Revelation 12 ~ Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them!

 

 

Revelation 12

12 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.


7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 

11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”


Sorrow looks back
Worry looks around.
Faith looks up.

What will we do with our blessings?
Matthew Henry writes this passage is so deep, it is almost without fathom. This Scripture is about the Church, about History, about our present, past and future.

Will we have our blessings
 so hoarded that they vanish, like the first paragraph?

Or will we pick at our blessings 
until they are like Chocolate Easter bunnies pick, pick, pick - horrid and gone.

We have the ability to un-bless our blessings.

Invest generously with your time, your mercy, in real treasure. 
 Give happily what God has given you. Because? We bless ourselves in eternity. God sees our gifts as building the Kingdom to Eternity. Making Life what you give.

Psalm 145:3-10
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!

Give thanks? 
The only thing we can Give to God - He has not given to us.  

1,474 Giving is used in the Bible in the English Standard Version. This is an attitude. Grow. Stretch. Expand.  New people, new ideas, new strengths. Where does strength come from? Overcoming.
 

2 Timothy 1

My beloved child!
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
a clear conscience
remember you constantly in my prayers night and day
long to see you, that I may be filled with joy
sincere faith
fan into flame the gift of God...

God gave us
a spirit not of fear but of power and Love and self-control.

not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord
the gospel by the power of God
saved us and called us
because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus
abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel
appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher
he is able to guard
in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus
the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.


Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.


God is able to bless us. Able. In all times. Abundant blessings. How? God is in process with our earnest, sincerity of working things together. When we do not react in a Spirit of Fear. In all times - God is able to bless us. Are we called to His Purpose? I believe in the Lord's Prayer - we are called to do our best to be honest, sincere and bring Heaven to Earth.



Father God, In Jesus help us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Your Love and Mercy. Called Salvation. Every day until the day of eternity.

Jesus our Lord, equip us, through Jesus Christ, bless us in every good thing to do Your will, working in us that which is pleasing in Your sight for Your glory forever and ever.

Father God, You are able to keep us from stumbling and to present us blameless before the presence of Your glory with great joy. You are only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. 
Amen.

Thank You, Jesus!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

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Revelation 3 ~ you

In Remembrance of Me, by Walter Rane

Revelation 3

To the angel of the church in Sardis, write this: The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this:


"I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. The victor will thus be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels. Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write this: The holy one, the true, who holds the key of David, who opens and no one shall close, who closes and no one shall open, says this:

"I know your works (behold, I have left an open door before you, which no one can close). You have limited strength, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the assembly of Satan who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying, behold I will make them come and fall prostrate at your feet, and they will realize that I love you. Because you have kept my message of endurance, I will keep you safe in the time of trial that is going to come to the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming quickly. 

Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown. 

The victor I will make into a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never leave it again. 

On him I will inscribe the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, as well as my new name. Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

To the angel of the church in Laodicea, write this: The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God's creation, says this:

"I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

 For you say, 'I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,' and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise.

 Be earnest, therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, (then) I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

God is grateful for endurance, we all learn about the people who will endure with us. One of the people I am so grateful for is my son, Alexander. We traveled through East Texas Saturday morning for a Disc Golf Tournament in Nacogdoches - this weekend. As I was texting my son to be safe today on Texas rivers, I got a text back. 

One of the most powerful points about the Scripture is God's Word being living and active. In this generation. We see that the man who saw people as trees walking was the way the brain recovers from brain operations. We see the cloud of the Temple is probably not regular mist, instead more probable the birth of a star we see in the Hubble Telescope photos. This generation is not only uncovering more archaeological Biblical evidence, we are seeing new truths for today - revealing God is not finished with us 2,000 years later. Alleluia.

When we listen with open hearts (a smart woman in my church says when we have a teachable heart), the Scripture will be different at different times when we hear the Bible.

Revelations 3 comes  and I "hear" about the white robes of heaven for the first time and begin to think about holiness, purity and beauty in the Kingdom of Heaven. It makes me think of the glories of heaven.

Revelations 3, really and not just as an example, makes me think about the study of happiness done by the evening news last night. The second component of happiness, according to the report last night, is not to compare ourselves to others. We just don't know how God plans others' lives and really what goes on. Perhaps we envy someone all their good fortune, but in reality their heart is "wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." And if we guess it to be so, we still do not know what God has in store, within the next year that person could be given a revelation and refined by God's fire.

 And as we rode along the sun was coming up. And I got a text back from Alexander very early in the morning. A surprise and a heart is warmed!

Just as the disciples, before and after Jesus lived among them, had different aspects of their faith grow and fall back. (Remember Peter and Paul had the dispute over circumcision or early churches and the turmoil over eating kosher/idol sacrifices). Our lives have major circumstances and minor influences - all these move us in God's plan. We have the choice to invite God daily or work contraflow. Either way - God will accomplish His will. God at work for His good purpose.

 The sun rose out of the mist with a huge amount of brilliant orange! And I realized I didn't have to stick to a text, I could call one of my favorite people - my son Alexander!

It's important to read the Scripture several times, stop and think about what you remembered the best.... that is the Holy Spirit speaking to you. 

 As we hung up the phone, we crossed the Alexander Creek. In Leggett County (my Texas A & M dorm).  And I just rejoiced at the goodness of Father God bringing us people we love!

 Later in the day, we talked to people who had seen this incredible sunrise. And we all said it was the most remarkable sunrise out of the mist. Creating small mountains like the Blue Ridge Parkway. And all who had seen it gave God Glory Immediately!






Father God, we invite You into our lives to have Your Will and Your good pleasure.  You know not just our name but our essence, our soul. 

We ask Your Love and blessings for ourselves and the people You have given us.
We ask the blessing of John - John knew Jesus and would not leave Him. We ask to have our heart be loyal and have the blessings John knew from his love. John could not stop the Sacrifice we all needed, But You never forgot John. John endured with You.


 We know You are at Work today. Help us each day to remember one of Your many wonders and grab hold of Your renewed mercies each day to be inspired in faith, hope and Love anew. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

And Father God, glad to be home Sunday evening and have less technical, hotel difficulties to finish this post! Amen in the Lord.

Thank You, Jesus!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

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Mark 6:14-29 ~ When Herod heard

Herod Antipas was known as a builder. Tiberus, the city was built to let Caesar know - Herod was his man. Herod Antipas lived on a stage, where he liked to create images; fittingly this ruin survives the best of all he built.

This coin of Herod Antipas was carefully created without images to please a

Jewish Kingdom, who, biblically, did not like images.

Mark 6:14-29

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

~ And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."

 Josephus heard of this as well. He wrote that Salome danced for Herod Antipas, who was the Emperor appointed King of most of the Holy Lands for most of Jesus' life. Josephus records the dance took place in the court yard of the Palace Machaerus. Macheerus rose above the Dead Sea and was part of a line of defense for smoke signals - Macheerus could be seen from Massada to Jerusalem. Josephus also records all of the significant details of Salome's life, her marriages and the names of her children and shows coins minted for Salome's children as well.

Thousands of the red tiles used in the roof are still in fairly intact status.

Herod was unwise. He had divorced his wife and married his brother's wife. He was worried Jesus was John's reincarnation and he hoped Jesus would perform for him - a miracle. Herod Antipas, was what is known as a "poser". A Jewish King, leading God's chosen people, while twisting or ignoring the rules to suit himself or Caesar.

Jesus called Herod a fox. Unlike "poser", Jesus meant fox as in the traditional cunning animal. A fox - typically live in small family groups, opportunistic feeders that hunt live prey. Jesus loved and forgave all of us. Herod the Great had killed his father-in-law's family in order to rule. Like a fox in a chicken house. Jesus could see into our hearts and Jesus sees straight into Herod. Unless a fox is killing your livestock, it's a great pleasure to see a fox. Splendid apparel with a shrewd face. Jesus loved Herod and could appreciate him, even for his flaws.

Herod is offering half his kingdom in exchange for the life of a man of God. He has posed so long as so many different roles - even to himself - he has forgotten...

Isaiah 7:9
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

Betrayal of Jesus's John the Baptist?

Herod Antipas did forfeit ....his whole kingdom; his small family group included Herodias' brother. Herodias' brother convinced Caesar, after 42 years, Herod Antipas was a failure. Herod Antipas and Herodias were cut off and exiled from Israel.

Father God, so many times we doubt others and ourselves. Sometimes fairly, sometimes in a learning capacity, sometimes in rude judgment. Herod's reaction upon hearing of the son of God - wondering if John the Baptist's ghost returned. His reaction was a glimmer of salvation about resurrection, joined with fear and Shame.

Our Loving Father, You do not call us to live in shame, or guilt. We heed the warning signs of these. And Look for Your Parenting and Your Loving Guidance, for ourselves, the ones we love and our nation. For Your Daily help in all areas of our lives. In Jesus, Amen.

Thank You, Jesus!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

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Psalm 99 ~ Exalt the LORD our God

Not typically the way the Ark is depicted.

The Ark of the Covenant is used for what? The Ark is indeed a Chest This ark contained the gold jar of manna,  Aaron’s staff that had budded from an Almond Tree after it was a staff of wood, and the stone tablets. The Ark's primary use was a seat for the Lord God Almighty. The Ark of the Covenant is called the Mercy Seat. Josephus reported the barred, bolted, locked gate outside the Court of the Women opened with God's Hand during the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar and during Titus in 70 A.D. When Josephus goes on to report that both times the Cherubim miraculously were turned away from the seat - both times the Holy of Holy had Cherubim carved into the walls.


Exodus 25:17-22
17 “You shall make a mercy seat
of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. 20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. 21 And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

Hebrews 9:5
and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat


Hebrews 9 goes on to explain Paul was writing Scripture before 70 A.D. -
25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.


Describing the Cherubim in the Holy of Holies Room:
1 Kings 6
23 For the inner sanctuary he made a pair of cherubim out of olive wood, each ten cubits high. 24 One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing five cubits—ten cubits from wing tip to wing tip. 25 The second cherub also measured ten cubits, for the two cherubim were identical in size and shape. 26 The height of each cherub was ten cubits. 27 He placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple, with their wings spread out. The wing of one cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the other touched the other wall, and their wings touched each other in the middle of the room. 28 He overlaid the cherubim with gold.


1 Kings 8
6 The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 7 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles. 8 These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today.


This, the left photo, is the most popular Ark of the Covenant - just isn't the wing span and isn't raised up high wing span and is not a Seat.

 

 This would show the idea of the Cherubim, actually on the walls of the Holy of Holies, changing their positions but still - not a Seat for the Almighty.

 

Possible candidate for the Mercy Seat except this is not a Seat.

Psalm 99

1 The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! 
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

2 The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!


4 The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

 70 A.D. The Destruction of Judea, Jesus' natural death era, by Titus. The gold from the Temple paid for the Roman Coliseum

5 Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them.

The Temple Tools returned from the Babylonian Exile - some where from Moses. Solomon added to those in the Temple he built for the Lord.

The Cloud described in the Temple explaining God's robe wouldn't fit in the Temple sounded like this Hubble Telescope Photo of God's Universe. We - are - the first generation to understand this about the Cloud filling the First Temple of God explained to David and built by Solomon. The Bible IS Living and Active.

7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them.

8 O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.

9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!

Ephesians 4
10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.

Ephesians 3:17-18
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; 
and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 

and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Thank You, Jesus!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

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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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