Ephesians 3 ~ God's grace

Jesus and the New Covenant, painted by Nicolas Poussin 1594 – 1665 a French painter.


COURAGE OF CONVICTIONS

• Pray for a bold Christianity.
• Pray for obedience, discipline and alertness in daily spiritual battles.
• Pray for your child and his/her friends to be prepared.

Ephesians 3

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

⁷ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 10:20
Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me." 

Ephesians 6:19
and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel


Many times the ability to share God comes not from the desire to be God's Honing Device or Jack Hammer, but the desire to uplift - giving the Glory of God to people we love. 

 When you think of the Book of Acts, the people went to hear about Jesus - slain. They knew there was talk of Jesus being seen. Thousands turned up to mourn the loss of such a Good, Good Man as Jesus as He died. But as the people listened - they heard - GOOD, GOOD NEWS.

 A few years ago our Couples Group decided to get together during Lent, again, to see "The Passion of the Christ" at our house. It is so beautiful in the beginning. Jesus and Mary laughing and enjoying each other in the ways we always hoped to see. By the end of the movie .... everyone - from the sound of it - was not just doing a little weep - but there was some soft sobbing. And then at the end, Jesus starts to move out of the tomb - whole - holy - Renewed. The amazing joy! His broken body - Renewed. 

My first thought was How Fortunate we are. To sit in our comfortable chairs . Jesus Did the Work. A dear friend, a man turned to me smiling and wiping his eyes. Joy shone from him, "Thank God for the end, the last part makes it possible to sit to see that pain and to see it was all worth it!" 


 Then my next thought, which sometimes brings tears to my eyes is - Don't Go. Don't Go! Yet that is the Good News. Jesus the LORD. The Christ. The Son of God did not Go. He lives. He lives. He lives!




Abba,

We pray to run our race to win - in the strength and Love of Jesus Christ. To have nourished in Jesus self esteem.

Cover us all in great health we ask. Rejoicing because in the Name of Jesus - we are covered even the soles of our feet.

Nourish our souls to encourage our hearts to Love. We ask for ourselves, the ones we Love. The people who have asked for prayer. The lady in the Doctor's office taking care of her blood pressure. The two people I know right now with walking back fractures. For the one with Seasonal Allergies. The one with sinus infection. The people working diligently to recover from flood and fire. The Goodness of You, in operation recovery. And spot on kidney - nothing to worry about report. For two people with cancer recovery and total healing. All those who have asked for healing of ears and brains. Those who weep for the Lord and do not know where to begin.

We thank You, Abba, for the change of seasons, give us the Joy in us to fully enjoy the new changes. Cover the upcoming events with Your Love and Peace.

Praying into the dry places, where the Living Water Jesus is would go to replenish all.

Thank You for the Joy to pray an increase of Heaven on earth in the Holy Spirit. For our work places, schools. Giving You thanks of protection. We rejoice in the people who have helped with flood, fire and Martin Luther Jr.'s Dream Alive. Help us to see the Glory and You Give Today, seeing humor. Strength for our challenges. And for this Nation. The people asking Your help all over the world. Jesus is God, Good News. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 60 ~ is Mine

Psalm 60

O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
you have been angry; oh, restore us.
2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;
repair its breaches, for it totters.
3 You have made your people see hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.



4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah
5 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer us!



6 God has spoken in his holiness:
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet;
Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin;
upon Edom I cast my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”


9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
11 Oh, grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
12 With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.

Shechem - Genesis 12: 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

David and the Holy Spirit list Shechem first in the list, this is the promise of God telling Abraham that this is God’s earth and His to do as He pleases.

Valley of Succoth – Genesis 33:17
Jacob, however, went to Succoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Succoth.

Joshua 13:27
and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth and Zaphon with the rest of the realm of Sihon king of Heshbon (the east side of the Jordan, the territory up to the end of the Sea of Kinnereth ).

Gilead – Genesis 31 45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 He said to his relatives, "Gather some stones." So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.

48 Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me today." That is why it was called Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah, because he said, "May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. 50 If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me."

51 Laban also said to Jacob, "Here is this heap, and here is this pillar I have set up between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me. 53 May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us."

"Gilead" means hill of testimony or mound of witness, (Genesis 31:21), a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, situated in the present-day Kingdom of Jordan.

Manasseh – Genesis 48: 5 Israel said, "Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh.”

Genesis 48: 13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel's left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel's right hand, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.

15 Then he blessed Joseph and said,
"May the God before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd
all my life to this day,

16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm
—may he bless these boys.
May they be called by my name
and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,
and may they increase greatly
upon the earth."

17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 Joseph said to him, "No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."

19 But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations." 20 He blessed them that day and said,
"In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing:
'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.' "
So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

For most people, the best-known descendant of Ephraim was Joshua, while Gideon (Judges 6:12-15) is perhaps the most famous descendant of Manasseh.

Ephraim – helmet. Ephesians 6: 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Judah – scepter. Genesis 49: 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until he comes to whom it belongs
and the obedience of the nations is his.

David was from the tribe of Judah, Jesus is called Lion of the tribe of Judah.

2 Samuel 5:
3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here." 7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.

Moab – Genesis 19:30-38 "Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father." That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I lay with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father." So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went and lay with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today."

Moab (Hebrew: מוֹאָב, Standard Moʾav Tiberian Môʾāḇ ; Greek Μωάβ ; Arabic مؤاب, Assyrian Mu'aba, Ma'ba, Ma'ab ; Egyptian Mu'ab) is the historical name for a mountainous strip of land in modern-day Jordan running along the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. In ancient times, it was home to the kingdom of the Moabites, a people often in conflict with their Israelite neighbors to the west. The Moabites, attested to by numerous archeological findings, most notably the Mesha Stele, which describes the Moabite victory over an unnamed son of King Omri of Israel

Edom - Genesis 25:30
He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom. Part of Jordan.)

Philistia – Philistines were said to live in the southern coast of the nation of Canaan, and became a separate nation - descendants of Noah’s sons.

Genesis 9: 20 Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25he said,
"Cursed be Canaan;
a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers."

Genesis 10

6 The sons of Ham:
Cush, Mizraim, Put and Canaan.
7 The sons of Cush:
Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteca.
The sons of Raamah:
Sheba and Dedan.

8 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; that is why it is said, "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD." 10 The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Erech, Akkad and Calneh, in Shinar. 11 From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah 12 and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city.

13 Mizraim was the father of
the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 14 Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.

Jesus Christ died for our sins and extended His grace, mercy and forgiveness to all nations.



Abba, our Abba,

Ancient of Days. God and Father. Father of His Only Son Jesus Christ.

Prepare in us daily a place that You are pleased to Dwell.

Keep us in Your Mercy and on Your Will and Path for our lives.

Bless those we Love.

Comfort, Guide and Strengthen us.

Thank You, You draw us to You as Your Beloved.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Mark 1: 1-3 ~ a voice of one calling in the wilderness, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him."

Earliest Catacomb representation of Jesus, Peter, Paul, and Andrew. in Rome

Mark

Mark 12:29
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."

Mark 1:1
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah

Mark 1:14
Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

Mark 1:17
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."

Mark 1:22
The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Mark 16:15
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

Mark 1:15
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.


Mark 1:1-3

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”—


3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”

The slaves of Egypt founded Israel and everyone had terrace gardens to tend and sell from. The view of David's palace overlooked the straight path gardens the children of Israel had made of the wilderness.

Isaiah 7 says the garden of Israel will be trampled during the time of Jesus as grace upon grace. Trade will be as big as the honey King Hezekiah was sending to be bought up by Egypt. The vineyards of Israel would face disdain - the wealth of the Roman Empire would be bringing vastly expensive wines from their ships.

Jesus is found discussing vineyards 26 times. The vines grow in straight paths. God was telling us - in making life -

Bloom where you are planted.  Enjoy the fruit, given by God, of your life in your hand. Be a light in the Garden of Life.










Who was Mark? This is difficult to say. Timothy was Paul's Spiritual Son. Peter claims Mark.

1 Peter 5:13
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.

Paul loved Mark.

2 Timothy 4:11
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

Paul argued with Barnabas over Mark

Colossians 4:10
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas.

Acts 12:11-13
Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.



Perhaps, due to early Church wranglings - Mark was Peter's literal son. (If Mary was [historically, wealthy] Peter's wife and he was dazed. In the Roman Empire, women held on to Roman Inheritance.)
And Barnabas's cousin.
And Paul's co-minister. 
Then Mark would represent    -     Christian forgiveness.
He was for a time only the first co-worker with Barnabas and Paul - who had declared John Mark wasn't really devoted to Jesus and the call - enough to continue.And the true believer's humility to exalt Jesus.


1 Corinthians 12:11-14
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.



Mark 12:29
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." 




The Gospel of Mark has a few very stunning thoughts - these were the miracles the Roman people who wanted to know why the Emperor would be worried about Jesus. These are the miracles the 1st Century Roman Empire spoke of as true and valid and most discussed in the 1st Century. This is the burning interest of the early Church.

The idea is Peter was so busy speaking, Mark was given the trust of the Gospel - to record what Peter had seen so closely.

St Mark wrote his Gospel for busy people of the Roman Empire. Historical references - a concise record a busy person could refer to, the references to the Miracles of Jesus most often spoken of. Only 16 chapters. The words and deeds of the Savior which reveal His divine Power. 

The account of Jesus people asked about the most, explained by Mark's closeness to the disciples. The obvious goal being to experience the Author of Life - Jesus Christ.  The question the Gospel of Mark is answering - tell us of the awe and wonder of Jesus. Living Jesus.

The proclamation of Jesus in Mark 1:14 and the following verses, for example, mixes the terms Jesus would have used as a 1st century Jew ("Kingdom of God") and those of the early church ("believe", "gospel"). Counter belief against those who saw Jesus in a Greek way, as wonder-worker (the Greek term is "divine man"). 

Fascinating - Many ancient historians record the Gospel of Mark is a concise record of St Peter's preaching. 

Mark saw the suffering of the Messiah as essential, so that the Son of God title (the Hellenistic "divine man") had to be corrected and amplified with the "Son of Man" title, which conveyed Christ's suffering unto victory over death.

Savior of the world. 

Mark 16:15
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." 

This we know Mark did. Knowing more clearly of his work for Jesus than his parentage. We know Mark was the first Bishop in Africa and died in Alexandria in 68 A.D. 

Mark's concern in presenting the life of Jesus was that the most widely spoken of miracles in the 1st century A.D. were recording expressing Jesus as the Messiah bringing us Good News of God's unity over all of creation. 

Mark brought Jesus to the millenniums.

Abba, Father God,

3 Millenniums later, we are blessed to know the good heart You loved in Abraham.

Increase Your Holy Spirit within us. That each day as we do Your Will, we will have the Love and Joy Abraham displays in most of his ways. We would ask You for Your mercy and grace each day as the Beloved of Jesus.

Lifting up good health and improvement.
Giving You, Father God our heart, sorrows and delights.
Trusting You with the lives, path and future of the one's we Love.

Rejoicing in the Goodness of Your Creation, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Asking for more of Your Holy Spirit not just in our lives, but encouraging Your nations to Trust You. And in Your Great Love and Delight in us, knowing the Goodness of Your Future You will Willingly bless us with.

Being Covered in the Name of Jesus, We ask Your Blessing. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

John 6:29 ~ Jesus answered, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

Jesus not only gives good advice - Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

John 6:29

Jesus answered, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”


Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and will show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not.

Genesis 15:6
Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Galatians 3:6,7
Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.


Father God, You said more blessed are the eyes seeing with faith. 

Father God, we lift up Your Good News. Jesus Christ wants to save the world. Equip us and the ones we Love with everything good to do Your Will, working in us to be pleasing in Your sight, through Jesus Christ, Father God to You be glory forever and ever.

Bless those in all circumstances to be led by You. Give us Your help, we look to You for healing and mercy.

Father God, we thank You for cooler temperatures and breezes. We ask You all of Texas and the South needing rain - will be soaked generously and again - in Mercy for our needs.  For  California. Thank You, Father. 

For good health, good travel and a good school year. God's own good rest and renewal. The blessing of more Heaven on earth for His Glory. 

 Amen in Jesus Christ. Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 10:49 ~ Take heart. Get up; He is calling you.

Mark 10:49

“Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”





This is what God does for us.

John 6:44
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.



Mark 10

50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 

51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” 

And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 

52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

God is Love.



Mark 10

46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 And Jesus stopped and said, 

“Call him.” 

And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”



Abba,

You have given us Jesus

You have given us Your Word

You have given us Your Promises.

We are so Blessed.

Bless those we love.

Bring more Heaven to earth


Amen Jesus we love Your call. Amen.

  

John 1:27 ~ He is Jesus Christ Son of God our Savior

John 1:27

He is the One

Who comes after me,

The straps of His sandals

I am not worthy to untie.

“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.”

“Preach the Bible at all times, if necessary, use words.”

St. Francis never sought to elevate action over speaking in the task of bringing the Gospel

Neither did he believe the Gospel was only a message to be communicated. 

Francis recognized that the Gospel was all consuming, the work of God to restore all of Creation unto Himself for His glory. He embraced the truth, authority of the Gospel he proclaimed with his mouth was given authority by the nature and character of the life he led. And in the same way, he knew, in spite of his own failings (and that of other Christians), the proclaimed message of hope and love would find fertile soil in the hearts of others, and so His Gospel must be proclaimed

Huffington Post, Jamie Arpin-Ricci

1 Kings 19:11

And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.

Matthew 8:26-27

Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Hebrews 1:3

He 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.

John 1:27

He is the One

Jesus Christ Son of God
is fully God. We need Him daily.

We need those who practice unkindness and deceit to live
in the Light of Jesus Christ.

We will have this Peace, Love and Joy.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †