James 4:13-17 ~ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go"

When you need to make a decision about the way to behave, what guides you?

If you look good after the decision is made to - your audience, your friends, your family, your co-workers, your bank account, your enemy, your destination ... your - you.

Do we really believe that we are invisible?

Do we really believe we are accountable to God?

Do we really believe we live to Jesus? Or are we tired out and it's boring?

Do we try sensationalism - just to remove mediocrity?

Do we believe we will do something new for ourselves or for God?


The Absolutely Wonderful thing about life is that we take this so for granted and there is a purpose.

God tells us His purpose for Life. He lumps us all into one category and says He wants to save the World.

Lumped together - we are all going in the same direction. God says so. We are going to the 12 Open Gates of Heaven. We will all see Heaven and we will bow to Jesus and tell Him about what uses we made of our days and our talents. And Jesus is going to listen. We know because Jesus listened to people when He already knew their problems and their names.

The Absolutely Wonderful thing about life is we need to take the Bible less for granted and tune into His Word. Not little cliches, that we forget the Bible is the Word of God. And because this is God explaining God to us and life - that real decisions, real complaining, real hate and real communication is ALL OVER THE SCRIPTURES.

People in the Scriptures made Amazing Choices we are not sure we would have the courage to make.
And when we think about that courage - we want to say, "Not me, buddy, I'm smart."

And if we want to learn more about where we are going - we are going to keep learning. About God and why He possibly thinks the way God thinks.

The Scripture being living and active will set us on fire when we meet God just where HE meets us.

Is God always going to rattle our cage?
Do we want to know God if He is going to rattle our cage?

Yep. Hilariously - we will all leave this little, fleshy cage.
The Roman Catholics have this exactly right - "Pray for us  sinners, now, and at the hour of our death."
Perfect. We are all going to meet Jesus and we want to End Well!

I love the "Pirate's" movies.
The Curse of the Black Pearl
Dead Man's Chest
At World's End
On Stranger Tides

Why? These start out as good girl seeks good man to have good life. And LIFE jumps allll over her.

Now this - this - this - oddly is Good Bible Study. We can plan, we can make lists and The Lord God tells us in Scripture - Father God is going to laugh. Life is GOING to Happen. We just have to adjust to the speeds. Life is more like a Pirate's Movie than Pollyanna. Mostly because we are the TV generation and what we see and laugh and mourn and worry and are entertained by. Images.

James 4:13-17
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."

So going back to Scripture is God Almighty always going to make us uncomfortable.
Buhawaaaa. Nope. We can just lull ourselves into falling into doldrums that make us veer waaaay off into pride, unwillingness to go in directions best taken for growth in fear of personal comfort. Making all of our lives merely a show. Tiring us out.

Why "Pirates"? 

One Side says this:
We are all emerging and changing in our journeys. Life is an enormous force like the Mississippi River.
We need to see what Godly voice we are listening to.
Is it trite like these sayings we used for our images today? Images...


The Other Side says this:
Is Father God only going to grow us when we are uncomfortable?
No. Father God is going to Equip us to do what He wants us to do. Our DNA and our gifts and talents give us ideas and solutions for our lives.



And when we are dry out of solutions?
The Lord God who has made Heaven and earth - has not forgotten our address.
WE HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING IN THE MIDST OF TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS!
We are giving God a dab. And not our heart. We have given "our" God an image.
We have to Know How to Endure to Patiently Learn how to thrive in Creator God's Framework He is
WILLINGLY going
to Provide.

Egad and Little Fishes. So much humanism.

Make our children special, heard, honored, comfortable.
GOD LOVES THIS ABOUT US!!! We DO THIS. THIS GENERATION has a Virtue! WE PLEASE FATHER GOD WHEN WE WORK HARD TO WELCOME A CHILD. Father God has entrusted us with the long-term care of our children to make valuable contributions to life and not allll about me. We are not to forget to raise our children to the place they were intended to be and say, "We made them." It is not we who made them - this is God Himself. Sometimes children are happy being where we would not be happy. Sometimes we grow when our children hurt. Really, really grow. Sometimes we have to stretch to love more. Sometimes we have to tell them your ego has gone over the top come back to the "Body of Christ."

God has uniquely called Noah, David and all of His Beloved Children.

Why did God give Noah that task of that Ship that would not BE BUILT AGAIN UNTIL THE 1900s? The SHIP that is "NAUTICALLY CORRECT." (Ha!) That's right. God had to have built that ship. GOD! THE CREATOR OF THE INFINITE UNIVERSE!
Once again, the Scriptures repeat. "God's Plan is Perfect." For? "What God Intends."

Humanism. In a lot of our entertainment. An outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.

Jesus said, Paul said, find the way to say "GOD IS LOVE!"

So Humans are looking for solutions! God. God is actually a rational solution.

Noah - tell me about - having a difficult job. Exacting specifications. Nasty atmosphere in which to work. Why did God pick Noah - Father God had built Noah to be DNA, God Planned, Equipped to do the God Job. Noah was obedient to God.
Sounds bad? Noah said, "Yes!" TO... Father God!

David needed solutions because he believed God. David needed to leave sheep herding because a price was on his head and sheep sloooooow you down. God had told David, David would be a king - David went into the military. Sounds good. Except he was a mercenary and dealt with kidnappers and thieves and the nay sayers. For-ged abod this Guy. He's... Bad.

He has a wife he left behind at her father's. He next took off with the man who was feeding him - his wife. He acted like he was insane. He did questionable things for money. He was Gone. He seemed to be violent. He marauded where he wanted across this border and that. We can surely see - this is not the man.

God has a Word for that - God never said sit down and tell me about this person - I need to know. God said:

Romans 11:34
"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

Isaiah liked what Paul said, so he said this first in the same Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 40:13
Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel?

God is like E.F. Hutton, the late stock brokerage firm. "When He speaks, Listen to HIM." Because. God just doesn't lie.

We don't see Noah had a lot of conversations with God. God is like that. Father says, "Do what I Say for you to do."

God didn't always talk to David and David had unique ways that God spoke to him. Father God is talkative when He wants to be.

Why did God pick David? God tells us in His Word - David would be obedient to God.
Making that image above - David was comfortable with what God told David to do.
Making that image above - Noah was determined to be comfortable with what God told Noah to do.

They had a skill - they learned to endure - believing in God's framework - they would be blessed and thrive.

God wants us to be mature. Not tossed back and forth by opinion.
God brought Jesus in by notification of a star. People looked Up to God to go in the right direction.

We keep our eyes on Jesus - not the cultural norm.

Not the traditions of men - worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

When we fall. When we are wrong. When we are human. When we sin.

We can never, ever come close to earning what Jesus has done!

Jesus has clothed us in HIS Righteousness. For our belief, our Love of Jesus.

The Spirit of Truth says live with Jesus as our Fulfillment. Do not lean towards sin.
Let Jesus, by prayer and calling on His Name and His Will and His Help. Be our Rest and Shelter.

Because Jesus said we are to be in the world, just not of the world.

Jesus didn't say hide away. Jesus said be Salt. Be flavorful personality. Be zest.

Jesus said be Light. The Light that shines in all of mankind. Jesus.
God loves the World. God sees His Creation as Good.

David did all these things to do survival and God's will. And God said, "I want My Son to be Yours, too!" Wow. David didn't always do great fatherhood. David worried about his kids and sometimes chose non-involvement as the answer. Except David was involved - David loved and prayed.

David wrote us of many emotions not publicly correct. Not a cultural norm for today. Except David was working out his emotions before God.

God appears to listen to hearts more than grade performance. Or else. Father God sees further.

David found peace in God. Usually by being emotional and determined at the time.
We can do this too.
Father God runs to us when we seek the Lord.

The Scriptures tell us all the Time God will arrive where He is asked.

We can rely on His Plan.
Draw up God as a Comfort around you. Give God your cares. Believe He will Help. David always believed God would go Further than God even said. Jesus Knew That! Go Two Miles when you are asked for one!

Jesus did this and Jesus then walked a little on water. (Do you think that Jesus, as God, was surprised the Disciples could see Him do this?! David had an idea God has humor.) God does abundantly more than we plan.

When you need to make a decision about the way to behave, what guides you?
The best idea is to Please God - who is pleased when we want to please Father God.

When you know that you know that you know you are on God's Plan - some people will not be pleased. Some will say you are going down hill. But if you are trying to Please God - You are Going Forth to ALMIGHTY FATHER GOD just by calling upon His name. God has given us no choice in His plan. We work God's Plan willingly or unwillingly. I vote Willingly for Jesus! He helps us because we are not God!

We can never, ever come close to earning what Jesus has done!


Thank You Father God! Thank You for Belief in Your Word. Your Love.
You sent us to this Life almost the exact way we send our children to College.
To Learn, to Grow, To be Stretched. To Experience, To be in Dire Circumstance,
To be in Comfort, To be Challenged, To Decide for Ourselves.
And when we look to You - for help - You Run to us.
We will be Blessed in You. Always. 
We pray this for our loved ones, 
For the elderly and the disabled.
For good decisions and life to be in Wisdom of Jesus' Love. 
For the soon to be born,
For the Church Family,
For our health and eyes,
And give thanks and thanks and Thanks for answered prayer and yes.
And Faith, Hope and Love for what was answered as wait, as no, as different direction
Knowing that Father God plans for us to have Hope and a Future in Jesus.
God has designed us to want to live together and to work for Jesus.
GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!! Thank You Father God. In Jesus.
GOD bless us All. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Titus 2 ~ All good faith!

Titus 2

¹ But as for you, teach what accords with sound ^[healthy] doctrine. ² Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. ³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. ⁶ Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. ⁷ Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, ⁸ and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. ⁹ Slaves ^{[bondservants]} are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

¹⁵ Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

The George Washington Family Bible at Mount Vernon

Anglican Rev. Bird Wilson knew George Washington and after President Washington died, there was a campaign to glorify Washington. Rev. Bird Wilson, went down in history (son of Declaration Signer James Wilson) in a way he probably wouldn't find flattering to himself. Rev. Bird Wilson refused to have George Washington glorified and deified as a devout believer. He went so far as to castigate the late George Washington for his beliefs. However several quotes about Washington's faith are really quite over-inflated and were corrected by Rev. Wilson.

If you look to the people who knew George Washington so well as to be there when he died - like Washington's nephew, you find they say this about George Washington: He was raised by a devote Anglican mother who told him about Jesus Christ. He was a devoted attender of his Anglican Church. Washington's nephew witnessed him doing personal devotions with an open Bible while kneeling, in both the morning and evening.

This sounds like George Washington:

Sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Reverent in behavior, not slanderers. Show integrity, dignity, and sound speech. Teach what is good. That the word of God may not be reviled.

Be zealous for good works. Jesus told us other words to add to what Jesus, our Hero, asks of us - to be filled with Light and Salt.

Mount Vernon says this after careful consideration and study of George Washington's faith: His religious life is complex and should be approached as such, without trite labels and descriptions.

Which rather sounds like something Jesus Christ would say about a Child of His.

The bottom line is this - We are waiting for Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us and to purify us for Himself - we cannot save ourselves.We lean upon Jesus and ask Him to be our comfort, deliverer, and joy - love - faith - peace - hope arrive.

When we have doubts or fears - we can cast them (like a fishing net all of those concerns) upon Jesus. Knowing He is caring and will hear - telling us Prayer changes the Heart of God. And changing our heart to be open to God is Love.

God loves us first.

John 4:19 

We love because he first loved us.

Ephesians 2:8-9

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Micah 6:8 

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Father God, we lift up Edward with his all day headache and symptoms of his illness yesterday. We ask for Your Mercy and Goodness to Edward. Thank You for his bravery and diligence in finding each day as good. We lift up the upcoming weddings in our family. Communications to be honest in Jesus. We lift up our Nation to You. Rejoicing in the Good News of the Overwhelming Love Jesus has. Amen. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

John 1 ~ Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

John 1


1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.


6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.


9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.


14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.


15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 

16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.




19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”


22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”


23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”


24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.



29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 

30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”


32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”


35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”


37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”


They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”


So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 

41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).



43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”


44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”


46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.


47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”


48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.


Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”


49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”


50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

Before Abraham Jesus Is

Proverbs 8

I was there when he set the heavens in place,

when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

28 when he established the clouds above

and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

29 when he gave the sea its boundary

so the waters would not overstep his command,

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

30 Then I was constantly at his side.

I was filled with delight day after day,

rejoicing always in his presence,

31 rejoicing in his whole world

and delighting in mankind.

Deuteronomy 28

"The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. 12"The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13"The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully,

Isaiah 45

I am the Lord, and there is no other;

apart from me there is no God.

I will strengthen you,

though you have not acknowledged me,

6 so that from the rising of the sun

to the place of its setting

people may know there is none besides me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other.

7 I form the light and create darkness,

I bring prosperity and create disaster;

I, the Lord, do all these things.

8 “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness;

let the clouds shower it down.

Let the earth open wide,

let salvation spring up,

let righteousness flourish with it;

I, the Lord, have created it.

Mark 1:10
Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him


“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”




Isaiah 60
“Rise up and shine, for your light has come. The shining-greatness of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For see, darkness will cover the earth. Much darkness will cover the people. But the Lord will rise upon you, and His shining-greatness will be seen upon you.

Nations will come to your light. And kings will see the shining-greatness of the Lord on you.

“Lift up your eyes and look around you, and see. They all gather together. They come to you. Your sons will come from far away, and your daughters will be carried in the arms.

Then you will see and shine with joy. Your heart will be glad and full of joy, because the riches of the sea will be turned to you. And the riches of the nations will come to you.

Praise be to you, Lord,
the God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 13:31-35 ~ in parables

Matthew 13:31-35

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”


137 Times


If you'd arrived on earth as the Word of God incarnate, to put forth a new Heaven and a new earth with a New Covenant, you might mention Heaven a few times - like 137 times - in the four Gospels. Parables of Heaven. And glimpses. Sheol is mentioned Sixty three times in all of the Bible, but Sheol was considered to be a place of the dead. Lucifer dwelled there and had conversation with God, in Job. Until Jesus, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven." No more, Jesus has conquered death.

Luke 10:18
And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."

Jesus saw a new Heaven forming and told us this is the Kingdom where wheat and chaff are separated. A Kingdom where Jesus sets out to save the World. 

 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn. Or. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good [fish] into containers but threw away the bad.

All the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. Inclusion. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 


Jesus also is telling us, in belief, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand - now in you, in your life. 

Till All leavened - an easy Transformation - changing, changing, bubbling up and ...Over!!!!!

Starting out carefully measured, a bit dry.

Looking at just a small amount

Starting to froth up - something to get excited about.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Leaven can't hold back, the transformation is complete!

John 6:35 
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life"



Jesus starts out in Matthew 3 saying:

Matthew 3:2
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”


Isaih 56
Thus says the Lord:
“Keep justice, and do righteousness,
for soon my salvation will come,
and my righteousness be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man who does this,
and the son of man who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it,
and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,
“The Lord will surely separate me from his people”;
and let not the eunuch say,
“Behold, I am a dry tree.”
4 For thus says the Lord:
“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
who choose the things that please me
and hold fast my covenant,
5 I will give in my house and within my walls
a monument and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
that shall not be cut off.

6 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,
and holds fast my covenant—
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.”
8 The Lord God,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,
“I will gather yet others to him
besides those already gathered.”




And from what Jesus is telling us - this is worth the repentance to be part of what Jesus gives. Rejoice and be glad - this is the reward of Heaven. 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

Mattew 5:20 says the righteousness of Heaven far exceeds the religious trappings of earth. Heaven is where the total will of God is accomplished, for those working towards His Will on earth.

Jesus went on to say in Matthew 8, more about inclusion.
Many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 


I long and hope, want, to be in that number! Knowing my salvation in Jesus is secure.

Remember the wedding guests. From all corners of God's far flung earth 

- rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand. ’Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. This is a free will gift of God.

If you were given 
the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven 

- what would you give unhindered - Joy perhaps? Usually His will is. Using the talents He gave us to show us How Wide, How High, How Deep is His Steadfast Love to those He has chosen. 

Give justice, with mercy, walk humbly with the Lord.

Matthew 18:4
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Having mercy on your fellow sojourners, as He had mercy on you. Remembering ~

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Surely we are the people, and wisdom will die with us - but few men want to be compared to unprepared virgins at the harvest.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Father God be with us in our travels. And as we are never far from You let us lean upon You for your Path taking us where You protect, guide, lead, encourage, teach and dwell. We ask for this for those we love. In Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Acts 22 ~ Wash away your sins, calling on His Name

Acts 22

 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:

3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 

4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 

8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ 

And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 

9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 

10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ 

And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’

 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 1

4 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 

19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 

21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. 

25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” 

26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 

27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” 

And he said, “Yes.” 

28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” 

Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

30 But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.

Don't we all listen much better when someone is speaking our language. Paul has a can do attitude. He was willing to pull out his ivy league education. Give the gold card of being educated at the feet of Gamaliel.

Paul heard Jesus speak to him, and Jesus saved Paul. Ananias Jesus told to bring Paul the Light of Christ. Then Paul heard the Word of forgiveness. And Paul was granted a Way forward. God was speaking just as Paul needed the next step. We can do that - to rely upon Father God for the next step.

(Gamaliel was an interesting educator. He held sway with the Religious council. Saying that if they tampered with the apostles' message - they might be taking on God's will and by extrapolation, His wrath.)

Then Paul went on to say, God loves everyone. Not a popular message at that time. Today the unpopular message would be - God loves holiness. Without Jesus Christ - no one can attain that or claim that. Only in faith can we truly attain God's righteousness in Jesus.  So many times we should listen to His word and we feel we can skate by. When we skate by, we do that under our own power.

We go forth with purpose in hope on His Love.

One of my favorite things to say is life leaks like an old wooden row boat. If we put all our efforts in our own direction, that part starts to leak. A youth pastor said that he attended a day planner - saying we can plan all we want -  it is up to God to bring that plan forth. People around us have needs we are unaware of. The event said - put your prayer out for God to direct you. Then we are sustained in our efforts instead of burned out.

Proverbs 27:1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Paul was not rigid and uptight. He understood with a heart of love for his listeners. His message was Jesus as Love. Not their plans. God's.

Father God,

May Your deeds be shown to your people, Your splendor to their children.

May Your favor rest on us; establish the work of our hands for You — yes, establish the work of our hands.

Help us do Your Will with joy and verve. We ask this for ourselves and our loved ones. Help our Church Family, co-workers, friends and Nation to joyfully serve and please Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †