1 Peter 1:13-25 ~ The Word of the Lord remains forever

1 Peter 1:13-25

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action,
and being sober-minded,
set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth
for a sincere brotherly love,
love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

23 since you have been born again,
not of perishable seed but of imperishable,
through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,

25 but "the word of the Lord remains forever."

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.



There is a detail in the Gospels that warms my heart like Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

Two thousand years later.


John 1:44
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.

Don't we know this about the people we love? We listen to what they have to say and remember. This small detail is a love song.


And when we say Numbers 6

22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 “ ‘ “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’ 27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

The Blessing of Jesus is so profound - we are so known to Jesus - as we walk the path covered in Jesus - even the soles of our feet are covered by Jesus - none of us, not one part of us, escapes His Love, His knowing, His Joy.


Blessed be Abba in His own Name.
Blessed be Jesus - Name above all Names.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit dwelling in us - our eternal lives and glory in Father God - today and always.
Blessed be us - the Beloved of God. Believing.
Thank You, Jesus, pour all over us and our loved ones, fill us all, fill us with Your Love.
Your Overwhelming Love - Jesus.
Amen Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Beloved Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 18:10 ~ in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven +

Matthew 18:10

See that you do not despise one of these little ones.
For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Children have been seen in many different ways over the Millenniums. The Old Testament, the one where God is frequently spoken of rather judgmentally, tells us a child is a longed for joy. Hannah begged for a child. David's father, Jesse, had 8 sons and David was seen as, more or less, a worker bee and not even summoned for the Prophet Samuel's visit. Which takes us from Samuel - longed for and given to God. And David - the spare. The A to Z.

The Bible tells us when a loved one died, the widow was cared for and the child said to be of the dead brother. A concept we are uncomfortable with - yet telling us children are seen as the continuation of a loved one. Looking at children through Biblical eyes.

In the Middle Ages, children were swaddled and hung on a peg on the wall. Making sure diaper rash - which might kill due to lack of antibiotics - is avoided. The child was not named until age 5 to avoid falling in love with the child making sure 'it' survived before the child was treasured. Kosher would indicate - the Jews did not feel this way about children in the Old Testament. The slaves of the Exodus had children easily, thriving children. Jews washed and the middle ages swaddled.

During the farming years, people had children plentifully to provide for each other. Leading to serfdom - which provided exactly the opposite of the goal of the Exodus. The Plagues set freedom back on track again. A pendulum of history. Fighting forward. During these, fraught, years the Bible was guarded in Latin for the few.


In the last 20th century, people tried to limit the number of children. To provide for themselves and their children. Peter Pan is actually a story of children lost due to childhood illnesses. An idea of Heaven to think of lost boys. A happy ever after without mentioning Heaven to grieving parents.

And then life was still pretty tough - improve your kids, toughen them up. No car seats. No batting coaches. Plenty of hunting and fishing lessons and even sports, to the best of the parent's ability.

Now, if history is a pendulum and life is always seeing a balance - we hopefully approach the idea with good intentions...

Do we overly self love ourselves - and make our children to be our best images? And in doing this - fail to see the unique gifts God has given them as we stuff our best goals upon them? All done in the name of - 'your best life'. Too many lessons. Too little individualism?

This is not done cruelly. I know my Grandmother, one of 12 children, 11 of them graduated from college by using a buddy system, my Grandmother longed for Ukulele lessons, a raccoon coat and singing lessons. She loved to dance the Charleston. And had lovely marble dressy pictures of the First Bank of Dallas in prohibition grandeur. It was a speak-easy at night. My teetotaler Grandmother said it was gloriously good fun. And she wonderfully provided singing lessons for my tone-deaf mother who was asked by the singing teacher - not to sing at the recitals.

My mother longed to dance. Something she shared with my Grandmother, but Grandmother was not about to raise her only daughter to go to Speakeasies and dance. So while they all explored painting when I was in pre-school, I was sent to suffer dance lessons. Modern dance at that. And when I excelled at the one art lesson I had, we were whisked back to dance lessons where they prayed I'd learn to twirl a baton by dancing. And if that worked, then cheer lessons. And then we moved to a small town, where, Thank God - there were only Art Lessons and Tennis Lessons. God is very, very good. He is. Really.



We had the most wonderful Luncheon for the Women at The Woodlands Untied Methodist Church. Finding by Psychologists speaking to other Psychologists in other cities - we are finding a lot of children these days are enrolled in every opportunity to join group sports and get on the fast track with all the other Salmon. The depression rate of affluent children is in the 30 to 40% range. The goals of the parent are not necessarily the goal of the child. And newly grown children tell us they felt unseen within their own families - due to excessive planning for "appropriate goals".

Dr Anu McDonald gave a very heartwarming story of being from India, becoming part of the USA and culture changes. Including her mother-in-law as part of every day life as both she and her husband are busy doctors. Loved the love shown between the generations of family. Most wonderful and very needed in our nation. Very, very inspiring!!!

Bringing us full circle to Father God. Genesis and Proverbs 8 tell us of the Joy God had in Jesus during Creation. The Joy of Jesus seeing the talents of God.

Mary did all she could to keep Jesus in the framework God would tell us - God establishes us in these parameters for Blessings. The Pentateuch - do this - and God will Bless you. Mary probably sits down, eternally, at the Right Hand of God. Who else has rushed in to save the Life of Jesus at least 3 Biblical Times? And Jesus tells Mary - no, we have to live and do the Will of God for me.

Father God, who is God, does not give His Son David's Palace. He did not provide a beautiful farm to Jesus. He did not provide for Jesus a huge home, as so many Jews did, for their sons to live within the family. Instead Jesus leaves Nazareth, leaves Mary and moves to wonderful Capernaum. Jesus is doing what God has built Jesus to do.

Father God has always planned for Jesus to help His family - I doubt Mary and Joseph would have recovered from scandalous Luke 1 without Jesus Himself. Blending seamlessly in little Nazareth as time goes by. Yet Father God has always planned for Jesus to be Jesus and not just what Mary and Joseph told Jesus to do traveling home to Nazareth from Jerusalem Temple Holy Days.

Father God has let all people know - a mere Barn will do.

A plan of God - will do.

The Freedom to do God's Will with encouragement - will do.

The need to be unique - even within a loving family - in God's Plan.

The freedom to make Jesus' own life - is God's Plan.

Allowing Jesus to depart carpentry - the family business - is God's Plan.

Jesus lived this freedom - by being recorded in the Bible - visiting His Family - with His Disciples - during the Wedding in Canaan.

Jesus provides us hope - a child born in the barn - with love - will go far.

Jesus tells us families who have lived near and far (like Egypt) will find their way.

Jesus records family conflict is survivable. Even Sibling Rivalry.

Jesus tells us Love brings separated families - during Good Friday - back together in God - Acts 1. God puts us in healing paths.


Father God tells us - in all situations - not to give up hope. The Prayers we have are always Possible in God. And the Scripture passage is about little children having guardian angels. A child is not a jello mold. A child is a unique plan of their Heavenly Father. We trust God in the ways He gifts one another.




Abba, Our Father,

Thank You so much for such a good lesson at Church today. In You, we live, move and have our being. Asking for your inspirations and wisdom to know the gifts and love for each other.


Father God, help us to deal with each other with Love.

1 Peter 4:10
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

1 Corinthians 12:7-11
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.


Romans 12:6
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God


Being up building to one another for the Glory of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

That in doing the will of God for our lives, we are nourished in God's Love.
Nourishing ourselves to do the will of God
Assisting those we Love. The People God has giving us.
Broadening prayer really all over the world because we reach far in You.
Lifting our world, nation, the news we see, the people we just see barest glimpses of.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

In Jesus, we say our Amen. Rejoicing in the Holy Spirit bringing us all more of our Father God. Rejoicing in the Hope, Love and Power of the Word of God working, alive and filled with Joy.


Amen and Amen in Jesus!!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 14:12-25 ~ prepare for us

Mark 14:12-25

12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'

15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us."

16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.

18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me."

19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, "Is it I?"

20 He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."

22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 2

4 And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."




Communion.

We don't all believe in Transubstantiation. I do. Vehemently. A unique word saying, "All Things are Possible with God." My step-grandfather, Father Wm. Tate Young wrote a book on Transubstantiation - saying as we have communion - the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ are made manifest in us.

If you don't believe this - that is your right. Just leave me to my miracle.




What will we compare this to - we could go very Catholic and point to miracles all with Hosts reflecting AB Blood type.


Instead, let's make real life analogies. Making room for many at the Table of Jesus Christ:

Read the funny papers first, skip the headlines, you'll live longer. We know the advice. What if instead we said, "His Mercies renew each and every day - look for the new mercies." This is very probably more enduring. Having faith for God's moves/works for today and in the future. We comprehend seeing all things have worked for Good for those who Love the Lord and Work according to His purpose sometimes more when we apply gratitude and work seeing Father God in our personal histories.


Communion. Where God and man meet to have fellowship in the garden of our soul. Where we present all of us. Aren't we glad for the Goodness of God's Love. We need our Merciful Father. And as we let goodness build on goodness - we have had the best communion - nourishing our self esteem - making our selves bold right there in front of Abba - Daddy - Our Father - Heavenly Papa -

Psalm 139 lists Abba and us

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Abba does not leave us. Ever

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

Our amazing internal structure and our thoughts - we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

We serve a Father too eternal, too Loving and too Vast to annoy Him in pettiness. Surely, when God is upset, we will heed this with all diligence for His Love for us.

Knowing God is perfectly willing. loving capable and Ancient of Days. We instead honor our Father God with our Love - knowing how intricately He knows us.



We all build something - we want to build on our Goodness and upon the Foundation of Jesus - to nourish ourselves to give to others. Abba says His blessings are like yeast, rising up and over flowing. We stay with God and find the goodness. This daily is our Communion of Love with Father God who is Love. We have times where we will seek to grasp God and the hem of His Robe. The willingness of God fills us and lets us know the Comforter - the Comfort - God stays with us. Enduring. Steadfast.

Keeping our souls, our minds, our hands, our body open to the possibilities of what Father God will bring.


The story of the miraculous Upper Room. The same Scriptural example -  Abraham sending for a wife for his only son   Genesis 24 - A willingness to see what God will bring. Preparing ourselves in Goodness for God's Works. Willing to walk with God through the wild winds like Exodus. Like walking new paths through parted waters. Nourishing ourselves again and again in Abba.


Abba,

We pray to run our race to win - in the strength and Love of Jesus Christ. To have nourished in Jesus self esteem.

We have seen flu starting and sinus infection. Cover us all in great health we ask. Rejoicing because in the Name of Jesus - we are covered even the soles of our feet.

Nourish our souls to encourage our hearts to Love. We ask for ourselves, the ones we Love. The people who have asked for prayer. The lady in the Doctor's office taking care of her blood pressure. The two people I know right now with walking back fractures. For the one with flu. Seasonal Allergies. The one with sinus infection. The people working diligently to recover from flood and fire. The Goodness of You, in operation recovery. And spot on kidney - nothing to worry about report. For two people with cancer recovery and total healing. All those who have asked for healing of ears and brains. Those who weep for the Lord and do not know where to begin.

We thank You, Abba, for the change of seasons, give us the Joy in us to fully enjoy the new changes. Cover the upcoming events with Your Love and Peace.

Praying into the dry places, where the Living Water Jesus is would go to replenish all. 

Thank You for the Joy to pray an increase of Heaven on earth in the Holy Spirit. For our work places, schools. Giving You thanks of protection. We rejoice in the people who have helped with flood, fire and Martin Luther Jr.'s Dream Alive. Help us to see the Glory and You Give Today, seeing humor. Strength for our challenges. And for this Nation. The people asking Your help all over the world. Jesus is God, Good News. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 22:34-40 ~ yourself

Today I stepped out to walk my Springer dog and the Wind of the Spirit was blowing.

John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.


Bono was singing and demonstrating the Bible is so real and living. The depth and breadth of Jesus Living.

Have you come here for forgiveness,
Have you come to raise the dead
Have you come here to play Jesus to the lepers in your head




Jesus Christ is really the way, truth and Life. Life is about sorting out the imperfect - taking meaning - leaving other meaning to become compost. And upon the compost putting our solid and enduring Truth of Jesus to build a life of meaning. I picture Mount Sinai and a Church of Glass.  The beauty of an impossible Spire reaching to the Heavens - converting instantly to a fortress of God by His Word. Because I live in this culture - I picture the Banks of England close their teller windows with amazing and instantaneous Jesus Precision. The Church of my soul where Jesus Christ lives, moves and dwells with my being. My soul. Where I pray for the ones I love and the people God has placed in my life.




We can all have our lives relate to the real way life works. We have a sunny day - top down. Favorite Song on the radio - spending time with those we love. An endless sunshine day.


Enter the Iggy Story into your day. My brother has a life long friend, Bob, who by coincidence and accident of God, turned out to be his 5 year elementary school friend - by accident, like I said - turned out to be our Dallas across the alley - we moved both moved one summer and - Oh My God Almighty - I am your across the alley neighbor... And on with the Iggy Pop Story. Your day is perfect, the fans love you, all is sunshine.


Bob was waiting to meet Iggy with the rest of the diehards. Bob had a shirt or an album for Iggy to sign. Iggy arrives. And standing next to Iggy, is a beautiful young girl waiting with an album to sign. And the beautiful, young girl has been talking to Bob, who just enjoyed meeting her and waiting for Iggy. Bob said it was friendly, comrades. And Iggy, who is 25-35 years older, decides he is going to mesh tonsils with this young woman.

Bob said looking back on it, it was as if all the mothers in the world had converged upon his voice and tone and inflection.

"Oh. OH. NO. Oh Honey. NO. ">". NOT IGGY. NO, OH, HONEY NO. YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE IGGY HAS BEEN. OH HONEY NOT IGGY'S MOUTH. OH NO!!!"

The gathered Crowd saw how sincere Bob was and they Roared. The crowd fully understood what Bob was saying. And they applauded. Asked Bob's name and chanted, "Bob. BOB. BOB."

Iggy was - less than pleased. The girl broke off the tonsil sling and sincerely, as if for the first time - Looked at Iggy. With less than joy. Iggy quickly departed. Then the crowd said, quietly, "Poor Iggy."

True Story. I know Bob. Bob is a friend of mine. Bob said he had a range of allllll kind of emotions getting in his car to ride home and think about this forever. To this day, Bob says, he is "conflicted" over the situation. We think, probably, it wasn't Iggy's best day either.




Have you noticed?

Life moves pretty fast, if you are Ferris Bueller.
We have moved from Statue Tipping - and mooo on over to World Wide Wrestling NFL. Head, shoulders, knees and toes.

Moving on to "Aflac" - That is Ben Affleck is in trouble for being friends with Harvey Weinstein. Yet - No one really comments on Paltrow saying she set Pitt on Weistein to later congratulate Weinstein at an Award Dnner and thank him for his great friendship.


Ain't that America something to see...
I'm a Huge fan of older President Bush working with Democrats and Republicans. Seeing America work - having to apologize to Heather Lind. Echoing Taylor Swift.






All of these Changes - make a head swim. And a lot of what is said here is very good. Making behavior - Behave. But there is one component missing - Gracious Behavior.

We started with Respect - maybe we'd all have more Respect - to give Mercy. And want to be within Gracious Behavior.

Jesus Christ gives Grace - to begin again. To pick up tired knees and drooping hands - To have the Wind of the Spirit - do the right thing.

Brooks Gibs explains Jesus principals. "Turn the Other Cheek". Chaff - opposite of Wheat. Blow it off. The Jesus Principle. Love yourself. Care for others.

Matthew 22:34-40

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”




What we need to expect to give - Give what we expect to receive. Expect the Goodness of God. Expect to see Goodness and participate in goodness.te




Abba,

The Bible is Real. The Truths eternal. The work of every day is to Believe in the One You have sent to us - Jesus Christ.

We will Trust God for our direction. We will Trust God to give mercy and give the way, truth and Life.

In God we will establish Steadfast Love for our lives. Finding even the mundane day has meaning with God as our force and direction.

Eternal Truths remain Eternal Truths. Blessings of Jesus wanting to save the World.


Gratitude for my parents teaching me to be polite. Gratitude for my parents, God gave me, teaching me the framework of God is for our upbuilding and hope.

We Trust You, Father. For Your steadfast Love and mercy to us. To help us to have Your Grace, and Your Love.

