Psalm 117 ~ Praise the Lord

Psalm 117

1 Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the bible. Condensed, this is the nature of the Lord Most High. He is for everyone. He is worthy to be praised.

He isn't about Black-eyed Peas, don't step on a crack, wear a little bracelet with knots tied in it so many days, pray in this exact fashion, eat this diet, or wear your hair like this.

He does not ask you to sit up straight. He does not ask you to refrain from alcohol. He does not ask you not to dance. He does not ask you not to chew gum. He is not partial to one skin type or one color. He is not partial to one class over another. He does not say cleanliness is next to Him. He does not say that if you pay attention to Him at least once a week, He is pleased. He does not ask you to seek wealth. He is more fond of wisdom and kindness.

Father God seeks you. Father God does not expect you to save yourself. He doesn't just put you off until eternity, He is part of this life. He wants your love and trust. He is for you. He chose to create you. He is about love, wisdom, loyalty, forgiveness and eternity. He loves you.

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John 11:30-57 ~ He was deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled.

Jairus' Daughter, painted by Wilson Jay Ong

John 11:30-57

Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”


38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”


45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for[b] Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.


Why would the Lord be deeply moved in His Holy Spirit and greatly troubled?

1 Chronicles 13:10
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.

I don't think any of us see death as an enemy, in all situations.

Hebrews 2:14
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil

Jesus did not come to earth uninformed. Proverbs tells us He delighted in Creation. Jesus knew about death. Jesus wasn't troubled Lazarus had died, remember:

John 11:12-15
The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Jesus was purely reacting to the people and the way they did look at the passing of Lazarus.

When you think about Uzzah, do you really believe Uzzah was thundered at when he arrived in Sheol? Heaven was created upon the death of Jesus. I think God, our Father, is this :

Ephesians 2:4
God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us

Paul Burrell was a footman for Queen Elizabeth II and later butler to Diana, Princess of Wales. Burrell was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in November 1997 for services to the Royal Family. In the first few weeks of his service, he was told if he touched the Queen for any reason, he would be fired. The Queen became tangled in her dog, Corgi, leashes and started to fall down a flight of stairs. Paul rushed forward to grab her arm and shoulder. He was immediately fired. Queen Elizabeth then hired him to be her personal servant, where he had daily access to the Queen almost constantly. Paul's initial supervisor was chastised.

Going back to the fate of Uzzah:

Ephesians 2:5-10
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

If you recall your 1 Chronicles 13, the LORD was miffed with David for his reaction to death.

And look further at the passage,
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Jesus had work to do with death, combating another tomb, another stone. Jesus stone was hard to move with Roman guard and a seal from Pilate.

Jesus had work to do, in this life with death:

Luke 7:11-17
Soon afterward 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.

And Jesus raised this child as well:

Matthew 9:18-19, continued in Luke 8
these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.

Luke 8:49-56
49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Why is Jesus so acclaimed for Lazarus and not the Widow in Nain's Son and Jairus' daughter? Jesus was in the beginning of his ministry and He was not ringing out orders as Moses had done.

Jesus timed His miracles well. Knowing this about the way miracles are delivered:

Matthew 13:10-15
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’

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2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11 ~ so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow

2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11

But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.

2 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.


Judgement. Let's all be less judgmental. I find that to be true like faith is blind - so be blindfolded. We get through life learning from seeing our sibling get popped for doing something incorrectly. We learn family drama and high emotion over seeing report cards. We see rewards for good work. Life is about learning from the people around us.

We are saddened to see someone diminished by age. Saddened to see people diminished by hate.

Life is about learning what gifts we have been given, propelling us forward. And some friends lift us up and others bring us down. Sometimes we take ourselves far too seriously.

And that nasty Paul - he is at it again. Being that Christian Overlord telling us suffering is good.

Romans 5:3-5
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

This almost sounds as if we want to suffer. No Paul is saying - look to what purpose can be taken from the trouble. Solomon said blessing and trouble are from His Hand. You need Character to stand - instead of fall - for anything or something.

 so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice

1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

Matthew 19:17
And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”

At this point we all want to know - suffering - rejoicing - rather like Janet Jackson - what have you done for me lately?

And the correct response, because we are transparent to HIM is this -
"Father God, I have a few things I sure could use Your help with. And if You'd help I'd be mighty pleased and grateful. But I would like to build my life and my days to have meaning. To be meaningful to me and to You. I open my hands, my heart. Today let us build Your kingdom on earth with goodness and mercy from Psalm 23 being the wake I leave in this life. In the name of Jesus. Amen."


Back to the passage today:

Paul does not want to push power on someone to establish their faith or HIS. He is refraining from the visit saying you are doing fine.

Paul says we need to push people to do better - no - should rather turn to forgive and comfort.

Paul acts upon this principle - from Father God - know the abundant love that I have for you.

Forgiveness is given for such an odd reason - that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. Surely we do not believe in evil. If you don't, you are probably one of the people who make fun of walking by faith - blindfolded. You have to be blindfolded not to know there is evil.

Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. That's right. Our Paul gets only the second slot in the Christendom Kingdom on Earth. His Basilica had endurance and you have to look at that as a sign of God. 5 July 1823 a fire, started through the negligence of a workman who was repairing the lead of the roof, resulted in the almost total destruction of the basilica which, alone of all the churches of Rome, had preserved its primitive character for 1435 years. It was re-opened in 1840, and reconsecrated 1855.

Can you imagine - Peter went to the Jews - that small town, captain of industry and built His Church not to be prevailed against by the forces of what....

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

So outsiders would say - look at the Church rewarding Paul by shoving his Basilica outside the walls of the city. Paul went to the Gentiles. Paul was all in - the Temple - upwardly mobile - Paul decided that mercy overcomes the rules. And the Lord took care of that Basilica for years and years. God feels forgiveness brings us into HIS path. And darkness is not where He wants our hearts, faith, love - to be. Paul stayed outside the walls to bring more people in.

We work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.

Why?

To let you know the abundant love that God has for you.

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Psalm 98:1-4 ~ Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Psalm 98:1-4

Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

David was called apple in the eye of God. He was very unique in the ability to continue to serve God as he lived in ditches, evading authority and later dancing, with all his might, for God.

Psalm 17:8
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,


Proverbs 7:2
keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;

Zechariah 2:8
For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:

It is a common misconception David was uniquely the only apple of God's eye.

1 Chronicles 29:10-13
Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 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. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

We are so apt to praise Him and cling to Him when our lives are not as we hope. How much more was David living HIS Praise for wanting to build His Father God a dwelling. And praise Him even when turned down. Naming his next child after Nathan, simply for Nathan's willingness to tell David the Lord's Truth.

David, I'm pretty sure, on God's behalf, was giving us a lesson on how loving an open heart finds those Thundering Old Testament Prophets. The person acting on God's behalf should want to love the people he delivers Father God's love towards.

David included the men unwilling to help him during his two decades of knowing himself to be anointed of the Lord. When Saul died and his concubine's son placed on the throne, David continued to believe. David - did well. He was indeed the anointed of God - seeking His Glory.

Let us pray as David, each day asking Father God to build our life and use our lives for His purposes. For the glory of Jesus Christ. Never, never, never forgetting to give Thanks for our blessings. Amen.

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Psalm 124 ~ the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us

Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.

6 Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.



A younger man who has not wept is a savage, and the older man who will not laugh is a fool.

Religion in its humility restores man to his only dignity, the courage to live by grace.

- Both quotes are from George Santayana

Jesus, is quoted by the dear physician Luke, with a phrase that sticks in my mind - "And days shall come upon you."

Days come upon all of us. Monet was known to have suffered the death of his first wife. Monet painted her body changing color. Grief effects all of us differently. And for each of these deaths, like the death of a step-daughter, Monet ceased to paint. He virtually was unable to do what was his greatest joy.

We all exist at a different emotional temperature. John Boehner, current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, is someone who cries easily, like I do. I've noticed something about tears. People in our generation are embarrassed by emotion. Tears are a natural product of the body expressing genuine emotion. God tells us He enjoys the depths of our heart and has created us to be transparent to Him.

One of the benefits of a good cry, your body accepts the emotion, your spirit recognizes the truth and with prayer, healing begins.

However
the raging waters
would have swept us away.

We all have times we say to the LORD, not this emotion - not right now. What will we do with the emotion. And frankly, we can accept self-pity for so long, we become like Psalm 2 - rather evil.

When, I've learned through experience, we earnestly pray The Lord's Prayer. we can have strength. A renewal of hope surging through us. Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, Does saying The Lord's Prayer work each time? Absolutely. Sound too good to be true? Well.  However, at the beginning of the prayer, you ask Father God, "Your will be done." Therefore, like the Centurion, who pleased Jesus so much, we expect HIM to show up just by His Word. Telling us He will never leave or forsake us. And He will be with us.

Embarrassment. Because there are certainly times when our emotions must be discussed. And displayed. Never let the moment of need be dismissed as being over the top - unless this is a terrible pattern. 

Let's not be the generation freaking out over emotion.

We should give encouragement to emotion as gently listening. The emotion, crying, does not need to be discussed until the person weeping wants to mention that. An open expression and care is the needed response. I see people cry, all the time, at the Pregnancy Assistant Center, where I volunteer. They usually remark, eventually on their own emotion. I just say, "Tears Are only Emotion. Here is a kleenex. I've seen tears before and cried myself."  Usually a matter of fact reaction, with understanding, helps a lot. The Scriptures tell us to weep with those who weep and rejoice with the rejoicing. I do believe in weeping with someone in something like a huge announcement is appropriate, but usually people just, and Scripture, expresses, walk with them in their conversation.

1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Jesus recognized small children are more apt to speak the thoughts of their heart and put faith first.

Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Jeremiah 17:10
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Matthew 5:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Psalm 112:7
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.



Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

A song of ascents! Alleluia!

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Genesis 17:5-7 ~ the Father of a multitude of nations

Does the LORD consider nations?

Genesis 17:5-7
No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.


Isaiah 11:12-13
12 He will raise a signal for the nations
and will assemble the banished of Israel,
and gather the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth.
13 The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,
and those who harass Judah shall be cut off;
Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,
and Judah shall not harass Ephraim.


Many have been called to a fight, not entirely their own.


Jonah 2:1-3
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying,

“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,
and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
and you heard my voice.
3 For you cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas,
and the flood surrounded me;
all your waves and your billows
passed over me

Jonah 4
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.

10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Johan was called to a fight not his own, and people were saved.

Psalm 80
17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call upon your name!

19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved!


How can all the countries in battle declare God is far them?

The policy is still the same.

Acts 2:39 T
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.

And what do we celebrate today?

John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

And how is Heaven formed in HIS Eternal Kingdom?

Revelation 2:25-27
Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.

Revelation 22:2
through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Leading, of course, to our Memorial Day and a prayer:

2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Praying together: I'm in my fifth decade of life and I actually only know one young man who volunteered to defend our nation at the cost of his life. I'm remembering that promising young man today.

Philippians 1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

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Psalm 9 ~ Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!

Psalm 9

A Psalm of David.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3 When my enemies turn back,
they stumble and perish before your presence.
4 For you have maintained my just cause;
you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.

5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;
you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
their cities you rooted out;
the very memory of them has perished.

7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness.

9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion!
Tell among the peoples his deeds!
12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

13 Be gracious to me, O Lord!
See my affliction from those who hate me,
O you who lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may recount all your praises,
that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
I may rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
16 The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment;
the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah

17 The wicked shall return to Sheol,
all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

19 Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail;
let the nations be judged before you!
20 Put them in fear, O Lord!
Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah



Psalm Nine reminds me the day of judgement comes for all of us. The Book of Revelation is not all about the end of the world - rather the beginning of the next stage to eternity. This last verse of Joel 3 reminds us a far different life awaits us - no stranger in a large city.


Joel 3:14-17
14 Multitudes, multitudes,
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.

16 The Lord roars from Zion,
and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth quake.
But the Lord is a refuge to his people,
a stronghold to the people of Israel.


17 “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God,
who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
and strangers shall never again pass through it.


Matthew Henry's quote about the Psalms is "This is a Warm Place in which to Dwell." The Psalms are written about life. As are all the Scriptures, but David so richly lived all aspects of life. The Psalms will comfort you, when comfort is scarce. Will give you words of praise when the glories of His blessings, life and world give you joy and gratitude. Freely acknowledge no one is universally loved. We tend to live in cellophane wrappers, and hope evil stays well away, the Scriptures remind us to name evil. To avoid the pit denial can be.

You really should find your Daily Psalm. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and the Psalms find us recognizing the beginning of this - today. Read the Psalms!!! They were written for you!!!! How can you tell - your heart will grow warm with the recognition. This is written in Jesus meeting the disciples upon the road and In Joshua 2 Rahab knew the men who were spies were sent from the Lord.



Matthew 12:14-21
14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah [42:1-3]:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”


I'd been a Christian for more than two decades when it was pointed out to me how many times the Scriptures said, "He healed them all." I remembered a lot of healings, the ones written about in more than a few sentences. Yet that small phrase "healed them all." Sometimes Scripture says they sought to touch Him & not just Jesus reaching out. Sometimes He physically touched them, and it also says merely, "He healed them all."

Psalm Nine blends into this well with He wipes away every tear.

Surely in the day of Jesus walking our lives on this earth, a lot of people were ill. When you think about the age: slavery, war, destruction, highway robbery, people born blind & the parable of the Good Samaritan - this was a difficult time. Not just the people who were deaf, blind, ill, but the sorrow of the people who had seen difficult things happen to loved ones. Children who died, loved ones who died in child birth, people who were well and suddenly died of fever. There are a lot of stipulations in the Bible for the fatherless and the widow.

What does it mean, "He healed them all?" The Word of God, proclaimed in love. The hopeless, the fearful, the lonely & the cut to the quick. The ones who had heard the Word of God in their youth - life had stamped on their seed of hope. The fruit of circumstance and the weed of bitterness, the joy found in life, had robbed them of their greatest need - the need of God.

These people who found Jesus had put aside the every day of life, they sought Him. Jesus didn't stay to quarrel, debate the Pharisees, shock, anger, and create a stir - Jesus wasn't a sidewalk hack or a temperamental star.

No, Jesus repaired the bruised reed. Jesus rekindled the flickering flame, the light became a torch. Jesus gave hope & mercy to the word - justice. Jesus didn't select a few, the light of Jesus Christ is for all. Not just to the eyes blessed to see Him, but those who look to Him in faith, after He died, and today.

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Matthew 18:21-19:2 ~ forgive your brother from your heart



Matthew 18:21-19:2
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.[a monetary unit worth 20 years' salary] 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,[a day wage] and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,[torturers] until he should pay all his debt.

35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

19 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.


And He healed them there


The true feeling of forgiveness is exactly the same as the one we all experienced as a child, when we would swim underwater and come up gasping for air.

Even thinking of forgiveness has aspects of renewal. Jesus said we will be with Him in Paradise.  He renews and heals us, sometimes in this life, but His promises are for us.

Thank You, Father God. 

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Today has three passages, this appears to be Trinity Sunday.

Clark said people think Christians are crazy to believe in the Trinity. Three people in one. I, personally, have no problem with the concept of the Trinity. God created the Universe with His Word and if HE feels like being three aspects, or people, then I don't see the problem.

I once heard the Trinity explained as this: God the Father sent out His Holy Spirit to move people along in His Plan. And sent His Word incarnate, as His Son, accomplishing His promises for us. That to me is an analogy Jesus used explaining His Father as King. A King is needed to sit upon His mercy seat, throne. However a King needs to be among the people to ascertain the condition of His people. He sends out someone He implicitly trusts. Later, when His Heir arrives, the King sends His Son.

Mark 12:6
He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’


God comforts us by telling us how closely the Trinity is part of HIM.

Matthew 3:17
and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."

With all aspects of Father God showing up for the Transfiguration.

Mark 12
“Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

This is the tandem in which the Holy Trinity of God works.

Matthew 19:17
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good."

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