Matthew 6:25-34 ~ Sufficient for the day

Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

In one of Herman Wouk’s books, about Israel’s 6 Day War, the book’s hero is captivated by the size of the Mississippi River. He cannot get over the Jordan River is so known throughout the world for the holiness of being in Israel, but the Mississippi River has such force behind it. The sheer size of a cross continent flight in America is overwhelming to him. It created an awareness in me of God’s plan being so much larger than any of our plans. Another book, Lantern on the Levy, by William Percy sort of combines that thought. William Percy tells about the force of the Mississippi exceeding its boundaries & the lack of communication endless force creates. It created an analogy, for me, I think about & speak about a lot.

Life is a lot like being in the Mississippi River, 
we are pushed by tremendous forces we cannot see or control. We have eddies and resting places, we convince ourselves that now we in control. We have life in our own boundaries. But the people we love - move, they age, they change - we change. The things, the places, the people we love are not within our grasp, our vision… forever. It isn’t all sadness! There is more to come.

Eternity begins today. 
Our life - the way we behaved, the choices we made, are building the life we will be remembered for. Life is temporary - eternity is not.

Jesus was telling us about temporary when He spoke of new wine not being put in old wine skins.

New wine - being changed by Jesus, seeing our lives as a gift from God and for God, not just another salmon swimming upstream without hope and going through the daily work. Old wine - what is valued, mellowed, cherished. What is Jesus telling us? We cannot change, cannot save ourselves. We cannot do it ourselves. With God all things are possible. Every day, we take our old wine - the things we value, the things the world expects, old hurts, the things that concern us. And we put them before God - the new wine of the Holy Spirit. Then we see the blessings and we thank Him.





Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God. ~Edwin Keith

As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools.

Prayer is the coin paid to Gratitude. ~Jessi Lane Adams

It is good for us to keep some account of our prayers, that we may not unsay them in our practice. ~Matthew Henry

Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us. ~Socrates

Be thankful that God's answers are wiser than your answers. ~William Culbertson

When a man is at his wits' end it is not a cowardly thing to pray, it is the only way he can get in touch with Reality. ~Oswald Chambers

Deep down in me I knowed it was a lie, and He knowed it. You can't pray a lie - I found that out. ~Mark Twain

And help us, this and every day, to live more nearly as we pray. ~John Keble

It is of course possible to dance a prayer. ~Terri Guillemets

God can pick sense out of a confused prayer. ~Richard Sibbes

What we usually pray to God is not that His will be done, but that He approves ours.
~Helga Bergold Gross


Philippians 4:6-8 ~ (English Standard Version)
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.

God did not ask us to fear, beyond initially, understanding something as powerful as this:

Colossians 1:16-17
For by Him all things were created,
both in the heavens and on earth,
visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--
all things have been created through Him and for Him.
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

When we understand how vast God is - there is a dawning of understand of Power and fear is present.

We all have a fear of dying and death. The unbelievable day I was 30 and sitting with my 22 year old brother. We just didn't speak. We both just looked down the street. My brother finally spoke and said, "You always wonder where you will be in life when your dad dies. If you will have children, own a home. Will it take a long time to die. Will you be old yourself. And today is that day. I never thought I'd be 22 years old. And for the rest of my life this day will live with me. He never saw me get married or have children. He isn't coming back. This is the day my dad died."

The God of Love ~ calls us forth ~ to do this:

2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

God does not call us to fear but have a Spirit
with power
and of love
of calm
and discipline
and self-control.

When the Europeans first heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ probably only the last Chapter of Mark 16 in it's entirety was read - people hoped. I once read of a conversion long ago of only half of one statement  - 
"God so loved the world, He gave
His only begotten Son."

The soul heard - "God gave" and was saved. Can you imagine we take Jesus so for granted while this soul, long ago, was saved by the mere idea of God 'giving.' The ideal God calls us to be is peaceful . This is not a responsibility that makes us quake - that we should never have the emotion fear. 

This is amazing - God aspires for us to have His Holy Spirit - believing God - who He is. God is true. God is reliable.



Father God in Grace and peace to You, God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank God forbrothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith our faith is growing more and more, then love increases. We are in perseverance and faith during trials, in Your Strength.

You God judgment rightly, and as a result of Your Grace You count us worthy of Your Kingdom. God, You are just we believed Your testimony.

We constantly thank You for Psalm 139 - Your thoughts are constantly for us. For you, our God, make us worthy of Your calling, and by Your power fruition to Your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this Grace for our loved ones, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified. We continue to pray for unborn Jackson Yancy and expect the Goodness of God our Father. Amen

  Jesus Christ Our LORD

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Proverbs 28 ~ Faithful

God's Not Dead, Like a Lion ~ Newsboys

You have to love the Word of God.

The Bible is like the Vineyard the Vinedresser told us about. 
You have to dig and you have to look with gratitude. 
We have had so much rain here, rain, rain. The sun has begun to shine and we work to shake off the rut of illness, inside during Texas early summer.  Skin cancer in Edward's ear  popped up and was aggressively moving to the cartilage .  Today, wonderful Scoop Cat - the cat for 19 years suddenly, suddenly became quite ill. Today, making one of those life decisions to take a Homeowner's Disability Deduction and making a trip to get papers - knowing real change has hit your life.

And the season has changed again - delighted to have our Baylor graduate home again with his college friends returning home and making noise.

Working to find gratitude. Like Edward does in finding his body is changing. Making a determination to turn exercise into joy and fellowship. Being so grateful to the people who emailed and emailed to find the prayer news - what was to be a 5 hours surgery - after the biopsy - we took photos and that  thing that appeared so suddenly shrank - requiring only two hours and not reconstruction. Remembering with Edward, in 2003 his surgery where he was allergic to the barbiturate anesthesia and that is a life ending event from 2003.

Edward is not taking it all just passively - he researches brain injury and gets outside for a few hours every day.

Proverbs 28

 

The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.

To make changes in life - you have to be very honest about not accepting when things are not working for you. Putting up, with a little halo, can mean saying yes to paths better not traveled at all. We have to say no to the no' s to say yes to the Yes's.

And Einstein was Wrong. If you keep practicing - you can win a gold medal. My son Alexander says - you have to accept what the facts are and work with that. Boldly accept an established fact.

Easy to be down, bring issues to fear and concentrate there - time to stand up.

3 A poor man who oppresses the poor
is a beating rain that leaves no food.

In the United States, we are working harder and harder to be allowed to have fewer luxuries - like houses our grandparents paid for in cash. Or a car. Or a college education. My Texas A & M college cost about the cost of a new VW Jettta thirty years ago. Some of the same professors are there. It's astonishing we now would pay that car - per semester. Not acceptable. Mortgages - our grandparents didn't know the word. The Amish build nice houses and they are paid for. We need a new more workable system. The Bible says a 7 year debt is the largest we should carry.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law strive against them.

We need a new way for The United States Congress to process the vast, new technologies of our times. Senators say, to the media, that complicated bills have 10 people explain to the Senators to nod or not. A Lobbyist told me he explains the the politician why this is necessary - this is a good man. What if he was not? The US Congress could use a judicial system set in place with technical people Congress can rely upon and monitor their bank accounts and creditability.


5 Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.


7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

Our Constitution allows State Legislators to propose Constitutional Amendments for needed things like this - Term limits to those who make laws.

The Congress should follow the laws they give us.

 Line Item Veto.

The laws should not 'Frequently' turn into the tangled mess President Ronald Reagan threw on the floor of Congress, during his State of the Union Address. Line Item Veto is needed; lobbyists destroy the law.

Article Five of the Constitution.


8 Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit
gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

The Kennedy's live this today.
When they donate, it's frequently with a partner system to increase teamwork. A system of earned reward and not a hand out.

9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer is an abomination.

Where is our freedom of speech in prayer?
We have men in Arlington National Cemetery - who gave their lives for this freedom.

10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,

But the blameless will have a goodly inheritance. Jesus Christ chose to come into the world, when the upright were not so upright. Strive for the goodly inheritance of giving mercy in a cynical world.

11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,

but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.

13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.


Confession is good for the soul. Open communication is Psalm 39.

My heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue



14 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always!
But whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

A hard heart is not pleasing to Father God. He is described in completion as a God of Love.


15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

Saul was an example. Then David continued to be merciful, even to the men who ran up to him only after he was king. He was a shepherd to them. David was merciful, as we want God to be to us.

16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

17 If one is burdened with the blood of another,
he will be a fugitive until death;
let no one help him.

18 Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,
but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.


A life lived with meaning creates more harmony and gives life abundantly. The Lord makes peace for those who love the Lord.

 David lived this. All the people of Scripture discovered the path of the godly has frustration. They 'just' overcame by believing He would help them. Jesus loves faith. Jesus does miracles with faith.

19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

To believe this verse is to be rich in blessings. Jesus said the eyes of faith are blessed.

21 To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

We've seen this in our culture, sadly, people are killed for their tennis shoes.

22 A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.


Ecclesiastes 11:1
Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

This was a favorite verse of my Grandmother Anita and my mom. This suggests what we put out to do with goodness and allow God to be in charge - will prosper.


23 Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue. 24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “That is no transgression,” is a companion to a man who destroys.

My brother, working in law enforcement as a Assistant D.A. said many problems stem from parents telling their children constantly bad behavior is excusable or dismissing punishment. We always need to press our children to stretch to go forth the right way.

25 A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. 

27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse. 

28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Sometimes in life, we are forced in a less than winning situation. Not as He would hope. And we learn to turn these things over to Him. Not is defeat, but in Victory. His.

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




Life can be complex. Not all things are within our control. We suddenly are the ping pong in the events around us.
Layers of what people said or what they meant. After a while it looks like the ticker on the three moving screens of the news.

Jesus in our calm times assures us He is coming. And when the wild winds of life howl - the assurance He has seen us through before. And in Psalm 131

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.


Romans 8
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do.

By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.




Father God, when we pray, let us not be a waiter ordering our will. You have given so much.
You gave us freedom from death and from sin. We stand firm in our faith because of You. We will not submit to the fear we have without You. In the Spirit of the Lord - we are free in Jesus. We will use our freedom - to love and serve each other.

And on the day we see You with our soul - We will be free indeed.

Grace - You have given - nothing we could do would earn grace. We could never earn this Salvation. We are saved in the faith - You gave us. This is the Gift of Jesus.

No longer a slave to fear, but a Child of God and a heir to Your Kingdom. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

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Matthew 5:1-17 ~ He sat down

Matthew 5:1-17

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.


2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

~  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

~  "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

~  "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

~  "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

~  "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

~  "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

~  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

~  "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

~  "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.


12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.



13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.






17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Jesus sits to talk and is comfortable with all the difficulties of life any child of His would have.

Jesus is telling us in the Beatitudes - Life is a Difficult. All the people of Hebrews 11 found life to be difficult.

Jesus is right on target. Working His way forward right on His Plan. His ministry was short and He needed to stay on the message He is delivering. Bam. Jesus is telling it how it is.

And I will tell you something very real about America.
We love to have everything spiffy.
We are not depressed, we are 'Fine! How are you?'
We are not, across America, to mourn the dead.
The funeral ends the mourning. Death might just be a little contagious.
I actually had Maxine's three year, 40 hours a week caregiver refuse to go to her dying bed in the hospital because she, at age 50, decided hospitals and funerals might be contagious. She said you live longer if you avoid these. If she is right, a lot of us are in trouble!

We like peacemakers.
But we like some fake nicey. Which doesn't hold up, by the way. There is a balance and the balance is the truth needs to be in there in peace.

Meek - we like the expected behaviors. But humor is ok.

Merciful - is a tad out of date. This generation more than other's firmly believe the elbows out, shine group is going to win.

Pure in heart. God says our outlook on life explains our darkness and our light. When we accuse others, that finger is saying we understand that behavior.

Peacemakers and persecuted for righteousness' sake is a little bit on the same actual side.
This isn't so posh - you don't want to get near difficulty - it might be harmful. Which is funny because the people who got out of their way to express Mercy actually get real approval. From others. Bullies might get initial nods, the reality - the foundation is sand. Surprisingly, this is true.

Rejoice at the Words of Jesus, because - We all clearly need a Savior.

The Beatitudes
sound like something like a dessert and you'd want seconds.
Instead, Jesus is telling us life is work in all aspects!


If you look into the revealing of Hearts you find Beatitudes Jesus gave mean something very deep and Personal to the people attending Church. Most Church goers are 50 and older. Because there is an answer to - life. And in the Words of Scripture we begin to see the eternal truth and comfort.

What is your typical Church goer going to see in the Beatitudes? We could list the fruit of the Spirit - but what you get is fortitude.

Poor in Spirit?
What is more discouraging than an Adult Children in a variety of aspects - employment, love, marriage, a better job. Substances. We want more for our children than for ourselves many times.
Going to Church to lift up to God - that loved one.

Mourning?
The job providing an income and not a life. The desire to be a worthy person of God and not seeing other than His Grace for that to happen. That the job is more fun than the family. And God is going to find comfort. Sometimes just seeing others doing ok at Church. Sometimes seeing another season of life that has joy. Or a season of life being accomplished that we fear.

The Meek -
are learning from God, know a new Heaven and a new earth are possible with endurance and a positive attitude. The meek believe in the Favor of God is coming. Being nourished knowing God rewards the faithful. Knowing God is going to be there in the path and waiting on His timing. The Children of God are providing for elderly parents. Giving up their time - going to comfort the love, as life changes! They are encountering being the new last layer and thinking about what gave their life deeper significance.

Believing God is hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Because in our later decades we decide, "We lived a life worth living." Or waste of time. To know God provides the fuel knowing we are still making a life worth living at all stages.

Blessed are the Merciful -
I know a man at Church who goes deliberately to greet others with great warmth. He Believes Jesus Christ is LOVE. And when he is merciful - the people smile with great warmth. They are encouraged the Body of Christ is good. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
I love a lady at my Church who Rocks on in Jesus. She brought her husband to the faith by... being nicey? Nope. She had marriage counseling with a Priest who shook the foundations and her husband came away saying, "Jesus!" Her husband gives up his vacation to do his work at Church. He is a Light of Christ - the way he greets people Sincerely. And her child and grandchildren - loved on and loved on and loved on - until they cannot wait to fall into the Doors of Open Church!

Now the other part of the Church Family is usually the family with Children. This younger family is specifically looking for this - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. The people with small children want to show a framework of life (Law where the blessings are) and the mercy of Jesus to pick up where mankind is fallen. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

The beatitudes builds the Church. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Jesus, You stayed on topic. Your ministry was short. Your Words accurate and truthful. Even as You sat to talk to Your people, You were making a way to the Cross. Jesus could have chosen all things and instead He chose to serve us. Saving us to become His. This is work. And worth all of life - to know Jesus. Draw us near to you, O Lord. We need You, Jesus, far more than we are needed. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

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Psalm 101 ~ A blameless life

Shepherds watch over the flock - by Vance

Psalm 101

Of David. A psalm.

1 I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

 2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life-- when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart.   3 I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.

4 Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. 5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.

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

  7 No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.

  8 Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the LORD.




So many things in Scripture don't make a lot of sense.
God says so many things in life don't make sense except to the One who knows the pages of our days in His Book of Life.

We have to delve into God's Word and really seek Him to see the message.
We cannot dismiss what we do not understand - we seek to Understand.

A doctor I work with says God has taken His Book of Life and encoded it in the things we still no nothing of and written His Book of Life in our DNA.

David wrote so many Psalms. He started out in the fields. Learning how Close Father God was to him even when his own father Jesse would show all of his sons for the anointing of blessing, but not David.

And then David was anointed the King of Israel. Even Samuel was worried about that. David went back to the flocks and protected them from all types of dangers. And praised God - making plans to make his future clean and sparkling to God.

Fame immediately followed. After his own family had scoffed at him with his anointing and pushing his way to the front. Saul was thrilled. And then paused to consider what this meant to an ever increasingly self - sufficient Saul.

David's anointing began to pale. His best friend saved his life and elected to not fall in with David. David's wife scorned him to remain a princess.  David was helped by priests - who were killed. Things looked - not that great to say the least. Not your typical Sunday School lesson. The people who ran to help David were the ones the system had not prospered.

David, has spent many, many hours with God and David decided that while this looked without fruit - David would believe God.

Habakkuk 3:
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!

And David pressed on to spare Saul in a cave and then to acquire two more wives. To find more people don't necessarily make life easier as they were kidnapped by competitors in David's business - being a mercenary for hire. Living in the below ditch in the ground.

David prayed vastly and went on to have the Lord help him to retrieve his family. Doing the best with what was given to him. He had found safe places for his family who did ask him for help. Being a shepherd was not going to work - people expected David to be mighty. And at the time - God had not provided David with herds of sheep but people who were as easy to shepherd as feral cats.

So David went with those who were willing and the families were retrieved. The brave people who had fought to retrieve their families asked David to forget those who would not strive with them. David said no. Which is odd for Psalm 101.

David was to continue to live for many, many years.

David,continued to believe God. 

And David did not have a Disney written kingdom start. Saul's concubine's son was crowned and found to be inept. David suddenly had supporters everywhere. Saul's sons were killed by a rival nation and David agreed being prompted by God.

David had mercy on people right and left and then had mercy on Saul's concubine mourning the bones of her children. David was indeed being a Shepherd to Israel in the style of God the Father.

David had reached the point where he could relate. His first wife shunned him and that was one of the few times David was not in the mood to be merciful.


And life propelled forward. David reclaimed lands for his Tribe of Judah and for the first time Jerusalem belonged to Israel. David built his palace outside the gates and walls of Jerusalem, to show his determination that God alone protected him.  And also because God says in the Word of God to live upon a hill with a view is a blessing of Heaven.

David must have really wanted a glamorous reward and his reign was to have trouble from there on out.

He ignored God and God sent him the prophet Gad to correct David.

Nathan had more success.

David had known something important - David had not walked alone. God had seen David do what was within his path to do.

Acts 13:22
I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do

Why Luke 7 tells of the hometown Jesus lived in -



Luke 7

When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.



David had believed God.
David believed that God's Word was good.
David knew God loved him and acted upon this belief.
David had sins, weaknesses and flaws.
David wanted to please God.
And in his life of difficulty, glory, sin, trial, joy, and belief.
God Loved David.


Father God, Your way is perfect: The LORD's word is flawless. Jesus is our perfection and our Savior. Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Father God You are the standard of perfection. And we have not found a Savior who does deal with our flaws and sins in wisdom, righteousness, immovable, vast Love.

When we pray we are not asking You to bend down to us, but to lift our prayers for ourselves and the ones we love Up to Your Will. Knowing that our hopes and desires will be heard and that Your will for our lives is Good. A Hope and a Future. That the journey will have difficulties and we lift that up to You. In Your Good Will. In Jesus, Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

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Romans 8:12-17 ~ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God

Romans 8:12-17

12 So, dear brothers,
 you have no obligations whatever to your old sinful nature to do what it begs you to do. 
13 For if you keep on following it you are lost and will perish, but if through the power of the Holy Spirit you crush it and its evil deeds,
you shall live.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall 
back into fear, 
but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry,
 “Abba! Father!” 

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—
heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, 
provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.


Yesterday we looked at the world's excitement in the Egyptian death mask covering a mummy (a body) with fragments of 80 A.D. Gospel of Mark in the lining of the mummy mask.
Body meets spirit meets eternal.
No archaeological proof will make our faith sure.
Only the eyes of faith, walking in the Spirit of God, make this bodily life eternal.
Father God is the God who would run to us, as we are.


Psalm 103:17-18
From everlasting to everlasting 
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, 
and his righteousness with their children’s children— 
with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.


Tony Evans was on the radio this last week and he said this:
"There is an old saying that Christians don't dance. AND REALLY GOOD CHRISTIANS, REALLY DON'T DANCE!!!"

"There is an old saying that Christians don't drink. AND REALLY GOOD CHRISTIANS, REALLY DON'T DRINK!!!"

The problem is: these are traditions, they have nothing to do with real Spiritual growth where mature Christians follow the freedom in Jesus Christ. These man made traditions aren't even the Law. We make our traditions the Law and the Law kills. Because if you look in the Bible - David danced. And Timothy was urged to take some wine."




Mixing and Mingling

We should wonder at the translations - we have mixed and mingled the passage above. Some is Living Bible and some is English Standard Version. Purists say stick to one version of the Word of God. And yet, Paul said to be all things to all people to bring people in to the knowledge and Love of God the Father!


Is there a cost?



fellow heirs with Christ, 
provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

This passage says that following Jesus has some suffering. Yes. Jesus told us we would have troubles. 

Romans 8:12-17  ~ English Standard Version

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.




Troubles are a certainty...

2 Corinthians 5:4 ~ New Living Translation
While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by ...life.





Jesus is our way, truth, Life.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to        the division of soul and
------------of spirit,
of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts 
and intentions of the heart.

Making perfect sense of the two parts of Romans 12.

Romans 12:1-21

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

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. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment,
each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.




The measure of faith - God - has assigned?


John 10:27-28
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Mark 16:20
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

Hebrews 2:3
How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.





How Serious is the Salvation offered to us in the Death and Life of Jesus Christ the Lord?

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,


piercing to the division of soul and of spirit,

Luke 2:
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed-- 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul-- to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."


John 19:33-35
33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.

No punishment we could ever bear would make us sinless. Only the Grace of Jesus can give us salvation.
No work we could ever accomplish would ever make us sinless. Only the Grace of Jesus can make us righteous in His Name - Jesus Christ the Lord - and His Sacrifice.

Why would we press on when Salvation is assured?
When we know the Love, the amazing and wonderful Love Jesus has for us -
we want all to know how high, how deep, how wide is the Amazing and Individual Love Jesus Christ has for His Beloved - diverse in the Body of Christ - the Fullness of God Loving us.

Father God, in Your Goodness - Press on.
Jesus the Lord, in Your Victory - Call us to You.
Holy Spirit - Dwell with in all who call upon You in sincerity and earnestness.
Grace of God - Go forth with us to do Your good Will and fill us and our loved ones with the Glory of Your Love.
In Jesus we call upon the Highest name of Love. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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