Matthew 7:7-28
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
One day, a man named Espalier went on a journey. He was invited to see the New World in an English ship and with an old Spanish ship.The journey at times was to be tortuous. Fraught.
They had to turn back for leaks. Started out and return for leaks again.
Psalm 107
15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.
600 miles off course the ship was thoroughly shaken, and her upper works made very leaky. Events appeared to be fixed. And they all continued several days together, which was some encouragement unto them; yet according to the usual manner many were afflicted with seasickness.
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
And some who swore evilly died in a most desperate manner. Then the ship encountered many times, crosswinds, and met with many fierce storms. And then decisions had to be made into serious consultation with the master and other officers of the ship, to consider whether to return, rather than to cast themselves into desperate and inevitable peril.
17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
And truly there was great distraction and difference of opinion amongst the mariners themselves.
But in examining of all opinions, the master and others affirmed they knew the ship to be strong and firm underwater; and for the buckling of the main beam, there was a great iron screw the passengers brought out of Holland, which would raise the beam into its place; which was done. The carpenter and master affirmed that with a post put under it, set firm in the lower deck, and other ways bound, he would make it sufficient.
And as for the decks and upper works they would caulk them as well as they could, and though with the working of the ship they would not long hold firm, they would be safe as long as they did not over-stress her with sails.
So they committed themselves to the will of God, and resolved to proceed.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
..after long beating at sea they fell with that land which is called Cape Cod: they were not a little joyful!
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
After some deliberation amongst themselves and with the master of the ship, they resolved to sail southward to find someplace about Hudson's river for their habitation.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
But after they had sailed that course about half a day, they fell amongst dangerous shoals and roaring breakers, and resolved to bear up again for the Cape.
Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
and thought themselves happy to get out of those dangers before night overtook them.
Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof."
Espalier had not understood. The journey had seemed so perilous, sometimes without hope. He had begun as the great adventurer - for God. The Way had been fraught.
Hunger would plague these Mayflower adventures for God.
Later generations, what would the settlers see?
Espalier would say ~ The People of God were being equipped! When the season was right - fruit would be harvested!!!
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And the fruit would be placed well within reach!
Love. Learn. Hope. Good times. Lean Times. Lean to the Father. Life is a Test. A Big Fat Test. HOME! As God's Children. Glory. Glory. Alleluia He reigns.
Is the story of the Mayflower unique? To the United States?
No! Simon the Zealot, Disciple of Jesus wanted a better life. The ups and downs of Psalm 107? See the Book of Judges. Perhaps a King? See First and Second Kings. And all of Chronicles.
The Ancient of Days tells us the pendulum of life has a purpose.
His. The Book of Life. Struggle has a purpose. Learn. Use discernment. Seek Him. Become His. Seek wisdom and His Will. Rejoice. Endure. Survive. Hope. Cope. Help. Love.
Today our free radio proclaimed the United States is done. Oligopoly - the reign of a few has begun. Do you you have Freedom of Speech? The Supreme Court recently upheld this.
Do you still have the voting power?
Each day our Father GOD is giving us choices. We must value what we have and not believe the worst of our opportunities.Unless we see a path forward, search for forward, we can sink in the root of bitterness. Bitterness - by it many become defiled. Don't make me say anything about apples and barrels here.
This Summer, we went to Michigan to see our Son. In the last decades, Michigan Apples are planted and pruned to have the fruit to be clearly within reach.
Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits,
even the God of our salvation. Selah.
Psalm 103:2-4
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish,
but that all should reach repentance.
Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
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.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans for welfare and not for evil,
to give you a future and a future
Abba, Father God,
We wait upon You, O Lord.
Daily You Bless us and as we lean upon You, we trust more and more. We have asked You have given. Thank You for these Blessings and fruit.
We have at times staggared and worried in this life. The Battle is Yours and the way we win is prayer. You are our strength and our shield.
In You we lean to have refuge. Our desired Haven.
You have Built our lives Father GOD! You have filled us with Good Things to Be Blessed and Grateful. Steadfast Love and Wonderous Works. Founded on Your Rock.
A Royal Priesthood of God. Praying for Israel and our leaders. Our families, friends, neighbors and those who need You Now. Elliott and Dee.
You are the Light of the world and our Hope and Future. In name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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