Matthew 11:25-30 ~ find rest for your souls

 Texas Civilian Navy, Cajun Navy - Helper. Holy Spirit.

Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 


28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

We all have times in life - white knuckled prayer.

And we are familiar with the passage of Jesus promising His burden is light.

How do we combine the ideas of fear, works and Jesus offering rest?


Matthew 11 begins with our answer. John the Baptist is losing his ministry, his life-  he leaves being killed by the king. His life was for what purpose, John the Baptist, wonders. He to die when Jesus is God?

Jesus is the answer. Because John the Baptist has been with Jesus since the beginning of the ministry of Jesus.



The question is one we all face - fear.

Jesus is dealing with the fragility of life. Jesus is not negating the good works life calls for in the Light of Jesus.

Jesus is overcoming the fear.  Most of us have dealt with being impoverished. At any level.

Most young people are impoverished as they begin. Most parenting is faced with limited funds. Jesus is overcoming fear. Jesus is overcoming fear in unwed mothers facing a vast list of difficulties.

Jesus is overcoming our fear of being inadequate. At any age.

Jesus is overcoming fear when we face mortal illnesses in children, friends or the elderly. Fear the end - freedom from fearing the end.

Jesus tells us of what we can't face. When circumstance is overwhelming. Illness. Loss. Jesus is going to carry us. When we are not perfect enough.


When fear is vanquished - we are capable. We have our gifts in Father God when we are released from fear and face life and life challenges. As we grow older, we face more of life - with more confidence.

Jesus has proven we can Rest all of our cares with Jesus.

Because we know Jesus showing Father God's Love - we are able, given the ability to be ourselves and put our burdens down. Life inevitably offers burdens - daily. God allows us to say - we gave our best that day. Any day. Jesus covers ever dot and ever iota - we are not able to fill.  We rest knowing our Savior - fills all. In the overwhelming Mercy of God.




George Muller created more God paths for those without any means. He created Paths. The Prayer Life of George Muller, George felt prayer was all the work of life itself. When he prayed, he said, "Jesus, please." And God would help George Muller.



Father God,

As it is Thanksgiving - we give Thanks for the Goodness of Jesus.

And cover all and all with - "Please, Jesus."

Amen in Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 91:4 ~ His Faithfulness is a Shield

Psalm 91:4

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

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

Love

The Lord God is a God of Love

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

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



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

Timothy and Paul spoke of this as fact.

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

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

Peace

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

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

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

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

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

The picture is more a summation of all these words.

Joy

John 15:10-12

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

Father God,

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

Thank You for being part and answering our prayers each time we pray. We lift all of our cares and concerns to You - Rejoicing in being heard and anticipation of Your answer.  Feeling the Joy and Safety of our Loved Ones. Resting all of the Believing world with You. Rejoicing in flowing Living Water being the anointing of Love and Faith, flowing on in the Great Love Father God has. Thank You, Abba, in Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

1 Chronicles 20:1-3 ~ returned to Peace

1 Chronicles 20:1-3

1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army and ravaged the country of the Ammonites and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. And Joab struck down Rabbah and overthrew it. 

  2 And David took the crown of their king from his head. He found that it weighed a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone. And it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. 3 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and axes. And thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites.

Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.



David fought for 22 years for the anointing of God to be shown to be true. When Saul died, David saw 3 people crowned before David. Little by little, David became King of parts of Israel until he was King of Israel.

When he came into his power, David welcomed those who had not helped him during the hard years. David had learned about being a shepherd.

When David came into his city, David did not carefully plan his home - his home was outside the City Walls - David would see over the city and God would keep David safe. Preparations were well thought out.

When David built his great buildings, David asked outside of Israel for supplies, sometimes for laborers, and for designs of Architecture. David was a Shepherd like Jesus, he saw a need to be a light or ally to the Nations. Preparations were well thought out.

When David found a crown, he did not take it and have it melted down and or carefully re-jeweled. The crown was of value, but not the focus of David. It was a value and a symbol, however not the focus. The crown was now of nations. As the Light of Christ Jesus. Father God of all.


David returned to Peace. The City of David is Peace.




Finding the right direction and priority - is yesterday, today and tomorrow.


Abba, Father,

We ask Your Blessings. You provide the seasons, challenges and opportunities. When opportunities come, we would ask Your Wisdom and rely on You as God.

In this season of Holy Days, we would ask God to direct us. To stay on His Path. For His encouragement, teaching, Love, Mercy, Grace, Joy, and His Renewing Mercy every day. We are renewed daily in His Mercy.

We know this blessing of God's for our Loved ones and ask this to sweep this Nation. To fill the Nations trusting in Him. Knowing the comfort of all of His Children praying for more Heaven on earth. Being encouraged as the Children of God learn of so many praying every day.

In the Name of Jesus, We rejoice in hearing of renewal. More Heaven on earth! Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Philippians 2:23 ~as soon as I see

Philippians 2:23b

I hope therefore to send him, just as soon as I see how it will go with me



We live and learn from every Word of God.


Paul and Peter looked at their ministry and having been asked by Jesus to carry His Word and Love to the nations. Paul took the world of Gentiles. An incredible Job. An Incredible Faith.

Samuel had an incredible faith. He could hear God. And like Abraham, Samuel begged God not to have him anoint another king. Samuel in the middle of doing a God work, remembered by millenniums - Samuel asked God not to let Samuel's words fall. Samuel relied upon God each day. Moses might have had a glimmer of all God could do. Yet Paul and Samuel relied on God each day as the day went forth.

Peter was astonished to be let out from prison. So much so that Peter was not sure if he was in a vision, a dream or reality. Peter relied on God to reveal to Peter what was going on. Not even the people in the house believed Peter was at the door.


God helps us to do His will. Day by day.

Father God,

Every Thanksgiving we have is a new adventure. We ask Your Blessings on the Holidays.

Each Day filling us with Living Water. You are doing more than we ask or even imagine.

Just as the people of the Scripture show us their willingness to Live the Great Adventure,
so shall we walk in the Paths and Good Works You would give us.

Let the Holidays be filled with the warmth of our heart. Pouring out a blessing.

We ask the Blessings upon those we Love. All Your willing Blessings. Living Waters of God
renewing and redeeming us daily. God giving us all we need to accomplish His Will. Filling
those we Love.

The Living Water of Jesus Christ filling the entire Nation. The Nations trusting in God.

Blessing, protecting, encouraging, sustaining, strengthening the people of God
blessing His Good creation
asking more of God's Wonderful Heaven on this earth.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 136 ~ Give Thanks

 

Prince Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2004

Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
To get through this thing called life

Electric word
Life
It means forever and that's a mighty long time
But I'm here to tell you
There's something else

The after world
A world of never ending happiness

You can always see the Son, day or night

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night


for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;


13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

17 to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

22 a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.i



Deuteronomy 18:18
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites,
and I will put my words in his mouth.
He will tell them everything I command him.

The Psalm of Many Mercies

God wants - God will Receive
What our Father God sets His Heart to do - what God Plans - God will Receive
Our Hope and Future God foresees is to save you - save me - save thousands of years of His people Yesterday, today and tomorrow - to Salvation in Jesus Christ.
Why?
 To enjoy living and moving and dwelling with us in His Kingdom.
God's Kingdom - where His will is perfectly accomplished.
As He can do on earth and practices all and daily in God's Heaven.

Thanksgiving. For the Plans of God.
Thanksgiving for the Amazing Plan of our Father God of Love

The Psalm of Many Mercies.

Our God will steadfastly Love.

Abba, Holy Father,


We ask You for all Your Willing Blessings.

And what You give us is all we have. Every gift we have has come from You. Every day. Every thought. Everyone we Love. All goodness is from You.

Abba, what I can give You, that You did not give me - I can give You my sincere Thanks.
 I can tell You all about the person I am and You will care and listen.

Thank You, Father God, for Your Sincere Steadfast Love.


When I pray I am leaning against You, Father. And as I tell You, I know I am precious to You. I receive Your mercy. I know all happiness in Your mercy. Psalm 139 tells me - Your thoughts of me are more than the beaches hold sand.

I remember the delight my young sons had in the Joy of Steadfast Love. And this Psalm is living and active in this Joy. Covering us all in God's Love.

The Good News - nothing cuts us off From God. God reaches beyond all barriers to bring us His Love.

Thank You, God.
Thank You for Jesus Christ.

You are our comforter. Our Help. Our Helper. We have Peace in You.


Amen in Jesus Christ.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 90 ~ Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us

The same stars Moses and the Children of Israel stood and gazed upon - is our sky.

 

Psalm 90

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.


You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.

8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.

11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?

12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.

13 Return, O Lord! How long?

Have pity on your servants!


14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

and for as many years as we have seen evil.

16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!




This Psalm is unique - it is a Psalm of Moses.

Moses talked about Life doing amazing Works of God is dismaying. And then Moses asked Father God to make life have happiness.

The Exodus story is the story of life.

When we are conceived the impossible happens, a green flash of light of conception and Life has begun. The amazing building process of a new life - a new Child of God. Birth happens. And our journey continues.

Struggles happen. The Children of Israel live in a temporary world with anything that could cause life to end - because life is so fragile. And in the journey, God makes our days possible, we walk with dry feet upon the floor where the ocean once stood. Along the way, some will worry and become bitter. And they will not reach eternal life. In this process, a Golden Calf is built and loyalties change.

This is life. The goal is to be the Prodigal Son and find the way home.

And how will we find the Joy of the Lord is our Strength?

To be pleased with today. To see life is fragile. To be glad for the Blessings the Hand of God would bring today. To enjoy the season.

Reality - life in a tent with few of anything you know - is difficult. The Children of God complained about real things. And if we trust God, like Abraham - we can move the merciful Hand of God. Jesus told us to pray with Hope.

Our best and highest - where Jesus told us to place our cares -
In my most recent Prayer Group, we talked and prayed about people who survived Cancer even in the 4th stage. What happened? For most of them, they lived, and then they lived a little bit longer. And every day they found they Lived. The man in our group who survived cancer twice with 4th stage lung cancer said he thanked God for his health. 500 times a day.




Moses asked God to be happy in the Journey. And we know at one point, Jethro and Moses' wife and sons arrived. Maybe this Psalm is the record of Moses spoke with Father God about happiness.



Without a doubt, this is a Psalm complaining to God. We have read the hand of woe and the hand of Blessing are from God. And the Psalm turns to remembering God is Father of us all. God of Love. God of encouragement. God Still Working and Jesus Still Working today.

The stars are the same. The Word of God according to the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nature of God - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - are unchanging. The Mercy and Love God has are Alive and Well. God of the Living. To know the Scriptures and the Power of God.

Faith, Hope and Love - With Love being Best. Our Father God.

Abba,

Father God we ask Your Blessings today and always. Especially as we pray this far flung prayer:

Moses and the Children of God moved a large Rock with their Journey. And from this Very Large Rock, living water would flow and the Children of Israel had Living Water. We are told in the New Testament this Living Water spoke of Jesus and His abundance.

Jesus is the Rock. Our Rock and our Foundation. And Jesus is Man. Fully Man. Jesus would know and remember just as He remembered Abraham - that Jesus would want to sail the Sea of Galilee.

We would pray in our seasons of desert to remember to ask for Abundant Living Water - as much as the Sea of Galilee. And know as we ask - Jesus loves us to know the Scriptures and the Power of God.

To pray with Hope and pray in conversation unceasing. God is Love! To Proclaim Love is to Proclaim God and what a Blessing. Our God. Our Father. Our Jesus. Love.

We would pray a Sea of Galilee of all Your Blessings for our Loved ones. We would pray God fill us all running over and pouring over us - Your Willing and Vast Blessings. We would fill our Nation trusting in You with Your Blessings. Still Pouring the love of God and His Holy Spirit filling all the Nations and the believers all over praying for more Heaven on earth.

The Willing Heart of God is ours. The Willing Love of God is ours. The ear of God is willing and His Plans are a Hope and Future.

In Jesus Christ. In Jesus God. In God's Son - Jesus - Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †