Acts 1 ~ Pray with one accord

Amazing to see these released a few years back. Seeing Elvis young and strong. The Associates are just noise, self absorbed, joking, harassing. And even as the song begins they are yelling at a dynamic Elvis telling all about the Song King of Kings. The conviction of the major voice makes the hope Jesus heard - the voice and song.

The chaos stops as Jesus is told of. Before Jesus became part of the song, the raucous is evident. And as Jesus is spoken of alive and well, the focus is on Jesus.

Acts 1

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.

13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.

14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Now, what if, suddenly, Jesus was sitting right by them, would Jesus be offended at them joking and laughing at and with Elvis?

That's not the style of Jesus.

Matthew 11:19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners."

Luke 5:29
Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.

Luke 7:34
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners!'

Luke 15:2
So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Jesus sat all the time to teach. People stood, but Jesus sat. Jesus is comfortable with people.

Hebrews 6:19
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain

Psalm 118:1-29
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

What would Jesus think of that singing?

Proverbs 8
Jesus found delight in mankind.

Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

Romans 15:13
God of hope

Luke 20:38
God of the living

Acts 7:2
God of glory

2 Corinthians 13:11
God of love and peace

John 14
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Psalm 16:9
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.


Our Abba,

Let our prayers rise like incense. A beautiful aroma for Your Loving Kindness to us.

We give You the people we love. Our cares.

All things work together for good, for those who love the Lord and work according to His Purpose.

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. We will boldly and with confidence, ask Jesus to be our midst with His Love and Power.

Jesus calmer, tamer, controller of the storms.

And in this, we will have Rest.

Amen in Jesus Christ our Lord.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Good to go
Al and Xander
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Zechariah 8:1-12 ~ marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts

I see a new Heaven from an old earth. Glimpses of a mirror darkly. Living Parables.

Zechariah 8:1-12

1 And the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, 2“Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.

3 Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain.

4 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.

6 Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts?

7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 8and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

9 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

10 For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor.

11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts.

12 For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.




Yesterday we spoke of the Work of God our Father and in Heaven.

Would it ever please a very vast, wondrous and Amazing God if all His Children celebrated and enjoyed Abundant Life equally?

Doesn't our heart rejoice in the variations of climate, archaeology, and fierce wonders of this world?

6 Should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts?

7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people



Some will be old, some young. God Himself will decide.

Revelation 22:3
His servants will serve him


Some will labor, some will rest.

Hebrews 4

9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.



Father God,

Your Love for us is as high as the Heavens.

Romans 5:8
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We can have all hopes of Heaven in Jesus.

Romans 12:9
Let love be genuine. Hold fast to what is good.


For all of this goodness, Father.

We shall love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind.

And we will be close to the Kingdom of Heaven, our prayers enter the 12 open Gates. And we will see the river of Life flowing from His Throne, where Love, Righteousness, Mercy and Justice are held forth in His Splendor of Holiness.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice!

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it!
let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord !

Our LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin. For HE has so loved the world, our Father gave His Jesus, that we believes in Jesus, should not perish but have eternal life.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

1 Thessalonians 1 ~ Give thanks to God always

1 Thessalonians 1

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,
3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.


4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,
5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and 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 delivers us from the wrath to come.



Daniel 2

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.

21 He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;

22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.

23 To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise


What are the things of God.

A deep and abiding, steadfast commitment to God.

Something of Heart. Where God connects Himself to our Soul.

God is going to require a Bear Hunt. There are days we will stand outside and tears will flow and faces register a huge Grief.

Life will allow us to bear the marks of being Christ Jesus' won. We can be bitter or better.

No voyage of God is going to be without the Portions of the Psalms having a wailing Heart Cry Out to God for Help. Anger. Betrayal. Usury. Greed. Injustice.

There will be war. There well be times where opinions clash. Needs differ. Families are of different opinions.

Just as we think the situation will never change. God will bring in change.

And He provides Strength when we do this - Delight in God. See His Promises as His Being Father. When we want God so much, that every time we reach out to God - we are going to grow. Childhood has a time where we are given memories - an example would be that every time I went to sleep as a child - I saw gold, real gold tiles. Every Time. And learned in my late teens the streets of Heaven are gold. Promises of yesterday, today and tomorrow. In childhood, growth can cause bones to grow and joints to stretch - this can cause pain. In pain, we don't know that growth is a blessing. But as the season changes, we can absolutely believe the challenge "All Things Work Together for Good, for Those Who Love the Lord and Work According to His Purpose." Even find adventure here.

To experience the Fruit of God. Love. Joy. Peace. Encouragement. Diligence. Dignity. Peace. Comfort. Wisdom. Patience. Finding the treasure - His Mercies Renew Each Day. To do this in all seasons - we have to have faith God is God. God's Will is Good. He has a Plan for me. To be earnest and sincere to the LORD GOD. And when we set our path straight to God. We find out amazing stories going beyond endurance and suffering sustaining Peace and Joy. Putting down the opinions of men to do the Will of the One Who is Good.



And in the overcoming. 

The understanding of God. Gratitude is going to pour forth. Sincere, bone deep, refreshing, renewal. Changing for the Good. Upward building to God. And in this Thanksgiving - a soul in Love with God. God will delight. The heart is a hearth, an oasis. A real place. Not lalalallala fake this. Not without times of stress, not a permanent happy place. A Joy that returns so often - God and the soul know Joy, Love, Peace, Encouragement, Diligence, Heaven is at hand.

Faith begins to encompass understanding - I may be overwhelmed.

I may be overworked.

I may be overlooked.

I may be pressed for a solution.

I may be bored.

I may be broke.

But this soul of God's will know that God is not going to leave or forsake a child of His. Joy arrives with Light.




Abba, Father God!

A new season is upon us. Collectively. A new unity in seeing what we did not hope to see. A new need to realize the arrival is not what we hoped.

Seasons of this Nation have proven a Nation with virtues. Our political conversations reflect the virtues we desire to be and receive. The desire to have given love, comfort and joy to our children. Scriptures record this as a Parent returning to their Child. We have flaws in this Nation of selfishness. And our schools are amazing. And we are ungrateful.


What will God weave from this unprecedented time? We will see more qualified people step up to want to help. We learned this in 911. We come from Good Fathers in this Nation. Brought up by Good Mothers. We have seen this Nation overcome foreign invasion and even have to rebuild the White House. We have overcome when the World was at War. We have been pulled down too many times by the victory to making petty war. We have overcome Vietnam. We have overcome a great Civil War and another war of Civil Rights to become more civil. We overcame a Great Depression by doing what Houston did for Hurricane Ike. The civilians with Soul - fed one another.

What arrives? With faith, hope and Love, we will have Jesus and we will go forward. With God as our Strength. We might wobble, but the Victory in Jesus is sure.

Wonderful Counselor. Almighty God. Prince of Peace. Emmanuel. God with us. In all seasons, all changes, all weather, our future in God is secure and we are His.

Victory in Jesus! The blessing of knowing in God -
Jacob is chosen for wanting to bless all his children.
Abraham is Father of Nations for seeking the lives of others and Mercy of God Who is Love.
David is our Wonderful David because in Victory - David is a Shepherd.
Hezekiah is prosperity of prayers heard and overcoming the impossible by refusing the advice of his earthly Father and holding fast to our Heavenly Father.
Sarah is fruitful only because she holds on to her husband who trusts God - showing the power of marriage.

Jesus is God's Only Son for His willingness to put Purity, Holiness, God first to bring to all the Children of God.

Almighty God embraces not just one person. God would put us in His Care as tenderly as a Mother Hen.

Abba is going to let us have the privilege of following Jesus and He is going to bring us forward in Christ Jesus the Lord. Our Wonderful Savior Jesus. Our prayer and our Amen is With Jesus Always. Alleluia.


Thanks You so much for my son - his birthday, please Bless him. Bless us all as we celebrate the birth of this Nation trusting in You.

Covered in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Romans 5 ~ The Glory of God

Psalm 91:14
Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.




Every now and then - you know something. This had to be a July 4th Holiday. This has to be true. Warning - some things you don't try at home.

Romans 5

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption
that came by Christ Jesus.

25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance

Dear Lord,

From Harleys and Shenanigans
and Long Story Beasties!

With things going Bumpilstilskins, any time;

Gracious and Merciful Lord

Deliver us this Happy 4th of July Week
and Always.

In the Name of the Father God Almighty
His Only Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
the Power of the Holy Spirit

Protect us all this Holy Day,
National Birthday
with Your Blessing of America.

God has placed His grace on thee
Crown us with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

America! America!
God mend our every flaw
Confirm thy soul in self-control
Thy law in Liberty!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

God Bless us, Everyone.

And Cover us in the Name of Jesus Amen!!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Hebrews 5 ~ Distinguish good from evil

When you seek images of Jesus praying, He is about 90% of the time looking up. And when you compare the Shroud of Turin 3D Images - Akiane's images certainly are part of this. Celestial bodies are an imprint of the physical body.

Hebrews 5

Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”

6 And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”

7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.


11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.




Papyrus 46 is dated between the first Century and 175 A.D. This is Hebrews 5 and is very, very intact and legible. House and owned by the University of Michigan. Obviously a true representation of The Acts of the Apostles we read of in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts.

When Jesus prayed, we rarely know the words He used to speak to His Father. And we know Jesus prayed out loudly and felt a conversation was in progress with emotions of emphatic petition, "I see this, please do this", "We need this, this is a good idea an ideal situation!" and with tears. Jesus felt very, very connected to His Prayer Conversations.

Jesus prayed in public and yet He usually wanted to be somewhere on a hill or in a lonely place to feel the Holy Spirit connect Him to our Father.

Jesus also trusted "Thy Will be Done." His Plan is the hope and future. Jesus was obedient to the Will of God and believed God's Word and this tells us "All things work together for Good, for those who work love the Lord and work according to His purpose."






Jesus was also not a stranger to His Brother or Family and He told James -

James 1:5

If you need wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Abba, Our Holy Father,

We think of the warm days in Nazareth of the Brothers of Jesus - James, Jude, Joses and Simon and His sisters. The Days of prayers with Jesus and His warmth in the petitions to You.

We read James and Jude and remember the warm days they had with Jesus.

The comfort of being exactly who they were before God and Jesus. Nazareth saw their family as a blended Chiton. A seamless family - helping one another. Jesus helped them all get to Acts 1 - Praying together daily again.

God of Love and God of Encouragement - we lift our prayers to You. Knowing the Blessing of being heard. The Blessing of Your answers. Thy Will be Done. You are our Helper and Comforter. We rest in Your Wings. Prince of Peace.

In Jesus, we rest securely and sleep fully. Trusting You for the ones we Love, the people You give us. The Nation's Birthday Week Trusting in You. You are the Light of the World.

1 Timothy 2:8
In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

Luke 24:50
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

Bless us with more Nations Trusting in You and the Beloved Believing Your Promises.

Jesus is our Lord God Almighty and we ask in His Name. We are Blessed. Amen!

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Ephesians 1 ~ By the Will of God

Ephesians 1

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

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

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

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will,
6 to the praise of his glorious grace,
with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace,
8 which he lavished upon us,
in all wisdom and insight
9 making known to us the mystery of his will,
according to his purpose,
which he set forth in Christ

As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation,
and believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance
until we acquire possession of it,
to the praise of his glory.


15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of glory,
may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,
what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,
according to the working of his great might

This he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion,
and above every name that is named,
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things under his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body,
the fullness of him
who fills all in all.

We are familiar with so much of God's Glory with our own thoughts. We were built to think about Father God.

Some of this is inspiringly new to think about:

THE WILL OF GOD

Blessings in the Heavenly Places - thought of by our Father in the foundation putting of the world.

Blessed to be of the Beloved.

Lavishing wisdom and insight to find in that glorious day the Mystery of His Will for you. According to this - The Purpose of His Will. We will find this in what we are drawn to in Jesus Christ. And He will unite us to this. Where your heart is warm. And in this Good News - we Will Praise God.  Praise in His Purpose for you. Thanksgiving will not cease. God is the Father of Love. God our Father of Encouragement. Father of Glory.

When we find what warms us to Father God - when we truly connect there and we are given eyes of clarity - about His Love to you - and your prayers will flow and flow. Glorious and Immeasurable Greatness.


Our Gracious Father giving us the Light of Jesus Christ in mankind.

To those who Believe and are promised to be the Children of God:

Our Father, our Almighty Father, our Abba,
May the God of Love
God of Encouragement
God of Glory
surround, uplift, encourage
strengthen and sustain you in the Holy Spirit, Jesus' gift to us.
in His Good Path
chosen for you.

In Jesus Christ's Great and lavish Love. we see Abba.
For ourselves
the ones we Love
the people God has given us

Uplift our Nation trusting in You.
Bring peace and more Heaven on earth from Nations trusting in You
Upheld by the Believers who are the Children of God as His Purpose has called us.

Not what you expect to see every day, and yet a reminder of the faith encircling the Creation of God He has called Good yesterday, today and tomorrow. I felt such sorrow for Michelangelo and the few times the Vatican releases this amazing treasure - then to have amazing works near the representation of the Sistine Chapel labeled by Museum Curators around the world as 'cartoon' instead of Treasure, World Wonder or Beauty. The definition of "Cartoon" - a simple drawing showing the features of its subjects in a humorously exaggerated way, especially a satirical one in a newspaper or magazine. These were not humorous or exaggerated, nor satirical. These are scenes of the Bible. Done by artists giving their lives to the depiction. Sadly this phrase was begun to be adopted when the Sistine Chapel was cleaned and found to have vibrant colors. We should see this for what it is - debasement of incredible expression of the Holy Spirit.

The Light of God continues to shine.

Blessings of Jesus.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †