Matthew 18:21-19:2 ~ forgive your brother from your heart +

Matthew 18:21-19:2

 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 


²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³ “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.^{[a monetary unit worth 20 years' salary]  25}  And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶ So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’  


²⁷ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.  

²⁸ But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,^{[a day wage]} and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 

 ³¹ When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. ³² Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴  And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,^[torturers] until he should pay all his debt.  

³⁵  So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you,
if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

19 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. ² And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

And He healed them there

The true feeling of forgiveness is exactly the same as the one we all experienced as a child, when we would swim underwater 
and 
come up gasping for air. 

The true feeling of being forgiven is the same.

Alleluia, Alleluia.  Alleluia, Alleluia. 
Alleluia, Alleluia. 
Alleluia, Alleluia. 

Alleluia, Alleluia !!!


Given a choice. Are you in peace? Please stop reading.

With the understanding,  the Book of Acts,  tells how easy Faith is. Daily many believed in the Salvation of Jesus Christ and were saved. The truth is reading the Scriptures is easy and once belief and gratitude are professed and held on to - Salvation - Free Gift of Jesus is a free gift - easily attained - eternally, amazingly, appreciated and held with Joy, Faith, and Love.

Thus ended the Lesson.

In Great Heart Ache? In Sorrow of Suffering? In Trauma and confusion? Taken advantage of?


Forgiveness is a Process with discernible steps and reasoning. Prayer. Process. Peace. Joy. Forgiveness.


1 Thessalonians 3

11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows, 13 so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.


God tells us not to weary of doing Good. The Joy of God is our Strength.

He is a very Present Help in times of Trouble.

He will not leave nor forsake those who Cry out for Him!

He reminds us we are bought at a Price. We will hold on to Jesus and be confident in times of Trouble to Approach the Throne of Grace.

We do not want Him to deny this for others.
I am told not to quit
I believe in the Wheat Field. I believe in the umbrella of Grace
I believe in Salvation in Jesus.
I am too flawed to do this alone.
God only works with sinners, because this is what we are.

The Word of God is our Way.
A Light to our Feet.
Understanding Life from the Vast Knowledge of a Living and Powerful, Compassionate Father who knows when a sparrow falls.

We cannot build a Universe. We are mortal. God will help us. Not by an example of you are wrong to hurt. Not by saying our hurt causes God to fail. Prayer and help received. Laying down the right to revenge. Learning. Becoming stronger instead of festering. Realizing our Savior, our God always is good to be at our level and we do not obtain His.


Begin knowing God is Father of us all.

Father God being Father of All and Creator of All Things puts the light of Jesus in all of mankind.


This Light is in and available to Judas, Caiaphas, and Ananias. Caiaphas had a beautiful sarcophagus and in his sarcophagus were found only two things - two crucifixion used nails. Not even dust.

The Light of Christ is found in the multitude of women who turned out to mourn the passing of - The Greatest Man to Walk This Planet. Jesus the Christ of God. The Light of God is found in Mary, Mother of God. His Aunt. Mary Magdalene. And John.

Jacob gave us the example in forgiving his sons, without apology from them, for conspiring against him to grieve the loss of his son, Joseph. Reuben carried his innocence to guilt and, then much guiltier. Jacob acknowledged this. Jacob dealt honestly with forgiveness in his blessings.

Jesus was honest in His Forgiveness. The process of forgiveness in the Prodigal Son has time. Time to sell the land, time to waste the inheritance, time to have and experience the loss, time to flounder, time to travel home. Time for the Father to miss the son, to see the son in the distance. The whole process is God's. And ours. And is really about process time given.

Jesus tells us there is wheat and weed. And we are not responsible to judge, but are responsible to forgive.

Now let's be more frank. Be real. Be honest.

God dwells here. The Truth.





Judas died. He probably committed suicide and Judas probably hung there until he fell over. This encompasses both parts of the Word of God. Frankly, I worry about people who defend that man. There is nothing good about doing this thing to anyone and even completely worse to the Lamb of God. This Jesus is the unblemished Lamb of God. Jesus did Acts of God continuously. Judas was not uninformed.

And Judas was one of the forgiven from the Cross of Jesus Christ. How Father God deals with this is the business of - God Himself.

Judas saw he preferred power, influence, money and position over Jesus. Forget Love that travels to heal, nourish, comfort.  Forget Acts and Wonders of Love = God.  Sin - shove off God I'm in.  Judas also demonstrated he was not going to change. This was the path.




Caiaphas and Ananias. The plotters and malcontents of the Talmud writers and the Sanhedrin Council who were called that Friday Night (omitting those who would not help their plan to sacrifice Jesus for the sake of the Nation). Jesus appeared to 500. And yet, Jesus is not one who, when the Prophets rose from the Tombs and returned to Jerusalem to proclaim His Victory over Death. Jesus the Lord did not return to them, nor to the Temple, to say This Is HIS Temple and Jesus the Messiah.

Jesus Is Victorious.

Instead we learn in the Book of Acts the multitude explained by Josephus, Josephus tells us is between 1 and 2 million population in High Festival - the Multitude takes over the Temple to Witness to the Victory of Jesus the Christ of God.


Caiaphas leaves a statement that was opened in 1960 A. D. Death and punishment. Two used crcrucifixion nails. Justice without mercy.  Personal power.

 

Jesus took a step of Faith. Jesus said,  "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." "

Jesus trusted God would Forgive.






The Disciples. 10 of them died proclaiming Jesus as God and were martyred. Paul died and he persecuted the people of Jesus. Forgiveness was Given. Appreciated. Needed. They are not recorded as going to Jesus to ask. Probably because this was so very horrendous and they felt they deserved no forgiveness. And the Grace upon Grace of the True God willingly gave. This is, of course, an unusual case as this - Jesus is the Son of God.

Relationship. This importantly says something about the cost of brokeness and the true path of reconciliation in going forward in relationship. This assumes we are the sinner. The Work of Redemption.  This does away with the concept of Cheap Grace. Jesus as our waiter. Boundaries are put up. Stop. Look. Listen. If the cost of damage is going to cost - do not damage. If the cost to recovery is great - keep going.

The Disciple legacy is of Love.  Empowering Love changes a World. God's Will. 




The multitude. The people who yelled "Crucify Him." The people who were healed, fed, nourished and failed to show up to help. The people who would not gather to mourn with Jesus at this dire time. This generation did not perish. Jerusalem was not sacked until 70 A.D. - Jesus would have been gone about then of natural old age. God protected the generation Jesus worked so hard for. Forgiven. Father God honors His Son's request for forgiveness. Thank Jesus Christ, God Almighty - for me and for you.

And in Victory of Forgiveness - we will discuss this more. This is Wonderful.

 

John. Wow. The Beloved Disciple kept Mary the Mother of God out of the fray. Simeon told us of her heart ache to happen.

John spends the rest of his life proclaiming the Victory of Love. And fully sees as he is in life - there is evil in the world. There is Joy.

John is fully recorded in reliable history to be alive and in vibrant life in the beginning of the 100 A.D. era. Blessings for treating the Son of God - as He should be treated and Loved. Steadfast Love.




The honest part is these are levels we can relate to in our heart aches.

This is given to us for our learning.

Seeing we can leaning upon God and learning His Great Mercies.

Health.


Joshua is told to said be centered on God. Not to far to the right, not to far to the left. Joshua had to forgive the men who in fear failed to do the Will of God. For years? For 40 years and cost Joshua much of his life loafing around in the Desert with people who failed. He had spent time with people who fear. And this can be contagious. He arrives in a new season, being told to trust, and told not to fear. Beautiful. Trust again.



Matthew 18:22
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times."

Was Jesus, Son of God kidding? No. Not at all. Be forgiving. And then stop. Forget this situation. God says leave one town, go on to the next.

Jesus and the Disciples did not keep trying with Caiaphas. Father God has never asked us to help Him Judge another or to spend time sweating their final outcome except in prayer. But God certainly said understand fruit and be innocent as doves and wise as a serpent. No one tried to stand in front of the pigs running to their death.

Turn the other cheek. Many time the Bible and Jesus did use humor. Not to be crass. To lighten the load, the burden, the struggle. I am sure God meant, walk away from the ridiculous, unending battle. Turn the other cheek and walk.

Joel Olsteen is so truthful and humorous. He says Pray for your enemy. And ask them to be blessed in abundance - Way Over There. I can see that Jesus would find this really refreshing and completely honest.

We can safely place our burdens with Jesus.

We tighten into knots, worry, have anxiety. So many boundaries are placed by God. The Hand of Blessing and the Hand of Woe. Solomon says God offers us both. We have to have the humility to say Life is a Work in Progress and I want to bring Jesus my soul and say oops with please help. Thank You for forgiveness. We will be given far more in eternity than we could ever come close to earning. A free gift of Salvation.


Father God tells us we all have gifts and abilities. We all have our place in the Body of Christ. This is grand acknowledgement - God loves who we are - TODAY.


Let go of grudge space and let the Light of Jesus Christ enfold you - as the process allows. God will help us forgive and be at peace - we just have to ask and want the Peace of God. A process of God in the Journey He Gives us. Homecoming - to get back to our Father - Who runs to see us - coming - Home.

Luke 15:201
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."

We all need the Grace of God.

Cost of sin. Cost of recovery. Boundaries. Clarity in the vision of the relationship. The Goal of God's Love.

 +

Forgiving God our troubles. Solomon said our troubles and blessings come from God. Intentionally to have us grow. Find the Narrow Path.


John 21. Jesus Victorious returns from the ...grave. What is defeated? Death. A new Heaven and a new earth. At tremendous cost of the Unblemished Lamb of God. Breakfast with the Lord of Lords. King of Kings and ... people. A squabble over the eternal life of John. People are going to be people and Jesus is not surprised. Or horribly offended.


Now Jesus gave humor a lot in the Gospels. Love is going to bounce. But we have to keep picking up the precious Jewels of God. The Pearl without blemish - worthy.

Jesus says the True Abundant Life is narrow.

72 Disciples. 2 asked for fire. 70 Disciples. Now that is humor. But then again, one Gospel records 72 and 2 asked for fire of Judgment and another Gospel records 70. Beware of asking for fire. Seriously.

Jesus says Communion is eating His Body and Blood. And 70 disciples basically depart. This is gross and uncomfortable, Jesus looks off center. (The Son of Man with blind seeing, deaf hearing... wow good judgment call there, huh.)

And then 11 Disciples depart. Salome and the Brothers of Christ Depart.

And we are left with John, Mary, two more Mary's and an Aunt of Jesus through Mary. That is a narrow gate. And multitudes of women who are very, very sorrowful.

The path has narrowed indeed, indeed, indeed.

We are all working on the effort of building. Unless we just sit and bemoan life. Fritter away.

Relationship has effort, cost and determination.

Jesus was rebuilding.

Jesus chose his Disciples again. As they really are. He expected work of them. Jesus is known to have taken back some of the 70. We call them Mark, Luke, Titus, and others. Jesus added in - Brothers of Christ Jesus. 500 included those who were willing to go back and give thanks like that one leper out of 10.

Jesus chose Forgiveness. Some were regathered. And multitudes chose to storm the Temple, the Outer Temple and the dispersion began. The world saw radical change without a system of media in 16 years - to the top - the Emperor of Rome was shaken. (Just like Luke 3 - Miracles happen - people want stability - Herods start grabbing power and position).(We call this the nature of mankind and the response of God to all this mess is God sees inside and determines to save those professing and having relationship with Jesus Christ.)



And in flawed mankind, the Disciples start having management issues. Paul and Barnabas (Son of Encouragement) fight over that lazy John Mark. Barnabas urges Forgiveness. And in Forgiveness - People have renewal.

David was not welcomed in as God's anointed - until God said tada. When David was to be crowned. But even that set or circumstances had hitches and glitches. David was beloved of God. David welcomed those who had been chilly. And in Renewal of Love, The Nation of Israel Rose.

The business of God is Salvation. Salvation is a Work of GOD. God calls this Forgiveness.

Thanks be to God for the Salvation of Jesus Christ. We were bought with a price and we will go forth in the Joy of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Righteousness. God is God. We let God be God. And we trust in Him. And pray and live, move and have our dwelling in His Love and Goodness. Celebrate Jesus.

Father God,

Your Grace upon Grace. We rely on Jesus' Righteousness. This is our Hope. Jesus Christ. For us, for the people we love. For our Nation. For the news we mourn and cheer of the world. This is where Jesus wants to Save.

We lift up our sins to Jesus and we lift up the sins of others and we trust God to be God and we work in His Grace. Looking to the Joy of Jesus as our strength for ourselves and for others. Taking in deep breaths of forgiveness and being merciful and gracious to others.

For the process He has placed, Help us Father, we call on Jesus. Today and Tomorrow. Jesus will not fail us.

We don't have to rest on knowledge. God provides Himself. God is Love. Lift up Your Countenance Father God and we will be Saved!

Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Isaiah 12 ~ With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation

Isaiah 12

In that day you will say:

“I will praise you, Lord.
Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
and you have comforted me.

2 Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.”

3 With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.

4 In that day you will say:

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.

5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
let this be known to all the world.
6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”



We began our Church Service today praying for the victims killed, the victims injured and the families of those harmed by the shooting of 53 and the wounding of 50 in Orlando. We asked Father God to comfort all the people affected by the violence to have the Mercy God willingly gives.

Later after singing, reading of the Word of God and prayers - the worship - the Sermon began as the rain began. We prayed the Thunder would happen to be a blessing from Father God. (Like Lightning struck the Vatican twice - hours after Pope Benedict XVI's resignation. Lightning, in the Word of God, is referred to as The Lord Speaking, not necessarily ominous.) Immediately, we had a roll of Thunder. All were very pleased. And Father God received joy from our congregation!

We felt so good telling the Grace of Father God. Undeserved. Pervasive. Jesus is God is Love.

At my house - more of yesterday's Blog Post. Today, the ducks of yesterday returned.

Truly, remarkable. To go where yesterday, was so terrible. Brave of them.

To believe what was offered, initially, was good. Being wild ducks, they could fly. However, being smarter than the ducks, our food was not offered again and we waited for the ducks to clear out. The coast was not clear when the dog could still attack. The grand -doggie stayed inside.

God has given examples of David shepherding. And we realize we are here to care for those around us.





Proverbs 31:8
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.





Destitute.

Orlando, Florida.

The violence has made people destitute. Not just in Orlando, not only in Florida, but a worried population.

Loibl, 27, traveled to Orlando, 107 miles, with intent to kill Christina Grimmie from NBC's 'The Voice,' said police. The report adds Grimmie and Loibl did not know each other. Loibl didn't have a gun permit or a criminal record. His insane rantings were removed from the internet shortly after the crime. Loibl's computer and cell phone shows motivation: His hatred of Christians in general and of the young female Christian singer.


50 killed, shooter Omar Mateen pledged ISIS allegiance. Fifty Americans were killed and 53 were injured in a terrorist attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.



Father God,

Let us hold true to what we have attained. We have a world reeling with opinions. A left vastly separated from the right.

Salvation in Jesus tells us a heart loving God Almighty is centered. Not too far to the left, nor the right. Allowing freedom of expression to God. The Psalms cover all manner of abuse, hardship and truly deep heart aches. The Book of Proverbs tells us from 700 B.C. - a heart tragedy leads so far down - death can occur just from heart ache. A medical fact recently 'discovered'.

In understanding this severe level of human endurance and human suffering - people are encouraged to express their opinions. Not to stifle emotions. Asking for real care to be sought for the dead, the mourners, the injured, the shooters, the people who listened to the shooter and were helpless.

To tell anyone their heart felt opinion in this is not emotionally correct, is Needed. We are allowed and shown in the Psalms the depth of human concerns.

These hate crimes do not come from Loving a God of "strict morality."

These hate crimes come from not allowing emotion to be alright to be expressed. Letting the emotion out, heard, healed to become fully understood and able to be brought into the compassion, the true Compassion of a Loving Father God.

True Salvation says we have all fallen. Going back again to 700 B.C. - Ecclesiastes 7 tells us men and women are fallen. King Solomon understood we live in a fallen world. Solomon traveled far down this path.

In Father God's eyes, He sees us all uncovered, all with flaws, mistakes, sins.

 And His reaction Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow to our inner core is to want to save the World through Jesus Christ. We have to decide to Choose Jesus the Lord. To be centered on the God of Love, Mercy. Forgiveness.

All of these extremes are shocking to so many people, and not shocking to Father God.

 God is not pacing Heaven worrying how this can be solved. Father God who is Love. Understands. Has Mercy, Compassion, Love are in His Plan  

All 12 Gates of Heaven are open. His attributes, His Creation, His Love - all are of this journey is covered in His Word.

We who are ok , today, should remember, Brothers, Sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

In the Love of Jesus Christ, we will continue to have Hope, Faith and Love. Always. His Promises are sure. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Hebrews 4:11-16 ~ no creature is hidden from His sight

Hebrews 4:11-16

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.


14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.




This morning, I started out early. Edward was meeting his friends to Disc Golf in Huntsville. I was trying to decide how to save Indian Hawthorne bushes. An article on the web, by a Georgia Master Gardener, was talking about Beer, Mouthwash, Ammonia and perfection. And I asked a couple of friends what they thought. A Christian Radio announcer, in another city, swears by these homemade things every month.

And another garden site said yes, but Chemicals have more homework. So I did what I do, I filled up a Nalgene bottle after doing a few weeks of systemic Fungicide and fertilizer were not getting the heal I wanted. Theis was a bottle of a small bit of Miracle Gro, a beer, a tad of Dish soap, a squirt of Ammonia, and Trace Minerals and some Epson Salts. And some Cornmeal for fun. When I read this, I was peaked, I thought it was interesting beer provides carbs and causes photosynthesis.

The next taske was putting out Caladium bulbs in the backyard and my Grand Dog, Jackson the Husky, who is visiting us - decided he needed a duckling off of the pond. This mature, purely loving dog has torn himself out of a steel travel crate and he found he could now pop the gate open.

Grand Dog visits the Wonderful Keeper of Treats.

I was so horrified. Baby Ducks were screaming, we were all screaming, the Mom Duck was Screaming. When a Husky, a dog bred (in Texas) decides he needs an Australian Walk about and Iditarod Dog Race - this is going to take about 3 to 5 people and High Anxiety to get him home. Huskies run. This is what this breed does.

We;ve raised ducks on that pond.

Simply, I just did not know what to do. The people I called were not answering and I was alone. Rest was not going to be part of my Saturday Morning with Jackson.

This week has been Adventure Week. We can call this "Adventures in Dog Baby Sitting."

So I ran back in the house to get phone, treats, book and prayer. And on the way out, I accidentally let Beaux, our Springer out and now there were two dogs in the pond.

I prayed FAST. The stories of old Catholic Saints say if you can't do something - you can't do something. You just better ask Jesus for Help. And Loudly. One saint used to plop down her Shepherd's Crook. Pray and go to Church. She knew if the sheep were eaten - she would be beaten at home. For her failure to do the family business. She put the crook up - the Shepherding Up to God - Down on her List and went to Church. The events said, well, the sheep didn't get eaten every time she went to Church.

I said, "Father, I can't do 3 to 5 people running up and down the 3 acre pond to catch this dog. I need the dog, this is really a very loving dog and we just need our dog. Please Help in Jesus. Amen."

Going to the back door, uncharacteristically, Beaux had decided, he'd better find out why I was in the house. Beaux rushed into the house to see me. Thank God, now we were back to only one dog loose.

You can do, what you can do. I sat by the gate to our house and I said, using all the tricks we have used for 8 years, what we do to recapture the Jackson dog. I spoke Kindly. I yelled Kindly. I promised the treats I waved. I tried singing the "You are a Good Dog Song" we sing. But forget that. Rotten dog. No way I'm singing that lie to that dog. And he had better not decide to run through the neighborhood. He has, yes, done that plenty of times. Please God, let that not be today. Amen.

And about the second hour, I never did get to read the book, he discovered the neighbor's dog and they had the best time running up and down the fence. Every 30 minutes he'd swim past, the center of the pond, with all the ducks in a line in front of him.

Using the sweetest voice, I'd call his name very loudly and tell him I had "Canned CAT FOOD." And he would look appreciatively over and KEEP Swimming.

Only one of us was having fun.

When Jackson go to the exit parts of the Pond - Then I would jump up and down and sweetly call him LOUDER. Pray too.

Just to peak my interest, Jackson visited our yard twice. And eluded me.

The third Jackson visit, we were well into the second hour. I jumped into the pond and for the first time in 16 years, I was going to swim Long Lake. With a wide brimmed hat, and tennis shoes. And I reached and paddled and got - Jackson's tail. This is about the end of this "Tail".

But I promise you, what I thought of was Mother Angelica, Catholic nun, saying, "Pray! But pay the Light Bill!!!"

Jackson swept us well over my head. Quickly. And I thought, "Oh you can sink in tennis shoes," But with dog tail and dog back fur, you are not able to release tennis shoes. I got him turned around bobbing us both. Jackson is a heck of a dog. He just is the sweetest natured boy in the Dog Kingdom. But I wondered because he was going under and my hat was going under but we were going to get to shore and point the right way. He looked at me for all the world to say, "Really, really, you just pushed my nose under. Are we ok?"

I prayed. "Power Lord, Power." And I kicked as hard as I have ever kicked. And I thought, now, I just have to stand up. And my feet hit solid ground. Thank Jesus.

God even provided a self photo that won't make me cry! The hat had to dry out too. You can tell from Jackson's expression, he was not ready for "Adventures in Dog Baby Sitting" to end.

Lord Father God,

I know You sat so many hours with David shepherding his family flock, his people and his Nation. I would wonder if Jesus sat in Nazareth to guard literal flocks and would guess, yes.

There are so many things in life, where we can only do what we can do.

I Thank You so very much for Your Help. I drew near to You and You did Help and Help.

Thank You for all the prayers You hear about loved ones and You answer in Your Mercy and Grace.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 91 ~ the shelter of the Most High

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will saya to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refugeb—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

We all have anxieties and we all answer our anxieties differently.

This week my mirror broke off my windshield. This felt like a lot of difficulty. When I had my windshield replaced - a year ago - the place told me they were amazingly out of glue and hoped it would last. I said, "Ok."

Well the day the mirror broke, I was feeling anxious about my husband's health. He had been telling me various complaints and I was listening and he said, "Sorry, I don't feel well and I am making plans for my day and you deal with the windshield repair people - do what you can." This was bad news on an anxiety day because this place is deep in the city and is a pretty good distance. God is good and my son Alexander, studying for his Master's Degree, said he would ride a long. But the whole way down there on highways jammed with people - was a day of, "What will I do?" I was scarcely grateful. Just couldn't get there. 

I finally felt a little calmer on the way home. Picturing Psalm 131, hold on to Jesus. I was vastly cheered, almost in a memory, of Jesus kissing me on the forehead saying, "It's ok, Jesus is not going anywhere; you are ok. Calm down."

The week went by and I remembered - oh man - I have to return down there and put on the second half of the mirror repair. Ok, ok, fine.




And we returned, Edward again said he was tired, Alexander and I climbed in the car and went on a tour of the city to get back to the affordable windshield place. Getting lost has it's perks, you learn more about the 4th largest city in the USA. This time this was easy breezy, even in spite of being lost. Rain. No problem. Chatting happily along when last time I was quiet, brooding and inward focused. Hope, Faith and Love - we all need a larger slices.



We arrived. No problem, we were remembered, and told, "Sure about 15 minutes." About 3 days later than expected, but hey.


And sitting with us, in the waiting room, was a woman who was very animated. She moved all her arms when she talked. She had red, yellow and orange hair. Nicely combed, recently colored. This is art on her. She was on the phone, talking about her accident and the cost and the time and her work. And her arms went all the way up. And who did this. And where it happened on I-45. And the cost.

She got off the phone, and explained she works very hard at a Texaco station and began to explain her job to us. She and Alexander were visiting. And she said, "You have to see this." She got a call and she is back to explaining her situation again to the caller. Off the phone. And she said "Look at this monster that fell off an 18 wheeler bounced twice and came over 3 lanes and hit me. It has a point! It's sitting in my car and I left it there to show people. I took it in the house and it weighed 60 POUNDS! Look at it!!!"

She is explaining her pay check, her lack of restitution. Her time lost, the glass continuing to fall on her. And she hands us her phone (what would we do without them?).

I have spent time thinking - this is a very animated, people savvy, busy and busy, busy young woman.

"OH - and not only is this thing with a point on it. It has landed smack in the center of the windshield and under the mirror. If it had come to the right, it could have sent me to the hospital, or killed me."

"Can you believe that! Smack in the center. Oh! And no one knows why it stopped in the glass. I was going at least 60 mph when this thing smacked me."

She veered off topic before we could reply. And changed to her job, the details, the time off, the conflict over the repair. How much her pay check was. The nick in the chrome of the windshield - not repairable - but ok. Her phone buzzing.

And then we got to see the photo:

 
(This is not the photo - this is pretty well identical - her part was mechanical gear - a drum feel off and shattered making this exact shape. 60 lbs of metal.)



She had very high interest in her conflict and was upset. Not so, truthfully, in what we'd say. She was pretty upset.

I waited until I had her eye. I said distinctly, "LIVE ANOTHER DAY."

She said, "Wow, ain't that the truth." And went on with the story that was extremely amazing.

I said, "Why did it stop?"

She said, "No one knows."

I said, "Look at this. It is the exact shape of a spear head. A weapon. It's HU-G-E."

She completely stopped. She put down the phone, to her side. Her head lifted and her chin jutted out.

She became silent and sat down.

We were all silent and Muhammad Ali's funeral was on TV. After a few minutes, we talked about the footage of young Ali, as I remembered him. as I was a child. Our friend was quiet. I knew this was her time. I knew it was her time to process. She was in some shock. She said - nice talking to you both - and left.

For almost 4 years, I was fortunate to receive training of of Witnessing about God. I knew this was God talking and not me. There is a time to speak and a time to be quiet. Ecclesiastes 3. I said a prayer and put this in God's hands. I have seen when to speak and when to rest.





Soon another young woman came in, nodded, and sat down. The TV proclaimed Ali as a Father and I knew what was next. I said, "Alexander, God wants that young woman alive. She has survived something very unusual and not even her car had a scratch, just a 60 lb. spear through the middle of her windshield, and her speed was 60 mph. This is not counting the speed of the metal spear."

Alexander nodded and his mouth fell open. The young woman stopped. I said this is a Plan of God. We witnessed this today.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.









We all sat in companionable silence. Then we listened to the family remembering Muhammad Ali. I felt we were seeing not a passing of a celebrity athlete, but a man with faith in God. Passing A Torch to the Nation. The endurance of a man with illness. His strong belief in seeing the good - over his illness, over circumstance. A Very Real Chapter in the United States of America.

Seeing a man face many changes in life through his life. With Faith, Courage, Determination. Overcoming through all his decades. He did not waiver.

We got up and I felt like we had seen a State Funeral we all should remember.

Psalm 30
I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up,
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Juan's Auto Glass. 6111 N. Shepherd. Houston, TX  77091


Feeling blessed, we walked to pick up the car. The man fixing the windshield told me, "Ma'am, the mirror repair is on us. We did the work, we stand by our work." Makes you Proud of the Nation. Life is a struggle now. People seek God. We all have a Story to Tell.


We are all valuable to a Loving God.  He sees a troubled creation as still worthy of Salvation from the unblemished Lamb. Jesus.  Savior to the World. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow - Jesus is seeing the Good.


Psalm 34
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

1 Timothy 4:4
For every creation of God is good.









The add oil light came on. I felt so assured of God. Comforted. Held. We sat and I calmly called the Mechanic in Willis, Texas. James - the young man who just loves cars. European Auto. This young man has seen us on the fly. And he has tweaked a this and that with a smile. How assuring it is to have a place where you know the car is cared for by someone with integrity. He told me what weight oil to get and said it would be an easy fix, but if I needed the help, he'd help. I said, with a laugh, no he'd explained what was needed.

So we stopped at the store where it was like going back in time. We got help to find the right oil. And next door is an Academy that has moved up in the world to have a new store. Creating a large empty store. And the liquor store thought about it and thought about it, and has taken up the vast space.

Edward had been unusually considering vodka this week. We have about 5 drinks a month. But we discuss recipes. We had discussed the up and coming new liquor store. And here Alexander and I were. I went in and there were vast supplies of unusual soft drinks, cheeses, an aisle of Texas wines. Even a Champagne I bought called, "One Hope."

In the midst of this store, I remembered, Jesus loved Vineyards. He talked about them 21 times. God saw the good in a vineyard. The Beauty!

Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might

Romans 12:11
Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men

The world's oldest wine cellar was discovered in Israel in 2013.

There is a reason why Jesus felt He would discuss Vineyards.

Life presents us a world very similar to the First and Second Century A.D. Jesus never presented Himself as someone 'too all that', to not have LIFE. The primary reason Jesus told us about the Temptation of Jesus for 40 days - is to say this - we all will have real life. To be tempted and have thoughts - this is ok. Jesus was saying just because we have opinions, and attitudes we would all rather have privately - Jesus is saying - Overcome. Be real. Be in Life. Admit like Jesus - temptations come.


Life has odd humor and comedians. Brilliant music with off lyrics. Jesus told us to be in life.

We dwell making a life and a soul to present to Jesus. Doing our best. We want the Shelter of the Most High. We want Jesus to say, "Well done." To hear "Beloved, Child."


Stay Pearly, my friends.



Father God,

You are Life. In You - we move, live and have our being. Live. Stand fast in the Lord.

Thanksgiving - we want to return this to God.

Joy that we feel for Jesus' sake before our God.

So, we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see Jesus face to face and supply what is lacking in our faith.

Now may You - our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus - direct our way in You.

May the Lord make us increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as Father God does for us.So that He may establish our hearts, for the people we love and pray for. In Jesus Christ, blameless, the Cross has made us flawless, in His holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. For our Nation, in God we Trust.

Let our Amen and our Hope, Faith and Love, be in Jesus the Lord.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

John 11 ~ And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to Him.

John 11

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”

4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?”




9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”

12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”

13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”




17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.

21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 

27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”




28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”

29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.

30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 

32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 

34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”




 
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

 Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 

41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 

43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 

44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”






45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,  46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 

49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 

51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 




53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.

56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 

57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

If we had to condense all of Lazarus to one understandable aspect of Father God?

“The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”



Father God,

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

The righteous will hold to His Way.

The nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Father God, with our prayers accompaning Jesus, we think of those we pray for with Love. We lift up their needs to You. We give Thanks to You for our lives and see the good there. We lift up Your Will and Expect to see Your Answers. We pray for our communities, Churches and Nation. With Love, Faith, Hope and Joy.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †