Acts 1:1-14 ~ It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority

God is God. The Good News.

Acts 1:1-14

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.


God's Will. The best way to end a prayer. Thy Will be done. Or start a prayer.

Jeremiah understood God's will.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."




Do we trust God's Will? Honestly, we would all have to lean to "we want to." Yet when the chips are really important, we might whine like small children to God.






And Jesus replies in the New Testament outside of the Gospels.
Alive.
Warm.
Available.
Acts Chapter 1 abuts John's Gospel and the 21st Chapter - where the Disciples felt cozy enough to argue with the Victorious Son of God. Whew, good to know, whiners unite in feeling abashed and not destroyed.

Perhaps even God gets pushed and doesn't want to be conversational with prayer whiners, too. Jesus is not forthcoming to the question of getting the Roman Empire out. The Jews thought Jesus was going to be Solomon, Hezekiah and Genghis Khan rolled into Merlin. We can all say to the prophets and the Magi, again, .... Isaiah was how well understood when the Magi went to see Herod to see the new King?

People.

It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority


And going back to the point, Jesus does not reply directly to being asked about the Roman Empire. This encounter with the Disciples, 40 days after the John 21 squabble,  Jesus is more politely asked if He failed to measure up as the Messiah/Solomon/Hezekiah/Genghis Khan/Merlin King. "Hey? What about the Roman Empire???"

Wow, "What if"! What if the Disciples had behaved Loyally during the Trial and Death of Jesus.

What if the Disciples had not started asking about how long John would live. What if they had not all hidden (minus John).What if men, not women, had intended to bring the spices to Jesus' body? What if the Brothers and Sisters of Jesus were there to see the tomb was empty.  If it was the tomb of the Disciples' families tomb and, therefore, they could have held Vigil the night of His Death near His tomb?

 The sight of what they could have seen! Another Transfiguration - The Light of the World. The Body of Christ's becoming Victory over DEATH.

Maybe whining about our own way isn't such a good idea. Or not going with God, when we can.



So, if ...
we had gone like Jeremiah did to God's Will - during the time of the Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Only Son of God - and Jesus had felt like being emphatic about the Will and Plan of God instead of listening, all the time, to our complaints...

What would Jesus have said about failing to conquer the Roman Empire?

(Can YOU BELIEVE THEY WANTED TO SAY TO JESUS - HEY! Om our Government? Our Glory? Your Mission?)

What could Jesus have Said???

Ephesians 3
20 Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be the glory.

Jesus could have said, "Have Faith. The Roman Empire is going to start becoming unglued about a man's death (we know God's Son) in Judea, suburb of Syria - where no good Roman wants to be the Governor. And days will come - that will be difficult. The faith of the world will begin to rise. The love Christians have for one another will increase, the difficulty of the times will increase the desire to assist each other, fellowship will increase. Goodness will increase to speak of the comfort of Gods' Son."

"Remember that Church I told you about that doesn't exist? I told you in Caesarea. Well, when Emperor Nero burns down Rome, that area of the fire, Christians are falsely accused of killing Romans in the fire, this will eventually become The Vatican. This is where Peter is below the altar by 80 feet. His bones will exist because his grave was covered by a rock. And upon this rock, above where the Emperor will install Peter in a Church above his grave. Upon this Rock I will build my Church. Love."

And what happens to the Romans? Another -  if  - the Disciples had stayed with Jesus and could ask?




Jesus could reply something like this:

Solomon would have known.

Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

The Magi knew. They had this completely right.

Isaiah 60:3
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Micah the Minor Prophet knew:

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

The Disciples would come to understand.

Matthew 5:
43 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Jesus knew
Luke 12:14
But Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?"

Abba, our Father,

Day by day, to see Thee more clearly,
love Thee more dearly, day by day.

~ To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now we see again Jesus is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine,
according to His power
that is at work within us.

What is the Glory of God? Where we want to dwell.

To Jesus Christ, Son of God to Him be the glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus,
His body we pray to dwell in and Jesus is us, to our loved ones,
throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen we boldly and confidently ask as we approach Your Throne because of
The Love and Glory of Jesus Christ God.
Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

John 1 ~ In the beginning

John 1


1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.


 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.


6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 

16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”


22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”


24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.



29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 

30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”


32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”


35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”


37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”


They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”


So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 

41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).



43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”


44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”


46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.


47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”


48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.


Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”


49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”


50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 

51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

Isaiah 45

I am the Lord, and there is no other;

apart from me there is no God.

I will strengthen you,

though you have not acknowledged me,

6 so that from the rising of the sun

to the place of its setting

people may know there is none besides me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other.

7 I form the light and create darkness,

I bring prosperity and create disaster;

I, the Lord, do all these things.

8 “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness;

let the clouds shower it down.

Let the earth open wide,

let salvation spring up,

let righteousness flourish with it;

I, the Lord, have created it.

Mark 1:10
Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him


“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”




Isaiah 60
“Rise up and shine, for your light has come. The shining-greatness of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For see, darkness will cover the earth. Much darkness will cover the people. But the Lord will rise upon you, and His shining-greatness will be seen upon you.

Nations will come to your light. And kings will see the shining-greatness of the Lord on you.

“Lift up your eyes and look around you, and see. They all gather together. They come to you. Your sons will come from far away, and your daughters will be carried in the arms.

Then you will see and shine with joy. Your heart will be glad and full of joy, because the riches of the sea will be turned to you. And the riches of the nations will come to you.

Father God,

Help us each day to see the Goodness of God. Seeing what You are providing. Building the events we will shape our soul to bring to You.

Help us each day, we know to ask boldly with confidence.

And in Jesus we place all our cares and the ones we love. Casting our cares upon You, for You care so deeply and compassionately for us.

To our Father, who wants to save the World in Jesus Christ. In this His Heart, and His goal - we are assured of His Kingdom, Power and Glory. Wonderful Jesus reflecting the Father. Our Father. Our Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Revelation 6 ~ Jesus came out conquering, and to conquer. +

Revelation 6

Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”


Peter agrees with Jesus, and John, about the end of this earth. Fire.


2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.


This is pretty clear. The rest is not. Isaiah was prophetically understood by all. Particularly the Magi, who knocked upon Herod's door looking for the new King.

One thing to be sure of, the Bible is written for you and your life. All people are all on the same destination. All bow before Jesus Christ. Reading Revelation,  seeing Father God's love for His creation and His Children - all the world -  He has great sorrow not all will be with Him in Heaven by their own choices.

If we look at possible interpretations of Revelation Chapter 6, let's see what is found. This is not just the cosmic events of the end of life on the planet  - this is the progression of a journey of a body of flesh and death, God's fair and worthy judgment and what follows. This is the journey of life to Life.






Here is one possible interpretation:

1 Corinthians 15:55-57

55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Jesus is the Conquering God.

This life is, according to Jesus, going to have suffering. Far above experiences in this life - is God's Will - all suffering - the good part is overcoming suffering and rejoicing in the slings and perils being tossed down. The horrid suffering - where people just suffer and suffer -  remember - God is Above and in Front and rise up with great Hope. When Jesus' cousin died, Jesus recognized He had responsibilities. He fed the thousands with only His Word, He prayed hearing His Father and,,, probably, Jesus walked on water remembering the earth was begun with water. This was when Jesus delighted in His Father's master workmanship and in mankind. Proverbs 8. Jesus would help Peter walk with Him, securely.

I believe Jesus is saying, come hell or high water - God is God. Lord of Lords. Finding God's Will is good.





In History, there are times where the end of the world seems to be at hand. For the Essenes - they said the world would end and for them in 70 A.D., yes, they were slain. All of them.

The Jews who perished in the Nazi concentration camps. The Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge. People like Corrie Ten Boom, have been left utterly alone. And they have found the only hope is in Romans 8. What Desmond Tutu found in South Africa. When there is no where to turn - Jesus Christ has the relevant answers and hope.

There are times people have almost all their family killed in airplanes. By fire. By accidents, by illness. And Jesus will provide a path to having a life that is blessed and goes forth. Jesus said to His Disciples, "Rise, let us go from here." And Jesus certainly means this. He expected His Disciples to get up, having abandoned someone like Jesus, and continue. To find Grace, to look Jesus - again  - in the eyes.

This applies to us in all situations life can bring.

What generation has seen more murders? So stop. Turn off the Television. More and more people are doing this. If we need constant bad news and bad situations to entertain us, we have set our minds on problems. Not peace and solutions. Jesus said look to what is Noble. See peace. God says we have health and healing in Praise God music. Christian music instead.

Poverty.

All different types. All different economic areas.

Recently I heard a statistic - one of the few pieces of good news for our culture is - 20 to 25% of people in Extreme Poverty have the ability to leave poverty in their lifetime, with work!!!

You do not see this in the news - the bad ol' news today. We have to be able to know in our Churches and in our handbags and in our wallets - where our community services offer their services. Have a list ready with the ability to tell the services of the community.

Be rich in Good News. Be poor in repeating the woes of Life.

Be rich in participating in your opportunities. We all need to participate in the people around us - to offer our help, our listening. Our hands. Our talents. We need to bring compassion to the poverty stricken. Their is hope for them. Looking down our snoots at the people who cannot afford the $75 for a wedding license is not helpful. Knowing which Churches in your county will provide a complete wedding  Grace Baptist Church in Conroe, Texas. God bless you.

Substance abuse happens more in poverty. Ashamed people need assistance to find AA or Celebration Recovery. Know where these are. This is the ladder of success. The stairs of Jesus to full and abundant life. Jesus cried. Tears are never fatal, being able to see tears and help people is part of life.

Leaving the poverty of shame!
We do not need to be ashamed as Christians, we do not earn Salvation.
When we are trying to please God - we do.
Just speak up when you have the opportunity. We earn the right to be heard by being merciful.
Forgiving.
Or turning the other cheek, going a different direction and forgiving.
Rich in forgiveness.

I was recently told by someone in the 8th decade, suddenly life looks a lot like the 1500's A.D. of Bubonic Plague. There could be five funerals a week to go too. The problem is natural death. My mother has experienced this in her 6,000 person Church. She said she has been there for 50 years and if she threw a bowling ball through the crowded Church, it would never hit someone she knew - suddenly.

This person has grieved the losses. And has found friends of friends to go with. This is a person of Faith. Jesus is God. Not that mean ol' horrible God who just shuffles on. In her faith, she believes life is for living - now. She finds more in life. With positive attitudes and reality.

The Fifth Seal is interesting. Very memorable. The bitterness of the faithful. None of us,, in the faith community, know about grousing - cough, cough. The BIBLE is REAL. Raw deal - What do the Saints of God do? They honestly tell God. And God is putting them directly into His Heaven? Like Jesus? No. God is putting them in the 1,000 year rest. God knows best.

I prefer to be honest, make changes I see need to be addressed and not shlump along. And I complain. In fact, people tell me sometimes - stop. And I do, when I am able. Surely I am not going to participate with bitter complainers of injustice. And expect the same from others. St. Francis of Assisi said have courage and find courage and change what needs to be changed. James, Brother of Jesus, said ask for Wisdom - to know the difference.Surely Revelation 6 is about being forgiving in injustice. And vocal to God. Skipping the asking for vengeance part.

Jesus tells the crowd of merely the curious, they came for the free food. No Sign will be given. And everything surrounding Jesus is a sign. Everything. All points to Father God.

Jesus tells us the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. That tells us events are surprising. The surprise that all arrive at the Day of the Lord is definitely planned. Prepare. Daily.

We prepare our entire lives for the return of Eternal Life!
The prodigal child - us - goes to the Father. Who can stand on the Day of the Lord? Those who have covered themselves in belief, heart, words, deeds believing in Jesus to be our Righteousness. Stand firm in faith of Jesus' goodness. Covered in the Name of Jesus.

Abba,
Thank You for Jesus. The Way, the Truth, the Life.

Amen in Jesus for us and those we love. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Revelation 3:5 ~ Book of Life

Following the shining water through the hills and highways of Heaven to find the green throne of God.

We have all experienced getting up in the morning, finding that rare perfect morning. God is in His Heaven and all is right in our world.

Imagine how the earth appeared to Jesus the first Easter morning. His sacrifice complete. Knowing all the Life ahead of Jesus. Picturing His Father running to Him.

What Jesus has brought our new earth:

Revelation 3:5-8

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.



Consider praying with your mind completely open to what God would say to you. Usually when this request falls on me, I draw a blank. And today I started to do that again. Except this time I felt very peaceful. So very peaceful - I tried to remember peace connected to a peaceful time - 2014. And I thought of a very rainy spring day. Looking out was so very, very beautifully green after an unusually grey and overcast winter. The incredible green, the gentle and persistent rain blessing us all. Watering Father God's earth lushly and abundantly. All of our family was home. All were quiet and occupied with something, all were almost humming they were so happy and at peace.

A friend of ours was once on an oil rig outside of Norway. He said he was so very, very cold. He tried all methods to warm up and finally he decided he needed a shower to be warm. And finally he was warm to his depths. In his prayer life, his very faithful prayer life, he told people - when you have done all you know to please God. When you are weary. Or when you have tried all your opportunities. And you need to be lifted up. Sit and be as earnest as possible to Father God. Completely open. And let God soak you with His Love. Let Jesus love you. Be nourished, be washed, be soaked. The Love of Jesus streaming down. Renewal. Replenish. Loved.



Genesis 1:2
The Spirit of God over the waters

Nehemiah 1:5
LORD,
the God of heaven,
the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments

Psalm 42:8
a prayer to the God of my life -
8 By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me

Psalm 50
God of Justice

Romans 15:33
The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

2 Corinthians 1:3
The Father of compassion and the
God of all comfort

2 Corinthians 13:11
The God of love and peace will be with you

Ephesians 1:17
I keep asking that
the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,
may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

1 Peter 5:10
God of all grace



Abba, Beloved Father of all,

Bless Tom for his completion of the joys and work you provided him - he has been faithful.

Bless his companions, seeking the will of God working the cause of the Gospel. Their names are also in the Book of Life.

This blessing of his loved ones, they will be dressed in white. Jesus will acknowledge them as the Beloved of Father God, naming them before our Father and His angels. Ephesians 3 calls these families in Heaven.

Their names are in the Book of Life, Jesus, who takes away the sin of the world. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! Jesus our God is worthy. Jesus has washed the feet of sinners with Love. He opens and unties the Word of God. He opens the Book of Life forevermore.


Father God, You provided a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. You declare Your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, in this amazing peace - we offer - lifting up our faith. Lifting up our cares. To You, Abba, in our wonderful Jesus Christ, trusting our cares, lives, thanksgivings of health, expectations of Your Love and Joy - our Loved ones. Those who make life meaningful in the riches of Your Holy Spirit. And will know all Christians carry their prayers to Jesus and we unite the Lights shining in us as Lights of God, giving the earth of God's expectation of Eternal Love.

In these miracles, we trust all to You. In Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 16 ~ God knows your hearts.

Jesus and His Disciples, James Tissot

Luke 16

16 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.

15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16 “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 

25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 

30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

A pretty exciting day when you feel as if you have seen something brand new in the Bible. And your eyes look back to the verse quickly!

And our grand-dog, a Husky, had a great day discovering what it is to be wild. He ran near, he ran far. Swam with the ducks scooting out of his way. This is his second time this week. He is 9 years old and can go about 2 hours of swimming and evading. He is a delight. He is running free. Tail High. Up to the dogs behind the fences. Around the 4 neighbors and 3 of us positioned around the 3 acre pond. He has this. Then the other duck flies and he changes his stately and grinning course. All dogs want days like this. They really, really do.

And having 4 neighbors all around the pond, truly is a blessing. It was a long time and we had one who stayed with us until finally he slowed down and my 25 year old son caught him.

Running wild.

Luke 16

16 “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.


Matthew 11:12
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.

John 3: 7
Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”


Force and violence.

Running wild. A man working at a Church I visit,  for Disc Golf, told me the most violent of parking lots is the Church crowd leaving a peaceful service. Why? We force our way into God.

We see we are failures before God of the Universe and Jesus. And we deal with God exactly like we deal with a competing employee. Being born again is like birth, an awaking. A difficulty, a need for Light and Life.

Do not be like the Gentiles who lord over other people. And yet, we maintain the abomination (verse 15) of what God would see in this. Forcing our way into the Kingdom. Voiding the law - Love one another. We have to be honest about the Pew Report. 2%.

Born again - newborns are gentle.The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

This worked for my grandmother Anita. She lived with her son who vehemently hated Christian women. (He was adopted and damaged at birth, having about 95 IQ, unable to work.) She lead a 42 year Bible Study on Sunday mornings and paraded over no one. She was not worried about his salvation. She intended to love him and pray for him and not bemoan over him. He was saved in his 7th decade. Her quote on this was emphatic. "I will never cease to pray for my son."

Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him
Jesus the Lord.

Sometimes it's time to come back into the gentleness of the every day.

Matthew 23:37
How often I have longed to gather you, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

Fortunately, our Husky was regathered and has returned home to show us how the gate can be pried open.

James 4:5
Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

And our dog spends the rest of the day with a smile. His day is full, the sun is bright, the adventures will continue, the many people look so funny chasing him, and the treats are plentiful. He is loved earnestly and loves in return.



Our Abba,

In our narrow gate, we find eventually we need someone to rush into the water to get us. Like Jesus did for Peter when Peter fell into the waters. (Thank You this time it was not me.) We bless those who give us direction. And as our love for You increases, we find Peter jumps in the water for Jesus. He has to see Jesus. Jesus has prepared him a breakfast.

Thank You for the knowledge Jesus had lost His cousin, John the Baptist, and really probably did not feel in the mood for being a life saver. We say with gratitude, Thank You God for never quitting. Thank You for reaching for me.

Help us to stay on Your path. Having your guidance, mercy, wisdom and Joy. And help us to stay in the swim of things - moving in the direction pleasing to you. Seeing blessings of the spring and of the family working together to make a home.

Pray for us, we are going to be a family of four again after a number of years. The oldest son is going to law school to do maritime law and is waiting to see what (The Lord) provides. My heart palpitations have ceased again. Started in 2005 and I have all the hope the Lord will heal this. Giving thanks for balance/ears and eyes. Give us the day! These have been joy. Blessings for Edward's DG as he won more in the last week than last year and is delighted. Alexander is still studying.

We lift UP our cares to You, Father. Knowing You know, before we do, what we need. Thank You for Your great Love and Care. We lift UP our loved ones to You. And sleep in peace, renewed for the next day. To stay where we are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of His love, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God in Jesus Christ.

Thank You Jesus is Lord. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 31 ~ Into His Hand

Psalm 31

31 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!

2 Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.

5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.

7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.

9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye is wasted from grief;
my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my iniquity,
and my bones waste away.
11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
terror on every side!—
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”

15 My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!

16 Make your face shine on your servant;
save me in your steadfast love!
17 O Lord, let me not be put to shame,
for I call upon you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
let them go silently to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be mute,
which speak insolently against the righteous
in pride and contempt.

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!
20 In the cover of your presence you hide them
from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
from the strife of tongues.


21 Blessed be the Lord,
for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
when I was in a besieged city.

22 I had said in my alarm,
“I am cut off from your sight.”
But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy
when I cried to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all you his saints!
The Lord preserves the faithful
but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord!

We saw The Case for Christ movie about Rev. Lee Strobel. A very amazing book, I read about a decade ago. Lee Strobel was determined to win his wife back from her obsession with a dead myth. He missed the birth of his son, during his award winning journalist determination to debunk the Christ of God.

If we just could have gotten him to drive his red Camaro faster to the birth of his son. Maybe we could get it classified as an Action Event Movie.

We all thought in our Tuesday night crowded movie theater this was - truly - amazingly - frank - honest - warm - truthful and touching to make memories to remember the movie for a lifetime. A must see. Every interview was intelligent, interesting and new facts were seen with each expert. Rotten Tomatoes show 84% of the Audience Loves this Film. We should all pray for this movie to be shown every Easter weekend. The movie audience applauded the film as the credits rolled.

It's so well done, if we could get a few more Camaro shots, we'd have to ask General Lew Wallace to move over. Lee Strobel is on the adventure Lew Wallace knew to be true. Lewis "Lew" Wallace (1827 – 1905) Union general in the American Civil War, Governor of the New Mexico Territory. Wallace is best known for his historical adventure story, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880), a bestselling novel called "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century". Written when Wallace traced the footsteps of the Apostle Paul in great disillusionment. Finding Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life.

I got the book from my dentist, my Church Family, about 16 years ago. And found more historical Jesus than I ever knew existed.

Why isn't this published about the truth of Historical Jesus? Why don't we know that the recent James sarcophagus - dropped and cracked forever in a Washington airport - was studied by the Head of Antiquities of the Louvre - Was declared patina correct and dates correctly and is James, Brother of Jesus. Same verification by the Historical artifacts of the FBI. 5 years of trials in Israel bringing their most senior Judge to tears declaring we must all decide for ourselves.

Because as Lee Strobel correctly said, "Faith is a leap."

Father God,

We give You Great Thanks for the 85% of the USA who pray and know a Loving Father God will help. We pray we are all encouraged in our daily journey to bring our soul to Jesus the Lord of Lords. Knowing our loved ones will know and have the blessing of the Encouragement of God of Love, Steadfast God, God of encouragement. God of Hope. We will all have our hearts warmed knowing Jesus, just like His Disciples on the Road to Emmaus.

We pray for more of the Christian movies, particularly this one, to be part of Holy Week showing good TV. Open the eyes of the Television Schedulers we pray.

The Mission of God is Love to save the world knowing Jesus. This Alleluia is in Jesus Christ. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †