Isaiah 2:1-5 ~ Let us walk in the Light of the Lord

 

Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

 It shall come to pass in the latter days

    that the mountain of the House of the Lord

shall be established as the highest of the mountains

    And shall be lifted up above the hills;

and all the nations shall flow to it,

  and many peoples shall come, 

and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

    to the House of the God of Jacob,

that He may teach us his ways

    and that we may walk in His paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

    and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 He shall judge between the nations,

    and shall decide disputes for many peoples;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

    and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

    neither shall they learn war anymore.

5 O House of Jacob,

    come, let us walk

    in the Light of the Lord.

We've been on a journey, we mostly never anticipated, since March 2020's Pandemic.  The Pandemic brought our quiet times to say 2/3rd's of us feel we have more clarity on being the people we want to be.  Learning Strength.

The changes brought from seeing strangers crying in fright at Starbucks. The lack of crowds returning with the same ease. The deep 1/3 concern Americans say they really have in 2022. 

Not the type of Journey unknown for the first Christmas in Bethlehem. Carrying this eventually to Jerusalem, then Rome and the world. 

We know about 1/3 of America traveled home for Thanksgiving. When Isaiah saw this coming journey coming, Isaiah did not have the complete understanding Jesus Christ, before Abraham, understood. Jesus is the Word of God manifest, to Live, Move and Have His Being with our Father.  

We can understand a great voyage, a vacation, a pilgrimage, a bucket list.  The awe of anticipation of a Festival! Way, Truth and Life!  Isaiah would well understand the Ascents all understood in the Anticipation of regular life, down the road on the Journey and suddenly in God's Holy Temple.

When Isaiah saw this coming journey coming, Isaiah did not have the complete understanding Jesus Christ, before Abraham, understood.

 Jesus is the Word of God manifest, to Live, Move 

and Have His Being with our Father.  

This is the beginning of finding the Roman Road connecting Bethlehem to Jerusalem. Worked on by Israeli High School students with great anticipation. Finding artifacts going back to the time of Jesus Christ walking this road. 

The road, 2,000 years ago, a familiar life would add in new adventures and new memories, to be elevated by God moving His people in Worship and Beauty. Not just the local room, usually without a window. This was built as a Temple with a path to eternity with God. To hear not just one or two instruments, to gather with 2 million people to hear Music and Worship. Beauty far beyond the usual. To see the wisdom of the ages produce awe in the Lord. 

The Holy Spirit told Isaiah this would be uphill.

A planned journey uphill.

Ahhh, the Songs of Ascent!

We know the Psalms!

Because Easter is Real: Jesus led the Disciples, the soldiers, the Emperors of the Empire, the Governor Festus, adopted by Emperor Claudius and raised from his father's slavery, then King Agrippa and his wife Bernice, the soldiers in Judea for Good Friday, and Jesus knew what was said about all Roman roads lead to Italy...

Easter can be a lot of work. Something to REJOICE IN. And usually a day filled with things to do. And as we climb the ladder and smile with the memories, we know we are not only juggling our time, we are juggling needs and finances. Relationship and reward. Worthy and ordinary. Adult decisions while holding magical dreams and worthy love.

When Isaiah saw this coming journey coming, Isaiah did not have the complete understanding Jesus Christ, before Abraham, understood. Jesus is the Word of God manifest, to Live, Move and Have His Being with our Father.  

Samaria! 

Probably not the pilgrimage the Disciples put on their Bucket List. 

Not exactly the ahhhh of Antioch. 

Nor the rival of the Italian Riviera!

Although Caesarea might have been a little racier! 

Yet, alas, only to the Remnant who had held up Jerusalem after Jeremiah predicted the fall of the Temple. The Samaritan ninnies without proper Babylonian lineage credentials, later DNA centuries confirmed. Merely the line of the king, Herod.

Oh have you been told, the greatest Christmas gift of all:  

 The meaning of the heart is the loving hearts held by Jesus. Forever.

The Gift of Easter

The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand, Today.

Romans 10:9-10

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

For with the heart one believes and is justified, 

and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Abba, Father

Cover us this day in Your Name. The Highest of All Names and we are Blessed.

We will be still and know You are God the Almighty of All.

Cover us in Jesus Christ and we have a Hope and Future. 

We Believe and trust in You.

Cover those we Love and we Live in Love. 

We see glimpses of Heaven.

Cover us in Jesus and we lift our cares to You.

Cover us in Jesus and we are inspired to Live and Love more.

Cover us in Jesus and we tell the truth with mercy.

Cover us in Jesus and we brush off what would cling to us 

and find Joy in Pleasing You.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we want All to Love Jesus.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we Believe Father God will bring the world to salvation 

in Jesus Christ.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we know Tomorrow and Today are in Your Hands.

Cover us in Jesus

 and we find Joy knowing our prayers join the Saints covering the world 

in Prayers for more

of Your Heaven on earth.

Cover us in Jesus and we Believe the Nation Trusting in You 

will be Blessed.

Always pray daily:

Dwell in us, please, Father.

Dwell in those we Love.

Salvation is in Jesus Christ, we ask.

Help us to Seek You First

And we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we Believe the days to come for ourselves 

and our children and unborn children will live

in Goodness and Steadfast Love 

in the New Covenant of Jesus.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we Believe You are the God of the Impossible.

We ask the Oceans to give moisture to the skies

and rain to pour over the thirsty and parched 

places of Your Good Creation,

Cover us in Your Word, Jesus Christ, 

God's Word made Manifest.

We thank You to answer our prayers. 

The miracles we know.
We ask to Live in Love, Joy and Peace seeking and 

finding Your Kingdom in Heaven 

and on earth in Jesus Christ.

Pray for me in day 5 of Covid.

Doing ok, no fever, Optimism of Healing Fast!

Grateful for the 3 Vaccinations, lessening the effects!

Taking Aspirin!

Blessed be Father God for bringing us Jesus. 

Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

1 John 1:1-10 ~ that our joy may be complete †

John, the Beloved Disciple, living in his cave

Patmos Island, Greece

 1 John 1:1-10

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, 

concerning the word of life— 

The life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 

That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

5 This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 

6 If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

My mother-in-law came to see us a lot in 2005 and 2006. She had dated my father-in-law off and on, since they had been in fifth grade together. One of their memories was the silver bracelet he gave her when they went steady that year. 

The DISD, Dallas, Texas Schools canceled Spring Break during World War II. These little children went into the surrounding cotton fields and picked cotton for an entire week, Victory Cotton. Almost all the cotton was being made into uniforms and supplies for the American Troops in the war. I asked my father-in-law about 20 years ago if he still knew his school age friends. And he said, probably about twenty or thirty of them, sure. I said, Ok, then round them up and get a good attorney and tell them that you all are demoralized by this action, and you all are suing the DISD for all their worth. And I watched. My father-in-law was stunned. And then he was upset. And said: NO, this was for freedom. For freedom from Hitler and fascism. Freedom for the Jews. Freedom for Brave Poland and Brave Belgium. For all the Freedom Fighters in France. The Allies.

I said, I know. But can't you see, this lawsuit happen today, if we asked Spring Break to be canceled?  My father-in-law, Bless him, was upset, he said, only if this much evil broke out again. He was an excellent man. Lost his uncle in WWII and named his son for his uncle, who had died without children.

That was indeed the time of Fellowship. And how I loved and enjoyed my father-in-law and mother-in-law.

My mother-in-law came to visit us, quite a lot, after wonderful Buddy passed on. We talked about the stages of grief, and one is isolation. At first, no one knows what to say to grief. Raw grief. And then, friends change as the emotions come in like an unbelievable tide. And to heal, one's circle becomes small. Fellowship is very limited. And eventually, spring came again in her life, not a full spring, but she began to have a new pattern of life.

And then in 2008, we lost our daughter Isabelle, as she passed on as she was being born. And my mother-in-law came to visit us again. Words of real comfort. She said one of her friends, in elementary school, might have been classed with the handicapped and put in a more specialized place. Her friend's name was Birdie, her mother said, she watches and looks and says little. But she had a dear, good heart, and my mother-in-law said, and the children had been very kind to a quiet and loving, little girl. My mother-in-law said, she wished our own Birdie, Isabelle, had not flown away. We would have loved her and nurtured her.

And the years became hushed. Grieving. Sons went to college. Changes happen. And I wanted more fellowship, but child loss is not a bonus in discussions. It doesn't, Thankfully, relate in the modern world. Birdie had a flu or an illness, Judy's childhood friend, and did not arrive one year in elementary school because her mother said she had flown to Heaven. Baby Isabelle had several loved ones, who would miss her. 

Then, this year. Life has suddenly been like a Very Merry Christmas Season. All things began to happen so fast. My mother's roof. The work on her house.  Working on our own house, trying to restore, repair and buff up our own house. All the situations from so many things. The phone sometimes, suddenly, rings so much Edward asks me to turn off the phone. My brother, the attorney, is dealing with the insurance that gave ... RIDICULOUS... non-logical reasons to fob us off. I love to see my adult brother doing what he really does so well. I just have such enjoyment of seeing him work to and for justice. We may all say, "He's sitting too far on my side, make him move over."  Especially when he ucksay s. Yet, we love to see our family run like a wild horse, set free in a beautiful field. Getting Justice.

And then there are the tragedies this year has seen. That if I repeat the story again, we may all have our ears just fall off. Skip the tragedy that continues.  Just look to Joy. But never forget to complain. Otherwise, it's just repression and leads to gloom. 

Edward won 2nd Place in Texas State Doubles, with Alex H, no age divisions. Just Amazing.  And they do this a lot, yay. Edward won Texas State Championship, in his age division in 2017.  And this set him on fire to travel to Tournaments. Especially during Lent. And again as fall begins cool weather, but how do you tell someone given a terminal medical notice, not to stretch as high and far as he can. You don't, you say Go for The Win. And suddenly, this was fun again.

Every day some bizarre event happens. Something is missing. The event is: Hate and full rears up an ugly, unwell desire for harm. Something is broken. Being fed a lie, that doesn't even try. Some thing is to be cleaned or fixed again. Willingness to let love die through ease and boring comfort. Some Terrible Comment is made. Anger and despair. And a bizarre shock. Of rolling injustice. Of dislike when affection was expected. Disappointment. Revulsion at the misuse of Heaven and goodness. Hopelessness at the pattern of decay. Concern with seeing aging around us and in us. Culture decay. Hope. Sorrow around us.

Our neighborhood has a family that doesn't live within anything of splendor and instead tries sadism. Violence has occurred around them 3 times, once in front of local government, they invited themselves and broke into violence. In front of the neighbors --- because they were screaming confessions at the top of their lungs, drawing a crowd, in their outrageous anger. Hate and disbelief of Christianity as fiction. Imagine fighting every day for 6 feet of land, that doesn't belong to them. On both sides, both neighbors have been warred against. Sadism doesn't make sense.

This week, our iron 4-foot gate had the spokes splayed and the post pulled sideways. As we called for quotes, the men who arrived to weld the gate. They just hung their head, one at a time. And one man told me, during the Pandemic, his neighbor had lost his mind, with his wife. He knew what it was to see people disintegrate. 

We have choices to make.

About 2012, I went to Sam's one day, I felt blue.  I was in Sam's with my son, Cal. It was a day I was trying to decide if I was upset enough to cry. Just about all of it, all the time. And the clerk in the check-out line said to me, Very Cheerfully, "Today is sufficient. God gives you JUST what you need today. Learn to be grateful and trust HIM." 

You know I was leaving the store, I had to go back and tell her - "God Bless YOU. You are just what I needed to hear." And being a person of faith - she smiled as bright as the sun at noontime.

You have to really appreciate the Light. Especially when He speaks to you so clearly. You know you have heard from Him. The words spoken to me have radically changed my life. Speak up, even if your voice squeaks. Hold on - with gratitude - when you hear from HIM. 

Always look to HIM with awe and wonder.

Numbers 23

19 God is not a man, that He should lie, 

or a son of man, that He should change His mind. 

Does He speak and not act? 

Does He promise and not fulfill? 

20 I have indeed received a command to bless; 

He has blessed, and I cannot change it

Romans 9:6

It is not as though God's word has failed. 

For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.

2 Timothy 2:13

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

The Lord

has His Heart, His ear

and our prayers are heard

because the gates of Heaven never close.

Jesus is the exact nature of God

and ALL

are welcomed

to The Goodness of God.

Hebrews 6:18

Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, 

we who have fled to take hold 

of the hope set before us 

may be strongly encouraged.

Hebrews 7:21

Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: 

"The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: 

'You are a priest forever.'"

Micah 7:20

Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob,

 and the mercy to Abraham, 

which thou hast sworn unto our fathers 

from the days of old.

John, believed Jesus, like few others did. And John could see Jesus really is The Messiah. Loyalty. Belief.  What does John record about prayer?

The Rylands Library Papyrus P52, also known as the St John's fragment. The front is lines from the Gospel of John 18:31–33, and the back contains lines from verses 37–38. The papyrus was found in Egypt. Recently dated again, the oldest date is 125 AD, not the late part of the 2nd century, as previously thought. During the apostle John's lifetime. Housed at John Rylands University Library, Manchester, UK.

