Psalm 103 ~ Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name!

Psalm 103

 Bless the Lord, O my soul

and all that is within me,

    bless His Holy Name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and forget not all His benefits

3 Who forgives all your iniquity,

    who heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit,

    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5 who satisfies you with good

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord works righteousness

    and justice for all who are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,

    his acts to the people of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,

    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 He will not always chide,

    nor will He keep His anger forever.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,

    nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

    so far does He remove our transgressions from us.

13 As a father shows compassion to His children,

    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.

14 For He knows our frame;

    He remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;

    He flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

    and its place knows it no more.

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting 

on those who fear him,

    and His righteousness to children's children,

18 to those who keep His covenant

    and remember to do His commandments.

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,

    and 

His kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, O you His angels,

    you mighty ones who do His word,

    obeying the voice of His word!

21 Bless the Lord, all His hosts,

    His ministers, who do His will!

22 Bless the Lord, all His works,

    in all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

While riding in the car today, Christian Radio was discussing how we will turn from the hard and difficult news, during Historic Pandemic Recovery, and find our hearts warmed to have comfort. The Joy Jesus tells us is in this life.

The Power in the Living Word of God

 

Yahweh is not the Yahoo I literally thought in my early teens. He is so much more.  

The Richness and Depth of where we draw His comfort within us. Love.  The Truth that Yahweh sent us His Only Son, Jesus Christ, to end death. The bitter sting of an abrupt end of LIFE.

YAHWEH Saves. The Glory of His Kingdom. He tells us in His Nature, we are welcome to His Kingdom. So fascinating to think of our Loved Ones in His Kingdom. He is Heaven on earth, finding more souls to save.  An act occurring around us. Years and decades sometimes in the making. Others a sudden understanding of Jesus and His Promise. 

Yahweh Saves is both past, present and future. Hope for both the quick and the dead.  There isn't an abrupt stop, and there is not a hope for the days ahead. Living Hope.

His salvation is an ongoing work for Him.

Jesus must rejoice in the Holy Spirit. His feet would be so tired to move all across the fullness of the earth. To be the Holy Spirit appearing in the middle of a locked room or a locked heart, must bring Jesus Christ so much JOY.

Ezekiel tells us dry bones will live. What is hopeless is not at all difficult to God in His Planned time.

Yahweh is a Saving Cry. 

In the night. In the routine day of overwhelming events.  The father who cried out he had enough faith, Jesus, help him to have more. Jesus tells us we will be angry with Yahweh and believe He is a hard and uncaring Judge. Jesus never shrewdly tells the hurting, but only if you could believe more. Jesus never is petty about His Love. His timing is His own. 

The Disciples had to be genuinely upset at Jesus asleep in the Boat. They were long at asking, but believed Jesus would listen, and overcame a silent respect. To call SAVE US, JESUS!

Yahweh a Cry for Saving!

But our Lord is not One who rejoices in the sorrow of our hearts.

 Jesus spoke sharply to the Woman of Phoenician Cyrene. He wanted her prayer to be richer and more filled with what she was asking of God. She had to see, her needs might be so intense to her, but to the Lord God Almighty, is God. He, Who has so many children, she might be only the beloved pup sitting and waiting in the Lord's Planned Day. She could bring the Lord comfort in her appeal by giving Him some understanding of His Way. She, a child of God,  could be more like a beloved pet. A mercy instead of a nag. And could bring unconditional love and loyalty, being His Beloved.  Being humble to the Lord did not her life.

YHWH is a Cry for Help.

Elijah put all he had into being brave enough to die the day he confronted Ahab. Took on the prophets of Baal.  And after all of this ongoing heroic work for God, he could only be jazzed to have lived and seen the Miracles of God Himself. Instead, he was human. Tired, depressed, dejected.  And could not pull himself up by Elijah's boot straps.  Even in hearing God whisper, Elijah had to rely on God to have the faith to go on. He needed the Lord to carry him through that day to recover. When we can't do the impossible that looks like we should be able to do, we rely on Jesus to help us do the next step.

YHWY is my Help.

 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.

We read what the Saints suffered and wonder why God didn't stop the suffering. Why should we trust the Lord? Then we read about Hezekiah, not following in his father's doubt. We know John stayed with Jesus and saw many years of help and miracles. We read of the redemption of John Mark.  We find the lives so fruitful, Jesus and the Holy Spirit created a new world so quickly. And understand the JOY not defined in the hardship. Hope, faith and Love. The comfort of being told, I'm praying for you.

Abba, Father,

I believe the Pandemic Recovery Years have a definite

history of being nutty.

I believe the Pandemic Recovery Years 

will conclude as mankind learns kindness

and up building the Body of Christ.

I believe this will occur.

I really believe we all want this to occur quickly.

Father, I believe You help us.

Hold us in Faith, Father.

Hold families in Love and faith.

Help us to have expectation of healing.

Help us to be the Light of God

Shining. 

You never Leave or Forsake us

in all the Power of Yahweh.

Dwell in us to enrich us

as we cannot.

Dwell in those we Love

that they have Your Blessing

and know Your Love.

Help us to seek You first

and see the mercies each day,

looking to see healing around us,

not reported in the News,

but surrounding us. 

Help us to seek You

and see our Blessings.

And we will finish well

in Jesus Christ.

Thank You, Father God.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

John 8:56 ~ Abraham rejoiced to see My Day

Deuteronomy 18:15, 18

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites, and you must listen to that prophet...‘I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will tell that prophet what to say, and he will tell the people everything I command him.’” 

Moses, painted by Rosencruz Sumera. The painting is interesting to see we are influenced by the media, even when it is from 1956 Cecil B. DeMille's movie "The 10 Commandments." Cecil DeMille chose Charlton Heston because of his uncanny similarity to Michelangelo's Horned Moses. Many artists depicted Moses with horns over a confusion between Hebrew words; Hebrew phrase "karnu panav" קרנו פניו. The root קרן may be read as either "horn" or "ray", 

as in "ray of light".

John 8:56

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: 

and he saw it, 

and was glad.

We have an idea, in faith, Moses spoke with the Lord. Isaiah saw the Holiness of His Heavenly Kingdom. Abraham was given Promises as he spoke with The Lord.

And then we, the children of God traveling His path, have the glimpses of Heaven, influencing our lives and making faith stronger, joy more evident in life, hope pervading.

Wesley Arning

St. Martin's Episcopal Church

May 9, 2023

My grandfather passed away two months ago, and I could not fall asleep the night I heard the news. I tossed and turned for a few hours; images of my favorite moments with him kept going through my mind. I had a tough time even wanting to pray that night. Instead, these images of him kept rolling through my mind. Sadness and joy kept moving back and forth in my mind like the ocean’s waves.

And then, a new image came to my mind. It is probably the closest thing I have ever had to a vision. It was like seeing the top of a grand painting and slowly moving down to see the whole picture. At the very top were the hosts of heaven in bright gold and yellow. Light and more light that signified the glory of heaven and all who were there. It was overwhelming.

I saw that the glory was surrounding Jesus who was on His knees, bending down. He was pulling someone up with both of His arms, like pulling a child out of the pool. The body He was holding in His arms was lifeless, but it appeared with Jesus’ touch, the man’s eyes were just about to open. Life was about to surge through his body once again. I realized that the man was my grandfather.

The picture opened up even more as I looked further down this grand painting. There I was, my body hovering in the air, one hand outstretched towards Jesus, my fingertips having just let go of my grandfather as Jesus picked him up. My body was stretched as I looked toward Jesus, but I realized I wasn’t alone. Below me was a group of people standing in a circle with their arms outstretched towards me. I knew all of them, they were family and friends, church members and old acquaintances.

And then I realized this was a picture of prayer. When we pray for someone, we come before Jesus and entrust them to His merciful care. We must let go so that our Lord can bring them into His glorious kingdom with saints and angels, and all those who have gone before us.

He is the Good Shepherd and He will care for His sheep in heaven and on earth, but we are not alone. There is the community of prayer that lifts us in our time of sorrow. The prayers encircle us as we go before the Lord, and hand over the ones we love but can no longer see. The community is the church on Earth, which, through this sacred action, connects us to the church in heaven.

And so, my brothers and sisters, pray without ceasing. 

The Rev. Wesley Arning

Associate for Young Adult and Small Group Ministry 

Psalm 18:29 

For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 

 30 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. 

He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him

Psalm 40:2

 

He lifted me up from the pit of despair, 

out of the miry clay;

 He set my feet upon a rock, 

and made my footsteps firm.

 

2 Corinthians 12:9,10

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me

Abba, Father

Bless us to stay close to Jesus.

To be like the Ten Talents Parable,

to trust the Lord's Goodness

and Mercy every day.

We ask the Lord's Pinions to cover us!

Dwell in us, Father

and with Your Help

What Jesus finds

will be loving!

Help us to Seek You First!

And we will finish well in Jesus Christ!

Let all of Creation

Pray with us now!

Revelation 5:13

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth 

and under the earth and on the sea, 

and all that is in them, singing:

"To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"

We thank You, Father,
for Jesus Christ

and His Love and Mercy

Psalm 148:5-6

Let everything He has made give praise to Him. 

For He issues His command, and they came into being; 

He established them forever and forever. 

His orders will never be revoked.

Bless those we Love to be near Jesus the Lord God Almighty, 

the Son and Christ of God.

Bless this Nation to Trust in You and have Your Favor.

Help all the mass killings worldwide, 

the two in Texas

Brownsville and Allen

in gun control nations as well.

Japan, Australia, Europe and the UK.

Help the children in Foster Care to their full majority of adult years.

Bless Birth Control and Good Choices

to defeat Abortion.

Let Goodness overcome, thanks to Jesus Christ.

We ask in the Highest Name of Jesus. 

Bless the Nations of the world, coming to Your Brightness.

God Bless, Uphold and Sustain the Library of Congress

and Library Cards.

Bless the Children of God, by His Will, to ask You 

for more Heaven upon this earth.

And we are blessed indeed, indeed, indeed. 

Amen Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus Lord God

John 15 ~ My Father is the Gardener

 

John 15

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you.

 

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, 

ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 

8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 

10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, 

just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 

11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 

13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, 

for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 

17 This is my command: Love each other. 

Jesus is fascinating. He doesn't control His Beloved with pleas, they do better and better. He says Love makes us fruitful. Jesus asks us to find Love to give. Jesus asks us to do what we do with Love. 

Cotton Mather said God sees us as an insect over the abyss.  It's His Mercy that keeps us alive. And in fact, Jesus says the Way, the Truth and the Life is Love. Why would God want to save the world if He sees us as so pathetic and unworthy. In His Love, Jesus finds hearts worthy.

I know a missionary to Japan that fell away, many, many years ago. Actually, two missionaries that went to Japan. One was an elderly woman, who loved the people so much and came to appreciate them so, the Church knocked on the door in her retirement years and asked her to come home to the USA to allow more fruitful, younger missionaries to make more of Jesus known. And she cheerfully returned home to her family farm. Glad of God's Journey.  She didn't find this shameful, she felt God had returned her to her beginning. And when she returned to the farm, the place had languished in her parents' old age. She brought new gardening ideas, new joy in being home, and her home bloomed. She continued on to her childhood Church and the Church was pleased she was home. Her joy in her new circumstance made everyone pleased with her. Love was what she was constantly putting forth. 

We visited my grandmother's hometown, and my grandmother had to find time to take all of us over to see her. An afternoon was planned to drop by.  We did. Everyone was delighted and she took us inside, where she had made a cake. 

We had cake and visited.  I was surprised to find, she was a generation younger than my grandmother. But being the same denomination, they found plenty of things to share in great joy. I found, at the end of the visit, they actually barely knew each other. But the adventure in Jesus made my grandmother want to connect.  The retired missionary was delighted we had come and said she had many similar visitors weekly.

In the car back to my aunt's house, I said to my grandmother, it looked as if her missionary work had picked up again, just being a Light in her hometown. Grandmother said, never underestimate the power of Jesus because my Anita Grandmother said anyone serving Jesus is doing so, even in quiet ways. Anita held forth, the missionary had never ceased.

Grandmother was probably right.

On Edward's side of the family, his family had a dear friend who had also been tapped to go home from Japanese missionary. Once back in the USA, he changed careers and flourished quite apart from the Church in everyday matters. Yet, having known him for decades, since I was 16 years old, I could tell you, he practiced overwhelming kindness and truthfulness.

The Light still shines when Jesus is there and the darkness does not overcome.

Once we are in the Garden Jesus gives us in Life, we can find a way to be a Light in a darkened

path, never leaving the Garden Jesus gives us. Because Jesus is the One who understands Hearts He nourishes.

I think, today we think, the Jesus Revivals, created more Bible Studies and works.  Seeing and hearing of my great aunt Eloise's baking and cooking to be given to the ill in the Church. How many times do you hear about the works of someone from the 1930s, 40s and 50s? Not very often.

Before there were paper plates...

Aluminum pie tins were kept as fast dinner plates

for things like picnics

My grandmother Anita fed 20 or more people a day from her small house during the Great Depression. And adopted, by Police request,  a special needs son.  We always provide bio information on people, quick and dead, but how rarely we remember their good works they walked in. It's as if we invented good works for the present day doers.

The Garden is alive and well!

Even dry Almond Walking Sticks that Bloom

to be placed in

the Seat of Mercy

Ark of the Covenant,

God's Chair

Abba, in Jesus Christ, 

We have found our Salvation in You.

Thank You for holding us firmly here.

Let us always respond to You with Love and trust.

Lifting Up those we Love and are given - in Jesus Christ.

Lifting Up those we see in the news - in Jesus Christ.

Lifting Up our cares to Jesus Christ.

Being Lifted Up believing Jesus Christ for ourselves, this nation, our cities, our communities, our Church, our schools, this Nation and the believing World. 

Making us the Communion of Saints  and 

our prayers going around this earth. 

Held firmly by You. 

Dwell in us, Father,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first,

And in Jesus Christ, we will finish well.

Thank You, Abba. 

Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Philippians 2:16

as you hold firmly to the word of life

1 Peter 1:25

"The Word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus