Matthew 6:7-15 ~ Do not be like Gentiles, for Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Cedar of Lebanon

Matthew 6:7-15

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed ^[holy] be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Footnotes: Some manuscripts add,

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

I pray this Lord's Prayer a lot. I was very, very surprised after taking the class to become a Catholic, in 1994, after my first confession - we were assigned to sit in Church, be reflectively meditative, on the cross, and say the Lord's Prayer as the realignment in forgiveness. Yet these are the words of Jesus. Holy Words. Words given to us as part of the gift of forgiveness.

I say these words even when I'm angry and unforgiving. Rick Warren and, his brother-in-law, Tom Holladay discussed forgiveness, "In 40 Days of Love." Forgiveness gives up the right to hurt someone. Forgiveness gives up the right to slander someone.

The Topics
Session One: Love Matters Most
Session Two: Love is Patient, Love is Kind
Session Three: Love Speaks the Truth
Session Four: Love is Forgiving
Session Five: Love is not Selfish
Session Six: The Habits of a Loving Heart

We can provoke one another to unforgiveness. This behavior can spiral down to sadism. Relationships can become toxic. We are not in God's grace to accept the unacceptable. There is a very sound reason Jesus spoke these words.


Matthew 18:21-23
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (Or seventy times seven)

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

God could have said forgive endlessly. He did not. 

Genesis 4:24
If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times."

We could quibble over 77 or 490, missing the Spirit.

Rick Warren spoke in the DVD about forgiveness hurting the deepest in divorce. He said forgiveness doesn't require a reconciliation. Forgiveness requires giving up the right to be grief-stricken and reconstruct the hurt. Forgiveness is the releasing of judgmental anger. This does not require forgetting, just letting go of the desire to hurt and be hurt. Rick Warren refers to wisdom as learning - the actions of the person are like the fruit identifying the tree. We learn what type of person we deal with. Forgiveness does not require the loss of wisdom.

Proverbs 16:20-24
20 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body. 

Add to the joys of forgiveness - this:
Picking up on discovering good, blessed by trusting the LORD. Being discerning.

Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

We should give ourselves credit, like the Father running to his prodigal son - when we forgive with our mouths and brain, and allowing for the forgiveness fulling our hearts to be - the tree of life.  Certainly we are given grace to give complete forgiveness all at once. Sometimes the completion of forgiveness is a process.

The evil one would say - you just aren't forgiving, you don't have peace, you are a fake, they probably don't deserve forgiveness. Instead, lean on HIM and say, " Father, please. Help that forgiveness be the tree of life from You."

 Matthew 13:32
It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches

Tulla, Mexico - the tree is really that large.

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Nehemiah 11 ~ at the king's side in all matters concerning the people

Nehemiah 11

Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.

3 These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon's servants. 4 And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez; 5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite. 6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men.

7 And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, 8 and his brothers, men of valor, 928. 9 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, ruler of the house of God, 12 and their brothers who did the work of the house, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, 13 and his brothers, heads of fathers' houses, 242; and Amashsai, the son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, 14 and their brothers, mighty men of valor, 128; their overseer was Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim.

15 And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God; 17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader of the praise,[f] who gave thanks, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were 284.

19 The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were 172. 20 And the rest of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, every one in his inheritance. 21 But the temple servants lived on Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.

22 The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God. 23 For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a fixed provision for the singers, as every day required. 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's side in all matters concerning the people.


25 And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 and in Jeshua and in Moladah and Beth-pelet, 27 in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its villages, 28 in Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages, 29 in En-rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its villages. So they encamped from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom. 31 The people of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages, 32 Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 And certain divisions of the Levites in Judah were assigned to Benjamin.


Nehemiah 11:1 Hebrew nine hands

"Mark Twain" (meaning "Mark number two") was a Mississippi River term: the second mark on the line that measured depth signified two fathoms, or twelve feet—safe depth for the steamboat. If we read this passage we are going to think about why wouldn't you want to live in a city.

This particular city, Jerusalem, was in complete ruins.

The passage was like a newspaper article and would be vastly interesting to the former Jewish slaves choosing to remain in the Persian empire. People who had become very comfortable in the Persian Empire and chose to remain. Like Hadassah and Mordecai.


Esther 2:5-11

Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away. 7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. 8 So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. 9 And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king's palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem. 10 Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known. 11 And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.


Scripture is about being surrounded by life.
The people who left slavery are finding life difficult. The people choosing to remain in their familiar comfort are having difficulty.

My grandmother and her sister would read the newspapers from Lousiana the same day each week, pouring over what was going on in Franklinton and Richardson, Louisiana.

This passage was extremely important  - saying a destroyed nation has people thronging into the city and the country - creating a new nation. People had a choice to make, were they staying with the familiar or braving the elements? The important choice wasn't the judgements of the neighbors or the community. We can clearly see the people praying to fulfill God's plan for their lives, made a difference. The Christians choosing to die bravely in the coliseum made a huge difference. And the Christians who fled for their lives, carried Scripture and the Good News of Jesus Christ with them.

So when faced with challenges -
the important consideration is what God would have you do each day with your prayer, your words, your actions. Asking Him to help you build the life He wants.

How did the the Jews survive being forced to walk away from their families, their small children, their ruined homes and towns? Not many nations would be a people, much less a returning slave population with the blessing of the Emperor. Three Emperors were so impressed with the Jews they vowed to return their nation. Twice the promise did not come to pass. What would be the consideration allowing these destroyed people to serve with such magnitude the people around them were impressed?

What can we say made the conquered nation be an inspiration to the Persian Emperors?

How did survival become praise, becoming a nation again?

God did not leave them alone. Jeremiah convinced them, upon disaster, the LORD was trying to tell them to straighten up and fly right - trusting and honoring HIM. To their credit, they believed Jeremiah, a bit late, but they believed Him. Ezekiel rose up and agreed with Jeremiah. Saying don't despair He will rescue and raise us for being HIS people. God provided them, in their darkest hour, with prophesy that would require belief and trust. The Children of Israel in Nehemiah 11 are seeing the Lord's Promises bring them into safe harbor.

Being our Father God of mercy, the remnants not returning are found a plan carrying their faith into the milleniums.

We see Israel has survived after two milleniums and we see so have the tombs we honor of Queen Esther and Mordecai.

He has carried others who honor HIM in other millenniums - He is still working and doesn't plan to drop us on our heads.






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Matthew 14:13-21 ~ he had compassion on them and healed their sick

Matthew 14:13-21

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.”

19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

In the midst of His day, a day filled with requests, endless ideas of what they perceive God to be, ideas of what He should be, their joy, their pain, their trouble, Jesus acted lovingly.

So much need. So many requests. With God, He will find a way.

Matthew 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Who are these people peppering Jesus with their prayer requests? It is us. Jesus as the Son of God can speak a blessing over God's provision. How can we do less?

John 5:17
Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

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Mark 6:14-29 ~ Ask me

Herod Antipas was known as a builder. Tiberus, the city was built to let Caesar know - Herod was his man. Herod Antipas lived on a stage, where he liked to create images; fittingly this ruin survives the best of all he built.

This coin of Herod Antipas was carefully created without images to please his
Jewish Kingdom, who, biblically, did not like images.

Mark 6:14-29 (English Standard Version)

14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

~ And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."

Herod was unwise. He had divorced his wife and married his brother's wife. He was worried Jesus was John's reincarnation and he hoped Jesus would perform for him - a miracle. Herod Antipas, was what is known as a "poser". A Jewish King, leading God's chosen people, while twisting or ignoring the rules to suit himself or Caesar.

Jesus called Herod a fox. Unlike "poser", Jesus meant fox as in the traditional cunning animal. A fox - typically live in small family groups, opportunistic feeders that hunt live prey. Jesus loved and forgave all of us. Herod the Great had killed his father-in-law's family in order to rule. Like a fox in a chicken house. Jesus could see into our hearts and Jesus sees straight into Herod. Unless a fox is killing your livestock, it's a great pleasure to see a fox. Splendid apparel with a shrewd face. Jesus loved Herod and could appreciate him, even for his flaws.

Herod is offering half his kingdom in exchange for the life of a man of God. He has posed so long as so many different roles - even to himself - he has forgotten...

Isaiah 7:9
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

Herod Antipas did forfeit ....his whole kingdom; his small family group included Herodias' brother. Herodias' brother convinced Caesar, after 42 years, Herod Antipas was a failure. Herod Antipas and Herodias were cut off and exiled from Israel.

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Ruth 3:1-18 ~ I do

"Marty" - this movie about a man seeking love, won Best Picture and three other award from the Academy Awards. Ernest Borgnine, is Marty, pictured here with his on-screen Mother.


Ruth 3:1-18 American Standard Version

1 And Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 2 And now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor. 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing-floor, but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. 5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest I will do.

6 And she went down unto the threshing-floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. 10 And he said, Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter: thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followest not young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou sayest; for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as Jehovah liveth: lie down until the morning.

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning. And she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor. 15 And he said, Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it; and she held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and he went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law. 18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day.


1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.


Coincidences. Ruth married into the family of Naomi. Naomi takes a moabite with her to become an ancestor of Jesus the Lord. That was one fine moabite, but this is the family of God and if you look at the descriptions you find many different physical attributes. David was described as ruddy and handsome. God chose for Jesus to have a blended family.

And then you go many, many years ahead to Thomas Jefferson. A man people debate, rudely actually, if he was a Christian. Jefferson answered this for himself, Thomas Jefferson took a Bible and he began to read HIS Word looking for his heart to grow warm, looking to see what resonated in Thomas Jefferson for truth. Jefferson felt so strongly, he took the Word and began to assemble his warm heart parts, the ones Thomas Jefferson said, "The truth rings and eminates from these Words." Coincidence. John Adams eventually worked for years upon a project. His political career had been hurt by his former friend Thomas Jefferson. Adams began to work and work to restore a bridge of meaning and warmth again. And as John Adams died, he was a sinner. And John Adams, according to several eye witness accounts, cried out to the effect of this, "Thomas Jefferson lives!" Adams knew full well Thomas Jefferson had been ill. The coincidence - both men required a Savior to live. And had found that savior.

Who will we account worthy to say, I've done the works of Salvation? God says Salvation is a Gift only from Him. No one may boast of works done for Salvation.

And how very touching that the work of the heart, to repair a bridge of friendship, was honored by the Lord in John Adams' first glimpse of His Kingdom.

God does not give us works to create Salvation, but how pleased He is with those who preserve the way, the truth and the life in Him. These men established a freedom atheists have been unable to stamp upon and diminish. The Supreme Court has marble upon the walls proclaiming Old Testament ethics come from the Law given to us through Moses. Until fifty years ago, the Congress was used by a congregation as a Church on Sundays. These rights are given to us, in our Constitution. Visit the Memorial to Abraham Lincoln. Both speeches engraved into the walls tell us of Lincoln's spiritual life and considerations. My family and I visited this two days ago, tears were on our cheeks for the efforts Lincoln went to, living his convictions. Surely his photographs of his tenure, in the Office of the President of the United States, tell of his personal growth and his determination to heal the nation.

Lincoln also had a coincidence. Three days before Good Friday, April 14th 1865, Abraham Lincoln had a dream where he felt he left his bed, traveled down the hallways of the White House, to see a corpse. People were weeping everyone. Lincoln turned and asked, "Who has died in the White House?" The President has been assassinated, he was told. Would Abraham Lincoln be enough of a saint to die on Good Friday? Why should we act as his jury. This man made his life's work to say men are created equal. A union so fought for, should be preserved, and Abraham Lincoln prepared his efforts, in his last speech, to tell a weary nation - work on forgiveness.

Coincidences. How delicate is God's Hand. Let us each day place ourselves in His Hand, asking for the nation conceived in liberty and justice for all, should pray and engrave upon its walls - HE is our faith, our hope, our love. In HIM shall nations look to provide justice with mercy. Allowing us to walk humbly with HIM. He asks our country to provide one another with freedom. How shall we discern this freedom - give unto others what you would have them give to you.

Never forget the freedoms so many people have fought for in Arlington Cemetery - are not a politically correct freedom which assumes only the current politics and philosophies, - is the enduring bread Jesus gave us. See the crosses each would want upon their tomb. Always be one who is incouraged by wonders, acts of love, leaning upon HIS judgments not our own, and never fail to be generous, and gracious in honoring and encouraging others. We build our lives, our families, our nation in these truths and kindnesses. Let me, Father GOD, each day and put out my hands - who will be built up by me today? In the name of Jesus Christ, give me the opportunity to show Your Kingdom on earth is at hand. Amen.

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