Papyrus 46, 85 intact Chapters of the Bible. Until this season of history, this was considered to be in existence, during the life of Disciple John. Now, suddenly, the question is about verb usage formerly categorized as late First Century for Decades to 100s of years.

Abba, Father,

Dwell in us, Father

Dwell in those we Love

Help us to seek You first.

In Jesus Christ, we will finish well!

John 17:1

When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to Heaven, and said, 

“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son 

that the Son may glorify you

John 17:9

I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world 

but for those whom you have given me, 

for they are yours.

John records Jesus as being

giving, rewarding seeking hearts of His Goodness,

Continued Prayer for us.

1 John 5:16

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, 

he shall ask, and God will give him life—

to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. 

There is sin that leads to death; 

I do not say that one should pray for that.

Look to what is good,

pleasant and true,

praise, think upon

what is excellent.

You are my God,

I give thanks to You.

Proverbs 11:27

Whoever looks for good

will find Kindness

but

whoever looks for evil

will find trouble

John records Jesus

as being for all of us

and for us to be immersed 

in Goodness

Thank You, God,

for reminding us

to simply

pray for the needs

of others.

Father God 

You weep with those who weep

Let us remember that in faith, we can laugh at the time to come. 

Our future is in Your hands. 

We hope to have Your face, Father God, to shine upon us.

 In Jesus Christ, let us put real hope 

in the revealing of His purpose for us. 

Lenten opportunity to give:

We pray for relief to help and reach Syria

and Turkey. 4.8, March 10th and 3.8, 2 hours ago, earthquakes this week.

We pray this will cease. Lord, 

Your mercy upon this land and 

Your people.

Pray Amazon puts back Amazon Smile,

philanthropy is needed today and this program

was wonderful. 

Many will feel the clip if Amazon Smile doesn't

continue. 

Please Lord.

Blessed to pray in expectation of Your Love and Willingness. 

Blessed to say Thank You that during Holy Week, 

we have seen the Glimpse of Your Glory 

working to heal the fullness of the earth, Yours.

Neighborhood,

 Pray for peace, please. 

My mother's roof is in sudden need of

repairs and the best solutions.

During the rainy season.

Thankful for Edward's

wins in DG. For us both to be clear

and communicate well.

In Jesus, we Live and ask this for those we Love. 

We pray for our own strength, 

Love and ask Jesus to cover this Nation, those who lead this Nation 

and all other nations in this good fight. 

The Light of mankind to shine with Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Lord, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes Bless The Lord Jesus

Yes Jesus Bless Asbury

† †

Psalm 142 ~ with my voice I cry out to the Lord

Psalm 142

With my voice I cry out to the Lord;

    with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.

2 I pour out my complaint before him;

    I tell my trouble before him.

3 When my spirit faints within me,

    you know my way!

In the path where I walk

    they have hidden a trap for me.

4 Look to the right and see:

    there is none who takes notice of me;

no refuge remains to me;

    no one cares for my soul.

5 I cry to you, O Lord;

    I say, “You are my refuge,

    my portion in the land of the living.”

6 Attend to my cry,

    for I am brought very low!

Deliver me from my persecutors,

    for they are too strong for me!

7 Bring me out of prison,

    that I may give thanks to your name!

The righteous will surround me,

    for you will deal bountifully with me.

This is actually a week ahead of March 15. To complain, not as much in the spotlight of today, and to say a week makes a new outlook.

God created the world in 6 days. And rested on the 7th. There is a lot to be said about rest. 

We have been to Dallas 3 times lately. 18 hours in the car. Our violent and ill neighbor's side gate is damaged, to the chagrin of the repair men, quoting it and reminiscing about ill neighbors themselves. No one takes things as lightly as before the Pandemic.  Mother has had her insurance and 4 roof quotes. No one agrees. Then I remembered, needing another trip to Dallas, that roof damage can only be accessed from the attic. The next 2 men, I asked to start in the attic, find the minimal damage, easily. Pandemic.

A member of our family wants to marry someone who has asked for huge money, tried to drive a new Mercedes into Mexican Border states. Dumbfounded to find out car insurance would be cancelled if this is done.

This person is completely unpleasant and doesn't answer if you speak to this person. My extremely pleasant, usually easy - going, mother-in-law met this one and said, "Please, not that one." Has tried to dodge using their own family Texas residence and picked on the aging, attempting to have all their mail delivered to that aging person's address. Googles says... Om NO.  This unpleasant person moved in, went to a bar they contracted Covid from previously, and then spent, suddenly, 3 days with the elderly after having re-visited the same bar Covid past bring. Contracted Covid themselves, was tenderly nursed. Left forever after 4 days saying their parents wouldn't have room quarantined them!!!

And during the visit managed to P period O period someone easy to get a long with by their sheer bloody minded bad, sour behavior. Doesn't speak during holiday meals and rises at 1pm. What a charmer. The family has dubbed this person a nickname, Gran Torino. They speak of their intended, our family, like this: "Boring, doesn't tell about life with family, does the same things." And contributes to the family holiday by bringing a movie of adult child death. Laughing loudly.

When ALL this didn't work, asked for $700 in clothing, and being turned down, gritted their teeth didn't speak on a 2-day trip to Dallas, and on the way home demanded, demanded, demanded to oversee the control of a free house, and said they would manage the offspring in peace or ill will, unless given the authority.  Would you go to this wedding? Na.

Haven't met their family, ever, in these years and years, but our elderly Lexus was asked to be given to the sour person's sibling. For rent. Borrow. How would they return it? No plans made. No Car given. Would you go to this wedding? Three years to make conversation, then no reply will be given. The  victim, I mean, fiancé, family member, says this is a flaw from a sweet, loving heart. Being unable to explain their good nature. The intended moved to a state where a lot of pot is smoked. Obviously.  But they need some generous monthly cash donated. 

Mother's house needed a 25 foot drainage ditch. Done. Yard work. Done. Flower bed fencing. Shedding tree, tree trimming, blowing, yard spring planting, windows, crawl under the beds and sofas to dust. ( This beautiful home was offered to the family member, but no reply was given.)

The upset of spring arriving, beauty and not the mood. Winter mood. The first time I've noticed how autumn like early spring can be. Orange. 

Add this to going out to lunch and hearing all the problems discussed around your table. And realize, everyone is going through situations they never visualized in and of and as their own life.

Two of our cars quit running. 4 hours to 4 trips to mechanics, from being out of town with car trouble. All our tools have disappeared. 5 hammers and the 2 tool boxes are gone. Wallet with 4 sets of sunglasses gone.  Allergies. Headaches. Naps. Meds. Put in a new, added security system.  Tech arrives and this takes half a day.

The upset of spring arriving, beauty and not the mood. Winter mood.

And then

We prayed during all this. Edward started the coffee maker and it made an unusual noise. He stomped over to investigate and discovered... the coffee cup hadn't been added into the morning coffee routine. The undisclosed noise was.... a miracle. He added the coffee cup in, and voila, the morning catch and play with the delightful, gift of God Poodles, started up. Noise - unexplained, not a possible noise! Thank You, Father! Thank You, Jesus!

Edward had the opportunity to feel blessed and loved, 

heard and treasured 

by the Lord. 

His Abba. 

He won  2nd in the Doubles Disc Golf Tournament in alllll age groups. He went off to the next tournament and won 2nd place. 

  

We drove hours 3 times, 18 hours.  Edward dug a 25-foot-long drainage ditch. I cleaned under beds and sofas.  I replanted and cleaned my mother's yard. I got past being cussed at by a relative. We met 10 people with the roof and found the minor cause. We hired new people. Forgave what was done.

And accomplished and went forth. Looking for the Lord's Favor.

And Spring Suddenly Looked Great! Thank You, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!

Bring me out of prison,

    that I may give thanks to Your Name!

The righteous will surround me,

    for You will deal bountifully with me.

Yes, today is March 21, the first day of Spring

and this post is for the sadness of

the week surrounding March 15th

Luke 1

 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 

17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah,

 to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,

 and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, 

to make ready for the Lord 

a people prepared.

Matthew 19:26

Jesus looked at them and said, 

"With man this is impossible, 

but with God all things are possible."

1 Thessalonians 3:13

So that He may establish your hearts

 without blame in holiness before our God 

and Father 

at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Ezekiel 36:26

Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;

 and I will remove the heart of stone 

from your flesh 

and give you a heart of flesh.

Deuteronomy 30:6

“Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart 

and the heart of your descendants, 

to love the Lord your God 

with all your heart and with all your soul, 

so that you may live.

He's got the whole world in His Hands.

He's got the wind and the rain in his hands.

He's got the whole world in His Hands.

He's got the little tiny baby in His Hands. 

He's got the whole world in His Hands.

He's got you and me, brother, in His Hands. 

He's got the whole world in His Hands.

He's got you and me, sister, in His Hands. 

He's got the whole world in His Hands.

He's got everybody here in His Hands. 

He's got the whole world in His Hands.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes Bless The Lord Jesus

Yes Jesus Bless Asbury

† †