The Lectionary is important.
We learn and are challenged to read the odd bits of Scripture. And it offends people and sends them swirling. Why? Jesus said man is like a flower in the field. We simply cannot uphold the Nature of God as God does. Jesus Christ does.
Jesus Christ wants to save the whole world in Jesus Christ. Jesus does not say don't read the odd bits of Scripture. Jesus, The Son of God, says every dot and iota of Scripture is something to examine. To read the Plan of God.
Jesus isn't meek and mild.
Nahum 2:9
9 What do you plot against the Lord?
He will make a complete end;
trouble will not rise up a second time.
Luke 6
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.
Pandemic Recovery is a great time to think about the Prodigal Son. The Father did not stand at the door to curse, exclude, revile, slander, and plot to get at the Prodigal Son. If He did, He would lose his family. For decades. Around 2% a year, until Pandemic thinned more.
What can we count on in Pandemic Recovery can be seen, measured, viewed, learned and avoided. The 13th Century Avignon Papacy from 1309 to 1376 during which seven successive popes resided in Avignon rather than in Rome. And during the Plagues end, much like World War II, the Jews were targeted as the fiend. For money. And then when the Pope stood up for the Jews as not the cause. The neighboring countries created war for money. Using Power to get money.
The end of the Black Plague, we all know, created starvation. Those unwilling and ill to do the work. Weakening the nations, creating more illness. More despair, illness and deepening loss of health and systems.
The Jews had a plague of wars, we call the biblical version The Apocrypha.
Jesus called one portion of this, "The Fox." And the people did like the time of Hezekiah and gave funds, gifts and tithes. Into a rigid system of Laws and works. And soon Herod was building the Royal Stoa. The bank for the Temple. The Money counters, moneylenders, the dole of paying for animal sacrifice for indulgences, the rich and wealthy building in honor of Caesar's architecture. And with the chicken house so nice and feathered, Herod wanted his own glory. Jesus called Herod a fox. The fox leading the Roman armies to the Royal Stoa, the feathered nest.
The French Revolution was a plague of greed and blood.
The safety of those with funds began to play with hunger, wages, employment, to increase money. And soon more heads fell, the Church saw book burnings and destruction internally. The wealth of the Churches was the enemy of the people. Those nobles who had felt wealthy, safe enough to light the Revolution found the tide turned upon those who thought safety was something to purchase.
What is Pandemic Recovery but the loss of faithful systems surrounding us to see how we will heal or react or recovery or starve.
What happened after plagues? People lived in walled cities. And were afraid. Until less happened and less happened and boredom set in and hopelessness. It wasn't until the Grace of God showed up and gave the people courage to dwell in safety.
Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
John 14:19
Because I Live, You Also Will Live.
Ephesians 4:25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
2 Corinthians 4:2
We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God.
We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.
2 Corinthians 2:17
We do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
1 Corinthians 5:8
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.
2 Corinthians 1:12
And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God--not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
We can talk about beautiful things and beautiful Scripture. We can utter warnings about things, events, systems, we cannot pretend to be God and control. But Jesus has said He is in every battle in the Old Testament. Jesus tells us God explains the evil and the good. Making a safe place for love to dwell and prosper.
The Great Christian Awakening of the UK existed only because all mankind realized they were flawed and unable to be anything but flawed. And asked mercy for those struggling. Mercy for those bearing burdens that were invisible. Not downgrading culture. Finding His Mercies Renew Each Day. Balance of Speaking the Truth in Love. And Love for one another. Not envy and wrangling.
Awakenings due to looking at every dot and iota. Speaking the Truth with Love. The Great Commandment, Love one Another.
Jesus spoke of the importance of Light.
Billy Graham's Crusades grew and grew when one candle can be held up in a darkened, huge football field. One Light can light millenniums. One Light from you as a Child of God.
Such a small thing, creating huge impact.
Jesus spoke of seeds.
Too small to matter? Words. Kindness. Acts of Kindness. Prayers.
Jesus said our faith impacts lives. Our deeds impact our lives. Our history. Our future. Your life and Your future. The chain of Life.'''
Matthew 13
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.
3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.
4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
Do not despair and lose sight of His Mercies Daily.
Does Prayer actually work? Recently, the anti-prayer sentiments hit the Headline. Don't you Really Believe Prayer Works Now?
Seeds we plant. Jesus tells us His Father is working.
Abba, Father God,
By You all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
Jesus brings many sons to glory.
For Jesus is come to our Father's glory with His angels,
and He will reward each person according to what he has done.
Today:
We are remembering Good Prayer
Blessed to God.
Please pray all heals well and my eyesight improves, thank you!
Jesus has been hearing us pray in Amazing and Wondrous Ways.
We ask Jesus today for those suffering,
who need His Help. His Love and Mercy.
Lord Jesus please heal, love, forgive, and heal them all
in Your Love and Mercy. Amen.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among
those with whom He is pleased!”
Father God, help us to do the Good Works You have prepared us to walk in.
For the ones we Love and the People You have given us.
For our Churches, places of work, our states and Nation.
The People who are Your Beloved, to ALL
cover them with Your Name in strength and mercy.
We live abundantly on the Word of God, You have provided.
We Pray for the Republic.
We the People all have Family and Loved Ones
we have fought and lived and died
for our Freedoms.
One Nation Under God
with
Liberty and Justice for All.
We pray for Truth.
Knowing in the Truth is where Peace and Integrity
with Love and Courtesy Dwell.
Jesus, please dwell in us.
Jesus, please dwell in those we Love.
We ask to seek You first.
In Jesus, we will finish well.
Favor our Nation, dwell in us. Please.
We ask to know to seek You first in all aspects of Life.
Knowing we will see and be more of Heaven on earth.
Proverbs 16:9
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
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 hope.
Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Abba, Father God,
You have told us to always pray with Hope.
Jesus help us in this Nation to be in Your Word and see more Joy.
Covered in God's Love,
The end of Trouble.
Help this Virus end quickly, safely
We rest in the Hands of Our Good Father.
In Jesus Christ. Amen.
God Himself Bless, Sustain, Comfort, Guide
Help us to seek You first.
Amen!
More Heaven upon earth.
Grow the Kingdom
with
Love.
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