Nehemiah 8:1-12 ~ be quiet this day is holy, do not be grieved

Engraved by Louis Haghe, 1842

Nehemiah 8:1-12 (Revised Standard Edition)

[1] And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. [2] And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. [3] And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. [4] And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithi'ah, Shema, Anai'ah, Uri'ah, Hilki'ah, and Ma-asei'ah on his right hand; and Pedai'ah, Mish'a-el, Malchi'jah, Hashum, Hash-bad'danah, Zechari'ah, and Meshul'lam on his left hand. [5] And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people; and when he opened it all the people stood. [6] And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God; and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. [7] Also Jesh'ua, Bani, Sherebi'ah, Jamin, Akkub, Shab'bethai, Hodi'ah, Ma-asei'ah, Keli'ta, Azari'ah, Jo'zabad, Hanan, Pelai'ah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. [8] And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly; and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

[9]
And Nehemi'ah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

[10] Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." [11] So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved." [12] And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.


~ Be quiet, this day is holy; do not be grieved.

In the destruction of the first Temple, Israel and Judah believed they understood the Lord just fine, as far as the Lord was relevant. They were self-sufficiently good enough.

In the building of the second Temple, the people stood among the ruins of their city: seeing needed work, what had been cast down due to sin. The Children of God stood as freed slaves with a hope and a future before them. Instead of pride, they understood how far they were from being holy and self-sufficiently good. Instead they felt grace and had to be reminded of the gift. But the Lord didn’t stand back, sighing His people could never get it right. The Lord reminded them of grace and joy. The Lord gave a Holy day of joy.


Luke 18:11
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”


Peter learned something of this as well.


Luke 18
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”




John 21
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

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Matthew 11:20-30 ~ And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?

Matthew 11:20-30

Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”


25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”


Jesus is pushing a bit here. Challenging. He wants the people seeing mighty acts of God to be doing the work of Him.

John 6:29
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

After having their hearts touched, to complete faith with actions pleasing to Him. Asking each day, hands out, what would you like to discuss with my soul Father? What could I do with Your favor and grace today?


Challenges of Jesus can be daunting. Where is Bethsaida today? Archaeology suggests two sites as possibly Bethsaida: el-Araj and El-Mesydiah. Both of these sites used ground penetrating radar - revealing only a small number of ruins.

And Jesus' adult hometown - Capernaum? A beautiful way to spend time. Views of the Sea of Galilee. Vistas reminding us of this - Capernaum was so prosperous, so removed from Jerusalem - it was to remain intact for another 13 centuries. An amazing blessing for the town Jesus chose as an adult hometown. The Three Jewish Revolts and the destruction of Jerusalem did not touch Capernaum. Peter, Andrew, James and John left a virtual paradise for Jesus. Without much or any... persuasion. Why? They felt something more eternally changing in themselves, being called to walk with Jesus.


Matthew 13
"The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 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.”

Peter, Andrew, James, John and the 72 disciples wanted to rest in the shade of Jesus and nestle in His branches.

Capernaum today is a restful place, allowing the visitor to see Israel as a land of milk and honey. The intact archaeology sees Jesus allowed Capernaum and the next four centuries of visitors to see this city yoked to His protection. Capernaum hosted the Church, which Peter's house became, having visitors continued to worship and leave the same Father worshiping remarks in the plaster as near Peter's grave.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Isaiah 32:18
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

John 15:7-8
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

1 John 2:17
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.



One leper returned, out of ten who were healed. Jesus commented the man was on a higher path, going on the good journey. And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” Jesus tells us when we ask Him He will find rest. Find the yoke He asks is light.

Cynics might say this is the prosperity gospel. The healed, formerly leper, knew gratitude. This healed man has some loved ones to rejoice to go to. God tells us something of prayer and life. God tells us life will give tribulation. And He overcomes. This passage is a challenge.

Capernaum is an archaeological viewpoint of prayer answered in this life. Fruit from the tree. Capernaum rose to His challenge. Experiencing life in abundance. This city was created from need of more agriculture during the first Roman occupation of Israel and was established to provide food. Hosting pilgrims wishing to walk with Jesus or at least in His footsteps. This is Jesus blessing Life Abundant. An example perhaps of grace. God's goodness poured in first to this place. It was not earned, but grace flowed forth. God's grace isn't earned, but goes where He would have His will be done.

Psalm 116:9
That I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!


Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


This isn't boot straps, this is faith.

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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Psalm 23 ~ I shall return to dwell in the house of the Lord

Psalm 63:4

So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.^{[besides waters of rest]}
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness.^{[in paths of righteousness]}
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,waters.^{[valley of deep darkness]}
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely.^[Only] goodness and mercy ^{[steadfast love]} shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell.^{[shall return to dwell]} in the house of the Lord
forever.^{[for length of days]}

David lived a confusing life of contrasts. Overlooked son of from a father with eight sons. Hero of Saul. Friend to the court and prince. State Enemy. Mercenary. All the while anointed of God. And still David was empowered by the Holy Spirit to knowledgeably tell us about blessings and the expectation of Grace. Saying I shall return to dwell in the House of the Lord.


Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.

 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 

17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”


How Do We Approach God -

Matthew Henry points out while the 10 lepers were following the law to avoid human contact, and at the same time they were compelling a weary, travel worn Jesus to answer them. He did answer - and like Abraham and Namaan, action was required of them.

What does our Connection to God, our Father tell us -

One lone Samaritan stopped in verse 15. He understood to find the Source of his Healing. The healed man is in true understanding Jesus is Master. And in returning to Jesus, the clean, healed man is praised by Jesus Christ Himself for being unique. Raised above the status of sojourner. Not just along for the path. Deliberate. Faith has made him well and his path is established.

Wanting the Glory of God to be part of our lives -

David would understand the leper. So many of our Psalms come from David abiding as a shepherd in the field. David like the lepers, expected God to answer. And David wanted the glory of God to be part of his life. When David put forth his hands each day, David considered his position to one approved by God and looked over the responsibilities God gave him.

We all have a path to accomplish -

Like the clean, healed man they both had a path to accomplish. It would be easy to see David, being anointed as a child, lived a life of gratitude. If we look at what the parable can bring us today, we see very possibly like David the clean, healed man had much to look forward to return to.

Building ourselves in God -

Looking each day to find the day sufficient, giving God thanks, letting the troubles of today be for today. God tells him take the high path, his plans are within God's will, Faith in God makes hope, love create a well path. Gratitude enabling us to forward.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

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Leviticus 26:4 ~ yield their fruit

Leviticus 26:4
Then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.


Leviticus is mentioned and people groan. Have we changed much since our story was being the Children of Israel? Oddly enough, the Law was established to bring ...

... Blessings. Of the six pages in Biblical references two pages are the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses. Why so few mentions of blessings in the Bible?

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

With plans this large, God just doesn't have to gush. His yes is yes. His no is no. A promise does not require going on and on.

Amos 5:24
But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Jesus spoke of rain

Matthew 5:45
That you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.


Into each life a little rain must fall. And what do we do with adversity. Do we sit and ask why me, declare life is unfair. I'm sure we all do that minus the Lord. But when we look to the example of Joshua. And interestingly enough there is one Jesus in the Bible, we know intimately, and that name in Aramaic is almost Joshua. Joshua took a situation that was unfathomably broken and kept working, kept hoping, in faith Joshua expected God to keep working today. And No One was listening to Joshua.

Moses faced many tremendous battles, finally Joshua had all the Children of Israel braced and willingly doing God's will and suddenly.... all the kings in the area decided to band together and wipe out this rag tag civilization. Amazing victories occurred. Because the people finally worked together.

So we see rain can be a very good thing, when adversity is used to keep moving forward. Keep the Faith. Hoping God is still at work today. (Jesus said that.) Joshua could have run into the Holy Land leaving behind the Children of Israel. Instead Joshua Loved. And through the Holy Spirit speaking in Joshua, He said as for me and my house, We Will Serve the LORD.

How did Joshua handle the victory?

Joshua 8:33-35
All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.

34 Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.


Joshua was not just blessing his own House. He was working to draw others into Loving and Trusting the Lord.

Then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Isaiah 33:22
For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us.

Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.


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


Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.


Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

2 Corinthians 4:1
Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

2 Corinthians 4:8
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair

Isaiah 25:9
In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

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Psalm 134 ~ Come, bless the Lord, all you

Psalm 134

Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the Lord!

3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!




Alice Roosevelt famously said, "If you have nothing nice to say, come sit next to me."

The Christian community is community and while we just might not buy into pet rocks, we sure spent money on books and t-shirts on the Prayer of Jabez, what, about twelve years ago, or so. In the 1980s, there was a run on angels and from the pulpit, you heard pros and cons on that topic.

Well, there is a slightly new trend with t-shirts and bumper stickers saying, "Sure Jesus loves you, but HE loves me better."

I love a good Christian discussion and apologize to our Pastor sending out his email on the Sunday sermon which really made me respond like Arnold in Mr. Carter's old tv-series. Oh me! Oh me!

We saw this kick off in Jacob's family - Joseph had a beautiful coat and stood up to say, "And When I am King of the Foooooooorest!" Didn't go off well for Joseph. Or maybe that did, it sorta depends if you are looking at it this way down Highway Six or that way. That's an Aggie reference, if you know what I mean. Mississippi Queen.

Okay, seriously now. Does God Almighty the Alpha and the Omega have favorites? We can trust God to tell us.

Malachi 1

1 The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob's brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.

Evidently, we see God's favor by adversity and prosperity. Um, not exactly, just as there is no one answer to any circumstance, God is explaining His Heart to us. So, if we are pinging this argument around, maybe it's another grim example of the outrageousness of the Old Testament. And let's smile together, because the Old and New Testament have a few similarities.

Acts 13:22
And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

Acts Thirteen is quoting to us, by extrapolation, 1 Samuel 13:14.

We clearly see Joseph had adversity, David and Joseph had both adversity and prosperity.

Okay, maybe you aren't convinced yet. I'll try some more.

Jesus spoke of defining people, in their walk on adversity and prosperity.

 Luke 13
 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² 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.” 

1 Corinthians 2

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—

¹⁰ these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Do we have any Christian flawed and loved saints in the New Testament with this topic? We do. And the topic is discussed by Paul. Who loved Timothy, as his son.

1 Timothy 3
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Puffed with conceit.

John's Gospel starts Chapter 21 this way:
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.

And towards the end of the Chapter we find out this:
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

And the same disciple tells us this:
John 13:23
One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side


Why do we say not to be a recent convert?

Because when Jesus tells us He overcomes the world, there is a time of transfiguration. Love blossoms. John saw the transfiguration and was never going to leave Jesus behind. Being adopted as Jesus carried the Cross for me.

And for you. God wants to save the Whole World. Jesus adopted Mary right after the Cross He carried for us. She was the first person He encountered rising and overcoming death. Who records this?

John 20
7 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Adoption. Into the Family of God.

Favorites? Do we favor our children? I'm flawed, when I favor one of my two sons -then they act human and I'm off to the next child. I see my children have different gifts and abilities - they need encouragement to see they are uniquely made, gifted, to be themselves. The people God created them to be. And talking to them, my heart sometimes breaks a little, they can't be more blessed knowing the unique, beautiful person they are and be more grateful.

People who LOVE want to share HIS Love for others. Just was we want our children to be in healthy love with themselves. Working out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Not singing "Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble, when I'm perfect in every way."

Our Father God is Father. He is Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ the Risen Lord. He is Three in One. We set HIM first. And love others as ourselves. This community keeps us connected in gratitude, humility - the awe and inspiration of fellow believers drawing near to Worship and Praise Him.


Our deepest relationship with our Hero Jesus Christ starts as personal relationship and grows to become this... we rejoice to see Him Love and bless others.

Ephesians 4
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.


Lord Jesus Christ, go with me today... I need Thee. Much more than You shall need me. Let us count together, the blessings You have given me. Amen.

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Psalm 97 ~ Fire goes before him and burns up His adversaries all around.

Psalm 97

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O Lord.
9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown^[dawns] for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!


Prayer. The invitation to prayer is not from an angry Judge one must plead to. We had thirty Churches gather for the first time in 2011 and seven hundred people prayed for our county in January. Later in the summer there were tri-county fires so bad the relief shelter had to keep moving. People wanted to donate chapstick and t-shirts to the fire fighters and were told to not drive into the area. That might sound silly to Californians with fire history, but our County had not seen fires like this in two hundred years. And we had firefighters from Alaska arrive in Texas and from all over.

When you look at the photos later - the fires licked the buildings and left many, many structures intact.

Proverbs 3
25 Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes; 26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

The Lord loves big prayers. We live in the subtropics. Lately the dry subtropics. Why don't we remember to pray for weather in our areas. Not just in picnic weather. We all say we'd like to see the return of everyday slight showers to our area. Why not pray each day for the Country, the hope in our future, for our children, grandchildren and for the return of more normal weather patterns.

Practical prayer with a group effort.

Father God, our nation has some unrest. Give us direction and blessing. Let our news be more hopeful. Let our skies be fair and filled with forgiveness. Help us to build a strong Nation before You. And we shall give You the glory. Fathers return to sons. More meaningful events each day to fill a heart. And more brave courage You delight in. We ask in the name of Jesus. Always in hope adding Your will be done. Amen.

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Psalm 70 ~ May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”

Psalm 70

Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
2 Let them be put to shame and confusion
who seek my life!
Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
3 Let them turn back because of their shame
who say, “Aha, Aha!”

4 May all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
say evermore, “God is great!”
5 But I am poor and needy;
hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay!


Isaiah 14
For the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2 And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the Lord's land as male and female slaves. They will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them.


When we look at the formation of the early Church, we see this began, where Jesus did not. In the 36 acres of the Temple, see The Book of Acts, Chapter 5

Acts 5:12-16

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico ^[Porch] 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.


The Lord perfects the telling of His Story again and again. They were all healed.

Jesus departed to Heaven. He ascended into Heaven. Daniel told of Jesus' Ascension and His arrival to His Father.

Daniel 7
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.

Jesus told us the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Jesus forgave His generation for His Cross and they lived until they were old. Jerusalem was destroyed at Jesus' natural death. The people Jesus healed stayed healed and even more were healed as the Holy Spirit began a new mission of the Lord God Almighty.

A man called John walked along side in Jesus in wonder, awe, fear and a place was struck inside John that would never allow John to separate from Jesus. John was so overcome with his eyes witnessing Jesus being proclaimed as Christ, Lord of All,  John never could find adequate words to describe what we blithely call the Transfiguration. When you have a quiet time, read the way this man called John wrote the first chapter of His Gospel. He is trying to find words to tell you of seeing Jesus as Divinity from this mountain he climbed with Jesus. John described Jesus and God very simply. God is Love.

The message of the Old Testament is the New Testament. The Story is Jesus Christ as Lord, with God's Word being fulfilled. God is great. 

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