Psalm 76 ~ God is known: His Name is Great

Psalm 76

A Psalm of Asaph.

In Judah God is known;
his name is great in Israel.

2 His abode has been established in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion.

3 There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. 
Selah

4 Glorious are you, more majestic
than the mountains full of prey.

5 The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil;
they sank into sleep;
all the men of war
were unable to use their hands.
6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
both rider and horse lay stunned.

7 But you, you are to be feared!
Who can stand before you
when once your anger is roused?
8 From the heavens you uttered judgment;
the earth feared and was still,
9 when God arose to establish judgment,
to save all the humble of the earth. 
Selah


10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise you;
the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.

11 Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them;
let all around him bring gifts
to him who is to be feared,
12 who cuts off the spirit of princes,
who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.



Asaph has seen Israel recover from King Saul. From Civil War as multiple monarchs are crowned and deposed. Asaph is seeing the battle riddled Israel grow spectacularly in King David's shepherding care. David believes so strongly in peace, he has built the King's Palace outside the safety walls of the city to observe the view of 3 hills.

The Kingdom and Palace was so unshakable we can find architectural highlights from David's Palace today.

And this Palace was still in use as the King's residence when Nebuchadnezzar II began to take over Judea believing this is of God from Isaiah Chapter 13. Nebuchadnezzar entered the palace to free a prisoner from the puppet Davidic king's palace prison in David's Palace. Nebuchadnezzar II released the prophet Jeremiah from the prison and in archeological digs, we have found the seal of Baruch ben Neriah (Hebrew: ברוך בן נריה Bārūḵ ben Nêrîyāh "'Blessed', son of 'My Candle is Jah'") (c. 6th century BC) was the scribe, disciple, secretary, and devoted friend of the Biblical prophet Jeremiah.

The Bulla is of interest, not only because of the origin in the Palace of David found according to Biblical definition by second generation Archaeologist Professor Eilat Mazar, but because it has a fingerprint on the seal - probably of Baruk.

Currently housed in the Museum of Israel. Jstor contains all current, official information on the treasured Bulla of Baruk from the Museum of Israel.

Why has Psalm 76 abided? Been Celebrated? Remembered? The goal of war is not continued war, continued police state, the goal is met - Hope has been found. Peace. Prosperity - the building of a Nation.

The People see Peace. A Gift of God.

Israel has almost always been crowded by larger Empires. The Palace of David was built in 1000 B.C. In continual use, outside the safety of Jerusalem City Walls, for 400 years.

David found Allies of the Phoenicians. He had been employed by them during the time Saul was tracking him. He liked their style and built his palace.

Artifact of David's Palace.

1800's Photo of Israel - how Jerusalem typically looked for millenniums. The Walls hold the Palace of David.




The Visuals below show the Kidron Valley, allowing you to see the City Walls, old and new, with the placement of King David's Palace.

Remember with me, armies arrived for David to be concerned and for all 400 years this Palace was freely on display. This Palace was so boldly in view we could hang this flag from David's Palace.

In Texas, this looks about like this!!!

Abba,

We read in Psalm 76 about Your Belt. Ephesians 6:14 tells us Your Belt is Truth. And Peace is freedom, Your Word says the Truth sets us Free.

David carried on for 22 years knowing his anointing only by faith. We always want the Victory Your Word celebrates. Endurance, produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Father God, pour Your Holy Spirit of Love into our souls. Give us this Strength of Your Joy. We ask this for the one's we love. Carry this forth to the people we pray for. To our work places, Churches, Neighborhoods, Cities, States, Nation and the believing world. We pray for the Strength of God to provide us more peace. Heaven on earth. Prosperity, Hope, Faith and Love. The Strength of Your Steadfast, Unshaken Kingdom, God Sized Love.

In the Highest Name of Jesus we pray this in our vows, households and daily life. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Daniel 7 ~ Ancient of Days

Ishtar Gate of Babylon, Daniel lived with. Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

Daniel 7

 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. 

Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

9 “As I looked,

Thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

13 “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 

18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’

19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 

21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast,
there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,
which shall be different from all the kingdoms,
and it shall devour the whole earth,
and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
24 As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,
and another shall arise after them;
he shall be different from the former ones,
and shall put down three kings.
25 He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.
26 But the court shall sit in judgment,
and his dominion shall be taken away,
to be consumed and destroyed to the end.

27 And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’


28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”




Who would Parallel Daniel? Appealing to all except those seeking power promoting themselves with other gods.

Joseph is found in History. Egyptian History.

The name of the city Jacob-El was recorded for the first time in Thutmose’s III  era.

Thutmose III actually created Egypt’s wealth. Thutmose III possessed the archetypal qualities of a great ruler. A brilliant general who never lost a battle, he also excelled as an administrator and statesman. 1479 – 1425 BC

 
Yahweh was also recorded for the first time during Thutmose III.
Ramses II spent Egypt’s wealth on massive building projects where as Thutmose III actually created Egypt’s wealth.
During this time period, according to Egyptian historical documentation, Israel was not a recorded as a name, the people were recorded as hyksos. 
On a statue of Amenhotep III (monotheistic Pharoah) at Kom el Hetan is Amenhotep’s funeral statue and on the base of the statue is Joseph-el. Joseph of God.

Egyptian Topographical Lists of Cities and Records

Names	Tuthmosis III (1481 BC)	Amenhotep II (1440)	Amenhotep III (1386)	Seti I (1291)	Ramses II (1275)
Jacob-El	yes				yes
Joseph-El	yes		yes
Asher			yes	yes	yes
Yahweh			yes		yes
Shasu		yes	yes	yes	yes
Hapiru		yes		yes

See ANET, 242-3.

1. In Ramses II's topographical list (ca.1275 BC) the place-name "Jacob-El" (#9) appears again (ANET 1969, 242; Simons 1937). The first appearance was in Thutmose III's list. This means that this city of Jacob has been around for two hundred years. Another interesting name that was found is yhw which is "Yahweh" in Hebrew (Horn 1953, 201; Giveon 1964, 244).
2. It seems abundantly clear from all these topographical lists concerning Canaan that the Hebrews were in Canaan at this time, but they did not use the name "Israel" until there league of tribes was well formed by the time of Merneptah.

3. On a statue-base of Amenhotep III at Kom el Hetan which is the funerary temple of Amenhotep III there is a topographical list with the place-name Yspir (Series a:1; Kitchen 1965, 2). This is the same name translated "Joseph-El" in Thutmose III's Topographical list (ANET 1969, 242). After Yspir in both lists the place-name Rkd appears (Series a:2 in Amenhotep III's list, and #79 in Thutmose III's list; Simons 1937, 112). Rkd is the same place-name as Ruhizzi in the El Amarna letters (EA 53:36, 56; EA 5426; EA 56:26; EA 191:2; Rainey 1982, 354). The ruler of Ruhizzi is Arsawuya who seems to be located in northern Palestine or southern Syria (EA 53:36, 56; Moran, 125)

Isaiah was perfectly understood. The Messiah would be King of Kings and the theologians knocked on the door of King Herod to see the Messiah.

We won't understand all things. God has not given us to interpret His Plan. My opinion from Luke 1 is our God has tied the end of the earth with the supernova of the sun. The falling of the skies and the red moon.

Luke 1

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”



Peace is to be preferred. An honest peace with freedom.

How shall we interpret this? The Bible repeats and repeats only to assure us with God all things are possible. Jesus told us there would be wars and rumors of wars. Men would always point to the return of Jesus.

And just as Daniel is similar to Joseph, Daniel 7 of 500 B.C. points to Hebrews 1. A day to God, Peter tells us, is thousands of years. Jesus tells us what Daniel tells us.

Hebrews 1

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways,
God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,
whom he appointed the heir of all things,
through whom also he created the world.

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God
and the exact imprint of his nature,
and he upholds the universe b
y the word of his power.

After making purification for sins,
he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.


Why was Daniel employed, with all of his many God given talents,
to see this battle? To speak of Battles of the Most High?

Daniel was in a unique position having seen his secondary nation - Israel taken in recent history and destroyed by the Assyrians. Daniel had lived seeing Judah reduced to puppet state and destroyed by a fake uncle king, who refused to be a proper puppet king in his own arrogance, echoing the faithlessness of the people. 3 Times Judah was rounded up and finally finished in fire. Daniel walked 1,000 miles through tough terrain, and was a slave raised up in a foreign nation as emissary.

Daniel was shown all of this because he would relate it with emotion to the readers of millenniums. We would understand Daniel found the violence terrifying. And we would see God is in charge and there is hope. Daniel was picked correctly by a God of profound understanding. Daniel's heart felt experience is living in these descriptions. God chose Daniel to relate as a slave, an emissary of God, chosen as we are God's Beloved. God chose Daniel's heart to relate the Truth of God's Word.








And will we worry about the end of the world?
We will not.
God is in control.

We should have more Joy of the Lord. We read so many dire things we can do nothing about.

We can do something important. Love.

Pray.

We can do something powerful. Be Grateful.

Find, hold, believe, celebrate Good News. Today, 2/3rd's of all college educated people have marriages that last to death. Families see vows taken and upheld.

We seem to believe the world is going to have a massive riot sometime soon. And we forget to celebrate the peace we know. And expect.

We have a small chance of violence. When it strikes, it's like lightning and terrible. We have forgotten to believe in the stability of our lives as a Gift of God.



If we can pray for the people we love and mostly have confidence for them, why can't we pray for strangers and expect God is going to help? And as we continue to pray, God is going to give us an opportunity - not to fall and fail, but to have the ability and the talent to help.

God wants His Beloved to help each other and not feel like failures and unable.

God does the heavy lifting in life. With God our burdens are light.

God says when we cannot help - He will.

I know a very recent story in my life of a Minister of God. Someone who did like we all do - set their child on a path of college and career. This Minister fasted when the college year and semester began and prayed for the Light of Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit to protect all the students and comfort the Professors. Praying simply for the miraculous. The child believed in Jesus until more and more friends pressed in. The now adult child decided to sell Drugs. A contact point was made, the Drugs would be delivered. The Minister's adult child was pleased to have extra funds. And as the Narcotics were to be delivered, the contact showed up with 2 Policemen in Uniform. Angels really. The Minister's child went into another room and wept. Life would become very bad. The contact slipped into the room, handed the Drugs over and said the police had not caught on. And left. The would be drug dealer would not sell Drugs. The Minister's child realized how far this cared for person had fallen. And for years, the Minister was not informed and did not know how many prayers are answered and go undisclosed.

God is so Good.


Our Ancient of Days
is not on a Throne far away
waiting for someday far away, to help us.

Our Abba is not waiting on events down the path
to draw up His Power.

This is Our God. Our Mighty Father.
He LIVES.
He REIGNS.

Our ABBA Loves You. Loves me.

Blessed be the Living Name of God. Our Father. 
Blessed be Wonderful Jesus.


Our Heavenly Father is not held apart by space and time.


Our Father is Ancient of Days takes His Seat;
His Holy Spirit dwells in the Faithful.
His Word is Living and Active.

For the Word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword,
Our God pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.

Our Father and His Powerful Word is able
to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight;
everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.


We know our Father has Clothing was white as snow,
and the Hair of His Head like pure wool

Our Father's throne has fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.

Living.
A stream of fire issued
and came out from before Him

Thousand thousands served Abba,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before Him.
As Gabriel stands before our God. Our Father.

He is able and willing
God of Love
God of Encouragement.
And His Will will Prevail.

Jesus our Christ. The Only Son of our God.
He is the Radiance of the Glory of God
and the exact imprint of His Nature,
and He upholds the universe by the Word of His Power.

After making purification for sins,
he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High
His Court will sit in the judgment,
and
the books are opened.




Our God is the Alpha and the Omega.
Creator of All

Even the darkness is not dark to You;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with You.

For You formed my inward parts;
You knitted me together in my mother's womb.


I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are Your works;
my soul knows it very well.


My frame was not hidden from You,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;


In Your Book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

Blessed be our wonderful Jesus Christ.
This is where our cares are held.
He cares for us. Tenderly.

Thank God. Our Father. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 9:9-13 ~ Follow Jesus

Mark's First Chapter
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.

Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.


10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew had cream in the bad heap jobs. Collecting money at one of the most moneyed times in history. The world would not see this revenue of the Roman Empire until 1400 A.D. This is a lot to give up for a street preacher. Yet John records all of Capernaum shows up for Jesus' first sermon because the town has seen Miracles done beyond belief or imagining. Mark 1 records Jesus opens His Ministry to mob scenes.


So many times we believe God endured this life, knowing what was to come. It was what Jesus came for - to call people and His sheer joy to call his friend Matthew. Jesus assures us in John 14, 15, 16 of His Joy in this life.

And how did Matthew return Jesus' call? Matthew gave Jesus a feast in his own home. Calling his friends and the people he knew needed Jesus, not tip toeing around Jesus and being politically correct. But the people he knew. Displeasing the employment crowd. Pleasing Jesus to be in a party, celebrating life. Honoring Him. Jesus brought people JOY and Wonder. Loving them.


Give us this Day!




Matthew 6:34
"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."


John 2:10
"Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."


This was Jesus' Love:


Luke 21:37
Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.








Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

We can be shaken. Bad mood. Long traffic jam. Too much weather. Under the weather. Stray thought. Stray comment. Matthew certainly was shaking up his very well ordered world to jam with Jesus. Jesus keeps telling us


C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle:

“I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now...Come further up, come further in!”

“And as He spoke, He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

We might wobble, God's Kingdom is Secure. And on this Rock, we will rise up, rise up, rise up.

Echoes John Newton's "Amazing Grace":

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Than when we first begun.

Because His Word for us, our hopes' secure.





Jesus told us He would build His Church, unseen, upon the Rock that Peter was verbally. The name Peter (Greek, Petros) means “rock” or “rock-man.” Both Matthew and Peter changed their lives completely when they had seen the Christ in the midst of His Ministry.

The other bones in the Roman Cemetery rotted away. However, Peter was placed under a rock ceiling. And 80 feet up is the Vatican altar.


Jesus is unshakeable. His Word prevails. The Word of God proves True. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Death is defeated. The Disciple Peter is accounted for. Not in the largest house in Capernaum. Peter's wonderful house's plaster walls tell the story of Peter's decision to follow Jesus. Peter is not located right next door to the Synagogue. Peter is found in the Willingness of God. In the plaster of his Roman tomb. 62 years old. Hebrews descent. A little bit plump. Feet removed from the skeleton. Peter was unwilling to be killed upright on a cross as Jesus had. Removed from the upside down cross by removal of feet from the body. Willing to be God's. Always.



Father God,

We give great thanks for Your mercy. Finding John lived to the 2nd century for John's willingness to stay beside Jesus all days. John depended upon You to be the Unshaken Kingdom.

We place into Your Loving Care our concerns, our Loved ones, the people You have given us. Knowing all prayers that are the full scope of Love for leaders, jobs, health and concerns will be in Your Protection.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Romans 8:28 ~ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

This Bible Verse would require us to believe a few unbelievable things. And yet, we believe in Heaven. We believe in the Goodness of God. We believe all things are possible with God.


We believe Father God searches hearts.

Jeremiah 17:10
"I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds."



Compare two different Biblical Chapters.

The Prodigal Son has disappointed his father. The son has shown to the community, he is a son asking the father to sell off inheritance and move away. The father doesn't hear from the son, probably, as the son squanders the inheritance put up for him. And at the end of the story, as we read the son has come to his senses, we see the Prodigal son's Father runs to him.

And usually, we all sincerely hope Father God would be this glad to see us as we enter His Kingdom through 12, always open, single pearl, Gates of Heaven.


And consider these thoughts.



Luke 23:42-43
42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 

43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The thief
came to his senses
and was rewarded with Heaven
on the day of his death.

Revelation 6

10 And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” 
11 Then each of them was given a white robe 
and told to rest a little while longer, 
until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.




If we believe, as King Solomon wrote in the power of the Holy Spirit, God Himself is the Hand of Blessing and the Hand of Woe. Plans belongs to God, then  - this is important. If we are killed (hurt, have injustice, dismay) - we do not need to cry out for God to avenge us. We do not need to cry out for Justice to God.  If God would let martyrs rest. And keep the martyrs from entering His Heaven the first day of death and not see His Paradise - but a thief being killed by capital punishment enters - - - we should believe God is actively involved with the details of our life. And have some patience and honesty with God and allow God to be God.



What do we want to appear in Life? Love.
And this is what God is looking for in us as we present our souls - our life's work - to Him.

Seems to me we get a choice in how well our Father is going to receive us. The Prodigal's Father RAN to him.


What is God looking for? A Loving, obedient Will. David was particularly known to be obedient and grateful. And you add that up - - - you see a picture forming about a soul. Something God sees well.

Genuine Love.



Father God,

Thank God the Disciples were allowed to be themselves in their emotions to Jesus. And in following Jesus with awe and wonder, found You are Good.

We will be honest and genuine in our prayers. We will seek Your Blessings. Allowing You to be God. And believing in Your Love Goodness, Wisdom and Capabilities.

The Joy of the Lord be our Strength. And He will carry us far.

We expect Your Blessings and Love for our cares, our Loved ones, the people You have given us. And we will rest knowing how involved and loving are Your ways, Your plans, Your future and the Hope You give us in Jesus Christ. 
Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Revelation 21:1-6 ~ Selah +

 

Revelation 21:1-6

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."

Psalm 87 

1On the holy mount stands the city he founded; 2 the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. 3 Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah 4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush — “This one was born there,” they say. 

5 And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High himself will establish her. 6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah 7 Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.”Selah

John 7:38 
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."



There are days that start out with 3 holes being drilled into your grand big toe nail.

And in the process of having help getting there, getting medical help, getting home, getting to rest. Getting chore help. Having Chocolate Chip cookies made for you. Having comfort. Giving Comfort. Receiving Comfort. That you realize Living the Good News is indeed the Joy of God and of yourself.

God is in His Heaven and all is right with the world.

Let us truly bless the Lord our Father with something He has not given us first.

Thanks be unto God our Father. And for His Son, Jesus our Christ. 

Let us have joy and gratitude.
 And remember the Gracious Goodness of Father God in all seasons of our lives.
 Amen Jesus Christ. Amen Abba. Amen Holy Spirit. 
Your Love covers Your Creation. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
 Alleluia.

 This is my Christmas Gift. A new bird feeder! Yesterday we had quite the rain storm. And as the storm went on, I noticed activity in the bird feeder. A family of Sparrows, being sheltered from the rain and fed by each other. Just sheer love and lovely!!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Acts 9 ~ The Lord said to him in a vision

One of many synagogues in Syria. Jews dwelled in Syria in great numbers.

Acts 9

9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?”

And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”

22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.



31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.




32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.

34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.”

39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.”

And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

We expect The Acts of the Apostles to be fireworks. Wonders of God.  All packed in.

And why? Well ... God wanted that.

Why? Because suddenly Father God has changes occurring and not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.


Father God felt the Holy Spirit moving to inhabit all believers and He wanted projects completed. News acted upon. There were sometimes 3 visions or dreams in a week. The Spirit was on the move.




Now if we want more of God's Spirit?

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Great! Why isn't this presto magic? Because Jesus said Your will be done. And when this aligns, our will asks the Will of God. When our goodness is declared righteousness in belief. God aligns.


The Joy is finding what God, Father God, Himself, considers Glory.

John 14:13-14
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Acts 3:16
And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.





Peter took the time to write down his thoughts on answered prayer in the First Book of Peter, Chapter 4. Peter saw amazing astonishing Acts of God. Peter believed suffering causes us to turn away from sin. Helps us desire to have God's help. Peter's goal is we might live in the Spirit the way God does. Seeing this is the destination of all people.

David felt suffering would actually move Father God's compassion. Solomon said suffering was from God and to be examined. Job wanted to be righteous before God. God is so vast, all were correct. And don't we all love the prayer to be moved by God willingly and not as a horse has to be gathered. Intuitively, all these people of God understood God was moving them along. The New Testament tells us all of this Biblical advice is the Holy Spirit speaking into our hearts. The idea is to go - Home. To our Father. With Heart and Soul open and loving.


Our Abba!

We will be clear with You, for the sake of our hearts, our direction and our prayers. 

Blessed are those who believe You. In this belief, we are forgiven and declared righteous in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. We will give hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Being Good with our abilities, we have each received a Gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's astonishing variations of Grace.

Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength God supplies — in order that in every - thing - God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

To Jesus who works today. The blind see. The deaf hear. The ill are cured. Giving faith, hope and Love. Our Abba of Love and Encouragement - To You we lift up our lives, our hopes, for our cares, for the ones we love. The people You have given us. And in lifting up our deeds, our jobs, our chores, with prayer. We know - prayers circle our world. We know, today,  all lightning circles the earth entwined., even up to our sun. And in His Love, our prayers go to our Jesus, covering the earth.

We give thanks that as we pray, we cover ourselves, the people, animals, situations we love, our given people, unto all of the Creation - You, Father God, have gone to such lengths to call "Good" eleven times, like the Disciples, 11 times in Good Creation.

Edward, Cal, Steve, Paul, Sharon. Jackson. Ears and good health. Protection. Love Joy and the fulfilling of God's Word. Wisdom. Achieving with gratitude the knack You give us. Increasing what we "know" You give us to do. Gladly.

And to Jesus belongs glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †