Ministry Adventures with Cathy

HAPPY LAMB SELECTION DAY! Did you know? 1. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the 10th ofNisan (Nisan is a month on the Jewish religious calendar), which we callPalm Sunday. To the Jewish people, this day was known as"Lamb Selection Day* (John 12:1, 12). Did you know? 2. The lambs that were the focal pointof Passover were brought into Jerusalem on the 10th of Nisan to be sacrificed in the Temple on Passover, the 14th of Nisan (Exodus 12:3-6). Did you know? 3. Eachlamb was inspected for 4 days as they had to be spotless, without blemish. Ifno blemishes were found, the lamb was slain on the 14th day of Nisan--the first day of Passover (Exodus 12:5-6). Did you know? 4. After riding into Jerusalem on a colt ofa donkey, Jesus was scrutinized for 4 days and found blameless--without blemish. Finding Him to be without fault wereHerod (Lk 23: 14-15), Pilate (Lk 23:4,14 andMatt 27:24), the Sanhedrin (Matt 26:59-60), the thief on the cross (Lk 23:40-42), andJudas (Matt 27:4). Did you know? ...

FEBRUARY II Corinthians 5:13-14 – “For if we are beside ourselves it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.  For the love of Christ compels us. . . .”   Have you read a passage 500 times and then, at the 501 st reading, you wonder, “What in the world does that mean?”  Recently, while reading Paul’s declaration in II Cor. 5:13, I paused and glued myself to the phrase, “beside ourselves.”  I have verbalized in the past that I’ve been “beside myself”.  What was I exactly expressing?  I thought I knew.  Since studying Paul’s usage of that phrase, I am convinced I did not know!  However, I now am able to truly say, with understanding, that I have a desire to be “beside myself” – for God!  The phrase, in Greek, speaks of being "amazed, thrown into wonderment." It also means to be "out of one's mind"! Paul was accused of being "beside himself" in his defense of the Gospel (Acts. 26:24). Paul was impassioned for Christ. H...

TWO DAYS IN DECEMBER. . . . We are praising God for the 240 folks that He brought to our 11 th annual Chanukah/Christmas Celebration on December 20 th .  Included in that number were over 23 Jewish people who have yet to come to faith in Jesus.  I personally know the 23; therefore, I’m concluding that there were additional Jewish people who attended who don’t yet believe in Jesus.  Several Gentile believers brought their Jewish non-believing friends with them to the event.  God gave us lovely redemptive conversations following the program.  What a glorious victory! On December 22 nd , we were given the opportunity to present “The Nativity Story” in the theater at a retirement community in Scottsdale.  If you’ve not viewed this film – it’s time to do so.  Amidst the unfolding of the Christmas account from Luke 1 and 2 and from Mathew 2, the historical and cultural setting is well-displayed.  It’s realistic to the core!  The oppr...

John 1:14 – “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory.” Jesus is the glory of God revealed at His birth – the celebration we call Christmas.  Christmas is Jesus’ first coming.  At His Second Coming, Jesus will return in His blazing glory which Matthew 24:30 describes as “great glory.” The literal meaning of the “glory” of God is – weight, abundance, riches.  The glory of God manifests all of His attributes – all Who He is.  Are we beholding God in all His glory?  Do we think of Christmas as a time of beholding Him?  In Psalm 34, King David describes those who trust in the Lord.  I love verse 5 of Psalm 34 which states that “they looked to Him and were radiant. . . .”  The radiance in our lives that is ignited by Christ far exceeds the brightness of Christmas lights!  Do we long for this radiance?  As we continue to read Psalm 34:5, the Holy Spirit through King David tells us that those who b...

Isaiah 40:3 - “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord.  Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” From the time that sin entered the world, God began announcing that a Redeemer would arrive.  Throughout the pages of Scripture, God unfolds His plan of salvation through Jesus.  The profile of the Redeemer is revealed to us within the Old Testament.  The Redeemer is Jesus; He is God.  He is the One Who would be coming.   The one who cries in the wilderness, who would announce Jesus’ entrance, is John, the baptizer – John, the son of Zacharias.  John is the one spoken of by Isaiah the prophet.  John would be the herald for the Messiah.  In the history and culture of the day, it was the custom of some Eastern monarchs to send heralds before them to announce that they were on their way.  An envoy would be commissioned to ensure that the roads were safe.  Obstacles had to be cleared...

This past Sunday, 10/25, concluded Bethany Bible Church’s Global Emphasis Week (aka missions conference).  The “week” equated to nine days.  But, who’s counting?  I was sad to see it come to a close.  The event was a labor of love on the part of the entire church!  And truly, it was a most blessed time of getting to know and fellowship with ministry partners around the globe and in Phoenix, as well as with the dear people of Bethany Bible!  Quite truthfully, over the years it’s been difficult for me to participate in local missions conferences due to the fact that the field of service to which God has called me is – local.  Ministry in the Phoenix metropolitan area does not come to a halt when there’s a missions conference in the Valley.  This time, however, praise God, I was able to participate in every event at Bethany’s Global Emphasis Week.  And, I am “oh so thankful” to have done so.  While speaking at a focus group during th...

What a glorious time of year!  The temperatures are dropping to the high 90’s/low 100’s in Phoenix/Scottsdale.  Yes, there is indeed a briskness in the air!  And, it’s time to wish our Jewish friends, “Good Yontiff” – good holiday.  We can also greet our Jewish friends with, “L’shanah tovah” – to a good/sweet year.  Apples and honey along with a lively medley of Jewish/Israeli music have been offered this fall season during Rosh Hashanah celebrations within the Jewish community.  The Fall Feasts of Israel, all pointing to Jesus as Messiah, focus on repentance, restoration, and rejoicing. What an amazing time to share Jesus with Jewish people!   At sundown on September 13th, shofars blasted from synagogues around the globe, calling the Jewish community to assemble and reflect.  Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement are known as Jewish High Holy Days.  Rabbis call upon their congregations to get right with their fellow man during...