James 2:1-7 ~ My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus and the Money Changers

James 2:1-7


My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.

3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

The War on Jerusalem, by Francesco Hayez 

Psalm 50
The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

We have always said in our blog Scripture for Today, God forgave the people who crucified Jesus and Jerusalem was sacked at 70 A.D. Surely God would not undo the work of Jesus to heal and build up these people. However, 70 A.D. was a new generation. Jesus was still being blasphemed in the Sadduceen Council, you can see these Talmudic records still in Scotland today. He was dishonored. Still being dragged into their court, still being declared to have had a fair trial. His Mother Mary still being defamed. The advice of Gamaliel disregarded.

Acts 5:34-39
34 A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men[a] to be taken outside for a little while. 35 He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re going to do to these men. 36 Not long ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about 400 men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his partisans were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following.[b] That man also perished, and all his partisans were scattered. 38 And now, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” So they were persuaded by him.

The Temple became more corrupt.

These steps had 13 Contribution Steps. This ended where Women could enter the Temple. Jesus witnessed the poor widow but her coins here. The trumpets made noise to "show" alms and prevent theft.

The inner area of the Temple contained three courts. The easternmost court was the Court of the Women, and it contained the Temple treasury where people donated their money (Mk 12:41-44). Three gates led into this court, one on the north, one on the south, and a third on the east. This third gate on the east side is almost certainly the "Beautiful Gate" that was mention in Acts 3. A fourth gate, which was much larger and ornate led from the Court of the Women west into the Court of Israel (women could proceed no further), which was elevated 15 steps higher than the Court of Women.

The 13 Contribution Chests (Trumpets)

According to the Mishnah (Middoth 2,5) the Women's Court was was just over 200 feet square between bounding lines. Each court on the outside was 60 feet square. The colonnade ran around the court, and within it, against the wall, the thirteen chests, or 'trumpets,' for charitable contributions were placed.

These thirteen chests were narrow at the mouth and wide at the bottom, shaped like trumpets. There were actually eleven treasure chests of the Temple for the voluntary offerings of money, and then also two at the Gates, for the half-shekel tax.

Their specific objects were carefully marked on them. Nine were for the receipt of what was legally due by worshipers; the other four for strictly voluntary gifts.

Trumpets 1 and 2 were appropriated to the half-shekel Temple-tribute of the current and of the past year.

Into Trumpet 3 those women brought turtledoves for a burnt / sin offering dropped their equivalent in money, which was daily taken out and a corresponding number of turtledoves offered. This saved the labor of steps and allowed modesty of those who might not wish to have their offering publicly known. This trumpet, Mary the mother of Jesus, dropped her offering (Luke 2:22,24) when the aged Simeon took the infant Savior 'in his arms, and blessed God.' 

Josephus records a unique history of the The Court of Women! This curved staircase of fifteen steps led up to the Nicanor Gate (m. Mid. 1.4; 2.6). According to Josephus, this gate was larger than the other nine gates (being fifty cubits high with doors forty cubits wide); its doors were supposed to have been made of Corinthian bronze (War 5.201) and it took twenty men to open and close it (War 6.5.3; 293). The Levites would stand on these steps when they sang the Song of Ascents (Pss 120–134), The doors lead to the Court of Israelites, where only ritually pure Jewish men could enter (Ant. 15.11.5; 419). 

According to Josephus, during the Roman attack on the revolutionaries who had taken refuge in the Temple, the Nicanor Gate opened of its own accord after having been closed and bolted [War 6.5.3; 293-94].)

God was indeed finished with this Temple. When God, who is slow to anger, takes vengeance, He does not take it twice; it is not needed.

Nahum 1:9
What do you plot against the LORD?
He will make a complete end;
trouble will not rise up a second time.

Notice with me, our New Testament Bible is written while the Temple is operational. Paul writes of the sacrifice being offered daily in the Temple. These men who walked with Jesus in awe and wonder were giving up their lives before the Temple was done. Not written four hundred years later. Ryland and other papyrus show us the Word is exactly what they wrote and when. Enduring 400 hundred years of persecution to bring you the Bible in your hand today. The sacrifice ended at the natural lifetime of Jesus.  God never wrote us of the end of His Holy Temple. Jesus instead told us to build. Build ourselves into the Temple of God. Well worth remembering. The God of Love.

2nd Century A.D. Capernaum Synagogue


The Pillar reads the Son of Alphaeus, the son of Zebedee, the son of John. Later century.


James was not lightly expressing an option, he grown up with Jesus as his brother. James gave us 5 chapters on what he learned. Jesus did not push the wealthy out. Peter and Andrew were very well to do according to the size and placement of their home - next door to the Synagogue. Matthew was a wealthy tax collector. Jesus felt that God sets color, class, careers, social status and even, Simon the Zealot's, political motivations aside. God is not anti-nepotism - James and John were sons of Zebedee (listed as a Synagogue contributor, perhaps later family). We find Herod's higher ups contribute to Jesus. Acts finds this to be true too.

Aerial of Peter's house, in Capernaum, before the unattractive building was placed over it in the 1960s.

Our Abba,

We ask Jesus to pray with us.


Psalm 138

I will bow down toward your holy temple
    and will praise your name
    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
    that it surpasses your fame.
3
When I called, you answered me;
    you greatly emboldened me.
4
May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,
    when they hear what you have decreed.
5
May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for the glory of the Lord is great.
6
Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
    though lofty, he sees them from afar.
7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
    with your right hand you save me.
8
The Lord will vindicate me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever—
    do not abandon the works of your hands.



Father, we thank You for Your Word about the Holiness of Your Plans. We feel encouraged to
know Jesus Boldly.

Jesus could move not only mountains, but clear 36 acres of the Temple. Our God is Mighty to Save.

Psalm 138:3
On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

Our Father God, You answer prayers and strengthen us.

Your Armor and Word of God is Power and Strength.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him,
and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.



We invite You, our Father God to dwell in us and those we Love. And in the prayer we increase the Holy Spirit by sincere invitation, we ask.

Father God, in Your Might, the prayers of the faithful cover, cover, cover the earth with God daily. Father God, we delight with You, again, the absolute Goodness You see in Your Creation yesterday, today and tomorrow. We ask for health all through out our bodies, arms, hearing, seeing, and the heart You give us. Thank You.

Care for those we Love. Guide, Lead, Protect and Nurture. And the people You have given us, we give Blessing to in Jesus. For employment pleasing to You. Neighborhoods giving You joy. Cities, Churches and our Nation. Knowing You cover our lives with Your Word. Covering the world.

Your Way is Strength. Thank You.

Father delight in us as You did in Creation. We love You. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 1:67-80 ~ Tender mercy of our God

Luke 1:67-80

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

And we all like to see friendly faces and be greeted. God does things differently than we do. God believes His Self Esteem is God. And He is not taking votes.


Exodus 3:14
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am."

Yahweh.

Why did all the millenniums from Moses until John the Baptist want the Messiah? And why did Herod and rest of Jerusalem fear when the Magi asked to see the new baby King? God fully and completely decides His own Plan. Our Hope and Future. Paul said in making plans, "I will see how it goes with me."







John's father has demonstrated the art of not sassing the Lord. He has been a priest questioning the veracity of an Angel of the Lord in front of His Altar. And we find as the Messiah is explained, the priest has found God's overwhelming Mercy. God has swept up Zechariah in doing God's Plan. As many in the Scriptures lived revealing God's Power in creating circumstance.





God is Father. He is telling the world through Zechariah's Joy of God's Plan.

1 The Lord God has visited His People.
2. The purpose is our - yours - mine - redemption.
3. And to be saved.
4. The Tender Mercy of God fulfills old, old, old promises of His Word. Longed for.
5. To give Light of God.
6. To walk - the way of peace.

Let's renew within ourselves seeing why we want Jesus to dwell within us.

To fan the flame of God.

Hope lift, Faith dwell and Love given to us in Joy of the Lord.

And how long would this take? 3,000 pages. The Disciple John said the books of all the world would not explain all of the Awesome Wonders of God.

And let's enter into a journey in this. Every time we pray, let's plan on several things.

1. We ask Jesus to join us in praying. Jesus our mediator and Savior. God Himself.

2. We remember Gratefully something God has told us of the Glory of God seen in Jesus, the Bible and His Promises.

3. We invite God to dwell in us and those we Love. And in the prayer we increase the Holy Spirit.

4. We end our prayer rejoicing with Father God the prayers of the faithful cover, cover, cover the earth with God daily. Seeing with Father God again the absolute Goodness He sees in His Creation yesterday, today and tomorrow. And we end our prayer with Gratitude.

And that is our Prayer Plan. And this is pleasure to us and to our Father God.





Our Abba,

We ask Jesus to pray with us.

We give You thanks You tell us the Presence of the Holy Spirit when we pray together. Telling us this is wonderful and effective prayer. The Love of those agreeing in prayer.

Father we invite You, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to make a home and dwell in us. Giving You the Glory for this prayer circle You have created. We ask You to live in those we Love. We are increasing Love.

Father God, we are affirming in this prayer - I am a Child of God. God dwells richly and lovingly within me - His Child.

We ask you to cover our needs with Your Good Will. With the Highest Name Jesus Christ. Knowing You are God of Love. And in covering us as Your free gift of Jesus' Love, You give us the free gift of forgiveness of our sins. Your Grace is unearned. Jesus Your Son is Your Beloved Gift to us.

We cover those we love with Your Love and tender mercy. And dwell with Joy and Hope in Your Love.

We lift up the prayers of those who have asked for prayer with us. Remembering with awe Your answers over the years. Knowing sometimes the answers show up astonishing us later. We give Thanksgiving for Edward's cysts are benign and will just remain. And lift up my left arm for healing perhaps before surgery Tuesday or after.

Father God, we cover our employment with the Name and Hope of Jesus each day showing us Your Willingness in dwelling in us. We lift up our schools. We lift up those who risk their lives every day for their communities. We lift High our Churches to be Your Glory. We lift up our Nation and the news to be held Firmly in Your Compassionate and Capable Hands. We rejoice in the communion of saints - the prayers You have with Your faithful sweeping across our world. We Thank You for Your Creation and see You find Your Works good Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Thank You for Your Love and Good Plans for us in Jesus.

Thank You, Abba, for Your Good Will and Love. Covering us all. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Mark 1 ~ Jesus is our Beloved Savior, with HIm we will be well pleased

Second Commandment: Do not worship Graven Images

United Methodist Church, Harvest
Rob Renfroe

Mark 1

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."



9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."



12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.


14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."



16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God."

25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"

26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.




29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.


35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you."

38 And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.


40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean."

41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean."

42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them." 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.







Two of the Almighty's Universe were observed by Jesus Christ.



One appeared as the Almighty and said," I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I have others fast twice a week; I am given tithes of all that I get. I am Mighty. Merciful. Let's discuss your sin."

And after many days, the listeners were convinced. And began to get down on their knees to One so Glorious. So filled with knowledge. So filled with Beyond. So Superlative. One they could seek and seek and always be puzzled over. The listeners believed their inferiority. Felt lucky to have someone to be so superior over themselves.

The One who appeared as the Almighty said, "And I will need Your Space Ship, so beam me aboard."

The listeners were, of course, Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock. And the god was not the Almighty and was Zog. I guess. But the name Zog works pretty well. Sadly, there really is a cult in California - were the god is Zog and he tells his followers what is good and what is evil. Discarding the Bible. Saying Zog will explain right and wrong because the Bible always causes wars and Empires and crusades and we need a new system. And Zog has a catch phrase his clients, om believers, can repeat for the very, very skeptical. "But that was so long ago and we don't relate - think of allll the junked up history. Zog works."



And the other man was present day. Sitting as close to the front as he can. Sinner sure. ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ This is a good system. I get to hit people. Have as much substance as I want. Date in the fashion comfortable to me. After all we have all the antibiotics for this we need. My child is fortunate to have another parent on the times, year or so, I am busy. I am well liked. I don't fuss up with sin - Jesus has covered that. I have no worries that I please God - that's pretty old Testament. And I'm well known to God - I'm Zoggy.'



Now to write this post makes me - uncomfortable. Peter once said I'm a sinner in my past. And Paul said I'm a sinner today. Maybe right this moment I am doing exactly what God has asked of me, but I could coat this in:

Corban - giving lip service to my heart to God and look good doing the right things.
I could decide that I have the wisdom to chunk down systems God has put in place and call them out done Tradition.
I could wear a T-Shirt that proclaims I love Jesus and the Gospel and get caught cussing out my family. Or being unbecoming.

Or out of out of my heart ~
I could plot for my advancement and the downfall of another and come up with evil thoughts. Like Balaam.
I could use my mind and have sexual immorality,
theft of material goods or intellectual property
murder in my heart,
adultery in my television or computer,
coveting - making me miserable,
wickedness like sorcery or calling the dead,
deceit, pretense of being righteous
sensuality, all my thought is for seduction
envy,
slander,
pride,
foolishness in my words and my jokes.
All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.


I could be the prophet who is told not to get off the path in the Old Testament. The prophet who stops to visit with the one who is holy for authority and a meal. To find out I have truly angered the Real God Most Holy and have not followed what a Holy God tells me.

The possibility of error could land us in perpetual upset. We could have dreams, like a friend of mine did. In the dream, God did indeed come back for the Rapture and as that person gets to Wednesday Church - they find the Church and 50% of the population has Risen to Jesus, but not 'you'.





John Paul II gave an excellent, excellent re telling of the GOOD NEWS. We are the Easter People and Alleluia is our song.

Our Song covers The Holy Spirit in Creation being longed for to not just hover over the waters.

Our Song Covers the Righteous Son of God giving His Sacrifice to cover us with a Holy, Holy, Holy Name of Jesus.

Our Song Covers our total inability to buy this Salvation.

Our Song Creates a Joy in us to overcome the troubles God says come to all of us. This Song is of Hope, Faith and Love.

Our Song Creates in us a Desire to Try Goodness again today. Our Song Creates in us a desire to taste and see the Goodness of God Again.

Our Song causes our soul to burst open with Living Water. And in that Living Water to pray Jesus be here now and with me.

Our Song is real and a Way and Truth. When we need Jesus for ourselves and for others, Our Song coaxes the Goodness to be seen. To believe in the Goodness of another. Because the New Covenant says God is placing His Holy Spirit in the people who profess Jesus is God. And we will not say God Lies. We will do as Jesus said and see the Good.

God said that when He places His Holy Spirit in someone you love and know they believe Jesus. We look to see the Good.

We are the Easter People and we need Alleluia to be our Song and Encourage the Good. Repeat Good News. Be Bold.

God has endowed us with gifts. Tell the people you like about the gifts God has given you in Your Life By Your Jesus.

God is God and we allow God to Be God. We trust Him and say "Thank You."

Our Song is real and we see Jesus never stepped away from the ones who loved Him and failed Him. We find in Jesus He forgave His Brothers, Sisters, Mother. He forgave His beloved friends. Our Jesus waited for His Brothers to understand and gave a place for them always. Jesus makes Himself known to the one who needs Him with gifts and know that we know. Our Jesus says even the sparrow is known on the earth to Him. Our Jesus crossed borders where humble women saw their child redeemed. Our Jesus crosses class lines to sit with women. Our Jesus crosses racial lines and the Gospels point to this in the Book of Acts. Our Jesus healed the leper. Our Jesus healed and was reviled. Our Jesus did not Quit. Our Jesus Works Today.

That is Our Jesus. Our Jesus tenderly, tenderly loves you. Our Jesus is so Tender that Jesus and His Father may be this entire Universe. And our Jesus gives us the gifts we give to others. We are able to give Jesus our heart, our worship and our thanks and Love.

That is our Jesus.



Psalm 69

29 But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, set me on high!
30 I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32 When the humble see it they will be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33 For the Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
35 For God will save Zion
and build up the cities of Judah,
and people shall dwell there and possess it;
36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall dwell in it

Luke 1

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.




Abba, We thank You for Jesus. Asking Jesus to pray with us


The Old Testament covers the things we'd never wander into. Because God, our God, our Father God was Working! Thank You Father GOD for the Way, Truth and Life You have Shepherded us out of. Alleluia!!!

Father God we give You thanks and real thanks, and real gratitude to be people of our Generation. For steam for infants who are newborn. For pneumonia conquered by antibiotics. For CPR. For Phones bringing us loved ones from far away. For airplanes for the exact reason. For Air Conditioning in Texas in August! For You Tube bringing us Awesome, Wonder filled People of GOD bringing us to tears of Joy. For Social Media bringing us moments of Joy we would never see otherwise.

For Video that decreases injustice and makes paths new in ways pleasing to God.

We give great thanks to the people of God who enable others to stand and Rise to Jesus. We are not the people who proclaim the denominations of the 1960s and 1970s and instead say "I Believe in Jesus Christ. I know Him."

We are the Generation seeing amazing Archaeology telling and revealing and showing and encouraging the love we see all over of People who Love Jesus and Love His Word. We are the Easter People seeing the Bible affirmed as God's Love.

We are the people who believe the Word of God is alive and well. Working God's Good Pleasure. Believing God has the Ability, Desire and Works Today toward Love.

Father God, with my whole heart, I thank You, I lift up those I Love. Knowing Your Capable Hands will tenderly act. I lift up the improbable with this prayer, I lift up all the people who ever asked for prayer from me and you. Our Father God, knows exactly what the One He Loves Needs and Will be Cared and Loved for. And I rejoice knowing some of my improbable prayers are just casually told an impossible miracle and I feel like falling to my knees with the awe of You Working.

We do not pick and choose what You, Father God will answer. And yet Revelations tells us all Prayer is inhaled as sweet aroma to You. And in this Generation - we know suddenly aroma is knowledge. And Your Loving Word tells us this is also Your Love.

I lift up my 5 or 6 benign cysts to You. For healing. I lift up the Good News that Edward's cysts are going to be ok and say Thanks.
I lift up family moving away. I lift up grandchildren unborn. I lift up opportunities unseen. I give You Thanks for Today. Blessings Given and Received with THANKS.

I offer up Blessing prayers for those who have suddenly blessed me.
I offer up Blessing prayers for those who have diligently blessed me.
And I cover Jesus on those who are a little disappointing. Knowing Jesus Loves us All.

May Our Loving Father Bless us with the Joy of Answered Prayer and His Abundant Mercy we ask in Jesus. God sized grace.

In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

John 1 ~ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome

Top Box Office is Dunkirk.

Has the USA recently had anything remotely similar?

Severe Weather
Over 26 Inches of Rain Triggers Record Flooding in the South, Including the Sabine River

20 Parishes Louisiana

March 18 2016 05:00 PM

And all of this does not Touch the months and months Houston Churches Harris County Churches and Montgomery County Churches did, themselves, to feed all the people in the Astrodome and Reliant Arena for Months and Months. The Civilians who helped during Hurricane Katrina's Recovery in Louisiana and  Mississippi. A vast portion of these meals came from the Churches.  Months of cooking, cleaning and serving for Jesus Christ's people.




Record flooding occurred along a sizable stretch of the Sabine River along the Texas/Louisiana border, due to record releases from Toledo Bend Reservoir, first put in service in 1966.

Aerial view of the Toledo Bend Dam near Burkeville, Texas, on Mar. 10, 2016. At the time, a record release of 207,644 cubic feet per second, or abou 1.5 million gallons per second, was occurring. (Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office Deputy Rusty Bailey)

Aerial view of the Toledo Bend Dam near Burkeville, Texas, on Mar. 10, 2016. At the time, a record release of 207,644 cubic feet per second, or about 1.5 million gallons per second, was occurring.
(Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office Deputy Rusty Bailey)

The river crushed a previous record crest near Burkeville, Texas by over 5 feet, topped a 1913 record east of Bon Wier, Texas, and topped an unofficial record from 1884 in Deweyville, Texas, Monday.



In just six days, the cooperative station outside of Monroe (26.96 inches), picked up half the average annual precipitation of Monroe's Regional Airport (53.71 inches).

Suffice to say, this was one of the heaviest March rain events on record in this area, more reminiscent of a tropical storm or its remnant.

We all know this is a disaster. But where is the Joy in the few number of deaths. The willingness to get in the amazing rain and go out and help one another.

What causes people to risk the weather to help one another?

John 1

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

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




Philippians 2

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,a 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant

6,900,000,000,000 gallons of rain in one week

The catastrophic Louisiana flood is the worst natural disaster to strike the United States since Hurricane Sandy four years ago.

"Thousands of people in Louisiana have lost everything they own and need our help now," said Brad Kieserman, the Red Cross' vice president of disaster services operations and logistics.

"This disaster is the worst to hit the United States since Superstorm Sandy, and we anticipate it will cost at least $30 million -- a number which may grow as we learn more about the scope and magnitude of the devastation."

Tens of thousands without homes is testing local hospitals' operations, especially in light of reduced federal funding for hospital preparedness. The hospital system was full tilt ready from the experience from Hurricane Katrina Triage Hospital experience.

Officials at Medical Center-Baton Rouge, concerned storms might cause them to lose electricity, transferred about 57 critically ill patients to affiliated facilities across the state on Sunday.

1,000 Year Flood.

13 lives were lost.

7,000 Rescued. Civilian Rescues. Volunteers willing to see all situations - in terrible weather.




James 2:21-24

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

The devastating floods in Louisiana stretch over 20 parishes.

What created the pathway to so few deaths?

Obviously, Dunkirk had bullets, missiles and bombs as peril. 

The civilians and the government rescuers face drowning, lightning, snakes and wild creatures. There is always a potential for violence. Seeing death. Trauma to face. Dealing with despair. Hardship. And praying for a good long time for recovery. It was said there were as many rescuers as rescued and some people still waited a day or even two for help.

Knowing this - the massive rescue was a miracle of God Himself.

In our day and time.

Father God,

We need to see, understand, proclaim, and pray knowing this Generation calls in Prayer to be stronger to meet Challenges of Life.

Today.

Remembering Encouragement is to see the Positive.

We need to take the time and say the grace was given in this 1,000 year flood. The rescuers who did not think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

In Louisiana we have seen,

One body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

They, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Having gifts of faith; service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.


Rescue  time and time again:


Genuine Love. Holding fast to what is good.

Loving one another with brotherly affection.

Let us not forget to outdo one another in showing honor.

Let us have zeal, be fervent in spirit, let us Serve the Lord. Seeing the Good. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. More prayer is needed for recovery.

Let us see them contributing to the needs of the saints and seeking to show hospitality.

We give thanks Father God, this is today and these are Your People. We ask for even more abilities to help people like this in need. And give thanks for the times we helped.

Calling faithfully to Father God, praying with asking Jesus to pray with us - for the people we Love. For all the people we have ever prayed for. For our needs and cares. For cysts to be healed of the cause.  Renewed healing and love provided for by God's Willingness. For our employment and life opportunities. For our Churches. Schools. Jesus covering this Nation. And the World. For Christians covering the world faithfully with prayer - Pleasing our God. Blessing our God. Praising our God.

In Jesus. Amen.

Hacksaw Ridge (2016) - IMDb

92%  Rotten Tomatoes 

The extraordinary true story of conscientious objector Desmond T. Doss

Doss saved 75 men in Okinawa, during the bloodiest battle of WWII, without firing a single shot. Believing the war was just but killing was nevertheless wrong, he was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lines without a weapon. As an army medic Doss single-handedly evacuated the wounded near enemy lines - braving enemy fire and putting his own life on the line.

He was the first conscientious objector to ever win the Congressional Medal of Honor.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †