Luke 1 ~ Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

 

Luke 1

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 

19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 

21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 3

0 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 3

8 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. 

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.





57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 

64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 

And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?”

For the hand of the Lord was with him.


67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;

72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

How will we bring the first sentence of Luke's Gospel of Jesus Christ to us through the sweep of time?

Revelation 14:6

I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language and people.

We know Jesus followers called Christians in the Book of Acts were persecuted in Rome within 16 years of Jesus being crucified and Resurrected. We know the Temple persecuted the followers as soon as multitudes when home and only daily thousands remained, making the letters of the Rabbis' showing outrage for the continued daily miracles in the Name of Jesus.

Josephus tells us multitudes would be around 1.5 million to 2 million believers that Jesus has come to life.




So what are these narratives that Luke speaks of?

I have read many authors claiming to be Lost Books of the Bible and suddenly Jesus does something so un-Jesus like you know that this is fable.

Yet, if you go back and you look at the Church Histories of the early 1st Century to the beginning of the 2nd, you find cohesion on 27 books of the New Testament. These are the Proclaimed Good News of the Church of Jesus Christ.  The Church in Alexandria, home to the world's most famous library is the rare Church outside accepting more than the 27 books. The message of Jesus Christ standings strong.




In fact, the first article coordinating this is the Didache Greek: Διδαχή) or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles a brief early Christian treatise, dated by most scholars to the mid to late first century. The first line of this treatise is "Teaching of the Lord to the Gentiles (or Nations) by the Twelve Apostles".

The text has three main sections dealing with Christian ethics, rituals such as baptism and Eucharist, and Church organization. It is considered the first example of the genre of the Church Orders.

The Didache is second-generation Christian writings and compiles what the Church should believe, following most closely (because Jews converting to Christianity happened the most at first) from the Gospel of Matthew.

Like today, the news and events of the First Century world - seemed uncertain.

People were especially looking for a belief system with solace and direction for "bad events" happening around them. Death and trouble could erupt at any time.

Never before was God the Father shown to be a Father ~ civilized, kind, and a gentle way of looking at the world. God our Father offered a promise of salvation and forgiveness. Father God, who could be found, one who would run to His Child. Not one that had to be appeased or sacrificed to. No other religion or belief system has offered this type of special support for beliefs or personal salvation.

Jesus Christ was readily accepted by many wherever His mercy was taught. Letters tell of the miracles resulting in belief. Changing lives and the world.

Paul and the Twelve Apostles traveled extensively establishing Jesus Christ in major cities throughout the Empire. The first Christian communities outside of Jerusalem appeared in Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, and the political center of Rome. The original Church communities were founded by apostles and numerous other Christians, soldiers, merchants, and preachers in northern Africa, Asia Minor, Arabia, Greece, and other places.

Paul was responsible for bringing the Christianity to Ephesus, Corinth, Philippi, and Thessalonica. By the end of the 1st century, Christianity had already spread to Rome and Greece, Asia Minor and Syria. Major cities such as Rome, Ephesus, Antioch and Corinth served as foundations for the expansive spread of Christianity in the post-apostolic period. Due to its Love shown in civilized, kind, and gentle ways, Christianity spread very quickly throughout Asia Minor.

Thesseloniki Church of David - House Church - 4th Century A.D.

We know from John's Gospel Chapter 16, Jesus came to this life with Joy. We wonder if Jesus laughed. There is no question. Joy is filled with only Joy and Love.

God still sees this troubled planet as His Creation - good - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

We look with anticipation ~ Christmas Lights! Believing the Light in all of mankind is Shining.

We are welcoming Christmas! The same as Jesus, welcoming His time with us as Grace upon Grace. The Light shines in the darkness and the Light is not overcome.

Father God, Our Father,

By You all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by You and for You.

What are we, that you are mindful of us, mankind for millenniums that you care for us?

You made Jesus and made Him a little lower than the angels; You crowned Jesus with glory and honor
and put everything under His feet. Now crowned with glory and honor because Jesus suffered death, and in His Grace, Jesus might taste death for everyone.

Jesus brings many sons to glory. For Jesus is come to our Father's glory with His angels, and He will reward each person according to what he has done.

Jesus Christ will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

We will see with our own eyes, God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him. the city of the living God.

We will have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly. Each of the four living creatures with six wings and covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE Lord GOD ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME."

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

We will proclaim the eternal gospel to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language and people.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”

Father God, help us to do the Good Works You have prepared us to walk in. For the ones we Love and the People You have given us. For our Churches, places of work, our states and Nation. The People who are Your Beloved, to all of these cover them with Your Name in strength and mercy. We live abundantly on the Word of God, You have provided.

 In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 3 ~ the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on HIM

 Women in the Wheat Field, By Charles Carol Coleman

Chaff is good for feeding livestock and quickly burns.

Matthew 3

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”


13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”




Who is John the Baptist? We think of John popping locusts with honey dripping off of him. Running around in camel robes, when others were wearing light colors and looking pristine and well groomed. Maybe he was Jesus' crazy cousin.

Please notice with me, we have a camel visual image on today's post. Now let's talk about camel, as in sport coat.

 

Leviticus 11:22
Of them you may eat: the locust of any kind, the bald locust of any kind, the cricket of any kind, and the grasshopper of any kind.

 

A surprise. Few know today that locusts are kosher. However in Uganda, different areas of South America, Bangkok, Brazil,  locusts are like potato chips with honey. And rather relished. John was living simply and living quite kosher.

As a matter of fact, John the Baptist locust eating has been recorded as an analogy of eating demons in the Book of Revelation. Which is incredibly flawed because..... the locusts were the size of horses. John was actually rather more like Henry David Thoreau. With a twist. John the Baptist deserves our respect for several reasons. Good reasons. We will start with a humorous bend and travel to the wondrous. Camel hair. If you are going to run around in dusty streets and you want to look good, wouldn't you start with something that is good with wear & tear, not showing dirt. I think Aaron's offspring might just might have a bit of Solomon.

And the disciples record they were married with houses, businesses, agenda, mother-in-laws. John the Baptist didn't run from the Temple, he held his head up, and did as the Essenes of the Dead Sea Scrolls. He openly embraced the Holy Spirit, in repentance, while publicly pursing a priestly carrier (on both parent's side as the tribe of Levy) looking for the advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven. John the Baptist was not standing on street corners screaming, he was washing clean and telling the Truth of power versus holiness. John was willing to look with discernment at wheat, Bread of Life, versus chaff.

Salt. Jesus told us to be Salt. 
John the Baptist was far from neutral beige. 
He said some thought provoking things.

John 1:29-31
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."

So .... why didn't John recognize Jesus??? For the same reasons we didn't recognize Jesus until we invited Him to be part of us. Before we really knew Him: we heard about Jesus from other sources. Not all the sources were credible. Family (Church) is sometimes boring and the time it takes to get there and back is too long. Why put the effort into going when people aren't always nice? We missed the family get-togethers (Church) for so long, people hassle us about That too. If you don't remember the family stories correctly there is mocking. It's all a big tangle to sort out and we have other things to do.

Then, more importantly, it comes to the decision time. As John grew spiritually into God's plan for him, Jesus became important to him. John took the time to dwell and think about who Jesus is. God revealed not just family, a good man, but a Savior. John, bravely, and with certainty says, "And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

 

And we will go further, seeing the Words spoken by the Son of God recording John.

Matthew 11:11
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Perhaps we use this passage to say the greatest shall be last and the last first. However. Why? Why is it important how we see John the Baptist?

John 1:6-8
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.


What does our perception matter today of John the Baptist? This reflects on the Body of Christ. Those who proclaim Jesus as Lord. It reflects on what we say about other denominations, other Christians.

1 Corinthians 12:21
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

Leviticus 19:32
"Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the LORD."

Ephesians 4:11-12
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.

To whom did Jesus turn to in His cleansing, the beginning of His ministry?

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Matthew 3:13-15
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

And after John the Baptist was killed by Herod, how did Jesus react? He fed the thousands. He is recorded before and after the celebration, rather like a funeral reception, seeking very private time.

1 Peter 2:17
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.



Father God, that we may be renewed, restored, reestablished and filled with Your Holy Spirit. 
With You there is always Goodness. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Acts 26 ~ I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today

Paul before Agrippa, by Nikolai Bodarevsky

How will we find this Scripture Living and Active Today?

 

Acts 26

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”

So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”

32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

I am Thankful for...

Agrippa was the last of the Herods. And campaigned with Rome when Rome struck Judah. In 66 AD, before Titus destroyed Jerusalem, at the time Jesus would have died of old age, Agrippa was comfortably in Rome with his good friend the Historian Josephus. Josephus and Agrippa discussed and wrote a lot of history together and Josephus kept two of Agrippa's letters, available to be seen today.

Agrippa, like all the Herods, was well educated in Rome. He was housed in comfort to die childless at age 70 - as Roman Praetor - a title granted to men acting in one of two official capacities. This Agrippa was not in power when Jesus was alive.

Now remember with me, Agrippa and Josephus thought there was something to - JESUS. They both thought that if Jesus remained a power after His Death - one should pay attention.


Paul spun his wheels giving his witness to Agrippa? Hmmmm.
How was Paul able to testify so well in this trouble?

My Thanksgiving was wonderful thank you!
Not many are so fortunate.  Many people expected family to gather and life to have some Joy. And found disagreements, hostility and a return of old arguments.

So... with extrapolation, there was a presentation with drama at Thanksgiving. It's a funny thing about people, they are not going to raise their hand and say "Wow, you put a question mark in my mind to discuss deeper issues with some thought for some time."

And what Paul did - was plant a powerful seed carried to Josephus and regardless if you feel kind about Josephus saying what is what in history about Christians - there is no doubt Josephus spoke three times and one was the idea that Jesus supporters keep going. The other one was clearly that the death of James, was the death of Jesus' brother and a saint. Jesus was honored by these men and their voice resonates today.


This was not fruitless Christian Witness. Thank you, Paul.

Comforts Given

How did Paul do so well with prison and death and Caesar and his testimony.

And of course, we can say the Holy Spirit aided him. Yes. I agree. Thank Jesus.

And this, Jesus did not lead Paul to this moment like an impossible leap off the cliff job. Paul wrote us about his comforts - so that today - we could take comfort in our lives that Jesus cares very deeply about. Telling us if we have seen Jesus in action, and believe Scripture - we know our Father God and the comfort and interest HE has in our lives.

Paul was not building a Cathedral. Paul was building a relationship with Father God - the light that lights all of mankind. Paul was putting relationship ideas there.

And Paul told us again and again and again and again and again - Paul genuinely cared for and loved the people he told about Jesus.

Romans 12:15
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind

I adore the movie "Zombieland." And the set of rules he keeps towards staying alive. This rule could be very important like keeping limber. Thanksgiving Rule Number Three - rejoice with rejoicers. Weep with those who weep. Thanksgiving Rule Number Four - when they call you names and yell at you - don't yell back - there is no ANGER AND RAGE WITH THE RAGERS!!!

How did Paul get to the point where he loved the people he told Jesus about?
Good question. The Bible is very real. People really did a number on Paul. He was beaten and destroyed and chased by the good people.

Life had revealed to Paul - situations change fast.
Paul realized this very important Rule in Life. You could call this Rule Number Two, if you like:

1 Timothy 6:
6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

Paul has been seasoned to do the Life Paul clearly understood.
Paul has had many, many trials and has overcome. He is a little proud as he tells us

2 Corinthians 11
24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren

Now, you might be like me and say "Oh, no. God Forbid." Ok, right I don't want these things either. Give me the life of Billy Graham, and I rejoice. Hezekiah!!! But I have noticed in 5 decades of life - God is teaching me to do my life. He is building abilities, aptitude, endurance, overcoming, and glee at overcoming.

Romans 5
3 Not only so, but wec also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

So if you had a difficult Thanksgiving... Paul had worse.
If not, call the police.

If you survived?!!

He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain, Will never rise to fight again. ~Tacitus

You just did like the Amazing Paul. You have learned to survive and to sharpen up in love and wisdom.

1. Survival - actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment!

2. Perseverance - let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

3. Love - the greatest of all things in letting you know you LIVE and Live Abundantly - is to Love.
Love those around you. God sees all hearts and says Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow HE has decided to save us through His only Son. God will pour love into open hearts.

4. Character - having dodged bullets and found ways to zig zag! We can relate to life and pass our opportunities, wisdoms and rejoicings along to others.


There actually is great contentment with godliness. When we believe the Father, Author of Life, Creator of All things Loves you - your heart is going to be warm. When our soul is the only surviving part of us - we had better make that a good place to dwell. In contentment - we will find our first Spiritual fruit - Love and Joy.

Bloom where you are planted, find Thanks. And Giving.



Father God, You have said
All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.

The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him.

We believe Your blessing Father God, for ourselves, the ones we Love, the People You have given us. We believe Your Blessing for Our Jesus and Scripture believing Churches. We believe this for Your people around the world. We will believe this for Our Nation. And in Jesus - this Hope, Faith and Love - we will rise up believing Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Revelation 21 ~ coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God

Revelation 21

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place [tabernacle] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people [peoples], and God himself will be with them as their God. 

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” 

9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 1

0 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 

12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia [About 1,380 miles; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters]. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits [about 18 inches or 45 centimeters] by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. 

19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.

22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.

 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.

 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.




We are running a race. All have the same destination according to Joel 3 and Romans 1.
Where are we running to?

Well one of the things we believe as Christians is that we want to share how much Father God loves us and when we are accounted for - believe Jesus, as God's son, would call us His Own. And cover us with His Righteousness.

Now, we can never do this:
Pay for our Salvation with good deeds.
Be punished to earn our Salvation again.

Well if we don't do good deeds, we haven't pleased God. And God is big and scary?

Isaiah tells us in His 66th Chapter and Acts 7

1 Thus says the Lord:
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
and what is the place of my rest?
2 All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be,
declares the Lord.

And perhaps people fear to be blind zealots and declarers of the Most High God, as if He needs and yearns and feeds upon us like Isis thinks He does.

Mankind fears we will all be like Mr. Smith clones in the Matrix Movie, blindly being filled with God and not having room to be photographers, dabblers, football game watchers, paper napkin for Thanksgiving contemplators. Mankind fears his essence is unneeded.


We have not pleased God if we believe He "needs" us to prompt Jesus.

Joshua had a very balanced understanding of Father God. He wanted us to be centered on God. Leaning not to the right of austerity and duty. And not to the left of God is Love and all mercy and it's all good all the time. Joshua knew if Joshua followed the framework of God's goodness putting this forth for his household choosing to serve the Lord and for those who loved God, they would have success in God. God told them to believe Him with courage.

What did Father God say about this balance and God? Not tsk tsk.

Deuteronomy 28
12 The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, 14and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

David spent years of quiet time shepherding his family's livestock. Anointed of God as a child, David lived great hardship training to do Father God's Good Work prepared for him to walk in. David was equipped to do what God called him to do. And David loved Father God expecting Father God to just sneak in His goodness in all ways. David knew Father God to be a Good Father.

David knew the Love coming down out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God.

How High, How Deep, How Wide is the Love Father God has for you, His Child. His Beloved. God created and knows all the Heavens and all the stars. He surely knows the name He gave you and your gifts and talents.

2 Samuel 7

Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.[c] Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.


18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! 20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods?

Revelation 21 is another passage of His Word and His Promises telling us 2 Samuel 7.
Jesus Himself told us - know the Scriptures - know the Power of God.


Hebrews 12  


1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

 12-15 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled

 18-19 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking.

 28-29 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.  


Isaiah 40:31  
They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint!!!! 

 Luke 1:37  
For nothing will be impossible with God



 Father God, dwell within us each day, be our strength, our hope, our direction.

 Your beloved reaches out hands in prayer, that You will touch each day with Your hope, faith and Love. This is the day that the Lord has made. In You and in us, 

Jesus Christ dwell in our lives daily. In the highest name of Jesus Christ, all honor and glory to You, O LORD. Amen. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Prayer and the Bible

When we repeat Scripture we are doing something pleasing to God.  The Word of God IS Jesus Christ the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 




I'm currently taking a video class on the Power of God's Healing by Rev Francis MacNutt and his wife Judith at my Church HopePointe Anglican. https://www.facebook.com/ChristianHealingMin. This married couple, the MacNutts,  have had God's Amazing Successes with Prayer for Fifty Years. Successes like the The Book of Acts  - like this -

Ephesians 2:7
In order that in the coming ages, He might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

My mother's dear friend  Patricia, a doctor, was healed from failing blood vessels in her eye and cataracts from following Judith and Francis' MacNutts Prayer and Healing Services Honoring Jesus Christ.

This has been profoundly wonderful in Jesus. Our class at HopePointe Anglican prayed for a man who was from Arizona and headed with reoccurring mouth cancer to M.D. Anderson for a physician's referral for mouth cancer surgery. He decided, being Agnostic, to reply quite kindly by email to our class's offer for a healing prayer visit that he'd appreciate the prayers but not a visit. When he arrived at M.D. Anderson, the Lord had healed his mouth cancer. My husband has been ill and has responded with healing for the last 8 weeks. A lady in our class has had her several year cancer scan report zero cancer found for the first time, recently.

The mystery of faith is amazing; Reverend Francis MacNutt points out - God heals willingly. The sins we have were taken on by Jesus on the Cross. We are not God and His will and His ways awe and inspire us about the Great Love God has. Francis goes on to saying God heals with vast, pervasive empathy pervasive. He is forgiving and gentle.

We prayed for an Episcopal Priest at age 89 with heart failure, bed bound, he is healed.



Jesus was asked by two disciples about power in Prayer. God answers us lovingly - when we pray His Will Be Done.

Jesus tells us in Romans 9:15
For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

The mystery of God alone knowing our hearts. His ways, His Plan. Jesus tells us this:

Luke 4:26
And yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."

Proverbs 14
9 Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is good will. 10 The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy.

Prayer is conditional and depends upon God's Loving Will! 
Like the Garth Brook's song "Thank God for Unanswered Prayers" - God is Greater than our wisdom. We thank God for His Will and Plan! God is our Hope and Future!

Acts 1:24
Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart."

Hebrews 13:21 
Jesus our Lord equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may HE work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Thank You, Father God, You hear us in all our prayer requests, for the Glory of God. Be with the students doing work this time of year and all who faithfully call upon You, to be upheld in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.


Amen.


Thank YOU, Father God, You hear all prayer when we call upon Jesus. Your ways are not our ways, but Your wisdom, goodness and Love exceed beyond our imaginings. Bless You for Your Plan. Your robe would not fit in the Temple, but Your Word fills the very Universe.

We love because Your Great Love is a spark that Lights all of mankind. Father God, Your Word is eternal, help us each day to have words and actions that cause You joy.

Forgive us when we do not cause You Joy, please. Be our Loving Shepherd and help us to be willingly centered upon You in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

John 1:29-34 ~ I have seen

John 1:29-34

~ (Revised Standard Version)

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."

And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' "

And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."



Recently I watched a special on the 2,500 to 3,000 year old mummies found scattered in China. It was really well done, they documented the success and failure to obtain DNA from each mummy and told about the known history of each person. One was a 5 year old boy buried with beautiful blankets, woven with great care. The loss of the blankets to the family indicated how much the child was held in esteem. Another a young woman with beautiful skin clothing and jewelry. A man they thought might have been a king, buried with a horse. Everyone was surprised to find the DNA indicated a high level of travel, there was Eastern European, India and a blend of DNA from around the world.

It is human nature to come from the beautiful miracles of John the Baptist's birth and Jesus' to wonder how John can say, twice, he didn't know Jesus. Or Jesus came before John, when John is older.

Jesus is the Word of God, with God, in the beginning of creation. Proverbs also tells us about the joy Jesus found in Creation. Jesus was... before John.

How and why didn't John the Baptist know Jesus - his cousin? Why can't we be more surprised by the rest of the 1st Chapter of John. Men meeting Jesus for the first time declared to each other "this is the Son of God" in both verse 41 and verse 49 of John 1. This is far more astonishing - Jesus has men leaving their way of life behind to become His disciples in a mere afternoon of listening to Jesus.

So why, why doesn't John recognize his cousin Jesus? It's pretty obvious when we add up what we know. It seems we must look at this question. John's parents were old when he was born. As people become very aged, they do not travel greatly. Traveling was difficult even for the young. John's parents lived 90 miles from Jesus. John surely heard, in his youth, about Jesus and the "funny circumstances" surrounding the quick wedding of pregnant, un-wed cousin Mary. When we see the Gospels record only cousin Elizabeth's support for Mary, we must also remember John the Baptist probably heard more of the rumors from more of the family - who are not remembered in the Scriptures.

So .... why didn't John recognize Jesus??? For the same reasons we didn't recognize Jesus until we invited Him to be part of us. Before we really knew Him: we heard about Jesus from other sources. Not all the sources were credible. Family (Church) is sometimes boring and the time it takes to get there and back is too long. Why put the effort into going when people aren't always nice? We missed the family get-togethers (Church) for so long, people hassle us about That too. If you don't remember the family stories correctly there is mocking. It's all a big tangle to sort out and we have other things to do.

Then, more importantly, it comes to the decision time. As John grew spiritually into God's plan for him, Jesus became important to him. John took the time to dwell and think about who Jesus is. God revealed not just family, a good man, but a Savior. John, bravely, and with certainty says, "And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."


Father God,
When John the Baptist died, Jesus gave food to thousands, we call that gathering where food is given - a funeral luncheon. Honoring someone Jesus loved. Ephesians tells us as God's Word, we will live in Heaven sorting out all things with Jesus' Awe of Grace upon Grace. Not just Thanksgiving for today, Thanksgiving for all days. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.

We Give You Thanks, Father God, for Your Wonders and Your Promises to us and to those we love and we will not be far, instead in diligence prayer conversation. Jesus The Lord. God Almighty. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †