Hebrews 12 ~ let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus

Hebrews 12

 1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
 
12-15 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled

18-19 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking.

28-29 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

 

Isaiah 40:31 
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!!!!

Luke 1:37 
For nothing will be impossible with God

Matthew 21:1-11
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

Donkeys rarely get to speak, and this one would be male. Numbers 22:22-28 has Balaam's female donkey speaking to him because he fully could not grasp, with his prophetic ability, that angels of the Lord dwell near His Children especially on His Work.

This young male donkey might say,

"I was given a Charge. A Royal Duty. That morning some of the 70 disciples of Jesus collected me merely by asking for my owner; And I was waiting for them. Mark and Luke journeyed through to Bethany and found from my owner I had never been riden. We rejoined Matthew, John and the other 12 with Jesus in Bethphage.

Of course, Jesus Christ the Savior of Mankind knew the Word of God. Jesus is the fulfillment and created by the Word of God. I rode beside the horse colt. The Disciple Matthew was quoting Zechariah’s prophecy. Matthew, as a Jew, felt this was important. Jesus knew I'd been waiting and we both knew King David had ridden a donkey when he was crowned. Jesus and I were more touched to be together for this auspicious day. Jesus put his warm hand upon me and the day was good.

The multitude who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, were bearing Him witness.

Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

The people lavished praise on Jesus because they recognized Him as their Messiah; welcoming Him out of their desire for a deliverer! They had been raised to understand the Book of Isaiah called for a King to lead them in a massive revolt against the Roman occupiers.

Jesus was very aware of all the people surrounding Him. Aware of the Spiritual realm at His hand. The Kingdom of Heaven Was at His Hand and He was well aware of HIS desire to unite mankind in a new Heaven and a new earth. Jesus knew what was in the heart of mankind and this was His Day. He had made it!

Jesus rode a White Horse. The disciple John said the horse was brilliant - as if he spoke a Revelation that was being declared. John was unaware that day, but he would see in days to come.

Revelation 6:2
And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

Revelation 19:11
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

Jesus rode to look at His Temple. Jesus spoke and a Huge Noise and the Roar of His Words, like those from Mount Sinai, drove out those who sold and bought from the 36 acres of the Temple. He overturned tables. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer!’ But you make it a den of robbers!”

Then the blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and Jesus healed them.

A darkness of jealousy and fear approached, the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

They were indignant, and they said to Jesus, “Do you hear what these are saying?”

And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read,
“‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies
you have prepared praise’?”

Yes. The infants and babies proclaimed Jesus Son of God. The disciples recalled that Jesus said rocks could proclaim Him if the Children of Abraham would not. How unfitting that the Temple of God refused Him His Title of Son of David at the least of praising - JESUS THE ONLY SON OF GOD! LIGHT OF LIGHT. TRUE GOD OF TRUE GOD. THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD! GOD IS LOVE.

Jesus' Father God, His Abba would run to Jesus as Jesus had said in the story of the parable. Jesus taking on not the pig's trough, but the sins of all mankind.

Where do you stand? Are HIS Praises in your mouth? You have been given the Gift of Salvation - don't wait for your pet to speak up."

Matthew 27:54
When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”





There were always so many events and people around Jesus, the happenings were so vast - details aren't clearly related.

Mark, Luke, and John did not say that only one donkey was obtained for Jesus, or that only one colt traveled up to Jerusalem with Jesus. The Gospels simply mentioned the colt. They never denied another donkey or a horse was present. Mark, Luke, and John mention one young donkey does not indicate there were not two animals.

Like Genesis. God speaks multiple times (BIG Bangs), yet this is in Psalms and 2 Peter 3:8
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

If you drive to your friends house - you say you arrived in your car, you didn't say the key turned gas filled the pistons, the engine fired - etc.

If you had two friends named Joe and Bob who came to your house on Thursday night, but the next day while at work you mention to a fellow employee that Joe was at your house Thursday night (and you excluded Bob from the conversation for whatever reason), would you be wrong? Of course not. You simply stated the fact that Joe was at your house. Similarly, when Mark, Luke, and John stated a colt was present, Matthew merely supplemented what the other writers recorded. Those who study the Scriptures with faith believe Matthew was there as was John. The Biblical fragments would agree.

Father God, dwell within us each day, be our strength, our hope, our direction. Your beloved reaches out hands in prayer, that You will touch each day with Your hope, faith and Love. This is the day that the Lord has made. In You and in us, Jesus Christ dwell in our lives daily. In the highest name of Jesus Christ, all honor and glory to You, O LORD.  Forgive us our sins and let us rest in Your Grace. Amen.

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Psalm 12 ~ everyone lies

Psalm 12


1 Help, LORD, for the godly are no more;

the faithful have vanished from among men.
2 Everyone lies to his neighbor;
their flattering lips speak with deception.

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue
4 that says, "We will triumph with our tongues;
we own our lips —who is our master?"

5 "Because of the oppression of the weak
and the groaning of the needy,
I will now arise," says the LORD.
"I will protect them from those who malign them."

6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver refined in a furnace of clay,
purified seven times.

7 O LORD, you will keep us safe
and protect us from such people forever.
8 The wicked freely strut about
when what is vile is honored among men.

Romans 5

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

The purpose of life is to grow up and go Home to our Father God.


Psalm 4
2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.

4 Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.


We all are confronted with times we need a solution faster than we know what to do next. The Psalms David wrote are filled with the nature of mankind.

See Psalm 51:4
Psalms 14:1-3;
Psalm 53:1-3;
Psalm 5:9
Psalm 140:3
Psalm 10:7 (see Septuagint)
Psalm 36:1

And then a thousand years later the New Testament addresses this. See Romans 5.

On quick decisions -
Isaiah 11:3
He will delight in obeying the LORD


Moving away from pain is the strongest human motivator. Truth is tactful. Love is kind.
We all know this verse in 1 Corinthians 13.This is how God loves us as our Parent.

Practice honesty in the little things.
Luke 16:10
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.



It’s okay to say nothing.
Proverbs 26:4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.

Pick your battles.
Proverbs 17:14
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.





Always choose the high road - Love covers a multitude of Sins. 
Ask God. He does this for us in Jesus Christ. Honestly emphasize the positive. Being honest doesn’t mean that we are obligated to express every feeling we have on every subject. Don’t confuse preferences with reality.

1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.


To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must
be credible; to be credible we must be truthful. ~Edward R. Murrow


Honesty requires courage and tact ~ Honesty usually makes our self esteem grow.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”




Honesty has the healing option of emptying the self 
of pride in order to find honesty and truth that surpasses social game-playing.
~ A desire to cover up lack, sometimes of caring. And being cared for.
~ Lies become cunning weapons of revenge in a psychological battle to inflict pain on those who hurt you.
Honesty creates a higher path benefiting those around them to grow up to the Lord.


1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.



Set the record straight! AA does this as part of healing.

~Honesty involves learning how to express the fullness of your inner experience, by setting aside  psychological defenses. Although a well know children's novel would say a fool wears his emotions on his sleeve. Appropriate trust is required. And to inflict useless information on others merely wears others out. Mercy is to train conversation to be mutually beneficial. 
~ Expect to share your information with those you trust. Expect to be their confidant and be interested in the cares of others.
~ Name your emotions.
~Learn your psychological defenses and why they are employed.
~Look at fantasies to see if you are prodded you into acting in ways you do not aspire to be.
~Resist the temptation to fall into old defensive patterns, and train yourself to act with new and different behaviors.


Deuteronomy 28
9 The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him.

2 Corinthians 1:21
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

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Luke 2:9-11 ~ “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people

Luke 2:9-11

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Did Jesus want to endure the shame of the Cross? Was being here just merely enduring this life?

God tells us that He is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Genesis 1
10 And God saw that it was good.
12 And God saw that it was good.
18 And God saw that it was good.
21 And God saw that it was good.
25 And God saw that it was good.
31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.


Deuteronomy 10:14
Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the LORD your God.

Exodus 19:5
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,

1 Corinthians 10:26
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof!

Matthew threw a party for Jesus. Many good things are recorded in the Gospels, the events Jesus loved!

John 15:11
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Jesus had a happy childhood, as the adopted child of Joseph. In a small town, everyone's business is known, but Jesus' hometown saw that complete blended family and said:

Matthew 13:
5 3When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?

Luke 2:
48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." 49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 3:
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Mark 1:14,15
Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Mark 1:
17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.


Luke 5:
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

John 2:
1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now."

Matthew 11: 19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."

Mark 1:
41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.

Mark 2
23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.

Mark 3:
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.

34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Mark 4:
1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge.

Jesus must have recognized His own life in this parable:
30 Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.

Mark 5:
34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" ). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around.

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Mark 6:
4 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

50b Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Luke 6:
7 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 7:
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."

22 And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

Mark 7:
37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Mark 8:
29"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

Mark 9:
1 And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"

24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Mark 10:
14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him.

Mark 11:
7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
10 "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Mark 12:
29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."

34a When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Mark 14:
6"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

9  I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." 

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Acts 21:37-22:16 ~ Jesus of Nazareth,

Acts 21:37-22:16

37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?"

"Do you speak Greek?" he replied. 38 "Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?"

39 Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people."

40 Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic:

Acts 22

1 "Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." 2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.

Then Paul said: 3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 "About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?'

8 " 'Who are you, Lord?' I asked.

" 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.

10 "'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked.
"'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.' 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.

12 "A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him.

14 "Then he said: 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'

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Matthew 12:15-21 ~ He healed them all

Matthew 12:15-21

 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all ¹⁶ and ordered them not to make him known. ¹⁷  This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁸  “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
    my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
¹⁹ He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
²⁰ a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
²¹      and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Jesus the Son of God.


1 Timothy 3:16
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: 
He appeared in a body, 
was vindicated by the Spirit, 
was seen by angels, 
was preached among the nations, 
was believed on in the world, 
was taken up in glory.

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Jesus Christ. God. Son of God. Prince of Peace. True Light of Light. Only Begotten Son of the Father. From WHOM all things were made. Lamb of God.

Jesus Christ Superstar is appealing, but really leaves an aspect of Jesus behind. Jesus did not just jump into the fray. The events around Jesus continued to swirl quickly. So many times all the actions, words and conversations were fast paced. But Jesus is Prince of Peace. He spent deliberate time and energy in prayer and in rest.

Jesus  often - to pray. 
Jesus heals all who followed HIM.
Jesus, not seeking fame for healing. 
Jesus proclaims Justice.
Jesus not seeking quarrels.
Jesus heals the bruised.
Jesus sparking into flame, the tiniest thought of faith.
Jesus bringing justice to Victory.
In the name above all names. JESUS THE LORD.  We shall all Hope.

Amen. 

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.


Colossians 3:15
the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

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John 20 ~ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed"

John 20

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Events of the Bible repeat. And do we recognize them? The photo of the giant Archangel cloud was taken on Lake Texhoma by my cousin Bob with my brother John and me, the day he was trying to decide if he would join the Corps of Cadets at Texas A & M in 1989. We watched as Bob happened to have his camera and we were so glad. Relieved. Who takes a camera on a boat? This decade didn't have people carry around cameras all the time. The Angel was HUGE. We discussed - was this Jesus and decided Jesus never required wings. Cherubim require wings. John declared it was a sign. The Angel cloud did not disperse. And stayed a very long time. Sadly, we ignored the cloud and remarked, Wow there Still Stands the Archangel.

The Archangel Cloud remained more than an hour, perhaps two.

Events of the Scriptures will happen again and again. At Thanksgiving, several years later, Bob retrieved the Photo and I was awestruck. And wowed. My brother sarcastically asked me if I knew anyone who had ever seen anything like that - I replied that I would Truly Like to See That. The Looks I received were rewarding - enough. And I forgot again.

Another time - I was told of a young woman at a posh office being told, by her Ivy League Boss, stories of patronizing and advancement due to returns for sexual favors in college. The young woman was embarrassed, because if someone wandered by, that would sound like sexual harassment. What we don't see is Amazing.

John Adams was dying. He has set aside political glory to rekindle an old friendship - Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson had sacrificed old friends, had skated around and back on his promise not to remarry. His wife Martha was reportedly not happy with her husband's many absences and his time away when their son died. She had made him promise to never remarry for his absences. They were people with funds, yet no portrait or sketch exists of Martha. Thomas Jefferson's wife died after they'd been married only 10 years. She was young, had already been widowed, and spent the majority of her marriage to Jefferson ill. Five of her children died during her short lifetime. Jefferson was an almost inconsolable widower. And still John Adams, who had lived and died and thrived and sunk down to rise back up in the political tides of this Nation - reached past personal sorrows of Thomas sinking his presidency - and shored up Forgiveness.

Thomas wrote of his later years search in Scriptures in a letter to John Adams, dated October 13, 1813:

"In extracting the pure principles which he taught, we should have to strip off the artificial vestments in which they have been muffled by priests, who have travestied them into various forms, as instruments of riches and power to themselves.

We must dismiss the Platonists and Plotinists, the Stagyrites and Gamalielites, the Eclectics, the Gnostics and Scholastics, their essences and emanations, their logos and demiurges, aeons and daemons, male and female, with a long train of … or, shall I say at once, of nonsense.

We must reduce our volume to the simple evangelists, select, even from them, the very words only of Jesus, paring off the amphibologisms into which they have been led, by forgetting often, or not understanding, what had fallen from him, by giving their own misconceptions as his dicta, and expressing unintelligibly for others what they had not understood themselves.

There will be found remaining the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man. I have performed this operation for my own use, by cutting verse by verse out of the printed book, and arranging the matter which is evidently his, and which is as easily distinguishable as diamonds in a dunghill. The result is an octavo of forty-six pages, of pure and unsophisticated doctrines."

All have sinned and fallen short. What Thomas Jefferson found, was a relationship of crystal clarity - the Word of God, in Jesus the Lord, recognized in the soul of Thomas Jefferson.


Our Lord God, our Father GOD, has a unique sense of humor about the wisdom of man. Most supernatural events, miracles, are not included in Jefferson's heavily edited razor cut out "Words of Jesus."  And as John Adams was dying, he spoke, his son records, "Thomas Jefferson Lives!" July 4th, 1826.

Do we recognize miracles in our own lives?

We have to let the Wonder of what He would show us, speak to us in His Word, make a difference - and hold that faith.

What does God want for us? Jesus in the turbulence of His Sacrifice, offered these words twice. How many times did Jesus repeat Himself - Not Often. Jesus expected people to listen to Him. It's the Scriptures that repeat. Not God speaking as Jesus.


John 20:19
Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”


How comforting to know, when troubles come, God wants us to have Peace. Equipping us, in John's Gospel Chapter 20, with the Holy Spirit. Our Comforter. And Jesus asking us to reach up and forward for Peace. Not demanding us to be in Peace, not scolding Peace, but with instruction, with declarations of Love - asking us to Reach for Peace.


Lord God, creator of Heaven and earth, please dwell within me. Help my soul be a joy to You and be in all my cells and lighten my darkest corners. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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Psalm 145 ~ Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.

Psalm 145

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.

5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.

14 The Lord upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.

16 You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.

18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Why isn't the Scripture discardable and why isn't new Scripture being written today?

The people who wrote the Scripture of the New Testament - Lived Abundantly with Jesus. We could argue about Luke and Mark, yet we Know Jesus had 70 or 72 Disciples. Who knows... maybe the other two were standing behind Jesus when the disciples wanted Jesus to call down fire...





The point being, Learn. We see Scripture stories and we grasp them because our lives allow us to suddenly have the ability...

Acts 9:18
And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized

This is exactly why the Word of God is Living and Active. Read the Scripture and find the portion that leaps to your soul. God is speaking to you. His Word is written just for you.

Perhaps you've experienced this with me; I've been to a Bible Studies when reading the Scripture gives me an entirely different message than the study for reading the Word of God. A Question was answered, a path encouraged, a way forward. One more reason why we have Church and corporate worship.

We read in Scripture how beautiful are the feet of those bringing the Good News. Actually beyond washing Feet off from use, usually feet are ignored. Yep. Because the point isn't the feet of the preacher, but the Message of God. If you have to avoid looking at a tie, or a flaw, look to the feet. Guarantee you will still hear the Message. (I have no idea what Steve's feet look like!)

Today I was privileged to Worship Corporately today. We sang with an orchestra by candlelight. Practiced new songs for Easter visitors with Joy and Hope. Learned about new generations (grandchild) brought forth in suffering of labor. The mercy of trouble encouraging us not to be all about ourselves. Seeing Churches being brought forth in cities needing a Church, back in the USSR. 





So God, tests our character? The prayer of Jabez and Jabez, although prosperous, was not heard from again.

And heard Pastor Steve Bradley really connect dots for me about suffering. Using a key word - Produce.

Romans 5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.





Exodus 3:7
Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings

~ The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

~ The Lord is near to all who call on him,to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him.




God put Himself on the Cross to bear our burdens and curses.

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord who daily carries us. God is our deliverer.

Think on this - if you were given an area of land to grow. Would you invite the worst people you know, perhaps instead, you'd find people you want to develop. You would hope that being with them would propel you forward to better and greater things - to glorify God. Allowing God to say, "Well Done."

2 Thessalonian 1
5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—

God is our Father to our prodigal. Growing us to Come Home to Him.






James is the Brother to Jesus Christ, telling us today -

James 1
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

James 3:12
Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.






Wisdom...

~ My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

When we are part of HIS Plan willingly, we are on His Path.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

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