1 Corinthians 13:13 ~ Love

1 Corinthians 13:13

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

I received a cross in the mail and was pleased. The cross was smaller than I thought and I realized that was good, too. The message of Jesus Christ's salvation is much more compelling and eternal than I could every be privileged to say.

Salvation is from the Lord Jesus.


Isaiah 51

Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,
you who seek the Lord:
look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug.


The faith and bedrock I saw my family do life with. The people who live long lives of hope.


2 Look to Abraham your father
and to Sarah who bore you;
for he was but one when I called him,
that I might bless him and multiply him.



Our blessings only come from God.

3 For the Lord comforts Zion;
he comforts all her waste places
and makes her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the garden of the Lord;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of song.



This is a wonderful verse. And not for the days when we feel comforted. The memory of comfort. I believe in the Son when the sun is not shining. When parents are frail and loved ones have a terminal diagnosis. When the path tells you, you must be strong to Jesus. Jesus is where you need comfort the most. We come into this world, usually alone, and to Jesus we bring our soul with Him alone. And in reality, this is the Person, This Son of God, we need the most.


4 “Give attention to me, my people,
and give ear to me, my nation;
for a law will go out from me,
and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.

THIS is the LIGHT of Jesus within us. This is our bedrock. Weep when we must weep. To be real. To be genuine. To be sincere. To go forth. To go far.



What is Heaven? His People. To hear Jesus say, "My People."
To hear Him call us "His Nation."

5 My righteousness draws near,
my salvation has gone out,
and my arms will judge the peoples;
the coastlands hope for me,
and for my arm they wait.


6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and they who dwell in it will die in like manner;
but my salvation will be forever,
and my righteousness will never be dismayed.



7 “Listen to me, you who know righteousness,
the people in whose heart is my law;
fear not the reproach of man,
nor be dismayed at their reviling.


8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment,
and the worm will eat them like wool;
but my righteousness will be forever,
and my salvation to all generations.”


9 Awake, awake, put on strength,
O arm of the Lord;
awake, as in days of old,
the generations of long ago.
Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces,
who pierced the dragon?


10 Was it not you who dried up the sea,
the waters of the great deep,
who made the depths of the sea a way
for the redeemed to pass over?




11 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.



12 “I, I am he who comforts you;
who are you that you are afraid of man who dies,
of the son of man who is made like grass,


13 and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker,
who stretched out the heavens
and laid the foundations of the earth,
and you fear continually all the day
because of the wrath of the oppressor,
when he sets himself to destroy?
And where is the wrath of the oppressor?


14 He who is bowed down shall speedily be released;
he shall not die and go down to the pit,
neither shall his bread be lacking.



This is Prayer.


Norman Vincent Peale wrote this:

A man in Toronto at a gathering of advertising and sales people to whom I had been asked to speak. He confided to me, “I have found two things in life that made everything different for me. The first—and it was the greatest single experience I ever had—was finding Jesus Christ and committing my life to him. And the second thing was that I learned to pray. These two things,” he declared, “revolutionized my life.” And he added, “What a pity that so many human beings never find Christ and never learn to pray! They miss the greatest things in this life.”

This is what Jesus has been saying to us through the years, and really astute people make this discovery. Christ can change your life. Prayer can change your life. Some people think you only come to such a change in one certain way. Nothing could be more false.


One way in which prayer can change your life is by teaching you to think creatively. The way you think spells the difference between living life well and living it poorly. Prayer is an activity that sharpens the mind and thereby brings the believer into harmony with the great Mind. Now the mind, by which we remember and perceive and understand and dream and think—this is the divine within us. Through mind and soul, an individual has contact with God. Prayer is the con- tact of the soul with God through the mental process whereby the individual conquers his own weaknesses and enters into life abundant.

True prayer requires discipline, it requires pain, it requires the agony to think. But when you do think prayerfully with Jesus as your guide, you break free from the defeats which have encompassed you. I do not believe there is any problem, any defeat, any difficulty that cannot be overcome through prayer.

I have a friend who runs a big bakery business, which he built up from nothing. He was himself the company’s first baker, as a matter of fact, and he claims he can still make better bread and cakes than most of the present bakers. And one day he described to me a significant experience he had some years ago. He was faced with an extremely worrisome problem. He would pace the floor half the day trying to figure out a solution. He lay awake at night brooding over it.

Then, one day as he sat in his office feeling completely baffled, he chanced to glance at his mother’s picture hanging on the wall. “My mother,” he told me, “was a Kansas woman reared on the farm where I was born. She had never had much schooling. But in the hard, good life she and my father lived together she had learned many things in the school of experience. And she used to say to us children, ‘When you have a problem and you’ve worked as hard as you can at it, given it all you’ve got, and still you haven’t solved it, the thing to do is just walk away from it and think about God. But don’t talk to God about the problem. Talk to him about himself. Tell him how much you love him. Talk to Jesus and thank him for all he has done for you. Tell him you want to be his faithful follower. Have fellowship with God and with Jesus.’”

So my friend in his perplexity looked at the picture of his mother, departed long since but still living and still speaking to him in thought. And he decided to leave the problem for a while. He took out his Bible and read some passages his mother had marked in this same book. He thought about Jesus and he rededicated himself, acknowledging that he felt he had not been growing as he ought, that he’d been less than himself. Then after a time he turned back to the problem. Did he get an answer immediately? No. But now he felt calm about it. He was confident he would somehow be able to handle it. And presently—later that same day, as I recall it—he did find a satisfactory solution. So prayer is a mental process.

Oftentimes a person will complain, “I’ve prayed and prayed and I didn’t get what I wanted.” You didn’t, eh? Well, who said you were supposed to get what you wanted? Prayer isn’t a device to get you what you want. Prayer is a means of bringing you to the point where you will accept what God wants. If you’re using it just for getting what you want, you’re engaging in an improper and degraded use of it.



Why did Jesus say we get what we want if we are abiding in His Word?

Because to Live in His Word is to Abide in His Will. When His Will and our hopes align.

This is why all the family of Jesus and all the Disciples met daily to pray. Their hopes and their faith and their Love - aligned in Jesus Christ.



Father God,
Help us to pray in a manner pleasing to you. To have the understanding that life is a series of rejoicing problems are solved and to continue to have hope faith and Love in all seasons.

Jesus we Lift our concerns to You. You will tenderly handle them. We lift up our Loved Ones. We lift upour communities and Churches. And this Nation. Rejoicing people all over the World call upon Jesus from Knowing His Love.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Acts 9 ~ He called for the believers

Acts 9

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand
and helped her to her feet. 

Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.





Peter, cannot walk on water. The second time, Peter did not try. Peter was forgiven and restored in relationship when Jesus, conquered death, and made breakfast.

Paul, fights with John Mark. Goes to Asia and is told to go another place. Has to loose his vision to gain Jesus.


What Peter and Paul have together is what we have together today.


Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.

John 15:7
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.



What really is occurring in Acts 9 is this:

Jesus is alive and working today:
In His Righteousness and Jesus' Name:
He said, “Tabitha, get up.”
He took her by the hand
and helped her to her feet.



Father God,

You alone are God and You alone are Good. Bless us to live and abide in Your Being. Where we live and move and have our being as Children of God.

Bless us to see all things work together for Good, for those who Love Father God and Jesus and work
according to His Purpose. We shall live upon every Word of God.

Bless us in our concerns to look with Joy to You. Bless those we love. Our Communities and Churches and in Your Glory, lift this Nation. Let the Light of all believers of Jesus Christ Shine. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

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!  †