James 4:1-10 ~ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

James 4:1-10

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 

6 But he gives more grace.

 Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Daniel 9:15-19

15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us.

 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name.

For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

Psalm 122

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
2 Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!

3 Jerusalem—built as a city
that is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 There thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
“May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!”
8 For my brothers and companions' sake
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.

There is a funny thing about easy street and the wide highway. We crave that easier life. And so did the people from the time of the return from the Exodus. It's just that - Jesus calls this the wide highway to pick the easy path of the world. He says gentiles lord over one another. We've come a long way from the Jewish diaspora. The problem is - we even understand this - the ones with having the attitude of "I'm All That" even understand - that's not as pleasing today - as James Bond used to be.

One thing to be said about the narrow road. The weepers at your funeral will be the ones - who traveled - in heart and in deed - the narrow road with you.

We have so many attitudes and poses today - the posers have few places to sit.

And perhaps it isn't that there are too few poses - but too many predictable ones.

The warmest place to be is this:

Romans 12:18
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.


How will we ever sort through all of the layers, levels, implications, kindnesses, need for more information - even down to the ticker going by as we watch the news?

Forgiveness. We work out our own salvation, giving kindness and help when asked. Casting our cares upon HIM, who tenderly cares for us.
And we comfort those with the comfort we have received.

God provides. He provides when we are full. He provides when we are empty. He helps us when we need to sort. He helps us when all seems well and suddenly isn't. And He helps us when restorations calls.

2 Corinthians 6:17
16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 17"Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. 18"And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.


Humility? Believers are the sons and daughters of the Lord God Father Almighty. That's. Astonishing.

And God forgives us to make this adoption in Jesus.


Father God, keep us centered on You. Let Your arms hold us to You. Help us to be bold and yet warm. Help us to not speak as to help others find their voice. Help those with a voice find more Love. Help us wisely consider our ways and remain with You as the One we rely upon. Help us to guide the loved ones You've given us. And let our talents rise to meet the needs as this occurs. Guide and bless our families, friends, neighbors, Churches and this nation. In Jesus we pray. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves † 

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2 Corinthians 9:6-15 ~You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.        

12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints
but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!



So Muscular Christianity. On two nights of insomnia. Family disagreements. Being hung up on. Being untruthed to - om - that. Kids who do what they want. (Ok and hug and laugh.) Surrounded by happy people. And being told what to do.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Ok.

1 Peter 2:1
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.


Years, like almost thirty years ago, we were asked to lead Marriage Encounters. Sometimes youth is smart. I told Edward I'm not sure I'm entitled to lead. Just as you stand up to say you have this sterling attitude and marriage - I told Edward - you realize you are faking your attitude to make everyone else happy. When you were getting along ok before you raised your hand to be perfect.

Like being in a brave place, writing a post, and waking up for the second day at 4 A.M. And having ... attitudes. Oh, boot straps.

Father God, give me one person at a time to be working out harmony with because I'm older and I multitask - how. Hormones? Insomnia? Lack of appreciation for moi? I was asked not to be confused and to make a straight path and be nicer. May I weep now? Could we do one thing at a time? Grumpier is easier.

Father God help the people who sow sparingly because they are not so welcomed to sow. Well, isn't that the truth. And what a relief to know that if you get 9 million likes on a FB prayer, God doesn't say - Thanks for Voting.

God is God. And He sees the people who only have two pennies to sow with. I remember in salad days I suddenly had two coffee drip pots. And I was told about a woman who lost everything she owned in a fire - so - being blessed, we gave our second coffee dripper. That next week. No coffee dripper. So what did I learn? Giving has a cost. And eventually you get another coffee dripper because things lighten up.

We gave a car that was going pretty well because we were able to give. And Later. Then our kids had one car between them, a hand me down we gave. When they were 17. And the second child - well that's a story, but when he needed a car for three years - the first son gave the car he had to earn - to the second child. We got a call from a family member who said - do you feel bitter yet about giving that car away years ago? Om. Em. No. Well. Om. Now I do.

And what did GOD do? All our lives I will have the memory of going to the insurance company to transfer the address of one son to the next. Cal earned a 96 SC Lexus red two door. And the young 20 something insurance man said, "He is giving the use of this sweet car to his brother? Man, I wouldn't do that for my brother and I like him. Love him."

My son did that for my other son. Ask me if I'm thrilled with the love my boys have. Ask me if I see love in my family. Thank you, Jesus Christ.




That's the sad part about not being grateful. And having the law. If you don't tell what Really Bothers You. You are left not remembering what REALLY MOVES YOUR HEART TO LOVE. Seeing a family member being treated so roughly and seeing the grace pour from the heart that doesn't have malice. Not even envy. Finding deep and abiding admiration. Being able to say to God - see that heart - that's a Fine Heart towards God.

Remember with me, the Holy Spirit is fire. Remember.
When we see the embers - a Wind.

Ecclesiastes 11:5
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things

John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

John 6:29
Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

What the Wind of God can do for the Spirit...


1 Thessalonians 5

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

25 Brothers, pray for us!!!

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.


Hello Father God, please be more perfect for me. Because. I'm not. So Today. I pray thanks and help. In Jesus Christ, we know we really need to run on the Grace of God. We do indeed need to hold fast to what is good. To encourage others, to really take time to be fun. To plan to be the good part of someone's day.

If I have a regret in life, I wish I'd worked harder at being fun. Everyday. And hope to have the opportunity to mend that. Help me to remember each day to ask the people you have given me to be fun for them.

Help me to remember that I'm not God and can't win or please all people. And know You are God and Your Will goes forth to Your Glory and that's an Excellent thing. Amen in the name of the One Who is Good - Jesus Christ the Lord.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves † 

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Luke 21:12-19 ~ gain your lives

Luke 21:12-19

12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 

13 This will be a time for you to bear testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 

16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; 17 you will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Psalm 126
A song of ascents.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.

Deuteronomy 28:14
Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

Psalms 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him.

I noticed when my sons got to be in college, the same thing I noticed as a newly-wed, people seem to have another time period of discovery when they have raised their children. When our children are little - if you are like me and had children fairly young - we wonder when our full fledged life begins. Children require a lot of attention - and suddenly - they are fairly self efficient.

If I have one regret for the child years - I'd spend one hour a day being fun with my children. The rest of my parenting, I'm ok with.

Having come through scrapes and turmoil - even currently. I'd have to say - wait for the changes - life is always doing that.

Regardless of the changes, I was told once by an Episcopal Priest - God provides a blessing every day. Even when finances are in crisis and families are far apart. And life started carrying on. With blessings to Praise God for. And still I worried - endlessly. For instance, we needed to pay a bill and a check arrived the same day. And so I worried about next year... go figure.

The nice thing about worrying - even you eventually get bored with worrying. And all that worrying makes you observant and then you get, with prayer, a little wiser.

How? Eventually I remembered that as a child - I did have a grateful heart. And I started remembering what solutions work for me - well. And if I found a book that helped, I would remember the advice. A lot of advice was pure junk. Because - we have to figure out our own path with God's help and prayer.

So I will tell you what I have learned for myself and if that blesses you - I'm pleased.


1!  Life is going to give you something new today. 
Be prepared to pray. Be a little excited by the day. Expect a rich response of prayer. Sometime. Maybe years down the road. Some optimism - not the fake kind. Be genuine. Your best fake self might overwhelm you. Trust God that He is making you sufficient.

Pray.




2. Some people you cannot please.
 After some time - a lot of time - set up boundaries with Psalm 23. It's an easy boundary.

Psalm 23
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

If you let the be depressed noises and people -  who say you will never win, the ideas that crowd 'you', a Child of God, out. All you will be is overwhelmed. Set boundaries - God says He will be your fortress. And out of the boundaries where you love yourself as much as others - you need this - without this, you will be overwhelmed - be polite and give enough goodness and Trust in God's Mercy - to feel alright about your words.

In imperfect situations, perfect solutions may occur - but doing Your Best as God gives you talent - will give you peace.





3. Find people to admire.

I see a lady at my Church who rarely gets a lot of applause - the things that bring her riches in her eyes and joy to her life - her unrelenting joy in Jesus. Thank you, Cindy.

The lady who goes down to help her mom - who has always gently, gently said improve improve improve - still goes. And helps her siblings. You know who you are!

A lady with a Pastoral husband - finds new projects and says you never confess the sins of someone else - it's a waste of time. She has a huge grateful heart.

A man who takes his vacation to bless his Church. Thank you.

For Judy. Who is so gracious to all she meets. She makes new beginnings from her kindness. I'm so grateful God says families live in Heaven together.

The librarian who loves children and gives the amazing wisdom she finds. She gets to be a blessing.

The ladies who sat to weep and mourn the passing of a lady who was ready to go to Jesus. You Love. And you continue to give.

The lady who seems to be so busy and yet puts a dab hand at bringing people forth. Mary.

The lady who truly cares and gets bound up in other's lives. She should realize that she has so many riches to give in her unrelenting humor. Teri.

My friend who is willing to speak her heart even if she cries. And we mend our fences. To great joy. Dee. A woman blessed going forward.

And Sharon who Loves. And we prayed for her children to live close by - and they are. We pray for even more proximity.

And I remember Randy - who had great physical pain. Greeted people with love and told me doing so caused him to forget his pain. Raised four children from early years. Loved. Gave when that was available for him to do so. Blessed so many people - that he caused people to want to bless him back. And is still missed today. Julie.

For Aunt Clarice. Opinionated and kind. Lover of small children. The dream I had she was Yelling. Heaven is All Real! I'm Standing Before the Gates And You Must Know This. All of This! It's Better Than Any Lottery! And waking to find that she had passed on to her Lord and Savior during the night. Her kitchen table solved a lot of life.


Believing Christians hang in there - and seeing the fruit of love flower and bloom and be tasty again.





4. Trust your intuition. 
My new friend gave me good advice - if the horse is going to bolt - don't think you should ride the horse. Stop. Fast.


5. God says that all things work together for Good for Those Who Love the Lord. 
I saw that happen recently from something from 1976. Wait for the silver lining. Expect positive things.


6. Be Yourself.

I find that when I need to leave a situation, I'm able to get away. And I might have just recently learned that's smarter than the average bear. Remember when we can appreciate ourselves honestly and know we have limitations - well - that's right. The New Testament says live a quiet life. Because all works of God go way past our own lives.

Be as kind as you can be. Tell the truth. Don't expect every situation to be a winner. When you read biographies - most people have years of their lives with conflict or uncertainty. Life actually exists for us to decide what choices we will make. A lot of our innate personalities arrive at birth and are most evident in late childhood. Our self esteem is going to need to remember our best self there and grow from there. For me when I please God, I love resting in HIM. And when I don't and I tried, I know He is not going to be angry with me.

Keep Communicating.


7. Oh the places you will go - until the sails jam.
We can get in rabbit holes. Sometimes things happen because we need to learn emotional lessons from them. God says shame that is on going - is not from Him. People don't really believe change is possible - God does. When you get in a jam, sometimes we tell ourselves we have become wise to the world. God says a child's belief gets them into Heaven. There is not a lot of jade in His Heaven. 

Step back, forgive,
take a deep breathe and renew the sense of wonder in life. Love. Remember again the way God has made you as a Person and find those solutions He gives you to renew your real essence - your soul.

When sorting all this out - pray. Write your thoughts down. Find positive inspiration in people.



8. Our friend Allen said Edward's nickname is River. Edward is good about waiting patiently to see the good in people. There is a lot of wisdom there. And make your own life. He learned that from his dad, Buddy. We are grateful to the extreme for Buddy.


9. Keeping the Score, Discernment, and Judgment

Payback cuts your forgiveness down

Discern that isn't a situation that is going to work and move on with grace and kindness

Judgment is spoken out loud where you share your opinion with someone else. And God says - were you honest, merciful, just and was that needed for safety. Encouragement. Wisdom. Always bare in mind - knowledge is limited.

10. Love. 
Pray. Expect God. Be yourself. Be honest. Be kind. Love yourself.


Father God, Give us the day. For time with those we love. Vacation and change of pace.

Thank You for blessings, talents and expectations. When we remember to pray for good things - we will see them in patience. Thank You for a Day to Be Thankful.  Thank You for those we Love. Bless all we know with Your Blessings. Bless our Nation, Dear Father God.

All the advice we would ever think upon should say  - Trust God.  In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves † 

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Mark 7 ~ Jesus called the crowd to Him

Mark 7

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”


Psalm 126
A song of ascents.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.


Romans 9
9 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

Recently, I had a debate about the shape of a heart. It's a very old symbol and it really does not look like a pig organ. I say that a person is a 5 pound soul. A person - for exactly NO physical reason - looses five pounds after they pass on. The heart shape is a perfect symbol for the fact that if you believe with your heart and confess with your soul - Jesus is the Christ - your soul is gathered in the Grace of God and defies being dead. Our essence and memories will live on - what God calls in His Word - our BEING lives on. (I say this a lot - you never know which post pops up on a subject on the internet.)

Now the other part of the debate was - a soul is actually Light. Which does make sense because - God is the Light of all of mankind. The disciple John records this in His Gospel.

The photo says: Where there is humankind there is potential for an act of goodness. Gotta love the expectation - we truly need and some sort of soft fuzziness.

God balances out this by Jesus saying He knows what is in the heart of mankind.

If we look for Blessings in the Word of God this is going to center on the Law.

Mankind has so many layers. With all the layers - God decides the World needs to be saved. And if we look at that twice - God says Saved. As in - needs redemption.

God surrounds His Law and builds His framework on how to build where Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - will give us our best possible place to become the best soul God sees in us.

And God gives the Law to a mankind saying something so deep and profound you cannot read these Words and push them aside for the rest of Your life:

Exodus 33:19
And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

God gives His Law for our fulfillment. I was surprised, as an adult, to realize the orderliness of God's Law. He comes first. And this is not to be the gge great goat eater in the sky. This establishes a framework for what is Good - far and away beyond ourselves. God is so - softly spoken - that as HE Commands us to come into His Presence on Sundays - at His House - He is actually feeding us for drawing up the Light - the Love - that God Is to meet the higher and understated purposes in life.

Some days you just keep slogging away at making yourself HAPPY - it's just an amazing RELIEF to realize - OH MY GOD - Thank You that You are Good and Worthy and Love.

And I will tell you a secret, what People say about God - is what they secretly fear HE is saying about them.


So God gives us His Law. And that is good.

Mankind cannot adhere to the Law.

Because even when we do law and frequently spout it and live it - sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly come into this. Jesus says our thoughts - we can be darn glad of as private, define our hearts before God and He tells us a Savior is needed. It's no mistake Jesus called the law abiders and givers the white washed tombs.


Jesus said His people are salt and light. Not the dull.

We have a whole crowd of People who love to spout the rhetoric of safety in their cellophane wrapper ideas of God.

God says when we Love Him very much and Love others - He will forgive sins. He says Love covers a multitude of sins.

Like Jesus telling a chosen friend, follower, one who said "Let's to and die with Jesus." At the time of Lazarus. And then... Thomas ran away at trouble.

Thomas was
sooooo very comfortable saying, "I don't know. It seems improbable. Ya'll saw that there is SOME BIG TROUBLE IN THIS. So. I'm going with the profound safety of "I'm not sure you can really, really, really know this.""

Thomas - we love to say for millenniums - "I'm Thomas." Laugh with me because - really. Really, really. I don't want to put my hands in the side of Jesus. I don't want to see my fingers pass through His Hand.

I want to say, "Please, Jesus, be whole again. Please forgive me for ever having anything to do with what would cause this to happen." I weep to think of what Jesus' feet looked like. I want to sit with Jesus throw my arms around Him and say, "THANK YOU JESUS."

And when I face the realities of this level of Forgiveness - I say with profound gratitude - "You are God. The Lord Jesus Christ. And I do not need to be a Judge of man. Thank You that Your Word never requires me to decide the fate of some many levels of all of mankind. And I will work out my own salvation with understanding the Riches of Your Glory."

My Good is in You, Lord Jesus Christ. My Father the Lord. Amen. And the rest of the prayer - is for my family to make choices of Love. Goodness. For us all to remember to pray the huge prayers of National Sovereignty. For Healthcare. For joy in living the Life that God calls Good yesterday, today and tomorrow. And blessings on the people who pray to live out God's will for them. When we believe we are blessed in all of His blessings for us for today and tomorrow - we are truly blessed. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves † 

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Matthew 11:30 ~ His yoke is easy, His burden is light

Daniel 7

“As I looked,

thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.



13 “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.

Jesse Duplantis is an Evangelical Charismatic Christian minister based in New Orleans, Louisiana. I have had Jesse Duplantis recommended to me by a Louisiana cousin about 10 years ago. He said Jesse lifts him up and broadens his views of God and encourages him. Makes him remember when you look up at the sky - Life is given to go much farther. And eyes get misty.

My friend Cindy said she had listened to this for an hour and a half and the Joy of God filled her. Cindy said This Would Bless Me and I want to tell you - This Did!

Many years ago we were puzzled in a Bible Study about Revelation. Matter of fact - the study stopped when we reached this verse.

Revelation 1:15
His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.

(So Jesse had a very important thing to say about this - - - )

We stopped because why - why - why was the verse His feet are like bronze glowing in a furnace. We did decide that no one could interpret Revelation and maybe it was above our pay grade. Isaiah knew Jesus was to be born - and all the people understood Isaiah. Even the Magi who knocked on Herod's door to find baby Prince Jesus.

We stopped the study. And did something we understood.

Sign of the Times

And - I was listening to Jesse, very honest about his life, witty, and very much commented on by very many different opinions. And I was struck, looking at the comments, how much they looked the way Rick Warren's Facebook page looked.

Matthew 16:3
Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?

We live in a time that -

Max Lucado's Survey says:
Four out of five Americans (82 percent) implore God about the needs of their friends and family. Half (54 percent) pray about good things occurring in their lives, and around one-third (36 percent) pray for their own future prosperity. Only 37 percent of Americans pray for their enemies, and 41 percent admitting to praying for those have mistreated them.
12% pray for our government! More please!

Lifeway says
48 percent of Americans pray every day
82 percent who pray typically pray about family or friends
20 percent pray for people of other faiths or no faith
Equal numbers of Americans (7 percent) pray behind the wheel, either for a good parking space or not to get a speeding ticket
About a third of survey respondents say they pray several times a day, according to the survey. About two-thirds (65 percent) of Americans say they pray at least once a month.

Which is great news for the Pray Every Day Crowd - it would appear there are Willing Blessings to be scooped up as the rest of the group lags!!! Run your race To Win.

Ok, back to the point.
Centering on Jesus the Lord, not to the right nor the left.

We live in a time where people are more vocal, especially on social media, about negative opinions. Trying to drown out what is - what Jesus said is - GOOD.

Like "Kelly's Heroes" - Donald Sutherland did you Evah have a better quote!!! - "Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?"

This quote changed the Words we say for a decade. People loosely considered "Righteous." Let's bring that consideration alive.

And Rick Warren commented on his Facebook page where all the man says is about Jesus - and - he said - "Just be nice" to the haters. To the effect - they needed a sign about alligators and swamps. I can tell you my household believes prayer works!

Living Water tells us God is Love.
Living Water tells us we cannot be separated from God.
Living Water believes being born of the Spirit, the armor of God does not ever leave or forsake us
Just a Promise of Jesus.

Matthew 11

27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 Jesse is telling about a vision of Heaven. That others have shared and support. And Jesse tells us of seeing Jesus and His feet were

Revelation 1:15
His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.

Jesse said that Jesus' feet shone and radiated with Light. And Jesse referred to

John 21
25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

When Jesus chose to wash us clean, make us righteous before God, His feet today are not scarred, the Revelation image says that actually we have no idea what Jesus endured to give us Life. The quote says the nails tore open His feet.

And Jesus is alive and well today - Living in the Kingdom of God. Where there are 12 open Gates and the gates never close.

Jesus goes to great lengths to go where we are - reaches for us. We have to see that with eyes of faith. And ask Him.


I thank you, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth for Your Gracious Will. We bring our cares to you and rest them with You. As our souls rest in prayer to You, feed our mind, body and drive to be Yours. Give us the wisdom to do Your Will and the Love each day. Root out bitterness and what isn't love. We delight in You, Father God.

You are our Good. Bless You Father to give us wisdom and the Bible says you will give us wisdom as we sleep in Psalms 16. God does not slumber. Be our path of Light and let our fulness be in you. Our help is in You. Forevermore.

Father God, we lift Liza to you for healing and Billy. We ask your blessing on both families who do Your Work. You are God who is willing and loving. We look to you in Expectation for my own family and for all our concerns that our choices please You.

Blessings Jesus, for knowing You love and answer our prayers. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves † 

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Matthew 13:31-35 ~ The Kingdom of Heaven is like

Matthew 13:31-35

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 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.”

33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.


Psalm 10
16 The Lord is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
17 You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that mere earthly mortals
will never again strike terror.

Jude
17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

The idea is -Heaven is at hand.
The people who have returned from death say that the walls fade and that Heaven Really Is At Hand.

That would indicate a list would be very good.

The top of the list is the announcement from - Heaven is at hand.

Matthew 3:2
Saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”





Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit (humble, walk humbly with God) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:19
Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:23-30
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”



Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.





Matthew 10:7
As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near!’

Matthew 21:42-44
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.





Parables of Jesus - the Book of James, brother of Jesus, says pray for Wisdom and that is granted:

Mark 4:10-12
When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that,

“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’


Mark 4:26-27

26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how."

God is going to do Works of God. And as we pray Heaven for our loved ones, He is working.

Mark 10:13-15

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

God does not list Jade as one of the stones in Revelation. Jesus did sometimes call the adult Disciples - Children. Seeing the Father - those eyes really did!


What our eyes will see in Heaven - we will see people loving God will all their understanding, strength and love is pervasive.

Mark 12:33-35

33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Mark 14:24-26
24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Just as the Disciples ate fish for breakfast with Jesus in John 21 - Jesus ate several times He had His Heavenly Body. And in Acts, the Disciples ate meals together.

Matthew 8:11
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.




The people who met Jesus, know Father God - know this was serious.

Mark 15:43
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

Luke 4:42-44
At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” 44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit."



We want to tell Father God - we did the work to help Him to be known to the ones we love and the people we encounter. 

We want to tell how Loving God is. We want to encourage people. Draw them up in honor. Praise them as God would.

And speak what is right, not to ever say what is wrong is right. Not to proclaim the sins of others.

To know God looks for hearts. That God is Love.


Father GOD, forgive me a sinner and Thank You that You freely gave me Salvation. Know all of me, my salt, my light, shadows, variations and make the dark Light for You. Be part of what I do each day. And help me be pleasing to You.

Father, let all mankind know the Joy You bring.

Present me before Your glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to You the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!

In Jesus the Lord, Amen.

 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves † 

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