Unable to touch a cross, the Devil was stuck in the tree. Stingy Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died. Once the devil promised not to take his soul, Stingy Jack removed the crosses, and the Devil climbed down out of the apple tree.

Many years later, Jack died, he went to the pearly gates of Heaven and was told by Saint Peter that he was mean and cruel, and had led a miserable, worthless life on earth. Stingy Jack was not allowed to enter heaven. He then went down to Hell and the Devil. The Devil kept his promise and would not allow him to enter Hell. Now Jack was scared . He had nowhere to go, but to wander about forever in the dark Netherworld between heaven and hell. He asked the Devil how he could leave, as there was no light. The Devil tossed him an ember from the flames of Hell, to help Stingy Jack light his way. Jack had a Turnip with him. It was one of his favorite foods, and he always carried one with him. Jack hollowed out the Turnip, and placed the ember the Devil had given him, inside the turnip. From that day onward, Stingy Jack roamed the earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his "Jack O'Lantern".

On all Hallow's eve, the Irish hollowed out Turnips, rutabagas, gourds, potatoes and beets. They placed a light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O'Lanterns. In the 1800's a couple of waves of Irish immigrants came to America. The Irish immigrants quickly discovered that Pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out. So they used pumpkins for Jack O'Lanterns.

A Little Halloween History

[source: wikipedia]

Halloween or Hallowe’en (a contraction of All Hallows’ Evening) is an annual holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night preceding All Hallows Day. Much like Day of the Dead celebrations, the holiday has ancient origins tied to seasonal change, harvest time, and festivals honoring the dead. Typical Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (also known as "guising"), attending costume parties, carving jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

Pre-Christian influences

Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-an or sow-in)", derived from the Old Irish Samuin meaning "summer's end". Samhain was the first and by far the most important of the four quarter days in the medieval Irish and Scottish calendar and, falling on the last day of Autumn, it was a time for stock-taking and preparation for the cold winter months ahead. There was also a sense that this was the time of year when the physical and supernatural worlds were closest and magical things could happen. To ward off these spirits, the Gaels built huge, symbolically regenerative bonfires and invoked the help of the gods through animal and perhaps even human sacrifice.

Christian influences

Halloween is also thought to have been heavily influenced by the Christian holy days of All Saints' Day (also known as Hallowmas, All Hallows, and Hallowtide) and All Souls' Day. Falling on November 1st and 2nd respectively, collectively they were a time for honoring the Saints and praying for the recently departed who had yet to reach heaven. By the end of the 12th century they had become days of holy obligation across Europe and involved such traditions as ringing bells for the souls in purgatory and "souling", the custom of baking bread or soul cakes for "all crysten [christened] souls". It was traditionally believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints Day, and All Hallow's Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving onto the next world. To avoid being recognised by a soul, Christians would wear masques and costumes to disguise themselves, following the lighted candles set by others to guide their travel for worship the next day. Today, this practice has been perpetuated through trick-or-treating.

In Britain the rituals of Hallowtide and Halloween came under attack during the Reformation as Protestants denounced purgatory as a "popish" doctrine incompatible with the notion of predestination. In addition the increasing popularity of Guy Fawkes Night from 1605 on saw Halloween become eclipsed in Britain with the notable exception of Scotland. There and in Ireland, they had been celebrating Samhain and Halloween since the early Middle Ages, and it is believed the Kirk took a more pragmatic approach towards Halloween, viewing it as important to the life cycle and rites of passage of local communities and thus ensuring its survival in the country.

North American almanacs of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century give no indication that Halloween was recognized as a holiday. The Puritans of New England, for example, maintained strong opposition to the holiday and it was not until the mass Irish and Scottish immigration during the 19th century that the holiday was introduced to the continent in earnest. Initially confined to the immigrant communities during the mid-nineteenth century, it was gradually assimilated into mainstream society and by the first decade of the twentieth century it was being celebrated coast to coast by people of all social, racial and religious backgrounds.

Etymology

The word Halloween is first attested in the 16th century and represents a Scottish variant of the fuller All-Hallows-Even ("evening"), that is, the night before All Hallows Day. Although the phrase All Hallows is found in Old English (ealra hฤlgena mรฆssedรฆg, mass-day of all saints), All-Hallows-Even is itself not attested until 1556.

The Hellbound Train

The Hellbound Train
poem written by Anonymous

A Texas cowboy lay down on a barroom floor,
Having drunk so much he could drink no more;
So he fell asleep with a troubled brain
To dream that he rode on a hell-bound train.

The engine with murderous blood was damp
And was brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp;
An imp, for fuel, was shoveling bones,
While the furnace rang with a thousand groans.

The boiler was filled with lager beer
And the devil himself was the engineer;
The passengers were a most motley crew-
Church member, atheist, Gentile, and Jew,

Rich men in broad cloth, beggars in rags,
Handsome young ladies, and withered old hags,
Yellow and black men, red, brown, and white,
All chained together-O God, what a sight!

While the train rushed on at an awful pace-
The sulphurous fumes scorched their hands and face;
Wider and wider the country grew,
As faster and faster the engine flew.
Louder and louder the thunder crashed
And brighter and brighter the lightning flashed;
Hotter and hotter the air became
Till the clothes were burned from each quivering frame.

And out of the distance there arose a yell,
"Ha, ha," said the devil, "we're nearing hell"
Then oh, how the passengers all shrieked with pain
And begged the devil to stop the train.
But he capered about and danced for glee,
And laughed and joked at their misery.
"My faithful friends, you have done the work
And the devil never can a payday shirk.

"You've bullied the weak, you've robbed the poor,
The starving brother you've turned from the door;
You've laid up gold where the canker rust,
And have given free vent to your beastly lust.
"You've justice scorned, and corruption sown,
And trampled the laws of nature down.
You have drunk, rioted, cheated, plundered, and lied,
And mocked at God in your hell-born pride.

"You have paid full fare, so I'll carry you through,
For it's only right you should have your due.
Why, the laborer always expects his hire,
So I'll land you safe in the lake of fire,

"Where your flesh will waste in the flames that roar,
And my imps torment you forevermore."
Then the cowboy awoke with an anguished cry,
His clothes wet with sweat and his hair standing high.

Then he prayed as he never had prayed till that hour
To be saved from his sin and the demon's power;
And his prayers and his vows were not in vain,
For he never rode the hell-bound train.

Do Not Whisper To The Wind ~ by Rayne Avalotus

A poem/song often told to small children by the superstitous. Though this piece is often heard most often in human Santharian villages, it is believed to have originated from stories of the Forbidden Zone in Northern Sarvonia and dark places like the Water Marshes.

Do Not Whisper To The Wind
by Rayne Avalotus

Do not whisper to the wind,
For wind winds far and deep,
Deep down into the shadow land
Where evil creatures sleep.
The echo of thy uttered word
Can wake them, make them creep!

Do not whisper to the wind,
For seething monsters hear;
The winds will carry monologues
To meet their careful ears,
And they will rise up from their tombs
To plague the world with fear.

Do not whisper to the wind
For demons know, they say,
Where rests thy sleepy, pretty head
When darkness swallows day,
And in the night they’ll come on thee
And steal thy soul away!

Do not whisper to the wind,
For evil’s waiting there
With anxious claws and open ears
Just listening to the air.
And waiting for a foolish child
To whisper unaware.

Do not whisper to the wind,
For beasts come leather skinned
With eyes aglow in sickly hue
And figures tall and thinned.
Thou may not, shall not, cannot
Ever whisper to the wind!

Classic Cartoon The Groovie Goolies Show! This Is One Of My All-Time Favorite Childhood Cartoons Enjoy! HAPPY HALLOWEEN HAVE FUN, BE SAFE!



Cute Halloween Jokes ;)

Ghost Ghosts Haunted House smiley smilie smileys smilies icon icons emoticon emoticons animated animation animations gif gifs Happy Halloween Pictures, Images and Photos

Q. What do you call a witch who lives at the beach?
A. A sand-witch.

Q. Where does a ghost go on Saturday night?
A. Anywhere where he can boo-gie.

Q. What did the skeleton say to the vampire?
A. You suck.

Q. Why did the ghost go into the bar?
A. For the Boos.

Q. What happens when a ghost gets lost in the fog?
A. He is mist.

Q. Why did the Vampire read the Wall Street Journal?
A. He heard it had great circulation.

Q. What are ghosts' favorite kind of streets?
A. Dead ends.

Q. What kind of makeup do ghosts wear?
A. Mas-scare-a.

Q. What happens when two vampires meet?
A. It was love at first bite!

Q. Why did the skeleton go disco dancing?
A. To see the boogy man.

Q: Why didn't the skeleton cross the road?
A: He had no guts.

Q. How did the ghost say goodbye to the vampire?
A. So long sucker!

Q. Where do vampires keep their money?
A: The blood bank!!!

Q. Why does a cemetery have to keep a fence around it?
A. Because people are dying to get in.

Happy Halloween Everyone! I Hope You Have A SPOOKTACULAR Fun Halloween Night And Please Be Safe...๐Ÿ‘ป๐Ÿ™ƒ๐Ÿ˜ฑ

October 28, 2018

Poem About Life... ♥ Have A Great Night Everyone. ๐Ÿ’– Love You ๐Ÿ’–


Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

Sunday Evening Cartoons: Tom and Jerry Classic Mouseketeer Episodes From The 1950's! :) RE-POST From 6/11/11 I Still Feel The Same. ♥


VIDEO 1: Tom and Jerry - Touche, Pussy Cat! 1954

VIDEO 2: Tom and Jerry - Tom and Cherie 1955

VIDEO 3: Tom and Jerry - The Two Mouseketeers 1952


Hahahahaha... I feel like Jerry's little adopted Mouseketeer nephew Nibbles! The top vid is titled, "Touchรฉ, Pussy Cat". The center vid is titled, "Tom and Cherie". The bottom vid is titled, "The Two Mouseketeers".

Enjoy these classic Tom and Jerry Mouseketeer episodes. I promise these short videos will put a smile on your face. :)

I AM NIBBLES!!! lol ;)

After watching these cartoons tonight and LAUGHING my heart out, I got to thinking to myself who has been the Jerry in my life? Then it came to me... Jerry represents all of the guardian angels God has sent to me both in spiritual form and human form throughout my entire life while on this planet, teaching me, guiding me, who have also protected and saved me from my own folly and from my adversaries. This revelation has me feeling really grateful right now. Thank you to everyone who have been watching over me. I love you so very much! ♥

The seed of discouragement cannot take root in a grateful heart. What and whom are you grateful for today?

By the way, Tom would represent all the challenges, obstacles, dark forces we face in life. Watch the videos I've shared to see if you too can relate with Nibbles. You need to know with every fiber of your being that Almighty God has your back and is taking care of all of your needs. It's also very important for you to know that as a child of the Most High God, no weapon formed against you shall prosper! Hugs! :)

THE MOUSEKETEER CODE:
(Child of God code)
A Mouseketeer is Brave
A Mouseketeer is Obedient
A Mouseketeer is Courageous

You Are The Apple of God's Eye... ♥

The Apple of His Eye
[source: Moytura]

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air."

Well," he continued, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson.

No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless.

But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God's eyes. To Him, dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to Him.

Psalm 17:8 states that God will keep us, "as the apple of His eye."

October 25, 2018

My Storyboard Spiritual Visual Interpretation Of What This Full Moon In Taurus On Wednesday October 24th Is Ushering In For Us. ๐Ÿ’–

The pictures and gifs that I share sum up my interpretation of the current astrological message.

Whatever it is that you have been manifesting, dreaming about, keeping your thoughts on, is coming to fruition. But you being out of your element will make you feel like a fish out of water. It will feel scary at first, even overwhelming. That's only because it will be a full and complete transmutation. You're leaving the womb of your former life. Just know that you will be spiritually protected and guided throughout this final process. Trust and believe. Sending you lots of love and I'm giving you a great big hug. You deserve this so much, so don't fight it. It will be a whole new level of understanding.

Full Moon In Taurus On Wednesday October 24th. Activating Your Destiny and Relationships by Tania Gabrielle.


Activating Your Destiny and Relationships
written by Tania Gabrielle
contact her at www.TaniaGabrielle.com
[source: CrystalWind.ca]

What a gorgeous FULL MOON in Taurus [October 24 at 5:45pm UT (London), 12:45pm NY (EST), 9:45 am LA (PDT)]! This full moon focuses on your Destiny and Relationships – many powerful shifts are underway!

TAURUS is a very grounding sign – it governs Self-Worth, Security, Money, Values, Sensual Pleasure, Contentment, Physical Comfort, Perseverance and Patience.
  • Taurus wants you to count your blessings… to enjoy and appreciate your life! Take time to enjoy Mother Nature.
  • Taurus reminds you to always persist, be thorough, dependable and keep your word.
During any FULL Moon the Sun and Moon lie exactly opposite each other.

This time around, the opposition is even more intense!

Just like the Aries full moon last month, we’ll experience a double conjunction:
  • Uranus conjuncts the Moon.
  • Venus conjuncts the Sun.
Moon merged with Uranus amplifies sudden emotional breakthroughs and can shift the direction of some of your relationships.

Uranus is so electrical and the Moon symbolizes your emotions.

So…. imagine Electricity and Emotions joined together – inviting you to consciously nurture your psychic abilities – your electrical tuning fork to the Universe.

You’ll be more OPEN to unseen things behind the scenes – the unusual and strange…

And then there is the Sun merged with Venus – such a feel-good moment!

Venus is the Ruling Planet of this TAURUS Full Moon.

Venus represents love, beauty, creativity and abundance.

You are in love with giving and receiving affection.

This is so friendly, warm, and wonderful for any relationships and friendships.

These two conjunctions with the Sun and Moon mean that there are also two oppositions:
  • Sun is opposite Uranus
  • Moon opposite Venus
When the Sun opposes Uranus, unexpected encounters appear in your life. You may meet someone who really lights you up in an unexpected way.

Or something happens that rocks the boat…

Keep an open mind – this alignment is meant to take you a bit off guard. A change of plans or direction is likely!

When the Moon opposes Venus – especially as Venus rules this Taurus Full Moon – it’s time to bring your emotions into balance. Love and affection take greater precedence now. And so does checking into your true core Soul-inspired values.

Any friction in your life that results in you feeling moody or emotionally depleted needs to be addressed – and a great way is for you to take creative action:

Engage in something that allows you to feel centered, so you’re not in a space of “I'm frustrated” or wishing things were different.

This is such a beautiful opportunity as the SUN merges with Venus! So take advantage of all the good vibes!

There is so much more to this powerful Taurus Full Moon – including a Grand Square with Sun, Moon and the Lunar Nodes, all at 1°!

Be sure to watch the new Taurus Full Moon video for the complete forecast.

Have a gorgeous Full Moon!

Love and Blessings,
Tania Gabrielle

Taurus Full Moon On Wednesday October 24th by Lena Stevens and Patricia Liles at PowerPath.

I added the picture and gif above to the message below.
Intro written by Lena Stevens at www.thepowerpath.com
Body written by Patricia Liles. Contact her at PATLILES@aol.com
[source: www.CrystalWind.ca]

Dear Friends,

Full Moon is Wednesday, October 24 at 10:45 AM Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).

This could be by far one of the most challenging Full Moon aspects of the year. There is a chance that resistance, hopes, dreams, anger, disappointment, irritation, inspiration will all be triggered. It is a full circus, a crisis of thought, choice and will. What will you do with it? We always say it is much better to move towards something you want than against something you don’t. The resistance percolating within each of us is strong and stubborn and needs to be turned towards inspiration and positive choice. Change what you can and accept what you can’t. We also suggest you stay away from arguments and negative encounters fueled by anger.

The underlying foundation of this time is the powerful presence of the feminine and anything related to the relationship with the feminine. Issues around nurturing, support, whether we were loved by our mothers, whether we deserve to be fully embraced and fed, whether we fear the power of this energy, may surface in each of us depending on where our issues lie. It is time to heal this love/hate relationship with the feminine and fully step into the container of support it can provide.

The other day (among other irritating things) my dishwasher began to leak and my garbage disposal froze. After a few minutes of words I will not write, an insight hit me. When was the last time I “fed” my appliances? The Huichol (indigenous from Mexico) tradition includes a strong relationship with the feminine idea of “feeding ones tools” to keep them happy and working. I know that! SO they both received a song, and a little tobacco (and a little help from a wrench). I moved from anger and irritation into compassion and nurturing. All is well and working just fine now.

This moon time encourages us to face crisis by turning challenges into opportunities. The gift of any challenging time is how you navigate it. When there is energetic crisis, it will often manifest in the more solid aspects of your life, your physical environment and your body, especially your bones and teeth. I encourage you to spend a little time during this full moon to be proactive in nurturing your own relationship with the feminine, “feeding your tools”, and being in nature with presence and focus. Harness the power of this moon to feed you own goals and desires. Look to what you wish to create instead of what you resist.

Blessings,
Lena

ASTROLOGICAL NOTES:
Written by Patricia Liles. Contact her at PATLILES@aol.com

Sun in Scorpio ~ Moon in Taurus 1ยบ
Wed, October 24, 10:45 AM Mountain Daylight Time
(Wed, October 24, 4:45 PM Greenwich Mean Time)

How does the cosmos do it? How does it align the Full Moon axis exactly across the axis of the North/South Nodes when they are in the very last degree before it changes signs?!! Only a divine cosmic (comic) force could create this one, knowing exactly the pressure we need to further our transformative journey. The Full Moon in Taurus is aligned with Uranus, The Awakener, opposite the Scorpio Sun aligned with Venus. This forms a Grand Square with the Nodes in Leo/ Aquarius 1ยบ all in fixed signs. Our most locked in patterns will be presented for our viewing pleasure. Well, like is said, ‘Crisis or Opportunity?’. The intensification of polarity is a given. With seven out of 10 planets in fixed signs there is great determination, strong will, and uncompromising resistance being played out. One will need to be calm, restrained and not be drawn into dramatic behaviors. Those we resist can be seen as our teachers. Can you muster gratitude to find yourself revealed in this form? Even the strongest among us will be pulled into this growth vortex. How we respond will be the ‘opportunity’. Those with planets in the early degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus-Scorpio, Leo-Aquarius) will feel it most acutely.

The Venus-Uranus opposition conjunct the Sun-Moon will present the base-note theme of revolutionizing the feminine within our selves and especially in all forms of relationships. Our relationship to the Earth can be included here.

The way out of the locked up energy of a Grand Square is to look for aspects to one of the four corners. We have several exit points: Saturn (to Venus), Jupiter (to North Node), and Chiron (to North Node.

First we have Venus sextiled to Saturn, our teacher, the one concerned with time who seeks to build for the future, who is concerned with tangible value that can build the stability needed for community, the responsible, practical, industrious force that is conservative and methodical. It’s a signpost to buckle down into your personal goals, value your relationships to the feminine aspects around you.

Jupiter and Chiron are in trine relationship to the North Node. How do we find the ease they are offering to mitigate the tension of the Grand Square? As they both aspect the North Node, our collective point of growth, they are pointing the way to an open door to walk away from the pent-up tension of the Grand Square. Jupiter can help you expand your heart, open wide to the sky, the stars, the love that surrounds you lifting you out of a stuck, resistant vibration and into an expanded, flowing energy greater than yourself. Chiron revisiting Pisces points toward the peace of surrendering into the acceptance of ‘what is’.

This Full Moon looks like a test, a throw down – to see what you’re made of. Nine out of 10 planets are in the feminine signs; seven of the 10 planets are in fixed signs ~ A time to nurture the yin and balance the yang.

October 21, 2018

Bishop T.D. Jakes Message The Shut In Is Over! Puts A Period Punctuation Mark On All Of The Spiritual Messages I Shared With You Today. Wow. ๐Ÿ’–


Ooooh my God. This message from Bishop T.D. Jakes literally just put THE PERIOD punctuation mark on all of the spiritual messages I shared with you today. Wow. Totally worth one hour of your time.

For more information, please visit:


BONUS MESSAGE

Bishop T.D. Jakes preaching at the Victory Conference 2018

Another AMAZING MESSAGE! Wow. ๐Ÿ’–

The Seed of Abraham is First Christ and Then the Believers in Christ, the Body. Find Out How We Have Been Redeemed Out Of The Curse Of The Law Through The Shed Blood Of Jesus Christ.

[source: A God-man in Christ]

For the fulfillment of God’s purpose, “the seed” is a very important matter. In the Bible we see that Christ is a threefold seed: He is the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15), the seed of Abraham (Gen. 17:2), and the seed of David. The entire Scriptures is wrapped up with the seed in these three aspects.

This week we are enjoying a crystal in the Bible: the seed for the fulfillment of God’s purpose. The seed of Abraham refers to the all-inclusive Christ, the One in whom all the nations are blessed.

What is very interesting is that God didn’t promise Abraham “a son” or “a descendant”; God promised Abraham a seed, in whom all the nations will be blessed. Vine in his expository dictionary of the Bible says that this word, “seed“, refers not mainly to Isaac as the son of Abraham but to “the seed”, which is the promised Messiah, Christ Himself.

The meaning of this word “seed” which was promised to Abraham is very rich; the seed refers both to Christ and to the Body of Christ, and this seed also has the meaning of a container of life for reproduction and multiplication.

When you think of a seed you think of something small (and not huge) and of life, something that has life in it and is ready to be sown into the earth to bring forth fruit. A seed is not supposed to be put on a chair or on the table; it is not big, and it is supposed to be sown into the earth so that it would issue in an outgrowth for the multiplication and propagation of life. Christ is the seed of Abraham, and He fell into the earth to die to produce much fruit in resurrection (John 12:24).

Now as the transfigured seed of Abraham, the life-giving Spirit, Christ comes into man to regenerate man and cause man to enjoy all the blessings of God, and this believing one also becomes himself part of the corporate seed of Abraham. For the fulfillment of His purpose, God must have the seed, which is Christ (the Head) and the Body of Christ – the corporate Christ!

The Seed of Abraham is First Christ and then the Corporate Christ, the Body of Christ

God has a purpose: He desires to gain a people who bear His image to express Him and represent Him with His dominion over all the earth (Gen. 1:26). For this, God needs a seed – someone who is both a container of life for the multiplication of life and who is a blessing to all the nations.

For the fulfillment of God’s purpose, He must have the seed (see Gen. 12:7; 13:15-16; 15:3, 5). What is the seed of Abraham? Who is the seed of Abraham? Is the seed of Abraham only Isaac or the people of Israel as the descendants of Abraham?

First of all, the seed of Abraham is the individual Christ, the wonderful person of Jesus Christ who is God becoming man to enter into man’s genealogy and be the blessing for all the nations.

In Gal. 3:16 Paul tells us that there is only ONE seed of Abraham, and this seed is Christ. In Christ all the nations are blessed, and He came to take upon Himself the curse of the law and deliver us from the curse (Gal. 3:13-14). In Gal. 3:29 we also see that we as believers in Christ who are of Christ are also the seed of Abraham.

The seed of Abraham is first the individual Christ as the Head and the corporate Christ as the Body. All the believers in Christ are members of Christ, and they are included in this seed, the seed of Abraham, to be the heirs of God’s promised blessing. Eventually, the eternal New Jerusalem will be the ultimate consummation of the seed of Abraham (see Rev. 21:12-14).

Through death and resurrection, Christ as the seed of Abraham has been transfigured to become the life-giving Spirit, and He came into us to regenerate us with His divine life and make us a part of the corporate seed of Abraham. Today by faith we as believers in Christ are those who can receive and inherit the consummated Spirit as the blessing of Abraham (see Gal. 3:7, 17; 4:28).

On the one hand we are part of the seed of Abraham, and, on the other hand, we enjoy the promised blessing of Abraham, the all-inclusive life-giving consummated Spirit (see 1 Cor. 15:45b; 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 3:14, 29; Acts 26:18; Eph. 1:14a)!

Christ Became a Curse for us so that we might Receive the Promise of the Spirit

How can we, Gentiles and pagan nations, receive the blessing of Abraham, who is of the called race of God? We are sinners, Gentiles, strangers from the promises of the covenant, alienated from the life of God, and we are not partakers of the promises given to the people of Israel.

But Christ as the unique seed of Abraham came and, in His humanity, He was crucified for our sins. As a result of the fall, the whole mankind fell under the curse, and the law given by God officiated the curse.

God gave the law as a portrait of Himself so that His people would be exposed of their inability of keeping the law, but we as fallen human beings tried to keep the law and thus entered under the curse. We cannot fulfill the law: only God can! But 435 years before the law came, God came in to make a promise to Abraham: He promised the seed and the blessing!

Christ as the seed of Abraham came in the flesh to remove the curse of the law; He Himself bore the curse on His body on the tree, and He became curse for us so that we can be released from the curse of the law and enjoy the blessing of Abraham (Gal. 3:13-14).

When Christ was on the cross, He was forsaken economically by God and judged by Him on our behalf, bearing our sins and the curse, and He even became a curse for us. But Hallelujah, as soon as we believe in Christ and repent for our sins, we enter into the enjoyment and participation of the blessing of Abraham!

In His resurrection Christ became the all-inclusive life-giving Spirit so that we, the believers in Christ – those who are Abraham’s seed by faith – may inherit the Spirit as our divine inheritance, our divine blessing for eternity (Gal. 3:14, 29; Eph. 1:14)!

Christ is the seed of Abraham and He is also the fulfillment of the promise; we are simply receivers and enjoyers of this wonderful blessing! Today in the age of grace we have the privilege to not only be released from the curse of the law but also be brought into the enjoyment of the consummated Spirit – the consummation of the processed Triune God – as our divine inheritance!

God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus, the seed of Abraham!
Lord Jesus, thank You for being crucified and becoming a curse on our behalf on the cross so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit as the greatest blessing! We love You, Jesus Christ – the Seed of Abraham! Thank You for becoming the transfigured seed of Abraham, the life-giving Spirit, to regenerate us and make us part of the corporate seed of Abraham! The curse of the law is no more! Now we are enjoyers of the consummated Spirit, our divine inheritance! Keep us enjoying You as the Spirit, the greatest blessing!

What Is The Purpose Of Jesus Christ Interceding For Us In Heaven? Jesus Christ The Intercessor —The High Priest’s Present Work On Our Behalf.

[source: GotQuestions.org]

Question: "What is the purpose of Jesus interceding for us in Heaven?"

Answer: Speaking of Jesus, the writer to the Hebrews says, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). This verse (and others like it) tells us that although Christ’s work to secure the salvation of the elect was completed on the cross, as evidenced by His cry “It is finished!” (John 19:30), His care for His redeemed children will never be finished.

Jesus did not go to heaven after His earthly ministry and “take a break” from His role as eternal Shepherd to His people. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10, emphasis added). If when humble, despised, dying, and dead, He had the power to accomplish so great a work as reconciling us to God, how much more may we expect that He will be able to keep us now that He is a living, exalted, and triumphant Redeemer, raised to life and interceding on our behalf before the throne (Romans 8:34). Clearly, Jesus is still very active on our behalf in heaven.

After Jesus ascended to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God the Father (Acts 1:9; Colossians 3:1), He returned to the glory He had before His incarnation (John 17:5) to carry on His role of King of kings and Lord of lords—His eternal role as the second Person of the triune God. While this old earth continues to be “won” for Christ, Jesus is the Advocate for Christians, meaning He is our great Defender. This is the intercessory role He currently fulfills for those who are His (1 John 2:1). Jesus is always pleading our case before the Father, like a defense lawyer on our behalf.

Jesus is interceding for us while Satan (whose name means “accuser”) is accusing us, pointing out our sins and frailties before God, just as he did with Job (Job 1:6-12). But the accusations fall upon deaf ears in heaven, because Jesus’ work on the cross paid our sin debt in full [We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ from the curse of the law. (emphasis mine)]; therefore, God always sees in His children the perfect righteousness of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, His righteousness (perfect holiness) was imputed to us, while our sin was imputed to Him at His death. This is the great exchange Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 5:21. That took away forever our sinful state before God, so God can accept us as blameless before Him.

Finally, it is important to understand that Jesus is the only human mediator between God and man. No one else—not Mary, not any previous Christian saints—has the power to intercede for us before the throne of the Almighty. No angel has that position. Christ alone is the God-man, and He mediates and intercedes between God and man. “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
—The High Priest’s present work
[source: SimplyBible.com Australia]

We have so far studied the book of Hebrews in lessons which were introductory and gave us an overview of the epistle’s teaching. We now move into a deeper study of Christ’s work as our great High Priest.

In this lesson, we focus on the topic of intercession which is an ongoing work of Christ our high priest. His sin offering (to be studied in a coming lesson) is a finished work which never needs repeating. Not all Christ’s work is finished, however, because he now continues to make intercession for us in heaven.

We study the same portions of Hebrews as for the lessons “Jesus a priest like Melchizedek”, but we now focus on his work as our intercessor.

The key verse for this study is...
Hebrews 7:25
¶“6He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through him, because he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
1 What Intercession Means

The meaning of intercession is wrapped up in the phrase "draw near to God through him". As a "creature" (Hebrews 4:13), you cannot come to your Creator unbidden.

Furthermore, because the Creator knows his creatures utterly, they are "naked" before him. All their thoughts and deeds are laid open and bare before his eyes.

Mindful of that, we mortals should be ashamed, indeed terrified, to come before God on our own, even if we were bidden. Therefore we need Someone to intercede for us. The Macquarie Dictionary gives this definition: "intercede ...to interpose on behalf of one in difficulty or in trouble, as by pleading or petition..."

2 Who Can Intercede for Us?

Jesus Christ is able to be our go-between who can speak to God on our behalf. We can then "draw near to God through him" (Hebrews 7:25). The prophecy about Christ stated that "He himself bore the sin of many and interceded for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12).

It stands to reason that someone who is in much the same position as ourselves, someone who needs an intercessor as much as we do, is not qualified in his own right to intercede for us. Only Jesus and the Holy Spirit are qualified to be our intercessors. (Romans 8:26,34).

There is only one priest among men who can can go to God in his own right and intercede for us, who himself does not need an intercessor. That man is Jesus Christ. That’s one reason why he said, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one can come to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

3 The Blessing of Intercession

We are greatly blessed in having a great High Priest one who ever lives to make intercession for us. John describes him as our "Advocate with the Father" (1 John 2:1-2). Jesus understands our weaknesses without himself being weak. There is no one closer to God than he. Through him we can come to God and find utmost grace.

Hence the encouragement, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). And again, "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith..." (Hebrews 10:22).

Putting On The Armor of God: Sword of the Spirit. A Must Watch Message About The Power Of Prayer by Pastor Dr. Tony Evans.


I was woken up this morning to this awesome message by Pastor Tony Evans on TBN. This message is about the power of prayer. Pastor Dr. Tony Evans program is on at 4:30 am PST on Sunday morning. I fell asleep with TBN channel on the tv. I was literally nudged awake from a deep sleep when this message was playing on tv. I sat up to listen to this powerful message about power of prayer being the sword of the Spirit. I went back to sleep afterward.

I started this video I share with you above at 26:26 because that's the part of message I woke up to this morning. But I highly recommend that you watch the entire video. This 1 hour, 25 minute message is totally worth your time.

Please CLICK HERE to watch more Dr. Tony Evans messages on TBN.

For more information, please visit:

Martin Luther - Comment On Faith ♥ Re-Post From 5/22/11 Also, Learn The Story About Martin Luther Reformation. Fascinating Stuff. :) Lots Of Respect For This Man Going Up Against A Behemoth.


This description is from the It Is Written Ministries website:

In 1517, on October the 31, a priest in a small town in Germany changed western civilization forever. As Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Castle Church door, the Protestant Reformation began. Five hundred years later, is the Reformation over? Or is there still work to be done? Join John Bradshaw on location across europe in the opening program of It Is Written’s 500 series.
Hi everybody, hope all of you are doing good. I wake up to The Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) on Sunday mornings. Well, actually, I like waking up to TBN every morning. If you're interested, TBN offers online streaming of their programming so you can watch 24/7 worldwide. I don't have a church that I go to, so I bring the church into my home sanctuary. I get to enjoy teachings from different pastors and get fed the Word of God. Not that there aren't any churches in my area. There are many churches. But when I gave my life to Christ over a decade ago, I felt so overwhelmed and with the decision of what church I should go to. There are so many Christian denominations to choose from that left me confused. I remain a non-denominational Christian. Plus, I didn't feel comfortable going to church. So, I made TBN my virtual church. I am also partnered with several ministries that unfortunately are not close to me or I would attend their church in person. But at least I can participate with tithes and offerings and I'm able to watch their messages online.

I just finished watching It Is Written on TBN. I loved watching this teaching about Martin Luther rebelling against the Catholic church subject by Pastor Robert Bradshaw. I had to look for the video to share with you to enjoy as well. I added a post below that I've been sharing since 2011, a piece Martin Luther wrote about Faith. My faith was greatly tested this past five years. Thank God I held on tight to my trust and faith in my Holy Father, my Creator, my Source promise that He would never leave me nor forsake me. I also thank God for TBN for being available 24/7 on tv and on the internet. There were times when the situation was so intense I was holding on to God's hand so tight in the Spirit realm like a child with my eyes closed. What the devil meant for evil, God turned it all around for my highest good. I had so many situations over the past five years that brought me to my knees. The devil saw me with my head down on my knees and thought that he won until I said AMEN. Prayer works people. I have provided prayers for you to use for whatever situation you need help with on the upper right side of my website. Instead of worrying about your situation, use that time to send your prayers up to heaven. I promise, God will answer your prayers. You will feel, notice the changes in your mood, in your environment right away and then watch God work miracles in your life.

Christianity, or being a Christian means having a 'personal' relationship with God (your Creator, Source of all living things, Creator of the Universe, your Higher power). Christianity is a way of life, it's about the process of surrendering ego and growing in the Holy Spirit on your own 'personal' spiritual journey with Jesus Christ, the living breathing WORD of God who was made flesh to walk among us and now sits in heaven at the right hand of God the Father to act as our chief intercessor, our High Priest.
I'm looking forward to watching the entire It Is Written 500 series. There are nine episodes in total. If you're interested, you too can watch all nine episodes by clicking this web link here at It Is Written 500 Series. Here is the description below from It Is Written Ministries website:
500 years later…
It was the greatest revolution of the last 1000 years. Learn the story of the Reformation and why it matters today more than ever. Join Pastor John Bradshaw on a unique journey in the footsteps of the Reformers with nine new, must-see, on-location programs titled 500.
I ORIGINALLY POSTED THIS MESSAGE BELOW ON 5/22/11

Wow, this is an AMAZING message! I was led to this message through a link provided by the webpage I posted in my last message. If you do not know who Martin Luther is please click here to read about him. Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546) was a Christian theologian and Augustinian monk whose teachings inspired the Protestant Reformation and deeply influenced the doctrines of Protestant and other Christian traditions.

Click here to be directed to the website where I have taken this message below. As I am typing this message I am realizing this is exactly how I live; with a BOLD trust in God's grace. Thank you God for leading me to this message so that others can better understand what it means to TRUST You.

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FAITH

Faith is not what some people think it is. Their human dream is a delusion. Because they observe that faith is not followed by good works, or a better life, they fall into error, even though they speak and hear much about faith. "Faith is not enough" they say, "You must do good works, you must be pious to be saved." They think that, when you hear the gospel, you start working, creating by your own strength a thankful heart which says, "I believe." That is what they think true faith is. But because this is a human idea, a dream, the heart never learns anything from it, so it does nothing and reform doesn't come from this 'faith' either.

Instead faith is God's work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God (John 1:13). It kills the old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts, and all of our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn't stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever. He stumbles around and looks for faith and good works, even though he does not know what faith or good works are. Yet he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with many words.

Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heart and LIGHT from fire!

Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guard against good-for-nothing gossips, who think they're smart enough to define faith, and works, but really are the greatest of fools. Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without faith, no matter what you wish, say or do.

The Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:1-23 NIV
[source: Biblegateway]

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.

3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

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Luke 8:1-56 NIV
[source: Biblegateway]

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

“‘though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.’

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

A Lamp on a Stand

16 Jesus said, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

Jesus Calms the Storm

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”

53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.