Isaiah 61 ~ Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.

Oak of Mamre old view, near Hebron, Palestine. Created by De Bar, published 1882

Historic Photo of the tree in Hebron, Oak of Mamre. Circa 1865.  For many, many years the Oak acorns were prorogationed from the old Oak.

Isaiah 61

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners^[blind]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.

A long time ago, we had a home in our neighborhood, a colonial with blue shutters and shake wooden roof. Above the house was an amazing giant of an American Elm. The great tree was almost a Sequoia with a base of at least a six foot diameter. It made the house have a hidden and majestic quality. The neighbors agreed it was a delight to see when you turned into the main street. One day there was a ferocious roar and a team worked for two days to cut down the tree. The new owner of the house proclaimed the healthy tree to be too big and dangerous. One of the cutters told him the tree was older than the Declaration of Independence, it was a shame the tree had not been in the Dallas Arboretum.

The owner was amazed the neighbors were not pleased. He said he had to protect the shake roof. Unfortunately for him, a huge wind came up and destroyed the roof later in the year and the insurance would not pay to replace the shake roof. He was rather horrified and said he'd bought the house for the unusual roof. If the tree had been there to shelter the roof.....



 to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

Now this is a true analogy. Stories in the Scriptures repeat and repeat. Abraham traveled a long way to dwell in the land promised to him.  After a long journey, these Oaks were an oasis, and called the Oaks of Mamre

Genesis 13:18
So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the LORD.


Genesis 18:1
The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.

Genesis 12:3
"I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

How long did Abraham and his children look forward to the Oaks of Mamre being home? And what happened to this blessing?

Genesis 35:27
Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.

Isaiah knew of Abraham's Mamre Oaks. The Oaks of Righteousness. Because for millenniums Oaks were reseeded to keep Abraham's Oak Grove going. Hebron, the city of Sarah and Abraham is also known for their venerated graves.  The Tomb of the Patriarchs, in Hebron.

God rejoices in HIS creation. The Cedars built the Temple.

Psalm 29:5
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

Psalm 80:10
The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.



Psalm 104:16
The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

Queen Victoria planted this area of the forest and built the wall.

Isaiah also gives us a theme for the city in which he dwells, Jerusalem.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

David worked for 22 year without any apparent vision of success other than an anointing of God. Upon Saul's death, a concubine's son was crowned. And still David believed. Upon being crowned later, David, of the Tribe of Judah, decided to move the capital from Shiloh to Jerusalem. All the way back to Joshua, who succeeded Moses, the Tribe of Judah had been unable to claim the area around Jerusalem. This is why Jerusalem is called the City of David.

 The Temple of the LORD was entirely covered with gold.



Isaiah knew of these blessings through Hezekiah, who inherited the promises of David (if you look at the genealogy of Jesus, you will see Jesus claims both Hezekiah and Abraham). Hezekiah had a very practical father, King Ahaz. Ahaz was busy in his reign directing nature worship on the hills. All very poetic to be sure. Howeever Ahaz was hoping for the Temple, with the great trees, and then gold over the entire Temple, to be forgotten and broken into bits to keep the Assyrian army at bay. Hezekiah started with this practicality, and later listened to Isaiah to have the greatest reign in Israel after Solomon. His people were the only, in all of the Old or New Testament, who flocked to give to the LORD until they were asked to quit giving.


I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.

Father God, we ask to participate in the blessing you gave Abraham. We ask to be blessed and to be a blessing in return. 

When life gives us cursing, give us the power to discern if we are to rebuke that evil will flee or to wait patiently upon You.  Let us ask blessings for those who give us trouble - far away blessings. Give us the ability to be peacemakers and the ability to turn and depart. 

Let us remember to see with Your eyes mercy and Love. We thank you for the good news of Jesus Christ, healing the broken hearted, a crown of beauty, joy and the ability to have a heart for praise. Help us to grow into Oaks of Righteousness, bringing further Good News of the Love You give us. 

We would like to be the people You have blessed. In the Highest Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.


PS 
Father God. Lately I have heard a friend tell me Macular Degeneration, another friend said she is feeling like she is dying. I saw a dear Church family man in heated bent over prayer. And elder lady in our Church is unable to do her beloved bible study group in her home. There was a motorcycle accident with Church family husband and wife on two bikes. And and injury falling and in recovery. Edward has a severe diagnosis and lifts his day up in Jesus, with fewer tremors. Recently my High School best friend sent us Word she is marrying her long time beaux  and he was christened in a river.  Happy and blessed BBQ Wedding Reception. Another lady from our Church is widowed for 10 years having nursed her older husband for a long, diligent time and is engaged now!

I know my dear friend BBFHS has seen hard, difficult, dire times and she keeps telling her witness that Jesus is Living Water going where He is needed - we get bogged down and we are lifted when we know Jesus. Her FB page is alive with Christian witness. Jesus cured a woman I know from precancerous conditions in her stomach - her life has joy and good health again. Jesus is the Wind of the Spirit. We cast our cares upon Him and He truly cares for us. When we are bent with worries, Jesus would fold His Arm around us - like a mother hen with her chicks.

Thank You Father GOD, Lord Jesus truly saves. Amen in Jesus.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 1:18-24 ~ The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

The Nativity, painted by Ted Henninger

 

Matthew 1:18-24

8 Now the birth of Jesus Christ [the Christ] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed [engaged] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”  (which means, God with us). (Isaiah 7:14)

24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife!

Jesus is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning 'God is salvation'.

Mary had choices, the angel heard Mary agree to God's plan. Joseph, also, had choices multiplying after looking for compassion. Jesus had choices as well. The Pharisees wonder if Jesus will flee - what choices Jesus would make. Jesus was asked for an interview by Greek Jews of Crete - Cretans have a reputation for laziness and gluttony - perhaps they heard Jesus was an eater and drinker - they wanted Jesus on Crete. Titus was one of the 70 disciples (2 were taken by fire, recall!) and Titus lived to be quite old according to old Church histories - the age of 94 as Bishop of Crete. Jesus was walking a different path. One of Salvation.

John 7:30-35
30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. 31 Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?"

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him. 33 Jesus said, "I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come."

35 The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, 'You will look for me, but you will not find me,' and 'Where I am, you cannot come'?"

John 12:19-28
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!"

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 

Jesus, being in the world, was presented with options. Jesus, being God, wanted to fulfill God's plan of salvation. Because Jesus is our atonement, He is our Messiah. 

Thank you, Father, for the gift of Your Son. Thank you, Jesus, for your willingness to be grace and truth living among us. Thank you, Holy Spirit, You never depart from us.

Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Joshua 1:5
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Proverbs 3:3
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Matthew 28:20
I am with you always

Father God, when You look to our Souls the only eternal aspect of us. What do You hope to see? You are not that far from us - dwelling within us - yet You are vast we ask to see with Your eyes what You delight in.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Love!!! Affection, appreciation, fondness, friendship, passion, respect, tenderness, yearning, adulation,
allegiance, ardor, attachment, cherishing, delight, devotedness, enjoyment, fidelity, involvement, and like.

Joy! Comfort, delight, elation, glee, humor, pride, satisfaction, wonder, exultation, frolic, gladness, gratification, indulgence, merriment, rejoicing, revelry, and good humor.

Peace ~ love, hope, bounce, reconciliation, truce, unity, affability, concord, tranquility, calm, forethought, groundwork, restfulness, reflection, optimism. Generosity.

Forbearance. Fortitude, endurance, moderation, restraint, temperance, easy going. PATIENCE.

Goodness ...the expectation thereof!

Faithfulness - the willingness to do the right action even at a cost. Knowing you are giving more than what what would have been done for you. Loyalty. Endurance. Recreating a spark. Remembering past gratitude. Adherence. Care. Constancy. Dependability, trustworthy, giving truth.

Gentleness - tenderness and kindness.

Self-control - restraint.

When we turn to the Lord - the Lord is Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And when we behold the Glory of the Lord we are transformed into the image of His Glory - and we differ in degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is a Holy Spirit.

Father God, You ask us to look for what is pure and good and each day God's mercies renew. It is in loving - we renew.

In Jesus,  we lift to You these qualities in ourselves, our loved ones, our friends, Church family, co-workers, merciful neighbors, and our communities, Churches, State, the Nation and the Nations worshiping You Father God. We ask Your blessings! Amen in Jesus. Always.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 18:10-14 ~ truly, I say to you, He rejoices

Matthew 18:10-14

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven [For the Son of Man came to save the lost]. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 

13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.  

14 So it is not the will of my [your] Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Haters gonna hate.

What are going to do with today's evangelism? Sincerity.

If you look at 3 decades ago tapes of famous evangelism - you see some terrible fake, cheesy grins plastered on their faces. You just know the fruit from the tree is wholesome, but lemme tell you, I've wanted to write sincerely and say - please - Stop with the look. Yuckkkk. Let love be sincere.

Let us hear the reality - when your family had a fire in the house - people yelled at each other.

And I've seen some "peace-seeking, I'm Okay, You're Okay"s turn rabid over Christian viewpoints. Woooow. Joshua was told - be centered on balance - Jesus.

So... who is the hater..... the deist, the universalist, the humanist, the Christian?

Consider this - the Christianity that is rapidly fading away - is - the denominations who debunk the Bible! Hater Churches of put down fail to keep and hold. Fake uptight have failed to Love. The 1970 and 1980 Churches of perpetual optimism have fallen short of Sincerity and failed to reach Truth. The Easy Grace Churches find that in hard times - they fail to hold their easy come faith.

Where God's Love and Encouragement  Churches to Hope in Him with help facing the difficulties of life - in sincerity - Grow. Where the Holiness of God is encouraged.

We get to be the Best Church we can deliver. Our small lives - make the Church. Reach out in Love and never, never, never, never, never surrender the Good Fight to say God is Love.

What we need to abhor with understanding is the one who would pull God away from us.
Saying we are sad people who need an invisible friend. Run from people saying all of this is hypocrisy. Saying God would never lift His finger to help. Incorrectly saying the Bible is not the Word of God. Those who ridicule faith in God. Or debunk thinking God would not provide God Opportunities for us. Then we need to be counted as - sometimes silent - but always praying. God tells us not to fight because a useless quarrel is useless. But Prayer is not wasted. When the right to be heard is someone in the room needing to hear faith - Definitely SPEAK.



We get to pick Our Attitudes DAILY. Are we iron sharpening iron. We get decide to rise above or sink with bad attitudes wearing us down. We get to feel the Mercies of God renew each day. And pray with open hearts and open hands for loving hearts to continue on His good Path - Pleasing God.

Mostly in our evangelism - work to the teachable moments.

I watched a savvy Minister on TV speak to really neutral to skeptical reporters.

There wasn't dealing with a hater, but extremely different viewpoints of looking at Salvation. The Minister enjoyed talking to the bulldog, lock jawed reporter. He was amused at the tactics of the reporter - the Minister had game. The reporter could tell the Minister was amused and made witty come backs, the interview was going wellll; the reporter was happy. Later, the Facebook people made open minded, Scriptural comments. It was interesting and upbeat. Very unusual for a Salvation discussion.

When we look at the Law... who gets in to Heaven....

Luke 19:
1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.

 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”  

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

It becomes more easy when we acknowledge this: we are never going to walk down the street, look up in a tree and be able to know the soul of a stranger. Religion is out. Relationship, not with human opinion, but with Jesus Christ has begun.

Who gets the shot at Salvation?

Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

On that day, of Salvation, every single one of us will be known like Zacchaeus who lived in Jericho where Jesus was passing by.

Don't you believe with me that on the Day of Salvation - Jesus will tell us what He has seen in us that in our personalities, histories, lives and opinions He has rejoiced with us?

~ What about good men, who didn't know of Jesus. Will they be saved? Jesus never met the Centurion. Or his servant. What did Jesus do? He Found the Centurion in Faith and matched Faith for Faith.

Salvation....

1 Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

And this is for all people....

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, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

It does Not say, work out the Centurion's salvation. What role do the others play in the centurion's salvation?

Luke 7:
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.

Intercession with prayer and Jesus.

Salvation.... it isn't a religion, it is a relationship.

Father God, Glory to You in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom Your favor rests. Because of Your grace given; the sacrifice of Jesus Christ Your Son, we are Your beloved. Help us to walk humbly with You and not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to. Help us look to You in all circumstances as the light of the world, increasing our measure of faith You've given us.

There are different kinds of working, but You are the same God working in all men. Equip us, please, with everything good for doing Your will. Please work in us what is pleasing to You. You daily load us up with Your benefits, please let us see them with grateful hearts, enlighten our eyes in faith, that our souls and beings may rejoice in Your hope and salvation. For the people we love and pray for, our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, friends, Churches, State and Nation. We lift to You in expectation all of our prayer concerns. Amen. through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

2 Kings 19 ~ And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.

2 Kings 18

When Hezekiah had paid the tribute of all the silver from the Temple and stripped the gold from the Temple doors. The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem to threaten Hezekiah, puppet king of Judah.

36 But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him."

2 Kings 19

When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. 2 He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 3 They told him, “This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment of birth and there is no strength to deliver them. 4 It may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, and that he will rebuke him for the words the Lord your God has heard. Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives.”

5 When King Hezekiah’s officials came to Isaiah, 6 Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.’”

8 When the field commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

9 Now Sennacherib received a report that Tirhakah, the king of Cush, was marching out to fight against him. So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah with this word: 10 “Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.’ 11 Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? 12 Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors deliver them—the gods of Gozan, Harran, Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?”

14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

17 “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. 18 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 19 Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.”

20 Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. 21 This is the word that the Lord has spoken against him:

“‘Virgin Daughter Zion
despises you and mocks you.
Daughter Jerusalem
tosses her head as you flee.
22
Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed?
Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes in pride?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
23
By your messengers
you have ridiculed the Lord.
And you have said,
“With my many chariots
I have ascended the heights of the mountains,
the utmost heights of Lebanon.
I have cut down its tallest cedars,
the choicest of its junipers.
I have reached its remotest parts,
the finest of its forests.
24
I have dug wells in foreign lands
and drunk the water there.
With the soles of my feet
I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.”

25
“‘Have you not heard?
Long ago I ordained it.
In days of old I planned it;
now I have brought it to pass,
that you have turned fortified cities
into piles of stone.
26
Their people, drained of power,
are dismayed and put to shame.
They are like plants in the field,
like tender green shoots,
like grass sprouting on the roof,
scorched before it grows up.

27
“‘But I know where you are
and when you come and go
and how you rage against me.


Because you rage against me
and because your insolence has reached my ears,
I will put my hook in your nose
and my bit in your mouth,
and I will make you return
by the way you came.’

29 “This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah:

“This year you will eat what grows by itself,
and the second year what springs from that.
But in the third year sow and reap,
plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah
will take root below and bear fruit above.

For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant,
and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.

“The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

32 “Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria:

“‘He will not enter this city
or shoot an arrow here.
He will not come before it with shield
or build a siege ramp against it.


By the way that he came he will return;
he will not enter this city,
declares the Lord.

I will defend this city and save it,
for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.’”

35 That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.

37 One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.


Hollywood likes the scene of 2 Kings 18. The Assyrian King's bold idea to have his general address the people to ridicule their leader is used in several recent movies. This was used in the movie "Exodus: Gods and Kings". It's pretty theatrically terrifying.

However The Movies have never made a classic movie of Hezekiah. And really - classic, enduring movies are the movies repeating the Scriptures instead of changing them to be one person's unique interpretation.

Yet...we have all lived 2 Kings 19. We have family, friends, loved ones, neighbors who love to tell us our faith is mistaken, misplaced, and not intelligent. When Life offers us no opportunity to comment with correction - are we a disappointment to Father God? And even if the tone of the conversation is warm enough to say "You believe what you believe and I believe differently" with kindness, yet the sorrow of not making a bridge to God - have we been a head shake to our Father God?

Clearly, when no word can come to make assurances of faith - being kind or even silent with prayer - is Not Wrong.
God speaks with us in our hearts and we know when there is no opportunity that day. The people were told to be silent. God handled the rest. Father God well understands there are seasons to speak and seasons always to pray. We should not rest in the season permanently!

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Even this passage explains that the Word of God protects Israel and their enemy is struck down. His Plan Endures.

Isaiah 51:6
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

Psalm 103

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Hezekiah dared to strip the Temple of the money to function and to remove the gold from the doors. God is honoring Hezekiah for turning to Father God so completely. God could very well have laughed and said, "Oh last resort?" Jesus tells us God is our Father and glad to help.

Judah was never conquered by the Assyrians.

Father GOD, We pray for a path forward in Jesus. That God would bless us with a gentle peace for our journey with God. And in the Eternity You, Father God, provide in Jesus, help us strengthen, restore, renew the dear ones we know we will know for eternity. And help us not leave those behind. In our neighborhoods, friends, co-workers, State and Nation. AMEN and ALLELUIA.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Exodus 34:5-7 ~ The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth

Exodus 34:5-7

The LORD descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the LORD. 6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."

Looking out of the Horeb Cave

1 Kings 19
Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

God speaks to us in a variety of ways. Jesus also spoke to His Father about His Life.

Moses stood wedged in a rock, probably the same mountain where Elijah went into a cave. Literally, the Hebrew is definite describing the cave. "The cave might have been the specific 'clift of the rock' where God appeared to Moses ( Exodus 33:22) rather than the 'cave-region'.

Jesus tells us He as arrived as Grace upon Grace as the Glory of His Father.

John 17
18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

And Jesus removes the stain of the sins in generations.

We read about that today in the BBC:

The ketchup sachet-shaped drug saving babies from HIV
By Daniel Pardo BBC

Baby Tomato starts lagging behind, and Papa Tomato starts calling Baby Tomato.  "Ketchup!"

Thanks to a program involving the hospital, the Ecuadorian government, the VIHDA foundation in Guayaquil and Duke University in North Carolina, at least 1,000 babies have been born without the infection from HIV-positive mothers.

The program is enabling newborn babies to take their medicines efficiently - via a pouch that looks just like the small ketchup sachets you get at fast food restaurants.

Their babies must be given antiviral (ARV) medication within 24 hours of birth, otherwise the risk of the infection - mothers who live with HIV can also infect their children with a 50% chance in birth, 30% during pregnancy and 20% through breastfeeding. . According to the UN, mother-to-child transmission in the developing world creates 260,000 new infections in children every year.

Rosa, however, is happy, because her one-year-old baby is about to be declared free of HIV. "I don't care if my career as a teacher was ruined by this illness. Today I am happy to see my children healthy and studying."

John 5:17
But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”


Father God, so many times You begin a new work by turning the Fathers back to their own children. We will not conform to the old ways of shame to create change, we will be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Praying for the lessons these redeemed children will learn. We will see Africa, Belize and other nations teach what is good, acceptable and perfect, we ask in expectation.

Thanking organizations like Acts 25:42 for the renewal of a nation through care and time and love.

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appears, He saves us. Not because of works. Salvation in His own righteousness, His own mercy, by the washing and regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. When we ask Father God He pours His Holy Spirit upon us richly. Being justified in His Grace, we become heirs according to the Hope of Eternal Life. He is trustworthy and we insist on belief in His Words.

Father in Jesus, we cover those we love in Your Holy Spirit. Our family, our friends, the people we love, the people You give us. In our communities, Churches and in our states and in the Nation. For new Weddings and Baptisms - lives filled with Love and Joy. We ask You profound and unending blessings on what is true,noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- we ask You to build up blessings on these things. In Jesus always, Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

John 17:20-26 ~ The glory that you have given me

John 17:20-26

"I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

25 "Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

The Purposes of God

Did you ever wonder what God meant here?

Acts 10:34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:


God sets up plans suddenly, with a twist, well in advance? Actually being Father God Lord God Almighty - His plans - What the Soul of Father God wants, He does. No purpose of Father God Almighty over all things, can be thwarted. In earth, in Heaven, in the seas and the deeps. What our Father, your Father and mine, the LORD of hosts has planned, and no one can frustrate His Plans And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back. Only God.


Jonah is an interesting part of Scripture. He reoccurs in the New Testament because Jesus speaks of Jonah 9 times. Jonah wanted no part of God's plan. No oneness with God in being told go to the looming and gentile polytheistic culture about to invade. Jonah only had a very sketchy, rude understanding of Assyria and Assyrians. Therefore, very little empathy. Given the nature of the looming Assyrians, Jonah was sure he would fail in this unusual endeavor to make peace and salvation out of barbarism. A mission of High Profile Failure. Jonah surely thought as missions go, this one was the underling position - or just a terrible request from God - not one that God would give to a Beloved Child of God.

God never sat down and thoroughly explained to Jonah about God's desire for Jonah to keep his self esteem.
God never sat down and comforted Jonah.
Was the work important? God never told Jonah in comforting dreams like Joseph.
What would God use to ask Jonah ultra politely to see God is the Authority?

Right. Whatever God deemed necessary.

Was the work important to God? Yes in a dire way this was VERY IMPORTANT TO GOD.
Jonah was telling polytheistic people about God being the Sole God. About God being the Authority.

And this small, fragile country of Israel was about to have a Zenith equal to Solomon's era with more faith of the people of Judah than ever before.

How nice.

Except this framework would lay, establish, conduct, and was a master key of God's  Plan - to bring Nebuchadnezzar to understand  God loves Nebuchadnezzar. To allow the slain Nation of Israel, utterly destroyed to rise up like - Jesus The Christ, the Messiah, the Only Son of God.

The history of Israel is unparallelled.

-God takes a comfortable Temple
-A nation in fear,
-A fragile man who is determined to Frank Sinatra do life his own way
and does - the Will, the Authority, the Audacity, the Auspiciousness, the Determination of
Compassion for the multitudes - and does... God's Plan.

Amazing. Seems like in many things, over many years, in many conditions, with varieties of people, circumstances, cultures, nationalities - GOD is going to say His Love is Living Water - crossing rules, boundaries, opinions, and in ways - ONLY GOD FINDS APPROPRIATE OR BELIEVABLE.

God determines - His - Way, Truth, Life.
And given Jonah lived in 700 B.C. - God probably intends to keep doing that "GOD THING."

Father God,
You are telling us as a Living God with Living Word that Your God Nature is a God of Peace.

Father of All Things in People, Circumstance, Creation - You brought Your Son, Lord Jesus, our Savior to have Victory and to conquer death. 

Living Father God You are the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Giving Your own blood shed in terrible, terrible anxiety and sacrifice to the eternal covenant of faith and of Life. 

Please equip us and the ones we love with every good You would do to accomplish Your Will! Please dwell within us, our family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, Church, leading to our State, Nation and the Nations of God to work in ways in the Path pleasing in Your Sight. We ask to accomplish Your Will in Gentle Love.

Though the Highest Name of Jesus Christ. To You Father God and not to us be the Glory forever in the fulfilling of Your Word and Will. In Jesus, Amen!

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 9:18-26 ~ And when Jesus came to the ruler's house

Matthew 9:18-26

While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”

19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

23 And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.

Raising Jairus daughter by Polenov,adjusted

Romans 4:20-25
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Jesus was having a day. His 5th recent miracle. And God framed this beautiful day like this:

Except - Jesus' day was difficult. Imagine the Son of God setting forth to save a child's life - and this was a Hard day! Suspicion surrounded Him. Jesus just kept going forth. Jesus could tell who framed His day and what was at hand.


Philippians 2
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,a 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,b being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself

If you are arguing Jesus ordered them to go away - this is still humility - God not feeling the need to perform to the crowd. Not taking intricate time to explain. Instead fobbing them off with authority.  This is God raising up the child and not demanding Honor for this. The ruler was the man who was running the synagogue - not a likely follower of Jesus - yet, still. a child of God in need; Jairus knew Jesus' healing ministry.

Matthew 6:36
He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Father God,
You are our God, and You do whatever pleases You.

Father God, generations of our families have Loved You. You are God of the Heavens. You rule all the Kingdoms of all Nations. Power and might are in Your Hand Father God. No one stands against You. Every knee will bow to Jesus the Lord.

Job tells us You are Unique, nothing turns you. What the Soul of Your's, Father God wants, He does. No purpose of Your's, Father God Almighty over all things, can be thwarted. In earth, in Heaven, in the seas and the deeps.

What our Father, your Father and mine, the LORD of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back.

Even from eternity, You are the Great I Am. Jehovah.

An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands'? All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But our God does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off our Father God's hand Or say to the Lord God our Father, 'What have You done?'

Father in all things, You plan for Your Children a Hope and a Future. We are predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of God's will.

Father we pray for those we love, our family, friends, neighbors, Church, workers, our State, this Nation that Your  Blessings will gently unfold for us in Your Goodness. In Jesus the Lord. Amen.

 

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †