Colossians 3:15-16 ~ let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body

Colossians 3:15-16

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.


Got conflict? Smile. Life is the adventure of "Give us the Day" tempered with "Our Daily Bread." Bread is good. Warm. Inviting. The aroma of I want that. If you eat rye bread every day, or 'sour' dough, you can get pretty underwhelmed.

The Serenity Prayer by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.

God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

Jesus, I'm glad to say did not always smile and wave. Go with Him on a warm day and see... one of the nice things about picturing Jesus - we see WARMTH

Luke 6
On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grain-fields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”


The nice thing about God, HE doesn't have to be politically correct. One of my most adored, beloved people in life used to moan and proclaim life just 'isn't fair.' Solomon said the Hand of God bestows blessing and hardship. Deal with it. Jesus was providing Conflict in the above Paragraph. It's His Privilege.

Oddly enough, the New Testament agrees and says Whatever your circumstance, be filled with finding gratitude or thanks because this is HIS will for you to grow up and go Home.

1. Are you dealing with someone who wants the same goal you do? Can you change that? Nope. Well, you have exactly one alternative. Pray. And adjust your life to move like - the Mississippi River. Because God is Sovereign. Yay. I'd trust my life to... HIM. Delta is the a symbol for any changeable quantity, in mathematics and the sciences. We change our attitudes to those pleasing to Him.


Best Practices for Effective Conflict Management - University of Iowa. They make California look sunny. However, we are called to be - One Body. If they aren't against you, they are for you.

Conflicts include differences of opinion and perceptions at all levels of interaction including supervision, shared work and living spaces, teaching and learning. When conflicts affect the ability to work productively, learn effectively, or live in a comfortable environment, they need to be addressed. The following are some best practices that can contribute to effective conflict management. As with most conflict management skills, these practices are common sense but can be challenging to put into practice.

As an individual:

• Address conflict early to prevent it from escalating.

• Discuss the issue directly with the person involved. Effective people communicate. I heard that from family.

• Communicate with respect. For assistance with an effective conversation, ask a supervisor, HR representative, or other UI resources for support. (Look Higher...Fast...that's a joke...have humor)

• Seek to learn and understand the other point(s) of view. (Don't do the you tube video of the man who had his parking place taken.)

• Address perceptions and assumptions.(With the idea the Son will Come Up Tomorrow).

• Listen to understand the interests of the other party, and not just their position on the matter in dispute. (They might be interesting, if they try not to whine.)

• Focus on the issue, not the person. (Are you kidding me, the person wants to be understood. As issue rests within, upon a Person.)

• Find ways to move past your differences; agree where you can find common ground and agree to disagree if necessary. (See the last sentence, repeat, this is GOD wants to Save the ... World.)

• Focus on the present and future, and be willing to put the past behind you. (See Recovery from Conflict.)

Jesus had colleagues, He got to pick (mostly) and 72 co-workers. Even in the Boss' Son's group, there were people who spoke one direction and went mainly another. The competition was terrible.

Jesus didn't over Word things. And He did not do Drama. Jesus recognized in dealing with People - Forgive them and move on. There are some people and some situations - you have to Pray about and leave up to Him. Jesus believed in people. Even while He knew what was in them. And He Expected the Best from them and if you look at His Record - He received blessings for His belief in them. And allowed time to let people grow up.

As a colleague or co-worker:

• Encourage parties in conflict to address each other early and directly. (I have been encouraged to leave my hammer at the door. And speak with words not involving labels. My father was a great believer in being Polite.)

• Encourage the parties to focus on common interests and work to resolve their differences in order to move forward. (Fence sitters are told they have a better view and are possibly closer to Heaven. Jesus gave time and said if they aren't against you, they are for you. And HE is God.)(Sometimes you have to dig for the humor, people.)

• Direct colleagues and co-workers who are in conflict to UI (Higher) resources. Taking sides will not help resolve the conflict. (Now that's just NOT reality, but nod and agree. You might nod that this is not the battle you pick right this second.)

• Do not be drawn into conflicts in which you are not a party. (TADA)

• Do not escalate the conflict by giving it undue attention. (TADA)

• Treat both parties in conflict with respect. TADA)

(Ta Da is actually Scottish for Teaching Assistant of the Father, ask a seminarian.)

Continuing Luke 6

12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.


17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him 
and 
He healed them all.


However, if only we could get along like the Early Church...Um. Read the last chapter of the Gospel of John. Luke disagrees with Matthew 5

Matthew 5
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Perhaps they were speaking of the same thing and didn't connect the communication. Jesus was so comfortable - HE sat to teach. And the people were so comfortable - they didn't care if Jesus was sitting or standing. Knowing HE stood for the higher, more important things.


As a supervisor dealing with colleague or co-worker conflict:

• Practice the individual conflict management skills listed above, and encourage others in conflict to do so as well. (Pray. God can move the Red Sea - He could certainly have whisked people to the Promised Land. He chose the method of Pray and Pay the Electrical Bill. God cared how His people were treated. He waited until it was impossible to move that many slaves. Sometimes God uses weakness to make His point. Sometimes we listen to the complaints to see how the person's mind works.Listen. Care. Called to be one Body of Christ.)

• Manage the environment to support conflict resolution. (Marriage Counselors say get up and leave when Heavy Anger overwhelms peaceable solutions.)

• Be aware of the effects of power differences on conflict management. Be alert to worries about retaliation. (Expect the Best in People. Jesus did until HE decided there was no solution and just forgave and went on. GOD calls us to Peace. Not to dwell in this level of upheaval.)

• Use UI resources to assist in facilitating conflict management so that it does not interfere with productivity or the well-being of the unit or department. (Except that we have exactly two choices in life - Work on His Plan a) appreciating the blessings and conflicts He gives us to grow up and go Home b) b and work on His Plan. )

• The Conflict Description Template may be useful for supervisors in understanding a conflict situation and discussing it with others.

• In any conflict, issues of confidentiality should be considered. (Jesus believed in that, pushing people out of the Jairus' daughter's death room. Saying, "The Child is only sleeping.")

Pray
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time.
Let His Will be Done. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

This is not your first step. It's your FIRST BEST STEP.

Effective Conflict Management Thinking
Past Present Future
We cannot change the past. We can act to help make the situation better now and in the future through shared agreements. We can use conflict constructively as a source of different ideas and perspectives.

Forgive me my sins and those who sin against me ~ teachings of ~
Jesus Christ, Son of God 

• Seek assistance from UI (HIS) resources if you need it.

• Make known your goals for the conversation. (Be Justice with Mercy in Truth)

• Discuss confidentiality.

• Use Respectful Communication so that each person will continue to participate and not leave, go silent, raise their voice or be defensive.

• Listen intently for the other’s perspective. Active Listening skills are especially useful in conflict conversations.

• Be aware of and try to understand your own and the other person’s feelings.

• Discuss perceptions and assumptions. (Seek mutual ground)

• Address the past as necessary.

• Focus on the problem, not the person. Address the problem instead of being defensive. (The Person needs to be addressed with such courtesy the issue is secondary.)

• Look for areas of agreement--your common ground—and build on those. (You say mutual, they say common, try not to smile broadly.)

• Agree on what you both can do in the future and leave the rest. (Nod a lot, pick your battles, don't nod too much. Be Sincere. )

Post-conversation: Implement and Move Forward

• Act with integrity to maintain your shared agreements.

• Recognize that change is difficult and sometimes we make mistakes as we change. Notice positive behaviors.

• Let go of past hard feelings and look for ways to work together productively, e.g. use common personal greetings, say thanks when appropriate, acknowledge and show appreciation for changed behavior, repeat common ideas and goals, etc. If you are having difficulty, visit Recovery from Conflict for further ideas to help you now and in the future.

Did you ever wonder why Norman Vincent Peale said - If you have conflict - Rejoice - You are ALIVE !!!


The Beatitudes

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
Jesus Pronounces Woes

24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”



~ teachings of ~
Jesus Christ, Son of God

Abba,

Jesus Christ the Lord, we ask Father God

to Bless us and Keep us

and Make Your Face to Shine upon us.

To know our cares and compassions. To forgive our flaws and weakness.

We ask for Your Graciousness.

We want to be Blessing Seekers. To ask for Your Willing Blessings

on our infirmities and Heal us. We love to ask Your Blessings.

Help us to be a Blessing.

Thank You for Your Blessings. Our Hope and Future. Today, Yesterday and, also, Tomorrow. Bless those we love with health, healing from cancer and from illness - upset stomach and headache requiring antibiotics.

Lift Your Face and Smile upon us.

Carry our Nation to Trust in You.

Bless Nations who seek You and Your Light.

Bless the Children of God asking You for more Heaven on earth.

Give us the Amazing Gift of Peace.

Peace so Magnificent this is Your own Peace.

The assurance of You. God's own Peace

We ask with all our heart, mind and soul to be

Covered in the Name of Jesus.

And Your Blessing of more Heaven on earth.

In the Highest Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! † 

Micah 4:4 ~ Everyone shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the Mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken

Jesus told us Angels would arrive if He merely asked. The Heavenly Host arrived at His earthly beginning - we can well imagine God could call this out.

Nahum knew the Power of God.

Nahum 1:9
Whatever they plot against the LORD he will bring to an end; trouble will not come a second time.

The Old Testament has a bold statement from God saying He can bring the end of conflict, to any conflict. It's difficult to find the exact verse because we live in a world with conflict resolution being a process. God the Almighty says He brings Peace. His Word. In Great Power of His Being the Lord.

Micah 4:4

Everyone shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.



Psalm 147:14
14 He makes peace in your borders; 
He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat. 
15 He sends forth His command to the earth; 
His word runs very swiftly.



Leviticus 26:6 
I will grant peace in the land, 
and you will lie down 
and no one will make you afraid. 
I will remove wild beasts from the land, 
and the sword will not pass through your country.


Consider this Gospel:

Matthew 22

23 The same day Sadducees came to him,
who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question,

24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”

29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong because you know neither

The Scriptures and the Power of God.

30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 

32‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

 He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”


33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching. 34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

This passage is one of great importance and a favorite of mine:

The Word of God manifest applauds the Living Scriptural Word of God. We all might hope Jesus shook the earth as He said, "The Scriptures and the Power of God."

God gave us Jesus. Jesus gave us Salvation. 
The Word of God made manifest could have peace anytime He wanted Peace.

Jesus sets the witnesses for Resurrection in the son rising alive for the Widow of Nain and Jesus' Blessing.

Jesus sets the Blessing in understanding - God didn't have to have Jesus spar with Words. God's Word stood Alive and Active as Today.

Jesus is God's Word as Power.

Jesus is without fear.

The people saw Jesus and Jesus daily loadeth them with benefits.
Living Water reaching us two millenniums later.

The Word of God - the Disciples find  Jesus can end the storm and the wind
and we discover that believing in His Word we are part of this.

The Promises of God are sure.






Father God,

When Jesus prays with us, we have the results of His Love. We ask this Blessing.

When we ask You, You are present. And the meal is more nourishing than the food for the people living in Love.

When we consider the summer - we recall days of our life where summer would never end. The day lasted a long time and we have an idea of Heaven's days. We have a glimpse of Heaven. And our hearts remember Joy of memories You have given us of Abundant Life. These remembrances are Joy.

Cover our Loved ones with this Joy. Jesus tells us He had such Joy in this life.
Let the people You have given us know these blessings of Your's.

Help the Nation trusting in You to have the gratitude in them of God - guiding us.
Bless our employments, dreams, efforts and striving. In the Strength of God, we will go farther than we ask or imagine.

Bless the Bible and Jesus believing Churches to radiate the Love God has - and all are blessed.
Bless all the Nations trusting in You to have more Holy Spirit and more Heaven on earth. We build when we believe and trust - our words and deeds build us all.

Bless us in our hopes - that as we please You daily - our will rejoices in Your Will. Our Father's Gracious Will for our heart, hearth, family, health with Joy and Love.

Let us Bless us renew from vacation and to rest and to be productive. For security. For our friend dealing with cancer to be healed.

Returning home from vacation to find our 25 year old Magnolia - fall over.

Amen and Amen and Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Exodus 3 ~ Here I am

Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mt Sinah is habitable. See the city way in the distance!

Exodus 3

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” 

And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Vintage Photo of Shepherds in front of Mt. Sinah

Was this the appearing of the Heavenly Host or the Bush on fire?


Luke 2


8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”







Let's ask a question. If our Father God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow; Why is Moses afraid, while the Shepherds are told to "Fear Not"? The Shepherds encountered the Heavenly Host of God - the angels.Same story. Fear Not!!! Moses went on to have a conversation with God and Moses felt "Yar" Respect - Very Heavy Respect. God the Almighty does not need fear.


God has told the Angels to cut to the point - not a discussion - fear overcome by,  "Fear Not

The Shepherds and Mary and Joseph behold God made flesh dwelling among us.

The emotional response to Jesus?

18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.



Moses yearned more from his relationship to God. And asked to see the Glory of God.

Exodus 34

5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands,a forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”


The path of the Lord is preferable to the Frank Sinatra Song "I did it my way".


The Exodus did repeat for the birth of Jesus, this time God relied more upon His Angels to create more Joy. The Father was preparing the path of His Son. And Father God did descend in a cloud, as He did for the Dedication of Solomon's Temple - in the Transfiguration. God the Father was clearing a path for His Son, ,again, in the Transfiguration.

 Jesus would ascend to tell us exactly where Jesus is. We did not need to wonder.


Abba, 

The Blessing of Being Your child. Your Mercies Renew. Dwell in me, Lord Jesus Christ.

No longer do I call you servants.

 We are the Beloved of God. And ask His Help and Blessings.

Thanks be unto our Father God for The Lord giving His Word to Abide in Jesus. And so we ask His help. To have His Peace knowing the Holy Spirit dwells in us. The Blessing of the Kiss of Peace.

Amen in Jesus Christ.

 

Bless our friend to have good health in Jesus. Your Willing Blessings!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Titus 1 ~ Hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined

Crete

Titus 1

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.



In law cases, sometimes evidence is presented for months and eventually there is a moment where "The Moose Head Truth" arrives. Summation of proportion arrives where great truth is presented and the fact is Established.


Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Crete.

The dispersion of Greeks arrived.  This is understood to be the close tie to Crete. These are the faithful who board 'cruise' ships and arrive for High Holy Days in Jerusalem. Josephus records Passover and other Holy days can have up to 2 million people arrive in Jerusalem for Pilgrimage. Makes you realize that 2 millenniums ago - people were - similar. Human nature and God's nature show Scriptures repeat.

Crete.

Perhaps you have noticed with me. Jesus is wonderful. Jesus in John 21 is invited by the Greeks from Crete and Jesus replies: 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Jesus said the fate of Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum. All fates were exactly correctly spoken. Jesus is God.

Jesus went back to the Samaritans having been thrown out of the rebuilding of the Second Temple for not keeping ancestral records correctly and brought the Samaritans into being the first to be told by Jesus said clearly in John 6, "I am the Christ." This is a Great Honor.

And the Greeks from Crete did not get to speak with Jesus and yet, they had wanted to honor Jesus. To offer him the service of living with them in Crete. To escape Herod.

And what happened to the Cretes with troubles listed - showing flaws?

The correct Aramaic is this:

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together "interweave" for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Now the truth is - weaving - is a process.

Like David's 22 years.
Joshua's 40 years.
Peter's 30 years.
Noah's 20-30 years.

And in Titus' life we find pray without ceasing - knowing Jesus is at work with the Father. This was a process and history records the paradise of work filled in Christ Jesus.

What happened to Crete a place where the Scriptures record "“Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true."

So many people are disheartened to find so many apostles of Jesus died. And if you look to Titus set on a journey by Paul, and Crete blessed for honoring Jesus - you find this. Titus lived to very old as a Christian. 

Crete was considered to be a place where God was honored. A haven. An Oasis.

And in Titus' life we find pray without ceasing - knowing Jesus is at work with the Father. This was a process and history records the paradise of work filled in Christ Jesus.


Psalm 87


1 On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
2 the Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3 Glorious things of you are spoken,
O city of God. Selah

4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cusha—
“This one was born there,” they say.
5 And of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her”;
for the Most High himself will establish her.
6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah

7Singers and dancers alike say,
“All my springs are in you.”

The preservation of Crete. Other paradise areas like San Francisco, Taiwan are not preserved in their Beauty.





Isaiah saw this of Heaven and recorded this in Isaiah 6 as sung to the God of all in Heaven - concerned with mere earth as important to Him in Heaven:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”







We have encountered the mercy of Christ Jesus to those of Crete following the footsteps of the life in Jesus.. And in seeing the beauty we see this of the Eternal Father we have in God.

1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully


And for interest in our Father God, let's think upon what God has said about Heaven - our Eternal Home in Jesus Christ. Paul told us he knew a man who was caught up in the 3rd level of Heaven. The First Council of Nicea, 325 A.D., was confirmed by the world changing Love the Christians gave they received from Jesus. And on that Council sat a Saint called Nikolaos of Myra, St. Nick- let out of prison because the former Emperor of Rome had called him to prison for believing upon Jesus as Christ. These men knew well of the miracles of The Acts of the Apostles. And they, filled with the Holy Spirit affirmed the Scriptures witness to the Truth and more believable to other faiths than the background of Christianity.

The Book of Enoch tells us more about Paul's visit to the 3rd level of Heaven. And says that the Garden of Eden now exists in the 3rd Level of Heaven. What happened to the Garden of Eden? Scriptures tell us this remained on Earth and was guarded by Angels to keep mankind out. Until the Flood and the Garden of Eden ceased to exist on earth. Heaven is the place! And His work is explained in

Colossians 1:18-20
in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him
to reconcile to himself all things,
whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross.



In my opinion, the question is not 'if a tree falls in the forest, does it make a noise' but is instead all things are reconciled to God in Heaven. Not just sparrows, but forests and beauty passed on to Heaven.

Jesus Himself told us about Heaven. 

We will be with Him in Paradise.






We have seen some truly beautiful kites. Today was a wheel in the sky. I told Edward it reminded me of the song.

And then a few hours later, we had a beautiful full rainbow at the beach on South Padre Island, Texas today.

 It did not look like Crete, exactly, but we didn't have a storm - so the Rainbow was very beautifully impressive. We could see one side and then the other, a complete rainbow. 

A beautiful rainbow at the beach today. 


Genesis 9:13-17 

13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant
 between Me and the earth. 

14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, 
that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 

And I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 

16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

 17 And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant
 which I have established 
between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Father, our Abba,

You are our help and our shield.
We reverence You,Lord,
and will fully trust in our Lord!
You are our help and our shield.

You Lord remembered us; You will bless us;
You will bless us;
You will bless us;

Bless our friend to heal completely from cancer.

Our God will bless those who reverence the Lord,
both the small and the great.

May this please our Lord Father to give us increase,
and our children!

May the willingness of God be blessed by our Lord,
who made heaven and earth!

We pray for California to have peace and our nation and nations.

The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,
and the earth You has given to the children of man.

We will bless our Father God
from this time forth and forevermore.

Praise Jesus Lord God for His continued care for our prayers, loved ones, Churches, Jobs, Provision, Nation and the people around the World praying with Jesus in Joy, Faith, Love, Hope and Expectation and continuing to walk in the good deeds You have prepared for us! Alleluia in Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †