Romans 5 ~ His Grace

Romans 5

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption

that came by Christ Jesus.

25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, 
through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.

 He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance

Matthew 19:28

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, 

at the renewal of all things, 

when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne."

We ask for more Heaven on earth and the God's Will to be done on earth as in Heaven.

What will we see?

Titus 3:4-6

4 When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior."

Joel saw The Day of the Lord

Joel 3:14, 16-17

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

16 The LORD roars from Zion,
and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth quake.

But the LORD is a refuge to his people,
a stronghold to the people of Israel.

17“So you shall know that I am the LORD your God,
who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain."




Acts 2:36
Let all the house of Israel therefore 
know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, 
this Jesus whom you crucified.


Acts 5:42
And every day, in the temple and from house to house,
they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

Decision of Heaven on earth

Mark 9

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, 

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Mark 9

23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out.

John saw the Day of the Lord.

John 1:14, 16-18

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 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

The People saw The Day of the Lord and Received Grace upon Grace.

Matthew 15:30
And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them

Acts 5:14
And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women

Is the Grace upon Grace Personal?

7“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am on my way, someone else goes in before me.” 

8 Then Jesus told him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.”

The Word of the Lord.  Jesus is the manifestation and the exact nature of God's Word.

We know Jesus took the deaf man aside and gave him hearing. Personally. We know the blind were anointed by Jesus to feel His Touch. Personally.



John 15:5 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Mary Magdalene was apart and felt she could do nothing. She demonstrated something amazing. Available to us today.

John 20

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Rise

Matthew 27:63

 “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’

Matthew 27:64 
Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”

Matthew 28:6 
He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

Matthew 28:7 
Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

"Rise" is Personal, Truth and of God

Matthew 17:7
Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”

Matthew 9:5
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

Luke 17:19
And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

John 11:23
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”


Luke 7 we will all know.

13When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.” 

14 Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,”

 He said, “I tell you, rise up!” 

15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak! 

Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Abba,

We pray for Your Willingness to Bless us and we will Rise to Your Way, Life and Truth.

We pray to rise to shine for Your Glory.

We pray to have Love Rise to lift the ones we Love to Your Plan and Path.

We pray for our Nation to Rise to Your Plan and Your Love in trusting You.

We pray for Your Word to Rise to heal in Your healing.

And we would cover ourselves in Your Blessings to be covered in the Name of Jesus Christ, Your Son.


Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! † 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

2 Corinthians 4:8-18 ~ Love one another

2 Corinthians 4:8-18

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

In the world and not of the world is Biblical. “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”   John 17:14



Romans 15:4

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

2 Corinthians 4:8-18
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.







God tells us in Proverbs we know ourselves and God knows us. These photos are all of the Old North Church. Different points of view.



Edward enjoys looking at You Tube give the important scenes of a movie. If this is a movie you've watched before, watching the important scenes again adds strength to the framework of the movie's dynamics.

We've watched the series "John Adams" several times. The scenes we watched John Adams and his unusual pattern - taking his wife across the fierce ocean to take an Ambassadorship of the brand new nation. John Adams was actually instructed by Thomas Jefferson not to be accompanied by his wife - it looked provincial. When our Vice-President did not heed Jefferson's request, Benjamin Franklin was much more frank and rude and told him he was a fool who would fail. These letters actually had one reach him before the journey and Franklin's letter reached Adams in London. Competent men rarely like rude letters. And while John Adams would work as a Christian to restore his friendship with Jefferson, because of their warm shared past. Adams would be shocked at the looseness of Franklin. And their relationship would never repair. Franklin was married, but appeared in the French Court with any woman of his choice. When in France, do as the French, said Franklin.


Jefferson also pointed out to Adams he would risk Abigail's life to cross the ocean. Abigail had missed years with John and they decided if they perished, they would take this time together and perish if they must. Adams had abhorred George III because they had fought his injustices to have freedom. Jefferson and Adams had discussed the real possibility George III would kill the first Ambassador to England on the ability to kill a subject of King George III's for treason. Abigail and Adams did not think Abigail would be killed, but discussed how her passage home would go.


John Adams was loyal to his nation. And loyal to Law. John and his son Quincy had represented the defense of men who had killed five Boston residents during the Boston Massacre in 1770. Seeking law and justice. Hence - John would be the First Ambassador. A stepping stone to being the 1st Vice President and the 2nd President of our nation.

It was abhorrent to learn to bow to George III. The pomp and the ceremony of all of England was something a freeman like Adams feeling as if he had discovered the stench of hell. As he approached the monarch, John Adams felt fear. He felt that if he were to be killed, this would be the day, or he would live. John Adams truthfully said he was the man for the job that both nations had been kindred with a common language and shared a common faith. He was glad to represent the new nation as a proud new nation to address as hopeful common allies. Adams hoped to unite the countries as help to both nations.

The King did not speak for a long time and, finally, congratulated Adams as being a sincere man. George III went on to say of all the men on the planet, he was the last to accept the separation. And the first to hope for the new nation to go forth to do great and meaningful things for the citizens. George III expressed his approval of Adams for the desire for his nation for greatness. He then asked Adams what he thought of the French. Adams correctly said he only represented his own nation with great care. The King said exactly, an honest man only represents his own nation. Both men found warmth and sincerity in the conversation. Adams was greatly surprised. Adams had done very well.


Jefferson asked for Adams to come to the French Court. Under no circumstance was Abigail to even put foot in France. He and Benjamin Franklin were part of Court, but had achieved nothing. A few ships would help, but not create safety. Adams was laughed out of the court for not speaking French. King Louis XVI spoke English perfectly, but King Louis preferred to be in double entendre with Franklin - Franklin seemed to have changed personality. Later in the day, Adams was to scream and yell, almost to the point of stroke with the Ambassador of France to the United States. Franklin and Adams had now become completely estranged. Jefferson was aghast. And found with Adams ability to scream and yell over no assistance being provided, that the French worried the scene would become the loss of the new nation. Adams was to display his truthful disdain over complete disregard for the cares of the many. Jefferson was to discover the lack of diplomacy had found the path to command the attention of the disinterested government.

Adams again succeeded. Being honest.

Colossians 1:17
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Surely,  we do not parent our families screaming about hate.

We do not go to Cotton Mather to find we are a spider mess to God. We do not listen to fear to know God's Love.

Why do politics and political discussions with fear mongering. Crisis. Hate. Hate. Hate.



The Nation has issues to be strengthened. This is the Nature of Government. Screaming about Hate and attitudes distracts from the purpose of strengthening the Nation.

The Nation would be strengthened with the Hope and Love God has for mankind.




Abba, Our Father,

For our nation, for ourselves for those we Love, we seek Your Willing Blessings each day.

We pray this for ourselves, our families, the Nation and the world coming to the Brightness of Jesus.

Deuteronomy 30:14-16

The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it. 15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, as well as death and disaster. 16 For I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and increase, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

We are Blessed of God, He tells us in Numbers 6, to have the name of Jesus cover us.

We pray this in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! † 

1 Samuel 2:7-10 ~ The Lord's

Prayer. This is How I Fight Battles.

The Lord makes poor and makes rich;

he brings low and he exalts.

He raises up the poor from the dust;

he lifts the needy from the ash heap

to make them sit with princes

and inherit a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,

and on them he has set the world.

“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,

but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,

for not by might 
shall a man prevail.

The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;

against them he will thunder in heaven.

The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;

he will give strength to his king

and 
exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Who has said this in God's Word :

God Himself. The earth is the Lord's and the Fullness Thereof. Genesis to Revelation.

Mary's Song. Mary, Mother of God.

And this portion carrying us from  Let us Have Light to the Light of Jesus Christ in Revelation.

These Verses are from Hannah. Struggling with having meaning in life. Struggling with her heart to fulfill her God given purpose. Struggling to ask our Father for answered prayer in despair. Hannah had great despair and felt the world was empty.

1 Samuel 2:7-10

Hannah found the Good Portion. Jesus Christ.

Psalm 24

The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.


Surrounded (Fight My Battles)
Michael W. Smith

That's how we fight our battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
(Praise and worship)
This is how I fight my battles
This is what we doing tonight
It may look like I'm surrounded
But I'm surrounded by You
It may look like I'm surrounded
But I'm surrounded by You
It may look like I'm surrounded
But I'm surrounded by You
It may look like I'm surrounded
But I'm surrounded by You
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
It may look like I'm surrounded
But I'm surrounded by You!

We are all experiencing turbulence. This week, I've had a phone call. My Brother and his wife and children live in El Paso. Then a text. And a group message sent saying Market Volatility with the word 'war'. And an email for powerful prayer. This is an unusual week. I'm within days of recently having wind sheer in our backyard - I thought would bring down the house. In the middle of no rain. And within 8 feet of an entirely dead tree that didn't even bring down a branch. Yes, the rain happened quickly.


Yesterday, my family was listening to a Podcast talking about, "Hate." When we turn on the national broadcasts, we hear the word, "Hate" over and over and over. The accusations are wild. Exaggeration is an understatement in the Political part and parcel. Outrageous. The other word is 'killed'. Violence. Failed Duty. Inaccuracies. This could only be regarded as Manipulation. Man - i - pu - you - lation. The word Crisis is used in this fest.


Be aware of repeat words. Be in Prayer. Reject inaccuracies. Fight our Battles with God Himself in Prayer. Go to Jesus Christ with any and all fears. The Disciples felt afraid and Jesus loves His Beloved.

Now, Feel His Name. Jesus. Apply Prayer. This is where all Battles are Won.

We are anointed in the New Covenant by Jesus Christ for God's Plan.

We have only to ask Jesus to live in us, forever. God of Love. God of Encouragement.

God tells us of His Hope and Good Future. And God Himself has told us what to do in troubled times. To push down fear. To overcome.

Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for You are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life

and
I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

Father God help us to hold on to You, giving us Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Rock of our foundation. Know the Scriptures, know the Power of God. Amen.

Who has said this in God's Word:

God Himself. The earth is the Lord's and the Fullness Thereof. Genesis to Revelation.

 Psalm 24

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,

the world and those who dwell therein,

2 for he has founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to what is false

and does not swear deceitfully.

5 He will receive blessing from the Lord

and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O gates!

And be lifted up, O ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

8 Who is this King of glory?

The Lord, strong and mighty,

the Lord, mighty in battle!

9 Lift up your heads, O gates!

And lift them up, O ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

10 Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts,

he is the King of glory! 
Selah

Mary's Song. Mary, Mother of God. She speaks of the feeling of life being overwhelming and she knows where she will turn.

Luke 1

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

For the Mighty One has done great things for me—

Holy is his name.

His mercy extends 
to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

 He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

 He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants 
forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.”

And this portion carrying us from Let us Have Light to the Light of Jesus Christ in Revelation.

1 John 5:4

For everyone 

who has been born of God 

overcomes the world.

And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

1 John 5:5 

Who is it that overcomes the world

 except the one 

who believes that 

Jesus is the Son of God?

These Verses are from Hannah. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

1 Samuel 2:1-10

2 Then Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;

in the Lord my horn is lifted high.

My mouth boasts over my enemies,

for I delight in your deliverance.

2 “There is no one holy like the Lord;

there is no one besides you;

there is no Rock like our God."

Abba,

Psalm 56:3

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

In Jesus Christ we will know God is Love. God is Encouragement.

In Jesus Christ, You, our Father God, we will know the Scriptures and the Power of God.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Psalm 58 ~ Surely GOD

Our Backyard in 2016. See the Magnolia.

 Psalm 58

A Miktam of David.

58 Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
2No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
your hands deal out violence on earth.

3 The wicked are estranged from the womb;
they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent,
like the deaf adder that stops its ear,

5 so that it does not hear the voice of charmers
or of the cunning enchanter.

6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths;
tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!

7 Let them vanish like water that runs away;
when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.

8 Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime,
like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.

9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,
whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!


10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.


11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

This was our Magnolia tree in 2001, about the time we moved in our home. I love my gardening.

This is a 'baby' Green Heron. If you feed them shrimp when their mother leaves the runt of the litter, the unhook their jaw and it hangs to the feet, creating awesome terror for your hand. 2018. Ebert brought back many nests filled since 2012.  The Magnolia is in the left corner.

This is the Magnolia in 2018. Amazing Golden sunset. The Magnolia is HUGE.

It's interesting to see photos belonging to other people - the view changes. 

In 2008 of September, I started to receive calls asking me to take the family well away from South Texas and Houston because Hurricane Ike was across the entire Gulf of Mexico. I couldn't. I was pregnant with our 3rd child and this couldn't happen to travel. Giving birth fleeing a Hurricane is generally not a good idea.

Dee and Cindy arrived to pray for our house, baby Isabelle and all the circumstances to be safe. It was earnest and we sat for an hour overlooking my backyard and prayed. We all wept.

We had the hurricane hit. And our street had a tornado that was seen in the first and second houses on our block. Jumped up over 3 more houses and came down in our backyard. One giant oak was spun at the top and lost 20 feet of the tree twisted in a circle and landed East. The Huge Oak requiring a crane from Colorado to remove it fell straight South.

Clean up was extreme. And all of this landed outside our property. The tree top was almost flung into the pond. Dee had no tree damage and Cindy lost an outside staircase she said was ok.



That was Eleven Years Ago.

This May, Dee lost her giant Oak tree and it fell mightily. Right across her driveway. Missing - her porch, her cars and her house. And Dee and her family!

On Tuesday, we returned from vacation and there was a very lovely breeze. Our puppies watched the tall trees and saw a huge wind. The puppies were not hard to convince to come inside. We opened the windows to enjoy the cool breeze. Suddenly we were riveted on the window and the wind. It was Utterly Astonishing. I ran from my armchair and ran for the first time from windows to the other side of the Kitchen. The Wind was amazing and Tremendous. I thought something is going to go. The top of the house? I looked away in fright. But something Huge flashed in my peripheral vision. A tree. It was the 25" and 25 year Magnolia.

We waited for the rain to stop. The Magnolia had been placed on the ground by God's hand. The fence was spared. The other trees were spared. The flowers were intact. It looks like the sprinkler is intact. A plastic flower pot held the large trunk. And the hill helped it to rest missing the swimming pool. The patio held the tree.

The Magnolia had never liked having wet roots by the pond and hill. It had lost branches and worked mightily to put out new branches growing vertically to make up the difference. I'd just been on the second floor looking at the top of the tree and wondering if the tree was ok. Edward had wanted it cut down to see the pond.

The tree was removed in about 30 minutes. I saved all the seed pods I could and have found they are turning red as they should. I'm hoping to have more Magnolias.

And now we have a flower bed which will fully appreciate the sun. The pool will be warmer year round. The view is better of the pond and the Cypress Tree. Dee and I discussed a loving prayer has carried us 11 years. Prayed once. God has blessed us to have this prayer. This one time prayer has been our Blessing from Father God.

1 Corinthians 13

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast
 it is not arrogant 5 or rude.

 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends.







We got together in June and prayed for our friend Elliott. Elliott at age 27, while working with us, he dreamed he would have cancer at age 42. He does. He was helping people in the floods around Beaumont for Ike and was in biohazard water to do his insurance job and to help the elderly affected by the massive flood waters. He's 42 now. With serious blood cancer and 3 children and his wife he is so wonderful with.

We all cried for Elliott. Elliott has done Youth Ministry and played the Guitar for Church. I have cried on and off for two months. At first it didn't seem Elliott would live. And now he is making long car rides to the doctor and has strength left over. We are so hopeful that with this amount of love and the support he is receiving from Church, Elliott will be carried to being completely well by Jesus. And our Willing Father God.





Abba,

We Thank You for Your Blessing of Jesus. Today. In the Nature of Jesus, we are given Your Exact Nature.

Finding You Alive and Loving. Discovering again how 'for' us You are. God of Love.


Bless us to see You more clearly. Love You more dearly.
Bless our family. Bless our Loved Ones.

Let Your Glory sweep our Nation Trusting in You.

Let Your Majesty put all of Creation bringing more Heaven on earth. Bless the nations living in Your Brightness. Uphold, Bless, Keep Safe, Strengthen Encourage and Build up the Kingdom of Heaven in Your Beloved children all over Your Good Creation. More Jesus.

We are praying for Elliott to find his life is Blessed to be healed by Jesus and cancer is gone forever.

Let the Light of Your Love far outshine the darkness, to see the Victory of Your Son Today.

In Jesus, the Lord, God's Only Son, Alive, Working, Loving, Guiding us to Live.

Jesus God, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

John 8:20-59 ~ Abraham rejoiced that he would see Jesus' day. He saw it and was glad

The Treasury is the Royal Stoa

John 8:20-59

20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 

28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.


31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 

37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”


39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 

43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 

45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 

47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 

49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 

52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 

54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 

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

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 

59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

We know the Gospel of John and we know the 8th Chapter. Almost too well. Nothing is new.

Why? Why did John put these the woman in Adultery in the Life of Wonderful Jesus together with being stoned? We read at the end of John's Gospel, Chapter 21, Jesus' life was so involved with so many events happening that is was perpetually confusing.

And in the Second Century John was asked by Bishop Papias of Hierapolis if John approved of the other Gospels and found them to be conflicting. John replied, having lived with Jesus for all of his ministry, the other Gospels were indeed Gospel and to be believed. John was confirming many, many aspects of the day surrounded Jesus all the time.

Why did John place Jesus with the adulterous woman and with the stoning event? Jesus protects the woman and says she is free to go. Jesus displays being God and this chapter gives witness to John Chapter 20 - God's Sacrifice for the world.

Luke 10:27
He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"




Why wasn't this Good Friday? Jesus clearly demonstrates He wants Life. And Jesus is capable of saving Himself. So why wasn't this Good Friday? To demonstrate Jesus is God. Because the High Priests have not told the Sanhedrin Council yet Jesus' death is for the sake of the Nation. They have not shamed themselves yet with a false trial leaving fair judges uncalled.

And Jesus has just shown us - Love yourself - do justice for yourself - is as important as doing justice for a neighbor.

John has very correctly placed Jesus in this Chapter.




Aren't we Privileged to live in the New Covenant, when dreams of seeing Abraham would be met with interest and warmth and Love!!!


Abba, 

Blessed are You, Lord Father God,

Giving us this Good Shepherd.

Jesus the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His Life for the sheep. Jesus teaches us Abundant Life.

Jesus restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name's Sake.

This Good Shepherd cares for the sheep, sees the wolf coming and stays. He does not leave or forsake us. Jesus does not let the wolf snatch them nor scatters them. Jesus tells us, "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me."

Jesus shows us our Father. Jesus has compassion for us, because we are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Scriptures tell us when a man loves the Lord, even his enemies are at peace with Him. Jesus says, 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.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

In His Name we place our cares, our gratitude in Your Hands.

We pray for healing for our friend who is still alive and improving. Jesus said always to pray with hope. Dee and Cindy and I met and prayed so earnestly to not have tree damage from Hurricane Ike. We couldn't leave I was pregnant. It was very earnest prayer in 2008. Thank You the tornado spared the house in my backyard. This year I lost a tree and Dee did as well. The trees were placed on the ground by Your Hand. There was no damage. The Prayer You Answered 11 years ago held forth with Love.

You answered the healing of 89 year old Priest from heart failure. You answered the man who had no one to pray for him with oral cancer - healed.

We have met and just as earnestly prayed for Elliott. Believing if You stop hurricanes and tornadoes and continue the prayer 11 years later, our heart felt love and affection for Elliott and Harby and their children, will be Heard and Answered for all Goodness.

We join with all the Nation praying The Lord's Prayer and the people of Jesus praying for more Heaven on this earth, to see His Good Will.

We pray for good health to surround us.

Amen and Amen in Jesus Christ the Lord.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †