Luke 2 ~ they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong

Luke 2

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.


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 great 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!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.


22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30
for my eyes have seen your salvation
31
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.




39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.


41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Psalm 122
A song of ascents. Of David.

1
I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2
Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.




And Psalm 90
4
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days!
15
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

17
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.


Not all people Celebrate Christmas alike. I have to say -  there is joy, in seeing a few of my neighbors continue their Christmas now, and Christmas trees stand lighted in their windows.

People  have worked and wrapped and traveled and EATEN until they want to enjoy this tree and the beauty reflecting the Birth of God's Willingness to be with us every day of our lives.

With this amount of relief:

Mark 2
So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

This is the quietness of the relaxation. Joy in what God has wrought!

"It's great to celebrate the birth of our Lord, but greater still is the realization that he is born everyday within the temple of our heart and lives therein within us eternally."

Surely Charles Dickens understood!  Scrooge was declared to have "Kept Christmas in his heart all the days of his life."





The people I have talked to after Christmas, some seem to feel  certainly they took a vacation from their concerns, worries and needs for a solution, but now - back to the grind  -of worrying. Time to take stock of our entire lives, struggle to see the pineapple and consume this problem in one bite, top and all.

And if you speak to the Psychologists I have been blessed to volunteer with,  January 18th has a name. Not Black Friday, not Good Friday, but the 3rd Monday of January is considered to be the most depressed day of the year and is called "Blue Monday."

Psychologists report great optimism for change and pleasing unpleasable people at Christmas renders many people coping with recovery. Others are faced with bills from forcing all the expenses of Christmas to try to exist in one month after August for those with School Children is equally as costly.

And so after years of either racing to get the tree down and all productivity of January 2nd or, now January 7th after Epiphany is finished, I really enjoy seeing Christmas trees light up and imagine people with coffee, tea or Chocolate are enjoying the work of their hands, looking at old Christmas ornaments and remembering many Christmases with peace and joy in their hearts.


These laggers and dilly dallyiers who are still celebrating the darker days of winter with the lights of Christ. How pleasing for them, your neighbors say, "Thank You!"

Our Kitchen has a an upper counter - a buffet - and we place garland and all types of berries and pine-cones given to me by my grandmother Anita's not twin brother, but very, very similar brother from the late 1980s by Uncle Frank. Add to the collection the squash and the pumpkins that are so almost real from over different Thanksgivings and some lemons because this IS the Christmas Kitchen counter. Which cause hilarity when people come over and decide to try to slice one of the faux lemons from the garland

- WELL usually that is our left behind Christmas decoration for Lights of Christ.

Which puts Kitchen things in proper perspective with things like the way Grandmother Anita prayed as she cleaned and even had a framed prayer she wrote about gratitude for cleaning up after her loved ones. AND our ideas of seasonality of Christmas!

Galatians 4

9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

And that brings us to taking today,
finding that moment that can occur praying and brushing your teeth when you suddenly realize, with minty clean teeth: "His Mercies Renew Each Day!"

And so after many years, a decade or more of having out the garland, I decided, I needed a change and this year our table held faux long needle pine, hydrangea and red assorted berries from decades of after Christmas sales and the profound love I have for all things that grow. And faux that doesn't have to be watered.  I left out the dining room Christmas and put ropes of hearts that usually go on packages to my delight to see hearts glittering above my Christmas.

Change is good. Seeing things from a different perspective. This week Rick Warren did a great Sermon I listened to just as I began walking again. I turned on the sermon on my phone and the sermon from Saddleback was the testimony of several people on the redemptive qualities and needs of exercise daily.


1 Corinthians 9:24
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Jesus says all the time, He looks for humility. We have to love ourselves. Say thank You for the body we are given. And with the taking care of our bodies, we nourish what God has given us. We nourish our stamina, our endurance, our seeing things with new perspectives, we increase our immunity. This is the great time to start for warmer weather persistence.

Father God,
We pray for those we Love to be lifted with Your Tender Hands. Settled under Your wing, resting in Your Love and Care.

Getting ready for each day to meet the challenges of the day at hand. Not turning our lives into pineapples to be eaten whole. Giving the cares and concerns of the people you give us to You in expectation to what You will Bring in Willingness of Blessings.

We lift up all the cares of the Mississippi River floods, Porter Ranches Methane gas leak and the fact only state governing bodies are visiting. The Methane gas leak Nasa reported in Four Corners intersection of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. We lift up our foreign situations for Your help and understanding we do not rule the world. You Reign, Father God.

May Jesus Christ pray with us and for us daily, give His Word and Gift of Peace we pray for ourselves, states, towns, communities, Churches, work places and the Nations serving Him. In His Name, Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

1 Timothy 3 ~ in a manner worthy of full respect

1 Timothy 3

3 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach,
the husband of one wife,
sober-minded,
self-controlled,
respectable,
hospitable,
able to teach,
3 not a drunkard,
not violent but gentle,
not quarrelsome,
not a lover of money.

4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

He must not be a recent convert,
or he may become puffed up with conceit and
fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.


8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.


14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 

15 if I delay, 
you may know how one ought to behave
 in the household of God, 
which is the church of the living God, 
a pillar and buttress of the truth. 


16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

Jesus left His Words on peace -  people willing to be at peace find peace.

The Word of God remains. Stands sure. Is with God. Is fulfilled by Father God. Is sent from Father God and returns to Him complete. Lives and is Active. Jesus Christ is the Word of God.

This Word is for people who want to live in peace. These are HIS Words on Peace.

be above reproach,
the husband of one wife,
sober-minded,
self-controlled,
respectable,
hospitable,
able to teach,
not a drunkard,
not violent but gentle,
not quarrelsome,
not a lover of money.

And He adds to have humility in verse 6.

Verse 15. Our day to day. This is when we are giving our lives back to Father God with our daily lives, our attitudes and actions.
Delay. Lag. Wonder. Wait.

Does this happen in Scripture? Would God take His time?

Methuselah - was know for his endurance.
Noah built that boat for 120 years.
Abraham merely waited 25 years.
Jacob worked for his father in law for 14 years and a few years more before he returned to his homeland.
Moses was 80 years old and 40 years in the desert waiting upon Father God's timing and plan.
Joshua waited 40 years.
David waited 25 years.

Lag in our hurry up times. Why?

Father God in Jesus said we are bound to have problems in life.  We return Home like the Prodigal Son having grown up some.

With Jesus, all of that happened in 3 years. Or more when you consider even at His birth, God was working.

God's timing - is the Lord's.








Father,

In Your Holiness -
Blessed are the Words of God.

Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol Him, all you peoples.

For great is His Love towards 
us,
and the Faithfulness of the Lord 
endures forever.

Light shines on the righteous
and 
joy on the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
and praise His Holy Name.

Jesus is Lord. Alleluia.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Galatians 3:23-29 ~ in Christ Jesus +

 

 

Galatians 3:23-29

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.


When I was a teenager, our EYC Father decided to give us the theologians' approach to Baptism covering all the reasons for infant Baptism, child of reasoning age Baptism, adult Baptism.

Finally after about 3 months of all the arguments that truly started to sound like a convention of Bylaws for Congress, I yawned.

Our EYC Priest said, "Do you find this boring? It's vital information."

Baptism is like Numbers 6, the Blessing.

22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

24
The Lord bless you and keep you;
25
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”


 

Do the Scriptures tell us God smiles and laughs? Seek God and you Will find Him. Joy is all of this.

The invitation, the asking for God to put the name of Jesus upon us. To seal us in His Holy Spirit. 

How could the Father God, the Almighty, the King of kings, lift up His Countenance when He sees us. We never have created life without His Blessing, never created a day the sun rose, never created a planet, a solar system, caused His sun to bring warmth to the life on this planet in the middle of a desolate space. How could Father God lift His Countenance, when He has to bend so far, to reach a mere mortal? 

Father God, Lord of All, lifts up His Countenance -  when He Shines His Smile upon me ! And upon you!




 

 At what age, at what water? It does not matter. What matters is that the Name of Jesus is fully honored, revered, loved. What matters  - we can never save ourselves, we can never find a ritual holy enough to deserve what Jesus did for us. What matters is  we respond to HIS love, we love Jesus and invite Him. 

Because He smiles upon His, Scripture calls us, "His Beloved"! In this we see, Father God in the name of Jesus - sees us as His Loved Ones.


We pray for our children, why would we not want them sealed in Jesus immediately? Our eldest son nearly died at birth, our favorite Man of God asked me incredulously why he was not called in to Baptize immediately. I was ashamed, but I replied because my son was innocent and Jesus loves the innocents. I will tell you, the question is a good one from a Good Man of God. And the Man of God did agree, Jesus loves the children.


Jesus is Living Water, and in His Willingness, Jesus goes where He is asked !!! Praise God from whom all Blessings flow!

God wants to save the world. God sees His people as being drawn to Jesus. God seals us in Jesus and says there is hope for us, we just call upon Jesus with faith. God sees our hearts, Romans 7 and Romans 8 tell us the level of this Great Grace and our response is to be Thankful to God.

Father God,
Each day let us get up asking You, be pleased with me today, Father God. Help me to please You. And go to sleep knowing that if we tried, smile, knowing we did please Father God.

Father God, we lift up those we love, the People You have given us, the People we have seen today, the faces reflecting Life and those with sorrow - to be held in Your Embrace.

We lift up those who have emotions we do not wish to feel with them. We lift up Your Grace to help us go further.

We lift up ourselves to love ourselves. We will put forth the effort to eat wisely, seek health and life, to exercise, to provide You with a warm hearth inside of ourselves to have relationship with You, Father God.

We lift out our Churches, work places, communities, cities, states and Nation. The people all over the world who proclaim Jesus as Lord. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 2 ~ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!

Jesus was saved many times by Joseph. Surely the Reunion in Heaven was Wonderful.

Luke 2

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.


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 great 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!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Jesus Presented at the Temple

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30
for my eyes have seen your salvation
31
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.


39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.


41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Father's House. The aroma. The stillness. Like sitting at the 12 Open Gates of Heaven where the clear water river leads to the Throne of Father God who has placed emerald green around Him. And His favorite Angels and the people among the Elders who saved Jesus. Mary and Joseph, we know certainly. Joseph gave up his life to save Mary and Jesus. His devotion was so complete to them, they saw them as seamless.


I thought of that as I put away my mantle nativity.


Max Lucado did a great radio broadcast telling us about Isaiah's description of Jesus.

He said he had no great stature or beauty. And his career was not going to put him above many people. God was welcoming all people to Himself. I felt my heart warm and glow at this truth.


And yet, when we read the Scriptures and see the Willingness of God so far and above; people chopped open rooftops to lower a paralyzed man to Jesus, we must realize Jesus possessed something WONDERFUL.

We are missing the essence of Jesus, propelling people to want to say to the SON OF GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY "I have faith! Help me to have more!" Jesus compels open hearts and honesty. Now THAT is a quality, we want our hearts to fully be filled with the whole of Father God and His Glory and Mercy and Love.

Jesus describes Himself as the warm, filling, aroma of
The Bread of Life.


Jesus says when life is bone dry, we can feel nourished and replenished and restored.

Jesus is LIVING Water. Surely every cell in our body would want to have this wonder. Water goes in all directions we don't even know about.

The Holy Spirit says we we don't know how to pray - a sigh will do so very much. This is indeed Living Water pouring and pouring and blessing and filling.



Father,
You are the Bread of Life.
We Trust in You.
Help us to please You.
Blessed Jesus. Our Jesus. Our Hero. Jesus.
Every Blessing is from Jesus!
Thank God. In Jesus, we are enfolded. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 7 ~ they saw +

Mark 7

7 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
7
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”


14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” 

7 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”


24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.

 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Jesus is the Light of The World

Lighting all of mankind

Lighting the Nativity

Lighting the Transfiguration

Lighting our lives and path in Jesus.

Test what the Spirit is saying, make sure this corresponds with the teachings of the Lord.

Jesus does tell us, He gives CHARGES. We say today, in our wordage, "He has put this on my heart." This is something of importance and when this is very loud, Jesus says a "Charge".
We seem to have lost that vernacular.

And why do we sink into ruts. We have forgotten life is a quest. All quests have the swells of the ocean in Psalm 107. We want to have a quest, most Christians really want God to give them a "Charge", but to have a quest, you'd have to believe God wants you to. And some quests are simply look around, Shepherd the people near you.

And we think, well that's boring. A lot depends on the attitude. And if we picture the end of our lives, we certainly want to be seen as someone who loved and led the way in positive, good attitudes and the idea God is for us and will help.

Ministry has key components. Not a hammer. Jesus was a carpenter, but He did not weld this ever in His ministry. This is the invitation to Love. Used in appropriate times. Not a Chinese Water drip drip drip. This is forgiveness as we have been forgiven. Diligence is patient. A fruit, a gift, grown by the Spirit.

I know after my daughter Isabelle died, she died in childbirth of genetic complications, that Isabelle was beautiful and missing her left hand. That night I felt the Lord in my heart tell me, put your head on this pillow, picture a priestly cassock and rest on that white pillow knowing Holy has this situation. And for months later, as I awoke, my left hand felt the warmth of the Lord telling me - this still is in His Hand.

Today is a new day. The people in Heaven are loved, cared for, nourished and completed. Today I count my blessings, like going to Hobby Lobby and the lady cutting the trim and I rejoice that the trim is on sale (I shopped for this) and the exact amount to the very centimeter is available. Thank YOU LORD !!!

Paul knew this as well, see the diligence he tells Timothy, his child in the faith:

1 Timothy 4
4 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.




Father God,
Be the Light of this Nation,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus is the true light that gives light to everyone. Your glory shines, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Grace upon grace.

Jesus be our Transfiguration each day of this Year. Let us look for Your Glory.

Let Your Power be in this Nation, her people, her Churches believing in Jesus and in the Power in His Word. We live our lives and trust in You. Lift up the ones we Love and the people You have given us. We rest in You, Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 8 ~ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters

Luke 8

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
“‘though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.’

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: 
The seed is the word of God. 
12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.


16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”


19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”


22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”


26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.


40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”



50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”




51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”



53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

How did Jesus plan who went on that particular day? 

What ran through the mind of Jesus to decide? When you see the Scripture from Papyrus 46 you realize these Gospels are intact from the early 2nd Century and written today as they are Written by the Holy Spirit. This amazing Papyrus 46 with 300 Chapters intact of the New Testament, you realize with new zeal - this is the logical telling of Luke being there and his understanding of eye witness accounts and knowing these Disciples, with the 12 viewpoints of seeing the Son of GOD fulfill God's Word and Promises.

We erroneously think Lazarus was the Big One.

The Widow of Nain was a proclamation of the Power of GOD over death. This enabled people to see the Victory coming. SEE WHAT JESUS DID !!! This was a Large Crowd.

And then Luke continues into the 8th Chapter and Jesus invites

Peter, John and James.
Andrew was the first to see Jesus as Lord Messiah. John and James where brothers. Why not Andrew ? He got this First ! Andrew would go very far in his travels to tell beloved people about Jesus. And eventually all will be gathered together.

Jesus chose the men who would need to see Jairus' daughter live and overcome death. Showing them a second time Jesus could triumph over death. Evidently Peter, John and James were like the parents of Samson and Gideon. They needed to see that twice to believe this. Jesus always has a purpose for what Jesus does.

Now how can we know Jesus would include these men to strengthen their faith? Because Jesus has written the Scriptures saying Peter John and James got into skirmishes over what was what. These are the disciples that made 'waves',  pardon the pun for Luke 8.

Why did Jesus get up and ask the Disciples, "Where is your faith?"  Jesus told them when HE sent them out two by two - "ASK IN THE NAME OF JESUS!"



Luke 8 tells us again. God is not a bug zapper. Father God tells us, in effect, He understands that we are small and weak and wobbly. God loves us. Even the Disciples seeing all of this said, "What?"

This is Father GOD, He has to reach to us, with Love. We do not build universes.

Remember with me, the father presenting his son to Jesus cried out, "I do have faith, help me to have more faith!"

Jesus goes where HE is needed. And we will Live. Thank You, Jesus. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. GOD our Father. HE Lives.



Father GOD,
Thank YOU FATHER GOD. When we forget to pray for something in Your Will, YOU continue to Pray.
Strengthen us to Pray with You daily.

Thank You, we will look for good signs pointing to Your Good Will is done and not just our will. We lift High the needs and concerns we have and Know You will Answer. Giving us Your Will. We lift High the people we Love and the people You have given us. We lift High this Nation before You, Father God, Knowing You are Sovereign. We Thank You for Your Answers and pray for our local cities, and states and Lift High Again the People asking for Your help all over the World. We hope to see more of Your Kingdom established on this earth.

Blessed are You, Father God and Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †