Acts 3 ~ In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth

The doorway showing green (right by the sign that says Life, top photo) is the Beautiful Gate. The man was seen not at the outer gates, but was seen within the larger walls of the Temple. The man seeking alms was deep into the Temple and well known as so lame, he was carried.

Acts 3

3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”

5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.


11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead.

To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name — by faith in his name — has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.

25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Jesus and His Father prepared us days may come. Jesus had shown us in John's Gospel Chapter 5, the man on the pallet at the Bethesda Pool was not grateful. God is so Large, He shows us not all the people are good. Some are wheat, some weeds and God Loves. God is so capable - He would take a swing and a miss - tell us even today - and let His Disciples go further. God truly wants His people to go Forth.

This is the Third Chapter of The Acts of the Apostles. Chapter 3, this is so new to them. How are they to carry the Name of Jesus to the World. ~  Jesus has a plan.

Jesus said:

John 14:12
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

And where did they go to discuss the man being healed? The wilderness. No.

Where Jesus loved to walk when He went to the Temple. This is His place of joy.

The Portico History tells us survived the destruction of Nebuchadnezzar II and the colonnades were available to rebuild into the Temple constantly being rebuild and finally called,  incorrectly, Herod's Temple. Built by David's son - Solomon. Where we find beautiful fragments of Solomon's fine work available today.

Letters from the Jews survive today crying out what will happen to their faith? The Christians have all the Power of God with them. And the people understand God's Power and see directly - the overwhelming force of Love from the Almighty who creates All Things.

This is not 'just' a healing of someone the Temple knew by sight - this is a sign from the Living God to the men Jesus called His Own, His Friends (not servants they knew His Plans), His Brothers doing the Will of God. Father God is telling them - see - Jesus knew exactly what He was telling you. I am sure they needed to know what the Holy Spirit was doing now. I would bet you, these men went to gather together and pray and weep - this is another fulfilling Word of Jesus the Lord!



Colossians 2
7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving




Our Father God,

Thank You for the trust You put in Your children.

We Will Trust in our Lord with all our heart, not leaning on our own understanding. In all our ways acknowledge Jesus, and Jesus will make straight our paths. Even to the Nation.

In this Chapter we see our Father God display He is still working. The Spirit of truth comes, and our GOD will guide us into all the truth, for HE will speak on His own authority. We Praise God that God is God. Fully Capable, Fully Love.

We will not tire of praying with Faith, Hope and Love. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

We ask for those we Love. Giving You Thanksgiving for the blessings we see in their lives. We Thank You. Jesus. We are so grateful for the people You give us. We are grateful for community, for entertainment, for talk, for comfort, for Bible Studies. For the Blessings You willingly Give.

We thank You our concerns are heard. For health, for self control, for Joy and for Love. For safety and for guidance.

We praise Jesus for miracles all the faithful have heard of and know of and live. Thank You, Your Very Word makes Good.

We lift up those prayers we have lifted for a long time. Not in despair, but in journey knowing Praying with Faith - is a Blessing. God is still working - we pray with Faith, Hope and Love. Answers are arriving. Like Grandmother Anita's prayers for her son.

We give You thanks and Glory for You Word to make communities, and believing Churches. We thank You this is covered with the Name of Jesus. Thank You the comforts this week did provide. Thank You. We extend this to the places we work in Jesus.

Lifting up Facebook and last ditch efforts that are so vastly more loud and wild than ever before we Lift Higher Jesus. And in His goodness, we will look forward to our Holy Days the world calls Holidays. Wow.

Thank God ~ He is the Light of the World and in Charge! Amen for this Nation and all the people of the world in the community of prayer called the Communion of Saints. We know God always works in unusual ways (giving Peter the chance to have a wonderful life memory) and give Thanks! Amen always in Jesus!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Galatians 5:22-23 ~ Self Control

Galatians 5:22-23

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and

And what can we say to the 4 in 10 marriages involve remarriage in the USA according to Pew Research of 2015. 38% to 31% are interested in the moral and religious beliefs.



 

The  Pew Reports show this as well !

About half of first marriages in the U.S. are likely to survive at least 20 years, according to government estimates.

One demographic group, marriages last longer than most: College-educated women have an almost eight-in-ten chance of still being married after two decades.

College-educated men also stand out. Roughly two-thirds (65%) of men with a bachelor’s degree could expect that, if they marry, their first marriage will last 20 years or longer. Which would, of course, be 2/3rd's of marriages.

College-educated adults are more likely to be married than less-educated adults.

If we want grim news we can find that. But if we want Good News - this is available too.


2 Peter 1:5-7

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.


We are fed the most sensational news to down play the stability of our culture.


1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

We always say the Exodus is spectacular and then say Mose's Pentitude is not interesting. However, as we are pumped full of sour news about our culture. Most of the Huge Blessings of the Bible surround the Law.

Deuteronomy 28

28 “Now, if you will be careful to obey the Lord your God and follow all his commands that I tell you today, the Lord your God will put you high above all the nations on earth. 2 If you will obey the Lord your God, all these blessings will come to you and be yours:

3
“He will bless you
in the city and in the field.
4
He will bless you
and give you many children.
He will bless your land
and give you good crops.
He will bless your animals
and let them have many babies.
He will bless you with calves and lambs.
5
He will bless your baskets and pans
and fill them with food.
6
He will bless you at all times
in everything you do.

7 “The Lord will help you defeat your enemies who come to fight against you. Your enemies will come against you one way, but they will run away from you seven different ways!

8 “The Lord will bless you and fill your barns. He will bless everything you do. The Lord your God will bless you in the land that he is giving you. 9 If you follow the Lord your God and obey his commands, he will do what he promised. The Lord will make you his own special people.





2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Romans 12

be transformed
by the renewal of your mind,
that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect.



Abba,

Help us to what is good and pleasing to You. What you regard in us as perfect.

We are many people, but in Christ we are all one body. We are the parts of that body, and each part belongs to all the others.

We all have different gifts. Each gift arrives from Your Grace. Our love must be real. Help put away what is evil.

Help Your Kingdom be at hand in celebrating what is good.

Let Love deepen in a way that makes us feel close like brothers and sisters.

Help us to give freely honor

In seeing people serve God, like the Louisiana floods. People who help and welcome.

Pray only good for those who treat you badly. Joel Olsteen wisely suggests rather far away over there. Ask God to bless them.

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand when others are happy, you are happy with them.

Live together in peace with each other.

And we will please You praying for the people we love and the people and situations You've given and we have seen. In Jesus we surround all of these with Your Love. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 107 ~ thank the Lord for his steadfast love

Psalm 107

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.

6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.

7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.

13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.

15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.

17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

23 Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell,
and they establish a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards
and get a fruitful yield.
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their livestock diminish.

39 When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction
and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright see it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

Joel 2:11
The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it?


Today, Edward wisely picked not to view the sky and the trees and the clouds. He picked to face Starbucks. I sat to see the sky, the horizon with Pine trees, the clouds, the architecture of the roof, the wind in the Live Oaks. And the Pedestrians. We were having a good time. Edward was recovery from his trip to the Dermatologist with some hope this would be benign. The bump near his nose was in exactly the same place as a family member we prayed diligently for who has a large surgery there.

We discussed passing on, how to, dinner, Disc Golf, sons, disc golf carts. I thought about Proverbs 3 deciding to find Joy by Trusting God. And the traffic rolled by. Soon, I idly noticed a silver truck turning as just as quickly a bicyclist as the truck rolled about 5 mph as his bumper wasn't damaged. The bicyclist appeared for the split second to miss the collision as the brakes jammed and let up slowly. But cars lurch. And the bicyclist rolled up on the hood and the cries of the 30 people all hoped the bicyclist would stay on the hood. And instead he quickly rolled off became entangled in the bike and landed so hard, so hard, so hard. And he cried out "Help, Help, Help I'm so Hurt." We looked for blankets and 911 and stood calling. My call went through first of all the dialers. And first responders rushed to the street. And the young man would live. This was not going to be a Day of the LORD. He did not have a broken spine! His comprehension did not fade. He did not pass out. There would not be brain damage. His knee was injured he would not be damaged to be moved to the Ambulance.

The Police arrived Very Quickly and 30 people waited and, like me probably, prayed for the man with the truck driver at his side. The first thing we found out, was the Medic gave his name and released custody to the other two first responders - two Doctors and one Medic.

Witnesses agreed in testimony. One of the Officers I had met in 2013 at our house during an alarm visit. This was actually the third time I've met him and we discussed in the second meeting where he'd give me his card and I'd pray for him - the card remains in my Bible. Did he remember - no. But I tell you what I may pray for you - but I am not about to sound cheesy telling you THAT. (Although I will tell Scripture for Today Blogspot!)

And we will pray for the man with the injured knee riding in the Ambulance. And the driver who lived through - this is not happening with diligence.








We are not the only people enduring rough times. The people enduring Hurricane Matthew are still enduring Hurricane Matthew.

For us Hurricane Ike at 143 mph roaring through Houston in 2008 will be remembered for a long time. We lost Isabelle - our daughter was born premature and stillborn due to the barometric pressure in Hurricanes.

What happens when you go through this. Sometimes you will relive it.

Have you ever lived through a Hurricane? 

The kind of Hurricane where your family calls you from 900 miles and urge you to run?  It's the size of the Whole of the Gulf Of Mexico? Please leave."


During  Hurricane Ike, our bedroom vent started to pour water on the bed. Our sons were arranged strategically from our neighbor, who had done wind studies on an oil refinery for safety during the hurricane. God Bless our neighbor, Dick. And God Bless Dee and Cindy who came over for an hour to pray for safety for the house and family. And we all sat on my sofa and prayed Earnestly.

So. Edward was told, and coerced to go put pans in the attic. Turns out as he was up there, the tornado of the neighborhood arrived! Poor Edward! That Hit the first two backyards in the block and ours. Damage was done. A tree top was spun in a circle and flung lakeside. The  second tree went next, the grand old lady I loved was the size of small sequoia and leaned with great care on the neighbor's house. Let me add, frankly, he did Not appreciate that Act of God. Or the one that followed in 2012. Like the trees groped his house - he acted with such effrontery.

Dreams.
Six years later the dreams began.


The Biblical Number Three.

In the first dream, we were home during Hurricane Ike. The dream would not relent. I'd say it was thirty minutes of reliving the Hurricane, the tornado and beautiful Isabelle. 
During a Hurricane, you don't know if your 3 Foot Diameter Tree is now a missile. 
You don't know if the big windows will explode. 
You don't know if the roof won't lift off (because it sure sounds like it will) and you will be left in the storm of some magnitude. 
With Tornadoes. 
Houses make the most amazing sounds in Category Four Hurricanes. 
I'd say leave if you can. Really.

Well my reaction to this Amazing Dream. Get up, go to the bathroom with the thought at the back of my mind - fussy, fussy with God. Climbing back into bed - I was Less Than Pleased. Poor God. Sometimes you have to have Compassion on the God - John, who walked with Jesus, called Love.

Back to sleep, slept for hours.



The next dream ~
I was returning to the salad days - two bedroom house we lived in and had that cottage cute as a bug. With my now very grown Alexander, youngest son and his ex GF. In the dream, this was still home. And it was the day after Christmas. I was astonished to find, not the one new Christmas tree we bought when the boys told me to get a new one and I'm so pleased with it, but multiple, multiple, multiple Christmas trees, with the actual new one collapsed. "Oh well." Ashley politely said with faux, but cheer you up, cheer.

I couldn't get over the damage and was crushed and perplexed by the tons and tons of Christmas trees I'd obviously have to clean up. And the embarrassment at the over the top Christmas trees like a forest. The best was yet to come. The house was stacked every single   item you could think of: canned goods, old greeting cards, thread, yarn, stuffed animals. None of the like that belonged to me. Obviously, something had gone very wrong. And top that off with Xander knew it with me. And we were trying to be nonchalant to Xander's ex GF visiting.



Making too much of something.
Forgetting to see the Basics.
Putting mountains of stuff over what is really important. 

Using anger at God to not see the whole picture.
Like Thanking God to live through Hurricane and Tornado and having the people you need live.


The next dream was reality.

A return to an vintage, lake side hotel we visited a lot when I was a child. I met people I haven't really seen in a long time. And Edward was being very hept up about the recent five year events causing visits to the specialist doctors. My college roommate was offering Edward style commentary from her resting place. And all I wished was he would hush and calm down. It was so aggravating seeing all the emotions churned up, the pent up anxiety. Just give me a little peace for God's Sake!

And I woke up to see, that of course, the emotional reaction was me. And if you had drama trauma - you'd want a heck of a lot less fuss. 

I was Edward in the dream.

So with that I have much more gratitude for what was, what should be appreciated, and what should be Cherished.

Life gives you twists and turns. But GOD BLESS THE ONES WHO RISE UP WITH YOU TO MEET THEM. ESPECIALLY When GOD gives you the dream to remember What You Have. And BE GRATEFUL.  









Psalm 134

Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the Lord!

3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!

Call it the Bottom Line.
Call it the Rock we stand on.

What God does for us.

Once you've seen how serious life gets, rejoice each day for the day holds good and sufficiency.

God is so powerful that the faithful endure Concentration Camps and find new life.

We can take what really bothers us and hold this up to God. That blue sky - is not a ceiling. There never is a ceiling. Really. The Universe is the Creation of the Almighty. Maybe you can't even see the night sky in the beauty seen in Africa or the rural areas - but that sky is there. Like Father God.

What we are building is like this too. Endurance. Joy. Belief. What we build is exactly the opposite of the Universe we live in. What we build is so small that we don't even realize we are building the eternal within us. Each day is creating. We just have to believe this. Do we believe we are creating?

The Prodigal's Father is hoping we return Home.

When do we get the chance to be new? Every day. With belief that God's sufficiency is in the Mercies Renew Each Day. Some days you need to get a compass, map and magnifying glass, but this is Ask and Find.

Are we missing the Larger LIFE? The One Jesus says is ABUNDANT. The abundance is in your soul. This is where you have to believe that with the help of Jesus - You are Good, Pleasing, Acceptable, Gifted, and Trying to please the Father of the no ceiling world - leading to the Universe - lives within you and IS PLEASED TO LOVE AND REJOICE IN YOU.

If your 'backyard/soul' is so small that you think nothing is going on - you have forgotten Father GOD understands your DNA better than anyone. The red, white and other blood cells are easy to Him. And what you build you find small - finds Delight in His Eyes. His Heart. His Plan. His ability to have the Universe and be Jesus who knows your name calls you to come down from your tree and go "Home" with Him.


LORD FATHER GOD, who has all the Power in His Word to Create the Entire Universe comfort us, guide us, strengthen us and empower and embolden us to be the generation refusing to yield within our own struggles -  to SEE the Vast Father and the Intimate God.
 
Let us not shrink from understanding that GOD just might have a Plan and HIS Plan is more worthy than Scripture says we can understand. We have to lean to You, in Faith.

 God is our completion, the summation, the complication of HIS Amazing Promises to us who believe in Jesus the Lord.

What great Love the Father has lavished on us, we Are called Children of God! And that is what we are! God HAS shown His love sending His one and only Son, Jesus.  Can we imagine Jesus given for just us.  This is the ability of God who recently revealed actual light is created at conception of a human life.

We should  Live through Jesus Christ the Lord!

 Give us the Day and Help US to forgive sins that we also commit. Strengthen us each day to go to sleep saying I think I pleased God and smile because we Did.

And let us never, never, never give up that in the diligence - the un-applauded - this is where we will meet God and He will be pleased because He is Love. GOD supports us in the small part of life that becomes LIFE. God raises up Barnabas. Because He encourages YOU and me.

What difference can we make - an unseen difference. God is moving His Hands in Love when we pray. We can pray and God says welcome to being part of My Plan. We can really pray the large prayers.  For the rapidly changing times to have Jesus. And know Jesus is here.

Father God, we lift up those in suffering, in bicycle accidents, in truck driving barely moving accidents and knowing the biker will walk away sometime. We pray for the bicyclast to heal well and easily and completely.  The diligence of the driver having the worst driver day who will go forth again. He endures. We pray for face bumps to heal amazingly well. We thank GOD for wellness. And truth. The community who prays has hope, faith and Love. We put the ones we love there and the large Nation and Larger World we don't see but place in Bigger Hands with Clearer Vision.

Amen Jesus the Wonderful Jesus.


Romans 5

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

And hope does not put us to shame,
because God’s love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit
who has been given to us!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 7:36-50 ~ He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 7:36-50

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table.

37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.”

And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 

44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much.

But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”





Beware of practicing your Piety loudly in front of Jesus. Yesterday we talked about the ungrateful heart of the man who was healed after 38 years beside the Pool of Bethesda. And I woke up grumpy with the world. Just woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

It's difficult work to accuse people of doing wrong. Might reveal your own heart. And I realized being grumpy at the whole world is probably when you know you overshot your own place.

When you think you are the woman kissing Jesus and really you are Simon.

The Bible does not really have coincidences. Simon in this story is not Peter and, yet, could be. We see several James - all are indeed the Spiritual brother of Jesus. His brother doing the Will of God.

We find the sad daughter of Herodias is abused by her mother to ask for the death of a good, faithful prophetic John the Baptist. And later we find a Salome at the foot of the Cross of Jesus and later carrying spices for Jesus' body.

This is important, this is an allegory of the journey in life.

God does not have coincidences. He tells us we learn from every Word of God.

Perhaps Michelangelo had thought of Salome, The Altar has a painting of the Pope's Biagio da Cesena (1463–1544) was a 16th-century Italian official who served as Papal Master of Ceremonies. Rumor for many years said he was painted as both angel and fallen by Michelangelo. Historians today say Biagio da Cesena was only painted as fallen for being a critic of the Sistine Chapel.



Father God, our Abba,

We pray with supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for senators, representatives, governors, vice presidents and presidents and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all

We pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling. We are saved through wanting to provide a safe, good and respectful life for our children. We continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

We ask for our Nation to find purely peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere leaders.

We are petitioning Father God for Him to bless and keep this generation with so many changes. That His Face will shine upon those who are in need of Him. That Abba will be gracious to this culture and time. That our Merciful God will Lift His Face upon us, to smile with His favor and help us to be at Peace being Covered with the Name of Jesus.

We will never cease to pray for the people God has placed in our lives, those we Love. We will pray with Hope for our cares and for this Nation. The Churches of Jesus Christ the Lord. And for the people all lifting prayers to our Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †