Psalm 107 ~ Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

Psalm 107

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
5 They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
9 for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
11 because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the plans of the Most High.
12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
and broke away their chains.
15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
16 for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.

17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.

23 Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.

33 He turned rivers into a desert,
flowing springs into thirsty ground,
34 and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35 He turned the desert into pools of water
and the parched ground into flowing springs;
36 there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could settle.
37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards
that yielded a fruitful harvest;
38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
and he did not let their herds diminish.

39 Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled
by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40 he who pours contempt on nobles
made them wander in a trackless waste.
41 But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
and increased their families like flocks.
42 The upright see and rejoice,
but all the wicked shut their mouths.

43 Let the one who is wise heed these things
and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

Matthew 22
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

Let us reason together about the loving deeds of the Lord God, our Father, who has given us Jesus.





Jesus is the Word of God made manifest. He told us we just look at His actions and Words and we have seen our Father. Romans 1 goes on to tell us that we know the Truth.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:28 God has given us His Word for the purpose of understanding God's Nature and His help in life. To know the Scriptures with understanding is to know what God's Plan is. God is Love and He does not plan our eternity without telling us what He intends.

The Loving Deeds of the Lord begin with God's Word made manifest and the Scriptures.

Luke 20 continues the parable of Matthew 22
35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sonsg of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.

Jesus is telling us what life is - our choices are making us be considered worthy to attain to the age of the resurrection.

However - other than fruit of our lives - no one is told to tell God who will be considered worthy. Thank God He loves prayer!

Solomon, in the Power of the Holy Spirit declares as he dedicated God's Temple :

1 Kings 8:39
For You, You only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind.

Jesus said the same.

John 2:25
He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Acts 1:24
Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart."

God, Father of Creation, is God.

Is God's love without condition?

Scripture clearly teaches God's love (phileo, agape, aheb, ahabah, beloved , dearly love, friend , friends, love, loved, loves, loving, show your love, shows love.) is unfailing, undeserved, and unilateral (completely one-sided in initiation). But is God's love without condition--I.E.: UN-conditional?

God's love is truly amazing... God's love is unilateral: He loves the unlovable and gives His glory to them. God's love is completely undeserved. God's love is unfailing for those in whom He delights: who respond to Him and receive His Son. But, God's love is clearly not "unconditional"

Jeremiah 5:12-13
They have lied about the Lord; they said, 'He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine.' The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them..."

God is clear. There is Heaven and hell with the second death in Revelation 20:14. Jesus says Heaven has no death. Jesus tells us Himself in the Gospels. God is the God of the Living.

God says the work He gives to us all is to believe Him.
And in faith - in Jesus Christ - we are saved.

Romans 10:9
If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

We arrive at this -

John 3:18
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

John 6:40
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

Ok. So... why do we not all confess Jesus is Lord and run on in our own merry way?
Well, Psalm Two tells us. We want to take God's plan seriously and with joy.

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

When we are enlightened to God's Love we embrace God's plan. We want others in Heaven with us. We want them to know God is Love.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Spread the Good News!

Ephesians 3 states families live together on earth and Heaven. Jesus told us of His Father's house with many rooms. 2 Corinthians 12:2 tells us Heaven has levels.

Psalms 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!

Luke 22:32
I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Who else told us?

The Answer is Always Jesus.

Mark 16:15
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."


Father God, You are not a God to spring out with surprises. In Your Loving Heart, You proclaim Your greatness in Scripture. You tell us of the marvelous promises You have freely given us. 

You not only gave us Your Son Jesus, but we see Your willingness in all the Gospels of Jesus. We have seen You, Father. in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Psalm 89 ~ I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever

Jericho looking southward

Jericho, once a “Biblical problem” a seeming disagreement between archaeology and the Bible. However, now we know the archaeological evidence supports the historical accuracy of the Biblical account in every detail.

Rahab, 3rd great grandmother of David. As the Children of Israel left Egypt and wandered for 40 years, soon they would need help. More than the help of one person. God would have to act.

The Children of Israel did not have lives that pleased them in Egypt and God hears them. Then 40 years later, they finally enter into the Promised Land because they didn't follow the advice of God, but their own fears. So they enter Jericho first. Jericho is the land flowing with milk and honey. It is fabulous, a gorgeous land. They are told how Jericho will fall. It seems absurd and hopeless. And today we see, the Bible has once again, told the Truth.

It seems absurd they would leave Jericho to only guess what was ahead, but faith compelled them to keep going after Promises were fulfilled.

[ According to Bryant G. Wood PhD 

Excavations at the outer (lower) fortification wall by the three major expeditions to Jericho. At the north end (numbers 1–5), a portion of the mud brick wall (shaded) atop the stone retaining wall survived, demonstrating that the city wall did not fall in this area. Nothing remains of the mud brick city wall at other points investigated, showing that it had collapsed everywhere else (numbers 6–13). Remnants of the collapsed city wall (shaded) were actually found still in place in three places at Jericho: number 11 (German excavation), number 12 (Kenyon’s excavation), and the 1997 Italian-Palestinian excavation extending Kenyon’s south trench at number 8.

***According to the Bible, 
Rahab’s house was incorporated into the fortification system (Jos 2:15). If the walls fell, how was her house spared? As you recall, the spies had instructed Rahab to bring her family into her house and they would be rescued. When the Israelites stormed the city, Rahab and her family were saved as promised (Jos 6:17, 22–23). 

At the north end of the tell of Jericho, archaeologists made some astounding discoveries that seem to relate to Rahab.

The German excavation of 1907-1909 found that on the north a short stretch of the lower city wall did not fall as everywhere else. A portion of that mudbrick wall was still standing to a height of 8 ft (Sellin and Watzinger 1973: 58)

What is more, there were houses built against the wall! It is quite possible that this is where Rahab’s house was located.]

Psalm 89 says Rahab was crushed.
This Psalm was published, verified, sung by her 4th great grandson (Solomon) in the Temple. Written by one of his wisest councilors. Truth being told in the LORD'S TEMPLE and trying to honor a story working for the LORD. If you wanted to honor your heroic great, great, great, great grandmother in the Temple of the LORD - how would you delicately refer to her profession and her salvation? Perhaps to point out God is greater and to say she was crushed in her life...

Psalm 89 

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah

5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,
your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
Who among the heavenly beings[b] is like the Lord,
7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
and awesome above all who are around him?
8 O Lord God of hosts,
who is mighty as you are, O Lord,
with your faithfulness all around you?
9 You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

Rahab is told about in Joshua 6

Rahab was a prostitute. God has moved Rahab's life along like Job.

Job 9

10 who does great things beyond searching out,
and marvelous things beyond number.
11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not;
he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back?
Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ 13 “God will not turn back his anger;
beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.
14 How then can I answer him,
choosing my words with him?
15 Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him;
I must appeal for mercy to my accuser
16 If I summoned him and he answered me,
I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
17 For he crushes me with a tempest
and multiplies my wounds without cause;
18 he will not let me get my breath,
but fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty!


Rahab might have failed to perceive God. 
Except God was giving her life direction and motivation to want to work God's plan for her life and it fit into His Plan. Who were the helpers of Rahab who made God so angry? Perhaps it is the clientele. God wouldn't have been angry with the two men from Joshua. We see in the passage, Rahab stood over the hidden men of God hidden under the flax of her roof.


Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him

Rahab's actions were that of Joshua. Being brave and courageous. Rahab appears in the second chapter of Joshua. Joshua has just been commissioned by God to do HIS work

Joshua 1:7-8
Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Perhaps. Perhaps because Rahab is listed in Matthew 1:4-6...........

and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah

..........we can say Rahab was one of the people who longed to see Jesus and hear Jesus.

Matthew 13:17
For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.


We are telling God's story. We can draw from Job, Joshua, Solomon, Solomon's advisors, David, Rahab, Isaiah and we are telling of flawed people. Doing what they can. Abiding in God, seeing like Paul.

...Philippians 2:19-24 ~ how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord.


Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
16 who exult in your name all the day
and in your righteousness are exalted.
17 For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.

You have to be what God wants you to be. Believing what He wants is important. Teaching those around you with genuine care. Being flawed, but going forward in the LIGHT.

Give justice with mercy. Walk humbly with the LORD.

Father God each day draw us more near to you, in Jesus. Let us have your help in going down our path with wisdom, verve and in faith. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Prayer ~ the Bible, where Jesus gives many widespread viewpoints pointing to His Love

We had a comment and let's look at Scripture with the comments made

PRAYER IS CONDITIONAL
There are times when men pray and their prayers are not granted; why not? Because prayer is conditional.

1 John 5:14 This is confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Our petitions to God must be according to His will. PRAYER IS CONDITIONAL.

John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My word abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Jesus said staying faithful to Him is a factor in having prayers granted. PRAYER IS CONDITIONAL.

Mark 11:25-26 Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. 26 [But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."]

Failing to forgive others can be an impediment to having your prayer requests granted. PRAYER IS CONDITIONAL.

Proverbs 15:29 The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayers of the righteous.

Clothing yourself with the righteousness of Jesus and living a Christians lifestyle is necessary for God to acknowledge your prayers. PRAYER IS CONDITIONAL.

James 4:3 You ask and do not receive , because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

God did not promise Christians that they would have unlimited wealth to spend on their pleasures. Praying for wealth, having the wrong motives, might be why your prayers are not answered. PRAYER IS CONDITIONAL.

1 Peter 3:7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Men's prayers being answered are contingent upon the attitude and treatment of their wives. PRAYER IS CONDITIONAL.

James 1:5-7 But if any man lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

Answered prayers are contingent on our faith. PRAYERS ARE CONDITIONAL.

Exactly!!!
When we repeat Scripture we are doing something pleasing to God. Thank you, that was very valid Scripture and well done to stay on topic. The Word of God IS Jesus Christ the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 




I'm currently taking a video class on the Power of God's Healing by Rev Francis MacNutt and his wife Judith at my Church HopePointe Anglican. https://www.facebook.com/ChristianHealingMin. This married couple, the MacNutts,  have had God's Amazing Successes with Prayer for Fifty Years. Successes like the The Book of Acts  - like this -

Ephesians 2:7
In order that in the coming ages, He might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

My mother's dear friend  Patricia, a doctor, was healed from failing blood vessels in her eye and cataracts from following Judith and Francis' MacNutts Prayer and Healing Services Honoring Jesus Christ.

This has been profoundly wonderful in Jesus. Our class at HopePointe Anglican prayed for a man who was from Arizona and headed with reoccurring mouth cancer to M.D. Anderson for a physician's referral for mouth cancer surgery. He decided, being Agnostic, to reply quite kindly by email to our class's offer for a healing prayer visit that he'd appreciate the prayers but not a visit. When he arrived at M.D. Anderson, the Lord had healed his mouth cancer. My husband has been ill and has responded with healing for the last 8 weeks. A lady in our class has had her several year cancer scan report zero cancer found for the first time, recently.

The mystery of faith is amazing; Reverend Francis MacNutt points out - God heals willingly. The sins we have were taken on by Jesus on the Cross. We are not God and His will and His ways awe and inspire us about the Great Love God has. Francis goes on to saying God heals with vast, pervasive empathy pervasive. He is forgiving and gentle.





Jesus was asked by two disciples about power in Prayer. God answers us lovingly - when we pray His Will Be Done.

Jesus tells us in Romans 9:15
For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

The mystery of God alone knowing our hearts. His ways, His Plan. Jesus tells us this:

Luke 4:26
And yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."

Proverbs 14
9 Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is good will. 10 The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy.

Prayer is conditional and depends upon God's Loving Will! 
Like the Garth Brook's song "Thank God for Unanswered Prayers" - God is Greater than our wisdom. We thank God for His Will and Plan! God is our Hope and Future!

Acts 1:24
Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart."

Hebrews 13:21 
Jesus our Lord equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


Thank YOU, Father God, You hear all prayer when we call upon Jesus. Your ways are not our ways, but Your wisdom, goodness and Love exceed beyond our imaginings. Bless You for Your Plan. Your robe would not fit in the Temple, but Your Word fills the very Universe.

We love because Your Great Love is a spark that Lights all of mankind. Father God, Your Word is eternal, help us each day to have words and actions that cause You joy.

Forgive us when we do not cause You Joy, please. Be our Loving Shepherd and help us to be willingly centered upon You in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Proverbs 2 ~ Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.

Proverbs 2

1 My child, listen to what I say,

and treasure my commands.

2 Tune your ears to wisdom,

and concentrate on understanding.

3 Cry out for insight,

and ask for understanding.

4 Search for them as you would for silver;

seek them like hidden treasures.

5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,

and you will gain knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord grants wisdom!

From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.

He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.

8 He guards the paths of the just

and protects those who are faithful to him.

9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,

and you will find the right way to go.

10 For wisdom will enter your heart,

and knowledge will fill you with joy.

11 Wise choices will watch over you.

Understanding will keep you safe.

Psalm 126
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

The Joy of the Holy Spirit. 

What do you do when you don't feel it. When Joy is a job. We all know the feeling.

The Work of God within us is a Work of the Holy Spirit. Not always an emotional joyride. To Love is different from being 'in love'.

The New Year is a good time for insight. 

I just read an article by an experience-this-homeless minister on judging his neighbors: 

He commented  his real, affluent neighbors spent too much time loving each other. Giving away what belonged in the home. (Where does he live??!)  After offering commentary that his real and actual neighbors in his neighborhood spend too much effort on loving each other, being concerned for each other - "idolization".

Then he spends the rest of the article talking about knowing his time in being homeless will never compare to the real thing. And the article goes on for pages about being touched by the compassion of the homeless to share blankets with each other. 

In the article, as he is stopping his homeless trial, he drove to his parent's house to pick up a car they were giving him, and he mentions, briefly, he had not been home in years. End of parents mentioned again

I have to wonder about that article - I wonder if the minister isn't crying out for someone to ask him - What about Your Parents? What about the joy you don't take to your heart?

We are not God. We all have a different story God has written on our hearts.

What about the times we don't give Biblical Advice.

I have a parenting adventure to relay.

So  - we are looking for our own path God calls us uniquely to do. It's a journey. And like grief, no one can carry your grief or tell you how to recover exactly when you are doing the work of grief. Like losing a child.

But we can certainly do the insight work - we need to do for ourselves.

God gives us passages and they will Leap Up At You. Sometimes make you angry. Melt your heart. Cause you to wonder what that can possibly mean. And that wonder is healthy. And God is probably telling you the journey will come back to that, but for now, that part of the passage is not for you. The thinking part is good to start the process.

Biblical Advice doesn't always look like this is a well-wrapped Gift.

Noah had a pretty good idea - Noah was to build a vessel. However, the people around him would disagree. Really, Noah was doing his God given job.

Now judgment and discernment.
We have Noah building a ship. And the Minister pretending to be homeless 'to learn' and saying his neighbors were in err. Grateful enough to have a new car and honest enough to say years between visits. Blind enough to leave the subject.

When is the path the right one?

Here is our Tale.

My oldest son was told by his parents and a-years and-years-ago minister to literally hit the Junior High School boy spitting on him. (Because this turning the other cheek wasn't working. And we were all a little shocked, but being practical, (om) to leave the Scripture behind.) This had gone on for 2,3 months and my son had a very attractive girl who had left the building because - it's just really just UGLY to see your crush being spit on by a kid working up to really spit one on you. Now the girl avoided Cal. 


Well, the truth is:  The adults all felt a little like, hmm,  Jesus might not be too pleased to hear we said hit back. There was talk among the adults about in school suspension was just one of those things. My son's best friend said, said sure it's ok, he'd done it for carving the word 'Cantaloupe' where it shouldn't have been. We felt maybe like we were the ducks flying off. Jesus told the parable of a house being hit by High Winds. And He said the Rock will hold. Not the one on sand.

We have to Go With What God Is Giving Us. This was an ugly, ugly time

We are not in logic to continue to say, "Suffer the kid puffing out his cheeks and spitting only when there is an audience in the bus and the hallway." People were avoiding Cal. They wanted him to hit back. We had prayed, so now time for the adult solution.

We felt we had Struggled for Insight.

The Day arrived. Cal had had lessons from his younger, incredulous brother on thumping someone with a fist. Alexander's comment was to hang his mouth open and holler, "You Want A Lesson on How to Hit Someone? You do this already!" The Adults all waited to hear what the end of the thump up would bring. We had phone calls from people and our minister was calling and praying. 

How did Cal Do??????

Cal went WAY past what his minister and parents told him. He didn't hit back, he pushed the kiddo in to the lockers and made a huge NOISE. NOOOOOOOOOIIIISSSE. And the tears welled in his eyes, as he put his nose to the kiddo's nose and said with a voice that shook, "NEVER DO THAT AGAIN! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU."

The emotion scattered the hall crowd, familiar with the huge welling up of spit and the enormous spatter.

Thank God, unknown to Cal, the Kiddo's head met the handle of the locker. The Kiddo never bothered Cal again. And when we saw the Kiddo years later - Cal was able to kindly remark, "The Kiddo has problems - you can tell that today. And he felt my shame. And he was able to understand me that day."

My son. My SON. MY SON. WOW.

Cal discovered Rebuke was heard because time was given,  for, "Turn the other cheek."

Ok, this Scripture:

Luke 12

42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 

43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 

45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 

48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with light blows. 

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Our adult advice that day, wasn't what it should be. We wanted a well-liked, happy son to continue to be respected. And we gave him advice. He just happens to be smarter. And Blessed. God helps us in our parental weakness!

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Cal went on to say, the Kiddo quit being a bully. Cal said it was because the kid clearly saw his own pain given back to him. Give the Kiddo a hand for wisdom. And Cal.

Noah.

Ephesians 3

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 

and to know this

 love that surpasses knowledge—

that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

I happen to believe God, who created the Universe, named all of us. He has the Love. And the people who picked your name were inspired like Daniel, through the Holy Spirit, created peace. Daniel 1:9,  or if you like,

Proverbs 16:7

When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Loosely, I'd say No One Could Tell Noah to have Rest when Noah knew the Wind was Blowing Fiercely. Noah was not receiving peace around him. Still, Noah would stand for what God told Him to do.

God did tell us and Cal did do the best:

Philippians 2:12

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

God just did not tell us to sit in judgment of what another man is doing. President Reagan ran for important offices several times, not until the end of his second term as President of the United States did President Reagan say this,"I always felt a call put upon my heart from the Lord. That Communist USSR did not let the people of their nation have the personal freedom we are so freely given to worship God. And God put it in my heart to bring down tyranny that would separate us from being allowed to know the God of Love who brings us Salvation and Eternity."

President Reagan was asked by the smiling interviewer why this was not part of his speeches - i.e. when he accepted the Nomination. Reagan uncharacteristically began to pivot and squirm in his chair. And finally, he straightened back up and said, "It sounded unreasonable. Even to Nancy." He was then asked if Nancy shared his visionary call. And President Reagan said, "Well, she surely does, now, that we did Tear Down That Wall!"

Of course, the interviewer was not going to let go of the chance to get at Nancy's beliefs. Next, President Reagan said upon being chastised about the knowledge of Nancy engaging an astronomer for the President's safety - "Don't go poking your nose into Nancy's Soul or Beliefs. I live with Nancy and I say to you that Nancy is too fine a person to not know the Love of her Lord." Reagan spoke with utter and complete sincerity about a huge calling. Displaying love and mercy and undoubtedly Prayer for Nancy. President Reagan was never in agreement with 'horrorscopes." And Ronald Reagan was not going to put down the soul of his wife.

We are all called to do what God does. He sees His creation as Good. And prays. Jesus prays for us in John 17.

10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me.

Dear God, Thank You for Jesus.

We will not duck out on praying with great fervor for the ones God has called us to Love.

Amen in Jesus.

Our minister to the Homeless Article. (Yes, the article was for real.)
Spoke of judging - love - as being too inconsequential. Wrongly motivated. Taking away from God.

We can apply Scripture about Love.

God is Love. And because God is Love. Anyone who read the article would grasp that his judgment fell back on him.

Isaiah 54:17

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.

Proverbs 11:9

With his mouth, the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

And this.

Matthew 15:5

'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God," 6 he is not to honor his father or his mother.' And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

God has given us a hierarchy.

And this is even easier. We can be moved by Mercy.

Luke 10

36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor?”

37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

When we are LOOKING UP down around for our purpose - we start by loving the ones God has placed deliberately in our lives. We listen for our Spirit to speak to us in Scripture. We look to the one who is Good. Scripture is alive, living and active. What moves and shakes you as you read Scripture is God Speaking To You. The interesting part is that different verses of Love will move and shake you as you need to hear them.

Ask questions. Read your Bible. That Word of God suffered for four centuries to come to your eyesight. And we see the importance IN Scripture by seeing the Dead Sea Scroll and Septuagint strive and strive to bring You what God has to say.

We live in two millenniums gone by of the Gospel. For older people, they usually know the Bible. The door to their understanding has a path. For younger people, without a life of love - they are not going to be interested in what your view is of God.

Earn the Right to Be Heard.

They aren't interested in how much you know, they are interested in how much you care.

Preach the Gospel, if you have to use Words.

Lord Jesus Christ, bless us with Your Spirit. We ask with Joy. Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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