Luke 18:9-14 ~ God be merciful

Luke 18:9-14

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 

11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 

13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”



This joyous email was sent to me ~ to share we are deeply committed to offering Jesus our lives, hearts, souls - we are flawed and fallen in sin. Jesus in His Grace, Power and Mercy lives to bring us God as our Joy and Strength. Nothing we could do would earn His Grace.  Jesus is our Feast in our souls.

Thank You, Father, for this Morning's Service. 


By Dr. Peter Leithart


Jesus' instructions about fasting:

He tells His disciples to fast with anointed heads and clean faces (Matthew 6:16-18).
Washing and anointing are normally preparation for feasting (Ruth 3:3);
they mark the end, not the beginning, of a fast (2 Samuel 12:20).

Jesus turns fasting inside out.
He wants us to dress for a feast when we're fasting,
dress for a feast when we are feasting,
dress for a feast for every occasion in between.

We can be allegoric: Jesus Himself is our festal clothing, His Spirit the oil anointing our head, baptism the water that cleans our faces. Whether fasting or feasting, we have this anointing and this washing. Fasting or feasting, we wear Jesus and His Spirit, our festal robe and light-giving oil.

But there's something else going on.

Jesus came to inaugurate the Feast of the Kingdom. That feast is still ahead of us! Jesus began the Feast of the Kingdom already here and now. The feast is future, and the feast is present. We do not have to wait for a joy already granted.

Our practice fasting should reflect the reality of the new covenant, the maturity we have reached in the risen Son. When we're children, there's a chasm between hunger and satisfaction, between suffering and glory, between losing and winning. As - if - we mature we learn to see a glimmer of success embedded in our failures, the glory of our sufferings, the joy in sorrow.

Jesus tells us to discover the feast in the midst of the fast, the fullness at the center of our hunger.

As you enter Lent, act the part of grownups: Wash your face; put on that pomade; let the joy of the Spirit fill your heart. The feast that is ahead has already begun, and it has invaded our fasting.

Father God, 

We are the Easter People! We Expect Jesus. Jesus is Here. Jesus lives, celebrates and strengthens us for all joy and all storm. Jesus has washed us with His needed Grace.
Our Savior our Hero.

And our Alleluia is present with us at all times. No one will ever earn the Grace of Jesus. Alleluia will be held in our hearts, even in silent expectation of God, with love, joy and hope  - Jesus is alive. 

We will only endure Good Friday, knowing the Fulfillment of Easter.

Jesus our Hero. And we will hold His Feast continually in our hearts, in all seasons. I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. Come be in my soul and in the ones we love.

Let us always remember Jesus telling us of His willingness and joy, from Christmas to the Feast of the New Covenant and in His Vast Forgiveness.

We will hold High Jesus in our Souls. Amen and Amen always in the Highest Name of Jesus.

Habakkuk 3
Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 18Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 

Jesus the Lord!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 1 ~ And there appeared

Luke 1

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed[b] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”[c] 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[g] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”


46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
Zechariah's Prophecy

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71
that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us[h] from on high
79
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Oh. No. Not the Christmas Story. Again.


I heard from a man going to Church a lot, that as he faced crisis in his life, what helped him were the sayings of Buddha. Well, a very large and divorced man gives enlightenment on love, self control, loyalty and life about 5 B.C. Did he go to the Temple in Jerusalem and read the Old Testament? No. This is a soul seeking the Lord. Wise men still do this.

Father God is not going to turn away a man in crisis reading Buddha.

Yet the truth is, Einstein said he could see the personality of Jesus soaking the Scriptures.




Seeing our lives with gratitude and Scripture ~

We have to look at our passages God says is His Word is Alive and see with our eyes anew.

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

All of his questions...
about the meaning of his life, were about to have clarity from God.
A clarity so big and so longed for, the man scoffed and he was a ... Priest.

Jesus came, - not an angel - and He deal with Nathaniel with some wry God humor. John 1.
Jesus dealt with Pharisees sharply, because they did not want a solution just the swirl.
Jesus dealt with the loss of disciples saying this group that stays has something for me.
Jesus dealt with the loss of the remaining disciples and forgave them.
There is a cost to kick out at people unwisely.


We want to be John, who alone saw with clarity - THIS IS GOD.

John is not God, and Scriptures tell us there are like minded people. Mark stayed. Luke stayed. Silvanus and Timothy were not always there. Instead, They were added as years went on. Titus was given a beautiful place for Christianity to flourish. Crete was the same Island the Greek dispersion Jews were trying to welcome Jesus to come and see.

John the Baptist
A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
Not the precursor to the Camel Hair Sports Jacket -

Oh man, you had GOD and you blew it.
And Jesus gives John a funeral the world will talk about for the end of days. Telling us John just is not perfect. And God will complete John. And then Jesus cheers Himself up by walking as Light of God on the water to surprise the disciples who didn't even say, "Oh God, Your Cousin, we are So sorry, what can we do." You'd think 4 Gospels would say - 'Poor Jesus, that must worry You.'

John the Baptist, was given Words Jesus knew would help John on that day, a very had day for John. John needed to be told. Jesus tells us Jesus has a huge place for John in His Eternal Kingdom. Jesus again, being God, makes this right.

We Thank You, God for giving us people who will be with us. Just at You are with us. THANK GOD IN JESUS CHRIST for Jesus. Amen.







God is like the Book of Acts, He is present in the storm.
He has made us, not we ourselves, God in Jesus Christ will see us through.

When we put God First, we are less swirled, confused, easily swayed. We know we are God's. God makes us strong to make good choices. Father God, Isaiah tells us, wants to dwell in us and strengthen us.

To guide our lives to be truly meaningful, we connect with why this planet has green, blue, water, sun, gentle breeze, cold gale and our earth and our lives are held in sheer space - and this is a dark space. Earth is an oasis given by God in creation. The Plan of God to save the World, the Light of Christ in mankind, becomes - what my life means to Jesus.



Father God, Dwell in me, help me make a life, a soul, a hearth, a home, a Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Comfort, Determination, Wisdom life today - Pleasing to You, for Jesus Christ Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 50:10-11 ~ "For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. "I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine."

Psalm 50:10-11

"For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. "I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine."

Father God is so good to give us not just a world filled with unimaginable glories in variety of species. We are very, very blessed to have animals to be cultivated and kept as part of the family. Every day, His Mercies renew and I wake up to our dog and, lately, our grand-dog. These two boys are happy, energized, eyes filled with Light and Love of their Creator. So enthusiastic for His New Day.

They race outside, jumping up and down, then race to the food bowl, then scamper over each other to the 19 year old, formerly fat cat's bowl to get a dog vitamin and the grand-dog gets the Ginkgo Biloba with Glucosamine-Chondroitin and with a dab of shared cat food - man just better than any 12 course meal.

Surely we do have issues with digging, alpha dog, dog bed authority and pool swimming. Not always a walk in the park, but having gone before, with our late beloved Springer, with aggression advice from our wonderful vet, Pete, we will succeed with patience over the next few years. Always astonishing, the amount of their understanding. I am pretty sure they have the vocabulary of 7 to 9 year old. I told my Springer, "I need to brush your ears and he came over to me about 10 feet and presented his ears."

Our Grand-dog is a Husky and he is like Mynah bird, if you have raised children in their toddler years and you listen only for the inflections, you can here this grand fella said names and 'helloooo there' and 'No wayyyy'. He is vastly entertaining - this gentle giant. Kiss, kiss!

Our Springer can't decide if all dogs are friendly after a rescue dog bit him. Our grand-dog was year and half project for our son, so you know rescue dogs can take time. The Springer lets little finches sit near him, but on a bush, he loves to run to the bushes and see them fly up from the feeders. Then they settle again and the game repeats.

Think about all the varieties of life. Deer, Cows, Wolves, Elk, Goats, Horses, Bears, Mountain Lions - we are so very fortunate to be able to have just the plain o cats and dogs.



Do animals go to Heaven?
Of course, God could have sent anything to pick up Elijah.

2 Kings 2:11
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

Father God displays His style all over the Animal Kingdom in the intricacies, delicacies and strengths of His World and Kingdom - Elijah surely traveled in God's Style!!!

Genesis One
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.



Father God,
Bless the beasts and the children. For everything You, Father God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

Our Lives and our homes, families are consecrated by the Word of God and prayer.

There is a goodness in remembering Your joy over Creation. A sign between us and the Lord God forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.

Thank You, Father God, Jesus and Holy Spirit -
How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Father, we Bless You for -when You give to us, we are gather to You in Delight; when You open Your hand, we are all satisfied with Your blessings and good things.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works--

We ask for Your Holy Spirit to Glory over our Land and Nation, Bringing Your Love, Joy, Peace, Comfort, Patience and Grace. Blessed be the Name of Jesus and all the people who call upon You in Joyful Expectation. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

John 13:1-20 ~ resumed His Place +

 

 

John 13:1-20

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

 
2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,


 
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 
 
Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”

8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”

10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”

11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”




12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, +

he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?

13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

15 For I have given you an example + , that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you,

+ a servant is not greater than his master ,

nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

 

  18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.


20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”





 

Luke 12:35-4

35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,
36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.

37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.

38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?


43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 

47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.



Jesus is Mary's Son.

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things.

And if you are not a tidy person, if your brain is wired to be slightly messy, perhaps you say to yourself,"I need my act together before I can come near to Jesus and Father Mighty God." Reverence of God is a beautiful thing. Yet, all 4 Gospels truly, truly, with sincerity of Father God tell us, The Father Almighty sees we organize ourselves differently. All of the Gospel authors arrange the way they have come to God - a little differently.


John, personally, melts my heart. John the Loyal. John the Loving. John so overcome with Jesus, John knows, Jesus is not going away. John, gift of God. Gift of God. Gift of God.



John 20 ties in John 13, Jesus the prepared servant, even straightening up after He washes His Disciples' feet. The Son of Mary. The Chosen Son of Joseph, who needed his tools in the proper place to make plows, yokes, decorative items, beautiful things. Jesus is deliberate as a servant as He shows them His servanthood to wash feet. Perhaps why the face cloth was folded in by itself and the disciple BELIEVED.

John 20
 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus'^[a] head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed

 

 


Pastor Jeremiah Morris, of Houston's 7 Mile Road Church  (Road to Emmaus - our hearts were indeed warmed!) was at HopePointe for a 2 day series - he has a Wonder, a Sign of God, an Astonishment, A Gift of God ~ Jeremiah has a Book of Acts, God given ability, opening The Door during a one to  one person Bible Study of John and  - there a heart is opened to Jesus. The Gift Jesus Is. The Salvation of Jesus. To have souls Live. To reach out and say, "Jesus is God, live in my soul, welcome Lord Jesus."

This Jeremiah Morris Ministry -
Astonishing to reach out like the Way Father God arranged the family and ancestry of Jesus. Ruddy people who used to pray to the Angel of Death. Investment Bankers who wanted to own yachts, are invited to a Vastly more Glorious Way, Truth, Life of Jesus. PhD's. Tattoos who don't want to read. All find the door opens to the Community of Faith. Jesus changes hearts and lives.

What would we see in John's Gospel of Jesus?

Albert Einstein said, “As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene . . . . No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life. Jesus is too colossal for the pen of phrase-mongers, however artful. No man can dispose of Christianity with a bon mot.”

Why aren't all tidy as the servanthood of this Passage? The people of the Bible are all messy. The Gift of God cannot be earned. Only Sincere Thanksgiving is something not given to us first by Our Father. A Precious Gift. Jesus. A Son. Innocent and Pure. Of God. Born in difficulty like a Parable, we are Welcome to the Feast of God's Richest Blessing - Forgiveness.

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God

Father God,
We are Today, the Children of God in this part of time, this Generation.

When I am poor and feeble, persecuted and vulnerable, Yeshua conquered me, and with the New Man You are helping me, You deliver me from self with Your great love, You cherishes me.

Father, You are God of All Things and the Light in mankind. Jesus is the completion and fulfillment of Your Promises to me. Help those I love and the people You have given me.

Help me to be Love. With hands to help others. Feet to hasten to the poor and needy. Eyes to see misery and want. Ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. We are not Jesus the Lord. In what is placed in our lives, we lift up in Joyous Expectations that Creation Waits and Jesus is Alive.

Since we are not God, and we cannot do good to all, we will pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of God in time, place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with us.

We will remember to Pray for the people of this Nation and the World Jesus wants to save, with Expectation in all we hear of the Holy Spirit and His willingness. All who call upon Jesus - are saved and covered in His Name. Rejoice for Jesus is Alive. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Isaiah 25 ~ The Lord has spoken!

The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness!

Isaiah 25

O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you; I will praise Your Name,
for You have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

For You have made the city a heap,
the fortified city a ruin;
the foreigners' palace is a city no more;
it will never be rebuilt.

Therefore strong peoples will glorify You!
Cities of ruthless nations will fear you.


For You have been a stronghold to the poor,
a stronghold to the needy in his distress,
a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat;
for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,
like heat in a dry place.
You subdue the noise of the foreigners;
as heat by the shade of a cloud,
so the song of the ruthless is put down.

On this mountain the Lord of Hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.


And He will swallow up on this mountain
the covering that is cast over all peoples,
the veil that is spread over all nations.

He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken!

It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God;
we have waited for Him,
that he might save us!
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation!”

For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain,
and Moab shall be trampled down in his place,
as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.

And He will spread out His Hands in the midst of it
as a swimmer spreads His hands out to swim,
but the Lord will lay low
his pompous pride together
with the skill of His Hands.

And the high fortifications of his walls He will bring down,
lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust.



Our Father God. Wants for His Children - you His Child - the Child of the Most High God, saved by Christ Jesus The Lord - to be - Strong!


The Promises of Jesus Christ, when we Trust in Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 6:18
That by two unchangeable things,
in which it is impossible for God to lie,
we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure
Strong People Glorify God, leaning into the surety of His Very Word.


In walking with Faith, He bestows His gifts today.

Proverbs tells us of God's Longing to give us Strength: 

Proverbs 27:17,18

17 Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.
18 He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored

2 Samuel 3:1
David grew stronger and stronger

2 Samuel 5:10
And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.

Father God had used the hardships of David, and David had understood His shelter and had believed God.

Mary understood how difficult life was going to be. Saying let this be to the Glory of God. "for the Mighty One has done great things for me— Holy is His Name."

Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.


1 Timothy 6:11-14
As for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandments


James 1:1-27
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

2 Corinthians 4:16
So we do not lose heart!

Psalm 27:13
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!




Father God,
You are a Stronghold to the poor of health, heart, spirit, finances
a shelter from the storms of life
and a shade from the heat of poor self esteem, criticism or reproach.

In telling us of the Feast in Jesus Christ. We find the Table of Lord God, our You, Our Father has Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Comfort and is a Strong Help in times of need. The Table of the Lord God is where You long to enfold us in Your arms, a chick gathers her young.

In Heaven, You will complete us and we will be filled with all the Goodness of You.

Today we celebrate You, Father God, for wanting our faith to be strong. You do not change Your mind. You Promise and Fulfill.

When we Trust in You, You poor out blessings. Hope does not put us to shame, because Your love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Jesus Christ, You are faithful as the Son over God's house. And we are Your house, and we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. Eternity always and today.

Father God, we praise you because You wanted to make the unchanging nature of You purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, You have confirmed it with an oath.

Cover us in Your Name. Amen Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Romans 8:26 ~ the Spirit himself intercedes for us

How many times daily are you willing to talk to Father God?


Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.


How glad is Father God, Jesus our Hero and the Holy Spirit to hear from - you?


John 17
~ they may have the full measure of my joy within them
~ the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me


What shall we pray about other than our concerns and the ones we love? St Augustine said we are not God and the people within our lives, are the people we should care for, with extra care of a Shepherd, because Jesus lives within us. Greater is He within us, than the influences the world casts about.


A good list is - the people we see where we live, shop and work. Their cares.

Praying with the neighbor, who in passing, tells you of a heavy heart. Caring for them, not embarrassing them, and sharing that concern with Jesus and His Father, who uphold the Universe with His Word.

Praying for the man who would call you, to share his family pregnancy concern. Knowing what a Father would say to his son in all earnestness. Seeing that conversation and knowing His Love enables Him to be frank. Getting caught in the cross exchange of His Words and knowing the depth of the Father's Love for the entire family. Praying for peace in that family. Feeling a lot of concern all around. Seeing and hearing of tears.

Prayer - for the houses we see in our neighborhood in less than pristine shape for the cares pressing upon them. Praying for the widow, who suddenly draws her blinds when the windows were open before. Rejoicing in seeing neighbors gather to raise each other up in fellowship. Praying for the long term widow, 5 blocks away, for 10 years, never seen, who reportedly cared for her wealthy late husband for a number of years and now the house is quiet, knowing she works long hours to pass the days. We ask for her to have more Life in Jesus. A boyfriend, a Church and Joy. Rejoicing when company comes to see her. Praying for the house where the woman survived cancer so easily. Rejoicing in His Grace.


We have opportunities to pray all around us.

What is important to pray with is - JOY!


When we pray, we do not offer up prayer with an air of a house that needs vacuuming. We lift our cares up to the Father of All. Daniel and Paul in Ephesians tell us - Father God names us. He has our names written on His Hand. Isn't that Good News for the tattoo crowd? I'd imagine the Father of All putting His Throne surrounded with Emerald Green, with His beloved Seraphim flying right there - has a better Tattoo than anyone else - His probably lights up as gold as the roads of His Kingdom.

Praying with Joy for the married couple who prayed for me at the Houston Aglow Seminar of Valentine's last year. Knowing profound blessing and love leads to Heaven's continuation of earnest prayers given.

Praying for those who do not ever or rarely please us - that they are blessed far away! Praying that those we want to heal with us this - When mankind loves the Lord - even enemies are at peace - on this Path of His.

Even Blessing People who let you in in traffic. We would be astonished  people do pray like this in our generation - (where we don't answer Christ following questions with an answer of a denominational name!). Next time you see a cross or a fish sticker - pray for the Brother or Sister. 80% of our population prays and expects an answer. 70% are pretty regular pray-ers.

Praying mercy upon the ill and those who suffer - to have the New Wind of His Joy and Hope in Faith and Love.

Expectation our Joy in His Strength is fulfilled. Our prayers, we see in people telling of their prayers, meet theirs and come before Our Father. Seeing in His Joy - the elderly widow has a new boyfriend - who surprisingly mows her grass.

Because we do not serve a God who is distant. We seek Him - we find Jesus. Father God has said this since Jacob was young. And, today, still finds His Creation as Good.

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.

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.


Father God,
We know we will have confidence to approach You. In Jesus, being covered in His Name.

We ask You to Pray with us in Your Righteousness. Forgiving us our flaws, weaknesses and sin. Righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

Cover us, the ones we love, the People You have given us, our cares with the Name of Jesus and we will rest secure in You. For the Nation and all the concerns of the People who call upon Jesus and we will agree together. Father, increase all Hearts open to You. Awaken our Joy in You and our hope, faith and Love. Welcome.

Amen. Jesus is Lord. Alleluia!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †