Just in time for Easter dinner, the gracious host of MeMe's Recipes
shows how to make a decadent and delicious Coconut Cream Pie!
And everybody remember, Shine for Jesus!
A special message from brother Zev Porat in Israel.
Please keep his ministry in your prayers!
Pray for the conversion of Israel and for the Peace of Jerusalem!
Maranatha!
"Rather, as it is written: "No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no heart
has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him."
(1 Corinthians 2:9)
Les continues his walk through the Bible teaching us how
to connect the dots within the Holy Scriptures.
"It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer,
but ye have made it a den of robbers."
(Matthew 21:12-13.)
The first errand of the King in His city is the temple. "And Jesus entered into the
temple of God, and cast out all that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew
the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves."
(Matthew 21:12)
This is the second time that the Lord acted in cleansing the temple.
*The first is recorded in the Gospel of John and took place at the beginning of His ministry.
There it is the zeal for God's house, but here, He acts in all His Kingly authority.
How great and awful must have been the defilement of God's temple in those days.
Money changers were undoubtedly in the foreground, for money played then in the days
of Jewish apostasy as important a role as it does in the apostasy we witness about us.
In "The Life and Times of Jesus The Messiah" Austrian Jewish-Christian author
Alfred Edersheim writes: "We can picture to overselves the scene around the table of
an eastern money changer--the weighing of the coins, deductions for the loss of weight,
arguing, disputing, bargaining, and we realize the terrible truthfulness of our Lord's
charge that they had made the Father's house a mart and a place of traffic."
And besides the money changers were those who bought and sold. All that which was
required for the meat and drink offering was for sale by the Temple authorities. With the
sale, much speculation was connected; covetousness, as Jewish talmudical writings prove,
was the ruling passion in this blasphemous traffic. And the most awful fact was that the
priesthood, especially the high-priestly family, earned riches from it. The Bazaars and
the Temple markets were controlled and owned by the *sons of Annas.
Into this scene of desecration He enters.
No whip of cords in His hands; the King does not need it.
The tables are turned over in wild confusion; the coins roll over the pavement,
while the sacrificial animals and birds are driven out, perhaps in a wild stampede,
followed by their owners and the officials of the temple.
And what He uses is His own Word:
"It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer,
but ye have made it a den of robbers."
(Matthew 21:12-13.)
But a more refreshing scene follows. The temple is cleansed. The noise and
confusion is at an end. Nothing is said of the return of these evil occupants.
But instead of them, there came the blind and lame to Him in the temple
and he healed them. The vacancy was filled by the crowd of the poor,
stricken, suffering ones, who were delivered of their pains and diseases.
A blessed and glorious foreshadowing of what will be when He comes again,
and when, by His life-giving, healing touch, He will cure "all diseases"
and make perfectly whole. And still another thing happens.
"And when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders which He wrought,
and the children crying in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!"
they were indignant and said to Him, 'Hearest thou what these say?'
And Jesus says to them, "Yes. Have ye never read, 'Out of the mouth
of babies and sucklings Thou hast perfect praise?"
(Matthew 21:15-16)
The children sang their Hosanna to Him, the Son of David, and our Lord refers
the murmuring, accusing chief priests and scribes to the eighth Psalm:
"Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength
because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightiest still the enemy and the avenger."
(Psalm 8:2 )
The meaning of that Psalm is clearly established by the Second Chapter of Hebrews.
"Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet."
(Hebrews 2:8)
It is Jesus, the Son of Man, who is seen here in His dominion over the earth. When at last
He has all things under His feet, there will be silencing of the enemy by perfect praise.
The praise of the children foreshadows the praise He will receive when He comes again.
-Gaebelein's Annotated Bible
Did The Cleansing Of The Temple Occur Twice?
The accounts of Jesus driving out the merchants and money changers
from the temple appears in (John 2:13-17) and in the Synoptic Gospels
(Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19: 45-46). In John's Gospel,
the event appears early in Jesus' public ministry, whereas in the
Synoptic Gospels, it appears close to the final week of His earthly
mission. The difference in timing raises a question: Were there
two distinct cleansing or is there only one cleansing
differently placed by John?
John's Gospel records: "Now the Passover of the Jews was near,
so Jesus went up from Jerusalem. In the temple courts He found men
selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and money changers seated at their
tables. So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple
courts, both sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the money
changers and overturned their tables. To those selling doves He said,
"Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father's house into
a marketplace!" His disciples remembered that it was written:
"Zeal for Your house will consume Me."
(John 2:13-17)
The apparent difference in timing between John's account and
the parallel accounts recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke,
does not present an irreconcilable conflict.
.
Readers can legitimately embrace the possibility of two separate cleansings-
one in the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry and one near the end.
John may have placed his account of the single cleansing at the
beginning of his gospel to highlight the Lord's identity and mission.
The overarching message of each gospel perspective is clear to the careful reader.
Jesus is the promised Messiah who zealously guards the sanctity of true worship.
"God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
(John 4:24 )
*Sons of Annas- Annas was the patriarch of an immensely powerful family of Jewish
priests who dominated Jerusalem. He played a significant role in the execution of
Jesus, and in the persecution of the early followers of Christ. He was the father of
five sons, the most notable being Eleazar ben Ananas. He was also the father-in-law
of Joseph Caiaphas, the official Roman-appointed high priest during the
time of Jesus' arrest, trial, and execution.
Information source: Bible Hub
A beautifully restored "Silly Symphony" cartoon from 1934
recounts the famous Aesop's fable about a carefree grasshopper,
industrious ants, and a lesson in gratitude.
"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a
donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey."
(Zechariah 9:9)
"They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, "Hosanna!"
"Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!"
(John 12:13)
This is the burden of the word of the LORD
against the land of *Hadrach
and Damascus its resting place-
for the eyes of men
and of all the tribes of Israel
are upon the LORD
and also against *Hamath
which borders it,
as well as *Tyre and Sidon
though they are very shrewd.
Tyre has built herself a fortress;
she has heaped up silver like dust,
and gold like the dirt of the streets.
Behold, the Lord will impoverish her
and cast her wealth into the sea,
and she will be consumed by fire.
Ashkelon will see and fear;
*Gaza will writhe in agony,
and will Ekron,
for her hope will wither.
There will cease to be a king in Gaza,
and Ashkelon will be uninhabited.
A mixed race will occupy Ashdod,
and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
I will removed the blood from their mouths
and the abominations from between their teeth.
Then they too will become a remnant for our God;
they will become like a clan in Judah
and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.
But I will camp around My house because of an army,
because of those who march to and fro,
and never again will an oppressor overrun My people,
for now I keep watch with My own eyes.
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your King comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the horse from Jerusalem,
and the bow of war will be broken.
Then He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His dominion will extend from sea to sea,
and from the Euphrates
to the ends of the earth.
As for you,
because of the blood of My covenant,
I will release your prisoners
from the waterless pit.
Return to your stronghold,
O prisoners of hope;
even today I declare
that I will restore to you double.
For I will bend Judah as My bow
and fit it with Ephraim.
I will rouse your sons, O Zion,
against the *sons of Greece.
I will make you like the sword
of a mighty man.
Then the LORD will appear over them,
and His arrow will go forth like lightning.
The Lord GOD will sound the ram's horn
and advance in the whirlwinds of the south.
The LORD of Hosts will shield them.
They will destroy and conquer with slingstones;
they will drink and roar as with wine.
And they will be filled like sprinkling bowls,
drenched like the corners of the altar.
On that day the LORD their God will save them
as the flock of His people;
for like jewels in a crown
they will sparkle over His land.
How lovely they will be,
and how beautiful!
Grain will make the young men flourish,
and new wine, the young women.
(Zechariah 9:1-17)
It's interesting to note...
*Hadrach, an ancient city in Syria, is mentioned only once in the Bible
and was said to be in a fertile area which served as a strategic military
gateway between Mesopotamia and the Levant.
*Hamath-The capture of this historic Syrian city (also known as Hama) was
a major milestone in late November 2024 when forces under the command
of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, primary leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir-
al-Sham, overran the city as part of a rapid, widespread offensive which
led to the collapse of the long-standing Assad regime in Damascus.
Based on Salafi-Jihadist ideology, the group opposes the nation
and people of Israel. In 2018, al-Jolani, now the current leader
in Syria declared, "Jerusalem awaits us."
*"Tyre and Sidon": Cities located on the southern coast of Lebanon
which in recent years have become major strongholds of the
terrorist group, Hezbollah. This past month these two cities were
heavily impacted by Israeli airstrikes.
*"Gaza"- long time stronghold of the terrorist group Hamas.
* "Slingstones" "David's Sling" is the name often used to describe the second tier
of Israel's missile defense system. The name, of course, is a reference to the
biblical account of future king David felling the Philistine giant, Goliath,
with his sling-shot. "David's Sling" forms one level of Israel's multi-tiered
missile defense system, which also includes Arrow 2, Arrow 3,
Iron Dome and Iron Beam.
* "Sons of Greece" represents a power standing in defiant opposition to the purposes
of God and is often symbolic of humanism, Hellenism, and worldly power.
I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit"
(Zechariah 9:11)
The prophet breaks forth into a joyful representation of the coming of the Messiah,
of whom the ancient Jews explained this prophecy. He took the character of their king,
when He entered Jerusalem amidst the hosannas of the multitude.
But His Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom.
It shall not be advanced by outward force or carnal weapons. His gospel shall be
preached to the world, and be received among the heathen. A sinful state is a state
of bondage; it is a pit or dungeon, in which there is no water, no comfort;
and we are all by nature prisoners in this pit.
Through the precious blood of Christ, many prisoners of Satan have been set at liberty
from the horrible pit in which they must otherwise have perished, without hope or comfort.
While we admire Him, let us seek that Christ's holiness and truth
may be shown in our own spirits and conduct.
-Matthew Henry's Commentary
First aired on April 29, 1967 America's favorite prime time band leader
Lawrence Welk and his talented cast of singers, dancers, and musicians
welcome special guest star and country music singing sensation
Charley Pride in a salute to time.
"Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy."
(Psalm 126:5)
When some great sorrow, like a mighty river,
Flows through your life with peace-destroying power,
And dearest things are swept from sight forever,
Say to your heart each trying hour,
"This, too, shall pass away."
Thank God that earthly things are not forever,
Thank God, eternal life is free from care;
That joy and peace, and gladness reigning ever,
And bliss supreme
Shall never, never pass away.
When ceaseless toil has hushed your song of gladness,
And you have grown almost too tired to pray,
Let this truth banish from your heart its sadness,
And ease the burdens of each trying day:
"This, too, shall pass away."
When fortune smiles, and full of mirth and pleasure,
The days are flitting by without a care,
Lest you should rest with only earthly treasure,
Let these few words their fullest import bear:
"This, too, shall pass away."
When earnest labor brings you fame and glory,
And all earth's noblest ones upon you smile,
Remember that life's longest, grandest story
Fills but a moment in earth's little while:
"This, too, shall pass away."
Thank God that earthly things are not forever,
Thank God, eternal life is free from care;
That joy and peace, and gladness reigning ever,
And bliss supreme
Shall never, never pass away.
"This, Too, Shall Pass Away"
(1894)
Lanta Wilson Smith
(1856-1939)
American hymn writer
Recorded by the smooth vocals of country singer-songwriter Don Williams,
the classic romance ballad, "Till The Rivers All Run Dry" which he co-wrote
with fellow songwriter, Wayland Holyfield, reached the Number One spot on the
US Hot Country Music Chart (Billboard) fifty years ago this week on March 27, 1976.
"And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
"This is My body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me."
(Luke 22:19)
This year Passover falls on 15-22 Nisan 5786 which on the western calendar begins
at sundown on Wednesday April 1, 2026 and ends at nightfall on Thursday April 9, 2026.
An inspirational weekend message from brother Zev Porat in Israel. Please
remember him and his ministry in your prayers as he proclaims the good news
of salvation through Yeshua to his fellow Jews in the midst of war.
Sha'alu shalom Yerushalayim.
(Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.)
Maranatha!
This past Saturday, Senate Democrats shot down a proposed amendment
that would have barred biological males from competing in girls' sports. The
amendment was advanced by Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and
Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee). The Washington Stand reports that while
49 Republicans voted in favor of the provision, 41 Democrats voted against it,
leaving support for the amendment under the 60-vote threshold needed to advance.
"I can't believe that this is even an issue," said Senator Tuberville. "Every single
time that we've voted on this, I have not gotten one single Democrat to vote for it."
I agree 100% with Senator Tuberville. This should not even be an issue.
Perhaps he and Senator Blackburn should have instead sponsored a resolution
to cancel any and all future observations of Women's History Month,
which is winding down this week.
After all the past generations of women in this nation who, among other achievements,
fought for the right to vote, and for equal pay in the workplace, women are now being
denied the right to protection while competing in sports, and inside locker rooms
and restroom facilities by Senate Democrats hell-bent on foisting their
agenda of sexual perversion on America.
Their actions are a hard slap in the face to women of the past, and of
the present generation, and are basically telling us and future generations
of women, "Our demagoguery is more important than your dignity."
I just have to wonder at the female members of the Democratic Party
who are agreeing with this mentality by keeping their silence.
I am sorry if this offends anyone, but reticence on your part in order not to
anger the hierarchy of your party or "offend" the perverts they and you are
protecting is akin to being a willing participant of potential acts of sexual
violence and humiliation against your own sex and you make me sick.
"And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans,
will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah."
(Isaiah 13:19)
When the prophet Isaiah described the destruction of this once mighty
empire, I am sorely reminded of another great nation called America.
Babylon was brought down-from the height of her magnificence
and power-to a condition of abject wretchedness.
As Matthew Henry's Commentary attests: "Babylon is represented under
the emblem of a female in deep distress. She was to be degraded and endure
sufferings; and is represented sitting on the ground, grinding at the handmill,
the lowest and most laborious service. God was righteous in His vengeance,
and none should interpose. The prophet exults in the Lord of hosts, as the
Redeemer and Holy One of Israel. God often permits wicked men to prevail
against His people, but those who cruelly oppress them will be punished."
"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,
will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you."
(John 14:26)
"Paraclete" comes from the Greek word, "Parakletos" which means "Advocate" "Helper"
or "Counselor". In the Gospel of John, this word describes the One whom Jesus
sent to support believers and guide them in truth- the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit In The Life Of The Believer:
Teaches and reminds us:
"Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. All the LORD's
ways are loving and faithful to those who keep His covenant and His decrees. "
(Psalm 25:8-10)
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
(Matthew 11:28 )
Testifies to us about Jesus and glorifies Him:
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me because the LORD has anointed Me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty
to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of our God's vengeance, to comfort all who mourn..."
(Isaiah 61:1-2)
"But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Therefore, since we have been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be
saved from wrath through Him. For if, we were enemies of God, we were
reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more,
having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life."
(Romans 5:8-10)
Convicts the world in regards to sin, righteousness, and judgment:
"And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin
and righteousness and judgment."
(John 16:8)
"The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction;
but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
(Galatians 6:8)
Seals believers for the day of redemption:
"Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ.
He anointed us, placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit
in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come."
(2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
"And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel
of your salvation, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit."
(Ephesians 1:13-14)
Empowers believers for spiritual gifts and ministry:
"We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one's gift is prophecy,
let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving,
let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is
showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."
(Romans 12:6-8)
"There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries,
but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God
works all things in all people. Now to each one the manifestation of the
Spirit is given for the common good."
(1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
The latest information from Israel and the Middle East with unique insight
from author/speaker and former Knesset member Avi Lipkin
"I will take the cup of salvation (Yeshua) and call upon
the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto
the Lord now in the presence of all His people."
(Psalm 116:13-14)
"After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said: "Take this and divide it
among yourselves. For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of
the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes."
(Luke 22:17-18)
A special message for the upcoming Passover
from brother Zev Porat in Jerusalem.
Please pray that his street ministry in witnessing the glorious good
news of salvation through Yeshua may continue unhindered in these
uncertain and perilous days for the nation and people of Israel.
Sha'alu shalom Yerushalayim!
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! Maranatha!
"Martha, Martha, the Lord replied, "you are worried and upset about many things.
But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion and
it will not be taken away from her."
(Luke 10:41-42)
Martha was busy and hurried,
Serving the Friend divine,
Cleansing the cups and platters,
Bringing the bread and wine;
But Martha was careful and anxious
Fretted in thought and in word.
She had no time to be sitting
While she was serving the Lord,
For Martha was "troubled" with "things"...
Those that would pass with the using...
She was forgetting her wings.
Mary was quiet and peaceful,
Learning to love and to live.
Mary was hearing His precepts,
Mary was letting Him give...
Give of the riches eternal,
Treasures of mind and of heart;
Learning the mind of the Master,
Choosing the better part.
Do we ever labor at serving
Till voices grow fretful and shrill,
Forgetting how to be loving,
Forgetting how to be still?
Do we strive for "things" in possession,
And toll for the perishing meat,
Neglecting the one thing needful...
Sitting at Jesus' feet?
Service is good when He asks it,
Labor is right in it's place,
But there is one thing better,
Looking up in His face;
There is so much He can tell us,
Truths that are precious and deep;
This is the place where He wants us,
These are the things we can keep.
"Mary And Martha"
Annie Johnson Flint
(1866-1932)
Prolific American Christian
poetess and writer
"I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in
ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me,
along with faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of
full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst."
(1 Timothy 1:13-15)
Les continues his walk through the Bible, teaching us
how to connect-the-dots within the Holy Scriptures.
