1 John 3 ~ God's children now

Vespers The Lighting of the Lamps, Evening Prayer

1 John 3

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, 

that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.


4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
V

Love One Another

11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.


16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.


19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.


We wanted to see the Movie, "I am Patrick." USA Today said the facts were done very well. https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2020/03/16/st-patricks-day-fact-check-i-am-patrick-movie/5029705002/ However due to Self Quarantine - supporting all people - we stayed home and hope for a Later Movie Release to see this well done movie of Patrick (British) in the 5th Century.

Instead we watched the BBC Sutton Hoo Helmet. The backyard 1939 discovery was found by a widow recovering from her grief with her young son during a type of self quarantine/isolation.

Sutton Hoo helmet was King Rædwald of East Anglia and found as the whole UK Nation was enthralled to find the description of the iron one piece helmet is described in Beowulf.

And 1 John 3 suits the Sutton Hoo Helmet perfectly.
King Rædwald was buried with this amazing helmet on his left shoulder. He had followed Wodan and Rome, and worshipped Caesar. He was buried in his ship. UK, after all, is an island. The garnets above the eyes, cut like sunglasses, complete with cut garnets and gold-inlay with large eyebrows were from India. This is a well traveled King.

And on King Rædwald's right shoulder are his two silver spoons, from finding Jesus and deciding in burial to dedicate himself to Jesus Christ.

The Helmet was on the King's Left Shoulder.

Ship King Rædwald is buried in.

The Two Spoons are Baptismal Spoons.

Evidently King Rædwald preferred to be Sprinkled in Baptism.

The Spoons are engraved to Jesus and to St. Paul

Wodan is recognized to be a god of war - Satan. 1 John 3, we read today, fits as the BBC explains Woden about 19 minutes. King Rædwald leaves Oden and Caesar. Reverts some and is buried with Jesus on his right shoulder.



Beowulf, the Nation was delighted to find, has exactly described this helmut. It's amazing to find how intellectual and well traveled the 7th century is. 5th Century England is when Christian Missionary work has been sufficiently recorded. We find Patrick in Britain and Ireland was really on the cusp of Jesus Light of the world.

This is a unique You Tube find to discover what time at home can lead to. Found by Edith Pretty during home stay grief recovery.




Abba,

As we sleep this night, surrounded by the Holy Spirit, Jesus Lives within us.

Give us this day. Give us the privilege of seeking You first and Your Kingdom. To find the Histories of Your Good Creation.

To discover in each day we build our lives to be part of Your Living Stones and Live Abundant Life. Inspire us daily to find the Blessings You provide. Strengthen us in hard times.

This overcoming in this time produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

The Peace of God fill us in All His Good Creation. In Jesus, we pray. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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1 John 3 ~ Love the Father has given to us

Mid-afternoon Prayer

1 John 3

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Love One Another
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.



When we think of the vast History of Jesus going to Caesarea and proclaiming in the most Roman part of Israel, Jesus would have an amazing Church the gates of Hell would not prevail against - I always remember the Church kept the serfs from starving. Taught farming, later reading and created Hospitals. At a high cost during Plague.

Churches build structures like St Paul's-Outside-The-Walls to overcome fear of going outside. Overcoming social isolation and overcoming highway robbery. St. Paul's Basilica Outside The Walls is the co-part to the Vatican.

I will from time to time indulge in humor about Vestments, because when one starts to look like Louis XIV, one has on what the Catholic Church Priests call Negligee Vestments ... and humor - is a great thing. Regular Vestments are great. Louis XIV - not so much.

But the Tradition of Monastery - beauty of schools, farming and saving the country from many forms of starvation - is simply stunning. The Church rose for centuries and shone brightest in the Darkness. Like Hurricanes.


Liturgy of Hours

Matins (during the night, at about 2 a.m.); also called Vigil and perhaps composed of two or three Nocturns
Lauds or Dawn Prayer (at dawn, about 5 a.m., but earlier in summer, later in winter)
Prime or Early Morning Prayer (First Hour = approximately 6 a.m.)
Terce or Mid-Morning Prayer (Third Hour = approximately 9 a.m.)
Sext or Midday Prayer (Sixth Hour = approximately 12 noon)
None or Mid-Afternoon Prayer (Ninth Hour = approximately 3 p.m.)
Vespers or Evening Prayer ("at the lighting of the lamps", about 6 p.m.)
Compline or Night Prayer (before retiring)


I think we have enough worry and news now. My son is attending Michigan State Law School and faster than a Speeding Bullet - the classes were on-line. Why sit home and worry?

Another Brick in the Wall
Pink Floyd
We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control


Teachers Unite. And create some education on You Tube. No one needs extra burdens and worry about everything. Teaching is beautiful. A few moments of the Romance of Learning. Syllabus down. The Adventure of what you teach. Why not. Time to care for what we know is yearning huddled masses. Freedom to express what you love in teaching.

This mountain retreat in Italy is actually a working monastery open to tourists and overnight guests. Many of Italy's monasteries double as accommodation – perfect for tourists. We have all loved seeing the Italians are singing Hope on the Balconies. What if we could sing them a few prayers back specifically to Italy? Via You Tube.

What if our Churches sent us some prayers from the Liturgy of Hours via You Tube. This  Hourly Prayer isn't a relic tradition. Our Radio Station in the Houston area KSBJ does a Pray Down at High Noon. I've joined others who pray at 3 p.m. about a month ago for the ill and suffering we know, the Health Care System and the Care and Healing of all around the world.

John in the Power of the Holy Spirit presents us with two Chapters before this Chapter. John begins with the Beginning and stays first and foremost Walk in Jesus and have Fellowship. Jesus Christ is our Advocate. Jesus is Grace upon Grace to be who we are exactly to approach God with all boldness and confidence.

And then God helps us not cycle into despair. Talks provoking sin, sibling murder (stay on your side of the car). Begin to love our brother, righteousness producing Life and avoiding envy, and strife over wealth. A closed heart - how does God's love abide in him? Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

John writes this in late life. He is encouraging us to be open hearted and find the Good Path.

We can use this time to provoke or to heal and soothe. This is the message God is bringing us.

We've been visiting family on long distance calls. Walking and taking in BBC Museum You Tube Tours. When I get to the prayer portion of the Post, I am challenged. I just talk to Father God after I pray the Lord's Prayer. We all have prayer lists, simply add in yours.  The Liturgy of Hours Prayer can be praying the Scripture.

Abba,

You are Love. To Love You, You tell us is to make ourselves pure. Just praying puts us to the place You would draw us to You.

One day our eyes will see All of Your Glory. When You place Desire to Live in us, You probably are giving us Miles to go.

We hope this stay-cation portion of this Awful Virus is going to be Pleasing to You. Help us to find projects and good works to keep us from worry. We pray for all the families gathered in an odd time and in stress to find Joy. We pray the Comfort of the Holy Spirit will give us the Power of Love to not pick at each other. We need to practice finding what is good when to complain is as easy as opening a stuffed up closet.

We can remember the Egyptian Ipuwer complaining about the officials in God's Exodus. It's easy to complain and more difficult to live the solutions.

Better to find Joy in Loving the people God has given us. To listen to some of the massive worries we have. To have compassion and listen to complaints. To encourage one another to be who they are and enjoy them in their quirks. Not to allow grievances to pile up to hide worry and fear.

God knows the truth about all of us and He would reassure us memories are being made. Make a Life, Truth and Way for Grace and Mercy with Sincere Love. No Grumps.

God we pray all this stress to be temporary and the Love and Joy to be Permanent. Let us rest our cares upon You, Father as You are caring for us.

In Jesus Christ, we'd place The Comfort of the Holy Spirit as Jesus covering us in Him.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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Matthew 5:13-20 ~ The Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 5:13-20

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.



March 16, 2020, people ask what were you doing the day Kennedy was shot. People will ask what did you do during Covid 19 The Virus and the Stock Market.

I know what my family did the day Kennedy died. I know my father was completely and uncharacteristically in Horror of Horrors during the Cuban Missile Crisis. And didn't calm down until, uncharacteristically, my mother froze him into calm. I remember 1987 and several good recovery histories.

We have to say to ourselves 96 and 85% recovery. My brother has a woman in his office who is in the 5th day of recovery in El Paso.

We have to acknowledge in my area, the traffic has significantly reduced, the grocery stores and the Post Office are the only hive of activity and families are gathering under groups of 10. People are pulling together.

Meeting a neighbor today, I can see tension. The people I talk to have concerns. Faces are serious. Stock market - remember Sars 2003. Recovery.

When we went on a cruise two years ago, the Cruise Line hasn't had illness break out in 18 years. At the entrance of entering the ship, at meals, going into auditoriums, there are public hand sanitizing stops. This works. Public displays of unified hand sanitizing.

Fellowship

Now how does this relate to Matthew 5?

When we read about Creation, Jesus is created as God Spoke His Word. Earth is created this way. Science has never created soil to grow crops in. God Created the earth. Pretty quickly - Adam and Eve began to procreate and we find all have Mitochondrial DNA from Eve. Proving God chose Creation.

What God did not do - God did not create clones. We didn't turn out like manufactured Twinkies. Plop, bake, Plop, bake.

You had reactions to today. You will probably remember your reactions to life today. No one is going to forget this time.

When Jesus chose the 12 Disciples, He didn't create plop, bake Twinkies. The 12 Tribes of Israel were very different. God values our personalities and diversity. Jesus had Peter and Andrew who were quite successful according to the huge fish story, his willingness to philanthropy, archaeology and the placement of his home. Jesus had thug - Tax Collector Matthew. Jesus chose screaming and yelling John and Andrew, placement seekers. He had a Roman Hebrew war hound - Simon the Zealot and a corrupt accountant, Judas. He had Disciples willing to be called Lesser James. And Disciples who were given the choice work, the close work and the go further ahead work.

These men never did have matching robes and hats and tonsures. No one pointed at the Disciples and said, "Now, which one is Jesus?" Didn't happen. They all began life differently, they did Ministry work differently and ended life differently.


Instead, in this list, we discover Jesus picked Thomas - who offered astutely to die with Jesus at an odd time. Jesus picked salty men. Peter looked at the catch of his life and turned and said to the Messiah of God, "Hey, I think You need someone else, I'm not that man, I'm a SINNER."



Jesus chose mankind who had Salt. Personality.
Jesus told people who annoyed others, i.e. the children are told to move on. Jesus chose people who were told in the Temple in The Book of Acts to sit down and be quiet when told. Jesus chose mankind who was said to be Drunk in Public. These men did not line up and chant. They ran home and hid. And sent - the women - out to get news on Easter Sunday. Salt. Salt is not diamonds.

Today. Today, we need Father God to be God the Almighty.

Today, Jesus is in the Boat and we would pray, do not let us perish. Today, Jesus is in our lives and we would pray Jesus to be God fulfilling God's Word.

We really need the Grace and Mercy of Jesus to fill us and ask God to be pleased with us today.

You and I are valued as we are. God will do this for us. God said He would.

God chose to announce the Presence of the Holy Spirit with fire. We have the Fire of the Holy Spirit within us. God goes with us. God is for us. God is our Hope and Future. Love the people God has given you.

Abba,

You are the Comforter. We long for Your Comfort.

Psalm 87

On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
2 the Lord loves 
the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3 Glorious things of you are spoken,
O city of God. Selah

4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush —
“This one was born there,” they say.

5 And of Zion it shall be said,

“This one and that one were born in her”;
for the Most High himself will establish her.
6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah

7 Singers and dancers alike say,
“All my springs are in you.”

Jesus told us to pray to You as we really are. Mark 11 and Luke 18. Jesus arrived as the people who needed Him lined up to have Him walk by or touch Him. We need Jesus, Jesus will be with us.

Father in all seasons, abide in us, increase the Spirit whom You have given us.

We ask to be able to Seek You first. We ask to seek and Find Your Kingdom this day and always. We ask to live in Love, Joy and Peace. We ask this for the people we Love and those people You have given us. We need You.

We believe YOu have the ability and Authority to Speak Your Word and allow this to advance no further. By Your Word, all things are Created. Your Word Exists Forever.

Lord Jesus Christ, we need Your Love, Grace and Mercy. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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1 Corinthians 11 ~ at home

Murillo painted the Holy Family. Joseph uprooted his life to care for his family. Going where he needed to be for their safety.  We live by faith and not by sight.


1 Corinthians 11

33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.


We are all waiting upon the Lord for His favor and for good health. Pleasing God, waiting upon the Lord.

Isaiah 40:31
Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart

2 Corinthians 4:1
Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

2 Corinthians 4:8
We are pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.

Hebrews 12:3
Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Exodus 19:4
You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself.

Deuteronomy 32:11
As an eagle stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, He spread His wings to catch them; He carried them on His pinions.

Jesus was for and is for all age groups.

In this time frame, we are all taking care of one another. 

Even in prayer and separation. With our phones and with our hearts.

1 Corinthians 12:20-25

As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 

Philippians 2:1-30
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

Job 17:9
Yet the righteous will hold to his way, and the one with clean hands will grow stronger.

Psalm 84:7
They go from strength to strength, until each appears before God in Zion.

Psalm 103:5
He who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Ecclesiastes 9
7 So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! 8 Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! 9 Live happily with the woman you love through all the days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil.

Matthew 6:17
When you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.

Isaiah 64:4
From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God but You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

Abba,

Your Help, Your Comfort. To do what You have written in the Will of Your Book of Life.

Give us this Day. To feel Your Help and be a Blessing. To Live Your Blessings. To have the Blessing to Seek You First and Your Kingdom, to Live life with Love, Peace and Joy.

Jesus is the fulfilling of Your Word. Every dot and every iota. Jesus is our Advocate. Thank You the Salk Vaccine took care of Polio, miraculously for reasons unknown Today. Take care of Your Good Creation as teamwork for the defeat of this virus. We are tending to each other in good cause. Help us to unite remembering our Jesus and His Blessings. Being compassionate to each other for the upbuilding of the world Jesus wants to save.

Thank You, Abba. In Jesus and His Name, Mercy, Grace and Love forever. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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Mark 11 ~ Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God."

Mark 11

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’”

4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.



7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.

8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.



12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.
13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.

20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.
21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”



22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 
23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 

25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

27 And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?”

29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.”

31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.”

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

We've all been put on a path. And as most paths, we are all in different aspects of the journey. Some of the Larger Cities are struggling with high numbers of the virus. Particularly where smoking is more part of life. Or where vaping has been prevalent.

Some counties have seen no one with the virus - in smaller counties. Seeing grocery stores being in need of stocking new groceries is just merely something on television.



Scripture explains other Scripture with highest ability. If we were to do this for Mark 11 - we could point out this:

Why do we do what we do in Life?

To be able to say the Lord has need of us, is to find our lives have Meaning.

Human beings will have their needs change as life progresses. What we call meaningful won't always have meaning for the relationship. Parents, children, marital needs. To find we please God is going to center us in all stages of peace, problem or as life changes. Even when we have to decide God's Word gives us Faith to believe our daily lives have meaning.



Upward.
Give The Lord God Almighty our cloak over the dust and muck.

The only thing we can give God, God has not first given us is - genuine and sincere Thanks. Jesus tells us permanent prayer conversation.

To ask for More Heaven. To give us This Very Day. To meet the needs of Today. Forgiveness. Protection. Being eternally delivered. Finding God would give us today a glimpse of His Kingdom. To see today - His Power. To know His Glory. God has an uplifting journey in His Plan.

Find other Helpers finding/seeking/enjoying/renewing/reminding us and seeing and celebrating Good in God's gifts. Seeing the Spirit of God in one another. Finding the Light of Jesus Christ in mankind.

Jesus Discusses us and Hunger and Fruitfulness

When Communication is 60% non-verbal, let's remember, Jesus pleased, no Jesus actually Thrilled Nathaniel in John 1 to find Jesus saw Nathaniel praying under a fig tree.

Currently, most of us are in a storm. We are hungering for the usual, regular pattern of life, we hunger for safety. We hunger for crowds, we hunger for gathering, we hunger not to be watching the news at home. We hunger not to worry. We hunger for our regular life. We hunger for schools, for safety, for family. We hunger not to be lonely and isolated.

Jesus was talking about praying against: fruitlessness or Lack. Lack of ~ Love, Joy, Peace, Comfort, calm to find patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Jesus is never toast dunked in milk. Jesus is angry to find the fig promises, shade, rest, comfort, beauty, sharing, eating and renewal. Jesus does not say, gosh the fig tree is out of figs, golly. Jesus isn't saying forgive the figgie tree.

When Jesus is talking about not finding figs - He is talking about financial crisis. Health Crisis as life seemed golden. Finding a circle of friends has gone sour. He is talking about having life interrupted with news reports of life Crisis.

Jesus gave us a parallel to the 'Fig Tree'. Of Course!

The parallel is a Crisis Parallel.

This particular Crisis Parallel - is for a specific people:

• those of us who have ever ho trusted in ourselves
• those of us who trust we are righteous,
• and those who have treated others with contempt

The "Author-it-Tay" has decreed 'everybody' shouldn't give God a thought and cared nothing for other people.

And then the underprivileged, the overlooked, the powerless, the loser person, the suck it up - it is what it is - decided to keep coming back and talking about the 'situation.'

Because of the impudence and persistence, The "Author-it-Tay" is starting to wonder about this 'decree'. The "Author-it-Tay" is feeling bothered. And has decided for comfort. In fact, The "Author-it-Tay" has decided for selfish comfort. (Are we surprised?)

And surprise of surprises, Jesus tells us we think of Father God exactly this way! Exactly, as if we are going to strip down to the fact Jesus sees us exactly as we really know we are. CS Lewis called this Concept, "Podfoot".

Oh! You better be nice, you better be good, Santa God has seen you as you are!!! He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. Oh! You better watch out, you better not cry. You better not pout, I'm telling you why - Santa Claus is not coming to town. However, Father God likes you as you are.


Picture real emotion in this:

Luke 18
18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.


Paul completely understood. Paul understood:

Romans 7:15-20
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.



John, the Longest Living Disciple said this: Pray. Spit it out to God.

1 John 3
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. 

And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Whew. God sees and discusses our heart - yes - no and has given us the Highest Privilege to find God knows who we are and Loves us.

Jesus Christ:

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us

Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.

Jesus is Way, Truly Creator of all Life and ahead of us when we pray.

Matthew 20
A great crowd followed him. 

30 And behold, 
there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 

32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 

33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 

34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

Jesus did not ask them to say Vouchsafe. Jesus did not ask them to say, "Creator of All, Dear Sir." In fact, what these men had was Desire. Faith. Courage. Earnestness. Sincerity. The prayer was really pretty straight forward. One thing, Jesus did not ask these men to assume Jesus didn't require a few words of explanation. And these men did what Mark's Gospel in Chapter 11 said, "Jesus has the Authority to do what we ask Him."

In Proverbs 8, Jesus delights in the Master Workmanship of His Father. Yes. Jesus knew Acts 2, God was going to share what God has with Jesus. And Jesus lives within Acts 2, Jesus is going to Give what He has to the blind men.

Hear, O Israel. The Lord Your God is One. The Word of God Stands Forever.

Abba,

You have given us Jesus. Jesus is Love. Dwell in me.

And this Virus has the whole world wondering if we have all the news. If the Rainbow of Noah remains. And we all have an idea Your Word is Good yesterday, today and tomorrow.

We'd like the Light of the world in mankind to touch Your Heart and have this virus and this illness to be gone. Healed. We would like Your Word to be Spoken, "He Healed Them All."

You have given us wonderful and sincere prayer of Jesus saying more Heaven on this earth. We would love to see more of Your Kingdom, Your Power and Your Glory. We would like to pray this with "Give us this day."

And we'd love to pray so effectively, we wouldn't look back and say, 'If only we had understood more of Your Plan to enfold in our Prayer." You know Your Hope and Future for us better than we do.

We would cover what lacks in this prayer, with Your Favorite Word:Jesus.

Jesus, Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God pray for us now and always. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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