John 10:19-42 ~ I and the Father are one

John 10:19-42

19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” 

22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me [What my Father has given to me], is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.

At the Feast of Dedication, people would be brought to the Temple by the sounding of the shofar - a ram's horn. Jesus and the people would have heard the prayers called from Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 6:4-6
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your hearts.

How difficult it was for that generation to see Jesus as grace and truth dwelling with them.

HopePointe Sermon - August 2nd, 2015 by Preston Yancy, Age 26 years old, Cannon - Theologian - Author - Husband to Hilary, Father of Pre-born Jackson Yancy in 8 weeks. Currently in Seminary at Baylor University.

Today I picked an old Post to begin thinking of the Blog Post today. Which is a blessing of Father God upon hearing Preston's Sermon - I was wandering down the path of more thinking about Preston's Sermon. In 2008, Edward and I witnessed our 32 week old daughter as stillborn. Isabelle was born warm, pink and the most beautiful, happy girl. With a fantastically, beautiful go to Jesus look on her face. I don't think I've ever seen a happier infant. She never took a breathe, but she saw Jesus first among all of us - our Church family there to help that day.

Preston has been surprised in his first year of marriage and first year of Seminary with the good news of a pregnancy. At 20 weeks pregnancy, sonograms found the son, Preston had named Jackson for several years, and is called Jacks - that Jacks has severe  Cleft Palate running along his face and his right eye is involved. His chin has developed and underdeveloped as progress has gone on, to have concerns about his breathing. His right ear has some involvement. Preston states with vigor, he and Hilary know God has called them to continue to pray for Jacks' healing.

His sermon today was profound. To see Preston have the very usual emotions dealing, as a 26 year old man, with Very Serious Events. This man is on his Journey, on His Path, and stepping up in faith as a man of God. Preston is very pro-life and he spoke of our images of Jesus.

Preston correctly points out Jesus in His perfect Resurrection Body bore the scars of Grace. What is our image of God? The Biblically correct answer is - Adam - made in the image of God - with an extra set of ribs.

Yet God tells us - Jesus is the exact image of the invisible God the Father. When we have seen Jesus - we have seen God.  God has chosen to wear the scars of Sacrifice in His Resurrection Body - Grace to Fully Give us Eternity With God the Father.

The scars of Jesus are Beautiful. Powerful. Preston has very correctly opened our hearts to this aspect of God.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Jesus is the first born of all creation.
Time is an illusion to this world, a cage of this life. This could possibly. and very probably. suggest Jesus always knew these scars to exist.

What has God told us about Jesus' reaction to the scars Jesus bares, our Beloved Savior?

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John give Gospel Testimony - Jesus would open His heart first to Mary Magdalene - repeating Jesus' last comments to John - we NOW have the same Father - Jesus' Father and ours!

John's Gospel - the 21st Chapter

Jesus would cook breakfast for the disciples who had left Him to bear those scars and mediate over a fuss up over longevity. The Work of Jesus continues in all days.

Preston presses on in his hope for Pro-Life - for Jacks, Preston's preborn son,  the planned lives God gives us - Preston asks us with a voice very similar to our Father God - to ask us what we would do about the cycle of poverty for unplanned pregnancies?

It's easier to find a $600 abortion than the $ multiple thousand down payment on Medicare helped pregnancies. I volunteer two days a week with PACN. Which only recently dawned on me - is PA sees in. Psalm 139. Where women can do homework brochures on Self Esteem, Relationships, Budgeting, Bible Study, Pregnancy Development, Infant Development to a year, Parenting to earn clothing and any form of equipment you could possibly imagine. One of our year long clients said she had earned thousands of dollars in the monthly earned formula, diapers, wipes, shampoo, 25 jars of food, cereal and pedialyte.

Why is the Congress interested in un-funding Planned Parenthood? We are morning after pill awaying live human beings for convenience. Our birth rate has plunged like that of Europe in 3 years. People we can point to, love and touch as adult unplanned pregnancies will be "missing." Perhaps many would be caretakers, best friends, favorite children, inventors of the internet or Salk Vaccines.

What could Texas do to increase the love these babies bring to the brave women who go from crying and huddled and scared to shining, noble, hard-working, grateful, brave and loving Moms? Texas can take a loop hole in our laws of medical liability and Make the Grace of Jesus - in Texas we are limiting the medical law suits to $250,000 to the physician and $250,000 to the medical facility and create a REAL non-profit providing mid-wifes, an OBY-GYN on call (Like Parkland Hospital in Dallas), and a sonogram with two blood tests to the natural process of giving birth for a grand total cost of $600. Forget Crown Dental chains, we need THIS BABY IS CROWNING - BIRTHING FACILITIES.

Why? Because giving birth is not like nuclear medicine - not cutting edge technology - PEOPLE GIVE BIRTH REGULARLY.

The Upward Call of God

Answering the upward call of God - is jumping in - when the laws and new developments in cultural environments suddenly CHANGE.

Father God, before Genesis was written down by Abraham, You Spoke the Word and JESUS is the First Born of ALL Creation. We ask for Your Glory, as Clark has prayed with our Church Family so many times. We know and Love Jesus our Lord. We honor Your Word and the Word of God. We know You are still Working and these are still Your Days. We ask to Honor You, Father God, seeking Your Glory. We gratefully Thank You for Your Grace and Gift of Eternity.

We lift up Jacks, Edward and Fred to You for Your mercy and healing. We ask Your comfort for the families who experience this: Preston, Hilary, Edward, me, Alexander, Cal, Mary. We pray for the unborn, Jacks and the other babies, the laws of the State, for Your Glory in our families, communities, Churches, neighborhoods, work places, schools and Nation.

We remember Cecil the lion killed by the American dentist and recall the need of the world for these animals to be protected and exist in far better zoos with far more land that previously ever thought possible, we remember the lions Elsa and Christian and the stories of animal personality and bravery in existence. We say this generation is called upward to provide these caged animals with better existence like Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas and say in Texas all people will be welcome in our birthing centers - even the Yankees. 

We Thank the African Continent for Holding up the Light of Christ to the Church of England and to the World. We thank Americans for their willingness to bring to Africa the love of the blessings of His Kingdom surrounding this Continent. 

We pray blessings on the helpers of these. And look to You with Expectation of Your Love, Mercy, Grace and Joy! Give us this day - these are still Your Working days. In Jesus, Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 147 ~ He sends out His Word

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant, [for he is beautiful] and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.

3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.

5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord lifts up the humble [afflicted];
he casts the wicked to the ground. 

7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre!
8 He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!

13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.

14 He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.

16 He gives snow like wool;
he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his cold?

18 He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and rules [just decrees] to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules [just decrees].
Praise the Lord!

On a summer night around a fire, when it is still, it's so pleasing to hear the summer night noises. God draws us to Him in the still, quiet.

The Lord determines. He is good. He gathers, He heals, He binds up, He gives. He covers. He prepares. He makes. He delights. His pleasure. His Word.

In Him, we live, we move and have our dwelling. In Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Wisdom of Father God expands to the universe's creation with His Words. All knowledge and understanding is in our God. He determines the number of the stars; Father God gives to all of them their names.

Father God would far rather have Breakfast on the Beach with His Beloved Children, He has Given us so much than any star He has created.

Ephesians 3
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth derives its name.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen.



Almighty God, Abba, Heavenly Father, we live in Thee. We put out our hands to do the good works You've already planned for us. Lead us in Your paths; encourage us, let the words of our mouths and the thoughts of our heart be always pleasing to You. Grow the seed of our faith, to become a mighty tree.

Put out Your growing branches, to give us shelter; we will share in Your goodness, fellowship and rest. Give us eyes of faith, to see the hope of Your promises; the eagerness, like a child, to see them brought forth. 

Strengthen our souls, let our lives reflect Your Light and Your Love. In the Highest name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 78:23-29 ~ bread of the angels

Psalm 78:23-29

23 Yet he commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven,
24 and he rained down on them manna to eat
and gave them the grain of heaven.
25 Man ate of the bread of the angels;
he sent them food in abundance.

26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
and by his power he led out the south wind;
27 he rained meat on them like dust,
winged birds like the sand of the seas;
28 he let them fall in the midst of their camp,
all around their dwellings.

29 And they ate and were well filled,
for he gave them what they craved.


An American Manna. Comparing Today and Many Yesterdays Ago.

This is a study of Tolerance. 


We have all heard the story of the starving Puritans had the beach wash lobster ashore in response to prayer. And declared this is so ugly - it had to be evil. I see no historical documentation for this. I do for a fact know Oliver Cromwell would put a family to shame, and or in stocks, for eating ham or celebrating Christmas. A season I particularly enjoy.

The lobster story is probably utter rubbish.

So what about not eating lobster?

• Native Americans used lobsters to fertilize their crops and bait their fishing hooks.

• Because when the first European settlers reached North America, lobsters were so plentiful that they would reportedly wash ashore in piles up to 2 feet high.

• Dirt-cheap because they were so copious, lobsters were routinely fed to prisoners, apprentices, slaves and children during the colonial era and beyond. In Massachusetts, some indentured servants allegedly sought to avoid lobster-heavy diets by including stipulations in their contracts that they would only be served the shellfish twice a week.

L. MENCKEN once said, wrongly, “Puritanism is the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.”

It just really might mean - Puritanism is the study of work/works to death and intolerance.

Jamestown ended in cannibalism. We never suffer much over the minors and young people who made up of most of the people on the ships coming to the colonies of England. But the indentured servants bones show they had their shoulders worn away with work. And this is were the cannibalism started - the indentured servants buried not in the grave yard. Between one-half and two-thirds of white immigrants to the American colonies between the 1630s and American Revolution had come under indentured servitude. About 75% were under the age of 25. The truth is a certain small part of the white colonial population of America was brought by force, and a much larger portion came in response to deceit and misrepresentation on the part of the recruiting agents. Kidnapping is recorded and falls clearly into the category of "white slavery."

The early settlers of the English colony Massachusetts included more than 100 graduates of Oxford and Cambridge. One historian termed Massachusetts “the best-educated community the world has ever known.” Puritans read good books and enjoyed music. They drank beer with meals and rum at weddings. Puritans swam and skated, hunted and fished, and played at archery and bowling (as long as the games were not in a public tavern or on Sunday). Puritans had given up on Church, deciding it was beyond their help. They were Not Tolerant of the existing Church. Most weddings in New England were performed not by ministers but by magistrates. Wedding rings, seen as “popish,” were not used.

Within six years of arriving, while still trying to hew out an existence, the Puritans founded a religious college named Harvard. Puritan women were generally literate and often well-read. The only respectable female vocation in Puritan America was managing a household. But that “household” 

Families lived together. Generally included large numbers of children, servants, apprentices, indentured servants and even single men and women (who were required to live with families).

Oddly Ivy League education and tolerance did not go together -

There was no religious freedom in colonies of England. Quakers and Baptists were often forced to pay higher taxes or were banished. New England residents who failed to attend worship services on Sunday morning and afternoon were fined or put into stocks. Failing to glorify God for all his good gifts was a sacrilege.

American Puritans were hardworking but not capitalists in the modern sense. They placed common welfare ahead of self-interest and set modest caps on profit-making. Unemployment was virtually nonexistent in New England. A visitor from abroad testified, “In seven years I never saw a beggar.”

Given the high death rate, many, many servants did not live to the end of their terms. In the 18th and early 19th century, numerous Europeans, mostly from outside the British Isles, traveled to the colonies as redemptioners, a particularly harsh form of indenture.

Indentured servitude was a method of increasing the number of colonists, especially in the English and later British colonies. Voluntary colonists and convict labor only provided so many people, and since the journey across the Atlantic was dangerous, other means of encouraging settlement were thought necessary.

It has been estimated that due to the amazingly high rate of death in the early settlers that this country would not have been founded but for the ships continuing to arrive and provide and flood the shores of the United States with more and more people to begin to tame a wilderness and use skills to begin to have shelter and food appropriate for survival.

The countries that tried to Colonize the Eastern Seaboard of the United States and all the people perished were Portugal 1502, Spain 1528, and France 1564. Roanoke in Maine was English and lost in 1587.




Clearly, intolerance was used. The Smithsonian Museum displaying the bones of cannibalism in Jamestown said almost all the early ships died out entirely.  It was 40 years of continuous ships arriving that caused the ability for people to begin to survive. The next ships used what the dead people had begun to build.

 So We have at least 40,000 deaths attributed to Indentured young people dying from the journey, disease, starvation and overworking mistreatment. Combined with the knowledge, Important,  that as these young people were sent out - their families knew this was the last time these people would be seen by them.

We are now so hooked into Judgement of our Histories and One More Terrible Tragedy makes us feel guilty and think of endless conversations of National Guilt. Guilt of slavery. Guilt of World War II encampment. Guilt even of Christophe Columbus who was actually imprisoned by King Ferdinand for many years for  not bringing back real gold to profit the journey.  And we blame him for carrying diseases, but never mention the spice trade to the East had the same problems. His crew just about killed Christopher Columbus.

We seem to ignore the facts of people of antiquity were raised with attitudes of culture and influences of lack of communication, starvation being one of the largest factors of death in their era, and differences in education. Slavery was part of life in the eat or be eaten world.

Not saying that sin wasn't sin, it's just that today we consider the morning after pill of a human being implanted as justifiable.


How can we take this Judgment on and the Guilt? Why would we try?  We famously all flapped our wings at Pat Robertson for daring to suggest the Earthquake of Haiti was a generational sin from the 18th century.

TRUTH is obvious! When you hold the Light of Jesus Christ the Lord. Jesus TELLS US IMPLICITLY what to do with flaws, mediocrity, complacence, salmon running with the herd and Sin - Jesus says to acknowledge we are ALL sinners.  And His Death wiped us clean of generational anger from God. We need that Salvation Jesus is WILLING to GENEROUSLY GIVE. We have reached the point we just can't believe someone would generously Give. And that Someone is GOD.

Teaching History without regard to Historical perspective - is Incredibly Mind Numbing.
Teaching Guilt without regard to Jesus Christ - is Incredibly Mind Numbing.
Teaching Ongoing guilty without regard to Salvation wanting to Bring His Goodness to Today - is Ignoring the Whole Call of Christ - and Is Incredibly Mind Numbing. 

The rest of this post is what people did who were Directly Effected and Affected by the Tragedy of Indentured Servitude that was allowed to be slavery. Instead of vague heaping of more guilt.

What happened to the intolerance to the indentured servants?

When forced into survival mode, people determine where their beliefs truly STAND.

In life we always get choices, usually.  Job's wife asked Job to curse God and die.

The survivors of this tremendous loss of life in young people put in indentured servitude - created a country today where we understand the need for freedom, justice and liberty. People of Hope, Faith and Love came to love this country and want her freedoms to remain. The Country is Founded on Justice FOR ALL.

Intolerance failed because Faith, Hope and Love worked to make this system eradicated.

 One of our most famous indentured servants is Benjamin Franklin.  He was one of 17 children in his family.

He faced a generation with contradictions. A Nation on the brink of huge changes.. He faced extremely hostile treatment in indentured slavery where capital punishment was acceptable - he illegally ran from his indentured servitude and fled to his brother. With this many children and such a small level of support - Benjamin Franklin had to think about how his easy and difficult life styles would merge into his level of ability.

What Benjamin Franklin did for his nation - is what we can bring into our lives - today.

We tend to bemoan the loss of good old days. Just as God was concerned with the treatment of the Children of Israel - smaller families tend to care more about their children. The President of Yale wrote to Ben Franklin and asked him if he believed in Jesus. Mr Franklin wrote back saying Jesus was the best religious president the world had ever seen. And he was not sure that Jesus was divine, but his teachings had led Franklin to have thought about how Jesus would improve his life.  Franklin was a survivor and he thought out 13 moral principals that would guide his life.

Just as the colonies that became this nation began to see the people as individuals needing care and the intolerance became tolerance - Ben Franklin aspired to a great life - this might have meant in Puritan times to disown his less favorable aspects. In bravery and fortitude Ben Franklin took his illegitimate son, William and publicly acknowledged the existence of William, who was deemed 'illegitimate' as he was born out of wedlock, and raised him in his household as his son.

Franklin owned 7 slaves in spite of his own servitude. Franklin's own Autobiography spent most of his own time explaining that although he had fallen short of the virtues that Jesus Christ has provided, he felt he had owned most of his success and happiness in the attempt to follow these virtues:


"Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."
"Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
"Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."
"Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
"Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."
"Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."
"Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
"Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."
"Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."
"Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation."
"Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."
"Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation."
"Humility. Imitate Jesus"

Benjamin Franklin had a rather wild ride of a life in a time of virtue. He could have left his memories as just as amazing as they were. But Benjamin Franklin was a great believer in giving back and in compound interest(s). He left sums of money to compound to 23 million dollars in our generation -  giving to young students to learn and cities to create harbors.



Ben Franklin wrote an Autobiography and explained himself.  Surely a Good Idea.

Franklin could have spent his life complaining about indentured servitude.
Lack of compassion in this societal situation.
The unchristian behaviors of a Christian Nation.
He could have only aggrandized the good life.
What this man did with so many different situations in life - was write his Autobiography to include what studying Jesus has brought him. Not particularly known for being Christian - this is his legacy he wrote about his life.

In his autobiography Franklin wrote, "I hope, therefore, that some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit."


Philippians 3
Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.


Father God, In this tremendous new era. We pray for the Lord’s hand to be with us.

We ask that we clearly see how our own two small hands can bring Your goodness of Jesus Christ as Lord forth to the solutions of Today.Realizing life is a pendulum and we are in imperfect times and reaching Up to the Lord for His renewal.

We ask that You would fill us with Your Holy Spirit in Your Great Mercy as we want to bring the Joy of Jesus Christ forward. We ask for the Gifts of God. For all who feel silenced in their faith to be able to speak of the Love God has for us in His tremendous goal to save us all and the world.

We ask that we have grateful hearts to see You with awe. Return the hearts of fathers to their sons in new fresh Spirit of love and creativity. The diligence of mothers to the joy in their families. The virtues of Jesus in glee and in fresh wonders. To renew and establish and strengthen, families, marriages, Churches, neighborhoods, States, Nations to the Upward and Great Faith in Jesus Christ Messiah of God. Understanding is a wellspring of life unto Jesus. We pray and say Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Proverbs 24 ~ Lest the Lord see it

Solomon Sacrificing to Idols. Sébastien Bourdon (1646-47) was also a prolific history painter. Louvre. 1 Kings 11:8-10

Proverbs 24

1 Be not envious of evil men,
nor desire to be with them,
2 for their hearts devise violence,
and their lips talk of trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the gate he does not open his mouth.

8 Whoever plans to do evil
will be called a schemer.
9 The devising [scheming] of folly is sin,
and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man according to his work?

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,
and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
do no violence to his home;
16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,
but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.

19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
and be not envious of the wicked,
20 for the evil man has no future;
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, fear the Lord and the king,
and do not join with those who do otherwise,
22 for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

23 These also are sayings of the wise.

Partiality in judging is not good.
24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.
26 Whoever gives an honest answer
kisses the lips.

27 Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house.

28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

30 I passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,
31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and considered it;
I looked and received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.

Proverbs is uncomfortable. We had a Bible Study years ago, we were supposed to read aloud several of the Proverbs verses, then change readers, in order, and by chapter. By the end of the reading of a couple of chapters, some people were truly miffed. Which is precisely why Scripture finds itself - in each generation - in a perpetual game of disdain, rejection, ignorance, study, love, adoration, and fascination. And this has gone on for 3,000 years.

I read Proverbs 24 and it pinches. On different days, I will be pinched in different aspects. Is God pleased with my sins showing up? No, He is a Holy and Righteous God. Not that signing the papers for Hospice was a sin, but it makes one mindful of who they are. Thanks be to God, for Jesus Christ. I do not have to live in an unforgiven state. In my weakness, God is strong. Paul said God intertwines all things for His glory and for good. Life is anticipation just what adventure He will provide.

Romans 7:24-25a
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Paul, one of the writers of the New Testament.

We experience trauma in life and wonder if God has suddenly found our secret selfishness leading into sin. We have wonder if cancer, if death, if divorce, if bankruptcy of if job loss is a direct result of our sin from a vengeful God. The answer is clear. Jesus took our sin from us, at one time, on the cross. Trouble will come in life, sometimes we earn it. Neglect our spouse, we are left. Other times, trouble finds us. We live in God's plan, with joy, knowing God does not provide circumstance to merely grieve us.

I am grateful for the pinch of Proverbs 24. I am not left to wonder what God thinks from on high and from far away, as an absent landlord - Deist philosophy. Instead, we have God who writes to us, what He says is not brushed away as a remark merely to overcome. Not an opinion to think upon and decide for ourselves. The sting of Scripture is that of our Father, parenting us. No loving Father leaves His children without direction. The response is up to us. Solomon experienced God, but wanted God to speak to Him in a manner Solomon chose. If Solomon is to be remembered for his wisdom, it is Solomon's return to God's plan as he looks for real meaning in his life, not just temporal values.

God chose to live with us and chooses so today.

John 1:14,16
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

The Lord God - the Father of those doing His will - bless and prosper those doing His Will. In Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 108 ~ Your steadfast love is great above the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds

Psalm 108

My heart is steadfast, O God!
I will sing and make melody with all my being!
2 Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer me!

7 God has promised in his holiness:
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet,
Judah my scepter.
9 Moab is my washbasin;
upon Edom I cast my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
12 Oh grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
13 With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.


Life gives us so many coincidences, that if you aren't looking for them, they will fly by. My son and I were discussing a painting on the wall of Italy, and the next thing occurring - one Italian tree - right there. This isn't the usual thing in a Texas Landscape. Christians call these things, God incidences.

We were watching "The Wonderful Planet'.  From space, you can see our Northern American forests turn the green planet to orange as the huge fall foliage approaches. It was amazing. I turned to Alexander and said, that looks exactly like marble or a stone........... We are systems within systems. God balancing the universe.

God's earth, created at His Word, sometimes called the Big Bang Theory, creating a system on our earth of rain, becoming water, washing into the ocean, and becoming humidity and storms creating the cycle again. The Spirit renewing us as we rely upon HIM. His Sky Reflecting His Glory.

We have so many different areas of our lives, it is good to remember, the analogy of the beautiful forests, animals and the beauty - the things we Wish we could see each day - as reflections of God's Glory. What we hope to see in His New Heaven and New earth in His Eternal Kingdom.

And some of the other boundaries - as a reminder; there are boundaries on earth. We will reach a day of Decision for the LORD; on our lives as Good and for evil.

God is Holy. And in our decisions to be His -

With God we shall do valiantly.

Father God, keep our eyes open and aware of the Wonders You provide. Help our hearts be open to Your Glories and Your Path and Plan. Reestablish and renew our appreciation of Your many kindnesses and compassion to us. 

Help us to be as bold as "Merry Christmas" and say "God bless you" for the times someone sneezes. Or even to not just say 'I will pray for you' - instead saying "I Will pray about this and ask Jesus to Bless your concern."

We hand our loved ones and our cares into Your capable hands. We ask for summer rain to refresh us and Your earth. In Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Isaiah 61 ~ Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.

Oak of Mamre old view, near Hebron, Palestine. Created by De Bar, published 1882

Historic Photo of the tree in Hebron, Oak of Mamre. Circa 1865.  For many, many years the Oak acorns were prorogationed from the old Oak.

Isaiah 61

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners^[blind]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.

A long time ago, we had a home in our neighborhood, a colonial with blue shutters and shake wooden roof. Above the house was an amazing giant of an American Elm. The great tree was almost a Sequoia with a base of at least a six foot diameter. It made the house have a hidden and majestic quality. The neighbors agreed it was a delight to see when you turned into the main street. One day there was a ferocious roar and a team worked for two days to cut down the tree. The new owner of the house proclaimed the healthy tree to be too big and dangerous. One of the cutters told him the tree was older than the Declaration of Independence, it was a shame the tree had not been in the Dallas Arboretum.

The owner was amazed the neighbors were not pleased. He said he had to protect the shake roof. Unfortunately for him, a huge wind came up and destroyed the roof later in the year and the insurance would not pay to replace the shake roof. He was rather horrified and said he'd bought the house for the unusual roof. If the tree had been there to shelter the roof.....



 to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

Now this is a true analogy. Stories in the Scriptures repeat and repeat. Abraham traveled a long way to dwell in the land promised to him.  After a long journey, these Oaks were an oasis, and called the Oaks of Mamre

Genesis 13:18
So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the LORD.


Genesis 18:1
The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.

Genesis 12:3
"I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

How long did Abraham and his children look forward to the Oaks of Mamre being home? And what happened to this blessing?

Genesis 35:27
Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.

Isaiah knew of Abraham's Mamre Oaks. The Oaks of Righteousness. Because for millenniums Oaks were reseeded to keep Abraham's Oak Grove going. Hebron, the city of Sarah and Abraham is also known for their venerated graves.  The Tomb of the Patriarchs, in Hebron.

God rejoices in HIS creation. The Cedars built the Temple.

Psalm 29:5
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

Psalm 80:10
The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.



Psalm 104:16
The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

Queen Victoria planted this area of the forest and built the wall.

Isaiah also gives us a theme for the city in which he dwells, Jerusalem.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

David worked for 22 year without any apparent vision of success other than an anointing of God. Upon Saul's death, a concubine's son was crowned. And still David believed. Upon being crowned later, David, of the Tribe of Judah, decided to move the capital from Shiloh to Jerusalem. All the way back to Joshua, who succeeded Moses, the Tribe of Judah had been unable to claim the area around Jerusalem. This is why Jerusalem is called the City of David.

 The Temple of the LORD was entirely covered with gold.



Isaiah knew of these blessings through Hezekiah, who inherited the promises of David (if you look at the genealogy of Jesus, you will see Jesus claims both Hezekiah and Abraham). Hezekiah had a very practical father, King Ahaz. Ahaz was busy in his reign directing nature worship on the hills. All very poetic to be sure. Howeever Ahaz was hoping for the Temple, with the great trees, and then gold over the entire Temple, to be forgotten and broken into bits to keep the Assyrian army at bay. Hezekiah started with this practicality, and later listened to Isaiah to have the greatest reign in Israel after Solomon. His people were the only, in all of the Old or New Testament, who flocked to give to the LORD until they were asked to quit giving.


I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.

Father God, we ask to participate in the blessing you gave Abraham. We ask to be blessed and to be a blessing in return. 

When life gives us cursing, give us the power to discern if we are to rebuke that evil will flee or to wait patiently upon You.  Let us ask blessings for those who give us trouble - far away blessings. Give us the ability to be peacemakers and the ability to turn and depart. 

Let us remember to see with Your eyes mercy and Love. We thank you for the good news of Jesus Christ, healing the broken hearted, a crown of beauty, joy and the ability to have a heart for praise. Help us to grow into Oaks of Righteousness, bringing further Good News of the Love You give us. 

We would like to be the people You have blessed. In the Highest Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.


PS 
Father God. Lately I have heard a friend tell me Macular Degeneration, another friend said she is feeling like she is dying. I saw a dear Church family man in heated bent over prayer. And elder lady in our Church is unable to do her beloved bible study group in her home. There was a motorcycle accident with Church family husband and wife on two bikes. And and injury falling and in recovery. Edward has a severe diagnosis and lifts his day up in Jesus, with fewer tremors. Recently my High School best friend sent us Word she is marrying her long time beaux  and he was christened in a river.  Happy and blessed BBQ Wedding Reception. Another lady from our Church is widowed for 10 years having nursed her older husband for a long, diligent time and is engaged now!

I know my dear friend BBFHS has seen hard, difficult, dire times and she keeps telling her witness that Jesus is Living Water going where He is needed - we get bogged down and we are lifted when we know Jesus. Her FB page is alive with Christian witness. Jesus cured a woman I know from precancerous conditions in her stomach - her life has joy and good health again. Jesus is the Wind of the Spirit. We cast our cares upon Him and He truly cares for us. When we are bent with worries, Jesus would fold His Arm around us - like a mother hen with her chicks.

Thank You Father GOD, Lord Jesus truly saves. Amen in Jesus.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †