John 21:24-25 ~ the books that would be written

Billy Graham has been known to warm hearts like the Fire of Pentecost. And one of the most reassuring things Billy Graham says is: 
“I've read the last page of the Bible, it's all going to turn out all right.”


Each of the Books of the New Testament has a purpose. A deep, deep purpose to live in our only real estate in eternity. Not our brain, not our heart, not our will - our soul. The purpose is Lamp Lighting!


And - reading and believing the ending blessing of the Books end is just - truly wonderful. Paul writes again and again and again of the love he has for the people he ministers to. The overwhelming desire to touch a soul with love for eternity. This is the purpose of loving the God of Love.

John 21:24-25

24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.



John was very right.
All the books thinking of the Prince of Peace. Wonderful. Redeemer. Jesus. Making God His Father and ours.

Romans 16

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you
according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations,
according to the command of the eternal God,
to bring about the obedience of faith—
27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.


God is strengthening us with His truth.

Romans 8:38-39

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.




The revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations

Romans 11:33, 36
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.


The Revelation of the Mystery of our Father God's Nature

Romans 15:5-6
May the
God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Romans 15:13
May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.


We have just uncovered what Paul was striving and fighting the good fight to display before The Romans. Paul's Great Hope for... us.

Ephesians 6

22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love



The Purpose:
Encourage your heart!



Ephesians 3
16 that according to the riches of his glory
he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith
--that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen

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And the Goal of Thessalonians:


1 Thessalonians 5

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.


I believe that!



1 Thessalonians 3:12-12
12 and may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all,
as we do for you,
13 so that he may establish your hearts
blameless in holiness before our God and Father,
at the coming of our Lord Jesus
with all his saints.

Abba,

May those You have increased
abound in love for one another and for all,
as we do for You

Rejoicing You establish hearts
blameless in holiness before our God and Father,

Knowing in prayer that we have our Lord Jesus
with all His saints

Praying for our Loved Ones,
The people He has given us,
praying for people with Birthdays,
praying for our concerns,
large and small, amazingly invited to bring Him all we think and care for.

Praying over situations,
Praying over employment,
Praying over health,
Praying over wisdom and decisions.

Knowing Father God covers us!
All the healing Jesus has shown us in the Bible is happening
in His creation today.

Our Living Father God.
Jesus praying with us now.

We are blessed indeed, indeed, indeed.

Praying together - we put this prayer list together is to combine our
concerns, knowing the Power of Our Father in expectation.
Knowing with Certainty God fulfills His Word.
Alleluia Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 81~ Walk in His Ways

Psalm 81

1 Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! 2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
 

4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob.
 

5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known: 6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.

7 In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah   8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!

O Israel, if you would but listen to me! 9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
 

10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. 13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.

 

15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. 16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”  








 

Seems David complains and complains, and as the reader you are agreeing with him! That's right, tell us, tell God about it! Suddenly David does an about face .... when one is "hep up" agreeing with David .... and he says..... like in   

Psalm 108: 10  
Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 11 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies.

Some days we feel like David. Like Jesus carrying His cross. Then David throws a curve in a verse latter in the same  

Psalm 108: 12  
Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 13 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.


 Read Psalm 81 again, or just let a verse jump in your memory.... For me this Psalm hinges on:



 

  I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I delivered you

 Some days I say, please Father, help me to carry that burden..... and other days the verse puts a little jolt of "Noooo.... I want that..... more...."  

Regardless, I reach the verse: 

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 

And I say to Him, I can think of a whole lot of blessings!!! And I won't bow down to another god!!! 
Watch Father God!!  

So what about these Davidic turn-around Psalms? David is Not window dressing, thresh David down, shake him around - David trusts God. Even when the Ziphites went to tell Saul where David was, in Psalm 54; David trusts God. David grew up hearing, then living the mighty works of God. He heard stories about the Heavens long before his descendant Hezekiah would ask God to turn the hands of time back. David knew of Joshua:  


Joshua 10:12-14  
At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”  

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.

Joshua 10

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.

14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

Genesis 18:14 

Is anything too hard for the LORD?" 

Capernaum - Land of Milk and Honey

Jeremiah 32:27 

I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

Matthew 19:26  

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

David waited expectantly, like Paul did, to see what God would plan. David trusted God. As we can.




Father God,

Each day we have the opportunity to despair or to place our trust in You. You wrote in Your Living Word to ask for Jesus to help in prayer.
We do this now!

You fought for Hezekiah and the people because they trusted You.

We lift up our voices, our hopes to You.

Strengthen us in Your Peace and Your Joy. Enable us to Love with Jesus' Steadfastness and His Hope and Future.

Help us to communicate for You. For the Ones we Love and place in Your care.

For our construction projects and task resolving. For Patience. For Striving. To rejoice in the People You have given us.

For the Peace of God in our communities, jobs and Churches.

For the Blessing You would have us have for our Nation.

For the Joy You would place around the world for Your Beloved People.

Thank You for hearing the desires of our heart. Healing. Needs met. Timing. Appeal. Conviction. Listening. Empathy. Resolve. Goodness.

In Jesus we Love and Pray. Your Great Will be Accomplished here as in Heaven. Amen with Jesus our Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Philippians 2 ~ yours in Christ Jesus

Philippians 2

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

13 for it is God who works in you,
both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation,

among whom you shine as lights in the world, 1

6 holding fast to the word of life,

so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.







The Word of God is without flaw. And is for the Glory of God - God is Love.

Man will live by Every Word of God.

Paul says he is a drink offering. He is not talking about water. Wine. He speaks of the effort of fruit planned, gathered, utilized. Honored. He speaks of the importance of a substance altering mood and destiny. To be handled with care and enjoyed as a gift of God. Shown in studies of health to be an increase in health and if abused, the decrease of life and life surrounding this.

Paul is talking about being a drink portion poured out. And if we honestly combine this with the Word of God Chapter discussing Paul's end of life Chapter 2 Timothy 4 - we have a very dire and very honest biblical conversation on our hands. Similar to John the Baptist asking Jesus. When someone literally puts all of their life in front of them and confronts the depth of faith.


Evaporation. Not seen to be taken up. Honorable. Not used. Useless. Paul wondered if at the end all was - useless. So many left.

And as Paul confronted all of this. He decided he did belong to Jesus Christ.

Paul visited Greece. And the places Paul visited - even briefly - people want to walk. Monasteries are built. Hospitals are built. Churches are built. The people who struggle in life, who recover from poor choices, who recover from loss, who have life changing - find faith in Paul's walk with the Holy Spirit.

Paul says in frustration of feeling useless - God makes strong. If we handle the emotion as carefully as substance. Make ourselves useful. And in trusting God more than the sure thing - God makes strong. God makes meaningful. Daily. As we build our lives to have meaning.

Man shall live by every Word of God.


How will we please God? To believe God. Believe in the one He has sent. Abraham believed God and God saw him as Righteous.

Abba, Our Father,

We believe You. We believe Jesus prays for us and with us. We believe in the increase of the Holy Spirit.


Titus believed God and lived to be old. On Crete, where the Greeks were asking for Jesus to come with them. You, Father God, are so Good.


Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

Hebrews 6:18
So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Numbers 23:19
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

1 Samuel 15:29
And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.”


When we believe we are not useful, as Paul did at least twice, if not more when he calls himself - the greatest sinner. And Romans 7, we find You, Father God, are our Father. With Your Support we find faith - just faith - pleases God. Your Works are accomplished - by You.

And in faith, we rest and find joy, giving You, our Father our cares. Varied, and many. Blessed and pressed.

In faith, we hand You the ones we Love. The people You give us. Because You will draw Love to You. You have given us Jesus.

For our jobs, cities, Churches, their prayer requests, Hurricane Harvey. You will raise us up.

Thank You, for allowing us the privilege to see the delight in mankind to You. That help. Thank You.

And we trust You with the Nation, our future and the Children of God all over the world loving and trusting in You.

Jesus is our Grace and Deliverer. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

 

Matthew 10:16 ~ Shrewd innocent

My own Daddy had this on his wall in poster form. There was a major word substitution. His art was camel colored poster with red letters. This was a gift from - a clerical wife to my father for Christmas!

October is great for avoiding horrid movies. So, let's go with Buhwaaaa True Tales of 38 Years of Bible Studies and see what went.

Minus Catholic, cities, clerical names, eras and laity names, Protestant affiliations, residents, shoe sizes, IQs are carefully omitted.

From ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties - GOOD LORD Deliver us.


We will wait upon the Guidance of the Lord God Almighty in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 10:16

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.

Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Mercy is a very powerful Christian Witness.

Doctors in Emergency Rooms found encouraging patients to expect to live - creates a desire to live and a belief in wellness.







I knew a young woman who was caught red handed being a bad mother of one child. She had left a pre-school child alone in her room for months as she did her chores and even left the house to grocery stop and run small errands. The woman who caught her had five children. And for decades, the once poor mother was affirmed in improvement. And because of this friendship and affirmation - there was improvement, the woman Drastically improved. God has said He desires mercy over sacrifice.


During our Youth Group Years, we found a neighbor boy was abusing small animals. The young men had an intervention and a 5th grade boy learned animal consideration not taught to him at home. It was an intervention that happened over an hour. In fact, the leader of the intervention, went on to be Army - who gave his life for this Nation. And another one of his good works was to stop two teenagers who rather terrified their mother by continuing to burn down - in small increments - their wooden fence in the backyard, as their father left town to work. The young man told the teenagers, (his own age) if they would stop terrifying their mother, they could join them in evening summer Commandoes (hide and seek). The Fence remained intact. Commandoes ensued.


One day, we discovered one of our young charges was being driven home by a parent just about too drunk to stand up. And as we tried to determine what to do, other than call authorities and refuse to yield the child, CPS, became involved with a car crash - not from our home. We were extremely, extremely, extremely grateful. Later we had to deal with the step-father engaged in nudity at the computer and absolute trauma. We always were very frank and with frank talks and kindness - we did alright.











The Bible has times - the Disciples of Jesus Christ were not successful.
Our son has his face split open by one child jealous of my son going to camp. And as this (face splitter) child grew up to become one who rarely tells the truth - he would come over in a brand new Lexus and major earring gages telling of college campuses he joined - and had no clue that college was in semester. Offering severe, severe illegal substance. He is not welcome anymore.


Can we do this? Is this allowed? Isn't it bad news to do this? Aren't we biblically obligated?


Bad behavior doesn't stay with the teens and children. I had one woman tell me she has followed me to a lesson I was taking, told me where I parked and slashed my car with razors. I was so shocked, I said, "You wouldn't do that!" Her reply was to hold my wrists. And reply, "Wouldn't I?" The car was slashed. Several times. Where the dog's claws would not reach. And she sent me emails asking me why couldn't we be friends. I declined upon reading about these behaviors - to ever go with her anywhere again. Like having a face split - a car slashed - violence  is requiring professional help.


Can we do this? Is this allowed? Isn't it bad news to do this? Aren't we biblically obligated?









Now, before we continue let's have Clarity and put all this out.

- 38 years of having a Bible Study all the time.

- 35 years in one Church

- 17 years in another Church

- 10 years of leading Bible Studies.

- Seeing 75 kids through Youth Groups.

- Participating in Childhood Churches until now.

- Many, many, many, many, many joyous times.

- Participating still in Bible Study congruently for 17 years.









These are real events to think about.

One time a woman from a Bible Study I enjoyed - we went to a Christmas shopping event had a great time and went to lunch another day. The next time - she behaved as if we were on a date. I resolved to ignore this and not to lunch for a long time to sort this out during Bible Study. Suddenly another new arrival to the group seemed to be the same. Surely not. And then came the day we were left with just the three of us. As they laughed, I wondered. The next woman said - let's include her soon. They roared. I did my best impression of Homer Simpson's neighbor. They thought I was hilarious. We had an event at my house and the ladies were invited. One did not attend because she called drunk out of her brain. Politely saying we would miss her, she chunked the phone receiver down. The next woman arrived. My neighbor's daughter was very shocked and said this woman was known as a 50 year old to engage with teenage girls. So how did this resolve? The Homer Simpson neighbor approach worked fabulously. Eventually the woman who scandalized the neighbor's daughter brought attention to her behavior in public and fled. And all I did was to be polite and breezy.


We had one mother chew us out like tomorrow would not have sunrise for her son's behavior being corrected by us. We simply said the Bible was the guide and this was the place. Her child remained. She hushed.


Anther woman, decades later, invited me to dine publicly.
She arrived ... under the weather. I had no idea how to leave someone to drive home. She started with an hour long conversation we could call Vagina Monologues. We gathered a crowd as she described her period in great, lurid detail. Car keys came out and the conversation improved. When we got to tales about sex in cars and women named "Skankzilla"  the conversation was over for good. Tell the group? Na. Just unfriend on FB from 75 way back likes, in a week, and move, with a bounce, on.









Real Society involved with real people. In Church.

(Then there was the time  - - - my son decided in the middle of the night to have the flu - - -  in a tent during Youth Group. He fogged up one tent and was invited in the middle of the night to leave. He arrived at the younger boy tent, to stand in the middle of the tent and vomit - Little Smokie Weiners  -all over the tent  - as if he was a rotator sprinkle  - of valor. No part of the tent went unblemished. The entire tent of 12 boys began Shrieking from sleep at 3 A.M in the morning - Creating panic among the adults. Then the Waking up all the tents. And then the aroma. Then as I was having hysterical laugher at the picnic table because it was truly horrid - we all ended up rolling on the ground laughing. Swimming for all - sunrise. . And we still laugh to tears all over if we talk about THIS.)


Why Mercy? John Mark was uninvited. Then taken under the wing of love to become John Mark. Saul became Paul. There is a genuine journey going on.









Years ago we had a Church neighbor who was known as an Alcoholic. She would come to our house very inebriated. And she would stay for a few hours with tea, lots of hot tea. And in these times, a woman who was elderly who lived alone - was joyous and we were too. Not all things end badly, that seem to go far off. Those memories hold joy. Lots of joy.



How do we decide. If someone starts talking sorcery - we are Done. If you have the Vagina Monologues of flesh, flesh, flesh - we are Done. Violence is not encouraged - we are Done.


Flee from Sorcery.

Acts 19:16
And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house wounded, bleeding and naked.

Best to move along briskly.


I don't think those immersed in the flesh are going to really listen to the Way until they decide to.


1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee from sexual immorality.
All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.

Not to mention, when you draw a crowd hearing about bodily fluids - it's pretty embarrassing.














1 Corinthians 5:9-13
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”


Mercy trumps. All the time.


Emperor Domitian – Hauled St. John from Ephesus and exiled him to Patmos. Continued to be fearful of Christians. Conducted one of the fiercest battles against Christians. Under Domitan, the Church split in half. Half ran - and God used this to the Good of His Plan.

Domitan Heresy - the Church is only for saints. Domitan tortured until Christians surrendered every fragment of the Gospels and New Testament he could find. 81-96. Because of Domitan – we have the word traitor . Part of the Church wanted to forever exile anyone who lied to get out of torture or gave up Scripture. Forgiveness is the business of the Church and Jesus Christ. This is why we have a Bible today. In our casual usage. Amazing.



Be tender hearted. St. Augustine had victory because of his mother's continual mercy and belief in the Goodness of God.

All these stories - have a common denominator.

God was there to help.

Psalms 54:4:

“Behold, God is my helper"

Psalm 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

There is a conclusion.

Waiting upon the Lord - we have peace.

We give others a chance.

Beth Moore said it is ok to say, "No" to assignments within the Church.

Because someone called to the love event is going to do better.

There are real times to move back and away.

Recently I heard a Sermon about a woman seeing her son was drowning and she screamed for help for someone to save her son!!! He had gone out too far. A fisherman came to the shore with the mother who begged and pleaded the man to save her son. He would not. The mother begged and pleaded. Finally, the fisherman went in. He dragged the young man back to the shore and the young man was resuscitated. The mother asked the fisherman why the son was not revived sooner. The fisherman replied that as the man flailed around with despair - they both would have drowned. The fisherman was waiting to help in God's Timing.









Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

James 2:13
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Luke 6:36
Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.


Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.










Abba,

Life can be pretty sterile. And that's boring. Opera and drama end. Wisdom. with the Help of Jesus Christ. will prevail.

The Joy of the Lord is indeed, indeed, indeed Strength. Jesus pray with us and increase our Holy Spirit.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect,

that you may be fighting the good fight and straining ahead to make the goal.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial,
for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.


Is any of this surprising to You - Father God?

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.


James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Blessed be God who does not answer the why all the time. And we find out we do not need the why. We find we can just believe God and rely with Him on faith. The Joy of believing His Promises.

The Joy of the Lord is our strength. You do give us Your Peace.

With all of the Goodness You are - God of Love - we put our cares, anxieties, the ones we Love, their cares, the People Given By God to us. And we believe God is So Good - this is going to work out in His Plan, His Hand and His Timing. Trusting Him with our places of work, our jobs, the communities, our Churches, this state and the Nation. Wrapping Jesus' Love around the entire Planet He calls good yesterday, today and tomorrow and covers us hearing our prayers with all His Compassion.

Thanks be to You, Abba, for Your Son. Making Life possible again and again. Victory in Jesus always - Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 130 ~ Stand

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.

8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.




A decades long friend said the Word of God is so active, when He speaks to you - you never forget. The Truths of the Lord,  God our Father will remain all our days. Margaret told me she was in a Bible Study discussing, "Trust in the Lord." Margaret said she remembered holding the hand of her own Daddy who always, as a child, made her feel as safe and happy as a child could be. Even when he placed her on the back of a Brahma Bull for riding in the parade. Nothing made her feel more secure.

We all have gifts from Father God. Margaret's father was one of the most well respected horse men in Charleston, S.C. And in that capability of soothing and leading, her Daddy taught her a truth knowing she saw Father God - one she holds dearly every day of her life.

What would please Father God more than a daughter seeing the tender love of her Daddy reflected in the Steadfast Love of Father God. What parent wouldn't want to hear that 7 decades later. Margaret's understanding of the tender love Father God has for her - demonstrated in life. That is the highest compliment a child could give a parent.

Margaret is an Episcopal Priest's wife, Father Bill Harris, living in a wonderful valley in Emporium, Pennsylvania. Many, many wedding dresses have been treasured - made by Margaret's hands. And this summer she was a National Judge in a United States competition for Flower Arranging in Philedelphia. Living in what looks like Heaven, Pennsylvania in the summer, there are plenty of flowers to be found in abundance.

The Abundance of God. About 1980, Margaret entered the farm house they were restoring. It was after Church and the floor gave way and Margaret fell 12 feet in high heels to the basement. Landing on her feet and shattering both of her heels. She was told to wear SAS shoes all her life. And adjust to the pain. Through Choir practices. Through Church Services. Through Bible Studies. Through trips to the hospital to pray for others. Through making wedding dresses. Through making Altar Arrangements. Through Wedding Arrangements and Wedding Reception Arrangements. Through Garden Club. Through rewiring her amazing iron stove from 1888 which works today. Through learning to do the plumbing, quite well in her renovated farm house. Through horse back riding.

Sounds like a lot of good deeds for Father God, right? Margaret hated wearing those shoes all the time. And one day, she and Father Bill were going to a wedding and Margaret got out a pair of high heels in the back of the closet. And she was surprised to find 4 hours later - her feet did not hurt a bit and they looked pretty too.


God is Good. All the Time.



About a year and a half ago, Father Bill turned 90 years old. And he had heart failure. Margaret wept and wept. He would never leave the Valley again. He might never leave the house again. The dog was old too. All was changing. All was so very, very sad. And a prayer group, one of many, added Father Bill to their prayers, praying for him to have a miracle of Jesus.

And suddenly, Father Bill was well. So well - Father Bill puts 70 year olds right behind him. Driving into town for groceries by himself. Visiting us for Thanksgiving last year. Those eyes twinkle again. Did you know New England accents can sound surprisingly like English accents, from time to time?


God is good all the Time. And Margaret says Bill has the bluest eyes.




Abba,

Jesus said You are His Father and ours. Easter Sunday. The Holy Spirit covering all of mankind.

We all want to end our lives having given. Having pleased God who gives LIFE and LIFE and LIFE.

God's Plan is built in us. And when we answer HIS Call - the lives around us understand the Love of God.

Thank You Father God - for the Loved ones in our lives. St. Augustine said if we well and with God's Love serve the people You have given us. We have delighted
our Father.

Thank You so much for Your Grace and Mercy. Because of Your Love, the Light of Christ shines and shines and shines. We Thank God for Jesus for our loved ones, the people you've given us. For our Churches, jobs, States to the Nation and surrounding our world. The Awe and Astonishment of Eternal Life with You.

We Give Great Thanks for Today. God has Given. God is Good. Thank You for our Blessings of Health, Love, Provision. Bless those who have been so harmed by the recent Hurricanes. Bless Puerto Rico. We ask for Your Love and Care there.

The Word of God is Astonishing. Thank You for Jesus.

God for all of our days ahead. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 6:36 ~ He had compassion for them

Matthew 6:36

He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.




I've lived here for 17 years. Chris Tomlin is famous. Ok, yes I've seen him in videos a couple of times.

Chris Tomlin - "Amazing Grace". Oh gosh, that's who this is! Well, that is the extent of I know the songs, I can sing them, but who is the author? Ok, well, that's just me.



Circles - how we get in further with Jesus Christ.

Life circumstance. I know Chris Tomplin's "Amazing Grace" because one of my favorite movies about William Wilberforce and Benedict Cumberland is always, of course, Prime Minister of Good - William Pitt. This movie defines the enduring work of God's ministers. And defines God. When a man loves the Lord, he makes even his enemies at peace with him. The Slave trade ended because big government could make big money on big taxation and keeping slave trade ships - strengthening the navy.

The Slave Trade ended because GOD IS GOD. We all know the bumper sticker saying, "Be Nice or we will bring you Democracy." God definitely proved who is God to end the Slave Trade. Like Zechariah discovered.

I LOVE GOD, man, He is better than the Gipper!!!







Circle?


So we live in the world of what Circle is this? We never, and I mean nevah, evah, thought we'd all live in the age of Jane Jetson. AND we do. We can't relate present circumstance to the past - nope.

YES. WE CAN. This is exactly like being confronted with "He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." And you think - I can't write this Post - how do I do this.

Because God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We are in this circle.




Circle?

Ok. back to the Chris Tomlin reference. You write music (I am told) knowing the notes. The refrain. The melody. We have to see the bigger picture to move through the piece. And the longer the song becomes melody - becomes art - becomes warm - becomes Love.

Seeing the movement. And for our purposes, the Movement of God Himself.







Circle?

These present times are confusing. We don't know what is what and what will develop and the unrest in the news, less NFL, less TV and more complaining. And weird news. And then and the and then Houston is flooded and Louisiana and Texas watch as all people truly love and care. We realize - We have God. We still have something INCREDIBLE.







Circle?

Incredible Times. Every 500 years we have historically something where we all rejoice at a Movement of God Himself. Why do we like God? HE Fathers us. He Loves us.


Incredible Time.
Circa 1500 B.C. The Exodus is the first, fancy word - Domitan Heresy - the Church is only for saints. If you look at the Exodus you find the Children of Israel are - uninformed. They don't know Who is their God. They don't know His Name. They are just having a really pretty lousy life. And God defines a lot of the 5 Books of Moses as - similar to Pharaoh. Ray Vander Laan does an AMAZING job showing - God reached down to pluck up truly miserable people to Help Them. Astonishing. People wandering around sort of grubby in a pretty messed up culture. Sort of like, om, Woodstock om?



1000 B.C. King David. Wow. David primarily believed he was anointed. God told the truth all the time. Be obedient to God. Believe in the compassion, the overwhelming compassion of God. The Nation of the Tribes finally begins.


500 B.C. Second Exile. Jeremiah, with God, pegged this absolutely. And the Babylonian Chronicles = the Bible.  Cuneiforms - Down to the food the imprisoned King of Judea ate with his sons. Why? The people of Judah were having revisionist history times. They were arguing the Exodus didn't and wouldn't occur. Moses and Jeremiah spoke this saying the people said they were from the North, like Abraham. Not from Egypt, like Joseph. Religion was time to show your piety hour.





Incredible Time.

1 A.D. Christian Era. The Church (the Bible does occasionally refer to the Temple in Jerusalem as Church) is running pretty smoothly next door to a Non-Davidic King married to his sister-in-law putting the polish on the Temple as dictating the message. Eeeeeseeenes. The Essenes run out screaming. And with this we have the Dead Sea Scrolls and and and Jesus Himself. Mary says the History of the nation is so far gone that the Davidic Line gets only a glance. And the Historians tell us so much money rolled in to Judea that only the Renaissance of 1400 A.D. compares. We would have seen Rolls Royces riding the Romans and their employees around.

And this is the Time Isaiah told us Jesus would arrive - and He did. The earthquake is reported in 33 A.D. with Passover. The Eclipse is Reported A.D. 33 at the Passover. Gosh, you know, God is so GOD, that probably December 25th could actually be the birth of Jesus Christ. Wow. Imagine. Almost like the calendar bows to Jesus Christ. Of the world. Hummmm.




And following the Early Church of Jesus Christ (He told us about in Caesarea) we find persecution, incredible weather - earthquakes, bad lightning, flooding, incredible trade across the seas for the first time, Plague recorded for the first time, Marriage laws being redefined by Emperor Augustus. The loss of a dependable family. Increasing violence and unrest. Loss of trade and the beginning of the Middle Ages due to huddle up fortress cities behind walls. God was getting the attention of the people. Times begin to Change in the Roman Empire's 600 years.







1000 A.D. Wow, we have more written History from the edges of the world. Due to the Church establishing more order. Widespread Christianity.

And then we get to the Church inventing feeding the poor daily. Teaching Agriculture. Making sure starvation (which is 1 in 3 people die of starvation when the Church doesn't feed the people) and everyone feels very secure.


1500 A.D. About this time Latin is not spoken all that commonly and Church is read in Latin. The Bible is not handed out. And we are recovering from the Plagues which continue to pop up even to 1600 A.D. Out from behind the Middle Ages wall, due to Church demanding 'Just Behavior'. But the Church has 1 out of 2 clerics living some type of sin that is not Chastity. Beginning of the Bible coming into the hands of people to read of the Glory of God themselves. An amazing change.

Glory of God - His Love has no ending and no beginning. Enduring. Eternal.


Circle.

Which brings us to today. Almost all Christians have changed denominations to explore what Father God is to them. How they will relate to the Almighty. What the Word of God brings to their hearts. An amazing time.

Matthew 6:36

He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.


God said that seeing the Light of Christ is being unable to put a flammable basket onto a Candle.


So I'm going to offer up what I see in this, as a parable. From my life. Getting to hear right this minute Depeche Mode in concert about 2 miles away and hearing this now to share with you:

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When I was in my 20's, I worked for Club Corp. I traveled about 4 days a week and we went to a lot of their 290 Country Clubs. We were in poor Florida - in Tampa. Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club. It was 1985 and the drought was terrible. Concerns were raised about the Everglades. All was crunchy brown beige. It was very sad.

We arrived about 2:30, from a glitch in the airport. And we were offered lunch. As we sat down, we were in the room with about 10 or 15 die hard golfers who just were going to play, even if they were describing the brown dead crunch, crunch of every step on the golf course. The manager was standing and talking to them and he, frankly, looked extremely glum. You bet when you are in this kind of drought - people are not strolling about playing golf. One asked the manager how bad this was to him, personally. The Club Manager said it's like you - it's the dried out future of the everglades and hearing about crunch while strolling on what should be the 'greens'. One of the golfers told the manager he looked like he was going to cry. About that time, we all felt incredibly sorry for the manager.

I said, "Ron, it's raining." The manager looked at me and said, "That's drought - always the clouds - never the rain." I said no - I think that is sprinkles. We all turned to watch the beige greens. And one golfer said, "It is Sprinkles." The Club Manager ran to the glass doors and went to the Porch. He bellowed, "It's NOT SPRINKLES, IT"S A DOWNPOUR!!!" And with this, the Club Manager ran out from under the porch and ran screaming and yelling on to the Green. Jumping and Leaping and Praising God. Two of the Golfers ran with him.

The other men said, "We never had a manager like this one. He likes us. He loves the property. I think he loves us."

And the Club Manager ran in soaking wet, jumping and screaming, with the other two golfers.  Running in circles on the golf green. They were all yelling, "It's a MIRACLE. A MIRACLE OF GOD."

I'm pretty sure we all cried. I said, "God is good." And the other table said, "Yes."

To live the Mercy of God unforeseen by forecast - is to know the Compassion of God. To see the dry bones earth - live. To see God's Hand Move. The next day, everyone said they all stood outside in the rain. They told stories like the entire gas station just stood out in the pouring rain. And for two weeks it rained well, off and on raining, gently and steadily.

For two weeks, everyone discussed the Miracle of The End of the Drought. And we went on home to Texas. But I will never forget seeing the Mercy of GOD. Watching the land turn green again.

Let there be Light. Jesus Christ Messiah. The Fire did not consume the bush. And above their heads were flames of fire. Their hearts were suddenly warm and they perceived Jesus, living and breathing.

And once you have Lived the Goodness of God.

You know How Good God is. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. This is the Joy of seeing people Nourished by Father God's Love. To see the hungry - filled.

This is the Joy of the Body of Jesus Christ, God's Beloved. To live being Cherished of God. He has compassion for us.




Abba!

We praise You for Antioch Lives. For the bravery of the Robert Eagle, age 22, Ushering at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tenn. near Nashville.
Robert Eagle is as a "hero" for making sure a gunman stopped. "He's amazing," she said. "Without him, I think it could be worse."

For May 19, 2016 A church elder, Tony Williams, 57, is being called a hero for his quick action in grabbing the shooter’s gun hand, pointing the weapon away from the victim and the crowd, and disarming her.

We thank You, Father God, in the midst of great changes, we see Your Holy Spirit Shepherd the Beloved of God.

Blessed be the Name of Jesus Christ.

You hear our prayers, You comfort and strengthen us. You nourish and encourage us. You give us amazing things like using steam for pre-term infants. We live in a time of God's Pleasure. You see the world, mankind - Your response is to Delight to Love and Save.

We thank You God for enfolding the ones we love, the people You have given us. To our Nation and the World calling upon Jesus Christ. For the people who do wonderful goodness like buying and giving a cup of coffee. Joy is Jesus.

Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 4:11-25 ~ Behold

Matthew 4:11-25

And behold, angels came and were ministering to him. 

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.

13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles--
16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned."


17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying,
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.

22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them.

25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

We zip to Mark 5:20 - the people were amazed. Lives changed. Jesus, God our Father is now seen. Today. In this age. Lamb of God. Our Jesus.

Matthew 4 - the land of Zebulon and Naphtali

Sons of Jacob
with his wife Leah
and his concubine.

However Zebulon was 6th in the line of sons - and not a big deal. Obscure.

Zebulon - maybe they played together as children, maybe Zebulon had contempt for the child of a slave concubine, his half-brother Naphtali.

Their tribes did not border - so possibly - they did not communicate. They were the children of the shadows. Not favored greatly. In fact, the Tribes were only active in God's Heaven. The tribes were gone since the Babylonian Exile - 700 B.C. - very far gone tribes.

The Scriptures repeat to reach us, hold and enfold us. Ezekiel saw the level of restoration and salvation in faith, hope and Love of Jesus Christ.

And the Light of Jesus - dawned upon them and caused them to Shine. Jesus is explaining, He is the Life.

How incredibly rich the Word of God is. Living, alive, active. Our Father is alive. God of the Living. Ephesians 2 teaches our core, being, eternal soul - families Live in Heaven.





THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND.

And just as the birth of Christ drew the Heavenly Host. And as Jesus' Shining Light begins as angels ministered to Jesus Christ. A new beginning. Life - Jesus Gives us. Jesus -  Light of God. Living Water. Living Bread. Life. Love. God of Love. Jesus heals us all.








Abba,

With Jesus dwelling in our souls and asking to be open to the Holy Spirit, we will go much farther than we know.

Abba, we always want to be warmed up to Your Holy Spirit, ready to be our Father God's child. Alert to the possibilities of warmth and Love in the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the fulfillment of our God-hopes.

We pray this warmth to be within, in the people we Love, the people You've given us. Continuing in the larger circle of our communities, jobs, schools. The circle of our cities and then state. Our regions of the world. Our Nation. And celebrate the circle of God's Love enfolding this planet. Always being held in Your love, without beginning, our days written in the Book of Life continuing to Eternity with You.

In Jesus Christ, we find all of Your Promises are true.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †