Surrounded by a Cloud of Witnesses. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud if witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author (archegos) and …
Surrounded by Songs of Deliverance. “You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. You shall encircle me with joyous shouts of victory and rescue. Like garlands of hosannas, you shall enfold me with songs of salvation.” (Psalm 32:7, a psalm of David; a combination of various versions). David was totally unique in Scripture. Raised a shepherd boy, …
Surrounded by Christ. “The Angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. He is a guard who surrounds and defends all who worship Him with reverence and awe. The Angel of the Lord sets up a circle of protection around us and will faithfully remain as He rescues …
Surrounded by God’s Lovingkindness. “Mercy and loving-kindness (hesed) shall completely surround all those who confidently lean on the Lord. God-seekers will find that they are encircled by God’s mercy, enfolded in His faithful love, and compassed about with the Lord’s wrap-around love.” (Psalm 32:10, a combination of many versions). Mercy: Eager love-in-action; steadfast kindness; loyal compassion; faithful …
Surrounded in the Womb. “You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate ouside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it! How thoroughly you know me, …
Jesus was Deeply Moved in Gethsemane. “Then Jesus led His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. He told them, ‘Sit here while I pray awhile.’ He took Peter, James and John with Him. An intense feeling of great horror (ekthambeo) plunged His soul into deep sorrow and agony. And He said to them, ‘My heart …
Jesus was Deeply Moved over Jerusalem. “When Jesus caught sight of the city, He burst into tears with uncontrollable weeping (klaio) over Jerusalem, saying, ‘If only you could recognize that this day peace is within your reach! But you cannot see it. For the day is soon coming when your enemies will surround you, pressing …
Jesus was Deeply Moved with Zeal. “When the time of the Jewish Passover was near Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple He found people selling cattle and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting there. Making a whip out of cord, He drove them all out of the Temple, sheep and …
Jesus was Deeply Moved with Joy. “The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places He planned to visit… When the seventy-two missionaries returned to Jesus, they were ecstatic with joy, telling Him, ‘Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we commanded them in Your name!… Then …
Jesus was Deeply Moved at the Death of Lazarus. “When Jesus looked at Mary and saw her weeping at His feet, and at all her friends who were with her grieving, a deep anger (embrimaomai) welled up within Him, and Jesus was deeply troubled.” (John 11:33). “embrimaomai” = a Greek word that is rooted in the snorting …
Deeply Moved in the Parable of the Prodigal Son . “So the young son set off for home. From a long distance away, his father saw him coming, and the father was deeply moved with compassion (splagchnizomai) for his son. The father’s heart was overflowing with love for him, this son who was finally returning …
Deeply Moved in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when bandits robbed him along the way. They beat him severely, stripped him naked, and left him for dead on the side of the road. Soon, a priest walking down the same road came upon the …