Your Plans for us go incredibly far. Incredibly deep. Down to each part of the nuance of our self conversations and with others. We give You all our hopes for the people we Love. We give You our prayers and heart for the people You have given. We ask more of Your Holy Spirit for the place where we live, work and for our Nation, Your Steadfast Love increasing around the world to those You Love. Amen for us all in Jesus. 

In Jesus, we know and claim with relief and joy, "God's Banner over me is Love." Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

1 Thessalonians 1 ~ Thank God for all of you

1 Thessalonians 1

2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us.

They tell how you turned to God from idols
to serve the living and true God,
10 and to wait for his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead
—Jesus,
who rescues us from the coming wrath.

What is the dust in your house?

Why,  primarily it's skin cells.

Explain - this if that is true...

If no one has entered a house in years - how is it dusty?

The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics says the universe is in decay. A house has crumbling plaster, paint, timber. And even the blue sky is not a lid and has contributions from far above.

We are all building something. And if we are not building to goodness, something is happening. Decisions are made. I met a man in the grocery store line about 15 years ago and he said all families will have answers to where they are heading in 30 years - families build or fall in 30 years - it's inevitable.

Now for some of us - this is scary.


But the Truth of Jesus Christ is not frightening.

Jesus told us in the Scriptures, "Today you will be with me in Paradise."

and Jesus said this in John 14

John 14
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you"

Today as I was saying my morning prayers, I was watching the tops of the trees move. And I thought, "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3.

Edward was reading his Social Security Test for Brain Cognitive Ability. And it said to meditate and let your body be mindful and at peace. To not see what you usually see with the same functions. To watch the wind. To see the beauty with new eyes. To be aware even of breathing.



We have the ability to ask Father God to make eternity now. To realize if we are burdened and sad - to ask God to make our eternal hearth a good place for Him. But we should never take a time of change as not to feel the emotions. Or feel guilty having an emotion. What we are speaking of is - drawing up on the Joy God has for us. Not feeling cast down further by having wonder or sad thoughts. To experience our real life and have the certainty God has for us. Finding solace instead of perfectly calm unruffled - impossible - life.

We open the doors of possibility for God. Allowing the wind of the Holy Spirit to move us and be ok with what occurs. More than being ok - being what you are and allowing God to move in your very being.

(God bless me because you pray about peace and voila - something will press on you. So Hello Father God!)

Isaiah 49 and Revelation say know the hills, the Highways and Shining Water of Heaven.

Ephesians 2 says Families Live in Heaven.

Revisit what is good. See the circle is unbroken. Look to the future as God's Plan - with Hope and Expectation.

And dust and wool gathering - a circle of thoughts -

Why shouldn't some of our dusting include thoughts of the Hubble sights?

And why not enclose ideas of the Temple of Solomon enfolding the Holy Spirit as the Temple begins?

In our thoughts that routinely circle, in our thoughts that leap far and High to Father God
and in our thoughts of the mundane - consider God is God of the Impossible.

And as we hold Jesus Christ in our souls and our light of Christ shines into eternity - why not gleam with some Joy and Satisfaction
God is in the Midst of us. Peace.

John found God of the Universe to appear suddenly several times. In the Transfiguration, the Road to Emmaus, the locked Upper Room, and in his home in Patmos Island. Why not cherish the knowledge God is found to be God of Love. Providing us a Hope and Future. Today. Eternity. Today. God with us. Emmanuel.



I dreamed in the last 3 years of my mother's mother, my Grandmother Anita. She said to me, as a glimpse of her, from her Heavenly Home: "Each day is quiet at times and filled with quiet. Each day just put our hopes in Jesus. And as time progresses - we have done Exactly what Jesus has asked. The Plan of God we will not hurt, or impede or cause to be dismissed - as we believe Jesus is working today. Because Jesus is, of course, working today. With us. Around us. In us. Jesus is God. Jesus is King. We will believe Jesus today."


Anita prayed for her son. He really just loathed Christians. Which, of course, was a hardship for Anita as she taught Adult Sunday School for 42 years. And she said with conviction, "I will Never Stop Praying For My Son." All those prayers did not bounce off the blue sky lid. The prayers were held in her heart and in the Lord's Heart. And in his 7th decade of life, my uncle watched TV Church - got a free copy of "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren and Loved Jesus for the first time.

Because Jesus is Emmanuel - God the Father, God the King, God the Holy Spirit with us.



Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Father Almighty,

God in Three Places Blessed Trinity.

Father God, You are in our Thoughts, in our past, in our present and in our future.

You are part of our wonderful memories, You are part of our tarnished Blessings, You are part of the Building of Blessings and You will provide amazing days ahead.

God of the Impossible. God of the Eternal. God You own time itself. And John found You to be God of Love who pops in Sunday Afternoons saying - "Do not be afraid! This is Jesus!"

We trust You Abba, with our Lives. With our Brokenness. We trust You with our Forgiveness. We trust You and take the right path. We trust You to work the Plan You have Given. We Trust You with the People we Love. We Trust You with the People we need to pray for more - You have given us. We trust You with the arrow prayers of the people we see in need of Prayer. In fact we trust You dearly with these Prayers. Father God - You are saving the world in Jesus.

Thank You. Blessings Upon You Father God in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 2 ~ In those days +

Luke 2

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.



A lot of times we feel we can't give the Hope of Jesus because we can't prove our knowledge. Knowledge can be debunked. Your heart to the Lord can't be debunked. Your experiences of grace, of comfort, of love, of surety where you long to give your heart for Jesus to others.


This is not a Post to memorize - instead this is a discussion of reason and basics for your upbuilding. Not a lesson.



In our Culture today - people mostly love Christmas. Good. God wants us to have joy celebrating His Son. Joy is to be encouraged as Jesus told us He loved being alive with us on earth in John 14, 15, 16. Jesus is a Joy provider.


Luke 2 is a fairly well known Biblical Chapter. Pretty basic.


We are sometimes told mankind used to be ignorant, unread, unwise. Here we see Joseph is returning to Bethlehem. He is the House of David. 1,000 years ago. King David lived 1,000 years ago and the tax records know this. This culture is dealing with wise people with learning. Is this historically accurate? Caesar Augustus was a Census taker for the Entire Roman Empire, twice, as a prequel to holding the Office of Emperor. Augustus was known as the Tax 'Establisher' Emperor. Augustus (nephew of Caesar) had been a very sickly child and was known to be an extremely analytical man. His goal of the Empire - view the Empire as an accounting lush orange to now be properly squeezed. Augustus was so sickly he wore high heels, unheard of, to establish his authority.

Augustus made the Census job the Emperor's job. It's why he recreated the marriage laws - taxation. Proper taxation.

The Sadducean Council records are available today for Historical review. The Knowledge and the History hold accuracy. This isn't even an inch apart or away from the History of the Jews. This fits perfectly neatly together. Augustus saw gathering money as power.

Would this have demonstrated as part of 'no room at the Inn'? Yes. Very Probable. When the Second Temple formed after Babylonian Captivity - if you couldn't provide your ancestral records - you could not be part of the Temple.

The Disciples were never Neanderthals of illiteracy. Peter and Andrew were the principal employers in Capernaum and very properly placed in location, location, location to reflect this.

When Pompeii, General of Rome, arrived to enter the Holy of Holies - he planned to do this. He wanted to know why the Jews thought so highly of themselves. He was Julius Caesar's son in law - Pompeii - KNEW he could force his way into the Temple and the Holy of Holies. When Pompeii arrived to meet the Priests - highly touted - he realized he had encountered something of the Living God and he did not find the heart to want to force his way (Roman General, as he was, and Emperor's Son in Law) because he recognized the Holiness and the recognition of righteousness. Julius Caesar laughed at his son in law's return to Rome, not to have fulfilled his vow to enter the Temple of the Living God. And then Julius Caesar was said to say his son in law had more sense then he credited to him.


When we callously say the Disciples of Jesus were ignorant and ill-informed - we have ignored the culture and the History.


The Bible is entirely righteous.

Being rooted and grounded in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of His love, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.



To know how the story is eternally true - is to see the riches of GOD Himself.


Abba,

Open us to the Scriptures. Open us to God's Love. Increase the Holy Spirit.

For our own souls. For the ones we love. For our communities. Our Churches and Jobs. Our Nation. The people who know Your Love today and the beloved who will come to know the Love You have for us. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Hebrews 11:5 ~ Enoch Pleased God

Amie Stewart  Knock on Wood

It's like thunder, lightning

The way you love me is frightening

You better knock, knock on wood, baby

I'm not superstitious about ya

But I can't take no chance

You got me spinnin', baby

The Wonders of God's Creation. Today. God's Own Works.

vs 
Stop Hoarding Ancient Bones, Plead Archaeologists

My King was born King.
. He’s the King of the Jews—that’s an Ethnic King. He’s the King of Israel—that’s a National King. He’s the King of righteousness. He’s the King of the ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of glory. He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that’s my King.

Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don’t try to mislead me. Do you know my King? David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.

My King is the only one of whom there are no means of measure
- - - that can define His limitless love.

No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of the shore of His supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.


He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful.

That’s my King. He’s God’s Son.

He’s the sinner’s Saviour. He’s the centerpiece of civilization.

He stands alone in Himself.

He’s honest. He’s unique. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s pre-eminent. He’s the grandest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the supreme problem in higher criticism. He’s the fundamental doctrine of historic theology. He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion.

That’s my King.


He’s the miracle of the age.

He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. He’s the only one able to supply all our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He’s the Almighty God who guides and keeps all his people. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.

That’s my King.


Do you know Him?

Well, my King is a King of knowledge.

He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory. He’s the master of the mighty. He’s the captain of the conquerors. He’s the head of the heroes. He’s the leader of the legislatures. He’s the overseer of the overcomers. He’s the governor of governors. He’s the prince of princes.

He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King.

His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you . . . but He’s indescribable. That’s my King. He’s incomprehensible, He’s invincible, and He is irresistible.


I’m coming to tell you this, that the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone some man explain Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him. The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree about Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my King.
He always has been and He always will be. I’m talking about the fact that He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor. There’s nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him. You can’t impeach Him and He’s not going to resign.

That’s my King! That’s my King!

Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We’re around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but in the end all that matters is God’s power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honor and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? Forever and ever and ever and ever. . . And when you get through with all of the ever’s, then . . . Amen


  ~   Rev. S. M. Lockridge

We give God Thanks for the Glory Rev Lockridge gave us. Amen.

The people of God have wonders and thoughts about the Works of God. We don't have all the answers - but we consider the Work of God - and indeed, indeed, indeed - we are far out of our earthly, mortal league.


Scientific American

Stop Hoarding Ancient Bones, Plead Archaeologists
Scientists call for wider access to rare samples rich in DNA
By Ewen Callaway, Nature on August 14, 2017

"The quest to chronicle the past using DNA from ancient humans and animals has become a cut-throat ‘game of bones’, in which a handful of genetics laboratories are hoarding precious samples, three archaeologists charge in a August 9 letter to Nature.

The scientists call for more careful stewardship of DNA-rich bone specimens to ensure that they remain available to multiple research teams to study. They point to the example of a newly established centre in Israel that will act as a national clearing house to curate animal bones from archaeological sites, so that many researchers can access samples for genetic analysis.

“There’s a lot of pressure on these resources right now, on this skeletal material,” says Cheryl Makarewicz, an archaeologist at Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany, and a co-author of the letter. “The problem is there’s not enough to go around.”


Lending an ear
Makarewicz and her colleagues are particularly concerned about a portion of bone in the inner ear, the petrous, that is especially rich in ancient DNA. “Competition for these rare specimens promotes hoarding, which, along with the destruction of samples for DNA analysis, makes it hard to replicate findings,” she and her colleagues write in the letter. “It also hinders research by scientists who are not connected to the few groups who dominate access to such samples.”

It’s important, too, to preserve samples for scientists in future generations, who may invent better methods to extract any DNA that remains in a sample after a first battery of tests, Makarewicz adds — as well as improvements in other techniques, such as isotope analysis.

In the past few years, geneticists have accrued hundreds of archaeological samples — many of them petrous bones — from sites around the world and used them for blockbuster ancient-genomics papers that have charted the spread of agriculture, languages and little-understood cultures.

“It’s been like the Wild West, with several ancient-DNA labs approaching museums across the world on a daily basis,” says Eske Willerslev, an evolutionary geneticist at the Natural History Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. In 2015, his team published the first ancient-genome study to sequence the DNA of more than 100 individuals1; it charted a massive Bronze Age migration originating in the steppes of Russia and Ukraine.

David Reich, a population geneticist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, and another leading ancient-DNA researcher, says preserving archaeological samples is crucial. But Reich says that his lab samples bones to minimize their destruction and aims to return remains to archaeology collections within a year. He also notes that his lab is willing to share excess bone powder from petrous samples, and that the data they generate are freely available.


Centralized science
In Israel, a centre in Haifa that was opened in early 2017 will act as a clearing house for animal bones used in ancient-DNA studies, says Guy Bar-Oz, an archaeozoologist at the University of Haifa, Israel, and a co-author of the letter.

Researchers excavating sites in Israel won’t be required to deposit samples to the facility. But Bar-Oz says the fact that the centre is co-managed by the Israel Antiquities Authority means that most of the animal petrous bones recovered in Israel are already there. Scientists must apply for permission to sample material, and data sharing will be strictly enforced, Bar-Oz says.

Not all archaeologists are on board with the idea. “I do not support a central facility of some kind. I think that restricting the science at this point is not in the interest of anyone,” says David Anthony, an archaeologist at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York, who has provided Bronze Age samples to Reich’s lab (and received them back after DNA extraction with no strings attached, he says).

Marc Vander Linden, an archaeologist at University College London who collaborates with ancient-DNA researchers, likes the idea of ancient-DNA clearing houses. But he is not sure that centralized repositories will work in all countries; many of them, he points out, do not have central organizations with authority over archaeological digs akin to Israel’s Antiquities Authority.

Vander Linden says that the onus is on archaeologists who dig up and curate samples to come up with ideas to tackle the issue. “Samples are a finite resource, and thus any way to improve their curation is more than needed,” he says. “Ancient DNA is a fast-moving field, which is exciting — but more care and less politics would be great.” "

Other sources have noted, it's not just animal bones missing from Israel.

There are a few Canaanite sites - so rare - national headlines were made in December of 2016 over a Philistine cemetery - actually Goliath's city.  There are several Canaanite ancient cemeteries.  We have bones from about 70 A.D. in the Roman invasion led by Titus. But sarcophagus and tombs are generally not filled with bones. Mere fragments, if any. And this is not explained away by the climate of Israel. Israel is dry enough to have ancient bones.

Human Osteological Database at the Israel Antiquities Authority:

Overview and some examples of use:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289872000_Human_osteological_database_at_the_Israel_antiquities_authority_Overview_and_some_examples_


When you look at the data. You will find there is data, it's far from being plentiful.

See the first Table. In the 1990s, there were 256 human bones sites and 221 were considered very poor sites for DNA. Only 8 sites were considered good for DNA.
Astonishing.





Where are the Bones from Ancient Israel? It's not entirely known. There was an excavation of a site of refuge and garbage where Kosher was seen to be very much observed.


So were are the Bones from Ancient Israel?


It's a Wonder of God to be sure

Hebrews 11:5

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death,
and he was not found,
because God had taken him.
Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.






Ezekiel 37

1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.

2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"

And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know."

4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD." 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.

8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11 Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.' 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel.

13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD."

15 The word of the LORD came to me: 16 "Son of man, take a stick and write on it, 'For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him'; then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.' 17 And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.

18 And when your people say to you, 'Will you not tell us what you mean by these?' 19 say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. 20 When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, 21 then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land.

22 And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms.

23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

24 "My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. 25 They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever.

26 I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore."






Where are the bones of Ancient Israel?

Good Friday

Matthew 27:52-54

And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”





Abba, our Abba, our Father:

We pray with Your Holy Scriptures:

How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation.

I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to Him: “What have you done?”


We cannot know Your plans or all of Your marvelous wonders. We can look upon the Works of God and wonder at Your Glory.

With John we pray:

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

May the Glory of God's Love
Fill us.
Fill the people we love.
The People God has given us.
Our Communities, jobs, Churches.
Our States and Nation
All over the World wa ask God speak His word for more of the Holy Spirit
and the Gifts of the Spirit - increasing more Heaven on earth.

In Jesus we pray. Father God, You are Astonishing. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †