Psalm 31 ~ Into His Hand

Psalm 31

31 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!

2 Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.

5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.

7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.

9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye is wasted from grief;
my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my iniquity,
and my bones waste away.
11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
terror on every side!—
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”

15 My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!

16 Make your face shine on your servant;
save me in your steadfast love!
17 O Lord, let me not be put to shame,
for I call upon you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
let them go silently to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be mute,
which speak insolently against the righteous
in pride and contempt.

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!
20 In the cover of your presence you hide them
from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
from the strife of tongues.


21 Blessed be the Lord,
for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
when I was in a besieged city.

22 I had said in my alarm,
“I am cut off from your sight.”
But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy
when I cried to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all you his saints!
The Lord preserves the faithful
but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord!

We saw The Case for Christ movie about Rev. Lee Strobel. A very amazing book, I read about a decade ago. Lee Strobel was determined to win his wife back from her obsession with a dead myth. He missed the birth of his son, during his award winning journalist determination to debunk the Christ of God.

If we just could have gotten him to drive his red Camaro faster to the birth of his son. Maybe we could get it classified as an Action Event Movie.

We all thought in our Tuesday night crowded movie theater this was - truly - amazingly - frank - honest - warm - truthful and touching to make memories to remember the movie for a lifetime. A must see. Every interview was intelligent, interesting and new facts were seen with each expert. Rotten Tomatoes show 84% of the Audience Loves this Film. We should all pray for this movie to be shown every Easter weekend. The movie audience applauded the film as the credits rolled.

It's so well done, if we could get a few more Camaro shots, we'd have to ask General Lew Wallace to move over. Lee Strobel is on the adventure Lew Wallace knew to be true. Lewis "Lew" Wallace (1827 – 1905) Union general in the American Civil War, Governor of the New Mexico Territory. Wallace is best known for his historical adventure story, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880), a bestselling novel called "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century". Written when Wallace traced the footsteps of the Apostle Paul in great disillusionment. Finding Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life.

I got the book from my dentist, my Church Family, about 16 years ago. And found more historical Jesus than I ever knew existed.

Why isn't this published about the truth of Historical Jesus? Why don't we know that the recent James sarcophagus - dropped and cracked forever in a Washington airport - was studied by the Head of Antiquities of the Louvre - Was declared patina correct and dates correctly and is James, Brother of Jesus. Same verification by the Historical artifacts of the FBI. 5 years of trials in Israel bringing their most senior Judge to tears declaring we must all decide for ourselves.

Because as Lee Strobel correctly said, "Faith is a leap."

Father God,

We give You Great Thanks for the 85% of the USA who pray and know a Loving Father God will help. We pray we are all encouraged in our daily journey to bring our soul to Jesus the Lord of Lords. Knowing our loved ones will know and have the blessing of the Encouragement of God of Love, Steadfast God, God of encouragement. God of Hope. We will all have our hearts warmed knowing Jesus, just like His Disciples on the Road to Emmaus.

We pray for more of the Christian movies, particularly this one, to be part of Holy Week showing good TV. Open the eyes of the Television Schedulers we pray.

The Mission of God is Love to save the world knowing Jesus. This Alleluia is in Jesus Christ. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 8:1-10 ~ In those days

Consider the photo of the Sea of Galilee and the district of Dalmanutha. Before 1903 and the Wright Brothers, our grandparents probably would never have seen Dalmanutha, or the Sea of Galilee, from this height. It was unheard of. Israel had not been in existence for 2,000 years.  (Jesus, of course, would have seen this view in the Ascension.)

And Jesus chose this area of beauty to be His adult home. Today, we see God knew of what He spoke 3,000 years ago,  irrigation would make Israel a land of milk and honey. The hills are formed with deep, sudden valleys and can make Hurricane conditions with wind sheer on the Sea of Galilee, like the storm Jesus commanded to be stilled.

Mark 8:1-10

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”

4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”

5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”

They said, “Seven.”

6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.

8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

This is the way the disciples experienced, this viewpoint of life.

Jesus feeds the great crowd of 4,000. People say Jesus was the great communicator.
Yes and No. Jesus was not coaxing food from pockets to join the herd. Jesus fully explains they have nothing to eat. Like He knows names and situations, blind are seeing, deaf are now hearing. Jesus explains, something like this," I know future generations will try to say about rabbit in a hat, but no, I have told the Truth about how and why."

This truth is wonderful. Jesus takes time to say the conditions and the reason - with the miracle - this is mercy.

He says families are named and live on earth and in Heaven. Ephesians 3. Then they do. Jesus said so. Jesus said this is not made known to the sons of men in other generations, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Know the Scriptures, know the Power of God.


Our Abba,

To all who did receive Jesus, who believed in His name, Jesus gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus blesses us:

He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Then he took you, His beloved child, in His arms and placed His hands on your head and blessed you.

We love the Lord our Abba and Jesus. Thanks be unto God. Amen in Jesus, we are the Easter people and Alleluia is our Song.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

1 John 4:7-10 ~ whoever loves has been born of God and knows God +

1 John 4:7-10

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.




Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.


Seeds in life. We hardly know what life's seasons will bring us. And we don't know about each other well enough to know the season - or where a person will stay - or move on. God tells us in Proverbs we know ourselves and God knows us.






Edward enjoys looking at You Tube give the important scenes of a movie. If this is a movie you've watched before, watching the important scenes again adds strength to the framework of the movie's dynamics.

Tonight we watched the series "John Adams". The scenes we watched John Adams and his unusual pattern - taking his wife across the fierce ocean to take an Ambassadorship of the brand new nation. John Adams was actually instructed by Thomas Jefferson not to be accompanied by his wife - it looked provincial. When our Vice-President did not heed Jefferson's request, Benjamin Franklin was much more frank and rude and told him he was a fool who would fail. These letters actually had one reach him before the journey and Franklin's letter reached Adams in London. Competent men rarely like rude letters. And while John Adams would work as a Christian to restore his friendship with Jefferson, because of their warm shared past. Adams would be shocked at the looseness of Franklin. And their relationship would never repair. Franklin was married, but appeared in the French Court with any woman of his choice. When in France, do as the French.

Jefferson also pointed out to Adams he would risk Abigail's life to cross the ocean. Abigail had missed years with John and they decided if they perished, they would take this time together and perish if they must. Adams had abhorred George III because they had fought his injustices to have freedom. Jefferson and Adams had discussed the real possibility George III would kill the first Ambassador to England on the ability to kill a subject of King George III's for treason. Abigail and Adams did not think Abigail would be killed, but discussed how her passage home would go.

John Adams was loyal to his nation. And loyal to Law. John and his son Quincy had represented the defense of men who had killed five Boston residents during the Boston Massacre in 1770. Seeking law and justice. Hence - John would be the First Ambassador. A stepping stone to being the 1st Vice President and the 2nd President of our nation.

It was abhorrent to learn to bow to George III. The pomp and the ceremony of all of England was something a freeman like Adams feeling as if he had discovered the stench of hell. As he approached the monarch, John Adams felt fear. He felt that if he were to be killed, this would be the day, or he would live. John Adams truthfully said he was the man for the job that both nations had been kindred with a common language and shared a common faith. He was glad to represent the new nation as a proud new nation to address as hopeful common allies. Adams hoped to unite the countries as help to both nations.

The King did not speak for a long time and, finally, congratulated Adams as being a sincere man. George III went on to say of all the men on the planet, he was the last to accept the separation. And the first to hope for the new nation to go forth to do great and meaningful things for the citizens. George III expressed his approval of Adams for the desire for his nation for greatness. He then asked Adams what he thought of the French. Adams correctly said he only represented his own nation with great care. The King said exactly, an honest man only represents his own nation. Both men found warmth and sincerity in the conversation. Adams was greatly surprised. Adams had done very well.


Jefferson asked for Adams to come to the French Court. Under no circumstance was Abigail to even put foot in France. He and Benjamin Franklin were part of Court, but had achieved nothing. A few ships would help, but not create safety. Adams was laughed out of the court for not speaking French. King Louis XVI spoke English perfectly, but King Louis preferred to be in double entendre with Franklin - Franklin seemed to have changed personality. Later in the day, Adams was to scream and yell, almost to the point of stroke with the Ambassador of France to the United States. Franklin and Adams had now become completely estranged. Jefferson was aghast. And found with Adams ability to scream and yell over no assistance being provided, that the French worried the scene would become the loss of the new nation. Adams was to display his truthful disdain over complete disregard for the cares of the many. Jefferson was to discover the lack of diplomacy had found the path to command the attention of the disinterested government. Adams again succeeded. Being honest.



Now look at the Seed Parable.


John Adams was willing to take his distinguished career and represent fair Justice to the English Soldiers killing during the Boston Massacre. And he had no real diplomacy except the truth. Which made him the Second President. He would spend his last years talking to Jefferson and Jefferson began to read the Bible. They died on the same day.  John Adams entered Heaven seeing a living Thomas Jefferson, who had been unknown to have died earlier that day. Both men were better men to have repaired public damage.


Thomas Jefferson, is a fascinating man. He studied a Bible he had pushed aside until his old age and found pure Truth. Jefferson had changed during his time in France. It was hard for him to become provincial again after being in the city of Paris which had delighted all of Jefferson. And he then planned for Washington D.C. for the new world to have a real city. Jefferson was an entertainer and usually had 40 guests for lunch and dinner. Thomas Jefferson would show all his collections and every meal had French wines. What did this mean? Each bottle of wine - back in the day - cost an astonishing $75 per bottle. Most French wines aboard American ships had one destination - Monticello. Jefferson constantly re-arranged Monticello. If slavery had a break, it was the slaves rested during non-harvest seasons. Winter was vacation. Except at Monticello. Jefferson would die broke. So broke he was one million dollars in debt. His family would leave Monticello the day after his death. No son would be alive from Jefferson. He had long ago promised never to remarry. Daughters were not important enough to work to leave a legacy.

And the truth is Thomas Jefferson was very lovable.

So Seed Parables are not for us to Judge.

And yet History paints a picture.


During the Presidency of George Washington - scant years - the French Crown had been held from 987 to 1793. The reign of self interested family to an indulgent court with hardly any interest in the welfare of the people. Warned 200 years earlier by the Russian Czar about the lack of care for the citizens.

Acts 1 tells us Judas 'turned aside to his own interests'. End of French Crowned heads.

And George III was to be the King who failed and yet his government remains today. He cared for his people.

Benjamin Franklin July 1784, Franklin met with Mirabeau and contributed anonymous materials that the Frenchman used in his first signed work: Considerations sur l'ordre de Cincinnatus. The publication was critical of the Society of the Cincinnati, established in the United States. Franklin and Mirabeau thought of it as a "noble order", inconsistent with the egalitarian ideals of the new republic. Franklin was with the King and the New Republic. Franklin would rise to be Governor of Pennsylvania, but never at the Federal level of Adams and Jefferson.

George Washington is loved by our Nation. The Nation he gave the Whiskey Tax and he primarily paid. His family did not mind his slaves were to serve him, but not Martha and her children, upon his death. Let's be real as we look even at this issue. He would be debunked for his interest in a nation and not heart from a New York pulpit by the relative of mine, Rev. Byrd Wilson. Who had known him through his father, James Wilson. Not really what you'd hope to have happen. Not really what you'd want your relative to have done. Let us love one another.

Interesting, a king has a son. And therefore he is not going to let go of a nation. Washington and Jefferson had no son. John Adams did and Quincy was raised to rise up - in what was truly important. Both Adams, father and son, were committed to a community of justice and opportunity for all. Adams told George III's concern for the nation not having a monarch, that they would both pray the new nation was directed to please God.



1 John 4:7-10

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.


Our Abba,

John told us of the God of Love.
Paul told us God is Steadfast and encouragement.

And once more, Isaiah says: “The root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

With God in us as Love, the Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, and God's presence in our souls. We will let His mercies renew in us each day. And have His presence as we trust our lives, cares, loved ones to His Love and Mercy.

With God's help, we will do what God has given us to do. Following God's Will and Way.

In Jesus Christ. Always. Our Amen in Jesus.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 18:1-10 ~ become like a child

Better Than A Hallelujah Amy Grant

Matthew 18:1-10

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 

2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.

Yes, the child of God who seeks Him earnestly, draws His attention. Loving earnestly. Loving God first.


We all have a Sermon we heard we remember the rest of our lives. I remember Father Ted Nelson said his own son would ask him all the time casually for this that. For salt to tennis shoes. When a certain tone was applied, Father Ted would stop in his tracks to fully hear. Knowing the necessity. The urgency. Isn't God the same? God has created this life to teach us we are bringing our essence to Father God.

We choose where we put our time. We pick where we will put our hearts with earnestness and sincerity as God would want. Why wouldn't God have every right to choose who will enter Eternity - the Home of God Himself.

Salvation is deep and broad. A world sized mission of Father God. Why wouldn't God be allowed the privilege we give ourselves - too choose where we put our hearts and where we invite people in.




Look at this passage as prayer.

1 Chronicles 4

1The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. 2Reaiah the son of Shobal fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites. 3These were the sonsa of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi, 4and Penuel fathered Gedor, and Ezer fathered Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem. 5Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah; 6Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. 8Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel, the son of Harum. 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”b 10Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harmc so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.


What part of this passage as prayer is going to draw the Heart of God. The list of credentials and names. Or. The loving and needing portion - perhaps of a child praying to God.

The Second part of the Scripture today:

Matthew 18
5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

You never know when someone is praying.

Because a day to God is thousands of years, consider who is a Child of God.

John 1:12
To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

As long as life offers tests, there will be prayer. In school, on a chair, over here, over there. 85% of the USA prays believing God is caring and loving them during prayer.

Matthew 25:40
‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’



Abba,

You have taught us earnestness is the most important with Love as we pray. And Jesus knew sometimes tongues and minds go still in urgent need. Jesus gave us Words to Pray. The Lord's Prayer.

We never go wrong to simply tell You. And ask You to Live in us.


For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

In His Eternal Home according to the riches of his glory
he may grant you to be strengthened with power
through his Spirit in your inner being,

For Jesus Christ to dwell in your hearts through faith

God of Love Steadfast Encouragement
—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

may have strength
to comprehend with all the saints
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

Knowing the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,

Being filled with all the fullness of God.

Our God,
Father,
Almighty,
Shepherd of our Souls,
The Prodigal Father running to us.
He is able to do far more abundantly
than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us,

To Jesus Christ
Displaying God the Father as
healer of the blind
freeing and healing the deaf
the lame rise up and walk
the leper is cleansed
the dead have life and are returned to their loved ones
To this Jesus at work, living, dwelling within
To Jesus be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.
Amen!

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

1 Kings 13:1-10 ~ This is the sign the Lord has spoken

1 Kings 13:1-10

And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the Lord to Bethel.

Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings.

2 And the man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’”

 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the Lord has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’”

4 And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him.” And his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself.

5 The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.

6 And the king said to the man of God, “Entreat now the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.”

And the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it was before.

7 And the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.”

 8 And the man of God said to the king, “If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, 9 for so was it commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.’” 10 So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel.

Some Background History: 
While still young, Jeroboam was promoted by Solomon to be chief superintendent of the slaves. Upon hearing the prophet Ahijah (1 Kings 11:29-39), he began to conspire to become king; but was discovered, fled to Egypt, remaining under the protection of Pharaoh Shishak. Upon the death of Solomon, Rehoboam assumed the throne. The 10 northern tribes revolted against Solomon's son and asked Jeroboam to become king. 

Rehoboam's poor conduct helped Jeroboam, and Jeroboam (not of the Davidic line) was accordingly proclaimed a new king of Israel . Jeroboam fortified Shechem as the capital of his kingdom. and in Dan and Bethel,built "golden calves," which he set up as symbols of God, pulling worship away from Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, but to bring their offerings to his shrines. He became distinguished as the man "who made Israel to sin." This miracle made no abiding impression on him. He was in constant war with the "House of Judah." 

Not your usual reaction in this passage, a unique reaction. Usually people have fear and trembling when dealing with Mighty Acts of God. The Scriptures do not record God trying again with Jeroboam. God must not have cared for the reaction. The Word of God, He sent forth, was fulfilled.

What happened to Bethel used as the altar of golden calves instead of God's Word?


Amos 5:5
Do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.

Bethel is never mentioned in the New Testament. Lastly mentioned in Maccabees. After the writings of Eusebius and Jerome, he found no further references to Bethel in the written historical record. There are ruins of a Middle Ages Church between Bethel and the ruins at Beitin.

Isaiah 55:11
So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.


The Scripture passage is always picked unseen. Yesterday we looked at Matthew 9, the woman who reached out with her hand and touched the hem of Jesus' robe to be healed. Jesus did not usually speak with disdain to people. Unless they held themselves out to be leaders and were not true leaders of Israel. We find the man who had over thrown David's grandson in Israel putting up golden calves and leading in the Synagogue. The man is wise enough to make the sign called for with the altar. It's doubtful that the pulling down of the altar was hard for him. With the loss of an arm pending.

And when he obeys the sign and asks for prayer - prayer is given. Prayer is answered. God was more merciful to the usurper of the Davidic line than He was to Zechariah, the priest, for doubting the message of Gabriel. God reacts strongly to those with who are obedient and in faith.

Jesus also shared the non-ancestor king's response to the altar:


Matthew 23

18And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.


















Father God, You give us each day. Thank You. Help us always pray with faith. Going with confidence to You. Let our reactions, words and ways be pleasing to You. As we walk Your path, we ask for Your Blessings to be sincere, to do what is asked of us, knowing in all situations, You are God and will have Your way. Thank God. 

We ask this of You for our Path with You. Joy. Love. Gratitude. Protection. Guidance. Wisdom. Your own Encouragement. Thank You for Your Steadfast Love. We bless the Name of Jesus for Mercy, Forgiveness and Grace. We ask for good health for ourselves and the ones we love for Your Word. Your Path is where we want to be. We place our loved ones in Your Care.

We pray in the Name of Jesus to give You each day and be on Your Path. Thank You for Your Answer. In Jesus. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 91 ~ Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him

Psalm 91

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation

Today I was reading Matthew 9 and realized something I had been thinking and discussing today. I have always pictured the woman grasping the blue fringe of Jesus. Hard. With faith and complete Will. Determination of focused prayer. Muscular Christianity...

Yet Matthew 9 tells us clearly she touched Jesus' hem. Just as we want Jesus to touch our lives, hearts, thoughts and life.

She was not looking for unshrunk new cloth to change the fabric of her life, she wanted to make the fabric whole and well. A Jesus cured patch, if needed. She wanted the touch of Jesus to create Life, not paralysis. She believed the worthiness and holiness of Jesus covered her request. His association to her, not what she could bring Him. She believed dead hopes would rise. She hoped in Jesus - He had compassion for her, because she was harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

The person of faith Jesus looks for desires mercy, not sacrifice.

Jesus was displaying a Gentle Holy Spirit not a rigid dress of the 'religious'.



This would show us, this 'showing' of the Holy Spirit, would show us what Jesus says about His Father. Each day Jesus works only in the willingness of God. Jesus says He does the work God gives Him to do, Jesus tells us He has no power apart from the Father. St. Augustine says we do what we can with the quiet lives we have.  And in trying to please Father of All,  Father of Jesus, Creator of All Things - visible and invisible - we please God in believing in His Goodness and His Willingness. John calls this Grace upon Grace - God of Love.


Jesus arrives to fill all the Word of God. With what He gives us, we would not want to be unappreciative and instead in our relationship with God - we lean on His Love, Mercy and Goodness. This is God we approach with confidence, love and appreciation.







I learned today of the tallit - the fringe. Can you picture Jesus wearing something showy or more Jesus like?

Eventually the tallit was no longer worn as an outer garment but an inner one. Some think this change took place after Israel was exiled from the land into Babylon because the tallit wearer, clearly marked as a Jew, would have been subject to persecution or discrimination. The Bible changes the definitions in Ezekiel. Very religious Jews would wear the “innerwear” tallit, with only the fringes visible. In this way they fulfill the commandment of Numbers 15:39, which requires the wearer to “look upon” the fringes. This inner tallit is called the tallit katan (tah-LEET ka-TAN) or small tallit.


The tzitzit originally contained a cord or thread dyed blue. After the Roman wars (70 A.D.), the dye industry suffered a severe recession. The community became poor, and the requirement of the blue cord was dropped. According to others, the color changed to all white when a dispute arose as to what shade of blue. At the time of Jesus' natural death, and the destruction of Jerusalem and Temple, the color of the cords became white.


Jacob Milgrom, Numbers. The Traditional Hebrew Text with the New JPS Translation (Philadelphia and New York: Jewish Publication Society, 1990), p. 411. Much of the following material on the significance of the tzitzit is based on Milgrom’s discussion.

Ezekiel 44:17 does not contradict this, because many of the regulations described for Ezekiel’s temple are different than the laws found in the Five Books of Moses. The Mishnah (Kilayim 9:1) confirms that the priests who served in the Temple in the time around Christ wore the linen-and-wool mixture.




Our Abba,

We come to You seeking Your real help and Love. Not the paralysis of doubt and loss, instead boldly and with confidence Jesus says, "My Father and Yours." We enter into prayer with You, our conversation.

We touch the living Jesus. Still at work with His Father. Asking like John 17, You to pray for us and with us, Jesus.

We thank You, Abba, for the Life of Jesus. The Sacrifice Jesus made. The Mercy covering us. Requiring our mercy to others in gratitude.

You will be the fabric of our lives, we will live, move and have our being - our essence - our soul with You. We will see Your willingness in our lives. When we seek to see You.

We believe the worthiness and holiness of Jesus covers our requests. Jesus Love for us, not what we could bring to You Almighty Father. We believed dead hopes rise. We love Jesus - He has compassion for us, because we are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

The person of faith Jesus looks for desires mercy, not sacrifice. With Your help, we will see Your willingness and go with Your blessings to bless others. Asking health, provision, Love, Joy, peace, encouraging qualities, encouragement and faith. Lifting up our loved ones to be Loved and held in Your Path for goodness, protection, abundant Life. Lifting our communities, jobs, Churches and government to the gracious blessing of God our Father.

And rest our cares with You, Father God. Amen in Jesus and Your Good Will be done.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 17:1-6 ~ faith

Jesus loved figs. Fruitful lives. Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Encouragement, Gentleness, Hope, Faith. We tend our 'garden' God provides the fruit and fruitfulness.

Luke 17:1-6

And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 

6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like...




So many times I do my Bible study reading for the morning, and I am struck with the wonder - Father God fills each day of the many, many days of this earth with earnest, sincere, on-topic, incredibly useful, needed like dry ground - - - "Word of God" to Live with. Live for. Live with the Comfort of the Holy Spirit.

And frankly some days I have to really read the Scripture to see what God is pointing to.

And today I was feeling 'pressed' as grown sons explore opportunities across continent and across planet. I felt upset with others and family for selfish deeds ... "people". I felt righteously indignant. Justifiably upset. And downright crabby. A stew of "Prodigal Son's Older Brother."


THIS. Is a poor place to meet a Loving God. All this self righteousness of being "right". What do we give to others in all this "being right ourselves". I was ready. Man, hand me that rock, I will git 'em. And really, really, really - we aren't looking for being 'all that'. 'All that' gets you the accolades of fleeting admiration. "All that" awakens... verse 5. "What have you done for me lately?" Or 'What could you do for me?????"

Jesus is doing valor, valient, brave Work. Work lasting... at least 4 millenniums - we know of. Jesus is doing God the Father work. Jesus is Protecting His Children. And explaining if you teach your children fear and low living - you are giving them a millstone. If you teach your children no valor, no integrity, no wisdom - you have tempted them to learn from commercials. Or any ol' source.




This Scripture truly is 4 milleniums old - do THIS. "Ok, easy, we do that," we think. Ok great. Now, God, what are you going to do for me?


It's no wonder Jesus cries out, "You Know Me. Hear with your ears."

Because when we do really hear from Almighty Father God, we are changed. Renewed. Amazed. Confounded. And when we KNOW we have heard from God, the Creator of ALL, how you are struck to the basic core. To your depths - GOD has Forgiven and LOVED you completely as you really are.



And when the Authority of Jesus arrives in your heart. Then you know you are that LOVED. And you see clearly God is providing a road map to His Home, His Kingdom and for Eternity.


The Storm truly calms. You can see clearly the Light of God. Jesus.

Our Abba,

The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you."

We obey You by keeping the Commandments. By being Loving. By participating in the Law of Liberty and expecting Your Goodness to see us in Spirit and in Truth. And because of the Name of Jesus, Your Will moves mountains. Faith is filled again and again. Alleluia for the Love of God to cover our concerns and the ones we love. Knowing our prayers join others in one accord and being grateful for the prayers God calls the communion of the saints in Acts 1.

The Light of God will be Love and drive out the dark. Jesus heals us. Jesus has forgiven what we asked of Him with our gratitude. Jesus guides us. Jesus, like His Words in the passage, protects us.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for the Blessings You provide to us to bless all. This is the Blessing of God Almighty. Amen in Jesus.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

James 1 ~ Count it all joy

James 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

2 Count it all joy, 
my brothers, 
when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 

21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Creation... waits.
With longing for the sons of men. Jesus is Son of Man.

When we are not afraid of loss, of hurt, of ruin. We are more open. We find Joy.

Verse 9

9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.


The lowly brother has had to find more than the world offers to find Joy. Church missionaries to 3rd World nations report joy in finding other meanings in life. He is exalted to find Joy.

The humiliation of the rich - we might enjoy that. But instead humility draws God. Not pride.


James 3
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Jesus says Salvation is a work of a camel going through the eye of a needle. Rather impossible, and easy for God.




Mark 10
42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.


We are supposed to trust God so much, we find Joy like Paul did. In all circumstances and not need to draw up a wall of self-righteousness, a wall of works, a wall of needed security to form happiness. Not in being partial. The Perfect Law of Liberty. Jesus said He is giving us a New earth. And the jaded, sophisticated, moneyed, society Roman Empire met new Believer Jews of Jesus.

The first Century did not encounter regular society. They found Hope, Love, Faith, Joy. The Joy Jesus says He finds as God. Proverbs 8 Jesus enjoys and delights in mankind. John 14, 15, 16 Jesus finds Joy. The people trusted God for their needs and did not worry as much.

Finding as we worry in life, God's Plan will be done. Expecting His Plan is Good. Meeting God with sincerity.


Why? Why should we help God? This world is filled with halves. And is imperfect. Causing some to shake their fists and say God is flawed - forget this. This world is a glimpse of the next. How do we know? There are people in the last 10 years who have been dead so long their flesh turned black and all of their body became rigor mortis. And they return from even the beginning of organ donor harvest to tell of a Miracle of Life.

Why should we help God? Having the Joy of Heaven and of God spill over into this life. Presenting our brain to God? Instead, presenting our soul to God. The essence of life, memory, determination of choice, where our Life is. And where we invite God to dwell with us.



Abba,

In this faith we work in all circumstances to find Love, Joy, Peace, forbearance, faith, encouragement, hope, Faith.

Thank You, Father, for the Widow of Nain, the miraculous sign of Life for her son. God is still working and we can believe and trust Jesus with the ones we love. And as we do this, we believe God has all of life, all of this Nation, all of the world in His hands. What gift will we give You, Father, that You have not given us? Thanksgiving. Jesus is God. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †