Psalm 68 ~ O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah

Psalm 68

God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad;
they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the Lord;
exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

11 The Lord gives the word;
the women who announce the news are a great host:
12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home divide the spoil—
13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,
let snow fall on Zalmon.

15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
at the mount that God desired for his abode,
yes, where the Lord will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation,
and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The Lord said,
“I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,
that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”

24 Your procession is seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,
between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,
the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

28 Summon your power, O God,
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings shall bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Nobles shall come from Egypt;
Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!

  

The Meeting of Esau and Jacob, by Tissot

Genesis 33

 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.

12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”

15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

Unlike the way we often picture good saints - Jacob doesn't want to leave the world and be more ivory tower. Jacob/Israel for his travels, is not headed to the Ivory Tower with his saints. This is an important statement for us. God is  not  seeking Jacob to build Him a Temple, but is establishing His Path.  Jesus also told us our lives are His Temple.

Monasteries in the Old Testament? Must be a New Testament thing. Oh. Hey. Um. Yes, there are monasteries. The Essenes of the Dead Sea Scrolls. And 2 Kings 2:1-15 - the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel during Elijah - but no, Jacob has a tribe to shelter and go forth with. Jacob is not told to gather multitudes to him and be a gatherer of mankind. 

Instead Jacob believes he has stolen a blessing, but Jacob is chosen for his willingness just to bless the people God has given him. 

This is indeed more of a quiet life, if not harrowing, that Paul says should be sought.  Jacob is to say what Joshua would say years down this Path. As for me and my house, We shall serve the Lord.  Joshua 24:15. 

Jacob verbally declares God is his in his difficult times.  He is putting His Light to shine before men. And what Jacob is saying is expect me to be flawed, but expect that my banner is His - mercy with judgment, walking with God in His expectations.  

God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, Selah

And God is going forth, recall with me, with this mottled group. There are goats and lambs in Genesis 30 as a literary reference not to the unblemished offerings to the Temple of God, but how life is a constant conflict like the Cross. God intersecting mankind. God likes this Jacob so well, He gives a more Fatherly intervention than Isaac - coming like the Prodigal's Father to wrestle Jacob for a blessing, not leaving the fight without a mark.

And Jacob is a prime example of the reason God left Solomon for the Wisdom Solomon chose. Solomon spent many years in the High Places trying to get the Lord to respond to Solomon again.. In similar paths,  Jacob's commitment even to one wife has waned and he protects the child he values above all others. Solomon did not find a woman of value - Jacob doesn't either. Commitment is value.

Jacob values the blessing of God, eventually Esau wanders off not to have his descendents number Esau as of supreme value to them. Jacob is going to have his children return and want God's banner as their own.

More of value than silver and gold are ideas. Jacob believes he is blessed and conveys a blessing. Understanding that blessings are from God and limitless and blesses all of his children and starts again in Jacob's grandchildren.

32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord, Selah
to Him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, He sends out His voice, His mighty voice.

 Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.

Awesome is God from His sanctuary;
the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to His people.

Blessed be God!


Jacob looks to God. For a blessing. And a blessing is bestowed, power and strength in a rocky life, willingness to be a blessing,  for the blessing of faith.

Psalm 134

Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the Lord!

3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!



Thank You, Father God, for Your blessings of comfort. For Your Faithfulness. In Jesus Christ's Love. Amen

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2 Kings 20:1-11 ~ and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.”

2 Kings 20:1-11

1 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.” 7 And Isaiah said, “Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil, that he may recover.”

8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?” 9 And Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” 10 And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen ten steps. Rather let the shadow go back ten steps.” 11 And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.


God's gonna do what God's gonna do. Go with Bob. No changing that tough luck.  It is what it is.

Many times God repeats Scripture to do what people in education are taught - teach by retelling.


Matthew 6
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6
18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6 - with the aspect of rewards so frequently mentioned is - where - Jesus gives us The Lord's Prayer.



Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Ephesians 6:8
Knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

Ephesians 1:18
Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints



John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Ephesians 1
In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

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Luke 13:31-35 ~ perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day

Every Day!!!

Isaiah 33:2

Luke 13:31-35

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." 32 And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, `Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.' 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

Which ties in nicely to Matthew 23
Giving a teaching Subtitle of:
Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees
Which ends with Matthew, a Disciple traveling the road with Jesus telling of Jesus' compassion to those who He would gather to His Heart and enfold dearly to Him. Mark gets in on the discourse telling us - they were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe.


Jesus meek and mild. Jesus got milk toast? CMON. Jesus has R.E.A.L. Personality. Vim. Vigor. Wit. WAY. Truth. Life. Surely we are the People and Wisdom will die with us...Yep - Sayings of Jesus Christ.

Look at Our Jesus.
He is working!!!

John 5;17
He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working."

Surely Jesus Christ Superstar, rock opera by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, had Herod Type - and -Cast.

Jesus knows in the Fullness of God the Father Almighty What is Coming Next. And Jesus chooses to - Work 'with'.

And HE said to them, "Go! And tell that fox!

Giving Herod appreciation for his style and cunning political craftiness -

Behold!
I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow,
and
the third day  -
I finish my course.

Nevertheless,
I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following:
for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.'


Now look at the Seven Deadly Woes of Matthew 23. Different from the seven deadly sins. Really? Not really. People like to examine things and look at them and actually that is a great teaching tool. There are seven deadly sins, in the Old Testament, separate from the 10 Commandments because - Scripture repeats - its a Teaching Tool.

The Seven Deadly Woes are Whoa, In Your Head, Material.
Telling us if we open our hearts, apparently, to someone - we are doing the Work of Jesus. And we don't want to be leading them in harmful ways. Bringing them down. Jesus didn't even try to lead Herod down.

Something to think about - Jesus like us to be centered and unswayed. When the objective is far and a Way better than - draining a swamp.

Got a Pity Party?

Matthew 1

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.


Not your typical Baby Shower.

Hurtful circumstances. Where is the righteousness? You'd have to ...
Believe...
Give Credit...
Hope for the Best...

This Child of GOD is not in the palace where the Magi knocked. The Light that dwells in all of Mankind, was stuck.

Stuck in a Cave with, probably, a Stone crib.

Life.

Taking what you've been given, and expecting God will work His Plan. Jesus was in that smelly, cave barn surrounded with Light and the Parents, God gave Him, who would gaze at Him with Love. Working better Faith, Hope and Love out of irregular, uncomfortable, unloving circumstances with rudimentary elements of Joy.

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

ALPHA

OMEGA

Father, Holy Father 
Our Holy Father

I lay my head to rest,
and in doing so,
lay at your feet
the faces I have seen,
the voices I have heard,
the words I have spoken,
the hands I have shaken,
the service I have given,
the joys I have shared,
the sorrows revealed,
I lay them at your feet,
and in doing so
lay my head to rest.

Through the dark hours of this night
protect and surround us,
Father, Son and Spirit, Three.
Forgive the ill that we have done.
Forgive the pride that we have shown.
Forgive the words that have caused harm
that we might sleep peaceably,
and rise refreshed to do your will.
Through the dark hours of this night
protect and surround us,
Father, Son and Spirit, Three


May the God of peace
bring peace to this house.
May the Son of peace
bring peace to this house.
May the Spirit of peace
bring peace to this house,
this night and all nights

Jesus Our Salvation,
Love,
Lead, Guide, Encourage,
Teach,
Strengthen and Protect
Nurture and Be the Light spreading
more Heaven on this earth
and from our lives,
You are our Alleluia. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 46 ~ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Many, many times when the blog is written, the events of the day help shape this. All the ribbons come together and are tied together in harmony becoming a bow. Like in our dining room painting below.

 I was delighted to see the Steve Martin Movie "Leap of Faith" - a con man recovers in the stride of his self-centeredness by the perfect faith of a miraculously healed youth in Jesus Christ. Attempting to shake off his conning and hurting heart, from his own parental abandonment and orphaning, on the very blessed youth. And then redeeming potential pain by fixing the damage. God goes in the most unlikely of places - seeing into the souls of those needing Him, causing even the unwitting, the jaded, to rejoice and see the well-spring of His Love. Re-firing the belief - All Things Are Possible With God.

Today I had a lovely FB message from Xander's very charming, smart, kind, witty, beautiful, CHRISTIAN GF, of a year, talking about Christmas, gifts and her trip, today, to an orphanage in Guatemala. Where this group of outstanding people are returning to spread Love to the orphanage. A wedding will take place at the orphanage when a volunteer met the orphanage director's daughter and love has grown over several years.

Via satellite link, through the grid bouncing from satellites - I sat in my home and connected to Xander's GF in the magnetosphere through the atmosphere - restating - our sun to the magnetosphere to the ionosphere through the atmosphere to the earth - were we mostly live - is connected by one set of electrical particles. That is one system.

My original phone as a child was a rotary one- a machine - not a computer - using fire to dial it. 

And we prayed together ~

May Our Father God fill His Beloved with the riches of the day. Seeing He has created the day to be sufficient. May the orphanage connect with the people & resources who could help these little ones be sufficient and return to their lives and those around them the Brilliance of the Light of God. Bringing more of His Heavenly Kingdom to earth. Bless the people uplifting the Light of God in each mankind and those providing the trips. In Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

 

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

And for the request of blessing from Jack Lewis upon 25:40
The mission of 25:40 is to channel the attention and resources of those blessed with much toward saving children in southern Africa from the devastating impacts of poverty, AIDS and violence. In doing so create one community of people empowered with purpose, healing and hope.

 

I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me"
-Matthew 25:40



















Please pray with us as well. Thank you.


Nehemiah 1
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”


Isn't it awe inspiring to read Nehemiah. Israel exists again today. Not for your great-great grandparents, going way back from 70 A.D. , Jesus' Natural life span,  until now has Israel existed. Nehemiah's Words go back the 5th century Before Christ. And we sit praying them today.

Father God, We are sinners and ask the Blessings of Mercy and Forgiveness to our souls - home to where You dwell - to our Father's House, where we worship. The Law You upheld has been injured, bruised and broken. We ask the Mercy of Jesus upon this. Let us return to You, and in Your Spirit restore the Word of God in us. Gather us outcasts, scattered to winds, to the uttermost parts of Heaven, gather us and bring us to your place of chosen purpose, making us dwell in the protection of Jesus. You have redeemed us by Your Great power and by Your Strong Hand. O Lord, let Your Ear be attentive to the prayers of the servants Jesus calls friend. And to this prayer as we Delight in the Highest Name of Jesus. Give us success today and grant us mercy in Your sight. Amen.

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2 Samuel 7:18 ~ You established for Yourself Your people Israel to be Your people forever. And You, O Lord, became their God.

2 Samuel 7:18, 23-29


  Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?



 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 

And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 

And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 

And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 

For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ 

Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.  Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. 

For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.

Life rarely rests in one angle. These Christmas Holy Days have been a beautiful season, always with a hitch or two. And yet... this week has seen the unexpected death of the Uncle the family has been far flung. A sinus infection. Cal spending his 25th birthday looking for a home for a beloved pet and being asked graciously to take what he would like. A death related disagreement. A good sized Tantrum. Two cases of flu in the family, with a triumphant break in a good-sized fever. An abandoned Christmas family gathering with parlay. Forgotten Christmas presents. The death of a treasured orphaned Key Cat, with a heart shaped nose. A Very Kind Pine Forest Animal Clinic, very loving. More or less a Christmas um... time bomb.

Maybe saints really had a clue about those monasteries. With verdant hills, growing grapes and the tendrils of little pea vines.

How easy it is the week of the BOOOOOM to recount the Rather Difficult Week.

To get the blessings out of life, if you don't DIG for them, they will pass you by like the Wide highway of Life.

Creation, we are told, waits with longing for the revealing of the Sons of God. When we move, dwell and have our souls/homes for Father God, we want to see the daily Blessings. Letting our personal Temple encourage God to enjoy being within.  The blessings we remember are the ones we should recall.

~ The warmth of being understood and enjoyed. Fellows in a ship. Fellowship.
~ Phone calls from sons. Wanting to be home. After the college years of 'Busy'. 
~ Seeing and appreciating Good News in the News.
~ Family to have a tree with and help to have that tree accomplished. Blessings of memories.
~ Receiving the blessing of invitations. Going home happy and nourished.
~ Gathering multiply with families, being able to pray with them to convey the years with love and gratitude.
~ Being blessed with Church Family. And made to feel loved.
~ Having small children to bake noxious gluten free cookies with!!! And stop sign colored Christmas Trees.
~ Overcoming distress. Being valued when you have That Look and the unspoken cry is heard. And valued when your words were hasty and loud. The Grace of Forgiveness Received.
~ The opportunity to give.
~ Having the opportunity to see gifts bless others.
~ Love covers a Multitude of sin. Love. This is what God is. John walked with Him in awe.
~ The blessings of seeing God gives us VERY imperfect people to have Imperfect solutions and seeing just as we see in God's Word. Growing us up as adults. Grrr.
~ Being able to see blessings clearly and not rosy glasses.
~ Saints of God believe in different degrees of faith. Learning not to have the final, instructive say so.

~ The joy a small cat brings and the memories of that love he gave.
~ Accepting the bumps with the Blessings while remembering the Blessings!!!

Father God, we have Faith in hearing You - hearing the Word of Christ. Hope in Your Word the plans You have for us, declares our Lord God, plans for welfare and not for evil, to giving us a future and a hope. Love, believing that Our Father God loves so much He still so earnestly loves the world, He gave Jesus His only Son, that believing in Him, we receive eternal life. Knowing faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. In the name of Jesus going forth with the bridegroom dwelling within in the Joy and Strength of the Lord Jesus.

With Your blessing shall the house of Your servant be Blessed Forever.

Amen.

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Zechariah 4 ~ Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

Zechariah 4

And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.

“These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.” 11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Matthew 1

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS


Matthew 1 begins just like Zechariah 4. God is rebuilding Israel. An angel visits. John begins with Light coming into the World. Jesus is bringing the Holy Spirit to the World. Emmanuel is God with us.

Witnesses, God uses witnesses, like John the Baptist, because so many wondrous acts of God prove His Words exactly are this:

Isaiah 55:6-9
6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.


Be Blessed this Holy Days and even in days of sinus infection ~ we believe in faith.

John 1:16
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.


Amen!

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