Mark 4 ~ even the wind and the sea obey Him

Pilgrims to Israel: viewing the Holy Land by boat on the Sea of Galilee

Mark 4

1 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”






35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

~ Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?

Psalm 33:6-9 (King James Version)

6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

This is Jesus Christ the way, the truth, the life. Let us be His seeds. And see Him work in our lives that which is meaningful and see this stand fast. Jesus told us life will be difficult. We must trust Him.

Ephesians 4:14
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes, but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ


Yes Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves 


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3 John 1 ~ love in truth

3 John 1

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers^{[siblings in a family]} came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.



My adored father, actually I always called him Daddy, said Mother's Day & Father's Day were created by Hallmark Lobbyists and the United States Congress was probably forcibly bribed as well. He forcibly and frequently, remarked vehemently, "Forced appreciation is barely appreciation." And he kept a Dad's Trophy I furiously pen marked all over.

Parents stay more involved in their children's lives than the reverse.

Jesus knew, during His days walking among us as grace and truth, people are not good enough to parents. (Hi Mom!!!)

  Matthew 15
4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

8 “‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Why give a Hallmark card or something  accumulating dust? Ask Family for the gift that gives eternity.

Matthew 13:32
"Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."


Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 

God works to preserve the durability of the child relationship to the parent. That's rather like HIM.

Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 9
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

Proverbs 3:1-8
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ... 

God adores us. Adores us the way we have loved our own children.

Proverbs 4:3-9
3 When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.

Psalm 103:2-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.


So we look up and we are glad for His many benefits. As all mothers love to be told this, allow me to close with a quote from Michelangelo, "Do you not know that chaste women stay fresh much more than those who are not chaste?"

 Whoever does good is from God

Picture the Joy of Jesus Christ Triumphant when His mother and brothers no longer stood outside.
 
Acts 1

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”


12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.


The Lord sees even after seeing His resurrection, they are still concerned for mostly their own concerns - arranging Israel. He uses their confusion and temerity to build them into His Family.


God is good. All the time. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


Father God, You have promised to equip us with all good things to accomplish Your work. Help us to surround one another with love and care from genuine hearts we pray in Jesus. Amen. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

 

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2 Chronicles 13 ~ days of Abijah

2 Chronicles 13 -



1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.* 2 He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.

Now there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 Abijah went out to battle, having an army of valiant men of war, 400,000 chosen men. And Jeroboam drew up his line of battle against him with 800,000 chosen mighty warriors. 4 Then Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim that is in the hill country of Ephraim and said, “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel! 5 Ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt? 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord, 7 and certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and irresolute and could not withstand them.

8 “And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David, because you are a great multitude and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made you for gods. 9 Have you not driven out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes for ordination with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of what are no gods. 10 But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. We have priests ministering to the Lord who are sons of Aaron, and Levites for their service. 11 They offer to the Lord every morning and every evening burnt offerings and incense of sweet spices, set out the showbread on the table of pure gold, and care for the golden lampstand that its lamps may burn every evening. For we keep the charge of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken him. 12 Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.”

13 Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to come upon them from behind. Thus his troops were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. 14 And when Judah looked, behold, the battle was in front of and behind them. And they cried to the Lord, and the priests blew the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the men of Judah shouted, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 The men of Israel fled before Judah, and God gave them into their hand. 17 Abijah and his people struck them with great force, so there fell slain of Israel 500,000 chosen men. 18 Thus the men of Israel were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers. 19 And Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took cities from him, Bethel with its villages and Jeshanah with its villages and Ephron with its villages. 20 Jeroboam did not recover his power in the days of Abijah. And the Lord struck him down, and he died. 21 But Abijah grew mighty. And he took fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22 The rest of the acts of Abijah, his ways and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.

* And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David, and Abijah his son reigned in his place. 2 Chronicles 12:16

David ruled the Kingdom of Israel. David's grandson Rehoboam was rejected by ten of the twelve Tribes of Israel during the disruption at Shechem, leaving only the Kingdom of Judah ruled by the Davidic line. Abijah, son of Rehoboam, grandson of Solomon, great-grandson of David lived c. 900 B.C. The Northern Kingdom (called Israel) fell to the Assyrian Empire c. 720 BC but the Kingdom of Judah survived until it was conquered in 586 BC by the Babylonian Empire under King Nebuchadnezzar.(2 Kings 25:8-21). This event coincided with the destruction of the First Temple of Jerusalem and with the Babylonian Captivity.


So we can be heroes just for one day. Or we can draw more from this than the absolute history of God's chosen people? What is the meaning for us? God's history is our lesson. Rehoboam acted with the flaws of Solomon and pageantry, drawing upon his father's sorry years and not the wisdom of the beginning and end. Rehoboam rejected his father's advisors. And choose a poor example - the draining years and not the years of correct wisdom. Environment - genetic and generational flaws? No. Rehoboam rejected the safe guards put in place - by choice.

God knew this would happen. But rejection of safe guards isn't generational DNA sin. An unwise choice.

Then Rehoboam has a son. Abijah. In three short years, Abijah, by believing and saying "God is with us as our leader" effectively reunites David's Kingdom. If we discredit Rehoboam from generational sin - then shall we say Abijah is DNA positive. What shall we comment on the generations? I'd have to say free will. Rehoboam was afraid and struck a false pose of sufficiency.

I adore Abijah's statement of faith. And remember Samuel's sons were passed over. And Eli's sons. Moses' sons were passed over. Joseph's sons were minor tribes. God will bless whom He will bless.

Abijah is more honest and says we must rely upon God. He goes much farther, like Hezekiah, holding off the Assyrian Empire.

And we must look at David's years, Abraham's years and Solomon's years to effectively determine each soul must decide for themselves their responsibility for their own words and actions. At a priority level to God first. To read the Psalms is to see even a very blessed life has strife and sadness. God's work is carried on in the belief He must carry us. We look to Him for His mercy. The sufficiency of the day He gives us. Knowing each day has renewed mercies if we take the time to connect to God.

God calls us to see the imperfection in our Biblical leaders, in years of goodness and mistakes. To understand that our source is God. The one who is Good. Not for pride, but the instruction of necessity. Seeing people as high as the Kings of Israel - make mistakes. Seeing a Shepherd relying on God - will go far.

Father God be with us as our Leader we pray. David knew the concept of trusting You. I lift my eyes up to you, my help, Our help comes from the Lord. Praise God. You are the Maker of Heaven and earth. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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John 1:35-42 ~ He said to them, “Come and you will see.”

Basilica of Saint Peter today.


Altar in the Vatican, during Christmas Mass. 80 feet below are the remains of Saint Peter.


Basilica of St. Peter from 331 until 17th century A.D. It was destroyed by a fire.

G is the representation of the foundation of the 4th century Church, the rest is beneath the foundation - as it would have appeared in the 4th century.
Overview of Peter's area. The undisturbed 4th century shrine for Paul's remains, built by Constantine.
Several excavated streets under the Vatican. Surrounded by tombs of the 2nd and 3rd century.

Peter's grave is 80 feet down, it took 10 years of amazing discoveries before they reached the Peter's area; most bodies clearly identified by name, art, poetry, mosaics, statuary. Pius knew they had rediscovered Peter's bones in the 2nd century grave, surrounded by the 4th century shrine built by Constantine.
Peter's bones were kept in a box. His bones were different than the others because they contained one man, wrapped in remains of purple cloth with gold thread, a tile saying "Peter is here" in Greek, was found in the box.

How the 4th century shrine appeared in 1949

c. 1966 the remains of Peter's house in Capernaum, Israel. Similar graffiti as Paul's tomb.
The slab that kept out moisture, thieves. Slab (a rock) helping to preserve Peter's body when the others around him were already dust.
The red wall with graffiti saying this is Peter, follower of Jesus Christ. Identical art found to Peter's home in Capernaum.
Original 2nd century tomb the 4th century tomb surrounded.

The discovered bones were found in the repository wall and later returned.
Darker bones are the remaining bones of Peter.
Photos of Peter's bones.


Peter's tomb today, located under the altar in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Italy.

John 1:35-42

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 [4 p.m.]. 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, Cephas and Peter are from the word for rock in Aramaic and Greek, respectively.]

What does a relatively large house in ancient Capernaum have in common with the Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano? They are both the homes of Peter, who loved and followed Jesus Christ. Both the house in Capernaum and the 2nd century grave site have the same graffiti proclaiming this is Peter, follower of Jesus. Where is the 2nd century grave located? Beneath the Altar of the Vatican.

Peter knew his death was going to be crucifixion, Jesus told him.

John 21:17-19

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus knew where Peter would be buried, he took Peter to Caesarea to give him the prophesy:

Matthew 16:18
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.

Peter's final resting place was rediscovered in the 1939 dig; began when Pope Pius XI died and there wasn't a good place to bury him. The workmen of Pope Pius XII discovered it wasn't going to just be pagan people underneath the floors of the Basilica. After 10 years of amazing discoveries, most bodies clearly identified by name, art, poetry, mosaics, statuary, Pius knew they had probably rediscover Peter's bones in the 2nd century grave surrounded by the 4th century shrine built by Constantine. Pius decided they would wait until the evidence looked completely irrefutable, they waited until December 23, 1950, when Pius told the world.

By 1964, conclusions the scientists decided were:

- An"elderly man" between sixty and seventy years, about five feet seven inches tall, of heavy build, a man of robust constitution. Missing the feet bones. The bones had lain - and for a considerable period of time - in a bare earth grave. (Peter had been martyred, buried as a criminal). All these bones, it appeared, at some time after dissolution of the flesh, had been taken from the earth and wrapped in a purplish, gold-threaded cloth. Enclosed was a plaque /tile with two Greek words "Petros Eni." Peter is here.  

- Many, many of the tombs had bodies that had already turned to dust, the bones of Peter were amazing in their completion. There was even water in the area, which had been a problem to the Basilica for centuries. A single, huge outcropping of rock had preserved the carefully cared for remains.

- Sumptuous marble housing erected by Constantine, in the 4th century, over the 2nd century tomb, was intended to preserve forever both the true original grave of Peter's remains. It has never been tampered or violated.

- Soil adhering to the bones in the repository proved they had originally been interred in the earth. Chemical analysis proved that this soil exactly matched the soil in the original grave under the monument.

- The bones, where as others in the vicinity contained a lot of different types of bones thrown together, these were the carefully preserved bones of one man, missing the feet. In the repository, they had been wrapped in cloth of royal purple, an indication of the unusually high dignity accorded. Threads of gold in the cloth reinforced this impression, since the combination of purple and gold was a fact well attested from antiquity as indicating imperial honors. The robe was older than 4th century.

- An inscription within the repository, in Greek, declared "Peter is buried in here." Other inscriptions on the outside the repository, in Latin invoked his name in prayer.

- 2nd century Graffiti on the tomb's red wall was very similar to the graffiti in Peter's Capernaum house.

- Pope Damasus, in the fourth century, seriously encountered the problem of cemetery vandalism growing out of religious bigotry, it was a violent age. The repository in the sturdy little wall guarded against intrusions by permanently enclosing the precious remains on all sides.

One of the main scientists working on the archaeological dig:
http://saintpetersbasilica.org/Necropolis/MG/TheTombofStPeter-1.htm
THE TOMB OF ST. PETER
by Margherita Guarducci
© 1960, Hawthorn Books


The Bones of St. Peter. The First Full Account of the Search for the Apostle's Body by John Evangelist Walsh. © 1982. http://saintpetersbasilica.org/Necropolis/JW/TheBonesofStPeter-1.htm

It's interesting to see Peter's house (photograph above) is just the remains of a house. The Church - the Bride of Jesus Christ has amazing depth and splendor.

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

So many amazing archaeological discoveries in the last 100 years. To name just a few: Dead Sea Scrolls, Lazarus' tomb in Spain, the entire Hittite Nation, the cities of Nineveh, Ur, Sodom and Gomorrah. Tile piece in Goliath's hometown with his name and David's name. The walls of Jericho. The walls of Babylon. The Capernaum Synagogue with Zebedee's name (father of disciples James and John) on a pillar. Written record of King David. King David's Palace found by description in the Bible for location. Many steeles ( antiquity plaques) found to confirm biblical fact written by other nations. Many, many artifacts in the Museum of Israel.

Blessed are You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Luke 6:27-36 ~ If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?

Luke 6:27-36

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Elvira, hearts on firah. Welcome to the fall. One of the ways mankind removes themselves from the blessings congregating in the Scriptures is avoiding the commandment our New Covenant calls for - Love God and Love One Another as we love ourself. We have issues with loving those who routinely are less than kind.

God has one policy only when dealing with us - to work with sinners. This is the Good News!!! Alleluia GOD! My step-grandfather Tate, an Episcopal Priest dealt with small Church policies, people and God. He routinely shrugged off what hindered love. Happier people don't fret so much what other people are doing. We are all called to work God's Plan for our lives.

God's purpose for our lives is hard to find for the long run. The day to day is easier. Sometimes reading the Beatitudes tells us what appeals to us is what God has in mind. Why should we listen to the voices telling us to not aspire? God has plans for us to eternity. Only God will determine how far we will go. If it's hard enough to determine our own God plan, why spend time trying to figure out the next person's God plan? God tells us work out our own plan of salvation with determination and discernment.

Romans 4 assures us if we listen to God, He credits our faith as righteousness. God tells us This IS Hard to determine. Maybe so we aren't peaking at someone else's!

Hebrews 11
Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

How will we know how great or small our destiny? We won't always. Gideon was surprised. Abraham was surprised to find out in old age. So was Moses. Jeremiah spoke Truth - His Plans for us are Good. For a Hope and a Future. Jesus said live for today. Find the gratitude. Always praying - we surely are one step up with God when we remember to ask for blessings and expect blessings. Personally, I avoid asking for God to damn something. Seems like wisdom to me.

We've all seen the movie "Kelly's Heroes" Donald Sutherland had that right - stop with the negative ways. Look at the examples of God. He sat with His people to teach. He made wine with His Mother. He brought friends to weddings. He even made sure the wine was good! Jesus never got up to scold the people who drank the wine and didn't feel the need to rebuke when the people said usually the bad wine is brought out when we have imbibed. Jesus could have used all kinds of examples - and He used the every day examples of life.

Jesus didn't scold often when people were trying to find God. His only rebuke was for personal power.

Should we have hope? Is this generation all bad? I had a P.S. Story about someone with vast resources. With a crook of the finger, a life can be toppled from the top. This Wonderful Man of God answers a key question. Does God still care who is in charge? Does God still think we deserve blessings? This Man choose to intervene when he could have sent forth a minion - easily. He called the young man "son" - he encouraged good behavior with a positive voice. He redirected. He offered a hand to encourage dignity and personal worth. He did this by saying we all need a time of mercy. And humor was invoked to set the tone for recovery. Laughter was genuine, spontaneous and appreciated. Words of Life. Jesus Son of God bless this Man. And those who understand how many blessings this uncovers.

God works with sinners. He sees us for who we are. He upbuilds us. He encourages us daily. Loves us. Saves us.

Blessed are you Lord God. And blessed be Your Son, Jesus. Thank You God for the merciful. Let us take the deep breathe of forgiveness given and give that to our hurts, aspirations, resting on being surprised each day for renewed mercies of God. He has plans for us that will take eternity to unfold. Give us the day. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Psalm 68:2-7 ~ O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah

Psalm 68:2-7

As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad;
they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the Lord;
exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, Selah

We all have a time when something positive came out of scuffle. One of the interesting things about the Lord's Prayer:

Matthew 6:6-13
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.



Right before the Lord tells us to honor the Father, ask for God's will, ask for daily provisions, forgive us our sins, asked for forgiveness for the ones who hurt us, lead in safe paths, deliver us from evil...... He tells us not to offer up empty phrases. We all know the Lord's prayer, but He isn't asking for us to assume any particular type of position to pray. He isn't asking us to recite. He is asking for a conversation.

Psalm 68, the whole thing, like many Chapters, is about the Lord's Prayer. It's about a time when something looked grim, but the Light shone. It's about the hassle to gather the family together & realize it's the best part of the day. This is lovely. It's feeling bitter over a hurt and realizing it doesn't matter. It's realizing we have flaws and we want to be forgiven, not only to the Lord. It's taking time to realize the beauty around you. It's the joy in knowing it is a gift.

It's realizing when we don't take time to really count and appreciate our blessings, they fly past us without the joy. It's when life is so rough, to have hope. It's when hurt becomes a prayer for the loved one. Trusting in God.

Father God, help our prayers be fruitful. Let our conversation about joy, need, praise. Let it be humble, let it be uplifting. Thank you Father, You incline your ear whenever we call upon You. Heal the hurting, uplift the families. Send Your vast blessings. Father God, You are truly are as vast as the Universe itself and as gentle as a breeze. Speak the Word, Father God, and we know Your healing. Praise Your gift of life in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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