Acts 2 ~ suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them

Pentecost

Acts 2

 

 

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 

2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, 
and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 

 Like the unconsumed bush that drew Moses to speak with God the Almighty.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. [“Xenolalia” or "xenoglossy" the phenomenon when the language being spoken is a natural language previously unknown to the speaker,]


The Holy Spirit is part of Genesis the First Chapter. The Holy Spirit is displayed through out all of the Scriptures.

 Moses was radiating the Glory of God when he came down from speaking with God.

just like John described in the First Chapter of Revelation.

and this thought of Fire and of Light of Christ continues through out Scriptures and even today in worship. 

 The photos of white are reported Angels of the Lord, when He was called upon in the Name of Jesus during times of need and worship. The purple photo is in the last 4 months from a local Church.



5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 

6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 


This explains halo's. When Jesus was born, visionaries through the millenniums said, "The Star of Bethlehem did not shine upon the Christ child, the Star was the Light shone from Jesus Christ."

and a halo we think of is this:



and has far more to do with Stephen in the Book of Acts:

Acts 6:15
All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.


The Progression of Stephen and the Disciples probably looks like this:

Glenna Goodacre. Victory.

7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 

12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 

13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”






 

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19
And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20
the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

 

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words:
Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 


25 For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’



29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 

32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 

34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35
until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”



 

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 

40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers

. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 
 

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.



Come, Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ. Be with those we Love and the People You have given us. Comfort, Guide, Lead, Direct, Encourage us and all the believers of this Nation and world to give You the Glory. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 133 ~ there the LORD has Commanded the Blessing, Life Forevermore

Psalm 133

1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell [together] in unity!

2 It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!

3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.






We have spoken so many times about Heaven being the glory we glimpse on earth.

We must speak of the Light of Christ in all of mankind. John 1. We glimpse the glory of God in mankind. Not to be worshiped, yet to understand the goodness God sees in the soul of mankind giving God the response to want to save us. Save the 'world'.

Jesus was beloved of many in Judea. When He was so inhumanely and with injustice condemned to die, multitudes of women showed up to weep for Him.

Luke 23
27 And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 "For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.'


Jesus sounds stunning in this. Jesus was bearing the sins of mankind, already on the cross. crying out to Father God, not to be separate from Jesus. And Jesus is gathered to Father God. Jesus was going forth to His death, He would not be held in death, Jesus Cries out, "Father Forgive Them, they know not what they do."

And in - this Prayer of Jesus - this generation with eyes blessed to see Jesus - they are saved from destruction. The next generation will see Titus destroy Judea and the Temple. This is, the David knows, this Is FATHER GOD' and HIS Grace upon Grace.

Jesus has Found again the Glory of GOD!  We cannot suppress or disallow Jesus to have His humanity to be broken carrying the Cross. My profound tear-felt sadness for Jesus to carry our cross.

Jesus does not feel He has to be false to His own profound, terminal suffering. He is free. In God to be Himself before Father God. Revealing to us - we are free to be who we are to Jesus Christ, and His Father.



Jesus has said surrounding Father God - hearts are revealed.

Jesus dies. He is beyond the suffering of mankind. The Roman Government says - sure - take down this good man from the cross. We are compelled to feel so impassioned the Glory of God is at rest. Is in our hands. Is entrusted to us.

The Light of mankind steps up in the dark of Good Friday to tenderly, tenderly  take the Son of God down. When allowed, mankind rushes forward to compassionately support. To grieve with all they have, the loss of Love.

This is our Father God caring for His Son, Jesus the Lord.


And in this Glory - we see the Light of Mankind - moving to action when not held back.

You are seeing - the way Father God - His Nature - this is the beginning of our entering the Kingdom of God. Yes, Jesus is without sin. He is preparing the way forward for us. And when we are covered in the Name of Jesus the Lord - this echoes the tender way we are longed for in God's Kingdom. Jesus says we are sojourners here - when we go Home - this is our Homecoming. Life Forevermore.


What does God see in us - humanity - Salvation - just Given.

Father God expects. Is in expectation. Believes. Requires. Sees. Waits for. Receives - Father GOD will see the Cross of Christ. The very cross carried in Thanksgiving. Jesus' Father and Ours - will expect - will see - will rejoice in seeing - that the People who love Jesus - Proclaim His Good News.

Father God Believes  He IS Entrusting the Gospel of His Only Son - to me.

Father God Believes He IS Entrusting the Gospel of His Only Son - to you.

Remember with me, the Disciples - 'failed.' And Jesus is found to be tenderly, tenderly taken care of. Jesus is not abandoned. This bridge in the gap is the Goodness of God.



Because this rejection did happen.
Our sins killed the goodness of Father God apparent.
The Light Father God expected to occur - dawned.
The men who stepped forward had to have the Strong Appreciation of God to go to Pilate.
This gap is reached and filled - God is put first.
And in this tenderness, God's Grace goes forth.
We are the Easter People. Alleluia.



1 Corinthians 13
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; 
now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 
13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.


Tim Keller - Humanity and Preaching is explained - the Glory of God, in mankind and the sin of mankind. EMA 2015

+

1 Corinthians 15

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope  in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15

Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 

5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 

6T hen he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, 

most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Jesus is restored to James

Jesus is restored to His Brothers.

And the 72 apostles.

Testimonies of Jesus the Son of God

James the Just, Brother of Christ

 

Name Papyrus 23 (G.P. 1229), P23

Date Grenfell et al. have suggested the date to be the fourth century CE. The Alands have redated it to the third century. However, some scholars have pointed out to the 2nd century style of writing. It is dated late second or early third century.

Provenance Oxyrhynchus, Egypt.

Size About 12.1 cm. x 11.2 cm. I

Contents  The Epistle of James 1:10-12 (verso) and James 1:15-18 (recto).

Textual Character In general, P23 agrees with , B and C, which represent the best text of the General Epistles. The Alands call the text as "strict."

Writing The fragment is written in good-sized broad uncials rather coarse and irregular in formation, though hooks and thickenings at the end of the strokes show an attempt at ornament.

Location The Spurlock Museum, University of Illinois, Urbana.

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 2:14
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them?

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 4:6
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble and oppressed."

James 2:8
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.


Jesus is restored to the 72 apostles

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

Luke 10:1
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.

Luke 4:18
"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"

Luke 23:34
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Luke 6:38
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Luke 4:40
Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.

Luke 5:15
But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.

Luke 6:18
who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.

Luke 6:19
And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

Luke 7:7
Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed




Mark

Mark 12:29
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."

Mark 1:1
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah

Mark 1:14
Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

Mark 1:17
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."

Mark 1:22
The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Mark 16:15
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

Mark 1:15
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Father God,

James was reestablished with His Brother, Jesus Christ. Because of Father God's expectation of the Light of Christ in James. We rejoice in this!!!

Luke was a doctor in a difficult time and saw the Power in the Name of Jesus - Son of God. 15 Times not counting miraculous events not using the word 'healing' Luke was amazed and astonished with Jesus.

Mark saw Jesus fulfill Isaiah's Prophetic Belief - Jesus went to His people as a messenger before their faces, preparing a place in the Kingdom of God. In truth, Jesus was taming the wilderness of fear, doubt, lassitude to know the goodness of Father God.

Walk with us each day. Increase the Light of Christ with us all.  With the people we Love. The people You have given us. The Churches, communities, work places. cities, states, Nation and all the People who love Jesus. We ask for more full measure of Your Holy Spirit and the Fruit of God. For more Heaven on Earth. In Jesus we ask, Your great Will be done. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 130 ~ with the Lord there is steadfast love

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!

Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!

For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities!




My husband competes in Disc Golf. He is good. He goes to the National World Championship, Masters, and Texas States. He feels privileged to play. He does not win the National Championships. But he wins A tiers and B tiers and C tiers. And then he does not win. Today we were talking about a man who generally throws a 1,000 rated round and this last time, this good man threw an 820. Why this young man was really, really discouraged that day.

And a family member was telling me she quit cycling competitively because her score was good, about the exact same number every time. She said it was not so much fun. No variation. Not winning, not loosing, just towards the front - no variation.



Now this last month, allergies have assailed me. I have been taking antibiotics for my ears and have some ringing and a lot of dizziness. Prayers are appreciated. My birthday saw me contemplating the month of ill health.



We have talked about Blue Easter. Well I have been reading about people saying they have this Blue Easter. And realize a critical portion of our destiny is our set backs.


Attitudes.
Jesus let Judas be part of His ministry. Jesus knew that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord. Jesus created a new Heaven and a new earth.

Jesus has taken Creation God says is Good and Made Perfect Paradise He brought His Father.


1 Corinthians 15

16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.



Today I woke up to headache and dizziness. I felt so blue. And I decided, I knew the Will of God was to keep me going. And if I felt headache or dizziness, life would continue. I began to internally sing Psalms thinking about the fulfillment of God. Suddenly my health was on the second stage and the Goodness of God was front and center.

The Good News is Good News.

Life is Psalm 107. We are meant to learn to surf the waves. That is part of the Plan. The Child of the Most High can do all things through JESUS THE CHRIST. Our thoughts are part of the process. We can learn to be dissatisfied with what is good. We can let a glitch sink us. We can look to the goodness of God.

All things work together for those who love the Lord.

We can hope for the mercurial favor of others. We can rest on what God does not mean to have permanence. We grow in difficult times - during the lag. We listen to what God would tell us about Faith, Hope. Love.

Most Christians in the Light of Christ want to bless their loved ones and feel that we are so small. When we pray and God gives us REASONS To PRAY then we are developing our Relationship with God the Father. And then that pressure goes into prayer and the hose is going to make the prayer and the water go further.

All the people in the Scriptures had reasons to pray. And without those problems, their life would not be so interesting to us. We see God helps us. And we will keep on praying - and those replies give us Hope to go with God further in the Journey.

My loved one has felt that he is cycling in place and the problems were gaining on him. His face was sad, he told us he was sad. We really gave solutions and every one was rejected. There was not much to do but pray. Pray. Fast. Pray for a Longggg time. And he was going to a city to visit where he wanted just to go. His trip with friends was cancelled. And the next week his boss invited him to a conference to the same city - all expenses paid. They were to meet clients and go to 5 star restaurants - except this time - all was provided. During this trip he received a 25% raise and motivation to get more education. His efforts were affirmed. His face relaxed. He had been blessed by Father God. New ideas and new hope had arrived. Father God had given him the difficulties for the blessing to be enjoyed.

If we don't pray, we don't see the answers. Your prayers for my ears and dizziness is appreciated.

Life is made richer when we care deeply for one another. Your prayers for my husband's 3 damaged brain lobes is appreciated. To see him every day seek meaning is inspiring. To see challenges reached for and honest discussion of limitations. We Thank God for HIS Word of Life and Mercy.

This is where Jesus was there for Peter.


When Holy Water of God is made the Prayer goes like this:

Father God, In Your Good Creation, Your Holy Spirit moved over the waters.

Through the waters, You led the Children of Israel to safety and led them with dry feet - these the feet without even shoes.

In the water, Your Only Son chose to be obedient and baptized. Your Love was Shown to Your Beloved Son.

On top of the water Jesus walked and immediately reached for Peter, who had fallen.

Even in His Healing, Jesus made saliva and cured blindness.

In Holy Water, we ask to be named in Heaven and in earth, to receive Jesus' Holy Spirit.

We ask Father God. We pray this day for all baptized in Jesus to know again His Living Water in all of their being, and down to the small cells in our bodies. To feel Your Love, Joy, Peace, Gentleness, Encouragement. That this day forward and all our days see the Blessings of this day. Amen in Jesus and cover those we Love and the People You have given us. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 130 ~ hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast Love, and with Hm is plentiful redemption.

Finding your rhythm to run the race God wired you to run in His Plan of Jesus as Lord.

Psalm 130

A Song of Ascents.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2  O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
 6my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

We have looked at the Miraculous life of Jesus. He has died and come back.

What does Easter Monday look like?

1. We need Easter Monday to be a Holiday. A Holy Day. We gather as families to say we have lived together, we will die together, Jesus is Lord. We need this day to travel and gather. (Oh Caaaanada!!!)

2. Because Easter Monday had the Lord's Family and His Disciples gather.

3. The truth is Easter Monday has emotion for all of us.


Colossians 2

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you
and for those at Laodicea
and for all who have not seen me face to face,

2 that their hearts may be encouraged,
being knit together in love,
to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery,
which is Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.
5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit,
rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Emotional Easter Blue Monday  ~

a. Some people have attended Church for the first time in a long time.
They wonder why they are far off. Denial. Avoidance.

b. Some people have worked hard for Easter to happen.
For their families, for their ministry for the Lord, for their job. Did this meet their expectations? Approval of other people. Fatigue.

c. Has the Grace of God changed us? Self doubt.
Are we New Creations in Christ? Seemed like the same ol Story. Are we rotten?
We fall in many, many ways.

d. Why do our lives look so different than we hoped. Disappointment.
When so many of us grew up with strong expectations of goodness and the culture and the television has impeded upon our expectations.

e. We caused Jesus to die? Fear.
Are we worth the effort?
Unless we except the Gift of Jesus, we have a looming gift
we will not open or rejoice in.

f. They didn't show up. Loneliness.
They are rotten. And you tried. And you didn't try effectively. And you never knew how to try.
You were self-righteous.


g. Maybe you have false guilt. A terrible trap not of God.


4. We Know by Faith we are in Grace of God.

If you spent time thinking about how hard this is for Jesus, you still have some grief that Jesus was separated from God for carrying our burdens. Yes, after Easter we know the Disciples were adjusting to their questions and misunderstandings. The family of Jesus and His Disciples were not processing what happened. They had seen all the miracles and had spent a lot of time being in awe, in joy, in hope and confusion.

5. God is giving us the tools to deal with this emotion. The Gospels - the Word of God - want us Strong. Father God hopes for us to have a Framework, where His Holy Spirit comes to our framework. Our Framework is Love, Faith. Joy, Peace, Patience, Encouragement, Gentleness, Dignity, Self-Control. Team work.



So let's look at Easter Monday ~

The tombs have opened. Old and gone memories and people have shown up.

Doubt. Thomas has said he would go with Jesus. But who is this?

The sisters of Jesus Christ are not mentioned.






How will we live, lean into and rejoice that Jesus has died. Believing He lives in us and Lives Today in Events of Prayer, in Hope, Faith, in us, in the Light of Mankind.



Acts 11
‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’


Jesus says again and again He saved a household. This has to do with hope and continued prayer. Salvation if from God. Draw close to Jesus confidently - He meant you.

Be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Let the Power of the Holy Spirit give you this day.

This day is given to you. Each gift has the mercies of God. Find the sufficiency of God with Gratitude. Find the tools from God Today.



Plan on this:

Hebrews 12:12
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

Hebrews 35
1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
2it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.

3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God


When Moses was tired, he told people he needed the help.

Exodus 17:12
When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up--one on one side, one on the other--so that his hands remained steady till sunset.


Acknowledge the Victories God had given you:

Job 4:3
Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands.

Remember and text yourself the Wonder, the Love, the Possibilities
of the Living Father God and His Son Jesus, His Holy Spirit.

Daniel 10:18
Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength.

Try. God will give us persistence, diligence, patience, HOPE:

Job 16:5
But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

2 Peter 1
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world


Today Is Sufficient to take on something in prayer or a life improvement project. To save someone.


Caiaphas' Tomb was Found. And in his tomb were found 2 crucifixion nails.Why? We don't have to know

We have to know We are FREE in Jesus Christ.

We will be GIVEN His Salvation. We will be with Jesus in Paradise.

Peter knew this. Past the misunderstandings, the imperfections, the trouble, the self-doubt, the awe, the confusion.

John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of Eternal Life."


The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Peter and the Disciples began to recover from Jesus' loss and then recover from forgiveness undeserved, and recover from the reality and not the supposition. Jesus gave them work to do and they went forth and Did His Good Works.


Father,
You have Good Works prepared for us.

We are so very grateful for Your Mercy and Redemption.

Please give this to the People I love and the People You have given to me. Heaven is at hand. Paradise in Jesus is here. I believe the Promises of God.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Exodus 15:1-21 ~ He has triumphed Gloriously

The Ipuwer Papyrus is  called The Admonitions of Ipuwer In the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, Netherlands. The sole surviving manuscript dates to the later 13th century B.C. (no earlier than the 19th dynasty in the New Kingdom). This was found at the base of the Pyramids and acknowledged by all to be authentic.

Exodus 15:1-21

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider ^[chariot] he has thrown into the sea.

² The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.
³ The Lord is a man of war;
the Lord is his name.

⁴ “Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea,
and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
⁵ The floods covered them;
they went down into the depths like a stone.
⁶ Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,
your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.

⁷ In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries;
you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.

The Ipuwer describes the plagues and the slaves left through the Sea and with Egyptian gold. The Pharoah's army died in a freak wave of some really strange weather.

⁸ At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up;
the floods stood up in a heap;
the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
⁹ The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.
I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’
¹⁰ You blew with your wind; the sea covered them;
they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

¹¹ “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
¹² You stretched out your right hand;
the earth swallowed them.

¹³ “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;
you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

¹⁴ The peoples have heard; they tremble;
pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia.
¹⁵ Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed;
trembling seizes the leaders of Moab;
all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.
¹⁶ Terror and dread fall upon them;
because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone,
till your people, O Lord, pass by,
till the people pass by whom you have purchased.


¹⁷ You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain,
the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode,
the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.

¹⁸ The Lord will reign forever and ever.”

¹⁹ For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. ²⁰ Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. ²¹ And Miriam sang to them:

“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”

 "The Ten Commandments"  Paramount Pictures released this on October 5, 1956 Directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starred Charlton Heston is well worth the time. We always think of the Movie industry as being profit related, but Mr. DeMille approached this film thinking of it's significance.

Cecil B. DeMile  had a great job and would probably be very grateful each year his work is shown on television. And saddened at the lack of Easter representation of Jesus at Easter. It was enormously well done for 1956, but could use some revamping today. 

Cecil B. deMille was persuaded to cast Charlton Heston as Moses in his movie-epic, The Ten Commandments, based on Heston's purported physical resemblance to Michelangelo's Moses.

Michelangelo's Moses located in a small Church called St. Peter's in Chains, Italy. Visitors can look for the chip on Moses' knee which was, according to one story, the result of Michelangelo's hurling his chisel at the statue. The artist, in awe of the life-like qualities that emerged from the marble as he worked, is said to have thrown the chisel and screamed at the statue, "Perché non parli? (Why don't you talk?)

This is, of course, about Jesus as God.








The Exodus was a tremendous Work of God.
Work for the Children of Israel.
And later, Cecil B. DeMille.

Easter.







Easter never passes when I do not think of Simon of Cyrene. 

Good Friday was a work day for Simon of Cyrene. Simon was working in the fields. Why did he come in from the fields?

A strange phenomenon happened from noon to 3 p.m. — normally the brightest part of the day. Luke tells us that darkness fell “over the whole land” Luke 23:44

The Scriptures point to the Cross. Jesus, like the Children of Egypt, extended beyond just the borders of Israel. Jesus might have had a foreign accent being a child raised in Egypt. But the Plague of Darkness has been seen before.

Exodus 10:21-23 Ninth Plague.

21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. 

God did not need darkness for 3 days as the Light of Christ was not to depart. Jesus tells us He will not leave nor forsake us. Death was not holding Jesus.


And Simon of Cyrene is sent home from the fields. To encounter God. Proving again Salvation belongs to the Lord. I almost always cry at Easter. We are all Simon of Cyrene.

Would carrying the Cross change the life of Simon?

Cyrene is Simon's home town. Cyrene, Libya is located in northern Africa. Cyrene, a Greek colony, also had a Jewish community where 100,000 Judean Jews had been forced to settle during the reign of Ptolemy Soter (323–285 BC) and was an early center of Christianity.

Coincidence ~ Cyrene becomes an early center of Christianity.

Coincidence ~ Acts 11:20
Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.


Coincidence ~ Romans 16:13
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

Coincidence ~ A burial cave in Kidron Valley discovered in 1941 by E. L. Sukenik, belonging to Cyrenian Jews and dating before AD 70, was found to have an ossuary inscribed twice in Greek "Alexander Son of Simon."

Simon wanted the joy of determining valor, after carrying the Cross of Jesus of God. This would not be coincidence and would be encountering the Man of God who had made "all were healed", the lame Walk. The deaf Hear. The blind See. And the poor have Good News. A Man, a King of Kings, Pilate said was innocent.



Josephus describes it as “the most wretched of deaths.”

Seneca argues that suicide is preferable to the cruel fate of being put on the cross.

Cicero called it “crudelissimum taeterrimumque supplicium” - a most cruel and disgusting punishment and he further suggested that the very word, cross, should be far removed not only from the person of a Roman citizen, but also from his thoughts, his eyes and ears.

omans regarded crucifixion with horror so did the Jews. They made no distinction between tree and cross.

“Anyone who is hung on a tree is under Gods curse.”
Deuteronomy 21:23


The practice of cruxifixion was discontinued by the Emperor Constantine.
+ God Bless Constantine.
Why we call his second empire 'Byzantine' is beyond me. This ought to be called "The Constantine Roman Empire" lasting a thousand years. Constantine witnessed the week long horror of Jesus' brothers' descendants put to death by torture and then crucifixion for refusal to yield Jesus as King of Kings - Savior.

The cross was made of an upright post called, stipes and a horizontal bar called patibulum. Several variations were in existence and crucifixion practices often varied in a given region in accordance with the preferences of the executioners.

If the patibulum was attached two to three feet below the top of the stipes, then the cross was called the “low tau” as compared to the “high tau” where the patibulum was attached to the top of the stipes. Actual trees still in the ground whether dead or alive were also used with the branches serving as the crossbar.

King of the Jews.
An additional block called the suppendaneum was used for the transfixion of the feet in later times. The titulus or small sign, stating the victim’s crime, was usually nailed to the cross above the victim’s head. The final part of the cross was the sedulum a horizontal wooden block serving as a crude seat, and it was attached midway down the stipes. The weight of the entire cross was probably over 300 pounds (136 kg) while that of the patibulum ranged between 75 and 125 pounds(34-57kg) It is highly likely that only the patibulum was carried by the victim and this was placed across the nape of the victim’s neck and balanced on both shoulders.


When we say Jesus carried His Cross. I think the Scriptures meant "He carried His Cross." Until Simon of Cyrene was put into carrying this for The Lord Jesus.








Jesus tells us we must carry our Cross. Jesus tells us we will have troubles. If we are grafted into the Salvation of Jesus.


Ethiopians carry walking crosses. As they walk - they carry Jesus Christ with them in their thoughts.

Some people feel wearing a cross is too showy.

We certainly want public officials to wear a badge or name tag. The Easter season is a good time to display your thanks to Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, Savior!

In You, Father God, and in Your Son Jesus Christ - we place all of our concerns for ourselves, the People we Love and the People You have given us. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †