Luke 6:32 ~ If you

If we are going to look for examples of Loving. We would have to look to Almighty God.

God Loves First. God continues to love in spite of some real negligence and bad PR. God just keeps on being Incredible and Loving. Amazingly forgiving. And Yet... God does not change His Majesty for what is not what He says we should do in building the framework - doing our best to abide in His Laws - to establish a trustworthy place were love, joy,  encouragement, trust, faith and hope exist.

God, abiding in Jesus, knew when He healed the 10 lepers - only one was coming back to give thanks.

God, abiding in Jesus, knew when He headed to the Pool of Bethesda to heal the man by the healing waters for 38 years - this man was going to the Authorities - to say that some awful man had healed him.

God did not go home and sulk.


Luke 6:32

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

Rick Warren says we get in the habit of loving people. And become Master Lovers.

Surely a very loving idea. God is the God of Love. Master and Beloved Friend and Savior of Love. There is no harm in love, love does no harm to a neighbor.


And when we truly adopt this - we will be seen as Homer Simpson's neighbor. And personally, to have a heart filled with love - this is ok with me. Love is going to carry us through. And this will alert what is not good in life  -" Hey, hit on that one - that one is not very sharp." C.S. Lewis shows this is the truth, even in Lewis' books on Narnia. And we are told - Great Magic - The Very Power of God - is Reserved for the Ancient of Days - God of Love. Evil never believes Love will win.


What are we to do with people who would verbally attack us at every turn? Jesus did not run to see the Pharisees. And Jesus overcame by continuing to Love. Finding the 500 He would victoriously spend His time with. Jesus was going to forgive people. Jesus was not going to stew in the juices of upset. Jesus knew that the Love He was giving, was going to be missed. Telling His Beloved "Days will come" where Love is very sorely missed. If Jesus healed the blind, the lame, the deaf, the hurting and was not always approved - we can be sure - this will happen to us.




Life seeds - The Seed Parables - the joy of being 50 years old is to see that the loving and the forgiving and the true of heart to God - rise up.


John 14
I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Isaiah 60:1
Rise up and shine, for your light has come. The shining-greatness of the Lord has risen upon you.

Ezra 10:4
Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.

Father God is not expecting us to wilt in being strong to Love.

God wants us to be strong in faith and courage to keep loving.

Of course, God  knew how very sticky humans get in their ways. He knew of Eve wanting to say what was good and evil. He knew of Tamar collecting on the promise of a husband. He knew of Noah getting drunk for the strain of life. He knew of Paul holding the cloaks. He knew of Peter trying to make the Jews happy with the Freedom of Jesus Christ. He knew of the infidelity of David's blessed children.


God knows there are times we are going to love from afar. In good times and bad. We are the Easter People. We are not going to allow self-esteem given from God saying we do not fall back in a Spirit of Fear. We will stay brave in Father God and Know His Love for His Beloved. We know that Hezekiah, Samuel and Eli just shrugged for their loved ones to not have completion in God. We will not do this. We will continue to do the Work God gives us. Believe God is God and the unloving loved ones are in His Good, Capable, Strong, Willing, Enduring, Faithful, Majestic, Truthful, Loving, Believing in the Goodness of His Beloved and His Creation.




I've said and written before that the seeds Parable is very much a willing Word of God. I'm in my 5th decade of life and I have witnessed seeing loving and forgiving people see new pathways rise before them. Not to make allowances in their behavior for the truly out of line with the Love of God. Is the road fraught to conform to God. Yes, absolutely, seasons of difficulty. But no field is plowed looking back. New Paths that will be fruitful come from expecting to see the good in one another. How did Jesus heal? Not in front of the crowd. Jesus arrives individually. With privacy. No need of a showboat. Jesus is coming to our hearth, our soul. our eternal being to bring forth His Way, Truth and Life. Jesus knew with all the wisdom of God - the seed parable is very true and very diligent - and very fruitful. It is not our work that provides for Salvation. God will bring each unique creation of God to God in His Beautiful Heart. God being God, allows us to be - people. Flawed. Comfortable with God as God Almighty. Not worrying who is the Greater. God is God. We are mortal. God is victorious. we are merely the chosen of God. His Plan is always going to be Victorious. God is our Father, we His children. The Father making His children loved and joyous with His Love.



God Himself says in Revelation - God does not bat 100% - why would we expect to bat 100%. God says keep being diligent with those we will pray for. For those we will not let go of. For those, like my Grandmother Anita said, she would never give up on her son in prayer. And in his 7th decade - he found Jesus. Was he perfect? No, but the Master and Creator and Love of the Universe found his belief and his changed heart and his hurt and his belief to be the open heart Jesus would love.


I'm in an unusual place in my life. Edward is not always well. And that changes our framework - people don't see us as established - instead we are seen as transition. Some see us as unlucky. Some see us as extremely blessed. Some see us as faithful. Some see us as an opportunity. We have even had people who believe in negative prayer - witches show up. Absolutely not. As a child I witnessed golf buddies of my cousin recruit his wife as a potential sugar momma. This is an unusual world. When I was a child we wondered at the man in the cemetery who cut himself. Now we see many illnesses in mosquitoes, social illnesses and needy people. As we are not God, we can't help everyone. However if we were to tell our good works - we feel we have accomplished small ways to help others. And sometimes this looks like an open opportunity to those who think giving is for silly people to be taken advantage of. And we manage to continue on in dignity and keep believing each good day is of God. And each trouble has His eye upon that trouble. God is in the hand of Blessing and in the hand of - opportunity for a solution.

And we fully see God says be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. God puts forth His Standards and we see those as Blessings. Being with all gratitude that we are part of Jesus' New Covenant. God is the Light in all of mankind. Our prayers are heard. God meets us as surely as the people Jesus healed one by one.


Thanks, Abba, for Jesus. We want to Give to You. And in doing our limited, flawed best, we can smile at the end of the day. Father of All Creation - we Give Thanks for the Grace You give us. Giving to others and Rising Up to Believe You alone are God. Finding God is our Joy and Strength. In the Strong Love Father, You have for us. We are with Jesus in Victory. You love our prayers and our prayers have faith the size of a mustard seed. You alone are God.

We place all our concerns with You. And rest assuredly in Your Love, Power and Grace.

Thank You. Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Romans 11:33-36 ~ To Him be glory forever!!!

Romans 11:33-36


Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

What would we give the LORD, that He has not given to us - we can only give Him thanks with a grateful heart....

Thank You, Father, our Abba !!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

right

Nehemiah 8:9-18 ~ This day is holy to God, your God

Nehemiah 8:9-18

 ~ The Message

⁹ Nehemiah the governor, along with Ezra the priest and scholar and the Levites who were teaching the people, said to all the people, "This day is holy to God, your God. Don't weep and carry on." They said this because all the people were weeping as they heard the words of The Revelation. 

¹⁰ He continued, "Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don't have anything: This day is holy to God. Don't feel bad. The joy of God is your strength!" 

¹¹ The Levites calmed the people, "Quiet now. This is a holy day. Don't be upset."

¹² So the people went off to feast, eating and drinking and including the poor in a great celebration. Now they got it; they understood the reading that had been given to them.

^13-15 On the second day of the month the family heads of all the people, the priests, and the Levites gathered around Ezra the scholar to get a deeper understanding of the words of The Revelation. They found written in The Revelation that God commanded through Moses that the People of Israel are to live in booths during the festival of the seventh month. So they published this decree and had it posted in all their cities and in Jerusalem: "Go into the hills and collect olive branches, pine branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and any other leafy branches to make booths, as it is written."

^16-17 So the people went out, brought in branches, and made themselves booths on their roofs, courtyards, the courtyards of The Temple of God, the Water Gate plaza, and the Ephraim Gate plaza. The entire congregation that had come back from exile made booths and lived in them. The People of Israel hadn't done this from the time of Joshua son of Nun until that very day—a terrific day! Great joy!

¹⁸ Ezra read from the Book of The Revelation of God each day, from the first to the last day—they celebrated the feast for seven days. On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly in accordance with the decree.

A long millenniums path of Thanksgiving.

Bringing Jesus with Joy into each Day.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”


Giving back, even in attitude, toward one another.

Doing for each other. Pleasing the Lord.


Our Father,

Help us as we gather with family and friends to give joy, encouragement, love, peace earnestly and sincerely. Give us effective communications. To do the work of an abiding peace. Pleasing You with our attitudes. Working through prayer requests to understand the motivations. Being sincere to the core.

Seeing with Gratitude how far - You - Father of All - Give to us each day. Ancient Days, God Almighty. How far You have gone to have relationship with us individually. Abba.

We ask You to bless those we Love to know Your Great Love. We thank You for the care You hear our concerns. We will pray knowing Your willingness. And have this time to recharge our Joy. Thank You for Your blessings in our lives.


In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Romans 8:28 ~ God works

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.


The Word of God is true.

Psalm 33:4
For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

Psalm 12:6
The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

Psalm 119:140
Your word is very pure

Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Many questions as we consider our lives. God as Father promises some of these answers are in Heaven.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but 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.

Salt and Light when we are able. Jesus did not ever banish His Disciples for their questions and worry.

Romans 8:26-27
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. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

1 Peter 4:10
As each has received a gift

The parable tells us about talents. The Word of God tells us if we face our gifts with responsibility, we are qualified as we are called.

The Word of God applies to all of us.

Romans 2
10 Glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the Greek. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.




Father God,

Our call and charge as Your beloved child is true. You are a God of Love and of Your Glory.

You see when we are oppressed. You hear with compassion as our God and and Deliverer. You have Given Freely Your Amazing Blessings in Christ Jesus. We receive Your Living Word. We will enjoy Your Loving Favor as we love You. Looking for Your Help as we find Your Path and Will. Knowing in Joy, Your Father's Love.

Jesus is with us. And He will show His Steadfast Love to our Loved Ones. For their concerns and needs. Jesus will show up in our Churches, jobs, communities, to the National level. The Communion of Praying Saints - all over the world. In Heaven and on earth in all ages. Ancient of Days, You are God, creating the Body of Christ in the Holy Spirit. We love You and cover us in the Name of Jesus. Alleluia in Your Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Proverbs 16:3 ~ Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.


We are all in belief of the permanence of life and we want to avoid unpleasantness upsetting our ripple free life. What is unseen is eternal. Each day we wake up to begin a life, usually, with few variations. We feel the belief all things are possible with God is rather far away. Interesting. When the truth is we are very transitory and very not permanent. Solomon addressed this thought saying better a living dog than a dead lion. Only for today.

What is eternal - and therefore more important - All Things Are Possible With God. Any other choice is short sighted.

We have in life, exactly, -  two choices. Will we want to be with the Lord God Almighty and welcome Him. Will we say the Will of God is for us. God is our Hope and Future. Or will we say God is vague and we serve ourselves.

Within all of God's Plans is - God's Plan for my life. My personal responsibility to Jesus. God is Love.

Our Abba, our Father,

In the Heart of Jesus, I place my life. My gifts. My responsibilities. My heart. My Loved ones. My plans. And each day I put my open hands and open heart to Jesus. Thanking Him for His Steadfast Love. Not a God of whim. God of Love. I thank You, Father God. You are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Jesus is for us. Jesus loves us. Jesus in the Word of God - His Good Will - in the Power of His Name - Jesus - in the abiding strength of our Father - Jesus in the pervasiveness of the Holy Spirit - never leaves nor forsakes us. Growing us each day to do the Will of God.

Jesus for our Loved ones. Our concerns. Our communities. Our Church. Our Neighborhood. Like Daniel - in our state with the Plan of God. In our Nation. Jesus abiding in the communion of saints. Thank You God. For Your Steadfast Love. Life will have surprises and plans, God is our Rock and Redeemer. The Grace of God joyfully and plentifully given to us - for our belief in Jesus Christ the Lord God. Jesus our Redeemer, Savior. Wonderful Jesus.

Your Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Please bless the work of our prayers, words and deeds. Amen in Jesus the Lord!!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 103:19 ~ The LORD has established His Throne in the heavens, and His Kingdom rules over all

How will we find comfort and how will we stay on the path of God? When in faith we know where God rules. Where our Father sends forth His Word. We have comfort in this. In God's Word we exist. Gravity occurs on the earth. Rain creates the increase in the ocean, the ocean gives forth rain. Our bones produce blood the blood nourishes our cells, God provides our nourishment. In the Word of God, systems are in place for us to live, and move and have our being.

Psalm 103:19

 
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all

And where does the Father of ALL care for His WORD to go?

1 Corinthians 10:26
For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”


Mark 4:26-34

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

We are not in charge of the vast systems of Heaven and earth. We work the elements of Life God gives. We do not create dirt, and using the soil God has put here, we know we have food. The systems of God are worked by God. We have reached out to God in our weakness and we know God reaches back in His Promises and Word. We have come this far because God has blessed us. We can believe He will continue to bless us. God is in Charge.

30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God,
or what parable shall we use for it?
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

We are able to give back to God - very few things. Because all that we give is a gift of God. And in the small gifts we give - like thanksgiving - gratitude. God takes our prayers and hopes and thanks and God makes us Live in His Kingdom.

Even today we are on the same path. Our Destination is Jesus. What we bring to our Savior from our souls is our life or our death. Even our attitude on our mortality is what we offer to Jesus.



Father God,

I open my heart to You. Help me to Love. Help me to be Wise. I thank You for the people in my life You have Given. I thank You for the gifts I have each day. For these, I say with Profound Thanks, Father God. I will take each day and hope to please You.

I ask Your Blessings on those I love. For their cares. I know You are Joy and in You we are Strengthened. I carry my concerns, large and small to You. And know You have heard. I say to My Father - You are My Hope and Future. Thank Jesus Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 6 ~ Your Father who sees

Matthew 6

 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Ministries bringing the Lord Jesus forth - reveal hearts. And in bringing forth the Righteousness of God, we all hope to present Him pure and spotless as He is. We will sometimes forget, all have fallen. Only Jesus. Only Jesus is Good. Each day requires telling Father God, we need Him to make our paths straight and motives pure for our heart to stay open to Him.


John 12

2 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Jesus is the center. Lazarus, Mary and Martha know Jesus is the center. Only the man who turns away to pursue his own interests is  the one interested in the money.

Paul discussed funds. He was a tentmaker. Peter owned a fleet of fishing ships. It isn't that horrible money is discussed, it is that Judas is interested in the glory of earth, the association of the Temple officials. Judas is interested in Judas' glory.  Paul certainly knew the Temple officials. Gamaliel was a favorite of Paul's. And Paul was taught where his heart should go. Paul did put his heart to Jesus.

The widow who put in her coins, let the trumpets of the Temple carry the noise. All offerings were put down the trumpets - it was majestic, made an incredible noise, and kept hands away from the coins going down the shoots.

What really occurs when a John Mark is disparaged as a companion by, wow, Paul, is it is up to us to make our hearts remain open to God.

Jesus was not the most successful minister. In fact, Jesus said that His Children who could come later, would show greater works than Jesus. Jesus is not so concerned by works, Jesus is concerned with the heart and soul to Father God. God of Love. Jesus dealt with Judas, with the disciples who ran away, with the man of 38 years who was ungrateful for the healing. He dealt with nine lepers. And Jesus is Love. Jesus loved anyway.

Jesus told the mourning as He went to his death, "Days would come." And the generation of Jesus would find the lame did not walk, after Jesus ascended. The blind did not see. The deaf did not hear. And instead of leaving them to what they deserved, that generation found this:

John 1
9The true light, which gives light to everyone, had coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive him.

And yet to all who did receive Jesus, who believed in His name, Jesus the Christ of God gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

God's Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory,
glory as of the only Sond from the Father,
full of grace and truth.


For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.



Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
as we also have forgiven those who sin against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

As Your beloved disciple John found,
Yours is the Kingdom,
the Power
and the Glory.

When we believe in the name of Jesus, we know Jesus covers us in His Righteousness.
We call on two parts of the Trinity, and the Holy Spirit is there with us - making two or more gathered in His Name.

We recognize we are transitory and see the unseen as eternal. Saying His will in our temporary state - mortality
is good. His will for this time on earth - we accept. For good reason. We were built to pass to death. Jesus
gives Life. We are honoring in belief - His Greater Good.

Daily Bread - Jesus is the Bread of Life. Our lives rely upon His Word. Man lives and the universe is upheld by God's Word.

We will do no effective works to clean up our sins. Jesus has nailed our sins to the Blood stained Cross. Jesus has killed our sin in His sacrifice. Jesus is sufficient and perfect.He who raised the death back to their mother. He who raised the dead for the official who knew Jesus was apart. He who made the blind see again and again. Jesus who held the leper and healed. Jesus who welcomed the little children to Him.

We ask the patience of God Almighty. Presenting an open heart and not double intentions and selfishness. Asking God to make our path straight. Not riding a time with Jesus to glorify ourselves. Asking with open heartedness, for Jesus and Abba to protect us from temptation and evil.

For us to participate in His Love in His Kingdom, Power and Glory. Knowing we are part of the Body of Christ. God is Love and we cover the people we love with His Prayer and Love and know all our concerns are held dearly by the One who Loves us.  In His Word we are embraced and loved, upheld by His Love tenderly. In Jesus, we rejoice. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

2 Kings 20 ~ What shall be the sign that the Lord will

2 Kings 20

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 

4 And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.” 

7 And Isaiah said, “Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil, that he may recover.”

8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?” 

9 And Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” 

10 And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen ten steps. Rather let the shadow go back ten steps.” 

11 And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.

12 At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13 And Hezekiah welcomed them, and he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. 

14 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.” 

15 He said, “What have they seen in your house?” And Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”

16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: 17 Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. 18 And some of your own sons, who shall be born to you, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” 19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”

20 The rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and all his might and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son reigned in his place.



Mark 8:12
And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

Jesus gave us so many signs, to ask for another is faithless. We know what the signs were for Hezekiah, this is one of the well known scriptures. And we know the Book of Isaiah.

John 12:41
Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.

2 Chronicles 30:1
Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel.

Hezekiah later named his son Manasseh after the tribe of Israel. 2 Kings records the failure of Hezekiah's son to lead Israel to the LORD and refers us to 2 Chronicles. 2 Chronicles 33 says:

The Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. 11 Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. 12 And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

14 Afterward he built an outer wall for the city of David west of Gihon, in the valley, and for the entrance into the Fish Gate, and carried it around Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. He also put commanders of the army in all the fortified cities in Judah. 15 And he took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside of the city. 16 He also restored the altar of the Lord and offered on it sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and he commanded Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 17 Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, behold, they are in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 19 And his prayer, and how God was moved by his entreaty, and all his sin and his faithlessness, and the sites on which he built high places and set up the Asherim and the images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the Chronicles of the Seers. 20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his house, and Amon his son reigned in his place.

Hebrews 11:37
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—

So many times this Hebrews passage is related to 2 Kings, yet 2 Chronicles 33:19
says:

19 And his prayer, and how God was moved by his entreaty, and all his sin and his faithlessness, and the sites on which he built high places and set up the Asherim and the images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the Chronicles of the Seers.

Isaiah was part of a school of religious men. This school existed at the end of Manasseh's reign.

We also believe Jeremiah suffered. However, Jeremiah was promised in the First Chapter of Jeremiah, verse 19.

"They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”

This is a sign the Lord gives us.

Psalm 27:14
Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Psalm 31:24
So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD!

Psalms 25:5
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Psalms 33:20
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

Psalm 59:9
O my Strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are my fortress.

Galatians 5:5
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

1 Corinthians 1:7
so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ



Blessed are You, O LORD JESUS CHRIST, our hope and Redeemer. Blessed be Abba our Father.

Thank You for Your Words on answered prayer. I thank You for my mother's healing. I thank You for the time we have together. Thank You for the week with my sons. And the time I have with Edward. We lift up Edward's health to You and ask for Your blessing of Life and Health. I ask You for wisdom, goodness and strength. For even my dog to behave better. And give You thanks for the life of my 19 year old cat, Scoop, who is better today.

We give You great Thanks for the holiday that is about to unfold. Lifting up hearts to be good to one another. Times to spend enjoying our children and the life You Provide. The earth enters into a season of rest. And we know Spring will come. Help us be Light in the celebration of Holy Days and let salt keep this filled with flavor, interest, Joy, Love, Patience, Encouragement, Truth, Peace.

This year has had challenges and the Word of God and people of God have made this year a time of gratitude. I thank You with all my heart.

We lift up the Nation to You. All of our lives and people we spend time with. And we will sleep tonight knowing we all rest in Your Will, in Your Plans, in Your Love. Jesus the Lord. Thank You that You provide for us a Word about Answered Prayer and we place our loved ones right there in Your Word.

The Blessing of God is Jesus and Jesus is Love. Keep our Hearts fully open to this Son of God. Love. Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Proverbs 14:10 ~ Joy!

 

 

Proverbs 14:10

The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.

In your 20s, it's a shock to find you are an adult. Usually employment does not come with applause for refrigerator art. Times are serious and your time is fully required. Not a lot of Church groups for this age group - really. You have to shop.

In your 30s, you are building to support your family. In Spiritual life. In Education. In nutrition. In material goods, with an eye to college and athletic development in your children teaching life lessons. This is a busy time. Filled with young dreams for your family.

As you enter into your forties, you realize you have nested.  Tada nesting accomplished. Life is usually busy with children and spouses and families with young grandparents. Life moves quickly and filled with joy and noise.

And as you enter into your fifties, people have decided to be themselves. Surprisingly so. A lot of people feel they are preparing to be old people. Some feel it's the time not be anyone but themselves - a few really need some kind of personality girdle! Forrest's mother might be right about that box of Chocolate. Honesty is a Goodness.


And in your 60's, you analyze your life to see if you feel your life has been well lived. Some fall into the trap of material goods rationalization.

In your 70's, if you have good health, it's really the first decade of age. Still time to exercise and be going forth for the Lord in the examples you lead.

My Mother wisely said do not worry about being too old - until you really are.

Really where we live - is the eternal. Our Soul. Eventually the applause of mankind is rather short lived. In times of stress, extreme stress we find our friends and family shift in priority. My mother lived through economic crisis and divorce. Her life-long friends changed in her late 50s. And she found her path again. And in her 80's is finding her path again.

The truth is when we rely upon God. Our Joy comes from Father God and we will continue as the circumstance and times change. The Light from within comes from God. This this hearth is the source of our Life.

Jesus is the Word of Life.

Father God,

We give thanks to the Lord, for You are good, Your steadfast love endures forever!

Giving thanks always and for everything to God our Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with Thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Jesus.

When we believe God, we have found Jesus. And in Jesus, we are part of the communion of saints. We are part of the Eternal Body of Christ Jesus. Sealed as Jesus' own. His Beloved.

We will walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love!

Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit—just as wewere called to the one hope belonging to our personal call— in one Lord, one faith, one baptism, in one God and Father of all. He is over all and through all and in all.

Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore the written Scriptures say,

“When He ascended on high He led a host of captives,
and He gave gifts to men.”

And we have found where the tombs that opened on Good Friday went. And what the living multitude found in the Holy Spirit.

This is Today. And we are the Easter People. Alleluia is our Song.

The Joy of the Lord is our Strength!

In Jesus we lift up those we love. Our concerns for many things. His answers and steadfast love. Our rest in Jesus. Our assurances in Jesus. For the people God gives us. Our communities, neighborhoods, Churches. The people we have known for years and pray for. The needs we remember even if we don't know the results. The daily thoughts of God's Goodness. His Continued Loving Work. His Promises to Us. And we will rejoice in being part of the praying Body of Christ Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †