Acts 1
1 In the first book, Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went.
Behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.
14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled"
1800s Jerusalem, very like Jerusalem at the time Jesus walked the roads.
We begin the New Testament, leaving the Gospels, and with Jesus Living and Victorious.
We find the New Testament assembles the ups and downs of family. The process, the change of seasons and even years of the Prodigal Son and His Father - their telling of Forgiveness.
Jesus is telling us about the real and true, reliable Scripture of time allowing Works of God.
And of family. The ins and the outs. Pre-teen individualism and parents honored.
The joys of Family and friends dancing, singing, having wine, making wine and vacationing around the Wedding in Cana. An amazing time for Jesus, Mary and the servants.
The goading and separation of Brothers in acclaim, envy, sibling rivalry and fame. The communications cease due to hostilities- - whole thoughts are not communicated.
Mary determines to save God Himself. She rushes in, mistakenly, with His Brothers to be sent empty away. Jesus is God. God's Family does not decrease and instead includes more, doing the Will of His Father. Like the Parables of Jesus and the Wedding Feast.
God has an open heart, open ear, open Gates of Heaven policy for all who Seek Him.
In the Beginning, God said let there be Light. And into this light came Jesus, God of God, True Light of True Light. Making mankind, male and female in His own Image. And the Father delighted in His Son. The Son delighted in the Father and found His master workmanship to be wonderful. The Holy Spirit, Father and Son delighted seeing into mankind. The Holy Spirit abided over the waters.
And God found His Creation to be good 10 times yesterday, today and tomorrow.
We find God's Family does not decrease and instead includes more, delighting in the Will of our Father. Exactly explaining the Parables of Jesus and the Wedding Feast.
The Family of Mary and Joseph is flung far and in disaster, all of Israel knows, does not draw together in horrible Good Friday crisis - only Mary and Mary wife of Clopas. John is included and the family expands again. Mary Magdalene rushes to help Jesus, even in death, the family expands again and Mary Magdalene is included as the first adopted daughter of God.
Jesus, as God, is drawing His Mother and Brothers never united before. More brothers. and, again, expanding the family to include more brothers.
"Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled"
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Abba,
We ask Your Willing Blessings.
And ask You to be alive in the Hopes and Thoughts of those of Loving Hearts, being Loved Ones.
We lift our cares to You.
You tell us to arise with You.
We lift up our loved ones to You.
You tell us all to arise with You.
We lift our Hopes, Faith and Love.
We will do as You say and Arise with You.
We lift all our concerns of culture with You.
You tell us all to arise with You.
A Blessing - when we know our soul to Jesus - when we establish our Identity in Jesus Christ we are assured. We are Established.
Father, we stand upon the Rock of Christ.
Let's, Abba, Look at the Soul of our Culture. Let's Establish the Identity of our Soul.
We think of Blessings - and have so little Good News - Good News takes us by surprise and we are skeptical
We think of Blessings Abba, we like our blessings to be honest and believable.
We think of Blessings
I feels so blessed and have such a blessing to have our family together this weekend from near and far.
We see new Blessings - Psychology Today reports 59% of Americans find politics very upsettingly derisively divided and find the lack of moderation gravely upsetting. We see the news is watched at night by 9 million Americans instead of 320 million Americans. The Comedy Shows of Late Night and Early Morning are waning.
We see the Pew Report Proclaim in 2015 it is the end of Casual Christianity and the Dawn of Well Considered Christianity.
We read in the Pew Report Marriage, especially among minorities is up. Legitimate birth is up. The Pew Report shows 2/3rds of College Graduate marriage is unto death us do part.
We, the Beloved of God, We the People, Rejoice to see Your Wonders and Love.
Father God, Alaska had an oil spill. The Gulf of Mexico had ever conceivable worker out there to clean it up - and suddenly The Gulf of Mexico was Clean. Supernaturally. Amazingly. Immediately with Jesus Christ.
Thank You, Jesus Christ for Today. For Tomorrow. For Your Good Will. Your Hope and Future. For our friend who has cancer and we pray healing.
Jesus the Highest Name. Alleluia. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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