Luke 11:1-10 ~ Now Jesus was praying in a certain place

Luke 11:1-10

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

“Father, hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come.
Give us each day!
our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.
[Deliver us from evil. Matt 6:13]

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

[For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.]
Amen.

In the Name of Jesus Christ the LORD. Amen

I'm not sure why we don't usually ask in the Name of Jesus Christ the LORD.

John 14:13-14
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Two things happened today. We've been praying for a blessing for my brother John since June. And I'd have to say - John got an answer today!!

With the second being - you bring up prayer with Christians and you will get dialog. And a really good example of prayer. Angie Key was telling a friend about a situation in their children's school. Her friend said, let's pray. Angie and her friend then held hands and prayed on the sidewalk. This turned into seven or eight ladies beginning to pray in the locker room each morning. This bloomed into the Principal seeing the effects of answered prayer and attending conferences on prayer rooms. Soon a prayer room was made and then prayer cards. A place for prayer requests.

Jesus is telling us - today. NOW He is engaged with prayer. And in a certain place. The Bible is rather mysterious about that place. With so many conversations about prayer, perhaps there is a mystery to prayer.

However, I'd say Jesus is saying HE understands that prayer is sensitive.

Our conversation today asked:

Is God Sovereign?
Do we change His Plans?
Is He still Sovereign?
Are His Plans written in stone?

How would we ever know the answers to these questions? This is overwhelming. And today we know where David's Palace is located because.... exactly, because someone took the time to see what God said. The instructions were in His Word.

We can trust His Word because Jesus is the Word of God spoken in Genesis Chapter One.

God told us immediately about how HE sees prayer... Prayer is something He looks forward to and is a cool walk in the Garden from a day of work. Revelations says our prayers are fragrance to Him. The New Testament says pray constantly and with thanks. This would make our souls, our lives a wonderful place for Him to move, dwell and have our being. A Place the Holy Spirit longs to reside.

Enter in the temptation. Eve did not tempt Adam, rather Eve longed to be a Judge. To Judge Good and Evil. To be like God. We live this life making choices and judgements. We need judgment to have Wisdom. Jesus knew what was in the heart of mankind, no one needed to tell Him. And knowing all this God Chose to Save HIS World. The Fullness of the World is His. Creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the Sons of Men.

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Even the hairs of our head have been numbered. This is how deeply our Father longs for us.

Is God Sovereign? This is the work God assigned to mankind, that we believe in Him.

Do we change His Plans? A friend who has impudence, He will rise and give him whatever he needs. Key word - needs. Gosh, was Jesus just whistling Dixie? We change God's plans. And we call that wonder a Miracle.

Jesus told us to pray and not give up hope. And then HE told the story of an evil judge pestered and pestered. And we know the story of Israel. Jacob wrestled for Blessings.

Would you prefer God saw you as His friend or an evil Judge? Expectation is important. Do we truly believe our prayers could change the plans of the Almighty? He says something about that. All things are possible to him who believes. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. Confess with your mouth, believe with your heart. 

And even more incredulous than I have plans to give you a hope and future declares the Lord, all things work together for good, for those who love the Lord.

How wide, how high, how deep is His love for us ... today?

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place.... Jesus does not say where. And He doesn't say how He positioned Himself. He does not even tell us what HE was praying for.

He tells us this ~

Matthew 6:6
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Is He still Sovereign? Matthew says He is. The Father rewards.

Are His Plans written in stone? That's the 10 Commandments. However...

Psalm 139:13-17
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!


So perhaps, just maybe, what we are really asking is if God uses white-out on His Book. Referred to as the Book of Life.

No, sadly, God does not often use white-out.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Now don't do this....

Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

Because God IS the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

It is that Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, we see the Book of Life is created...

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness

We should seek to be the one God looks forward to speaking with. In prayer, a conversation with God who would walk with us.

2 Corinthians 5:5
He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

John 14:13-14
Whatever
 you ask in my name,
 this I will do, 
that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 

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Psalm 28 ~ Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.

Psalm 28

To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

 Sanctuary

The Lord IS the strength of HIS People.

Today we have social media to content with. Go Ask Abby actually gets a lot of FB questions. Amazing. Old hurts find a new outlet.

The Bible is clear on the release of thought, especially before the release of public consumption.

Matthew 18:15
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

What I have learned this year, is that people are open, when they Love in Jesus, to be more forgiving. People recover and bounce.

And Abby answers a lot of questions about learning of major news, with major hurt, on Facebook.

Matthew 18:1-35
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me


A lot of times when people have issues of notification first please, that is actually about the tumble of events rather than deliberate attempt to disassociate.


The Lord told us to forgive others, because we are not even always aware of the hurt we involuntarily give.


David knew well about the trampling of toes, actually the trampling of feelings.


Psalm 19:11-14
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.


Be gracious, O Lord Father God, to the sinners. Because I know I'm one of the number. And help those saints go marching in. In You Always. In the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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Psalm 57 ~ Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge

Psalm 57

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

We don't hear a lot about Haiti these days. What happened, what about the jobs. The able-bodied, work oriented people of Haiti escape illegally into the Dominican Republic (Cotui, DR photoed above) and sent most of the money they make back to Haiti.

So, we would assume the Dominican Republic has wealth,jobs and hospitality to give the immigrants of Haiti. That would depend upon if we view $300 a month as abundance, a typical income. Cotuí,a city in the Dominican Republic, is one of the oldest cities of the New World.

 And when a woman, Milagro, looked at her adopted city of Cotui, she saw nothing but a bar where people stood around - and we are saying they stood outside of small place - all day waiting for a crop to come in every three of four months to add money to their family necessities.

Milagro wanted her city of a thousand to have "something." Religion is seen as being in touch with God and God forbid we should have to be 'perfect' to be Religious. The Community rode bikes and stood outside a bar all day. It's difficult to be 'perfect' in a community where they truly know one another very well.

CHANGE. Change is an interesting subject. One of the first missionaries we know is St. Patrick. He had no blueprints to follow when he finally returned to England from slavery in Ireland;  St. Patrick wanted to take the people away from hostage to evil god worship and hatred. And War. He had no blueprints, just the desire to make effective God relationships to change hearts.

Milagro wanted change. 19% of the Dominican Republic graduates from High School. Most people have children following along in a cycle of poverty. Sometimes moving to the larger cities where slums are swept, kept clean, and nothing changes. She started having conversations with missionary organizations like Vision Trust and was denied. Turned down. She isn't a pastor, minister, and she was a flight risk.

Milagro wanted change. She kept asking. Soon there was a Learning Center that Vision Trust now fosters in that community. A school. Still there is the drop out rate due to many troubles in harsh life. She tried for ten years to have a school house. And it grows each year. Surprising them all, she'd been turned down a lot. And there is no manual in front of her, just a desire to bring Hope, Faith and Love to a community without very much.

Vision Trust invested in Milagro and her dream. Each year the school is a little bigger. Children without enough to eat - eat twice a day. 

But the men of the community were standing around the yard of a bar. And Milagro wanted more for them.  So for two years she asked Vision Trust to pour concrete with a roof - a pavilion where they play Volleyball and other sports, until they cannot see the ball and the day is done. No more bar.

And what about the Holy Spirit - there is some head way. People are little by little believing the Faith, Hope and Love of being giving the care they needed. 10 years ago, men huddled in a bar area with just talk. Today their children are educated. They know how to share. Lollipops were given 10 years ago and the giver would be bombarded with grabbing and taking. Today, a circle forms, gifts are given and thank you's are given. People share what they receive. Confident the Lord will provide more. 




However, that seems a little backward. 

When you think about that.  


David Livingstone (1813-1873) brought the Light of Jesus Christ to Africa. He was very famous and very much a man who told the natives a good thundering Sinner. And he certainly did NOT provide them with Volleyball. He instead gave healthy doses of measles and cholera and as they lay dying he made sure they swallowed salvation. Nasty, horrible, Marching Saint of God. Horrid. Repugnant.

Now. that is effective Missionary work.

**** Except that's totally untrue. Instead David Livingstone did this -

Livingstone on the other hand, traveled lightly. Livingstone was a proponent of trade and Christian missions to be established in central Africa. His motto was "Christianity, Commerce and Civilization."

Most of his journeys were with a few people, bartering for supplies along the way, with a couple of guns for protection. He preached a Christian message but did not force it on unwilling ears; he understood the ways of local chiefs and successfully negotiated passage through their territory, and was often hospitably received and aided, even by Mwata Kazembe.

Philippians 2:4
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Effective change - Milagro -.... her name is 'miracle'. This just wasn't going to work out. For ten years or five she was denied.

Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

And a Volleyball Court - that is hardly "The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand"

Paul wrote to His Churches for Decades - hoping the Light would still shine in the Darkness.

Where is the fruit?
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

More people are going to school than ever before. The volunteers used to meet under the trees, now they have a shelter. The people who help the Haitians on a daily basis have more food on their own tables. Gifts given are shared. The joy on the faces is unmistakable. More people have a High School Degree and go out to bring back more to their community.

Nelson Paulino is the Director of Vision Trust, out of Colorado. He is a High School graduate of the Dominican Republic. He is seeing the difference they make in the lives of nineteen hundred students a year. He is one of them. Hiring Mark Cornelison, from The Woodlands, who is leaving a Youth Ministry Job because he is in love with the changes the Holy Spirit is bringing to this area. The men willing to say to their communities "I love the Lord Jesus Christ. I am not perfect. But I follow a Risen Lord."

Change is an amazing thing to watch. When we follow Jesus Christ, there really are not written guidelines beyond what Jesus said.

Luke 10:27
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

Change comes from Loving HIM, before you love others as yourself. And love yourself as well.

Thank You Father God for... Milagro.  Vision Trust.Org is always grateful for the ways people of God help them, help others.

Matthew 18 ~ If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble

Matthew 18 ~ (Today's New International Version)

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

2 He called a little child, whom he placed among them. 3 And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes a humble place—becoming like this child—is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

6 "If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

10-11 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

12 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

15 "If a brother or sister sins, go and point out the fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18 "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive someone who sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

29 "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

30 "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive a brother or sister from your heart."

Legalization was the topic of conversation recently. Government looking for ways to support the good things government does with a shrinking economy; the suggestion was ending the war on drugs by having more California type Marijuana Permitted Coffee Type Places to have more taxable dollars, less crime, more money and fund something already going around. After all, reasoning went, marijuana is just Hemp and grows naturally. So does Hemlock. If you have a glass of hard liquor, you are going to have it out of your system in a matter of hours, Marijuana lasts 28 days.

"A 1988 University of Alaska survey showed that the state's teenagers used marijuana at more than twice the national average for their age group.

Alaska's Failed Legalization Experiment
In 1975, Alaskans could legally possess marijuana...until they opted to re-criminalize the drug. Alaska's Supreme Court held that under their State Constitution an adult could possess marijuana for personal consumption in the home.

The court's ruling became a green light for marijuana use. A 1988 University of Alaska survey showed that the state's teenagers used marijuana at more than twice the national average for their age group. The report also showed a frequency of marijuana use that suggested it wasn't experimental, but a well incorporated practice for teens.

Fed up with this dangerous experiment, Alaska's residents voted in 1990 to re-criminalize possession of marijuana. But 15 years of legalization left its mark-increased drug use by a generation of our youth."

If you look at Amsterdam and the effects around Needle Park, in 2010, you would find yourself followed down the streets by the black market drug pushers. These characters don't take 'no' for an answer, they will follow people for city blocks. Legalization has led to an increase in drug consumption. This has led to an increase in drug seekers and a continuing problem for the countries surrounding Holland when the tourist are leaving. And curbing the AIDs epidemic? It has resulted in a 2% decline. Cannabis consumption among Dutch teenagers has increased.

Legalization for prostitution has the same result. It is a gift to the pimps, traffickers and the sex industry. Legalization/decriminalization of prostitution does not control the sex industry. It expands it. Legalization increases propensity, more illegal activities, street prostitution and increases child prostitution. It provides fewer choices open to women.

People tend to make up their minds more emotionally than logically on issues, it is important to see what facts are available from real life situations. Do not cause your brother to stumble.

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Psalm 27 ~ I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire ^[meditate] in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
9 Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!

The Christian aspiration is not veiled future events! Not pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Is the joy of realizing God really does run to meet us in our needs. When we earnestly call to HIM, He is right there, beside us!  The God of Angel Armies. Jesus the Son of God, Almighty, the Lord.

Psalm 11 opens and closes on this very idea ~
In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird ...
For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face."


Psalm 18
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 91, we all know is the security of calling upon the Lord.


John 14:13-14
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Believing in Jesus Christ the Lord takes us beyond our limits. Jesus telling us be in the world, just not of the world ~

John 17:15-18
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

The John's Gospel, the 17th Chapter, is Jesus praying for us. Jesus is still working! Looking at us transparently, guiding us, leading us. Jesus has real joy in loving His People. He comes to Save us!!!

Jesus told us - when you look at HIM - we see the Father.

Here are some of the actions of Jesus we see in His Word:

Jesus answered

Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”J (When and where - now and here Now!)

Jesus proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.”

Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith." (God looks at us with JOY when we have Faith!)

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus turned (as in the Heart of God melted and acted), and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.



Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders (Jesus in Authority)



Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Jesus has such personality when you take the time to look - he is commenting on injustice with irony!)

Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” (Jesus speaks tartly sometimes, as in ~ Wake Up.)



Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. (Jesus ultimately Trusts. This is His nature. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.)



What about when we want our own way and ask Jesus to leave? Matthew Chapter 8 to 9.

And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.

Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all


Jesus knows hearts. Well.
3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?



And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.”
Jesus is for discretion and privacy. Truth has mercy.



As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?" People are concerned about the fate of another, Jesus tells us we have hard roads sometimes. He didn't sugar coat life.

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus answering said to them, Suppose you that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.

What would Jesus say to injustice? Let your own words and actions speak that Jesus overcomes the world.



At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children



Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

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