Psalm 57 ~ Your Glory over all the earth

Psalm 57

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

We don't hear a lot about Haiti these days. What happened, what about the jobs. The able-bodied, work-oriented people of Haiti escape illegally into the Dominican Republic (Cotui, DR photoed above) and sent most of the money they make back to Haiti.

So, we would assume the Dominican Republic has wealth, jobs and hospitality to give the immigrants of Haiti. That would depend upon if we view $300 a month as abundance, a typical income. Cotuí,a city in the Dominican Republic, is one of the oldest cities of the New World.




And when a woman, Milagro, looked at her adopted city of Cotui (not on the water), she saw nothing but a bar where people stood around - and we are saying they stood outside of small place - all day waiting for a crop to come in every three or four months to add money to their family necessities.

Milagro wanted her city of a thousand to have "something." Religion is seen as being in touch with God and God forbid we should have to be 'perfect' to be Religious. The Community rode bikes and stood outside a bar all day. It's difficult to be 'perfect' in a community where they truly know one another very well.

CHANGE. Change is an interesting subject. One of the first missionaries we know is St. Patrick. He had no blueprints to follow when he finally returned to England from slavery in Ireland;  St. Patrick wanted to take the people away from hostage to evil god worship and hatred. And War. He had no blueprints, just the desire to make effective God relationships to change hearts.

Milagro wanted Change. 19% of the Dominican Republic graduates from High School. Most people have children following along in a cycle of poverty. Sometimes moving to the larger cities where slums are swept, kept clean, and nothing changes. She started having conversations with missionary organizations like Vision Trust and was denied. Turned down. She isn't a pastor, minister, and she was a flight risk.

Milagro wanted Change. She kept asking. Soon there was a Learning Center that Vision Trust now fosters in that community. A school. Still, there is the drop out rate due to many troubles in harsh life. She tried for ten years to have a schoolhouse. And it grows each year. Surprising them all, she'd been turned down a lot. And there is no manual in front of her, just a desire to bring Hope, Faith and Love to a community without very much.

But the men of the community were standing around the yard of a bar. And Milagro wanted more for them.  So for two years, she asked Vision Trust to pour concrete with a roof - a pavilion where they play Volleyball and other sports until they cannot see the ball and the day is done. No more bar.

And what about the Holy Spirit - there is some headway. People are little by little believing the Faith, Hope and Love of being given the care they needed. 10 years ago, men huddled in a bar area with just talk. Today their children are educated. They know how to share. Lollipops were given 10 years ago and the giver would be bombarded with grabbing and taking. Today, a circle forms, gifts are given and thank you's are given. People share what they receive. 

Confident the Lord will provide more. 






When you think about Missions.  


David Livingstone (1813-1873) brought the Light of Jesus Christ to Africa. He was very famous and very much a man who told the natives a good thundering Sinner. And he certainly did NOT provide them with Volleyball. He instead gave healthy doses of measles and cholera and as they lay dying he made sure they swallowed salvation. Nasty, horrible, Marching Saint of God. Horrid. Repugnant.

Now. that is effective Missionary work.

**** Except that's totally untrue.

 Instead, David Livingstone did this -

Livingstone on the other hand - traveled lightly. Livingstone was a proponent of trade and Christian missions to be established in central Africa. His motto was "Christianity, Commerce and Civilization."

Most of his journeys were with a few people, bartering for supplies along the way, with a couple of guns for protection. He preached a Christian message but did not force it on unwilling ears; he understood the ways of local chiefs and successfully negotiated passage through their territory, and was often hospitably received and aided, even by Mwata Kazembe.

Philippians 2:4
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Effective change - Milagro -.... her name is 'miracle'. This just wasn't going to work out. For five to ten -  years,  she was denied.

Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

And a Volleyball Court - "The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand"

Paul wrote to His Churches for Decades - hoping the Light would still shine in the Darkness.

Where is the fruit?

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.

More people are going to school than ever before.

The volunteers used to meet under the trees, now they have a shelter. 

The people who help the Haitians on a daily basis have more food on their own tables. 

Gifts given are shared. The joy on the faces is unmistakable. More people have a High School Degree and go out to bring back more to their community.

Nelson Paulino is the Director of Vision Trust, out of Colorado. He is a High School graduate of the Dominican Republic. He is seeing the difference they make in the lives of nineteen hundred students a year. He is one of them. Hiring Mark Cornelison, from The Woodlands, who is leaving a Youth Ministry Job because he is in love with the changes the Holy Spirit is bringing to this area. The men willing to say to their communities "I love the Lord Jesus Christ. I am not perfect. But I follow a Risen Lord."

Change is an amazing thing to watch. When we follow Jesus Christ, there really are not written guidelines beyond what Jesus said.

Luke 10:27
He answered, “‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

Change comes from Loving HIM before you love others as yourself. And love yourself as well.

Thank You Father God for... Milagro.  Vision Trust.Org is always grateful for the ways people of God help them, help others.

We bless You for Your Willing Love and Diligence to us.

Bless those we love and the people You have given us.

Help us to walk in Your paths and the good works You have provided for us to walk in. We always need You, Abba.

In the Blessing of Prayer around the world, we ask the Blessing of God - more Heaven on earth.

Father God, bless those who travel to feel well and know Your Comfort. Thank You.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Mark 7 ~ Jesus has done all things well. Amen.

  Mark 7

Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 

6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,
“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
7 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”'

9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

 



14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”


 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 

20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

 And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 

28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.”

29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.





31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.

33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately,
he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 

35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 

36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 

37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Thank You, Wonderful Abba. For Giving us Jesus.
Jesus has done All Things Well.


Abba, You are God Most High, You reign, let the earth be glad!
For life's journey to God
let the distant shores rejoice.


Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.


The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all peoples see our God's Glory.


Worship Him!
Zion hears and rejoices
and the villages of Judah are glad
because of Your judgments, Lord.

For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.

Let those who love the Lord practice only good,
for He guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.


Light shines on the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart!


Rejoice! Rejoice, Emmanuel!
The Lord!
You who are righteous!
Praise His Holy Name.


Jesus the Lord, please cover us with Your Name daily.
Cover those we Love and the People You have give us.

The Blessings of our earnest, good and Loving Jesus
exalt our hearts and carry us in His Good Will and Love.

Amen in the Name of Jesus

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 1:14-15 ~ Believe in the Gospel

There are times before a storm rolls in the light becomes rather green - announcing usually a storm of some proportion. Something becoming a visual treat - if indoors and watching. Gathering up all breakables.


Today, we had our friends over with their photography - Chandler Photographers. And as I looked outside about 8 p.m., we had a very unusual golden light. A very smooth cloud mostly golden and then pink formed a complete umbrella of the sky. And all became golden. It was just too beautiful to find a camera. Too good to miss - must see every second of the display. The birds flew and I thought they might be enjoying this.

Looking at google images, I found in photography this is called "The Golden Hour."

Surely a Blessing of a Merciful God as the Texas Sun is relentless and even the plants looked so fatigued and parched. (The cloud's back border had the promise of rain!!! Maybe Monday!)

Mark 1:14-15

Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying,

“The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the gospel.”

We are the blessed recipients of the New Testament. Children of God in the New Covenant.



John 3:17
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

God says His Creation is
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good

You are God's Creation.

John 6:28
Then they inquired, "What must we do to perform the works of God?"

The nature of mankind - delighted Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in Creation. We would all want an answer to this particular question...

27 Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.” 28 Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”

What we believe is important. And to the heart/mind/body/soul God searches in us. Abraham believed God and this was credited to him as righteousness.




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.

Jesus is displaying what Father God wants to see in us. And when we think about obedience - we remember most of the Blessings God gives are surrounded by the Pentateuch, the Law. Doing God's will is to live under the umbrella of God's Glory. To Rejoice in the Overwhelming Goodness of God. The Scriptures say, "The Joy of the Lord is my Strength."



John 6:57
Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

Jesus doesn't just say live, Jesus says Abundant Life. Something we would all like to see daily with God's renewing Mercy.

Romans 4:5
However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

The Law of Liberty.

And one Scripture we will be puzzled over unless we read this in context:

4 Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6 And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works

David has given faith and obedience imperfectly and found God sees David's limits and sees a good man who loves Father God.








1 Thessalonians 1:3
Continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The point of the Scriptures of real people,
with real life,
with real flaws,
with real faith - is this:

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven

James 2:22
You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.

1 John 3:23
And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.

Revelation 2:26
And to the one who is victorious and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations.

'

Cal's photographic portrait - and Cal is on his hiking trip. Godspeed, protect and love. Amen.



Abba Father,


We need Jesus and we need the Holy Spirit living in us giving us faith, hope and Love.

We need Your Blessings every day, every breath.

Your Word upholds Life. For all we love and for all You have given us.

Please, Father, dwell in us and those we love, we invite You.


For you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

NOW, may the Lord of Peace, Himself,

give you peace
at all times
in every way.

The Lord be with you all.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with you all.

Romans 3:10
There is no one righteous, not even one

Luke 18:19
Why do you call Me good? Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.

Jesus is God. Amen.

  

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

John 15:1-17 ~ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you

John 15:1-17

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants,[a] for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another."

Really... Let's be frank and honest. How much do we 'really' need the Law of Liberty?

When I did pro-life volunteering - we were speaking to people in utter and complete crisis. If you clucked your tongue and pointed fingers - you risked the life of the mother, the unborn baby, the father perhaps even the grandparents. Immortal eternity.

If the client told you an utter fable - you went with what is likely as blase as possible and dismissed the lie politely. Like a best friend. You didn't jump up and down and scream, "Gotcha you, liar!" If the deception was delivered as a cold-believe-the-lie - you went with polite. Like the Archangel Michael speaking with Satan over Moses' Body.

We don't bring Salvation - only God does. We bring God wants to save The World through Jesus Christ.


Frankly... why bother?

There just is no greater Joy than the GOODNESS OF GOD. To bring God into Crisis and allow His Goodness to Rise UP is to see people bloom a year later. To have the opportunity for goodness to spread - is incomparable.

It's only evil that is dreary and repetitions - evil never was Creation and is very repetitive.

We can't dismiss repetition. The ill are comforted. The dying cared for. Love is in steadfast care. Love is in there.

What if Abraham had been a rabbinic priest? We would have the story of Abraham the defrocked. The not really Father of Nations. And God did not place Abraham as a rabbinic priest. And Abraham delighted Father God. Abraham didn't have a degree in God - Abraham argued with God. For Mercy. Abraham depended on God when people Abraham loved would die. (I personally think Abraham was incorrect and should have argued with God that GOD alone brings death and God would have been pleased to be believed not to murder and to trust God to be merciful. I think - what I think - is this is one Argument Abraham should have had with God. And pleased God.)

What if David and his men had not eaten the Showbread - probably they were worn out and would have been defeated. The Bread of the Presence was Help and Comfort. As the Holy Spirit.

Jesus and His Disciples were merely seen to have eaten a few heads of grain on the Sabbath. Spied upon - they looked bad. C'mon. Spying over a few heads of grain popped in the mouth - Goodness is not a Law. Goodness is a lifestyle choice.



1 John 2

2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

The Law of Liberty - God kept saying through Jesus over and over as He Healed, "You are Forgiven."

Giving room for people to be who they are and to see God loves them as they are ...

- Is The Way Jesus Walked.

Jesus did not put up with saying to all things, "Good."  Verse Six is Fact. God tells us there are sheep and goats. Wheat and destructive weed. God is God. Jesus chose to talk to people on the day Father God put that day together. Jesus knew when to speak in teachable times. And Jesus was brave and politically savvy to do what God told Him to do.

Jesus didn't do all the impossible all the time - you never read about the great after Forgiveness dinner with Caiaphas and Ananias. Or Judas. Jesus only walked on water as God's Living Water. Made multitudes fed to have us know Jesus is God's Living Bread. Jesus went where Jesus is welcomed. You never read Jesus rushed into a house and said, "Get out of the way, I'm here to save your daughter, Jairus!"

Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law. Peter was wanting Jesus to be near. Jesus is not reported to have healed within the all important Sadducean Council. We know absolutely nothing about Caiaphas' mother-in-law. We do know that Philip was from Bethsaida. We know Jesus knew a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. We are not sure Ananias ate fish. We know Peter first met Jesus and asked Jesus to move along because Peter was a sinner. And we know Jesus went with Peter and Andrew to first heal in the city they lived in and then went back to their hometown to heal. We don't know about the Sanhedrin Council and any wedding. But we know Jesus took all His Disciples to Cana for a wedding and stayed a few days more with Mary.

Jesus went where He is welcomed. God loves straightforward paths.

Israel worried about meeting Esau. You'd think if your name was Israel - you'd never worry!!! They did fine and life rolled along. The Law of Liberty. The Beauty of the Scriptures - everyone is allowed to be who they are.


Why would God want us to be who we are? God only works with Sinners. The mystery of godliness.

Romans 3:23
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God


God our Father, the Almighty, Creator of All Things. Alpha and Omega - Makes His Plan. A Hope and a Future.

Jesus - Only Son of God - the Word of God made manifest displaying His Father as God of Love and Encouragement lives this very life as Joy. Seeing Creation as Good. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

The Holy Spirit is like Jesus - the exact nature of our Father -
Helper
Comforter
Teacher

God is... GOOD.

Amen and Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 1:39-45 ~ Leaped for Joy

Luke 1:39-45

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."


The Scriptures proclaim the Scriptures:


1 Timothy 3

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.



We are all certainly assured listening to podcasts and news report - we will never fix things.

And what we face with our core beliefs encouraged by the Light of the World in those around us - is - the mystery of godliness.

There are moments in every day
There are moments in the mystery of life
There are times of being downcast
There are times of facing real trouble life gives
There are times when the Door Opens
and we are given a real hope we are willing to believe and be warm and encouraged ~

Suddenly we are that father and his son in front of Jesus
and We BELIEVE

God and His Promises

And all of Heaven backs up our core beliefs in us.


We all know the Biblical phrase 'entertained angels unaware' as Abraham did.

And we, the Beloved of God, are fully capable of creating this Gate of Heaven opening.

Philippians 2

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

The Light of God continues to shine.

And not in Heavenly eyes alone -

The Words we Encourage each other with when we have the heart.



John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.


What God has Given us. And Jesus has told us in John 14, 15 and 16 - find life Joy.

The Work God gives us is to Believe. We daily provide and find the Joy. Light Bringers.

Father God,

We ask Jesus to dwell in us richly as we voyage in life and prayer.

Cover us with the Love and Name of Jesus to be pure in heart as we seek Jesus. We place our hearts and hopes before You, Father God.

We will take heart and draw very, very close to You and find all the Joy around us.

With true hearts open to You, we lift to You our cares, knowing how deep and how wide Your love for us. We lift up our loved ones to Your Good Care and Diligent, Steadfast Love. Wide, high, enduring true - Jesus Love.

Praying for Cal on his long camping trip. Safety and Love on the long walk.

Knowing our prayers join others and You are pleased. We bless You for Jesus and His Salvation of Mercy for us.

In Jesus. Amen.

Joy in the Journey of Life. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †