John 4:43-54 ~ Doing what Jesus says

John 4:43-54

After the two days he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there.

46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”

53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

The royal official had one exact choice. To go. Jesus was not coming to see his child. In clear vision,  as the royal official looked at Jesus, he had a belief Jesus was with him and the Word of God has power.

In Matthew 14, Herod asks his servants about news of Jesus. we also read of Chuza, Herod's Stewart, had a wife named Joanna and Acts 13:1 "Manaen, Herod's foster brother." All of these officials knew of Jesus or loved Him. We have no way of knowing who the Official was exactly.

Jesus as our Teacher gives us the same example today. We are going on our path - it really is up to our attitudes of belief how the journey will go.

Jesus did give a List To Do. Matthew was pleased to write the list down for us today:

1 Worship the Lord and serve him only. Matthew 4:10

2 Repent. Matthew 4:17

3 Follow me. Matthew 4:19

4 Shine your light before me and do good deeds. Matthew 5:16

5 Your righteousness must surpass the Pharisees Matthew 5:20

6 Settle matters quickly. Matthew 5:25

7 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow from you. Matthew 5:42.

8 Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44

9 Give to the needy. Matthew 6:2

10 Pray. Matthew 6:5

11 Forgive people who sin against you. Matthew. 6:14 Matthew 18:35

12 Fast from food once in awhile. Matthew 6:16

13 Treat people the way you’d like to be treated. Matthew 7:12

14 Enter through the narrow gate. Matthew 7:13

15 Do God’s will. Matthew 7:21

16 Acknowledge Jesus before men. Matthew 10:32

17 Honor your father and mother. Matthew 15:4 Matthew 19:19

18 Be humble. Matthew 18:4

19 Confront the person you have a conflict with. Matthew 18:15

20 Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 19:19 Matthew 22:39

21 Serve everyone. Matthew 20:26-28 Matthew 23:11

22 Love God with all your heart, soul and mind. Matthew 22:37

23 Feed, clothes, visit and invite in the poor and needy. Matthew 25:35

24 Make disciples of Jesus and baptize them. Matthew 28:19

For me and my house - we will serve the Lord Jesus. Father God, I give the Ones I love to You, friends, neighbors, co-workers, for our Nation and rest my cares with You. In Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 12:1-32 ~ For the Son of Man, Jesus is Lord

Matthew 12:1-32

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 

6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”— so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 

29 Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

We are in an age. A very unusual age. Our grandparents paid for their houses before they moved in. We accept the way our culture works, sometimes without thought.  When you look at the School Board problems in America from 100 years ago, you might have seen the simple things, but you would have seen truancy & child labor left off of the list. The golf links lie so near the fence, the little children can see the men at play. 

Another part of our culture we don't look at clearly, many of the people who have experienced substance abuse and have faced up to it, remain in programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and their lives are healed because their addictions are being treated for what they were, soul weariness.  These people begin to clearly understand the soul, the actions, the physical are clearly connected.  As they become tuned into hope for their souls, their lives are changes and grow as they begin to take care of others. Like sponsoring others. And helping people who are unable to help their own children. These people are brave people.

We used to whisper adoption or condemn it and we used to whisper cancer. Yes, we have increasingly seen younger children being involved in STDs and pregnancy, but we also see young people thrilled at the chance to be parents, to love. Willing to ask for help.  

It is only in rejecting the people willing to step forward, we tie up the Holy Spirit in God's willingness to use the weak to shame the strong. Always pray.

John 5:17

But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Romans 8:28

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

Philippians 2:13

for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Philippians 1:4

Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy


We come from several small towns. Calvert, Texas is one where my husband's two great-grandfather was the doctor in Calvert. We located the house and my children were in awe of the history where there ggggrandfather would have kept his horse and ridden out in the night to go to the ones he cared for. And as we left Calvert, there is a painted wall that has a Flag and says We the People in the font of the Declaration of Independence. I said to my small sons, We should reclaim the innovations of those days and Go Forth In the Power of God!  Cal said, "Well it's your idea, you should do that!"

Ok, we should try. Going forth with God. In the name of Jesus Christ.

Dear We the People,

Did you know that going to the dentist twice a year is a great idea. Yes you did. Of Course. Smile. I have two dentists I really like Dr. Bill and Libby (always joyous in God) Wambaugh and Dr. Troy Bonin. All love and follow Jesus Christ.

No one with teeth should do without a water pick Dr Troy says. And even an inexpensive electric toothbrush. Dr. Bill says all your toothpaste should have a fluoride, and tartar control before considering whitening.

There are recent innovations to consider in the many dollars of dental health.
If you have played football, you know how to take boiling water, cool and make a self-fitted tooth guard. Then dot with OPALESCENCE PF 35% Carbamide Peroxide Teeth Whitening Gel. Start with 10% if you are sensitive.

Every other day, use Magic Mud available on Amazon. This is ground charcoal. It will make your former one hour teeth cleaning sessions into five minutes of good health. Edward has not had to have the deep cleaning called plaining since he uses Magic Mud.

Next is a product from Amazon that gets great reviews. Tanda. $100 and you have blue light teeth cleaning ability. Not only that this helps sinus infections and acne. Edward recently had an ear skin cancer removed from kind Dr. Brent Shook's office, his co-workers are great too and they said Blue Light Products improve skin conditions for more than half of the people who try them. I think the percentage was 70%.

My friend Jeanette said her dental implants were going to be $16,000 a tooth for lower loose teeth, plural. Her dentist in the Inwood area of Houston feels his dentistry is a mission to the less prosperous people in the city. He is Jeanette's neighbor and he travels to work a fair distance to be of service. He placed an old fashioned retainer wire on her lower teeth and cemented in her teeth to the wire and she is out $500 for his wisdom and service. Her dentist told her it will hold for five years.

My family also comes from 80 miles north of New Orleans were the metropolis of Franklinton, LA has encroached on the small town of Richardson, LA where all my Richardsons hail from. The water in Louisiana must make people friendly. My son Alexander is working on his building degree from LSU and in 3 years he will have a Master's in Engineering with Building Construction. Louisiana is the Great State of Louisiana. And in the beauty of the great pine forest sweeping from Houston to the Atlantic Ocean, Louisiana is missing out on Beach Tourism due to low lands.

In 1982, I was getting my degree from Texas A & M and a Petroleum Engineer friend of mine Brent Smallic, Aggie Class of 1983, told me the levies of New Orleans were fragile and weak and Class 2 Hurricane would wipe out the city. He had spent the summer working for the Corps of Engineers. I'm also from Rosedale, Mississippi where my great-grandfather James Lawrence Wilson was major of Rosedale for 35 years. Pop made sure his county was protected by 75 foot levees. He thought it was the greatest safety he could give the county.

The Chinese moved the Yangtze River. In Texas we did have done an amazing awesome job around Buffalo, Texas to extract aluminum and coal. The landscape is put back and reforested. Well, honestly, they should plant more trees. We have learned not to destroy mountains for coal. I am saying Louisiana should have a lottery system Laissez les bons temps rouler! And provide sand dredged from the shore to make a 75' sand dune and make Louisiana beaches a vacation destination. And in this dredging create better levees for the city of New Orleans and Baton Rouge again. The British Petroleum recovery was nothing short of miraculous, Thank God. When we dredge built areas for the fish. (Alaska never saw the miraculous level of healing from their oil spill. And we will continue to thank God for His mercies!)

Centralia County of Pennsylvania has been condemned for decades for sink holes resulting from an ongoing coal mine for decades. If the Susquhanna River had a 40 foot dam placed at the counties' edge at the east and west county edge for 12 years, another powerball lottery, and then exploded  first the east lake side dam and 3 week later the unused west side dam- the county would have an end to the sink holes and the fires would be extinguished.  The Susquahanna would need levees to slowly break the west dam. The lottery would pay for the levee removal. Pennsylvania, the great friendly state of Cameron County, Emporium and St. Mary's Elk County would repopulate another amazingly beautiful entire County

Continue to pray for the Nation. We have so many, many people who love Jesus. We need the Churches to open the doors every morning with Morning Prayer and just expect the Holy Spirit to lead us to tell people that the Love of God is so great - His Mission is to Save the World. The Amazing intricate photos from the Hubble tell us that God is large enough to fill the universe and intimate enough to dwell in us to create life.

May God Bless and favor this Nation to bring forth the Love and Grace of Jesus Christ.

Father God, we pray for our schools as they begin again this month. We pray for the new students and the experiences You hold for them. We lift up opportunities and the educators. We lift up our Nation for more education that continues for civilians and for our military - stationed where this education only benefits and promotes our Nation. Not just standard education, but manufacturing and trade education. 

We lift up new solutions and innovations to make life filled with Your Goodness in this life. We ask blessings on ourselves, our loved ones, friends, Church, State and Nation. In the Highest name of Jesus. Thanking You for Your Work in our lives.  Texas, Houston area thanks You for the 4 recent rains really needed in August! Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Ephesians 2:13-22 ~ Through Jesus, we both have acess to the Father by one Spirit

The Ascension. You would think when Jesus died for us ~ He would have had a honeymoon period. We see almost immediately (opposite of what Jesus did for Peter, to immediately lift Peter up)  the disciples are fed, literally breakfast, by a risen Lord and begin to hide their flaws and to argue rights.

What will John receive? Is Peter really a lover of Jesus or a friend? When is Jesus going to haul the Romans out of Israel? That's about as rude gets. Really.

Could it be possible, we know what Jesus was thinking at the Ascension???

Exactly NOT the billboard.

A large part of the disagreements of the Acts of the Disciples was the seriousness of the task. 

Jesus left giving the Holy Spirit promising He would never leave or forsake us. And Jesus said The Days Would Come where we would all want to see His days again and long for the healing touch of God.

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

20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.


When Mary Magdalene met the Risen Jesus - the first thing she said to Him was "Teacher!" She probably did not know what exactly to say to someone so killed and so resurrected. And remember, Jesus was back in His resurrected body. Jesus overcomes again and again and replies He has been to His Father and her's!

God is good.

Life tests us. I woke up today remembering something really difficult and emotional with a new aspect today. God connecting events from 48 years and showing difficulties. God giving a new example. God presenting us with a teacher who has experienced hardships in life and will go forth. Finding Joy in each day. Acknowledging heart aches.

What an amazing example. I've seen a loving daughter dealing with a very invalid, long term mother at age 94 in her home. Childhood roles reverse and patience is required. And goodness is present when not every request is jumped upon as a time for service.

Teachers teach. They expect to be heeded. Time is invested. Love is given. And yet teachers expect for us to do our best. Because they are showing us each day that life is a gift of God and blessings have to be looked for to seen. Until we acquire a treasure hunt attitude in some days - the profound blessings are entirely missed. OF COURSE, we have days of peace, joy and contentment. Other days life requires us to be strengthened in hope, faith and love.

Jesus the ultimate teacher looks at all the events of His Life and does not shake His finger. He sees in each of us what makes us in His Image. As His Child, He encourages to work to see all things work to good for those Who Love the Lord.

I was asked by a mother about fifteen years ago why one twin died before delivery and the survivor was ill. And I said I learned in my son's Apnea and not breathing events - to treasure life for today. To stretch to do more. If all things were easy - we would not be in a learning capacity. Problem solving and depending upon God get us stronger.

Does God ignore our needs or not care? No. Does God ask more work from us from our shame in not being perfect? No. God's Mission explains God. God wants to save the World. It's just that as we are created in His Image - He gives us gifts and abilities in faith to rely upon God.

Ephesians 2:13-22

in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Peter tells us Jesus has the Words of Life -
Jesus tells us something -

sovereign
limitless
enduringly strong
entirely sincere
eternally steadfast
immortally graceful
imperially powerful
impartially merciful

The greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son...

1 Peter 1:25
But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.


John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.




Thank You, Father God for our fourth recent rain. We are so very grateful. Help us to realize You have given us this day.

Let us see what adventure You will bring. Today we found exceptional seats at the fireworks. And the seats got us through the red light and home before the crowd moved from their parking place. We saw Your ocean and delighted in the green, brown, blue of the changing waves of pristine white. Your continual breeze, the vast skies of Your Creation. 

Bless us to bless those we Love and You have given us. We ask You dwell in those we love, our friends, Church, coworkers, neighbors, our State and Nation. Jesus renew, reestablish Your Goodness and rejoice in us as We Go Forth in Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 27:51-66 ~ What took place

Representation of the Temple Curtain by A. Gardere

2 Chronicles 3:14
He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.

Matthew 27:51-66

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 
52 The tombs also were opened.
 And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 
53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 


54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” 

55 There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. 

 57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.

 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. 

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 

65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

Why doesn't the history from the Scriptures, Josephus, from Sanhedrin Council records say the praetorian guard was killed? There was too much going on, if Pilate was frightened and personally flogged Jesus himself (John 19:1) , how must Pilate have felt when all of these events occurred? 

Even the soldiers surrounding Jesus must have reported to Pilate saying among themselves Jesus was the Son of God. Eclipse, earthquake, Temple steps, Temple curtain, dismissing His own spirit, forgiveness and early death. The tombs opened and bodily resurrection reported, not just of the Lord, but the holy. 

Pilate's own sign proclaiming in three languages Jesus was King of the Jews. Did Pilate stand on the steps to see the sky become dark and feel the earthquake on the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs, transferred from the archaeological ruins of Pilate's Palace to the Vatican? (Scripture for Today Link)
 
Pilate was later fired, struck down in his military standing, for his inability to rule in orderly methods with the Jews. There were many examples of Pilate and his extreme tactical mistakes, in later years Jesus' trial was known throughout the Empire and beyond for being unjust.

 
We praise you, Father, for the events surrounding Good Friday & the reasons people saw and believed as You sent Your Holy Spirit to dwell in us. You are Amazing, Father God.

Never let us forget this incredible day, You chose to create a new Heaven and a new earth. Shaking the Empire for 400 years.

In this gratitude of Your Mercy - we wrap ourselves, our loved ones, friends, Church, co-workers, neighbors, State and Nation asking for Your favor. In Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

2 Chronicles 35:1-19 ~ The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 35:1-19

Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2 He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the Lord’s temple. 3 He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: “Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel.

 4 Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions, according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and by his son Solomon.

5 “Stand in the holy place with a group of Levites for each subdivision of the families of your fellow Israelites, the lay people. 6 Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves and prepare the lambs for your fellow Israelites, doing what the Lord commanded through Moses.”

7 Josiah provided for all the lay people who were there a total of thirty thousand lambs and goats for the Passover offerings, and also three thousand cattle—all from the king’s own possessions.

8 His officials also contributed voluntarily to the people and the priests and Levites.
Hilkiah, Zechariah and Jehiel, the officials in charge of God’s temple, gave the priests twenty-six hundred Passover offerings and three hundred cattle.

 9 Also Konaniah along with Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah, Jeiel and Jozabad, the leaders of the Levites, provided five thousand Passover offerings and five hundred head of cattle for the Levites.

10 The service was arranged and the priests stood in their places with the Levites in their divisions as the king had ordered.

11 The Passover lambs were slaughtered, and the priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them, while the Levites skinned the animals. 12 They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the subdivisions of the families of the people to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle. 13 They roasted the Passover animals over the fire as prescribed, and boiled the holy offerings in pots, caldrons and pans and served them quickly to all the people. 1

4 After this, they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fat portions until nightfall. So the Levites made preparations for themselves and for the Aaronic priests.

15 The musicians, the descendants of Asaph, were in the places prescribed by David, Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun the king’s seer. The gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made the preparations for them.

16 So at that time the entire service of the Lord was carried out for the celebration of the Passover and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, as King Josiah had ordered.

17 The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days.

18 The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. 19 This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign.

This Chapter is Astonishing.
This is THE BIBLE and the Scriptures are recording that the Word of God got so lost -
Love with me the accuracy of Scriptures to say they were lost.
 Josiah accidentally found there were indeed Scriptures - when he just kindly decided to clean up the sad and shabby gold plated Temple of God in Jerusalem.

Lo - and - BEHOLD - the Scripture was so fascinating to Josiah and the people of the Temple they had to scour around to find someone with some gleaming of prophetic power. And equally Astounding - this was a woman married to some man.

Josiah - gets completely and totally taken with the Glory, Power, Honor, Majesty, Love and History of God and His Word. Unknowing that Josiah is actually a prediction of God in this lost Scripture. God is just as taken about Josiah as Josiah, who, falls in love with God.

There is not one complete photo of the Chisholm trail - were fewer cattle, about 2,500, were driven and 100 pairs of boots a month were used.

Imagine going to a Party where 3,000 cattle are killed for that party. This is huge.

We would all hold our breathe to see how well Josiah would finish!

God is the same ~ yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Josiah forgets the WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE.

God has predicted Josiah is the last peace for Judah - GOD IS THRILLED WITH JUDAH AND JOSIAH.

Josiah thinks he is just one of the many people on the planet and he'd like some more glory. Josiah hides to combat the Peaceful Pharaoh of Egypt - and - wham - it's over.

Josiah goes Home to God - but treating God's Word with contempt for easy grace and war and self and glamour and self glory - Just Did Not Impress -

…
…His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Might God,
…The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6

…Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5

..and the Bright & Morning Star Revelation 22:16


..and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life 1 John 1:1


...whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke 1:78


…Before Abraham, I Am. John 8:58


…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25


…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6


..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16

…I am the Light of the World. John 8:12

…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9

…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come

The Almighty Revelation 1:8

What could we compare this to? Notre Dame Cathedral.

An atheistic belief was established in France in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church. It became a doctrine of the official government policy in 1792 when the First French Republic was declared and was called the Cult of Reason. The declared goal of the cult was the perfection of mankind solely through the human capacity of reason. Being an atheist cult, worship was given to the abstract ideal of Reason, as opposed to God.

Forced removal of all crosses and statues from graveyards. All church owned land was confiscated and return to the Republic. All church crosses and bells were destroyed. He instituted new festivities that would replace Christian ones. Priests would no longer swear oath to the Catholic Church, instead, they would swear oath to the new faith. Those who refused would face deportation, imprisonment or death. Death would sometimes come at the hands of angry mobs who oppose the Church. In summary, the Cult of Reason caused the wholesale de-christianization of France and occurred in a period of less than two years.

The statues of the biblical kings of Judah (erroneously thought to be French kings - OM - 2 Chronicles 34 ) were beheaded. Many heads were found in 1977 during an excavation nearby. Even the Church bells were ruined. Furniture was burned in the center of the Church. With this decree, the Notre Dame Cathedral, which became a warehouse for the storage of food. 

We've Always Had Separation of Church and State!

Om, no. Not exactly like today.

In its early days, the Capitol building was not strictly used for governmental functions. On Sundays, church services were regularly held there - a practice continued until 50 years ago. According to the U.S. Library of Congress exhibit Religion and the Founding of the American Republic: "It is no exaggeration to say that on Sundays in Washington during the administrations of 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson, (1801–1809) and of 4th President, James Madison, (1809–1817) the state became a church. Within a year of his inauguration, Jefferson began attending church services in the chamber of the House of Representatives. Madison followed Jefferson's example, although unlike Jefferson, who rode on horseback to church in the Capitol, Madison came in a coach and four. Worship services in the House were acceptable to Jefferson because they were nondiscriminatory and voluntary. Preachers of every Protestant denomination appeared. (Roman Catholic priests began officiating in 1826.)

A Presbyterian Church was housed in the Congress every Sunday until 50 years ago.

So would Josiah die in the New Testament? God purely does not see death as we do. When our days have ended in His Book of Life - we go Home. A doctor I work with, a Christian Doctor, says part of the Book of Life is coded in our DNA. Makes sense to me.

God is not cruel to call us Home. We are all going in the same direction. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus is the Lord.

We have a choice every day to be encouragers in the Faith of God to those people Father God has placed in our lives. Jesus is defined as love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

We are a Nation raised to Love the Goodness God Has Blessed this Land With. We can get very quiet, very angry, very confrontational or very afraid. Instead we can be Encouragers of Father God. Honoring one another.

Jesus tells us He is Living Water - an analogy we can all love in the summer months. Jesus rolls in as a satisfyer, a vision of Goodness - Water. Jesus refreshes. Jesus roars in. Jesus rolls in. Jesus nourishes. No matter if the land is thirsty, cracked, barren, if everything is wilted. Jesus is going to seek, seep, satiate, satisfy, renew, restore. Jesus is going to give the gift of LIFE.

Jesus is - God's Word. And in Giving God HIS Word living to others - we are bringing Living Water.

Father God, help us to hunger and thirst for Your Goodness. Let Your righteousness cover us. We ask your Mercy to fall upon us and bless us. We ask for Your Face to Shine upon us.

Help our words to make Your Way known in our lives. Establish Your Health among all Nations.

Father God, Let our praise be for Thee. Help all hearts remember Your Goodness with Gratitude. Jesus provides gladness, songs of joy, righteousness, We pray for Thee to govern the nations upon this earth.

Father God let Your provisions increase, God, You are Our Own God. We pray your blessing upon us, the ones we love, our Church Family, friends, neighbors, State and Nation. Help our Light Shine in You and to the World.

We give You great thanks for the rain and if You would continue this blessine we would say Amen In Jesus. Your Will be done.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 103 ~ Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Jesus The Lord

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

3 who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5 who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all who are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,

his acts to the people of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

13 As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

14 For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

and its place knows it no more.

17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,

and his righteousness to children's children,

18 to those who keep his covenant

and remember to do his commandments.

19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,

and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his word,

obeying the voice of his word!

21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,

his ministers, who do his will!

22 Bless the Lord, all his works,

in all places of his dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul! 

Father God 
Earnest words ~ Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me bless His Holy Name.
Vespers - The Evening Worship of Father God - Thank You for the Day and Keep us Always with You. 

Bless the Lord, for all His Benefits. Forgiveness, Healing, Redemption, Steadfast Love and Mercy. Works of Righteousness. Justice for the oppressed. Gracious. Renewal of Youth. As High as the Heavens are above the earth, so Great is His Steadfast Love. Our Father shows compassion to His Children. His Kingdom Rules Over All.

The plentiful waves of His blessings continue to pour over us.

Bless the Lord, O you, His angels.

Abba, Father, We thank You for hearing our Prayers. And For Your Good and Gracious Will. Thank You Father. For our Loved Ones, friends, Church, co-workers, neighbors. For our State. For our Nation. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit in Jesus the Lord. Amen!

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †