Psalm 107 ~ and He brought them to their desired haven

Psalm 107

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.

17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

23 Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell,
and they establish a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards
and get a fruitful yield.
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their livestock diminish.

39 When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction
and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright see it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

Edward and I were Thrilled to move to a small lake in the Houston area in the year 2000. Thrilled. Perfection of neighborliness. Pioneer Church. Ten years of Bible Studies on Friday nights. Three or four nights a week of Youth Ministry. Six kids sleeping on the floor for breakfast during summers and holidays.

Of course, life isn't perfect. We had financial problems when the economy struggled. Sadness when beloved Buddy died. And unexpected pregnancy in 2008, and 3 pound Isabelle died. A few unnamed family squabbles. And reactions to that squabble.

Have you ever lived through a Hurricane? The kind of Hurricane where your family calls you from 900 miles and urge you to run? Well, we had to stay, Isabelle was in distress. And John said, "Have you SEEN the radar??? It's the size of the Whole of the Gulf Of Mexico? Please leave."

Well. Last night. As the baker said, I remembered my sins. And the dreams began.
During the Hurricane, our bedroom vent started to pour water on the bed. Our sons were arranged strategically from our neighbor, who had done wind studies on an oil refinery for safety during the hurricane. God Bless our neighbor, Dick. And God Bless Dee and Cindy who came over for an hour to pray for safety for the house and family. And we all sat on my sofa and prayed Earnestly.

So. Edward was told, and coerced to go put pans in the attic. Turns out as he was up there, the tornado of the neighborhood arrived! Poor Edward! That Hit the first two backyards in the block and ours. Damage was done. A tree top was spun in a circle and flung lakeside. The next, the grand old lady I loved was the size of small sequoia and leaned with great care on the neighbor's house. Let me add, frankly, he did Not appreciate that Act of God. Or the one that followed in 2012. Like the trees groped his house - he acted with such effrontery.

Lately Edward had to go to the specialist doctors. For something we have wanted him to go for for quite some time. Let me say - It's Stressful. Prayers are appreciated.

And I went to sleep with a good deal of pain last night.

And I began to Dream. Dreams I will remember all my life. The Biblical Number Three.

In the first dream, we were home during Hurricane Ike. The dream would not relent. I'd say it was thirty minutes of reliving the Hurricane, the tornado and beautiful Isabelle. During a Hurricane, you don't know if your 3 Foot Diameter Tree is now a missile. You don't know if the big windows will explode. You don't know if the roof won't lift off (because it sure sounds like it will) and you will be left in the storm of some magnitude. With Tornadoes. Houses make the most amazing sounds in Category Four Hurricanes. I'd say leave if you can. Really.

Well my reaction to this Amazing Dream. Get up, go to the bathroom with the thought at the back of my mind - fussy, fussy with God. Climbing back into bed - I was Less Than Pleased. Poor God. Sometimes you have to have Compassion on the God - John, who walked with Jesus, called Love.

Back to sleep, slept for hours.



The next dream, I was returning to the salad days - two bedroom house we lived in and had that cottage cute as a bug. With my now very grown Alexander, youngest son and his very wonderful girlfriend, Ashley. In the dream, this was still home. And it was the day after Christmas. I was astonished to find, not the one new Christmas tree we bought when the boys told me to get a new one and I'm so pleased with it, but multiple, multiple, multiple Christmas trees, with the actual new one collapsed. "Oh well." Ashley politely said with faux, but cheer you up, cheer.

I couldn't get over the damage and was crushed and perplexed by the tons and tons of Christmas trees I'd obviously have to clean up. And the embarrassment at the over the top Christmas trees like a forest. The best was yet to come. The house was stacked every single   item you could think of: canned goods, old greeting cards, thread, yarn, stuffed animals. None of the like that belonged to me. Obviously, something in my absence had gone very wrong. And top that off with Xander knew it with me. And we were trying to be nonchalant to Xander's gf visiting.

The horror of being thought to be what you were not. The extreme embarrassment. I wanted to cry and how to clean up the damage. It was overwhelming.


And as I woke up. An entirely different reaction. Joy.
Joy for the new Christmas tree we had loved. For the provision of the Christmas Tree.
For the young girl who had come and made a beautiful day for the family.
For her joy in her gift we gave.
And her's to us!
And! The Joy of Knowing the House was So Clean when she unexpectedly (oh sons!) arrived
for the day.
For the Joy in this Season in Life!
For being understood!
For my Family of clonk heads!
And the Forgotten GRATITUDE we have to move with a Shovel.
IF you Don't DIG for GRATITUDE - JOY AND BLESSINGS WILL PASS YOU BY!!!

(Thank You Father GOD!!! In Jesus AMEN!!!)



The next dream was a return to an vintage, lake side hotel we visited a lot when I was a child. I met people I haven't really seen in a long time. And Edward was being very hept up about the recent five year events causing the specialist doctors. My college roommate was offering Edward style commentary from her resting place. And all I wished was he would hush and calm down. It was so aggravating seeing all the emotions churned up, the pent up anxiety. Just give me a little peace for God's Sake!

And I woke up to see, that of course, the emotional reaction was me. And if you had drama trauma - you'd want a heck of a lot less fuss.


So with that I have much more gratitude for what was, what should be appreciated, and what should be Cherished.

Thank you to the people going out of your way to help. Earnest prayer is always appreciated. Lemon Martinis don't hurt either! Birthday Parties at Starbucks. People who hamburgle you!  A particular friend coming to fix the pool. Crying for an hour in the horse pen with my new friend, who has been there. Life gives you twists and turns. But GOD BLESS THE ONES WHO RISE UP WITH YOU TO MEET THEM. ESPECIALLY When GOD gives you the dream to remember What You Have. And BE GRATEFUL. 

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!


The LORD FATHER GOD, who has all the Power in His Word to Create the Entire Universe comfort us, guide us, strengthen us and empower and embolden us to Speak His Love. May we be the generation refusing to yield to any coercion mild or strong which would hold us back from proclaiming God's Love.

Even when we recognize Love in the Chocolate Chip Cookies and the others giggle. Let us be in affirmation of WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE WORLD!

Let us not shrink from understanding that GOD just might have a Plan and HIS Plan is more worthy than the armchair critics of nightmares or dreams realize. The critics of the Old Testament are not privileged to see all of His Wisdom. And God is not the God of the Reformed Old Testament but the completion of HIS Amazing Promises to us who believe in Jesus the Lord.

What great Love the Father has lavished on us, we Are called Children of God! And that is what we are! God HAS shown His love sending His one and only Son, Jesus. That we might Live through Jesus Christ the Lord! Give us the Day and Help US to forgive sins that we also commit. Strengthen us to speak, to act, to be merciful and to reclaim the path He would have us walk. In JESUS THE LORD. Amen.

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Psalm 8 ~ what is mankind that You are mindful of them, and the Son of Man that You care for Him?

This lady is much more coordinated than I, I'm still dancing with the disco wm overbite.

Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
Friday, March 28th from 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm.

Join us for the Pregnancy Assistance Center North's Spring Banquet. Enjoy a night of jazz and fine dining, while learning about the latest good works of PACN. The highlight of the evening- National Legal Headliner Jay Sekulow from the American Center for Law and Justice.

Additionally, a Silent Auction. All proceeds fund PACN, expanding its outreach to the community by offering well-woman visits.

This is the PACN's largest fundraising event of the year, with nearly 800 supporters attending last year!


The Bible says the Laborers are few - not really at PACN - We offer free Childbirth classes to women formerly huddled up on our sofas in great distress. These noble women bloom learning from the 440 articles in our library. We like discussing the homework they pick from Bible Studies, Relationship Guidance, Self Esteem, Pregnance and Child Development by month, and a variety of pertinent articles.

These clients are earning a new path. Filled with needs being met and hope offered to break cycles of low self-esteem, and sometimes poverty and abuse.

We wouldn't do this without some humor. And God!

I NEED THAT BOYS's Phone Number - OH the one in the Lobby - We don't do that. - I know HE IS MR RIGHT.

Was he gay - he was so cute?

We pray each morning and love knowing how many of these prayers we offer have Joyous Results. For our clients and each other.
We have powerful Prayer Warriors here!

We talk to Teenagers who are 15 and engaged to a boy running through the house with ankle bracelets - because he is really her pimp. Not even her mom understands this entirely. But the police do!

We talk with men who are gay about how much his mom worries.

Rape victims who smile at their baby.

Clients come in to tell us of the rape they told no one. We have advocacy groups for them to work with.

If only we had the ability to video the women who weep as if destroyed at the news and are so amazingly joyful with their baby.

The Porn addict who wanted to tell and he never got caught until it was STD time.

The 15 yr old, who won't give her ID fearing her mom would find out. Who really wanted to be held and told not to play these games.

The 26 yr old Christmas client, with the unbelievable miracle pregnancy. Determined to abort. Changing her mind completely at the ultrasound at arms, legs, feet - "That's MY Baby!"

One client was Homeless. With a special needs six year old. A new marriage and the pregnancy was medicare with a five month pregnancy - her unborn daughter would be downs. She was not in crisis over the pregnancy, instead saying how much her six year old meant to her. She said she was so angry at her mom. And asked for the forgiveness homework. The next visit - the LORD is so good to those working for Good. Her mom and the client forgave one another. A trailer on her mom's beautiful land would be provided. The husband found work. The six year ecstatic about his sister. The doctor was located and retested to find the baby, planned for, loved, would be healthy. She brought her mom with her to visit all of us.

These clients are held with prayer, still.  People are resilient in Him.


John 5:17
Jesus replied, "My Father is always working, and so am I."


Today. God is Listening!



Ephesians 2:4
Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.


Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
 
1 John 4:9
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.


Come Rejoice with us!

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John 1 ~ The Word was God

John 1


1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

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

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

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

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

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

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.[h] 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

So. You have a difficult story to tell. And isn't this interesting the way people try. Peter and John went up a mountain to see something so profound, no one would believe them. They witnessed Jesus talk to His Father. And because God wanted the story to be told, He gave witnesses. For emotional support. And because it was so big, he gave them time to lean into the truth. He gave an instruction not to tell this.

Peter went on to see that it was the Spirit of the Law. And Peter proclaimed this GLORY as straight forward as the Holy Spirit led Peter to proclaim.

John went into a poetry that did not reveal this Chapter to be about the Transfiguration, and gives Great GLORY.

If you look at the pictures of Jesus, you will see, we get to pick which one we strongly believe is Him. Because aspects of God draw us to Him. Now this post started out like Wow. And that last sentence, awwww - not so much. However this is the deal. Jesus is the Bottom Line of Matthew's first Chapter. Makes you wonder if - they knew the phrase. And you consider Alpha and Omega.

Wonder.

Wonder is what this is about.
Seek and you will find if.

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you search for me
with all
your heart.

Why are there four Gospels? To give witness. John provides John the Baptist and others in presenting Gospel.
This is
an incredible
Event.

Have you ever been in an accident? In trauma? People see things very differently.

The Scriptures are boring. Men in old, probably dirty, robes followed a religious guy around.
No.
The Scriptures are so astonishing, that they were written - carefully.



The Septuagint
I cannot even pronounce this.
In a Letter of Aristeas to his brother Philocrates, and is repeated, with embellishments, by Philo of Alexandria, Josephus and by various later sources, including St. Augustine. A version of the legend is found in the Tractate Megillah of the Babylonian Talmud:

King Ptolemy once gathered 72 Elders. He placed them in 72 chambers, each of them in a separate one, without revealing to them why they were summoned. He entered each one's room and said: "Write for me the Torah of Moshe, your teacher". God put it in the heart of each one to translate identically as all the others did.

Philo of Alexandria, who relied extensively on the Septuagint, says that the number of scholars was chosen by selecting six scholars from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Ptolemy was seeking to find Truth in detail. And he did.


However in an accident, the details might not fit - but the truth is - it happened.



John is an interesting man. Living to be old enough that Biblical historians were speaking to him in the second century on Patmos. You can search that one out yourselves, we did that on the blog already.

John begins His Gospel - Beautifully. And with thinking going on in the telling. Creating a desire to hear more. John ends HIS Gospel exactly the same way.


John 21
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.

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Wonder with me.
How would one man make people, in the back of the 36 acres of the Temple, make them flee outside the walls? Was it a tornado? A Wind? A Pillar of Fire? His Word?

Truthfully - what happened - Was Amazing.

John says this is FAR more complicated than the Words.

Did Jesus' Word do this, like the picture with the two sparrrows? I think so.

Matthew 10:29
What is the price of two sparrows--one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it

And how would you write that to the Greek Jewish Dispersion? Surely, that's an X-Men Children's Story. This is actually what people are saying when we are told - this is His Story.

Why in the first Chapter of John - was Jesus Proclaimed Messiah in verse six. Something to wonder about. You never could write if Jesus had many other things that Jesus did that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written - was walking down the road and said something off the cuff - like - "I'd like a pepperoni sandwich on rye bread with spicy mustard" - and someone says "Oh, here, I have one extra. I never made an extra, but today I did."

People actually say the Star of Bethlehem, was really the Light of God Shining Forth, from earth spilling into the Heavens. Wonder with me.


John 4:50-54
Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.


Praise You Father GOD for giving us Your Word made Flesh. Jesus the Son of God. Messiah and Lord. Be with Your People who need you each second. Strengthen, Guide, Protect and Breathe Your Love into their hearts, voices and souls Help the ones we love to seek this diligently. Call them! We pray for your overwhelming Mercy. In Jesus. And give us this day in the adventure of seeing Your will in our lives. Amen.

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Psalm 39 ~ My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue

At the beginning of Peter's apostleship, Peter said to Jesus - he was just a simple man and requested Jesus look away from him, that he might have peace. Later, Peter was to proclaim Jesus to be the Son of God and realized Jesus' Words were the gift of life. There was no other place Peter wished to be.

This is a Psalm of King David, but perhaps Peter would have thought similarly during the arrest and trial of Jesus.

Psalm 39

I said, "I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
as long as the wicked are in my presence."

2  But when I was silent and still,
not even saying anything good,
my anguish increased.

3  My heart grew hot within me,
and as I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:

4  "Show me, O LORD, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.

5  You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Selah

6  Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.

7 "But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.

8  Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.

9  I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.

10  Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 You rebuke and discipline men for their sin;
you consume their wealth like a moth—
each man is but a breath.
Selah

12 "Hear my prayer, O LORD,
listen to my cry for help;
be not deaf to my weeping.
For I dwell with you as an alien,
a stranger, as all my fathers were.

13  Look away from me, that I may rejoice again
before I depart and am not more."

Luke 5: 6-8
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"

Mark 10:32
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.

Mark 4: 37 
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

 Sea of Galilee

 

Father God, allow Your Word to abide in us. Keep us abiding in You. We pray Your words Your Will be done for peace, Your glory, Your promises and to be fruitful for Your Names' Sake. Help us to keep Your commandments and Word. We look in expectation for life, each day as the day you give. Life to be full; Joy in You to be our strength. And we ask You to Speak this Word, if You will. In Jesus we pray. Amen.

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John 14 ~ Let not your hearts be troubled

The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters

John 14

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; [You believe in God] believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [ In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you ] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” [Where I am going you know, and the way you know ] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. [If you have known me, you will know my Father also]. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, [Advocate, or Counselor] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in me, I am preparing a place for you. You know. You know me and you know my Father. Because you believe in me, allow the Counselor, the Helper to dwell in you to do the works of our Father. Look for, allow and rejoice in the peace God gives us.

You are not alone, you are not orphaned, the world does not see me, but you know and believe. Keep the word of God, do His commandments, let goodness and mercy flow from you.

In John 14, Jesus isn't saying the world is a rough place, just accept it. No, the opposite. Jesus says how much He loves us and we should be prayerful. Jesus asks us to pray with expectant hearts and souls. John 14 tells us how much God can accomplish with expectant prayer. This is an amazing chapter filled with the power of God and the understanding of Scripture.

Thank you, Father God, for the works you have shown us in the Scriptures. Open our eyes to the possibilities you would give us. Help us to see and know Your word and work for each day. Let us be the goodness and mercy you would have us show. To the Glory of Your name, which You willing bestow on us, Your children. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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1 Corinthians 2:14-3:15 ~ understand them because they are spiritually discerned

1 Corinthians 2:14-3:15


The person without the Spirit does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

3 But I, brothers,^{[brothers and sisters]} could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Isaiah 32:17
The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.

Matthew 6:25
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!



No one is called to joy all the time. We feel worried, even the disciples had fear during their time with Jesus. Paul recorded the end of his life for us to see. He was unhappy and worried. Fake joy is unbecoming. The Scriptures convict us if we are to grow. Sometimes that's uncomfortable.

Sarcasm is not the language of God.

If we feel that God would hold us in deep conviction - we should listen. God is so large we will be called to different aspects of God in different times in our lives.

This is an adventure. Sometimes the adventure is pure joy - but looking at each day for the sufficiency. Times will change. Value what you have today. Look at your life. Your children are young - drink in that innocence. Your children are pre-teens and awkward - rejoice in the first steps to adulthood. Your children are teens - memories are made. Don't forget - you don't own your kids. They aren't your friends - but don't let them forget they are your friends. We have to parent, but we want them to remember We Like Them. They are part of the team.

Your children are in college - Pray - for roots and wings. Pray. They are wobbling off on their training wheels.

Young adult kids - empty nest is easier. Enjoy your spouse. Have good house rules. Those firm lines with love are reliable. Time to grow into making your legacy for your children and grandchildren to be proud of the adult you have raised yourself to be. Seeing your children grow into the gifts God gives them to be. An adventure playing out.

God puts the Scriptures together so marvelously. One more reason to have awe of the Scriptures and not just allow the subtitles to soothe us.

Luke 17
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’

Jesus is saying doing your duty in life will not earn you applause. For the apostles want to throw over the trees. Jesus is saying, their ministry grew because they became willing to follow Jesus in Love. Jesus causes events and circumstance. The disciples attained the above statements of faith from doing the hard, unappreciated work. And yet, God would Never leave a servant unthanked. God would reach out to thank, to appreciate. We innately know this is Father God. Honoring humble service. God is saying the world won't applaud God's service.

How would we feel this? A self esteem that will uphold us enough to pray and to get back to His Work and His Path. Our Relationship to Him. Having confidence in Jesus to let Him be ours.

Expectation of God is important to Him.
He calls that faith.
If we do our duty, knowing He knows - and perhaps say - "Send me!"
We know - He is pleased.

Thank You, Father God, for creating Life and calling Your Creation good. Help us in good times to rejoice. In sad times to walk by faith.

You created each one of to have gifts to contribute to Your Glory. Today we choose to see ourselves as You see us, believing You Believe is us and Your Church.

Help us to love each other as You love us. Forgive us our sins and help us to forgive those who hurt us - as we hope for that forgiveness too. We pray for the up building of the Body of Christ in the Church. We pray for the Joy in the Holy Spirit to Carry Us Forth! And give You great thanks for the blessing of prayer received. And ask those who seek Your comforts are carried in that forever. In Jesus Christ. Amen.


Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

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Jonah 2 ~ the deep surrounded me

Jonah 2 ~ New International Version

 ¹From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. ² He said:

“In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.

³ You hurled me into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.

⁴ I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’

⁵ The engulfing waters threatened me, ^{[waters were at my throat]}
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
⁶ To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, LORD my God,
brought my life up from the pit.

⁷ “When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.

⁸ “Those who cling to worthless idols
turn away from God’s love for them.

⁹ But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’”

¹⁰ And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

So it is with faith. And a couple of quotes to back this up....

Mark 10:15
I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

Matthew 17:20
Jesus replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

So. Did Jonah wind up in the fish or is this a great, useful analogy to being hip deep in alligator swamp when the objective was to drain the swamp. And we will use another great Jesus Biblical quote....

Isaiah 42:3, Matthew 12:20
a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

The answer is always Jesus, but Jesus says not to get stumped.

Bringing up the serious level, now. I do believe that Jonah was in the fish. God was getting the job done. Jonah was trying to play his life's work, Ministry, in his own time, his own plan, and God decided Jonah was going to do what God wanted.

If you don't believe Jonah was in the fish, I do hope you believe Jonah existed, because the message of Jonah's life was to carry God's salvation to Assyria. And in bringing salvation to Assyria, we see Nebuchadnezzar did the work of God. The message of Jonah is both Great and Small. God helps those who need help. Today. Personally. God listens, God loves, God acts.

The Scriptures prove more and more each day in scientific, archeological, historical fact - that this Biblical stuff isn't stuff - it is fact. Serious fact.

The larger message of God is this, God does not exist in boundaries. God is not only for Jonah. God is not only for Israel. God is for Assyria and God is for Nebuchadnezzar. His ways are holiness. And unfortunately, much Higher than ours as we put one foot in front of the other, but still, Praise God, leading us to Him.

This is the nature of the Lord Most High. He is for everyone. He is worthy to be praised.

He isn't about Black-eyed Peas, don't step on a crack, wear a little bracelet with knots tied in it so many days, pray in this exact fashion, eat this diet, or wear your hair like this.

He does not ask you to sit up straight. He does not ask you to refrain from alcohol. He does not ask you not to dance. He does not ask you not to chew gum. He is not partial to one skin type or one color. He is not partial to one class over another. He does not say cleanliness is next to Him. He does not say that if you pay attention to Him at least once a week, He is pleased. He does not ask you to seek wealth. He is more fond of wisdom and kindness.

Father God seeks you. Father God does not expect you to save yourself. He doesn't just put you off until eternity, He is part of this life. He wants your love and trust. He is for you. He chose to create you. He is about love, wisdom, loyalty, forgiveness and eternity. He loves you. God is for you.

Psalm 117

1 Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

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