Psalm 146 ~ Their spirit

Psalm 146

1 Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.


3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.

5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.

6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.

9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

John 16
I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Colossians 3
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Mid Life Crisis? Different Crisis?

The glass is full. Until we see that as empty.




Life is indeed like the Mississippi River. Days take on a pattern, life goes along. Sometimes we sigh.

Today is the day we weave the fabric of our lives.

Life will promise to bring white water. In that season,  HaNggg Onnn
Drama and selfishness... won't bring any - true reward.
Well meaning advice, given with love, isn't walking your particular path.
Days will come where -

Jeremiah 20:9
But if I say, "I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

If we are alive, we can put forth our hands. And Try.

Psalm 39
I was mute and silent, I refrained even from good, And my sorrow grew worse. 3 My heart was hot within me, While I was musing the fire burned; Then I spoke with my tongue: 4 "LORD, make me to know my end And what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am.


Why would we look up?
Only God is good. And He is our destination - for all of mankind.
Thank God, for something greater than my needs or wants.
Infinitely purer.

Psalm 16:2
I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

And what shall we look to see -

Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

What do we actually hope for -
- God is For Us. That if we look to Father God in dark moments of despair - He would say something to us like - "I like your smile!" Or - "You handled that well." "In tough times - you lift people to go further."


We hope with all our longing -

Matthew 15
32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion"

Matthew 4:19
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will"

Because in our deepest longings - we need to remember Jesus spent a lot of time going to see His beloved. Jesus reaches us where we need Him to be.


Mark 7
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.

And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is,
“Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.



A Blessing.
God gives us Comfort.

And we in turn, learn to give comfort God gives us.


Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Psalm 29:11
The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Matthew 16:13-20 ~ “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”"

Matthew 16:13-20


Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Herod's Palace

What was Jesus telling about Himself, as Christ, to say, "Tell no one?"

Jesus was saying, that while we are completely transparent to God, who knows all of our thoughts - best and worst - He doesn't say "HEY, I'M THE MESSIAH!!! WHOO HOO OVER HERE!!!"

Jesus, instead, is Living doing His Father's work.


The Miracles of Jesus 
Jesus asked to be met in faith, as this:

Water made wine	Fill up the jars, look for the improbable, in hope	John 2:1-11.
Traders cast out of the temple	Righteousness above conformity.	John 2:13-17.
Nobleman's son healed	To believe without proof, sight unseen.	John 4:46-54.
First miraculous draught of fishes	Let down the nets, continue to work - with faith.	Lu 5:1-11.
Leper healed	Put forth your hand, try, even if it's hard to be self-revealing. They who sow in tears, will reap in Joy.	Mt 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-45; Lu 5:12-15.
Centurion's servant healed	Faith in the Word of God. God only needs to speak a Word for miracles.	Mt 8:5-13; Lu 7:1-10.
Widow's son raised to life	Self-control. Jesus didn't need hysterics. God rushes in during great need in this life.	Lu 7:11-17.
Demoniac healed	Be quiet. Discretion. Faith from Good Fruit.	Mr 1:21-28; Lu 4:31-37.
Peter's mother-in-law healed	Other's asked Jesus for Peter's mother. Intercessory prayer. Gratitude and service.	Mt 8:14, 15; Mr 1:29-31; Lu 4:38, 39.
Paralytic healed	Pick up the bed, go home. Put away the past, let go of illness, bring wellness to your home.	Mt 9:2-8; Mr 2:1-12; Lu 5:17-26.
Impotent man healed according to King James Version	Pick up the bed, go home. Put away the past, let go of illness, bring wellness to your home. 38 years of endurance with hope rewarded.	John 5:1-16.
Man with withered hand healed	Put your hand out in effort, even during distress and disagreement	Mt 12:10-14; Mr 3:1-6; Lu 6:6-11.
Blind and dumb demoniac healed	When misunderstood, to do as Psalm 23, be in good deeds. Goodness and mercy follow your footsteps in your path	Mt 12:22-24; Lu 11:14.
Tempest stilled	Going to God with full expectation in the most fierce of storms.	Mt 8:23-27; Mr 4:35-41; Lu 8:22-25.
Demoniacs dispossessed	Realizing strong bullies are pigs! With problems! And will come to the end of their path with no where to turn. Be angry, do not sin.	Mt 8:28-34; Mr 5:1-20.
Jairus' daughter raised to life	Jesus put aside His right to be a Temple ruler, and gave grace and mercy for the needed request from the fortunate.	Mt 9:18-26; Mr 5:22-24; Lu 8:41-56.
Issue of blood healed	Reaching past shame, asking Jesus.	Mt 9:18-26; Mr 5:22-24; Lu 8:41-56.
Two blind men restored to sight	Praying out loud in public. Asking the Lord Jesus.	Mt 9:27-31.
Dumb demoniac healed	Gratitude for answered prayer. Telling of the mercies of God.	Mt 9:32-34.
Five thousand miraculously fed	Giving God what you have. Sharing what is in your power to share. Expecting Him to provide.	Mt 14:13-21; Mr 6:31-44; Lu 9:10-17; John 6:5-14.
Jesus walks on the sea	Knowing God is God. We are not. Trusting on God to be righteous and our advocate.	Mt 14:22-33; Mr 6:45-52; John 6:15-21.
Syrophœnician's daughter healed	When God says no, to be humble and petition Him. Expect with prayer even small mercies. See, like David, if God will be willing to help more with gratitude of His favor.	Mt 15:21-28; Mr 7:24-30.
Deaf and dumb man healed	This miracle is a great indication of Personal Relationship with Jesus. Our Friend, Hero, Savior.  Be open to God.	Mr 7:31-37.
Four thousand fed	Seeing God puts His Hands into our Lives. Even the aroma of fish. That we might be fed. Our Father God.	Mt 15:32-39; Mr 8:1-9.
Blind man restored to sight	Walking with God by faith, unseeing of the path. Going a distance. Seeing modern medicine explained 2,000 years ago. A miracle for today's generation.	Mr 8:22-26.
Demoniac and lunatic boy healed	Long term prayers in extreme difficulty, sticking with faith. Asking God for more faith. Parenting even when it's difficult and embarrassing. Even when the ego would rather stay at home.	Mt 17:14-21; Mr 9:14-29; Lu 9:37-43.
Miraculous provision of tribute	When being ridiculed by a group, remaining faithful to God.	Mt 17:24-27.
The eyes of one born blind opened	Believing in spite of Trouble that God is for you and calls you as His own Child. Adversity is not your label.	John 9:1-41.
Woman, of eighteen years' infirmity, cured	Glorifying God when straightened out. It's a blessing to receive instruction from God.	Lu 13:10-17.
Dropsical man healed	Being set up not to win, in public, and still finding dignity in good.	Lu 14:1-6.
Ten lepers cleansed	Going past what is required, to be the one to find God. Retaining Gratitude.	Lu 17:11-19.
Lazarus raised to life	Going out to meet Jesus.	John 11:1-46.
Two blind beggars restored to sight	Imploring God for mercy in our unchangeable circumstance.	Mt 20:29-34; Mr 10:46-52; Lu 18:35-43.
Barren fig tree blighted	Asking God for fruit when we feel fruitless.	Mt 21:12, 13, 18, 19; Mr 11:12-24.
Buyers and sellers again cast out	Expect God to clean house.	Lu 19:45, 46.
Malchus' ear healed	In extreme circumstance, recall Jesus healed.	Mt 26:51-54; Mr 14:47-49; Lu 22:50, 51; John18:10,11.
Second draught of fishes	In total loss and finality, expect God to be there.	John 21:1-14.

Jesus didn't shrink from declaring His Kingship when he spoke to the Woman at the Well. 

Jesus told the Sanhedrin Council who He is.

Jesus did agree when the faithful found Him to be God.

Jesus, as God, Responds when people ask, seek, and knock. Usually, just as the life He gives us today - Jesus required people to feed, encourage, walk,  pray, be open to, reach higher, go further, be humble, dwell in Faith, Hope and Love.

We bring this into our homes, our honest conversations, any place we converse. This is where we truly are in Relationship to Him.

Father God, be my center. Let my life be for You, hold on to me and make me Your Child. Jesus, please, do this for the ones I love. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Matthew 16:13-20 ~ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:13-20

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 

14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it [the Greek words for Peter and rock sound similar ]. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Scriptures are multifaceted. They are historical, for today; also important in mere verses and the way the parables are structured together. We've already thought about Jesus' important decision to bring the disciples to Caesarea Philippi for this important declaration.

Let's think about Peter. The man Jesus chose to walk His journey with Him.



John 1:40-42 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, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Peter is Not chosen because he had the good spiritual eyes to see Jesus for all that He is. And point out Jesus first.

We are God's family and we will embarrass Peter, for a moment, with all of our funny remembrances of him. (Like your mom telling your Jr High Prom date how cute you were in the bathtub as a baby.)

Matthew 14:28-30 The Message
Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water." 29-30 He said, "Come ahead." Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"



Matthew 15:14-16 New International Version
Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” 15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them.


Matthew 16:22-23 The Message Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!" 23But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."


Matthew 19:27
Then Peter chimed in, "We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?"



What did our Jesus see in our Peter?

Mark 5:37
He permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John. They entered the leader's house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: "Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn't dead; she's sleeping."

Mark 9:2-4
Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.


Mark 8:29
He then asked, "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?" Peter gave the answer: "You are the Christ, the Messiah."


John 6:67-69
After this a lot of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: "Do you also want to leave?"

68-69 Peter replied, "Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We've already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God." 


We know God can see into our souls and see us at our best - perhaps Peter was chosen for the spiritual growth ahead. Being such a perfect leader....

Acts 2:14
That's when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: "Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight."

Acts 2:37
Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?"


Acts 2:38
Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:13
They couldn't take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?
So what are we learning about Peter - with spiritual growth we are made perfect to face the lion's den??? So ... perfect we are God's mirror image?

Acts 12:9 
 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

Acts 10
And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean
Paul said about Peter...


Galatians 2:11-14
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
So what does Peter do with the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and what can we learn from Peter's life?

Acts 10:26 
 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”

Peter was never perfect. He could not build a Church of God's to last 2,000 years. I was talking to a woman, today at Church, weeping because she has need for more tests for re-occurring cancer. Ashamed of crying for her fear, because it would not please Jesus. Jesus never loved Peter because he was perfect. Not once.

Hezekiah sure cried and cried & God wasn't upset with him for that.

Did Jesus love Peter? Yes - ! He died for Peter. Jesus always loved Peter for who God created him to be. Jesus tells us over and over. We do not save ourselves. Peter was like David - willing to walk on water for God, but when Peter got over his own self-righteousness - he still was willing to get into the water and swim to Jesus. Jesus thought eternity of David and Peter because they looked to Him, asked Him, loved Him. He loved them first.

What does God say about the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven???? I am sure it pleases the living man named Peter, Keeper of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. God says the 12 Gates of Heaven are always open.

Revelation 21:21-27
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass. 

22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 

and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Blessed are You. Lord God Almighty. Lord God of Hosts. Blessed be Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 22:22
And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

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

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Luke 23:26-31 ~ people

Today in Jerusalem, below is a model of the 2nd Temple with a close-up of Solomon's Porch.







Luke 23:26-31

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio   
       

And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.              


   

         

We are 2 millenniums past Jesus giving us all of God's promises and changing Heaven forever.

And how often I pictured Jesus dying like "Godspell" with just a few sympathizers. Here we read, the truth, a great multitude of people Mourned for Jesus. These are the people in the Book of Acts who filled the Temple.  They are referred to as a multitude again.    

Acts 2:6       
And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.  

Acts 5:12 -15      
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.           

Joel 3:14 

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

People will forever disagree if the day is all at once, or like the people who come back from near death experiences - immediately. Time belongs to God. It is His invention. I suppose He can use time any way He wants. We, who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, will find out what time is all about in Heaven when we get there. 
 

What does the Book of Acts, Chapter 2, say about this time?   
   But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel ^{[2nd Chapter of Joel]}:  
 

before the day of the Lord comes,  the great and magnificent day.

 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’  
 

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD. Guide us and lead us in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves +

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