Psalm 39 ~ I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good

Psalm 39
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.


1 I said, “I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish increased;
3 my heart grew hot within me.
While I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.

6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.

7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
8 Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.
9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,
you consume their wealth like a moth—
surely everyone is but a breath.

12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were.
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”



Psalm 3
8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.

Rick Warren lately said people tend to be turtles or skunks. What would Jesus say about our communications?

Matthew 6
6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 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. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Jesus said be salt and light. Be interesting. Add to the conversation. Help your loved one in God. Not be top dog  to your beloved.

Joshua was not relying on anyone other than the Holy Spirit to say not to the right, not to the left. God always says we are to love ourselves and to take care of our self worth before God.



We are supposed to be our best fake halo selves? No. Are we to hush up to fester inward? No. We are supposed to not be show offs. Not to be blow hards to one another. We are supposed to lift one another up with some humility and an idea to encourage each other without saying - praise me for my encouragement. God gives you mostly - to the ones He gives you.

Lord deliver us from the long discussion when fewer words work better. A blessing! Something to remember!

1 John 4:7
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1. Be patient.
2. Encouragement is used by God to feed His people. Truthful encouragement.
3. God says our tongue is the hardest thing to control. We are given, for most of our time, to the ones we love. We are witnessing and helping the most to the ones God surrounds us with. We develop the character of those around us towards God in love and goodness, honesty and courtesy in love.
4. Some arguments are just words. We pray for what is put in our lives that isn't up to us. What isn't our choice, isn't necessarily ours to change - place this in the hand of God.


Romans 8
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

God does NOT knock us down to get our attention.

Again -

Revelation 12:10

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.



God speaks like the best parent

Revelation 3
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich,
and white garments so that you may clothe yourself,
and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed;
and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock;
if anyone hears My voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.


When we are blessed to do what Joel 3 says we all will accomplish - go before Father God on the Day He Calls Us Forth. Will He ask us what we did for strangers when we are called to Love? God is telling us to Love. Paul loved as he preached. For most of us we are called to have spouses, families, lives that involve a framework that leads like this - God, spouse, self, family, Church, job, friends, neighbors, others. Love is the call. We are called to give account that we cared for the ones He gave us. God is orderly. And His highest call is to Love and work this path.

We are called to be fun. To be honest. To educate. To encourage. To insist on teamwork. We are called to entertain. To enhance as salt enhances even chocolate. We are called to build the framework of what God would give us to allow the best possible chance for happiness. We are called to communicate earnestly in the best possible Light. We are called to build bridges. We are called to reveal ourselves and our problems - because this is Light and honesty. We are Light to be hopeful. To upbuild our love for God, for our spouse, ourself, family, Church, job, friends, neighbors, others and the community. Look for the good. When we focus on our problems - that is what we will see.

1 Peter 3:10
For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech."




David agrees with Peter. Millenniums apart and joined by God, Gods Word holds forth.

Psalm 34
1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.


Father God,
I open the Door for You and say come to live in me, Jesus Christ the Lord. I will dine with You in the Joy found in Your mercies renewed each day. Forgive my sins and lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your mercy.

Strengthen me to see the good. Salve my eyes to see situations honestly and wisely. Let me change what You would have me change and realize that You are the one in charge. This is the day You have made. I will do my best and lean on You. In Jesus. Let me be one of the Number. Let us exalt God together and rejoice in His Salvation.

Father God, we pray for our Nation. Let peace come again to our citizens and to this world. Help our armed forces to upbuild the young men and women who work for our good.  Amen.

 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Mark 6:53-56 ~ As many touched Jesus fringe were made well.

Mark 6

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was.

56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment.

And as many as touched it were made well.

Linen was worn frequently in the Bible and makes fringe easily.

Psalm 33

Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

13 The Lord looks down from heaven;
he sees all the children of man;
14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out
on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
16 The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.



Philippians 3 

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.

To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

!

Exodus time December 12th.

This is Very exciting. 97% of the Audience surveyed said they really want to see this film.

44% of the Critics like the film. A major criticism is that it is, "So Biblical." I'm in! This Movie Theater soon!!!



Here are some Rotten Tomato Splats!

The film itself turns out to be a traditional, linear account of the Moses story that could have been taken from one of David Kossoff's bible stories

OH GOOD!

To be absolutely fair, even if Exodus were cast with 100% racial/ethnic authenticity, it would still be a terrible film.

The History Channel says you can still see effects of the plagues from the air. The Ipuwer Papyrus us also called The Admonitions of Ipuwer. Its official designation is Papyrus Leiden I 344 recto. Currently in the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, Netherlands, after being purchased from Giovanni Anastasi, the Swedish consul to Egypt, in 1828. The sole surviving manuscript dates to the later 13th century B.C. (no earlier than the 19th dynasty in the New Kingdom). The Ipuwer papyrus runs neck and neck with the account of the Exodus. And when you look at Historical Documents in Egypt which date the exodus about 1447-1446 B.C. which also connects when the words Joseph, Israel, Goshen, Yahweh appear in tax records and official Egyptian documents.

Ok. The Exodus authentic would be a terrible film. I guess we would have to appreciate what the parallels would be today and  for our lives.

Let's do that.

Anyone ever work a job to provide for their family they just would love to leave?

Anyone stuck with needing God to help them? Asking for a miracle?

Naw? Ok! Let's all go home now.

Or.

What about just being in the world where the world does not offer you condolences, kind appreciation and generally tries to belittle you.

How would you survive that?

Well, for one, we live not in the desert traveling and traveling and afraid of starvation. God has made us far more comfortable than this amazing time of awe to see Moses speak with God.

God, today, says we can just reach for Him and He is right there with us. Jesus assures us this is quite true when we dwell in understanding His Word. We live in a time where our Hope of God is far more personal and far more internal.

When we clearly know how much God loves us, and listens to us, we surely are capable of escaping the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Criticism is to tear flesh. We worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put confidence in our soul as being Beloved of God. And as we worship, we see more people need the encouragement of God and our care and love.

We are the Easter People and Alleluia is our song. Sometimes we need to see the Power of God to realize the wonderful position we are in as the Beloved of the New Covenant. And yet, we are inspired again because God created the Universe merely with His Word. God has provided this world with 2,000 years of Jesus Christ and His compassion, therefore we are separated from harsher realities.

The Living Water of God, today, provides is with the assurance that we have the opportunity of Salvation. 

The Comfort the Holy Spirit has provided within us helps us to provide others with comfort today.

Moses told us a Word from God is louder than any trumpet mankind has ever heard. I imagine that hearing the heaped up waters descend upon the army of Pharoah made an amazing noise... and still... the noise of God created a sound they had never experienced before in their time frame.

People who literally hear God say that HE speaks with a gentle whisper more powerful than mankind can imagine from rocket engines or blaring bombs. The Exodus and the New Testament of God choosing to arrive as a baby are both wonders of God. 

Thank You, Father God, for Your Wonders. And You have not finished yet. 

I will wait upon God all the days of my life and dwell in the House of Lord for His Word to me. Alleluia. Christmas is coming again. This is as sure as the Promises of God for us in eternity who call upon Jesus. Speak the Word God and I shall be well. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Mark 12:24-27 ~ know the Scriptures, the Power of God

Mark 12:24-27

24 Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

Ephesians 1

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Numbers 6

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’

27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

How will we receive Christmas Blessings?

Deuteronomy 30

“And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. 4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. 5 And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. 6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. 7 And the Lord your God will put all these curses on your foes and enemies who persecuted you. 8 And you shall again obey the voice of the Lord and keep all his commandments that I command you today.

9 The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, 10 when you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

11 “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 

If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules,then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.

Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 
loving the Lord your God, 
obeying his voice and holding fast to him, 
for he is your life and length of days,
that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”


Christmas Blessings are obtained by giving. It's true. Mankind unite - give Christmas Gifts. Without giving, Christmas is not much fun. Are Christmas gifts presents?

How will we have Christmas Joy? Being a Blessing.

The Power of God.The glorious Father, giving us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation - He is God of the Living.

He is enlightening us in order to know the hope to which He has called you. God has placed all things under His feet. His incomparably great power for us who believe.

How to obtain His blessing - bless those who allow mercy to be sown. Keep praying for all you know to be kept in this blessing. The Lord's Face shines on mercy bestowed and graciousness. The Lord turns His face to those who give earnest peace.

Jesus said a Neighbor is Merciful.

Jesus gave us examples of the way of Peace. He didn't choose to be born into apparent riches. He chose to be born to merciful Joseph. Jesus chose to be born to Joseph who would go out of his way for his family to have peace. Jesus chose to be born to Mary who said "God's Will be done." Mary said she would take the life God gave her and do her best. Jesus chose to be born to a woman willing to go with her husband a long way for an obligation in difficult circumstances. Jesus chose to born into a family that pulled together and the Gospels report them, twice, as seamless as the robe Jesus wore. Someone made that beautiful and seamless robe for Jesus.

Jesus chose Brothers who made mistakes and bothered Him. Jesus sometimes told His Brothers to wait and sit outside. Jesus knew something about His Brothers and He expected their best to shine forth in time.

What Jesus didn't fuss about:

Jesus didn't fuss when Nicodemus came to see Him out of the spotlight. Jesus was a bit tart. Jesus didn't lavish compliments on a truth seeker who came at his own convenience. Jesus didn't spend his days angling for a place in God's Temple. Jesus did spend time in prayer looking at the Temple and in conversation with His Father. Jesus knew the Essenes had left declaring the Holy Spirit was missing from the Temple  - Herod was choosing the priests. Yet, Jesus entered the Temple at the very least 26 times. Jesus taught where people of God worshiped His Father.  Jesus loved what His Father loved. 

Jesus was teaching His beloved - God dwells within.  Jesus told His disciples of a new Church. Where people worship in truth. This begins within us, earnestly, living with Father God dwelling in our souls.

Jesus didn't spend His Glory on arriving back at the Temple to make any late declarations. 
 Jesus spent time with the Narrow Path people who had really loved Him. Jesus appeared to more and more people as they earnestly wanted to see Him. God is about Loving His Beloved. Let's be one of that number.

And Jesus left no doubt as to where He was going. Father God blessed all of those Jesus forgave with forgiveness. Peace arrived. The Brothers of Jesus wrote of Love. The disciples of God wrote of Love. Blessings arrived. Love earnestly. Love genuinely. Be patient. Love again.

Father God, let us follow the riches Jesus chose. Let us take the life You have willed for us and be filled with Love for You and Your blessings. We will pray earnestly each day for the ones You have given us. We will love and trust in You, Jesus. To Your Glory and Will be done. Renew, refresh and encourage our souls in Your Overwhelming Love again Father God.

I have Joy, joy, joy, joy - down in my heart to stay. Thank God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Matthew 1 ~ Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.

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.

Psalm 96
96 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!

2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.

6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth!

10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Acts 1
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

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.”

 
 A Christmas tree is a sign - a Tree pointing to Jesus returning to Heaven - to His Holy Father's Kingdom to live. All Christmas ornaments have a holy story behind them.

Jesus chose to live among us as truth and grace to be beheld. Jesus was born in difficult circumstances, not what any parent hopes for. A time of despair for parents anticipating the life of the next generation. This sign was given first to a king, long before Jesus chose a narrow path born to a carpenter, building a house for his future bride.


Isaiah 7
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord yourf God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And heg said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Joseph proved himself a royal father to care for God's Son. Even leaving the country to Egypt before doing the difficult task spoken of twice in the Gospels - blending back into Nazareth.

Jesus could have been born in a palace, and instead chose a narrow path. A path of great meaning. Part of an earthly family recording sibling goading and sibling rescue and sibling abandonment to sibling reclamation. Eventually Jesus knew His Brothers would travel the world to spread the Good News of God's Gift of Salvation.

What other way was Jesus going to Heaven? He could have disappeared - Jesus is recorded as doing this in life. People would have looked for him. He could have walked off into the distance. People would have looked for Him. So, God makes a bold statement - Jesus has gone to Heaven.

Jesus is the Light of the World. Mystics record that the star didn't shed light, Jesus by being born, brought forth Light. John called Jesus the Light of the World.


Job 1:21
and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

Light from Light. True God of True God.

1 Timothy 3:16
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

1 Timothy 1:14-15
The grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

Father God, let us honor, cherish, nurture and grow those You have given us. Telling them of Your Faithfulness - Higher than the Skies. Father God, may we have power, of Christ dwelling in our hearts, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. We pray this in Jesus, may we partake of Your Goodness always. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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2 Corinthians 11 ~ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever

2 Corinthians 11

16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!

But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 2 6on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food,b in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

I was given a new ring tone for my phone - "Pirates of the Caribbean" - and I am Enamored with the idea upon waking up - the first thought runs the course in my brain saying, "GIVE US THIS DAY."

We lose sight of the Adventure Paul was living for Father God. Saints are dour in robes with judgment? Noooo. When you look at all the ways Paul loved those he was telling about God's Love to - Paul LOVED! We posted all the ways Paul wrote of his love. If you missed the post, take a minute to go back and see how many lovely ways Paul says his witness is for the beloved people.

Now, if we take Paul literally, that we should imitate Paul - verses 25-28 we would think Paul was dour. Instead I think Paul fit in well with the Italians - the Joy, the indignation, anxiety over loved ones. Today, at the bright old age of barely being 50 years old - I discovered - if you darken your facial hairs with hair dye - well - it doesn't stay Clear. Am I clear in saying this? Yes, after deciding that the face hair had to decide if it was white or blonde to be lasered to gone - (I'm trying to say dark hair lasers off better) - I found in the doctor's office - I had arrived with vaudeville style goatee and mustache.

And that went actually fairly well - the doctor's office and I fell over!!! And that at the age of 50 - I had never experimented with hair color and didn't know what goes on clear - doesn't stay clear.

And I'm here to tell you today - I rejoice in my sufferings! Laughed all day. Can you imagine with me - Paul rejoiced in that shipwreck!!! Nothing like surviving! And I got to tell about the fire several years back during Altar Care story. An opportunity to share a public Oh Noooo and to say how nice everyone was that the Church didn't catch fire during the service and on my watch. A memorable witness to the Love God has for us in the witness of Christian kindness. So... My day was pretty complete! If you're chatty and you know it, raise your hand! Thank You, God, for kind people,  everywhere you encounter goodness!

1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

I was listening to Rick Warren Daily Hope last night; Rick Warren said expect God to do something NEW in your life...

God does tell us not to put too much of a "beard" on. We are better at being our best self than a poor best fake. To have your honest self revealed and to be able to say "I Survived!" Is a Mighty Fine Thing.

OF COURSE, I realize the fiery trials of Paul were indeed NOBLE. I'm saying, when you pull out all the aspects of Paul, writing in the Holy Spirit, about love - you are learning - this man could bounce with the Strength of the Lord - which is indeed JOY. It is one of the few ways to understand rejoicing in sufferings!

Just Maybe. Paul would have liked the song, "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple. Smoke on the Water like the Holy Spirit in Genesis, and Fire in the Sky of The Book of Acts. A day to God is millions of years - we just aren't that far apart in the eyes of God. Imagine that! Dusty robes don't necessarily mean dry dusty sense of humor!

The mercies of God renew each day - my mercy for today is - I will never appear in public again with a full painted beard. Amen.

Genesis 1
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness

Now, the blog post is sort of fluffy today - and perhaps it seems light to you. One - our faith is something we don't put on a lofty shelf and say "Holy, holy, holy" - (and label that) - "For Other People. Lofty Nobility." Faith, my new friend and I discussed today is - taking what God puts in Your Soul to Your Father God and calling that "Abundant Life." We do NOT know what others have going on - we do know - what God gives to us to put forth in our unique talents and abilities. Let's run from calling that talents and abilities and instead call it "Heart."

Paul is comfortable saying see Jesus in him and imitate him. I'm, personally, not comfortable with that. Rick Warren pointed out something that completely grabbed me and held me. Peter says in Matthew 16 a re-announcement of the Divinity of Jesus. And just as Jesus turns to this human man, Peter, and says Peter will for - all time - be honored in Heaven and on earth as Seeing and Knowing and Serving God. Peter then Proves he is fully human and not God's Son, by saying Jesus shouldn't die and for Jesus to proclaim only Life and Glory. Jesus goes so far as to say - evil. To try to cut into God's Plan.

I'm saying with all my heart - God is God. Jesus is God's Son and Lord. My relationship with Father God is to Love Him for the Love HE has bestowed on me. I don't want to say I'm good enough to be imitated. I want to point to His goodness. And bask in the gift of salvation. I want the people I love to know Father God Loves and is Marvelous. When I have a glimpse of "rejoice in sufferings," then I will share. Because Jesus said He came to make Life Abundant. The Lord sees transparently all of the world and universe HE created and calls good - yesterday, today and tomorrow - and HE sees us just as we are. His response? He wants to save us. Give us His Son and Salvation.

His Mercies renew each day. Count on His Promises.

Luke 1:4
so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught


Father God, in our new day, we open our hands to You. Lord Father God, if You will bless us with the blessings of Abraham, Jabez, David, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Daniel, John, Luke, Mark, Titus, Timothy ~ we ask in the Name of Jesus for Your glory. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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