1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ~ Therefore encourage one another with these words

What can you say about Billy Graham.

The Truth is there is so much of Billy Graham = thanks only to Jesus Christ - I hope the Quilt of all of Billy Graham will never cease to be told. 99 years is too much to cover.

This last week we had more violence. It didn't reach the proportions and numbers to gain a lot of attention. Alabama high school student charged in classroom shooting - The Washington Post 2 days ago - A 17-year-old has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of his classmate in an Alabama classroom, the latest episode of gun violence to unfold.

Woodlawn.

Alabama was called Bombingham. And Billy Graham stood in the Cotton Bowl of Dallas, Texas - turned off all the stadium lights and held up a candle. One candle in the completely darkened Cotton Bowl.

Representing The Unfailing, 

Undeniable, 

Unavoidable, 

Undefeated 

Love of Christ Jesus. 

The Light of God existing in the Holy Spirit today. 

Available for asking for Jesus Christ. 

Unextinguished.

The Victory of Jesus - The Light Shines.

Henry Eugene "Hank" Erwin Jr. went to speak about Jesus at Woodlawn High School (movie) on a day of high racial tension.
Birmingham was called "Boomingham" due to the 50 dynamite explosions that occurred in the city between 1947 and 1965. "Hank", an outsider, asks to speak to the Woodlawn football team and real change begins. Hank, who has been radically affected by the message of hope and love he experienced at a Billy Graham Christian revival meeting in Dallas, Texas, tells the players a "better way" is possible through following Jesus. More than 40 players, nearly the entire team, black and white, give their lives over to Jesus Christ and the spiritual change has a profound effect on the coach, the school and the community. "Woodlawn" is the true story of how faith in God saved a city torn apart by race.

An amazing change all over Alabama happened. This story unfolds in many lives and the lives of Tandy Gerelds, Tony Nathan and Senator Hank Erwin. Not to mention, Hank's sons Andrew and Jon Erwin who knew all their lives they wanted this story told.

This is the Spark in Billy Graham.

Alive today. Jesus.

Human beings all cope with being human. Billy Graham sometimes irked me. He used to talk about the Presidents of the USA. And this irked me. No politician in his right mind was going to come down on the wrong side of Billy Graham. I loved Billy, but I'd stand in front of the TV and mutter, "No, Billy, not the Presidents again. Oh, no."


And then one day. Aggies. I have a little story for you.

The phone rang and my mom worked for one of the best friends of Senator Prescott Bush. For 31 years my mother was the administrative assistant to Ebby Halliday in Dallas, Texas. All the President Bushes visited the office, particularly the youngest President Bush. My mom called and said Ebby was injured and would be unable to go to the Library Opening of President George Herbert Walker Bush. My mother and I were invited to go see the Library open in College Station, Texas A & M University, 1997, Year of Our Lord. Amen.

The Seats, Ebby said, would be quite 'good'. And we chortled all the way with the rest of the planet to drive into College Station that day. In fact, as they waved us into our parking section corresponding to the seats, we had to stop for Maria and Arnold Schwarzenegger. We chortled some more. And the seats were spectacular. If you had binoculars. The planet had arrived to see President Bush parachute in.

The sitting President was President Clinton. Who spent the day kicking his leg extremely vigorously and testing out a facial shade of Magenta Angry. All the Presidents (minus President Reagan who was very ill) were there. All the Presidents spoke of the Trust of the American People and the loyalty towards the Oval Office. In fact, when Billy Graham spoke he turned and spoke directly to President Clinton with strength and with dignity and mercy. I believe it was the only time the presidential leg did not kick and move at a high rate of agitated speed. And he had President Clinton's full attention. At the end of Billy Graham's talk, Clinton seemed to nod.

I finally appreciated Billy Graham and the Presidents. Truth. Dignity. Strength. No gloss. Mercy.

Look President Reagan is having a party for Billy. Bet it's a good one. Billy Graham said this, "I Just Love them. I'm not an Analyzer. My son analyzes everyone. I just Love them."

I found the sincerity and the earnestness and understood. I was never irked again.

We will all have something we Love about Billy Graham.

What I find I can't help but weep over - are the stories of Billy Graham - since he has passed to his New Address - from his children.

"My father has joined my mother in heaven. He went to sleep in his home in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina and woke up in the arms of Jesus. While many around the world mourn his physical death, he is now celebrating the eternal life."

I wept soundly the first time I earnestly heard Billy Graham tell us he would die and change his address and not be dead. I think that was in the 1980s. But it still has the corresponding effect on me today.

I wept to hear of Billy Graham's daughter running to his arms like the Prodigal Son in need of a divorce. And his loving understanding.

I wept to hear of his daughter Anne's marriage trouble and recovery. I wept to hear of the teenage car wreck.

Over the years, I have laughed to hear of Franklin Graham as a child on the roof escaping the well-earned wrath of his mother, Ruth Graham. Ruth, being Ruth, climbed the second mile out on to that roof. I well understood and was so grateful to hear of normalcy. I learned for the rest of my life not to tie a rope swing in a tree for grandchildren because you will be in pain all your life. I was profoundly sorry for the pain of being a diligent grandparent.

Really, the family responses to a ministry that vast -  overwhelming - and Joyous - and Loved responses I have to Billy Graham.

Because Love is what Jesus Christ is. And this was the ministry of Billy Graham. Long may we all have these amazing memories of Billy Graham.



Abba Father,

The blessing of God - is indeed what we ask for in the Name of Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death,
so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

According to the LORD's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the LORD, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the LORD himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air. And so we will be with the LORD forever.


Therefore encourage one another with these words.

“It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God's job to judge and my job to love.”

“God proved his love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’”

"The story does not end with the cross, for Easter points us beyond the tragedy of the cross to the empty tomb. It tells us that there is hope for eternal life, for Christ has conquered evil and death and hell. Yes, there is hope.”

“I've read the last page of the Bible, it's all going to turn out all right.”


We believe, we believe, we believe.

Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus our Christ. Amen.

Psalm 91:4 ~ His faithfulness is a shield and buckler

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.


When we trust the Lord, we are braver.


Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

The Opportunities - taken - when Trusting the Lord.

2 KINGS 18:5
He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

We can put a good Bible Study guess who this is.

Psalm 22:8
Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.

Psalm 91:14
Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the LORD, and he shall sustain you

Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts shall be established.


This Trust parallels this:

Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.


Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.



Who Trusted the Lord?

Exodus 14

3 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground."



Hebrews 11

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.


Father God,

Today we ask of You a Blessing and Receive.

We will place our Trust in You.

Jesus with the people we Love. Jesus with our cares and concerns. Jesus with the people You have given us. To You, Our Father, Who can do more than we ask or imagine.

Jesus is God and that is a Blessing.

Amen.

John 1 ~ After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")

16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."

21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?"

He said, "I am not."

"Are you the Prophet?"

And he answered, "No."

22 So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

26 John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."

28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'

34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."


35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?"

And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

39 He said to them, "Come and you will see."

So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

Philip said to him, "Come and see."

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"

48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"

Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

John 8


57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?”

58“Truly, truly, I tell you, Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

59 At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area

The Temple Jesus walks out of - hidden - is 36 acres.


Think of the Impossibility - Father God turns to fact.

1. Jesus is the incarnate Word of God.

2. All life of mankind comes from Jesus.

3. Jesus is the undefeatable Light of God.

4. We are born of the Will of God. The validation of all life is from God Himself.

5. We will all receive the Grace, Abundant Grace of God.

6. Jesus is taking all sins away. The Wrath of God is satisfied.

9. Son of God, Jesus is Lord.

10. We will see Jesus.

The Temple Jesus could freely walk from - was 36 acres.




Why would Jesus want to speak of Abraham? Certainly, the Jews loved to speak of the Abraham tradition.


What did Jesus see in Abraham?


Abraham went where God told him.

Abraham believed God and was held as righteous and as a Friend of God.

Abraham argued with the Lord God when Lives should be saved.


Genesis 14

1 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.


Lot had separated from Abraham for prosperity. Most would let Lot figure out how to save Lot. Abraham went up against 4 kings. Trouble could have been life-long.


And God reacted to these actions.

Genesis 15

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward."


Abraham immediately felt he must assist God and falls.


And as Scripture becomes 3 millenniums later - with all the sins and flaws of Abraham - Jesus remembers Abraham.


Jesus is not just speaking of the Majesty of God and all of His Wonders, Jesus is noting mankind is still in need of salvation. Abraham impressed God. God saved Abraham. God continued to save Abraham all of his up and down life. Abraham was less confused before he was truly trying to impress God! And God still saw something in Abraham.

Abraham failed so many times - and in the days of Jesus  - Abrham sill living was still considered a friend of God.

Our Father, Abba,

You bless us continually.

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us.
There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.

How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust.

Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired. You tell us: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

For though the LORD is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You.

Giving thanks for allergies not afflicting to pain. For ears not ringing. For shoulders without pain. For walking pain free. Thanking for healing from cysts and tumors. Thanking for eyes that are healing. Thanking God for prayers the Life Giving Holy Spirit of God answers. For dreams we remember for decades inspiring us when we need to remember God.

Remembering all of our Father's mercies to Abraham. Jesus would remember a man of flawed humanity and give His Life and we might Live.

Our God is Good. Our God is God. Our God has given us the ability to be called Children of God. Our God has given us His Son and we will bring our Father and Jesus our Love. And Profound Thanks.

We will have every hope God would give those we Love surrounded by our God of wonders and mercy.

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. Alleluia and Amen.

Mark 6:30-46 ~ Go and see

Mark 6:30-46

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.

31 And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while."

For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.

34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."

37 But he answered them, "You give them something to eat."

And they said to him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?"

38 And he said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see."

And when they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fish."

39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied.

43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.



Jesus is worn out. He has not even had time to eat.

And instead of putting Himself as God first - Jesus feeds the multitudes and us for millenniums.

With a very important detail. As soon as Jesus has Abundantly fed His Beloved - Jesus departs to rest.

Our Jesus has taken the Holy Spirit from Abiding above the waters and placing the Holy Spirit in believers. Our Jesus will come again. And He has given us His open heart, open ear, open 12 Gates of Heaven - always here - Prayer Policy.

Because we know Jesus is God - we have a place to rest our cares and our heart. Comfortably and with faith.

Father God, our Abba,

We ask Your Blessing as we pray. This day and always.

You have shown us the immeasurable riches of Your grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

By grace we are saved through faith. The gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 1

Help us to stay where You would have us. With Your Love, guidance, encouragement and protection that we should walk in Your Plan, Path and Good Works.

Putting our prayers together for our deepest needs and longings before our Father.

Having access in one Spirit to the Father. With the saints and members of the household of God, Christ Jesus himself being the our rock and foundation.

In Your Love, the whole structure, our prayers, the communion of Saints, grow into The Holy Temple of our Lord Father Almighty.

Praying in the Holy Spirit for the people we Love, our souls - a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.

Come Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ our God. Amen.

Genesis 45:16-28 ~ I will go and see him

Genesis 45:16-28

16 When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, "Joseph's brothers have come," it pleased Pharaoh and his servants.

17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.' 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, 'Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"

21 The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes.

23 To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey.

24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, "Do not quarrel on the way."

25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt."

And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.

28 And Israel said, "It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."





Given everything Israel would ever hope for - doubts came upon Israel.





1. Genesis 3:15.....Seed of a woman (virgin birth).....Luke 1:35, Matthew 1:18-20
2. Genesis 3:15.....He will bruise Satan's head.....Hebrews 2:14, 1 John 3:8
3. Genesis 5:24....The bodily ascension to heaven illustrated....Mark 6:19
4. Genesis 9:26-27...The God of Shem will be the Son of Shem...Luke 3:36
5. Genesis 12:3...As Abraham's seed, will bless all nations...Acts 3:25,26
6. Genesis 12:7...The The Promise made made to Abraham's Seed...Galatians 3:16
7. Genesis 14:18...A priest after Melchizedek...Hebrews 6:20
8. Genesis 14:18........A King also........Hebrews 7:2
9. Genesis 14:18...The Last Supper foreshadowed...Matthew 26:26-29
10. Genesis 17:19.......The Seed of Isaac.......Romans. 9:7
11. Genesis 21:12 …Seed of Isaac…Romans 9:7, Hebrews 11:18
12. Genesis 22:8...The Lamb of God promised...John 1:29
13. Genesis 22:18...As Isaac's seed, will bless all nations...Galatians 3:16
14. Genesis26:2-5..The Seed of Isaac promised as the Redeemer..Hebrews11:18
15. Genesis 49:10...The time of His coming...Luke 2:1-7; Galatians 4:4
16. Genesis 49:10.......The Seed of Judah.......Luke 3:33
17. Genesis 49:10......Called Shiloh or One Sent......John 17:3
18. Genesis 49:10...To come before Judah lost identity...John 11:47-52
19. Genesis 49:10...To Him shall the obedience of the people be...John 10:16
20. Exodus 3:13,14........The Great "I Am".......John 4:26
21. Exodus 12:5...A Lamb without blemish...1 Pet. 1:19
22. Exodus 12:13...The blood of the Lamb saves Romans wrath...Romans. 5:8
23. Exodus 12:21-27...Christ is our Passover...1 Corinthians 5;7
24. Exodus 12:46...Not a bone of the Lamb to be broken...John 19:31-36
25. Exodus 13:2…Blessing to first born son…Luke 2:23
26. Exodus 15:2...His exaltation predicted as Yeshua...Acts 7:55,56
27. Exodus 15:11...His Character-Holiness...Luke 1:35; Acts 4:27
28. Exodus 17:6...The Spiritual Rock of Israel...1 Corinthians 10;4
29. Exodus 33:19...His Character-Merciful...Luke 1:72
30. Leviticus 14:11...The leper cleansed-Sign to priesthood..Luke5:12-14; Acts 6:7
31. Leviticus 16:15-17...Prefigures Christ's once-for-all death...Hebrews 9:7-14
32. Leviticus 16:27...Suffering outside the Camp...Matthew 27:33; Hebrews 13:11, 12
33. Leviticus 17:11...The Blood-the life of the flesh...Matthew 26;28; Mark 10:45
34. Leviticus 17:11...It is the blood that makes atonement...1 John 3:14-18
35. Leviticus 23:36-37...The Drink-offering: "If any man thirst." ..John 19:31-36
36. Numbers 9:12...Not a bone of Him broken...John 19:31-36
37. Numbers 21:9...The serpent on a pole-Christ lifted up...John 3:14-18
38. Numbers 24:8… Flight to Egypt…Matthew 2:14
39. Numbers 24:17...Time: "I shall see him, but not now."...Galatians 4:4
40. Numbers 24:17-19…A star out of Jacob…Matthew 2:2, Luke 1:33,78, Revelation 22:16
41. Deuteronomy 18:15..."This is of a truth that prophet."...John 6:14
42. Deuteronomy 18:15-16..."Had ye believed Moses, ye would believe me."...John 5:45-47
43. Deuteronomy 18:18...Sent by the Father to speak His word...John 8:28, 29
44. Deuteronomy 18:19...Whoever will not hear must bear his sin...John 12:15
45. Deuteronomy 21:13-23…As a prophet…John 6:14; 7:40, Acts 3:22,23
46. Deuteronomy 21:23...Cursed is he that hangs on a tree...Galatians 3:10-13




Our doubts worry us.

Our Father, our Abba,

Each day we seek Your Blessing.

Help us to remember the truthful Word of God. The forward of Life, the fail, the re-group, the Victory of God.

Remembering the Prodigal Father had Joy.

And we place the ones we love in Your Hand and Love.

Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God
and the exact imprint of His nature,
and He upholds the universe by the Word of His Power

We will rest with trust in our prayer requests. God is God.

And for all our prayers, we Rest in Jesus. Amen.

John 1 ~ The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen His Glory + † +

Max McLean as C. S. Lewis
in C. S. Lewis Onstage: The Most Reluctant Convert

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/John.1

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.


19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.


29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”


35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).


43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”




What is more pleasing than our favorite Scripture.

This is coming home.




And one of my favorite things is to hear about our relationships with Jesus.

Tonight, we went to Houston to the George Theater to hear Max McLean (see audio link) tell of C.S. Lewis becoming a reluctant convert of Jesus Christ.

And in warm theatre, we saw windows of the soul inviting relationship to Jesus.

How would we link ourselves, Scout - aka Nell Harper Lee of To Kill a Mockingbird and C.S. 'Jack' Lewis. We'd have the difficulty of time, culture and character. We might even invite Truman Capote. Jem needed his neighbor and he wanted so to tell his sister about the world - how life appeared to him, in danger, seeking help from others he'd feared. The world was turned in a new direction standing on the porch of Boo. Old vistas are suddenly seen in a new opportunity. Expanded. Broadened. Warmed.

Jesus provides us these Windows of the soul. And we would find windows of the soul including Jesus - do this :






Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen





C.S. Lewis had been let down by the Lord. His mother had died. His direction of Oxford Don was not smooth. His faith had fled, gladly, because 1930's Oxford was not looking for fierce faith. A man now of English Literature and, always, of books, the men in these windows of the soul had led him to ask the unwanted questions.

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

We might not have the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, if not for Jack Lewis.
But then again we would not have so much of Jack Lewis, if not for the willing words of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Yes, Jack Lewis read and was influenced - yet many of his most convicting moments came from those who Love Jesus Christ.

In fact, for Max McLean, Theater of Jesus Christ is for all. And inviting all - we all invite risk.
For brothers and sisters in Christ - supporting each other and making a path for Conversation - helps us all and the least to the greatest among us all.

One would see deep, sincere and convincing analytical thought. However, if you addressed JRR Tolkien, wouldn't you expect something of the supernatural?

The Lord our God is not a Tame Lion. He is, however, very good.

John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases.
You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

Our Father God took C.S. "Jack" Lewis on a few journeys we would volunteer to stay home from. And in the there and back again, Jack Lewis had to ask himself what he was experiencing. Seeing. Finding. Our Living Father God.


C.S. Lewis was not setting out to be God's, but C.S. Lewis'.

We all know if we seek God with all we have we will find God. God is God the Almighty, and if God desires His Child. God will have the communion of hearts. C.S. Lewis didn't seek the Lord God, and was found. For the greatness of God is warm and good. Steadfast and enduring:

And this is what our God has done:


1 John 4

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. 10 And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Our Father,

We find as we learn each other's deep, earnest prayers - as we are asked to pray for others - the successes of prayers answered
are fuel and fire - even double burners - for future prayer answered.

Your Success in Jesus is my success in Jesus and we have learned Philippians 2.

Wncouragement in Christ, comfort from love, participation in the Spirit, affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We are Blessed asking Your Blessing Together.

Philippians 2:2
Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

John 16:24
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

We lift our cares to You, Father God - rejoicing in deliverance.

We lift our loved ones to You, Father God - rejoicing in Steadfast Love and Salvation.

We lift all those we do not know - knowing they pray and Love Jesus Christ. Rejoicing in the millenniums of multitudes fed by You.

And Let All God's Beloved say,
Amen, So be this in Jesus Christ.
Amen.