John 1:27 ~ He is Jesus Christ Son of God our Savior

 

John 1:27

He is the One

Who comes after me,

The straps of His sandals

I am not worthy to untie.

“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.”

“Preach the Bible at all times, if necessary, use words.”

St. Francis never sought to elevate action over speaking 
in the task of bringing the Gospel

Neither did he believe the Gospel was only a message to be communicated. 

Francis recognized that the Gospel was all consuming, the work of God to restore all of Creation

Unto Himself for His glory. Francis embraced the truth, authority of the Gospel, he proclaimed with his mouth was given authority by the nature and character of the life he led. And in the same way, he knew, in spite of his own failings (and that of other Christians), the proclaimed message of hope and love would find fertile soil in the hearts of others, and so His Gospel must be proclaimed

Huffington Post, Jamie Arpin-Ricci

Hebrews 1:3

Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

Why study St. Francis today?

Revelation 5 ~ 

Then I heard 
every creature 

in 

heaven and on earth 

and 

under the earth and on the sea, 

and all

 that is in them, 

saying: "To Him who sits on the throne 

and to the Lamb 

be praise and honor 

and glory and power, 

for ever and ever!"

Mark 16:15

New International Version

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel 

to all creation.

English Standard Version

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel 

to the whole creation.

Berean Standard Bible

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel 

to every creature.

Berean Literal Bible

And He said to them, "Having gone into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation.

King James Bible

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to 

every creature.

New King James Version

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and 

preach the gospel to every creature.

New American Standard Bible

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and 

preach the gospel to all creation.

NASB 1995

And He said to them, “Go into all the world 

and preach the gospel to all creation.

NASB 1977

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to 

all creation.

Amplified Bible

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all 

creation.

Christian Standard Bible

Then he said to them, “Go 

into all the world 

and preach the gospel to all creation.

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and 

preach the gospel to the whole creation.

American Standard Version

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach 

the gospel to the whole creation.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English

And he said to them, “Go to the entire world and preach my Good News 

in all creation.”

This Nation is suffering. 1 in 3 say regular life is hard to afford. 

The one situation that is life and death, in our Nation,

is happening in the neighborhoods and in the Animal Shelters. More and more of neighborhoods on Social Media are finding released pets. Animal Shelters are having to put animals to sleep.

What we do to the least of society...

Matthew 25:40-45

40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 

Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

I'm not sure people get over letting an animal go. They either become more loving to the animal kingdom or more aloof. 

What proof do we have about Animals and God? 

When the Ark was afloat, the animals were two by two. Ancient Persia has the same story. And this led to God making a Covenant of Peace with His Good Creation. His Salvation covered the animals. How likely is a Neolithic man going to make up the Creator of All, wanted animals to be in His Covenant of Salvation?

The Book of Revelation tells us Horses are part of God's Eternal Kingdom and for Elijah as well.

Foster, Foster, Foster! For Fun, Fun!

The Lord tells us in Proverbs, a good man does not muzzle Oxen. They are allowed to graze during their work. We can't take animals and remove them from their jobs and say we are doing them a favor. Dogs are born knowing fellowship. A dog alone is. A cat not allowed to be outside... well then let them cruise the attic. A cat has a job. We had voles until we recently adopted two orange kittens. 

Our dogs think the cats are hilarious. Saturday, they watched him climb a tree, with his jingle bell collar, like a drunken toddler. The cat was bewildered when our Poodle girl, put her rear in the air and decided to play with him. Kisses happen. 

Dogs have a job.  They are alarms. This place is secure. And beware, they are successful. Amazon and Fedex drop what they are doing and flee.  Raccoons don't live in the attics where cat litter is placed. Adolescent dogs are not destructive during the day when they have some pal to continue their puppy fellowship.

Pet food is expensive. Toddler Gummy Vitamins are not. Animals with a pack have exercise and few health cares. Exercise, exercise, exercise. Hens and eggs are also food producers. Leftovers.

Elderly dogs don't deserve to have any disloyalty. They might not have the most Arthritic meds, but they have all they need with their family. 

Blessed are the Merciful, they shall receive Mercy!!!

Teach your children well!

Let all of Creation, Sing with me Now!

Everyone Loves St. Francis of Assisi

Windows into Heaven

Saint Francis and his companions were making a trip through the Spoleto Valley near the town of Bevagna. Suddenly, Saint Francis spotted a great number of birds of all varieties ' doves, crows and others. Swept up in the moment, Saint Francis left his friends in the road and ran after the birds, who patiently waited for him. He greeted them in his usual way, expecting them to scurry off into the air as he spoke. But they didn't move.

Filled with awe, he asked them if they would stay awhile and listen to the Word of God. He said to them: "My brother and sister birds, you should praise your Creator and always love him: He gave you feathers for clothes, wings to fly and all other things that you need. It is God who made you noble among all creatures, making your home in the air. Without sowing or reaping, you receive God's guidance and protection."

At this the birds began to spread their wings, stretch their necks and gaze at the saint, rejoicing and praising God in a wonderful way according to their nature. Saint Francis then walked right through the middle of them, turned around and came back, touching their heads and bodies with his tunic.

Then he gave them his blessing, making the sign of the cross over them. At that they flew off and Saint Francis, rejoicing and giving thanks to God, went on his way.

Later, Saint Francis wondered aloud to his companions why he had never preached to birds before. And from that day on, he made it his habit to solicitously invoke all birds, all animals and reptiles to praise and love their Creator. And many times during his life there were remarkable events of Saint Francis speaking to the animals. There was even a time when he quieted a flock of noisy birds that were interrupting a religious ceremony! Much to the wonder of all present, the birds remained quiet until Francis' sermon was complete.

In 1228 Francis was declared a saint by Pope Gregory IX, who laid the foundation stone for the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi. According to legend, the doves at the Basilica arrived as soon as the foundation stone was laid and have roosted there ever since.

The Rabbit

One day, a brother brought a rabbit who had been caught in a trap to St. Francis. The saint advised the rabbit to be more alert in the future, then released the rabbit from the trap and set it on the ground to go its way. But the rabbit hopped back up onto Saint Francis' lap, desiring to be close to the saint.

Saint Francis took the rabbit a few steps into the woods and set it down. But it followed Saint Francis back to his seat and hopped on his lap again! Finally, Saint Francis asked one of his fellow friars to take the rabbit far into the woods and let it go.

Saint Francis and the Animals, from Monastery icons Tamed by the Spirit of Peace

While Saint Francis was staying in the town of Gubbio he learned of a wolf so ravenous that it was not only killing and eating animals, but people, too. The people took up arms and went after it, but those who encountered the wolf perished at its sharp teeth. Villagers became afraid to leave the city walls.

Saint Francis had pity on the people and decided to go out and meet the wolf. He was desperately warned by the people, but he insisted that God would take care of him. A brave friar and several peasants accompanied Francis outside the city gate. But soon the peasants lost heart and said they would go no farther.

Saint Francis and his companion began to walk on. Suddenly the wolf, jaws agape, charged out of the woods at the couple. Saint Francis made the Sign of the Cross toward it. The power of God caused the wolf to slow down and to close its mouth.

Then Saint Francis called out to the creature: "Come to me, Brother Wolf. In the name of Christ, I order you not to hurt anyone." At that moment, the wolf lowered its head and lay down at Saint Francis' feet, meek as a lamb.

Saint Francis explained to the wolf that he had been terrorizing the people, killing not only animals, but humans who are made in the image of God. "Brother Wolf," said Francis, "I want to make peace between you and the people of Gubbio. They will harm you no more and you must no longer harm them. All past crimes are to be forgiven."

The wolf showed its assent by moving its body and nodding its head. Then to the absolute surprise of the gathering crowd, Saint Francis asked the wolf to make a pledge. As Saint Francis extended his hand to receive the pledge, so the wolf extended its front paw and placed it into the saint's hand. Then Saint Francis commanded the wolf to follow him into town to make a peace pact with the townspeople. The wolf meekly followed Saint Francis.

By the time they got to the town square, everyone was there to witness the miracle. With the wolf at his side, Saint Francis gave the town a sermon on the wondrous and fearful love of God, calling them to repent from all their sins. Then he offered the townspeople peace, on behalf of the wolf. The townspeople promised in a loud voice to feed the wolf. Then Saint Francis asked the wolf if he would live in peace under those terms. He bowed his head and twisted his body in a way that convinced everyone he accepted the pact. Then once again, the wolf placed its paw in Saint Francis' hand as a sign of the pact.

From that day on, the people kept the pact they had made. The wolf lived for two years among the townspeople, going from door to door for food. It hurt no one and no one hurt it. Even the dogs did not bark at it. When the wolf finally died of old age, the people of Gubbio were sad. The wolf's peaceful ways had been a living reminder to them of the wonders, patience, virtues and holiness of Saint Francis. It had been a living symbol of the power and providence of the living God.

Saint Francis and the Lambs

Saint Francis had great love and respect for the sanctity of all life, seeing all creation as his brothers and sisters in the Lord. On one occasion he came upon a merchant carrying two small lambs to market. Moved by the plaintive bleating of the lams, he caressed them and asked the peasant, "Why do you torment my brothers the lambs?" When he learned in horror that the man intended to sell them for slaughter, he declared, "That will not happen!" and bought them from the man. At Portiuncula, for many years, he had a tame lamb which followed him everywhere, even into the church, where its bleating mingled with the chants of the brethren.

At another time in Rome, Saint Francis procured a lamb for himself, which upon his departure he gave to the lady Jacopa. The lamb lived in her house many years and used to follow her to mass in the mornings. Indeed, in its eagerness to go to church, it would often wake its mistress with friendly buttings of the head when she was late it getting up. Out of this lamb's wool Jacopa spun and wove the habit which in the autumn of 1226 she took with her to Portiuncula, and in which Saint Francis died.

The Donkey Who Wept

It is said that on his deathbed St. Francis thanked his donkey for carrying and assisting him throughout his life, and his donkey wept.

Abba, Father

Following the way of Jesus, 

we may for love of You delight

 in your whole creation with perfectness of joy. 

O God, you have made us and all living things. 

You are even more

wonderful than what You have made. 

We thank You, Father, for giving us these animals who bring us joy. 

As you take care of us, so also we ask Your help 

that we might take care of those who trust us to look

after them. 

By doing this, we share in your own love for all creation. 

We ask this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light; and

where there is sadness, joy.

O, God, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. 

Amen in Jesus Christ.

Abba, Father,

You are the Shepherd of the Sheep

Overseer of our Souls.

Jesus Christ, Your Son,Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, 

so that we might die to sin

 and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

We pray for Your Love and Help.

You saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,

 but because of His mercy. 

Jesus saved us through the washing of rebirth 

and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

We Look to You,

You created the world. Your Light is the radiance of the glory of God 

and the exact imprint of Your nature, 

and You uphold the universe by the Word of You power. 

Cover us in the Grace and Mercy

in the

Highest Name of Jesus Christ.

AMEN.

Psalms 36:7

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!

 People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Daniel 4:3

How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders! 

His kingdom is an eternal kingdom

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Matthew 22:23-40 ~ Love

 

Matthew 22:23-40

23 The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”

29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 

30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 

33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

 38 This is the great and first commandment. 

39 And a second is like it: 

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

40 On these two commandments depend all the Law 
and the Prophets.”

We see great political posturing and agenda in these verses of The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 22.  The Pharisees and Sadducees were always mucking out a place for their agenda. The Sadducees believe there is no Heaven, only the temporal is important. They mock Jesus with the idea Heaven exists.

Grace upon Grace. The Son of God never turns to the people saying, clowns to the right of me, jokers to the left, and I'm stuck in the middle with you. The Mercy of God is seen in the middle of Political Agenda. The Light of God shines with Love and Compassion. And in the middle of the primordial goo, Jesus shines Love and Joy for all times and all seasons. Jesus Shines. On. Always.

Jesus does the Impossible. He takes the ongoing conflict and gives us Words of Life. Hope. Joy. As Jesus cuts through the Sadducees mocking Heaven and gives us an astonishing view of from the Book of Revelation. A glimpse of Heaven with Jesus.

Jesus casually answers, just an aspect of Heaven.  Billy Graham understood this when he said, "I've read the last page of the Bible, it's going to turn out All Right." We will take our questions regarding so many things. Abba, our Father, keeps the Gates of Heaven always open and unlocked. He welcomes us yesterday, today and tomorrow. We have His Love and His desire for our prayer conversations.

Psalm 131 

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;

    my eyes are not raised too high;

I do not occupy myself with things

    too great and too marvelous for me.

2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

    like a weaned child with its mother;

    like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, hope in the Lord

    from this time forth and forevermore.

We can ask The Lord God Almighty anything in the adoption of ours in Jesus Christ.

As easily as Jesus answers the hundreds of years of Sadducees, we will have our heart's answers.

Revelation 22:3-5

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. 

He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, 

“Behold, I am making all things new.”

He is not God of the dead, 

but of the living!!!

And in this we have

our Hope

Jesus Christ Gives Us.

Hope is Action.

Hope is in small things.

Making us the Beloved of Jesus.

Hope is His Way, Truth and Life.

Abba, Father,

The Scriptures bring us the Merciful Love of God.

Luke 23:43

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me

 in paradise.”

Abba Father,

Your Love and Mercy,

And the Living Scriptures have blessed us, our fathers and the generations.

 And will to generations, who will know God, 

arriving decades from now. 

We give You our cares, Father God.

We trust our Loved Ones to You. 

The Nation and the Nations to be upheld by Your Word.

Knowing Your Great Joy to have Heaven 

also sought to be on this earth 

with Your Good Will

and Your Great Word.

Blessing God with Gratitude. 

And holding up for His Love, 

all we know

who are struggling. 

1 in 3 people tell polls they are struggling.

Praise God

and His Beloved

for the encouragers

in His Love

and Goodness.

You love, dear

Brother and Sisters,

has brought me

great joy

and much

encouragement.

Bless us All, Father, as You do.

Amen Jesus Amen.

Christmas in Heaven

We aren't all thrilled Christmas

has begun to be planned,

but in the Church Year

Gabriel has already

visited Mary!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay JESUS