Psalm 130 ~ With the Lord there is steadfast Love †

 

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!

2 O Lord, hear my voice!

Let your ears be attentive

to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,

O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness,

that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in His word I hope;

6 my soul waits for the Lord

more than watchmen for the morning,

more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!

For with the Lord there is steadfast love,

and with Him is plentiful redemption.

8 And He will redeem Israel

from all his iniquities!

2022

2021

Wow, apparently, we seem to have more violence on airlines earlier in the year. Cranky until summer.

I volunteered for a Pro Life Group for 3.5 years who had wonderful reviews. We talked to STD or STI, (STI, which, I think, is a medically ignorant term, even the Flu is a common infectious disease.  Disease - disease is an abnormal condition affects the structure or function of all or part of the living.) We talked to gay people. We talked to older women who had abortions and now had lived with so many hidden emotions, they wanted a fight or a cry. And came to see what we had to say.  Almost every Person left feeling better.  We talked to women with 6 children coping with an early in life abortion. We talked to an amazing number of illegal aliens, wanting to take the classes and have formula, diapers, clothes, toys and books they earned.  We talked to abortive women. Terrified teens who were sexually active not understanding sex. We talked to everyone. Fathers of pregnant girls. Then their grandmothers. Their sisters, aunts and cousins. This group has been connecting the homeless to all types of help, and rape victims and everyone to the services available in Churches and Government.

Before the Pandemic and after the Pandemic, there is something in common. 

They are b o r e d. Television. It's what's going on. No, it's not. The television world has a taste of the culture, but misses so much. TV works on a theme and we all recognize it. And everyone we spoke to knew this. Why have these circumstances happened? I'm bored.

Almost always the next question comes... What should I do? Then they reply: No. Nope. No.  If this was suggested : Catholics who are single and meet in bars. Then: Hey, Really, I could do that!!!  Once encouraged: How can I be fed in Jesus and not look so dopey?

We suggested,"How about Christian Radio in the car?"  Yes. And let me tell you what, the response was almost always mentioned and remarked and even with tears.  

The next responses were this: We were asked: What do other women say they would be interested in? Cooking classes. Oh, I can't afford that.  I'd like to. What could I do? When we'd suggest, they ask older women and friends to have cooking together nights. That sparks some interest.  

Next? Our clients would say: We have a house, my grandmother's, but we don't know how to take care of it. Not even clean it. Tell me how to clean it. Try one room a day and try to keep up with this. Hey, that works. But it needs paint. How do I do this? Many women remark their grandparents knew more about actual good life with accomplishments, than their unspoken response their parents are careless, care less, don't have a reason to look to them. Didn't cook meals, had other interests.

I've been surprised since the pandemic to learn.....

The large, large numbers of people are trying to take the houses, now, are not being offered for sale, to try to do similar remembrances of people they knew from their past did. We can't be sure of the news, the: this, that and the other, but we know home and we know our past.

I've been surprised since the pandemic to learn...

The new interest in huge trees. Thinking about what lasts. The hurt in new building developments, wiping out all the beauty.  The wish that beauty would be considered part of all we do. Finding out that just as fashion now branches any way people want from the trend, so are home improvements. 

I've been floored to learn, since the pandemic,

40 Percent of the UK has decided not to watch television.

I've been surprised to find out, since the pandemic

Adult sports are fighting hard to overcome the playing fields of children. The Fight is On.

I have been floored to see, since the pandemic

How many people are not going to sell their home. And the rise in prices with interest rates like the late 1980s. Helping the 30s, eventually, to afford a home. And their determination to get out of renting.

 Liturgy

Apparently, there is an equation for today.

This was the age of teaching literacy, feeding the people, teaching farming, installing libraries, beginning hospitals, risking their lives to feed the people on so many levels.

Meet today!

and

Guess what? They are bored.  I double dare you to suggest celibacy (instead of marriage) and socialism giving. One person would comment, "Wouldn't be prudent!" People want to bring beauty into life. They are tired of the sadist comments to one another. Bring eternal hope and the beauty of goodness in Jesus. When they feel their cup is nourished. We will find the beauty in the Light of mankind again.

