Luke 12:40 ~ You also must be ready

What do you receive when you Prepare?

Luke 12:40
You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.


So, on Sunday we head to Father God's House to be fed by Loving Him. We call that Worship.

When you encounter Scripture, You encounter the Living Word of God. Jesus. Jesus starts all of the Scripture in the New Testament.

Yesterday and Today I had Psalm 139 read to me.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

The Psalm 139 Yesterday came with Aaron's Hebrew Priestly Blessing given to me. To be blessed with this - you close your eyes. Because the One who Loves You is there. Inner reflection with God. Your soul leans upon Him.

KSBJ - Contemporary Christian Music Radio Station has so many good things to say. They said prepare your hearts on the way to Church - Listen to Christian Music. Yes, I agree. And more. Start with Scripture.

Prepare on the Lord's Day and make every day of your life with God. I love to start out my day with Scripture to see what thoughts will come up and conversation to have with God. When I do this, a phrase my Grandmother Anita said to me floats up, "Valuable ideas and convictions form." The glories given to us in Scripture like -

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Which is a good idea, because actually - the only path you want to be on is the one God would give you.

So before we go to Church, we take all of our thoughts, hold them up to the mind of Christ. Give Him our all - get right before God - and Go Forth with God.

Naked we come into this world, naked we will leave. God created us and we want to go back to Him saying we did what He wanted us to do. Yesterday, we were prayed for and attended a Healing Conference. And we have been told this twice by Spiritual Christians, our family didn't always do what God would call generationally correct work. Like the Kings of the Old Testament. So, we are blazing a path. Like we all are. Not judged so much as fit to lead, but sincerely wanting God. Mature enough to understand a God of Love calls for Love to lead. The Scripture says a Father in God is rare and takes time. We need Love to lead us. God is Love.

Loving what makes us all unique in all of us. Immersing ourself in God's Word. His Child. God taking His time with us in Scripture.Seeing letters'of my Grandmother and Tate. Seeing my great-great grandfather writing about Worship in Spirit and in Truth. Knowing the hardship of the generations that fell away for feeling unworthy. Knowing God is So Vast, His Will is Amazing. His Aspects Profound.

Facing what causes pain. Picturing the name of Jesus on a Cross, on that brokenness.

Getting ourselves to be prayed for. Seeking God. Getting the privilege to hear again "God created us with talents, Loves us. Holds us. We are created as His Child." Hearing we all have places and situations that hurt. Jesus is the Source of healing. Knowing you have taken yourself to a good place where Jesus would go too. Jesus would put His Name upon that.

God Inspires us. Realizing God isn't a Season. God is the Love that sustains us.

No matter the storm, the situation, the whirling dervish. We are going to be fulfilled in God.
God sends us people who would send us profound words of Love to fill us - Plans to Go Forth in God. God sends us people to love to care for and about. Taking them for Prayer. Making sure they know they are worthy of this.

God has not brought us so far, to drop us. God will sustain us.

I had profound joy Friday to pray for a stranger in a Church Service. She ministered to me after the prayer by saying my hand grew warm and she could feel my last finger wrapped around her and pulsing. God gives us moments that hold us. Words the comfort and provide Joy and Love.

Then, God lets you take a profound moment and know you blew it. And He helps you reclaim the moment and go forth with new inspiration to Love and try again. Jesus told the fig tree to find fruit even when the season was not there.

Habakkuk 3:17
18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.


Father God, help our soul to be a place You are pleased to Live. In all circumstance,
help us to rejoice God saves us. Father, in a hundred years from now, let this life be called
as one who trusted in You.

Father, when I let gratitude fill me - I have awe for the mighty works and Words
that testify to You. Lord Jesus Christ. Your mercy fills all generations. We
rely upon You.

Lord, You have proven Yourself as reliable. And I pray to have Jesus always
in my thoughts, making straight paths.

Lord, all people are Yours. You have promised fire hones our work. The
Day of the Lord is mighty. Help us to be strong and to be humble.

In forgiveness, You feed us plentifully. And make our paths filled with joy.
In prayer, awesome circumstance happens.

You have INDEED Helped Your Beloved. We recall and are warmed and thrilled
by Your Deeds of Mercy. Your Word is Living and Active forever.

Father God, make a path for us to be pleasing You. Because in Your pleasure, we are blessed. 
In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Philemon 1 ~ I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus

Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ [service]. 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus [Useful], whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave [bondservant] but more than a slave, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Valentine's Day is actually a day of Love letters.

Similar to Mary encountering God. “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

In 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who included Valentine among those "... whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God" let us know Valentine was not famous, but well known and loved by the Lord. Valentine was like all of us. Someone who loved Father God and used his time on earth relying upon Father God's love.

What we can say, in certainty, with gratitude, Valentine's life refreshed many hearts in love. We cannot say he was a martyr, but his life is remembered with love letters. Not a bad thing when we consider God tells us His nature is Love. Like this passage of Paul's; he is in prison, but uses the opportunity Abba gives him to set others free.

Valentine is our beloved brother in Christ. In the promises of Jesus Christ, we have an eternity in front of us, Christ dwelling within us, to discovering the love and joy of Jesus Christ. Paul tells us our acts of faith, hope and love are known and appreciated, strengthened by Father God.

Our benefit to the Lord today... strengthening the path God would want for us.


Today we were at Church On The Rock/iglesia Sobre La Roca in Katy, TX. To hear Aglow Ministries ask Judith MacNutt to proved a day in Loving God in her Healing Ministry. Judith is, with her husband Francis MacNutt, in healing  for 40 years.  A ministry that has stood the test of time telling us of fruitful work for God.

Jesus ably prays for us in John 17,

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 

11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 

13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.


Father God. Bless the Church holding the Healing Service. How beautifully they welcome the Holy Spirit in clapping for His Glories. How loving the Pastor is with his wife and her housekeeping in the building of making sure like a Momma Her doors are open and closed. 

 Bless Judith MacNutt and her team for the Wonders of God presented with such Joy and humility. Bless the couple who gave me love and Aaronic blessings, please give them multiple, multiple blessings back for their love. A Jesus Christ filled Jew is a wondrous, magnificent thing - this Couple has all of His mercies. John 17.  And for Mary who prayed and Cindy and Justina and Dee. We ask You to provide a Blessing in Jesus. Please continue the healing in Johnette. Because Father surely we want to Bless the people who seek to bless others. In Jesus we pray. Thank you for our day with Donna, Steve and Karen. Bless Aglow Ministries and the wisdom returning to giving Testimonies in the  warm fellowship they provide so ably. Amen. The Joy in Jesus Given and Received.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Exodus 37 ~ Gold

Acacia tree and Acacia wood
The Table - made and shown today in Israel by the Temple Institute
The Lampstand made by Temple Institute. Today in Jerusalem Museum for Temple Institute
The Altar of Incense - Temple Institute
Mount Nebo in Jordan overlooking Israel. Where Jeremiah hid the Ark before the Babylonian enslavement of Judah. (Link Scripture for Today 2 Maccabees 2:4-62)
Relief of King Darius of Babylon and slaves (Link to Scripture of the Day)
Gate of Ishtar in Ancient Babylon (Link Scripture for Today)
Rebuilding of the Second Temple went on for centuries, this is a model (Link Scripture for Today). Although the Second Temple was given the listed Temple Treasures back, the Babylonian king could not return the Ark of the Covenant, because it has already been hidden and never was in the Second Temple. It's interesting the First Temple, built by Solomon, simply stood while the Ark was there, but the Second Temple was always being destroyed by war, or remodeled.
Jerusalem falls in 70 A.D. to Titus, this would have been about the end of Jesus' natural life on earth.
Model of the Coliseum, built from the money taken out of Jerusalem by Emperor Titus.
The Arch of Titus in Rome today.
Relief carved on the Arch of Titus showing the Truimph after the destruction of Jerusalem, these are the Temple Tools, but not the Ark of the Covenant. After 1,935 years, Roman Jews proudly walked under the Titus Arch, for the first time, because Israel was again a nation, May 14, 1948.
About the 3rd to 4th century AD, the Jews collected enough money to rebuild the Temple, but the building was destroyed by earthquake while still in construction. Then war.

How the relief appears today - 2,000 years later.
Mount Nebo, were the cross of Jesus Christ is placed with an emblem of Moses overlooking the Holy Lands, while visited by John Paul II.
The Coliseum today, an aerial. About 500,000 people and over a million wild animals died in the Colosseum games. It is damaged by earthquakes and stone robbers. On each Good Friday, the Pope leads a "Way of the Cross" procession around the Colosseum.
Ishtar Gate from Babylon, rebuilt using the actual baked bricks. In Germany (see above).

The Temple Institute Museum in Jerusalem.

Exodus 37

Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. 2 He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. 3 He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 4 Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.

6 He made the atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 7 Then he made two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 8 He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover. 9 The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.

The Table

10 They made the table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. 11 Then they overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it. 12 They also made around it a rim a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim. 13 They cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners, where the four legs were. 14 The rings were put close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. 15 The poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood and were overlaid with gold. 16 And they made from pure gold the articles for the table—its plates and dishes and bowls and its pitchers for the pouring out of drink offerings.

The Lampstand

17 They made the lampstand of pure gold. They hammered out its base and shaft, and made its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. 18 Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 19 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 20 And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 21 One bud was under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. 22 The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

23 They made its seven lamps, as well as its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold. 24 They made the lampstand and all its accessories from one talent of pure gold.

The Altar of Incense

25 They made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it. 26 They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. 27 They made two gold rings below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. 28 They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

29 They also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense—the work of a perfumer.


Why would God want to have an Exodus for slaves who did not have a Bible. Israel even forgot their Bible,actually the story is taken from Judah, during the time the Temple was used to worship God.

The Father of the Prodigal Son, even in giving out His inheritance, lives in anticipation of the talents innate in the soul of the child - will come into plain sight and fulfillment.

Exodus is an important concept.

Jesus, as He died, brought us His innocence and magnificent goodness to His death as criminal. Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus created a new Heaven and a new Earth.

Our Father God told us about the sin He saw. "Jesus said, “Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do.”

Hebrews 6:4-6
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Can any one of us picture Good Friday, or the movie "Passion of the Christ" showing us a glimpse of what Jesus must have partially felt and say with good conscience that His Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness would cover something we casually do knowing this is a downfall to us?

We all have a good idea Meth is terrible for us. A loved one came to me and said he had something important to ask me. He asked me as he died, if he had killed himself over cigarettes. If I saw that as an object of guilt or shame or desire to die. And he was very serious because he cleared the room to ask. And I could see his level of pain. 
 

Jesus told us the Law brings great blessings. And Jesus said the Law is impossible for man to fulfill. Jesus means for us to strive for the Love God brings us. Jesus comes to fill the desperate gaps. Jesus was not a slave. Jesus is the Word of God. Light of the World. 



One of my favorite people on the planet, went to electric shock treatment for cigarettes traveling cross Continent several times to stop smoking. Proposed to his family a smokeless cigarette.  (Be careful of the vaporless cigarettes many use a petroleum product and you might as well smoke Vaseline). And wore many patches. But having been exposed to cigarettes at the age of 9, could not conquer this life ending addiction. Endured oxygen canisters for 10 years in embarrassment. And explained to the child who loved him, he would go on until he was found to look as skinny as a stick. Being so kind as to prepare that child.

This loved one asked me why he was loved since he wasn't a saint. He witnessed by telephone the vast Kingdom he saw the day he was passing.

Romans 1 explains God tells us personally, because Jesus is the Light and Life in all of mankind what we are to Him.

He had four children, a wife he absolutely profoundly adored. A thriving business keeping him very busy. A profound dislike of a church that would treat God's grace with disrespect. And he found time to move his grandmother closer to him, who was blind and deaf. She led him to Jesus Christ by telling him she was going to Heaven, she loved him too much not to go to Heaven until he knew the Jesus who saves. Because Jesus Loves him that much. His grandmother made sure. He took care of his mother who was always gone and at night, as child, he would hug the clothes in her closet. Every day he called her. And he gave witness to Going Home to God.

Jesus is meant to close our gaps. Not be held up in any form of disrespect. Love should not be disrespected.

Father God, You are Love. Jesus is our Hero. Thank You, Father God. We sometimes forget Your Greatness, Father. Christianity was not honored by the Roman Empire. People with Christ in them, Loved what was real and the environment You gave them. In only the Holy Spirit, lives and hearts are loved and warmed to You. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Matthew 6:19-24 ~ your heart

Matthew 6:19-24

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Life gets complex for most of us. We work to have security. We have things we do want to own. We want good health. We want to live in the Light of God's pleasure and favor. We have savings accounts, credit and checking accounts. We want to please God Today.

Jesus irons this out for us. Love God. Love Yourself. Love Your neighbor. Love those who give us mercy. Forgive those who do not. Go back to pleasing God.

God is One.  Father, Son, Holy Spirit - the Holy Trinity. God is One - using the Gospel of Love is a clarifier. And knowing your Direction to the God Who is Good, is a good thing. Worthy. In Jesus this is obtainable and we approach the Throne of God with Confidence Jesus gives us. We can rest in being God's.

Father God, for what is confusing  - Jesus. For what is too large - Jesus. For what is in need - Jesus. For what is in joy - Jesus. For what needs Love - Jesus. For rejoicing - Jesus. We rest in You,  for ourselves and our loved ones. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Psalm 135 ~ Bless the Lord

Psalm 135

 

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord,
give praise, O servants of the Lord,
2 who stand in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God!

3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
sing to his name, for it is pleasant! [for he is beautiful]
4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.

5 For I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.

7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
both of man and of beast;
9 who in your midst, O Egypt,
sent signs and wonders
against Pharaoh and all his servants;
10 who struck down many nations
and killed mighty kings,
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan,
12 and gave their land as a heritage,
a heritage to his people Israel.

13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
your renown, [Or remembrance] O Lord, throughout all ages.

14 For the Lord will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants.

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
17 they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.

18 Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them!

19 O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! 20 O house of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! 21 Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!

Sometimes in Bible Study people ask why are the Psalms mentioned so many times? Well, for the same reason I would choose the photo for today - it reminds me of my son when he was young. See that youth and innocence? It speaks to me.

The Psalms to David (they record he wrote most of them - 73, while some do not say) are different than the books of law or history, - the Psalms capture the aspects - the Nature of God - in His works. The Psalms are God's greatness speaking to David.

These are the Psalms of David, telling not of dry - dusty ancient history, but fresh, warm and alive. These are the stories of his father Jesse, his grandfather Obed and his great-grandfather Boaz, his not-too-distant- fathers. David didn't just hear these stories in the Temple, the written history, but like our family stories - in family moments. Just as Jesus was to become David's family, these are David's family stories.

To David, the Lord is beautiful, good, pleasant & part of the victories. They spoke and sang of these when in the field at night - taking care of family business - watching over the flocks. David doesn't just think about God's mighty acts, he feels in his soul about God's love as the events are told. Not only in David's family, God is part of his nation, his land, God dwells all around Him. God's goodness pours forth.

The awesome, overwhelming righteousness of God dwells not just in the miracle, but in the every day. Blessed be the name of the Lord. David did not suddenly rise up to slay Goliath, David grew up like Jesus. Not just writing the Psalms some day, but living them.

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Matthew Henry once said the Psalms are a warm place to be. Let us be like David and Jesus - to feel the nature of Your goodness in Your creation. In Jesus, these are our family stories. Abba, we are Yours.

David knew hardship many times as God's anointed. The Psalms echo God's willingness to hear and save. He is well worth knowing always.


Psalm 107:6
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

2 Samuel 22:2
He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer."

Psalm 50:15
And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalm 40:13
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!

Galatians 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery

2 Peter 2:9a
The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials

John 15:7
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.


David was renewed many times. God has that aspect as we grow in Him. Our prayers are better and we rely more upon Him.

Father God,
Thank You for a new day. We are renewed each day, and the ones we pray for, to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus. You are so faithful to renew Your mercies each day. We rest in You for You are God of Peace.  We center on You. Thank You for our Families and Blessings.

In your refuge and fortress we will trust. We are covered by Your Word. We will pray to You consistently and we are blessed to be heard with Love. We cast our cares up to You and let go.

 Jesus makes intercession and we are saved to utmost. We will delight in You Lord and ride to the height of the earth. We are fed by Your heritage. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Thanks be unto the Lord Jesus always. Alleluia. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Ephesians 4 ~ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Ephesians 4

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Today, we are going to work on the utility room, think about the wallpaper. Nurture the suffering, rejoice with friends, have Birthday Cake, go to a healing lesson on Binding and Freeing things on Heaven and earth. Just like Dora and I discussed last week. Have Pastorate Small Groups discussing what God calls a Leader to be.

And get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Not to difficult if you can Walk on Water. However, for those of us stuck on solid surfaces (unlike some of the saints with in the last four hundred years with witnesses), this is something rather difficult to do.

The Scriptures are worth reading, God usually gives us a fair idea of how to achieve this. God does say this is possible.

Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Daniel found that his favor, came from the Lord.

This rather sounds like a recipe.

Bond of peace
First, wanting to live a worthy life
2 gentle
3 patient
4 bear with one another with love
5 one Lord for us all
6 consider God to be very able
7 giving gifts to all people
8 build up the Body of Christ
9 believe God equips us all for our work
10 speak the truth
11 desire to be mature in faith
12 wants the entire group to grow in God's Love
13 expects all of us to work to this aim
14 accepts forgiveness for past sins considers a new start in Christ
15 allowed to be in emotions like anger, not loose self control
16 share with those in need
17 be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving

Avoid
deceit - God says be innocent like a dove yet shrewd as a snake (getting out of danger, smell memory, repetition)


How can we do all 17 things and be wise?

God tells us He is One. God is vast as the Universe. Judith MacNutt says God's Mercy is as vast as the Universe.

We can take something very complicated and put God at the top of this. When we Expect in Deep Faith - God is going to help us. We have said God is above and in all things. Created all things.

Also this - people who are happy - want and hope and work to make others happy. This becomes not a tiresome list, instead becomes the joy of Love. We tend not to focus on the negative and life is more gentle and peaceful. Enjoying the work of our hands and not being idle. Grateful for people, opportunity and talents - what God brings into our lives.

God looks for what is noble, pure and good in us. If we assume like the old book, "I'm Okay, You're Okay." People tend to bloom far more.

What to do with the deceit of hidden agenda? Be wise. When the agenda is for this:

1 John 5:16
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.

God says flee.

Acts 16 says we are not God and not to try to do this all ourselves. Rest in God.
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paulc had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Not trying to do this all yourself, leads us back to #9 - We believe God is able. We don't need fifty angry Virginians as an incentive or reward to do His Work.

It takes courage to speak up, but to cultivate the desire to speak truthfully - puts Light on fears and once fear is gone - peace abides.

Ephesians 4 is a very old Scripture going back to the time when the Disciple John was still alive.  This copy of Ephesians 4 is part of Papyrus 46. from the time disciple John was alive. 

And all of this is what psychologists have assembled today to help us to be happier people. Funny. It appears God knew this first. We do better when we feel our lives are appreciated by God and held to a much higher scale. Creating meaning in our own lives and in the lives around us. Wanting the people around us to be blessed and filled with God's Love.

Not focusing on people who hurt us, not giving resentment the opportunity to re-sound. Thinking to the next positive opportunity - gives the bounce in forgiveness.


Psalm 90
17 May the favor[beauty] of the Lord our God rest on us
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

We work to believe God creating less guilt and more peace in Psalm 101 in our responsibility:

I will conduct the affairs of my house
with a blameless heart.
3 I will not look with approval
on anything that is vile.

6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land,
that they may dwell with me;
the one whose walk is blameless
will minister to me.


Father God, these things I will accomplish with Your help in Jesus. In expectation - Amen.

 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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