Ephesians 5:1-20 ~ beloved children

James 3:17
 The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness

Ephesians 5:1-20

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 

2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

We have a lot of light in this generation. The television and the computer. We get to decide where we will put our eyes.

One of the things the Bible says, if you see sexual immorality going on - flee. If someone goes to lunch or coffee with you and spends their time relating all sexual and bodily experences - move away very, very fast. Do Not encourage them. This is not where you should put your time.

When I was volunteering 3.5 years for the local pregnancy assistance center, where we also tested for STI (men clients and women clients), we see a lot of hurt. A tremendous amount of giving what people are told to give and finding spirits crushed. Grief. Depression. Sometimes people never get over the hurt of casual sex and abandonment.

God is wise. He throws in the thought - people are putting themselves in sexual situations hoping to financially better their lives. God did tell us the root of all evil is the love of money. Love of money and getting played is a serious harm.

Better to build the framework with the life God gives you - where hope, faith, love, sincerity and warmth make a life worth leading.

The Passage speaks of deceit. We've met young, young people very proud of the fact their number is in the 50s with sexual partners. 5 is about normal for young people these days and comes with a lot of hurt and brokenness when young children are involved. One of the problems with breaking the rules - one person feels there is a set of natural, moral boundaries. The other person seems to agree.

 
The difficulty is - one sexually active preson is not going to necessarily tell the truth in order to get what they want and move along. To some people - this is like getting a deer. There is a real cast aside of human compassion to make the goal. This typically begins to happen when sexual partners number in the 20s. A human being becomes a meat filled roller coaster.

Deceit. Drug dealers feel it is a job benefit for the incapacitated person to be raped.There are a lot more rapes out there due to drug usage and shame than are reported or admitted.

I've met outgoing men who say dating on the computer - is hook ups. And the hook up wants sex with him, but has decided immediately this isn't going anywhere. He says there is pressure 'to be the man' give it and be greateful and get your butt home. He said it's bleak. Men are treated like roller coasters too. And feel unloved, unwanted and adrift.

Cohabitation. Particularly among the very poor - the man with a child or children does not necessarily feel he needs to be monogamous. And he doesn't feel he needs to hide from these women, with his children, that he has several 'families'. They need and depend on part of his income. And he will feel free to beat them if they give him trouble. Did the women know that their cohabitation would go this way? No. This is an immoral bastardization of muslim wives. And is catching on.

Cohabitation makes it very easy for one partner to have too much too substance, have a mood, have an impulse and move on. Children are the largest losers here. Many families, many children, no responsibility to help the life of the child.

And it's really important what small children are modeled with single parents and what they are allowed to live and experience.


It's important to tell your kids. Marry. Stay Married - regardless of your marital status.

HA

One thing about television and movies - there is a tremendous amount of repeat material revolving romance. We ought to have a televions series on the conversations revolving around broken hearts - real women - - real men --  real conversations - on the lines being played on people thinking sex gets them the wallet and the marriage.  The amount of mess around an STI - is an eye opening event.

No entertainment show deals with the losses this brings. No documentary. No news show of what it's like for a person to remember the child they have been - their hopes and dreams - and the adult 'reality' we expect to 'put out'.

We don't even look at the divorces occuring to the early 20 somethings because they haven't figured out that the movies - basically lie about life.










The sincere and honest truth is casual sex leads to a lot of hurt. And in this hurt, the self esteem of a human being can be permanently damaged leading to a life of hurt behaviors. So many conversations with people are why they were so mistreated. When you find a preditor - they are not going to tell you the truth. We have glamorized the 'preditor' to the point they don't even realize they leave a wake of hurt and sorrow. Sometimes involving children with their habits inflicted around the children.

Where is the Movie or the TV show showing what the children are expected to deal with.

We need to address the real culture.

The real life of what is going on. And the inadequaate job entertainment teaches the junior high schooler, the high schooler and the college ages and young 20s.





Jesus tells us He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. If we want to go forth in life with hope, good faith. plan life on doing the Will of God. The Law of Love one another putting down financial gain. The Law of Liberty includes Mercy.



Living a Christ centered life - involves providing security for others. Seeing children are modeled a life of respectable patience for them. Being responsible for children, not just our own. And putting our eyes and ears on entertainment we can bring to children.

What would Jesus do?

Father God,

We lift up the cares of this generation raising small children. The spouses who expected love and goodness from someone with agenda. We lift up young people going into marriage to find cheating and divorce. We lift up dating crushing self esteem and ruining lives.

We lift up Jesus to give us Romans 8 - ever coming all difficulty, all insincerity, all mess and converting what is painful to healing. What is missing as fulfilled.

We trust in the Goodness and Capacity of God Himself to cover what is frail and weak to become strong and mighty bringing Love and Good News.

The Name of Jesus is where we put our Hope, Faith and LOVE.

And In Jesus we Lift Up our Cares to God who Loves us. We Lift Up our Loved Ones and we will have rest, joy, peace, Love and Mercy.

Jesus is God and He is Able and Willing. Onward In Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 9:1-8 ~ Take heart

Matthew 9:1-8

9 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.

2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”

3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”

4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” He then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

7 And he rose and went home.

8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

The Jesus boat is a miracle


Moshe and Yuval Lufan, brothers and fishermen from Kibbutz Ginosar, discovered the Ancient Galilee Boat buried in the mud near the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

The discovery of the boat rocked the archeological and spiritual world. Never before was such an ancient vessel found so complete.The boat was positively dated to the First Century BC - the boat which is so amazingly intact - could have been the very same vessel on which Jesus sailed the Sea of Galilee.

The vessel is 9 meters long, 2.5 meters wide and 1.25 meters high. The measurtments suit those used by ancient fishermen employing a seine, or dragnet, "cast into the sea" as described in Matthew 13:47-48.

One of the brothers stumbled upon some wood, and after a little digging, determined that the wood was actually a boat. According to the brothers, a double rainbow revealed itself in the sky after the find.

Recreation of the Jesus Boat.

Paralyzed

The finding of the Jesus boat. This was something the brothers Moshe and Yuval Lufan had tried to do for a long time. They were fishermen and the Sea was not yiedling fish in the drought. It was a huge drought. Typical Kibbutz communities flourish on crops they grow themselves. This was a time they had the time to look for the ship because all productive enterprises were stilled to a crawl.



This isn't the usual story of the paralyzed man comeing through the roof brought by friends. This is someone who might have had the time to look up to God and want to know something more about Jesus.

And like the story of the Jesus boat being found, this is a time where the waiting had taken a toil.

Jesus knew about seasons.

He knew what to say first to the paralyzed. Jesus went to the man beside the Pool of Bethsaida for 32 - no - 38 years. When we think of Jesus' miracles, we learn Jesus was found in favor, as a growing boy, with God and man. Jesus did all things well.  Jesus went to the man from the Pool of Bethsaida twice.  He went back to try to counsel the man away from bitterness and position seeking. The man did not listen to Jesus,  he went on to create a crisis, immediately, for Jesus with the Pharisees.

Being God, Jesus did not give up. The sheer diligence of Jesus going on.

And as the man was healed for being deaf, Jesus touched his tongue - - a double miracle. Now this man could hear and speak.  When the man who was blind was healed twice, an indication of brain damage and brain damaged healing, something we only know now, in this generation. Jesus also healed something we rarely see - Jesus healed the man's ability to perceive. A very important thing - to perceive. Jesus, also, healed him from seeing people as appearing as trees. Perhaps Jesus was giving the man the Daniel 1 miracle - ability to perceive people and ability to be seen by people.

Jesus healed the paralyzed man more than twice.
He forgave his sins,
He took up for the healing bravely with the powerful,
He gave the formerly paralyzed man direction.
All things work together for good, for those who Love the Lord and work according to His Purpose.
The time during the discussion and controversy, gave the man time to access what was around him. Maybe even give him the desire to rise up and walk.

Waiting upon the Lord - always a good idea. Take heart. Jesus is working today - healing.

Father God,

We ask Jesus to dwell in us richly as we voyage in life and prayer.

Cover us with the Love and Name of Jesus to be pure in heart as we seek Jesus. We place our hearts and hopes before You, Father God.

We will take heart and draw very, very close to You and not fear.

With true hearts open to You, we lift to You our cares, knowing how deep and how wide Your love for us us. We lift up our loved ones to Your Good Care and Diligent, Steadfast Love. Wide, high, enduring true - Jesus Love.

Knowing our prayers join others and You are pleased. We bless You for Jesus and His Salvation of Mercy for us.

In Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 1 ~ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Mark 1

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.



Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and not we ourselves,
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Rediscovering the basic roots of the Scriptures 

The awe inspiring wonders of the Son of God. Jesus Himself.

Bringing all the Chapters of Isaiah together, instead of a miracle here and there. Jesus was the explosion of the Light of True Light. God of God. When we see Jesus - we see the Father of All. Ancient of Days. Lord of Lords.


God told us of the future - people forgetting His Miracles. Jeremiah 16   Days May Come - where people would want Jesus so badly for His Healing.


We tend to think of Jesus as a mere little candle. Like "This Little Light of Mine." Like this overview of the crucifixion of The Christ of God?

This is - "Wrong" !!!

The information in this image is "False." "Utterly."

"NO."

Luke 23:27
And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.

The Disciples said, "All of Israel knows."









If you feel sceptical, see the Roman History for 350 years of Emperor terror because of the uprising of Jesus Christ.

See the Roman Empire becoming Christian because Emperor Constantine was sent by his Emperor Uncle (seen, eyewitness to the journey, by world renowned historian, Bishop Eusebius) to the small village of Nazareth. Commissioned to torture for 7 days - the descendents of Mary and Joseph - the descendents of Jesus' brother's children, asking His family to renounce Jesus Christ - be rewarded and live. All of the descendents perished proclaiming Jesus as God. All of the descendents the Romans could find died to proclaim Jesus as God.  Emperor Constantine would be changed forever and so would the Roman Empire.

Matthew 27:54
When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Jesus Christ - bringing all the prophetic Words of Isaiah together.
Not chapters of this that.
An explosion of God -
The blind - See.
The deaf - Hear.
The lame - Walk.
The leper - Cleansed.

How - being touched by Jesus. The poor - hope - and have good news preached to them.

Jesus Christ brought us a new earth. Women were elevated, preached to, proclaimed Jesus is God. His followers included warrior zealots, Centurions, a tax thug, Herod's stewart's wife, a dead man raised to life, a formerly blind man who followed Jesus. Jesus pulled all manner of people together.

The Movie "Risen"

Luke 5:26
And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”











Mark 1

They brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city (1,500 people) was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons

All of Capernaum showed up to see Jesus - 1,500 people.

And an entire city of 1,500 people was "the first" preaching of the Ministry of Jesus the Lord.

Populations of the Roman Empire - figures of 4,036,000 recorded for the census carried out by "Augustus" (Luke 2) in 28 BC, 4,233,000 in 8 BC, and 4,937,000 in 14 AD. and almost 6 million during the reign of Claudius, not all of whom lived in Italy.

Now the City of Rome, itself - number of recipients of the grain dole under Augustus, implying a population of around 800,000-1,200,000.

What we are saying is as soon as Jesus just collected, by asking, His Disciples
- because He 'healed them all'
- the Entire Town came for the first Preaching of Jesus.

"The Jesus Boat of the Sea of Galilee."Sea of Galilee, first century A.D.

This is what the crowd looked like, during a sermon where Jesus had to move to a boat to avoid being crushed by His believers and followers.

Hebrews 12:28
Therefore let us be grateful...

27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken — that is, things that have been made — in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

(Remember again - hearts are warmed and revived seeing the Glory of God.)

28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Abba, Father, God - Beloved Father God,

We Are the Easter People!!! Living in the New Covenant of the Mercy of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 8
11 No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12For 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. 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. 

Amen in Jesus Lord God.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 4:14-25 ~ the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great Light

Matthew 4:14-25

So that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,  Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 

24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 

25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.



Luke 24
Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 And he said to them, “What things?”

And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people"


Josephus estimated the population at 1,100,000. With Jews from around the Mediterranean bringing the population up to 2 million during High Holy Days. That would make the feeding of the thousands - easy. For God.

What did Jesus see when He fed 5,000 people; what does that size crowd look like - something we can use to call this to mind:

What did the people see?

Jesus healed all. The Scriptures repeat the incredible healing Jesus does. Today too. We tend to see it like this:

Now the view explaining why the Roman Emperors feared Jesus for 360 years... is more like this:

 

Jesus on the ship speaking to the crowds that threatened to crush Him, until He sat on the boat.

Now, what did Jesus see when He healed and had compassion on the people - seeing as Jesus could see - their faith:

Ezekiel 12:23
Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.' Say to them, 'The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled.'

Habakkuk 1:5
Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days-- You would not believe if you were told.

Jesus the Christ, the only Son of God, our Messiah, our Lord God, our Righteousness, our Savior -

~ they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.

Jesus could see. Clearly see. Jesus saw a world being saved because of what Jesus, our righteous Redeemer, did and His desire for the earth He called Good so many times.

Revelations 21

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.




Our Abba,

The Holiness of God is seen in Jesus.

Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
Romans 3:21

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1 John 2:1

Father, what the eyes of Your Son Jesus beheld. And Jesus said even more blessed are we the generation that did not see, and yet believe. We are blessed to read Your Word every day. The Bible in our hand came with enormous costs. Thank You for the Way, the Truth and the Life in Jesus Christ God.

What Jesus has given us. as God made Manifest as Grace upon Grace. From His fullness we have all received.

9 “ No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 2

We thank Jesus for faith we want His help to walk in. God You Yourself have said faith is unseen. And faith is the work You give to us. Thank You, Abba, Jesus and Holy Spirit so many historical documents, papyrus and archaeology show us You are the Living God.

We place our cares with You, Father God. We place our loved ones with You. Help us to Live Your Plan of Goodness, Hope and Future in You We Thank You. Amen always in Jesus.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Amos 9:5-15 ~ Who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and founds his vault upon the earth

Amos 9:5-15

The Lord God of hosts,
he who touches the earth and it melts,
and all who dwell in it mourn,
and all of it rises like the Nile,
and sinks again, like the Nile of Egypt


6 Who builds his upper chambers in the heavens
and founds his vault upon the earth;

who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—
the Lord is his name!

7 “Are you not like the Cushites to me,
O people of Israel?” declares the Lord.
“Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt,
and the Philistines from Caphtor
 and the Syrians from Kir?

8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom,
and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground,
except 
that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,”
declares the Lord.

9 “For behold, I will command,
and shake the house of Israel among all the nations
as one shakes with a sieve,
but no pebble shall fall to the earth.
10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword,
who say, ‘Disaster shall not overtake or meet us.’

11 “In that day I will raise up
the booth of David that is fallen
and repair its breaches,
and raise up its ruins
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations who are called by my name,”
declares the Lord who does this.

13 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when the plowman shall overtake the reaper
and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed;
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
and all the hills shall flow with it.

14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel,
and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,
and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.

15 I will plant them on their land,
and they shall never again be uprooted
out of the land that I have given them,”
says the Lord your God.

God does this! HE is a giver, a bringer, a maker of blessings! Who can do it! The Great I Am has determined to do it! God's Power of Whose Grace is engaged for doing this mighty work! Verses 13 to 15- when are these days? - In the awakening of the Holy Spirit within us - And - Possible in each day.

Interesting - we ask how is it fair we have the land of America. We ask how is it fair for the Palestinians to be oppressed in Dubai and other places - what do they have. And God says in verse 7 we all spring from different places.

People say they want blessings - and we are made to adapt. 

We can adjust to lack of blessings and find joy - however - we work the other way too. 
We adapt to being blessed and become fussy blessing reivers. 

Abraham was a fussy blessing receiver. 
David did far better being a dodge-Israel mercenary-for-hire, than a king in a palace.

We can see ourselves as unblessed for a season, but even in unblessing God will find a way. God will find a way. God will find a way.  Think with Him.

So in seasons of downturn, "We git what we git, don't throw a fit." Seek the Lord.

This is a Very Large Topic  reacting to God's blessings. A God sized topic.

Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph bears a grudge?"


ACTS OF GOD

A. This gives there - is - a reason to fear.
B. This gives them acknowledgment they are in the power of Joseph. Stuck.
C. They are as paralyzed as the man in front of Jesus in Mark 2. Stuck.

D. This group of people has been known to have - Envy. This will effectively end the joy of forgiveness. A joy to envy. End Joy.

E. This helps them to deal with their guilt over Joseph. Why would he even want to be near them?

F. They might try to make this push this around their way. (Like saying why does Joseph get to do this and why does Egypt have grain to feed them. Instead of dealing with what is. If you have no solution - whine in a new direction to distract.)

In Mark 2, this is the Pharisees judging Jesus' followers.

F. This could be a group panic. And calls for the group to be polite and wait and see. This is called the Fruit of the Holy Spirit - Forbearance.  A mark of maturity.





Aren't the Good Works of God to provide Joy?

Jacob had been hugely blessed of God by all his workings, yet Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed Esau came to meet him with 400 men; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; for he said, "If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape."


Wisdom. God is asking us to use our thoughts to learn what is likely. And to realize so much of life is beyond what we do and is handed to us. If we should deal with things as they are and not be in a fog or merry making. Or dour.  Balancing ourselves to surf and plan.

Israel in the Exodus - Deuteronomy 1:32-33
"But for all this, you did not trust the LORD your God, who goes before you on your way, to seek out a place for you to encamp, in fire by night and cloud by day, to show you the way in which you should go"

The Children of Israel worried.

2 Kings 17:14-15
However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God. They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers and His warnings with which He warned them And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the LORD had commanded them not to do like them

Matthew 19:22
But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

John 2:24
But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men

God tells us where all good things come from:

Psalm 44
O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face,
for you delighted in them.

4 You are my King, O God;
ordain salvation for Jacob!

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

For all the millenniums the refrain has been - do we trust God's Word to believe upon His Word?

Do we want to be guided by young ideas in our own head? No one is Ancient of Days, but Almighty God.

And who has dealt with millenniums of people trying to grasp their mortality, their worries, their desire to help loved ones.

God has dealt with human nature since Genesis.

The basis of all worry around leaning upon God... is God still working?

Will He care what happens to me or is significant terribly to my life now?

Will God change His mind?


Jesus looked at all He knew of the human race and He decided He would Save us. A point to ponder on days of rough wind, ocean and sky. How is this the wind and ocean obey?

We need to ride our storms as God would have us do. The indwelling of God within us. Following the ways of Jesus.

Taking what we want and asking God - how is this pleasing to You?

Hebrews 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him, must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.


God will take what is unclear and when we hold up the Righteousness of God - all begins to flow to Truth. And when we get to Truth, we reach the Straight Path. And in this core sincerity - we being to uncover what John Learned.  God Is Love.   When we reach Abba is Love, we begin to trust God and we are able to Let God do His Work. His Will. And we find His Will is Good for us and others. The upbuilding of the Body of Christ.


Abba, 

We ask Jesus to be with us and in us in Your Holy Spirit dwelling within us.

We ask in Jesus for wisdom. We will rest our cares upon You We will believe You. And we will find the blessings of each day and find our gratitude.

Help us do Your Path in manner pleasing to You, Abba. Pleasing to Your Spirit. Pleasing to Jesus and we will please You   with trying.

Thank You Father God for blessings.  We ask in Jesus, who gives us Grace. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †