John 21:6-14 ~ it is the Lord

Painting of Jesus Christ adapted from the Shroud of Turin. The Shroud should only cast a two dimensional image, but a 3 dimensional image is created, giving depth to the images and the painting was created from the shades and elevations in the 3rd dimension.
Painting of Jesus adapted from the Shroud
Negative photographic image from the Shroud of Turin. Scientists are completely divided on the tests for age on the Shroud. There is unexplained radioactivity from the cloth and edges were sewn on the Middle ages repairs.
Volto Santo or Holy Face. The image is made of byssus, which is linen woven from a fine, yellowish flax referred to as sea silk; a silky filament by which certain mollusks attach themselves to hard surfaces. It is impossible to paint on the material, it may only be dyed one shade as it is woven. No one understands how this image came to be. The image is transparent, with an image on the reverse.

I've seen this with the Vatican treasures displayed in the Houston Museum of Science, the Dead Sea Scroll tour. It was explained as being the Cloth of Veronica; the image appeared when a woman gave Jesus a cloth to wipe his face, during Jesus' carrying His cross.

John 21:6-14

6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.


People have interesting reactions. Put Morgan Freeman, or George Burns, in a movie as God in a white suit, people generally love it. "The Shack" had a parable of God as a black woman and there was controversy.

John 7:24
Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.

Having a visual image is something people like to have. We live in this world by making decisions based upon our own judgment. Time Magazine ran a cover of an image of Jesus far from our usual image. The story of Adam & Eve was confirmed with evidence of Mitochondrial Eve DNA, the Human MRCA. All humans alive today share a surprisingly recent common ancestor, perhaps even within the last 5000 years, even for people born on different continents. This man was made in the image of God. No mention is made of color.

Moses asked God for the ability to be able to see Him. Moses was rewarded with a glimpse of God.

Exodus 33:20-23
20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

What are we told about Jesus' appearance?

Isaiah 53:2
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

and

Isaiah 52:14
Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—


Luke 9:28-29
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning

The Romans had taken over Judea at the time of Jesus. Time Magazine's image of Christ was of a similar to today haircut. Why is Jesus different, with "Jesus hair"? Jesus was from Nazareth and may have considered His appearance to be that of a Nazirite, one set apart in holiness from sin, no razor would have touched His hair. Numbers 6:1-27 Yet Jesus, did not follow the rules of the Nazirite in His life.

When we picture Father God in our minds in Love, we can do no wrong. Whatever we picture, we picture a parable. We have never been given the ability to see the vast attributes of God.

We know Jesus told us He did not have a possessions like a home, but He did have one fine garment, not the flowing Sheik robes we are shown all the time. And that garment was woven from top to bottom. I like to think it was made by someone loving Jesus.

We do not see Jesus' physical face, but we do know how people felt looking at Jesus.

Matthew 9:20-29
20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.”

Matthew 14:35-36
35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

And how did Jesus react to the people who sought Him?

Matthew 9:22
22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

Even if we do not have Jesus' face or Father God's face perfectly know to us, more importantly, Jesus, God, knows us.

Luke 19:1-6
He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

Father God, we know and love You by Your actions of mercy. Help us each day to see You more clearly and for You to see Yourself in our love. In Jesus' mercy. Amen.






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Reprint Scripture for Today Blogspot July 15, 2010

Psalm 26 ~ in the great assembly I will bless the LORD

Psalm 26 ~ of David

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ Vindicate me, O LORD,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
² Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
test my heart and my mind.
³ For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in your faithfulness.

⁴ I do not sit with men of falsehood,
nor do I consort with hypocrites.
⁵ I hate the assembly of evildoers,
and I will not sit with the wicked.

⁶ I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O LORD,
⁷ proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.

⁸ O LORD, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
⁹ Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
¹⁰ in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.

¹¹ But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
¹² My foot stands on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.

The 30 Churches, different denominations, praying and fasting for 21 days met at our HopePointe Anglican Church on Wednesday. Last year we had 700 people for our final 21st day, this year we had 300 for Wednesday night leading up to the event. No spiffy slogan, no cool agenda. Like the first Pastor said, who spoke and didn't really introduce himself, when 30 Pastors meet - you'd think there would be at least a cool slogan. And it was pretty nice he didn't jump up and identify himself. Just praise and honor for Jesus.

Psalm 115:9-18
⁹ O Israel, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
¹⁰ O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
¹¹ You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.

¹² The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
¹³ he will bless those who fear the LORD,
both the small and the great.

¹⁴ May the LORD give you increase,
you and your children!
¹⁵ May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth!

¹⁶ The heavens are the LORD's heavens,
but the earth he has given to the children of man.
¹⁷ The dead do not praise the LORD,
nor do any who go down into silence.
¹⁸ But we will bless the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the LORD!

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Genesis 46 ~ Israel took his journey with all that he had

Genesis 46

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. ² And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” ³ Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. ⁴ I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.”

⁵ Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. ⁶ They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, ⁷ his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.

⁸ Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, ⁹ and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. ¹⁰ The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. ¹¹ The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. ¹² The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. ¹³ The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Yob, and Shimron. ¹⁴ The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. ¹⁵ These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three.

¹⁶ The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. ¹⁷ The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, with Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. ¹⁸ These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons.

¹⁹ The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin. ²⁰ And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, bore to him. ²¹ And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. ²² These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob—fourteen persons in all.

²³ The son of Dan: Hushim. ²⁴ The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. ²⁵ These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob—seven persons in all.

²⁶ All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all. ²⁷ And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.

Painted by James Tissot

²⁸ He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. ²⁹ Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. ³⁰ Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

³¹ Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. ³² And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ ³³ When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ ³⁴ you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Egyptian Topographical Lists of Cities and Records

Names	Tuthmosis III (1481 BC)	Amenhotep II (1440)	Amenhotep III (1386)	Seti I (1291)	Ramses II (1275)
Jacob-El	yes				yes
Joseph-El	yes		yes
Asher			yes	yes	yes
Yahweh			yes		yes
Shasu		yes	yes	yes	yes
Hapiru		yes		yes

See ANET, 242-3.

1. In Ramses II's topographical list (ca.1275 BC) the place-name "Jacob-El" (#9) appears again (ANET 1969, 242; Simons 1937). The first appearance was in Thutmose III's list. This means that this city of Jacob has been around for two hundred years. Another interesting name that was found is yhw which is "Yahweh" in Hebrew (Horn 1953, 201; Giveon 1964, 244).
2. It seems abundantly clear from all these topographical lists concerning Canaan that the Hebrews were in Canaan at this time, but they did not use the name "Israel" until there league of tribes was well formed by the time of Merneptah.

3. On a statue-base of Amenhotep III at Kom el Hetan which is the funerary temple of Amenhotep III there is a topographical list with the place-name Yspir (Series a:1; Kitchen 1965, 2). This is the same name translated "Joseph-El" in Thutmose III's Topographical list (ANET 1969, 242). After Yspir in both lists the place-name Rkd appears (Series a:2 in Amenhotep III's list, and #79 in Thutmose III's list; Simons 1937, 112). Rkd is the same place-name as Ruhizzi in the El Amarna letters (EA 53:36, 56; EA 5426; EA 56:26; EA 191:2; Rainey 1982, 354). The ruler of Ruhizzi is Arsawuya who seems to be located in northern Palestine or southern Syria (EA 53:36, 56; Moran, 125)

Jacob knew he'd inherited the blessings of Abraham, they were not given a foot of Israel, but had purchased what they lived upon. Jacob was being called to leave the land of promise. Like Paul. Going forth to accomplish the work of God. In faith. Israel took his journey with all that he had -


2 Timothy 4:6-8
⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Paul continues in his race and says:

¹⁷ But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

²² The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

Jacob is determined to be a shepherd to his people - to bring everyone to the land of peace and comfort away from famine. Paul is shepherding Timothy, even as he knows it is the end of his time on earth. It is the work God has given them.


Isaiah 40:11
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.


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Hebrews 6:1-12 ~ tasted the heavenly gift

Hebrews 6:1-12

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, ² and of instruction about washings, ^[baptisms] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do if God permits. ⁴ For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

***

⁷ For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. ⁸ But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

⁹ Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. ¹⁰ For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. ¹¹ And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

In life, we all want love, appreciation, and all the blessings. In spirituality, we want all of the hope and the promises. The holiness of God has always been an issue, yet mature faith does examine and long for all the aspects of God's nature.

We've thought about the joy and expectation of believing God's promises. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Self-control in our words, actions and consumption does NOT ever occur without some discernment of the effect of our words, the effort we put into action, overcoming of sluggishness and love of pleasure in consumption. It is not a stretch to say self-control is also thought - thinking - awareness. Awareness comes from wisdom & observation.

For instance, a friend sat many days with her father, a cancer patient, who'd been out of her life for many years - who had divorced her mother and left her and her sisters to pursue his career and 2nd marriage. She wondered, as a Christian, what her dad's beliefs were and where they would lead him. She was pleased to discover her dad had a faith that had grown like the Prodigal Son. He knew His Father was running to meet him, an undeserving child of God.

At one point, my friend talked to the Hospice nurse about the joy - for the peace - her dad was experiencing. Her Hospice nurse said she had been at her job for a long time and there is a very definite end to all life. It is either peaceful or there is a fear of fire and hell. I've known two people who did die speaking of fire and pain and fear.

How to tie this passage to these thoughts and bring in verses - we know of the fallen angels.


2 Peter 2:4
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment


Jude 1:6
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day.

Matthew 25:41
Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 20:2-5
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years


yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the Love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises!!!!


*** 1 Corinthians 6:20
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.



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Psalm 145 ~ They shall speak of the might of Your awesome deeds, and I will declare Your greatness.

My mom with our dog, Merit. Merit is smiling. And Merit is gonna live.

Psalm 145

A Song of Praise. Of David.
David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
² Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
³ Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

⁴ One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
⁵ On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
⁶ They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
⁷ They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ The LORD is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

¹⁰ All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
and all your saints shall bless you!
¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
¹² to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The LORD is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.]
¹⁴ The LORD upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
¹⁶ You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
²⁰ The LORD preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

After two months seeing our regular Vet, she became concerned and sent our dog to a Veterinarian School Specialist.

The very kind Dermatologist Vet specialist was skeptical when she asked us how many steroid tablets we wanted for our dog, Springer Spaniel, Merit. I told her a 100 tablets. She had just done skin samples of Merit and the results showed Cutaneous Lymphoma. The Vet told us Merit had between 3 weeks and a few months. She didn't think with the biting and terrible, terrible itching that Merit would live for the 100 tablets. She reminded us again he could only have 6 tablets a day and he'd let us know when he was so uncomfortable, we should bring him in to mercifully put him to sleep. I asked if we could have days were Merit would only need 1 capsule or 1/2 capsule and she said she doubted it.

That was in October. Now Merit's steroid canister is more than half full. The tumors she told us would happen - did. They shrunk and are gone. The biting has stopped. She told us the lymph node armpit area would be one of the worst and wouldn't heal. There wouldn't be any healing - it was cancer. And I asked everyone to pray.

Saturday I groomed Merit and he does not have any more scabs, tumors, open wounds from his tearing his own flesh from the intense itching (some were 12" x 4"). His strength has returned. He hasn't had medication since early, early November. One of his shoulders was the worst spot - there is no wound.

13 year old Springer Spaniel Merit has experienced a healing. He spent Christmas keeping up with our "grand-dog" an active 5 year old Siberian Husky. Why? Many prayed to Lord. Prayers to the Lord, in the name of Jesus, Who has been merciful. I am so very grateful.

Yesterday we read that the Lord proclaims He is God. Today David tells us about God's nature -

His greatness is unsearchable.
God's mighty acts.
Awesome deeds.
Abundant goodness.
Righteousness, graciousness, mercy.
Good to all.
His mercy is over all that He has made.
The Lord is faithful and kind.
The LORD is near to all who call on Him.
My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever.



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Isaiah 44:6-8, 21-23 ~ I appointed

Isaiah 44:6-8, 21-23


⁶ Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
⁷ Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
⁸ Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.”



²¹ Remember these things, O Jacob,
and Israel, for you are my servant;
I formed you; you are my servant;
O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
²² I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud
and your sins like mist;
return to me, for I have redeemed you.

²³ Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it;
shout, O depths of the earth;
break forth into singing, O mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it!
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
and will be glorified ^{[will display his beauty]} in Israel.

Sunday's Sermon was visiting Anglican Priest- Rev'd Dr. Jon Shuler. Jon is 66 years old, looks 40, and is leaving his prosperous fledgling Church to do as Peter Drucker once said IS the work of Jesus - to save the lost. Jon said he'd been in Church for many years, each Sunday, as a pagan. Eager to be in Church, but not praying, not believing, doing what the world said was good for him and relying upon that advice.

Jon believed Jesus, came to love Jesus. And his sermon today was about the Jews. God's chosen people. God using people with a different viewpoint from everyone else - to do His work.

God takes us just as we are, today, warts and all and Loves us. Servants whom He raised up to be His Children, His Beloved. His Friends. God saw weak Gideon and saw him as able - to do God's work. God saw Peter begging Him to depart and God saw diligence and love - a man willing to walk on water or jump in and swim when needed. Isaiah was blessed to see hope, we see fulfillment of the law - Love.

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

John 19:26-27
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

John 20:17
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

Mark 3:33-35
³³ And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” ³⁴ And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”


Psalm 95:7
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts


1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.





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Isaiah 43:1-13 ~ I have redeemed you

Mississippi River

Isaiah 43:1-13

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ But now thus says the LORD,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
³ For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
⁴ Because you are precious in my eyes,
and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
peoples in exchange for your life.
⁵ Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you.
⁶ I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
⁷ everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”

⁸ Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes,
who are deaf, yet have ears!
⁹ All the nations gather together,
and the peoples assemble.
Who among them can declare this,
and show us the former things?
Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right,
and let them hear and say, It is true.
¹⁰ “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.
¹¹ I, I am the LORD,
and besides me there is no savior.
¹² I declared and saved and proclaimed,
when there was no strange god among you;
and you are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and I am God.
¹³ Also henceforth I am he;
there is none who can deliver from my hand;
I work, and who can turn it back?”

Amazing Mercy of the LORD Most High. Life swirls us in so many eddies. Yet God is like the Mississippi River. His purposes push us Up, water flowing to the original source. The Bible gives witness to powers and principalities. Tempests in a tea cup. The purposes of God are for us. With God for us, who can be against us.

How can we live the joy of God's promises. There is only one way. Expectation. Hope. Faith. Love.

Psalm 81 is a twin for Isaiah. It puts faith forward and hope ahead. Yet without faith, it leaves us without wind in our sails.

Psalm 81

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
² Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
³ Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.

⁴ For it is a statute for Israel,
a rule of the God of Jacob.
⁵ He made it a decree in Joseph
when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:
⁶ “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.
⁷ In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Selah

⁸ Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
⁹ There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
¹⁰ I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

¹¹ “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
¹² So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
¹³ Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
¹⁴ I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
¹⁵ Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
¹⁶ But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.


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