Luke 6 ~ dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock

Luke 6

1 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?" 3 And Jesus answered them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?" 5 And he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."

6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.




17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.





20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. "Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.


27 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?

For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others
37 "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." 39 He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.



43 "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.



46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."





Luke 6 begins with the grainfields. Where we walk and God has us walk. And yet not in the clear path all understand. Luke 6 ends with building on the foundation of God. The beginning and end to remain with Jesus. Remaining where God wants us to be and not wandering off.

When the objective is to drain the swamp and not be eaten by alligators.

My brother, John Anderson, loves alligators. He hopes water eventually has alligators. I told him Edward wanted the Styrofoam alligator at the pool supply store in our pond and to paint the eyes with clear nail polish to have glitter. John laughed and said that was good. But we all need real alligators in our pond. John says the knack is to teach your children and dogs to run to get out of the way of an alligator moving fast.

(John used to sail in White Rock when he lived in Dallas. He looked for alligators, but never found them. He moved to El Paso {God is interesting regarding alligators!!!} and now he has a 2 story ATV he takes his family in - going all through the desert. I told him only John Anderson is creative enough to find a way to sail the desert!!!)




I'm pretty sure Jesus loved vineyards for a different reason. But the truth is our culture has us handling information, substance, outside forces we'd all love to snap our fingers at and have a different reaction.



And the reaction God wants from us is mostly mercy over hands trying to make their way through life. We are called to be a Disciple of Christ. Life is going to throw diversions, potholes, potbellies etc. to try to make us stand with Jesus Christ. We don't want to start announcing, being a messenger of God and put our hand to the plow and no longer have the focus to work a seed path - a way, a truth a life - of Jesus.

The consequences are being a perpetual tombstone. An announcement of death.




We pray the Lord's Prayer for a good reason. A lot of the tremendous forces of life are out of our hands. We pray God delivers us and shows us His Heaven to keep going in His direction. We pray not to fall into temptation moving through the paths of life. God tells us here about enemies and fruit. And as we go through life - we can get so interested in identifying fruit of others - we quit being mercy.





My ward for 12 years was my elderly cousin Maxine.

Maxine was built to be part of the Body of Christ. Where not everyone is a nose. An ear, a wrist and ankle, hallux, purlicue or a fraenum. Much less the highly touted epidermis. We can show our epidermis but when we show too much without regard to privacy, mercy, safety, decorum, love, kindness - we fall short of explanations required, we cut off goodness, we end good expectations.

We want nothing to do with the opportunity to plow for Jesus Christ.

Maxine knew well about plowing our path for Jesus Christ.

The back of her bathroom door was a good Sermon:  "I walked a path and saw a lazy man raking leaves from his chair. The job was going to be a tough job for all the many leaves. Lazy irresponsible man. I marched through my walk with diligent endeavor for exercise feeling powerful and well and filled with vim and vigor. As my path took me back to the yard filled with leaves, I found the man was still in his chair raking leaves. And leaning against his chair were his - his - Crutches."


Judgement doesn't fall far from the tree.

David was encouraged and convicted by Nathan and not so much Gad.

Ahab was convicted by the Holy Spirit.

Alexander the Great was humbled to find Ezekiel has spoken of him 200 years before his birth about the former island of Tyre. Alexander the Great had time on his death bed to mourn the temporal.



We can cover up injustice.

We can condone what isn't good.

We can speak with conviction with what is right. And if we do not continue to show mercy and be honest and truthful about intentions. We do not gain 10 yards for God and eventually do not try.


Jesus told us He came to save us. Not really. Jesus said He came to save the world. Us. And a few others. We are a team of linked arms. Stand on the good foundation of God. The game is not about me. It's not about you. The Mission is to save the World for Jesus Christ.

Do not forget in life of grainfields - the foundation is where we want to remain. The Hope is Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, the Life. This is our God and this is the One Who Loves You as You Are.


We can link arms.

We can let the alligators eat up to our armpits as we fight for ourselves
and not the Good Fight for Jesus Christ.

The Temporal is interesting and glamorous. The Eternal is a Long, Long Time.


Can you really imagine Jesus Christ knows you - just as you are and invites you to be part of
The Kingdom of God of Love
For always.
And Always.
And Always. Alleluia. Allleluia. Alllllelllluia. Alllllllellllluuuuuia.


Father God,
May the Words of My Mouth
The Meditations of My Heart.
Be Always Pleasing In Your Sight.
My Rock. Your Rock. And Our Redeemer.

God Loves me. God Loves you.
And we can do a lot with God who will provide Hope, Faith and most Importantly Love.

God Send me. God Send you.
God send for our Loved Ones. God send for the People He has given us.
May the Power of the Holy Spirit keep us on His Good Path!
For Life.
For Love.
For Jesus' Joy in the Life.
Everyday for Eternity.

With Jesus to Infinity and Beyond.
Allelluuuuuuuia. Jesus Christ is God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 8:23-27 ~ completely calm

Matthew 8:23-27

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Matthew 19:26 26
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 14:31
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Matthew 8:3
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

Matthew 20:34
Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Matthew 21:19
Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

Matthew 26:74
Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV / 14 helpful votes
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

Isaiah 40:31 
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.


2 Peter 3:9 9
The LORD is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.






Abba,

We do not know what the weather was immediately after You spoke the calm of the sea and wind, calming the storm completely. We only know You could create complete sunshine or gradually dismissing the effects of the storm. By Your Word either is entirely possible with You.;

With All things under Your feet, we place all our cares and concerns. Resting in You. With faith Hope and Love encompassing all we ask You about in our continuing prayer conversations.

With Jesus we draw near to You. Blessed be the Love of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 3:1-19 ~ do good

Mark 3:1-19

1 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. 9 And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.


13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.

16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat.





Here we have Mark 3 - Jesus has just begun His ministry - and Acts of God are being seen. Israel has been recorded for looking for just these healings and these miracles.

When was the last time you pictured yourself in the midst of Jesus doing His Ministry? Witnessing Jesus nourished, fed and healed us all? Walking up the hill to see Jesus pray and spent time with His Father and ours? 

It was a completing and a re-awakening of a message - God's love was proving again - God does not dwell in human buildings - but in the up-building of us in Relationship to God. We belong to Father God in Jesus the Lord.

Just as the beginning of Jesus' ministry - it is like Genesis and Revelation. God is about His creation. You.


Revelation 21:3
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."

God is about the up-building of you, Father God's Child. God is about nurturing us. Jesus explains and show us Father God's nature is His willingness to become part of us. Thank You, Jesus.


Father God, we delight in the solutions You put in us. Finding the Path You would have us walk in. Help us to do Your Good Plan for our lives with mercy and with joy and the verve of salt. In finding the persistence You have given us to see the Blessings of each day. Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

In the name of Jesus, we lift up our prayer requests for the ones we love. The People God has given us and the Churches, work places, our states and Nation. The people far away, the most pressing prayer request and rest in Jesus the Lord.


Let Your Good Will, Father God, in the Name of Jesus be done. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 9:27-34 ~ believe that I am able to do this

Matthew 9:27-34

27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

 In Jesus. Amen.

When Moses was to see God, a great and auspicious occasion, Moses was covered. 

Exodus 33
18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 

19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

Both Scripture passages reflect this is a process to see God. Beginning with the earnestness of seeking God. And Father God is present.

Exodus 34
5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord,

Jesus!

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, a forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

Luke 1 finds through the Millenniums the Worship of Father God continues and in the New Covenant God redirects His mercies as He gives us Jesus for our Salvation.

Luke 1:50
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.

The Gospel of John says in the First Chapter:

John 1:45
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Father God, just as Moses wrote us of Your Living Word - Jesus - We pray for those in need - crying to You, Lord Father God Almighty - as Moses did and was heard - “Please show me your glory.”

Father, You are working today - we know a healthy child. From medical tests to be missing organs and in severe ill health. That child was given Healing by Jesus the Lord and is whole and well today. A beautiful daughter.

Father God we have prayed with local Churches for an unborn baby named Hope with a brain tumor and malformed brain. The mother and child were transferred for delivery to a major Houston downtown Hospital. The birth process was to include whisking the child upon birth to the next hospital over for Intensive Care and potential brain surgery. The baby named Hope, so prayed for by so many with faith - went home instead and her mother reports her to be completely well.

Father God we pray for this covered in Jesus.

In Jesus, we look to expectation in You Lord Father God.
You are still working.
Father You are God of LOVE.
Father God we trust You with our cares and Loved Ones.
Knowing You cover all we cannot do with Jesus.
And knowing our prayers wrap us in Your Arms. And all the things we pray for and long to see
are Yes in Your Good Will.

Thank You, Father God, You are for us. Our Hope and Future. Every Day from this moment
until Eternity. Jesus with us!  Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 91 ~ The Lord is faithful

2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.

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

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.

15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”






New believers have in the Word of God, the Bible was written by the people who did not seemingly triumph or live well. Didn't the wicked and evil men - triumph. Really?

History proves the agenda of men passed on and the Will of God Goes Forth.

See Paul's Tomb the Vatican excavated his tomb from the 1930s until the 1960s. Amazing.

The steadfastness of Christ and then the others

Pontius Pilate was so erased in History - we had the idea until the 1960s, he did not exist but recent archaeological records proved otherwise.

Who was the famous man Paul spoke to when the unnamed Sadduceen council arrested our PAUL ? Well if you look up that man, you find in Acts 23, that is Governor Felix. Which man does history honor?

High priest Ananias? His house was found in ruins, at the sack of Jerusalem in 70 A.D; His existence was doubted, as well, until the Talmud Records were found of the Sadduceen Council, for this era of Jesus walking the earth, in Scotland. These record the name of Mary's father. And say they were very concerned about Jesus' miracles and insurrection.

Capernaum.. Jesus' adult home town, picked as a land flowed with milk and honey, on the shores of the sea of Galilee, that town survived and thrived - avoiding war until the 13th century. Capernaum.

The Word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored.
There was no doubt Roman Emperors always win.

The triumph of Christianity is actually a very remarkable historical phenomenon.

Ian Wilson records a letter from a Jewish rabbi, of Lyracanthra, saying it would be the end of Judaism because of the incredible miracles of healing, restoration, life transformation and complete hope. These are letters confirming the Gospels show the Rabbi to be extremely unhappy. Josephus, the Israeli General turned traitor, turned Historian says Jesus was the Christ and his brother James formed the later Christian Church until martyred in 62 AD.

People you might not have heard of - and the world loved - and -yet- we can't place their face.

Trajan (c. 53 - 117) Philosopher Pliny the Younger's letter to Trajan on the subject of the Christians and the response of Trajan to Pliny the Younger. On Early Christian Writings. How to torture Christians to discredit the claims of Jesus Christ.

Hadrian (c. 76 - 138) Foxe's Book of Martyrs -- Persecution Under Trajen...... The forenamed authors, Antoninus and Equilius

Antoninus Pius (c. 86 - 161) Instead of stirring up persecution against the Christians, he extended to them the strong hand of his protection throughout the empire. Rather than give occasion to that oppression which he regarded as inseparable from an emperor's progress through his dominions, he was content to spend all the years of his reign in Rome, or its neighborhood. Under his patronage the science of jurisprudence was cultivated by men of high ability, and a number of humane and equitable enactments were passed in his name. 161 – 180 166 Christian persecution returned - The period was one of ever-increasing calamities. The earthquakes which had alarmed Asia under Antoninus were but the prelude to more serious convulsions. The Tiber rose to an unprecedented height and swept away the public granaries. This was followed by a famine, and that by a pestilence, which spread from Egypt and Ethiopia westward. Everywhere on the frontiers there were murmurs of insurrection or invasion. The year 166 was long known as the "annus calamitosus," and it was in that year that the persecution broke out and that Justin suffered. These calamities roused the superstition of the great mass of the people, and a wild fanaticism succeeded to an epicurean atheism. The gods were wrath, and what had roused their anger but the presence of those who denied them?

Marcus Aurelius (c. 121 - 180) The Thundering Legion incident (174)

During the war with the Quadi in 174 there took place the famous incident of the Thundering Legion (Legio Fulminatrix, Fulminea, Fulminata) which has been a cause of frequent controversy between Christian and non-Christian writers. The Roman army was surrounded by enemies with no chance of escape, when a storm burst. The rain poured down in refreshing showers on the Romans, while the enemy were scattered with lightning and hail. The parched and famishing Romans received the saving drops first on their faces and parched throats, and afterwards in their helmets and shields, to refresh their horses. Marcus obtained a glorious victory as a result of this extraordinary event, and his enemies were hopelessly overthrown.

That such an event did really happen is attested both by pagan and Christian writers. The former attribute the occurrence either to magic (Dion Cassius, LXXI, 8-10) or to the prayers of the emperor (Capitolinus, "Vita Marci", XXIV; Themistius, "Orat. XV ad Theod"; Claudian, "De Sext. Cons. Hon.", V, 340 sqq.; "Sibyl. Orac.", ed. Alezandre, XII, 196 sqq. Cf. Bellori, "La Colonne Antonine", and Eckhel, "Doctrina Nummorum", III, 64). The Christian writers attributed the fact to the prayers of the Christians who were in the army (Claudius Apollinaris in Eusebius, Church History V.5; Tertullian, "Apol.", v; ad Seap. c. iv), and soon there grew up a legend to the effect that in consequence of this miracle the emperor put a stop to the persecution of the Christians (cf. Euseb. and Tert. opp cit.).

It must be conceded that the testimony of Claudius is the most valuable of all that we possess, as he wrote within a few years of the event, and that all credit must be given to the prayers of the Christians, though it does not necessarily follow that we should accept the elaborate detail of the story as given by Tertullian and later writers 161 - 169

Lucius Verus (co-emperor) (c. 130 - 169) with Marcus Aurelius
180 - 192

Commodus (c. 161 - 192) All these who failed to follow the decree were brought to the Senate and were tried. This decree was a forceful attempt to put down Christians completely. But the followers who believed in Jesus Christ refused to accept this and many were ready to face the trial. "The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs" written.

Persecution slows down -

Pertinax (193)

Didius Julianus (193) .

Septimius Severus (193-211) Edict makes it illegal to convert to Christianity; persecution especially in North Africa, ca. 203: Perpetua & Felicity martyred in Carthage (North Africa)

Caracalla (211-217)

Macrinus (217-218)

Elagabalus (218-222)

Severus Alexander (222-235)

Maximinus (235-238)

Gordian I and II (238)

Balbinus (238)

Pupienus (238)

Gordian III (238-244)

Philip the Arab (244-249) .

Trajanus Decius (249-251) 250: Major Empire-Wide Persecution; Christians required to participate in Emperor Worship. Bishop Fabian of Rome martyred; Bishop Cyprian of Carthage exiled; Origen of Alexandria tortured to death.

Trebonianus Gallus (251-253)

Aemilian (253) .
Valerian (253-260) ca. 258: Bishop Cyprian of Carthage martyred
Gallienus (253-268)
Claudius Gothicus (268-270) .
Aurelian (270-275) some persecutions
Tacitus (275-276)
Probus (276-282)
Carus (282-283)
Carinus (283-284)
Numerian (283-284) .

Diocletian (284-305) Major Empire-Wide Persecution begins ca. 303; confiscation of Christian churches and books; arrest, torture, and execution of many Christian leaders. Personally sends troops to Nazareth, the Bishop of Caesarea Eusibius records Diocletian offering clemency to the nephews carefully recording their ancestry to Jesus Christ. All refuse and are tortured and put to death. Diocletian sends troops to Turkey to place the Bishop Nicholas (also known as St. Nicholas or, in German, Santa Claus, in prison.

& Maximian (286-305) Major Empire-Wide Persecution begins ca. 303; confiscation of Christian Churches and books; arrest, torture, and execution of many Christian leaders

Constantius Chlorus (305-306)
Maxentius (306-312) .
Galerius (305-311)
Licinius (311-323) 311: Edict of Galerius: toleration for Christians, allowing them to worship openly

 And Then - History Always Remembers Constantine

Constantine (307-337) 313: Edict of Constantine (Edict of Milan): toleration for all religions, including Christianity; ends persecutions

Constantine's position on the religions traditionally practiced in Rome evolved during his reign. At first he prohibited the construction of new temples and tolerated traditional sacrifices; by the end of his reign, he had begun to order the pillaging and tearing down of Roman temples. The day Christianity officially arrived in the Roman Empire was in 325 A.D. The First Council of Nicaea is regarded as the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church. Invited by Emperor Constantine, about 318 world-wide Bishops (including St. Nicholas), who had risked their lives and were condemned for serving Jesus, traveled across continents and oceans, continued to risk their lives in dangerous travel, to express the basis of the Church today and choose the Books of the Bible.




(* I compiled "Thee" above information and gathered from several sources and paraphrased.)

The triumph of Christianity is actually a very remarkable historical phenomenon. ...

Do not grow weary in doing good

Luke the beloved physician, lived to be in his 90s. He stayed with Paul, the only one, until Paul died.

Timothy, Paul's missionary friend he called a son, was the Bishop of Greece and lived well until his 80s.

Lazarus and Mary and Martha are well documented growing to old, old age on the Mediterranean Shores of France. Not too bad. They had Jesus to dinner in appreciation of His friendship and help.

And a lot of our Scripture exists because we had those willing to relocate to India and Africa.

John lived until history records him vibrant in the 2nd Century.

The Lord is faithful

Generations have called upon the name of Jesus Christ and have been saved.

Fruit of the Spirit...against such as these - there is No Law.

Governments have attempted, in our lifetimes, to restrict access to the Sciptures and the governments have failed; seeing a rebirth of Biblical interest and Churches.

The Word still generates faith, becoming hope, flowering into love.

We are still in the decade proclaimed to be the largest percentage of Christians on earth.

Romans 10:13
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

Abba, our Abba,

We want each day to start with Jesus. Saying Jesus God, please go with me. By the Power of the Holy Spirit - Guide, Lead, Encourage, Teach, Help, Prevail, Equip me with my life today. Enable. Protect. Give Wisdom. We want to be with Jesus. Because on His Path is going to find our Hope, Joy, Faith, Peace, Love.

Jesus is able to do so much more than we even imagine. Jesus is God who fed thousands with less than a meal. We want to live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' To all who did receive Jesus, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God, Who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

We want the Word made flesh to dwelt within us, and we have seen Jesus Glory. Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. From Jesus' fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Not from works, for man to boast. Purely from the Love God has for us. And He became our salvation and righteousness.

We cover all of our cares and people we love - with the Highest Name - Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Ephesians 6:15 ~ the gospel of peace

Ephesians 6:15

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.



The feet are running from the sniper in Las Vegas. And to the left someone is injured and the group is running together to protect the injured carried.


Matthew 11:12
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.


The Gospel of Peace is a choice. And many times the Gospel of Peace is a choice made under fire.

Why would a Good God ask His Only Son to Die.

The story of explanation is a good one. It's fiction as far as I know:

A man and his beloved only son were doing a Sunday job for the father. The son and father were enjoying Sunday afternoon. The man worked for the railroad and they were adjusting the lines underground to make the smooth transition from one line to another. A mistake had been made down the line. A huge, huge passenger train was now headed to oblivion or the son would be crushed underground. As the happy train filled with capacity shot past the bereaved railroad father - the people were marrying, eating and drinking and carrying on with life as usual - the bereaved railroad father had sacrificed his only son - that the filled to capacity train occupants would live.

Why? The father knew his son. He knew his son would not survive living while all the train had died. His Son was a Hero.





The Peace of God Passes understanding. We are preparing for this every day. Practicing. The Disciples of Jesus did not wander around looking all joyous as they sat with God's Church Bridegroom. They had frustration, fear, bewilderment. Uncertainty. The desire not to look stupid. There is a preparation for the Gospel of Peace. Determining a course to walk towards the Gospel of Peace.



2 Timothy 4

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.



We could say God was cruel to have given the test.

2 Timothy 4:8
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son - who is cruel? The Father preparing the inheritance. The son who wanders off.

We determine where we will put our efforts. We determine where Love is to live our lives for meaningful growth towards Father God. Surely we would say God can watch our hearts, actions and words and decide on our valor and integrity.







In the days to come, the people who have lived being shot at in a human bowl will suffer and think. And have great emotion. Where will the blame be placed. Where is the scape goat. Someone is to blame for the suffering.

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool."


When Father God sees His creation shot at and beheaded - He is not pleased. Our Father God abhors Human Sacrifice. Until He and the Son give Life. When our God sees death and murder - He has decided to save the world. God wipes away the horror and gives Love. Just as the people in the middle and midst now of seeing the kingdom of heaven - through Jesus Christ coming to earth - have suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

Jesus Christ lived with faith beyond John the Baptist beheaded by Herod. Non-Davidic "King of the Jews." Herod raised in Rome and puppet king of Caesar. Killed His own.

Jesus readied His feet to feed the multitudes and walked upon the waters. Where Peter was not a solace and Jesus chose to save Peter in the midst of familial loss.


The Gospel of Peace is a Choice. An ongoing choice to say God is in Charge and we Believe in His Goodness. And put our heart, mind, soul and being into Jesus Christ Savior.


Abba Father,

We pray for all of us to pray with Jesus and see the Holy Spirit increase love.

May the words of my lips, the meditations of my mind be pleasing and acceptable in Your sight. You are our Rock and Redeemer. For our loved ones. For our hopes. For the people You have given us. For our nation. For the generation yet to be born. For the believers around the world calling upon Jesus. God, You have our hope and future in Your goodness.

Our hope is in Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Ephesians 6:15 ~ the readiness

Ephesians 6:15

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.



We can never be ready unless we see a key importance to our Father.


Father God is witnessed to be Love by the Disciple John. And God is so Loving His belief is for saving the world through Jesus Christ. This is the measure of God's Love.


Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.



We cannot fully Love Father God ~

~ without our heart acknowledging He has loved us first.

~ without our soul having awe for being included, invited and the reality of Eternity with full access to our Father God in Jesus Christ.

~ without our mind deciding to do the work God has planned for us. To believe in Jesus and set our path upon Jesus Christ.

~ without our strength fighting the Good Fight to finish the race. Pressing on ahead.


Unless we believe and acknowledge and act upon God being good - we cannot do this.

We are very familiar with God saves the world. Then read the news. God is still set on saving the world. God says His Word endures - saying it is Good 10 times to Creation. We are Creation. Especially when we have faith and believe Father God.

Abba,

I stand with You. I believe You. Thank You for your Love.

When the news is so serious. When Wall Street merely marches on. We know where to place our concerns for the Nation and world.

We affirm the Love of Believers to make the world better. To communicate with integrity. To affirm the strength of putting kindness in practice. For the bravery to speak up when someone acts very oddly. We believe in the strength of prayers to keep our community safe. What we cannot do, we believe You can do so by Your Word alone.

We pray for more Holy Spirit over us all in the Name of Jesus Christ.

And in this prayer, tell You thank You we do not live in warfare. We thank You we do not live in the Middle Ages behind walls. 

We thank You for the comfort of so many medicines and medical advancement is available.

We thank You we live in an age when childhood affirmation is better understood.

We thank You so much of the news is merely verbal. We increase our prayers for all of us to feel more assured and calm. Thank You as we drive in vehicles we so much calm.

We thank You for the news showing the rescue of Harvey. For the Rescuers. We pray for the construction industry to have rest, regulation, trust and hard work in the months to come. We pray for the comfort of those stricken by weather.

We pray the Holy Spirit enlightens us all daily to Your Goodness. Our mind open to Your Goodness.

You Great and Gracious Love enfolding our Loved Ones, the people You have given us. The prayers asked for Health. For Marc, Bruce, Todd, Paul. Julie. Edward. Our health concerns.

You Great Love enfolding our employment, our communities, our Churches to renew and rejoice. Love enfolding those in School. Love enfolding the States to the Nation and embracing the world looking to You, Father, in Prayer. Families to be strengthened in Love for one another.

Rejoicing in how real the Bible is telling us human nature with knowing the Last Chapter is Your Love.

Rejoicing in the Fulfilling of Your Word as Truth, Father God.

Our Alleluia in Jesus Christ. Amen. And Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †