Matthew 9:27-34 ~ “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

Matthew 9:27-34

27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

 In Jesus. Amen.

When Moses was to see God, a great and auspicious occasion, Moses was asked not to see.

Exodus 33
18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 

19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 

23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

Both Scripture passages reflect this is a process to see God. Beginning with the earnestness of seeking God. And Father God is present.

Exodus 34
5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord,

Jesus!

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands,a forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

Luke 1 finds through the Millenniums the Worship of Father God continues and in the New Covenant God redirects His mercies as He gives us Jesus for our Salvation.

Luke 1:50
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.

The Gospel of John says in the First Chapter:

John 1:45
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Father God, 


We always want to return to Your Presence and Give Thanks.

Thank You for this time. You have chosen our circumstances. And in them Your Grace, Favor, Joy, Love is here. 

Bless those who provide a Blessing.  Help those who have grave concerns in life. The ability to hand them to Jesus and Let God work His Will.

Thank You for Your Will. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 91 ~ “Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My Name. "

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will saya to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Curtis Martin, formerly of the New York Jets, read Psalm 91 before every game.

Curtis Martin and his mother, Rochella, began a long reconciliation process with his father, Curtis Sr.

In 1990, Curtis Sr. checked into a veteran’s hospital for two weeks followed by a six-month stay at a rehabilitation center and was able to remain sober through his death, due to cancer (June 2009 at age 58). In 1998, on Father's Day, Curtis Martin, Sr was honored, by a new, furnished condominium, his father had left the family due to his addictions to cocaine and alcohol. The family members made peace with each other in the final weeks of the elder Martin's life.

Curtis Martin's retirement, in July 2007, completed his career having amassed 14,101 total rushing yards, the fourth highest total in NFL history.

Martin married his longtime girlfriend Carolina Williams in 2010. On December 15, 2011, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Ava.

He was selected for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 4, 2012 and formally inducted on August 4, 2012. Martin's speech, which he conducted without notes, was widely praised by critics for its sincerity. The Jets retired Martin's No. 28 jersey on September 9, 2012.

On November 11, 2013, Martin was added to the Miami Dolphins' five-man committee to develop the conduct code by owner Stephen M. Ross.


1 Chronicles 29:11
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.

Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.


Father God,

You have told us the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

We thank You for covering us in the Name, Glory and Mercy of Jesus Christ the Lord.

We bless You and give Thanks. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure.  You created goodness in our souls with Your Help increasing our Hope, Faith and Love.

Thank You for being always with us And seeing us through all seasons. Your Mercy and Actions sustain us.

We Thank You for Salvation. You bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. We give You thanks for Your Love and lift our concerns and the ones we love to You. 

In Jesus, we are Your's ! Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 34 ~ The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Psalm 34

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.


When was the last time you heard of civilian rescue during gunfire?


Pirates of the Caribbean

"You are different."
"Different?"
"Are you not? You protect."
―Syrena and Philip Swift

HONOLULU (AP)

A shooting just above a crowded Kalihi church courtyard injured a man who had just been baptized this afternoon, witnesses said.

A man was shot in the back after being baptized inside a Honolulu church is in stable condition, authorities said.

Paramedics treated 60 yr Tali Talitonu for a gunshot wound to the back at the Samoa-Tokelau Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.


A church elder grabbed the shooter's gun hand, pointing the weapon away from the victim and the crowd, and disarmed her, Asuega said.

A church elder, Tony Williams, 57, is being called a hero for his quick action in grabbing the shooter’s gun hand, pointing the weapon away from the victim and the crowd, and disarming her.

“As soon as I heard the bang, I turned around and he already had her,” said Sam Tauolo, a church member who was also baptized today. “The church (service) had just ended, so everybody was coming out. Anybody could have been hit.”

Taleni Asuega, the victim's nephew, said that up to 100 people, including many children, were spilling out into the courtyard when a woman pulled out a gun and shot Talitonu once in the back, near his right shoulder.

Asuega said He said that he didn't know what prompted the violence, the alleged shooter and the victim knew each other.



James 2:14
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

1 Corinthians 16:13
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

Romans 8:26-27
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.


Father God,

We give You thanks for the brave men and women who risk their lives to make other's safe. The work is not guaranteed for safety.

God bless those willing to be brave in Jesus Christ.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on these brave people; establish the work of their hands for them-- yes, establish the work of their hands.

Because of this bravery, help these brave people know to fear not, for the Lord God is with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

1 John 5:1-12 ~ God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son

The earliest Icon paintings of Peter, look alike. Found in Rome.

1 John 5:1-12

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?


6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood.

And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.

Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.

11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

The Graffiti matches Peter's home in Capernaum and his tomb in the Vatican. Witness to Jesus and the life of the people who loved Him.

Yesterday we spoke of how broad is the Salvation of Jesus Christ. God sized. God wants to save the world in Jesus.

And yet, when we get to the issues in life of faith and our faith walk with the wild winds of life howling - Jesus saw the world was not buying each other a Coke.

We had an evangelist come to HopePointe Anglican and he made the point that in life - we will all face something similar to Jesus because this is life.

When Jesus explained that the Body and Blood of the Messiah would be eaten in Communion - Jesus saw his 72 Disciples become 70 and then more left.

Jesus turned to the 12 and said, did they wish to leave.

Peter understood fully what Jesus had been saying.

Matthew 22:29
Know the Scriptures the power of God

John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."



Father God,

We bring to You, our inner self. Our Truth.

We look to Your Words for the Way. 

Knowing by your Blood and Water at Jesus' Death - we are bought with a Price we cannot repay.

And You provide, by Your Word alone - Life.

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand with Jesus the Lord. Jesus tells us His Joy.

Father we want to be covered in the Name of Jesus. You are our Righteousness.

Blessed be Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 7:11-17 ~ He had compassion

Luke 7:11-17

 Soon afterward ^{[The next day]} he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. ¹² As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.  

¹³ And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 

 ¹⁴ Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” ¹⁵ And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.  

¹⁶ Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” ¹⁷ And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

The town of Jesus’ day was in a different location. The Nain Church says the town was further from the Hill of Morah. Nain - A pleasant view the site affords across the plain of Esdraelon. Nazareth stands out, about 9½ km [6 mi] away.

This man is like Jeremiah:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you"

And his destination in Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 2
4 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 3

2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.



Colossians 2

20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings

In all Seasons of our Life - Christ

Were the man and his mother like the Centurion? Worthy?

Father God does not say.

Jesus only tells us of His empathy to her plight.



Mark 2:17
On hearing this, Jesus told them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."


Matthew 9:13
'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners




Isaiah 42

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.

4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.

5 Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 “I am the Lord; I have called youb in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations,
7 to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8 I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.

9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.”


10 Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise from the end of the earth


Father God did give us many aspects of Himself and put a new song in Jesus.

Worthy is the Son of God.

When others were raised from the dead, the healer put all of his weight upon the deceased. Here Jesus does not even touch the man. This is remote healing. Something today we all hope for from Jesus. Jesus told us, "Days will come" and more blessed that the eyes that saw Jesus are the eyes that believe.




Father God,

We give You thanks for telling us about the Widow of Nain and her son.

Jesus was saying not to have fear of God and His Works. Father God, You are so very compassionate.

Fear evil ways which would cast us out of the presence of God.

The sparrows are known intimately to God. The hairs of our head are of interest to God. Of supreme importance is our words, lives, ways - telling of our soul to Jesus.  Father dwell richly in me, always please.

All of our cares are known to Father God and yet, Jesus waited for the blind to ask Him what they would have of Jesus.

Father God, we lift our cares to You, knowing You care for us and Love us. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 10:1-7 ~ The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Matthew 10:1-7

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.  

²  The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

⁵  These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, ⁶  but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 


 ⁷ And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Bill Hull was our Sermon on Sunday. 
http://www.amazon.com/Bill-Hull/e/B001JS5RLO

I did not get there, a neighbor had a collapsed chimney in the middle of the night and we were awake. Since this didn't work out, due to oversleeping, I decided to find Bill Hull on line.

Pastor Hull begins by telling about "The Cost of Discipleship." Bonhoeffer. Who was the example, like Jesus, of putting all his life into Salvation. Jesus makes us like Christ because HE is about others. When we seek self-fulfillment - am I closer to God - we are missing the fact - Jesus was about others.

Jesus points this out in the very short passage, Jesus sends the 12-  out to do healing.
Jesus isn't here long to do His ministry, and HE does not insist they sit at His feet.

Discipleship is to follow Jesus. If Jesus was living my life, what would I do to please Jesus. Given His Word for me to do, how will I do my life best.

Jesus did ordinary things for many years. Although Mary had quite a few successes.

Discipleship is to have encouragement, strengthening, nurture in God to do His Will.

This is not cheap grace. This is working His Word for our lives.




Ministry is telling the Good News. Ministry is sharing how Jesus has helped you. Ministry is sharing the Good News in other's life. When you give Agape Love, this is your life experience.

Even the chilly hearts I've told about the BBQ the Katrina refuges gave our Church, who fed them, have melted hard hearts and been almost in tears.

We take up our cross, a death reserved for criminals, and we follow Jesus. We please Jesus.



My pool was recently re-plastered. Wow, this was needed. This was a gift to us, given by someone who cares and is family. My mom. And because we got a very, very good quote we didn't get all the information we needed.

However, I had shared the Good News with the man having a new baby, who had fixed our pool a few months back. I had questions about pool plastering. And the man who told me he just couldn't meet the price we got, came over and told us we found good sub-contractors. And he explained about the start up done on new pools.

Without this man having a new baby, with whom I'd shared the Good News of Jesus, we wouldn't have known what to do.



People want to be told about Jesus.

Jesus wants us to be the people who fulfill our vows. Listen and obey the Word of God given to us. People believe when we give our word - this is what we do.

The World actually hungers to know Jesus.

And then they want to know if Jesus will still love them in their brokenness. In the doubts and in their failures. Does Jesus really never leave or abandon us. Jesus is that Good.

The circle is Love, without beginning, without end. Father God, Jesus and Holy Spirit.


Mark 3:34
Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!


Father God, 

Thank You for Pentecost. Having the Holy Spirit each day is Joy, Peace, Love, Patience, Goodness, Steadfast and Self Control. Thank You.

Help me to be doing God’s will and be Your brother and sister and mother.
In the Name of Jesus, Thank God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †