Psalm 97 ~ Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His Throne.

Psalm 97

1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coast lands 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 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!

In the second century B.C. the Septuagint 70 authors translated (from their scribe memories) the Hebrew Bible and other texts into Koine Greek - They regarded the author of this Psalm as King David.

King David is biblically remembered as 1,000 B.C. So the Psalm is OLD.

Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His Throne.

I wanted to compare the Psalm to the New Testament and sought any Biblical Verse I could put my hands upon. And arrived at Revelation 11 - written by the Apostle John on Patmos about 60 A.D.

 

 
And found...

Revelation 11
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

Why would GOD be clothed in darkness?

Well. Don't tell Him,
I told you,
however,
I'm of the opinion...
God enjoys Creation.
And displays of Light.

God's Throne with " flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail." is going to show up far better when God is having His Light overcome darkness of - night - of space - of separating Light from dark. God tells us He wants to save the world in Jesus Christ - therefore - God Is Always overcoming Dark.

John is our disciple writing John's Gospel of Jesus Christ. John 1 tells us of Heaven and John speaks of God's Throne.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.



"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.

And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you-- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come.

“Behold, The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!”

♔Lord Jesus Saves  †

Psalm 98 ~ break forth into joyous song and sing praises

Thank YOU Father God. For how much You Love Your creation!
 

Psalm 98

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

 2 The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. 

3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! 

 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!

8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together  

9 before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

  Red Sea  

Exodus 15:21

Miriam answered them, “Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.” 

 

 

(The video photo looks like people running from something, but it is not panic, rather a beautiful 2,000 person dance and a "give them your extra cloak" loving, kindness for Easter 2011!) 

 Over 2,000 people from Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, gathered to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. They called it Dance Your Shoes Off! and each participant left a new pair of shoes on the field for those in need. Song is a Second Baptist Church original. Look at those faces.... look at those shoes left!!! 

This Church, Second Baptist Church of Houston, called all the Christian Church leadership together right after Hurricane Katrina. Houston and the out lying areas were drawn up on a grid. Our Church took two hotels in The Woodlands, Texas. The Churches then provided their areas (and time spent in the Stadium) to feed, clothe and comfort the Hurricane Katrina evacuees. The Stadium evacuees were fed entirely by donations. 

The great majority were Christian Church volunteer and food donations. For the love and sake of Jesus Christ, we fed the families in the hotels for 2 months and then our Church donated household goods, furniture and made sure our evacuees were re-located to safe Houston apartments.

At the end of the two months our evacuees gave our Church a BBQ dinner. They remained in our Church for over a year and all returned to New Orleans to have jobs in construction. One of our hotels was almost entirely one extended, entire family.

Psalm 121 

 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
 

3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 24:3-4  
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

Psalm 32:1  
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  

Father God, I am blessed. You have saved me, You are the Lord. God. Almighty. You are my shield, my helper. You are my Glorious Sword. You do not sleep, You do not grow weary. You are the lifter of my head. I shall praise You all the days of my life and I will dwell in Your House forever. Blessed are You, Lord my God. My Abba. And Your Son, Jesus Christ. My redeemer. Amen. 

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Luke 15 ~ he returned home to His Father

Can anyone tell us what Life is about?

We send our beloved children out to the world. Why do that? Because we know the purpose of life is to grow.

How can God stand far off in times we need Him. Why is there space between us?

Jesus did tell us days will come upon us. The river, or path of life, pushes us. As He Planned. Ephesians and the whole Bible, Psalm 139 - tells us God planned our lives - knowing - our souls, our name, the hairs on our head and our destinies. God sends us forth. Equipped.

 

Luke 15

A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land

So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming, and was filled with loving pity and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

"Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. And a jeweled ring for his finger; and shoes! 23 And kill the calf we have in the fattening pen. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has returned to life. He was lost and is found.’ So the party began!"

Notice with me - this is not the whole of Luke 15. God knows. God knows. And He knows as surely as Aaron coming into His Holy of Holies, mess will happen.

Yet, as one of his favorite peolpe says -

“I've read the last page of the Bible, it's all going to turn out all right.”

God finds the lost and prepares a place for the found. Let the party begin. The Kingdom of God is at hand! In Jesus Christ the Lord. Today!!!

Romans 10:9

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

AMEN!!! Let our 'amen' always draw forth Your will in our lives. So be the Will of the Father. Our Father GOD! Let the "Tada" be His! Go with us, Father GOD, on the Journey You have put forth for us. Before us, with us, behind us, Guide us.We love, know and expect You. We are so privileged to ask in the Highest Name, Jesus the Lord. Amen.





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Psalm 103 ~ Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits

Psalm 103

Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness written with David.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for mortals, their days are like grass;
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.

19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
obedient to his spoken word.
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers that do his will.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.

A Medieval Ring Proclaiming Jesus Christ Dwells Within, Not a Display

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Jesus healed people who had waited a very long time.

Matthew 9
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.


John 9
32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind.

1 As he was walking along, he saw a man blind from birth.

2 “Master,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?”

3 “Neither,” Jesus answered. “But to demonstrate the power of God."

Jesus saw His people, their persistent faith and miraculous healing like this -

Jesus heals and the people of Israel see.

The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.



Matthew 15
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

 



 

15 As for mortals, their days are like grass;
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.

17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.


Jesus knew of cities that flourish and those that are gone.

Jesus chose Capernaum - the place where the Centurion had so much faith in the Word of God - Peter, Andrew, James, John lived and chose to live in the adult town of Capernaum. A land filled with milk and honey - a jewel of Israel.

Matthew 4:13
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—

Jesus spoke of the future of places.

Matthew 11
20Then 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. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23And 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. 24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Capernaum has 16 mentions in the Gospels. All these places sank and became ruins - sank into death and were covered over. Capernaum- with 16 mentions, does this as well. However, unique to Israel - Capernaum survives intact for 13 centuries. And was never a lost city. I truly believe - the Holy Spirit of God protected Capernaum. We still find Peter's house and the Synagogue.

If Capernaum had not fallen in the 13th century, (like a grain of wheat - a seed to be reborn) during history well recorded, we would not have the ability to see the city excavated to the time of Jesus in Jewish Israel! 




Nazareth was a lost city. In 296, Diocletian's army arrived to kill all the nephews of Jesus - who would Not renounce Jesus. They died to this earth, to Live for Him. Nazareth - is also known for the killing of precious sons.

Bishop Eusebius, a Historian from Caesarea, a large portion of Eubebius's faithfilled History is intact. Very reliable. Eusebius records being an eye witness of Palestine in 296, when Diocletian's army passed through the region.  (During the life of Constantine, Eusebius recalls seeing Constantine traveling with the army). The further story is that Emperor Diocletian sent an heir - Constantine of the Nicene Council (Emperor himself later) - to take the recanting of the family of Jesus or kill all the great nephews of Jesus. Emperor Diocletian felt a very strong conviction Christianity " would be wiped out " if the nephews of Jesus Christ would recant or be killed. Constantine was under ORDERS - to cajole, bribe, entice the nephews of Jesus to merely say "Jesus was a hoax. That guy." Constantine later by his own orders changed the faith of the Roman Empire to proclaiming Jesus as Lord. Unearthing vast details in Israel to bring home to Rome. Sending his own mother to the archaeological sites. Bring home things like the stairs to Pontius Pilate available for viewing today.

In exchange for recanting,  the great nephews of Jesus were to have pleasant lives in the pleasant land. These nephews of Jesus were not just executed but tempted. And not one did renounce their kinsman - Jesus Christ the Lord. They died - as I said - to this earth, to Live for Him. Their kinsman. Their Lord. Son of God.

Nazareth was where the family of Jesus perished under Diocletian.











So Capernaum was loved. Chosen. Special. What about the real City of David - where Psalms were written and David learned to think about God as he learned skills to save and shepherd the sheep?

Bethlehem were Jesus chose life - was never lost! David chose Life as well.

The Book of Daniel reports there are Angels specifically chosen to care for areas of the world. So, this is perhaps, not such a surprise! Around us God says a battle is always raging for good and evil. He also tells us this in His Capabilities and not dwell here. However, this is part of Psalm 103's message and we will touch upon this.

Daniel 10
11 And I heard his voice—“O Daniel, greatly beloved of God,” he said, “stand up and listen carefully to what I have to say to you, for God has sent me to you.” So I stood up, still trembling with fear.

12 Then he said, “Don’t be frightened, Daniel, for your request has been heard in heaven and was answered the very first day you began to fast before the Lord and pray for understanding; that very day I was sent here to meet you. 13 But for twenty-one days the mighty Evil Spirit[a] who overrules the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the top officers of the heavenly army, came to help me, so that I was able to break through these spirit rulers of Persia. 14 Now I am here to tell you what will happen to your people, the Jews, at the end times—for the fulfillment of this prophecy is many years away.”

15 All this time I was looking down, unable to speak a word. 16 Then someone—he looked like a man—touched my lips and I could talk again, and I said to the messenger from heaven, “Sir, I am terrified by your appearance and have no strength. 17 How can such a person as I even talk to you? For my strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”

18 Then the one who seemed to be a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 19 “God loves you very much,” he said; “don’t be afraid! Calm yourself; be strong—yes, strong!”






19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
obedient to his spoken word.

21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers that do his will.

22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

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Father GOD, thank You for the areas of the world where peace reigns. Thank You Father God for the areas receiving rain. Help us, Father GOD, to be people known to care for the planet you have given us.  With Gratitude - recalling the good shepherding not of Jesus, but also the history of those loving the Lord - like David. In the name of Jesus we ask for blessings on the people and areas we hold dear, guidance and open hearts. Amen.

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