Matthew 5:33-37 ~ to the Lord

Matthew 5:33-37

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 

34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.


Deuteronomy 6:13
Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.

Deuteronomy 10:20
You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name.




The debate on taking an oath is memorable to most Christians. Notably the Old Testament expects God to be invoked in honesty.

"Most" of the Bible is built to make larger points. All of the Bible. The way paragraphs are put to other paragraphs is very important. This is the Bible. The Author is present as we read His Words.

Matthew Chapter Five. The need for sincerity in speech is placed by the explanation of Adultery and Lust. Jesus tells us we are doomed if we lust after someone and it's so bad that we should literally gouge out our eye or cut off our right hand. How many people have been recorded as Saints in the written history of mankind for gouging out what God has given them? None. The Saints of history do not remove body parts. The Saints of the Bible get recorded for millenniums of their flaws and sins.

The heart alone knows it's own joys and sorrows. Attitude from within. We continue to Adultery. If you are divorced, man, you just might have destroyed your soul. Wow, that's pretty difficult, especially for the people placed in impossible circumstance and situations.

What's needed? Grace. Mercy. God Himself. Jesus Christ.

Just as the Disciples were struck to the core to find a rich man is in danger of not having Salvation like a Camel through a needle's eye. We find all of our overt behavior throws us into the list of sins in Mark 7's list of internal sins (and external sins).

That is why today people vow and call upon Father God's name to make a vow or proclaim the truth.

We need to rely upon God when life gives us incredible turbulence.

Love can change hearts. If someone is divorced and looking for God and the person leading to God proclaims, "Oops, divorced? Well, Doomed Sinner." No one is going to receive the Joy and Love of the Living God. No one should be delivering the Judgement that person was incapable of announcing. What brings us to God and to our soul and to growth into His Kingdom? His Love. This is Redemption.

Prayer

Right now we have singles internally hemorrhaging from abrupt usage and departure of the "way we date today." Lives are potentially harmed for destroyed hearts. Swim with the sharks can cause death. And instead of addressing divorce recovery still in process during next marriage. Instead of addressing marriage help. Instead of asking, again, for people to wait to be married. Love goes incredible lengths for one another.

Instead, we seem to jump around screaming about Transgender. I'm 54 years old and in my life I've probably seen 20 transgender people. And I have never seen any adult sobbing outside a bathroom over gender identity. I bet you haven't dealt with this a whole lot in your life either.

What is this crazy behavior? It's because if we make the sex lives of others what we scream and obsess about, we don't have to face our own flaws. We don't have to deal with our own lives. If we dwell on what's far away and far off and make this our discussion and issue - we don't have to go home do our responsibilities. If I have to deal with my family things, then I don't have to worry about far away or your's. Gouge? Gouge out your own lives.  Work at the internal attitudes.

We change our culture, our own world, our community by dealing with our lives and the people we meet by being kind and courteous. By being polite and working through the difficulties. By living the Gospels. We can even thank the rude, the bullies, the tyrants, and even the dishonest. Zig Zigglar looked at it this way, "If someone tells you 'NO", you are free to move on and find the "YES"." Be grateful for all you have in life, even if it's a problematic rude person? Well, they saved you time.  And gave you an opportunity....

 We only get hung up by expecting something Jesus said we'd never get - a problem free life.

We provide a path of solutions. Doing this - we get to go home and go to sleep at night saying to God, "I did this for You today God, You are my Gipper." God says in Numbers 6, He lifts up His countenance and smiles. We have been gracious to God! What we do for the least of the people we will never see in life again - we have done for God.

Luke 6:36

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

And using the colors of God's Throne told to us in Revelation as this and His favorite colors:

Abba our Father!

To the Lord God we Lift up our People we Love.

To the Lord God we Lift up the People God has given us.

To the Lord God we Lift up our Cares for His Love.

To the Lord God we Lift up our Trust and Expectations.

To the Lord God we Lift up our Praise and Joy.

To the Lord God we Lift up our Praise for Love given and received.

To the Lord God we Lift up our Thanksgiving for Salvation in Jesus Christ.

To the Lord God we Lift Up our Lives for His Goodness in Giving us His Kingdom for Eternity.

JESUS IS GOD. THANK GOD. AMEN IN JESUS. Jesus lifts up the World to His Salvation and we give Jesus GLORY.
Amen!!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Zechariah 7:1,4-10 ~ Kindness and mercy

Zechariah 7:1,4-10

7 The word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev.

4 Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me: 5 “Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month
and in the seventh,
for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? 6 And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? 7 Were not these the words that the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, with her cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?’”

8 And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 

9 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”


I flung open the Bible reading Zechariah 7 and worship was around me. The Bible is Living and active , these were the Words of God.



Isaiah 12:2-4

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation."

3 Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation.

4 And in that day you will say, "Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted."





Father God,

We pray the Large prayers of Jesus bless us prayers. The seeds of the young generation bloom and have the Holy Spirit rise up in them. the youth will have Your Power to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

We pray into our Lives healing, the Life of Jesus and His goodness.

We want to see Your Great Deeds and Awesome Works in the land of the living. In these days may the righteous flourish, And abundance of peace flourish. Secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places. The LORD is our king; He will save us. And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.

Come Lord Jesus in the willingness of God to us each day to see Your Willingness and dwell there. Bringing more Heaven to our lives in our words and deeds. Bless our lives, our children, our children's children unto the generations carried to dwell in the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.

And all the people praying will Alleluia their Amen together in Jesus Christ!!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 11:28-30 ~ will give you rest

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

We will see this with our own eyes in Heaven. We will see the storm immediately stop and see Jesus with clear skies. Jesus is the Light of the World. God of God. True God of True God.


Jesus said do not worry, it won't add a cubit to your life.

The truth is, if we worry less, we enjoy His gifts more.

Because if we trust Him, we can rest.


Numbers 23:19-20
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? 20 "Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it."


God the Father is this:
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.

Jesus is, of course, a messenger teaching us of Father God. His Son.

Our generation is blessed to see the archaeology of what Jesus told us of the collective truths about the cities and their faith. Chorazin never really did prosper, the city was cut off from trade and water. The term Korazim block is used to define a geomorphological feature set between the Hula Basin and the Sea of Galilee. It is an elevated pressure-ridge within the Dead Sea Transform (DST) which acted as a barrier towards the waters of the Mediterranean when these flooded the lower-laying part of the DST, between what are now the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea basins, during the Pliocene transgression. The Korazim block as well as the higher elevation of the Hula Basin meant that the latter did not receive any marine water during that process.

Chorizin was left high and dry with a stumbling block.

Bethsaida? One cannot decide from two cities. It was so ruined. Tyre forever ruined. Sydon. The same.

Capernaum where Jesus found the Centurion? Peter and Andrew? It flourished for a millennium plus three hundred years until the ruins became so beguiling most pilgrims still want to see the wonderful places archaeology has found of the Adult Hometown of Jesus.

The Words of God bless us with Truth. Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life.


Our Abba, our Father,

My day started out a terrible dream warping a sad time in a way that never happened, harming loved ones. And with 5 ceilings needing paint repair from the Air Conditioning. A pump not working for 3 days and this was fixed. Unbelievably blessed for this to fix. A treasured item was missing from a car and found hours later to be inside our home. A car situation that seemed so tangled and has been planned to make this through to completion.

A favored friend, who saw his elder brother marry again at age 92, has gone to buy an antique car purely to enjoy the gift of life at age 89.

Few days turn around so gently, kindly beautifully and with such appreciation for the help God gives us.

Appreciation for God's help, His blessing. Jesus the Lord. A long tangle has been straightened. Peace is found. Family to compare ideas with and confirm plans. Strong sons. Visitors arriving.

Seeing people in the neighborhood we know. Seeing the colors of the sunset change and snapping a photo. Watching God being so gracious to Edward. Seeing the miracle. Appreciating God.


May the joy of summer life be upon you, prayer partner. May our God bless the people who pray seeing His Blessings. May our Father increase the Holy Spirit in all who Hope for His Love, Goodness and Mercy. Help us to find our sense of humor and build more bridges. May the merciful peace extend in our faith to the land. Bringing the Power of the Holy Spirit, Abba's Son Jesus Christ His Love sweeping our souls to Love, Peace, Joy, Faith and Hope. For ourselves, for the people we love, for the believers of the Lord all over the world. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

The Blessing of Salvation. Jesus is Ours. Alleluia. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Ephesians 1 ~ by the will of God

Ephesians 1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. 

In love 
he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 

In him we have redemption 
through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, 
having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Voyage to Damascus.

Consider the lives of two men.

Both men woke up and had work. One is going on a business trip. One is working from home.

Moses and Paul. They woke up for a regular day.


Moses finds on this particular day as he puts out his walking staff - he finds a snake. As Moses puts out his hand, he finds he has snow white Leprosy.

Deuteronomy 5 - The Ten Commandments - Dead Sea Scroll  - Plate 981

http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/explore-the-archive/image/B-298337

Paul is on a business trip and discovers he is Blind.

Roman road to Damascus

Not your regular day. And Both will find this to be the Will of God.

Amazingly, we have a letter from the formerly Blind man c. 38 A.D. Wondrous. In actual fact, we have 300 letters from the man. We credit from the Holy Spirit. These 300 Chapters are now owned by the University of Michigan. All 300 Chapters are called Papyrus 46 and almost 99% intact. Dating to the time the Apostle John was very much alive.

Paul recovered from being literally blind. Miraculously of God, we know. Paul tells us he has seen Jesus alive as the 500 have in 1 Corinthians 15.  Paul is now so gifted of the sight of Jesus Christ God, his life's work is to inform millenniums of the Wonderful Love God has for us. Paul tells us he is the one who has seen Jesus lately. And in this being from God, we find Paul lists the Fruit of the Spirit.

Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

We find Grace, Faith and Blessed are listed right there at the top with Jesus Christ. Blessed with Jesus.





Paul is telling us about God. He has no reason to write the Chapter unless the Holy Spirit is teaching, comforting, helping. Paul is not just throwing around nice words to fill up the paper and showing the Boss - look, he filled up the page with pretty words. "Look Father God, about 1200 words look -  blah blah love blah blah poetry big blah blah foundation blah blah poetry blah blah sound grand blah blah something about foundation love blessed blessed beloved blah plan blah head blah fulfilled high words dominion and will and blessed in poetry." This is something important to God. His Words. His Bible. His Teaching.

Paul is telling us - The Body of Christ. He is building up the Body of Christ.

God has acted with so much love for His people, He wants to tell us what God Himself sees.

The Top of the Body of Christ.

Is The Will of God.

~ Bought with a price. The Blood of Jesus. Covered by Jesus.

~ The Faithful of Jesus Christ.  Saints. God has chosen His People. We are God's. It is He who has made us. He seals us with the Holy Spirit. His Promises are sure.

~ Obtaining Fellowship with God to last for Eternity.

~  And in this Faith - God opens the Spiritual Treasure. Why? For our Redemption. Adoption. Grace. Blessing His Beloved Children. In Jesus, finding us holy and blameless.

God puts His Plan to Fulfillment. We experience God.

1. Some interest in the Faith and Jesus Christ.

2. We have an idea we are blessed and feel grateful.

3. We start to have an idea we are supposed to find out about Father God. We have a knowing  in our souls about the Riches of His Grace.

4. We consider His Full plan for our time.

5. We wonder about uniting all the people we love and know in God's care and Love.

6. We ask of God about the guarantee of our inheritance - the invitation to live forever with God = we want to bring our lives as a blessing to increase His Praise and His Glory. We want to see the Father run to us  - the prodigal.

7. We realize this Salvation requires God to reach to us. We are not able. We seek a miracle.

The immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

~ God assures us the foundation of The Body of Christ, the foundation of the very world, itself, is God's Plan of Salvation in Jesus Christ.  Saying the purpose of life itself is  - to find Jesus Christ.

~ In God's Purpose,  all of His Plan is under His Feet. This is something very comfortable and easy for God.  Father God tells us if we seek Jesus, we are going to find Jesus.

~ The Foundation of God's Plan to us is the work of mankind - to believe God.  Father God tells us to us, this is mystery to mankind. However God, is the creator of all things,  He is the head, the authority, the King of Kings of His Plan.

~ In Jesus Christ ...
 lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

~ When we see Jesus of the Gospels, willing, loving, holding children, healing. Dealing with all of life. Ending the storm, We have seen Father God.  The Salvation of God tells us God is working circumstance in our lives - to bring us to God.





Abba God,

In Astonishment, because of You, The Body of Christ is families living in Heaven and in earth.

We pray for more Heaven on earth as Your Will is done. You easily accomplish this with Your Kingdom, Your Power and Your Glory.

We ask blessings on the Body of Christ - multitudes and multitudes forming great believers, The Body of Jesus Christ. Their prayers are beautiful to You. We ask You to bless us and make the Holy Name of Jesus so great in our lives, You will be our blessing and presence as we pray.

We ask Blessing on those who Bless the Body of Christ. We know You will bless those who bless You. We ask all things continue to work for Good for those who Love You and work according to Your purpose. And pray all the families of the earth shall be blessed in Jesus Christ God. God bless Charlie Gard and his ability to lift up many people praying for this child. May our Father God look with all His favor on this boy, his healing, the new High Court hearing and his family.

Covering this in Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 7:1-10 ~ Jesus marveled at him

Luke 7:1-10

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.”

6 And Jesus went with them.

When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard these things,
he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.






The emotions of Jesus.

Jesus delights in us

Psalm 149
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.

Jesus told us He often longs to hold His Child - You - Me.

James 4
5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”


We always want more of Jesus. What happens when Jesus is almost demanded, Jesus tell us about this.

Matthew 15

22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have MERCY on me, O Lord, Son of David; MY DAUGHTER IS SEVERELY OPPRESSED by a demon.”

23 But he did not answer her a word.

And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”

(Demanding her will. Jesus is in charge and He decides to answer her crying.)

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Jesus heard Love speak to Him. Jesus spoke Love back.

David is said to be the apple of God's eye. David sought to be the anointed of God. Obedient and pleasing to the Will, Plan, Delight and Love God has for His People.

Matthew 18:2-4

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.

The Children expect Jesus to Love them. He does.


Abba,

The Centurion believed the Word of God is eternal and far reaching with the Tender Love Jesus has. The woman who cried believed Jesus would here her over the protests of the people for her to leave. The blind men yelled over the people and Jesus heard.

Let us in anticipation of pleasing You, have Your Yearning fulfilled and please You with Faith. We hand our most important prayers, concerns, thoughts, opportunities to You. For Your Good Love, Joy and Will. And we will rest in Your Good Will. Knowing Jesus rested and prayed and we will do the same, and please You.

In Jesus Christ God Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 5:27-37 ~ All you need to say is simply

Matthew 5:27-37

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Divorce

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.


Literature, meaning us, mankind, has been talking about this Chapter for millenniums.

It's great to swing the axe at someone, but more complicated when it is your child. Your parent. Your Family. And really this is not about the fun of pointing the finger, but involves straight to your own chest.

When you think about how the books about Harry Potter played out, you realize this is the children's success story of Jesus Christ. Magical Jesus. And this is interesting. Harry celebrates Christmas and Easter. Fighting evil.  Dumbledore could be Joshua. Dumbledore is not Moses, he is not involved enough in the story.

So Dumbledore says what will you say when you are on the mountain bike and you come around that swerve to find the Jump is pretty steep. And Dumbledore picks up on a very, very interesting quote on Evangelism Winston Churchill thought about. (Won't Heaven be interesting when we are sitting with John Adams, gazing at Moses and talking to James B. Irwin, 61, Ex-Astronaut and finding out how all things work for Good?!!!)

Winston Churchill said, "I like a man who grins when he fights!"

And on to Dumbledore:
“There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore,
smiling.
"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

Jesus Christ, of course, comments on these close to the vest and riddled with wrong steps times. "Fight the Good Fight."

Abba, weighs in, "The Prodigal Father saw his son far, far away and ran to him."



If we can't do the faith when life finds the job hard, when.





Not John, nor Luke, nor Mark nor Matthew would be a fan of cheap grace - living the way we want to and depending on the mercy of God at convenient intervals. The men who knew Jesus and those who encountered the Holy Spirit in the early Church really believed the reaction to God's grace is deliberate and changed behavior. We witness in the Scriptures that all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, but all did extend themselves to please God.

The Scriptures, being real, give a very real discussion of the disciples learning how seriously their Savior, Jesus Christ, took sin.

Matthew 19:10
The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

As a child I wondered why oaths were so important to be discussed.

2 Chronicles 36
11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. 12 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God’s name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord, the God of Israel.

Bam. End of Zedekiah - he had encountered the living God. No one told him he was part of the Scriptures. Life isn't permanent and God is drawing us to Him.






Mercy. God tells us exactly this. God desires Mercy more. More than sacrifice.


Jesus wants us to act as the Lights of the world. He expects our yes to remain yes and our no to remain no. The Savior of the World, our Hero, said He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law.

When is the Law fulfilled. When we simply can't. When we can't. That is when Jesus comes to help us. When we are beaten. When there is too much pollution. When the forces of wrong swamp life. And God shows us this through the whole of His Word. Mary was unwed when Jesus was born in the Stable. Elijah felt he must run away after God won an incredible victory and his fear led to hideous depression. Moses was a murderer. David murdered for hire and for adultery. What about when it's your child? Your parent? Your boss?

How do you know the circumstance exactly?

Jesus adopts us and in His name covers us in His Righteousness. We get one choice. Exactly one. We can go with Jesus forward when we have been wrong. We can go with Jesus forward when we have wronged. That is the Good News. God is Willing. Able. Capable. Dependable. Amazing. Wondrous. Strengthening. Honest. He plans your morning noon and night. Yesterday, today and TOMORROW.


John, our eyewitness, says:

1 John 4:16
So we have come to know
 and to believe
 the love that God has for us. 

God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

We would never ask Jesus to be our waiter. And to ask Him to deliberately clean up our messes. but if we are absolutely in the ditch, God says. "I'm sitting here, too. I've got you, I've got you."

Father God is known in Jesus to repeat twice. In Heaven, Abba is known to repeat 3 times to nod with love to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is completely unprecedented God tells us how much He loves and cares and enjoys and delights in the three chapters of John talking about Joy in Life = the 11 times God informs us yesterday, today and tomorrow Creation is God.


And then... there was that time that God felt we needed His Assurance AND...

Psalm 136

136 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Twenty - six times.



Abba, Our Father.

I give You Great thanks for my son Alexander's 26th year. And recognize the blessing of family. Asking as Peter fell into the water, that Your Great Strength continue to lift up the people of Faith.

All we need is Jesus the Lord as we pray. We do little as people who turn to dust. Your faithfulness is a shield and buckler. Your Promises are sure. You are God. You are Father. You give me Jesus. You save the world. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

You are the Alpha and Omega and we rest in You. You wrap us in Your Love. Jesus the Lord, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

1 Peter 5:7 ~ Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

How will we tenderly explain Jesus is silent and also casting our anxiety freely on Jesus?


Matthew 23:37
How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

Mary and Martha looked directly upon Jesus. The Light of the World. Knowing the Resurrection of all of mankind rested in the Will and Word of Jesus. They had struggled and had found sorrow upon sorrows. And they could tell Jesus about their sorrow. Jesus is God. Son of God. God of God. True God of True God. Light of Light. And He is the one who is remarkable. And in the compassion of Jesus they could tell Him exactly as their emotions and heart truly, sincerely bled and hoped.

Mary and Martha saw The Light of the World in Jesus. Knowing the Resurrection of all of mankind rested in the Will and Word of Jesus. They had struggled and had found sorrow upon sorrows. And they could speak up and tell Jesus about their sorrow. Jesus is God. Son of God. God of God. True God of True God. Light of Light. And He is the one who is remarkable. And in the compassion of Jesus they could tell Him exactly as their emotions and heart truly, sincerely bled and hoped.



When we say Jesus was silent and tender as a Lamb. We are also saying Jesus tells us He has come for our Salvation. Jesus does not accuse us as we tell Jesus our heart, our need, our pain, our love, our hope, our hurt. Jesus is Tender and Loving.

Jesus our God. Using His Creation to explain His Tenderness. King of Kings. Lord of Lords.



Our Abba Father,

O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels!

O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels

O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Resting in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †