Luke 6 ~ and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard He was

 

 

 

Luke 6

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching.


7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

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

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

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 

33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. 

And he began to teach them many things. 

35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii[f] worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 

47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night[g] he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

Today. It is not we who made us, this is Jesus the Lord. The Father. The Holy Spirit.

Made. Made in His Image. Rib intact, complete, filled with God. Jesus made people well, just by Sending Out His Word. Let us touch the fringe of His garment. Today. The Word of Jesus is Alive, Living, Active.


The willingness of the community to bring forth the people who needed Jesus to Jesus. The people ran to go bring the people who needed Jesus. Verse 55.


Let God, the Holy Spirit triumph sweeping the world.
I Love the LORD FATHER GOD ALMIGHTY! 
Let me this day, create in God, joy, and love for I LOVE THE LORD GOD.

Father God, let my soul, my mind, my body, my tongue be a welcoming place for Your Holy Spirit.

Father we pray for the fallenness in all of mankind, that the Light of Christ shining in all of mankind would prevail. Intimacy is for marriage. And the blessing is birth control would be the wish that Life would be placed in marriage. We pray birth control would not end lives at the start. Encouraging Marriage where the beauty of sexual intimacy would triumph in this culture and in the world. We pray for chemical substances killing life would be banned as harmful to all. We ask abortion literature would be so honest causing abortion to end and the trauma from abortion would be seen as it is.

Help us to remember every day, Jesus cancelled servitude calling us His Beloved and His Friends. The Children of His Father. Let us live our lives rejoicing in this Blessing !

In Jesus. Amen.

This last week I was not very happy with the timing of the Archbishop of Canterbury for deciding after a 16 year quarrel with the left and right of the Church of England to ask the Episcopal Church to not have decision making for marrying gay people. And this week I realized, no, I was wrong to have this opinion.

We are life long Episcopalians who left the Church, after our  whole lives- not lightly and not on whim, in 1995.

Not because Bishop Gene is gay. We left because the Church said Paul did not have the Holy Spirit correctly defined and we could rip out all the Books written by Paul.

In 2004 Bishop Gene was ordained.
The Episcopal Church had 12 million members and now has less than 900,000.

The former Archbishop announced as his first act he would visit a Druid Convention. Druids used to sacrifice goats? No people. Not exactly what Jesus would do. If you are Joe Smith this is your questionable business. If you are Archbishop - not your best decision.

This is the retired Archbishop who publicly told England they should have Sharia Law. Which states a woman can be beaten but not on her face. Caused an uproar. And then people found out Sharia Law was already allowed in the U.K. Which caused another uproar. England presently has, same as the USA, 900,000 worshipers.

However the amazing thing there is, Continents all over the world have Anglicans experiencing radical faith and seeing God given results.

We have a new Archbishop. And now we are going to honor what the Word of God says. And I took time to be annoyed for 16 years of all this going on and on and on and on. I was wrong.

God has interesting timing.

He really does. When no one would have blinked to see Marriage is a man and a woman - God had the boundaries set firmly on just sit down and be quiet, you people, from all over the world.

NOW being GOD, the Father Almighty, Maker of the Universe and all things - THEN - He decides, ok, turn the tables - Marriage the Anglican Church says is a Man and a Woman.

Now? Now? Now? This 16 year battle has been in the papers, the lawsuits, the Churches, the buildings, the retirement funds, the lack of love in this battle. This ...

And you can see in hindsight why Father God waited for this to be Accomplished in His Time.



Now we are not going to get to far before I say this about The Episcopal Church.

There are a lot of Episcopalians that Love the Word of God and believe this to be the Truth.

The Episcopal Church welcomes all people to know the saving Grace of God.

My elderly cousin, my Ward through the State of Texas, knew what it was to have a parent berate her efforts as a child.  Maxine had this up on her bathroom door:

I went for a walk and saw a man sitting to rake leaves.
Contempt! I felt for a lazy man to sit to rake.
I found my walk led me past the same man from the other side. This time I saw he had crutches from a stroke.
He was only able to rake sitting. Many people would not rake at all.

The Episcopal Church welcomes all people to know the saving Grace of God in Jesus Christ.

The Point I would say is the Important Part is this:

Genesis One. God spoke the Word.
We are the People of God. He has created us. Not we ourselves.
The Word of God is far, far older than we are. We will fade, the Word of God will not.

John 1 tells us:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus is created by the Word of Father God.
God's Word is the authority to look to see that God is Sovereign.

No matter the law of mankind.
No matter the Archbishop or the Denomination.


The Disciple John, the one who followed Jesus to the end and to the breakfast of victorious Jesus brought this to His Beloved to squabble at the meal - John has one thing to say about God.

God is Love.


And if we would believe God would indeed provide for us. If we would believe tomorrow, God is with us in the joys and sorrows, just like today - then if we would believe the Promises of God - then our day is peaceful.

Plan on peace. Plan on seeing, believing, living, God is Good.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

John 17 ~ You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me

 

John 17

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, ² since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.  

³ And this is eternal life, 
 that they know you the only true God, 
and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 

 ⁴ I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵
 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
 

⁶ “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. ⁸ For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.  

⁹ I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹ And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, 
 keep them in your name, 
which you have given me, 
that they may be one, even as we are one.


 ¹² While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.  

¹³ But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, 
that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.  

¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

²⁰ “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may 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 to them, that they may be one even as we are one, ²³ I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, 
so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

²⁴ Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵ O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Why would anyone put themselves out to share Jesus and the Gospel? The Love with which He Loves me.

The believers of God are His Lights. It is up to us to Shine for Him.


Father God,
You have given us Life. Help our soul to be a place You love to dwell.

In our lives, help us to have the wisdom and ability to explain that You are Life, Love, Peace, Joy, Comfort and Strength. That those we Love are warmed and held by Your Love. 

The Nation is experiencing economic upset, help Your people to be calm and hopeful in You. It is hard for people creating jobs to put effort into their products when war and terror are always discussed. Help us to educate with wisdom and employ with neighborliness.

We ask Your Help and Guidance for the Nation, the states, the places where we live, the People You have given us. Let Your Love shine. In Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

1 John 5 ~ he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God

What would Jesus be thinking of Houston and oil prices dropping?


Luke 12
You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

1 John 5
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?


I have a theory, and this is just my thought.
And having lived through Dallas restructuring in 1987, I don't think this is particularly the worst thing.

When I was in college, we were told a battery of enormous proportions would not be ever invented. Mankind was now in nano technology and this would not be happening in 200 years.
West Texas is refusing to put in electrical car re-energizing stations.

What recharges all batteries? Natural Gas and Oil.

What recharges the Bloom Box battery used by Google and ebay headquarters. The same thing as the source to recharges these car batteries. This is primarily natural gas and oil.

We are in point in history, were focus is going to shift away from the Middle East for our power. And we have not yet caught up with this realization. There is a new invention recently told of by CNN, that is helium related, but different  - blimps are now going to be more economically feasible to ship 21 million pay loads 1,000 feet above our highway system.

Houston faces challenges Dallas saw in 1987. Corporations are tightening belts. Shell Oil employs 22,000 people and announced they will lay off 10,000 today.

Macy's says Retail has entirely changed and will change with the times.Not a bad idea. My great, great and great- grandparents were part of a wagon trail Texas city arriving after the Civil War. Their house was shipped to them by Sears as a kit. Carpenters arrived and built the house. Amazon and renewal are part of the challenges of regeneration.

Time to fully explore how to keep and capture Natural Gas. We might think of Porter Ranch in California as a time to explore how to capture gas of any kind. NASA says there is a leak in the four states area Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.

2 Corinthians 9

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

We are educated people with ideas who have moved a lot of substances around the planet to fuel trade and economies of our Nation. We are a city where Jesus is honored. Churches flourish. 

When Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed these two states, the Churches of Houston met at Second Baptist and formed a grid. And in this grid all the Churches  - way out to the suburbs began feeding evacuees in hotels and even in the Stadium. The Government did not feed the Evacuees for these months and months - primarily the people who love Jesus and the Churches did. I wish there was a book of the volunteerism that fed hotels and stadiums each day.

This Holy Spirit that has led us to have the ability to shelter those hunkered down from the storm. Will indeed empower the people of Houston to be fed and nourished in hope, faith and love to find new solutions to again say, "Thank You, Father God."


Father God,
The world is in a state of change. When I was a child there was one rotary phone in the house and that dial the phone system relied upon an actual spark. Today we have phones that are astonishing and amazing.

Father God let us lift our eyes to You and find hope, love, joy, peace. Not to have war, and instead see innovation and renewal to fuel a new joy in this country.

Let us be people of solutions fed and nourished by the Word of God. Knowing we can trust You.
In Jesus Christ we lift up our loved ones and this Nation to see the future with encouragement and not so much worry. We lift our hopes to You, Father God and rest. Amen always in the Name of Jesus covering us. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Philippians 2 ~ the same love

Philippians 2

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 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, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


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

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.


19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son[d] with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.



Jesus tells us when you have seen Jesus, you have seen Father God. The New Testament is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and proclaims Father God's tender love to us. The men who were empowered to write the Word of God are displaying His Splendor.



The encouragement of Christ Jesus,
Comfort from love,
Affection and sympathy,
Complete joy from the mind of Jesus, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Father God's equality and humility counts us equally.
Holding fast to the Word of Life.

Father God is glad and rejoices with us.
In Jesus Christ's gift to us, Jesus sees us as blameless and innocent, His children, without blemish.
Father God puts the Light of Jesus in all mankind and says a believer in Jesus shines as Light.

Jesus says we have no one like Jesus, who is genuinely concerned for our welfare.
Jesus has proven His worth in His invitation to Life.
Jesus will come to me, with the fulfillment of His Promises. 

Jesus gave His life to complete what is lacking in me.
God has mercy, mercy, mercy on me. 
Jesus is always eager to see me.

Our response to the Love of God. Thanksgiving.
And Thanksgiving will have a Harvest.

Look at the seasons of fruit:
Sun, warmth, rain, bud, bloom, fade, fruit, time, promise, and fulfillment.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.


Ezekiel 31
5 Therefore its height was loftier than all the trees of the field And its boughs became many and its branches long Because of many waters as it spread them out. 6 All the birds of the heavens nested in its boughs, And under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth, And all great nations lived under its shade. 7 So it was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its branches; For its roots extended to many waters.

Father God,
Thank You, You are our Jesus. Our one Living Water feeding and nourishing those who call upon Your Love and Goodness.

We begin our faith journey as the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.

Father God, in You we move, live and have our being. We gladly lift up those we Love to You in faith and Love knowing Your tender care for them. And the People You have given us, help us to know through the Holy Spirit to pray and do as You are pleased. Knowing all Good is from You. For this Nation and her needs. These states, communities and Churches. We give this to You, Father God and rest with Joy knowing You are King and Father of all of this.

In Jesus, we give this to You in comfort. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 7 ~ Jesus has done all things well

Joshua passing the River Jordon with the Cloud by Day. By Benjamin West

Cloud by day and a fire by night. Why, in the world, wouldn't the Father of All and the Creator use His tools at hand?

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.[c]) 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.” 17 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?”[f] (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.”

Yesterday we talked about the old Testament and how fierce God could be. Jesus says when we have seen The Son, we have seen The Father. He heals and tells them to hush about that miracle and even uses the word CHARGE and they run boldly to tell their astonishment. The passage also says Jesus told them a few times.

We approach our real thoughts of faith and God with respect. What comes out of our mouth can define and defile us. Mark 7. The questioning of finding out how to swim is work, finding our faith is real and we have to have our decisions from learning. Timothy is told how to deal with people. We deal with Father God as well like this -


1 Timothy 5

5 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

We consider the God of the old as harmful, when He dealt with some pretty brutal actions of people?

When has Father God actually used FIRE.  Not very often. Looking up fire ~To be a pillar of Fire to His People in the Wilderness, light. To be the Light shining in all mankind. Fire consumed the offering. Nice to be appreciated when a gift is given. Father God puts coals in front of His Throne. I like that. And His Temple smells of toasting bread. His Seraphim are unique. And music is heard to soothe and give joy. Jesus says he would bring a fire to be kindled, this is zeal for Father God.

Even as Jesus did His ministry, all people were aware of this man - This is God. He is doing acts and Words setting Himself apart to be worshiped, loved, enjoyed, welcomed. Jesus shows He is Life.


What God brings the planet - we just have to look up. I hear people tell me God is irrelevant. Doesn't speak within them. And He does. We have to point out to people who do things like find.


Psalm 97

97 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
2
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3
Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
4
His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.

6
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
7
All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!

8
Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O Lord.
9
For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

10
O you who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11
Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

We all have seasons.
Today felt like fire burns up the day. And God says He will baptize us with fire.
However when God would use trouble, even Solomon said the day of blessing and of adversity is from His hand. 
Edward is not feeling so well these days, he had a 17 hour day and walked 8 miles on Sunday.

Usually Edward is doing very well nationally in his Disc Golf rankings. This weekend having a 17 hour day took a toll and he forgot to finish out on one of his shots, got so frazzled he walked away from his game in being that tired and pressed. A disc was seen to land and never found, a penalty. When you have a diagnosis of serious proportion, these things drag and pull.

And in his tired overcoming - today we put tires on the car, the monitoring system was not fully redone and I surely was not going to delve into the electronics of the car, but Edward sorted it out and we figured out the right PSI for the tires. A victory of needed proportion. The challenge is to see the day as fulfilled and not in need for years ahead.

There is privilege in finding your life has a time to honor and care for those who have cared for you. There is concern for the worry and strain. And without faith, this could be extremely overwhelming. In the stock market, in winning seasons, all seasons have concerns and times where pause is taken. Generally, it's good to know this is allowable. Some times are more dramatic than others.

How to find the balance, well we have been doing this for a few years, and realize now some days have difficulties. The season isn't straight down, and instead has one downward and then an upward bounces. God has given Edward the ability to find ways to please himself - liking being good at Disc Golf and stock contests. And Father God has given Edward a kind spirit when this illness causes anger and more of a Dr. Jekyll outlook - with brain trauma. Instead Father God has found ways for Edward's soul (which is lasting) to feed his mind. Usually we have calm and surprising recall of long ago memories.

Making me say with all sincerity, Praise God in His Goodness to us. This illness is the worst and Edward is mostly happy and good.

Father God is good on the voyage. We are allowed to go to Jesus and say, "Well, that is traumatic." And know He understands. And tomorrow is a new day, new possibilities, new ways to punt. 

Father God,
You are the God of All. We lift up those who struggle with ill health. There is not much we can do, however You are God and Your ways are Good. And we look to You with hope.

Jesus, let us put our Nation in Your care and rest. Let us give You the concerns of our Loved ones and be at peace. The People You have given us, comfort and upbuild.  Our communities, Churches, work places, state and All the People You would save.

We look to You, Father God. On with the Path of Life You would give us.
In Jesus. Amen.   

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †