Mark 7:31-37 ~ Jesus has done everything well

Mark 7:31-37

  31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. 

“He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Today is our 35th Wedding Anniversary. I feel like we should all sing, "Sunrise, Sunset"!  This Anniversary is easier than so many. Our children have arrived at vocations and employment. There is much to be grateful for, and I wake up each morning, of 2021, and feel grateful. Hopefully, with wonderful reason.

We spent our 3rd Anniversary at home with Lobster Tail Dinner and Champagne. Our first child, tucked into the wind-up swing attached to the Apnea monitor. He was 6 weeks premature, and Cal  was 7 weeks old. We were boiling massive water on the stove. Cal had a cold. I remember Cal sneezed and the sneeze seemed to echo. I guess it did, I remember this so well. Being distinctly tense. Cal would actually stop breathing for an entire year. We were not used to our baby, our premature baby, having to be shaken to breathe. Looking back on this, we were Blessed of God to have this happen. If he'd simply died in his sleep, would we - the young us - forgiven ourselves. Instead, the monitor became routine, to have the alarm go off in our sleep, trudge down the hallway, shake Cal, kiss him, watch everything right itself, say, "Thank God" and go back to sleep.

By the time we turned 30, we were celebrating 8 years, with two sons. And easily hired Edward's cousin to stay with the boys and had a nice Suite and Downtown Dinner. We were casual and relaxed.

Our 15th year Anniversary was spent at home, cooking for the four of us. Are you kidding, when sons are in almost High School, you stay home. I missed the trip to Vegas, the same reason. One of our Anniversaries was High Tea and food galore with Youth Group. The boys enjoyed the fuss and gave themselves permission to try High Tea with a bunch of male friends. We all laughed a Lot.

Our Honeymoon was wonderful, we went to London. Got lost in a London fog, went to the wrong restaurant and found perfection. We had High Tea at the Ritz and never lost the enthusiasm for tea and High Tea. It was our only Anniversary with snow.

To look at all the Anniversaries, is to look back and find so many things were so dour and seeing in hindsight were blessings. All things work together for good, for those who Love the Lord and work according to His Purpose.

The hills and valleys were part of a Plan. If only we knew we would see it Later.

Abba, Father God,

John 15

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4

 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain

 in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, 

ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 

8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 

10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, 

just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 

11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 

13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, 

for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. 

To live in Your Grace and Mercy

Knowing to put down the worries that were pointless and fruitless in the past.

In Jesus Christ, to have Your Grace and go forth. Forgiven of old worries.

To press on to Seek You First.

To daily include and invite, You, to dwell in me.

And in those I love, the people God has given me.

And be grateful.

To forgive those who have given Judgement, as I have judged. 

To be wiser, to rejoice.

Rejoice in faith, hope and Love and not be tossed by my doubts

and not tossed by doubts of others.

Hold tightly to Jesus Christ daily.

To be Blessed to ask more Heaven on earth.

To find more Heaven on earth.

Be more Heaven on earth.

To pray for good health for me,

I need prayers for rapid heartbeat for the first time since 2005.

This is uncomfortable and signals more exercise and less caffeine.

As we pray for all of us in Covid, with our concerns 

and the worries of others. So many people have allergies, colds,

coughs and sneezing without Covid. 

Believing, this is sympathy of the world for 

one another.

The Lord Jesus remember Elliott's miracle.

The hopes we put in knowing of Miracles of Yours

and Prayer moving Your hand.

We pray for those who are ill

and asked for prayer. Covering them

in the Willingness of Jesus.

Keep us in Jesus,

This Republic, the people of the Republic.

 The world needing kindness and a hope

of peace from this hugely stressful season.

We pray for the United States Congress to calm down.

And those having stress being involved there. We need you. It will turn out well,

we have read the Last Page of the Bible and this ends well.

238 Accomplishments requires Mercy.

Our Governors and Legislatures for help and wisdom.

Giving Thanks to those keeping Mercy and Justice.

Let's agree in prayer, Pandemic

causes willy-nilly barbarism brain thoughts that end.

And we pray Jesus for go faster, please.

He understands. 

We arrive in prayer just as we really are.

Keeping the joyful thought of Eighty percent of

people pray. And not worrying too much about this poll

or that poll. God forgives the sin of our youth, and

knowing the Church has always welcomed

those of years in the pews for a long time.

God doesn't worry too much about the people who Pray.

His Love is flowing, now, for us

and the people who will come to a prayer and faith life.

His Mercy Renews Daily.

Thank God,

Thank God,

Thank Jesus.

Amen with prayer in Jesus

and Your Righteousness.

Please Availeth this one much.

Amen.

Lord Father, Thank You for

hearing our Prayers

in  Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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Psalm 138 ~ with my whole heart

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Psalm 138

Of David.

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;

    before the gods 

I sing your praise

2 I bow down toward Your Holy Temple

    and give thanks to Your Name for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness,

    for You have exalted above all things

    Your name and Your word.

3 On the day I called, 

You answered me;

    my strength of soul 

You increased.

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,

    for they have heard the Words of Your mouth,

5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

  

For Great is the Glory of the Lord

6 For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly,

    but the haughty He knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

    you preserve my life;

You stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

    and Your right hand delivers me.

8 The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me;

   Your steadfast Love, O Lord, endures forever.

    Do not forsake the work of Your Hands.

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;

    before the gods 

I sing your praise

We know the Emperor Claudius began persecuting Christians 16 years after Jesus died. And the real situation, the gods weren't appealing to the people as they once did. 

When Jerusalem was sacked in 80 A.D., the amount of Gold in the Temple of Jerusalem was staggering to the Romans. So much so, the Temple had teams of Romans scraping melted gold from the ruins of the Temple for a long time. Herod had built Caesarea, where Jesus predicted His Church today on the Rock of Peter, fighting hell off, 50 years before the Fall of Jerusalem. Herod had built The Royal Stoa, with Roman Architecture, holding the Jesus-whipped-them money changers because they were making millions annually. Herod wanted the Roman Empire, to vaguely understand, the little-wanted Judean Province was cash flowing astutely. The gold from the Jewish Temple, the Romans came home with, gold into the tens to hundreds of millions. For very valid reasons, the Roman Empire realized the gods weren't in favor.

I Kings 7:13, 5:6, 13, 14; II Chronicles 2:17-18.

The materials assembled for the  Jewish Tabernacle is in Exodus 35-38. 

The total quantity of gold collected was approximately one ton; of silver, 3-3/4 tons; and of bronze, 2-1/2 tons. At approximately $500 per troy ounce, or $6000 per pound, or $12,000,000 per ton. Silver priced around $12 per troy ounce, or $144 per pound, which is $288,000 per ton. 

Exodus 12:35 states Jews were given gold, silver, and ornaments by the Egyptians at the time of the departure from Egypt. The golden lampstand in the tabernacle weighed a talent and would today be worth a half million dollars for its gold alone. A replica of this Menorah is now in the Temple Institute in Jerusalem. (These prices for Gold are old.)

I Chronicles 28:1-19; II Chronicles 2-4; I Kings 6-7M

Materials included 100,000 talents  of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver, (I Chronicles 29). From his own private fortune, David also gave 3,000 talents of gold and 7,000 talents of high-grade silver.  100,000 talents of gold = 3750 tons, value today = $45 billion; 1,000,000 talents of silver = 37,500 tons, value today = $10.8 billion.  The wealth of the First Temple was about $56 billion. Or if we take the current Gold Price Per Ounce $1,232.40 = $137,984,000 Billion.  We have to credit all to God.

Cicero and Josephus wrote of the hoarding of wealth by the High Priests. 

The Second Temple was not wealthy although the Temple Tools returned from the Babylonian Exile. The plunder Titus carried to Rome could well have been worth tens of millions of dollars. Cicero wrote of great influxes of gold to Jerusalem. Josephus, Wars of the Jews, has told of Tradition saying the intense flames of the Temple fire melted the gold and silver, and it ran between the cracks of the rocks. Roman soldiers then totally dismantled the Temple stone by stone to extract the gold, Matthew 24:1-21.

Temples to the gods, goddesses in Rome were sometimes painted colors.

Isis' worship was later in the Roman Empire. Her Temples were red.

The Romans didn't know how much the Temple would be looted for. Suddenly, the Roman Empire had a more serious problem. Romans realized the gods weren't in favor. 

Roman History is so complete, we have the addresses of the Romans written in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Mamertine Prison records Peter and Paul. Justin and Tertullian refer to a letter Pontius Pilate wrote to Emperor Claudius of Good Friday, the earthquakes, eclipse and reports of the dead rising to life. The letter to the Emperor is lost, although complete forgeries exist. History explains where Peter was buried. We know which Emperor signed the death warrant of Peter. 

How were the gods and goddesses going to reclaim the fragments?

Some serious thinking went with this loss.  The Culture of Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome were loosely tied around the gods and goddesses being so similar.  With so many cultural changes sweeping the Roman Empire, more instability was extremely undesirable.

How to repackage, advertise, challenge and enthrall the Participants of the Eleusinian Mysteries?  

The Roman Empire knew about Catacombs and Synagogues, House Churches and cryptic messages (they knew there were signs like the upper and lower case fish <><, but not the actual sign.) And God knows, these Christians were cannibals meeting in the Catacombs and healing lepers, so something was definitely creepy there.

So, the repackaging of the Eleusinian Mysteries: Mysteries of Mithra.

And this looked like the movie Bowfinger with Steve Martin and Eddie Murray in 1999: Bobby Bowfinger: "Now that you and your colleagues here at Mindfu -, head have had a chance to think, what do you say?"

Inspired as of the days of old, gods inspired of other gods and goddesses was trade. Mithra was Persian Empire of the Zoroastrian divinity like the Greek Mithras and continuity between Persian and Greco-Roman practice. The Mysteries of Mithra were taken from what Christianity inspired from far away observers. A complex system, 7 grades of initiation mysteries and reveals. Plus communal ritual meals. Initiates were united by handshakes. And divided by mysteries and levels seen at the communal meals. This was held underground temples, Mithraea Temples, which survive in large numbers.  Centered in Rome, traveling around the Roman Empire. This was to enthrall the Eleusinian Mysteries and provide a warm, "Oh yeah, I knew that vaguely."

And soon the gods and goddesses were history. 

And where Peter is buried became the Rock where the Church of Jesus has started 2,100 years ago. 

How could this have happened. 

Peter lived near Rome's Red City Wall. Red let everyone know, in the vast, traveling Roman Empire that this was the section set aside for the foreigners. The poor and underprivileged foreigners. According to the 62-year archeological dig under the Vatican, this section went on for 3 city blocks. This encompassed the foreigner cemetery where criminals were buried. Not the best side of town. And near the Red Wall Foreigner side of Rome, was an entrance into the catacombs of the true Romans.

Jesus, c 235 AD, Syrian. Jesus is alive!

Easter has people rise from the tombs.

What would cause the world's most educated population, 

with extensive cultural history of Rome 

to turn to Jesus Christ?

Jesus describes His Father:

Jesus tells of His Loving and Available Father:

Jesus, 4th Century Roman Art

Luke 11

    

5 And He said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything

    

    Because He is his friend, yet because of his impudence He will rise and give him whatever he needs. 

    

    9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, 

and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

    

    10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, 

and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 

11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 

12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 

13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, 

how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

The Romans came to know the poor foreigner's section and went to find Peter and Mark to know Jesus.

We can see what they saw in Vatican archaeology. The slum is still under the Vatican, the early Romans of 400 AD smoothed out the slum to make a flat surface to build the Vatican. Using the same area of the town to house the Christian worshipers.

We are seeing Peter's neighborhood in the black and white photos. The same doors and doorways, Peter probably knew. The cemetery was recorded being the park of the neighborhood. The neighborhood wrapped around the large rectangular cemetery. Which was like a park.

Really, when we see Mark's Gospel, we are seeing Peter's Ministry to Jesus.

Peter directed Mark to write the chapters of the Gospel to  the First Century Romans questions they mostly asked about Jesus. Mark's Gospel was written to fill in the conversations heard on the Streets and in the houses of Rome. 

  Romans 1:7

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: 

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

  

    Mark 10:21

Jesus looked at him and loved him.

  

  John 21:7

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" 

  

    John 11:5

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 

Jude 1:1

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, 

To those who have been called, 

who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ

    

  

  John 13:1

It was just before the Passover Festival. 

Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. 

Having loved His own who were in the world, 

He loved them to the end. 

  

  

  

    

  Abba, Father God,

  

  2 Thessalonians 2:16

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope

  

Help us to hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, and we are encouraged with those we love and help each other with Your sound doctrine and put our doubts aside. To help your Church. To Strengthen the Body of Christ. And overcome this virus and season.

  

 Dwell in us, Father and give us the Joy of Your Strength. Bless us to see more Heaven on earth.

 Rejoicing each day to pray for the people we love and the people You have given us.

To Seek You first and be more Heaven.

  

  Bless our neighborhoods, communities, Churches, the States we live in and the Nation. 

  Remind us of Your Love and we rejoice.

  

  The Love Jesus has for us make our days easier and give us the warmth

  to overcome our moments of discomfort.

  

  Bless Elliott and Harby in the hospital and hotel in Maryland and Virginia.

  Bless their children and dogs to be encouraged and Blessed.

  Blessings of Health in Jesus' Willingness. Abundantly.

  

  We ask in the Highest Name of Jesus. Amen.

Lord Father, Thank You for

hearing our Prayers

in  Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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Psalm 139 ~ The way of everlasting

 

Psalm 139

A Psalm of David.

139 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

 
Indwelling God, larger than we could possibly consider.

Father God concerned with all of us. Very intimately and very loving. Your Father God is shown in the exact nature of Jesus Christ.

David would dwell all of his life living, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

How do we know? All of the Psalms were either of David or sung in the Temple.

Psalm 102:26
They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing, you will change them and they will be discarded.

David knew the earth was God's and temporary.

2 Samuel 7:16
And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.

Since Genesis people of faith have understood God is a Living God and God of the those Living in Eternity.

Genesis 26:24
And that night the LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.”

People of faith have lived enfolded in God. The Power of God and the knowledge of Scripture as Power in His Word.

Isaiah 44:3-5
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring

Isaiah cries out the love of the generations to follow. This is the Same Holy Spirit from the Psalms to Isaiah.

Jeremiah 3:4,19
Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth


The communion of the saints. Isn't limited as God Himself is not limited. Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are advocates in the Power of Prayer.

1 Peter 3

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.


Ephesians 3
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of His love, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

1 Corinthians 13

Love never ends.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine

is the Kingdom

and the Power

and the Glory.

Isaiah 58:8
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Psalm 139
behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high.

Ephesians 6
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.  To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints



1 Timothy 3
You will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household,
which is the church of the living God,
the pillar and foundation of the truth.

By common confession, 

the mystery of godliness is great: 

He appeared in the flesh, 

was vindicated by the Spirit, 

was seen by angels, 

was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, 

was taken up in glory.


Let us be one in the number of those proclaiming Jesus is God.

All Glory to God the Father in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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