Psalm 139 The Reckless Love of God

This is when you want someone to probe you about the Bible being not Politically Correct, Right?

OK, true story. I was on a flight to Washington D.C. for my birthday trip gift from my brother and my niece. I was reading Scripture and my brother says, "Hey - I think the Bible is loooooooooooaded with kill you and kill them and looting. It's about the Bronze Age and petty tribal power. With beheadings. Sword kill you. "


Siblings. We all need them. Mom - he's crossing the line. Make him stop.

My reaction. Look this way. Look that way. Yep, heads are looking. Turning. Getting a pointed at. We have now been on vacation for 15 minutes. I look at my brother. Hard. He says, "Answer the f ing question, forgedabod them."

I reply. "You do that impression pretty well." He's an attorney - he bothers people for a living, when he isn't a peacemaker. And actually, being an attorney - he is really good at peacemaking. The career has been really good for him. Except he was a sibling kicking me in the head - first. He knew how to do that and look like, "What me?"

My brother, my sibling replies. "Yeah, you're dodging. I just insulted the Bible. Answer."

Now a few more people are looking - but this time - the crowd very quickly does not meet eye to eye and looks at laps, laptops, books. It's a knee JERK thing. Sibling.



I said, "The Bible covers the Bronze Age. It's back to the Exodus which the History Channel even supports the plagues and evidence of the Bible."

John says, "No, the Bronze Age is 1,000 B.C."

No - the Bronze Age ends at 1,000 B.C. the Iron Age is when King David and Solomon are coming to power."

My Brother, the Attorney says, "Oh History Lesson before dealing with the killings and petty power."

Right. The Bible starts cooking when the Children of Israel learn God's Name and that God still is a Physical Presence willing to Rescue and Deliver Establishing His Promises. And this is not petty tribal warfare. Egypt is the richest Kingdom on earth. When God starts - God starts Big. Like Jesus starts out with the whole town turns out to hear from the Man who did every sign of the Messiah before His first Sermon.

The Bible has God Showing Up Hugely every 500 Years. So David hits the Iron Age.

"That's when we get petty tribal warfare."

No. Solomon's Kingdom is debated to go as far as Greece. Solomon married Pharaoh's Daughter, Solomon the Wise. Invaders show up in Egypt, there is no war and the pirates leave with the Treasury. Unidentified - to the point - leave fast - Treasury Robbery. And not only that, before, when God got finished with the Plagues of Exodus - the people of Egypt were throwing all their gold and silver plate and jewelry begging the slaves to leave. They leave with so much gold and silver - they were paid for their years of Slavery. God is God.

"But they kill people and the Crusades."

"You, my sibling, have an undergraduate in classical History. You know the history of mankind is warfare. Every political upheaval is war. So, to say this is of the Bible - we have a discrepancy. War is Government establishment. Almost Always."

"What are you reading right this minute, Anne-Laurel?"


Psalm 139

1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,"
12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me!


20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain!
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!



"See, Anne-Laurel, the Bible is all this poetry and then you get to the bottom of the Psalm and it's all bloodshed."

"One Important Point of God is this: no one really, really wants to read the first 5 books of the Bible. The Pentateuch are the first 5 Books of the Bible where the "BLESSINGS" are located. And in telling of us how to get to the Blessings - you read pages and pages and pages of what not to do. And because of the Pentateuch, we have a better culture."

My Brother, the Attorney, with a Classical Undergraduate Degree says, "OK, we agree there. Because almost all Cultures point back to Abraham to establish the basis of the Legal Law. Because Abraham was a rational man - we actually have 'Culture' today."

I said, "Right, exactly. Abraham is called 3,000 years ago 'Father of Nations.' "

My brother says, "No Bull? But the Bible was written in like 400 A.D. for the New Testament and no one knows about the Old Testament."

"No. The Papyrus 46 is owned by the University of Michigan and the way the pronouns are written are a 300 THREE HUNDRED BIBLE INTACT CHAPTERS and a debate that this is 90 A.D. or 120 A.D. When Paul, in the Holy Spirit, writes the New Testament, Paul refers to the daily on-going work/sacrifice in the Jerusalem Temple still operating until 70 A.D. When Jesus would have died of Old Age - Naturally."

"And the Dead Sea Scrolls - the whole point of the Essenes as hermits, who copy the Bible. And their Bible entirely match the Bible the Gutenberg Bible just blithely put out - completely matching a Bible from 0 A.D. - This is the PROOF these words were so Holy - the Words Match to Match. The Bible is revered, copied, died for, held forth as the Holy Word of God Himself. The Dead Sea Scroll is HUGE. Found in a 500 year mark historically."

"We die. We go Home. The Word of God is Upheld." We are folded up as a garment. The grass withers, the flower fades. The Word of God Endures Forever.





Ok, but why did Psalm 139 end so hatefully?


A man lives in the world. In all types and stages of history - he loves and has a child. This child is precious to him. Suddenly this man realizes he is a man. He takes a look at the environment around him. Does his government provide stability? Is his job enduring to support his child, this infant? Does he have an enemy who would kill his child? Suddenly - a battle is much, much, much more ferocious.

I said, "John, didn't you ever have someone in your life that suddenly you worried your very place in life?"

Yes. I said Edward too. He had a boss who took his salary down and made us have a month where our income was $200. And suddenly a mild-mannered man is angry beyond belief.

Psalm 139. Is very like the Holy of Holies. A seat. The Ark of the Covenant is actually a seat.


Genesis 3
8a Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day

God always intended to live and move and have His Being to be part of all of our lives. To tenderly hold us under the Wing of God Himself. And God realizes Life has come to be. Life moves like Light. Fast. Life has made mankind like Aaron coming into the Holy of Holies. Aaron is going to make a horrible mess. Blood. Life. Mess. And God thought about how acceptable mankind was to Him. The flood - many histories record. I think the flooding of the world we call the Ice Age is the Great Flood. Mankind would worship other gods who asked for baby sacrifice because early man didn't realize blood meal was good fertilizer and 'prosperity'. God always always always as the God of Abraham said no murder or baby murder. And the gods pollute mankind with bloodshed of even the innocent.

It was never petty. Ever. It was a fight of Good and Evil. Life and Death. Heaven or hell.

And because the Journey of Life - is so serious - is Life and Death. Because God would let Aaron come in and throw blood, blood, blood - because of the Overwhelming Love of God
Because God desires to save the world
because God writes He looks into mankind and finds He wants to save
because God has studied mankind since the beginning
God wants to
.............put up with the mess. To have the Relationship.


This is our God.

God would ALLOW David to record for all time the hate in his heart. The sheer NEED to Thrive. To make a path for Children. The way life causes War.

It's like the Holy of Holies. God goes with us in the horrible, hard, nasty, treacherous, wild winds of life.

God says He will Never Forsake us.

The Bronze to Iron Age is known to be Bloody, yet our Century is known to be one of the Bloodiest of all of mankind. World Wars. Nuclear Attacks and Abortion. Terrorism. Knowledge, appearance and isolation.

Psalm 139 exists to comfort Edward when his income is taken and he has $200 for the month. With two toddlers.

Psalm 139 exists to comfort us when we feel hatred. When life is being taken from us.

God Will Never Leave Nor Forsake us. EVER. All aspects of Life are covered in the Name of Jesus and are in His Hand.

We do not go alone. God is with us.




As we got off the plane, John said that truly made sense.


Father God,

And we who know Father God pray like this: "I know Father God, I'm ok. I Pray for the one who is worried because they do not know the Peace and Unending Overwhelming Unceasing Reckless Love of God. Leave the 99 to find the lost one."

And we pray more of God's Kingdom on earth. Filling our loved ones. The people given to us by Father God. Our employments. Our schools. Our Nation Trusting in God. The Nations of the world Trusting in God. The Beloved of God in unceasing prayer conversations with God who wants the Relationship. Because the Grace of God is Jesus Christ HIS ONLY SON. Our Savior. Amen and amen and Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 ~ commendations from God

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court.

In fact, I do not even judge myself.  

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. 

Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

The Word of God is for disclosing the purposes of the heart. Because our inner selves to Father God is what is calling us to be Eternal and live seeing God's Glory.

The Prodigal Son is about giving time from God to find out the depth of heart. The Process of God seeing us and revealing to ourselves who we are. 

The way we do the work of Faith in the One God has sent in Jesus Christ. The truth we speak making our words and lives understood to hold up to Truth. The Life we hope for ourselves and the Lives we give to those around us. What we hope for the people who surround us. 

 Abba, Father,

Thank You, Father God, for Your Wonders of a New Year. 

You make all things new in Jesus Christ.

 Jesus tells us You are working and Jesus with You. 

We pray for Colorado.

We pray for their recovery.

And we ask for fewer weather incidents.

More of Your Holy Spirit this New Year, having You dwell in us 

God of Love. 

God of Encouragement.

For our history, our generations

have pleased You

Loving and Caring for our Children.

Look with us, and Bless us, Father.

Smile upon us, remembering

our heart to please our families

and You.

Forgive us when we err

in weakness, need and fear.

Strengthen us in Your Love.

Thanks be to Jesus, for His Grace upon Grace.

I will wait upon God all the days of my life and dwell in the House of Lord for His Word to me. Alleluia. Christmas is coming again. 

This is as sure as the Promises of God for us in eternity who call upon Jesus.

 Speak the Word God and I shall be well. 

Psalm 139:1-18,23-24

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

    you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down

    and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue,

    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before,

    and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

    it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?

    Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

9 If I take the wings of the morning

    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 even there your hand shall lead me,

    and your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

    and the light about me be night,”

12 even the darkness is not dark to you;

    the night is bright as the day,

    for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;

    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

    my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

    the days that were formed for me,

    when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

    How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

    I awake, and I am still with you.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!

    Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting!

Abba, 

Your wrath is covered when we believe in Jesus.

Psalm 139 is the perfect reminder in all of Psalm 139.

Jesus helps us daily to find the path of Love and Encouragement.

Abba,

You have Blessed this Nation and believing Nations

with an Open Always Prayer Life

being who we are and believing You make us better and more loving.

We can look at Psalm 139

and remember the generations of people and families

doing all they can for their children in complex life

needing Jesus as Savior.

Your Word 

gives us Hope

Love

Faith

Encouragement

We can ask for Your Holy Spirit to know

all of us

every cell

every molecule

Just as water is a wonder

You have created us as Wonders of Your Creation

and as Your Holy Spirit

knows every thought, every molecule

every cell

the hairs on our head

we have been filled with the 

Light of Jesus Christ

and only the better

for Jesus to be the Light within us.

Our Prayer this year,

The Light of Heaven,

The Light of the world, God's Good Creation

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

The Light of Nations

The Light of Mankind

will be

the Light filling this complex time

with more

of Your Love, Encouragement

Guidance, Mercy

Grace upon Grace.

We ask simply God

for Your Love

and Your Mercy

Your forbearance with this time.

Knowing Spring follows Christmas

Summer brings warmth

Autumn tells the Glory of God

and Christmas renews us in Hope

New Years is Jesus giving us pause to 

remember

Jesus Christ makes ALL things New.

As we are asked to remind God

to bless us with more Heaven on earth,

His Good Will be done.

To You, our Father, be the Glory

Our God is an Awesome God! Amen

and Alleluia

in Jesus Christ and His Glory!

Matthew 13:31,32

Jesus put before them another parable: “The Kingdom of Heaven 

is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.

 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, 

yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, 

so that the birds of the air come 

and 

nest in its branches.”

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Matthew 2:19-23 ~ Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled

Nazareth has unique characteristics. Sitting way up on a ridge overlooking a wide valley, Nazareth is much more safe giving time to prepare for incoming dangers. And Nazareth is going to catch the wind. It's called The Branch. And is to be fruitful. "Nazareth" is derived from one of the Hebrew words for 'branch', namely ne·ṣer, and alludes to the prophetic, messianic words in Book of Isaiah 11:1, 'from (Jesse's) roots a Branch (netzer) will bear fruit'.

Also unique to Nazareth, before Christians were called Christians, we were called Nazarenes. 

Not to be confused with Nazirites - The nazirite is called, "Holy unto the Lord" (Numbers 6:8) swearing not to have wine, not cut his hair and avoid impurity like corpses. Like Samson of The Book of Judges.

Jesus is instead of Nazareth. Isaiah 11:1 

Isaiah 11:1 
11 And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.

Samson is to make himself holy by a sacrifice, a vow and actions. Unlike Jesus Christ Who is the Holy One of God. Redeemer.

This is really a learning contrast. One Jesus Christ is born into.

Jesus Christ frees us from the Law. And by His free gift - brings us into God's Holiness by the salvation Jesus freely gives us.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law for us. Not by His Works but by being the Manifest Word of God His Father.

Nazareth today hosts a city rebuilt to be the City of Nazareth Jesus knew in the First Century A.D. This is part of a trail that is about 60 miles long where followers of Jesus can walk the Jesus Trail.

Some of the dwellings are large, to indicate this might be a 4 generations family living together. Each generation adds on to the house. Peter lived with Andrew in Capernaum and with his mother-in-law. God always wanted families to be Ephesians 3 - living on earth and in Heaven together.

Isaiah 7 tells us of the very industrious life led in this generation. One of hard work with lovely rewards. Not of the wealthy Romans, but with gracious life.

Matthew 2:19-23

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod

Joseph was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene."




Like Psalm 139, God has planned the life of His Son. We, as believers are also Psalm 139 - God has planned our lives in His Book of Life and has so many thoughts of us, His Children, tha sand is too numerous to count our Father God's thoughts about us where our days are planned by our Father God.


Psalm 139: 1-18

O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising;
Thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down,
And art acquainted with all my ways.'

4 For there is not a word in my tongue,
But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before,
And laid thy hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?
Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me,
And thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me,
[c]And the light about me shall be night;
12 Even the darkness hideth not from thee,
But the night shineth as the day:
The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou didst form my inward parts:
Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb.


14 I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
Wonderful are thy works;
And that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My frame was not hidden from thee,
When I was made in secret,
And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance;
And in thy book they were all written,
Even the days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
When I awake, I am still with thee.


The Beauty of the Little Town displays the hopes of God for us to find this life rewarding as we work for our families.

Isaiah 7

10 And Jehovah spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of Jehovah thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou abhorrest shall be forsaken. 17 Jehovah will bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—even the king of Assyria.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the clefts of the rocks, and upon all thorn-hedges, and upon all pastures.

20 In that day will the Lord shave with a razor that is hired in the parts beyond the River, even with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet; and it shall also consume the beard.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall keep alive a young cow, and two sheep; 22 and it shall come to pass, that because of the abundance of milk which they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the midst of the land.



To see the Beauty of the life with it's struggles, is to appreciated Jesus enjoying life. A reason to rejoice in God's Plan for the Joy of His Son walking with us as Grace and Truth. Knowing Jesus enjoyed life and our lives today. Jesus was given a party by Matthew and Lazarus. Jesus loved to speak of vineyards and was known to enjoy eating. Jesus is our Lovable Manifestation of God Himself. Our Father tells us of feasts in Heaven. Rejoice in the city of Jesus' childhood.



John 1

12 To them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.

16 For of his fullness we all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Nazareth

Comforted and sustained, by Words of God - life and in Him Light, way, truth, Life was established.


Abba, Our Father,

We thank You for the Blessings in Life You have given Today. Being Grateful. Seeking Your Goodness and finding this.

We welcome Your Blessings. Your Willing Blessings.

And ask more Heaven on earth for ourselves, the ones we Love. This Nation. And all the world comforted by the prayers of God's creation in communion with His Beloved all over this earth.

In Jesus we Rejoice,

Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 12:35-48 ~ Blessed

 

Luke 12:35-48

35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 

37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 

43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 

47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. 

Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

The miracles we have forgotten: Moses wrote Psalm 90 and lived to be 120 years old. Joshua 110 years old. Psalm 90 tells us Before Christ's Ministry, the life span could hardly hope for 70 years of age, verse 10.  Even Moses tells us in these last Psalm 90 verses, all people hope for the sheer joy of happiness.

Psalm 90

Lord, you have been our dwelling place

in all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth,

or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You return man to dust

and say, “Return, O children of man!”

4 For a thousand years in your sight

are but as yesterday when it is past,

or as a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,

like grass that is renewed in the morning:

6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;

in the evening it fades and withers.

7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;

by your wrath we are dismayed.

8 You have set our iniquities before you,

our secret sins in the light of your presence.

9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;

we bring our years to an end like a sigh.

10 The years of our life are seventy,

or even by reason of strength eighty;

yet their span is but toil and trouble;

they are soon gone, and we fly away.

11 Who considers the power of your anger,

and your wrath according to the fear of you?

12 So teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom.

13 Return, O Lord! How long?

Have pity on your servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

and for as many years as we have seen evil.

16 Let your work be shown to your servants,

and your glorious power to their children.

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,

and establish the work of our hands upon us;

yes, 

establish the work of our hands!

John 11
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 

44 The man who had died came out, 

his hands 

and feet bound with linen strips, 

and his face wrapped with a cloth. 

Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

It's hard to find the balance.

We say too much.

We are pushed aside.

We are thrust out of the inner group.

We are suckered in.

We are used.

We ask respect.

Why not stay home.

We are in circumstance wildly beyond expectation.

We are in endurance.

Told to be bold. Told to hush.



Why not quit when no one is pleased?
Because. 

Usually Someone is pleased. When you want to please God.
The goal is not applause. God is pleased more completely. 

Pleasing God is putting the steam in your soul to go forth.

Usually when someone will speak up to put you down - you did something.
Something worthwhile. Even Winston Churchill said so.

Scripture can be difficult. Life can be difficult.

Narrow path. When you please the ones who love you. God and then the people who invest time in you. It's the wide highway that applauds.

Who would tell you when they got cussed out twice today? Who would you tell that you cussed pretty badly later in the day. Who do you tell when your chair was almost kicked out from underneath you. Who would say something when you are called fat and slapped on the rear in public.

People leave when someone is asked an imbalanced question. Because of illness. Or they pretend not to know. I know someone who avoided a leukemia patient for a year. And when confronted said they didn't know. Why. She would probably die and the explanation wasn't needed.

Some people will take the sunglasses your son gave you because they wanted a piece of something special.

There really are people like -  that - even when there is mortal illness in your family. We know what competing in adult sports and games is really like to a young adult. Few people comment on the outrageous aspects of their lives. And they don't know that you know. Or that you cared. And when they do find out you cared, sometimes they cry.

Some days are difficult. Really difficult.

When your word is doubted and really basically - you speak the truth at all times.

BLESSED

Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home.

We are Loved

Cherished 

Believed 

Strong

Children of God. 

That is what is important. 

Each of us is unique, important and special to God. 

And in life, the just and the unjust get rained on and sunny days. We get to decide we are living a life worthwhile.  We can focus on the stain on our shirt or on the immeasurable grace Jesus gives us daily. God will listen. Love. And Care. Always.

Pray for my family, please. Newly apart. Yet Hopeful.

And want more of Jesus

and His Love

and our new understanding of His Holiness.

God of Love.

God of Encouragement.

Jesus Christ.

Psalm 139

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

    How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

    I awake, and I am still with you.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!

    Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting!

Abba, Father

 

Your wrath is covered when we believe in Jesus.

Psalm 139 is the perfect reminder in all of Psalm 139.

Jesus helps us daily to find the path of Love and Encouragement.

Abba,

You have Blessed this Nation and believing Nations

with an Open Always Prayer Life

being who we are and believing You make us better and more loving.

We can look at Psalm 139

and remember the generations of people and families

doing all they can for their children in complex life

needing Jesus as Savior.

Your Word 

gives us Hope

Love

Faith

Encouragement

We can ask for Your Holy Spirit to know

all of us

every cell

every molecule

Just as water is a wonder

You have created us as Wonders of Your Creation

and as Your Holy Spirit

knows every thought, every molecule

every cell

the hairs on our head

we have been filled with the 

Light of Jesus Christ

and only the better

for Jesus to be the Light within us.

Our Prayer this year,

The Light of Heaven,

The Light of the world, God's Good Creation

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

The Light of Nations

The Light of Mankind

will be

the Light filling this complex time

with more

of Your Love, Encouragement

Guidance, Mercy

Grace upon Grace.

We ask simply God

for Your Love

and Your Mercy

Your forbearance with this time.

Knowing Spring follows Christmas

Summer brings warmth

Autumn tells the Glory of God

and Christmas renews us in Hope

New Years is Jesus giving us pause to 

remember

Jesus Christ makes ALL things New.

As we are asked to remind God

to bless us with more Heaven on earth,

His Good Will be done.

Dwell in me,

Dwell in those I love,

Help us to Seek You first,

and we will finish well in Jesus Christ!

To You, our Father, be the Glory

Our God is an Awesome God! Amen

and Alleluia

in Jesus Christ and His Glory!

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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