From Newsgroup: alt.bible

Day 37, 6 February 2026

1) Exodus 22 , 23 , 24

EXODUS 22

Laws About Restitution

1 (2Sa 12:6; Lk 19:8) If a man steals an ox or a sheep and kills it
or sells it, then he shall repay five oxen for an ox,
and four sheep for a sheep.
2 (Mt 24:43; Nu 35:27) If a thief is caught breaking in
and is struck so that he dies, then there will be no blood guilt for him.
3 (Ex 21:2) If the sun has risen on him, then there is blood guilt for him.
He must make full restitution. If he has nothing,
then he will be sold for his theft.
4 (Ex 21:16; 22:1) If the stolen item is in fact found alive
in his possession, whether it be an ox, or donkey, or sheep,
then he shall repay double.
5 If a man causes a field or vineyard to be eaten
and puts out his beast so that it feeds in another man's field,
he must make restitution of the best of his own field
and of the best of his own vineyard.
6 (Ex 22:9) If fire breaks out and catches in thorn bushes,
so that stacked grain or the standing grain or the field are consumed,
then he who started the fire must surely make restitution.
7 If a man gives his neighbor money or items to be kept for him,
and it is stolen from the man's house, if the thief is caught,
he must repay double.
8 (Ex 21:6; 22:28) If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house will be brought before the judges to determine
if he has laid his hand on his neighbor's goods.
9 (Dt 25:1; Ex 22:4) For any kind of trespass, whether it be for an ox,
for a donkey, for a sheep, for clothing, or for any type of lost thing,
where another says it is his, the case of both parties shall come
before the judges. And whoever the judges find guilty will pay double
to his neighbor.
10 If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, or an ox, or a sheep,
or any beast to keep for him, and it dies, or is injured,
or is driven away while no one sees it,
11 (Heb 6:16) then there will be an oath before the Lord between
both of them that he has not laid his hand upon his neighbor's property.
And its owner must accept this, and he will not have to make restitution.
12 (Ge 31:39) However, if it was stolen from him, he shall
make restitution to its owner.
13 If it is torn in pieces, then let him bring it as evidence,
and he will not have to repay for that which was torn.
14 If a man borrows anything from his neighbor,
and it is hurt or dies when the owner was not with it,
then he shall surely make restitution.
15 But if the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution.
If it was a hired thing, it came with his hire.

Exodus 22
[1] If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he
shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
[2] If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall
no blood be shed for him.
[3] If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for
his theft.
[4] If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
[5] If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in
his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own
field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
[6] If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or
the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
[7] If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it
be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double. [8] If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods.
[9] For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep,
for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to
be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
[10] If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or
any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing
it:
[11] Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not
put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.
[12] And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
[13] If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he
shall not make good that which was torn.
[14] And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.
[15] But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it
be an hired thing, it came for his hire.

Moral and Ceremonial Laws

16 (Dt 22:28-29) If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged
and has relations with her, he must surely endow her to be his wife.
17 (Ge 34:12; 1Sa 18:25) If her father absolutely refuses to give her
to him, he must pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
18 (Lev 20:27; 1Sa 28:3) You must not allow a sorceress to live.
19 (Lev 18:23; Dt 27:21) Whoever has relations with
a beast must surely be put to death.
20 (Dt 17:2-5; Nu 25:7-8) He who sacrifices to any god
other than the Lord alone shall be utterly destroyed.
21 (Dt 10:19; Ex 23:9; Lev 19:33) You must neither wrong a foreigner
nor oppress him, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
22 (Dt 24:17; 27:19) You shall not afflict any widow or orphan.
23 (Ps 18:6; Lk 18:7) If you afflict them in any way
and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry.
24 (Ps 109:9; 69:24) And My anger will burn,
and I will kill you with the sword,
and your wives will become widows,
and your children fatherless.
25 (Ps 15:5; Lev 25:35-37; Dt 23:19-20) If you lend money to any
of My people who is poor among you, do not be a creditor to him,
and do not charge him interest.
26 (Dt 24:6; Pr 20:16) If you take your neighbor's garment as a pledge,
you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,
27 (Ex 34:6; 2Ch 30:9) for that is his only covering;
it is his garment for his body. In what else will he sleep?
And when he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.
28 (Ecc 10:20; Ac 23:5) You shall not curse
God or curse the ruler of your people.
29 (Ex 13:2; 23:16) You must not delay to offer the first
of your harvest and of your vats.
You must give to Me the firstborn of your sons.
30 (Lev 22:27; Dt 15:19) Likewise you must do the same
with your oxen and with your sheep. Seven days it shall
remain with its mother, but on the eighth day you must give it to Me.
31 (Eze 4:14; Lev 19:2) You will be holy men to Me;
therefore you must not eat any flesh that is torn
by beasts in the field. You must throw it to the dogs.

[16] And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
[17] If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
[18] Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
[19] Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
[20] He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
[21] Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were
strangers in the land of Egypt.
[22] Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
[23] If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
[24] And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and
your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
[25] If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
[26] If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt
deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:
[27] For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I
will hear; for I am gracious.
[28] Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
[29] Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.
[30] Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days
it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
[31] And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that
is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.

EXODUS 23

Laws of Justice and Mercy

1 (Ps 35:11; 101:5) You must not give a false report.
Do not join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness.
2 (Ex 23:6-7; Lev 19:15) You must not follow the masses to do evil,
and do not testify in a dispute that agrees
with the crowd to pervert justice.
3 You must not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.
4 (Dt 22:1-4; Pr 25:21) If you meet your enemy's ox
or his donkey going astray, you shall surely return it to him.
5 (Dt 22:4) If you see the donkey of someone who hates
you lying under its burden, you must not ignore it;
you must surely help with him.
6 (Ex 23:2-3; Dt 27:19) You shall not turn justice away
from your poor in his dispute.
7 (Ex 34:7; 23:1) Keep far away from a false charge,
and do not kill the innocent and the righteous,
for I will not justify the wicked.
8 (Dt 16:19; Pr 15:27) You shall not take a bribe,
for a bribe blinds those who see and subverts
the words of the righteous.
9 (Ex 22:21; Dt 27:19) Also you shall not oppress a foreigner,
for you know the life of a foreigner, seeing you were foreigners
in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 23
[1] Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked
to be an unrighteous witness.
[2] Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak
in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
[3] Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
[4] If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
[5] If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
[6] Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
[7] Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay
thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
[8] And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and
perverteth the words of the righteous.
[9] Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

The Laws of Sabbaths

10 You shall sow your land for six years and shall gather in its produce,
11 but in the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow,
so that the poor of your people may eat,
and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat.
You shall do likewise with your vineyard and with your olive grove.
12 (Ex 20:8-11) For six days you are to do your work,
but on the seventh day you must cease,
so that your ox and your donkey may rest,
and the son of your female servant
and the foreigner may refresh themselves.
13 (Dt 4:9; Jos 23:7) In all things that I have said to you,
watch yourselves, and do not mention the name of other gods,
nor let them be heard from your mouth.

[10] And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:
[11] But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the
poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field
shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.
[12] Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt
rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
[13] And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

The Three Annual Feasts

14 (Dt 16:16) Three times in the year you must celebrate a feast to Me.
15 (Ex 34:20; Nu 28:16-25) You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you,
in the appointed time of the month Aviv, for in it you came out from Egypt.
No one shall appear before Me empty-handed.
16 (Ex 34:22; Lev 23:9-21; 23:34-44) You shall observe the Feast of Harvest, the first fruits of your labors, which you have sown in the field.
You shall observe the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year,
when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field.
17 (Dt 16:16; Ex 34:23) Three times in the year all your males
shall appear before the Lord God.
18 (Ex 34:25; Lev 2:11) You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice
with leavened bread, nor shall the fat of My sacrifice remain
until the morning.
19 (Ex 34:26; Dt 14:21; 26:10) The first of the first fruits of your land
you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God.
You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

[14] Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
[15] Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat
unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of
the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)
[16] And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou
hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
[17] Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD. [18] Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.
[19] The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the
house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

The Angel Prepares the Way

20 (Ex 14:19; 32:34) Indeed, I am going to send an angel before you to guard
you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
21 (Ps 78:40; 78:56) Be on guard before him and obey his voice.
Do not provoke him, for he will not pardon your transgressions,
for My name is in him.
22 (Ge 12:3; Dt 30:7) But if you diligently obey his voice
and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies
and an adversary to your adversaries.
23 (Ex 23:20) For My angel will go before you and bring you to
the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites,
and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites,
and I will completely destroy them.
24 (Ex 20:5; Nu 33:52) You must not bow down to their gods,
or serve them, or do according to their practices,
but you shall utterly overthrow them
and break down their images in pieces.
25 (Ex 15:26; Dt 6:13) You shall serve the Lord your God,
and He shall bless your bread and your water,
and I will remove sickness from your midst.
26 (Dt 7:14; Job 5:26) No one shall be miscarrying
or be barren in your land.
I will fulfill the number of your days.
27 (Dt 2:25; 7:23) I will send My fear before you,
and I will throw into panic all the people to whom you shall come.
I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
28 (Dt 7:20) I will send hornets before you which shall
drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you.
29 (Dt 7:22) I will not drive them out before you in one year,
lest the land become desolate
and the beasts of the field multiply against you.
30 Little by little I will drive them out before you,
until you become fruitful and inherit the land.
31 (Ge 15:18; Jos 21:44) I will set your boundaries from the Red Sea
to the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the River;
Euphrates River. for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land
into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.
32 (Ex 34:12; Dt 7:2) You must not make a covenant with them
or with their gods.
33 (Dt 7:16; Ps 106:36) They shall not live in your land,
lest they cause you to sin against Me,
for if you serve their gods,
it will surely be a snare to you.

[20] Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to
bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
[21] Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not
pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
[22] But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then
I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine
adversaries.
[23] For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the
Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
[24] Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after
their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down
their images.
[25] And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
[26] There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.
[27] I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to
whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs
unto thee.
[28] And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite,
the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
[29] I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.
[30] By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou
be increased, and inherit the land.
[31] And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.
[32] Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
[33] They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me:
for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

EXODUS 24

The Covenant Confirmed

1 (Ex 6:23; Nu 11:16) Then He said to Moses, "Come up to the Lord, you,
and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,
and you shall worship from a distance.
2 (Ex 24:13; 24:15) Moses alone shall come near the Lord,
but they shall not come near, nor may the people go up with him."
3 (Ex 19:8; 24:7) Moses came and told the people
all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances.
Then all the people answered with one voice and said,
"All the words which the Lord has said we will do."
4 (Dt 31:9; Ge 28:18) Moses wrote all the words of the Lord,
and rose up early in the morning,
and built an altar at the foot of the mountain
with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
5 (Ex 18:12) He sent young Israelite men who offered burnt offerings
and sacrificed peace offerings of young bulls to the Lord.
6 (Heb 9:18) Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins,
and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
7 (Ex 24:3-4)He took the Book of the Covenant
and read in the hearing of the people,
and they said, "All that the Lord has said we will do,
and we will be obedient."
8 (Mt 26:28; Heb 13:20) So Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it
on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant,
which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words."

Exodus 24
[1] And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab,
and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
[2] And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.
[3] And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all
the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.
[4] And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according
to the twelve tribes of Israel.
[5] And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.
[6] And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
[7] And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be
obedient.
[8] And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said,
Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you
concerning all these words.

Moses on Mount Sinai

9 (Ex 24:1) Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu,
and seventy of the elders of Israel,
10 (Jn 1:18; Eze 10:1) and they saw the God of Israel,
and under His feet there was something like
a paved work of sapphire stone as clear as the sky itself.
11 (Ge 16:13; 31:54) He did not lay His hand upon
the nobles of the children of Israel.
Also they saw God, and they ate and they drank.
12 (Ex 31:18; 32:15-16) The Lord said to Moses,
"Come up to Me to the mountain and stay there,
and I will give you the stone tablets with law
and the commandments which I have written,
so that you may teach them."
13 (Ex 33:11; 3:1) Moses rose up with Joshua his attendant,
and Moses went up to the mountain of God.
14 (Ex 17:10; 17:12) He said to the elders,
"Wait for us in this place until we return to you.
Aaron and Hur are with you.
Whoever has any matters of dispute let him come to them."
15 (Ex 19:9; 19:16) Moses went up to the mountain,
and the cloud covered the mountain.
16 (Ex 16:10; Nu 14:10) The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai,
and the cloud covered it for six days.
And on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud.
17 (Ex 3:2; Heb 12:29) Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord
was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain to the eyes
of the children of Israel.
18 (Ex 34:28; Dt 9:9) Moses went into the midst of the cloud
and went up to the mountain.
And Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

[9] Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the
elders of Israel:
[10] And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were
a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
[11] And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand:
also they saw God, and did eat and drink.
[12] And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be
there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments
which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
[13] And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
[14] And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any
matters to do, let him come unto them.
[15] And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.
[16] And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered
it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of
the cloud.
[17] And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the
top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
[18] And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the
mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

2) Our Daily Bread for 6 February 2026 titled
<a href="https://www.odbm.org/en/devotionals/devotional-category /small-beginnings"> Small Beginnings </a> by Kirsten Holmberg

Zechariah 4:1-10

The Vision of the Gold Lampstand

1 (Jer 31:26; Da 8:18) And the angel who was speaking with me returned
and woke me up like a man who is roused from his sleep.
2 Rev 4:5; 1:12And he said to me, "What do you see?"
And I responded, "I see a completely gold lampstand and a bowl at its top,
with seven lights on it, and seven pipes on it for each lamp in order
to light them.
3 (Rev 11:4) And there are two olive trees next to it, one on the right
of the bowl and one on the left."
4 (Zec 1:9; 6:4) So I answered and I asked the angel speaking with me,
"What are these, my lord?"
5 (Zec 4:13) Then the angel speaking with me responded,
"Do you really not know what these are?"
And I said, "No, my lord."
6 (Hos 1:7; Isa 11:2-4) And he said to me: "This is the word of the Lord
to Zerubbabel, saying: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,
says the Lord of Hosts.
7 (Jer 51:25; Ps 114:4) "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel
you will be made level ground, and he will bring out the top stone amidst shouting of 'Grace! Grace to the stone!' "
8Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
9 (Ezr 5:16; 6:14-15) "The hands of Zerubbabel have established
the foundation of this house, and they will even complete it.
Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me to all of you.
10 (Hag 2:3; Zec 3:9) "For who has despised the day of small things?
These seven will rejoice and see the plumb line in the hand
of Zerubbabel. These are the eyes of the Lord, which survey to
and fro throughout the earth."

[1] And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man
that is wakened out of his sleep,
[2] And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold
a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven
lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
[3] And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
[4] So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What
are these, my lord?
[5] Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest
thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
[6] Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
[7] Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings,
crying, Grace, grace unto it.
[8] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[9] The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his
hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
[10] For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice,
and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they
are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

In 1848, engineer Charles Ellet Jr. puzzled over how to begin the process of constructing the first bridge over the Niagara Falls gorge. How would they get a cable across the river? Prompted by a dream, Charles decided to host a kite-flying contest. American teenager Homan Walsh won five dollars when his kite landed on the American side of the river. Homan's kite string was secured to a tree and used to pull a light cord back across the river, then progressively heavier cords until heavy wire cable was in place. This was the small beginning of the construction of the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge.

The bridge's challenges and inauspicious beginnings mirror those faced by those working to rebuild GodrCOs temple after returning from captivity in Babylon. An angel awakened the prophet Zechariah with a message that nothing would thwart God's work - it would all be accomplished "by [his] Spirit" (Zechariah 4:6). Some of those who'd seen the temple in its previous glory were fearful that the rebuilt version would pale in comparison (Ezra 3:12). The angel encouraged Zechariah that they shouldn't "despise the day of small things" because God would "rejoice" in seeing the work begun (Zechariah 4:10).

Even though the tasks God has appointed to us may seem insignificant, we can be encouraged knowing He uses small things - like kite strings - to accomplish His great works.

Reflect & Pray

How does it encourage you to know that God's works often start small?
How might you trust His faithfulness?

Dear Father, thank You for being faithful to Your plans.

Learn to wait on God's timing by reading
<a href="https://www.odbm.org/en/spiritual-living/spiritual-growth /learning-patience-from-jesus">Learning Patience from Jesus.</a>

3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation

Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools

Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 6 God Works!

Phil 2:12-13

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but so much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.
13 For God is the One working in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will
and to do of his good pleasure.

"I just can't do it!" Marlys, a career woman in her 30s, was struggling to fit her new Christian principles into the business world. Accustomed to the cutthroat tactics of the corporate hierarchy, she has a hard time knowing Jesus' examples of grace and mercy applied.
Marlys was right. She couldn't do it. In our own strength, none of us is able to "live the Christian life." Someone has said, " The Christian life isn't difficult -- it's impossible!" Only the power of the Holy Spirit is
effective to work the needed changes in our priorities and behaviour;
only God can accomplish what he calls us to do.
In Phillippians 2:12, Paul says "work it out." If we stop there,
we are likely to throw up our hands in despair.
But the good news appears in verse 13:
" For God is the One working in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure." WE are not left on our own to figure out how to live the Christian life.
God gives us both the will and the ability to obey him, to live in a way
that will please him.
The key to a God-pleasing life is not performance, but obedience. God does not expect us to "do great things" for him, to deserve his love and grace.
Our part in the process of salvation is to respond in obedience to the Lord,
to say "yes" to what he asks of us. We cannot change ourselves;
we cannot even know ourselves apart from the Spirit's insight. But
as we cooperate with him, as we agree to be obedient, the Spirit changes us within, and those changes are "worked out" into our lives.

Application

a) Have I ever tried to "Live the Christian life" on my own strength?
What was the result?

b) In what practical ways is Paul's declaration that "God works in me"
good new in my life?

4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland

Mark 4:19

19 But the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches,
and the desires for other things entering in choke the word,
and it proves unfruitful.

19 and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches,
and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word,
and it becometh unfruitful.

5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:

When you are Burdened by Doubt

James 1:2 to 8

Faith and Wisdom

2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations,
3 knowing that the trying of your faith develops patience.
4 But let patience perfect its work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally and without criticism, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, without wavering. For he who wavers
is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed with the wind.
7 Let not that man think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect
and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth
is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Remember God's promises when You pray

The Lord's prayer

Matthew 6:9-13


9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)

Alberta

Quick facts on Muslims in Alberta

Alberta 2015 population 4121700

est Muslim Population 195240

CNMM Networks: Calgary and Edmonton

It is estimated that Calgary has 82000 Muslims and Edmonton another 50000 . Alberta may have a total as high as 195240 today.
Calgary is notable as the first Canadian city with a Muslim mayor. It's
become a prominent place of Islamic fundamentalism.
Edmonton's Muslim population is very diverse, with the largest group
coming from Tanzania, followed by Somalia, and then North African countries such as Egypt, Morocco, etc.
Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus! They overcome huge spiritual,
emotional and cultural hurdles to follow Christ. Yet their challenges still continue, especially in growing in discipleship. They often fell lost in our Western congregations, and equally lost trying to find a church body with whom they can identify. some are even being lured into Christian cult groups.

Please join us in praying for:
- The church to reach out to the growing Muslim populations in Alberta.
- for Canadian churches to start contextualised discipleship ministries to Muslim-background believers.
- for Muslm-background believers to be well grounded spiritually and socially
in their faith and the Church.
- and for Muslim-background believers to share their faith with their not-yet-believing family and friendship networks.
- for Farsi and Arabic fellowships to grow in spiritual maturity and outreach. - for current and new workers among Muslims in these growing Muslim
in these growing Muslim population centres.

Adding further

30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020

Under the Keep Praying page

When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and, of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be decorated and festivals will be held.

For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of Islam.

You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"

Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you know, and Muslims around the world:

- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]

Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus. Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the house."

Ideas for prayer

- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!

My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity (Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .

7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada

http://www.ehc.ca

6th Day of the Month

a) Pray for a more effective witness by the church in every Canadian community

(
Deut 4:6-7

6 (Job 28:28; Pr 1:7 ) Therefore, keep and do them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations which shall hear all these statutes, and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and
understanding people."
7 (2Sa 7:23; Ps 46:1) For what nation is there so great, who has a god so near
to it as the Lord our God is in all things whenever we call on Him?

6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and
your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and
understanding people.
7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them,
as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

Matt 5:13-16

13 (Lev 2:13; Lk 14:34-35) "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how shall it be made salty? It is from then on good for nothing but to be thrown out and to be trampled underfoot by men.
14 (Jn 8:12; Pr 4:18) "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 (Mk 4:21; Lk 8:16) Neither do men light a candle and put it under a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 (1Pe 2:12; Mt 9:8; Jn 15:8) Let your light so shine before men that they
may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing,
but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set
on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on
a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Acts 1:8

8 (Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15) "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,
and in all Juda, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

b) Pray for the province of British Columbia

I) Pray for the leaders of Alberta, that God's Spirit would influence then to act justly, serve with integrity and honour high moral standards.
( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4) 1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone, 2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life
in all godliness and honesty, 3 (1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, 4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 for kings,
and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable
life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable
in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 who will have all men to be saved,
and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

II) Pray for the churches of the province, that they would be lighthouses beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.

III) Pray that the Lord would use the Finding the Hope Campaign and booklet
to turn many hearts to Jesus

Conclusion:

Pray to seek the Lord's will to be obedient to His will and know His covenant.

Pray to the Lord: "Dear Father, thank You for being faithful to Your plans."

Pray to the Lord and pray to live in Christianity through Jesus Christ.

Pray to the Lord and pray that the riches of this Word does not choke
you from following the Lord.

Pray to the Lord and pray to seek His Wisdom.

Please join us in praying for:
- The church to reach out to the growing Muslim populations in Alberta.
- for Canadian churches to start contextualised discipleship ministries to Muslim-background believers.
- for Muslm-background believers to be well grounded spiritually and socially
in their faith and the Church.
- and for Muslim-background believers to share their faith with their not-yet-believing family and friendship networks.
- for Farsi and Arabic fellowships to grow in spiritual maturity and outreach. - for current and new workers among Muslims in these growing Muslim
in these growing Muslim population centres.

Pray for a more effective witness by the church in every community

Pray that Christians will share the rCLGood NewsrCY of Jesus,
even though evangelism is restricted by law in Russia and areas it controls.

Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness

Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising! Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
All I want to hear from Jesus is WEll Done Good and Faithful Servant.
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