And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good

 

Originally Published 10/30/2013

Romans 8:26-30

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 

27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose

. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

We all get to a place where we need a decision. And when we are there, we can bet the Holy Spirit prays with us.

Catholics love to say pray and pay the light bill. Absolutely. Pray and do what we can do.

The Larger part is this:
What did the people who had seen Jesus say about the willingness of God ~ Peter wrote saying Jesus does not help us under compulsion. He helps willingly. When we pray for ourselves and for others.

1 Peter 5:2

Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly--not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

1 John 3:1

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Jude 1:2

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

And the faith of being able to cast our cares upon HIM to sustain us -

New wine - being changed by Jesus, seeing our lives as a gift from God and for God, not just another salmon swimming upstream without hope and going through the daily work. Old wine - what is valued, mellowed, cherished. What is Jesus telling us? We cannot change, cannot save ourselves. We cannot do it ourselves. With God all things are possible. Every day, we take our old wine - the things we value, the things the world expects, old hurts, the things that concern us. And we put them before God - the new wine of the Holy Spirit. Then we see the blessings and we thank Him.

Blessed be God, who creates light out of darkness.

We are new creatures in Christ Jesus, not controlled by the old values, but placing ourselves in front of Father God as His children.

Isaiah 45:

I am the LORD, and there is no other;

apart from me there is no God.

I will strengthen you

Abba, Father,

Father God we weep with those who weep, because life has taught us to do that. 

Let us remember that in faith we can laugh at the time to come. Our future is 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. 

Rejoicing in all life is given through Jesus Christ. Trusting again. 

Lenten opportunity to give:

We pray for relief to help and reach Syria

and Turkey. 6.4 and 4.9 earthquakes this week.

We pray this will cease. Lord, Your mercy upon this land and 

Your people.

We 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.

We are Blessed to seek You First. 

Blessed to be finding the High Way of Your Heaven today. 

Blessed to ask to see more Heaven upon earth. 

Blessed to have You as our Daily Bread. 

Blessed to ask to Live Love, Joy and Peace.

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.

We have had problems in the neighborhood, 

theft of a mower, acts of violence.

 Pray for peace, please. 

My mother's 10-year-old roof has really been helped, 

7 quotes, the last two with attic inspection

to trace the leak!

The vents leaked and were sealed. 

Saving my mother's heirs 30 thousand dollars

savings from the most expensive quote. 

Dallas, Texas call Ivan

with New Elite Roofing

Great Yelp Reviews!!!!

Romans 8:37

In all these things, we are more 

than conquerors through

Him who Loves us

We pray for a good,

healthy sale of the home.

Buyers who will love

her home.

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 † 

Yay Jesus

Psalm 4 ~ In Peace

Psalm 4

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

    You have given me relief when I was in distress.

    Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?

    How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;

    the Lord hears when I call to him.

4 Be angry, and do not sin;

    ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

5 Offer right sacrifices,

    and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?

    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

7 You have put more joy in my heart

    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

When we moved back from Nice, France (my father was an Engineer with Texas Instruments), my father got us tickets to sail on the Queen Mary, but they had a strike and, instead, we came back on the SS Rotterdam. I was young and very upset to see the tugboat leave us out of the harbor. The adults thought I was so cute and all explained the tugboat wasn't needed. Na, I was very correct.

Back in the days when people usually traveled by ocean liner and fewer for airplanes, due to the remnants of glamour and tradition, there weren't many radars. In fact, it wasn't until 1992 many tornadoes were known in advance because the 1945-invented Doppler wasn't in massive production for usage. And if there was a hurricane in the late 1960s, the ocean liners knew about where the hurricane traveled, but the remnants, who tracked?  

That tugs probably knew more than we did, as we arrived 3 days away from the United States. It was a 7 day trip, with our belongings being moved in the ship's hull. The fourth night, we all dressed for dinner, every night, and that night I had on a velvet dress. The first night it was rough. My parents had unusually been placed at a table with the 3 of us. And I became motion sick. And began to hack, as in vomit. And I did. About that time, the ship, hit the next wave and my parents and the table remained crystal clean.  Not my velvet dress. The Captain suggested we should all go back to our rooms. It was the first time we noticed the hallways were lined with rails, and we used them. Everyone did. Back in the room, that night, I fell out of bed. 

The next day, food was brought to the room. All day in the room. That evening, we all traveled back to the dining room. The stairs had people diligently using the rail and moving very slowly. As we got to the dining room, the tables began to slide around the large room. We wondered if the windows would be damaged. And back to the cabin room. I was upset, I was hungry. I seem to remember, no one had any dinner. My father arranged luggage around me to keep me in the bed.  He said if the luggage flew off the bed, they would come get me and put me with them.

The next morning, all was fine. Sunshine. Very, very cold. I had on woolen gloves. We all sat on the wooden lounge chairs on the deck, we would see the United States, New York City, that morning. It was my first view of the United States, the Lady Liberty Statue. We went back into the dining room for as much hot chocolate as was wanted and had a much longed for breakfast. Nourished and warm, safely landed on the shores of the United States of America.

I didn't go back on a ship until 2018, we went on a Cruise of Alaska. As we pulled into the port of Victoria, Canada, the ship next to us was Zaandam.  Edward and I had to laugh, when the children were young, I'd accidentally run their names together and Yell, "Zaandam!"  We took... several photos.

The next ship we would dock next to ....

Turns out, the Rotterdam began moving walls and improving the internal architecture of the ships to bring back cruising as airlines began to take over travel plans. And the beautiful interior of the SS Rotterdam turned the tides on cruise for vacation travel. The industry changed as the SS Rotterdam improved with glass staircases and more pleasant interiors. Doppler Radar and massive communications is a bonus as well.

What did we learn from our ocean voyage so many decades ago?

Psalm 3:4

To the LORD I cry aloud, 

and He answers me from His holy mountain.

 Selah

Psalm 17:6

I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. 

Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.

Psalm 18:6

In my distress I called upon the LORD; 

I cried to my God for help. 

From His temple He heard my voice, 

and my cry for His help reached His ears.

Psalm 18:18

They confronted me in my day of calamity, 

but the LORD was my support.

Psalm 18:19

He brought me out into the open; 

He rescued me 

because He delighted in me.

Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed,

 for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you, 

I will help you, yes, 

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Abba, Father 

You are more capable of Blessing than we would ever be, 

Bless us with Your Ways, Wisdom and Heart.

Please

Strengthen our homes, our marriages, our families, our bodies. Give us Your Strength of soul - to make Life filled with Your Marvelous Life.

Fill us - our Loved ones, the people You have given us - our peoples - our Nation - Your Beloved with the Light that fills mankind - Jesus Christ.

We pray for the Lower Mississippi River Valley

God Speed with recovery

and Comfort as they mourn the 26 who

died in Tornadoes.

We pray for housing to be safely

built across the USA

and in Tornadoes and Hurricanes.

Roofing again to have tar in the process and

walls to hold the tar. My great uncle's roof,

he did himself, with tar, lasted 50 years.

And they had a very small tornado in their yard,

seen by the highway drivers and reported in the paper.

My neighbor is from Wadena, Minnesota

and she said, the tornadoes didn't attack

rooms with a cross. So many walls were

left with a cross. The next Sunday,

Churches were packed with people,

as if it was Easter Sunday.

I pray Mississippi River Lower

 Valley will find the Lord

helping them during

this time.

Dwell in us.

Help us to Seek You First.

Uplift the world, Your Good Creation, into Peace

Seeking Jesus

And we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

Lenten opportunity to give:

Mississippi Outreach

We pray for relief to help and reach Syria

and Turkey. Large earthquakes this week.

We pray this will cease. Lord, Your mercy upon this land and 

Your people.

We 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.

We are Blessed to seek You First. 

Blessed to be finding the High Way of Your Heaven today. 

Blessed to ask to see more Heaven upon earth. 

Blessed to have You as our Daily Bread. 

Blessed to ask to Live Love, Joy and Peace.

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.

We have had problems in our neighborhood, 

theft of a mower, acts of violence.

 Pray for peace, please. 

My mother's roof has been fixed when

the quotes ran from 30 thousand

to 22 thousand, then a roofer climbed into the attic

and found the roof to be sound

we fixed it for under a thousand dollars by sealing

the vents properly!!!

THANK GOD

and GOOD PEOPLE.

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. 

Thanks for  the Asbury Revival 2023

The Light of mankind to shine with Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Lord, Amen.

Let Your Words of Life be the Light guiding us to be the Children of God.

In Jesus, we know You long to hold us and we to be held to You.

 Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YAY JESUS

We pray for Mississippi

 

The second century AD and the fourth century had massive weather and storms, frightening all the people who believed the end of the world was at hand.  Tornadoes are rare in Europe and Rome, with Europe, knew deadly tornadoes. So many were killed by sudden lightning strikes.

  Leviticus 26:4 

Then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, 
and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
  

  James 5:17-18 

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

  

  

  Abba, Father,

  

  We pray as Jesus calmed the storm, causing

  the Disciples to know the Power of His Word,

  we ask Jesus to calm the earth

  Your Good Creation

  

  We ask Jesus to speak peace to the weather.

  

  Your good will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

We ask Your Grace and Mercy

on Your Good Creation.

  

  We pray the Righteous praying, will know Your Grace

  prevails, hearing their prayers.

  

  We pray for Your Strength for the Lower Mississippi River Valley

  to heal and find Your comfort.

  Amen in Jesus Christ.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes Lord we look to You

John 16:22-33 ~ no one will take your joy from you †

 

John 16:22-33

 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 

23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

25 "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 

28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father." 

29 His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God." 

31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. 

Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. 

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

March is my birthday season. I'm sure my favorite new leaf green color comes from how much I adore my Birthday.  My great-grandmother loved to grow plants and flowers, generations were raised knowing all the trees and flower names. I loved our Elm tree, being a very dark bark with bright green leaves.

As an only child, of only child parents, being the first grandchild, waited upon for more than 5 years of grandparent and parent hopes:  my grandmothers and mother would make elaborate, homemade Easter Egg Birthday Invitations. My Birthday Party would be a miniature dining tables and miniature chairs, set up to look like a Hallmark Paper Easter Dinner Table.

The Entertainment was... Easter Egg Hunting. And the Mothers would stay to watch, to call encouragement or settle a scuttle. 

Birthdays were tremendous for me.

However, all this joy has NOT carried over to all Birthdays.  Time and situation changed Birthdays for all of us. And child birthdays of perfection can be a very tough act to follow.

Adult birthdays are more reasonable, with direct communication and tempering the expectation with the birthday-ness of those around you. Advance notification and advance warning if applicable and heeded. Some women I've done Bible Study with, put up an invitation for their family to consider planning and consideration invitation on - the - refrigerator.

This year, 

Kind and thoughtful people have been so kind, and the joy of Birthdays is here again. For those of you, who made this Birthday season lovely, God bless you. Joy is Joyful.

Is God really thinking about our happiness? Are we heathens to wonder this... again? Or include this in Lent?

The Scriptures express ideas about anger at least 800 times in various forms. Pretty formidable. Honest. 

God has emotions and plans we don't fathom or see. So, again, how heathen are we to wonder during the weird Pandemic recovery life about Happiness.

Let's ask... Moses! And throw in David too... Psalm 90 begins with a fairly dramatically observation of life in upheaval, like the Exodus, and continues.

Psalm 90

So teach us to number our days

    that we may get a heart of wisdom.

13 Return, O Lord! How long?

    Have pity on your servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

    and for as many years as we have seen evil.

16 Let your work be shown to your servants,

    and your glorious power to their children.

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,

    and establish the work of our hands upon us;

    yes, establish the work of our hands!

Happiness is truly being considered when the children are included in ideas of happiness. Generational happiness exceeding self. 

In this generation, we should consider the Holiday Classic Movie from 1987, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles."  This generation may not know Robert Mitchum, Clark Gable or Ricky Nelson, but you'd be hard-pressed not to know this Holiday Classic Movie.  And in this movie, you are not going to find The Spanish Inquisition. Because you don't want to Holiday Travel with the tortuously minded.  And is God really going to want you or the grumpy or idiotic in His Heavenly Kingdom. If you are always unhappy, complaining - are you invited?  Hitler isn't part of this movie. 

If we are careful where we want to sit to travel, are we going to see ourselves in God's Invitation of Salvation? Life has a Purpose. Life has a Purpose. Life has a Purpose. 

We didn't hurl through eons of space in the cold, airless vastness of the Universe and plan to land on the blue and then green, planet earth, with earth, sunlight and oxygen. 

We didn't plan to miss the Renaissance. Or miss the deathly Spanish Flu and the insane, incredible cruelty of World War I.  

We don't create babies from apple seeds or clouds or even soil. Instead, we create life with the physical tools God gives us.  Without a doubt, undoubtably, we are subject to the Plan of God. 

We have yet to meet people who have decided they only live the Renaissance era or World War I by choice and self-determination. No one is wearing wooden dentures. Maybe we should... force wooden teeth ... this dentistry,  on children, so they understand .... modern dentistry?

Does God want us to be "Happy"

Are you the Prodigal Son or are you the Older Brother. Will you be called to be the Prodigal Father?

If we consider the Prodigal Son, we have an answer. 

Luke 15:11-32

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 

14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. 

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 

21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 

28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 

31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 

32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

The Father wants the prodigal son to be happy. Enough to give him time to depart and mature.The Father wants the older son to be happy.

We don't know if the Father is angry or upset, stewing during the ruinous years. Forgiveness is time taken. With an opportunity to act upon mercy. The Father wants the older brother to be happy. Life is arranged to bring about Eternal Happiness.  And time is given to allow the growth of maturity.

God tells us farmers, who labor, should allow the oxen the liberty to eat and participate in the Harvest. A Good man cares for His farm animals.

Jesus was separated from His Brothers, but still traveled to see them in Luke Chapter 2.

Does God want us to be Happy? Love John 14, John 15, John 16 and Jesus prays for us yesterday, today and tomorrow. John 17.

John 16:22-33

 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 

23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

25 "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 

28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father." 

29 His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God." 

31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. 

Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. 

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Abba, Father,

You have given us
Jesus
and 
He is Living Water.

Let the balm of Jesus Christ
enter into our difficulties.

Love with Sincerity.

Creating a path of peace.
Dwell in us each day,
Live in those we Love,
Surround us, we pray, to be filled
with Hope and Love
Please help us to seek You first.
And we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

Give us Your Will

and we will see
more of Heaven on earth
this day.

We ask for help in healing
in our Nation
and in Your Good Creation.
Bless You as our Living Bread.

The Blessing of Jesus
surrounds us,
open our gratitude
and expectation
we ask
in Jesus.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes Bless The Lord Jesus

Yes Jesus Bless Asbury

† †