John 14:21,22 ~ He remained there with them and was baptizing. Yesterday, today and tomorrow!

John 14:21,22

Whoever does what is true comes to the light, 

so that it may be clearly seen that 

his works 

have been carried out in God. 

 After this 

Jesus and His disciples 

went into the Judean countryside, 

and He remained there with them 

and was baptizing

When I think of Jesus' ministry on earth, grace upon grace, I recall the blind seeing, the deaf hear, the lame walk and the poor have good news preached to them. I once lost a verbal bet Jesus had baptized.  I'm always surprised Jesus baptized. He had others to Baptize for Him.

I'd bet Jesus smiled and was pleased and proud of each of His Children.

Imagine the decades and generations of those who had been Baptized by Jesus. Telling their children, grandchildren and perhaps great-grandchildren. Telling friends, being asked to tell those traveling by.

The days and years, becoming decades of days. Days illuminated with the memory of looking into Jesus' eyes, as they rose out of the water during the Baptism.

Anointed by Sacrament. Anointed by the event. Anointed by God.

Jesus says every Word of His is for yesterday, today and tomorrow. And Jesus said:

John 20:29 

 Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed

Anointed by belief. A Promise of God the Almighty.

Matthew 25:34

 

Then the King will say to those on His right,

 "Come, you who are blessed by My Father,

 inherit the kingdom prepared for you 

from the foundation of the world."

Abba, Father,

Help us to go before the Lord to prepare His ways

To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins

Because of the tender mercy of our God

 His sunrise shall visit us from on high 

Giving light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death

Guiding our feet into the way of peace.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms

By grace you have been saved through faith

 and that not of yourselves

 The gift of God

not as a result of works, so that no one may boast

Faith is a gift of God

by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ

May grace and peace be multiplied to you

 in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord

We pray for all facing injustice

and those who face the injustice

in a system called Justice.

We pray this Land

is Home of the Free

the Brave

and 

the Honest.

FREEDOM!

1 John 3:1

See what kind of love the Father has given to us,

 that we should be called children of God

Dwell in us, Father

Dwell in those we Love

Help us to seek You first

and in Jesus Christ,

we will finish well.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord

Jesus Christ, Savior of God.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Ephesians 4:15-32 ~ builds itself up in love

 

Ephesians 4:15-32

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Now this I say and testify 
in the Lord:

That you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

That is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.  

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Every day of our lives, we face conversations and decisions about what to say. If we were Jesus, we could say, "Zacchaeus, come down out of that tree, we will have pleasant conversations in the garden of your home, in the cool of the evening, where you will know to anoint Jesus' feet with oil and a kiss for His cheek. A Party like Matthew did."  And no one would ever be disappointed.

Recently, a blooming woman, at coffee, told us she and her sister had both faced cancer and had moved into together and healed. I told her how well she looked. She bloomed more. And she told us about her adventure with her pet dogs. I was glad for this woman that her cancer was past. We discussed dogs and leashes and walks. Edward added in about dog torque and halters. Paths and joys the days bring us. As we winded down, I wished her joy in her dog adventures! Got in the car and wondered if we should have closed with speaking about cancer. Did she look unhappy I didn't mention this? But other cancer patients say half of cancer is about wanting to never speak about cancer again and the willingness non-cancer people have to speak about cancer and more cancer and then cancer. Anyway, said a prayer as we drove home. I tend to pray a lot. Bet you do too.

Most People truly are doing their level best.

Most People truly are doing their level best.

Most People truly are doing their level best.

And then you have to realize, people are after a plague. And plagues are about anger with anger and anger. Remember... the airline flights are Bizarre, with violence and actually increased violence from 2021 to 2022. People who believe if we radically change every single thing about Christianity, Blessings, transit, medicine, morals, power power power power power, sex sex sex sex and sex and sex (power), and behavior, then we might all live to be a thousand years old on earth. 

Most People truly are doing their level best.

Most People truly are doing their level best.

Most People truly are doing their level best.

Yesterday I entered into a conversation about energy. Why. Because if we don't speak up, gently, we will be yelled down. And if we don't disagree, we will be forced down. See Ephesians 4.

My life experience is we own a family set of acres in Jackson County, Mississippi. My grandmother came to own this from her father (James Lawrence Wilson, who lived and owned most of Bolivar County, Mississippi {Along Hwy 1} as he was a banker, who required the loan farmer to have insurance from default, sold and benefitted to him, right before the depression. Later laws made this illegal, but was legal at the time. Grandmother inherited only Jackson Co. in 1953.) In 1955, the Jackson Co. land was selected to have an eighteen wheeler sized, in girth and height, oil pipeline running through a section of the land. The pipeline is huge and also runs through the Gulf of Mexico, Ocean to River swamp. And how many problems have we had on this gigantic pipeline? Zero. Pipeline fears are, really, about almost always, bogus. The pipeline companies have walkers, who walk the pipelines in the mountains and oceans and swamps. 

What happened next to the discussion of energy? Gaslighting. Gaslighting is taking the subject and changing it to become about agenda.  

DEFINITION:

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which the abuser attempts to sow self-doubt and confusion in their victim's mind. Typically, gaslighters are seeking to gain power and control over the other person, by distorting reality and forcing them to question their own judgment and intuition.

What happened next to the discussion of energy? 

It became this: If you were worthy, you would NOT seek to discuss energy, you would only be interested in Gun Control. The Largest Cause of Deaths in USA Children. And then a flood of Gun Control emotional anger.

I replied this: "Actually, the largest cause of deaths in the USA is abortion. Abortion isn't about just birth control. It is learning to treat each other with compassion and empathy."   And the reply was that I'm not part of a Good Lord and I'm .... terrible, rotten, and mean. It was longer running to a paragraph, but why go on. I replied this: "I disagree."

We can't let others mow us down. We have to care about them, the culture, the values and be teachers who won't mow people down. But I'm not going to let an energy topic become a gun Control topic, to become an abortion topic and let being chewed out go. 

I'm going to use this Post, this space, to teach about Life.

Let's be gentle and say this: 

This next part of the Post is about Pro Life. If you are not Pro Life and you are open to hearing about my 3.5 years of Pro Life Volunteering, then please, read on. 

The Washington Post ran an article about an 18-year-old woman who had twins because Texas changed the Abortion Law that week.  The article took every sadness and complaint about feeding twins and said, "feeding the twins," every time it would fit in the sentence. She gave up waitressing, going to teenager parties and married the father of her baby. The article pointed out that two hours after the marriage, they had to, "feed the twins." Her father-in-law gives them free room and probably some board. But you have to, "feed the twins." 

In my experience, the mothers who continue to go with ProLife groups receive Maternity Care and Clothing, for 2 years receive formula, infant food, clothing, goods like cribs, strollers, educational toys - anything a mother or father could want. Their clients are mostly poor, but two - income parents come in because - they are welcome to. The Clients of Pro Life are usually in great joy after the decision making process is complete. These families, these mothers are brave and have Tremendous Joy.

Pro Life sees mothers come in with grown children to lament an abortion. Pro Life offers healing for those women who are sad that abortion did occur.  Pro Life tells you up front and out there what we value. Life. Love. Forgiveness. And they will tell you all the truth. 

Abortion causes misery. The angry denial of hurt. The angry fight of, I had to. The knuckle bone of anger. The sorrow of lost love. That is so sad. And on the other hand, the Pro Life prayers, as a group, see powerful Jesus answer many, many, many, many prayers for ill in utero babies. For women being abused.  The women who want their secrets kept. For women who didn't know, he was a pimp using the pregnancy as a hostage.  Why Pro Life works, one of the main reasons, no one is going to follow the client. This is the place, this is the point of view. Freedom.  No one forces Freedom on someone. No one forces Love.

What Pro Life learns,

parents willing to give 

What Pro Life learns,

parents willing to give their donated

shirts off the back

to those asking for assistance to love

How we long for the time

an opinion

didn't cause

horror

and discussion

was amiable

The truth can be difficult. The Love is the healing balm after the Truth.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes Bless The Lord Jesus

Yes Jesus Bless Asbury

† †

Yay Jesus

Acts 2:1-4 ~ filled †

Acts 2:1-4

 

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from Heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 

3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

I was looking at Social Media today, FB, Asbury University Revival / Outpouring, looking at a Post explaining about Sheep being anointed with oil. And remembered this with delight. The site is very encouraging.

This jogged a thought on anointing and blessing.  What blessing do we find during Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Lent. 

Sheep are anointed for a very good purpose.  

There are actually great reasons to anoint sheep with oil. Here are three top reasons to put oil on your sheep:

1. Seasons of Life: FIGHTING RAMS, protection and safety

Rams may fight for the favor of the ewes by butting one another, head-on, with great force. Can cause serious injury or even death.

Shepherds would often grease the rams’ head and horns heavily to slip away from impact.

2. NOSE FLIES, environment

Nose flies buzz around a sheep’s nose. The hovering flies can cause sheep to panic and run wildly. If the fly is successful, in a few days, larvae hatch, burrow into the soft flesh of the sheep’s nasal passages. This causes irritation, inflammation and infection can lead to death. Gruesome.

Pain will cause the sheep to rub its head on the ground, thrash through underbrush and even bang its head on tree trunks attempting to get rid of the intruders.

For millenniums, shepherds would watch for the first indication of nose flies and then apply a natural repellent made of olive oil and strongly scented, medicinal essential oils.

3. SCAB DISEASE, illness and unseen dangers.

Another contagious disease  - scab. A parasitic condition caused by a mite called Psoroptes ovis that is spread from sheep to sheep through friendly head-butting and rubbing. Thwarted by being anointed with oil.

David was anointed by an unhappy Samuel. And David knew to plan his life around the anointing. 23 years of terrible situations and more than 4 coronations, putting his life back on the line, each time.  David found his life to be Psalm 23, Sufficient and with the Lord's favor. Overcoming. Strength to fight the Good Fight.

When we read John 14, 15, 16 and 17, we are reading about a dying man being persecuted, soon to die terribly, explaining to His Dear Friends, He called Family: 

 Jesus' own Joy and overcoming sorrow. 

This is a strong verbal anointing. 

Life as death looms. 

Peace as suffering will be present. 

Prophetic Knowledge, having signs, to give hope as the dark prevails until Light overcomes and Triumphs.

 John 17 is an anointing today. Jesus Prays. Today.

What did all of this do to help the Disciples?

Jesus is the Way and the Truth and LIFE

The Romans weren't selective on Capital Punishment. Not a lot of self-help philosophies for those who threatened Caesar and his Empire. The Book of Acts refers to other religious factions claiming glory in front of Herod and Rome. Not many survivors.

No wonder the Disciples hid during Good Friday and Easter until Jesus is known to be Victorious, as He told the Disciples.

The Romans decimated within their military legions. If the Tribune thought there was disobedience or mutiny, they lined up and killed every tenth soldier. This would continue until the problem was solved. More than 1 in 10 soldiers would die. It could go as high as 1 in 3 soldiers. Romans were historically enthusiastic about crucifixion in large numbers.

The Disciples escaped the Roman crucifixion, forcefully probable only because the prayers of Jesus in John 17 reached the ears of our Father in Heaven.  In the same way Daniel had God's help during enslavement to survive and prosper. An intervention of the Lord, miraculously.

Acts 2 is described as flames of fire. There is no doubt, on the Road to Emmaus, the men describe this situation with Jesus of Nazareth as being something everyone in Judea knew about. These men knew, as Lazarus lived from being dead, Jesus was in Terrible Trouble with Herod, the Temple Guards, The Sanhedrin, and the Roman Empire. These Disciples had known they were living through the fire.

The Anointing gives Hope, Encouragement, Strength

and Resilience

Moses was to understand about living through the fire. And like the anointed Sheep, the Gift of God's Protection is in His anointing.

The Blessing of Abraham continues:

Genesis 27 

So he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. 

28 May God give to you the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth— an abundance of grain and new wine. 

29 May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. 

May those who curse you be cursed, 

and those who bless you be blessed.”

Abba, Father,

We pray our prayers are effective

in Your Mercy.

We ask for more of Your Favor on the Believing

Prayers

And the Joy of the Lord is our

Strength in our prayers to help

Your good Creation.

Anoint us with Your Joy

and Strength

and we overcome

Blessing Mississippi's Lower River Valley

and Nashville's Covenant Church and School.

Helping Ukraine.

Blessing Your Good Creation.

We ask in the Highest Name of Jesus

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus