Happy Father's Day! ~ Job 29:11

Our feedjit tool at the bottom of the page is so handy, it shows what people are putting into search engines to look for. Today, being Father's Day, everyone is looking for Scripture on fatherless. My husband & I are in our late 40's and we are fatherless now.

When Father God sent out God Jesus, He knew, in physical presence, Jesus would be without Him. God looked at the men of the earth and fulfilled His promise to David, Jesus would be part of David's line. In God's own path and plan.

Jesus did not arrive easily on earth with two parents. Immediately we understand God is acting not as a fable, but as tangled as life can become. The feedjit tool doesn't say looking for a father scripture as much as it says fatherless scripture. No where in Scripture do we learn what Joseph's father was like. We know Joseph's father's name due to the genealogy of the gospels, but not his character.

Which neatly brings us to our point to remember for today.

Job 29:11
When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved, because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him.

I've been fatherless since I was 18, my sophomore year in college. The year the dad I loved so much, who read the stories, made fun food, made friends and a comfortable living - made an alcoholic's decision - to hide from his children and spouse while he filed for divorce. My beloved dad didn't die until I was 30, but I was fatherless. Yes, God has blessed me with the blessings He does provide for the fatherless. Today I have a husband who dearly loves me. Good sons. And family home we love. The blessings of Church family.

At some point, we quit being fatherless. It stops. God fills the hole in our heart. I forgave my dad I love so much. He will be one of the first faces I look for when I enter the gates of Heaven. I am no longer, thanks to God's promises and faithfulness, an orphan child. I am loved as a Child of God. Instead, God has made my heart and my hands able to give the compassion He gave to me - to give to others. Now if you have had this sadness in life from a divorce or a recent parental death, you might want to know, how much does it stop. Pretty completely. Sure, we all have a tender moment remembering in love our loved ones. And we have a petal to the metal moment when we relate past relationship (parent/child) failure to current events in our lives.

I do have people in my life who want to mourn and to ponder their dad's death or even the divorce. I listen to people mourn friends who have been dead for years. It takes some patience on my part to hear them re-hash things emotionally. I know grief, I've lost a daughter. I understand grief does return from time to time. Life does move on. The dead in Jesus Christ are alive today in paradise.

How do we help life move on? Forgive. Love them. Look forward to them again.

For now - be the one who helps others. Comfort the widow. Comfort the divorced. Be like the people who helped move us physically. Who hung out with us when we were as much fun as wet matches.

At some point - we are no longer the child - we become the helper, the parent, the grandparent.

Are you fatherless too? Build bridges. Make a path. Help out. If you know you've been helped, why wouldn't you want to do this. Like Joseph, the man God chose to raise Jesus. The Gospels record Joseph was such a Father - the tiny town of Bethlehem and the surrounding communities didn't see a blended family - they saw Joseph and Jesus looked like each other. High praise. Imagine the Bible recording that you were so much like God there was not a seam.

Matthew 13:55-56
Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”

What about those in need? Look for the blessings God gives daily. Count them in a daily journal.

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah

Blessed are You, Father God. You are our Father and the Light of the world now and the world to come. Alleluia in Jesus. Amen.



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Acts 4:1-22 ~ This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone

Acts 4:1-22

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio. For more Acts 4

1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Hugely annoyed, pressed by public opinion, questioning or bullying became astonishment. That is some Very effective witnessing. We read this passage and we say to ourselves, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees were impressed these common men became bold. And yes, these men, arrested, and set in the pinnacle of 'Godly' establishment had cheek. In the odds they could be killed, just like Jesus.

At the time of the 2nd Temple, the Dome of the Rock, the highest peak of the City of David, had been reshaped by Herod - to the shape it is today, because Herod built upon it. It is believed the Holy of Holies was on or near the the huge rock. Some descriptions believe the Holy of Holies was under the Pierced Rock. But many descriptions and the Talmud all disagree.

Which only increased one of the reasons the Religious leaders were impressed.

These men should have looked smelly from being imprisoned, unclean in front of the elite, clean keepers of the Law. Meager in front of the powerful. Unwise in front of the wise. Instead they said Jesus is now the cornerstone. Why is this important - in a day there are many historical documents still in existence for reference - we still aren't sure what was the physical foundation of the Temple.

The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is the first stone. The blueprint. The core. Placed to let the builders know all of their effort and will is set in the construction position of the entire structure. Not everyone was literate, but this sign was easily understood. A sure sign to the passerbys, the workers, the leaders - this is how the structure will stand. Irreversible. Sure. A sign for all time.

The Religious Elite are being told the Structure - Jesus Christ - will be so clear, everyone will understand who the first stone is. Not the building, not the Temple. It was completely astonishing to them.

No need for a religious lawyers. No need for Priests to interpret. No set of rules about hand washing or purity. A beacon set. One sure sign. A relationship instead of religion.

Jesus is the Christ. Our cornerstone.

1 Corinthians 3:9-17
9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him.

For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Father God, the day the disciples of Jesus stood in front of the people, the priests and the Captain of the Temple and the Sadducees - they appeared to be wrong. As foolish as publicly running up and kicking the Temple. Yet Father God, what You told them came to be pass. Jesus the Cornerstone, still being the Rock on which we can stand. That day the Holy of Holies was empty, You never returned the Ark of the Covenant to the Second Temple. Instead You gave Your Holy Spirit to us when we ask You to move, live and have Your dwelling in us. Dwell in us richly, that we might be, each day, living to Your pleasure, Your love, Your joy. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.



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Matthew 6:19-23 ~ full of light

Matthew 6:19-23

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!


Treasure and vision, darkness and light. Woe to you blind guides.


How to detect lies. Great tips on how to spot a liar. stevepolygraph

*** Looking straight ahead or with eyes that are defocused/unmoving is also considered a sign of visual accessing.

*** A typical left-handed person would have the opposite meanings for their eye-directions.

*** As with other signs of lying, you should first establish and understand a persons base-behavior before concluding they are lying by the direction of their eyes.

*** This guide is hardly in-depth

Matthew 23:23-24, 27-28 - Woe to you, blind guides
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Image. The appearance of goodness. How often is the path straight for the Lord? I'd say the human population is.... wobbly. Like a colt. We are like Charles Dickens theology. Under decision stress, some people are led by the people they want to be like. Then acting as good or as poorly as the 'leaders.'

The Pharisees took the Higher Path all the way to finger pointing. They would have loved to have a conference to discover this new method of detecting the ungodly. This passage is a lot like basketball. Look where the hips travel. When we decide what our goal is (the Lord our treasure), our direction becomes much clearer. As our direction is to the Light of God, what is darkness becomes more easily to detect. And other than prayer and compassion, we need not be judgmental in our conversations or finger-pointers. Discernment.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Matthew 7:16
You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

The Pharisees follow Jesus around, not to rejoice in God, but to pull Him down. Jesus proclaimed mercy at a cost to Himself. Jesus was busy with the work of His father - restoration, reclamation. Jesus was on target. The Pharisees created drama, trauma and without truth with mercy or humility.

Romans 8:38
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Each day, Father God, we seek Your guidance, Your love. Lead us away from temptation and deliver us from evil. To Your Glory. Let us live in Your grace and truth. As our sins are forgiven, let us live mercy, truth and forgiveness to the sins done to us. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.



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2 Chronicles 24 ~ the Spirit of God clothed

2 Chronicles 24

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 Joash [spelled Jehoash in 2 Kings 12:1] was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada got for him two wives, and he had sons and daughters.

4 After this Joash decided to restore the house of the Lord. 5 And he gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you act quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly. 6 So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax levied by Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the congregation of Israel for the tent of testimony?” 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also used all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord for the Baals.

8 So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside the gate of the house of the Lord. 9 And proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the Lord the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished [or until it was full]. 11 And whenever the chest was brought to the king's officers by the Levites, when they saw that there was much money in it, the king's secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and take it and return it to its place. Thus they did day after day, and collected money in abundance. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who had charge of the work of the house of the Lord, and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the Lord, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the Lord. 13 So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went forward in their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it. 14 And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made utensils for the house of the Lord, both for the service and for the burnt offerings, and dishes for incense and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord regularly all the days of Jehoiada.

15 But Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died. He was 130 years old at his death. 16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. 19 Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.

20 Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” 21 But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and avenge!”

23 At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.

25 When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 Those who conspired against him were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabite. 27 Accounts of his sons and of the many oracles against him and of the rebuilding of the house of God are written in the Story of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

When we learn about Scripture, one important point we learn about is about relationships with the Lord. Joash is only king with the steadfast love and righteousness of the priest Jehoiada (his great-uncle) during the reigns of Ahaziah, Athaliah, and Joash. Jehoiada proclaimed "only a son of David should be King." Jehoiada's wife had hidden the baby Joash from the bloody coup by the terrible queen. And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the Lord's people. Our passage continues to show Joash didn't rule the priest and this wasn't a regency taken over by the priest.

People of God work to support and bring forward other people of God. This is the way God wants His Kingdom to be established. Considering all of Jehoiada's works, isn't it amazing his great righteousness and actions of courage do not rank him in the same esteem as Jonathan?

When do we, in Scriptures, have we such a mighty man of the LORD? We've read of Samuel, Nathan, Asaph during the times of the Kings and, later, Isaiah. Yet, Jehoiada is a mighty man of God. 2 Chronicles 23 is well worth reading about the priest who took courage.

Of Joash? And his fallen behavior we can only say -

Matthew 19:23-26
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Let us remember the great deeds of Jehoiada!

Hebrews 12:32-35
32 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— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 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. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.
Titus Flavius Josephus (37 – c. A.D. 100), a 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian and hagiographer of priestly and royal ancestry who recorded Jewish history. Credited by many as recording some of the earliest history of Jesus Christ outside of the gospels. His most important works were The Jewish War (c. 75 AD) and Antiquities of the Jews (c. 94 AD). Jehoiada is in his Jewish Antiquites Book 9, Chapter 7.



Father God, let Your Holy Spirit come upon us in power. Help us to be clothed in the Spirit of God. Help Your child keep Your sheep. Lord, please send forth Your word to declare and establish a way for this. Help us to be strong and let us fight bravely for people of Yours. LORD do what is good in Your sight and sent Your angels. Let us be found innocent in Your sight and our prayers to be granted. We will rejoice and be glad, because great is Your reward in heaven. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


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2 Corinthians 8:1-9 ~ of their own accord

2 Corinthians 8:1-9

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 We want you to know, brothers, [brothers and sisters] about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor [can mean favor or grace or thanks] of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you [your love for us]—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Giving willingly. It stirs something within us to see humble generosity. An act of grace.

When I was in college, I was one of the ones at our nightly dinner table who rarely read the newspaper. I read papers all day long. My worldly and bouncy friend Missy asked us, in the early 1980's, if we'd read about the recent, devastating, no survivor, commercial airline crash. Only one of our 8 had. What was it? Missy put down her fork and looked up. The black box was found. The co-pilot was young and it was dark and completely foggy. The co-pilot had turned of the automatic sensor telling how close they were do the ground, suddenly the much older pilot realized they were crashing instead of landing. The pilot was barking orders and said, "What Happened!!?" The co-pilot was ashamed and cried out it was his fault. There was a brief silence. The co-pilot said, "I am so sorry." The pilot, they heard the cloth, reached out to the co-pilot and said, "I forgive you, son." And the terrible, cataclysmic accident with no survivors occurred.

It brought silence to our group and a few eyes with tears.

Our Church fed two hotels with Katrina evacuees for 2-3 months nightly from donations from our Church family and Dimassi's Mediterranean Restaurant daily leftovers. The group that stayed the longest was one huge, extended family. The night before we began moving them into safe, local apartments - they worked together to gather BBQ grills from us and they gave our Church a BBQ they put together. God bless them.

Actions of Grace.

Father God, lead me to be the one in conversations to have actions of compassion and mercy. Let me be on my way in the service of the saints. I thank God, who put into the heart, those who have given acts of grace and concern. Thank You, Father, for gifts of welcome, appeal and enthusiasm and initiative. Thank You, Father, for the people who inspire us. Bless those we hear of, and those we know, who give so willingly. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


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Joel 2:18-29 ~ be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!

Joel 2:18-29

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land

and had pity on his people.
19 The Lord answered and said to his people,
“Behold, I am sending to you
grain, wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
a reproach among the nations.

20 “I will remove the northerner far from you,
and drive him into a parched and desolate land,
his vanguard [face] into the eastern sea,
and his rear guard [his end] into the western sea;
the stench and foul smell of him will rise,
for he has done great things.

21 “Fear not, O land;
be glad and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things!
22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

23 “Be glad, O children of Zion,
and rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given the early rain for your vindication;
he has poured down for you abundant rain,
the early and the latter rain, as before.

24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 I will restore to you the years
that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
my great army, which I sent among you.

26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

Blessings. Miracles. Answered Prayer. The great things of the Lord involve Mercy from our Father. When the people, God rescued from slavery, cried out for a king, God did not withdraw His support from them. In the same way - Jesus did not let Peter sink in the water. Jesus could have let Peter suffer... just a bit. He didn't.

Matthew 14:31
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Immediately - sin was pushed aside. Sin removed and God let His blessing flow.

John 6:28-29
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Hannah proclaimed after a wonderful work of the Lord:

1 Samuel 2:2
2 “There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10
9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

1 Kings 15:4
Nevertheless, for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong.

1 Chronicles 17:27
Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed
forever.

O LORD, You are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. For You make me most blessed forever; You make me glad with the joy of Your presence. You give thankfulness to me with Your Spirit. In thanksgiving, I say - Amen! Praise be to You, Lord Jesus Christ.


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John 3:5-8 ~ born of the Spirit

John 3:5-8


5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [Greek word means both wind and spirit]. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

8 The wind [wind and spirit] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Our minister gave great, inspirational, easy to understand "filling of the Holy Spirit" grace today! Pentecost, honey bunny, Pentecost! The followers of Jesus Christ waiting with expectation - when is the gift, Jesus said, arriving? With wind and fire their expectations were Filled.

Okay, granted Darth Vadar isn't the Holy Spirit - but a little example to say - we accomplish things we never would have done with the Power of God. We experience adventure - the abundant life - Jesus Christ spoke of with the Holy Spirit.



We are baptized - we are like a gas lantern. We have that Holy Spirit within us. Gifted by asking. We are filled with the Holy Spirit - that fulfillment - that joy, that presence of God - is the power of the Holy Spirit giving us the ability to do what He has created us to do. To His Glory.
Let your lamp shine!


The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Isaiah 6:8
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Father God, whatever our day is - good or bad, with You we always have the opportunity to look up. You are goodness, righteousness, Love and mercy. We put our hands out today to You. Let us use this day to build our lives in Your goodness. Let us have the outpourings of Your glory. When the day is sunny, we know we have the opportunity to care for others and be merciful. When the day is ugly, we know Your light in us still shines. Each day we will look to You and at the end - we will be with You in Your Paradise.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. Your Victory is always assured. The world and all that is in it is Yours. The heavens, and all that we cannot see is, under Your authority. The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

Zion - we are Zion - hear and is glad, daughters of Judah rejoice! Because of Your judgments, O Lord! For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth! You are exalted! AMEN!



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Luke 11:5-10 ~ because he is my friend

Luke 11:5-10

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence [or persistence] he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Compared this to the verse ~

James 4:2
You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Why sometimes does it seem our prayers are not answered when God calls us His friend? David prayed for his infant to live. Elijah and Jonah prayed for death. Disciples James and John asked for higher rank in Jesus' Kingdom. Jesus prayed "this cup to be taken from me." Paul prayed for a thorn in the flesh to be taken away. Yet All of the Them were willing to live God's plan.

For the last few months, I've been putting together a new prayer group. (We've been part of a Couples Group for the last 11 years.) I really like home prayer groups; it's like the early Church, when you go into someone's home, it is more meaningful to me than a Church group meeting in public facility. So today, I was looking over articles on having a good prayer group.


Be persistent.

Be expectant.

Listen.

One of the articles I read was about a man coming to his prayer group facilitator and saying he was going to quit. The needs of the group were overwhelming and nothing ever happened.

Don't we all get in a prayer rut? This group wasn't spiritually dead, they looked at the question to see - well, seems to be true, now what. They began to ask God, maybe this continuing difficulty IS put in our lives to grow from it. They prayed over arthritis and said, we don't like it. It doesn't seem to be going away - God give me strength to do what You would have me do.

Here is a quote from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, on tragedy: "The odd thing is that those who are most deeply involved … are most aware of two things: a kind of strength and vision just to go on; and a sense of the imperative for practical service and love. Somehow in all of this, God simply emerges for them as a faithful presence."



Some of the ways we don't ask God, in our asking, would be (taken from an article by Wayne Jacobsen, in blue):

The trivial: "Let's pray I can get over this cold" or "Give us a rain-free day for the church picnic." (I disagree here - the Scriptures say to pray for everything and then thank Him for His answers.)

The self-motivated: "My brother's unit just got called up to go to Iraq. Let's pray he won't have to go." While I can understand the emotion behind the request, it is still misplaced. If he's in the military, why shouldn't he go? God's purposes frequently include hardship and risk. Should we ask him to trump his purposes for our convenience? (Wayne Jacobsen goes on to say, pray the fear of his family and their peace. Pray for safety.)

The controlling: "Don't let my daughter move in with her boyfriend" As with Kris' request, I think we're spitting into the wind if we ask God to make other people act according to our will. He doesn't even force people to adhere to his will. Why should he make them act according to ours? (Pray for God to be known to the daughter, that she might want to live in his Love and let her actions reflect His holiness.)

The manipulative: Not all prayer requests are directed at God. We're usually more diplomatic about it than Charissa, who was only four years old, but knew what she wanted. "Jesus, would you help Bob and Laurie learn how to spank their children, so their kids won't hit me when I come over?" I'll admit it worked for Charissa, but I don't think prayer was intended to send subtle (or not so subtle) messages to the faithful.

The blaming: A group in my former church was praying for an infertile woman. They thought she wasn't getting pregnant because her husband wasn't godly enough be a good father. So they asked God to change him. She blamed him and tried to manipulate him to change, and by the time she came to see me, she was incredibly frustrated. I told her I thought they'd missed the point. None of us qualify for God's gifts. If God waited until everyone was ready to have a baby, no one would ever give birth. (Being asked to pray for something we feel is too hard or not God's will. Remember the men willing to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus by cutting the roof apart.)

The mass-produced: I don't know why we think we have a better chance of getting prayers answered if more people are in on it. Like many of you, I receive prayer requests on the Internet begging me to pray for people I don't know, about needs I'm not involved in. God's answers to prayer are not based on a tally sheet. Prayer was designed for two or three faithful believers to focus on, agree, and fervently intercede, rather than enlisting large numbers of uninvolved people. (I do believe God loves to hear more people like the centurion who had people prevail for him to Jesus. But God knows us. One prayer is all it takes. Jesus heard Zacchaeus and Nathaniel . It isn't a popularity contest.)

I loved this article, even if I didn't agree with every part.

What we usually pray to God is not that His will be done, but that He approves ours.

~Helga Bergold Gross

The bottom line would be - how to have more prayers answered. But it isn't the bottom line. Our prayers are answered. When we ask. I know my great-aunt Hazel prayed for her only child to come home safely from World War I. And William was killed. I know God heard her prayers. Hazel talked about William a lot She really enjoyed remembering him. My mother told me Aunt Hazel talked of William more than my mom thought she should. Aunt Hazel had William's painting painted. And it went to another cousin, after Aunt Hazel passed on, who became ill and William's painting was thrown to be given away or thrown away. An uncle was asked if he wanted to travel 6 hours to look over everything being put out. There was William's portrait.

My uncle took it and asked our family in Franklinton, LA (where William lived) if there would be a good place for William's painting. And it was given to our cousin, who is the town librarian and she herself lost an infant son. When she passes on, William's painting will hang in the Franklinton, LA Library because William died defending his country.

That is effective prayer. Father God had a plan. Father God was asked for mercy, for safety. How do we know? Hazel lived her life remembering the blessing William was to her. Certainly, she wanted William with her, but she was able to take the blessing of having a son and be glad, grateful. The Fruit of that Spirit is also - my uncle happened to decide to drive the 6 hours to look at what was being put away. He petitioned the family and found someone who would treasure a lost son. A cousin who is a librarian, where William will be remembered for his ultimate sacrifice.

And then there is my mother's friend a psychologist loosing her vision from hereditary weak blood vessels and glaucoma. Determined God would give her a miracle. And He did. Recovered sight without medication or surgery.

Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says Christians ought to respond as the Bible does. "A faithful Christian response will affirm the true character and power of God—his omnipotence and his benevolence. God is in control of the entire universe. And God's goodness and love are beyond question. The Bible leaves no room for equivocation on either truth. … We must speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Scripture is silent. Christians must avoid offering explanations when God has not revealed an explanation."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-28 (Listen)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 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. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

25 Brothers, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

The dove image was used twice for emphasis!




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Romans 8:14-17 ~ led by the Spirit of God

Romans 8:14-17


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons [Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Summer and Christmas have something in common. Items put away are taken up with zest - that we might enter into the season with abundant living. Boats come out of storage. Gardening tools, watering hoses, sprays, pots and new dirt are carted back and forth. RVs are scraped for cleaning and mildew. People pack up for vacations and get away. Kids go to camp or lessons like tennis. We all have several somethings summer brings to us.

Then comes heat. And breakage. And the need for replacement. Added to our busy lives. And a hundred details that we might be well, pampered, cared for. In Texas, we aren't having a tornado. We are having the worst drought since 1895.

I could take time and complain about my Friday. Oh. Yes. I could. And it would be things anyone would understand because one way or another we all have days like that. Breakage. Waiting. Dealing with people with other plans. Heat. Suppressing grumpiness. Being grumpy. Wondering about the solution. Trying to reach a decision. Self-pity.

Norman Vincent Peale had a young man come up to him after one of his talks and put forth many, many difficulties with worry and pessimism. Norman said he was distressed just listening to the young man. Finally, Norman felt like the young man wasn't going to conquer his problems because his attitude was a problem. Norman finally blurted out, "You have these problems because you are alive! Be grateful!"

Amen. And Amen. Let me spend some time preaching and teaching to myself. You can come with me. We can put ourselves out by refusing to see the gratitude we need to have. One. We Are Alive in Jesus Christ. Eternally. Today. Two. Seasons change. I can use the season to find reasons to be grateful. Three....

Romans 8:22-27
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved.

Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 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.

Adopted!. I am a child of God. The Spirit intercedes for me.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven

And Gratitude sweetens every season.

Romans 8:31-39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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2 Chronicles 32 ~ And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things

King Hezekiah's bulla or seal. In the Josef Chaim Kaufman Collection, Archaeological Center in Tel Aviv, Israel. Found also is Hezekiah's servant seal, which hung on a cord for the honored person to wear. Archaeologically, there is no doubt of these seals. Archaeologically, Hezekiah is supremely rich of finds - 2 actual seals of Hezekiah's, at least 5 bullae belonging to servants of Hezekiah, the tunnels for water, the Shiloah Inscription and the evidence of abundance in purchasing. Plus the historical knowledge of the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel and the wealth and independence of the Kingdom of Hezekiah's Judah in the midst of the Assyrian Empire.

All of these bullae bear the name of Hezekiah, without doubt. The Scriptures record abundance in Hezekiah's time. It would also make sense products were purchased in abundance.

2 Chronicles 31:5-10
5 As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. 6 And the people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of the dedicated things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and laid them in heaps. 7 In the third month they began to pile up the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. 8 When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel. 9 And Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps. 10 Azariah the chief priest, who was of the house of Zadok, answered him, “Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed his people, so that we have this large amount left.”


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

2 Chronicles 32

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him. 4 A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?” 5 He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, [and raised upon the towers] and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. 6 And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, 7 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9 After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, 10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem? 11 Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, “The Lord our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”? 12 Has not this same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, “Before one altar you shall worship, and on it you shall burn your sacrifices”? 13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand? 14 Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand? 15 Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’”

16 And his servants said still more against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 And he wrote letters to cast contempt on the Lord, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, “Like the gods of the nations of the lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand.” 18 And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.

20 Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword. 22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.

24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; 28 storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. 29 He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. 30 This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

We are sometimes so caught up with the history of kings, we sometimes do not see God acted on behalf of the people, the people of the Kingdom of Judah. After Hezekiah re-opened the Temple doors, the people were very much a part of the actions taken during the wonders of God's works during Hezekiah's reign. The people were part of the tunnels being dug, not asking, screaming, begging or chanting to be part of client/puppet state. Working to be protected by God. Believing He would help them.

Working, praying, hoping - knowing the Kingdom of Israel had been taken down by the Assyrian Empire and they were under their control. They'd personally seen, known, lived - the people of the Kingdom of Judah enslaved.


2 Chronicles 28:8-15

The men of Israel took captive 200,000 of their relatives, women, sons, and daughters. They also took much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand, but you have killed them in a rage that has reached up to heaven. 10 And now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as your slaves. Have you not sins of your own against the Lord your God? 11 Now hear me, and send back the captives from your relatives whom you have taken, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.”

12 Certain chiefs also of the men of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who were coming from the war 13 and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives in here, for you propose to bring upon us guilt against the Lord in addition to our present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.” 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the assembly. 15 And the men who have been mentioned by name rose and took the captives, and with the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them. They clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them with food and drink, and anointed them, and carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys, they brought them to their kinsfolk at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

The Children of God have dug the tunnels. God's people have had Passover and re-entered the Temple with Hezekiah. After the victory - over the great and powerful - The Assyrian Empire. The people bring gifts to the Temple. Like Peter said. Willingly. And to Hezekiah, for being the Lord's servant. It is the only time, recorded in Scriptures, the nation, or people, give willingly to the Lord.

Hezekiah not only opened a door to the Temple for himself, he led his people to hope in the Lord. It isn't just that Hezekiah's reign had brought prominence to Judah before other nations; It wasn't just Hezekiah's victory.

Luke 11:9
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Isaiah 12:1
In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me."

John 3;27
John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.



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