M.b Ministries 7 Women's Outreach
62 BLOSSOM CRESCENT Toronto, ON, Canada

"WHAT IS THE MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CROWN OF THRONS?" After Jesus’ sham trials and subsequent flogging, and before He was crucified, the Roman soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt in front of Him and mocked Him. ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said (Matthew 27:29; see also John 19:2-5). While a crown of thorns would be exceedingly painful, the crown of thorns was more about mockery than it w...as about pain. Here was the King of the Jews being beaten, spit upon, and insulted by presumably low-level Roman soldiers. The crown of thorns was the finalizing of their mockery, taking a symbol of royalty and majesty, a crown, and turning it into something painful and degrading. For Christians, the crown of thorns is a reminder of two things: (1) Jesus was, and is, indeed a king. One day, the entire universe will bow to Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). What the Roman soldiers meant as a mockery, was in fact a picture of Christ’s two roles, first of suffering servant (Isaiah 53), and second of conquering Messiah-King (Revelation 19). (2) Jesus was willing to endure the pain, the insults, and the shame, all on our account. The crown of thorns, and the suffering that went with it, are long gone, and Jesus has now received the crown of which He is worthy. But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9, emphasis added). There is further symbolism embodied in the crown of thorns. When Adam and Eve sinned, bringing evil and a curse upon the world, part of the curse upon humanity was cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you (Genesis 3:17-18, emphasis added). The Roman soldiers unknowingly took an object of the curse and fashioned it into a crown for the one who would deliver us from that curse. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for usfor it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’ (Galatians 3:13). Christ, in His perfect atoning sacrifice, has delivered us from the curse of sin, of which a thorn is a symbol. While intended to be a mockery, the crown of thorns was, in fact, an excellent symbol of who Jesus is and what He came to accomplish.

RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY MONTH The commemoration of Black History Month dates back to 1926, when Harvard-educated African American historian Carter G. Woodson proposed setting aside a time devoted to honour the accomplishments of African Americans and to heighten awareness of Black history in the United States. This led to the establishment of Negro History Week in 1926. Celebrations of Black history began in Canada also shortly thereafter. During the early 1970;s, the week ...became known as Black History Week. It was expanded into Black History Month in 1976. In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada following a motion introduced by the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine. The motion was carried unanimously by the House of Commons. In February 2008, Senator Donald Oliver, the first Black man appointed to the Senate, introduced the Motion to Recognize Contributions of Black Canadians and February as Black History Month. It received unanimous approval and was adopted on March 4, 2008. The adoption of this motion completed Canada’s parliamentary position on Black History Month. BLACK HISTORY MONTH Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month in the U.S., is an annual observance in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It began as a way for remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States[6] and Canada[7] in February, as well as in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland[8][9] in October.[5] BLACK HISTORY IN CANADA People of African descent have been a part of shaping Canada’s heritage and identity since the arrival of Mathieu Da Costa, a navigator and interpreter, whose presence in Canada dates back to the early 1600s. The role of Blacks in Canada has not always been viewed as a key feature in Canada’s historic landscape. There is little mention that some of the Loyalists who came here after the American Revolution and settled in the Maritimes were Blacks, or of the many sacrifices made in wartime by Black Canadian soldiers as far back as the War of 1812. Few Canadians are aware of the fact that African people were once enslaved in the territory that is now Canada, or of how those who fought enslavement helped to lay the foundation of Canada’s diverse and inclusive society. Black History Month is a time to learn more about these Canadian stories and the many other important contributions of Black Canadians to the settlement, growth and development of Canada, and about the diversity of Black communities in Canada and their importance to the history of this country.

PSALM 5 (KJV) 1 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.... 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. 11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. See Less Comments Write a comment

"WHAT IS THE MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CROWN OF THRONS?" After Jesus’ sham trials and subsequent flogging, and before He was crucified, the Roman soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt in front of Him and mocked Him. ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said (Matthew 27:29; see also John 19:2-5). While a crown of thorns would be exceedingly painful, the crown of thorns was more about mockery than it w...as about pain. Here was the King of the Jews being beaten, spit upon, and insulted by presumably low-level Roman soldiers. The crown of thorns was the finalizing of their mockery, taking a symbol of royalty and majesty, a crown, and turning it into something painful and degrading. For Christians, the crown of thorns is a reminder of two things: (1) Jesus was, and is, indeed a king. One day, the entire universe will bow to Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). What the Roman soldiers meant as a mockery, was in fact a picture of Christ’s two roles, first of suffering servant (Isaiah 53), and second of conquering Messiah-King (Revelation 19). (2) Jesus was willing to endure the pain, the insults, and the shame, all on our account. The crown of thorns, and the suffering that went with it, are long gone, and Jesus has now received the crown of which He is worthy. But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9, emphasis added). There is further symbolism embodied in the crown of thorns. When Adam and Eve sinned, bringing evil and a curse upon the world, part of the curse upon humanity was cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you (Genesis 3:17-18, emphasis added). The Roman soldiers unknowingly took an object of the curse and fashioned it into a crown for the one who would deliver us from that curse. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for usfor it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’ (Galatians 3:13). Christ, in His perfect atoning sacrifice, has delivered us from the curse of sin, of which a thorn is a symbol. While intended to be a mockery, the crown of thorns was, in fact, an excellent symbol of who Jesus is and what He came to accomplish.

RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY MONTH The commemoration of Black History Month dates back to 1926, when Harvard-educated African American historian Carter G. Woodson proposed setting aside a time devoted to honour the accomplishments of African Americans and to heighten awareness of Black history in the United States. This led to the establishment of Negro History Week in 1926. Celebrations of Black history began in Canada also shortly thereafter. During the early 1970;s, the week ...became known as Black History Week. It was expanded into Black History Month in 1976. In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada following a motion introduced by the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine. The motion was carried unanimously by the House of Commons. In February 2008, Senator Donald Oliver, the first Black man appointed to the Senate, introduced the Motion to Recognize Contributions of Black Canadians and February as Black History Month. It received unanimous approval and was adopted on March 4, 2008. The adoption of this motion completed Canada’s parliamentary position on Black History Month. BLACK HISTORY MONTH Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month in the U.S., is an annual observance in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It began as a way for remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States[6] and Canada[7] in February, as well as in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland[8][9] in October.[5] BLACK HISTORY IN CANADA People of African descent have been a part of shaping Canada’s heritage and identity since the arrival of Mathieu Da Costa, a navigator and interpreter, whose presence in Canada dates back to the early 1600s. The role of Blacks in Canada has not always been viewed as a key feature in Canada’s historic landscape. There is little mention that some of the Loyalists who came here after the American Revolution and settled in the Maritimes were Blacks, or of the many sacrifices made in wartime by Black Canadian soldiers as far back as the War of 1812. Few Canadians are aware of the fact that African people were once enslaved in the territory that is now Canada, or of how those who fought enslavement helped to lay the foundation of Canada’s diverse and inclusive society. Black History Month is a time to learn more about these Canadian stories and the many other important contributions of Black Canadians to the settlement, growth and development of Canada, and about the diversity of Black communities in Canada and their importance to the history of this country.

PSALM 5 (KJV) 1 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.... 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. 11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. See Less Comments Write a comment

ARE WE, OUR LIFE; PLEASING TO GOD? Does our Father have expectations of Christian behavior? If so, what are they? From the beginning of civilization mankind has devised its own ways of living. God is quite clear on His requirements for a life that pleases Him. The Scriptures contain testimony of some whose ways pleased God. ...Continue reading

DO OUR WAYS PLEASE GOD?

RUN WITH PATIENCE AND FAITH As Christians we have been set out to run a race. This isn’t just any old raceit’s a race to receive eternal life in a Kingdom that belongs to the everlasting God. Whether we have recently began our journey in following Christ or have been in training for years, I believe that this race needs to be run with the virtues of patience and faith. I enjoy running, but there are always times during my runs that seem impossible to bear. Like when I start ...to feel the burning in my lungs, my knees that are soar or my face that is heated and entirely red. And I believe sometimes life is filled with similar life pains, trials and weaknesses that become very real along our journeybut God always delivers and gives us strength by His Holy Spirit to overcome. In patiently enduring the trials, our faith also becomes strengthened because we are waiting upon God’s deliverance. And when our faith is weak, we should take times to read all of God’s promises to deliver and to be there for us. So as we are long-suffering, we can take confidence in the hope of the future before us and get back up when we stumble and carry on with our race towards the Kingdom. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Keep running the race with patience and faith because God will see you to the finish linethe Kingdom of God.

IS PLEADING THE BLOOD OF JESUS OF BIBLICAL? Pleading the blood of Jesus in prayer is a teaching common in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles. When people speak of pleading the blood of Jesus in prayer, they are referring to the practice of claiming the power of Christ over any and every problem by using the phrase I plead the blood of Jesus over _______. People fill in the blank with whatever they want: I plead the blood of Jesus over my family/job/thoughts/illness. ...Continue reading

EXERCISING PATIENCE AND FAITH We all have regrets about things we once did. In many situations we regret our lack of patience and faith when we most needed it. Great achievements in life require much patience and faith. Consider school for example. In order to progress academically we must start from the primary stages of school then secondary stages and lastly higher education. Our level of education determines what position we obtain in our chosen profession....Continue reading

UPHOLDING THE DIGNITY OF SINGLENESS IN THE CHURCH. Too often in church culture, we are inclined to idolize marriage and downplay singleness. But those who enjoy and steward the gift of singleness remind us that Jesus is enough, and nothing else can truly satisfy. We need this reminder. Church planters, here are three convictions regarding singleness we should teach and implement in our churches....Continue reading

Lamentations 3:22 [It is of] the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Mercies: This Hebrew word, used about 250 times in the Old Testament, refers to God’s gracious love. It is a comprehensive term that encompasses love, grace, mercy, goodness, forgiveness, truth, compassion and faithfulness. Reflecting back has reminded him of the loving care of the LORD. He realizes the only reason he is not dead, is because of the mercies of God. G...od never stops loving. He just wants us to love Him in return. Lamentations 3:23 [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness. These compassions of God are renewed day by day, to declare the great faithfulness of God in fulfilling his many promises made for mercy to his people. This is still speaking of the mercies of the LORD being sufficient for each day.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for being my refuge and my dwelling place. And because you are my refuge, I have no reason to fear any evil that may come upon me or that any sickness or disease will come near me or my dwelling place. I thank You for sending Your angels to guard over me, uphold me and to keep me from falling. I know that because You are with me I can venture out where angels fear to tread. Father, I am so thankful that when I am in distress, I know I can call upo...n You and You will answer me. You promised to be there when I call Your name. You promised to never leave me, nor forsake me. Father, You walk with me in the middle of all my troubles, keeping me from harm, and surrounding me with songs of assurance and deliverance. I am so thankful Father that You are my hiding place and my strong tower. I am so thankful that I can rest knowing that nothing wicked can touch me except what comes through You (1 John 5:18). You have never left me in the past, and I know You will never leave me in the future. Never does evil or harm have permission to snatch me out of Your hand because You are greater than any danger (John 10:29) that I will ever face. I praise You for putting the whole Armour of God upon me so that when trials and tribulations come I will be able to stand!! You have placed the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith in my hands to defeat the powers of evil and quench Satan’s fiery darts (Eph. 6:16). And when the enemy comes in like a flood, You will lift up a standard against him (Isa. 59:19), because of You I am never alone. . But most of all, I am thankful that I know I have nothing to fear because You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind. I am ever so grateful for Your love. For if you know the number of hairs on my head and You care for me more than the sparrow that falls to the ground, why should I be afraid? Thank you Lord for covering me with Your love and Your protection. Father, I give You all the praise, all the glory and I shout hallelujah to Your Holy Name. Thank You Jesus, for being my protection and delivering me from the spirit of fear!!!

HOW IS GOD OUR REFUGE? What does the word refuge make you think of? Maybe an imposing building with locks on the doors, maybe a thick-walled fortress, or perhaps something as simple as a canopy to keep you dry in a rainstorm. Whatever picture comes to mind, it can be agreed that a refuge is a safe place. When the Bible describes God as our refuge, it is saying that God is our safe place when we need protection from something. Knowing God as our refuge enables us to trust Him ...Continue reading

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Give thanks: Thanklessness is a trait of unbelievers (Rom. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). This is God’s will (includes verses 16-17). In every event or circumstance (thing), the Christian is to give thanks to God for the good He can bring out of the event, even should the event be unpleasant. The constant attitude of prayer (mentioned in verse 17), will help the believ...er to maintain gratitude in the face of adversity. Notice that even the bad things that happen to us, are the will of God for that moment. Troubles come to teach us to lean more on Jesus. Every problem that we overcome through faith in Him, makes us stronger than we were before. Knowing all of this, how can we do less than to praise Him in all things and at all times.