Philippians 2 ~ in the Lord with all joy †

Philippians 2

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 selfish ambition 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, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, Children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation

Among whom you shine as lights in the world,

holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 

Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 

For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 

I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. 

But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 

I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 

So receive him in the Lord with all joy, 

and honor such men, 

for he nearly died for the work of Christ, 

risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Abba, Father,

We needed to see the tenderness of our hopes 

for our Nation to pull up and forth 

out of distress.

Seeing the damage in Syria on into Turkey

and hearing about the millions displaced in winter.

The death toll is rising.

We pray for this area

and ask all to contribute to relief funds.

We also pray, Father, for

this area to quit having tremor earthquakes.

https://www.allquakes.com/earthquakes/turkey.html

and the people to be able to go into their homes 

still existing.

We ask Your mercy, in Jesus' Name.

To remember with gratitude the

magnificent

lives who have struggled for one another

and our common love and desire

for our families to

have all they need to 

live lives of Love

Hope

Joy

Care

Compassion

Success

Children

Dreams

Steadfast Love

Encouragement

Tenderness for one another.

To God be the Glory

for all of our

aspirations.

In Jesus Christ

we are more than conquerors.

Jesus Christ, saving the world,

shining the exact nature of

His Father.

Thank You, Jesus.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Revelation 4:5-11 ~ † You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being

 

Revelation 4:5-11

5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

in the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’

who was, and is, and is to come.”

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11“You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being.”

 All knees bow to Jesus, His Son, our Savior.

Why? Aslan is not a tame lion, He's good, I tell you.

God travels in more time, knows the Host of Heavens, creates and understands more mysteries, more layers, more of vast Histories and all the days to come.  Abba understands the dark and sees perfectly past this. He deals with All. Just as His Salvation is His work.

No one can fathom the depths of God. The Universe uphold by His Word. The birth of a child. The day marriage arrives and vows are shared.  Understanding in your own heart and soul, your prayer is Heard. Crying out and having Comfort from The Lord.

Romans 11

26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,

    he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;

27 “and this will be my covenant with them

    when I take away their sins.”

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all.

His Kingdom to us and His messengers and companions

His Word!

Romans 11

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! 

How unsearchable are His Judgments and how inscrutable His Ways!

34 “For who has known the Mind of the Lord,

    or who has been His counselor?”

35 “Or who has given a gift to Him

    that He might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through Him and to Him are all things. 

To him be glory forever. Amen.

His angels, stand in His Presence

We learn from His Word from Archangel Gabriel.

They do not kneel (all the time), they are not prostrate on the floor, they are not lounging on prayer mats. They stand. God wants them to be strong.

I've seen three photos of a being fully formed and healing. One was in North Carolina, a child was dying and instead was healed. This made national news as the cameras of the hospital all saw the angelic form with wings. Another was a Christian Rock Concert. It looked as if there was another member of the band, only dressed in all light and Praising God. The Concert stopped to acknowledge the messenger of Light or Fire. All applauded. The song started again and the Angel finished the song of Praise and was gone. A Church in The Woodlands, Woodsedge, experienced this at a Youth Ministry Praise and Singing within the month. About 2015.

Luke's Gospel, Chapter 1, we find two reactions to Gabriel, who is apparently not what Ezekiel and Revelation, John, saw. We find fear, the usual reaction, and then we find Mary, 10 Talents Mary, she expects the Lord to be Loving and Good. Gabriel greets her with Kairos, Greek for Joy. God, our Abba, expects to find Mary joyful. I love Mary, she is so very human, she decides she is fearful even if Zechariah and Elizabeth are well and fine. Gabriel, who stands in the Presence of God, comforts her. God of Love. God of Encouragement. Her Joy returns, and her acceptance of Her Maker is Kind and Loving in return.

7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever

Lions 

Line the thrones of David and Solomon. Lions announce overcoming. Revelation tells us on the list of lack of salvation qualities, cowardice is listed first. Brave. Lions are Brave.  And Protection. If we encounter a Lion, the Lion will have all of our attention. If we are safe, we delight in Lions. The Bold in and of Scriptures, are not worried about Lions. Consider all the levels Scriptures portray Lions. These are the levels of Father of ALL.

God understands all of life's circumstances. The Disciples were far from being Lions, and yet, God encouraged Joshua to not wait 40 more years to be brave, be bold, be courageous, God is with you.

Mark 16:15

 

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

and proclaim the gospel to the whole (or all of) creation."

An Ox

We are instructed is to be blessed to be included in all the good share. Diligent to work. Included by the Lord. During His Promise to Noah and the animals.  The third is like a man, the humility of God's kindness that He considers us. We love when God encourages us in logic, when we felt as if we might offend Him. The phrase pray, but pay the light bill, sounds a little dodgy. And instead, an Ox works with supreme diligence to accomplish the day.  God places on Ox next to a Lion. Yes, He does. And urges us to share. God tells us a good man cares for all the creatures in his life. And tells us in the Gospels, tell "All of Creation" about Jesus. Sometimes use words! St Francis of Assisi almost said this! Instead St Francis said, let your walking, be your talking. 

Eagle, how swiftly they fly. What they can see. An Eagle would have to be able to see a trout from airplane height. God has one as a companion, arranged in His very own Delight. The vision of seeing so many layers. 

Mankind

The companions of God. Seeing as He sees. His chosen companions. Beloved. Beloved. Beloved.

The shepherds of the Bethlehem field, they weren't the lowest. The worst. No, we understand Barabbas was a thief. These shepherds are noble. Samuel traversed easily with David's father Jesse. Saul was chosen from a Shepherd family, as well. This is community work and reward is from generations of learning. Mary tells us in Luke 1, this isn't the blessed financially, but the rich spiritually.  The Shepherds weren't traveling to Bethlehem, their journey was on the path. Rich in His ways.

These group of faithfully raised, generational shepherds meet the Heavenly Host and they are - bodily afraid. Sore afraid. As if in a car wreck, later we ache from having been so tense. Blood vessels break even without impact. The sore afraid can make us hurt for weeks even after the injuries heal.  Only the fear has created damage. 

Why would God want us to have fear? Hebrews says Yar, Reverence. Layers of meaning, time, language, Words of God. 

Romans 11

22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

God tells us change is possible with Him. God knows the stars and the Book of Life. Change is very possible with God. Likely!

Would God consider Himself severe? No, probably not. Jesus tells us Abba understands we see Him as a wicked Judge. And God tells us how to work around our small understanding. God of Love. God of Encouragement.

The Curtain surrounding God's Mercy Seat we call the Ark of the Covenant. Actually, a seat welcoming the Presence of God.

a lion, the second was like an ox, 

the third had a face like a man, 

the fourth was like a flying eagle

Abba, Father,

You see all of us. All of us.

You know, no secrets are hid,

all desires known.

Turn to us with Your Love

and Mercy

and we are Renewed.

Awakened to the Hope in Your Glory.

Dwell in us.

Dwell in those we Love.

Help us to seek You first.

And in Jesus, we will finish well.

Thank You for the Blessings You have given us to count

this year. 

Thank You, You create a new path

with new hopes

and new expectations.

We are renewed in Our Love

You Place in Us.

In Jesus Christ,

We pray for Your Good Creation.

This Nation

and all Nations seeking Your Son.

We pray good health and 

good new year for Damar Hamlin

as Damar proclaims Jesus in

his recovery.

Thank You, You Hear our Prayers.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus perseverance 

Matthew 28:20 ~ Remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age

 

Trouble will define us. What we do with trouble. How we look at prosperity. And this does define us too.


All of these very human stories represent flawed humanity. Choices made as life suddenly had harsh winds howl. Choices made from palaces where sunny days never end.

There is absolutely no way for Joseph, Mary, Daniel and David to have made life ok. There is One Promise of the Bible - that was held and lived and given to us to see for ourselves in life.

Matthew 28:20

Remember, I am with you always, 

even to the end of the age.

Why would God Promise us this? God, Himself, might be pretty busy.

Matthew 9:36

Jesus had compassion on them, 

because they were harassed and helpless, 

like sheep without a shepherd.

Hallmark cards. A nice thing. A warm meal. Even better. A phone call. Amazingly, this can really help.

Yet - The Journey of all of these people was what the Bible calls 'Narrow Gate'. God's People are called again and again sheep of His Pasture. We are all on a journey and we can even have a wonderful Benefit BBQ - yet, really, the Journey and Work and Wonder of a Soul to God - is a Journey of Soul.

Joseph - traveled alone.

Mary - made haste alone.

Daniel sat with the Lions, apparently alone.

David found places for his family to hide.

And really - strength was there. God did not leave - nor forsake - nor make easy - nor add in the fast fix - yet, yet, yet - - -
God made strong.
Only one day at a time.
God's Compassion - Available - Seek Him with all our whole heart.


When we find prayer requests - of the Beloved of God - the prayer requests say:
"I'm ok - please help my son, or sister or brother or friend or neighbor - to know the Love and Peace God has for hearts needing our Lord Jesus every day. Help them with marriage, divorce, disease, crisis and in need. Jesus please, You helped me. Amen"

Abba, Holy Father,

We pray with the Blessing of Hannah - 

for all the parents who have realized they did their lives with God:

1 Samuel 2

1Then Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;

in the Lord my horn is lifted high.

My mouth boasts over my enemies, 

for I delight in your deliverance.

2 “There is no one holy like the Lord;

there is no one besides You;

there is no Rock like our God.

3 “Do not keep talking so proudly

or let your mouth speak such arrogance,

for the Lord is a God who knows,

and by Him deeds are weighed.

4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,

but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,

but those who were hungry are hungry no more.

She who was barren has borne seven children,

but she who has had many sons pines away.

6 “The Lord brings death and makes alive;

He brings down to the grave and raises up.

7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth;

He humbles and He exalts.

8 He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

He seats them with princes

and has them inherit a throne of honor.

“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;

on them He has set the world.

9 He will guard the feet of His faithful servants,

but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.

“It is not by strength that one prevails;

10 those who oppose the Lord will be broken.

The Most High will thunder from heaven;

the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.

“He will give strength to his king

and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

And in the Strength of our Abba,

we place ourselves, our cares,

our Loved ones

the people God has given us.

Our Nation, our communities,

our employments, our Schools, our Churches.

All the Nations trusting in Him

all the Beloved around the world - calling on Jesus

and for more of the Holy Spirit to bring

more Heaven to our lives and upon His Good Creation.

Our God 

who wants to fulfill His Will 

to save

through Jesus Christ.

Amen.

♔ 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.

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.

1 Corinthians 8:3

Whoever loves God is known by God

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus