Psalm 68 ~ To Him Who rides in the Heavens, the ancient Heavens

Psalm 68

God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;

and those who hate him shall flee before him!

2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;

as wax melts before fire,

so the wicked shall perish before God!

3 But the righteous shall be glad;

they shall exult before God;

they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;

lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;

his name is the Lord;

exult before him!

5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows

is God in his holy habitation.

6 God settles the solitary in a home;

he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,

but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people,

when you marched through the wilderness, Selah

8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,

before God, the One of Sinai,

before God, the God of Israel.

9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;

you restored your inheritance as it languished;

10 your flock found a dwelling in it;

in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

11 The Lord gives the word;

the women who announce the news are a great host:

12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”

The women at home divide the spoil—

13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds—

the wings of a dove covered with silver,

its pinions with shimmering gold.

14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,

let snow fall on Zalmon.

15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;

O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!

16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,

at the mount that God desired for his abode,

yes, where the Lord will dwell forever?

17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,

thousands upon thousands;

the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.

18 You ascended on high,

leading a host of captives in your train

and receiving gifts among men,

even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord,

who daily bears us up;

God is our salvation. Selah

20 Our God is a God of salvation,

and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,

the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.

22 The Lord said,

“I will bring them back from Bashan,

I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,

23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,

that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”

24 Your procession is seen, O God,

the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—

25 the singers in front, the musicians last,

between them virgins playing tambourines:

26 “Bless God in the great congregation,

the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”

27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,

the princes of Judah in their throng,

the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

28 Summon your power, O God,

the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.

29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem

kings shall bear gifts to you.

30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,

the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.

Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;

scatter the peoples who delight in war.

31 Nobles shall come from Egypt;

Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;

sing praises to the Lord, Selah

33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;

behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.

34 Ascribe power to God,

whose majesty is over Israel,

and whose power is in the skies.

35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;

the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.

Blessed be God!

The Church Season of Easter isn't short. Pentecost is pretty quick. And we know in life, Easter decorations are being planned to take down and put in boxes. This is Easter Week? Oh, that's right. Moved along pretty quickly. Good to plan, good to see everyone, and now the run your race to win and fight the good fight is back ON.

Is God upset about this? No, we don't have 6 months of Easter. The Bible plans and then  Jesus changes the earth and Heaven and doesn't do anything but move on to doing Life. We aren't leaving the Salvation of Jesus, instead allowing Jesus in dwelling in all of our lives. Now Easter picks us up to go up again in Jesus. Salvation: Millenniums of planning and dedication. Even Isaiah 7 has all the aspects of the Roman Empire encroaching on Judea. Very detailed planning, The Lord God has established.

Exodus tells us God is concerned with families having a Hope and a Future. Something to bring them together and plan life, stability, around each other. Easter changes us forever, we will Live Forever in Jesus Christ. 

Psalm 68 is like getting out family photo albums and looking at the yesterday, today and tomorrow. How the past influences today and puts on the path for a Hope and a Future.

Isaiah 40:31,

 Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles…

God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;

and those who hate him shall flee before him!

2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;

as wax melts before fire,

so the wicked shall perish before God!

God declares Himself to be Help and Helper.

Hebrews 11:6 

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who seek him.

God is Good and He wants goodness for us. He says always pray with hope. To fly is to see, our momentary problems are small. Freedom in God. Mount up on wings.

3 But the righteous shall be glad;

they shall exult before God;

they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;

lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;

his name is the Lord;

exult before him!

Eagles fly to provide for themselves and their young.  Joy of life. Joy of purpose. Mount up on wings of Eagles.   Ride the winds as they provide. The incredible views Eagles have of life. And new perspective.  Joy in the Journey. Be glad. Exult. Know the Lord. Be Jubilant. God is Good.

Jesus the Lord is Alive. 

5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows

is God in his holy habitation.

6 God settles the solitary in a home;

he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,

but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

Eagles are literally huge nest builders. All nests are 6 feet in diameter, at least. Eagles long for the stability of an established home and return and return. Their offspring nest within a mile. (The Lord has given us this Eagle verse!! Lord Jesus!!!)

7 O God, when you went out before your people,

when you marched through the wilderness, Selah

8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,

before God, the One of Sinai,

before God, the God of Israel.

9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;

you restored your inheritance as it languished;

10 your flock found a dwelling in it;

in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

Eagles can travel 125 miles a day. And an Eagle doesn't necessarily migrate. Yet, the capability for continental travel is easily seen as obtainable. Solutions and loyalty. In difficult times and good, God knows even the Sparrow. Eagles rely on God's Blessings to live. All of the bird's majesty doesn't make him immune and self-sufficient.

11 The Lord gives the word;

the women who announce the news are a great host:

12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”

The women at home divide the spoil—

13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds—

the wings of a dove covered with silver,

its pinions with shimmering gold.

14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,

let snow fall on Zalmon.

Even Eagles do better as two by two. Father and Mother Eagle team  up to provide for their young. 

15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;

O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!

16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,

at the mount that God desired for his abode,

yes, where the Lord will dwell forever?

17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,

thousands upon thousands;

the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.

18 You ascended on high,

leading a host of captives in your train

and receiving gifts among men,

even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.

You would think and Eagle would have a more warm and indulgent expression, no, the Eagle

purely relies on Grace and effort to prosper. Grace even on Eagles. The Lord God dwells where He will.

19 Blessed be the Lord,

who daily bears us up;

God is our salvation. Selah

20 Our God is a God of salvation,

and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,

the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.

22 The Lord said,

“I will bring them back from Bashan,

I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,

23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,

that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”

We cannot earn Salvation and His Grace. Daily He bears us up.

24 Your procession is seen, O God,

the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—

25 the singers in front, the musicians last,

between them virgins playing tambourines:

26 “Bless God in the great congregation,

the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”

27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,

the princes of Judah in their throng,

the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

Eagles for all with all fierce, hard countenance, gather, sometimes, 50 in a tree to hunt or be in communion. Eagles do not run each other off like Blue Jays.

28 Summon your power, O God,

the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.

29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem

kings shall bear gifts to you.

30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,

the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.

Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;

scatter the peoples who delight in war.

31 Nobles shall come from Egypt;

Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

Nor are Eagles without the drive to eat going to let a free meal fly by in someone else's hands. And many times the original Eagle goes home with the meal. The Lord isn't surprised by war and the envious. The Lord allows us to stretch out our hands to God. Who calls us The Beloved! 

32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;

sing praises to the Lord, Selah

33 to Him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;

behold, He sends out His voice, His mighty voice.

34 Ascribe power to God,

whose majesty is over Israel,

and whose power is in the skies.

Awesome is God from His sanctuary;

the God of Israel—He is the one who gives power and strength to his people.

Blessed be God!

The Lord sent flight to Jesus and Elijah to return home. 

God is not unaffected to watch the Eagle fly.  His Good Creation.

God blesses His people to be strong in the Joy of the Lord!

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you 

and you may be in good health,

as it goes well with your soul

John 13:34

Jesus gives His Disciples 

a New Commandment

To Love One Another 

as He has Loved Us.

 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.  

We will know the Hills and

High Ways, highways

of Heaven. 

Matthew 24:30 

'Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man 

coming on the clouds of heaven 

with power and great glory.

Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Philippians 4:4-7 ~ Rejoice in the Lord always

Is there Humor in Easter?

Mark Twain is a distant cousin of my Grandmother Anita's large family, now, in Heaven. And he had a quote about humor: "The secret source of Humor itself is not joy, but sorrow. There is no humor in heaven."  ~  Mark Twain.

I profoundly disagree. We see what we want to see. Mark Twain, Samuel Clemons, was so sarcastic, his wife and daughters sat him down and told him not to release his memoirs until he had been dead 100 years.  And to build an entire Presbyterian Church, in the hope, this would put him in the good eyes of Jesus for his soul. Mark Twain did this.

Reactions in all people are not the same. The Gospels are unique and describe different viewpoints. Different places at the table in the Banquet of God's Gifts, Mercy and Joys. And fears. So interesting in seeing other people know Jesus, John tells us no one can contain Jesus in one place or in one viewpoint. The Books of all the world couldn't tell us all about Jesus.

So, is there humor in Heaven? Numbers 6 tells us God lifts His Countenance upon us. Smiles! Yes, there is something amusing in Easter.

Matthew 28

 4 And for fear of him (the Angel of the Lord) the guards trembled and became like dead men. 

5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 

8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” 

And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 

10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

We will look at all the reactions to Jesus Victorious this week. So many emotions.

Matthew begins His Gospel telling us about the family of Jesus. Matthew begins by setting the scope of Jesus as a Jew,  how would Jews look at Jesus, son of Joseph. Not Bar Joseph, instead Jesus of Nazareth. Matthew explains how Joseph understood fostering Jesus and, then, marry Mary. Matthew explains his own reaction and how Matthew sees others reacting to Risen Jesus. FEAR. An Eye for an eye. A Tooth for a tooth. Jesus could walk on water, raise the dead in Jairus' daughter, the widow of Nain's son and Lazarus and rise from the dead and RETURN to Take Revenge on the miserable, cowardly Disciples. If the dead come back, you might be dead soon.

All this time and Matthew is still Matthew. He is not ducks in a row, marching as Jesus robotic army. Matthew was a Jew and, after Jesus returns, Matthew is a Jew. Chosen and Special to God. Flawed. Matthew: Failure on Good Friday. Matthew, the Beloved of Jesus. And loved by Abba, who told Jesus which men to choose as Disciples.

And we know Jesus values Mercy over sacrifice. So much so, Jesus speaks immediately, "Do not be afraid!" This is the same reaction through all the millenniums when people come in contact with God.

"Fear Not!" Like Matthew,  millenniums of people have had fear.

Is there humor in Easter?  These men walked with Jesus, saw all He was Given as Messiah. Saw all Jesus could give and did give. Yet, even so, ran off.  And think Jesus is coming back to get even? That is somewhat amusing, to think Jesus would spend time plotting their downfall. Jesus displays the idea revenge is petty. Jesus describes Life as Joy. Jesus has good ground to make tracks, in the Joy of the Lord.

We Need to Find Our BLESSINGS

UNDERSTAND the MORE HIDDEN
BLESSINGS

And ENCOURAGE

THE NEW BELIEVERS!

With ability to have questions asked

and answered!

SALVATION IS ONLY FROM GOD!!!!!!

Do we know Good News anymore?  We are the Easter people and Alleluia IS our Song.

Yes, PLEASE, let's see some Great News:

The Pew Report explains all our hope, faith and greatest being, Love, is dying. 

Good News? This headline is 2019. Thank God!

And why is Christianity declining at a rapid rate? The good and the bad and the ugly.

This is 2019 as well! The complaints we look at for those not coming to Church today.

A great reason to go to Church!

The 2019 Ugly of decline:

But really, really, let's see the Good New!

And why wasn't Easter as Glorious as before?

John 3:16 

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 4:11,12 

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

12 Christ gave those gifts to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Luke 6:38  

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.”

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Matthew 6:10 

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Philippians 4:4-7 

Psalm 105

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His Name

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 

The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Abba, Our Abba, Our Father,

The Wind of Life blows where it will. 

Let this Wind find us remembering Your Blessings. 

Let us find this Easter Week, we are eager to take the time to find 

and 

Bless You for our Blessings.

Make these Blessings for Future Generations.

Jesus,
Fill our hearts, fill the hearts of those we Love. 

Thank You for the people You have given us. 

Jesus bless them and bless them and bless them with Your Love.

Let the Holy Spirit sweep this Nation, finding Easter Week and Your Willing Blessings.

Bless the work of our hands and the thoughts of our heart 

and the words of our mouth to cause You to Lift Your Face and Smile.

Jesus, Please, Help us as we need You in all aspects of our lives. 

Where we know and even where we do not know even to ask. 

Let Your Living Water soak and nourish us all. You are Love. 

Reign upon us.


Thank You for our Daily Mercy Given and Blessings.

Help us to Live the Path You give us with Love.
The Lamb of God is for us.

 You have Given us Your Son, Your Word, Your Promises.

 Thank You.

Let our Nation and all nations and 

all of Your Beloved Children 

find more Heaven 

and more of Your Good Will on this earth.

We pray for the Storms of Destruction to pass

 and end with the Pandemic.

For ALL Your Good Creation.

Ukraine especially. Valiant and Brave.

Bless us all, Father.

We will finish well in Jesus Christ and His Love.

Abba, Father,

Dwell in us,

Give us Your Blessing, we ask.

Let the Joy we have in You

be our Strength.

In Jesus, we want Your help to seek You first.

And we will finish well in Jesus Christ!

For my son Alexander to find employment locally.

For Cal, far away and his safe travel.

In this day, 

we will make Requests of Jesus.

In the Holy Name of Jesus,

We pray all those who have been

strengthened and encouraged

during the Pandemic

in their faith,

Will Remain in Your Joy and Love.

We Pray for this Nation

and the turbulence we see

we pray for truth.

We pray for Ukraine

the people will not have the 

Easter of last year

or during the Pandemic.

We pray for their Strength.

We pray for our families

not to accept the unacceptable

for their Children.

A Nation protects their Children.

Now to Father God, Who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 

to Him be glory in the church 

and 

in Christ Jesus 

throughout all generations, 

forever and ever. Amen.

The Mercy of Your Touch, Jesus. Amen.

The Words of Jesus bless us. 

Thank You. Alleluia. Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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