Mary Etta Mest Podcast

The word “compassion” appears a multitude of times in the Bible in the King James and the New Revised Standard Version; perhaps the other versions likewise. God’s compassion balances his jealousness for being our God. God was merciful and bountiful with his people but they did not realize how good their life was when they faced God.

Bright lights from false gods attracted them. Easy living drew their laziness genes. Then God used the power he had to make life miserable for the Israelites. It is Adam and Eve over and over. Can we believe that it was God’s compassion that led him to punish? Personally, I believe we can persuade people with honey more than punishment but apparently I don’t subscribe to the same behavior methods as God does.

Should we question God’s governing style? It seems simple: Face God, obey the rules, live well! Turn away from God, live miserably, separated from God! Think wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, disease, floods, 9/11! Think how full our jails and prisons are! Think! Is God trying to get our attention? Is it the end times? Is there any compassion to be found in these times? Think of our overcrowded prisons; think of the riots! Would you agree that something is wrong?

You can finish reading on my blog: https://scripturecomingalive.com/2021/02/03/hope-or-depair-compassion-or-punishment/

After Mary and Joseph arrived at their destination after a long trek on foot and on a donkey. . . After they finally found a place to sleep and to birth a baby. . .

After that, we have this part of the story. . .

Luke 2:8-20

In this podcast I share about Weeds and Wheat, Based on Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, and Psalm 86: 11-17 and Romans 8:12-25 Jesus addresses the crowd with a parable about a wheat field in which weeds appear.  Jesus says after a farmer sows wheat, an enemy comes at night and sows weeds among the wheat.  What could be the lesson here?  Join me and hear the explanation.

In this podcast, I share "Is the Seed Alive?"  Based on Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23 and Isaiah 55:10-13 Jesus uses parables to teach his followers how to live.  This parable is about sowing seeds on various kinds of surfaces.  Some surfaces are productive.  Some not so much.  Later, Jesus explains to his disciples that the surfaces are really the condition of our hearts and minds when we hear the Word of God.

In this episode, I share about Ezekiel, a prophet of God, based on Ezekiel, chapter 37, verses 1-14.  I also mention "aliveness" from various places in the Bible, including Genesis 2:7, Luke 23:43, Luke 24, John 11:1-44, and Acts 9:40.

If you do not already have a church family, you are invited to worship with Zion UCC in Womelsdorf.  We are worshiping by Zoom at the present time.  You could join us on a regular telephone or with any internet device.  Find the numbers on our website: www.1zion.org each Friday or Saturday.  Our Worship starts at 10:00 a.m.  Call 610-659-2775 with questions.