Psalm 18:1-20 ~ I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies

Psalm 18:1-20

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.

7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.

8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.

9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.

10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.

12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.

14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.

15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.

17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.

18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.

19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.

20 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.


This Psalm of David is rejoicing with an overflowing heart in the mercy of God. It remembers the deliverance of the children of Israel. Written 1,000 years before Jesus’ death, verses 8 to 14 describe the earthquake & events after Jesus forgave us and dismissed His Spirit. Because Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit, the psalm is about us, individually. In our day of trouble, we call out to Him and He saves us forever.
 
I've heard critics of Jesus Christ say He knew Scripture pretty well, using crowd hysteria to promote healings. This seems to me to dismiss the fact, if you stand in a public place looking just at mere t-shirts and you'll see people wearing messages proclaiming His Love. What an inspiring thing. On lone carpenter's son, learning his father's love and  teaching us His Heavenly Father's love.Jesus, after all came from a blended family. And He is rejoiced in today. His goodness did not go unappreciated and loved. (Yay human race!)

Here is a passage of this love. Jonah quietly spoke in the Assyrian Empire and hearts were changed forever. One man merely speaking. God does powerful things in the lives of those who would just say - I am for HIM. Noah swung a hammer, ignoring 'the comment'. What more will God do for those who say - I am for Him. With a lot of actions, and words, even of Jesus - we miss the ripple even of our own actions and words. Build each day, for Him.

The ripple effect - rarely does God sent a heavenly choir to make an announcement. If fact I can only think of Jesus' birth and He chose men quietly watching over a flock - which was in fact these men caring for their own flock - of people, family - God had given them. Going to work. And just being that guy doing his job - God blessed these mere Shepherds.

Today - we have this passage, and we see with wonder and awe - God - a grieving Parent was arranging for His Child to leave a foot print of Scripture - we can not ignore. No human arranged events for 1,000 year old prophecy to be revealed. That grieving Parent thundered into the Temple - wrecking the place like He allowed Aaron to do. God was both caring for Jesus in His anger, splitting the Floor of His Temple and tearing the curtain - saying I have lived for you, my child, this hurtful existence and know the pain of rejection and of loss of life.

If this passage touches you, I challenge you to see the Israeli Church where Christ is said to have been crucified. The Church contains bedrock split by the earthquake today. A massive stone geology proclaims this to be an earthquake in Israel about 30 A.D.

Seems He likes His Scripture to be backed with evidence; we will always have to see in something He approves of - faith. Faith also involves the need to see our lives, words, and actions and Prayers are something He likes us to live out - our calling to be Children of the Most High God

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Exodus 40:16-38 ~ In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.

Exodus 40:16-38


This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did. 17 In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.

18 Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars. 19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

20 He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 22 He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil, 23 and arranged the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 24 He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle, 25 and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 26 He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil, 27 and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 28 He put in place the screen for the door of the tabernacle. 29 And he set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 30 He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing, 31 with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. 32 When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, as the Lord commanded Moses. 33 And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.


So Moses was busy visiting God on His Mountain. A year went by before a place was put together for worship - convenient to the Children of Israel. When you think of God, Himself, granting Moses the gift and the circumstance to behold Him, you would think a convenient place would mean the cloud would disappear. Business begins, repetition with stability. People take on jobs, worship, tasks and HE begins to rest.

Church Planters sometimes worry a building takes from the Spirit of God.

However, the Glory of God did not diminish upon finding a place to worship HIM.

2 Chronicles 5:13-14
and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord,

“For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever,”

the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

It is my opinion the cloud filling the Temple of God was probably the stars we see from the Hubble Telescope. God was using components of HIS Creation to explain His Glory.

1 Kings 8:11
And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.


Genesis 28:15
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

In the Old Testament, God used clouds to manifest His Glory. A small tent, in a vast wilderness, could not contain the glory of God.

In the New Testament, God have us HIS Son - who is the Light of the World. His Spoken Word. John the Baptist called for repentance in the wilderness - leaving the Temple.  A small stable, with a small baby, changed the world forever. Moses saw the Glory of God. Jesus gave us the Mercy of our Father and Jesus made us His Children. Saying the Glory of God dwells in us; never leaving us. Making us Love. We want want to glorify Him in our lives - our words, our actions, our thoughts. God, in Jesus, telling us to build His Church so the gates of Hell cannot prevail against us - also tells us His Glory dwells within us. He did not want to spill from a tent, but to dwell in our hearts making us Love.

Matthew 28:20
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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Psalm 41 ~ But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up

Psalm 41
A Psalm of David.

1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor ^[weak]!
In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.

4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;
heal me^{[my soul]}, for I have sinned against you!”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,
while his heart gathers iniquity;
when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
they imagine the worst for me.

8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him;
he will not rise again from where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,
and raise me up, that I may repay them!

11 By this I know that you delight in me:
my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
and set me in your presence forever.

13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.

Zechariah 8
~  Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities.

And the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain. 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6 Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts? 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 8 and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

9 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts. 12 For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13 And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

14 For thus says the Lord of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts, 15 so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. 16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; 17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

18 And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.

20 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’ 22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord. 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Candles invoke in me delight - the light shining in all mankind reaches out to Father God - Light of the World.

Acts 16
~ And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers [and sisters] at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.


11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.


16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.


25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

Deliberation. Recently I was talking to a man about finding a new Church. In his generation, a lot of people like really laid back and yet he likes the liturgy. One of the best descriptions I've heard for the appreciation of liturgy was this:

The acknowledgement the liturgy has been read for millenniums. In sorrow, in triumph, in need, in growth. To read the liturgy is to remember great cathedrals being built to the glory of God. Millenniums of reaching up to Him.

The liturgy is still read all over the world. When we read the liturgy, you can picture the day beginning and ending again with the liturgy being proclaimed and God worshiped, the liturgy being read circles the globe daily. There is a tremendous continuation of joy. In His Love.

‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”


I am never more far from stunned. Amazed - people do not realize this is God - treating life with His words.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built."


In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land.

We love to hear of David - he dashes into the House of God to eat the shewbread. David grasps and thunders for the Bread of God. He is sustaining himself. David is quite wise.

set me in your presence forever

I have a family member, a loved one, who felt God passed him by. Not blessing him and not delighting in him. An important aspect of our personal relationship to God is examining these feelings. Usually when there is smoke - there is fire. However, God the Father, like Jesus, remember the Phonetician woman who said, "Yes, but even the dogs have scraps from the Master's table." God is God. He understands when we acknowledge to HIM, I'm so sorry I am unworthy - He does respond to us with Mercy, Grace and Goodness.

This is - The Good News!

Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain. 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6 Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts? 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 8 and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

In the Ten Commandments - God tells us He comes first. When we feel we do not have a right relationship with Him - we generally hear what HE is telling us. Time to step up and tell the Lord - I'm so sorry. Father God tells us in His Word, He wants to strengthen us.

"And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer

An ideal spot to speak with the One who loves you best.

Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

Why in the world would a jailer releasing his prisoners want his family involved? Those who taste and see the goodness of God want others to know of His LOVE.

And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

The Good News encourages us. This is another wise reason we reach out to HIM on His set aside day. The Good News is encouragement.

O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up

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3 John 1 ~ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

3 John 1

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers^{[siblings in a family]} came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.



My adored father, actually I always called him Daddy, said Mother's Day & Father's Day were created by Hallmark Lobbyists and the United States Congress was probably forcibly bribed as well. He forcibly and frequently, remarked vehemently, "Forced appreciation is barely appreciation." And he kept a Dad's Trophy I furiously pen marked all over.

Mother's Day Gift - Why hope for roses or cut flowers? I hope my children tell me - "I found a place to worship HIM. And I am reading His Word. Learning how much He Loves me."

Parents stay more involved in their children's lives than the reverse.

Jesus knew, during His days walking among us as grace and truth, people are not good enough to parents:

Matthew 15
4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

8 “‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Why give a Hallmark card or something  accumulating dust? Ask Family for the gift that gives eternity.

Matthew 13:32
"Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."


Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

God works to preserve the durability of the child relationship to the parent. That's rather like HIM.

Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 9
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

Proverbs 3:1-8
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ...

God adores us. Adores us the way we have loved our own children.

Proverbs 4:3-9
3 When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.

Psalm 103:2-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.


So we look up and we are glad for His many benefits. As all mothers love to be told this, allow me to close with a quote from Michelangelo, "Do you not know that chaste women stay fresh much more than those who are not chaste?"

 Whoever does good is from God

Picture the Joy of Jesus Christ Triumphant when His mother and brothers no longer stood outside.
 
Acts 1

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”


12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.


The Lord sees even after seeing His resurrection, they are still concerned for mostly their own concerns - arranging Israel. He uses their confusion and temerity to build them into His Family.


God is good. All the time. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

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Colossians 2 ~ If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—

1 Corinthians 3:8

He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

Colossians 2

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.


16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Bible Study and digging into His Word keeps us replenished.

If you live in the Southern United States, you understand - especially today - the water mark can show drought. The River Jordan has no such water mark.

Where does our Bible Study begin - at the Source - with HIM. And we must appreciate this - I recently saw a Church marquee that said, "He appreciates effort, not wishes." I frankly do not agree. We are a soul wrapped by a perishable body. Our being is Spiritual. We sit with HIM and expectantly at our core - our soul - our prayers express to Father God who we really are. He does not wish us to hide from Him as HE created us to be transparent to Him.

With this in mind, we begin our Bible Study. Digging into His Word.


For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Paul struggled to present the Holy Spirit. We struggle each day saying, here are my open hands, my desires, my ministry, the people I love, like and care to pray for. Norman Vincent Peale had a great remark he frequently repeated "If you have trouble - rejoice - you are alive."

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread

I frequently shorten Jesus' prayer to Give Us the Day. My abbreviation for - this is the day the Lord has Made. Give Thanks. Who is our daily bread but Jesus? The Bread of Life.

What would God mostly say to us - be encouraged, knit others together in love. The full assurance - understanding - knowledge of God's mystery. He fully, completely and totally sees, understands and loves you. As His Child. His Beloved. And, let's be frank, we are frankly mystified that anyone who fully sees us - Loves us!!! I personally think the great mystery is Wow! He loves us!!!

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

We read this is His Word:

1 Peter 4:12
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

We see all the time in our media with satellite imagery that the world has struggle, fiery ordeals and we drive in .... traffic.

We should daily be surprised and delighted instead with - awe, amazement, wonder - That God Believes we are part of HIS good order and He firmly has Faith His Son came for us for Very Good Reason. W

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

What can we give to the LORD, other than Thanksgiving? All of our gifts are from Him. Well, okay - transparency - complaining - struggling. Digging. And not being the whiny Children of Israel.

Not being the people secretly angry with Him.

Joel 3
“What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. 5 For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples."

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

God has created us to be transparent. He sees our complaints. We sometimes get bored with our own complaints. That's, frankly, a miraculous blessing. And then other times we, as Christians, have the 'root of bitterness' rise up. God is not unaware of the word anger. Anger appears a lot in Scripture. God wants us to reach up. To Him. For the high road. He just isn't asking us to be fake or insincere. Be yourself. Then reach up to HIM. We do Not sustain Him. He Sustains us. We do not exist to serve others. We exist to be in relationship with HIM and then take that light to others. This is a struggle.

To repeat, as God does in Scripture a lot:

you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Recheck. HE sustains us. Notice with me this is first person. God, Almighty, Creator of the Universe. The Alpha. The Omega. Is concerned with one person here - you. God is telling us there is a powerful working here - you. And HIM. He is not fumbling around. God loves.... you.

This is the great TA DA - The Victory:

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

The Victory continues. This living Word is written to you. Singular. To you. His child.

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:16
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst

God tells us we should look to ourselves  - esteem ourselves  - in our words, actions, attitudes - He values us. God does not see us as slouches.

8 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.


I, very personally, and with verve proclaim, - I'm against asceticism - suffering for goodness. And I believe we are the Body of Jesus Christ. We gently proclaim our virtues and do not insist our gifts be worshiped. While saying - I matter - I'm a Child of GOD. It's not all about me. But I matter to HIM.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

If life were up to me, I'd be a poor deity; we might only have donuts. And that is not the Bread of Life. We work to bring talents to the table and recognize He is the Bread of Life. We are supplements. You might be broccoli. You might be apples, but HE is the Bread of Life.

I fully realize this is a very weak analogy. I apologize. The full analogy is that we need to dig into God's Word. Bring our attitudes, heart, soul, mind, work, desires to HIS Table. To be who we are in gratitude. To admit freely to Him - I'm not the best I could be - but I surely - with my heart and soul and entire being desire to be Part of YOU. Dear Father God.

Peter and John looked bodily into the eyes of  God's Only Son. And Peter said this. John recorded this.

John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

Light of God. Jesus Christ the Lord. Dwell in me. Raised me, in faith, in the powerful working of God this day and always. Amen.

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