Psalm 47 ~ God reigns over the nations; God sits on His Holy Throne.

Caladiums are hearts!

Psalm 47

Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the Lord, the Most High, is terrible,
a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

5 God has gone up with a shout,
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the king of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!

8 God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted!


Psalm 24
The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord;
the earth and all who live on it are His.

Deuteronomy 7:7
The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.

Malachi 2
My covenant with him was a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him, that he might fear; and he feared me, he stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

God, Who is so Huge that HE is Vast - did not pick you and love you because He 'had' to. You are chosen, precious, special, Loved.

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

Mark 7
They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him. 33 Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; 34 and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!"

Psalm 81:10
I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

John 16:27
For the Father Himself tenderly loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father.

May Father GOD bless us, direct us, guide us lead us in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. We ask in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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John 10 ~ my Father

Minus the cooking tips, this is "Luke, I Am Your Father."

Aren't people hilarious. The statement "Jesus is white." I don't know, I'm pretty sure Morgan Freeman is Black and God did originate life in Africa, so...

David. David is ruddy. Ya'll that's white. Possibly red.

I'm thinking, HE's that guy in the video. He looks Jewish.

The beauty of Jesus' genealogy is the mix of descriptions and race in His ancestry. The Choice He made.  The accomplishments and the mistakes.

Just as our Father God gives glimpses of His Heaven, same Creator - this earth -this Heaven,  - Heaven is Part B. Beautiful.

God gives us glimpses of His Glory.

John 10

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. 14

I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, 15 as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. 17

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again;
this charge I have received from my Father.”


You have a Father who Loves you. Today. Just as you are. HIS.

Jesus the Lord be our center, call us lovingly back to your center.

Colossians 1
5 He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; 16 for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. 19

For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Just as you are. In your soul. God says so. Amen.

Psalm 131

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a child quieted at its mother’s breast;
like a child that is quieted is my soul.

3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and for evermore.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Philemon 1 ~ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Onward Christian Soldiers by Fountainview Academy BC Mountains of Canada

San Paolo alla Regola

Philemon 1 ~ Revised Standard Version 

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

Forensic composite of Paul from all the early, alike iconic art

To Phile′mon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Ap′phia our sister and Archip′pus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:

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

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may promote the knowledge of all the good that is ours in Christ. 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an ambassador and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Ones′imus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless (!) to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me!

I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will.

Perhaps this is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 17

So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand, I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be granted to you.

Ep′aphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristar′chus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.


The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

3rd Century Copy of Philemon surviving the 3 centuries of Roman destruction. This is the earliest (nearly) complete manuscript of the Epistles.

Good News! This Biblical Book is highly regarded as one of the undisputed works of Paul. Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, agrees in the 3rd Century, as well.

A slice of history, Paul is telling us he has guests - therefore - this is not the imprisonment in The Mamertino Prison, the Tullianum. The documents still exist to this Mamertino Prison history. The older portion is, mostly, below street level (in all our photos today). History says Paul and Peter were imprisoned here and this is recorded being built in The Law of the Twelve Tables, the ancient legislation, the foundation of Roman law, in 500 B.C. It is quite horribly, awful inside the prison. The prison ceiling is remarkably familiar to the archaeological dig 80 feet below the altar of The Vatican Altar. Here Peter's grave was sheltered by a huge rock allowing Peter's bones (upon this rock) not to decay. DNA studies showed this to be a man of Hebrew descent, age 62; having had his feet cut off, as Peter's were.

In Philemon, instead, this location is where Paul - only by tradition - is recorded being in
San Paolo alla Regola - and the Monastery next door. His accommodations are the photo below.

Paul was allowed to have visitors. It might have looked better 2,000 years ago. We hope. Anyone who wished to visit Paul, could.

{History records:
The sixteenth-century mansion mirrors along an old Roman road network (now Via S. Paul to the Rule), hides a series of structures of the imperial age known such a time as the Houses of St. Paul to the Rule. They will keep for about 15 m in height corresponding to four floors, two below the current street level, to a depth of 9 m, and two above the ground. It is a large complex where the first level is an environment, covered with a barrel vault, willing to stand on the narrow streets of functional service to the commercial activities along the river. They are very probably identified with the Horrea Vespasiani that Domitian had built in this area. The building underwent a complete renovation at the beginning of the third century. A.D. and yet, after a fire, in the era of Constantine.  Roman structures were built before the tower-house, which still remains, behind the current building. Some areas of the complex retain fragments of frescoes and mosaic floors are decorated with black and white geometric patterns (rectangles, four-pointed stars, scales to fans etc..) That make up an example of the figurative repertoire mosaic spread to Rome and Ostia age Severian.)

Paul is with Timothy, his son by adoption in God's family. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, sends the most loving of letters and we experience and feel the Love, Sincerity, Warmth. We agree together this fills our souls fully with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness - seeing Paul's gentleness and self-control.

Paul! Continues! He shows Joy - A pun on Onesimus's name, which means "useful" in verse 11!

The earliest known fragment of  The Epistle to Philemon, dates late 2nd century, (a century history records the disciple John was alive, arguing the validity of Jesus as God and human man) now housed in a  museum in Cologne, France.

I was raised hearing "Onward Christian Soldiers" and have love for the song. We sang this beautiful hymn in my parochial schools with Joy. Because men and women, like Paul, for centuries, provided a Bible we can easily find today. Paul lived "From whom much is given, much is required."

Paul, knew what would happen to take up the Cross of Jesus and proclaim Jesus as Lord. He carefully measured the path. To provide - for your feet - an establishing way, well established, for us. We do not have a Spirit of fear, but of confidence in Jesus. 

Paul's struggle, and the victory of Jesus Christ, allows the innocence of the song we see in the video above. 

There will always be a spiritual battle.

We will be strong in the Lord. From the strength of His might! And stand firm. In the name of Jesus, with prayer and petition knowing the battle is won in Jesus the Lord. Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's."
 Onward Christians, soldier together, upbuild the Body in Love!

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Nehemiah 8:10
"Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve.
Ror the joy of the LORD is your strength!"

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Luke 10:38-42 ~ received Him into her house

Luke 10:38-42


Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40

But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; 42 one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”

We all get a choice in life, we can hem and haw and wrap up in the imperfections of life.

Or we can look up to the One who is Good.

2 Millenniums ago,  Jesus announced He had women He discipled. And He set about remembering them for the generations coming forth.

God loves self-governance and I would bet Martha would want to crawl under the chair (the picture shows a restful shade under the chair) - instead of being corrected. We can avoid the correction. Yet a correction in the ears of a wise woman created a Jesus sized difference in her life.

Bethany in 1880

John 11

20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27

She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.”

28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying quietly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come to 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 Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, 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 came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

Martha is a communicator, good for her. She steps up to Welcome Jesus. In the first Gospel, she is whining.There is not a peace being worked. Nor is she being nicey.

In the second Gospel, she is doing what Jesus taught people...going to the Creator of all mankind with an important Truth.

Miracles Jesus Required Work from the Participant - Acts of Faith

1 Jesus Turns Water into Wine

Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it.

2 Jesus Heals an Official's Son

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way.

3 Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit

Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”

4 Jesus Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law

He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and served him.

5 Jesus Heals Many Sick at Evening

Jesus requires no action other than the people attend.

6 First Miraculous Catch of Fish

Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

7 Jesus Cleanses a Man With Leprosy

Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.”


Now Martha asked the Serving of the men, and Jesus, be assisted. Seems seemly. Jesus was saying if it wasn't ready,  others would help. Jesus was committing the work would be accomplished. He was asking for priorities over Social obligations.

Jesus was pulling faith - from acts of faith - into belief.

Martha went from social obligations to Working a Peace.

We cannot judge Martha - she started the Gospel correctly - she welcomed Jesus where she dwells. Making Martha a disciple of Jesus. A work in progress - going far looking to Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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1 Corinthians 1:20-31 ~ God is wiser than men

1 Corinthians 1:20-31

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."


A Living and Active Church for More that 15 Centuries; This Church is found in Greece, Osios David in the town of Salonica. It was built in the 5th century, see the waves in the tile roof. It has survived the centuries: wars, religious changes, famine and economic upheaval, you can see from the photos it is Enjoyed today. 

The first photo is the back of the church, the next photos are the front of the church. The early Churches were generally a house that expanded, see for example, below, the house of St. Peter in Capernaum. St. Peter's house was originally one of the largest houses in Capernaum (they were prosperous and placed next to the Synagogue. Rooms were added as more people gathered to celebrate the Father. This is a welcoming place where the Spirit of love encourages fellowship and joy.

Our Church continues the tradition today. We meet each Tuesday to work on needlepoint for the Church's kneelers, cross stitching, pin cushions with spools of thread, mending, knitting and crocheting. Web sites. Decorations for a down town Lutheran Church Nursery. Home Decor. Pillows. 

Prayers are discussed, people are affirmed, other people are prayed for. The door is always open and, from time to time, people stop by to be prayed for.

God loves gathering and non-idle hands.  People are free to be who they are, books are discussed. Prayer shawls are prayed over and taken to the ill. Healings and miracles are rejoice over to the Glory of God. Encouraging things are spoken.

And then we go to lunch!

Jeremiah 23:6
In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'

So many times we fail to praise what HE gives us that is good. So much easier to complain. We forget our lives give a message to one another.  We must work for a peace that does not collapse like rain on tissue paper. A nicey peace looks like what a plaster saint would do. To over communicate loudly causes the heart to forget its own compassion. God sees the thoughts of all of us and wants to save the World. 

Only God would do that.


We forget that ominously "no one had to tell Jesus what was in the heart of mankind..."

His response to the ick we can muck up?

Bible Word about the Compassion, of Jesus Christ

Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and
you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Isaiah 40:11
Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

Hebrews 2:17
Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that
 He might become a merciful and faithful high priest
 in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep."

Matthew 15:32
And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, "I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way."




Isaiah 42:3
"A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice."

Isaiah 63:9
In all their affliction He was afflicted, 
And the angel of His presence saved them; 
In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them,
And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old. (Come Lord Jesus!)

Matthew 8:3
Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 8:16-17
When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES."

Matthew 9:36
Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, 
because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 14:14
When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, 
and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.


 

Matthew 20:34
Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

Matthew 23:37
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! 

How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling."

 

Mark 6:34
When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

Mark 8:2-3
"I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. "If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance."

Luke 19:41-42
When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, 
saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.

John 11:34-38
and said, "Where have you laid him?" They *said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, "See how He loved him!" 

John 18:8-9
Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way," to fulfill the word which He spoke, "Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one."

2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, 
yet without sin.

John walked with Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because
God is Love


Jesus our Hero - is Alive.

When He said He sent the Advocate, the Helper, the Holy Spirit - He didn't mean the vapor over the water in Genesis. God will comfort us, tell us to be less selfish, encourage us to speak up. Be merciful.


Matthew 5:9
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.

Thank you Father God for these Blessings:



Thank you United States House of Representatives for your efforts to apply appropriate boundaries to the NSA. Thank you, Supreme Court Justices, for giving us cell phones as our means of communication and requiring a warrant for removal. 

Thank you to the very unsung heroes of our Police Forces who want to work the peace and put themselves on the line to do that. Thank you, John Anderson, my brother, for the years you spent defending the police from law suits almost always and usually from the offender.

Thank you United States citizens for voting to put in new Congress people and sending hope for new ideas and vim and vigor.

Father God, we pray the United States Government will prepare for the peace and end wars. Sometimes people have to work for their own peace.

Father God, when we think of our fellow man, let's remember Halloween candy is so feared and yet is safe. Let's remember instead All Saint's Day is in the neighborhood. Build up the Body of Christ in Love and encourage us to see Good News.

Father God bless the Conroe ISD for their new free credit High School combining with Lone Star Community College. Educate the nation for the blessing of good work. Innovations because these are really good people who love their students. I know one High School Principal who stays up all night to look for lost children. And works the next day. Mark Murrell, God Bless you. That little girl was found and does well.

We pray for the United States Armed Forces to offer a college degree as a free, earned benefit to the active duty people protecting and serving us. As well as technical degrees. And associates. 

Bless the Churches who don't give up, knowing Jesus is Alive and our Father God wants us to go forth in Him. 

Continue to bless those each day who pray to Father God asking for His help to never give up the assurance that He wants to answer. Life is one fat test of our metal - help us go Far with You, Father God, knowing You still see Life as Good. 

We will, Father God, get out a trowel and till that gratitude and be with God going forth to provide for our children and grandchildren the knowledge and fulfillment of His Love. We pray for educations to be main focuses of political campaigns - war no more. The gift of work with knowing the profit of the company is equitably split with the higher ups to the back door.


Thank You God we live in a free country were we gather in peace to be able to worship You.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amen in Jesus as Lord!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †


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2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-32 Kings 22:8-13 ~ inquire of the Lord for me

2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-32 Kings 22:8-13


8 And Hilki′ah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilki′ah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilki′ah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

11 And when the king heard the words of the book of the law, he rent his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilki′ah the priest, and Ahi′kam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micai′ah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asai′ah the king’s servant, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”


2 Kings 23:1-3

23 Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him. 2 And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which had been found in the house of the Lord. 3 And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book; and all the people joined in the covenant.

Psalms 119:33-37, 40
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I will keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, that I may keep thy law and observe it with my whole heart. 35 Lead me in the path of thy commandments, for I delight in it. 36 Incline my heart to thy testimonies, and not to gain! 37 Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; and give me life in thy ways. 40 Behold, I long for thy precepts; in thy righteousness give me life!


Matthew 7:15-20
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 1 8A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Actions are louder than words. Watch the way the hips move. Although words eventually reveal the heart.

Jesus be with us. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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1 Samuel 3 ~ And the Lord called again

1 Samuel 3 ~ Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down within the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4

Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”

Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the Lord came and stood forth, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for thy servant hears.” 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel, at which the two ears of every one that hears it will tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 And I tell him that I am about to punish his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering for ever.”

15 Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” 17 And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.”

19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. 21 And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

How you take the Word from the Lord.

A believer Believes.
A confusion is asked about.
God will not reexplain if He knows HE is understood because this is HIS Plan and His Plan only involves His understanding.
God isn't going to be talked out of His Plan.
Unless you are Hezekiah and you petition HIM in a life time of believing Him and putting Him first.

And you have to wonder about Eli. Eli had a life time of putting God first. Believing God. Abraham wrested God for the lives of the innocent. Why didn't Eli weep, ask God as Abraham did - why were his beloved children - shrugged over?

Abraham believed God would deliver Issac and did not argue as he did for saving 10 people. Perhaps Eli believed God would do that for compliance. Hezekiah would later shrug over his children being in times of war when he was at peace.

I vastly prefer a more honest approach to God our Father.

2 Kings 20
In those days Hezeki′ah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order; for you shall die, you shall not recover.’”

2 Then Hezeki′ah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in thy sight.” And Hezeki′ah wept bitterly. 4

And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezeki′ah the prince of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord."

God did not richly bless Eli. For a very important matter, when God is the prodigal Son's Father...

Malachi 4:6
"He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction."

Luke 1:17
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Mark 1:3
"'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"

What we expect from a Loving Father GOD is very important. Eli did recognize God is Love, yet God loved Abraham for asking for Mercy.

Father GOD we pray You would bless us in the fulfilling of Your Word. We pray Love, Hope, Joy, Peace, Prosperity. We ask for blessings to reign upon those doing Your Will. Thank You for answered prayer. You always answer faithful prayer. And we Praise You because you continually do that. In the Glory of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †


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