The Scriptures begin with Beauty. Talking to God. A job of beauty. The Exodus repeats these cares. Not the grind wearing and tearing. The advancement of family to have work and beauty, something lasting to bring to children instead of flinging them into a baffling world. God's plan is for us to find Heaven on earth. And the Scriptures bring to us the way to move past what oppresses and find Joy.

The Gospels reflect a time of great change. The imperialism of world trade, harsh violence, and hard cash for glamour, instead of ma and pa down on the farm. A world in Israel, where there was virtue signaling in every corner. Sin is mentioned 152 in the Gospels and Acts. But the sin wasn't enumerated. It was the fallen condition of mankind. What did Jesus do with a bullied nation of good sheep?

266 Times the New Testament calls Heaven.  Matthew, Mark and Luke discuss Heaven as much sin.  John presents more of a calendar of events, explaining the signs of Jesus for the reader to see Jesus with their own hearts. A relationship to Jesus. Which John would know to explain. Healed is the next number of mentions. Wholeness.

God explains Himself about 3,000 times and tells about people 2,600 times.

Sounds like a Plan. 

O Israel, hope in the Lord!

For with the Lord there is steadfast love,

and with Him is plentiful redemption.

8 And He will redeem Israel

from all his iniquities!

Abba, Father,

You have the Whole World in Your Hands.

Your Steadfast Love does not falter.

We look to You for Love, Hope, Mercy and Encouragement.

Gather Your Beloved together,

Encourage us in Your Love and Goodness.

In the Highest Name of Jesus, Beloved Son of God,

we give to You, Father,

our cares and longings

to be fulfilled in You.

I ask Your Help, Father,

Blessings seen, in recovering from Covid,

my dog's ear ache of almost 3 months healed,

less numb arm.

Thank You, this looks promising.

We ask for the goodness, gleam

and happiness of good health

and gratitude with rosy outlooks.

We pray the anger around

the world

will diminish.

Amen in Jesus, 

Wonderful Jesus,

Your Holy and Powerful Name,

Jesus Christ, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Psalm 113 ~ From this time forth and forevermore

 

Psalm 113

Praise the Lord!

Praise, O servants of the Lord,

    praise the name of the Lord!

Blessed be the Name of the Lord

    from this time forth and forevermore!

From the rising of the sun to its setting,

    the Name of the Lord is to be praised!

The Lord is high above all nations,

    and His glory above the heavens!

Who is like the Lord our God,

    who is seated on high,

who looks far down

    on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust

    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,

to make them sit with princes,

    with the princes of his people.

He gives the barren woman a home,

    making her the joyous mother of children.

Praise the Lord!

Today, the Church of England, 

Lives under the new rules of the General Synod and ruled they will not perform same sex marriages. Reuters reports. Why? The global Anglican Communion is a greater voice on the Body and is the Church of England’s General Synod today. Five of 16 representatives are churches of the Anglican Communion – one each from Africa; the Americas; Middle East and Asia; and Europe. The new rules will also ensure the inclusion of laity and clergy as well as bishops; a balance of men and women. The Synod considers and approves legislation affecting the whole of the Church of England. Formulates new forms of worship, debates matters of national and international importance. And approves the budget for the work of the Church.

The Episcopal Church USA fell from 15 million churchgoers to 800,000. Looking at the Pew Reports, only the Churches teaching from Scriptures are growing. The Church grew to 163 nations under Queen Elizabeth and has found being a community worldwide is to find fellowship and guidance worldwide in Communion.

The Church of England is seeking to keep the family together worldwide.

Family dysfunction has been something this generation has come to acknowledge. And to want to heal.  We live in remarkable times. Great hopes and an anger seen spread about the globe.  In a historical time, when equality is considered paramount, we are asked not to look at all the voices. To pay attention to the angriest voices, capable of power and change. To be subjugated to hecklers and sometimes flat ridiculous conclusions of the most strident of rudeness.

The Church of England.  The count of the Catholic Church is 1.3 Billion Believers.

The Commonwealth of England is 2.5 Billion people in 56 Nations. 

This is global.

Fellowship.  The word is generated by being in the same boat and not bashing each other in the head. Liturgy is created by the wider community.  Jeremy Clarkson stepped in it recently and created a two nation uproar. I, personally, really enjoy Jeremy Clarkson and find him to be uproariously funny. And I mean, Jeremy Clarkson, does this like deliberately and all.... Yeah, it's like his job... y'all. Yolks.

Now, Harry.  He's had A LOT on his plate. Living with a brilliant mum.

And living with knowing a life blown far away, like a candle in the wind. Harry has lived with people immediately remembering him as a mere child, chin to his chest, grieved, walking behind a beautiful, bright yellow flag recognized as a symbol of Hope.

Prince Charles, now King, had never been more grieved. Families in grief, don't help each other grieve. $100 million dollars for collecting too much garbage, increases the grief. And suddenly, we can forget mask mask mask debate and claim Harry.

King Charles gets to relive the debate reconstituted of celebrity fame biting his ankles.  From his son. And Harry hasn't been the center of this family, always striding in the future.  Prince William is young to cope with all of this. But looking at Harry's face as Meghan laughs down a curtsy to the Queen of England, this is a man accustomed to being pushed aside as people pursuit their own goals. If we can't all agree this is garbage thrown on them all, we can't heal. 

This is a family analogy for all of us.

The Church of England is going to grow. 

A remarkable Queen, leaning on her faith in Jesus Christ, leaving luxury past indulgences to include so many voices, never before heard, in such abundance, grew the "Commonwealth." 

Shelter these souls. Put a Hurricane Globe around the candle. 

And let the Light Shine. 

God of Light. God of Encouragement. The God who tells us our prayers are heard in the privacy we pray our prayers, our hearts are loved and treasured. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

 

2 Thessalonians 1:9b-12

The presence of the Lord 

and from the glory of His Might 

on the day He comes to be glorified 

in His holy people 

and to be marveled 

at among 

all those who have believed.

This includes you, 

because 

you believed our testimony to you. 

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, 

that our God 

may make you worthy of His calling, 

and that by His power 

He may bring to fruition 

your every desire for goodness 

and your every deed 

prompted by faith.

We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus 

may be glorified in you, and you in Him, 

according to the grace of our God 

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:9b-12

And we are still on the cusp of a New Year. Few of us will not wonder what the New Year holds. Even if we just passed the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Liturgically. Which is to say:

As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and participation in the sacred through activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, remembrance, supplication, or repentance. It forms a basis for establishing a relationship with God. Technically speaking, liturgy forms a subset of ritual. The word liturgy, sometimes equated in English as "service", refers to a formal ritual enacted by those who understand themselves to be participating in an action with the divine.


There is One who has Plans. God. And not one of us, not one, is not part of the Plans of God. There is One of us who knows of this year and will, obviously, have all of His Plans come to fruition.



New Years. New plans.
A realistic plan for winning. A realistic plan for overcoming. The Scriptures have an entire book on Wisdom. Proverbs.  With 31 Chapters. Skiers have plans to get down the mountain for the thrill and there is a plan to get back to the top of the mountain.



Going with the winter weather -  then  - we will call this - the Bear Hunt of Life - and need - very much - His Help. And our gratitude for His help. We will need to do our words, our deeds with Love. Which is great. Valentines is next. Everything with Love. Wonderful. 

Particularly in theory. Just like skiers have a plan to get back up the mountain, The Lord tells us we are ok to be angry, just not to sin.

Recently, year and a half, we had a new neighbor. Different cultures within their household. They have false reported our home to the Water Authority, false reported to the Police when I had Covid, and false reported the Other Neighbor on the Other side, in getting a new pool. Fake reported our 2 doors down neighbor did allow them easement to allow bulldozers and diggers to put in the neighbor's pool through their own backyard.  Cut down the neighbor's tree and got a cease and desist order.  Refused to replant, the part was allowed to be cut down and replaced. Fussed when we asked their filled pool to have legal fencing instead of none, we back up to land owned by the State of Texas Park's Department. Sent us a letter using a fake address, in violation of Texas Penal Code 32.15. And the sadists admitted all this to the government official's face. Admitted this screaming at top voice. Fake reported almost all survey points to local government. Last year, we knew it was crazy time, they threatened to cut down our trees for solar panels, to discover my brother is an accomplished attorney.  And they racially harassed our yard man. Who told him to go back in the house. 

This year, they had local governing city authorities by inviting them to their house and then proceeded to yell about religion being false at top voice to me (hate crimes), and assaulted me to the point the city authority had to order them to let go of me. They have, a long time ago, been dinner guests in our home, and then assaulted the dog by grabbing it up into the air, by the tail, after running pellmell to yank the dog up... twice. Never invited again. Then, tried to befriend the 3rd neighbor who witnessed the dog assault at the dinner party and lives across the street. Routinely, they put up various car sales signs and sticks. Move large, lighted Christmas light ornaments around the yard.  Sadists set themselves up to be lost in life. Easily bored and without a winning plan in life. Sadists lose.

The city government employ visiting at our houses, then invited the other neighbor, the good one, to visit with city governance department heads for about an hour and a half. Which we did.

However, in Real Bear Hunts - there is frozen tundra, hunters, starvation, isolation and deep napping. Overabundance. Under abundance. We know alligators and the old problems with swamps. And given any particular day with grumpy bears, caves with other bears and bears with territories - we might find being a bear not as smart as the average bear. We might suddenly come to the realization. All the salmon we'd ever want, on a day where the sunshine never ends. It's all clanging gong without Love.

What will we do the day we feel without the fuel of Love? Too much bs. On the days we just feel chilly? With mankind, as in Human Employment, we could feel fear of burn out.

New beginnings can be enormously appealing - and then - have the threat of burn out.

Jeremiah 17:5

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man 

and makes flesh his strength, 

whose heart turns away from the Lord.”

Now, that is ominous to me and, probably, to all who have that day / we grit our teeth all day.

With the deep and abiding Love God has - we can take the days when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad and trust the Lord God even in emptiness. We can call to Abba and say, "Sorry. Empty. All Empty. Sorry."

Romans 12:2

Testing you may discern what is the will of God, 

what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The Testing - might have test taking anxiety. We have failed what is good and acceptable and perfect - in the eyes of man and of God Himself.

When we are angry we are not outside the will of God, we can sit and tell the Lord Father God. We can present our failings. And in this honest conversation with God - find He has not left us.

He, Abba, our Father, who sees all our prayers,  is not sitting comfortably with a, "Pull the go to hell lever." The Light of mankind, the Light of Heaven, the Creator of All Things.

The Will of God?

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,

 that everyone who believes in Him 

shall not perish but have eternal life.

Can we leap all the hurdles and say God loves the world - hurray - on these bear eat bear days?

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.

After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

That is Good News. We need purification for sins when we say hurray - save the world - what about me?

And this is exactly - what we need with Father God. Approaching Him - as if He - is always - approachable. Jesus does this for us - personally. Jesus frequently let the world wait. Jesus had the multitudes of thousands - all of Capernaum - immediately followed Jesus. Jesus frequently told the world to wait.

Matthew 6 

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 

6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

We are deaf when we think Jesus abolished the Law to not bring us the Liberty of His Love. We are deaf to God's Love to not see Jesus brings us His love - personally.

We know Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee 3 times in one day - looking for one person. We can know Jesus would put aside all the earth - and be able - in the Power of the Holy Spirit - to hear me and hear you - personally. Jesus helped Jairus, his wife and daughter and the world waited outside.

And knowing Jesus is the exact nature of God - - -

John 3:16

For God so loved YOU that He gave His one and only Son, 

that YOU who believes in Him - shall not perish - but have eternal life.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Proverbs 16:9 ~ The Lord establishes

Proverbs 16:9

The heart of man plans his way, 

but the Lord establishes his steps.

  John 15:1-17

  

  

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 

2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 

15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

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

17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Paul was a very honest saint of God.

Philippians 2:19-30

19 I hope to send Timothy to you soon if the Lord Jesus allows it. Then I will be cheered up when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like Timothy. He truly cares about how you are doing. 21 All the others are looking out for their own interests. They are not looking out for the interests of Jesus Christ.22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself. He has served with me like a son with his father in spreading the good news.

23 So I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.

24 And I'm sure I myself will come soon if the Lord allows it.

We have lived Pandemic and we all hope to live a total Pandemic Recovery. We have seen fights in the airline flights and no one manning the booths of the airline on the most travelled time.  

This year is starting with hope. This year is talking about health and recovery. For all age groups.

Yet, I think we look at 1 of every 4 families have some dysfunction and separation, 1 in every 3 in the USA has a substance addiction. 1 in every 3 find necessities moving from reach as they work. Another 1 of every 3, worries their finances wain. We see every system and every organization and see flaws teaching us.... we need to rely on God as Good. Jesus said only God is good. I Corinthians 13 tells us if we give away all we have and have not love, we are nothing.  The Good Samaritan goes on to tell us the merciful one is the neighbor. Not the one rushing on with the career thoughts. Jesus did not disclose to His own Brothers if He was going to the Festival, as they goaded Him.

And

Today, our Father wants to save the world in Jesus Christ. His Good Creation and all the fullness thereof is still yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The Scriptures tell us to be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves. And to be in Jesus, Abide in His Word. Abide in the wisdom of Proverbs. Be fruitful for the Lord. To love one another.

How are we going to condense, process, be fruitful about Paul admitting, easily, the Lord is in charge and not everyone is helpful or innocent?

The Prodigal Father let go of what he couldn't control and stepped out of the picture to allow God to be God. Wait upon the Lord.  The 10 Talents said believe God is good and wants us to trust Him in our plans for today and tomorrow. Take risks, believing God will help us grow or move us along, as He did for all of His Children.

Heaven is like a Tree, welcoming. Allowing all the birds of the forest to come in and take shelter.

Jesus said to the Disciples to not be so faithless and afraid.  Peter learned to swim to Jesus. And continued to wrangle with the Lord after He rose from Death. Jesus frankly told the Disciples, you aren't told the reasons and the seasons. Jesus said, don't worry so much about tomorrow. And the people who relax and worry less are far more the faithful.

When Jesus returned Victorious. He chose 500 to spend time with. He knew husbands would travel with wives and John would need family. Sounds like Eden. And to enjoy Eden, we have to believe God is wanting to talk with us.

Jesus had an idea about fraught circumstance. Jesus said trust God's Will for our lives.

The Lord wants to talk with you. He wants to save you. To Love you.

The heart of man plans his way, 

but the Lord establishes his steps.

Abba, Father,

Our Father, Who art in Heaven

Dwell in me and those I love,

now all of our hearts,

God of Love, God of encouragement.

Hallowed, Holy is the Name of the Lord.

Jesus, the Christ of God.

Beloved Son.

We remember John 17 and ask us as we pray,

You would pray with us.

Your Will be Done

Yes, Jesus is the exact nature of God.

Alleluia.

We want to seek You First, Father,

to see Your Will on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this Day.

The encouragement of Life as a gift and adventure

Fully worthy of our prayers and attention to blessing

Fully in Gratitude.

Give us day our daily bread.

Nothing without the Lord is meaningful

help the physical bread and the earned bread

to be Jesus, Living Bread.

Forgive us our Trespasses.

Just as Christmas is You, trusting us with Your Son,

You fully expect us to have loving and grateful hearts

God doesn't have to see as dark or sinful.

God sees us worthy of Eden to talk to.

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

God doesn't say SIN, He expects us

to treat each other as part of meaningful lives

to enjoy and create more of Heaven on earth.

Lead us not into temptation

of being demanding, unsatisfied,

to take our blessings and make greed

diminishing the goodness in life.

Deliver us from evil

God is clear there is evil in the world.

And God has hope those on the wrong path

will find their heart again.

For Thine is 

the Glory

of Life Given and Life to be Enjoyed

and Eternal,

For Thine is the 

Power

in The Name of Jesus

in Your Word

and in Your Faithful

Promises.

To change hearts and create Life.

And the Glory

The Glory of God

is to find His Goodness.

Giving us Jesus.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus