Luke 20:34-40 ~ He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to Him

 

The magnitude of this cloud over Lake Texhoma was absolutely amazing. Even more breathtaking, the cloud stood there for about two hours. 1989, 

We were with our Lake Texhoma family. 

My father's cousin Bob died of long Covid, at age 86, 12 hours apart from my mother, of Covid, last November, 3 counties over.  Same illness, different timeline, ended together.

The day we saw this, we all decided this was an Archangel. Suddenly, the cloud was gone. 

A few clouds remained, none in the shape of an angel.

We had Bob, my mother, Pam, Mandy, John and me. My cousin Anne Cable and Edward had volunteered to stay at the house and babysit our oldest 1-year-old son.

Luke 20:34-40

And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 

37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” 39 Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

Perhaps this photo is an analogy, Jesus said bring Heaven to earth. And be a tree where the birds of the forest can dwell among the branches and in this striving - we all have one Angel  -Matthew 18:10 

Angels are part of God's Heavenly Host. When you have Jesus, He covers all the Heavenly Host.

The New Testament and the Gospels have many references to Angels. There are 60% more references to Angels in the New Testament.


Because Jesus says this:

Matthew 18:10

See that you do not despise one of these little ones.

 For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Father God boldly tells of balance. God - Himself - is our worship.

Colossians 2:18

Don't let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial 

or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud

Angels have been in eternal life a long time - they fully understand who God is.
Seeing His Kingdom and some sing to Father God day and night.

 

Revelation 19

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!

For the Lord our God

the Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and exult

and give him the glory

Jesus says the position of Heaven to earth is quite different.

Matthew 11:11

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet

Hebrews 2:9

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

1 Corinthians 6:3

Do you not know that we will judge angels?

And who would do this and where?

Daniel 7:22

Until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

For millenniums prophets of God have told of so great a Salvation - searching, inquiring carefully, predictions about the sufferings of our Jesus and the subsequent glories Jesus would give us -

What did the angels do?

1 Peter 1

12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

How shall we, the children of God respond?

1 Peter 1

13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. 

Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 

14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 1 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” 

18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, 

but he has now revealed Him to you in these last days.

21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. 

And you have placed your faith and hope in God because He raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

Matthew 16:27

For the Son of Man is going to come 

with his angels 

in the glory of his Father, 

and then he will repay each person 

according to what he has done.

Abba, Father,

Father God, as Your children fled from Roman Empire - the children hearing of the Good News of Jesus Christ for the first time were in awe to learn that God would just "give."

 You have given to us by deciding Your Plan for us long before time began. You have given us a Hope and a Future for those who have called upon Your Son Jesus earnestly.

Angels have seen for millenniums the wonderful, amazing wonders and signs of God. We will see 75 references to Angels in Your Book of Revelation. We have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Our new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living Word of God.

Night will be no more. We will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be our light, and Jesus will reign forever and ever. These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the Spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants - Jesus will be coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the Words of God. We thank You, God, you are the fulfillment of the Law.

Father God, even the darkness is not dark to You; You formed my inward parts and You knitted me together in my mother's womb. 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.

Your love had You write my name, in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Your Love is higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe. This is the Fullness of You, Father God. Open the eyes of all people. We pray for unborn babies, profoundly grown. To receive the blessing and joy of the healing of Jesus Christ, the Lord, with earnestness.

Abba, You say: I am still with you. 

We lift up the many and varied concerns we have.  And in doing this know, You are the King of the world. 

The earth and it's fullness are Yours.  We pray for our Nation and all peace seeking Nations to have this peace. We pray for the Nations just pulled along. Your People pray for Your Good Creation. 

Please continue to pray for my eyes. The over the counter drops I changed to using

stung very, very considerably and in pain, I'm calling the Eye Doctor in the morning. Maybe

postpone, maybe if he says so. If not, please continue to pray.

Upon Your mercy and grace, in Jesus, we hold fast and ask Your favor for us and for the ones we Love. 

Let the Love God is Strengthen us to Joy.

Our Path to be in His Plan.

In the Wonderful and the 

Highest Name of Jesus Christ.

Amen in His Joy. Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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John 20:29 ~ Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

 

John 20:29

Then Jesus told him, 

"Because you have seen me, you have believed; 

blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

This Thursday morning, I'm having my 3rd eye surgery and 2nd cataract fixed. Eye surgery just isn't my favorite thing. Please pray for all this surgery to go well. And healing to be fairly easy. 

Each eye surgery has been different due to advances in medicines and procedures. I was surprised to find I'm going to be in a shield for part of the time. I'd feel better knowing you'd pray for this surgery.

So many of us have concerns. From the news, financially, health, friends, family, jobs, all types of concerns. I thought Psalms would be helpful for all of us.

Abba, Father God,

You have not forgotten us. We are in Your plans for a Hope and Future. 

We pray for those who are working hard and wish the Lord would be their Helper.  We pray for those who are far away and pray the Lord encourage them on His Path. Jesus, Lord God, we pray Protection of Jesus and His Highest Name upon them.

Father,  so many are discouraged listening to the news. We pray the lives You have given us will find Your mercies renew each day. Especially for the depressed who feel far from You. Your Grace upon Grace for them.

Abba, Father, we see so many parts of the whole economy are tired and struggling. Please lift up tired hands with new solutions and strength in endurance. 

And for those who have been ill, we pray healing. 

When we hear the prayers of Your People, Abba,

We know they say, "I believe You, I'm going to be alright."

"I pray for my child or my sister or brother or friend,

who is struggling so much."

We thank You for Your faith in us,

We lift up those who are Struggling.

And remember again Your Goodness.

The Lord our Comfort!

The Lord Comforts His People!

The earth and the fullness thereof

are

The Lord's!

Let the Love God is Strengthen us to Joy.

Our Path to be in His Plan.

In the Wonderful and the 

Highest Name of Jesus Christ.

Amen in His Joy. Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 ~ And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength

 

DISCOVERED: Nehemiah’s Wall DISCOVERED: Nehemiah’s Wall Archaeology proves the famous biblical account of a desperate attempt to fortify the Holy City Archaeology proves the famous biblical account of a desperate attempt to fortify the Holy City

https://watchjerusalem.co.il/793-discovered-nehemiahs-wall

The Towers are the Lower Part of the Map

Mosaic believed to be Nehemiah, taster to the King

Left of the seated King

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.

Nehemiah 8:5-6

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Nehemiah 8:8-10

8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord.

 And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

We finally had Christmas, January 22nd. The family experienced Covid in stair step doses. Edward and I had delivered a few meals to the door step. We took the 3rd booster, when 2 Cases of Covid were fatal in two elderly (80s) family members died. My son and his fiance, had Covid for nine days, with a lot of ill health. Then our oldest son, passed the Bar in 26 states, went on a celebratory ski trip, caught Covid and was sick for ten days. Quarantine has just now ended for all of us. 

 We stayed up too late, had too many lovely things to eat. Had several brisk discussions and overall had a good time.  We had good news to Celebrate, not so good news to overcome. Discussions of the previous years being filtered into this year.

Not everything seems to be ordinary, regular, pleasing and comforting. 

Not for any of us. 

But the story of Nehemiah and Ezra is one to draw comfort from today. Rebuilding. Renewal. Allowing what is painful to pass by and draw Joy and Strength from the Lord to take new chances, overcoming fears.

Today, Edward and I collapsed in the den chairs as our oldest went to the airport and watched Church on YouTube. We heard a lovely Sermon about Prophecy. All of God's Word is Prophetic. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. I love to hear Nehemiah as the Liturgy, knowing God is certain this is still Good News.

Do we believe in Prophecy, I do. 

About, 1982 I was hired as an hourly worker, in College by the Texas A&M Psychology Department, as one of three tests. Three Saturdays. The last one was to demonstrate ESP.  3,000 flash cards would prompt the test subject, I was one, to find if the shape on the back the test subject couldn't see.  The color. The number. Anything the flash card asked. 

We left the test in about 2 hours. And as my friend and I left the Business College Building, called Blocker, the Psychologist Grad Student tester, walked up and joined my friend Kathy and me, as we walked back to our dorm. He laughed loudly. And asked me if I actually believed in ESP. I said vaguely, but mostly I believe in the Prophecy in Scripture. Why? This is where our faith is, and faith is one of the greatest aspects of life. The Grad Student laughed and said I was definitely fired. Why? Because of the 3,000 questions, I had only answered 3 correctly. The Department had not seen anything like these results. 

Today, I'm rather pleased with the memory. Life is an adventure. We live seeing signs around us. Some people find a song bird. A song. A sermon. A daily Word of God, the Scriptures.  And when we are encouraged to believe God, we have touched what is meaningful in life.  The Renaissance is filled with history of the encouragement of the People of God.

To find Joy in the Lord and find His Strength and begin again. Not just for ourselves, but the people we care for, our family, the people we Love. We believe in our prayers coming to bring us Home to the Kingdom of God, His Heart, The Kingdom Jesus told us exists on earth as in Heaven.

Thursday, the Post was about being brave and protecting one another. Friday, I got a text from a friend to pray for her daughter, their school was experiencing a bomb threat.  God prepares our hearts to believe the danger is real and the solution is found. Safety, security. Historically we can believe the next few years have real challenges and human upheaval in emotions and plans that are unwise. The Pandemic History tells us we can prepare for upheaval and then times of building and renewal.  In Jesus Christ, we can be strong and do this with Joy. Even when Joy is a choice and we remind ourselves to find and hold this Joy with God's Help.

Christmas is when Jesus is born, trusting God's Son as an infant to mankind. And in the Celebration, we give gifts to each other. God does this for us daily. His mercies renew. Daily! 

 Ephesians 4 

 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, 

the pastors and teachers 

 12 To equip his people for works of service, so that 

the body of Christ may be built up 

 13 Until we all reach unity in the faith 

and in the knowledge of the Son of God 

and become mature, 

attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

My Aunt Eloise, Uncle Cary, Cousin Maxine and JT,

used to have this Prayer on the wall near their Front Door.

Old English and Scottish Prayer.

Father God,

I will be verree busee

this day.

If I forget Thee,

please, Father,

Do not forget me.

Amen.

We pray this for our families

during all times

but especially now

when times are different

and challenging.

Romans 8:28 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, 

for those who are called according to His purpose.

Abba, Father,

The Spirit of God come upon us

and give voice to this prayer, we ask in Jesus' Name.

  May the words of our mouth and thoughts of our heart

be the 

        the utterance of mankind whose eye is true,

    The utterance of one who hears what God says,

        and knows what the Most High knows,

    Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,

        enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:

    How goodly Your Refuge and Your Strong Tower

Name of Jesus Christ.

      

   We who Believe are like gardens beside a stream,

        like the cedars planted by the LORD.

  

  His wells shall yield free-flowing waters,

Let Justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream

    In Jesus, we shall have the sea within reach;

   

Jesus, Lord of Lords

King of Kings shall rise higher,

        and His royalty shall be exalted.

We thank You, Abba, God, for rifts healed

as the Pandemic gave us time to think and talk.

We thank You for Your Mercy.

We Thank God for children and parents to unite.

We pray for the suffering, for the Comfort and Love of God Himself.

Jesus, Lamb of God, comfort, we ask, and heal.

Peace. 

Dwell in those seeking Your Love and Mercy

Dwell in us and those we Love.

Help us to seek You first.

And we will finish well.

Amen in Jesus and 

Alleluia to the Glory of God.

Roads of Heaven

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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