John 1:1-14, 16, 29-51 ~ He was in the world

Jesus, by Greg Olson

John 1:1-14, 16, 29-51

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 .

[That which has been made was life in him ]. 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, [to his own things; that is, to his own domain, or to his own people ] 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.

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, [the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son] who is at the Father's side, [in the bosom of the Father] he has made him known.

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. [4 p.m.] 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 [Cephas and Peter are from the word for rock in Aramaic and Greek, respectively]).

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 8:12

 When Jesus spoke again to the people, 

He said,

 "I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, 

but will have the light of life."

Deuteronomy 7:7-9

It was not because you were more in number than any other people 

The Lord set his love on you and chose you, 

for you were the fewest of all peoples

Because the Lord loves you 

and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, 

the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand 

and redeemed you 

from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 

Know the Lord your God is God, 

the faithful God 

He keeps covenant and steadfast love 

with those who love Him 

and keep His commandments, 

to a thousand generations

Ephesians 1:4

He chose us in Him 

before the foundation of the world, 

we should be holy and blameless 

before Him 

in Love

God Loves You

There are a lot of people in this world. We all wonder if we could have chosen our lives, our path and bodies if we would have chosen differently.  We live God’s Plan and He chose for us. We are chosen, loved and special to Him.

Matthew 10:29-31

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

God created you

Psalm 8:3-6

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet

How much does God love you?

John 3:16

 “For God so loved you, 

He gave his only Son, 

that whoever believes in Him 

should not perish 

but have eternal life.

Hebrews 2:9

We see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting that he, 
for whom and by whom all things exist, 
in bringing many sons to glory, 
should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 

11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.  

That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,

“I will tell of your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, 
he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Romans 8:14-23

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons  of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 

21 that the creation itself will be set free 

from its bondage to corruption and

obtain the freedom 

of the glory of the children of God. 

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, 

but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, 

groan inwardly 

as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:50-53

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 

For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

John 15:16

 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Father God loves you very much. 

Abba, Father God, 

You have called us to You. 

In the stresses and glories of life, help us to remember You are the Eternal God our Father of Love. 

Each day we put our hands out to You to pray, 
help us to fill this day with the love, the care  and the work you would have us do. 

As we read the Scriptures, let us be filled with the knowledge that they were written for us, in Your love. 

Let us Rejoice knowing the Children of God cover the Good Creation with prayer. Seeking more Heaven on earth and Your Good Will. 

Let us Rejoice knowing we walk in God's Good Plan. Our Hope and our Future. Today.

Let us Rejoice knowing our Loved Ones are held by Jesus Christ, God's Son, our Jesus. Our friend Numbered with the Greatest.

Let us Rejoice knowing our Nation prays and trusts in Him.

Let us Rejoice Nations live looking to Him and His Brightness.

In the name of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Matthew 18:10-14 ~ see that you do not despise

Matthew 18:10-14

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven [For the Son of Man came to save the lost]. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my [your] Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.


Haters gonna hate. 

I saw an MSNBC interview with the Pastor of a Mega Church.

I don't know a thing about the Pastor's book and I don't know the MSNBC interviewer. Perfect. Which is exactly what I needed for this passage. 

And later in the day, a Facebook comment from a long-time friend. Her comment was - watch the video clip and see if it is relevant to accept Jesus Christ in this life-

So I watched the video. I commented on her comment and asked what people thought.

To be honest with you, the interviewer spoke with an English accent, loudly, clearly, dramatically and offered a lot of yes or no, take answer A or answer B questions bluntly. I rather like blunt. But I came away from the 5 minute segment a little confused. I've read quite a few Christian Fiction books on mega-churches leading people down the false path of easy, cheap grace. Grrrrrrr.

And I've watched good Christian Television Show Ministers - who are famous - have terrible fake, cheesy grins plastered on their faces. Especially when dealing with the media.  You just know the fruit from the tree is wholesome, but lemme tell you, I've wanted to write sincerely and say - please - Stop with the look. ("I love being fried, please make me embarrassed, I am always happy." ) Yuckkkk. Let love be sincere. 

And I've seen some, "Peace-seeking, I'm Okay, You're Okay"s turn rabid over Christian viewpoints. Woooow. One fascist opinion is allowed to govern us all.

So... who is the hater..... the deist, the universalist, the humanist, the Christian?

A religious meeting that may seem strange to outsiders. Everybody sings "Praise Be to Whom It May Concern" and then somebody speaks and nobody listens - and then everybody disagrees. And if you disagree, then you'll fit right in. The point of the meeting - is anger.

The argument was Salvation ....for whom?
God is unique. God says Salvation is for all people - for the world.

I was recently asked what religion copied what religion. Why do we see similarity in groups worshipping God? Or gods. The Light of Jesus Christ is in mankind. We seek to be part of God's Eternal Love. I believe Jesus is the Way of Salvation. Confucius never knew Jerusalem or Israel.

And then another interview with a Mega Christian of Television.
There wasn't a hater, but extremely different viewpoints of looking at Salvation. The Minister enjoyed talking to the bulldog, lock jawed reporter. He was amused at the tactics of the reporter - the Minister had game. The reporter could tell the Minister was amused and made witty come backs, the interview was going wellll; the reporter was happy. The Facebook people made open minded, Scriptural comments. It was interesting and upbeat. Very unusual for a Salvation discussion.

When we look at the Law... who gets in to Heaven....

Luke 19: 1 
He entered Jericho and was passing through. 

2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 

6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

It becomes more easy when we acknowledge this: we are never going to walk down the street, look up in a tree and be able to know the soul of a stranger. Religion is out. Relationship, not with human opinion, but with Jesus Christ has begun.

Who gets the shot at Salvation?

Joel 3:14 
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! 
For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

~ What about good men, who didn't know of Jesus. Will they be saved? Jesus never met the Centurion. Or his servant. What did Jesus do?

~ What about tragedy - - Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 

Jesus answered, "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Salvation....

Romans 11:34 
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

Nope, that doesn't just do it here.... we can say more.

1 Corinthians 2:16 
“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

And this for all people....

Philippians 2:12 
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

It does Not say, work out the centurion's salvation.

 What role do the others play in the centurion's salvation?

Luke 7:
³ The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, ⁵ because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” ⁶ So Jesus went with them.

When the people interceded for the man - the centurion - Jesus found faith and he healed the centurion's servant. Betcha Jesus knew the servant, interceded for by the intercessor too.

Salvation.... it isn't a religion, it is a relationship.

Abba, Father God,

Glory to You in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom Your favor rests.

Jesus Christ, Your Son, gave and we are Your beloved. Help us to walk with You.

There are different kinds of working, but You are the same God working in all men. Equip us, please, with everything good for doing Your will. Work in us what is pleasing to You. 

You daily load us up with Your benefits,  enlighten our eyes in faith, and our souls rejoice. We ask for more Heaven on earth. And for our friend numbered among the Greatest - Your Word of Healed.

 Amen, through Jesus Christ, for His Glory. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Matthew 20 ~ ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend."

Matthew 20

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Jesus Christ is the Same Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. 

Keeping Peace. Encouraging Love and harmony in orderly conduct.


















Isaiah 45

Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it. 

9"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands '? 10"Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?'

Individuals lose their own personal shine from seeing Jesus. As Moses - he covered his face. I've heard this described as humanity holding on to pride, but perhaps Moses was weeping.

The point is to continue - with Gratitude, with Grit, Grins and Love.

And to get there - to get anywhere in the Scriptures - we have to have honesty. Sometimes a good cry. Sometimes a cry of verbal frustration and anger. Jesus told us be angry and do not act on sin. Ephesians 4:26.

David knew.

Psalm 4:4
Be angry, yet do not sin; on your bed, search your heart and be still. Selah

Romans 12:9
Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

Luke 3
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight

The word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.


To find the Joy in The Joy of the Lord is my strength - we have to be able to put down bitterness. We have to find the Real Peace worth fighting the Good Fight. 

We have to cry out to find kindness and tenderness and forgiveness. Even when Lucy will continue to move the football, Charlie Brown.

Faith, hope and Love.  To realize these are the joys of life. To know all seasons and all days have good with Joy and Love and all days have some sadness. We learn to live in the moments of Joy and Love and to decrease the strength, the time and the occurrence of sadness. But only with truth.

I had the most marvelous dream Jesus was coming to live with us in brand new, shiny rooms. Making all of us new. We decorated in His favorite colors - red and green. A quilt was found for the wall. And then spent the day in frustration. Joy arrived. Joy was worked for. Joy apparently left.

In fact, I have been grumpy, irritated, sniping and upset.

And when I told Edward - Edward said in comparisons to life God has provided - the hardships are small.  Sometimes to see this - you have to see Eternity. And other days to see this - all you simply have is gratitude in your heart.

To be able to speak to the frustrations - is a Blessing.

We have all heard believe in the Lord when the Sun doesn't shine. 

Rejoice in the Lord isn't the beaming of every golden day. Rejoice in the Lord is the belief that even if you are in your 90's, 9th decade of life, and have incredible back pain - God will hear you. He did for our uncle and the uncle healed in the belief that even at 90 years of age - water therapy and faith exist. Rejoice in the Lord is the belief God is still working. And we can have relief Father God named His Son Yeshua over Joshua holding the faith for 40 years.

It's impossible to believe. And yet we are told - our lives are mapped out as written in Psalm 139.

The Purpose of God is where we live - today. The Blessing we are today - is from God. The difficulties and heartbreaks are Psalm 139 too. Embrace the goodness, have patience with what is heart curdling. And find tomorrow we have endured and overcome again. God, our Father, is still working and Jesus as well.

Abba,

Yours is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory.

And in this Truth, we ask for Your Blessings.

Praying more Heaven on earth
for ourselves and our cares.
For the ones we love in their eternal love and soul.
For this Nation.
For the Nations trusting in God.
For Your Beloved praying for more Heaven on earth.

More Peace, more Joy, more Love, more hope, more prosperity, more health for us all and for our friend numbered among the Greatest. More Jesus Christ - Heal them all.

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

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Psalm 104 ~ May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in His Works

Psalm 104

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great!

You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. 3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; 4 he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.

5 He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.

6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.

8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them.

9 You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.

10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; 11 they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. 13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. 14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth 15 and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart. 16 The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 17 In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees. 18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

19 He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. 20 You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about. 21 The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.

22 When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens. 23 Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.

24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. 26 There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it. 27 These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. 28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.

30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

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!



Oh, to have a Work of the Lord for our life. A Work of His Today.
Something amazing.
Miraculous.

Abraham lived in tents in the land he did not own in Hebron, Israel.

Jacob moved to Egypt.

Surely this would end God's Plan and be the end of story.

Moses -  can be part of a miracle of God - that never works on Pharaoh. This never works! And does.
Moses - can be part of a miracle of God - that won't keep us fed, comfortable, not thirsty.
Moses - can be part of a miracle of God - but we aren't strong enough to defeat an army of Giants in the Promised Land.

Moses - can be part of a miracle of God - but God completes taking the Children of Israel into Israel because God is in charge of Works of God.

Gideon - the people believed Gideon is going to destroy the town and God won't help us through Gideon.
Gideon - the people believed Gideon didn't include them in the victory and felt angry.
Gideon - didn't lead well all his life.

Works of God belong to God.

The Scriptures tell us where to find Nebi Samuel - the view from his homesite. Mountains north of Jerusalem.

Samuel not always sure and pleased with what he knows he is to do.
Samuel and his sons were not chosen for the long run. Works of God belong to God.
Samuel is asked to anoint another and Samuel is picked to end God's chosen form of government (Judges self-governing) replaced with kingship.
Works of God belong to God.

Views from David's Palace found in archaeology from reading the Bible.

David 22 years and a descendant of Saul's is found.
23 years and several descendants of Saul's concubines are found.
David danced during his third coronation. Israel became his in bits and pieces.
David assures Life is always going to have Trouble.
David had Civil War.
David decided for a  census and created a plague.
David has family troubles.
David did very well.
Works of God belong to God.

Hezekiah lived in David's Palace - above. 

And we can still see the tool marks of the water tunnels dug by Hezekiah's Judea.

Hezekiah moved the hand of God in prayer. Jesus says pray with Hope.

Hezekiah 3 million person Judah vs the Neo-Assyrian Empire dominated the Near East from 910 BC to around 610 BC. The Assyrian Empire population is estimated at almost 20-30 Million people. Assyria was a garden area now covering Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Cyprus and Armenia.

There was no way for Judah to stand as Israel was conquered. The people of Judah became very, very interested in what God would say. And this period in the Bible has the people doing more for the Lord in works and generosity - - - than any other time.

All of these works have a similarity - certain and seen failure.
Times of high fear and doubt.

Did the Bible ever have times of immediate relief and pure comfort?

The faithful asking Jesus had this. Without doubt. And Jesus had great Joy. Being God, Jesus had God's own Peace. The circumstances daily would not lend to human peace and comfort for the great tension all over tradition, the economy, employment, religion, and division of belief in Judea.

Jesus had the very present Peace of His Father. More peace than David, Moses, Gideon, Samuel and Hezekiah. With more chance of harm.


Peter and Paul had times of pure disappointment and trial. It's probably true their grandchildren wondered at the times and successes and cost. Today, we see clearly.



Is any other time purely decisive?

Nahum 2 - when God takes vengeance - He does not need to strike twice.

Continuance.Jesus is Living Water.

 This Psalm covers God's Plan for the earth. Combined with the Holy Spirit wanting to be near mankind and abiding over the pervasive waters of the earth. Now, what would we do with this as part of our lives?  We would pray for God's love to pour forth as only God Himself could accomplish.

 The Bible tells us our prayers reach the heart of God. The Word of God tells us - only the Spirit gives Life. So our prayers are pleasing to God, but God Himself is the One Who Accomplishes.


Abba,

We ask Your Blessing.

The Psalm is filled with Living Water - we hope our prayers become the Blessing of Your Living Water continually flowing all over us with Your Love, Guidance, Blessing and Protection.

What we could never fill in our loved ones, what we could never do for others - we know we rely upon Your Love. On Your Heart of Mercy for them.

We rest all our concerns upon You, Father. And in comfort, know Your Mercy carries us all.

We ask continued healing for our friend, numbered among the Greatest to go home from the hospital as he heals.

Jesus gave us the gift and the assurance to pray for more Heaven on earth.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †