Zechariah 1:7-17 ~ The Lord answered gracious and comforting words

When Jesus taught, He usually sat to speak with His People. 

Ever since Abraham, God has listened with great interest to the prayers of His People, especially for Mercy. 

The Plans and the Ways of God are Good. God's Righteous Justice and Judgment.

Prior Christmas in Bethlehem

Zechariah 1:7-17

Zechariah 1:7-17!

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, 8 “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.

9 Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’

10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.’

11 And they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’

12 Then the angel of the Lord said, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’


13 And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. 15 And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster.

16 Therefore, thus says the Lord, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. 17 Cry out again, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’”

Why would God answer graciously and have comforting words?

The heart of the prayer, God would not answer bold and willfulness, nor answer those who do not tremble to blaspheme God in His Glory.

We find this conversation has the following points to consider:

God's opinion is sought and is considered. The Lord God has been sought.

Pride and Arrogance is left behind. Evil doing and folly is not part of the conversation with God. The Anger of God is considered.

Righteousness of God - God did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others.

Why God would answer Abraham. Abraham had mercy for others! Many times.

It was God's plan to rescue righteousness - like Lot, who was greatly distressed by the sensual direction of many wicked people. The Scriptures say rape happened often. Some of the Biblical accounts said brutal gang rape and murder, people dragged from their homes by gangs.  The Bible records truth, not fantasy of the best foot forward.

Our Father God,
The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,
and to keep the unrighteous under punishment.
We are not to be indulgent with areas to cause harm to souls,
nor despise the authority of God.

Nehemiah 8:9-12

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, 

“This day is holy to the LORD your God; 

do not mourn or weep.”

 For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, 

for this day is holy to our Lord. 

And do not be grieved, 

for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 

11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, 

“Be quiet, for this day is holy; 

do not be grieved.” 

12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink 

and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, 

because 

they had understood the words that were declared to them.

As the Word was printed, people became on fire for God. And Christmas Ham was greeted... as a terrible indulgence. Christmas was too joyous.  Too indulgent. A far swing from Joy.

Even today, we have people who really Love Jesus and don't like Christmas.

We are asked to deal all the time with differences between people and denominations.

I was raised being told not to be so silly as to think December 25th was Christ's Birthday. After all, Coptic Christians celebrate January 7th. Coptics don't eat meat more than 150 days a year as fasting is part of belief.

How would Jesus deal with the Difference?

The Coptic Church deals with differences - graciously.  

Mark 6 When Jesus sent His Disciples two by two, Jesus instructed to keep things simple. No Staff for Authority. No dietary bread. No incentive for greed.

8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.

Matthew 10:10
Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.

Luke 22:35
Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered.

When the Opulence seems to erase Christ from Christmas?

Psalm 47

1 Clap your hands, all you nations;

shout to God with cries of joy.

2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,

the great King over all the earth.

3 He subdued nations under us,

peoples under our feet.

4 He chose our inheritance for us,

the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,

the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7 For God is the King of all the earth;

sing to him a psalm of praise.

8 God reigns over the nations;

God is seated on his holy throne.

9 The nobles of the nations assemble

as the people of the God of Abraham,

for the kings of the earth belong to God

He is greatly exalted.

Always there are differences

God placed Jesus with an unwed Mother in a Barn. Jesus lived in Egypt, healed the Canaanite woman's child. The Magi arrived from the East. The New Church held Suzanna from Herod's Household. Simon the Zealot against Rome. Fishermen. Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

Colossians 4:6

Let your conversation be always full of grace, 

seasoned with salt,

 so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Romans 12:18

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone.

Abba, our Father God,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of compassion 

and the God of all comfort

He comforts us in all our troubles, 

so that we can comfort those 

in any trouble 

with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 

For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, 

so also 

our comfort abounds through Christ.

Blessed be Jesus. 

Given to us by our Father God. 

Covering us, 

covering those we love. 

Jesus covering all the believers of the world. 

Jesus guiding the Nation 

and nations trusting in Him.

Alleluia, we are the people of Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You,  Lord Jesus

You are God 

Micah 6:8 ~ love kindness

 

One famous King asked, "Can we all get along?" A very Kingly and Christian Idea.

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, 

and to love kindness,

and 

to walk humbly with your God?

“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”

Pope John Paul II

We all have memories of Peace. The end of conflict. I always thought Rodney King asking for peace was one of the most stirring memories. Seeing the Berlin Wall fall down. Watching the Iron Curtain people seek freedom by making human chains, miles long.  Seeing Pope John Paul II enter any situation, believing every Word of Scripture, and calling upon the human heart to find gracious comfort and give joy.


We have been the Easter People for so long, have we forgotten how unique, astonishing and awe-inspiring Jesus is. We almost have to have Linus read us the Scriptures to understand the Greatness and Majesty of our God.

Look what the difference is between the Truth of God and fiction  or even regular History- - -


If we had a Western Movie of Jesus, He might be asked to allow the bad men who killed him to escape. But later the Posse and the Sheriff would make sure that men toppled off the top of cliffs, men would fall as Justice was enforced. After much death and dying, Justice would prevail. Men would die, but our hero would be riding off to make another movie.

And instead, we know Jesus showed exactly where He is. Heaven.

If we made Jesus part of Roman History, this King of Kings might be asked to poison His family or his brothers. Or ask nephews to torture and kill the innocent, like Diocletian did. Mothers might poison lovers. Or like Eagles, cull children to enable the strong to survive. Morals would be put down to obtain position, to be King/god.

Making us glad again, Jesus is King of Heaven.

If Jesus were a Sci-Fi movie, sure sleep might happen for three days and then the other inhabitants sleeping near Him are heedlessly disposed of, killed, because we know that only the hero matters. Jesus might fight off aliens and quasi-humans, and some might go squish, but the hero is not going to be forfeited.

Instead, God continued to work with the Disciples. He found within Him grace and mercy.

If Jesus were, "The Mummy" what would be bad about the bumbling disciples obtaining the curse. What would be bad about them loosing organs and eyes and eventually being a human sacrifice enabling the Hero Jesus would live. After all this, is God, so the humans are not needed. Just let Jesus sit on the Throne when all the people had died and the plagues killed them. Only the King matters.

And in the Scriptures, Jesus died for you. Jesus died for me. That we might live with Jesus in eternity in His Kingdom.

If Jesus were a detective movie, Jesus would be brilliant and the guilty would be carted off to never be seen again. Jesus would shine.

Jesus tells us He knows the names of all the Heavenly Host and calls each one by name. Our Jesus Christ, our Savior, tells us He is our strong Tower. We rely upon Jesus.









What kind of King would expect and ask for healing lives and bodies - for us to provide kindness - mercy

What Kind of King would give His Son. Showing Life, given by the King of Kings, is innocent. Revealing Good. Has provided unspeakable blessings and mercy.  And what does He say of you?

You matter to God.

What if you grew up with your siblings giving you trauma? Your story is living and active in Joseph. God would want to be part of your life.

What if you are adopted? You learn God wants to be part of your story and tenderly placed you into the river of life - where the waiting arms of a willing mother - were glad to nurture and welcome you.

What if you had a life of being blind and having multiple families and children and just buzzed on to a new life and one day you realized you had not made any real meaning in life? Jesus would anoint your eyes and sit listening to you about the people who were giants in your life and made you feel unclear. Jesus would stay to heal you. Mark 8.

Suppose you had pushed out all the opportunity in your life - by substance abuse and dark days. Jesus would heal you and lead you as you are, and want to be there for you today and in your recovery. Luke 5.

Suppose you were one of the many, many children who have lived with hunger? 1 Kings 17:7-15 Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath. God does not stay apart from those who have suffered.

Mark 5 a man with demons and, perhaps, mental illness wanted to go with Jesus. Who gives him the gift of ministry, to tell of Jesus' healing him.





Or perhaps, you know you are Jabez. You are grateful to God for what you have been given. Teddy Roosevelt was.

Perhaps you are Jairus' daughter, you were given so much care by parenting and God - you are blessed by God.

Maybe you are Mark, your life has included you in many of God's blessings. Paul wrote of wanting Timothy to be safe. Mark was protected by Peter as well.

Or you have a great job like Lydia, seller of beamers, or purple dye. Acts 16 and you give back.

Maybe you are Salome, and have stood with people to comfort them and recognize the goodness of Jesus.

God who loves you, tells you His desire is to bring the world to salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. God tells us in John 1 - the light of all mankind has the true Light of Jesus Christ.

What matters? We believe in our heart Jesus is the Christ of God and desires to give Life. And we proclaim with our hearts, lives and mouth.

What matters to God in our response? Our heart. Our words. Our faith has led us to be Life bringers. To be like God. Who calls His Holy Spirit, "Comfort."

Abba, Father, 

He has told you, 

O man, what is good

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justice,

 and 

to love kindness, 

and 

to walk humbly with your God

When the world does not bring good readily, 

when Justice is merely a cry from the heart,

Kindness is a memory, 

walking with the Lord is not the glorified path,

 there is an answer:

Zechariah 8

16 These are the things that you shall do: 

Speak the truth to one another; 

render in your gates [your own home] 

judgments that are true 

and make for peace.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

    “May they be secure who love you!

7 Peace be within your walls

    and security within your towers!”

8 For my brothers and companions' sake

    I will say, “Peace be within you!”

9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

    I will seek your good.

Dwell in us, Father.

Help the ones we Love to have You dwelling in them.

Bless us with Your Love,

Help us to Seek You First.

And 

we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

Heal the hurting, uplift the families. 

Send Your Vast Blessings, Father God, 

You are truly are as vast as the Universe itself and as gentle as a breeze. 

Speak the Word, Father God, and we know Your healing. 

We ask You for healing:

For honesty,

for God's own Help.

In the Nation,

Nations and Israel,

mankind,

families

and the weather

Economics.

All the things we pray for diligently!

We pray 

to rise

 to shine for Your Glory.

In the Name of Jesus Christ,

Your Son.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Lord Jesus 

Matthew 6:10,11 ~ daily †

Matthew 6:10,11

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

 Give us this day 

our daily bread

In our previous Post of a few days, we talked about remembering the promises of God to hold on to. To let spiritual milk fill us. And how will this relate to what the Bible calls the Spiritually Mature? Ok, good point.  Holding on to the Promises of God, in small verses, help us Hold On!

James 1:6 

New International Version

But when you ask, 

you must believe and not doubt, 

because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

New Living Translation

But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.

 Do not waver, 

for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown 

and tossed by the wind.

English Standard Version

Let him ask in faith, 

with no doubting, 

for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven 

and tossed by the wind.

Jesus Christ tells us only One is Good. And I believe Him. To be able to achieve perpetual wonderful and perfection is in the realm of God Himself.  And I have seen the most able-bodied spiritual men and women not become Sequoias, but be human as a piece of paper. In fact, probably the best we can hope for is to be a steno pad. And be a Light for people to feel they have been treated honestly, kindly and directed to the One Who Is Good. I have seen, like you, Mother Teresa, became such a show that some person kissed her cheek and released her diary of her doubts. The Lord knows His Own and that release wasn't what God would hope.

I've seen the compassionate so chewed up by compassion, they forgot they were not God. And blame others, when they didn't have the same level of despair and concern. We must Believe God Is God and not burn out and fade away. Life is especially hard now. But the Scriptures assure us this is the way of life. Seasons. We are Not God! And we say that with Joy and Relief.

I have seen the generous become eaten with jealousy and provoke one another. Jealousy is described in the Scriptures as fury. 

† I have not seen this in Church in the last year, I've seen gracious people.  The people of God's Hope have Hope. I would say to include Disney as an analogy of God, given their top-level conference on gender removal assimilation before children (and then subsequent stock loss below the 5-year-mark or 6 year mark) from their public remarks. Then multiple employees arrested for sexual trafficking, isn't a good analogy, currently. My life experience has been to hear about a young couple planning on gender changing unborn and not even conceived children. This is cruel.

And we have seen a war. Lived a war. Living recovery.

What have we seen?

1. The fear of death as Italy was at a 28% death rate.
2. New York City struggle to lock down and a death rate of 18%
3. We have seen people weep in the streets and sing.
4. We have seen the medical community and researchers work together, worldwide, bravely and without rest. 
5. We have seen The White House and Presidency reach out worldwide to ask the autoworkers' industry to provide ventilators.
6. We have lived the historically correct pandemonium of Plague Recovery
7. Riots
8. Fires
9. Wars
10. Greed
11. Employment curtail, while calling this progress, working poor
12. Lack of ANY true discussion on medical insurance
13. Focus on sexual matters and not health matters, young are dying and ignored, sudden death
14. Any sexual distraction thrown at the public
15. Power Hunger Seeking
16. Unprecedented division while calling for Unity
17. Unprecedented lies and fire set to National News Organizations
18. Family traveling in record numbers to see one another for the Holiday
19. A sudden collapse of travel computers taking far too long to correct, Chaos
20. Crime unchecked
21. Evil called good. And called good as tourists in cities are attacked.
22. Homelessness and Borders ignored and lied about.
23. A war on the prices of necessities, like water. Financial undisclosed war.
24. Chlorine, unprecedented prices for a factory long restored. Incredible.
25. The end of the Afghanistan war, putting 7 billion dollars in weapons in the Middle East. Distance is Texas sized, Babylon to Jerusalem.  From Iran buying Afghanistan weapons. 
26. News that endlessly reports the problems to... increase unhappiness and Chaos. Not solutions. Increases despondency. 
27. Weather problems of great proportions, not studied by the news and instead more talking about sexual matters.
28. Children being manipulated in self-esteem, fake history and sexual matters that would have put adults in prison, even recently.
29. A new trench between the generations. So tragic.
30. False claims of name-calling and racism. Anger mucking.
31. Social media discussing the theology of theft. Good people discussing if theft is a necessity.
32. Not reporting what the stores pulling out in areas, decreases housing desirability and business moves out too. Creating a Ghetto.
33. Telling everyone to be quiet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
34. The elderly IGNORED to allow a new path of newly educated elitism 'idealism'.
35. Coldness

And now is the world ending? Oh, puleeease. No. 

Am I sure? No one is sure. But one thing supports my opinion completely and without any doubt.  The Scriptures, and even the Ascension of Jesus, tell us, the entire world will know the Bible and of Jesus Christ. We live in a world where more than 1/3 of the worldwide population knows nothing of Jesus. Or His Promises.

What other Historical Comfort shall we know?  

King Hezekiah's father wanted him to move the worship to the hilltops. Which for Jews, this coincides with living near Baal worshipers and other gods. Why? Because Ahaz was terrified of the Assyrian Empire growth. Good reason. Judea survived. Israel did not, and tribes were killed off entirely.  Then Ahaz directly instructed his son, King Hezekiah, to start stripping the Temple of Gold off to buy an Assyrian approval for a puppet kingship and kingdom. Instead, Hezekiah and the people of the Isaiah Age, Led the Most Amazing Awakening, rivaling the age of King David.

King Josiah, decided the Temple needed housecleaning. And discovered... The Bible. It was so unused and such a formality they had to hunt up someone to answer what The Bible was.  Now, that is just.... shocking.

When Mary and Joseph were arriving in Bethlehem, due to Caesar Augustus, taxation and marriage laws to provide income within all the Roman Empire. Augustus had new marriage laws for easy divorce. And all types of marriage within slavery, to remain a slave. With marriage to child laws, not to inherit.  It wasn't a kind world, rather tough, not steadfast love. The Empire would begin to fail due to the loss of inheritance to children. Children depended on being the owner of the family business. This unraveled inheritance in some cases and it became prolific. Trade began to suffer with the unsteady practices. And the Empire became unable to support itself in military advance and home safety, then in trade safety.

1/3 of the people during the Renaissance engaged in prostitution, procurement and pimping or sex trafficking. Married men rented out their wives to the amourous.  And they kept the children! Priests had wife, wives and concubines.  The amount of data kept in Rome and the Roman Empire is profound.

 † After the Martin Luther Reconstruction, undoubtably needed due to the slip in morality during the early Renaissance, this led to the dissolution of the monasteries, who had fed and created hospitals, created schools to create literacy, during the plagues. Once this help was removed, 1/3 of death was starvation. The current trend to debunk the Church never considers the vast damage done to the entire population for the dissolution of monasteries. The plague did damage - but the starvation of 1/3 of the population! Not discussed.  Epic and Catastrophic Deaths. Not to mention the Spiritual Hunger.  † 

(What other time did the Church face 2% loss and see the total population suicide rate  increase above 3%? And Church attendance has a gap down, to see the suicide rate has the same gap leap in statistical numbers.)  †

Notre Dame, Paris.  During 1789 AD to 1799 AD. The age of our little old ancestors, borrowing a phrase from "My Cousin Vinnie" wearing powdered wigs and funny shoes with capri pants - that polite, ineffective era??? The age of where will I put my black facial mole for increased sexuality and sensation era. They beheaded all the saints statues. Picked up all the chairs, put them, in a heap, and set fire to them - - - to honor Roman gods. And when the fire picked up, they threw in the hymnals, prayer books and Bibles. Because just like Time Magazine in April of 1966, they all were declaring, by being drunk in Notre Dame, and burning Bibles, that God was dead.

The Russians tried to kill off God and the Church for almost 70 years. And the Russian people today Love the Lord. And rejoice to be able to worship publicly again!!!

What other Historical Comfort shall we know?  

The weather during the first and second centuries was so terrible, areas that had never known a tornado were prone to them. And the rivers in Italy dried up, creating starvation. Trade was dying because of the fear. Because travel was by foot or donkey/horse, many, many, many people died from lightning.  People believed this was the end of the world for 200 years. This led to more religious persecution, as seen in the Book of Jonah. And led the way forward for people who pray in the name of Jesus Christ for one another. Hope in the midst of darkness.

Your kingdom come, 

Your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

 Give us this day 

our daily bread

This is about as close as we get to: 

Pray and pay the light bill. 

Prayer for Happiness

We are being told by our Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, to bring happiness and joy to the earth as in Heaven. Pray for happiness. And find a way to be grateful, honest, hopeful, joyful during our regular life.

What happens if we fake it until we make it? Oh, Especially During the Holidays!!!

We are more irritable, more hopeless, and bring less joy to the world around us. Make misery, fake it till you make it. Scientific fact, we know this to be true.... because we Live This.

The Best Way to turn into the Grinch is fake it until you make it. Guaranteed. Be honest, be in tuned with self-control. Some of my best prayers with the Lord of All, is when I have to explain to Him why I am right. And then we seem to understand that the Lord Knows Much Better.

How will we win the war?

Honesty, Mercy, Stand Firm in the Faith. Believe Jesus raises us from being dead, on so many levels. Like anger. And unhappiness. Our Jesus walks on water. Our Jesus Christ raises the dead. Our Jesus Christ makes bones rise up to life and restores the heart of stone to the loving heart.

We aren't God. Thank God. But Jesus healed like this: You are Forgiven. Carry your mat. Go see the Priest. Walk to the water to wash. Go home and tell your people. Come with me. Go and tell the world. Forgive.  Jesus gave people things to do to aid in their relationship with God, to aid their lives. To make them do for themselves in His Healing.

I am grateful to the Lord God Almighty that He Is. 

Abba, Father,

What is seen 

was not made out of things that are visible

John 8:32

Then you will know the truth, 

and the truth will set you free.

Thank You, Father,

Dwell in me,

Dwell in those I love and fill them with Your Love and

Hope and Glory.

All Your Promises.

Help us to Seek You First.

Israel to have Peace!

We pray strongly and diligently for the child in Wilmer, Texas,

and lately the two small children,

all child abduction,

to be returned

unharmed to family.

Let Psalm 122 be theirs.

And in Jesus Christ, we will finish well.

Please and Thank You, Lord,

We want all levels of Health

this Season of Holy Days

Holidays

Merry Christmas!

We ask in Jesus Christ 

His Holy Name

We should share The Peace

worldwide

The earth is the Lord's and the

fullness thereof

Amen

Almighty and Everlasting God, 

You made the universe with all its marvelous order, 

its atoms, worlds, and galaxies,

 and the infinite complexity of living creatures: 

Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of Your creation, 

we may come to know You more truly, 

and more surely fulfill our role 

in Your eternal purpose

 In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

Amen

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†

Common Prayer Book

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You,  Lord Jesus

You are God