Psalm 81 ~ God our Strength

Psalm 81
To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith.[Musical Term] Of Asaph.

Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel,
a rule^{[just decree]} of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph
when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:

6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.
7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

People hardly ever sit down and ask you - why are you a Christian. What makes you interested in intransigent Christianity?

abiding, age-long, ancient, constant,
continuing, durable, enduring, evergreen, hardy,
immutable, lasting, long-lived,
long-standing, long-term,
of long duration, of long standing, perdurable, perennial, permanent, perpetual, persistent,
persisting, steadfast, tough, unfading, vital

Christianity has not had a changing message since the day the Book of Acts was becoming part of this planet. Jesus Christ loves us that much.

What possible blessing is there really in believing in something you cannot see and taste?

When I was 16, I went from being slightly snide about my grandmother's rock solid faith and was asked if I believed all of the impossible claims about God, His Son Jesus and the promises of the Written Word in Scripture. I discovered when asked to really decide I could and did. I accepted an asked for promise to read His Word every day. And I have. A couple of times, sure, I've been stuck somewhere without a Bible, but I have repeated the Lord's Prayer.

So what is the benefit of being a Christian. Eventually the line between faith unseen and imperceptible begins to dim. And perception becomes part of the continual prayer language of everyday. People say they have a hard time praying, after years of thinking and praying I think prayer and thinking to hand in hand. Like having a thought and turning that thought towards the ONE who is always listening to us anyway. Prayer isn't so much about a form as it is sharing in a heartfelt way, our thoughts, the virtues, flaws and sins.

In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder

There have been times I've wondered why hard things happen to good people. Only to realize God weaves what isn't good into His plan. Surely one of the purposes of life - growing up to go Home to Him - is not giving Him so much to sweep up. We really should not treat Him as if He was a waiter or a servant of ours. And even if we aren't praying for the sterling aspects of our lives, its important to remember we do ask in the Lord's Prayer for His will. And one of our purposes is to bring His Kingdom to earth in our lives, actions and words.

1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.

This is the Good News of Jesus Christ - The God we Love, Loves far more.




Matthew 6:27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This summer I was in Sam's with my son, Cal. It was a day I was trying to decide if I was upset enough to cry. Just about all of it all the time. And the clerk in the check out line said to me, Very Cheerfully, "Today is sufficient. God gives you JUST what you need today. Learn to be grateful and trust HIM." You know I was leaving the store, I had to go back and tell her - "God Bless YOU. You are just what I needed to hear." And being a person of faith - she smiled as bright as the sun at noontime.

You have to really appreciate the Light. Especially when He speaks to you so clearly. You know you have heard from Him. The words spoken to me have radically changed my life. Speak up even if your voice squeaks. Hold on - with gratitude - when you hear from HIM. Always look to HIM with awe and wonder.

I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Matthew 8:10
When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith."

Mark 2:5
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

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






Father God bless the families that gather this weekend. Bless the driving.

Please help the people in Texas experiencing rain and flooding to have Your blessing of Help. Father if I could have a prayer request, I ask Your Word of Mercy to be fulfilled. I ask Lake Travis to be filled with all the rain -  the rest of Texas would like some gentle sunshine. Thank You for the END of Drought!

 Thank You, Father God, for the ones we love. Let us Bless You by showing Your great love to the ones we love and let that Love Pour Forth. In the Great Name of Jesus. Amen.

 Padre Cloudy, but hoping for some Sunshine!

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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1 John 3:11-21 ~ The message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 3:11-21
~ Today's New International Version

11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a fellow believer is a murderer, and you know that no murderers have eternal life in them.

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you?

18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence. 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God.

John has themes that he returns to again and again as he writes. John talks about God as being light, without any darkness at all. Dark is not even dark to God. He then goes on to speak about God as love – "this is the message you have heard from the beginning" – we should love another (verse 11), as Jesus loves us.

Love, as John rightly suggests, should consume our whole being, and be evident from every pore of our body. What we do, what we say and what we think will reveal us to be people of love and people of God."

John saw Love modeled by Jesus. This would be John's eyewitness account of what drew the disciples of Jesus and the crowds Jesus had such compassion upon. We, of course, pale in comparison.

Come, Lord Jesus, dwell in me.

Conflict is inevitable. The Bible is all about personal stories of the path of reality becoming Love.

A grudge is when you let someone live in anger in your heart. Forgiveness is when you have allowed healing to begin and continue. When Jesus said turn the other cheek, He didn't mean not communicate. He meant don't stir up anger unnecessarily. Paul writes to Timothy - present yourself as one approved before God, present the truth accurately. The disciples faced false accusations and anger. They stood up to explain. Communication is not against what God asks of us.

Jesus lived so many examples that John said the world couldn't contain all the examples of Jesus. Not every one adored Jesus. And He forgave them. Jesus appeared to 500 - the 500 who had loved Jesus. Jesus was not to enter the house of his accusers again.

God did not invalidate Jesus' forgiveness. Jerusalem was not to burn to the ground until the forgiven generation of Jesus had died. God allowed peace to reign on those multitudes who had come to mourn the fate of Jesus. On the healed. On those great crowds who had come far into the wilderness to see Jesus.

In marriages, in families, in loving friendships - people have disagreements. In the early Church. In the disciples. In the last Chapter of John's Gospel. 1 Corinthians 13 explains the perfect Love God has in His sufficiency for those who do the work God gives mankind to believe God and trust Him. This is being held by God's grace, mercy and favor as He longs to put us under His wing. God longs to love us. He is the Prodigal Father - He is not about earned in His unobtainable gift of Salvation for those who profess and believe in their earnest hearts. This is how God says there is no condemnation in Jesus Christ. This is not easy Grace. It is earned by the death of Jesus. A most serious concept. Once a friend gasped to me upon watching "The Passion of the Christ" - how could we possibly, ever, ever watch that - unless we Knew Easter Was Coming?

How do we take an argument in a marriage or anywhere else and not become a prisoner to a grudge or a vow or a family? Truly this takes God to make a path. Forgiveness, a way to bend and yield with mercy. We have to fight the good fight for a true peace. We cannot allow half truths to press peace into a meaningless phrase. The truth should not be treated as if it is not known. And encouraged to be spoken again - if a fact is known - this is known.

Paul told Timothy - present yourself as one approved - Timothy knew in his heart to God, he was approved - teach the message of truth accurately.

Love allows people to make mistakes and love allows communication. People admit their flaws and are allowed to be forgiven for truths expressed. Pressing people to admit a fault not their own and asking false submissiveness is not a path of love. Taking one's own emotions to find fault with another not responsible but obtainable to rail at - is not a path of truth. False implications are not love. But allowing mistakes to be made and moving past them with truth expressed is. If we look for perfect people, we are asking for a false pose. God Himself says we are flawed. It takes God to make forgiveness.

What we do with believers of God is this:

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

We believe People of God have the goodness of Reasonableness and Justice. We believe Loving people have God in them. We expect them to draw near and to be approachable and loving. We expect to be able to reason with the Beloved of God. We believe a faith of discussion and love exist and continue forth.

We believe truth is a goal of “Love your neighbor as yourself” and is covered by love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We believe fighting the good fight for these things bear fruit. To accept less or expect less is merely the way of the world and not a path of Hope, Faith and Love.

I am fortunate enough to work with the youngest generation making a path in the world today. Blessed.

I found one person today who was terrified to be pregnant. She had decided to believe the media that sexual liberation at age 18 was reasonable. What she found is that she didn't enjoy sex when you are forced to be involved in something unskilled in real love. Young people are Astonished to hear real love can laugh during love making. That getting into a discussion of pleasure is valid. That skill of intimate knowledge is required in real love making for pleasure. People who can express their flaws and be loved. Real love has your face held, your eyes looked into and fabulous love revealed - is part of the commitment of good sex. Real love making makes the people around them involved in rules - families feel protected and not opened up to serious consequences.

This is not part of the sexual revolution - and the truth is the sexual revolution provides a lot of hurt feelings, bad intimacy and STD's. Her 18 year old comment was, "I wish I could have all this taken back and not happen. What the media portrays as easy sex - is a lie." She is going to make changes in her life. She asked about paths forward and how to help her mom with a 3 year old sister - also abandoned by a "baby daddy."

All that framework called marriage - this makes families with a dependable structure. But this 18 year old child turned her concerns from herself and on to helping her mom. God using her circumstances to realize what her mom is in need of. Sex isn't a great goal of self, family is the goal for life that is abundant. This eighteen year old has family and goals that involve pleasing God. She is unpregnant and thrilled to be out of trouble - this has made her heart for her mom grow.

The next young person I encountered is thrilled to be married, have a job in a good place, with not a lot of money. She is pregnant with their third child - on one partial hysterectomy. In her low income, she and her husband are providing a home for her abandoned mother with a great deal of love. And for her younger brother too. Her younger brother was thrilled to be an uncle for the 3rd time and was aglow with the idea of more family to love. Money is not a big priority - family and love is. Drugs are frowned upon - why do you need them when Love is so available.

The next young person sat on the same sofa and cried because her ovary is inflamed, bleeding, cysts that rupture and bleeding. She said with kleenex in hand that she hates the idea of having a partial hysterectomy because she wants to have more children. God is so Good isn't He? I told her of the woman in that room that day and how God brings people together that don't even meet. She quit crying! God will find a path.

Her boyfriend told her they would not date. They met outside of a restaurant and happened to run into each other two weeks later. Love at first sight. He said that he was a the child of foster parents and wouldn't date until he had made a best friend. A year later, and many good times later, their first kiss occurred. Then the dating began. This still exists in the world today. They moved into the foster parent's house and tried to rescue their mortgage. In the real world, things happen out of order. But this is love and there will be marriage. Her boyfriend, she will marry, is the only father her son has known. His dad cut out his visits when he found out that child support was coming his way. Now this child has a real dad.

Jesus is Living Water. He goes were He is needed. He soaks in and makes life. Thank God for Jesus.


Father God, Your mercies renew each day. Let us draw near to You for Your encouragement that there is trouble in this life and You overcome trouble. In Jesus we place our Hope, Faith and Love to stand before Him to hear Him say, "Well done My Beloved Child." We pray Your abundant mercies and blessings upon us. And the ones we Love. Thank God the Highest Name is Jesus and we rest upon Him. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Psalm 116 ~ For you, O LORD!

Psalm 116

1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, save me!"
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
6 The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.

7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

10 I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted."

11 And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars."

12 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.

14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

16 O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD-- in your midst, O Jerusalem. 

 Praise the LORD.

James 3:17-18 

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all
pure; 
then peace-loving, 
considerate, 
submissive,
 full of mercy 
and good fruit, 
impartial 
and sincere. 
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.


Sincerity.

We believe the path of God looks like the photo above.

However ...

... the truth is this is life a lot of the time. Temporary. Work. Effort. And our real attitudes - matter to God.

The first photo, used at the top of the page, is not a glorified photo of summer. We see the sky is bright blue and crops are probably already taken out of the field. Summer has been warm a long time. We are probably counting the days to cooler temperatures.

And the promises of God - for His kindness as we face - work, bills, family with expenses, poor attitudes, the daily grind, disrespect, and the routine of life -

- well the promises of God are - sure.

For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

God never took His people on a magical, mystery carpet tour.

Faith.

Hebrews 11
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.


The Lord God Almighty did not leave us like a sailboat without wind in the sails. Usually - there was too much wind!!! Something He knew we could appreciate!

And when there was too much or too little - Father God, remember with me, gave tasks we could do each day. He did not leave us orphans in the storm in a Ship Called 'Oh Someday.'
Father God starts out these sailboat stories with God. Good start. Pray.

And why do we pray??? Because in conversation - God is stirred. Moved. Enthused. God told us why - we are created in the image of God.

Now, the photo is great for prayer. The colors are right. We might feel like an airplane under the clouds, but God is reaching us to move past the clouds into the brilliance of pristine whites, sunshine, leaving our cares in Faithful, Trustworthy, Loving Hands of Our Father.

Then refreshed in the mercies of God ~ We can see what God would give us - His Disciples - to do. There are so many things we could quickly become worked to death. We ask God to show us - what task would make our lives better - exercise we enjoy. Like... starting the day with a Gospel passage! And then real exercise to tell the Lord - thank You for this place - dwell here.

What person can we reach out to instead of text. I've learned in my 50s - an invitation given with kindness - really does not cost any thing. Accepted or declined. Kindness to a Child of God is given and that is the good.

And in our daily lives - what can we buy second hand to enjoy? Recycling is green and ebay is usually fun. The economy thanks you for your purchase. What task makes home better. And increases joy of, "Come see!"

Our discussions will involve politics. What really matters? That we vote. That is truly when opinions matter. What can we do daily for our Nation - Land of the Free? PRAY. Look for inventive solutions. You never know when your idea falls right into the heart of someone who can make a difference or God will offer you the opportunity to make a difference.

What else? Offer up an attitude of can do. The people who expect God? God assures us - we will find Him. We will leave a legacy of goodness and mercy as our footprints.

Father God - what can I do today for You - we want our loved ones to know how much God adores them. Remembers their years of expectation. And delight. God is our steadfast and enduring fire - inspires us and we will go forth with God.

Father God we lift up to You - small babies, old people, worried people, and people in the rut. Encourage them - You are Love would would cradle them and hold us. To know again the delight and Love You have for us. In Jesus we see He prepares His disciples to to go forth and dwells within. Father God dwell in all my aspects and help me be cleaned, renewed and inspired in You today. And always. In Jesus. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Psalm 28 ~ Blessed be the Lord! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

Psalm 28

1 To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary, 
your innermost sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.

9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

We believe in Jesus and we cry out to Him.
We can remember times Jesus carried us.
We can remember times like this:

Psalm 77:19
Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.

When we baptize children, we say this:
Over the waters, God's Holy Spirit hovered in Creation.
Through the waters, God led His people.
In the water, Jesus went to be baptized.
And Father God spoke, saying, "Jesus is His beloved Son."

Entitled when we cry out to God?
In His mercy, sometimes.

When Jesus was doing His ministry, He spent time teaching the Disciples how to Shepherd.
Jesus spent a lot of time baptizing His Disciples, cleaning them up, listening to their worries. Even their squabbles.

Look at Luke 9
10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”

13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.”

They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” 14 (About five thousand men were there.)

But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Jesus is always teaching us about prayer, reality, God and possibilities.

Jesus is told to dismiss His People.(?! And they say Peter is cheeky!)
Jesus, the exact nature of God, says - you feed them.
Jesus is told the disciples are not sufficient enough to do this. Oh?
At this point, Jesus is seeing a prayer being generated - they need God to feed this crowd.

When God is shown genuine weakness in completing a God given task, God is going to - give up HIS Will? Whine? Change His mind? Help? ...Jesus sees a work in progress.

Well, God is going to help, but no magic Hand carried His people to the Promised Land. God parted the waters - wonders appeared - but Father God expected - foot work and a good attitude. To be obedient to God. Not to the human voice saying, "We should have stuck to the easier part of slavery in Egypt."

After Jesus is shown weakness in His disciples which is preventing His people from being fed - Jesus is going to provide - not flat bread - but Living Bread.

Jesus has the disciples - sit down and be seen - No, organize into communities and help - pray - ask the Disciples to work for the food to be taken forth - and they are going to be told to get their hands busy being janitors - cleaning up. Jesus doesn't see a mass of people, He puts them into groups to minister the nourishment.

Jesus is giving a saving heritage - blessing His people.

Only the neediest were just fed. Love provided for the crowd. Multitudes of these people later showed this changed their lives.

What did Jesus' hands show His disciples because Jesus knew He was going to become Holy Spirit and not bodily presence? Jesus prayed, gave thanks, and got His own hands in the fish and the bread, so He could feed others.

Father God, Give us the day. We give You great thanks for Your forgiving nature. Help us to know You are the Source and the Center. You alone are Good. 

Father God, open our eyes to Your Will and Wisdom in our Call from You. We are all coming to You in this journey. Teach us to show Your Love from earnest hearts. 

Father Your Love requires action and faith. Strengthen us to do Your Will each day. 

Please bless the work and our prayers to accomplish Your will on earth as in Heaven. 

We expect You, Father God, knowing the Kingdom and the Power and Glory are Yours. 
We call upon You, Jesus, the Highest name Father God gives us. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Mark 2:1-12 ~ Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?

Painted by James Tissot

Mark 2:1-12

 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” 

So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 

12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”


Psalm 126

1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

We know this event in the life of Jesus Christ because the Gospels were written by men who knew the call of Jesus to speak and teach of The Son of God.

Someday, because of the gift of Life from the way of Jesus our Lord - we will see the Life. This very event just as Jesus saw this in it's entirety. Just exactly as the event really happened - because those people who have had glimpses of Heaven know that the creator of Heaven created earth.

I'm saying Jesus will make His memories alive for us to see. Our technology - our wisdom - is merely "seeing through the glass darkly" and Jesus will show us His life exactly. We will,  in Heaven, sit with Jesus and see His Life!!!

This day will be a prime example of the Joy Jesus had living here with us. As a man and fully God.

When we think of going to Church - we know Church is made up of people - and we all fall short of His Glory. But know this - Jesus died for His Church. The Church continues after 2,000 years from Jesus explaining a non-existent Church would be here to glorify Jesus. When we go to God's House on Sunday, we are sitting in the House of God.

God will feed us - the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Staying in step with the Spirit - we do away with:
sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like - those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The way Jesus ministers - He cleansed impurities. He did not try to hide sin exists. The man in the painting demonstrates helplessness and weakness - but God makes all things possible. God is his strength, healing, and grace. Jesus turns this time into His Father's Glory. God is the center. Because Father God is sufficient - Jesus, The Son of God, calls us His.

The purpose of the Church is to Worship God. To encourage us to live the life God gives us. To press on in humility when the victory is unseen. To give us His Grace when life is good. Walking the path of our lives with faith, in all seasons of our lives.

Father God please be the center of me and the ones I love. We hold on to You, Father God - look to Jesus -  for the free gift of Salvation - be within us as the fruit of Your Holy Spirit. We are nourished - in all seasons of our life - we will depend on You  and Your steadfast Love will see us through. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Psalm 117 ~ Praise the Lord

Psalm 117

1 Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.

2 For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

As a child, my grandmother Anita used to read to me about David. And she explained David was beloved of God. I wanted to be beloved of God. God assures us His nature is to love us all.

The Good News of Jesus Christ is God sees what is within all of mankind - and God reacts with Love - to want to save the world. The nature of God is not nice to one and rude to another. Jesus walked away from the people who took offense at Him.

God is steadfast - The Good News is for those of us who call upon Jesus and believe in Jesus - we are saved.

His Great Love is faithful and endures forever. Thanks be to God, in Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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John 6:16-24 ~ in search of Jesus

John 6:16-24

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

So we are told as it is written:

John 9:4
"We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work."

John 11:10
It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.

We can learn about THE WORD OF GOD made manifest - Jesus our Lord - from what is written.

1. Psalm 139 tells us that nothing is dark to God. He is Light. He is not going to stumble, because He is God.

2. I like this message the best - walking on water - at night - was not "work" to Jesus. This was Joy!

3. John 17 13
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them."

This point is wonderful. Jesus abides in God - His fruitfulness is Joy.

Can you see the disciples talking in that boat...

"Simon, Simon says hoist up that sail." (Simon the Zeolot and Peter Simon - c'mon you always wondered where the game 'Simon Says'  originated right...)

"Ok, I DID, the wind is really picking up."

John says, "Did you see the way our Teacher fed five thousand people!" The men talk about the wonder of God. Matthew adds, "Well, it's clear we are going to have to have another Party for Jesus!" The men look at Matthew. "And this time - we let Jesus cater the Party!"

Thomas says, "I really admired Jesus today. He fed and healed so many. Jesus put His amazing hands into the bread and even the fish to provide. Jesus puts his Hands out and does whatever is needed for God's people."

The men are silent. It was another amazing day with God.




Thomas cries out, "What is THAT? What am I seeing?"

Then they began to discuss among themselves who was the greatest to see this, Jesus' disciples said, "Now speak clearly and without figures of speech!"

They then had a rapid discussion - how to pray.

James and John cry out, "What would stand like that - there? How is it placed there?"

Andrew cries for Peter to come and look. Andrew yells out, "I think this is the Messiah!"

They cry out together, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"

Thomas said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go to Jesus that we may ... too, so that we may die with Him."

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to get someone to explain this if you were not here to see this yourself."

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, "How far would this story go among so many?"

They all started talking at once and said to each other, "What must we do to do the works God requires?”




Yesterday we saw that Jesus just by passed the people who did not want Him to be God.

Today we see when the Disciples see how fully Jesus is God, John 6 reports they were very afraid.

And then we see the people want God to serve them and they show up immediately. 


Jesus reveals hearts. 

Father God, let me each day ask to let me be a good place for You to dwell

Search my heart and mind, discerning the thoughts and intentions of my heart.

Help my heart of flesh - please You.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

I will ask you to help me Trust in You with all my heart, and not leaning on my understanding. I will acknowledge Your Ways, and will make straight our paths.

Keep my heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Place your spirit within us, and in Your name, we will be pure in heart and we shall see God.

We ask this for ourselves and the ones we love and our Nation. In the Highest Name of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Luke 4:14-30 ~ To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor!

Luke 4:14-30

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.


23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”

24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

The year of the Lord's favor sounds fabulous. Isaiah 61 tells us of this:

to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

4They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.

5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6And you will be called priests of the Lord,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

7Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.

8“For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”


Father God had this situation before prophets. When The Ark of the Covenant displayed the ways of God and His Power. The people built a Temple and put Him and His Mercy Seat - The Ark - behind a curtain. Politely labeling that "Holy of Holies."


We dislike when God is silent and then when God acts as God - we want our own way. This has been the situation between man and God since the Garden of Eden. Eve wanted to eat from the tree of knowledge to tell God what was right and wrong.

Jesus demonstrates what He does when His Way is ignored - He walked right through the crowd and went on His way.

God does things His way. His ways are holy and eternal - ours are not.

Father God, I give you my heart today - guide and direct me to be in thoughts, emotions, attitudes, discovery and works to Please You. And help me to convey Your Love to the ones I love and You have given me. In Jesus. Amen.

Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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