Psalm 69 ~ as for Me, My Prayer is to You, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of Your steadfast Love answer Me in Your Saving Faithfulness.

The Earthquake rock was removed for more observation

Psalm 69

1 Save me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying out;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.

4 More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?
5 O God, you know my folly;
the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,
O Lord God of hosts;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,
O God of Israel.
7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
that dishonor has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my mother's sons.

9 For zeal for your house has consumed me,
and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting,
it became my reproach.
11 When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword to them.
12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate,
and the drunkards make songs about me.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love
answer me in your saving faithfulness.
14 Deliver me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
15 Let not the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
17 Hide not your face from your servant;
for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies!

19 You know my reproach,
and my shame and my dishonor;
my foes are all known to you.
20 Reproaches have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none,
and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me poison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

22 Let their own table before them become a snare;
and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see,
and make their loins tremble continually.
24 Pour out your indignation upon them,
and let your burning anger overtake them.
25 May their camp be a desolation;
let no one dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom you have struck down,
and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.
27 Add to them punishment upon punishment;
may they have no acquittal from you.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;
let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

29 But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

30 I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32 When the humble see it they will be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33 For the Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
35 For God will save Zion
and build up the cities of Judah,
and people shall dwell there and possess it;
36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

What a sad, mournful Psalm this is. It is the the cry of Good Friday. Jesus was not only hunted, deserted, mocked flogged, condemned, beaten, but he physically began to deteriorate during the 650-yard journey from the Fortress Antonia to Golgotha . His muscles had been pushed past human endurance.

Where would water have come from in this Psalm? Many doctors have looked at the gospel of John to understand what would have physically caused Jesus' death. They all agree Jesus suffered so much from the Garden of Gethsemane, all of these things hastened His death.

Dr. David Teraska has researched the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

"The average time of suffering before death by crucifixion is stated to be about 2-4 days (Tenney), although there are reported cases where the victims lived for 9 days. (Lipsius) The actual causes of death by crucifixion were multifactorial, one of the most significant would have been the severity of the scourging. (Edwards) Jesus died a quick physical death (Pilate was surprised that He had died so soon. (Mark 15:44)). While many of the physical signs preceding death were present, one possibility is that Jesus did not die by physical factors which ended His ability to live, but that He gave up His life of His own accord. His last statement, "Into your hands I commit my Spirit" seems to show that Jesus' death occurred by giving Himself up. In John 10, He states that only He has the power to lay down His life. He proved His power over death by His resurrection. Truly, God is the one who has power over life and death."

John 19:33-37 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."

Where did the water come from that was mixed with Jesus blood and possibly the water mentioned in Psalm 69?

Dr. Terasaka continues, "One theory states that Jesus died of a massive myocardial infarction, in which the heart ruptured (Bergsma) which may have resulted from His falling while carrying the cross. (Dr. D. A. Ball) Another theory states that Jesus' heart was surrounded by fluid in the pericardium, which constricted the heart and caused death.(Dr. C.T. Davis) The physical stresses of crucifixion may have produced a fatal cardiac arrhythmia. (Dr. C..Johnson)The stated order of "blood and water" may not necessarily indicate the order of appearance, but rather the relative prominence of each fluid. In this case, a spear through the right side of the heart would allow the pleural fluid (fluid built up in the lungs) to escape first, followed by a flow of blood from the wall of the right ventricle.(Dr. W.D. Edwards) The medical evidence supports that Jesus did die a physical death."

"Christianity is the story of God sacrificing His Son to restore a relationship that was broken. As stated in the above text, Jesus gave up His life to pay for the sins of mankind and taking the punishment for the sin upon Himself. Because He gave His life on the cross, any one who believes in Him will have a restoration of a personal relationship with God. Jesus Himself claimed to be the only way to God (John 14:6) and only by the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ can man have a meaningful and purposeful life. (John 10:10)"

"God desires that all men come to know Him in a personal way. If you have never received Jesus' gift of Himself for your sins , or have any doubts to how you can have a meaningful and purposeful life by the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ, you can start by praying a simple prayer, such as:"

Dear Lord Jesus. Thank you for dying on the cross for me. I confess that I am a sinner before God. I acknowledge that by your death and sacrifice that you have paid the penalty of my sins for me. Please come into my heart and become the Lord of my life. As you gave your life, I give my life to you. I will take up my cross and follow you, not as I will, but to follow Your perfect will for my life. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Christians Know! Easter follows Good Friday. We do not have a God who sits on high without concern for us. God chose to dwell with us. God did not leave Jesus, He does not leave us, this is the ending of Psalm 69:

30 I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

32 When the humble see it they will be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive. (!)

33 For the Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.

35 For God will save Zion
and build up the cities of Judah,
and people shall dwell there and possess it;
36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

This site is called Gordon's Calvary because in 1883 British General Charles Gordon suggested that this outcropping of rock just across the street from the north city wall was Golgotha, the Place of the Skull. The proposal that this was the original Calvary gained some momentum since a garden tomb had been found near this location in 1867.

About 300 feet to the left (west) of the "skull" of Gordon's Calvary is a rolling stone tomb (there is a track or groove cut in the rock in front of the entrance of the tomb for a rolling stone) with a burial bench inside. This tomb was discovered in 1867, and because of its proximity to "the Skull" it was assumed by the British to be the tomb of Christ.

Notice the burial bench was carved away by the Byzantine Christians to create a rock sarcophagus.

Jesus Christ Our Savior. Jesus The Lord. 

Psalm 90 ~ For a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past

Remains of Tabernacle Dwelling
First Temple built by Solomon

Wall closest, Archaeological ruin of First Temple Wall.
Models of Second Temple






Night at Golgotha, Vasily Vereshchagin

 

Arch of Titus, Conquering Jerusalem, relief on the wall. The Ark of the Covenant is missing. The gold from the Temple was used to build the Colosseum. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, the time of the natural death of Jesus, if He'd lived to be old.











Way of the Cross, Good Friday Service at the Colosseum

4th Century Church of St. Peter's built by Constantine. Built to look like the Royal Stoa of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem.
4th Century Church of St. Peter's built by Constantine
St. Peter's Interior Today.
Stained Glass Cathedral Rheims
Lyon Cathedral
Wells Cathedral
Country Church painted by Dzvinka Stifel
Beautiful altars




Psalm 90
A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.


1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place [our refuge]
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man [of Adam] !”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.

7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
 
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span [or pride] is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?

12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor [beauty] of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!


Psalm 90:4
For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

2 Peter 3:8
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Two days ago, Jesus Christ offered Himself as our sacrifice. Death was abolished and a new Heaven was written of by the apostle John, breathed out by the Holy Spirit ~ in the eyes of our Father God.

When we stand in our sanctuary, Church, praising God, we are - in His eyes - a mere breath away from the events we see posted today. We are just dust, , but Precious in the eyes of God. God is God of the Living. Many generations Living with Him; He is our refuge.


Jesus The Lord. Thank Thee for what Thou Hast Done for us, Your Beloved Children. Heirs in Promise to You. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

Genesis 49 ~ I am about to be gathered to my people

Jacob Blesses his Sons, painted by Dr. Harry Anderson

 

Genesis 49

 New International Version


Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

2 “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob;
listen to your father Israel.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,
my might, the first sign of my strength,
excelling in honor, excelling in power.
4 Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel,
for you went up onto your father’s bed,
onto my couch and defiled it.

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers—
their swords are weapons of violence.
6 Let me not enter their council,
let me not join their assembly,
for they have killed men in their anger
and hamstrung oxen as they pleased.
7 Cursed be their anger, so fierce,
and their fury, so cruel!
I will scatter them in Jacob
and disperse them in Israel.

8 “Judah, your brothers will praise you;
your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;
your father’s sons will bow down to you.
9 You are a lion’s cub, Judah;
you return from the prey, my son.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until he to whom it belongs shall come
and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
11 He will tether his donkey to a vine,
his colt to the choicest branch;
he will wash his garments in wine,
his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes will be darker than wine,
his teeth whiter than milk.

13 “Zebulun will live by the seashore
and become a haven for ships;
his border will extend toward Sidon.

14 “Issachar is a rawboned donkey
lying down among the sheep pens.
15 When he sees how good is his resting place
and how pleasant is his land,
he will bend his shoulder to the burden
and submit to forced labor.

16 “Dan will provide justice for his people
as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan will be a snake by the roadside,
a viper along the path,
that bites the horse’s heels
so that its rider tumbles backward.

18 “I look for your deliverance, Lord.

19 “Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders,
but he will attack them at their heels.

20 “Asher’s food will be rich;
he will provide delicacies fit for a king.

21 “Naphtali is a doe set free
that bears beautiful fawns.

22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine,
a fruitful vine near a spring,
whose branches climb over a wall.
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;
they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father’s God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty, who blesses you
with blessings of the skies above,
blessings of the deep springs below,
blessings of the breast and womb.

26 Your father’s blessings are greater
than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
thanthe bounty of the age-old hills.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of the prince among his brothers.

27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;
in the morning he devours the prey,
in the evening he divides the plunder.”

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.


29 Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. 31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. 32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.”

33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

The Times and the People God used as Living Parables for His Beloved:


Jacob was a thief of a blessing. And in his lifetime with God, he gave back his blessing, not just to the eldest son, but some of the grandsons as well. The grandsons were children of the Egyptians, crossing borders like Jesus did as a child.

Jacob is Israel. The blessing is like that of Elijah during the time of starvation, enough was found to provide and share.

Jacob is chosen for his desire to bless. To forgive his sons. To endure with hope and faith and love. Jacob is willing to bless beyond the boundaries.






David had an idyllic life as a Shepherd. Simple. Beautiful and fruitful. David used these quiet times to come to know the Words of God tending the family flock. He is offered to be the Shepherd of Israel, and his life becomes far from idyllic. The journey is very difficult and events happen we would all prefer to avoid.

In David's far from idyllic life, Father God has chosen a man too over involved in too many things to become the father of Jesus generations down the time line. Chosen as a Father.

David is chosen for his desire to be blessed. To forgive his nation for allowing his anointing to be pushed out. To endure with faith and love. To believe that Father God is far more good than we would ever think to give Him credit for.




God tells us in the Gospel of Matthew the beginning is make straight the paths of the Lord.
Which gave Jesus a very diligent and difficult ministry filled with enormous burden and incredible God abilities for an impossible task without the Father of All.



Jesus has chosen what was not for Him to become what was not against Him. And in that journey, to have Jacob become Israel.

Jacob had a difficult crowd to bless.

David had a difficult people to redeem.




Jesus came and allowed God to live to prove to us - the burdens we have - He has carried.


Jesus arrived to be a servant to mankind. To lift us to Him to be near Jesus for Eternity.

Luke 23:34
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.


Joel 3

The harvest is ripe.
Come, trample the grapes,
for the winepress is full
and the vats overflow—
so great is their wickedness!”

14
Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision.
15
The sun and moon will be darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.
16
The Lord will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem;
the earth and the heavens will tremble.
But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.
Blessings for God’s People

17
“Then you will know that I, the Lord your God,
dwell in Zion, my holy hill.
Jerusalem will be holy;
never again will foreigners invade her.

18
“In that day the mountains will drip new wine,
and the hills will flow with milk;
all the ravines of Judah will run with water.
A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house
and will water the valley of acacias.

 


The Scriptures are the events leading to the Cross.

From the Cross, the Scriptures, the Word of God, then lead us to Jesus for Eternity.

This is Holy Week
And this is the Journey of the Scriptures and of Jesus.



Jeremiah 32:38
They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Revelation 21:21
21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”



Our Prayer is from Ephesians 1

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love.

Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Our Savior. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 15:1-10 ~ Joy in Heaven

Shepherd, Beautiful Valley by Thomas Kinkade

Luke 15:1-10

New Revised Standard Version

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' 

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

"Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' 

Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."







Jesus tells us on Thursday Night, before Good Friday, He has joy in Him. Regardless of death, terrible death, looming for having always known this is the Plan.

This is Holy Week, Wednesday, Jesus is at Simon's House being given dinner rather ungraciously by judgmental Simon. A woman comes in and puts oil in Jesus's hair. Jesus is pleased. Judas is Judas.

How could Jesus be this calm?
Jesus is anticipating a New Heaven. Not a bleak Sheol for Father God and all the righteous, in Jesus, to view Hades. Jesus is thinking of the lost sheep. Just as He went across the Sea of Galilee's 16 miles 3 times a day to find one person on each side. Walking this distance and home, twice, to attend a Wedding. Jesus is going so very far to redeem this lost Sheep.

A personal Shepherd.

This is the Shepherd who finds the lost sheep. Rejoice.


Let us Bless Jesus.

Thank You... Father God... for Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Isaiah 12 ~ Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done Gloriously

Isaiah 12

1 You will say in that day:
“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
that you might comfort me.

2 “Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord Godb is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”

3 With joy youc will draw water from the wells of salvation.  And you will say in that day:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted.

5 “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be made knownd in all the earth.
6Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in youre midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

The Scriptures are Living. The emotions of Jesus are recorded:


Jesus felt compassion; he was angry, indignant, and consumed with zeal; he was troubled, greatly distressed, very sorrowful, depressed, deeply moved, and grieved; he sighed; he wept and sobbed; he groaned; he was in agony; he was surprised and amazed; he rejoiced very greatly and was full of joy; he greatly desired, and he loved.


We know Matthew and John were eyewitnesses of Jesus. Mark and Luke were guessed to be part of the 70 Disciples Jesus sent forth ahead of Him. Scriptures record conversations with the large group of disciples and Jesus.




This is Holy Week. We remember the Words and actions of Jesus. His Heart and Great Love.

Jesus knew what was in mankind.

When Jesus threw out the money changers, He knew the accusations that Josephus would have over the High Priests were accurate and He knew the Temple would be destroyed.

Josephus records that in 70 A.D., 3 days before... Passover, the Siege of Jerusalem which destroyed the Temple and the Nation began. This was when Jesus would have been 69 years old and the 37th Anniversary of His Death.

Moneychangers Bar in London.

Why did Jesus think the money changers were vastly important and called thieves?

The Second Temple treasury benefited from a great influx of gold and silver from all lands and worshipers, according to Cicero. Cicero wrote of gold to Jerusalem during his lifetime. A large revenue source was sale of the animal offerings. Josephus said Passover was 265,000 animals. The largest sum was probably derived from the half-shekel of Temple tribute which was required of every male Israelite of age, including slaves. The total sum of gold and silver contributed annually, at the time of Jesus,is estimated to be $500,000 per year. This wealth no doubt accumulated year after year over the lifetime of the Second Temple, (515 B. C. to 70 A. D.).

The Roman plunder could well have been worth tens of millions of dollars.

Josephus, Wars of the Jews states 1.1 million non-combatants died in Jerusalem. 97,000 Jews were captured and enslaved.

Jesus said the root of evil is the love of money.

The Temple Treasury can be seen today in Rome:

Arch of Titus showing the victory over the Temple in Jerusalem.

Which built this place from the Temple Treasury:

The Compassion of Jesus the Christ. Son of God.

Jesus is especially compassionate to those in need of a Shepherd. Those who sincerely seek Jesus with heart, find the doors of prayer are open like the 12 Pearl Gates of Heaven. Jesus flows like Living Water, knowing no boundaries, refreshing, renewing Faith, Hope and Love.

Jesus had so much compassion on the widow of Nain. Jesus knew what her only son was to her life. The crowd was very large and Jesus made sure, by touching the bier of the body alone, the widow's son would go home with  her son. His life was restored and hers was as well.

Jairus Synagogue Official was rotated to the Temple under the permission of Herod to speak in the Temple and be a priest. He fell on the wrong side of Jesus because Jesus was known all over as the 'possible' Messiah who would undoubtedly be not in favor of the present authority. Why would Jesus bother with Jairus' terminally ill daughter? Surely Jesus did not bother with those not in His camp. Instead, Jesus' compassion and steadfast Love tell of Father God.

Jesus is the Grace upon Grace forgiveness of God. He washes all our sins away and heals us. Opening us to the Goodness of  Father God. Jesus is the Way, Life, Truth. Though our sins be like scarlet,  Jesus makes us white and clean and whole.

Jesus Living Water of God. Going into every crevice. Healing where others would not go. Jesus changing lives. Jesus is God.

… Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1: 21
 …His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Might God,
 …The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6

… God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord & Christ Acts 2:36

…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! John 1:29

…they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, the song of The Lamb Revelation 15:3


…Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5


..and the Bright & Morning Star Revelation 22:16


..and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life 1 John 1:1


…we have and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous 1 John 2:1


…whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke 1:78


…Before Abraham, I Am. John 8:58


…And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1: 34

…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25


…We have found the Messiah which, is being interpreted, the Christ. John 1:41


…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6


…through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 2: 20

..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16

…I am the Light of the World. John 8:12

…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9

…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come

The Almighty Revelation 1:8

Luke 2:10
 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Daniel 9 is our prayer today.

Father God, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.

The inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, all of us those who are near and those who are far away because of the treachery that we have committed against you.

To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against You. .

O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your people because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers.

O God, listen to our prayer and to pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary and your people.

O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the people called by your name, Jesus the Lord.

For we do not present our pleas before You because of our righteousness, but because of Your great mercy.

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your people are called by Your Name. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 92 ~ to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

 

 

Psalm 92

1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
3 to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.

4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

5 How great are your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep!

6 The stupid man cannot know;
the fool cannot understand this:
7 that though the wicked sprout like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever.

9 For behold, your enemies, O Lord,
for behold, your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.

10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
you have poured over mea fresh oil.
11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.

12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the Lord is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.




God was so Gentle that the Place of the Dead, Sheol was open to all spirits and was a drab place.
Jesus is recorded as being part of the Word of God manifest in Creation. Jesus determined as being One with the Father that He would see Satan fall from Heaven like Lightning. Jesus uses His Parables again to tell about Lazarus and the rich man apart by almost nothing. Hades was easily seen. The torment. Jesus we are told in Revelation, creates the Second Death to end the torment of Hades.

Jesus changed the order of the people He healed, the people He taught, His Family, the way Judea was governed. The belief in the goodness of the Temple. The submissiveness of the people to the Romans. The Spread of the Word beyond the borders. The Love of God pouring out like a flood. The Emperors view of safety. The conflict drove the Word all over the World and the Empire began to die for ruining family loyalty in marriage and divorce. The ruin caused solutions to be sought from the hate of the persecution. The Solutions healed the Empire for another 150 years. Shattering into the 1,000 year Byzantine Empire.

That Empire actually called itself The Roman Empire and wasn't referred to as Byzantine until after it fell and historians renamed that Empire. Centered on Constantine's Capital. Something to think about. Away from the city of Rome.


Psalm 92
Growth is depicted here as something that requires patience and diligence.



Constantine
We feel able and willing to discuss his soul.

God surely blessed the city he created with a thousand years of legacy.

Maybe God knows a thing or two we don't.




2 Timothy 2


What we see is that where Constantine set his worship - this was strengthened by the grace that is in Jesus Christ.

Constantine established the worship of Jesus Christ. A man who had witnessed the descendants of Jesus Christ die in Nazareth and not rebuke Jesus.


Witnesses say faithful men were trusting in Jesus and expected others to teach Jesus also after they had passed on. They shared in the suffering of Jesus and a Royal soldier changed. They aimed to please God. And did.

Constantine was not crowned at the time, he competed for his life within the rules Jesus gave him. The work he put into this crown, caused him to look for signs of God and believe even when he knew he did not understand much of God and how He chooses to Act.

What Constantine did with his leadership was this and in some of this, like all of us,
he had more work to improve upon:


8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.


14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before Godb not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,d he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servante must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

The Body of Christ set forth in a troubled time to reassure people God wanted the best of His promises upon their lives, their prayer concerns.

Jesus said the way forward is not to give up on people. But to stick with them, encourage them in their righteousness. Not to overlook wrong doing, but to instead point out that we need Jesus and the Light of mankind shines in all of us. To point the way where God would light the Path.

No one earns their salvation. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who says no man left behind.

This week we remember the depths that Jesus went to. He was told he was a sinner and a glutton to want to have the notorious Matthew, unseemly Tax Collector, throw Jesus a very unlikely party. Jesus went far to meet people living in cemeteries. He touched the leper, and found quiet places for the deaf to hear.

Jesus didn't give up on the man at the Pool of Siloam who had sat for so long that when he was asked if he wanted to be healed, neglected to actually say yes and was focused on the process.

The Holy Spirit of God says love one another. Worship with Spirit and Truth. Do Justice with Mercy and see the Fruit of the Spirit is Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Steadfastness. Diligence. Gentleness. Encouragement. Dignity.

Carry your cross. Be proud of Jesus.

He is proud of you.

2012
Workers at a large Russian company boycotted British goods over the UK Government's support for businesses that ban Christians from openly wearing crosses. The decision was reversed. In 2013. The Woman in the UK, her name is Shirley Chaplin.

The laws governing employment are designed to provide employees with equal employment opportunities, regardless of race, religion, gender and other considerations. Employment laws specifically prohibit discrimination in any form against workers. Although the law furnishes allowances for many facets of business, employers cannot typically ban articles of religious significance, such as a religious cross, from being worn at work.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †