2 Kings 4:18-36 ~ As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you

If you are thinking a Yellow Crepe Myrtle has been created, you should know Yellow Bells, or one of the 3 flower names is also, Esperanza, is mostly hardy, but will Freeze. And this gangly shrub trains into a tree in about 5 to 7 years to be substantial.

During the drought of late July and heat advisory in Texas, my yard is blooming due to the resilient Crepe Myrtle. I saw one of my large, favorite Crepe Myrtle trees at Lake Woodlands and Panther Creek, is really in sad shape, and realized we needed to talk about weariness and hope.

Yesterday, I didn't Post due to headache. I was sound asleep by 10 pm. Edward had a headache today. And so I looked for a Headache reference in Scriptures.

2 Kings 4:18-36

  

  

  18 When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died. 

21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.” 

23 And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.” 

24 Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite. 26 Run at once to meet her and say to her, ‘Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?’” And she answered, “All is well.” 

27 And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” 

28 Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’” 29 He said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child.” 30 Then the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 

31 Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, “The child has not awakened.”

32 When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. 33 So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 

36 Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.”

2nd Kings 4 

The wealthy lady living in Shunem, Southeast of Nazareth, giving food and shelter to Elisha. She is another woman similar to Hannah. The Lord isn't necessarily saying wealth is all money. And her good deeds are not given up as common knowledge. Wealth is knowing the Lord, hospitality and gracious giving. The woman from Shunem is known later, in this 2nd Kings 4 Chapter, as the Shunammite. And is similar, in her privacy, exactly as the sisters of Jesus Christ.  We know that Jesus' great and grandnephews encountered and were known to the Bishop of Caesarea, Eusebius, and Emperor Constantine in the about 350 A.D in Nazareth. 

   

   

Colossians 4:6

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, 

so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. 

   

   

Genesis 33:10-12

10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, 

then accept my present from my hand. 

For I have seen your face, 

which is like seeing the face of God, 

and you have accepted me. 

   

11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, 

   because 

God 

has dealt graciously with me, 

   and because I have enough.” 

Thus he urged him, and he took it.   

   

   

 Genesis 43:29

And Joseph lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, 

his mother's son, and said, 

   “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? 

God be gracious to you, 

my son!”  

Just as Jacob was gracious in his blessings

of Josephs sons.

   

  

   Exodus 34

   

5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, 

and proclaimed the Name of the Lord. 

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 

“The Lord, the Lord,

 a God merciful 

and gracious

Slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love

 and faithfulness, 

7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, 

forgiving iniquity 

and transgression and sin."

We are very fortunate not to be as ill as the lady's son. God's grace and Love. 

And today, we heard of the gracious healing of Nicko McBrain. You just gotta Love God's Name ability and the coincidences of the Lord. Nicko McBrain is the drummer for Iron Maiden. And he wanted to release a quote today about being healed from a stroke.  This stroke was severe and Nicko McBrain was concerned his career was over.  He wanted us to know, "By the Grace of God, I'm healing." That's really wonderful! God is good.

Matthew 11:26 

yes, Father, for such was your gracious will 

Abba, Father,

In Your Grace,

we live in an age

Social Media shows 

not just dysfunction,

but how 

different opinions

 can be over the 

simplest matter.

Making our time in history

so important

for Gracious words

and deeds.

We know since the Pandemic

so many people

are caring for stray animals,

hurt wild animals

and seriously asking the joy

and longevity of Your Creation.

Let's pray for the nations to heal.

Let's Pray for Jesus to Shine

His Love and Hope

into all the hearts of those we love

and know.

Let's pray God's love favor on ALL

and

the trees

and adopt the trees we have always

loved with gallons of

hand watering. 

And realize again

God is working.

So many miracles

and coincidences to

remember in our

prayer lives.

In Jesus, we ask

Dwell in us, Father

Send Your Holy Spirit as Helper

Dwell in those we love

and 

Help us to seek You first

And in Jesus,

we will finish well.

The Good News in Jesus

we are the truly noble

who know Jesus is Lord,

aspire to go forth

in His strength.

We pray

seriously 

to avoid fire

during this drought.

Ask your local government

to spray with

potable water.

While you are on the road: 

Do not discard cigarettes from moving vehicles; use ashtrays. 

With the conditions we have now, lit cigarettes do cause fires 

and can be disastrous in times of drought and high fire risk. 

When pulling off the side of the road, stay off of dry grass areas. 

Park vehicles so that the exhaust does not come in contact with dry grass, leaves or weeds. 

Adjust the safety chains on your trailers to ensure 

they don’t drag and create sparks that can cause roadside fires. 

At home: 

Avoid cooking outdoors during this drought season.

 If you do cook, never leave barbeque grills unattended. 

Place your grill on concrete or your driveway away from your home or any structures. 

If using charcoal or wood, make sure that 

the fire has been extinguished 

by soaking it with a garden hose 

before disposing of the coals. 

 During this time, do not burn household trash in barrels. 

Check lawnmowers and farm equipment for 

properly working spark arresters. 

Mow lawn at least 30-50 feet away from your house 

and 

water to create defensible space. 

Cut back or remove 

any dry and dead landscaping plants 

or bushes around your home.

 Clear leaves from your roof and gutters;

 rake them away from the sides of your home. 

Move anything that will burn far away from structures, 

items like firewood, compost piles, brush piles, etc

Notify the electric company when dead trees 

or overhanging limbs endanger the electric wires. 

Fire Safety for you: 

Practice fire safety with your family. 

If you see suspicious fire or smoke, call 911.

 Clearly mark driveway entrances with address 

and street names.

Psalm 4:8 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; 

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

Thank You for the

calm Gulf of Mexico

and Florida Waters.

God is working.

Our God is working. His Son, 

Jesus is working.

And we say Amen in Jesus.

Psalm 96:11-13

 

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

 let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 

12 let the field exult, and everything in it! 

Then shall 

all the trees 

of the forest 

sing for joy

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Lord Jesus 

Acts 7:17 ~ God to fulfill His Promise †

 

Abba, Father God,

 Now,

May the God of Peace Himself 

sanctify you completely, 

and may your whole spirit and soul and body 

be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

He who calls you is faithful

 He will surely do it!

We ask in the Highest Name of Jesus,

we seek and find God's Blessing.

We give You our cares,

Your Steadfast Love assures us

You care for us.

Corrie Ten Baum witnessed to Your Steadfast Love

and need for Prayer.

Corrie Ten Baum saw the need for hope of such magnitude 

even the fleas

could be relied upon 

for Your Good Purpose.

The Exodus also declares the Impossibility You display.

The King James Version of the Bible calls the 

Impossibility and Improbability of God, "Vouchsafe"

 

Acts 7:17

As the time drew near for God 

to fulfill His Promise to Abraham, 

the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased.

 4 Then Abrahm went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living.

 5 Yet He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. 6 And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. 7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ 

8 And He gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. 

 9 “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10 and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 

12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13 And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. 

14 And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. 15 And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, 16 and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. 

 17 “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt

Jacob became a household of 75 people.

Genesis 30

29 Jacob said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you, 

and how your livestock has fared with me. 

30 For you had little before I came, 

and it has increased abundantly,

 and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned.

and the stronger Jacob's. 

43 Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, 

female servants and male servants, 

and camels and donkeys.

Genesis 12 and Genesis 13

19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? 

Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 

20 Then Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning Abram, 

and they sent him away with his wife 

and all his possessions.

13 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, 

and Lot with him, into the Negeb.

2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 

Genesis 20 and 21

14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, 

and male servants and female servants, 

and gave them to Abraham, 

and returned Sarah his wife to him.

 15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; 

dwell where it pleases you.” 

16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, 

I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. 

It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, 

and before everyone you are vindicated.” 

17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, 

and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.

 18 For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech 

because of Sarah, Abraham's wife. 

21 The Lord visited Sarah as He had said, 

and 

the Lord did to Sarah as He had promised. 

2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age 

at the time of which God had spoken to him. 

3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, 

whom Sarah bore him, 

Isaac.

Mark 3

7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, 

and a great crowd followed, 

from Galilee and Judea 

8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan 

and from around Tyre and Sidon. 

When the great crowd heard all that He was doing, 

they came to Him. 

9 And He told His disciples to have a boat ready for Him

 because of the crowd, 

lest they crush Him

Luke 24

15 While they were talking and discussing together, 

Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 

16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. 

17 And He said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding

 with each other as you walk?” 

And they stood still, looking sad. 

18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, 

“Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem 

who does not know the things 

that have happened there 

in these days?” 

19 “What things?” He asked. 

 “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. 

“He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God 

and 

all the people.

Hebrews 12

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, 

and let us run with endurance 

the race that is set before us, 

Looking to Jesus,

 the founder and perfecter of our faith, 

Who for the joy that was set before Him 

endured the cross, 

despising the shame, 

and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus, being Your Son, went in a more unbelievable direction

603,550 people, in Numbers 1:46 

The Exodus people 

God was to feed and water in the absolute desert.

Jesus said such impossible goals of God Himself

He went from 72 Disciples to 70 Disciples and then 

explained to 12 Disciples, they would form His Church. 

 Father, 

Please give us Health in all aspects.

 And our families.

For all the Children of God who have suffered and call out

to You, Father, in the Highest Name of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 8:2-5 

In the midst of a very severe trial,

 their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 

For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, 

and even beyond their ability.

In Jesus, we ask

Dwell in us, Father

Send Your Holy Spirit as Helper

Dwell in those we love

and 

Help us to seek You first

And in Jesus,

we will finish well.

James 1:11b

So will the rich man fade away 

in the midst of his pursuits.

The Good News in Jesus

we are the truly noble

who know Jesus is Lord,

aspire to go forth

in His strength.

Ephesians 1:7-10

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, 

the forgiveness of our trespasses, 

according to the riches of His grace,

 8 which He lavished upon us, 

in all wisdom and insight 

9 making known to us the mystery of His will, 

according to His purpose, 

which He set forth in Christ 

10 as a plan for the fullness of time, 

to unite all things in Him, 

things in heaven and things on earth.

Our God is working. His Son, 

Jesus is working.

And we say Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Lord Jesus 

John 20:29 ~ and yet have believed

 

Jesus replied to Jeremiah's writings by saying:

 

John 20:29

Then Jesus told him, 

"Because you have seen me, you have believed; 

blessed 

are those who have not seen 

and yet 

have believed."

Before the Pandemic, the most asked about prayer for those who feel assured in Jesus giving His Promises of Salvation, usually ask prayer for those who are suffering in life and unsure. Does this happen today?  I'm not certain, Christian polling numbers are placed more in the political realm of pollsters.  We know that believers currently say 60% make time during the week for The Lord and their heart placed with Him in prayer and worship, their thoughts.

Ephesians 1:3

Praise be to the God 

and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

who has blessed us in the heavenly realms 

with every spiritual blessing 

in Christ.

We have seen even a glimpse of what Jesus has done in the Gospels. We can name something miraculous.

1 John 5:13

I write these things to you 

who believe in the Name of the Son of God 

so that you may know t

hat you have eternal life.

The Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine

 

Deuteronomy 30:19

This day I call the heavens and the earth 

as witnesses against you that 

I have set before you life and death, 

blessings and curses. 

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

We pray for others, knowing how deep and wide is the Love Jesus has for His People. And we pray, knowing Jesus walks on water. Nothing is impossible for Jesus.  The dead rise to life again, as did Jairus daughter.  And the widow's son.

Colossians 2:2

My goal is that they may be encouraged 

in heart and united in love, 

so that they may have the full riches 

of complete understanding,

 in order that they may know 

the mystery

 of God, 

namely, Christ

Jesus purposefully is a mystery. He tells us the work of mankind is to believe. The path to Heaven is said to be narrow. It's not the same gigantic highway for each of us. In finding the wilderness, Jesus put Himself in, to be found by the crowds, the seeking and the journey became the understanding of His Love, Joy and Salvation.

The Disciples walked with Jesus. Some were told, day one. And years passed before Jesus asked them who they thought He was. Not all jumped up to answer His question. 

Hebrews 11

19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, 

and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death. 

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future. 

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, 

blessed each of Joseph’s sons

 and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

The bravery of Jacob to give His Blessing even to Joseph's sons, who were Gentiles by birth.

The bravery of Jacob to believe Israel, as a Nation, would even be available to Give Abraham's Blessing. Only by faith, was this done.

Hosea 3:5

Afterward the Israelites will return

 and seek the LORD 

their God 

and David their king. 

They will come trembling to the LORD 

and to His blessings in the last days.

This bulla, and the seal on the Papyrus, are for an Egyptian order of grain for Hezekiah.

All accomplished by faith.

1 Corinthians 9:23

I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, 

that I may share 

in its blessings.

1 Thessalonians 5:28

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

John 17:13

3 But now I am coming to You, 

and these things I speak in the world, 

that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †