Luke 15:20 While he was still a long way off, his father saw him

Luke 1:13
your prayer has been heard

Luke 5:13
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”

Luke 5:20
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 5:31-32
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 5:37-38
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”


Jesus is part of our lives

Luke 7:6-10
So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

Luke 8:50
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

Luke 10:21
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said,

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

Luke 15:20

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Jesus. The Lord. Our Righteousness.

Your Prayer is heard.
Jesus reaches out His Hand and is willing.
Jesus cleans us and makes us forgiven to our Father.
Jesus sees faith.
Jesus forgives.
Jesus answers.
Jesus goes with us.
Jesus is God and in charge.
Jesus praises us for faith and love.
Jesus' heart goes out to us in compassion.
Jesus comforts fear.
Jesus has told us Jesus has Joy. The Holy Spirit is Joy.
Jesus enjoys us when we keep things simple.
Jesus will run to us when we are in need with good expectations.



Father God is not chincy. Nor fearful. God is Father completely.

Jesus has two Fathers. His earthly father, Joseph, who saved Jesus' life in the womb - making sure Mary was not stoned. Marrying Mary. Taking the family to Egypt. Remembered in Nazareth as a a good father.

And in the Giving Goodness of God - Jesus had the joy of knowing He was blessed by God the Father.



Father God,

We thank You. You are Father. And like Jesus, You go with us.

We rely upon You for our needs and those we love. For the Families, Churches, Communities, jobs, nation and the world.

We thank You, You have heard and have compassion upon us. Help us in the Plan and Path, Your Way.

We Bless You, Father. For Your Word. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Colossians 1:9-14 ~ we have not ceased to pray for you

Colossians 1:9-14

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

 ¹¹ May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, ¹² giving thanks [patience, with joy giving thanks] to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 

 ¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  

One of the striking things about the New Testament is the fervor the disciples prayed for the people they met in their travels.  If you count the times that Paul  told of the Love he had for the people he spoke of to Christ, this is a Jesus Holy Spirit Love.

Of course, Jesus tells us He is working and His Father is working today. The Holy Spirit bares witness that the sighs of our spirit are the unceasing prayer of our advocate, God's Son.

Pray for family and friends. Usually it is one word will do and an image. Jesus holding the person - the light from their soul radiates. Really God understands this prayer. 

The Name of Jesus is better than all words put together.

- to know God’s will (verse 9)
- to do God’s will (verse 10)
- grow in the knowledge of God (verse 10)
- experience God’s power (verse 11)
- persevere as Christians (verse 11)
- thankful for all that God has done for them (verse 12) 







This is also the parable of the seeds Jesus gave us.

 That we might be the good seeds falling on good soil. Not judging others in their journey, but offering the prayer of encouragement. The Steadfast Love of Jesus. Holding us. Let us always be the one of the ten, cleansed, healed and ready to give thanks to our Father. 


How could we grow presence of God - His Holy Spirit
- to give thanks.
- not be carried away by error
- in your kindness, and in  love. For if these qualities are yours, and are increasing, you are uselful and fruitful in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mostly - The Lord will rescue us from every evil and will bring us safely to His Heavenly Kingdom. For His glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Father God,

Jesus loved to repeat Your Good Word back to You. We ask Jesus to pray with us.

Hebrews 13, and this is written

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant. This is Amazing for Israel, Jesus and for us.

Please equip us
with everything good that we may do Your Will, working in us that which is pleasing in Your sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.



God's Will will be done. We can Count on the Goodness of God.

Proverbs 19
Many are the plans of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Exodus 33:14
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”



Let the Holiness and Goodness of God Flourish.

1 Thessalonians 3:12
May the Lord make our love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as Jesus' does for you.



Joy.
Psalm 77:14
Abba Father, You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your Might among the peoples.





The Strength of God in us.

Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.



What about when we are shaken and want to give thanks and this alludes us? We can still collect, and list, the reasons to be grateful in adverse circumstance - like we see in eyewitness reports of the nightly news.

Hebrews 12:28-29
28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a perpetual fire.

The Fire of the Holy Spirit from The New Testament stretching back to the bush not consumed inspiring, leading, guiding Moses.


We will rely upon Jesus for our own needs, those we love, the Church, reaching to the Nation and World. This Journey takes all of us in the same direction to Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 97 ~ For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.

Hurricane Ike in 2008 was the size of the entire Gulf of Mexico.

Psalm 97

1 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 is sowna 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!

I think until Hurricane Rita and Ike roared in and so many people were grid locked - I thought I was impervious. We were not leaving, for Hurricane Ike. I was pregnant and would have delivered Isabelle if we tried to leave.  ABC's Houston Channel 13 was amazing telling about premature babies and Barimetric Pressure. I don't think I've ever prayed harder for premature babies (and I've had two)  and still remember the compassion of Travis Herzog. Galveston premature babies were air lifted.

Until then this gridlock, I guess I believed I was blessed enough or smart enough to escape most trouble.

Recently, it was disclosed Facebook sorts out bad news with a bias.

And I saw this on a friend's FB and really laughed, for quite earnestly, real, out loud. We are so fussed up with opinions.

You know we get to - VOTE. And we get to write and email our elected officials. And then what we can do the best is Pray for the Nation and the leaders. And after that we get to listen in a style that says I will listen to you. And whatever we speak - we can be assured - most people are going to do what they are going to do.

Two women I know have been friends for 40 years. They had a huge squabble over President Obama and quit speaking. I told the one I know well, "President Obama does not know you, call her back and make friends again. You won't hurt President Obama's feelings!"

And I'm mostly centrally located on the political test, my son gave me, and  lean to Pro Life.

The Good News, regardless of the anxieties and the wails and sirens of the news, is this - Hurricane Ike left. We all survived, by the Grace of God.

In Prayer. In expectation of faith, hope and Love. God is going to be there when we call Him. One of the largest uses of the internet is people looking up Prayer and Bible and Churches.


 


"Lies, damned lies, and statistics" - Mark Twain.

The Pew Report says we are an active Christian Nation. 

Perhaps we like Bad news too very much.


 

The Actual Upward Path to the Disciple John's Home on Patmos Island with a Great View

Dennison Forum 2014

Online searches say much about our fascinations, fears, and faith. According to Yahoo!, these were the top 10 searches in 2014, from number 10 to number one: Jennifer Aniston, the iPhone 6, Miley Cyrus, the Disney movie Frozen, Kim Kardashian, Kaley Cuoco, Jennifer Lawrence, Ariana Grande, Minecraft, and Ebola. Clearly, we're fascinated by Hollywood and high tech, and afraid of diseases.

Notice what topic was missing: God. 

Does this mean that the Lord is absent from the Internet? Not at all. According to the Barna Group, one third of all Millennials (adults ages 18-29)

regularly view online videos pertaining to faith.

The number increases to more than half of Christian Millennials.

What about other spiritual resources? When asked where they would go if seeking spiritual guidance,

41 percent of Millennials and 29 percent of adults 30 years and older say they would "talk or listen to an inspirational person."

Twenty-two percent of Millennials and 28 percent of adults 30 and older would "read an inspirational book." However, only one in six from both groups says he or she would turn to the church.

It is obvious that the church must go to those who will not come to us. Marketing exists because businesses know they can't wait on customers to find them. Jesus called his first followers to be "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). Fishermen don't wait for fish to jump into their boat.


(Plato said young people are the worst ever. And Average Church Attendance has always been with 50 year olds - their parents wore out their own knees. Keep praying.)






 



We are told Porn is up 83% and Heroin is up 32%. How many Heroin users do you know? Has the number increased over the years? Did you know that you have to spell s and m for that to roll up on the Google Search. And still the Pew Report says 83% of the USA prays to God and expects Him to hear.

In Law, in trials, - this is called the Moose Head Truth of Life Applications. The Pew Charitable Trust says not a 32% increase - 1% of the population has tried Heroin.





We have a Presidential Candidate who says we should, bluntly, reevaluate what we read about in the news.

Accordingly, is still a lot of interest in The GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ.

We have come so far. God has seen us through so much.

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.
Abraham Lincoln

When we Look UP to GOD, we are Finding the GOOD NEWS.




Father God,

As a Nation, we long for the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.

This will guard our hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We achieve this finally brothers and sisters. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think on these things.

Remember, remember, remember what God has taught you. Remember your own Living Parables from Father God. When you have seen what God says come forth in life in fruition. Whatever you have learned and received and heard, and seen, put these things into practice.

The Promises of God are true. We can lift our concerns up to the Jesus Christ. We can lift our gratitude, especially when we feel doubtful. Remember our blessings, what we have enjoyed in life. We can find people we think of - and pray for them. The News? Pray for the News and the People. We can believe we have overcome and continue to overcome. We can believe God has a path for us. We can live believing this.

And, we believe, and we believe until we know - the God of peace will be with us. And in doing this Good News, we can expect this Light of Christ to Shine forth as He has done for us before and will Continue.

Let us Bless the Lord God.

Thanks be unto  willingness of the Father, Abba, His Holy Spirit and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Our Living God!

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Hebrews 7 ~ we draw near to God.

Hebrews 7

7 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.


11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,

“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”

18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”

22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.






And this is wildly exciting. Like Deuteronomy.

Actually. Yes.

If we condense this. This is very like John Paul II announcing to the bureaucracy; "Yes this is the way things have always been done. And, now... I am Pope!"

Just like Jesus. Now, we will worship in Spirit and in Truth!

Matthew 7:12
In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the prophets.

Is this regular and ordinary? Not exactly. This is how miracles are. This is the story of Jesus interceding for us.

One day the Samaritan woman was doing her regular life. Frankly, that did not sound as if racing around was fun to her, in her regular life. And Jesus sat with her, and her life was never the same again. Jesus picked the Samaritan woman to be the first person - on the earth - to disclose Jesus as Messiah. Forever.

Is Jesus loud? No. The Officials were not great fans of Jesus. However, an Official - part of the Herod affiliation - came to Him from Capernaum and said his child was dying. Jesus replied, "Go and find your child healed." The Official believed him and departed. Why wasn't the Official recognized like the Roman Centurion was??? We will have to guess. I'd guess the Official asked Jesus to be very low key and private about this miracle.


Hebrews 6
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 

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

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

It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.
He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.


When you combine Hebrews 6 telling us all of the Promises of God are backed by God Himself. This is God saying, God does things the way God wants to do them. Do not count entirely on past performance indicating all His Wonders. Jesus could have said something splashy like, "You haven't seen anything yet." Instead Jesus decided to show us for 2,000 years - the world was never, ever the same.


This could be you saying, "Jesus might have something planned for Jesus and me." This is a journey. Life.

Be transformed by the renewal of your mind. The University of Michigan owns Papyrus 46 of Hebrews 7. And this is marked  "Hebrews 7, written by St. Paul." This particular papyrus was written in the end of the 1st Century or the beginning of the 2nd Century. John the Disciple was still alive. (And you see how intact this is!!!)

If your minister, pastor, youth worker, priest or Dr. told you that you needed purple shag carpet in your living room with bright red and dark green streaks and gold twinkles - I'd hope you'd say, "No, thanks."

Current silliness knowledge says Hebrews was not written by St. Paul. Ok. Suuuuuuure. And who traveled the most with Timothy... If you know the answer is Paul. See Hebrews 12. Then, I don't care if Paul used different word patterns than usual, Timothy and Paul were Ministers sent Two by Two. And for Two Thou Thooooooooousand years - no one had any difficulty saying this was written by Paul.

So who killed JFK? Don't we all know that this was "Jet Black Heart" having an unfortunate hair day? Why do we think we are capable to change theological determination for 2,000 years - now?
This is just - unbelievable.

Give cheerfully - 2,000 years of Jesus believing and completely committed Christians knew this was Paul and the Holy Spirit. This is a belief held strongly and with durability by names like St. Augustine. St. John. St. Eusebius. And by your believing grandparents.

God says He will fulfill His Promises and Go Any Direction that Suits The Lord God.

This is pretty exciting. Miracles are a sudden Change.

Why are all these people in the Bible mostly born in marriage and yet the Son of God had this difficulty? Hebrews 7 is - the perfect time to ask the question.

God is saying, frankly, to this Generation today - we can make life so planned and sterile - our lives are devoid of the invention of Jesus Christ.

How easy - the Morning After Pill. You might be - minus a sibling. A child. No cousin you know today. No niece, no nephew. No :

Confucious
Leonardo da Vinci painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography. Father of paleontology, ichnology, and architecture.

William the Conqueror
Thomas Paine
T. E. Lawrence
Oprah Winfrey
Fidel Castro
Sophia Loren
Eric Clapton
John James Audabon
Giovanni Boccacio
Giovanni Casanova
Paul Cezanne
Pope Clement VII
Macauley Culkin
Bobby Darin
Frederick Douglass
Alexander Dumas
George Foreman
Jean Genet
James Kier Hardie
Billie Holliday
Bo Jackson
Jesse Jackson
Jack London
Anna Magnani
Tobey Maguirre
Rod McKuen
Maria Montessori
Shaquille O'Neal
Evita Peron
Fransisco Pizzaro
August Strindberg
Richard Wagner
Booker T Washington
Reggie White

This list does not touch how vastly different our lives would be.

Or what the birth rate looks like for our future.


God fought against the people of the Old Testament who sacrificed infants. God fought for the Children of Israel to have good lives. He cares for our concerns for the quality of life.

RU486
ends a life of a human being. The Morning After Pill will leave a question mark - perhaps forever.

Father God is for life. Celebrate Life with God. Celebrate Jesus Abundantly.




Father God,

Jesus was not meek and flat on the page. Jesus is vibrant and filled with humor, compassion and Joy.

We celebrate Jesus the Lord and remember.

28 Then Jesus spoke with a loud voice as He taught in the house of God. He said, “You know Me. You know where I came from. I have not come on My own. The One Who sent Me is true but you do not know Him. 29 I know Him because I am from Him and He sent Me.”

We Thank You. Abba, You have sent Jesus and hear our prayers.

Thanks Be to Abba for Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 18:1-14 ~ He said, "Truly I tell you,"

Jesus is.

 

Matthew 18:1-14

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.


10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

The Blessing goes back to 1400 B.C. Aaron, Brother of Moses.

And the Graciousness of God is sought.

And Willingly Bestowed.

Not like the Litmus test of far right and far left with agenda, agenda, agenda.

The Centeredness of Joshua and the Lord God Almighty, maker of Heaven and earth. All things are His.



If you could sit down to speak with Jesus and being overcome with awe, wonder and some reverent fear - like the Disciples were for years. You might revert to the discussion of the news, to have some groundwork for deeper conversations. Rather human, rather like Nicodemus. Jesus would go with the conversation. St. Paul would as well. Peter too.


And in our wildest dreams, do we believe Jesus is going to unload any fault of Mohammad Ali with someone other than Mohammad Ali? Disparage? Jesus did not specify Caiaphas or Ananias. Jesus once referred, as a regular human, to the fact his John the Baptist killer was a wily fox. And that was His Family. He did not spew and was not ungracious.

Jesus might be very interested in a man like Mohammad Ali as he was the Centurion. A man of faith. Promoting solutions of faith. Without a doubt, I believe Jesus is the one path to God's Salvation. And I know ‎Cassius Marcellus Clay was raised by a Methodist father and Baptist mother. And I believe Salvation is a work of God.

The traits Jesus might proclaim to us, about this child of His, would be: optimism, unabashed faith, good works, endurance, unwillingness to pour down negativity for his own choices. An encourager of others. A believer in his faith and determination; he would have courage, perseverance, hope, character and faith.

Jesus is gracious. Always was the most gracious of us. Son of God.

Luke 4:27
26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

Jesus expands borders. Encompasses healthy goodness. Is Inclusive. Loving.

Now, perhaps, the conversation with Jesus would ask about the murder of singer Christina Grimmie. A hate crime. Jesus might weep. Particularly for the separation. The emotional pain. Christina adjusts to Paradise with Jesus. Today.

Matthew 11:12
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

Jesus understands. This is not new to Him. Sin is part of this life, defining our choices. To join haters and fearers. To Trust God. To believe we will live Life Abundantly.

Every Chapter of the Book of Revelation is about Jesus adjusting to violence in the world yesterday, today and tomorrow. Several chapters are on the pain of Father God to have a child who takes the lives of others as if that person were God. God shows hurt in these Chapters and He Creates the Universe. Something we do not.

One would hope that the reader did not zip down to this portion when there are 3,000 pages in the Bible.

What did Jesus say?

The widow of Nain had one son.

Jesus Lives. Jesus went to Weddings. His first miracle was making wine. The Jesus People? God only picks one variety. Sinners. God discusses living this life with Grace upon Grace when not one of the Children of God, minus John, fully try to walk all of the Life of Jesus. Jesus prized the people who put the feelings of others in deep concern with mercy.

Philippians 2:20
I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.









 

What would Jesus say is the most conspicuous thing here? The most difficult thing of all. Words brought forth by the tongue. The bravery of speaking up does not always win favor. And yet Mohammad Ali found favor by being diligent. If your child (husband, cousin, neighbor) wants to be God and kill people, keep telling people until help is found.

Words.
Goodness.
Bravery.
Diligence.
Compassion.
Graciousness.
Wisdom.
Understanding.
Jesus.
Christ.

God's Scripture is the Word of God.

Words matter.



Father God,

You have created people. Not in the image of each other, to be clones. We are created in Your Vast Attributes to be made in the Image of God. Jesus died for sinners. That gives us inalienable rights. To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His Name, Jesus, He gave the right to become children of God. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

We readily fall into lines in politics, even in the Grocery Store.

In Prayer, in peace, joy, hope, faith and Love:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

In Christ Jesus:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the Power of God that brings Salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Words.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word about Christ.

God is Love.

Lord Jesus the Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †