Matthew 6:9-13 ~ Our Father

Matthew 6:9-13

.

9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.

10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day
 our daily bread,

12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil

For thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. Forever and ever. Amen. In Jesus Christ the Lord.


Today is the one Day Jesus was treated as God's Son on earth. And I missed Church because Edward asked me time and again to go with him to the Texas State's Championship and we went to see Edward play in that. DG is a good time to pray and think about lessons and thoughts Jesus gives. It doesn't take the place of Church and I will be listening to our Church Sermon on line later today.

When I pray, I always start out with the Lord's Prayer. Today I was struck with the idea that the Lord's Prayer is a conversation Jesus is having as He tells the Disciples about prayer. Remember with me Jesus said He was not, on earth, informed of all of God's plans for the earth. And yesterday I read Jesus knew He was filled with the Father's Spirit and Jesus healed them all. Jesus did this massive healing several times, but not all the Chapters record this abundance of healing.

Is it possible, wonder with me - Jesus said I see a new Heaven, where Satan is falls out like lightning. Is this New Prayer reminding His Father - like a proud Son - of God's Will Accomplished. Jesus reminds Abba that Jesus is providing the Sacrifice to make His Father's Kingdom in Justice and Mercy able to distinguish between being the Place of the dead - Sheol. And the Home of God's Grace and Mercy in Forgiveness - Holy.

Jesus told us how much He walked our lives on earth - as He willingly opened His arms on the cross for me. And for you. He asked His Father why He was forsaken.Then calling forth His Power to dismiss His Spirit to God.

Jesus is re inviting God to have His Will continued on earth. He understands what we, just people, feel about our importance and the need for our Father God.  A good thing Jesus reminds us about our need and His compassion for all of us, I'd say. 

Reminding us God's mercies renew daily - this is a New Day for the Bread of Life. What an aroma the bread sacrifice made in the Temple. Jesus says He is our Bread of Life.  Our sins are covered by the Sacrifice of God's Holy Son - Innocent and Blameless. Jesus prays for us in John 17

Jesus is praying for us. The Lord's Prayer is NOT a little prayer - nice enough. This is The Word Of God Almighty In His Son Jesus Christ the Lord. A Powerful Prayer. God's Word.

Clearly, this prayer when recognized for this being like Jesus - the Word of God - we have prayed for some of the most important matters for our lives in eternity. 

God is recognized as Holy Father - Authority - we recognize like Jeremiah - His Will for us is good. We find reasons to find blessings in this very day and in sufficiency and in God being our Bread of Life. Forgiveness of our sins as God's gift. Reminding us forgiveness is the path forward.  Jesus prays for temptation to be out of our path. Jesus prays for us to be delivered from evil. This covers tremendous and far reaching ground. We are covered in the Lord's Prayer  - God's Word. Covered in the name of Jesus.

It has the Sacrifice unearned for us. Our Eternal Life. A Gift from our Father.

John 17
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.

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.


Notice this ties to John 17. Jesus knows about temptation. He has experienced the most powerful temptation in the Universe. Jesus is saying in John 17 and the Lord's Prayer that He has asked God to cover us as Jesus returns to Heaven. We are kept in God's Word. His Will. This is major league important in the earnestness of the Actions of Jesus.

Jesus is making sure we are not deserted. In His name we are kept eternally in God. Thank God. Thank You Jesus Christ.

Ray Stedman says this more eloquently that I:

Christ is the ground of your righteous standing before God, your acceptance before Him. If you are wearing that "breastplate," you can rest secure that your heart, your emotions, are securely guarded and adequately protected against attack. This is perhaps the most frequent ground of attack against Christian faith. Christians often feel they lack assurance. They feel unworthy of God. They feel they are a failure in the Christian life and that God is certain to reject them, that He is no longer interested in them. They are so aware of their failures and shortcomings. Growth has been so slow. The first joy of faith has faded, and they feel God is angry with them or that He is far off somewhere. There is a constant sense of guilt. Their conscience is always stabbing them, making them unhappy. They feel God blames them. This is simply a satanic attack.

How do you answer an attack like this? You are to remember that you have put on the breastplate of righteousness. In other words, you do not stand on your own merits. You never did. You never had anything worthwhile in yourself to offer to God. You gave all that up when you came to Christ. You quit trying to be good enough to please God. You came on His merits. You came on the ground of His imputed righteousness—that which He gives to you. You began your Christian life like that, and there is no change now. You are still standing before God on that basis.

Paul himself used this breastplate of righteousness when he was under pressure to be discouraged and defeated. Here was a man who was small of stature and unimpressive in his personal appearance. His background was anti-Christian, and Paul could never get away from that completely. Paul had been the most hostile, brutal persecutor of the church that it had known. Paul must constantly have run across families with loved ones whom he had put to death. Paul was often reminded by many people that he was not one of the original twelve apostles, that his calling was suspect, that perhaps he really was not an apostle at all.

What a ground for discouragement! How easy it would have been for Paul to say to himself, "What's the use? Here I am working my fingers to the bone, making tents and trying to preach the gospel to these people, and look at the blessing God has brought them, but they don't care. They hurl recriminations back into my face. Why try anymore?" But that is not what Paul does. Instead, Paul says, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not without effect" (1 Corinthians 15: l0a). There Paul is using the breastplate of righteousness. "I don't care," Paul says, "what I have been; I am forgiven. I don't defend what I am. I simply say to you, by the grace of God, I am what I am. What I am is what Christ has made me. I'm not standing on my righteousness; I'm standing on His. I am accepted by grace, and my personal situation does not make any difference at all." So Paul's heart was kept from discouragement.


Father may these words meet me right where I am and help me right in the conflict in which I am engaged. Lift up my heart by the consciousness that Christ is my righteousness. This Holy Week, now and always. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰
 

Matthew 28:20

Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

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Luke 21:29-38 ~ to hear Him

Luke 21:29-38

29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.


Jesus loves things that grow. Jesus is botanical. Many of His talks are about vineyards. I like that about Jesus.

A fig that comes into leaf - is sturdy. Is the shape of a fig leaf. There isn't hesitancy - This is no dab, drab leaf. This is a FIG.

Jesus is not just talking about the end of the world.

Jesus is talking about the process of aging.
Ho hum another day another dollar. One foot in front of the next. Be practical. Be sturdy. Be an adult. Be diligent.

And suddenly we have lost the joy and wonder of the change of seasons. 

Bogged down. Not taking steps to see Joy and Goodness. Ecclesiastes has a very memorable passage about being bogged down in age. Telling us clearly we had better invest in trusting and raising up the family into the generation of our children's children. Being interested in them and the new steps of life. Asking the relationship to be interested one generation to the next. Involving the energy of those children when the old people are old.

My great-great grandfather was extremely interested in discussing his ideas and books with his grand children. He was known to sit up late, late, late into the night getting so pleased with the conversation - discovering the sun was coming up as they continued to sit on the stairs. This memory is cherished sixty years after he has gone Home. It's crucial to involve your grandchildren in what you do.

What do we do with this godly advice from Ecclesiastes?

Isaiah 40:31
However they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

This is true hope, faith and Love.

Exodus 34:10
And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Colossians 3
put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator

Titus 3:5
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit

Redemption and confession to God who Loves - Yes.

Luke 18
The tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

God is Good. He alone is without flaw.

Ephesians 1:7-10 

7 In Jesus we have redemption through his blood, 
the forgiveness of our trespasses, 
according to the riches of his grace, 
which he lavished upon us, 
in all wisdom and insight 
making known to us the mystery of his will,
according to his purpose, 
which he set forth in Christ
as a plan for the fullness of time, 
to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Jude 1:24
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-


2 Peter 1
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 21:19
Stand firm, and you will win life.

Romans 12 I read today outlines steps of Renewal. To see this with intentionality.

Romans 12
1. Calls us to test what is acceptable to God. Give Him true spiritual worship. The will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2. The Grace to allow others to function differently in the Body of Christ. Not to be too impressed with our selves. Being Cheerful. Doing Mercy.

2. Letting Love be Genuine. Show honor and pray. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

3.Never repay with evil. As it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Overcome evil with good.

The Renewal of a Mind - is being pleasing to God. People rarely grovel to God in the Bible. Hannah was thought to be drunk. God wants us to be His Beloved Child. God does not shame us - God wants us to find the Fruit of the Spirit.

Look up to see God. And see what delights Him.


God desires mercy over sacrifice. Because Jesus gave us His Life as a gift. A free gift. To look to Him to please Him. A relationship. God longs for Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control.

Father Help me daily, to be these aspects of You. In Jesus. Amen. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

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Psalm 19 ~ The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart!

Psalm 19

The heavens are telling the glory of God;and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech,and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words;their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth,and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,and its circuit to the end of them;and there is nothing hid from its heat.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;

the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;

the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring for ever;

the ordinances of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honeyand drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

But who can discern his errors?

Clear thou me from hidden faults.
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.


Who will rise up to be in Paradise today?

Who will sleep 1,000s of years and be awoken when the twinkling of an eye will occur and the trumpet is blown first on the Mount of Olives to rise to go to Jesus?

Revelations tells us of martyrs who scream for "fairness" are comforted by God, given white robes and put back down to sleep to rise up.

Jesus and St. Stephen forgave what was happening to them and they saw Heaven before they died. Jesus said He would be in Paradise very quickly.

David said goodness and mercy would be the footprints he would leave. And David would dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

Jesus promised us in this life we would have trouble.

And He would overcome.

I'm going with forgiveness. God will call many to leave Heaven and rise up again already having been living the Abundant Life with Jesus.

Believers who have died are resurrected from the grave first - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18- time the dead receive their new eternal bodies - both physical and spiritual bodies. Their souls are in heaven and at the resurrection return to earth with Jesus to receive the resurrected body. The resurrected body is like Jesus' body after His resurrection. 1 John 3:2.

Forgiveness makes pathways in this life and the next. And it tells one how God feels about whiners. They arrive, invited to arrive, on the late train.

It is a joyous thing in all circumstances to call on Jesus for HELP!

 
1 Timothy 2:5-6
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.

Father God, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Let me be for Jesus and let all other things pale in comparison. Amen.

John 16:16-24 ~ Hs disciples said to one another, “What is this that He says to us"

John 16:16-24

"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”

19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Jesus spoke the Truth. The disciples would have such sorrow they would hide behind locked doors for days. Beginning only to come forth when Jesus was told to be alive. Of course, even seeing the young man in Nain and Lazarus come alive - they did not believe Mary Magdalene saying Jesus was Alive.

Jesus works with fearful people and doubters. He always has. God, being God, hopes we take even disaster and eminent death with trust.

Jesus tells us when we truly see Jesus - see Him - then we will have profound Joy and in this straight communication and sight - we will be so aligned with God - what we ask Him is His Will and God rejoices with us in Doing His Plan. Being so in His Plan - prayers with miracles are given.

In in this Seeking and Having Found Jesus, Father God delights in seeing His Plan unfold. I would guess there are some Celestial Candid Camera moments for Answered Prayer. It's written Heaven rejoices over one Saved Soul.

Luke 15
5 And when he finds the one lost sheep, He joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
 
 I wonder if Heaven watches out-takes videos of faces when Prayers are Answered.

Jesus has always known He is a bringer of Joy.

Luke 2:10
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Luke 10
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

Luke 19:37
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen!!!

God tells us in Genesis - He sees this creation as Good. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Jesus tells us in John - He has Joy in being part of this Life. Father God sees much more of Life than we do. In Jesus is life, and that life is the light of all mankind.

John 15:11
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

John 16:21
joy that a child is born into the world.

John 16:22
So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

John 16:24
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

John 17:13
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them."

Jesus spoke of Heaven as Paradise and Joy.

Matthew 13:44
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.


Jesus brought the shaken, worried, deserting Apostles - Joy in His Victory.

Luke 24:41
And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

Luke 24:52
Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

 
God tells us when we meet overwhelming circumstance...


People facing overwhelming circumstance - who Love God in steadfast ways - impress their children. With their calm. Their courage. Their resolution that God's Plan will prevail. This time in our lives - we see brave people teach their children - courage in trusting God. Finding solutions to enjoy the day. Belief God is going to care for them.

No trumpet sounds. No hearty speeches - a calm reassurance. God will do what He will do - and this is okay with them.

Today...
What will God do to offer us Himself...



Acts 2:28
You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence.

God has made us all unique and qualified to do the Work He give us in believing Him.

And we see people who are putting their trust in Him. In ways that don't say I expect Him to send chariots and horses - but they fully understand - God is caring for them. 

God bless, comfort, protect, uplift those who do the Will of God. Believing God's motions are so momentous
that they will be part of God's Huge Heaven. And will find themselves - Surprised By His Overwhelming Love. Because they had the humility to rely upon God. As their Father God. Knowing Jesus loves them. Fully expecting His Grace.

They do this work -

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



Father God, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your Sight. O Lord Jesus, my Rock and my Redeemer. Today, help me go forth in You. Doing good to the ones You have given me. To tell them of Your Love. Helping them see they are wonderfully beloved in the Plan You have given us - written in Your Holiness and Goodness in the Book You have written. The Book of Life. 

The Name of Salvation is Jesus. The Highest Name given. Let us be the ones in great joy to bow our knees and give all the Joy that dwells within us Calling To You - JESUS IS LORD. And seeing the Wonders You Create in All of this Life and the Heaven we will be with You. Emmanuel. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Mark 4 ~ And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? "

Mark 4

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

10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that

“they may indeed see but not perceive,
and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they should turn and be forgiven.”

13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”


21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”


26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”


30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

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

We are all so used to the Gospels. Old Good News.

Sure we all understand the seeds parable.

And look, look, look at the precision and the depth of Father God - Creator of the Universe. All Mighty God. He uses Life -  John 1:4 In Him was Life - to finish His parable.

Then Jesus demonstrates to the disciples the seeds thing. In the same Chapter. A real life event of the seeds.

What are you going to do when Jesus seems asleep in the boat?

Well, when Paul was on the ship during the ship wreck - i.e. life -  the voyage. No one really listened to Paul. In fact, they ignored Pau most of the trip. We all get to be Paul in our own lives.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

God puts in each of us a fight for our lives. God is Not merely asleep in the boat. There is a process going on to develop who we are. We are in the same small boat with our God. Will we trust Him.

Put this aspect with Jesus in command of all things:

Luke 12

22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.


God builds us to want His plan for our lives. Eventually the people going towards their eternal Home - want to see the eternal treasure waiting for them.

God intended this life to have troubles - and yet - when we worry less - we let life come to us - we are happier. Joy is a fruit of God's Spirit.
The Scriptures are filled with advice on anger and worry - Father God wants us to be real with Him. Father God says the goal is being carefree in God - and we attain that. And God comforts us in affliction as well ~ Peace God is for us. Peace His Will is good. All of the Scriptures have help for any season we are in. Saying God hopes for us not to worry. God says to put Him first alleviates a lot of Worry.The goal God has for us is to trust Him.



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

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 9
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

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Mark 8:14-21 ~ they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said

Mark 8:14-21

14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.

17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

When I think about the way Jesus might have asked them with such patience. I wonder, with the way we speak to our Parents, if the disciples weren't a little bit grumpy toned.

Twelve baskets of broken pieces. Martin Luther King was more interested in 12 - not as 12 disciples, but 11 disciples and Jesus. The 12 Days of Christmas were about the Protestant Reformation and this is what the number 12 stood for. 12 Tribes of Israel. Emmanuel is God with us!

In Genesis 2, we find God worked for six days and rested. God could have made our weeks last 12 days. Or 268 days. God chose six days of work and the seventh for rest.

To me the numbers are providing the nation of Israel hope for security in peace for their nation and daily life.  12 Tribes. 7 days a week. God can provide blessings.

Jesus - all things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1.

Every detail we see in the life of Jesus has meaning. God says we live in every Word of God. Father God knows the hairs on our head - Jesus knew how many baskets were collected. A God Opportunity to make a point.

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.

Why would God want the baskets to represent something significant? He also knew on several occasions what people were thinking and what their names where. Mary was told hearts would be revealed to Jesus. Why, again, is this significant?

A really good reason!!! God wants to be trusted.

1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

This is God. We can Trust Him.

Philippians 4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Father God, help us to bring Your Love to the people You have given us. Keep us on Your path. Guide us, Lead us, Love us. Please forgive us. We ask Your Protection. And Your help and mercy. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Romans 8:28

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

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