Ephesians 6:15 ~ having put on the readiness

Definitely Silver Ugg's Weather. No place like Home. No place like Home.

Today, at noon, I put on my Ugg Tennies and watched my sons. My son Cal gave a year old refrigerator, year old washer and dryer to the Hurricane Harvey relief fund. And my son Alexander took off from work and made sure his brother, in Michigan, got the goods out. Cal, in effect, gave a 5% tithe of last year's income. Will he kill me for this... he might. And then, I will never get to wear my tennie Uggs again.

It is my joy and pleasure to see my sons today. And because I write a blog... I get to tell you.

One is super cute in Michigan State Law School and is 28 years old. I still claim him.

The other is 26 and doing post=Harvey construction work after being hired from doing free Hurricane Harvey Relief. Yep. I claim them both. Both actually are super cute. He is getting a Master's in Construction from LSU.


And if they never read this blog... I might live to post tomorrow. I'm Brave. Triple Brave. And Stealth in my Ugg Tennies. Limber. Lithe.



And on to the Bible with Lightning Larrup on.



Ok, very seriously.

Man shall live by every Word of God.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Law. The Law is thought to be the 10 Commandments. And, then again, the Law is thought to be The Pentateuch - The Five Books of Moses. But really - God is Vast. If God wanted the Niagara River to join to the Mississippi River tonight - all God would have to do is - Say so.

The Law is far more wonderful than traffic or Estate.


The Law is Majestic, Magnificent.

The Law is Abiding Love 26 times in Psalm 136.

The Law tells us 11 times in Genesis 1 and 2 - God sees and tells us today, "Creation is Good."

The Word of God is the Law. Every Word God has spoken is Love. Truth. Goodness. And His Promises endure Perpetually.

Jesus Christ fulfills the Law because - we are not capable of doing 3,000 Pages of God's Eternal, Living Word. God and Jesus delight in mankind in Creation. The Good News is this - God looks into our thoughts, our ways, our deeds - individually - and as mankind - and decided to save us. No, not just a couple of us... The World.

We will have eternity with God, who adopts us in Jesus Christ - just because - He Loves me and He love you. And we believe in the One - God the Father has sent us. Jesus.

What does this mean?

Ephesians 6:15

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.







Romans 12 is an Astonishing Light of God. Every Portion of Romans 12 is - unforgettable.


Romans 12
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.


Ephesians 6
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Every Word of God could have us travel light speeds with Joy and Verve.

Shoes for your feet - Isaiah telling us of Jesus 700 years before Christ Jesus. "Send me!!!"


Isaiah 6:8
8 Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"


Making the Tortilla meet at two ends - Isaiah meets Zacchaeus, in the Tree, saying "Sent me!!!" The Tortilla is - today - for us.
,




{Now, if you did not readily equate Zacchaeus and Isaiah and The Armor of God. Well - sit down, go home and turn off the lights. NOOoooooo - not at all. Thank God, you didn't, because if you did - what would we write about today???

Instead - something much more important is here. Jesus.

The Word of God is Living. Active. If you read Ephesians 6:15 and you find something I did not cover here - MARVELOUS. You have heard God. The Point of Bible Study is Jesus and your soul. We open up all the windows and where the Light of Christ Jesus shines in your soul - there - that is the point. Where God and you connect.}

{Ok, back to the Bible Study.}







Ephesians 6
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

1. We have found  - we find our shoes in readiness to be sent by God.
2. We are going to take one verse and push it far - to the next galaxy.
3. We find our willingness to - GO - to do something with our faith.
4. Readily


Philippians 2:1-30
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you




Readily...

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise,

think about these things.

So many times in God ~
When we give to others - we are filled.
When we believe in God flowing into us ~ good self-esteem. Providing Joy and healthy, self nourishment.
When we care and pray with hope for another - we are lifted up.
When we have readiness - we nurture our soul.

Not the saccharin. Not the sweetness of eyes run of fake empathy - Instead in the Way, Truth and Live - when we are touched and transformed.  The Joy of the Lord where He is pleased to fill us with the Fullness of God. Where God is our Joy and Strength. Not wisdom and knowledge!!! Love. Not knowing all about the Scriptures. Even Jesus said, "It is written."  Not quotes of Latin, history, Greek verbs. Love. Healing. Hope. Joy.

Where we can take our challenges, our frustrations and see through the telescope - we have reasons to be grateful for the challenges. Where we can draw up the Lord's Prayer and fell His Strength renew us. Having the Joy of the eternal - in that very second. Redemption of the day moving us into Eternity.

Relationship - recently I read the prayers of the Church and was Filled to find how many are seeking Jesus to make others feel more Joy. To feel Loved. The prayers of the people - are for others to have the Comfort and Love Jesus gives.







5. Readiness. God touching again on having - our - Lamps filled with enough fuel to have the adventure of faith.

No WONDER God said it was Virgins with Lamps to Light. The Joy and Innocence and Expectation of - Readiness. Faith of a child.

6. Getting out of the habit of knocking things as bad.
Readiness to have the courage to find good news.
We all have to practice to give good news in small quantities - easily swallowed.
The habit of bringing good news.

We all know about the police and videos. We all do.
The bravery of the people, not abusing the police, to bring Justice.
The technology today to make improvements.
How wonderful is that. Completely.

Fake News.
That the world is all bad.
Providing us with the outrageous, real atrocities - opportunities - to pray when we hear them.
Bring more Heaven to earth.
No copy cats from vile news.
Readiness to do what is eternal over trauma - prayer.



7.   Seven Days a Week  - 365

The Readiness of the Gospel of Peace.


Genesis 1 - God puts the Holy Spirit over the prevailing waters of Creation.
Jesus delights in Creation - Proverbs 8 explains again.

The Plan is to bring the Holy Spirit into the Believers in - when - the Fullness of God's Timing.

Sing with me - "From the Beginning!"

We have an inner warmth. Our "knowers" are struck. God has planned your life. Your name. God longs to bring you - His Beloved - into His Kingdom. Forever.

Your Life. Your Hope and Future. Is planned, established, sure and beyond our doubts - resting in God's Heart and Will. The Readiness of the Gospel of Peace.

How far? Not just you. Not just me. God so loved "The World", He has given us Jesus. His Only Son.







This is indeed, indeed, indeed God of Love.

In a Grace this unfettered, unbound - speed of Light. We can put our Trust in Our Father God.




Father God, Abba,

With Jesus to pray with us increasing the Holy Spirit, we ask for Readiness.

Ready my loved ones.
Ready the loved ones in Corona Del Mar, California celebrating the Beloved Uncle who lives at home at age 100. And being celebrated at his Methodist Church today. Rev up that golf cart. For another Beach sprint.

Readiness in the people God has given me. Seeing their goodness.
Make Ready in Jesus Christ, our thoughts on the positive.

Readiness to hear, locally greater Houston, in Florida, Puerto Rico and Mexico City - the need for encouragement and compassion. With continued thought on relief.

Prayer and making our feet ready.

Expanding our prayers from relief to the grind of working out new lives. With Expectation of something greater than we can do. Jesus Christ as God.

Readiness to Remember what You have done for me. For the ones I love. Thank You Father God. Thanksgiving.

Thank You God for Jesus and the miracles we have seen like new jobs in Houston. Last year was slow for Houston. We see hiring. We see healing past and healing future. For Marc, Wayne, Bruce, Julie and Edward.

We cover the Nation with Jesus and the prayers of the faithful - we see with Joy.

Our Father God is wonderfully alive. Wonderfully God of Love.

Amen in Jesus. Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus our Lord God.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 12:33-36 ~ give account

Revelation 22:1-21

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Matthew 12:33-36

33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.

34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil?

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."




We wonder if all dogs go to Heaven, we know horses are sent to earth from Heaven: it's wonderful to find the Tree of Life from Genesis 1 and 2 is found in Heaven. 

The Garden of Eden was washed away in Noah's flood and the Tree of Life is rejoiced and delighted upon in Heaven.  Pishon, Gihon, Hiddekel (the Tigris), and Phirat (the Euphrates) are the rivers of Eden. Most of them disappear forever from the Scriptures. Isaiah 19 and 30 and Isaiah 37 tell of Works of the Lord and the action of the Lord is to make rivers disappear. Psalm 104 also declares rivers are made to vanish.  The Scriptures declare repeat situations. This would be the only explanation for the great rivers to be gone.

  The Book of Tobit is accepted as canonical by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Oriental Orthodox Church. Uriel is often identified as a cherub and the angel of repentance. Uriel "stands at the Gate of Eden with a fiery sword" or as the angel who "watches over thunder and terror". A fitting hint, worded by the Book of Tobit.

I'm hopeful my extremely giant Oak, toppled by a tornado in Hurricane Ike, is in Heaven now.   

David discussed good trees in Psalm 1 and we know David relied upon the Grace of God, as we all do, to be called righteous. God says He makes even His Enemies to live at peace with Him. And there are times God will take a reluctant 23 year old and make that young woman witness. Because God can do all things. Even when the 23 year old young woman decided Evangelism wasn't her gift and therefore she was exempt. I know, because I was this young woman.





I was at work one day in my cubicle, put right beside the main corridor. I was greeted by a good looking man who said he was waiting on the man on the phone, in the office across the hall. It wasn't a time for me to visit, I was pretty busy.

And he said, "I can tell you are busy, so I will tell you a joke."

Which didn't strike me as a great thing at that moment.




We wonder what Jesus would say as a young man of 30 years old to our culture. We know. Jesus enjoyed vineyards and was known as a drunk and a glutton. Jesus spoke of vineyards 22 or 23 times in the Gospels. Jesus - bounced. Jesus found Joy in life.


So this man who brimmed with health and good cheer told me this joke. It was a joke I had not heard since I was 16 years old.


It's an extremely tacky joke about Jesus being sacrificed, dying on the cross. And Peter being beaten to a pulp twice. And Jesus tells Peter He can see Peter's house from being on the cross. It's a horrid, horrid old joke. And depending on the graphic person, it can be embellished. And be truly grotesque.


I didn't even know what to say and I looked at him. Just sat looking at him.

He said, "It's fun to tell the joke to see the reactions."

We looked at each other. He said, "Tell me your reaction."

I said, "You know usually, even if I am a believer, I say weak 'ha' and move away from a bad joke."

He laughed, and said, "Yeah, that's what I usually get."

I said, "If that's what you usually get, it seems lukewarm to dull."

He said, "I've never had this much conversation over the joke before, I think it's a pretty funny joke."

I looked at him. I was busy and the joke went deeply into my life. He said, with some emphasis, "Maybe it is dull and boring."




I said, "It's like this - a long, long, long time friend of my parents was an attorney and descended into alcoholism. The kind where you have him to dinner for 25 years and realize, suddenly, having him stand up is a precarious proposition. And he tells you the joke when you are 16 years old -  as he can hardly stand. And then tells you how he hates Christians because they don't laugh. They are bigoted. It's funny. Then in 25 minutes, he staggers back into the room and tells the joke, more slurred, again and staggers out. At the age of 16, it's fairly terrifying."

The man asked, "Why did your parents have him in the house?"

"Well, they didn't know it would go that way."

"And so he divorced his wife and she ate my dad."

"What?"

"The wife, of the very drunk man, ended up getting her house payment after her husband became too drunk to make the payment and ran off and divorced her. So, she ended up after 25 years of being friends with my mom, she ended up marrying my father and not putting him on the Mortgage. And realizing even married to him, she doesn't like him. He is sunk. Left the people who loved him."

So the man, who was a visiting vendor said, "This is, this is, the most conversation I've ever had out of this joke."

I replied, "I bet. Do you tell the joke a lot."

A lot. Yes. As you see it forces a conversation usually. Of acquiescence, fake. Because he could push the buttons afterwards.

I said, "Maybe you should stop, because what you are really watching is seeing yourself defined."

He said, "I believe I agree with you. And you are the last person I will tell that joke to."





The joke had a consequence. About two weeks later I was moved. To a quieter cubicle. I rather liked the first cubicle, I could see out the windows. And in being moved, I made new friends and got greater benefits and opportunity from the company. I was moved closer to the CFO. This all played out and I found out within the next year. At first I had hurt feelings. And in the next year, oddly the cubicles were broken down to just be part of that hallway. Seems lots of people offended visitors. But - oddly we - rarely got visitors. Just a few. A vendor. Just about one visitor.



I was Never going to be the one who discussed ethics in work. Ever. But it's hard work to be silent when that one joke changed an entire family.


The joke changed that man. I saw him occasionally and he did not seem so very happy. Apparently he kept telling it.


Father God can do the absolute impossible. Even a mule of a silent Christian can speak up!!! Me.


Numbers 22

26 Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.
27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff.

28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”
“No,” he said.
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn.

So he bowed low and fell facedown.





Father God,

Bless us with the mediation of Jesus as our prayer partner. And in sticky wickets, increase the Holy Spirit to make the conversation.

Let's live the Joy of Life. The adventure of God works all things to Good.

And we will do what we can to please You, knowing You are so very thoroughly pleased with a fleeting life on this earth.


You are Father God - vast and ancient of Days. Gracious and Good. Finding vineyards beautiful and interesting.

You wrap Love around the prayers You hear world wide. The Heavens speak of Your glory.

The nations rely upon Your Glory. Bless this Nation as we trust in You, please.


Bless the seas and all the roar. Quietly we hope.

Strengthen what is weak and do not let it quake.

Come strongly into our Lives Father God. Be with the strengthening of the ones we love to have the Glory of Jesus Christ dwelling within them. Help those who are recovering from storm. Shepherd us and the people You have given us, Jesus Christ. Be our open and strong shelter upon the Rock of Jesus Christ.

We give our cares to You, for You care more for us, far and away more than our fleeting cares and anxieties.
Steadfast Goodness You are.

For the varied and many gifts You give, help us to use them wisely and as a blessing to Jesus. Give us this day. And with Your Grace
we will see all day long - Your mercies Renew.

In Jesus we ask, live and have our being. Amen.
Glad to be the Easter People Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

John 21:24-25 ~ the books that would be written

Billy Graham has been known to warm hearts like the Fire of Pentecost. And one of the most reassuring things Billy Graham says is: 
“I've read the last page of the Bible, it's all going to turn out all right.”


Each of the Books of the New Testament has a purpose. A deep, deep purpose to live in our only real estate in eternity. Not our brain, not our heart, not our will - our soul. The purpose is Lamp Lighting!


And - reading and believing the ending blessing of the Books end is just - truly wonderful. Paul writes again and again and again of the love he has for the people he ministers to. The overwhelming desire to touch a soul with love for eternity. This is the purpose of loving the God of Love.

John 21:24-25

24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.



John was very right.
All the books thinking of the Prince of Peace. Wonderful. Redeemer. Jesus. Making God His Father and ours.

Romans 16

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you
according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations,
according to the command of the eternal God,
to bring about the obedience of faith—
27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.


God is strengthening us with His truth.

Romans 8:38-39

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.




The revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations

Romans 11:33, 36
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.


The Revelation of the Mystery of our Father God's Nature

Romans 15:5-6
May the
God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Romans 15:13
May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.


We have just uncovered what Paul was striving and fighting the good fight to display before The Romans. Paul's Great Hope for... us.

Ephesians 6

22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love



The Purpose:
Encourage your heart!



Ephesians 3
16 that according to the riches of his glory
he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith
--that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen

+

And the Goal of Thessalonians:


1 Thessalonians 5

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.


I believe that!



1 Thessalonians 3:12-12
12 and may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all,
as we do for you,
13 so that he may establish your hearts
blameless in holiness before our God and Father,
at the coming of our Lord Jesus
with all his saints.

Abba,

May those You have increased
abound in love for one another and for all,
as we do for You

Rejoicing You establish hearts
blameless in holiness before our God and Father,

Knowing in prayer that we have our Lord Jesus
with all His saints

Praying for our Loved Ones,
The people He has given us,
praying for people with Birthdays,
praying for our concerns,
large and small, amazingly invited to bring Him all we think and care for.

Praying over situations,
Praying over employment,
Praying over health,
Praying over wisdom and decisions.

Knowing Father God covers us!
All the healing Jesus has shown us in the Bible is happening
in His creation today.

Our Living Father God.
Jesus praying with us now.

We are blessed indeed, indeed, indeed.

Praying together - we put this prayer list together is to combine our
concerns, knowing the Power of Our Father in expectation.
Knowing with Certainty God fulfills His Word.
Alleluia Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 81~ Walk in His Ways

Psalm 81

1 Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! 2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
 

4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob.
 

5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known: 6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.

7 In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah   8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!

O Israel, if you would but listen to me! 9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
 

10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. 13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.

 

15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. 16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”  








 

Seems David complains and complains, and as the reader you are agreeing with him! That's right, tell us, tell God about it! Suddenly David does an about face .... when one is "hep up" agreeing with David .... and he says..... like in   

Psalm 108: 10  
Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 11 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies.

Some days we feel like David. Like Jesus carrying His cross. Then David throws a curve in a verse latter in the same  

Psalm 108: 12  
Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 13 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.


 Read Psalm 81 again, or just let a verse jump in your memory.... For me this Psalm hinges on:



 

  I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I delivered you

 Some days I say, please Father, help me to carry that burden..... and other days the verse puts a little jolt of "Noooo.... I want that..... more...."  

Regardless, I reach the verse: 

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 

And I say to Him, I can think of a whole lot of blessings!!! And I won't bow down to another god!!! 
Watch Father God!!  

So what about these Davidic turn-around Psalms? David is Not window dressing, thresh David down, shake him around - David trusts God. Even when the Ziphites went to tell Saul where David was, in Psalm 54; David trusts God. David grew up hearing, then living the mighty works of God. He heard stories about the Heavens long before his descendant Hezekiah would ask God to turn the hands of time back. David knew of Joshua:  


Joshua 10:12-14  
At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”  

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.

Joshua 10

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.

14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

Genesis 18:14 

Is anything too hard for the LORD?" 

Capernaum - Land of Milk and Honey

Jeremiah 32:27 

I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

Matthew 19:26  

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

David waited expectantly, like Paul did, to see what God would plan. David trusted God. As we can.




Father God,

Each day we have the opportunity to despair or to place our trust in You. You wrote in Your Living Word to ask for Jesus to help in prayer.
We do this now!

You fought for Hezekiah and the people because they trusted You.

We lift up our voices, our hopes to You.

Strengthen us in Your Peace and Your Joy. Enable us to Love with Jesus' Steadfastness and His Hope and Future.

Help us to communicate for You. For the Ones we Love and place in Your care.

For our construction projects and task resolving. For Patience. For Striving. To rejoice in the People You have given us.

For the Peace of God in our communities, jobs and Churches.

For the Blessing You would have us have for our Nation.

For the Joy You would place around the world for Your Beloved People.

Thank You for hearing the desires of our heart. Healing. Needs met. Timing. Appeal. Conviction. Listening. Empathy. Resolve. Goodness.

In Jesus we Love and Pray. Your Great Will be Accomplished here as in Heaven. Amen with Jesus our Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Philippians 2 ~ yours in Christ Jesus

Philippians 2

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

13 for it is God who works in you,
both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation,

among whom you shine as lights in the world, 1

6 holding fast to the word of life,

so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.







The Word of God is without flaw. And is for the Glory of God - God is Love.

Man will live by Every Word of God.

Paul says he is a drink offering. He is not talking about water. Wine. He speaks of the effort of fruit planned, gathered, utilized. Honored. He speaks of the importance of a substance altering mood and destiny. To be handled with care and enjoyed as a gift of God. Shown in studies of health to be an increase in health and if abused, the decrease of life and life surrounding this.

Paul is talking about being a drink portion poured out. And if we honestly combine this with the Word of God Chapter discussing Paul's end of life Chapter 2 Timothy 4 - we have a very dire and very honest biblical conversation on our hands. Similar to John the Baptist asking Jesus. When someone literally puts all of their life in front of them and confronts the depth of faith.


Evaporation. Not seen to be taken up. Honorable. Not used. Useless. Paul wondered if at the end all was - useless. So many left.

And as Paul confronted all of this. He decided he did belong to Jesus Christ.

Paul visited Greece. And the places Paul visited - even briefly - people want to walk. Monasteries are built. Hospitals are built. Churches are built. The people who struggle in life, who recover from poor choices, who recover from loss, who have life changing - find faith in Paul's walk with the Holy Spirit.

Paul says in frustration of feeling useless - God makes strong. If we handle the emotion as carefully as substance. Make ourselves useful. And in trusting God more than the sure thing - God makes strong. God makes meaningful. Daily. As we build our lives to have meaning.

Man shall live by every Word of God.


How will we please God? To believe God. Believe in the one He has sent. Abraham believed God and God saw him as Righteous.

Abba, Our Father,

We believe You. We believe Jesus prays for us and with us. We believe in the increase of the Holy Spirit.


Titus believed God and lived to be old. On Crete, where the Greeks were asking for Jesus to come with them. You, Father God, are so Good.


Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

Hebrews 6:18
So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Numbers 23:19
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

1 Samuel 15:29
And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.”


When we believe we are not useful, as Paul did at least twice, if not more when he calls himself - the greatest sinner. And Romans 7, we find You, Father God, are our Father. With Your Support we find faith - just faith - pleases God. Your Works are accomplished - by You.

And in faith, we rest and find joy, giving You, our Father our cares. Varied, and many. Blessed and pressed.

In faith, we hand You the ones we Love. The people You give us. Because You will draw Love to You. You have given us Jesus.

For our jobs, cities, Churches, their prayer requests, Hurricane Harvey. You will raise us up.

Thank You, for allowing us the privilege to see the delight in mankind to You. That help. Thank You.

And we trust You with the Nation, our future and the Children of God all over the world loving and trusting in You.

Jesus is our Grace and Deliverer. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

 

Matthew 10:16 ~ Shrewd innocent

My own Daddy had this on his wall in poster form. There was a major word substitution. His art was camel colored poster with red letters. This was a gift from - a clerical wife to my father for Christmas!

October is great for avoiding horrid movies. So, let's go with Buhwaaaa True Tales of 38 Years of Bible Studies and see what went.

Minus Catholic, cities, clerical names, eras and laity names, Protestant affiliations, residents, shoe sizes, IQs are carefully omitted.

From ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties - GOOD LORD Deliver us.


We will wait upon the Guidance of the Lord God Almighty in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 10:16

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.

Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Mercy is a very powerful Christian Witness.

Doctors in Emergency Rooms found encouraging patients to expect to live - creates a desire to live and a belief in wellness.







I knew a young woman who was caught red handed being a bad mother of one child. She had left a pre-school child alone in her room for months as she did her chores and even left the house to grocery stop and run small errands. The woman who caught her had five children. And for decades, the once poor mother was affirmed in improvement. And because of this friendship and affirmation - there was improvement, the woman Drastically improved. God has said He desires mercy over sacrifice.


During our Youth Group Years, we found a neighbor boy was abusing small animals. The young men had an intervention and a 5th grade boy learned animal consideration not taught to him at home. It was an intervention that happened over an hour. In fact, the leader of the intervention, went on to be Army - who gave his life for this Nation. And another one of his good works was to stop two teenagers who rather terrified their mother by continuing to burn down - in small increments - their wooden fence in the backyard, as their father left town to work. The young man told the teenagers, (his own age) if they would stop terrifying their mother, they could join them in evening summer Commandoes (hide and seek). The Fence remained intact. Commandoes ensued.


One day, we discovered one of our young charges was being driven home by a parent just about too drunk to stand up. And as we tried to determine what to do, other than call authorities and refuse to yield the child, CPS, became involved with a car crash - not from our home. We were extremely, extremely, extremely grateful. Later we had to deal with the step-father engaged in nudity at the computer and absolute trauma. We always were very frank and with frank talks and kindness - we did alright.











The Bible has times - the Disciples of Jesus Christ were not successful.
Our son has his face split open by one child jealous of my son going to camp. And as this (face splitter) child grew up to become one who rarely tells the truth - he would come over in a brand new Lexus and major earring gages telling of college campuses he joined - and had no clue that college was in semester. Offering severe, severe illegal substance. He is not welcome anymore.


Can we do this? Is this allowed? Isn't it bad news to do this? Aren't we biblically obligated?


Bad behavior doesn't stay with the teens and children. I had one woman tell me she has followed me to a lesson I was taking, told me where I parked and slashed my car with razors. I was so shocked, I said, "You wouldn't do that!" Her reply was to hold my wrists. And reply, "Wouldn't I?" The car was slashed. Several times. Where the dog's claws would not reach. And she sent me emails asking me why couldn't we be friends. I declined upon reading about these behaviors - to ever go with her anywhere again. Like having a face split - a car slashed - violence  is requiring professional help.


Can we do this? Is this allowed? Isn't it bad news to do this? Aren't we biblically obligated?









Now, before we continue let's have Clarity and put all this out.

- 38 years of having a Bible Study all the time.

- 35 years in one Church

- 17 years in another Church

- 10 years of leading Bible Studies.

- Seeing 75 kids through Youth Groups.

- Participating in Childhood Churches until now.

- Many, many, many, many, many joyous times.

- Participating still in Bible Study congruently for 17 years.









These are real events to think about.

One time a woman from a Bible Study I enjoyed - we went to a Christmas shopping event had a great time and went to lunch another day. The next time - she behaved as if we were on a date. I resolved to ignore this and not to lunch for a long time to sort this out during Bible Study. Suddenly another new arrival to the group seemed to be the same. Surely not. And then came the day we were left with just the three of us. As they laughed, I wondered. The next woman said - let's include her soon. They roared. I did my best impression of Homer Simpson's neighbor. They thought I was hilarious. We had an event at my house and the ladies were invited. One did not attend because she called drunk out of her brain. Politely saying we would miss her, she chunked the phone receiver down. The next woman arrived. My neighbor's daughter was very shocked and said this woman was known as a 50 year old to engage with teenage girls. So how did this resolve? The Homer Simpson neighbor approach worked fabulously. Eventually the woman who scandalized the neighbor's daughter brought attention to her behavior in public and fled. And all I did was to be polite and breezy.


We had one mother chew us out like tomorrow would not have sunrise for her son's behavior being corrected by us. We simply said the Bible was the guide and this was the place. Her child remained. She hushed.


Anther woman, decades later, invited me to dine publicly.
She arrived ... under the weather. I had no idea how to leave someone to drive home. She started with an hour long conversation we could call Vagina Monologues. We gathered a crowd as she described her period in great, lurid detail. Car keys came out and the conversation improved. When we got to tales about sex in cars and women named "Skankzilla"  the conversation was over for good. Tell the group? Na. Just unfriend on FB from 75 way back likes, in a week, and move, with a bounce, on.









Real Society involved with real people. In Church.

(Then there was the time  - - - my son decided in the middle of the night to have the flu - - -  in a tent during Youth Group. He fogged up one tent and was invited in the middle of the night to leave. He arrived at the younger boy tent, to stand in the middle of the tent and vomit - Little Smokie Weiners  -all over the tent  - as if he was a rotator sprinkle  - of valor. No part of the tent went unblemished. The entire tent of 12 boys began Shrieking from sleep at 3 A.M in the morning - Creating panic among the adults. Then the Waking up all the tents. And then the aroma. Then as I was having hysterical laugher at the picnic table because it was truly horrid - we all ended up rolling on the ground laughing. Swimming for all - sunrise. . And we still laugh to tears all over if we talk about THIS.)


Why Mercy? John Mark was uninvited. Then taken under the wing of love to become John Mark. Saul became Paul. There is a genuine journey going on.









Years ago we had a Church neighbor who was known as an Alcoholic. She would come to our house very inebriated. And she would stay for a few hours with tea, lots of hot tea. And in these times, a woman who was elderly who lived alone - was joyous and we were too. Not all things end badly, that seem to go far off. Those memories hold joy. Lots of joy.



How do we decide. If someone starts talking sorcery - we are Done. If you have the Vagina Monologues of flesh, flesh, flesh - we are Done. Violence is not encouraged - we are Done.


Flee from Sorcery.

Acts 19:16
And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house wounded, bleeding and naked.

Best to move along briskly.


I don't think those immersed in the flesh are going to really listen to the Way until they decide to.


1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee from sexual immorality.
All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.

Not to mention, when you draw a crowd hearing about bodily fluids - it's pretty embarrassing.














1 Corinthians 5:9-13
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”


Mercy trumps. All the time.


Emperor Domitian – Hauled St. John from Ephesus and exiled him to Patmos. Continued to be fearful of Christians. Conducted one of the fiercest battles against Christians. Under Domitan, the Church split in half. Half ran - and God used this to the Good of His Plan.

Domitan Heresy - the Church is only for saints. Domitan tortured until Christians surrendered every fragment of the Gospels and New Testament he could find. 81-96. Because of Domitan – we have the word traitor . Part of the Church wanted to forever exile anyone who lied to get out of torture or gave up Scripture. Forgiveness is the business of the Church and Jesus Christ. This is why we have a Bible today. In our casual usage. Amazing.



Be tender hearted. St. Augustine had victory because of his mother's continual mercy and belief in the Goodness of God.

All these stories - have a common denominator.

God was there to help.

Psalms 54:4:

“Behold, God is my helper"

Psalm 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

There is a conclusion.

Waiting upon the Lord - we have peace.

We give others a chance.

Beth Moore said it is ok to say, "No" to assignments within the Church.

Because someone called to the love event is going to do better.

There are real times to move back and away.

Recently I heard a Sermon about a woman seeing her son was drowning and she screamed for help for someone to save her son!!! He had gone out too far. A fisherman came to the shore with the mother who begged and pleaded the man to save her son. He would not. The mother begged and pleaded. Finally, the fisherman went in. He dragged the young man back to the shore and the young man was resuscitated. The mother asked the fisherman why the son was not revived sooner. The fisherman replied that as the man flailed around with despair - they both would have drowned. The fisherman was waiting to help in God's Timing.









Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

James 2:13
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Luke 6:36
Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.


Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.










Abba,

Life can be pretty sterile. And that's boring. Opera and drama end. Wisdom. with the Help of Jesus Christ. will prevail.

The Joy of the Lord is indeed, indeed, indeed Strength. Jesus pray with us and increase our Holy Spirit.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect,

that you may be fighting the good fight and straining ahead to make the goal.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial,
for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

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


Is any of this surprising to You - Father God?

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.


James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Blessed be God who does not answer the why all the time. And we find out we do not need the why. We find we can just believe God and rely with Him on faith. The Joy of believing His Promises.

The Joy of the Lord is our strength. You do give us Your Peace.

With all of the Goodness You are - God of Love - we put our cares, anxieties, the ones we Love, their cares, the People Given By God to us. And we believe God is So Good - this is going to work out in His Plan, His Hand and His Timing. Trusting Him with our places of work, our jobs, the communities, our Churches, this state and the Nation. Wrapping Jesus' Love around the entire Planet He calls good yesterday, today and tomorrow and covers us hearing our prayers with all His Compassion.

Thanks be to You, Abba, for Your Son. Making Life possible again and again. Victory in Jesus always - Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 130 ~ Stand

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.

8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.




A decades long friend said the Word of God is so active, when He speaks to you - you never forget. The Truths of the Lord,  God our Father will remain all our days. Margaret told me she was in a Bible Study discussing, "Trust in the Lord." Margaret said she remembered holding the hand of her own Daddy who always, as a child, made her feel as safe and happy as a child could be. Even when he placed her on the back of a Brahma Bull for riding in the parade. Nothing made her feel more secure.

We all have gifts from Father God. Margaret's father was one of the most well respected horse men in Charleston, S.C. And in that capability of soothing and leading, her Daddy taught her a truth knowing she saw Father God - one she holds dearly every day of her life.

What would please Father God more than a daughter seeing the tender love of her Daddy reflected in the Steadfast Love of Father God. What parent wouldn't want to hear that 7 decades later. Margaret's understanding of the tender love Father God has for her - demonstrated in life. That is the highest compliment a child could give a parent.

Margaret is an Episcopal Priest's wife, Father Bill Harris, living in a wonderful valley in Emporium, Pennsylvania. Many, many wedding dresses have been treasured - made by Margaret's hands. And this summer she was a National Judge in a United States competition for Flower Arranging in Philedelphia. Living in what looks like Heaven, Pennsylvania in the summer, there are plenty of flowers to be found in abundance.

The Abundance of God. About 1980, Margaret entered the farm house they were restoring. It was after Church and the floor gave way and Margaret fell 12 feet in high heels to the basement. Landing on her feet and shattering both of her heels. She was told to wear SAS shoes all her life. And adjust to the pain. Through Choir practices. Through Church Services. Through Bible Studies. Through trips to the hospital to pray for others. Through making wedding dresses. Through making Altar Arrangements. Through Wedding Arrangements and Wedding Reception Arrangements. Through Garden Club. Through rewiring her amazing iron stove from 1888 which works today. Through learning to do the plumbing, quite well in her renovated farm house. Through horse back riding.

Sounds like a lot of good deeds for Father God, right? Margaret hated wearing those shoes all the time. And one day, she and Father Bill were going to a wedding and Margaret got out a pair of high heels in the back of the closet. And she was surprised to find 4 hours later - her feet did not hurt a bit and they looked pretty too.


God is Good. All the Time.



About a year and a half ago, Father Bill turned 90 years old. And he had heart failure. Margaret wept and wept. He would never leave the Valley again. He might never leave the house again. The dog was old too. All was changing. All was so very, very sad. And a prayer group, one of many, added Father Bill to their prayers, praying for him to have a miracle of Jesus.

And suddenly, Father Bill was well. So well - Father Bill puts 70 year olds right behind him. Driving into town for groceries by himself. Visiting us for Thanksgiving last year. Those eyes twinkle again. Did you know New England accents can sound surprisingly like English accents, from time to time?


God is good all the Time. And Margaret says Bill has the bluest eyes.




Abba,

Jesus said You are His Father and ours. Easter Sunday. The Holy Spirit covering all of mankind.

We all want to end our lives having given. Having pleased God who gives LIFE and LIFE and LIFE.

God's Plan is built in us. And when we answer HIS Call - the lives around us understand the Love of God.

Thank You Father God - for the Loved ones in our lives. St. Augustine said if we well and with God's Love serve the people You have given us. We have delighted
our Father.

Thank You so much for Your Grace and Mercy. Because of Your Love, the Light of Christ shines and shines and shines. We Thank God for Jesus for our loved ones, the people you've given us. For our Churches, jobs, States to the Nation and surrounding our world. The Awe and Astonishment of Eternal Life with You.

We Give Great Thanks for Today. God has Given. God is Good. Thank You for our Blessings of Health, Love, Provision. Bless those who have been so harmed by the recent Hurricanes. Bless Puerto Rico. We ask for Your Love and Care there.

The Word of God is Astonishing. Thank You for Jesus.

God for all of our days ahead. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †