Luke 2:8-11 ~ “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord"

Luke 2:8-11

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

10 And the angel said to them,

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord"





If you've experienced a child passing on to Heaven, you are aware - you would far rather remember LIFE. And if the sacrifice was Noble - then this is spoken of in correlation to Life. Peter defines Jesus as the Word of LIFE.

Adam began with the charge to, "subdue the earth." To garden and cultivate in his path, making the most of what was available to him.

As relationship with God goes forth in Scripture, the charge became to shepherd. In making the most of the Way, Life and Truth of Jesus - to seek conversation with Father God. As the Scriptures continue, we see, to have conversation with Him at all times.


David began with an obligation to shepherd his family herd. He used this time to speak with His Lord.

And like the Blessings of 7 loaves becoming the Abundance of God Blessing, the remnants are 7 baskets of from Living Bread.


David took the Kingdom of Israel literally under his wing. Many came to David in His victories which included slowly taking up the nation in fragments at first. One of David's first battles was to claim, the lands of the Tribe of Judah which had not become Israel until David's anointing was coming into fulfillment.

Just as the loaves and fishes- the fulfilling of God's Word:

This is the foreshadowing of Jesus, greater than Adam and greater than Moses, servant of God.


Hebrews 11:24
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.


Jesus did this as well Palm Sunday.


Mark 11:11
And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.


Giving thought to the graciousness of our borders. Fully understanding the 2nd Amendment of the safety of our refugees. Numbers 6, one of the Largest Blessings of the Bible, asks for the Graciousness of God to cover us. Even in the Exodus Joshua was told to be in the center of the Vast Attributes of God.

Telling us of the forward call of the Church in peace. And in the comfort of the Word of God and in the direction and leadership of His Blessing of His Creation: This is our call as a Nation.


Matthew 28:19
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Father God,

There is a separation of Church and State in this Nation celebrating Freedom. Father God, You, have taught us exactly how to do this. Be in the world and not of the world.

We are the seeds of Living Parables. Our lives, words and actions may be the only Scripture another Person ever witnesses. Our words might be the only kindness this Person hears all week.

The Spirit is God is recognized by this. Love, Joy, Peace, Encouragement, Scripture Living Words, Hope, Faith, Endurance, Character, Perseverance, Steadfast Love. The True Nobility of mankind know Father God in Jesus Christ. He who is noble, plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.


Striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel! 

Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and make good profession of Jesus as Lord.

In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you will extinguish all the flaming darts of darkness.

We Live abundantly working, seeing, proclaiming the very goodness of God.
Thanking God for the sisters and brothers beloved by the Lord.
Living in the Fruit of His Love.

Seeing the Genuineness of Love.
This is the heart of the Gospel.
Stand firm and hold to the Joy of Jesus Christ.

Father God, be our Help and direct, guide, lead each of us Shine
with the Light of Jesus Christ in all mankind
and we shall see goodness in this land -
and in the renewing of seeing the God we will recognize
in the Land of the Living,
Blessing God in Whom We Trust.

Now may our Jesus, Himself,
and God, our Father,
they love us and give us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
comfort our hearts
and establish us in every good work and Word.

Live in us Lord Jesus! Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

2 Chronicles 30 ~ yield yourselves to the Lord

Passover in Israel - 50,000 people attend at the Western Wall

Renewal, new Success. A Nation in Joy.

2 Chronicles 30

1 Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep the Passover in the second month— 3 for they could not keep it at that time because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem— 4 and the plan seemed right to the king and all the assembly.  

5 So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it as often as prescribed.

6 So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, “O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were faithless to the Lord God of their fathers, so that he made them a desolation, as you see. 8 Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.

9 For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”

10 So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11 However, some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.

13 And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great assembly. 14 They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away and threw into the Kidron Valley. 15 And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, so that they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. 16 They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the Lord.

 18 For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. 

For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying,
“May the good Lord pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.” [not according to the cleanness of holiness]  

20 And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. 21 And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with all their might [with instruments of might] to the Lord.  

22 And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the Lord. So they ate the food of the festival for seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord, the God of their fathers.

23 Then the whole assembly agreed together to keep the feast for another seven days. So they kept it for another seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for offerings, and the princes gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. And the priests consecrated themselves in great numbers.

 25 The whole assembly of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, and the whole assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and the sojourners who lived in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven.

Passover in the country of Israel, in Jerusalem, at the Wailing Wall.


Deuteronomy 6:4-6
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

Imagine your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents being told the country of Israel was to be reformed after World War II. They would be incredulous. We live in an amazing time.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 9

 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

Even Israel has been reformed from exiles flung all around the world before.

We are told in Jesus Christ we are grafted into God's family by adoption. Israel fought the countries surrounding them for generations:




Perhaps if we were to honor and love the Lord more, we would have more of the peace Hezekiah miraculously found even as the Assyrian Empire chose not to enter into Judea. Peace in the face of danger.




Father God,

We ask Your Hand and Your Heart turn to us. That our prayers may align with Your Will. And in that agreement, our loved ones, our dearly held people will rejoice seeing the Wonders of God. In expectations, we open our hands and pray with Jesus.

Thank You, You hear us, Father God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Romans 10:13 ~ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Wadi Moses outside of Petra. This is the road to get to amazing Petra, Jordan. The River of Moses, a path taken during 40 years of The Exodus. Normally beautiful and amazing to pass through. A long walk, my son rode here on hired Camels. But if there is a sudden rain, the mountains will fill the canyon up swiftly and the water becomes treacherous and even deadly in the last few years. Cell phones do not cover the remote desert.

Romans 10:13

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.


If we read the Scriptures, know the famous verses and rely only upon the subtitles...
we have watched the Superbowl commercials and might not know the score.


The Call of God to Salvation is Amazingly God sized.
Father God wants to save - the planet - through Jesus Christ the Lord.


And where we are given a Great Gift in the Salvation of Jesus Christ through His broken Body and sin free Soul. Much is given, much is required.


Matthew 7

12 So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

13“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easya that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.





How do we correlate the two passages?


God puts His Words in Order.

1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints.

1 Corinthians 14:40
But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.


God and the Gospels are not plunking down edicts. Thought is not randomly put forth. This is growth, this is development, this is relationship. Covered by Father God, who loves us more.

1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.


Father God puts forth His Words as the Creator of the Universe. Maker of all things.


The narrow gate is explained right after this:

12 So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.


Jesus tells us we worship in Spirit and in Truth.

And He continues this thought:

Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."


Recently, I felt Father God tug at my heart to give a gift that I felt would be healing.

And I was embarrassed. I felt this looked slurpy. Someone I like very well was limping. It was waved off. But I still felt off kilter to give this Tens Unit for healing, I felt preachy to someone who is wise. And I knew this for a week, brushed it off and went on.

I heard he was ill, afterwards.

Upon being told of serious illness, I told my small group about my feeling and left that with them, and God, and knew I was graciously forgiven.

I did not know. But I had a feeling to give.

Next I'm sitting with them in the Church atrium and we are praying for the next ailment. I said I felt I should have given you the tens unit for a week, but forgot. They were interested and we prayed in our healing class, the next day, the doctor declared for no apparent reason, the serious illness was gone. Life was restored to the illness.

I had confessed, we prayed, we all knew I had not known of the grave illness, but knew I was supposed to give, I was very forgiven, we all wanted him to be healed. Jesus acted. A healing occurred surprising the doctor.





Father God is not a bringer of fear, He is a God of Love.


Matthew 7:21-23

21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 2

2On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name,
and cast out demons in your name,
and do many mighty works in your name?’

23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’


This looks like someone doing the Will of God. What was the trouble?

This is Loud work. A Pharisee loves to do Loud work. Not just "works" - "Mighty Works." Showy.



 

Here we have part A and part B.

Not caring for the other person. Who is in their life - I have known people who didn't even want to tell someone ill, "I knew you had cancer." Instead they want away from the trouble and the discomfort and can't even lift a card to the mail. "What cancer?"

If we see grief and can't take a cake.

Jesus said He came for the lowly, the ill. Jesus did. We can't save people. We can do what Jesus said in small abilities. He asks more for mercy than sacrifice. One of St. Augustine's quotes says the same thing.



What is a worker of lawlessness? I've sat so often in my volunteer work with the broken hearted. A date. The way love works is you sleep with the one you want to love you. Right? No. This causes so much harm. The person who loved is harmed. This can go on and on. Lives actually change.

What is a worker of lawlessness? I saw one man feel cold that women want him to sleep with them like he is a rollercoaster. He looks hopeless as he says, what is a man to do. Bless his soul. No one, no one, no one has told him, he can say no and be free.

The movies look easy. Life doesn't have a 90 minute plot.

The Laws given have all the blessings put around them. And Jesus tells us we can't do the law. We are not good enough.

When we are sure we can call upon the name of Jesus the Lord, the Messiah, the Savior to be our waiter. We are in a 'world of hurt'.









Remember the well know prayers of the Pharisee and Tax Collector. The Tax Collector today might be - Someone in the medical profession refusing services to the dying when this is just a pill or something within reach. Someone who is paid four times what a job costs and doesn't ever offer anything that gives back. A Viking - a pillager. Jesus says once this is a lawyer who doesn't care one ounce for justice or mercy.

Ok, sure we know the story - The Pharisee says "I'm so good, thank God, I'm not the unsaved and the people with horrid people. I was smarter than That. Jesus loves the clean nose."

The first sentence says
"9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt."

And of course

13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.






No one in life is going to get out of this life without some hurt. Trouble. Just like the Prodigal Son story, we have to go to our Father knowing we have had some of this: sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, arrogance and folly.


When we truly believe we call upon the real Jesus. The Son of God. Innocent and placed as God in an animal feeder, wrapped up tightly. Healing the blind. The deaf hear. When we know God is there for us. When we want to please Jesus.

This happens in the howl of wild winds of life;


24“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”


Just like the Pastor said last Sunday. Just like Paul said in the Holy Spirit. We are going to find Jesus to help us.

Then we know. His Banner over me is Love. We can call on Jesus, for He cares this much for us. And we are profoundly grateful. Understanding the cost.

Father God,

Help us all to speak up. and give tens units and pray. Forgiven is strength to carry on.

We want our First Amendment to be there. Help us to use this and use this and use this. 

Give us wisdom to discern Your will daily.  Be with us in Grace and Kindness as we approach Your throne with Jesus confidence.

We cannot earn. We cannot work. We cannot repay. For what You have given.

We call ourselves wise. We arrogantly hold up opinions on right and wrong. We do not create life. We do not last more than tree. Our opinions will not matter in a hundred years.

And what Jesus has done for me, a sinner. In the name of Jesus, I am eternal - today. I am redeemed for His Righteousness. I am Blessed.

Thank You, Jesus. My God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 91 ~ I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

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

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,

10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”




If we want to stand firm with God as our refuge and fortress, the first thing we do is
we believe the Truth.

Deuteronomy 10

12“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you,
but to fear the Lord your God,
to walk in all his ways,
to love him,
to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord,
which I am commanding you today for your good?

14 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.

15 Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.




And the writer is Moses who stood and saw the Glory of God.

Now Moses and Psalm 91 have a good deal in common. Endurance.




2 Thessalonians 2
14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.


Edward and I bought our third home in the year 2000. This home is on a pond. And is home. And is so appreciated by us both. My son had an art project his senior year in high school, he was asked to show photos of his life and surroundings. We put that together from photos from over the years, and Alexander - who has lived here since 3rd grade - said, "Our home is beautiful. This really is beauty." I said, "Exactly, this is where we dwell. We want this to be cared for and clean and we paint and move things around. Yes."


After being married for 30 years and observing life for half a decade, what we have learned is this. We grow up with hope and endurance and character and Love. For 14 years we were in a 2 bedroom home. Our friends were upwardly mobile. And they thought surely life had passed us by. We had a job offer from another state, but we really did not want to loose the money from buying at a real estate peak. So we struggled on with get shoes, move shoes to the Salvation Army. Get a toy, after and before Christmas, send things to the Salvation Army.

And finally after 14 years, the endurance of holding on to our home and polishing and painting- Yielded! We doubled the size of the house, we had a more lucrative job and a new home. Merit, our dog started doing ballet jumps in the rooms we were going to move in. Merit, the dog, was very intuitive. (He used to stand and put his front paw hands in the Couple Class Prayer.) And our friends were so very happy for us. Family arrived we had an Easter Egg Decoration Party.

Within 10 months of our second home, a better job offer came to the Houston area. We were elated. And even more elated to hear that our house had gained $75,000 in 10 months. 1999 was 2 bedrooms and 2000 was three times the size, major lovely on a pond of 3 acres. And we had dinner parties and youth ministry, youth ministry, youth ministry.

The Egrets are still making majestic landings. The Wood Ducks still fly in unison. The ducks have ducklings. And we stand and appreciate what is today.






We have lived a life worth living.

My needlepoint group was filled with older ladies. We discovered that in your sixties, you either increase in gratitude for a life worth living - or you get to be bitter.

Now Moses could have been bitter. He was the Pharoah's son. This is going to be a life of luxury. And comfort. But he saw that the midwives were told to kill of human people. Without the grace of God, Moses would be dead. And something in him didn't rest for feeling he couldn't prosper seeing how hard the lives were for the Children of Israel. Moses felt that he was charged to do something. And killing the Egyptian was certainly not the best thing. The Pharoah's house was going to think he was not within a controllable range. And he fled to death. Instead, Moses found he could stand for days and watch the flocks.

Where was the bitterness? Instead, Moses had a wife, children, and interesting father in law. And a job caring for animals that need care. Moses chose to see - God was taking care of him.



Finally the Big Time arrived. I have talked to two major executives my father in law said were so high up they were the Princes of their Corporation. And both said that they worked for 15 years to get the top spot. I love living parables. They achieved the top spots and are well respected men; the same as the Biblical information on becoming a Bishop. They were hired to the top spot for their ability to do well and with the paths of goodness, not cut throat. For the same reason Moses fled the killing of the Egyptian.

And once they achieved the Top Spot, they enjoyed this as much as Moses enjoyed the Children of Israel. Both of these Princes of Industry said within the first year, the cutthroats were sniping and undercutting so ruthlessly the goal at the end of the first year, was survive to year 5 and retire. I was highly disappointed. And got grins for being disappointed. I asked them if they couldn't call on the Lord and beat back the snipers and cut throats by simply revealing the tricks of their trade. One of the Princes said, "I really love that people are so disappointed for me. People want this winning job to be fun and see me do this."

The Light shines in mankind. I am happy to report both the Princes of Industry stayed for 10 years and retired happily. And both were married to the same women for 40 years and their wives were happy they came home and both couples started exercising together. Grandchildren arrived.


We feel that the USA is in trouble, we see all of the news is grim. If you need a big dose of reality, listen to Dan Carlisle describe War. And be grateful.

What Life requires is Faith. Sad times come - life changes as people age. And in volunteering I found that people have the strength to do their lives.


Father God,

Your Mercies renew each day. Help us in times we endure - to keep enduring.

In times of prosperity, to give Thanks. And not be to twirlie.

In times of Change, to Trust.

In the day at hand, to see the good.

In times of grief and end, to live today knowing that time will ease.

To live Knowing God Loves and is our destination. In knowing that God loves us, we feel our emotions,
know our emotions, come to understand what makes each of us uniquely the Child of God. And rule over our emotions to tame them to please God. Knowing the framework Your Word gives is where happiness dwells and allows room for Joy, Peace, Encouragement, Patience and Love. Happiness is a choice. In Jesus the Lord.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Mark 8:1-21 ~ and went to the other side

Mark 8:1-21

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”

4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”

5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”

They said, “Seven.”

6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground.




And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish.

And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.




14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?”

They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

The Disciples were there and saw the feeding of the multitude.

Jesus made a point that 7 loaves were given to him and He created 7 baskets left over.

The Disciples get into the discussion - now they have no bread. They are consumed and focused on that minute and their needs. Just like... mankind...1600 B.C. The Children of Israel in the Exodus.

It is as if they had said to each other "I think Jesus was a fluke, but look smart before Jesus." This also points out they felt Jesus was so superior to them, they couldn't catch up and were not on His level and in their anxiety - they made blunders. In realizing Jesus is God, they were unaware HE would make them breakfast in His Amazing Victory over death and walk 6 miles with them.

In Luke 4, we read Peter dealt with the Light in all of mankind, by telling Jesus what Peter wanted Jesus to do. Jesus tells Peter the reason why Peter is so comfortable bossing JESUS around, Peter wants what is comfortable to Peter. Peter has failed to show compassion to Jesus and His Mission of God. Jesus takes that a step further, because Jesus is GOD, and says he is of Satan.

Extreme until you consider that like the Blues Brothers, THIS IS A MISSION FROM GOD.

We do not want to forfeit Life/Soul.

Mark 8:35 The same Greek word can mean either soul or life, depending on the context; twice in this verse and once in verse 36 and once in verse 37.




Jesus the Lord is this:

Hebrews 1

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.







And if we really want to stress the limits of our tender soul, think of this with me, Jesus was in His Glory when HE made the squabbling disciples breakfast. John 21. This is OUR GOD.





I was listening to Jesse Duplantis, Minister in Louisiana, who is very forthright about the wildness of his youth and of his salvation. His mother was a mystic and told him that his name, David's father's name, was telling of his future anointing as a Man of God. For years, She walked in the faith of this - Jesse did some pretty outrageous things, we would hope our children would NOT do.

And Jesse was gifted with a dream of Heaven from the Gates of Heaven walking to the house Jesus had prepared for Jesse to walk in. Jesse was so touched to find the house was ready for him and filled with things that in his impoverished childhood had not even dreamed to own. Things that walking in the framework of God had provided him, here on earth. Rev. Duplantis related this to a Father wanting find experiences and fine delights for His child. Jesse mentioned a Chippendale Chair. And the blessing included, Jesus arranged Jesse to meet David. King David.





I have had dreams of Heaven and Jesus. This was a dream I was blessed extremely well with. And has changed my life. When I read, "My eyes have seen Your Salvation." I know this was Blessing. And being flawed, I am not at all like Isaiah who was awake and knew the Presence of Father God Almighty is in His House. Instead, Father God was visiting - maybe you, maybe the levels of Heaven Paul tells us about.

And in this dream, I fully comprehended God's Cathedrals of earth should be cherished and relished - this is a glimpse of the veil of Heaven. And in this House of God, there were fine things. I was shown something like a child's chair found in King Tut's tomb. The museum said they were not even sure this was Tut's chair because he died so suddenly. It could have been his father's chair he shared with his boy or his grandfathers or even great grandfather's. And in my dream, this was an adult chair and new. I was told, in Heaven, we plan for eternity and this is not like earth at all. Our belongings stay with us throughout eternity. And we adjust to having amazing things in Heaven. I was astonished. And explained where I had seen the chair before and it had been a child's chair and was 3 millenniums old. I was told this chair might be that and appears to be new. An attribute of Heaven.

I was told in Heaven Jesus is working and His Father too. I was told perhaps I'd like a chair like this and maybe could work on chairs or sell them. I said I'd very much like to be part of this amazing beauty. And was told, so very kindly, that this was hoped for me. Although these people were far above me, the kindness was great.

I woke up knowing, this is probably not my level of Heaven, but in the Goodness of Jesus - my eyes - "Have seen His Salvation."

It was two decades later I watched Jesse Duplantis tell so thoroughly and beautifully and touchingly of his visit to Heaven. I am poignantly touched, we both were shown chairs. Visions of God are meant to be shared. And the message is profound and layered as the loaves of bread. Easily remembered, just as Jesus taught in Parables - to remember.

Where will you sit and what will you hope and expect of the Only Good One?  Jesus.




Our Father,

Who art in Heaven, Holy is Your Name.

Your Kingdom come and Your Will be done, on earth as in Heaven.

Give us this Day. Our Daily Bread.

Forgive me my sins, as I forgive those who sin against me.

Lead me not into Temptation. Deliver me from evil.

For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. Forever and ever.

Amen.

Lord God, we ask Your surrounding blessings on the ones' we love and our concerns, we lift to You.
Looking to You in expectation for our Nation and the believing people of the World. We know in Jesus, You have heard us and we thank You with Joy. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †