2 Kings 17:1-18 ~ None was left but the tribe of Judah only.

2 Kings 17:1-18

In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel, and he reigned nine years. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him. 3 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria. And Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. 4 But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. 

Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison. 5 Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it.

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.


7 And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods 8 and walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced. 

9 And the people of Israel did secretly against the Lord their God things that were not right. 

They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. 10 They set up for themselves pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, 11 and there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the Lord carried away before them. 

And they did wicked things, provoking the Lord to anger, 12 and they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this.” 13 Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.”

14 But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, 
who did not believe in the Lord their God. 

15 They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. 

16 And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. 1

7 And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. 

None was left but the tribe of Judah only.




How will we condense this Scripture passage into a Psalm - the way David did so many times?


Psalm 40:4
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!



The people of Samaria had sins. The people of Israel were sacrificing children for their infant blood to make prosperity and security. None of this was apparent. They did away with their faith - like we read about people 2,000 years later tell us the honest people inspired by the Holy Spirit did not write Scripture.(This makes it easier to say Scripture is not the Word of God.)

Where will we put our trust as times and seasons change?

Thanks to God, we can put our faith in Jesus Christ. His promises are faithful. Not in Isaiah, who had 2 kings utterly ignore him. Not in Hezekiah who stripped gold off the Temple doors to pay to Assyria before suddenly becoming braver in Father God Almighty.

Today, we know utterly and completely all have fallen and are sinful. We do not see people wandering around with right hands and eyes removed. Instead we have to say we rely upon Jesus and trust Jesus to be our righteousness. In Jesus, we will not forsake what we can do and will not claim cheap grace.

Instead when we are Noah and have collapsed in alcohol, we will cry out to Jesus as Lord and pray for strength. We will not shrug and give up on our children's futures like Hezekiah did, and we will ask Jesus for His steadfast Love and mercy and diligently ask Him. We will pray not to succumb like David in temptation and ask Jesus the Lord to offer us His shelter. We will pray to expect the goodness of Father God like Abraham spoke up and sought the mercy of God. We will ask in prayer like David did when told God had answered and have a sneaking suspicion of God's Grace with His compassion.

David knew like Job. Like Paul, Like Peter. Like John. God's mercy is without fail in Jesus. We will not hope to cause Father God pain.

Instead seeking to give the one gift Father God did not give us first - gratitude. Gratitude for Jesus, without compare. And in His Vast Love we will find our strength rise up like Hezekiah and Isaiah to find strength in times of need.

Psalm 84:12
LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Psalm 118:8
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.

Psalm 138:6
Though the LORD is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.


When we come to the time for decisions, the best choice is to Trust the Lord God. God's nature does not change.


Numbers 23
19"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? 20 "Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it.



Hebrews 6
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.

18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things
in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.


Genesis 28:15
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.


The question is never that we are good enough. The answer is God's grace is unearned. The answer eternal is The Name of Jesus - the fulfilling of God - is what has become our righteousness. And we should never hope to forget or be ungrateful for the Extreme Mercy of God Father Almighty, who has given Himself - for us.

Father God, please cover me with Your Name and Your Righteousness. We ask for blessings and give thanks for Your Healing Word.  Please cover the one's I love. Cover this nation in Jesus Christ. We will continue to be saved. We believe You, Father God. Thank You in Jesus! Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Proverbs 1 ~ my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths

Dr Eilat Mazar, is a third-generation Israeli archaeologist, specializing in Jerusalem and Phoenician archeology. A senior fellow at the Shalem Center, she has worked on the Temple Mount excavations and recent Solomon era artifacts. In addition to heading the Shalem Center's Institute of Archaeology, she is affiliated with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Mazar's Bible-inspired approach to archaeology.
According to Mazar herself,
"I work with the Bible in one hand and the tools of excavation in the other, and I try to consider everything."


Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.


8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
and forsake not your mother's teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
15 my son, do not walk in the way with them;
hold back your foot from their paths,
16 for their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.


20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.

28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;

33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Psalm 11

In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord's throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.

Proverbs 25:2 says,
“It is God’s privilege to conceal things” . God is a God of revelation. He reveals himself through nature, circumstances, and Scripture."

Rick Warren has an interesting comment to make on our choices:

The Bible says God doesn’t just reveal; God also conceals. And sometimes God intentionally hides his face from us. Why? So we’ll learn to trust him instead of our feelings and to live by faith rather than our feelings.



Father God, may those who love you be secure. Let peace come into our homes and lives. Let our families and companions pray for Peace and Seek Good. In the name of Jesus, help our Nation, Nations who want peace and Your beloved Israel. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves  †

Judges 13 ~ the angel of the Lord

Judges 13

1 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, 5 for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” 6 Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name, 7 but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.” 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, “Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.” 11 And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.” 12 And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?” 13 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. 14 She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. All that I commanded her let her observe.”

15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.” 16 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord.) 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” 18 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful * ?” 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the Lord, to the one who works [works of the Lord] wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching. 20 And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground.

21 The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” 23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.” 24 And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol [ = tribe of Judah, villages and western foothills].

* Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.


The Scriptures repeat. Repeat and repeat so we learn seeing situations from different views. We see the ascension. A sacrifice becomes Wonderful. Our atonement. The confusion of man (the disciples) trying to grasp the grace and truth of God. We see the fire of the Holy Spirit Jesus gave us. We see the blessing God sees in a child. Many times in the Scriptures we are told it is a messenger, an angel, then the fortunate individual seeing the angel declares they have seen the LORD. Is the angel actually the Son of God? We will have to ask on that glorious day.

1 Corinthians 15:51
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

The compassion of the Almighty for Manoah and his wife. Love as high as the heavens. We can all take comfort. The loving care to come and repeat the message, then, and only then - leaving in the blaze of His Glory.

1 Chronicles 16:31
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”

Luke 1:13-15
But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.

Luke 2:
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”



Father God, bless us with Your favor. And help us to be one of the people to bring Heaven to earth in ways pleasing to You. Bless those we love and this Nation.  We exist with Your favor.  In the name of Jesus. Amen.  

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 27:51-66 ~ “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Exodus 26

Representation of the Temple Curtain by A. Gardere 

2 Chronicles 3:14
He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.

Matthew 27:51-66

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 


52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” 

55 There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. 

 57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.

 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. 

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 

65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard

.If you ever wanted to own a Roman coin, they sell on ebay for not much money. The coins come from Roman soldiers frequently burying their treasure before war, the coins come with instructions to wash millenniums of soil away. Roman soldiers faced death all the time, if not from war, then in decimation from discipline.

 Why doesn't the history from the Scriptures, Josephus, from Sanhedrin Council records say the praetorian guard was killed? There was too much going on, if Pilate was frightened having judged and flogged Jesus (John 19:1) ; how must Pilate have felt when all of these events occurred? Even the soldiers surrounding Jesus must have reported to Pilate saying among themselves Jesus was the Son of God. Eclipse, earthquake, Temple steps, Temple curtain, dismissing His own spirit, forgiveness and early death. 

The tombs opened and bodily resurrection reported, not just of the Lord, but the holy. Pilate's own sign proclaiming in three languages Jesus was King of the Jews. Did Pilate stand on the steps to see the sky become dark and feel the earthquake on the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs, transferred from the archaeological ruins of Pilate's Palace to the Vatican? (Scripture for Today Link)  

Pilate was later fired, struck down in his military standing, for his inability to rule in orderly methods with the Jews. There were many examples of Pilate and his extreme tactical mistakes.  In later years Jesus' trial was known throughout the Empire, his wife had warned Pilate not to have anything to do with that good man. Pilate became known for being unjust.  


We praise you, Father, for the events surrounding Good Friday & the reasons people saw and believed as You sent Your Holy Spirit to dwell in us. You are Amazing, Father God. Bless our loved ones.  We pray for this Nation and visiting Pope Francis. Blessed are You, Father God, in Jesus.  Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 ~ indispensable

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slavesd or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts,yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

 


A beautiful young woman sat with me last week to say she Loves God - just not the Church in its judgments. This is purely what we have turned from concerning personal growth to just plain ol Judgment. The Churches in her past might not be what God asks of her, yet Jesus is Living in this Church doing the good work of His Church - in looking to the Bible and proclaiming Jesus as Lord - is offering the Salvation of Jesus.

It's acceptable to praise God in belief and prayer - why do we feel we can offer Judgment on a Church left behind?

Life offers us such an interesting walk. One person wants to hear from us and our opinion. And we treat them gently, but not to coddle them. Or to be without a lack of humility.

The next person wants to belittle us - and will we blindly accept that judgement and create more disharmony or we will find a way to make something positive.

Jesus was Yeshua - a name very similar to Joshua. healing the Exodus gap - finding our balance in what pleases Jesus.

We are so used to a new idea of our determination of good and evil. Like Eve. And really the Bible says we live by determination of the way we will live. Our decisions govern our actions. This is something we adapt to - our decisions govern - ourselves!

One of my favorite Bible Studies - Walk Across the Room - is letting people know the richness of God's love. The best friend finally told - I'm going to Heaven - I want you there with me.



Look to find what is good.

This is a pendulum of right and wrong. We are so applaudable in this generation - most of the Church going population has changed denominations looking for Church to grow their God given gifts and talents - this is wonderful in thoughtful Spiritual growth. Personal and determined Spiritual maturity.


And this creates in us an addendum falling far from pleasing Father God. Just as we change Churches, we hear again and again - joining chorus with the non-Church attending - we Love Father God - just not this particular Church. Judgment. The Body of Christ will always have various spiritual abilities and varieties of service. The foot will not say to the ear - there is no need.

We work out our personal salvation with serious emotion and internal reflection.
Our Journey is Growth finding the Bible believing Church and Jesus as Lord proclaiming Church regularly feeds and encourages the only part of us continuing - soul.

What is not our gift or talent does not mean this is not gift or talent of the Body of Christ.

One Church focuses on classes of wellness. Divorce recovery. Wellness support. Parenting help. Addiction recovery.


Another Church focuses on Bible Study and Youth Group. Acts of Service in the Community like Meals on Wheels and Support for the home-bound and aged. Hospital visitation.


Another Church focuses on all types of Community Outreach. Apartment Dwellers, Freedom from the Sex Trade and Trafficking, Pro-Life and Pregnancy Assistance. Foster Children.


Another Church brings in the athletic with volleyball courts, Disc Golf on the Church lawn, amazing Pumpkin Patches involving the community - reaching to the unchurched. Easter Egg Pageantry.


Another Church acts more like a Civil Theater with Broadway Musical Talents - reaching a new level of community.



This is the Broad reaching Church of Jesus Christ !!!

We know, if we study Loving Jesus - That God Almighty opens His willing arms to become our sin - dying for us - a gift we can never earn. We can never earn this - we can besmirch this - and we must never take His Grace as our due.


We need another image of Jesus for This Century.

Our Living Jesus - our Hero - Opens His Arms In Victory.

Jesus goes where human beings fail to go. Jesus sits where a woman is is openly humiliated. Jesus allows the broken hearted to Love even His Feet. Jesus accepts the foreigner who goes to Him in humility.

We seem to forget.

Jesus is God sized. Jesus wants to save - The World.

Who can save the World? Only God. Only a Father would do what God is willing to do.

May God bless us, in Jesus, all of us. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 6:1-31 ~ The Son of Man is Lord

Luke 6:1-31

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

 
9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
The Twelve Apostles

12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Blessings and Woes

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place.
A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.


Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.


Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.

 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.


“But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.


Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.

Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.








Today we traveled through Texas to a small hometown to see a my godmother's life remembered, celebrated, and in faith - restored.

My first memory goes way back to a late night ride going home from a happy evening - my first word (now perhaps this is an oft told event, but maybe, just maybe the oft told event evokes real memory of my first word repeated and repeated to the delight and consternation of my parents on the ride home from my godmother's house) "Light, Light, Light" at every street light.

Bringing us to the near death event of a rowboat ride becoming storm, wind, wave, adventure, escape, horror and incredulity on Possum Kingdom Lake - making the voyages of Jesus across the Sea of Galilee very real to me - involving a 5th grader, a 4th grader and a 2nd grader. With two extremely large and dangerously angry, 6', broad-shouldered fathers intent on saving life and then putting the Fear Of God Almighty into their children - who instead became intent on escaping angry fathers by rowing faster the other way.

Which brings us light year speeds back to today. Two adult men leave their mother to rest in a beautiful cemetery surrounded by a century of people, who lived pretty well to Jesus Christ. This is still two adult men leave their mother behind. When in the eternal realm - this is their mother is renewed and redeemed and going to Jesus Christ, Who prepares a place for them - with their Mom- now free from age, decay and has returned to youth.

Jesus said, "Today you will be with me in Paradise."  A lady returns to her broad smile, her sense of fun and adventure. Her joy, her hopes return and are fulfilled.  Love.

Jesus, as God, would not say this is true were it not Truth.





Funerals are like very good telescopes. Useful to see very, very far away and if turned back around - a good telescope can be used as a microscope. Making the funeral an emotional remembrance of a day anticipated, with sheer dread, and flavored with unreality.



We become so used to the Words of Jesus - we make platitudes of attitudes. The United States anticipates a funeral being over like dinner arrives in a cellophane wrapper. Complete at the end of the event. A tradition surely we must alter as the population ages and is not renewed so readily. Grief must be looked at, relief for the end of suffering - celebrated, allowing the ebb and flow of emotion to be allowable and understandable. Each day a grief is observed - as personal need requires. There isn't a time table for healing.


Jesus is the same Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. In Jesus - we will heal - completely.





Salvation! Father God -  in Your Good  Work, send me with the help of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

2 Timothy 1 ~ The promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus

Prayers for nights and days. Revelation tells us God inhales our prayers like incense. The candles represent lots of prayers. Days in prayer.

2 Timothy 1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,²  
To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

³ I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. ⁴ As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. ⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, ⁷ for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

⁸ Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, ⁹ who saved us and called us to^[with] a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,^{[before times eternal] 10} and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ¹¹ for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, ¹² which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.^{[or what I have entrusted to him] 13} Follow the pattern of the sound^[healthy] words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.



The Scriptures have so many intimate details bringing the millenniums closer. Like Acts 12, when the Angel of the Lord has to tell Peter, "Get your coat." Peter was confused at the time, was he was having a vision or in actual time. Prison would be disorienting.

So Paul is telling us of suffering, egads these saints whine. Okay maybe not, see verse 16, Paul is in chains.

Is there any doubt these are Paul's chains? No. This is Mamertine Prison in Rome and the prisoner records are available - even as to which cell Paul was in. The Prison was horrid and quite small.

I was looking at family pictures of Rome, my mother was telling me about seeing Paul's Chains, in his Church namesake, where his remains are, in Rome. St. Paul's Basilica Outside the Wall. I was skeptical, asking if she felt anything seeing the chains, she said yes and she had done some research. They knew for certain what prisons operated during the time of Paul, these were the chains, as chains do not wear out. People wear out, chains don't.


The details. Paul tells us about his prayers for Timothy, the one Paul calls his child in the LORD.

I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day

Well let's think about prayer as a constant conversation. Paul also says this, in Philemon:

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

and tells Philemon, not only how Paul loves him, but the prayers about Philemon:

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ

Now that is realistic prayer. We don't remember to pray for everyone, even loved ones.


Paul is a Jewish Christian, yet he does not feel cut off from his loved ones.
I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

Paul is in prison proclaiming, 
God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

If you needed one brief explanation to find out why Paul has given up a prosperous career; Why?
Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us

~ to light through the gospel

Ephesians 2:20
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone

He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me


Dear Father God,
Last week I prayed for one loved one to have housing. I prayed for another loved one with trouble between him and another person that looked on going. I prayed for a loved one to have support and assistance. We faced an illness issue that has been going on for about two years. For about 7 nights I slept fitfully. I pictured that my cares were too large for me to solve. And placed a white thick robe or blanket around each loved one mentally in prayer covering them with the name of Jesus. I felt so much better with the Name and Grace of Jesus on each person. I slept. We had found prayer communication together.

That week my housing was found, the trouble between the two people ended. The support and assistance had been found. The illness issue was relented and resolved. Another issue was given in faith to You, Father God. For all our cares can fit well in Your Hands, Father God. You fill the universe. Your Love never ends.

We lift our concerns to You. Another situation of a long time found a soul solution. So many prayers are answered. I lift my cares to You, Father God.

We lift up the three people who have passed on recently in their sleep. Joyous to wake in the Lord Father God. The comfort of their families. I'd like this end for the ones I love, for peace.

For Father God's ability to reach out to comfort each other. This week I looked for my godmother's obituary and found our good, long-time family friend's anniversary of passing to give to his widow. Reminding us - Father God, You are the God of the Living.

Thank You Father God. Thank You, God. Thank You, Father. For all our loved ones and this Nation in Jesus. In Your Glory; Thank You for Your Mercy.  You are still hearing us and giving us Your Love. Amen. Amen. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †