Matthew 2:1,9b-11 ~ behold, wise men from the east

 

James Tissot, explaining the Journey of the Magi

Matthew 2:1,9b-11

2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem


9.... they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 

11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. 

Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 


The Scriptures repeat and repeat. Sometimes in the most unusual ways.


James 2:14-25

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works.

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?


26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.





The second part of our Scriptures is written by James, the brother of Jesus. Who certainly did not spend Jesus' ministry in step with Jesus. Jesus remarked that whoever did the Will of God was His Family. Jesus, being God, knew His Brothers would participate in all His Brothers and Mary would return.


Acts 1
13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.



In fact, part of Constantine's conversion, In 303, the Emperors Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius issued a series of edicts rescinding the legal rights of Christians and demanding that they comply with traditional Roman religious practices. Bishop Eusebius records being an eyewitness of the young Constantine being sent to Nazareth to torture and coerce the descendants of Jesus' brothers to defy Jesus as God. They refused, even upon bribery, and died. Constantine is said to have been like Pilate, and moved by their devotion to Jesus and Constantine's fate depending upon his adherence to Diocletian.

A.D. 312. Constantine I was the first Roman Emperor converting the Roman Empire to Christianity.





Jesus made room for His Brothers to have journey. And said something about the process of life.


Matthew 20

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

One of the things Jesus never remarked upon -  tardiness. Jesus, instead, has the Bible inform us - events are timed according to God. Jesus knew His James, Joses, Jude, and Simon would be very, very glad to see Jesus return to them for 40 days alive and well in defeating death for us all.

Abba, You are God Most High, You reign, let the earth be glad!

For life's journey to God
let the distant shores rejoice.

Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all peoples see our God's Glory.

Worship Him!

Zion hears and rejoices
and the villages of Judah are glad
because of Your judgments, Lord.

For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.

Let those who love the Lord practice only good,
for He guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Light shines on the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart!

Rejoice! Rejoice, Emmanuel!
The Lord!
You who are righteous!
Praise His Holy Name.

Jesus the Lord, please cover us with Your Name daily.
Cover those we Love and the People You have give us.
The Blessings of our earnest, good and Loving Jesus
exalt our hearts and carry us in His Good Will and Love.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 91 ~ His faithfulness

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.

Each day brings us challenges and blessings.
One of the challenges is to remember the Children of Israel and the Disciples were always concerned God would depart. Just vanish.

Ecclesiastes house deserted - forgetting Naomi and Ruth fought despair and walked through the desert, probably hungry - finding God would find life again. Blessings. Trusting God.


God would walk with us in our human conditions, in plenty on a beautiful lake with fish and in the desert. Our soul is cradled by our Father to arrive in His House, His Kingdom. God tells us He does not show partiality - God crosses borders and time - to reach us.

Exodus 33:21-
21 Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23
"Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen."

Exodus 34
5The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7keeping steadfast love for thousands,a forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 9And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”


Millenniums have progressed, Jesus is still cradling us.


1 Timothy 2

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is

pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

5 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, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling



Acts 4:12
Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.


Will we be able to save ourselves? Salvation is a gift of God. We need Father God's Salvation in Jesus. We need His help when we feel we are wrong, tired, weary, too challenged to do His Will. We need His Mercy and Forgiveness.



Thank You God. God of Love. God of keen understanding.

Upholder of Righteousness. Keeper of Goodness. Protector of the weak. Defender of the merciful. Father of all. Calling His creation Good and His believers Beloved.

Thank You, You know all of our prayers. Thank You for Your Love and Mercy. In Jesus we are assured, upheld, honored, helped, loved and forgiven. Thank You, You keep us in Your embrace. Jesus holds us as His own Beloved. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 8:37, 40-42, 49-56 ~ just believe

 

Luke 8:37, 40-42, 49-56

37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

 40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.

 49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”



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




51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”

53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 

55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.





The life of Jesus holds real meaning for us in our diligence to press forward, not being perfect, but pressing forward positively in life with Jesus.


Jesus is not welcomed in the town, at first. Jesus is so busy, we see the rejection did not sting too much. In fact, when Jesus healed the man who was ill for 38 years at the waters of the Pool of Bethsaida, "Take up your pallet and walk", the man turned Jesus in to the Temple authorities. Jesus reacted by going to the actual town of Bethsaida, healing a blind man with water, and sending him to the "Pool of Siloam" meaning sent and the man sent was healed. Jesus presses, presses, presses forward.

So continuing the thought, Jesus is forsaken by the town for healing. Then returns to be sincerely welcomed by a crowd pressing and pressing in upon Him. And as He again seeks to heal, the crowd laughs at Him. Fickle.

Luke 8 tells us again. God is not a bug zapper. Father God tells us, in effect, He understands we are small and weak and wobbly. God loves us.

This is Father GOD, He reaches to us, with Love. We do not build universes.

Remember with me, the father presenting his son to Jesus cried out, "I do have faith, help me to have more faith!"

Jesus goes where HE is needed. And we will Live. Thank You, Jesus.


Abba,

The disciples were weak and wobbly as we all are. John the disciple was steadfast. We see the people are identical to the Children of Israel in the desert. Thinking You will not stay with us, the miracles are over. The time is past.

Father God, in Your Power and Glory, help us to lean upon You to be steadfast and see the blessings of peace, love, joy and long life steadfast John the Beloved Disciple had by being steadfast.

Strengthen us, please Father. Thank You we are Strengthened by the Glory of Jesus Christ by the Light of Christ shining in those who Love Jesus.

As we read of Jairus reaching for Jesus, let us be with Jairus. To feel His hope looking at Jesus. This is our Living Bible.

Let us be Jairus' beloved daughter, being blessed, not for any good work of ours, but the Goodness, The Power and The Glory belonging to Jesus Christ alone. This is why we know ~ You are Abba the Almighty, Majestic, Good, Wisdom, Father of All. This is Your Living Word. Jesus the Lord, let Your Good Will be done for my prayer requests and your prayer requests we tenderly place in the loving Will of our Abba. This is Your Good Will.

Abba, we are blessed to see the Goodness You bring Your Children today. All believers have miracles they rejoice in. In the Living Word, we eagerly anticipate Your Acts.

We want to be, we are, indeed indeed indeed, the Easter People and we know where we put our Trust. Jesus. Thanks to You, Father God. We tenderly place the people we love their real needs and concerns, the people You give us in Your care. Our communities, neighborhoods, cities, state, Nation and the world wide, believing, Jesus' Beloved. Blessing the Work of His Beloved and covering this with the High Name of Jesus with Gratitude. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 5:4-6 ~ they caught such a large number +++

 

A unique view, wouldn't we all want to see this?

Luke 5:4-6

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.




Peter was living a Deuteronomy Blessing moment. And his reaction was disciple typical - absolute fear. Angels are God's messengers and instructed to speak with authority "Fear Not!" God would indeed be able to carry His Message succinctly and effectively.

Jesus never told Peter He wanted new disciples. And in doing the Word of God - disciples departed our wonderful Jesus.


Leaving Jesus? The 72 partially departed. The blind see, the deaf hear, the poor have good news, lepers are embraced and healed. Good souls are found and praised. Life is given back, made more whole. Paralysis is gone. Bleeding stops. Questions are answered. Children come back from the dead. Servants live. Demons flee. Multitudes are nourished and fed - being told to be appreciative of God, not just a free lunch.


God loves to repeat Scripture, because we see our unique circumstance fits in His Plans. His Will. Peter was afraid and later the 72 would see too many blessings and too much God Authority Absolutely to be comfortable. Then again, God does not have Angels say, "Be comfortable, what is your opinion?" God tends to do all God intends.


"God buries His Workmen, but carries on His Work"
~ Charles Wesley





We always want to walk in God's Good Plan. Peter was living and seeing, being securely carried in all the blessings told to us. God putting forth His plan in Deuteronomy.


1 Chronicles 4:9
10 Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" And God granted him what he requested.

Jabez was not extremely favored by his mother. She attempted to stick him with a selfish name. God changed the circumstance, exactly as God could change the circumstance of Jacob. Without their intervention. Jacob probably obtained that blessing - because he was genuinely interested, like Jabez, in asking and obtaining~
God's Good Will, Plan, Future and Blessing.

Peter was wise. He was confronting something much larger than Peter. Peter's family was quite successful. They had the largest home in Capernaum, view of the water from each room. Shaded with trees. Position - right next door to the Synagogue - where people gather. Peter's house was one of the few with plastered walls. Peter could see if the fishing was this large every day - the market would be glutted. Demand would fall. Nets would tear. Masts would be threatened and boats could sink. Without refrigeration - this would rot. Perhaps the future of steady fishing would be ruined. Too many fish consumed, would leave barren fish crops.

This would be fantastic, but what if this led to a downfall. This was extreme.





When my grandfather, Ray, an architect began to build his dream house, he fueled the building with buying a farm for steady income. He had a good job, the right site. A huge Colonial was in the process when Grandmother Anita had Pneumonia, at age 40.

Just like her father - who died of Pneumonia in his 40's. It was the year before antibiotics and Sulfa drugs were used. Anita would spent the next 12 months in an iron lung, breathing for her. She would have fever and delirium for months

Anita came home to find out, Ray had died of the stress, the farm was falling apart, the land with the foundation was growing over. Blessings can destroy us, if we are not moving along with God's plans. I saw this recently with several people going too far. Just because we hope for more, more, more - maybe what is needed is gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.



We think of Peter as foolish. Peter knew his industry. He knew what steady is. Steady keeps the fish supply. Peter surely understood this.




Peter would later be loyal to Jesus when the 72 disciples wanted to leave, saying "Jesus has the Words of Life." Life is Steadfast. Jesus is the Light of the world. When we shake and tremble, we can count on God being enduring. Works of God go far. The History Channel sees evidence of the Exodus. Israel has been, not just dismantled, but obliterated and has resurrected. The Church Jesus spoke of in Caesarea, has been here for 2,000 years. The History of Jesus is recorded, by the largest system of government in the planet's history - Jesus was sought to be struck down And today we find Christians are almost 1 of 3 people of the world.

The Steadfast Love God has for us.

Jesus was heard to say - He wants to save the world. And put His arms around you.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

“Wrong will be made right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

“Aslan said," You doubt your value. Don't run from who you are.”

― C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian 

Isaiah 65
18"But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for gladness. 19"I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; And there will no longer be heard in her The voice of weeping and the sound of crying.

Isaiah 60:20
"Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your moon wane; For you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And the days of your mourning will be over.

John 3
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

“A voice had begun to sing. It was very far away and Digory found it hard to decide from what direction it was coming. Sometimes it seemed to come from all directions at once. Sometimes he almost thought it was coming out of the earth beneath them. Its lower notes were deep enough to be the voice of the earth herself. There were no words. It was hardly a tune. But it was beyond comparison, the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Magician's Nephew


Isaiah 24

13 For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth
among the nations,
as when an olive tree is beaten,
as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is done.

14 They lift up their voices, they sing for joy;
over the majesty of the Lord they shout from the west.
15 Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord;
in the coastlands of the sea, give glory to the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
16 From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise,
of glory to the Righteous One.

Daniel 2:20
Daniel said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him."

The Glory of the Father, is the Son, Jesus Christ. God's only Son. Our ransom, our Redeemer.

Hebrews 1:3

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Jesus is God

“I have come," said a deep voice behind them. They turned and saw the Lion himself, so bright and real and strong that everything else began at once to look pale and shadowy compared with him.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair

Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.


Philippians 4
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

John 3
God sent His Son into the world to save the world, through Jesus.

Abba,

You gave Solomon wisdom and Solomon built the Temple, David had laid the supplies for. On the surfaces of wall's stays and on its panels, he carved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the space of each, with wreaths all around.

When Solomon thought of a throne, the throne had six steps, and the throne had a round top, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom.

Jesus came here as Grace and Truth and He said He could see a new Heaven for His Father. Jesus was giving to Father God as David had placed the materials for Solomon.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

Give us each day, the strength of Your Joy, the wisdom of each opportunity to fill You with gladness. We will never be all, we are Your Children, built to come to Your Kingdom. Having Gratitude for the extreme Glory Peter witnessed. God's Presence in Jesus.

Jesus lead us to be on Your Path. Here we are guided, comforted, encouraged, sustained, uplifted, held, forgiven, led, blessed, blessing and with faith and Love. We ask this for ourselves each day, to sleep saying we were glad of You and spoke with You and pleased You.

And in the ways we know to be Your's, we place our loved ones with great care and great comfort. Lifting up the People You have Given us. Knowing Your willingness, to bless us with great health, we ask.

Asking Your presence and Plan in us. Your Hope and a Future for our homes, places, neighborhoods, communities, Churches, cities, states all the way up to our Nation to be held by You.

Knowing the Power of God in His Word, Will and Love, completed in worship and joy by the community of saints. Resting in ideas, thoughts, hopes, dreams and visions - God has planned giving all Good Works for us to know His Love.

Alleluia Jesus Lord each day and forevermore. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Genesis 1:1-45 ~ your soul may bless me +

Genesis 1:1-45

When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.” 

11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 

13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”

14 So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

18 So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 

19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” 

20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” 

He answered, “Because the Lord your God granted me success.” 

21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him. 24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” 

He answered, “I am.” 

25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son's game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said,

“See, the smell of my son
is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed!
28 May God give you of the dew of heaven
and of the fatness of the earth
and plenty of grain and wine.
29 Let peoples serve you,
and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mother's sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son's game, that you may bless me.” 

32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” 

He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” 

33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” 

34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” 

35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.”

 36 Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob?[Genesis 27:36 Jacob means He takes by the heel, or He cheats] For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” 

37 Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Behold, I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?” 

38 Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:

“Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be,
and away from the dew of heaven on high.
40 By your sword you shall live,
and you shall serve your brother;
but when you grow restless
you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 

42 But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran 44 and stay with him a while, until your brother's fury turns away— 45 until your brother's anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?”

We could follow this very laden Word of God many, many, many directions.

Isaac is a Saint of God. Handling Abraham's Blessings with Yar - Trepidation and Reverence for the Word, Holiness and Power of God. Spiritually blind because Isaac believes God is limited, Jacob believes God is able to multiply blessings.

Malachi 3:10
Says the LORD of hosts, See if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.




A year ago a movie came out about Mother Theresa. She had kept a Journal speaking to the Lord of her doubts. Hateful of a jealous believer to taint the good done by Mother Theresa, I felt so sorrowful, I skimmed the letters and refused, always, to see the movie. There is a balance to live a good life and do good works captivating the godly to propel them upward. And then in the spotlight moves becoming appearances, which cuts off the sincerity most people need to relate to God - who sees our flaws. Loving earnestly over friendship with the world.

The Bible is easy to read with any real interest sparking us along. The saints are palatable and create hope for our own inner honesty. If God can tolerate a silly goose like Isaac and remember him with such love to give him a long, long life after this sad story - then perhaps there is hope ... for you and me.

A point to ponder when we all loved Mother Theresa and her need to have her place among the world - to inspire more. There is good reason God says He assigns mankind work to believe God. Rebekah earns her place giving God the 'business'.

If God looked like Humphrey Bogart - He surely would remember this day with a sardonic shake of His Head and a Majestic Chuckle.

We should stop and consider Esau. He forgave Jacob whole heartedly. And in that forgiveness, Esau seems to have a good life. When was Esau's blessing taken? When he willingly gave the words to release the blessing to Jacob. Esau simply was not interested in God - very much apparently. The Words of God came true. Of course. Down the generations. And we can see that makes sense. More important are the people who want some of God with a cry in their voice. God bless them, Jesus love them, Jesus bring them forth in His Glory! I guess we all know a few Esau - and the purpose of prayer is bringing them closer to that day they wanted the blessing.






http://www.hopepointe.org/sermons/2017/1/22/living-together-in-the-goodness-of-god

Bishop Clark's good sermon today - God sees us as we are. Psalm 100 tells us we are His and this is God who made us, and not we ourselves.







We always seem to focus on Esau as being so fixated on food - surely this was in the family. This group of people, family, war and live together. All in serious nearness to the Living God.... The New Testament assures us - we all have this proximity with faith. The exact same access.

Isaac is sure he understands God. And has a streak of sheer mercilessness. Which carries over into Esau - bragging about killing. Rebekah is not about to let God triumph in His birth order, she will 'fix' "God". Jacob is urged by his authority to buck authority. And in this chaos, the dynamics we would never hope to see in our family - and relate some to total flesh and not Spirit - We see Triumph. God interweaves the faithful - making Good - bringing His Plan forth.

We all get this choice. To see God as Good and be as open as He really is - or we can go selfish like Esau - and plan to kill.

We can trust God to be Good and fix what we cannot - or we can  plot, plot, plot like Rebekah who was going to tell God how to get this done. Did God need the help of Rebekah to bless Jacob??? Really, God blesses those He Wills to Bless.

David's father Jesse and the sons were content, on the day Samuel called, to leave working David away from the Blessings. And David was more like Jacob, Israel, believing God is Willing. The Goodness and the Joy and the Parenting of a Joyful Father. Makes me have misty eyes to contemplate the Joy of God Willing to Bless. David never felt a need to steal a blessing. David simply went to the Good, Good Father God Almighty and said, "Please use Your goodness to help me, I am trying, please. I leave the answer with You."


Saints are sinners.
Saints have all kinds of flaws. David worked for the nations surrounding Israel and took lives in acts he was paid as a mercenary marauder. That's a little bit astonishing. A vigilante.

Saints are Saints.
When David was blessed, David's blessing poured and poured out Blessings. When Jacob was blessed, Jacob poured and poured out Blessings. David and Jacob encouraged the faithful.

We seem to think a saint shouldn't have flaws. This is simply not possible. The Bible would be difficult to read if we could not relate to the common struggles God brings ~~~~,  :) , with total willingness. to have faith overcome.





Father God,

Romans 1 tells us we know the Majesty of God. Help us to bring the words of our mouth, the meditations of our heart to believing all Your Kingdom, Power and Glory making all things work together for good - joyously possible for bringing Your Good Will forth to the earth.

Father God, we all have prayer requests. We pray not just for life and health - we pray for blessings to overcome ill health. We pray Jesus as Abundant Life to overcome even aches and pains. Drawing a Blessing today, saving us from health upsets tomorrow. Seeing Rebekah draw fire upon herself. We pray for Your Willing Blessings to establish us in good paths.

On Your Path, help us to do Your good works. To be aware of what You have placed around us. And to have Your blessing and protection.

We take a moment to find the miracle the faithful have all seen in their lives. To recall, not an old story, to rejoice in the Living God. Abundant God. We thank You again with our souls and hearts. Bless us not to overlook Your Majesty again.

Recall with supreme Joy when Father God saved you from trouble and gave you another encouragement to endure, to hope and overcome.

Your Word Father says to rejoice in suffering - rejoicing the Word of God - triumphs - Jesus living in us - helps us to have this within us. Abiding in the Word of God. The parables tell us life has seasons - let's remember we are here today - because of the Grace of God, grace upon grace.

Father, You tell us we cannot give a gift You have not given us first. We give thanks our salvation comes purely and simply from Your Call to us. Thank You for calling me to Life Abba and Jesus Christ in the Power of the Holy Spirit. We lift those we love and have been given to us by You (Esau and otherwise) and see Your Blessings. Praying earnestly for this assurance as we Abide in Your Word. Father I give thanks for the good our Nation has prayed about. Thank You God for the prayers of the faithful blessing the faithful. Jesus the Lord, our Alleluia. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †