Psalm 16 ~ I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

Calvary Stone, showing the Earthquake Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Psalm 16

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those who run after [acquire] another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being [glory]rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption [the pit].

11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Luke 23:27

"A great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for Him"

Luke 31:

34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

43 And he [Jesus] said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Matthew 28:

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, 

for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen

Jesus Lives!

Abba,

This day and every day,
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.

I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being [glory] rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.

For you will not abandon my soul to death.

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

We give You Thanks, for Your Glory, Your Power, Your Kingdom.

Protect and bless those we Love. God, Thank You, You have. We ask the prayers of the people You have given us. Bless the path of this Nation asking Your help so determinedly today. We rejoice in Jesus and rely upon the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 7:31-37 ~ Then he returned

Mark 7:31-37

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.

33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately,
he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.

36 And Jesud charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”





Kamiyah Mobley found out her mother Gloria, had taken her from a hospital almost 20 years ago. Her real parents actually lived 200 miles away, and had been missing her every day since she was taken from then.

Now, her paternal grandmother, Velma Aiken has spoken out about the traumatic events of July 1998, revealing to Good Morning Britain that the family are getting used to having Kamiyah back in their lives.

As a spokes person for the family, this story is unique. Her grandmother said she had suffered terribly for the baby wondering what would happened to a kidnapped baby. And now it's such a joy to have her back. To find she speaks well and does well and loves her unusually adopted mother.

Velma Aiken says she has no feelings toward the abductor, but forgives her.


The Good News about this case - also - no one has stepped up Columbine Style to ask if the rest have forgiven the kidnapper - giving the family time to process new events.

I love that Velma Aiken has repeated the Solomon story of being glad the child has lived and thrived. God bless the families that represent trauma with a spokesperson of forgiveness.

Velma Aiken went on to say the only advice she has for her granddaughter Kamiyah is that she should pray for all the people involved. This is beautiful.




Father God,

Help us all to have private times to grow.

We give thanks Christ has been represented in this family with a spokesperson bringing forth goodness and gratitude. Advocating forgiveness with restitution of their child. Prayer for all of those considered.

We give thanks no one has jumped down the throats of the others asking for pushy forgiveness instead - restitution and fairness in justice. With compassion and prayer.

How beautiful to see a story uncomplicated by joy and goodness.

Let this continue around the world as an example to us all.

Blessed be the Lord! For He has heard the voice of their pleas for mercy.

The Lord is our strength and shield; in God our heart trusts, and we are helped;
our heart exults,and with this song I give thanks to Him.

The Lord is the strength of His people; He is the saving refuge of His anointed.

Oh, save Your people and bless Your heritage!
Be their Shepherd and carry them forever.

Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

John 14 ~ Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe

John 14

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 

2 In my Father's House are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.


15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 

21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me.

31 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.




Having a Ball with Social Media???

Enjoying all the fb you ever wanted???

Jimmy Kimmel did an amazing one week series on well known people reading the tweets expressed by fans; should we use the word 'fans' for what was tweeted? Ok, the tweets of twits. Wow. To see the hurt on the faces of "people". I won't forget.

 

I'm thinking based on the Social Media of alllllll the people who Refuse to Play for Trump's Inaugural - we might need to take count - surely, surely, surely not this many people have actually been invited. Wow. And some of the people who tell us they have turned down the President Elect, or commenting, have said they'd be living out of the country.



Today.
Yahoo news tells us NFL Jay Cutler's wife shuts down his body shamers for his NFL flabby. Kristin Cavallari has been there - done that - before - July 4th her children were very criticized for being starved. Starved. Kristin tweeted in July she had never before blocked so many people for saying her children were starved. We all feel a little sorry for someone being slammed both ways.

To the newly engaged couple - I hope this picture finds you! Congratulations!

Yesterday.
Reddit, yesterday, showed a couple getting engaged and the photographer wanted - the foggy NYC water surrounding the tea lights in the shape of a heart and the faces of Joy - to have reached the engaged couple. Man the 240 comments were - awful.. After reading about 50 top comments - I quit. I asked two really huge Reddit fans about this and they shrugged and said, "Meh, Reddit fans, Meh. Regular commentary." Ok, we get that - this is where we rail on each other - but - maybe this carries out into the permanence of what is 'ok'?






HGTV Stars Joanna and Chip Gaines Suffer Brutal Media Attacks headlines report.

Eventually Joanna and Chip said give us some slack, we won't be baited to respond with hate. Chip Gaines: Joanna and I ‘Care About You’.

“That’s all fascinating, but it cannot add or take away from the reality that we’re already pulling for you. We are not about to get in the nasty business of throwing stones at each other, don’t ask us to cause we won’t play that way,” he wrote.

Gaines said the past year was “tough” and he couldn’t “recall humanity being more divided.”




Kelly Clarkson Won't Be Fat Shamed, Tells British Twitter. This woman had the nurse delivering her baby saying she was fat, fat.







And what would Jesus do?

Well, I'd like to borrow Jesus' brain, because He would definitely know what to say.


Jesus says don't worry so much. Look John 14!!!   Well, we say - that's fine for Jesus. This bully part of life is actually pretty worrisome. And besides - really - honestly - who is going to get to actually, really, truly, brutally honestly - us - c'mon - this is me reading the Word of God and doing reality applying God's Word to - my - friggen - life CMON who is going to get to LIVE IN THE HOUSE OF JESUS???  Then we might say, not me, so forget this whoooole Chapter.


Let's look at that - go with that. 'Live in the House of Father God'.

The Bible records seven layers of Heaven. St. Thomas Aquinas famously said that the top level is for the Patriarchs of the Bible, the Martyrs and the infants who died very, very young and stillborn babies. Sooo - basically - not all us. Not exactly.  Jesus is saying that there are multitudes and multitudes who will live in the "House of God". His Kingdom. Jesus is saying this - this is important. Jesus is saying that you are more precious than sparrows and the GOD who Created ALL - knows when a Sparrow falls. This God, this Father, who gives us Wonderful Jesus is saying - the God who creates the Universe is - is - IS going to find you a place with tender love.

Is He able? Yes. God has named the Stars. Commanded the path of the Planets, Understands how Gravity Functions. Completed DNA. And says life is in the blood. God understands blood being made and the hairs on your head.

And your place in the "House' of God - His Kingdom is specifically designed for His Child - you. Recently I have been smiling over Revelation Chapter One. John is sitting in old, old age upon the beautiful hill Father God has provided him - looking at the harbor of Patmos. And suddenly John is in God's House. John's reaction is he does -  something very human - he is Terrified. And John throws himself on the floor preparing to faint with total fear. He records - I was sitting in my house on a Sunday afternoon.  I love that. I really do. Jesus says with completely the right amount of comfort - "Don't faint, John - this is me, Jesus." The Words and the tone and the comfort make John - understand the key has fit the perfect lock within John - to make John fruitful, happy, and comforted - to continue in Father God's Path.



Dying is far away - why worry about ol' God.

Well, really this post is about Life. No one is going to get out of life without being bullied. Jesus dealt with that. Donald Trump just really did poorly in the first Presidential Debate against Senator Clinton - she laughed and was poised and scoffed at him. Donald Trump went home looking a little lost that night.

Is John 14 about this? Yes. This is about the trouble we face in this Life.

Ok, you worry. Jesus had times where He looked at bullies and He said, "Never mind, no thanks." Jesus told His own brothers - No, thanks, not going to the Festival. Jesus went on His own terms. Jesus had times He knew to stay out of Jerusalem. Is this a good response? You betcha. If Jesus employs this - this is Jesus.

This worked for Joanna and Chip Gaines. They had time to let the emotions calm down. Smart people knew not to be baited.

I had this done to me on the job once, by the boss, who referred to herself as "The Queen". Smart people know to keep their mouth shut.

This worked for Donald Trump. He knew he couldn't win that debate and he did his best. (I have not always pulled for President Trump - like during the election with Jeb Bush - but I am praying for him - along with denominations who didn't pull for him - and we Believe in the Power of God and expect good things. The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Michael Curry says we are called in the Word of God to pray for our President. Believe the best of him and the power of God in prayer. Amen!)

Jesus was not really meek and mild.

Jesus said Try Not to Worry. This is Not Permanent. And I doubt Jesus thought causing a 36 acre stampede in the Temple was permanent.

We might picture Jesus asking rather softly to Thomas and Phillip about His Words in this Chapter... Really? Jesus took on the Sadducean Council regularly. Jesus was rather to the point with Nicodemus.

You know it's really possible to experience so much trouble in life - that life begins to - not be so bothersome. I know a Fortune 500 CEO who said that really the problems and situations of the day - are interesting.

It's not permanent. And Priorities of what really matters...


Jesus dealt with the Glory of John 1 - The Transfiguration and arrival of His Father. And then went down the mountain to deal with regular life. Jesus is good at dealing with the highs and lows of life. This is the same Jesus who lifted Peter back into the boat, securely. This is the same Jesus who called for Calm upon the Storm.

 


If we put God first and see clearly what is important - Life might not believe in a free lunch - yet Life wants to eat your lunch and lunch money - however - - - If we put God first. Look to Jesus. Read the Bible. Seek His Answers - we are going to end up with Love, Joy, Peace. Because in the ability to see God first - things that do not matter - tend to fall into place.

We could now spend time bemoaning the culture. But we are the culture. We are the Lights of Jesus Christ.

Be salt. Be Light. Be in expectation of God. Bounce.


Rise, let us go from here.

Our Abba,

Father God, You walk with us. Ethiopians know God walks with them. You are the God of All. Creator of All. Vast. Wise. Loving. Good.

Help the ones I love, the people You have given me - to find Your Love and Your Loving Words - the key to fit the Light of God You have placed in All of Mankind. Let us look at what is Noble and Good and rise from here.

John tells us You are Love. Paul tells us You are Love, Joy, Peace. Luke, the Glorious Physician, who stayed with Paul and Peter always in the love God has for us - tells us You are Encouragement. Help us bring all of You to our lives, words, work, faith, heart and soul - seeing more Heaven on earth - this day. Until we see Your Kingdom, Power and Glory. In the Wonderful Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Isaiah 62 ~ And they shall be called The Holy People

Isaiah 62

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
and her salvation as a burning torch.

2 The nations shall see your righteousness,
and all the kings your glory,
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.

3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
5 For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your sons marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.

6 On your walls, O Jerusalem,
I have set watchmen;
all the day and all the night
they shall never be silent.
You who put the Lord in remembrance,
take no rest,
7 and give him no rest
until he establishes Jerusalem
and makes it a praise in the earth.


8 The Lord has sworn by his right hand
and by his mighty arm:
“I will not again give your grain
to be food for your enemies,
and foreigners shall not drink your wine
for which you have labored;
9 but those who garner it shall eat it
and praise the Lord,
and those who gather it shall drink it
in the courts of my sanctuary.”

10 Go through, go through the gates;
prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway;
clear it of stones;
lift up a signal over the peoples.

11 Behold, the Lord has proclaimed
to the end of the earth:
Say to the daughter of Zion,
“Behold, your salvation comes;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.”
12 And they shall be called The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the Lord;
and you shall be called Sought Out





It's the Januaries. Just is.

We all have seasons we love and times of buckle up - bumpy ride.

Sure. there are people who adore the snow and the coats and the slush and the fires and the warm drinks. And then you have less sunlight and the JOY of Christmas and New Year becomes taking down the decorations. Back to regular life with far less sunlight.

The good part about the Pine Forest stretching from Houston, and East Texas allll the way to most of Florida - the Pine Forest keeps green perking along.



I got tired of listening to the Politics of the Election. I am tired of the aftermath. So how does this correlate to our society. I couldn't tell you. Other than 80% of Americans pray and believe God is going to listen to them when they hardly know what to do and need the help of Jesus.



However - I could tell you about what I observe. In the 1930's, and before, people had to save up and pay cash for a house 5g to 30g. Sometimes it took 5 years of living in above garage apartments. In the 1970's, people had to only report one income to get a house. and we grew up seeing our neighborhoods having visiting families where cars dotted the streets.

Late 1970's,  my parents knew Congress had passed a bill to allow two incomes to be considered to buy houses. My parents anticipated a huge increase in housing costs and they bought an investment duplex. Our house value rose quickly from 45g to 198g. And we have never seen dramatic housing prices come down. Now houses are our principal investments and are sold off to do old age provisions after 30 years of mortgage.

How has this hardship affected human relations? Today, in the USA, the statistic is we have two friends. I am fortunate to have two friends.

Why don't we see more? Well, it has to do with being raised and our idea of self esteem. We see super achievers working hard at being super, a lot of times to overcome what friends and relatives and family said about never amounting to much. And then you see the people who feel a comment would level things out. The put down.

And then you have people offended by nothing.

And then you have the fact that as you went out - mostly people ARE kind to one another - but afraid of committing and being embarrassed in this perpetual think think think think think world.




We always have a choice how we respond to our lives. I respond by complaining. It's like being surrounded by gentle people who are like a good mother - I like you - I affirm you - but don't ask me for tooo much. Because you need to stand on your own two feet.


And then you have the sharp commenters and the people who would cut you out of a luncheon for fear and reprisal of their own actions. The people with sharp comments are probably not going to hush - but life is short - mean runs in circles - let it go.

We get a choice. Always - the rain rains on the just and the unjust.


What is our choice? Have Joy. Choose Joy. Make the Bridge like Jesus did when He overcame.

When Jesus healed the Widow of Nain's Son in front of "a Large Crowd" - He was not being a show boat. Jesus was so very person to person oriented. Jesus was demonstrating, "All Things Are Possible With God." Jesus came back from ... Death. To say choose the 500 who would be a good bridge. Life is short  - - - look to the real meaning.

Let go of things that wrankle.

A fine example of seeing with Faith is this: Believe with the eyes of faith. The loud voices who Presume to Dictate - don't necessarily matter.

Martin Luther King had this Right:

Listen to the voices of Love.
Look for what is noble and good.
Build where there is the goodness of Love - this is the Bedrock of Jesus.
Read the Bible to find where your heart is strangely warm.

This LOVE is where we want to dwell.

Not in the pollution of power - me - perfect - me got this - me this that.


The Bible said Look for what is Noble, Pure and Good and SEE and Comment on This Love.

Forgive - forgive the people who think they have all that is needed if they spike out at you. They offer judgment. Be polite. Be positive. Put roots where Love is. Grandmother Anita would say Rise Above This.

What commentary would God give? If God is for us, who can be against us?

You know truly the Prodigal Son is about process - time - evaluation - growth. Psalm 90 is a Psalm of Moses and very correctly says even Acts of the Most High God - take time. David found Psalm 91 took 21 years. God is saying if God is for us, we will believe God and continue to be Light and Salt.

God tells us He gives us work - to Believe God. Jesus got up every day and went the direction God Gives Jesus. Jesus was not all thrills - every minute of every day. In fact, one of Jesus' early miracles was to go to the Pool of Bethsaida to heal a man so broken down by 38 years beside the pool - the man didn't even really ask to be healed. Jesus said, "Take up your pallet and go home." The man was thrilled to do this and thrilled to, basically, turn Jesus in for the "thanks".

What did Jesus think of not being really thanked? Jesus went on to the Town of Bethsaida and found there was a blind man and Jesus used saliva and mud, anointed the man's eyes and - and - and - sent him to - "The Pool of Siloam" meaning 'sent' - where the man was healed. Jesus did not give up on Goodness. He did not sit at home and say that man by the Pool of Bethsaida has life nicer than I do with the pleasantries of the Temple.

Jesus healed and healed and healed. Especially the blind. Over and over and over. And we only today - 2 millenniums later find out that only, one blind man turned back to give thanks and said, "This is so amazing, Jesus, I'd like to be part of this. My name is Bartimaeus, I used to be blind and now I see."

WOW. If Jesus can find more joy and more belief to be - JESUS THE LORD - I believe I will keep on and believe Jesus is the very best. Matthew threw Jesus a party. I am so glad. Mary had Jesus and all His Disciples stay for a few days after the wedding in Canna.

You know who remembered that? Jesus - when He was Victorious - Jesus went to find - the 500 He knew to be Good, Noble, Interested in Seeing Good. I am going to start remembering what was affirmed and I am going to see and over look and tell Jesus and be real and be honest and my words will address the many, many, many fine and good and noble people in life.

Father God,

Thank You for the woman who was so polite when my warm drink was spilled. Thank You for the people who bring dogs who wander home. Thank You for people who ask how you are and affirm kindness. Thank You for the people who listen to your stories again and again. Thank You for bringing my son some new and very kind people in their lives. Thanks my son has opportunities and personality and You are the Lord.

Thanks for the people on my street who stop and talk to me so that I am so late getting home my husband asks where I have been. I appreciate people who literally will turn a cartwheel on my street to show kindness.

I appreciate people who say, "I'm getting a cup of coffee can I get you one." Lord Jesus - Thank You for bring to my attention my lack of gratitude what IS good. Thank YOU JESUS.

Help us all see and speak and give JOY for Blessings. Even if it a piece of toast with Cinnamon. Girl, we have to Love the Lord.

Lord God Almighty - beat back the Januaries and let sunshine and joy give us spring in our Hearts. Amen Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 91:4 ~ Covered in the Pinions of Christ Jesus

Psalm 91:4

He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

Jesus is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; Jesus fulfills the Law.  These are the attributes God gives us of His Son.

Love

The Lord God is a God of Love

1 John 4:7-9
7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

Jesus, Son of God, desires
all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all.



These are fine Words of God, how will we put them to our lives today? How can we have this knowledge/assurance?

Timothy and Paul spoke of this as fact.

1 Timothy 3:13
Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Today, when we are not so articulate in the Holy Spirit, we say this with the same belief as Paul, "We know what we know that we are assured, we know."

Peace

And in the Love God has for us we arrive at Peace.

Jesus dealt with His Chosen Disciples feeling unsure. Jesus is very sympathetic to all of our emotions. Jesus slept and then calmed the storm.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Greater peace and solid peace is what Jesus has for the human condition. A good place to be when we pray. The Bible records people often feel anger, fear, discomfort, longing and reasons to pray. God would say this earth is going to pass away for us. He will not. We are meant to grow and to find safe harbor in God. Peace is a gift of the belief God gives us. Jesus is never recorded as being amazed at fear - instead in Luke 7 - Jesus is very pleased and remarks with Joy when He finds Faith. Jesus is The God of Love.

(Jesus does speak with some dismay at finding lack of belief. God is God. Parents act like parents.)

The picture is more a summation of all these words.

Joy

John 15:10-12

10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.


Jesus is telling us, what He thinks of walking forth in this Life.

Jesus is  fueled with God's Love and desire to walk with God in the paths He is for us.

Jesus has told us to be Salt - filled with flavor. And filled with Light. We need to rethink what we picture the face of God expressing. God who desires all the world, all of mankind to be save.

Numbers 6, God tells us what a blessing we have experienced when God's face lifts and smiles.

Psalm 67:1
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

Psalm 4:6
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!

Father God,

You gave us this list and You put Love first. When we realize these three words would put the Father shown as Your Son, Jesus. We have seen You and rejoice.

Thank You for being part and answering our prayers each time we pray. We lift all of our cares and concerns to You - Rejoicing in being heard and anticipation of Your answer. Thank You, Abba, in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †