Psalm 116 ~ I love the Lord, because He has heard

Romans 8:19

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Lopuck Watercolors

Psalm 116

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
9 I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

10 I believed, even whena I spoke:
“I am greatly afflicted”;
11 I said in my alarm,
“All mankind are liars.”

12 What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.
16 O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.


17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people

19 in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!

… Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1: 21


…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! John 1:29

…for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. Romans 10:12

..and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life 1 John 1:1

…we have and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous 1 John 2:1

… For “everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.”. Romans 10:13

…And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1: 34

…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25


…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

…through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 2: 20

..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16

…Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Mark 16:16

…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9

...you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God...1 Corinthians 6:11

…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come

The Almighty Revelation 1:8

.

1 Corinthians 15:58 
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

James 1:12 
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:2-4 
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Psalm 112:7 
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord




Hebrews 6:16-20

16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever


I believe the Lord.
I believe Jesus Christ.
And this is where I place all my hope and prayer.

I believe Jesus can move mountains.
And this is where I will place my belief.

31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works

32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,

who touches the mountains and they smoke!

33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more!

Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!

Abba, Father,

Live in our hearts
Help us honor Christ the Lord as holy

With you we will always being prepared to make a defense
for a reason for the hope that is in our soul, mind, heart

And with Jesus we will do this with gentleness and respect

With Your gift of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' Name, having a good conscience
give us good behavior in Christ Jesus.



Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth,
for the Lord has spoken,
The Lord God our Father gives us His Words.
The Word of God is Sure and Faithful.

Because of the Tender Love of the Most High
we will not cease to pray for our Loved ones,
for the people You have given us,
for the faithful prayers of all Your Beloved Children
surrounding Your Good earth
asking that You, Abba, may be fill us with the knowledge of Your will
in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Blessed, Blessed, Blessed be the Name Jesus
Living God reign in us always.
Thank You.
Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Matthew 1:16-17 ~ Generations

Matthew 1:16-17

16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

The Generation Gap

Why 14 Generations. This is about 500 years.

Have we ever seen so many Generations with so many advances and so many differences?

My grandmother Anita (1898-1992) rode to visit her beloved grandmother (who adored the 6 boys and 6 girls) in two covered wagons.  Later in the 1930s, getting from Dallas to Richardson, Louisiana took 3 days or more. Car travel depended on the rain levels, which were unpublished in a readily available form, to the dirt roads and the lack of bridges - the family would search the creeks for a place to drive the car across. Frequently the visit would last for the summer. Only the men holding jobs went home.

My great-grandmother lived to be a 100 years old and for 62 years, until she died, her local family got together 6 days a week at her home to prepare for two hours the main meal - lunch for 12 or more people. Lavish homegrown vegetables and all the ladies cooked. The men arrived from work and lunched with the family. Great Grandmother Leota had 3 children in her forties. Ending only when my great-grandfather died of pneumonia. These 3 children lived to be about 94 years old.

Something to live for - like love - makes a long, sturdy life.

Grandmother saw the moonwalk and amazing things happen.

So what perils do we face today?

With the Church declining 2% annually, we find millennials who do not know who Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are. Football and the NFL are declining at 8% audience loss a year. We observe the realism of people who adore football being hurt things change. Old football players are astonished at the decline of football. Social media reflects the change in life no one expected here. We see generational change.

Our grandparents and parents knew the perils of communism, socialism - rising to dictators, World War II and the unusual characteristics of loud, angry political battles with questionable news.

What has caused the new millennials without housing and in rental housing to be so interested in Socialism and lacking Church? 1 Debt. 2 Divorce.  3 Despair as realism. Millennials doubt they will be deed holders. In First Century Rome, Augustus Caesar made all types of marriage easy (slaves, non-sharing of wealth marriages, children in marriage - all types). The family and stable careers and inheritances - were a thing of the past. Leading to despair increasing crime and almost destroying Roman trade - the foundation of the Empire.


We are so ambivalent to college costs. The Debt is driving the younger generation to despair. When we listen and care about the next generations coming up, there are conversations to continue with compassion. We need to make them a priority. When we talk to the rental generation with 2 sets of college debts, they don't even recognize our generations had financial despair. This generation says the upper two generations horde wealth. There is a conversation here to have about medical bills as we age.


There are real gaps.

Conversations to have.

The youngest generation uses the morning after pill more routinely, as monthly birth control, than we know or acknowledge. This could be entirely a lack of communication. Asking young person to young person about birth control. Popular forums. Health care isn't affordable for our youngest adults readily. This is a poverty we should put in our prayer efforts.

Why? This Monthly Morning After Pill, very frankly, is a BAD IDEA. Why? It's not effective. Sure it is. No. Really. This morning after pill will give a hormone alteration to the chemical pregnancy tests. It alters the necessary pregnancy hormones, but this is not a life ending event unless the square peg hits the square. At four months, there are women who are utterly astonished. And frightened to death this Baby knows it was harmed, might be harmed - all combined with major parental guilt. In fact, there are major new companies formed to chemically undue a morning-after pill. And these companies deal with women with four-month  pregnancies, making these second-trimester pregnancies.

This is hyped as less expensive than the birth control pill. Giving argument the Pill is just the same. Actually the Pill puts out hormones telling the sperm not to create life. The Morning After Pill tries to end life already created. Ineffectively.

The old-fashioned, not chemical, abortionists petition for funds saying this is what 'the poor' need. In all generations, the birth-giving-age is the most impoverished. But we are living a gap now.

Know the Scriptures, Know the Power of God.

What about Jesus? In the Scriptures, we know Jesus arrived to an impoverished, unwed mother. And very apparently, this young family married (USA Marriages are back on the rise and with birth after the marriage) and began to do very well in the community.

What is our model here? Still Matthew 1, the First Chapter of the New Testament.

Joseph invested in what God would want of him. He took Mary away from the family she left for 3 months 'in great haste'. He walked beside her to make life within the laws of government. He did all he could to care for her health care. He was available for her. And he lived life with - purity. And with a dedication to his family. He made sure he took care of his family Spiritually - right away. Joseph practiced hospitality in a stable to unknown shepherds. Joseph gave - tenderly.

When we find Father God's Scriptures reveal the Power of Scripture and are living and active - God warms our hearts. Matthew 1 isn't just the Christmas Story. Matthew 1 is about generational gaps and solutions. Tender loving care. Walking together, walking with the tenderness of Jesus.





Abba, Heavenly Father,

Real life is the mending of fences. It's not Republican or Democrat. The folding up of labels. This is the warm hand of you are you and I am me. We are the People of God. Eyebrows, elbows, ankles knees and toes. Here we go.

The Body of Christ is united. We want more Heaven on earth. We want Jesus.

We want our troubles and conflicts to be genuine and to have God pulling us up up and away. Jesus told us to Rise.

Father God, Let us not find our life conflicts to eat up our compassion. There is so much discord, disagreement, dastardliness in the world. Don't let the disagreements of life cause failing to love hearts. We want Your help to fight the Good Fight!!!
Warm hearts to love. Let the consuming fire of God be my heart working in love to the end when my Father calls me to His Home.

Let the well done of God's Child in my life be forgiveness, mercy, grace, bravery, integrity, humor and above all compassion. Help me to stand for right and help me have more skill in this life for this work.

In a Word - JESUS. Let Jesus cover, fall, raise my Loved ones. My cares and prayers. My work of Father God and my life. For my Nation trusting in God. For all of His people. For all the nations trusting in God. Let God be our Love and Hope.

In the Powerful Name of Jesus. Amen and Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Isaiah 46:10 ~ My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose

Psalm 132

A Song of Ascents.

1 Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured, 2 how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 3 "I will not enter my house or get into my bed, 4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, 5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."

6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

7 "Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!"

 8 Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. 9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy. 10 For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one. 1

1 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. 12 If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne."

13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: 14 "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy. 17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine."

Daniel 7:9-10

9 “As I looked,
thrones were placed

And the Ancient of Days took his seat

His clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
His throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him

a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.

Revelation 3:5
The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, 
and I will never blot his name 
out of the book of life.

The Field of Jaar.  Bethlehem,  Israel.
Not a difficult name for a Marine to remember. The field young David began to know God.
To learn of the Nature of His Word and of His Mercy. And care for his father's flock.

We are sure our infancy has long past. And only yesterday, Jesus Christ, Son of God was born in Bethlehem.

2 Peter 3:8
Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: 
With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, 
and a thousand years are like a day.

And as God has mercy on us, The Ancient of Days surely knows the frailty of mankind.


Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, 
that we may receive mercy and find grace 
to help in time of need.


2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies
and God of all comfort


Luke 7:12-15
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them.



Just as we are God's Beloved people, we are to have pasture with God as David did.
The Field of Jaar and we find His tender compassion.

We are always God's Child.  Our beginning and our end are not far from His Heart.

What we have as a treasured memory - is present in Father God's idea of time. He is not far from us.

Isaiah 46:10

Declaring the end

from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will

accomplish all my purpose"

Abba, Father,

With Your Presence, we ask Your Blessing, Father.

We Rejoice in the Lord always
Rejoice!

Our Lord God is at hand
we will not be anxious about anything,
in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

We let our requests be made known to God.

We will not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The Lord's Face Graciously Shine upon our cares, Loved ones, this Nation and the People of God.

His Blessings be upon us all.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Revelation 1:12-18 ~ Jesus laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not" +

Father God tells His Messengers to say:

Fear is a universal emotion.

We establish our lives on Love. We Love our Spouse. We Love our Children. We Love our Families and then Life rolls forth. After breakfast is done, we do life. Discovering the day isn't generally all day Love. All sorts of songs on love. And movies about love. Finding daily living beyond breakfast and before dinner is - amusement, business, boredom, decisions, judgment, judgment served up or upon us. And fear. Anger is another full time word to look up in the Bible. Not because the Scriptures are harsh, instead this is our Good Father's advice on our daily Path. Several times the Scriptures tell us life is a test. Our eternal Character is being formed.

What will we do with Fear.

This is a collision. Fear meets Anger. Anger creates, many times, another situation. As adults, we realize this. Fear is a character builder. To put down fear as weakness can be almost a taught response since we were toddlers. Fear is actually a deep thinking solutions builder. As we go down life's Path, our solutions relying on the Strength of God are going to pave our lives and for our families.

If we picture our lives as the continual building of the Temple we all recognize as the Second Temple in Jerusalem. These bricks are establishing our lives. Fear will be something we all find.This is so elementary, we don't have to add this up. For our child. For safety in driving. For our health. Finances. Job strength. Social encounters. Marital tension.

Anger. History shows the most inhumane and unjust governments will fall. The most angry marriages will fall. The jobs utilizing fear as the motivation in anger - is not a career and is a machine eventually rolling over the Anger Provider. I know of three stories, at the very least, the impenetrable boss had fate well meet the match of the unkindness perpetrated. Like Ahab or Henry VIII. Anger in friendships, without fair balances, is a limited time friendship. Fear is an anger provoker. Fear is not a solutions provider in any human endeavor.

Consider Zechariah reacting to anger in life and fear to see God Presented. Anger surfaces over faith.

Luke 1:18-20

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

This Verse completes this with Finality:

James 1:20
The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

David in Psalm 139 is confident he can tell God the absolute truth in dealing with wicked situations. David is relying on God's Justice and mercy for Truth. David takes all of the fear life has given David and he calls upon God's Justice and Mercy. David, except when the Ark gives God reason to show God's Own Thoughts and Justice, rarely, rarely relies on being angry in fear of God or life.

David is willing to live in a life most would not pick for 23 years and Paul was willing to ride in baskets over city walls to have more Life God Gives.

Fright. Suddenly being cotton-mouthed, overwhelmed, wide-eyed.

David did not find this to be problematic. David expected the Mercy of God. Real emotion meets real compassion. Scriptures tell us hearts are revealed. We all deal with goats. Goat Identification is not a bad thing. Zombie identification is a bonus.

David put his fears before God and moved out of the way. Looking rather like a man with a plan. We know David did not always have a working plan.

Who found fear to be Problematic?

The 12 men hand picked to be the new Tribe of Christianity. The Disciples. Jesus had a New Covenant Tribe of men who were constantly confused and a little afraid. Feeling fearful made guilt.  Feeling fearful made them not as easy to see clear answers. Not delving far enough into solutions or even just asking God. Jesus never said fear and guilt made them null and void.

Only one was seen as unworthy. Only one disciple was fired for reactions to fear. What we do with fear counts eternally.

When we are really facing terrible circumstance, sometimes we compound fear with thinking this is without faith and add guilt. Not something Jesus would place on His Beloved Disciples. Jesus still healed the father's son who cried out for more faith. And Peter was picked up for falling in the water when walking on the water with faith didn't work for Peter.

Denial.

Fight or flight. Or denial. I've seen my husband roll, in public, with having his terminal Frontal Brain Lobe operate at various speeds. The Frontal Lobe is our language and is our compassion processing. Denial. Works. Edward is very, very calm with people most of the time. He does not anticipate their reaction being a problem for him. This calm works for people. And you live to fight another day what is important. We can take the calm of, "Your problem isn't necessarily my problem." And turn this into a solutions provider for having time to sort out priorities not leading us to be fussy in pettiness.

Perhaps Father God would say, "Blessed are the Peacemakers."

Life is lumpy. You roll with what you get.

Or you could say, "You git what you git, don't throw a fit."

Winston Churchill picked his battles, jumped fences, saw the other side, lived the other side, changed sides and had this for leading the U.K. away from being a Nazi puppet state.

"Success is not Final.
Failure is not Fatal.
Courage to Continue Counts. "

Winston had another quote on this.

"I'm just preparing my impromptu remarks."

We all know this - usually this occurs when we say, "Oh, I should have said this." 9/10 they already knew it. Part of life's solution is not braying when someone gets your goat. Goats have a way of turning up - good or bad.



Denial generally flees when the water has reached boiling.

Processing.

Jesus told us about the Prodigal Son. The seasons this took. To decide to sell the land for the inheritance. The sale. The time to fall over. The time to find a working temporary solution. The time to look at life. A real time of importance. Fear of starvation and failure brought this son back to his own. Fact finding. Returning him to what God was giving him. Solomon said to embrace a time of woe as from the same hand as the hand of Blessing.

A very beloved Aunt in our family died of Breast Cancer becoming Liver Cancer and then Colon Cancer. She said the Cancer was a gift of God. For 25 years she didn't go near God. Didn't need 'im. Then praying people surrounded her when she had Breast Cancer and was healed for over ten years. The good prayers listened to by a Good Father God gave her ten new years. And when Cancer ended her life, she said she was surprised it wasn't that bad. And as she said this her battle ended and she went to be where prayers were heard by a Good Father were giving her a Home.

Abide. When Father God's Will is your blessing.

God.

Why does God say this:

Revelation 1:12-18

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. 

Jesus laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades


God is well known for saying "Fear Not." Angels and Archangels are told by God to say this so many, many times.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

God believes we have a mind God has given us to put fear aside. Now like Zechariah, this does not always work. God can tell us to Fear Not and we can put our fears aside and pull up time to reconsider Bravery. Usually reconsidering fear works.

We can say tomorrow I will look at fear again. Usually, for a great majority of life, a few hours of determined faith has very fine results. One lean upon God time to let Him handle the situation leads to a better today, and in a majority of seasons and situations, a better tomorrow.

Gift of God.




Father God,


We thank You for hearing prayers of your people for the rains around Hurricane Michael to subside  We continue to pray for Your favor on that area and to help with people who experienced flooding. Bless the families as they recover.

Thank You, Father God, for people who pray!

We pray to Delight You for Your Willing Blessing. And to be the people who are suddenly Revelation 1 when we are called to Your Home.

 In Jesus. Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 1:37 ~ Nothing will be impossible with God

Luke 1:37

For nothing will be impossible with God.

Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Genesis 18:14
Is anything too difficult for the LORD?

1 Samuel 14:6
Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."

Job 42:2
I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.

Jeremiah 32:17
Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!

Jeremiah 32:27
Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?

Zechariah 8:6
This is what The LORD of Hosts says: "If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in My eyes?" declares the LORD of Hosts.

Mark 10:27
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.

Luke 18:27
But Jesus said, "What is impossible with man is possible with God

Psalm 62:11
God has spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongs to God.


In all news, in all circumstance God is working.

When Jesus was born, when salvation is just a hope, when earth is maintained in the middle of space by the Word of God, and in the fact of our existence. When Samuel had no clear idea what God was doing and continued to serve God. When Job had all his blessings evaporate. When Jeremiah was explaining from prison to the nation of Judea this was actually Good News. When all Jeremiah had said came to pass. When the remnant could see rejoicing. As Jesus reflected on the path of life and salvation. God knows His plan. God's plan will take place. Giving us all a Hope and Future.

John 5:17
Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."


Father God,

With life moving in my 5th decade, I have seen many circumstances.

Thank You for many years. Learning in good circumstance and in difficult circumstance, You are working.

We take our concerns and our life adventures to Your Love and Care. We look to the future with prayer and hope. Lifting up our loved ones in Your Incredible Love.

We lift our nation trusting in God. And all the nations trusting in God. As we all have for our lives. Knowing the prayers of the faithful circle this earth.

Also knowing history tends to sort our time and later tell us we were in a time of hope and didn't even know this.

For all of our seasons, we trust the Lord Father God.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

John 10 ~ Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the Door of the sheep."

John 10

1 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him, the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

7 So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

We are always invited to hold on to Jesus.

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father." 19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?"

21 Others said, "These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"





22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.

24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

The Second Temple was a constant building project. No wonder the stone was found.


31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?"

33 The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God."

34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be broken-- 36 you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?

37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."







39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.

The Throne of God is beside The Shining Water.


41 And many came to him. 

And they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true."

42 And many believed in him there.

Jesus is always speaking to His fulfillment. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from His Every Word until all is accomplished.

Jesus goes to the Children of God as Shepherd.

Jesus makes a Straight Path.

Jesus goes to the lost and Jesus is their Shepherd.

Jesus is our Path.

Jesus is our Destination.

Jesus is Today.

Jesus is our Joy and Safety in the Path Tomorrow.

Father God,

We need You. You are the Rock and the Shelter we need.

All of us face, "Days may come." Be our Shepherd in the Storms of Life. 

We need You. Speak in the days may come and the water and the wind will cease. 

In Jesus we will abide.

Our trust and our favor comes from Thee.

Your Gracious Mercies.

In Jesus. Amen.