Acts 20:1-5 ~ stayed

Luke 4:4

Man shall not live by bread alone, 

but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Acts 20:1-5

After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.

3 There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.

5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

Jesus tells us every Word of God is written with His deliberation. And in God's Good Plan, the childhood of Jesus, the household of Mary and Joseph have given rich clues. We are able to read James and Jude for their years with Jesus and the reuniting of the brothers in Acts 1 and 2. Paul refers to their diligence in the New Testament, traveling with Jesus'  in-law sisters.

Why did Luke record Paul's travel itinerary?

Verse one - what uproar?

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus as it appeared in Acts 19

Chapter 19 Ephesus

there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence

Ephesus had a riot with Paul teaching the Good News. We don't hear of this in Athens. Jesus said Rome would house His Church, as He told His Disciples in Caesarea. Genesis 12:23 God protects Abraham with a Blessing for those who Bless him and a curse for those who curse him. The New Testament discusses this protection offered by God.

Matthew 11:21

21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

Jesus is right, to this day the town of Bethsaida has 3 locations and Bethsaida is unknown exactly.
Chorazin was crushed in 70 A.D. and is ruins. Tyre is not an island as Ezekiel foretold, thanks to Alexander the Great, who then went to visit the High Priest upon learning of the prophesy Alexander the Great would visit the High Priest. Alexander bowed to, "God's Representative on earth." The Scriptures are absolutely fascinating.

Temple of Artemis today

Verse 2 - Encouragement

Paul did not travel through Ephesus, known for worshiping odd things, screaming about hell. Paul records leaving the riot by encouraging people. His speech is called "Encouragement." 

Rather an unusual way to leave a riot.

Verse 3 Onward to Greece 

 (or if it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium)

Here we notice Paul is not 'planting'. We are not seeing Peace, Joy, Love and overall Bliss. We see discord and nothing resembling planting. Something more like hopscotch.

Hopscotch is jumping here - jumping there - no way this flight risk is going to plant a seed to do one single lasting effect. This is 'obviously' doomed. Who would believe this man is starting something of substance? Let's consider the Biblical verse and keep an eye on the names God chooses to write down:

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

I planted,

Apollos watered,

but God gave the growth.

7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

The Giants of the Faith


Verse 4 Time and Tide

4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.

This is a great idea to know something of these Men God chose to record. Sopater is the head of the Synagogue who saw Jesus, fell in Love with God and became Christian. Sopater is going to go far. Gaius of Derbe is going to show up a few times. He is the older son, hence his name, "Gaius" and maybe God is thinking of the Prodigal Son being oldest? Maybe. God has a 'knack' for name usage comparing the birth of Jesus Christ to his Good Friday.

Timothy gets to live to old age accompanying Paul and will live into his 80's  as a Christian Bishop. One of the first.

But like the photo of Twelve Disciples is the idea behind JRR Tolkien and The Fellowship of the Ring. These men Love Jesus but time and tide is going to push their journeys in separate directions. The Scriptures tell us Life will send us in different Journeys. We each have unique talents and gifts and a unique Plan of God. Our soul and heart -  is to be revealed to God.

The Twelve  Disciples will all have different directions as well as the men Paul loves and worships together. Jesus is the Greatest. Just as Paul is hopscotching about - the direction of the Journey and the Fellowship past, present and future will change all within the Plan of God.

Paul is going on in Jesus Christ.

Abba, our Father,

We are Blessed each day as your renew Your Mercies. Blessed You daily load us with Your Benefits. Blessed to be given Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote of his plans for the year to Timothy and said, "I will see how it goes with me." We do not know all of Your Plans. We are told to Pray with Hope and Expectation for Beautiful Blessings You have given us yesterday and today. We will look with hope to tomorrow.

With You in great Blessings, we have Jesus telling us to Pray with Hope covering Heaven on earth with the Name and Love of Jesus. We have Jesus telling us to look to God giving us this day. God providing Bread - storage of food to provide for our needs. Yeast to cause growth, dry goods for God creating a plentiful storage to know tomorrow is going to be fine.

Jesus Gift of God to cover our cares and those we Love. God working the impossible in life. We all have miracles God has given us. We have not been carried by God so far to be dropped on our heads.

We believe and Trust God as our Good Father. And for our communities, Churches, employment, family and those we Love - Covered with Jesus. Broken backs healed. Healing all of cancer. Prayers answered. Peace found.

The believing world praying Jesus covering His Good Creation. In God we will Abide. Forever.

Amen in Jesus Christ. Amen.

 
 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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Matthew 12:14-21 ~ Jesus healed them all

Jesus Teaching and Healing, Rembrandt Van Rijn

Matthew 12:14-21

14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah [42:1-3]:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,

my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon him,

and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,

nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;

20 a bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

until he brings justice to victory;

21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

I'd been a Christian for more than two decades when it was pointed out to me how many times the Scriptures said "He healed them all." I remembered a lot of healings, the ones written about in more than a few sentences. Yet that small phrase "healed them all". Sometimes Scripture says they sought to touch Him & not just Jesus reaching out. Sometimes He physically touched them, and it also says merely, "He healed them all."


Sure, a lot of people were ill. When you think about the age: slavery, war, destruction, highway robbery, people born blind & the parable of the Good Samaritan - this was a difficult time. Not just the people who were deaf, blind, ill, but the sorrow of the people who had seen difficult things happen to loved ones. Children who died, loved ones who died in child birth, people who were well and suddenly died of fever. There are a lot of stipulations in the Bible for the fatherless and the widow.

What does it mean, "He healed them all?" The Word of God, proclaimed in love. The hopeless, the fearful, the lonely & the cut to the quick. The ones who had heard the Word of God in their youth - life had stamped on their seed of hope. The fruit of circumstance and the weed of bitterness, the joy found in life, had robbed them of their greatest need - the need of God.

These people who found Jesus had put aside the every day of life, they sought Him. Jesus didn't stay to quarrel, debate the Pharisees, shock, anger, and create a stir - Jesus wasn't a sidewalk hack or a temperamental star.

No, Jesus repaired the bruised reed. Jesus rekindled the flickering flame, the Light became a torch to carry in the soul. Jesus gave hope & mercy to the word - justice. Jesus didn't select a few, the Light of Jesus Christ is for all. Not just to the eyes blessed to see Him, but those who look to Him in faith, after He died, and today.

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,

my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon him,

and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,

nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;

20 a bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

until he brings justice to victory;

21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Abba Father God,

Psalm 38:15
But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Psalm 33:22
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Abba when You cover us in Jesus and we are abiding in You, we have expectation of Your Love and we abide in Hope.

Cover all the prayer requests and loved people in Jesus. We will have more of Your Good Will and Heaven on earth. And in knowing this we will have Your Peace.

Let us see them all healed in Jesus the Lord. Backs healed, cancer gone forever, eyes clear, ears calm and bright!

Every day we have a new day in You with New Mercies. Cover this Nation in Jesus Christ. All the faithful people in Your Beloved ask for this Nation in Jesus and more Heaven upon earth. Jesus to cover all the Nations seeking You.

We will say our Amen in Jesus Christ.

 
 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Galatians 6:10-18 ~ From now on

Papyrus 46 - the Galatians page of 104 Scripture pages from the late first or mid second century Bible pages found in Egypt about 1930.Wow.

Galatians 6:10-18

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity,
 let us do good to all people, 
especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.

14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

A Crop of Winter Wheat - Life has continual surprises and feasts!

As time passes and you become more mature, you don't often speak of circumcision. It's not the main thread of conversation as it was in the day Paul was writing Galatians.

PAUL WRITES IN LARGE LETTERS - Wow.

We are still interested in the mark of a Christian. The Bible is living and active. Good for today.

Josephus the historian wrote about  about Jesus as the Messiah twice. Josephus was amazed, across the Mediterranean Ocean, the followers of Jesus and His brothers had not dispersed and were called "Christians." In fact, history erroneously suggests Josephus started the word for Christ followers. When in fact, Josephus might have read The Acts of the Disciples to learn the phrase "Christians."

Paul observes Christians in their path - and says we fall down.

It's probably more conclusive in studying this passage, to realize what Paul is really talking about is what we choose to cut out of our lives.

What we say 'No' to.

It's easier, eye opening and amazing seeing our God of Israel in this passage - this is one of the earliest copies of this verse in the entire world. And your eyes see the text. What an interesting time we live in.

Paul speaks of marks he bears for Jesus - these are the serious marks of an Apostle of Jesus -


2 Corinthians 11
with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food,b in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?


I love the way Paul ends his list - Loving others.

What Marks do We See of Jesus in our Lives?

We cut out -

1 Peter 2:1-3
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

with

  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Loving others. Beloved, let us love one another! Love is from God!

This is first.

Desire to read God's Word about Himself.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Matthew 4:4
But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Romans 15:4
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Staying in God's Word makes us more sure where He stands and where we stand. 

Abide in Doing the work of God before us - bring Heaven to Earth. As a reaction to His Love.A Thanksgiving.

John 15:7
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Hebrews 13:21
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen

Psalm 119:18
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Searching your own heart.

Psalm 139:23
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

Philippians 2:12
So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence

Hebrews 5:9
He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him

John 14:23
Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

We find like the disciples - our hearts grow warm. Towards love and seeing others love. We want to see more love in the world, see more of Jesus.

Discern the Will of God for your words and decisions

Philippians 1
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

You are encouraging and exhorting


1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today”

Hebrews 10:25
Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 12:8
The one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.



Abba, Father God,

Your children say, "Jesus Lives." And You do. Help our eyes and our senses to see You each day.

Thank You God for the blessings of the day. We are not the generation blessed to have walked with You daily on this earth. Prophets and kings wished to see the things which you brought forth to see in Jesus, and did not see them, and to hear the things which brought forth in Jesus to hear, and did not hear them.

Our lives are blessed we are the generation that did not see and yet believe. Thank You for this time, where more signs pour forth declaring the Truth of Your Words. We for ourselves, the ones we love and pray with to be in Your Plan and blessed to stay centered there. May Your Words guide, lead, comfort and fulfill us we pray with privilege in Jesus Christ the Lord. Dwell in us. Amen.

 
 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Psalm 59 ~ lest my people forget

Psalm 59

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;

protect me from those who rise up against me;

2 deliver me from those who work evil,

and save me from bloodthirsty men.

3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life;

fierce men stir up strife against me.

For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord,

4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.

Awake, come to meet me, and see!

5 You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.

Rouse yourself to punish all the nations;

spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah

6 Each evening they come back,

howling like dogs

and prowling about the city.

7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths

with swords in their lips—

for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?”

8 But you, O Lord, laugh at them;

you hold all the nations in derision.

9 O my Strength, I will watch for you,

for you, O God, are my fortress.

10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me;

God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

11 Kill them not, lest my people forget;

make them totter by your power and bring them down,

O Lord, our shield!

12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,

let them be trapped in their pride.

For the cursing and lies that they utter,

13 consume them in wrath;

consume them till they are no more,

that they may know that God rules over Jacob

to the ends of the earth. Selah

14 Each evening they come back,

howling like dogs

and prowling about the city.

15 They wander about for food

and growl if they do not get their fill.

16 But I will sing of your strength;

I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.

For you have been to me a fortress

and a refuge in the day of my distress.

17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,

for you, O God, are my fortress,

the God who shows me steadfast love.

When I look up Empires of the Mediterranean, I find Viking Cruises. We tend to find History has a way of being told. The Empires of old are read about in Histories, yet the sacrifices of the men fighting have an entirely different feeling. Usually tyranny fought and won has the most understanding.

We debate the timing of Pearl Harbor. If this ship or that ship was truthfully reported as the war began - be it World War I or World War II.

Normandy

Some even debate the Nazi Concentration Camps.

Which can be seen and visited any day.

.

No one disagrees Calais was denied water and hospital care to surviving troops.

World War II was a continuation. Winston Churchill feared for all the world feeling the cost was too high. No farmhouse to have. No cow. No pleasant field. No one knew how the world would continue. Changes came and we have seen good news return. We have seen trouble recess and continue.

Africa has seen coupes and coupes and corruption. And when South Africa pursuited truth and honesty with forgiveness and grace for truth, they became the leaders of the Continent for peace.

Psalm 59 is surely about our individual freedoms. Yet we can understand the History of Nations is the History of God's mankind. Triumph of goodness is always Joy. And will happen again and again.

God is in His Heaven and He has given us the Light of mankind in Jesus. We will enjoy this day. We will continue to pray for more of His Good Will and on earth as in Heaven, knowing this will be seen today and will again be seen.

All of the Scriptures are about fight the good fight. Daily we want to see "Give us this Day." And we do.

September 11 Museum, Cross is installed.

From Sea to Shining Shore

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! +†+  

+

Matthew 2:1-12 ~ Shepherd my people

Vintage Bet Leḥem, Hebrew pronunciation: [bet ˈleχem], "House of Bread" 

~ sounds as if God Himself has a plan of Living Bread

Matthew 2:1-12

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Only by a dream, did the Magi not end up as part of Massacre of the Innocents.


Gifts and talents from God are unique things. Wise men left from looking at the stars to speak to a foreign king. Knock, knock the wise astronomers are at the door.

"Father, I do not wish to work within the family business, instead I will study the stars and travel." Did the Father of the Magi greet this well? Did he have to sell his land for his son to travel far away? Was the father thrilled? Did the young magi drive his parents to frustration speaking of the stars?

Did the wife of the Magi greet this pilgrimage as Moses' wife did? Zipporah, Wife of Moses, Exodus 4:24–26 tells Moses his desire to go back and free his people by way of deadly Pharaoh, said Moses, "Was a bloody bridegroom." Delicately putting this, Zipporah, may well have been telling Moses - she had made bodily sacrifices to present him with purity, to share their lives and Moses was skipping out. Zipporah did not want great, great adventures and travels of God as Good News.

Herod was not known to be extremely hospitable and friendly: son Antipater II, executed 4 BC
wife Mariamne I, daughter of Hasmonean Alexandros,executed 29 BC, son Alexander, executed 7 BC,son Aristobulus IV, executed 7 BC. Not the most visit worthy king.


And then again, perhaps the Magi had a supreme talent all their lives for understanding, relating and remembering the stars. Perhaps they were born into a family who had loved the stars. Samson was born to extremely faithful people who found God's Plan to be challenging.

The Scriptures do not relate the incredible smooth lives of even Governors. Felix who was presented to Paul and argued the faith, lost his entire family to their vacation to Mt Vesuvius.

What we discover in reading of the diligent lives of God's People - He provides for them.


Romans 11:29
For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable.

2 Samuel 16:12
Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.

Acts 13:48
When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

Romans 1:7
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:30
And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

If the Magi had apparently a good life, if they fought the good fight continually:

God calls His Presence, "Comfort."

Jesus calls this life, "Joy."

David helped commission Psalm 46 and said God is a Mighty Fortress.

Abba,

Your goodness and willingness provides us with daily Blessings. Building our lives.

What we do not see, You still provide with Your Bounty.

The Goodness of Your Plan for each of us. The Willingness of Your Mercy, Grace and Love flowing around us. Open our eyes to be blessing seekers and blessing receivers.

The Wind of The Holy Spirit with fight, encourage, protect, teach, enfold, Bless and uphold us to do His Plan in His Love.  Enfolding those we Love. Enfolding our Blessings yet to be. Strengthening us to go forward to pray for those who do not know Him. To pray for our Nation, our schools, our employment, our safety and hopes. To believe the prayers around the world are working individually and together. Realizing all the good news is there.

Blessing those struggling with illness. Defeating Cancer and hurt bones and backs. Believing today we will do just a little more, and have a little more and find we are living and recovering. Blessing us to know more of Your Good Will, more Heaven on earth. Giving us this Day to find Good and be a blessing.

The Lord God Almighty's Only Son, Jesus, cover us with His Love and name.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †