Lydia: The First European Convert

By Sherri Stewart

Paul was on his second missionary trip when he had a vision of a man who told him, “Come over to Macedonia to help us.” He gathered his men and headed across the Aegean Sea to Macedonia (Northern Greece), then traveled to Philippi, a Roman trade city.

As was his practice in all the cities he traveled to, Paul waited for the Sabbath to meet with the members of the local synagogue, which was normally located near the river so there’d be water for ceremonial cleaning. Surprisingly, he found no synagogue but a group of women instead. Since a synagogue could only be formed by ten or more men, we can infer that there weren’t ten Jewish men in Philippi. (Acts 16:9-15) Paul must have wondered why it was a man who appeared to him in the vision.

The only named woman of the group that met by the river was Lydia, also known as Lydia of Thyatira. Lydia was actually the name of the region where Thyatira was located, and usually people who were named by their city or region of origin were slaves. That doesn’t seem to be the case with regard to Lydia, who is described in Acts 16. Lydia was a seller of purple; that is, she sold luxurious garments dyed purple or trimmed with it. We can assume Lydia was a wealthy merchant because only the elite could afford purple. There were two types of the dye: Tyrian purple, an expensive dye derived from marine molluscs, and a lesser expensive reddish-purple dye from Thyatira, extracted from the madder plant. We can assume Lydia moved to Philippi from Thyatira for business, which most likely involved the madder-plant dye.

Lydia was also a worshiper of God (Acts 16:14), and, when Paul found her, she was honoring the Sabbath, which means she was likely a Gentile who was seeking the Lord through Judaism. Perhaps it was her prayers to find God that led to Paul’s vision. The Bible says that God opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she committed her life to Christ, Lydia was baptized, along with the rest of her household. We aren’t told who comprised her household, but either she or Paul must have shown them the way to Christ.

After Lydia and her household were baptized, she begged Paul and his men, which perhaps included Silas, Timothy, Luke, and others, to stay at her house. Her house must have been spacious. Her home was also large enough to hold church meetings after Paul and Silas were released from prison. We have no idea if Lydia was married, but it is unusual for a married woman not to be identified by her husband. Therefore, she may have been a single woman or a widow. We do know she had a household which may have included relatives, children, and servants.

In this story, we see a perfect example of a seeker of God in a godless land. God moves Paul in a vision across the sea to meet with a woman and tell her about Jesus Christ. She eagerly leads her whole household to choose Him and be baptized. It is because of Lydia’s quest and Paul’s obedience that the Gospel reached Europe and the United States. An influential woman? 

 

To celebrate reaching 3 Million views, HHH is hosting a HUGE giveaway of over 60 books in 17 prizes, so there are many chances to win! One grand prize will consist of 10 books, two readers will win a second prize containing 5 books, and there will be 14 winners of a third prize containing 2 books each. There are several ways to earn entries, such as following, or commenting on the HHH blog each day. Thank you for being part of the HHH community, and best wishes in the giveaway!

 http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ce16d9c612/?

 

Sherri Stewart loves a clean novel, sprinkled with romance and a strong message that challenges her faith. She spends her working hours with books—either editing others’ manuscripts or writing her own. Her passion is traveling to the settings of her books and sampling the food. She loves the Netherlands, and she’s still learning Dutch, although she doesn’t need to since everyone speaks perfect English. A recent widow, Sherri lives in Orlando with her lazy dog, Lily. She shares recipes, tidbits of the book’s locations, and pix in her newsletter. Subscribe at http://eepurl.com/gZ-mv9

Deer Eyes

Her eyes reflect fear, but looks can be deceiving.

From the moment high-school principal, Judd Trudeau, sees the fear-filled eyes of the beautiful woman in Acadia Park, he knows he must tread lightly. If he wants to get close, Judd must gain her trust. But those deer-in-the-headlights eyes remain, and his need to protect her trumps his better judgment. She’s running from something. The more he learns about Selah Brighton, the more he realizes looks can be deceiving.

Selah Brighton has reason to be wary, which is why she chose to hide in Bar Harbor, Maine. The fewer people who know her story, the less danger she’ll bring to their lives. It’s not wise to stay in any place for long, but something about Judd Trudeau makes it hard to tamp down her feelings.

 https://amzn.to/3oGaI0s

 

Kings or Wise Men? Who Really Visited Jesus from the East?

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo - Adoration of the Magi ,

                         1655-1660 {PD}

by Kathleen Rouser 

Who were the mysterious magi and where did they come from?

They were possibly Zoroastrian priests from Persia which is modern-day Iran. Zoroastrianism purports belief in a single deity, Ahura Mazda, and that there is a conflict between good and evil. It dates back to the 6th century B.C.

Magi was a term created by those who were skeptical of their religion and is the root word for magician. In a negative terms in means “sorcerer.”

Those referred to as wise men in different biblical accounts were advisors to ancient kings. They would have been astrologers and interpreters of signs. Astrology at that time had closer ties to astronomy. They would have also been educated scholars.

Around 530 B.C. Daniel served in the Persian court of Cyrus. Were advisors to Darius, priests of a monotheistic religion, intrigued by the prophet who worshipped the one true God? Perhaps they had many conversations about scripture and prophecy of the Messiah, who would be the Savior of the world. Balaam’s prophecy in Numbers 24:17 states: "A star will rise from Jacob a scepter will emerge from Israel."(NLT)

One theory some theologians have proposed is that there was evidence that the message of the Gospel was in the stars until it was corrupted by astrology after the Tower of Babel had been built. Is it possible these wise men had searched for such a message in the stars and found the one star that they followed to the Messiah? The wise men came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2, KJV)

The three Magi (Balthasar, Caspar, 
Melchior) !2th Century {PD}

When did they visit the baby Jesus?

When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:10-11, NLT)

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. (Matthew 2:16, NLT)

When wise men are included in the Christmas narrative, they are often depicted visiting the baby Jesus at the site of the of manger where he was born, along with the shepherds who visited on the night of Jesus’ birth. However, two things would indicate that it could have been even a year or more later. Some translations say they entered the house to visit the child, not a place where a manger was kept. Also, Herod, to make sure he had no competition from this prophesied King of the Jews, decided to execute not only newborn infants, but every male child two years and younger. It’s likely that a year or two had passed and by then they were living in a house with a toddler-aged Jesus.

What was the significance of their gifts?

As quoted above, the wise men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to give the child in an act of worship. One interpretation, that originated with Origen, in the time of the early church is that gold was a gift fit for a king, frankincense was a perfume to be offered to a God, and myrrh was an ointment for anointing a dead body, so it was associated with death. The symbolism of virtue is attributed to gold, prayer is attributed to frankincense, and sacrifice is attributed to myrrh. Gold and frankincense reflected the life the child would grow up to live and myrrh reflected the sacrifice He would make for us.

Caspar by Jan van Biljert,Oil on panel. 
Circa 1640–1650, Rau Antiques2018, [cc]

What traditional beliefs have come from the visit of the Wise Men?

Since the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were presented to the Christ child, tradition has it that there were three wise men. However, in the eastern Syriac churches, the traditional number is twelve. The actual number is not mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew.

In western Christian tradition the names attributed to the supposed three wise men are Balthasar, from Arabia, Melchior from Persia, and Gaspar, from India. Eastern Christian traditions ascribe different names and sometimes different countries of origin than in the western church. However, in Matthew 2:12 it says they “returned to their own country.” In the original language this means a single place of origin.

They have also been referred to as kings. This tradition comes from viewing Psalm 72:10b, The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts, as a prophecy of this event. Yet, there is no evidence in the Matthew 2 passage that they were kings.

While the wise men are often pictured as arriving by camel, these wealthy individuals likely covered the eight or nine hundred miles of their journey by riding swift Arabian horses, the preferred method of travel of the day. Camels were used mainly as pack animals.

James Tissot, "The Magi Journeying," c. 1890
Brooklyn Museum [cc]

So as you can see, traditions concerning the wise men from the east have risen and changed over the many centuries since the birth of Jesus. However, we can conclude that these men who gave of their riches and time to travel and seek out the King of Jews, believed He was deity. They truly were very wise men to worship the Messiah of the Jewish people, King of kings and Lord of lords, the Savior of the world. 

Please let me know in the comments if you've learned something new from this article. Or share something I didn't cover here. I would love to find out what others know/think about the wise men who visited Jesus. 

Kathleen Rouser is the multi-published author of the 2017 Bookvana Award winner, Rumors and Promises, her first novel about the people of fictional Stone Creek, Michigan, and its sequel, Secrets and Wishes. She is a longtime member in good standing of American Christian Fiction Writers. Kathleen wanted to be a writer before she could even read. She longs to create characters who resonate with readers and realize the need for a transforming Savior in their everyday lives. She lives in Michigan with her hero and husband of thirty-some years, and continues on the elusive quest to brew the perfect cup of coffee to enjoy while she is writing. Connect with Kathleen on her website at kathleenrouser.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kathleenerouser/, and on Twitter @KathleenRouser.

Bookvana Awards Winner

Sophie Biddle is an heiress on the run with a child in tow. Wary and self-reliant, Sophie is caught off guard when meeting a kind, but meddling and handsome minister at the local mercantile. Believing he has failed God and his former flock, the Reverend Ian McCormick is determined to start anew in Stone Creek, Michigan. While Sophie seeks acceptance for her child and a measure of respect for herself, the rumors swirl about her sordid past. Should Ian show concern for Sophie's plight? If he does, he'll risk losing everything — including his new position as pastor of Stone Creek. Will the scandals of their pasts bind them together, or drive both deeper into a spiral of shame?

A Hebraic Perspective on the Last Supper (Part 2)

Christ our Passover is sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast! (1 Cor 5:7-8)

This is the second post in a two-part series on Jesus' Last Supper, which was a Jewish Passover feast—a Seder (Matt 26:18-29). Each year, I'm blown away by the profound ways our Lord fulfilled the Feast—down to the jot and tittle.

One thing that fascinates me about Judaism is that, while not all rabbinical practices are Biblical, many are very old. The Mishnah was compiled in the third century A.D., but it reflects beliefs and practices handed down orally much earlier than that. Many practices recorded in the Mishnah are unchanged from Jesus’ day.

If you’ve had the blessing of attending a Jewish Seder, you will have experienced a series of rituals that are similar to those Yeshua and His disciples observed that evening. And understanding those rituals opens a new window on what happened in the Upper Room. 

How Is This Night Different from All Other Nights? Astounding Ways the Jewish Passover Anticipates Messiah

You can check out the first post, on the lamb and the wine, here.

3. The Water

It was the Jewish tradition, then as now, that meals begin with ceremonial hand washing (Mark 7:3-4). John is not as precise about the evening's timeline as Luke is, but it's likely this is the point where Jesus "poured water into the basin," which would have been in place for the ritual, "and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded." (John 13:5) In other words, Jesus went beyond the ritual and got at what was really dirty on a group of men who'd spent the day walking dusty streets in sandals. As He will with our lives, if we let Him!

4. The Bread

Traditional handmade matzah bread. Photo: Yoninah, Wikipedia

When the Lord instituted Passover, He coupled it with a seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was to remind the children of Israel how they left Egypt in haste. But leaven is also commonly used in Scripture as a metaphor for sin. (Hosea 7:4, Matt 16:6; Gal 5:9; 1 Cor 5:6-7) And during those seven days, none of it was to be found in a Jewish home.

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses..." Ex 12:15

Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5:6-8)

Note that Paul's discussion of leaven in this passage is a clear reference to the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the fastidious housecleaning that was mandated to prepare for it. Even today, observant Jewish households may go to extremes to remove every grain of leaven for the feast.

Every speck of yeast. Can you imagine the stress?

If you're interested in the fascinating background on why leaven symbolizes sin in the Bible, you'll find that in this post, under the subheading Unleavened Bread: A Timeless Call to a Sinless Life.

You really are not going to believe this, but I promise I’m not making it up. Before a Seder meal in a Jewish home begins in earnest, the matzah is broken. Three pieces of bread, untainted by leaven, are presented beautifully on the table. The middle piece is pulled from the stack and broken in two. One half of the broken matzah—the afikomen, “that which comes after”—is shrouded in clean white cloth and hidden away.

Look at the matzah and see that it is striped: "By his stripes we are healed"; pierced: "They shall look upon me whom they've pierced," and pure, without any leaven, as His body was without any sin. And the Passover custom of burying, hiding and then resurrecting the second of three pieces of matzot (the middle piece), presents the Gospel.

- John J. Parsons, Hebrew4Christians.com

The Jewish people generally accept the three matzah as symbolic of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Isaac’s piece is broken to speak of his willingness to offer himself in sacrifice in obedience to the will of his father, Abraham. (He wasn't a small boy when he accompanied Abraham to Mount Moriah. He could have resisted if he chose to.)

But this is a type. Yeshua told us the deeper meaning of the broken piece of unleavened bread.

“This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19)

"I AM the bread of life." (John 6:35)

Toward the end of the Seder feast, the children are invited to hunt for the afikomen. The finder receives a reward.

Consider that the broken matzah, the afikomen, is an image of the Suffering Servant mentioned in the prophet Isaiah. Consider that this piece is taken, wrapped up, and carefully hidden from view, only to be discovered at the end of the Seder by little children. This is an image of the death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua from the dead.

- John J. Parsons, Worthy Is the Lamb: A Messianic Passover Haggadah

• The Lamb of God (John 1:29)
• The True Vine (John 15:1)
• The Living Water (John 7:38)
• The Bread of Life (John 6:48)

The lamb, the wine, the water, the bread--the four elements most closely associated with the Passover. And like the rest of the Torah, or Mosaic Law, our Lord showed they were all about Him. 

The Plum Blooms in Winter

My Doolittle Raid novel is finally here! And I'm thrilled (and humbled) by the reviews it's receiving.

“A taut, crisp debut achievement that colorfully evokes the Pacific theater of WWII. Start this one forewarned: it's a stay-up-all-night read."

-Jerry B. Jenkins--21-time NYT bestselling author (Left Behind, et al)

A Prostitute Seeks Her Revenge--In 1942, Miyako Matsuura cradled her little brother as he died on the sidewalk, a victim of the first U.S. bombing raid on Japan. By 1948, the war has reduced her to a street-hardened prostitute consumed by her shame.

A Doolittle Raid Hero Finds His True Mission--Dave Delham makes aviation history piloting a B-25 in the audacious Doolittle Raid. Forced to bail out over occupied China, he and his crew are captured by the Japanese and survive a harrowing P.O.W. ordeal. In 1948, he returns to Japan as a Christian missionary, determined to showcase Christ's forgiveness.

Convinced that Delham was responsible for the bomb that snuffed out her brother's life, Miyako resolves to restore her honor by avenging him--even if it costs her own life. But the huntress soon becomes hunted in Osaka's treacherous underworld. Miyako must outmaneuver a ruthless brothel owner, outwit gangs with competing plans to profit by her, and overcome betrayal by family and friends--only to confront a decision that will change everything.

I stepped away from a marketing career that spanned continents to write what I love: stories of reckless faith that showcase God's hand in history. Please also feel free to check out my blog, Five Stones and a Sling, which hovers in the region where history meets Bible prophecy meets current events. It's rich ground--we live in a day when prophecies are leaping from the Bible's pages into the headlines!

I live outside Phoenix with my husband, a third-generation airline pilot who doubles as my Chief Military Research Officer. We share our home with our daughter, our son and daughter-in-law, a brand new grandson, and a small platoon of housecats. When I'm not writing, you'll find me rollerblading--yes, I know that makes me a throwback 😊--or catching a moonrise, or dreaming of my next trip. We recently returned from Israel and Wales.

A Hebraic Perspective on the Last Supper

Christ our Passover is sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast! (1 Cor 5:7-8)

Our Lord's last supper was a Jewish Passover feast—a Seder (Matt 26:18-29). And each year, I'm blown away by the profound ways our Lord fulfilled the Feast—down to the jot and tittle.

One thing that fascinates me about Judaism is that, while not all rabbinical practices are Biblical, many are very old. The Mishnah was compiled in the third century A.D., but it reflects beliefs and practices handed down orally much earlier than that. Many practices recorded in the Mishnah are unchanged from Jesus’ day.

If you’ve had the blessing of attending a Jewish Seder, you will have experienced a series of rituals that are similar to those Yeshua and His disciples observed that evening. And understanding those rituals opens a new window on what happened in the Upper Room. (This will be the first of two posts exploring this topic.) 

How Is This Night Different from All Other Nights? Astounding Ways the Jewish Passover Anticipates Messiah

1. The Lamb

You recall how John the Baptist heralded Jesus’ ministry. “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) For his Jewish listeners, that statement would have brought to mind two wonderful stories from the Hebrew scriptures.

• In the Passover account, to receive the Lord’s redemption from the death that struck the firstborn of Egypt, God’s people had to follow His precise instructions. An unblemished lamb had to be chosen. Its blood had to be painted around the door to their home.
• Isaac was also spared by God’s miraculous intervention. In a poignant moment on their journey to Mount Moriah:

Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together. (Gen 22:7-8)

In the end, Isaac’s life was spared (redeemed) by a substitutionary sacrifice the Lord Himself provided—a “ram caught in a thicket.” (Gen 22:13)

The Seder traditions emphasize the role of the unblemished sacrificial lamb. Interestingly, the Lord gave specific direction that not a bone of the lamb sacrificed at Passover should be broken. (Ex 12:46) That’s why John makes a point of telling us the Romans did not break Jesus’ legs. (John 19:36)

“Just as the blood of the Passover lamb caused the physical plague of death to pass over the homes of the Israelites who trusted in God’s redemption, so the blood of Yeshua the Messiah, the great Lamb of God, causes the spiritual plague of death to pass over those who put their trust in Him.”

- John J. Parsons, Worthy Is the Lamb: A Messianic Passover Haggadah

Oh, and the Israelites were to select their lambs on the tenth day of the first month in order to sacrifice them for their annual Passover Seder, four days later. Messianic Jews hold that Yeshua entered Jerusalem riding a donkey, greeted by palm fronds waving, on Nisan 10—the very the day the Jews assembled for the feast were procuring their unblemished lambs. 

2. The Wine

Since the time the Mishnah was recorded, the basic flow of a Seder meal has revolved around four (small 😊 ) cups of wine, which recall four promises the Lord made to Moses. (Ex 6:6-7)

• I will bring you out (Sanctification)
• I will free you (Deliverance)
• I will redeem you (Redemption)
• I will take you as my own people (Restoration)

Messiah Himself fulfills all four promises! He is our Sanctification (1 Cor 1:30), our Deliverer (2 Cor 5:21), our Redemption (1 Cor 1:30). And ultimately, it is He who will restore Israel (Rom 11:26).

Ritual blessings are recited throughout the meal. For each cup. For the bread, which is broken between the first and second cups. (More on the bread next month….) The meal is eaten between the second and third cups.

It’s clear from the gospel accounts Yeshua’s last meal followed something like this tradition. Ever-meticulous Luke records it.

And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.”… And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” (Lu 22:17-20)

Before the bread, a cup with a blessing. Then the bread with a blessing. Then the meal, and another cup with another blessing. With the cup after the meal, Yeshua established the new covenant in His blood.

There’s a powerful spiritual message behind these cups.

The... cups parallel the betrothal process in ancient Israel. When a man proposed marriage:

At the betrothal...

· The man would negotiate a bride price. Yeshua paid the bride price when He died for us and rose again (Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20).

· He would hand the bridal candidate a cup of wine and say, "This is the cup of my covenant." Y'shua did this at the last supper--said these exact words!

· If she drank, it meant "I consent."

At the wedding, they’d drink of another cup.  

http://messiahalive.com/passover4cups.htm

"I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." (Matt 26:29)

Yeshua is waiting to drink the wedding cup--or, in Seder terms, the Cup of Restoration--with us in His Father's kingdom! After establishing the new covenant, He has gone to prepare a place for His bride. He’ll return when it's time to snatch us away, and we'll join Him in the wedding cup at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! 

Our bridal canopy awaits!

The seven Feasts of the Lord given in the Law of Moses have a great deal to say about this romance between our Heavenly Bridegroom and His bride, and about our glorious future when our Bridegroom returns--soon and very soon! I wrote more about this here.

Please check back next month, when I'll continue with the bread and the water, Lord willing.

The Plum Blooms in Winter

My Doolittle Raid novel is finally here! And I'm thrilled (and humbled) by the reviews it's receiving.

“A taut, crisp debut achievement that colorfully evokes the Pacific theater of WWII. Start this one forewarned: it's a stay-up-all-night read."

-Jerry B. Jenkins--21-time NYT bestselling author (Left Behind, et al)

A Prostitute Seeks Her Revenge--In 1942, Miyako Matsuura cradled her little brother as he died on the sidewalk, a victim of the first U.S. bombing raid on Japan. By 1948, the war has reduced her to a street-hardened prostitute consumed by her shame.

A Doolittle Raid Hero Finds His True Mission--Dave Delham makes aviation history piloting a B-25 in the audacious Doolittle Raid. Forced to bail out over occupied China, he and his crew are captured by the Japanese and survive a harrowing P.O.W. ordeal. In 1948, he returns to Japan as a Christian missionary, determined to showcase Christ's forgiveness.

Convinced that Delham was responsible for the bomb that snuffed out her brother's life, Miyako resolves to restore her honor by avenging him--even if it costs her own life. But the huntress soon becomes hunted in Osaka's treacherous underworld. Miyako must outmaneuver a ruthless brothel owner, outwit gangs with competing plans to profit by her, and overcome betrayal by family and friends--only to confront a decision that will change everything.

I stepped away from a marketing career that spanned continents to write what I love: stories of reckless faith that showcase God's hand in history. Please also feel free to check out my blog, Five Stones and a Sling, which hovers in the region where history meets Bible prophecy meets current events. It's rich ground--we live in a day when prophecies are leaping from the Bible's pages into the headlines!

I live outside Phoenix with my husband, a third-generation airline pilot who doubles as my Chief Military Research Officer. We share our home with our daughter, our son and daughter-in-law, a brand new grandson, and a small platoon of housecats. When I'm not writing, you'll find me rollerblading--yes, I know that makes me a throwback 😊--or catching a moonrise, or dreaming of my next trip. We recently returned from Israel and Wales.