Luke 15:1-10 ~ Rejoice with me

Luke 15:1-10

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[ drachma was a Greek coin approximately equal in value to a Roman denarius, worth about a day's wage for a laborer] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’

10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”




So the time frame is that even the last Herod had the idea that something was going on with God. Luke's first and second chapters tell us that the activity level of God was huge and people saw this. Luke 3 tells us the government and power to control the Temple were scrambling like we all do when there is a threat.

If we look at Jesus, He is not abandoning the Temple and He is there for the people who want to come see Him. The fruit around Jesus is so majestic and abundant, the Nation clamors to surround Jesus.


Jesus tells the Samaritan woman right away He is God. And then he goes to the people low in the ranks of doing the Roman Empire's dirty work. The tax collectors are not getting much approval from anyone but each other.

Jesus is being Living Water. Jesus is going where He is asked and unasked. And He says He is so eager to save the World, He is not going to let one Sheep of His escape.

Jesus says that He is alive today and working. We can expect Life to show us signs Jesus is eager for us. The Bible says we can be joyous to God and His Plans or we can be led like an old vehicle of travel with a rope. A Bit and a bridle.



David teaches us this.

Psalm 32

7 You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.

10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

God surely calls us to be in the World to the extent we are. Some people are at home with children, some people are at home with the elderly, some are at home with the ill.

Jesus, is the man who receives sinners and eats with them. Which is great, because some people truly dislike their jobs and just haul themselves there. And some with children have no idea how to provide and are angry at what they wanted to be a good plan. And some at home with the elderly, would rejoice to be out of employment and helping a parent who helps them and wonders at their place in the world. And Florida reports being with the ill, is the most depressing thing when you love them.


It's all about being who we are really to God. God puts a plan in front of us. Like the Georges of England knew, like Absalom, the wealth was theirs eventually. And they plotted and planned and - this is exactly what it is to inherit money. Everyone says that's amazing. But it's difficult to plan for the some days.

The people who eventually get the plush job they worked their lives for - find out that the guppies behind them turn into sharks. And they are up to their own tails in alligators to drain the swamp.

Or the great life, the good job and last Tuesday - was just like this Tuesday.


 

So if life is Difficult - 
What the HECK is Jesus doing sitting with the people who can't keep Him Safe? And what are we going to do with THIS?






OH COME ON. Jesus is the SON OF GOD.
Look at the Bible.

Mary writes about in Luke 1, prophecy and reality. She tells how hard it is to be a Child of David and impoverished to middle class. David is honest - he writes about a horse or a mule. James, the child of Mary, the Brother of God, writes about horses. Isaiah 7 says Jesus is blessed with a few milking cows and goats, but he does not say that there are horses. He is saying they are blessed to sell milk and cheese, curds and buy and have honey. With land enough to support themselves. And prosperous enough, to live in Egypt and return home to see that the Roman/Assyrians have the wealth of nations and nations. David, really made do with donkeys.

What they learn through time, is not to be particular to any one class.

Jesus calls Matthew and Matthew calls together his friends and his neighbors. Jesus has chosen someone who is open hearted.

The woman, she calls together her friends and neighbors. She is open hearted.

Jesus was criticized for being with the wrong crowd because Proverbs tells us several times what Corinthians repeats......

1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Jesus reaches out to sinners. We have our hearts warmed by the thought of Jesus finding a lamb. What do the Scriptures tell us of our lives, how does God search for us in our stage from childhood, adulthood and all stages. He does tell us.

 
Luke 1:13
your prayer has been heard


Luke 5:13
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”

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

Luke 5:31-32
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 5:37-38
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Jesus is part of our lives

Luke 7:6-10
So Jesus went with them.

Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

Luke 8:50
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

Luke 15:20
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

When you look at the hard work of the Bible. People expect God to step in and part the Red Sea.
Mr God Fix Us.

And Really God, being Creator of the Universe could have flown the People to Israel. He sent horses for Elijah. 500 years of slavery and God provided sustenance miracles to let them know God had not forgotten. Like the midwives incredibly risking their lives for slaves. John tells us God's miracles would fill the world, we don't know all of them.

God sent rules for Kosher to keep the People of Israel alive to give guidance and wisdom to the generations. God did not eliminate germs, He gave work to improve. And then He gave the miracle to make the nations more equal.

Joshua, we know he lived 40 years in the desert, waiting upon the Lord. And when he finally was put in charge of the many, many Children of Israel - A Realistic God said: "Don't be afraid. Don't go too far to the right, nor to the left." That same Realistic God said expect God to Be There.


Jesus is inviting. He is healing, He is loving.

But the story is correct that Jesus came back, He lived. 500 people saw Him. He spent time with the people who would have a meaningful joy and reaction to Jesus.

 

His Disciples wrote more of God's Word, their Books of the Bible said this about Not being the Son of God and Still seeking to do His Will.

What to do when you are Not God :

1 Timothy 4
7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths.
 Rather train yourself for godliness; 
8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 
9The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 
10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.



This is when God says to flee being open hearted and kind:

18 Flee from sexual immorality. 
Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple 
of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? 
You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body
1 Corinthians 6


This sounds like tripe. And tripe is fish. We live in an era of try this one. And I have sat with so many grieving people who left relationships, spouses and were used like roller coasters. This changes people from being "Yes" people, to broken people. It's important not to be broken, when Jesus loves us this much and wants us to be "Yes" people. It's important to have self-restraint and not hurt others.

Not to be a Joy taker. Not to be a soul crusher.


Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident:
sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
idolatry, sorcery, enmity,
strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries,
dissensions, divisions, envy,
drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.
I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Now in this Post, this is an indication of Spiritual Hunger. Time to get to Church - The Soul aches to be fed nourishment from the Words of Life from God.

Leviticus 20:27
“A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.”

Why? The people who practice magic - harm people, practice flattery. Practice control over people. And sincerely will look and pray and hope for bad things to happen to others. Their concern is self gain. The Bible says there are powers and principalities. We are able to go straight to Abba in the Name of Jesus. We do not want evil to lurk near us. We want God's Goodness and Love. A place of framework where love, peace, joy will give Longevity. A place for God to dwell to be our Hope and Future.


Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

Our God speaking from Heaven, says more than eight times, actually 9 times, to avoid sexual immorality. Balaam, is known throughout the Middle Ages from his time in 1200 B.C. for being able to be near God. And he used this knowledge of God to try to prosper. We are told he used his knowledge to try to trip people up and have success. This is when life becomes unpredictable, unsustainable, and still the Children of God continue on God's good path. With His Blessing.




God wants us all to have our best lives. And realistically, that is a life with adversity, joy, difficulty, and hope. The Bible tells us to expect adversity. Taking what He provides and having gratitude, joy and a desire to keep going down the Path HE has given us.


Let's not get the saints live behind the wall.
We have heard for so long to say yes, we need to look at the whole message of balance. The Roman Empire changed over time. And this was because some people said no to suffering and ran for their lives, taking with them the Gospel of Goodness, Love and Peace. These people, who love God, had different parts of the Body and usefulness to God. 

But... the important caveat here ... is important. They confessed faith with their mouths and added Light and Salt to the people around them. Being the Preachers God has called us to be.





Finding the balance of being open hearted,
and not being pushed down and over.

Having Wisdom and Strength to be able to have the joy of each day and the hope, faith and love to pray with expectation.

Being able to take chances and see good outcomes. Jesus said Yes a lot in life. We want to say Yes into our lives and the lives of others, pleasing Jesus.





Father God,

In all days, of cold, cloud, overwhelming summer warmth, the week of rain, the glory of fair weather and surprising fall days - the days that are full of joy, of dullness, of brightness and favor, of love and of battling on alone, in health and illness.

We will find Joy in Pleasing You. You make us complete in every good work to do Your plan, Your Path, Your Hope for us Your Children. We are pleased to have You working in us what is well pleasing in Your sight, through Jesus Christ.

Enable us to be in Your Wisdom, to know Your Spiritual Fruit and Harvest. That we may so abide in You and Your Words, we do not need bit and bridal. Seeing difficulty in expectation of Your teaching us another aspect of Life to hold up to Jesus in ourselves and to Others.

Please give us the ability to tell with grace, graciousness, joy the Love You bring in our heart, mind and soul. Bless those we love. Help our communities and Churches to be a Light to our Nation and to all those around the World praying in belief, love and expectation of Jesus. Abba to whom be glory forever and ever. Jesus our Joy and Hope. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 147 ~ The Lord builds up, gathers, heals, names. He lifts, takes pleasure, loves and strengthens

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord!

For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.


2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.


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

7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre!

8 He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.

9 He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

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

13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
14 He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.

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

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

19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and rules to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.

Praise the Lord!



Mary would recognize Psalm 147 for coming through the very difficult time of almost being stoned. With the help of Jesus, Mary did all of this in her recovery. Mary was very interesting to the Sadducean Council, and because the history of their interest in Mary, we know Luke 3 is the family tree of Mary, whose father's only remembrance in the Bible is being Heli, the descendant of David's non-king sons.

Mary rose in fame and Biblical proportion just as she prophetically said in Luke 1. So Mary was a Prophet of God, with some amazingly more accurate help. More than Joseph's forefather Hezekiah in Isaiah. Mary's help was Jesus, the Son of God.


Ok, what does that have to do with us today? Mary said something interesting about health. We are all concerned about Alzheimer, Dementia and the branches of brain health.

Mary comments on this, Luke 1. Remember God said we shall live on 'Every Word of God'.

51b he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

And John the Baptist had something to say about clarity also.

Make Straight Paths to the Lord.

Mary says pride makes plans and the confusion of those plans causes scattered thinking.

John the Baptist says surround ourselves with honesty, godly people, do good, stay on His Path, be honest about troubles and prayers, be Light bearers who believe God's Plan is a Hope and a Future. Joy of the Lord.




One of the reasons history is interesting is we look to those in history, see their difficulties and have hope. Jesus and Abba decided a Royal story of kings would cause us to have interest. Combined with the Anarchy of the time and Book of Judges - where all do what feels right to them - makes the nation of Israel beset by the tyranny of evil men. God causes the kings to be shepherds, but because they are not Jesus, problems ensue. God hopes the problems are interesting.

So, let's go with Seed Parables. I can't tell you the stories of your grandparents and what you learned about them or your great grandparents, so let's go with some life stories we can see.








James Brown. b. 1933 That man was worn down. He was constantly trying to be a leader. Hiding his insecurities, performing boldly. He started out with singing the Gospel. Calming the civil rights outbreaks, called a hero and asked to meet with President Nixon. Brown felt life was rolling all over him. Like Mary said, scattered all over like David being King. Had to keep up appearances. 

In the beginning of his fame, he fired many band members for drugs. More time, more pain, a loss of a child. And Brown began outdoing women with his drug use. Fame wore him down and out. His Will is still in contest because all of the women, marriages and children wanted a chunk out of him. As he passed on, he said, "I'm going away tonight", and then took three long, quiet breaths and fell asleep before dying. Died in his early seventies.







The fact of the matter is, you don't give up what's natural. Anything I've fantasized about, I've done. Ray Charles

Ray Charles, b 1930  felt, like Johnny Cash, he was responsible for the drowning death of his sibling. Ray coped with the hallucinations of the death with heroin. Many children were also born to him. His success was in reinventing himself, but this was clouded by drugs. He re surged with "America The Beautiful". Which actually was Gospel music.


Ray grew up. Ray also died in his early seventies and left a wonderful philanthropy to the deaf for all hearing and music had brought him. I don't know what would have happened to me if I hadn't been able to hear. Ray Charles

Affluence separates people. Ray Charles and he didn't tell people that he had hallucinations of his younger brother he medicated with Heroin.

I did it to myself. It wasn't society... it wasn't a pusher, it wasn't being blind or being black or being poor. It was all my doing. Ray Charles
Eventually, Ray was worn down by liver disease.

I'm a firm believer in God himself, but that's as far as I can go. I'm not any denomination. I'm not Catholic or Presbyterian or Baptist or Methodist or Jewish or Muslim. I'm none of those things. And I'm sure that's just fine with God. Ray Charles






Elvis Presley, b 1935,  started in Gospel Music and was pushed like a money machine. He was attacked on stage and wondered if the Beatles had anything to do with it. Learned Karate to be safe. The Karate Instructor had an affair with his wife (Elvis was constantly raving and screaming) and in the resulting down turn was used in all aspects of the gravy train hangers-on to stay stoned. He had two or three overdoses before he died. A singer, an entertainer, and unheard.




Mary would say they were scattered. All lives end. But these men were trying so hard to be all that, that the "all that" ate them.


"I'm a Christian. Don't put me in another box."
Johnny,  b. 1932, and June Cash were married for 35 years, died within months of each other. Johnny overcame his guilt over his brother's drowning. Did a long time with drugs, repented loudly and went to rehab. The children, the drugs - he regretted the way he kind of let his career slip away and he thought he lost his legacy until this final round of recordings.

Those final recordings included "Hurt" from a hit by Nine Inch Nails. It was one of many late-in-life collaborations with producer Rick Rubin. Their last album released in 2003, the year Cash died, sold more than 2 million copies, renewing his legacy as an artist and a star.

Cash is credited with converting actor and singer John Schneider to Christianity.

People say about Johnny Cash, "In the end it all came back. The children, he had their love. June and Johnny could not have been better off. The fans came back. So on his deathbed, Johnny Cash who always said, 'you can be redeemed,' Johnny Cash was redeemed. he fought long and hard to overcome."  He fell. He rose.





If you roll all these life stories together, what you have is a few stories we are privileged to know about. People with struggles. And the one with hope - inspires others to hope - God will hear them and give them encouragement every day to bring more Heaven to earth.

Jesus breaks the Chains. The name of Jesus breaks the chains.

Father God,

Life pushes and pulls us. Just when we have hold of the good times, the old wine, suddenly the new wine of new situations and troubles arrive. Mortality and life crisis pull and push.

There is great peace in being a Child of the King and waiting upon Him. Remember to smile at the end of the day as you pray. If you really tried to please Father God - He is pleased. On His Great Love ~ we can rely, rejoice, depend, unfurl, and rest here.

For this we pray, for His blessing of health and peace upon us.

We will wait upon the Lord, Wait upon the Lord. He will raise our horn. Like the Festival Call. We will let His fresh oil renew us.

You tell us, Father God, the righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
We, in Jesus Christ, are planted in the house of our God, our God.

We will flourish in the courts of our God.

We will still bear fruit in old age; we are ever full of sap and green, declaring the Lord is upright!
Father Abba, is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him!

We lift up to You, our concerns for health and family. The ones we love, our people, our Nation, the concerns of people of Jesus Christ. Giving thanks to get a phone call from my mom. Off of oxygen. Talked to her twice, the first time she got to the point she could hear me. We will hope and pray for restoration of her ears. And my ear infections are lessening.

From birth day to long life,  that we are passing easily to His Kingdom without suffering - to end well in Jesus, we pray. And give thanks smart Catholics pray this in Church, every Sunday. Father God sends out his command to the earth, and we live by His Word!

Our Amens are always in Jesus. Alleluia.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 4:16-29 ~ He arose

Jesus the Lord had bad days. If we can't look to HIM and recover, who you gonna call?

Luke 4:16-29

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,


18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,


19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.

And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” 2

3 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.

25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”


28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.

Jesus wanted to walk on water after his cousin John the Baptist died. Why wouldn't He want to run to the house of Peter when the times were so troubled for being the Son of God who made the lame walk and the deaf hear and the blind see.



38 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house.

Simon Peter's house and Synagogue before the current buildings in 1968

Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.


42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place.

And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.









Yesterday I got a phone call from someone I value. A minister. And he wanted to know a few of the details of my mom's 16 day hospital trip and our reactions to her being in Physical Rehabilitation. And we discussed the way hospitals operate today. And advocacy of care.

At the end of the phone call, which was joyous, he said you and Edward are going to be worn out.
And make sure you understand that. I said , oh we had about 3 days of just sitting.

However, this is true. We are facing my mom (who is really quite happy to have lived and likes being in rehabilitation in another city) being elderly now. I had hoped this was going to be something easy.

Edward has a terminal diagnosis of FLTD a frontal and temporal lobe disorder of the brain and this was hard on him. He cried when Hospice came to talk to us about my mom. (She Lived!) And so yesterday, Edward was yelling at me at Starbucks over lunch with a friend and then yelling at me and throwing a Tomatillo at the Grocery Store over a Recipe. I think I am tired.

One day life is great and the next day, same life, you wonder about keeping the family home, health care, future lives and relationships.

If you are offended I pictured Jesus running from being thrown from the cliff - please do not be. I love Jesus had emotions. Like Peter, life could be very hard. It's just that Jesus sometimes spoke tartly and walked on water to think about the death of John the Baptist and what Jesus could do. Why shouldn't Jesus run rejoicing in living another day?

The part about Jesus that I find So Appealing is, Jesus calling the Paralytic "My son". The Loving and Wise All Knowing GOD. The Christmas story is so much more than a frightened teenager and a baby. This is GOD picking a very romantic story of loyalty for His Son.

 Jesus is ... Having s BAD DAY. And in spite of all the difficulties, all the trauma - JESUS WOULD PICK TO LIVE LIFE.



Now, recently, I have not experienced people in my town wanting to throw me off the cliffs. Capernaum -  they Really Do Have Cliffs. And Jesus decides, that HE is going to continue on with - not a nap, not a glass of wine, not a good cry - Jesus is going to continue on to see to the needs of those around Him.

I like that about Jesus. JESUS IS NOT GOING TO QUIT DOING GOOD THINGS. JESUS PICKS TO KEEP BEING GODLY.

And Jesus is not going to waste time whining about how mean Capernaum is. So what is Capernaum known for? For the many good works that Jesus did here.

And I like something else about Jesus. He didn't sit in dried up Nazareth saying, "Well this is where I was put." Jesus looks all over and HE chose to see the Beauty of God. Capernaum is amazing. Jesus never said Capernaum was going to disappear like the two towns that actually did. Jesus said Capernaum was going to be treasured. Jesus being God, Was Right. Capernaum survived three devastations of Judea and went on for 1300 years leaving us the ability to see the town that Jesus lived and loved and forgave and healed.


Jesus gives us the idea - some days are rougher than others. And we can do like Jesus did. Keep going knowing Life and Love and JOY are bigger than we are. So get in there.

Jesus is my hero. I want to be like Jesus.

Now on a Living Parable note, I am going to include a family story about my Grandmother Anita. I am seeing this continue in my mother in her joy in being alive. I joked wryly with an long time friend that mother was happy because she finally had her mansion (Physical Rehab) and her servants, but really my mother is thrilled to be Alive and getting stronger. 

My brother jokingly told her for her 83rd Birthday that she might be a pain of the nether region, but she had a spine that has overcome all kinds of adversity and he was mighty proud of her. She was not so pleased to be called that kind of pain, but the sincerity of the truth of the compliment won over and she smiled very broadly. Mother is nicer. Living will do that to you, when dying is pushed back.

So, the original story was about Grandmother Anita. She had a stroke at age 90 and was able to recite, mid stroke, her medications. She was sent to a nursing home afterwards because her strong spine got very, very bossy. I still feel badly about that today. But Grandmother's nursing home room could be heard down the hall. Any time you went in to the place she had 5 or 6 health care workers in there and they were frequently heard to say, "You got that right."

Well one day, my Mother and the nurses and I were hauled in there to see why Grandmother was refusing to take any medication. Other than Allergy meds. And this time she had 15 heath care workers and us. And Grandmother's 89 lb body sat up straighter and she said, "If you come to my room, who do you see here?" I answered and said there are always 5 or 6 people here talking to you. Grandmother Anita pointed at me and reached over and got her cane and pointed that at me and said, "That's right. Do you agree? You all are always in here, talking to me." They didn't want to agree, supervisors were there. I said they agree. She said, "That's Right. You all give out all the medication and all those people can't say anything. I'm keeping my mind and that's that."

She was so determined all the people had to smile and a few giggled. The Supervisor started to say that all the meds were for her benefit. Grandmother Anita said, "Let the meds benefit others. I find my Strength in the Lord."

The result was, the nursing home decided to put the meds on the food tray as usual, but Mother said Anita got to decide and she seemed fine to them both. Grandmother was born in 1898 and lived to 1992. Four more years. She went out still going to the outside porch to see her Lord change the sky from day to evening. Grandmother loved her front porch at home and spent a lot of her days looking to see what God was growing.

She shared that trait with Jesus. God Bless her.



Father God,

Good Christian Men Rejoice. With Heart and Soul and Voice. Jesus Christ was Born Today. Jesus Christ was Born Today.

We thank You, God, that as Your Son left this life, He left a record in John 14, 15, 16 saying Jesus Loved Life. Jesus was Glad to be here.

You tell us Life is in Your Words. Let our lives be abiding in Your Words. With salt and light and Joy.

This Love for the ones we love. For our communities, Churches, Government and the People You see all over the world looking to Jesus the Savoir. Help us bring more Heaven to earth. In Jesus, we have our Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †