2 Corinthians 13 ~ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13

This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.

5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. 10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.


11 Finally, brothers,^{[brothers and sisters]} rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Restoration. What is appealing about this test? Aiming for peace, comfort, agreement, peace inside of us. The Love of God and grace of Jesus abides.

My oldest son worked as a waiter in college, during his fraternity president years. He told me for a long time each Sunday, a nun, a woman in her 70s, in the Austin/Georgetown Texas area, came in to his restaurant. Each Sunday, this wonderful woman would ask for my zippy fraternity president son as her waitstaff. She would arrive for a Sunday lunch, in her vestments, alone, after specifically asking for Cal. And spend about 10 or 15 minutes asking him about his classes and his life and his opinions on various things. Cal, was not attending Church at the time; called home to tell me he thought she was a very special, open, considerate, caring woman. Each Sunday, she would affirm him with a few, new sentences written on the check. And she would tip him very generously. She wrote things like this, "You are a very special and thoughtful young man. I look forward to hearing the things you comment upon."

Jesus Christ. The Lord. Was coming to visit Cal. I kid you not. Of course, this was a woman. In Genesis, God describes His attributes as both masculine and feminine. Jesus tells us about Himself in the Word of God. Jesus, our Hero, gets His hands in life as He immediately reaches for Peter. Jesus bends down and sits with the woman caught in adultery. Jesus is so filled with amazing goodness, He travels on His Sabbath to minister to my son. Seeing in Cal wonderful possibilities and reasons to go out of His way to love this young man.

These are the attributes we are not skilled to point out in Jesus! He has are so much amazing goodness and His unending up-building in Love is plentiful.

Psalm 119:50
This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

Isaiah was given the blessing of seeing the AMAZING Blessing of God's Unending LOVE.

Isaiah 12:1
You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me."

Jesus spend His days proclaiming individual mercies and love, instead of rules and severity.

Isaiah 51:1
And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way. ”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."

Isaiah 66:13
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Philippians 2:1-3
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 selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Acts 13:15
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”

Acts 15:32
And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.

Colossians 2:2
That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ

Colossians 2:19b
Holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

This passage has key phrases influencing my life for many years. Paul is severe here, but he relates so well the phrases

my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down

An example I've tried to use for years in parenting and in communicating -  is the third time of reaching out. Going the extra mile Scripture asks of us in communicating, before judgment, in disciplining children. Jesus makes our lives meaningful by continuing to reach towards us.

1 John 4:19
We love, because He first loved us.





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2 Corinthians 5:6-15 ~ we persuade others

2 Corinthians 5:6-15

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

When God is establishing faith, He says aim to please HIM and walk by faith.


Numbers 17:1-3
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, and get from them staffs, one for each fathers' house, from all their chiefs according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. Write each man's name on his staff, and write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each fathers' house.

A staff is used as a walking stick. Case in point, a person walking by faith would need one of these.

In both the ninth chapter of Matthew's Gospel and the twentieth chapter, Jesus encounters literally blind men.

Matthew 9:27-29
And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”

Jesus was asked to help. He asked them for faith. He said their faith established His help.

Again and again the blind are brought to Jesus.

In Mark's Gospel, we find:

Mark 8:21-25
22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Jesus gives the man privacy and His full attention. Jesus makes a diligent effort to be on the man's level in the healing.

Each day, as Christians, the act of asking HIM for the opportunity and talent to help Him is important.

This is our aim:

2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

Timothy has come from a home where one parent has faith, the other does not. We live making judgments for all of our decisions. It's vital to remember we are is known to God; boast not about outward appearance, on what is in the heart.

Proverbs 14:10
The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.

John, having met God walking the earth and traveling with HIM, said He is love.

What is the fuel of those walking by faith?

Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 3:3
You are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

Matthew 14:36
Implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.


Be of good courage.




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Hosea 14:2-9 ~ Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips..

2 Chronicles 32, 3-4:
“And he took counsel with his officers and his mighty men to stop up the waters of the fountains that were outside the city, and they assisted him. And a large multitude gathered and stopped up all the fountains and the stream that flowed in the midst of the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?""



Hosea 14:2-9

Take with you words
and return to the Lord;
say to him,
“Take away all iniquity;
accept what is good,
and we will pay with bulls
the vows of our lips.

3 Assyria shall not save us;
we will not ride on horses;
and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’
to the work of our hands.
In you the orphan finds mercy.”

4 I will heal their apostasy;
I will love them freely,
for my anger has turned from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
he shall blossom like the lily;
he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
6 his shoots shall spread out;
his beauty shall be like the olive,
and his fragrance like Lebanon.

7 They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like an evergreen cypress;
from me comes your fruit.

9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
whoever is discerning, let him know them;
for the ways of the Lord are right,
and the upright walk in them,
but transgressors stumble in them.

King Hezekiah was raised to understand, by his late father King Ahaz, to survive as King of Judea, he needed to understand political, monetary, religious compromise to have a good life as a puppet king for the Assyrian Empire next door. Hezekiah started out on just that path, pulling gold from the abandoned Temple by Ahaz to give as tribute.

This is part of an amazingly jaw dropping time in the history of God's chosen people. The people decided to rely upon HIM and work ferociously to build upon their hopes while constructing fortifications against the Enemy. It is the only time in the Scriptures a leader has to ask the people to stop donating to HIM. The coffers are overflowing.

2 Kings 19
14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said: “O Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 16 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 17 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands 18 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 19 So now, O Lord our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.”

20 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard."

2 Kings 20
5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you."

2 Chronicles 32:23
And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.

Hezekiah lived such a prosperous reign, it is the only one compared to Solomon in prosperity and trade.


King Hezekiah's bulla or seal. In the Josef Chaim Kaufman Collection, Archaeological Center in Tel Aviv, Israel. Found also is Hezekiah's servant seal, which hung on a cord for the honored person to wear. Archaeologically, there is no doubt of these seals. Archaeologically, Hezekiah is supremely rich of finds - 2 actual seals of Hezekiah's, at least 5 bullae belonging to servants of Hezekiah, the tunnels for water, the Shiloah Inscription and the evidence of abundance in purchasing. Plus the historical knowledge of the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel and the wealth and independence of the Kingdom of Hezekiah's Judah in the midst of the Assyrian Empire.

All of these bullae bear the name of Hezekiah, without doubt.

Return to the Lord;
say to him,
“Take away all iniquity;
accept what is good"

Far from being an austere prophet Hosea says beautiful Words of HIM.

They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

John 15:1
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

Jesus was absolutely in agreement with Hosea, proclaiming faith for today and in this marvelous generation -

Matthew 13:32
Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.

Faith proclaimed through the generations.

Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed." +

We place our trust in Jesus, our strong deliverer. Each day.



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A Good Man

Jesus Christ, the Messiah

Revelation 3:14

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God

Matthew 12:18

Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles

Hebrews 5:9

And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him

Oldest Icon of Jesus Christ

Proverbs 12:2
A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices He condemns.

Proverbs 14:14
The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

Psalm 145:7
They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

Jeremiah 31:12
They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more.

John 7:12
And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.”

Hosea 3:5
Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.

Romans 15:14
I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

1 Peter 2
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

After one has been enlightened, and tasted the heavenly gift of grace, shared in the Holy Spirit. Tasted the goodness of the Word of God, testified to the powers of the age to come. We should not fall away. It's almost impossible to restore again to repentance. We must believe, we have only once crucified the Son of God. We must not harm ourselves and hold Him up to contempt.

Hebrews 9:14
Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”


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Matthew 5:33-41 ~ Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'

Matthew 5:33-41

33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.



The Scriptures are situation based. Abraham's life was not Jacob's. Or we would have told the same events over and over. Sometimes an evil person will be convinced and convicted of goodness when presented over and over with gracious kindness and love.

James Chapter 4 tells us about dealing with evil.

James 4:5-8a
“He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Resist like Joseph and Potipher's wife - RUN.

Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

I've memorized few verses in my life, I actually pray and quote the gist of Scripture. This is one I have memorized and will pray this when feeling pressed. I gave this to a friend of mine and she was trapped in an airplane bathroom minutes later. She said this verse kept her from freaking out. It is a handy verse. Remembering even the key issues of truth, righteousness, the Gospel-Peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of Salvation. And the Sword of the Spirit - The WORD of GOD. Which is why I memorized it.

Romans 13:12 calls this the armor of light. So more than one Biblical source says this is good.

Ephesians 4:27
and do not give the devil a foothold.

2 Corinthians 6:7
In truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left

Jude 1:9
But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

Sometimes more words do not help.






A recent article in Christianity Today says Christians have a moral duty not to remain silent in the face of cruelty. Yes to good. No to evil.

Some suffering is - just the way the world is.

Revelation 12:9
The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.




All of creation was affected by the Fall.

Genesis 3: 17
To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

 Life is rough, Jesus commented on that.

Romans 8:20-22
20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.






No one is innocent.

Psalm 65
Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,
and to you shall vows be performed.
2 O you who hear prayer,
to you shall all flesh come.
3 When iniquities prevail against me,
you atone for our transgressions.
4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!


Mark 10: 18
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.


Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God


Our suffering is not directly related to our sins.

Luke 13:2-5
Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."





C. S. Lewis said, in ‘The Problem of Pain’: “The question of suffering is not just an academic issue. The questioner may well have in mind some bitter personal experience - all the more reason to handle the subject 'with gentleness and respect”

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

Out of His love, the Judge became the Rescuer.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

He drank the cup of suffering to the dregs in order to save us.

Isaiah 53:3-5
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.


Luke 22:44
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.



The main key is prayer. We consider this secondary to action, however Jesus did this continually. When we call to HIM, we are answered.


Revelations 21:1-5
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"

 Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

I believe this as I call upon the LORD. And rest and trust in Him.


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Matthew 9:27-31 ~ two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”

Jesus Goes Up Alone onto a Mountain to Pray, painted by James Tissot (French, 1836-1902).

Matthew 9:27-31

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.


I suppose mostly people are, "Show me the money!" If they think about wanting a relationship with Jesus. We expect Jesus to heal; we are hardly surprised HE touched the men to heal them. We know Jesus expects faith and works within faith.

Let's think about what people saw when they looked at Jesus.

John 7:41-43
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.

Paul tells us in Acts, what he thought of Jesus walking the earth.

Acts 26:9
“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth."

The powerful and well connected in The Temple called Him - Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus mostly spoke of Himself as  Son of Man. Meaning as Jesus went about healing, soothing, speaking mercy over sacrifice, HE thought of Himself as one of the people.

Colossians 2:16-19 tells us more about Jesus being busy as Messiah:
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

Jesus, as much as I like the speech, very much, did not go about saying, "I Have a Dream." Jesus went about sharing healing with souls. Telling them this life changing event was not solely done by "Son of David" - their miracle was created and accomplished by their faith. Jesus was very much about mercy to them, and to us.

Jesus changed lives, these healed men became proclaimers of healing, wholeness and encouraged others to look to GOD.

This change tells us about Jesus. True Hero. Savior of the World. Light of Light. True God of True God.

Oh, come let us worship HIM. Always. Amen.



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Genesis 41:1-13 ~ we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation

Egyptian Feast, painted by Edwin Long 1877

Genesis 41:1-13

After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. 3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, 11 we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”


Ah. The mysteries of God's timing.

And God's mysteries are astonishing - two people dreamed together on the same night.

How long did Abraham wait upon the Lord for the birth of Isaac?

25 years.

There are four levels of faith during these decades. The first - accepting, patiently waiting. The second -challenging God keep Your promise. Third - fixing up God's promises, do-it-yourself method. Fourth- non-faith, simply ignoring or laughing, God is no longer a factor.

We constantly think of Abraham as being righteous because of his belief. 
Isn't Joseph absolutely amazing. 

The Vizier of Pharaoh - how long did he remain in prison from Potiphar's house? We know longer than two years, yet Joseph did not record more than a prison term. He was focused on the fulfilling of God's promises. He asked for his bones to go to fulfilling God's promises, on the great day, of that victory.


Genesis 50:22-26
So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Jesus loved to find faith. Joseph obtained the second highest position on the earth - Vizier to Pharaoh. Joseph's faith worked ... in his favor.

Luke 18:1
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Matthew 8:10-15
When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

What did Jesus say about God's timing and patience?

Luke 18:7
And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.

God enjoys prayer, plentifully, and spirited debate.

Luke 18:5-8
Yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.

Recall with me, the LORD was partial to Jacob and Jacob wrestled God for blessings quite a few times.

Jesus wondered about faith.

Luke 18:8
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

Jesus knew that dreamers and possibility thinkers have trouble on earth. What did He say to them?

John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!


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Romans 5 ~ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Romans 5

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


I feel so uncomfortable when people, as Christian groups, attempt to say what Father God does with His creation, in His work of salvation. Jesus calls us to be Salt. Not Judgement. Not uninformed.

This passage points out a truth I've rarely thought of. Verse 13, many people in history, and alive today, who have never been told about the 10 Commandments are similar to the time before the Law. The 10 Commandments - all law is based upon these. Even today, people exist in ignorance of His law. So, interestingly, we have three steps during the millenniums of HIStory. Before the law, The Old Covenant and The New Covenant.

So, that works out neatly for the uninformed. No. Not really. When Jesus died on the cross for sinners, He did not just forgive the people standing on earth the day of His Sacrifice, He forgave all people.

Jesus is life, and His life IS the Light of mankind.

Jesus is Genesis. He is the beginning Word; Word with God, and the Word is God.

The Gospel, for it is the Power of God, is Salvation to Everyone who Believes.

For the righteousness of God is revealed faith for faith. Given faith, we grow in faith when we believe.

For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. This is from the first chapter of Romans.

Romans 10:9
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Matthew 10:32
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

Those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness....
reign in life - through Jesus Christ. Now, that is an interesting promise.

Psalm 106:30,31
Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was stayed.
31 And that was counted to him as righteousness
from generation to generation forever.

Phinehas was a stand up kind of man.

In The New Covenant - grace reigns through righteousness - leading to eternal life.

2 Corinthians 7:10
For having sorrow in a godly way results in repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets. But the sorrow of the world produces death.

The free gift is not like the trespass, grace reigns through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Jesus Christ the Lord calls us to be salt and light. Having flavor. Being joyful and bright. Lean not to the left of asceticism, nor the right of judgement. Thanks be to GOD, I do not have to judge, it is mine to point to Jesus Christ the Lord. He leads me in His paths of righteousness for His name's sake. I have been justified by faith, I have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are saved by His life. 



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