John 7:37-52 ~ Galilee

Painting of the Holy Family by Bartolome Esteban Murillo. Luke 11:28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Yesterday's reading about the famous passage from Luke 11: 9 So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Before the ask, seek, knock verse, Jesus tells us of the effort put into ask, seek & knock. The Pharisee who mocks the Lord, doesn't put effort into asking, seeking or knocking to see how Jesus fits into plan hidden for ages. The Pharisees put effort into the trap to kill Jesus. But God overcomes that trouble and the world.

John 7:37-52

Listen – web link http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+7%3A37-52

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

The faithful have faith: [23] Nazareth . . . he shall be called a Nazorean: Jesus' residence in Nazareth was firmly established, and St. Matthew (Levy), the Jewish Gospel Writer, sees it in accordance with the plan of God. The town of Nazareth is not mentioned in the Old Testament, and no such prophecy can be found there. The expression "through the prophets" due to Matthew seeing a connection between Nazareth, neser and nazir. Texts in which there are words similar to the name of that town. Some such Old Testament texts are Isaiah 11:1 where the Davidic king of the future is called "a bud" (neser) that shall blossom from the roots of Jesse, and Judges 13:5, 7 where Samson, the future deliverer of Israel from the Philistines, is called one who shall be consecrated (a nazir) to God.

Isaiah 9
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Matthew 2:19-23 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Luke 1: 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem:

Luke 2: 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Matthew 2: 6, Also Micah 5:2 : “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Genesis 35:19
So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

Ruth 1:1
[Naomi and Ruth] In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.

1 Samuel 16:18
One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him."

Flee to Egypt: Egypt was a traditional place of refuge for those fleeing from danger in Palestine (see 1 Kings 11:40; Jeremiah 26:21), but the main reason why Jesus is to be taken to Egypt is that he may relive the Exodus experience of Israel. Matthew 2: 15.

The adult Jesus:
Mark 2:1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.

Psalm 115 ~ their help and shield

Psalms
Chapter 115

1
1 Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name give glory because of your faithfulness and love.
2
2 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?"
3
Our God is in heaven; whatever God wills is done.
4
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
5
They have mouths but do not speak, eyes but do not see.
6
They have ears but do not hear, noses but do not smell.
7
They have hands but do not feel, feet but do not walk, and no sound rises from their throats.
8
Their makers shall be like them, all who trust in them.
9
3 The house of Israel trusts in the LORD, who is their help and shield.
10
The house of Aaron trusts in the LORD, who is their help and shield.
11
Those who fear the LORD trust in the LORD, who is their help and shield.
12
The LORD remembers us and will bless us, will bless the house of Israel, will bless the house of Aaron,
13
Will bless those who fear the LORD, small and great alike.
14
May the LORD increase your number, you and your descendants.
15
May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
16
4 The heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth is given to us.
17
The dead do not praise the LORD, all those gone down into silence.
18
It is we who bless the LORD, both now and forever. Hallelujah!

Christmas card of the 3 Magi seeking and finding Jesus. Christianity is referred to as a religion, but instead it's a relationship and claims Jesus sent to us to give us eternal life:

Luke 11:5
Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

7 "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.



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Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7 ~ My Words will never pass away

Adoration from the Magi ~ Murillo

Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7 (The Message)

Titus 2:11-14

11-14 God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.

Titus 3:4-7

3-7 It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath (baptism), and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.

Mark 13: 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

Matthew 5: 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Hebrew religious and 'Hebraic Sacred Science' traditions hold that the text of the Torah was originally given to mankind in a single long string of 304,805 Hebrew characters. The spaces, punctuation, sentence, chapter and five-book structures were all added later to form the modern Pentateuch. This "Word" of the Creator was, according to this tradition, delivered to mankind in the form of a single 304,805 letter word. It is in this context that the Torah is uniquely, specifically and literally considered to be "The Word".

For this reason, Hebrew tradition dictates that Torah scribes must complete many years of training, much of which has to do with learning the proper meditative techniques, before being allowed to copy Torah scrolls. The tradition holds that not a single "jot or nor one iota" of the Torah must be added, changed or omitted from "The Word".

Believers in this tradition sometimes point to a purely literal interpretation of the first seventeen words of the Gospel of John from the New Testament as evidence for their belief.
Messianic Jews further believe that "the Word was made flesh" in a literal sense;

John 1: 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Since 1994, more recent views extend the analysis of biblical texts to include Old Testament texts outside the Torah and also to the New Testament. The traditional view of the codes further asserts that the "information" encoded in the Torah cannot be used to predict the future, and that at best the codes provide evidence of an all-knowing creator whose knowledge of the Universe and all of its possibilities spans both space and time.

Mark 13: 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Matthew 3:1-6 ~ the kingdom of heaven is near

St. John the Baptist in the Wilderness by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (28 September 1571 – 18 July 1610). One of the more famous quotes from Caravaggio with an art patron of St. Paul and his horse painting. “Why have you put a horse in the middle, and Saint Paul on the ground?” “Because!” Replied the artist. “Is the horse God?” Caravaggio replied, “No, but he stands in God’s light!”

During the last 4 centuries, when patrons commissioned or purchased art, they wanted religious themes. The art varied wildly in quality, but it gave the artist the unique opportunity to read the scriptures, place their talent and determination into capturing the image and, hopefully, pray for Divine Guidance. The artist was always interested in capturing the most real or honest image. In prayer, God hopes we are diligent, constant, faithful and seek His Guidance.

Matthew 3:1-6

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.' "

4 John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

John 1: 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

John 1: 19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Psalms 98:1, 7-8, 9 ~ for He has done marvelous things

Glue Society photoshop recreation of the Exodus. Viewpoint of some angels, God's viewpoint through the people filled by the Holy Spirit is much more up close and personal. Given that God is Lord of All (Acts 10:36), we know He is everywhere.

Psalms 98:1, 7-8, 9

1 Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.

7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.

8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
Let the mountains sing together for joy;

9 let them sing before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.

What an amazing sound the children of Israel must have heard as they traveled through the Red Sea held back by God's hand.

Resound - verb (used without object) 1. to echo or ring with sound, as a place.
2. to make an echoing sound, or sound loudly, as a metallic object: A gong resounded.
3. to ring or be echoed, as sounds.
4. to be celebrated or notably important: His name resounds in the pages of history.
–verb (used with object)
5. to reecho (a sound).
6. to give forth or utter loudly.
7. to proclaim loudly (praise, etc).


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1 Kings 19:9-18 ~ Damascus

Maps, after the Exodus, after 40 years in the dessert and the 12 tribes conquered the land promised to Abraham, do not have Damascus in the boundaries of Israel. King David conquered many lands and Damascus is well within the boundaries of Israel.

Road to Damascus, Barada Valley. Damascus is located in present day Syria in the Syrian Dessert. This photo is of the Barada Valley. Damascus, also know as Dimashq, also ash-Shām, is the capital and largest city of Syria. It is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

1 Kings 19:9-18

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. [1] 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Footnotes
[1] 19:12 Or a sound, a thin silence.

Elijah is a subject of a lot of speculation in the Old and New Testament. Just as God has told us many times in the Bible that He is God of the living. Elijah reappears alive in the New Testament alive with Jesus:

Matthew 17: 1

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Jesus explains that role of Elijah has been fulfilled by John the Baptist. Not reincarnation of Elijah, who is alive with God, but another man, John the Baptist, a man of the same strong, Holy Spirit. If it had been reincarnation, Jesus would have explained it as such instead of explaining that the role spiritually was filled by John the Baptist:

Matthew 3:1

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”

Matthew 17: 11

Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

People speculated about Jesus as Elijah. God does not use reincarnation, Jesus explains again:

Mark 8: 27

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"

28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."

29 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Present day Damascus, capital of Syria. It is important to remember:

Act 10: 34
Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

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Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 ~ Search

Painted by Bartolome Esteban Murillo. Spanish painter; b. at Seville, 31 December, 1617; d. there 5 April, 1682. His family surname was Esteban; that of Murillo, which he assumed in accordance with an Andalusian custom, was his mother's.

Murillo was a great painter of sentiment. Like Rembrandt, he understood that the true language of the Gospel was the language of the people. Like him, he especially delighted in the merciful and tender aspects of the Gospel. It is a remarkable fact that these pictures, which represent the most transcendently spiritual action, are the most thoroughly feminine paintings in Spain. Most religious paintings do not have many women, except for Mary. Here are women, true and vital, with the most thoroughly external charms of their sex. In them the impulse of love rises to ecstasy, and without Murillo Spanish painting would be deprived of its most beautiful love poems.

One of the important aspects of love is the commitment of two people becoming one required in marriage vows: dedication, faith and sometimes victory. This building is in the process in the painting. God, as we have discussed earlier, is an accuser, an excuser, a chooser, a blesser and a blessing. We have in this image: God accusing them of not finding the joy in the day, God excusing them the lack of joy because they have such hardship, God choosing them to love each other and the Son of God even during the hardship, God being the blesser to allow them each other during the hardship,

God gives us and gives the Holy Family the blessing of knowing the greatest love story of all time. Jesus. For God so loved the world, that He Gave.

We are also blessed the gospel is readily available to us. But this is not a Sunday School Lesson we repeat by rote. Jesus knew and loved his earthly parents. Luke 11:28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Matthew 2:13-15

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Matthew 2:19-23

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Psalm 128:1-5

Psalm 128:1-5

1 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!

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John 12:14-16 ~ Jesus found

The Coast of Tyre

John 12:14-16

†

14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

behold, your king is coming,

sitting on a donkey's colt!”

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.

The Video is similar to Jesus finding a donkey.

Not a long-time pet.

The Possibilities within the Scripture. Are what God is telling us!

Very much so, people are relating their tender hearts to their pets during the Pandemic recovery. And other people enjoy observing this to see tenderness in communications has not moved very far away.

Proverbs tells us a good man is good to the animals. Allowing an ox to graze during harvesting.

The donkey video relates what my brother's family found on their 6 acres in New Mexico. They adopted one donkey from a rescue and found the donkey was miserable. Returning two weeks later to find what they could do to make the donkey happier, they discovered an ancient donkey, who adopted their donkey during their time at the Donkey Rescue. When my brother returned with the bff ancient donkey, suddenly they discovered Donkey Love and Bliss. And their original donkey was seedling pregnant, bringing Donkeys to 3 in number. They were overjoyed, having discovered the wonders of donkeys, even when the first donkey was mourning. And the children loved when the donkeys snuck into the house.

The Scripture of John 12 says Jesus found a young donkey and suddenly the donkey has borrowed. or burrowed, the fame of Donkeys in the Bible. Donkeys are never considered unclean, as some of the more rules oriented books of the ancient Talmud feel about dogs. One could safely adore a donkey for utilitarian purposes. "We, of course, need the Donkey."  My father-in-law, Buddy, fell in love with Judy's, his wife's, cocker spaniel mix. Bijou looked like a Cocker Spaniel Benji Dog. Buddy didn't admit this, he had a Labrador for hunting and affection. But on some days, one could find Buddy, during his retirement years, cooing and sitting on the floor, feeding and being with beautiful Bijou. 

In fact, my father-in-law, who had a seat on Wall Street, felt good deeds were best done in private. Utter privacy. So, no one would consider a brave man too soft or compliant. And Buddy cared for his literally 100-year-old grandmother, moving her a few blocks from his home, his four children, wife, several businesses, his mother, a great aunt and later any member of his family who needed his care. Their live-in maid was, actually, Buddy's Nanny, Mary. You can bet, no one on their neighborhood street, knew this. Mary and Buddy eventually had some altercation tiff. Mary decided to move to West Texas and be with her family. All were astonished. And one day the phone rang and a relative of Mary's said Mary was in the hospital with cancer. Buddy flew out, paid the hospital bill, discovered no one had visited Mary, took her back to Dallas and, later, paid for her burial and funeral, he arranged.  Buddy's mother loved parties and made literal bathtub gin. In their younger days, his flapper parents were always at a party. Mary found Buddy was hugging his mother's clothes goodnight every evening. And the die was cast and set.

Why people find Donkeys to be something to hold on to. 

Like David did for his donkey. They feel safe and filled with JOY! Smart Donkeys!

What is Jesus telling us about Himself?



Zechariah 9:9-10   written in 587 B.C.

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your King is coming to you;

righteous and having salvation is He,

humble and mounted on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 I will cut off
 the chariot from Ephraim

and the war horse from Jerusalem;

and the battle bow 
shall be cut off

And He shall speak Peace to the nations

His rule shall be from sea to sea

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

People ask Bible questions about Jesus and dogs. Did Jesus talk about dogs? 

Yes, and Jesus spoke of wanting to be the comfort of his flock.

Let Your Words of Life be the Light guiding us to be the Children of God.

In Jesus, we know You long to hold us and we to be held to You.

 Amen and Amen.

A place of love, shelter and care. 

Matthew 10:29 

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? 

And one of them shall not fall on the ground 

apart from the will of your Father.

Jesus left Judea, went to Tyre, all knew Him and He went into a house to take shelter and teach. A woman came, from yet another country, and begged Jesus to heal her daughter from a demon. Jesus evidently knew something was not what Jews would consider Kosher going on. Jesus'  Words sound as if He knew something in her life was not as it should be. Something she wasn't saying.

Mark 7

24 And from there He arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 

And He entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 

26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 

27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 

28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 

29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

We are all familiar with Mark 7 and the Canaanite woman's humble request.  The reference is that dogs are part of life. And are fed from the table. The comfort of a dog being at our feet. Our willingness to not store food for later use, but sharing of life sustenance. 

 In this time of entitlement for hurt feelings and wayward outspokenness, Jesus is saying He is willing. Jesus is there for those with loyalty, devotion and some humility. 

Dogs love beyond measure. 

One of our Springer Spaniel dogs loved, adored and followed our toddlers. One day, the child picked up a bat and let the old dog feel the bat as hard as he could. Human beings would be wary, to finished with the relationship. The old dog was pretty badly injured and I was ashamed the child had done this. 

We diligently explained and prayed and rubbed the dog's back.  We kept praying and hoping this Spencer dog's incredible love, loyalty and kindness would be repayed to Spencer by the Lord, with healing for his injured back. The Vet had not given a lot of hope. We would just rub his back and pray. That Spencer dog fully recovered. Boy Doggie. Lamb. Our Spencer always smiled. He was the smilingest dog ever. Spencer was just a dog who always felt Blessed. The Lord Jesus Christ was good to Spencer beyond his circumstances. And our small boy was given the comfort of forgiveness, on many of God's levels. A good soul.

Spencer in Heaven!

Luke 1:77-79

Giving knowledge of salvation to His people

in the forgiveness of their sins

78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,

whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

79 Giving light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet 
into the way of peace.

Abba, Father

Bless us to stay close beside Jesus.

To be like the Ten Talents Parable,

to trust the Lord's Goodness

and Mercy every day.

We ask the Lord's Pinions to cover us!

Dwell in us, Father

and with Your Help

What Jesus finds

will be loving!

Let all of Creation

Pray with us now!

Revelation 5:13
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"

We thank You, Father,
God’s covenant with Noah included both people and animals in Genesis 9:9-11. 

The fourth commandment, as recorded in Deuteronomy 5:12-15 

includes a Sabbath rest for animals as well as people. 

Psalm 148:5-6

Let everything He has made give praise to Him. 

For He issues His command, and they came into being; 

He established them forever and forever. 

His orders will never be revoked.

Bless those we Love to be near Jesus the Lord God Almighty, 

the Son and Christ of God.

Bless this Nation to Trust in You and have Your Favor.

Help Mississippi

and Covenant Church and School in Nashville heal.

We ask in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Bless the Nations of the world, coming to Your Brightness.

Bless the Children of God, by His Will, to ask You 

for more Heaven upon this earth.

And we are blessed indeed, indeed, indeed. 

Amen Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YAY JESUS

Acts 7:47-60 ~ Delivered by angels

This is Google photoshop entitled God's View. We hope & believe that God is more involved when we pray. We want God to be an accuser (of someone other than ourselves!), an excuser, a chooser, a blesser and a blessing when we pray.

As the top of the blog says, my family & I belong to AMIA (Anglican Mission Churches in the Americas) part of the Church of England. The Queen of England, Elizabeth II, is the Defender of the Faith as part of her duties she swore when she became Queen of England. The Defender of the Faith explained quite clearly and beautifully what the Christmas story really is. Queen Elizabeth II, explained to live and serve those in need as Jesus did, she asked her citizens and, by example, followers & believers of Jesus Christ, to follow His supreme example. I felt such gratitude it brought tears to my eyes. The Queen of England boldly spoke of Jesus and for Jesus.

God save the Queen

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7150000/newsid_7152800/7152829.stm?bw=nb&mp=wm&news=1&ms3=6&ms_javascript=true&nol_storyid=7152829&bbcws=2

Today, we had a very interesting sermon. The point remembered for this blog today, people fall into 4 categories: accusers, excusers, choosers, and blessers. Our priest made the point that we can all identify ourselves as one of the 4 parts, but we can choose a fifth category... to be a blessing. We can see that God is all 5 parts. We can also choose to climb out of our behaviour and become, truth with mercy, and be an accuser, an excuser, a chooser, a blesser and a blessing.

Acts 7:47-60

47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,

49 “‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is the place of my rest?
50 Did not my hand make all these things?’

51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Job 39 ~ Depend on Him

This is the art of Kurt Wenner. Kurt Wenner can take an ordinary sidewalk and turn it into another dimension, 4th dimensional art - if we consider that the existing sidewalk is part of the art the artist added to it, creating another image. It becomes 5th dimensional art, if we consider falling into the abyss as part of time in life. His art is amazing: it is usually about falling into the great abyss, it is sometimes very disturbing and he is extremely talented. It is important what we put into our lives; it is important what opinions we allow ourselves to hold. It is important to know what direction we are headed. Proverbs 14:10 Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.

Many times in life we are very blessed, we have these blessings from Father God, we would call those times wonderful. But in the difficult times, we still are comforted by Father God, & we learn from them.

Where is this bus going?

A drunken man gets on the bus late one night, staggers up the aisle, and sits next to an elderly woman. She looks the man up and down and says, "I've got news for you. You're going straight to hell!" The man jumps up out of his seat and shouts, "Man, I'm on the wrong bus!"

Job 39

1 “Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?
Do you observe the calving of the does?
2 Can you number the months that they fulfill,
and do you know the time when they give birth,
3 when they crouch, bring forth their offspring,
and are delivered of their young?
4 Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open;
they go out and do not return to them.

5 “Who has let the wild donkey go free?
Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,
6 to whom I have given the arid plain for his home
and the salt land for his dwelling place?
7 He scorns the tumult of the city;
he hears not the shouts of the driver.
8 He ranges the mountains as his pasture,
and he searches after every green thing.

9 “Is the wild ox willing to serve you?
Will he spend the night at your manger?
10 Can you bind him in the furrow with ropes,
or will he harrow the valleys after you?
11 Will you depend on him because his strength is great,
and will you leave to him your labor?
12 Do you have faith in him that he will return your grain
and gather it to your threshing floor?

13 “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly,
but are they the pinions and plumage of love?
14 For she leaves her eggs to the earth
and lets them be warmed on the ground,
15 forgetting that a foot may crush them
and that the wild beast may trample them.
16 She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers;
though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear,
17 because God has made her forget wisdom
and given her no share in understanding.
18 When she rouses herself to flee,
she laughs at the horse and his rider.

19 “Do you give the horse his might?
Do you clothe his neck with a mane?
20 Do you make him leap like the locust?
His majestic snorting is terrifying.
21 He paws in the valley and exults in his strength;
he goes out to meet the weapons.
22 He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;
he does not turn back from the sword.
23 Upon him rattle the quiver,
the flashing spear, and the javelin.
24 With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground;
he cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet.
25 When the trumpet sounds, he says ‘Aha!’
He smells the battle from afar,
the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

26 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars
and spreads his wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up
and makes his nest on high?
28 On the rock he dwells and makes his home,
on the rocky crag and stronghold.
29 From there he spies out the prey;
his eyes behold it from far away.
30 His young ones suck up blood,
and where the slain are, there is he.”

6 John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Job 38 ~ Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

This image of Jesus Christ was taken from using the Shroud of Turin. The unknown artist mapped the face on The Shroud with a three dimensional image, and this image was created from the map.

(A rare fact that what should be a one dimensional piece of cloth could allow this. Usually a blood stain on a 2 milleniums' old cloth would be one dimensional. Perhaps it is the unexplained radiation from the Shroud of Turin that explains the unexplained two dimensional image in human blood. Different tests in different depths of the fibers have different carbon dating. The oldest carbon dating, taken from cutting deeply into the fibers, places the Shroud at the time of Christ's death. Pope John Paul II requested and received a rare viewing of the Shroud. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Three dimensional images are created from two dimensions of images from the Shroud. The pictured image above of Jesus Christ is two dimesions. For example, a road map is one dimensional - the Shroud of Turin should be this, but the Shroud of Turin is in actuality two dimensions. A topographical map showing the heights of the map would be two dimensions. An image of Jesus showing the realistic planes of His face, but is a flat image would be two dimensions. The third dimension would be a simulation of the second dimension, like a map of Jesus's facial heights and contours, a computer simulation.)

Jesus, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Jesus, the word of God, was with God in the beginning of creation.

In this life, we invite the Lord, (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) to live in our hearts. By faith, we believe that the word of God is true and written by men “moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit carried men along, moving and guiding them as they wrote in their own words what God wanted them to say.

Job 38

1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Dress for action like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,
9 when I made clouds its garment
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed limits for it
and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,
and the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal,
and its features stand out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their light is withheld,
and their uplifted arm is broken.

16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
Declare, if you know all this.

19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light,
and where is the place of darkness,
20 that you may take it to its territory
and that you may discern the paths to its home?
21 You know, for you were born then,
and the number of your days is great!

22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
for the day of battle and war?
24 What is the way to the place where the light is distributed,
or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?

25 “Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain
and a way for the thunderbolt,
26 to bring rain on a land where no man is,
on the desert in which there is no man,
27 to satisfy the waste and desolate land,
and to make the ground sprout with grass?

28 “Has the rain a father,
or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb did the ice come forth,
and who has given birth to the frost of heaven?
30 The waters become hard like stone,
and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades
or loose the cords of Orion?
32 Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season,
or can you guide the Bear with its children?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you establish their rule on the earth?

34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
that a flood of waters may cover you?
35 Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go
and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts
or given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
38 when the dust runs into a mass
and the clods stick fast together?

39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 when they crouch in their dens
or lie in wait in their thicket?
41 Who provides for the raven its prey,
when its young ones cry to God for help,
and wander about for lack of food?

The reason should be clear, when you give it some thought. The little baby in the manger would not stay there. He would grow to be a man and become the greatest threat to those who oppose God that ever existed. Today, those who oppose God find the scene of the babe in a manger still threatening. They understand who He claimed to be and who others believe He is, and they reject those claims for their lives. Somehow they understand that to be confronted by Jesus means that one cannot remain neutral. He does not leave that option open for us.

John 5: 16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. 17 Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Psalm 102: 25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.

27 But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.

28 The children of your servants will live in your presence;
their descendants will be established before you."

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