Colossians 1:9-14 ~ We have Not Ceased to Pray for You!!!

What's in your Christmas Card?

Colossians 1:9-14

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

 ¹¹ May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, ¹² giving thanks [patience, with joy giving thanks] to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 

 ¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  

One of the striking things about the New Testament is the fervor the disciples prayed for the people they met in their travels.  If you count the times that Paul  told of the Love he had for the people he spoke of to Christ, this is a Jesus Holy Spirit Love.

Of course, Jesus tells us He is working and His Father is working today. The Holy Spirit bares witness that the sighs of our spirit are the unceasing prayer of our advocate, God's Son.

Pray for family and friends. Usually it is one word will do and an image. Jesus holding the person - the light from their soul radiates. Really God understands this prayer. 

The Name of Jesus is better than all words put together.

How could we grow presence of God - His Holy Spirit
~ Look to Jesus and pray
- to give thanks.
- in your kindness, and in  love. For if these qualities are yours, and are increasing, you are useful and fruitful in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mostly - The Lord will rescue us from every evil and will bring us safely to His Heavenly Kingdom. For His glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Father God,

Jesus Bless us, we ask:
Jesus Bless us and Keep us
Jesus make His Face Shine upon us
Jesus be gracious to us as always.
Jesus lift His Face and smile upon us,
Jesus give us Peace.
His Peace.
Jesus cover us in His Highest Name.
Jesus Bless us always we pray:
Jesus, please, for ourselves,
Jesus, please, our Loved ones,
Jesus, please, our Communities,
Jesus, please, our neighborhoods,
Jesus, please, our city and county,
Jesus, please, the People You have Given us.
Jesus, please, the Nation.
Jesus, please, strengthen the world asking and praying with You in Abba.
Increasing the Peace of the Believing world - Light of Christ spilling to all.
Joy in our daily Life believing the Word and Promises of You.
We Thank You. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 97 ~ The Lord reigns +

The Glory of God

Psalm 97

1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.

7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!


8 Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O LORD.
9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!


When I was a child I spake as a child and drove my mother to distraction over the Nativity Set. The angel in our Nativity Set looked like my father's mother. I was very young and my mom would find me with that angel in my hand - she didn't want me to play with this because it was clay. One drop and grandmother/angel/clay would be over. Nativity Sets were my Thing.




Which leads us to this:

If the Shepherds saw the Angels - why didn't they describe them? Where they Tall? Evidently there were a lot of Angels. And how did they feel seeing all the Angels?

And you know, Scripture repeats and repeats -
until something catches our hears and we are warmed like Jesus traveling lively to Emmaus in Victory.

The actual Path John the Disciple took to the top of His mountain on Patmos, where John chose to live.


We know people who have met the same type situation, complete from the Same Manufacturer and wanted to talk about this.

John said this:

The Light is what is so striking.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

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

We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Peter was also there. And he explained in 2 Peter 1

you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying,
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

We credit Peter with making so many mistakes, we draw comfort. When Jesus spoke of Bethsaida, He said the hometown of Peter, Andrew and Philip in that order. The most minute Word of Jesus is inspiring, warming, gracious and Loving. Peter is not all that bad - he tells Jesus and Moses and Elijah in despair of what to say, in fear, - "Let's put up tents!?"  Peter is inspired, he is right. When we find faith. When we have the moments where we have reached the Truth and are in faith - we want to stay - we want the assurance. The comfort is God stays. We can grow in the moments we find Jesus in our souls, we see and feel and know His "Love, Joy, Peace, Steadfastness Diligence, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control." We have this in us and we know we grow and mature and these moments stay with us always.

Glory to God in the Highest

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Amen Lord Jesus.

 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 2:13-14 ~ and on earth peace +

Luke 2:13-14

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”


For the last several centuries, critics of the Old Testament have said The Lord God Almighty is blood thirsty. Yet historians have also said the last hundred years, with advancements in warfare, this century is the most violent.

If we bring God the desire for peace - surely we are pleasing Father God.

What if we imagined Peace for a few moments?

I am a fan of peace. I believe we should stay home from civil wars in other lands. The USA Civil War of 1865 was never going to heal with foreign interference. Afghanistan made the USSR bankrupt and nonexistent. Russia had to reform the government from the massive debt. North Korea has China and Russia to deal with - let them - deal with problems on their continent.

We have Amazing Innovations. Let this be the era of peace and building. Let's builds something so wonderful in our NATION rises in health care and education costs lower and Families feel more secure due to jobs. We all win with peace.

Instead of policing far away and sending incredibly expensive missiles we are in debt for and for problems too far away to effect the daily lives of USA citizens, let's have the bullet train going every where.

Imagine the Bullet Trains of Europe and Japan.

A $100 round trip ticket to the Smithsonian , a 3 Day Weekend.
A $100 round trip ticket to the the 4th of July Amazing Parade in DC.
And let's all bother Savannah for St. Pat's Amazing Day someone figured out missions without a policy guide - your Bullet Train cost $100 round trip.

We have the most interesting and largest Renaissance Fair in the USA, imagine what we could bring to the 4th Largest City in the USA with our Galveston too?

Imagine bringing more people - where you Live.

What about if the Bullet Train took you 3 states over for your MRI to cost $400 and not $5000.

Really you could find in Oklahoma, today:
Oklahoma City Hospital Posts Surgery Prices Online. Amazing Low Cost without Insurance.
They have a bidding war. The procedures costs at Surgery Center of Oklahoma,  where the hospital routinely offers operations cost up front   - the quoted cost  is the same amount we routinely get only if we have about $15 grand  in insurance in a year to get. But here, at The Surgery Center of Oklahoma - you get the same cost without insurance. What if you could take a Bullet Train?






The wars are costing US.

We have a cost in people killed in war. In costs of the Federal Deficit. In costs of traumatized people who have severe difficulty. Seems Obvious. Innovate not kill. Blessings of Innovation. Building not demolition.




What will we do with the Honorable Troops defending us? Educate them. Employ our Troops. Innovate. Honor the people who have defended our freedoms. And set Term Limits easily by voting out war voters.





We read 2 Chronicles 14 about victory from war. How did Asa win the war? Asa Believed God. Asa conducted himself with Valor. We vote Valor. Asa wanted his people to have security, peace and the he wanted for his people - the Blessing of God


National Park vacation $100 ticket travel costs.
Have you seen Coney Island?
Have you seen Alaska and the Salmon come in? $200
Want to hike the Appalachian Mountains this 3 day weekend, better book early it's affordable. We have massive innovations in the interstate travels of the USA - when we focus on the amazing technologies and opportunities instead of War.

Want to see a non depressing zoo? The Bullet Train will take you.

Want lower housing costs? Ride the Bullet Train a good long distance to an affordable house. We need better housing costs and the ability to travel affordably.

Innovate. Not war.

If you have never hiked Charleston get you a Bullet Train ticket. War No More.



In an era of peace. We might ask this: What did you get for Christmas?

5 round trip tickets to see National Parks.
12 round trip tickets to see my family.
52 round trip tickets to go to Church with my family on Sunday and Sunday Dinner.
A round trip ticket to see NYC and the art museums.
Man, I'm going to Greeley Colorado to be part of the massive, peaceful demonstration to have them adhere to the FDA 1.5 acres per cow.
I'm going to Chicago to see King Tut Natural Science Museum.
I'm going to Jackson, MS to see the Czar Exhibit.
I'm going to Arizona to see Tesla test commercial vehicles computer driving cabs.
Not me, man, I'm going to see David Cassidy in Biloxi, MS. Man, we need to not waste time and be building.
I'm going to ride the air line and see the MS River.
I'm going with my Church to Chicago for the Pro Life Walk. $100 Bullet Train.
Hey, how did you get around after the Boston Rally using the Bullet Train? No, I went to Maine afterwards to have Lobsters. And we took the car on the bullet train.


Now where will we put our Chunnel???



Nothing could be finer than to have Coffee in the Diner. Of the Rockies. Canadian and US.





Now are you going to Vote Bullet Train or missiles.
Hello Kim Jong-in I think Xi Jinping wants to talk to you. He wants to meet you. Hello Kim Jong-in, I think Putin is put out. Bashar al-Assad maybe you should visit Egypt or Turkey. Ya'll just be nice now. These nations are not going anywhere, they know the USA will go home. Let them contend where they live. This is their peace. Let it be lasting.

If Cuba decided to send a Nuclear Weapon again at the USA... would we expect China or Russia to go to war to protect us??? Why should North Korea be the USA's problem?

The USA is outta the police business - ya'll have fun.

And this ... why do we have Kansas having all the fun with wind technology. Hello West Texas. We don't need a wall if we all have lucrative work on both sides of the Border. We need Mexico. Mexico has the Mexican Rockies the Bullet Train System needs. Hello Acapulco. Hello Highway System - scare the wildlife from the road with wind technology AND NETTING LIKE TOP GOLF. ON EVERY WIND MILL. Chain Links. Duh.

And on the other side of the highways have timber farms. Highway / Timber Farms combination Nationally. Lady Bird Johnson always wanted to beautify all of our Highways through the USA.

Isaiah 2:4
He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.

War no more.


Our Abba,
The Peace of God visit us,
sustain us and Bless us. All.
Jesus our God.
Jesus our Lord.
Amen Jesus Loves.
Amen Jesus Lives. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

2 Chronicles 14 ~ Valor

2 Chronicles 14

14 Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David.

And Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land had rest for ten years. 2 And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim 4 and commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment.

5 He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him. 6 He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the Lord gave him peace.

7 And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered. 8 And Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, armed with large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin that carried shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.



9 Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah.

10 And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 And Asa cried to the Lord his God, “O Lord, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.”

12 So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

13 Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until none remained alive, for they were broken before the Lord and his army. The men of Judah carried away very much spoil. 14 And they attacked all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the Lord was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. 15 And they struck down the tents of those who had livestock and carried away sheep in abundance and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

Tupperware, Good News, Dusty Mean Ol' Bad God of the Old Testament, war, killing and ignorance.

Pentateuch = boring.
Old Testament = goring.

We have to throw out the Tupperware of Summarizations.

David Crowder has a song with lyrics say God is "You are Glorious, You are Glorious"
"What does that make me?"

When we look at the Story of the Kings of Judah and Israel - we find our own stories. When Israel has peace, Israel believes the Promises of God. Be it 910-869 B.C. or 1967 A.D. Israel.

So a million warriors in the Bible, huh? Yes. Miraculous God does Amazing Wonders.

God has graciously given us the Archaeological Evidence of Asa and the war. Tel Dan Steele.


Psalm 81

1 Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. 3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon,
on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob. 5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known: 6 "I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. 7 In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. 10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 "But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.

12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. 13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. 15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever.

16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."


When the faithful gather to read and believe the Word of God in believing and following God's Authority - they are not scattered like the Book of Judges - were people gather here and there to judge for themselves what is right. Like Eve did in the Garden of Eden.

The Lord told us to believe in His Willing Goodness. See Goodness approach. Renew again our belief in God's Wonders. Hebrews 7 says believe God is doing something new and good.

Isn't it wonderful to celebrate the Glories of God?

God who saw His Creation as Good 10 times in Genesis 1 and 2. God, our Almighty God speaks of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

God who raised up David out of so many terrible times. David's  22 years of endurance to believe with awe and wonder of the Love, Mercy and Tender Compassion of God.

Abijah's success against every effort by Israeli Jeroboam to defeat him. "Judah prevailed because they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers." (2 Chr. 13:18) God gave the Kingdom to David and his descendants (1 Chr. 17:14) by a covenant of salt, meaning, of permanence. (Leviticus 2:13)

Isaiah worked so diligently and in his 3rd King, found Hezekiah to be like Asa - rejecting even his own father's idea to reject the Temple of God (to break down the gold and be a puppet state of Assyria) - Hezekiah Gloried in the Temple of God. Hezekiah Gloried in the Word of God. And in this faith - built up - what we can even see in Israel today of the Glories of this faith. Hezekiah probably came close to surpassing the amazing reign of Solomon.

We see the Old Testament with so many battles blending together, we forget to see - The Glory. The Victory of Faith. The call to be community believing the Word of God. Jesus Manifest.

The Glory of Josiah and the wonder of attaining a Book of the Old Testament.

The wonder of David to be considered by the Almighty God.

The Glories of Faith are in Chapters and Chapters of the Bible - never to forget - Faith is Life. Way, Truth and Life.



Abba,

Let us bask in Jesus. God's Word Manifest.

Let us breathe, live, move, rejoice and have our being. Jesus Christ, Only Son of God.

Let us draw up Jesus to us. Let us remember God's arms long to tenderly hold - His pinions enfold us. We are the tenderly loved little chicks of Father God.

Let us dwell on what is Good. Noble. Pure. Jesus, only Son of God.

Let us remember the Amazing Victories of God. Unbelievable and certain fact and truth.

Let the Light of Jesus Christ be my Light. And as water pours from the Temple as God's Blessing, let the Light of Christ shine through the millenniums and into my being. Let the Light of Christ flow from me to my Loved Ones, to the People You have given me. Filling my neighborhood, Church, city, county. The Light of Christ being Celebrated and Loved today. Our Faith, Hope and Love for Tomorrow.

Let the Light of God's Love fill our Nation. Flood us with Love. And cover the world calling to Jesus to Father God for the Love and Comfort of the Holy Spirit.

In Jesus we ask and are heard. Amen Father God, in Jesus. Only in Jesus are all things possible. Blessings upon You, Father God for Your Good Will, Your Word of God and Your Amazing Ability. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 2:41-52 ~ they did not understand

The Shroud is unique, the AB Human blood and the depth allows 3D Images. Rome Forensic Police work. The interior of the Shroud is far, far older than the Renaissance edge. About 2,000 years old compared to the 1400 A.D. edges where repairs were done by nuns.

Luke 2:41-52

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.

Inside the Temple, Menorah were the street lamps.

43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.

His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 

                                                                     

46 After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished.

And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress."

49 And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"

50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them.

And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.






A story of Jesus' younger life, we all know. So many days of the life of younger Jesus - we would LOVE to know.

We can all understand Jesus is fully God and fully understanding His Father. Oh, the adventures we will know in Heaven. Perhaps even the Holographs we will see. Jesus is King of Kings at age 12.

Jesus has said to us, "I do the will of my Father."



John 6:38
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.


Actually this:

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. 39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.

Which will gives me and, hopefully, you, hope Father God loses none of those days and He will raise them up Holograph style for us in the Eternal Kingdom.

So the larger point of the day of Jesus -  is - Jesus is King of Kings. Age 12.  John, the Beloved Disciple, told us watching Jesus;

John: 21
24 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.

25 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.

Jesus is not alien as a younger King of Kings and Savior. He continues to be the same Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

How would we connect the days of young Jesus to older Jesus? This is an important task. We connect our need for prayer, the Word of God with the aspects of Jesus Himself.

The questions His Parents would ask of Jesus would be similar, 

as the family met again,

to the questions adult Jesus would see and speak of.

17“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied, “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19




The people speaking with Jesus in the Temple would not have been astonished to know Jesus would speak about anxiety.

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your lifespan? Matthew 6:27

Jesus could convince us fear is unnecessary.





We know Jesus faced an absolute storm of people in faith, yet wanting to be sure. Jesus faced a sea of doubt.

Why did you doubt? Matthew 14:31

Jesus could speak and calm wind, waves and fear.





17 “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied, “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”     Matthew 19:17

Jesus as Light of the World, could do as Genesis began, explain God and His boundaries. In the middle of a "3 Day Journey." The Authority of God.





32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked.

33“Lord,” they answered, “let our eyes be opened.”      Matthew 20

Jesus explained about asking God for what we think is apparent to Him. Prayer.

Jesus was very, very God of Gods.

26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” Luke 10

Basically Jesus said this to His Mother and Joseph. I cannot picture a child saying this in the Temple of Jerusalem. We may safely conclude: "This is the Son of God."




Father God, Abba,

Not being Jesus, but always asking Jesus to pray with us, we do not see all of Your direction for each day. And yet we are guaranteed by Your Love and Your Word, You Work each day. All things work together for Good, for those who Love the Lord and work for His purposes.

Jesus tells us not to worry. When we don't worry, we wonder if we are living in denial!!! Worry tends to arrive even through the Kitchen window. God is God, larger than the concerns just for today. We thank You, Abba, You are our Refuge.

Abba, we give You thanks, You are God. All of our concerns, we lift up to You. We know the Hands forming the Universe will take care of the concerns of Your Child. Jesus told Mary, "My Father and your Father."

And here we pray, putting God's own love upon our prayers for those we Love. The Fullness of God, Your Abundance flowing Love on the Prayer requests of our heart. Seal the ones we love in the Holy Spirit. Cover the people You have given us with the Name of Jesus. 

The immeasurable Love - as Living Water flowing into the far away places we cannot even fathom. God who is far above us, does more than we can imagine without us asking. Of course. Father of All tells us, if we ask, He Loves and cares. We Thank You for Your Word - Jesus Christ. Amazing God, amazing Grace of God.

With gratitude, God is God. Amen in Jesus.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †