James 1 ~ Count it all Joy

James 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But 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. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.


19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

When People are very interested in the Bible and the First Council of Nicaea - a lot of questions are asked. In fact, it was well said in the 1500's - a discussion, not a fact - the Disciple John was not as close to Jesus in Heaven as His Brother Jude. Hence the list of Books of the Bible - Jude is closer to Revelation than John.... We all want the personable side of Jesus. And this is why Jude is placed so close to Revelation. It's interesting and cute but not exactly the seriousness of the Sphinx. More like a Care Bear.


Now if we have a yen for this to be true, we might instead look at something a little more durable in the Bible.

In the Photo - Copy of the 500 or more year old thoughts on the Bible of Martin Luther.

The Book of James, Brother of Jesus Christ is listed before that of the Disciple Simon. Because James and Peter lived something neck and neck. Chapter and Verse. Both of them knew Jesus and...

The First Chapter of Books of the Bible is interesting. This is Important to the Author. Thee Author. And because this 1st in importance to James, the Brother of Jesus Christ - he tells us of Temptation and fully explains from eyewitness, been-there-done-that with the necessary and most important ingredient - Redemption.


Forgiveness is fully Redemption. John 7 tells of Sibling Conflict.  James starts with the Dispersion as in relationship and ends with being kept in holiness - wholeness. We know Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit write the Chapter with James - and even with the disagreements, James is bold enough to say count it all Joy. Giving us even further reality and eyewitness of the depth of God's Mercy.




Abba,

We lift up the drought and flood situations. And ask for their comfort and hope with assurance of safety.

Giving Thanks for the Beaux Springer Spaniel's increase in ear health. And for me included in the list of people beginning to feel the effects of fall allergies. Your Blessing of Health, we ask in the Name of Jesus.

As we celebrate Harvest, Hallowed Days and Thanksgiving - we have the Blessings of Christmas giving to begin to not rush Your Birthday. To have the Blessing of relaxed gift giving. Creating more Jesus for the Season of Christmas. - If you are so inclined.

Thank You, Father God for the summer and the beauty of Family Time. With inspired prayers for cooler temperatures.

For Your Name to Cover those we Love. Jesus to cover this Nation. The cares we pray about. All Nations Trusting in You - to be Blessed. And the same for the Children of God in loving communication with You.

Jesus Christ is God!

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

John 9:7 ~ came back seeing

John 9:7

Jesus said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing."


Prayers and Miracles. Bam.

Mission Accomplished.


And then... we have Jesus Christ.

Luke 18:1

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.





Why aren't our prayers answered?


The answer is always, always, always this:
 Prayer is answered. The answer is, "Thy Will be Done."

Pray 70 times 7, as we have been given Mercy.

My experience with prayer is this: My mother was healed of a visible Thyroid tumor. About to be operated on we all headed to Church of The Resurrection Garland, Texas. Prayed for by Reverend Ted Nelson and accomplished and healed with Love and Joy by the Only Healer - Jesus Christ. She felt like she was being microwaved.during the prayer of the Wednesday healing service. By Thursday, an R.N. at Methodist Hospital realized, during tests for the operation, her 4-year tumor was gone. 1977. The seven women who accompanied my mother to the prayer service  (my mother and me included) forgot to look to see if she was healed........... Realizing again how Merciful the Lord God is to us.

My own experience with prayer is different. Longtime prayer projects have the realization, hey, this is all working out!!!

Why? I'd guess as Jesus is the Only Healer we ask believing God is hearing us and His Will is Good. We pry our fingers and white knuckles off what we want and let Jesus have the Father's Good Will.

How many times will we pray... why not 7 times 70?

Jesus did unusual things when He healed.

Matthew 19:25
25 When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 “Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”

Jesus told the great crowd following Him - "You are here for the food." Probably being Jesus, He also meant the awe and astonishment of seeing Healing. Being Spiritually Nurtured.  The Crowd was  Trying to be The Prime Director of Rewards Membership. Peter went through enough after walking on water and being crowed at - Peter was not about to think Peter is all that. Peter lived realizing he was not to be a Prime Rewards Director. Peter walked with the Son of God the Almighty and found truly we live "Thy Will be Done."

Jesus is displaying God. These men had so many prayers amazingly answered and God only suggested they leave everything to follow Jesus.

Does God always require this service? No God is God and decides each and all circumstances of Thy Will Be Done. One time Jesus told a man carrying for the ill, "Let the dead bury the dead." God sees incredibly further than we will ever see.

God is seeing how the conversation we call prayer continues.



Luke 17:14
When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.

What's unusual about this. Jesus was in the "wilderness." Jesus is proclaiming our Body is a Temple. Jesus is saying He is the Son of God filling every Word of God and dot and iota. How are we going to make this into a logical idea? In Baptism, Jesus said to his cousin and two by two minister, Jesus would show Baptism as an Innocent of God Himself because this was fitting for Righteousness. Jesus is putting these men on a path of being cleansed and righteous. Jesus is making a straight path out of the wilderness. We could say Jesus is prying their own will off their conversation or prayer and putting His Will be Done. Jesus is healing them of being stuck on the outside of their illness and placing them in the midst of mankind. Jesus is healing in this odd after request - actually Jesus is taking hold of them as if they were the blind man requiring Jesus to take hold of him after seeing trees walking and making the path clear. Jesus is Healing.

Because God sees so much further than we ever see.




Luke 13
31 At that very hour, some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him, “Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You.” 32 But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’

Idle conversation? No. This is the Son of God. Jesus has given them something literal to do. Why? I'd guess with a strong inclination the God of Love, Mercy and Encouragement is trying to heal the men from trying to derail God's Own Plan. I'd suppose and wonder and have awe in the thought if they went to see Herod - they might actually See.

Conversation with God is called prayer. The answer is "Thy Will be Done."





Numbers 6. Lift up Your Face upon us, Father God. We want God to shine and smile upon us.

The man Jesus seemed to heal twice from blindness. And actually, brain damage requires more care.

Mark 8:26
Jesus sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

I can't help the absolute feeling of heart-warming insight and humor. Jesus is perfecting the Healing as Jesus is keeping the man out of public opinion. This miracle is going to "take" permanently and the circumstance is stay out of the wild wind of life to allow peace.







A Miracle is a freebie.
Jesus didn't always see this to be the truth. Jesus was telling a lot of people to participate in Action and Words and Deeds of Prayer.

And. The Principal of "And".

The Continued Conversation with God.

Matthew 4:4
Luke 4:4
Man shall live by 'every' Word of God.

Mark 9

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 

19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 

20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 

21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” 

And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 

23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 

25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 

26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 

28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”


Scriptures tell us God is on time. We can wait for prayers answered.

Luke 1

6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord.

My mother has a friend who has a PhD in Psychiatry. Patricia was facing being blind in her late 40's from heredity blindness of the failure of blood vessels to her eyes. Her Grandmother, Aunt and other family had all been blind from this in old age. Patricia started going to every Church healing service and flying wherever Reverend Francis MacNutt and Judith MacNutt Master’s Degree in Psychology flew to have a healing seminar. This Christian Healing has gone back to Agnes Sanford in 1947. Until you consider we have been finding Jesus is the Light since Genesis 1.

So Patricia was being literally yelled at from professional concern from her eye doctors telling her she was being obtuse to insist on God healing her. Patricia went back in when she realized she had a huge increase in blindness, again to be yelled at by her eye doctors. Patricia had developed Cataracts from increasing blood loss. Patricia asked for immediate Cataract removal surgery and was met with anger that surgery would finalize the blindness. Get with learning Braille. And instead, Patricia went to more healing services. One day Patricia realized she had had an up-surge in seeing. Her eyesight felt better. She made an appointment and fully expected to hear "good day, bad day" in disease progression. Her eye doctors called in more people into the examining room. Her blood vessels had been at 10% capacity and failing. Now her eyes had 85% capacity. 30 years later Patricia has her eyesight. Patricia kept telling Jesus she felt she was a healer and needed her eyesight to benefit her patients. Patricia insisted to Jesus this miracle was Good News. Please provide the miracle. And when did this occur? When the asking for a miracle had become routine. Gradually her prayers were answered over about a three year period. Was this expected? Only by Patricia. Patricia met the times of increasingly bad news with faith. Like Mark 9 above about prayer times of faith regardless of success.






We have seen Mother Angelica on Catholic TV used to say "Pray and Pay the Light Bill." I've had real healing in my back from exercise and reading about pain removal with continued Prayer. I was telling someone at Church today I swim in cold water about 55'. And as we went to lunch, we met a lady who says she not only swims and bathes and showers in cold water, her back surgeon told her to then put her feet in hot water and this really helps. What would we call this? Participating in Healing. What does the cold/chilly water do? It reduces inflammation. We participate in good health and have belief Jesus is healing. My back hurt from 2003 until 2007. And healed.



One of the key points of healing and healing groups is never to stop the prayers of loud and frequent praise of Answered Prayer. When we see multiple miracles - if we do not stop to give Thanks and Give God Glory - the people praying are bewildered and will depart. We never should consider the Goodness of God not worthy of our Thanks and Praise to God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Abba,

We give You Thanks for Today. We give You Thanks for Your timing. We give You thanks for Your Goodness.

We thank You for Your provision and triumph over the times past and the days to come. Thank You for the people we Love. Love Cherish and treasure our families with Love. The Truth of Your Goodness. For the Church giving strength. For the Nation. You are always a God of Love.

Bless the Children of God with Your Presence. And the Nations trusting in You.

And I'm asking prayers for Beaux Springer Spaniel's ear improving and then needing prayer.

In Jesus Christ is the Victory.

Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Isaiah 40:13 ~ The Spirit of the Lord

Isaiah 40:13

Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel?


When we consider this Scripture we think of the Patriarchs of Scripture.

Let's consider the teaching of the Father of Nations  about conversations with God Himself, The Almighty of Alpha and Omega.

Genesis 18

Abraham still stood before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"

26 And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake."

27 Abraham answered and said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?"

And He said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there."

29 Again Abraham spoke to God and said, "Suppose forty are found there."

He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it."

30 Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there."

He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there."

31 He said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it."

32 Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there."

He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it."

33 And the LORD went his way,  when he had finished speaking to Abraham,
and Abraham returned to his place.

Who was Abraham to God? Surely a Good Question when we consider this Genesis 18 conversation parallels  Jesus telling us to Pray and never lose hope. Luke 18 parallels Genesis 18 - Jesus teaches God is a friend we can bother at midnight.

God wants to save the world through Jesus Christ. The 12 Gates of Heaven are always open. We approach with confidence, as Abraham did.

And who was Abraham to God?

Genesis 18

18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.

We know 1 Timothy 3 gives us qualifications of commanding a household of God. Let us count God's Steadfast Love and Mercy as joy Abraham was considered righteous for believing God - Abraham had a few flaws.

Our Jesus has given us the Lord's Prayer - for framework, for reliance when we have no words - maybe just groaning. No Word of God is unimportant. God's Son tells us He comes to bring to fruition to every word and iota and dot of God's Word. Abraham is sufficient "Yar" Reverence. Jesus tells us "Thy Will be Done." On earth as in Heaven. Jesus is telling us something of extreme importance. We believe the Will of God our Father is for Good. We believe we do not see the whole picture. We have partial knowledge in the depths and importance of 1 Corinthians 13 - Love - even in Love we know partially. We lean to what we do not know to believe All Things Work Together for Good, for Those Who Love the Lord and Work according to His Purpose.

Isaiah presents us the God our Almighty Father Abraham addresses. His Robe would fill the Temple. Abraham and Jesus show us God is willing to Lovingly hear our prayers. And if we are honest and frank - this is our counsel. Jesus knows this right well and says regard God as Your Friend you'd always approach at midnight.




Our Father God wants our prayers and He hears, heeds, heals and has mercy.

Jesus knows exactly where God has placed us all. Just as Jesus went to Jericho and looked up in a Sycamore tree - knowing by name and employment and past/ present/ future soul of Zacchaeus.

If you travel today to Jericho, a large Sycamore tree of many, many generations is found. This part of Jesus Christ's Life is longed for. Zacchaeus is not listed as Bar - Son of. He might have been Greek doing the work of Romans as Tax Collector. The Name means "Purity." And is what Jesus creates in Zacchaeus - as he is found by Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Light of the Nations. The Light of the world. Light of mankind.

Abba,

You are Father. And You ask us for our conversation. You see us always. We are always with You. Live in our lives, our soul and in our hopes. Let the words of my mouth, the thoughts of my heart be pleasing and acceptable - O Lord, my Rock and Redeemer.

In Joy and Love and Hope of Your heart, we lift our concerns. The Thanksgiving of Beaux Springer Spaniel's ear. The Joy in being heard.  We live the cares and paths of those we Love to You. In Full Confidence. Boldly anticipating Your Plan and Your Good Will.

We lift high the needs of many for good rain and drier conditions. We lift this Nation and those who love and serve their communities. We lift the people God has given us. We lift the Nations Trusting in God. We praise God for the people around the world asking their God for His Love and Care.

You are the Only Sovereign, the Only Father who wants the whole world in Your Love and Mercy.

Praise be to You, Father, and Your Son Jesus Christ our Savior.

Amen and Amen in Alleluia.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Haggai 2 ~ And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of Hosts

Haggai 2

2 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 
3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 

Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 

7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 

9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’”


10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, 11 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: 12 ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’” The priests answered and said, “No.” 13 Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.” 14 Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. 

15 Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord, 16 how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. 17 I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord. 18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. 

Since the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, consider: 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”


20 The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. 23 On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”





Consider the Second Exodus - the Babylonian Exile - we see again and again how real the impossible Scriptures are.

It's Impossible Enslaved People Believe God and Begin to Count Their Blessings He has Given.

Jeremiah was imprisoned in the 500-year-old King David's Palace's hole in the ground called imprisonment. And in archaeology, we find Jeremiah's Servant, Baruch's seal, listed exactly as the Bible list's Baruch's genealogy - found where the Scriptures say both men conducted business.

Jeremiah was generally not thought well of by the fallen officials. It would be logical the Biblical Holy Spirit inspired statements of Jeremiah in Judean slavery would really make Jeremiah particularly disliked. However, Nebuchadnezzar II as he entered Jerusalem, the second of three sieges, hears of Jeremiah's captivity and his first orders are the release of Jeremiah. And in captivity, Nebuchadnezzar sorts the priests and gives the slave priests their own houses located looking over the Chebar River. And freedom to worship and gather on the Sabbath. This is Highly Unusual Slavery. In fact - this sounds like a far-fetched tale. Except the Cuneiforms of Babylon are clearly legible and held in the U.K. match the Biblical accounts to the smallest details.






Jeremiah says Zerubbabel is never to be king over Judah Israel - never will the members of the Davidic line sit on the throne again.

What?

They had trusted in their kings and had begun to say as Moses had said - they were never slaves in Egypt. Merely moved from the North to Israel. Josiah had by accident located Scriptures because they had been Lost in the Temple and were unknown. Obedience to God was for the simple minded. And probably many did not mind being a puppet state of the Chaldean/Babylonian Empire - far more likely to have better trade.

God has placed His People where they are going to suddenly believe what Jeremiah said and all their lives are spent looking at the 70 years to escape slavery. Their conversations, convictions and beliefs are going to revolve around the Promises God makes to His people.



This is fact.
Zerubbabel is only offered the governorship. Probably because Darius and Cyrus remember the poor response Nebuchadnezzar received from the puppet kings of the Davidic Line. Remember Daniel - Daniel's name means "God (El) is my judge" - was given a new more fitting to the Chaldean/Babylonian Empire name of Belteshazzar - which means, "Bel protect the king' - one of many deities, Bel. Something of "a new god for you" slap in the face. And this ties Ezra together here. Ezra begins with Cyrus the Great entrusting the Temple vessels to Sheshbazzar (Hebrew: שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר‬, Modern Šešbaṣár, Tiberian Šēšebaṣar, "prince of Judah", probably from Akkadian Chaldean/Babylonian language. Zerubbabel if the name is not Hebrew but Assyrian-Babylonian, Zəru Bābel, meaning, "Seed of Babylon", the one conceived in Babylon. Zerubbabel in Cuneiform Babylonian is said to have this name because of his interaction with the Babylonian court. After his Davidic father was released from Nebuchadnezzar's prisons  - where even the food allotment is recorded by cuneiform.

(Another possibility is death of one of the many sons of Jeconiah, King of Judah of David's Line.)

After Josiah and his son, then King Jeconiah was deposed as king Jeconiah would later be regarded as the first of the exilarchs. In the Book of Ezekiel, the author refers to Jeconiah as king and dates certain events by the number of years he was in exile. According to 2 Kings 25:27-30, Jeconiah was released from prison "in the 37th year of the exile", in the year that Amel-Marduk (Evil-Merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar II) came to the throne, and given a prestigious position at court. Jeconiah's release in Babylon brings to a close the Books of Kings and the Deuteronomistic history. Babylonian records show that Amel-Marduk began his reign in October 562 BC. According to 2 Kings 25:27, Jeconiah was released from prison "on the 27th day of the twelfth month": this indicates the first year of captivity to be 598/597 BC, according to Judah's Tishri-based calendar. The 37th year of captivity was thus, by Judean reckoning, the year that began in Tishri of 562, consistent with the synchronism to the accession year of Amel-Marduk given in Babylonian records.

It's Impossible a Davidic King is given back to Judah. Impossible the Temple Tools of Moses and Solomon return. Impossible a Davidic King begins building the Second Temple. And yet even this Mosaic in Archaeology poinst to Nehemiah. Confirming Nehemiah's trusted statue as "Taster to the King."

Due to the influences of Nebuchadnezzar II believing Isaiah 13 was about his life - the slaves realize God has not abandoned them and, in fact, this is God's Plan and Path to bring the Temple of God to God. It would be utterly and completely unbelievable - except History and the Bible record the same events again and again and again.

The Mercy of God falls upon the House of David. Scripture is fulfilled. The Temple is built. Joseph, earthly father of Jesus Christ, is recorded showing up in Nazareth to collect his betrothed - Mary. The Scriptures record Joseph goes to Nazareth to collect Mary. Joseph has no problem to have the expense of moving and changing nations. Later Scripture tells us Joseph has the luxury to consider taking up residence in Jerusalem and the reconsidering due to Herod's family in power. Joseph has probably lived in Jerusalem as the family of kings prospered. And his betrothed is of Davidic lineage, but not of the kings. This might have been a Davidic consideration for the match.





And like Jesus - Israel was finished as a Nation - dead. 1 Just as Jacob's Sons depart for 500 years. 2. When the Temple and Jerusalem are destroyed in the Second Exodus, 70 years.  3. In 70 A.D. when Jerusalem and Israel perish until 1945. God assures us All Things are Possible.




Abba, Holy Father,

And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of Hosts.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Giving thanks for Jackson's good days and more to come we pray. Asking for Beaux Springer Spaniel's left ear to dry and recover completely. Jesus, we ask for Your healing.

In Peace, we lie down sleep to see His mercies renew. We pray this for ourselves, the drought on the west coast and British Columbia and for the Carolinas. God's Grace and Mercy.

In Jesus. Amen

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 67 ~ our God shall bless us

Psalm 67

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

Your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.

7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!



When we understand the depths of God's Blessings - the list of the things we do each day are suddenly
filled with joy.

Counting God's Blessings fills the Holy Spirit in us.
Love, Joy and Peace. Blessing us all.



1 Corinthians 13

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.



1 Corinthians 13 is quite honest. As is Hebrews 11 - Life is in portions. We push away what is partial - the day to day work to see the Blessings. And we are filled with patience - making more opportunities to find more paths of Joy.

We rejoice with the truth of our blessings. What we bear is of smaller consequence. What we are
Given by God is the Truth. We are Blessed with Today. God's Provision.

Love never ends.

Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

His Grace is our Promise.

Abba,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, You have blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

You chose us in Jesus before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before You, covered by Jesus.

In Your love, You predestined us for adoption in Jesus as sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of Your will.

We thank You for Your glorious grace, with which You have blessed us in the Beloved.

Because of Jesus, we have redemption through Jesus' blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of Your grace, which You lavished upon us.

In all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of Your will, according to Your purpose, which You set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in You, things in heaven and things on earth.

We give Thanks for the Glory of God - Your Love. Covering us, the people we Love, our Nation, the Children believing in You, the Nations trusting in You. In Your Word You tell us to ask for more Heaven on earth.

In Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Isaiah 11 ~ faithful to the Holy One

Proverbs 8:27

When He established the heavens, Jesus was there; when God drew a circle on the face of the deep,

At 12:45 the beautiful photos reoccur. We see the Miracle of God's Hand. His Word.

Hosea 11

When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.

The more they were called,
the more they went away;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals
and burning offerings to idols.



Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;
I took them up by their arms,

but they did not know that I healed them.
I led them with cords of kindness,
with the bands of love,

and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,

and I bent down to them and fed them.

5 They shall not return to the land of Egypt,
but Assyria shall be their king,
because they have refused to return to me.
6 The sword shall rage against their cities,
consume the bars of their gates,
and devour them because of their own counsels.
7 My people are bent on turning away from me,
and though they call out to the Most High,
he shall not raise them up at all.




8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;

my compassion grows warm and tender.
I will not execute my burning anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;

For I am God and not a man,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.



They shall go after the Lord;

he will roar like a lion;
when he roars,

his children shall come trembling from the west;

they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,
and like doves from the land of Assyria,
and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord.

Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,
and the house of Israel with deceit,

Judah still walks with God
and is faithful to the Holy One.



The Lord's Love for Israel.

We do find the discussions of rings of air and atmosphere versus the dark of space. Why does it make sense the top of the Mountain closer to the sun is not warmer?

Eventually, we find - facts are interesting - but give me LIFE!!! The absolute Miracle of our planet green and blue in the midst of dark and empty space. Once we have established the absolutely astonishing miracle of the existence of Life's Possibility - we want meaningful life for those we Love.

God established His Heart with us. He looked into mankind and found He wanted to live and dwell with us. We know many say God is Deist - Absent Landlord - His Very Word assures us as we love our children and family - God our Father sees this in our eternal being - holding our memories and opinions forming our core being - our soul.

We have seen the circles of the deep. Our lives and our families and our friends are in this circle. We weave in and out of Life itself. We want others to move and have their being with God. Pleasing God - Words of our mouths and thoughts of our heart are always pleasing and acceptable to God our Redeemer. Redemption. The Best of Words. Not without warmth. Not to be put down and left. To glow with Life and Vitality. To have LOVE and Hope and Joy.


God's Word is Living in a place of Encouragement.
We turn to our Father as the wild winds of Life howl. The shocking days we glimpse the River of Living Water pushing and pulling us and placing our Loved ones. And we find in utter astonishment - these circles are all within God's Plan. God uses even particles we cannot see  - turning cloud to storm and rain for an area in drought. We find prayer and the storms can't be predicted as God is moving with us. Exactly as Abraham found God's Heart to be Willing.

The People of God are in motion. Their thoughts bring them forth, their ways push them back.

 And God sweeps all of the circles to be - HIS.

Hosea 11 is about our God's Love for the Nation.

Hosea 11 is our God's Love for Jacob.

Hosea 11 is our Father God's tenderness today for Israel.

Hosea 11 is our Mighty Father God's Love for His Only Son Jesus.

Hosea 11 is Alpha and Omega God's Shepherd Plan having Jesus know another Country for Life - in His time of walking as Grace and Truth on the earth where God chose to live among us and heal us all.

Hosea 11 is all the Circles of Life.

And in His encouragement we find - portions of His Word will dwell with us and move us, comfort us and assures us prayers for others are firmly answered. Hope is held for the invalid. Joy for the hopeless. And healing of the needs in us all.

All of God's Word holds a Promise - He heals us all.

Hear Oh Israel - the Lord our God is One.

Abba, Father, God - Beloved Father God,

Living in the New Covenant of the Mercy of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 8
12 For I will forgive their iniquities, and remember their sins no more.”

Micah 7:18
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love.

1 John 3:11
For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Abba, we delight in remembering Your delight in creation. And offer You joy and delight in being grateful for today. Thank You for those we Love. Thank You for the beauties of Spring, Texas. The Life You Bring us. Thank You for laughter. You are Good. Blessed be Jesus Christ and all of His Glory. Your blessings upon us and our Loved ones. Your protection and Grace over all who call with Love to You.

The Lord our God, is our Helper. This is a Gift of Jesus. We will consider our life and have faith. In Jesus Christ we are built, established and filled.

The Blessing of Jesus Christ - upon us bringing Life to others. The Blessing of His Comfort and we comfort others. The Light of mankind in us all. The Blessing of Father God in Jesus Christ lives in us.

To be in His Blessing is Blessing others.

We Joyfully Ask - Your Blessing Father God - all our living days in Eternity.

Amen in Jesus Lord God.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 6:19 ~ healed them all

Luke 6: 19

 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

The best place for our cares is in the hands of Jesus, our hero.

Proverbs 3:26-28

26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

Jesus is the Word of God fulfilled. Proverbs of Solomon is from 9 B.C. and, a millennium later, Jesus fulfills what Solomon explains.


Father God, You have already done an engraving on Your hand of our name. You have remembered us with compassion. Your lives, our words, our heart is always in Your thoughts. Psalm 139 assures us. Your hand, Father God, is for good on all who seek You. Your right hand assures us not to fear You because You listen earnestly.

No one is able to take us from Your hand, Father. We always want to know, Father, Your hand is upon us.

Father, Your hand laid the foundation of the earth, and Your right hand spread out the heavens; when You call to them, they stand forth together.

We pray for Your comfort, beauty from ashes,the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that we may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that our Father God may be glorified. We shall call upon You to build up the ancient ruins; and they shall raise up from former devastations; In You we shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of generations.

We Will set You, Father God, always before us! Because You Are at my right hand, we shall not be shaken. Our hearts will be glad, and our whole being rejoices! We will dwell secure.

Father God will not abandon us, we will not see corruption. We will live. Father God in you are the paths of life. Because of You, Jesus, there is fullness of joy! Because being at Your right hand is always a pleasure. Thank You God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Philippians 2 ~ God has highly exalted Jesus

Philippians 2

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Psalm 19

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their voice  goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The law of the LORD is perfect,c
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
8the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;

The fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules  of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

We live each day having thoughts of life.

Gratitude. Lean to  Hope. Believing God is taking care of our Loved ones.

 And then days where we have concern to anxiety.

When my eldest son was going off to college, I went up to the High School Counselor to find out about the impossible College Costs. And found today most of The Woodlands students carry up to 150,000 in debts to Graduate ten years ago. We are so many times placed in life where we are going to do our best and watch what life will unfold.

Much of life unfolds around us. Opportunities, careers, housing and where we will spend our lives. Even when we sweep life the way we would have life - the people around us are caught up and moved in circumstance and opinion in the Great River of Living Water Life.

We've all experienced sleep lost for a sudden worry. And found out the worry was just a vapor.

We will all live a time of grave concerns.

And when we are honest and frank - we find that life one day is the same life filled with Hope and Joy and Love.

The next day even our hair is not the hair we wanted. Nothing feels settled and secure. Hope is an illusion.




The Book of James 1 tells us do not doubt. Ask with faith and be settled on the answer of God. We will all have emotion. Hope, sadness, loss, and dreams of the future.

Way. Truth. Life. Have peace for ourselves and for each other. To trust all our situations to God. To simply place trouble in the Hands of God. When we do what we can to be in mercy and peace and find Justice, we can put our assurance in the Battle is Won and the Battle is God's. And refuse to have any concern.

Concerns tend to leap up and say this is the new situation. Life is overcome. And we find in reality one day looks like another. God is building. This is part of the Plan of God. Faith in each day.

To encourage one another is to have comfort. To care for another to be healed is to find the Love of God surrounding us. And in comforting we are comforted and equipped to love one another. Assuring us of a meaningful and promising Life Forevermore.

Simply let God be God Forevermore. Thy Will be done. We are promised God is with us to seek and provide more Heaven on earth.



Abba, Father,

Favored Words of Yours.

May the Words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, Lord Jesus Christ,
be pleasing and acceptable in Your Sight.

Oh Lord God my Father,
My Rock and my Redeemer.

Give us the day! The wonders of Your eternal Word in Jesus.


Let us pray the end of Psalm 64. Remembering what our God has brought about.
Pondering the Wonders of our Father God, what He has done.

Let us be covered with the Name of Jesus, Believing His Word, Promises and Righteousness. And let us be in His Righteousness, rejoicing in the Lord.

This is where we take refuge.

Let all the upright in Heart see in awe our God's Wonders.



Christ Jesus has seen this world through tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword. The Kingdom of Heaven knows about difficulties and violence.

The Church and the People of God are more than conquerors through the Love of Jesus Christ. Nothing from death, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God, Himself, has given us our loved ones. His Work saves us all. Covering our concerns and sometimes anxieties with the Name of Jesus. We ask His Righteousness over our communities, Churches, States, Nation and rejoice in the Lord with all who call upon the Name of Jesus in Prayer.


In His Majestic gift of Salvation, we will never earn His favor. And this is only the Grace of Jesus saving us.

We ask Him to bless us because He is our Father. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †