Psalm 89 ~ In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared

Jesus Heaven and Earth will pass away My Word will not by Liz Lemon Swindle

Psalm 89

"A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite."

1 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations.
2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,
4 ‘I will establish your line forever
and make your throne firm through all generations.’”

5 The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.
8 Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

9 You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;
with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.
12 You created the north and the south;
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.
13 Your arm is endowed with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
they celebrate your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favor you exalt our horn.
18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19 Once you spoke in a vision,
to your faithful people you said:
“I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
I have raised up a young man from among the people.
20 I have found David my servant;
with my sacred oil I have anointed him.
21 My hand will sustain him;
surely my arm will strengthen him.
22 The enemy will not get the better of him;
the wicked will not oppress him.
23 I will crush his foes before him
and strike down his adversaries.
24 My faithful love will be with him,
and through my name his horn[f] will be exalted.
25 I will set his hand over the sea,
his right hand over the rivers.
26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, the Rock my Savior.’
27 And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,
the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
28 I will maintain my love to him forever,
and my covenant with him will never fail.
29 I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.

30 “If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,
31 if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,
32 I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;
33 but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my covenant
or alter what my lips have uttered.
35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
and I will not lie to David—
36 that his line will continue forever
and his throne endure before me like the sun;
37 it will be established forever like the moon,
the faithful witness in the sky.”

38 But you have rejected, you have spurned,
you have been very angry with your anointed one.
39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant
and have defiled his crown in the dust.
40 You have broken through all his walls
and reduced his strongholds to ruins.
41 All who pass by have plundered him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 Indeed, you have turned back the edge of his sword
and have not supported him in battle.
44 You have put an end to his splendor
and cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with a mantle of shame.

46 How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how fleeting is my life.
For what futility you have created all humanity!
48 Who can live and not see death,
or who can escape the power of the grave?
49 Lord, where is your former great love,
which in your faithfulness you swore to David?
50 Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked,
how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,
51 the taunts with which your enemies, Lord, have mocked,
with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.

52 Praise be to the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.

In the Scriptures, Ethan the Ezrahite is an wise contemporary of Solomon. His analogy of David's Kingship is similar to David's Psalm 69.

Psalm 69
"For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David."

1 Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
3 I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.
4 Those who hate me without reason
outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,
those who seek to destroy me.
I am forced to restore
what I did not steal.

5 You, God, know my folly;
my guilt is not hidden from you.

6 Lord, the Lord Almighty,
may those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me;
God of Israel,
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me.
7 For I endure scorn for your sake,
and shame covers my face.
8 I am a foreigner to my own family,
a stranger to my own mother’s children;
9 for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
10 When I weep and fast,
I must endure scorn;
11 when I put on sackcloth,
people make sport of me.
12 Those who sit at the gate mock me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.

13 But I pray to you, Lord,
in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.
14 Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.
15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
or the depths swallow me up
or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.
17 Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
18 Come near and rescue me;
deliver me because of my foes.

19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed;
all my enemies are before you.
20 Scorn has broken my heart
and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
for comforters, but I found none.
21 They put gall in my food
and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

22 May the table set before them become a snare;
may it become retribution and[b] a trap.
23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.
24 Pour out your wrath on them;
let your fierce anger overtake them.
25 May their place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute those you wound
and talk about the pain of those you hurt.
27 Charge them with crime upon crime;
do not let them share in your salvation.
28 May they be blotted out of the book of life
and not be listed with the righteous.

29 But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me.

30 I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the Lord more than an ox,
more than a bull with its horns and hooves.
32 The poor will see and be glad—
you who seek God, may your hearts live!
33 The Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his captive people.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and all that move in them,
35 for God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
Then people will settle there and possess it;
36 the children of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love his name will dwell there.

King David playing the Harp by Peter Paul Rubens

David did see his reign as filled with great worries and family troubles. Similar in fact to Queen Elizabeth I of England. She suffered many debilitating headaches. Her Prime Ministers feared this meant an early death and then she was poisoned early in her reign. Queen Elizabeth fulfilled a great many achievements in her life and lived to be old.

Many different places in the Scriptures tell us that Life Tests us. God Plans our lives this way. 


2 Thessalonians 2:11

Tells us something of believing each peril in life...

and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.



Why would David and Elizabeth's Prime Minister buy into such worry? The times were indeed Very Challenging. And meant to appear to be "Men in Black" calamitous. We all have plans we want done our way. This feeds into our worries. Peace comes from "Thy Will Be Done."


Centenarians believe problems have a solution - we have to wait for the good pitches and see how the drama plays out.


Remembering God has a plan. And HE is good. Trust. And when we cannot obtain that - He will still carry us, as we trust. God is Thrilled when we have Faith. He just doesn't bring us this far and drop us on our head. 



Centenarians remember the Centurion. 


Remember with me, the Centurion lived in Capernaum. Jesus chose Capernaum as His Home. Dwell in Faith, Hope, Love and Trust.

David complained and complained - of the 19 Kings of Israel and the 20 Kings of Judah - David fussed and fretted - and today - is he pleased to know he is considered to one of the three most worthy Kings? David ended well.  Betcha David Is Pleased.

Matthew 6:

27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Luke 12:32
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom

1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

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Psalm 108 ~ is Mine

Climbing the Sequoia called General Sherman is the equivalent to climbing a 30 story building. Older than when Jesus chose to dwell among us.

Psalm 108

My heart is steadfast, O God!

I will sing and make melody with all my being!

2 Awake, O harp and lyre!

I will awake the dawn!

3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 That your beloved ones may be delivered,

give salvation by your right hand and answer me!

7 God has promised in his holiness:

“With exultation I will divide up Shechem

and portion out the Valley of Succoth.

8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim is my helmet,

Judah my scepter.

9 Moab is my washbasin;

upon Edom I cast my shoe;

over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

11 Have you not rejected us, O God?

You do not go out, O God, with our armies.

12 Oh grant us help against the foe,

for vain is the salvation of man!

13 With God we shall do valiantly;

it is he who will tread down our foes.


Life gives us so many coincidences, that if you aren't looking for them, they will fly by. My son and I were discussing a painting on the wall of Italy, and the next thing occurring  - one Italian tree - right there. This isn't the usual thing in a Texas Landscape. Christians call these things, God incidences.

We were watching "The Wonderful Planet'; we had chosen the segment on underwater caves - the creatures, toxins and predators. The Mayan Indian Caves are 100 mile underground caves the divers rely upon diving string and squeezing through, what they call squeezes. Making me decide instantly, I like trees. On top of the earth.  I mean life is better with all your organs intact, especially when they started describing diver mortality in the caves. And then the creatures. I looked at my son and I said, that thing looks just like a demon.  We have boundaries. We discuss boundaries at the pregnancy assistance center; boundaries are Good things. They tell you - Stop. For example, a cyanide caves lethal to the explorers.

And it hit  upon something in me - an idea. The next film - on forests, began to firm up the idea.  From space, you can see our Northern American forests turn the green planet to orange as the huge fall foliage approaches. It was amazing. I turned to Alexander and said, that looks exactly like marble or a stone...........

We are systems within systems.

God balancing the universe.

The caves, to me, with the horrible looking little spikes and mean faces, look like hell to me. A system within a system. Not far fetched when you realize the Jerusalem dwellers saw their city dump, which burned constantly, as hell. Mosquitoes fit the idea nicely.

God's earth, created at His Word, sometimes called the Big Bang Theory, creating a system on our earth of rain, becoming water, washing into the ocean, and becoming humidity and storms creating the cycle again. The Spirit renewing us as we rely upon HIM.  His Sky Reflecting His Glory.

We have so many different areas of our lives, it is good to remember, the analogy of the beautiful forests, animals and the  beauty - the things we Wish we could see each day - as reflections of God's Glory. What we hope to see in His New Heaven and New earth in His Eternal Kingdom.  And some of the other boundaries - as a reminder; there are boundaries on earth. We will reach a day of Decision for the LORD; on our lives as Good and for evil.

God is Holy. And in our decisions to be His -

With God we shall do valiantly.

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Another Scripture for Today Blogspot on Psalm 108

Psalm 108 ~ In truimph I will parcel out Shechem

 

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Psalm 100 ~ Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Psalm 100


Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;[and not we ourselves]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

This particular Psalm has long been a favorite. We would belt this out, in Elementary School's Morning Prayer, while jumping and moving on the kneelers and the whole place smelled like Elmer's glue. You have to love what is dear and familiar to you.

We have rain in Texas again!!! And Graduations and Weddings arrive! Looking forward to a Family Wedding! May the coming Season bring us all Joy, Solutions, Fellowship, and Love !!! We ask in Jesus Christ for His Blessings and look expectantly!

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Hebrews 2:1-9 ~ You made Him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned Him with glory and honor, set Him over the works of your hands

Hebrews 2:1-9

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,

“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,^{[set him over the works of your hands]}
8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Psalm 24:1
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein

Okay sure, back then. Back in the Day.

Jesus told us what happened in Heaven during His life.

Luke 10:18
And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.

We wonder about evil when wondering about illness and suffering. We are told -

Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Jesus tells us about the Victory in HIM.

Everything in subjection to Him, He left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to Him.

Romans 8:24
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?

1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Isaiah 28:5-6
In that day the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory,
and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people,
and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,
and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

Zechariah 9:16
On that day the Lord their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land.

And the Disciples who were going along the road with Jesus, what did they say about Jesus being King?

Philippians 4:1
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy

2 Timothy 4:7-9
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

1 Peter 5:4
And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Revelation 14:14
Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.

And our thoughts on evil and other worrisome things?

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

1 Corinthians 15:57
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Psalm 16 ~ the path of life

Psalm 16

1 Keep me safe, O God,
for in you I take refuge.
2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."

3 As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips.

5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,

10 because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

11 You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.



Blessings in life sometimes rest in caring for others. And knowing our lives bless others. Creating a life well worth living.  

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Ruth 2:1-23 ~ May the Lord reward you

Ruth 2:1-23

Ruth gleans in Boaz's field Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband's side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favor." She said to her, "Go, my daughter." So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, "The Lord be with you." They answered, "The Lord bless you." Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "To whom does this young woman belong?" The servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, "She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, 'Please, let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.' So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment."


Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn." Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?" But Boaz answered her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!" Then she said, "May I continue to find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants."

At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here, and eat some of this bread, and dip your morsel in the sour wine." So she sat beside the reapers, and he heaped up for her some parched grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. When she got up to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, "Let her glean even among the standing sheaves, and do not reproach her. You must also pull out some handfuls for her from the bundles, and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her."

So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. She picked it up and came into the town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gleaned. Then she took out and gave her what was left over after she herself had been satisfied. Her mother-in-law said to her, "Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz." Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "Blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!" Naomi also said to her, "The man is a relative of ours, one of our nearest kin." Then Ruth the Moabite said, "He even said to me, 'Stay close by my servants, until they have finished all my harvest.'" Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, "It is better, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, otherwise you might be bothered in another field." So she stayed close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests; and she lived with her mother-in-law.

Even in times of trouble, we are given the opportunity to be blessed and have gratitude.

Life doesn't always cater to us. In these times, we have to look at our blessings, sometimes with a pick and a shovel. Sometimes with a magnifying glass. God wants us to Expect His help. God wants us to see one of our obligations is to find Joy in His making the day sufficient.

Ruth was a foreigner. With a bitter old woman, picking in the fields. She was to share good fortune and in the blessing of sharing - to really be blessed.

Find gratitude. Whiners aren't always respected.

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John 12 ~ "No one ever spoke the way this Man, Jesus, does"

John 12

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2

So they gave a dinner for him there.

Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3

Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7

 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Jesus, his beloved see with Joy, is being given a dinner party. And being thanked for saving Lazarus. Events surrounding Jesus are increasingly charged.

Remember with me, the Temple Guards were sent to retrieve Jesus much earlier and they returned without Jesus saying in awe - "No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards replied.

Jesus would decide in God's Plan the time of His life's surrender. Let's look at the vital point being shown this in John's 12th Chapter. The Disciple John wanted us to fully understand Jesus could save Himself.

And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.”


 Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30

Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34

So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35

 
So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him



John describes how Jesus was hidden from the crowd.

John 1:9-10
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

1 John 1:5
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

Paul describes this as well -  

Acts 22:6-11

“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’

8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.

“ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.

10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.

“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.

 


Matthew 12:53, 54
Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”



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.


Father God,
Help us each day to read Your Words and live them. Creating the path You would have us lead, in the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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John 6:1-3, 35-71 ~ Who can accept it?

John 6:1-3, 35-71

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.


60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” 

For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh were you there when they crucified my Lord?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble
Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Well, were you there when the stone was rolled away?
Were you there when the stone was rolled away?
(Ohh, sometimes it causes me to tremble)
Tremble
Were you there when the stone was rolled away?

For those who Love Jesus, we picture people interacting with Him in Scriptures. We wonder where we would have been, if we had been a face in the multitudes - like Zacchaeus.

John 6 is a Fabulous Chapter 
                           and Jesus faces these things so we fully - completely - understand - Life does test us.

Intentionally.

God picks challenges for us like He did for His Son. Pastors face challenges with their disciples. Jesus did have challenges for the faithful - aren't we the good guys? Jesus faced grumbling from - the Faithful. 

If you grumble at God, This is Your Chapter.

When we face a problem the first question was ask ourselves - like a bear hunt - can we avoid this? Is it large?

God answers this quietly; remember with me, God spoke quietly to Elijah. 
Or like John's Gospel in the 6th Chapter -

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

John 6 also includes a wonderful, wonderful "Thank You, Jesus!" part - 

20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

(Father, please let all our problems be solved quickly! Oonce we take You with us in prayer!!! In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen! Amen being in the so be it done in Your Will category. Amen.)


 

And God will let us hang like a loose sail until we -
24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

Then God takes the blessings and asks if they are truly Searching for Him or comfort.
Surely those with loving hearts are looking for Jesus.
And Jesus proclaims HE is God and will follow His Path.
To which, the disciples vote with their feet - this sounds Icky not GLORIOUS.

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

Jesus deals with
Following His own plan - with Wisdom
The faithful having doubt - with Diligence and Determination
The blessing-seekers coast in and out - Give them Time and Space with God believing the Best of His Children.
And Jesus still gets where He is going - Immediately and with Grace

Jesus the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.




Peter stays because - Peter loves Jesus. Nope. Peter philos - pal - loves Jesus. Peter told Jesus and the Words were recorded. Peter hangs in because of Wisdom. Peter sees the road goes much farther than just the road............

Peter has seen the Words of God are Life.

Romans 8:32
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Ephesians 2:4
But 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.

2 Thessalonians 2:16
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope

 Who can accept it?
... as we answer the challenges He would have us solve. And grow up to go Home to our Father God. In His Grace, we ask His Favor and Mercy to diligently guide and bless us each day. In Jesus. Amen.

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