Revelation 1:12-18 ~ Jesus laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not" +

Father God tells His Messengers to say:

Fear is a universal emotion.

We establish our lives on Love. We Love our Spouse. We Love our Children. We Love our Families and then Life rolls forth. After breakfast is done, we do life. Discovering the day isn't generally all day Love. All sorts of songs on love. And movies about love. Finding daily living beyond breakfast and before dinner is - amusement, business, boredom, decisions, judgment, judgment served up or upon us. And fear. Anger is another full time word to look up in the Bible. Not because the Scriptures are harsh, instead this is our Good Father's advice on our daily Path. Several times the Scriptures tell us life is a test. Our eternal Character is being formed.

What will we do with Fear.

This is a collision. Fear meets Anger. Anger creates, many times, another situation. As adults, we realize this. Fear is a character builder. To put down fear as weakness can be almost a taught response since we were toddlers. Fear is actually a deep thinking solutions builder. As we go down life's Path, our solutions relying on the Strength of God are going to pave our lives and for our families.

If we picture our lives as the continual building of the Temple we all recognize as the Second Temple in Jerusalem. These bricks are establishing our lives. Fear will be something we all find.This is so elementary, we don't have to add this up. For our child. For safety in driving. For our health. Finances. Job strength. Social encounters. Marital tension.

Anger. History shows the most inhumane and unjust governments will fall. The most angry marriages will fall. The jobs utilizing fear as the motivation in anger - is not a career and is a machine eventually rolling over the Anger Provider. I know of three stories, at the very least, the impenetrable boss had fate well meet the match of the unkindness perpetrated. Like Ahab or Henry VIII. Anger in friendships, without fair balances, is a limited time friendship. Fear is an anger provoker. Fear is not a solutions provider in any human endeavor.

Consider Zechariah reacting to anger in life and fear to see God Presented. Anger surfaces over faith.

Luke 1:18-20

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

This Verse completes this with Finality:

James 1:20
The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

David in Psalm 139 is confident he can tell God the absolute truth in dealing with wicked situations. David is relying on God's Justice and mercy for Truth. David takes all of the fear life has given David and he calls upon God's Justice and Mercy. David, except when the Ark gives God reason to show God's Own Thoughts and Justice, rarely, rarely relies on being angry in fear of God or life.

David is willing to live in a life most would not pick for 23 years and Paul was willing to ride in baskets over city walls to have more Life God Gives.

Fright. Suddenly being cotton-mouthed, overwhelmed, wide-eyed.

David did not find this to be problematic. David expected the Mercy of God. Real emotion meets real compassion. Scriptures tell us hearts are revealed. We all deal with goats. Goat Identification is not a bad thing. Zombie identification is a bonus.

David put his fears before God and moved out of the way. Looking rather like a man with a plan. We know David did not always have a working plan.

Who found fear to be Problematic?

The 12 men hand picked to be the new Tribe of Christianity. The Disciples. Jesus had a New Covenant Tribe of men who were constantly confused and a little afraid. Feeling fearful made guilt.  Feeling fearful made them not as easy to see clear answers. Not delving far enough into solutions or even just asking God. Jesus never said fear and guilt made them null and void.

Only one was seen as unworthy. Only one disciple was fired for reactions to fear. What we do with fear counts eternally.

When we are really facing terrible circumstance, sometimes we compound fear with thinking this is without faith and add guilt. Not something Jesus would place on His Beloved Disciples. Jesus still healed the father's son who cried out for more faith. And Peter was picked up for falling in the water when walking on the water with faith didn't work for Peter.

Denial.

Fight or flight. Or denial. I've seen my husband roll, in public, with having his terminal Frontal Brain Lobe operate at various speeds. The Frontal Lobe is our language and is our compassion processing. Denial. Works. Edward is very, very calm with people most of the time. He does not anticipate their reaction being a problem for him. This calm works for people. And you live to fight another day what is important. We can take the calm of, "Your problem isn't necessarily my problem." And turn this into a solutions provider for having time to sort out priorities not leading us to be fussy in pettiness.

Perhaps Father God would say, "Blessed are the Peacemakers."

Life is lumpy. You roll with what you get.

Or you could say, "You git what you git, don't throw a fit."

Winston Churchill picked his battles, jumped fences, saw the other side, lived the other side, changed sides and had this for leading the U.K. away from being a Nazi puppet state.

"Success is not Final.
Failure is not Fatal.
Courage to Continue Counts. "

Winston had another quote on this.

"I'm just preparing my impromptu remarks."

We all know this - usually this occurs when we say, "Oh, I should have said this." 9/10 they already knew it. Part of life's solution is not braying when someone gets your goat. Goats have a way of turning up - good or bad.



Denial generally flees when the water has reached boiling.

Processing.

Jesus told us about the Prodigal Son. The seasons this took. To decide to sell the land for the inheritance. The sale. The time to fall over. The time to find a working temporary solution. The time to look at life. A real time of importance. Fear of starvation and failure brought this son back to his own. Fact finding. Returning him to what God was giving him. Solomon said to embrace a time of woe as from the same hand as the hand of Blessing.

A very beloved Aunt in our family died of Breast Cancer becoming Liver Cancer and then Colon Cancer. She said the Cancer was a gift of God. For 25 years she didn't go near God. Didn't need 'im. Then praying people surrounded her when she had Breast Cancer and was healed for over ten years. The good prayers listened to by a Good Father God gave her ten new years. And when Cancer ended her life, she said she was surprised it wasn't that bad. And as she said this her battle ended and she went to be where prayers were heard by a Good Father were giving her a Home.

Abide. When Father God's Will is your blessing.

God.

Why does God say this:

Revelation 1:12-18

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. 

Jesus laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades


God is well known for saying "Fear Not." Angels and Archangels are told by God to say this so many, many times.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

God believes we have a mind God has given us to put fear aside. Now like Zechariah, this does not always work. God can tell us to Fear Not and we can put our fears aside and pull up time to reconsider Bravery. Usually reconsidering fear works.

We can say tomorrow I will look at fear again. Usually, for a great majority of life, a few hours of determined faith has very fine results. One lean upon God time to let Him handle the situation leads to a better today, and in a majority of seasons and situations, a better tomorrow.

Gift of God.




Father God,


We thank You for hearing prayers of your people for the rains around Hurricane Michael to subside  We continue to pray for Your favor on that area and to help with people who experienced flooding. Bless the families as they recover.

Thank You, Father God, for people who pray!

We pray to Delight You for Your Willing Blessing. And to be the people who are suddenly Revelation 1 when we are called to Your Home.

 In Jesus. Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 1:37 ~ Nothing will be impossible with God

Luke 1:37

For nothing will be impossible with God.

Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Genesis 18:14
Is anything too difficult for the LORD?

1 Samuel 14:6
Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."

Job 42:2
I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.

Jeremiah 32:17
Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!

Jeremiah 32:27
Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?

Zechariah 8:6
This is what The LORD of Hosts says: "If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in My eyes?" declares the LORD of Hosts.

Mark 10:27
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.

Luke 18:27
But Jesus said, "What is impossible with man is possible with God

Psalm 62:11
God has spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongs to God.


In all news, in all circumstance God is working.

When Jesus was born, when salvation is just a hope, when earth is maintained in the middle of space by the Word of God, and in the fact of our existence. When Samuel had no clear idea what God was doing and continued to serve God. When Job had all his blessings evaporate. When Jeremiah was explaining from prison to the nation of Judea this was actually Good News. When all Jeremiah had said came to pass. When the remnant could see rejoicing. As Jesus reflected on the path of life and salvation. God knows His plan. God's plan will take place. Giving us all a Hope and Future.

John 5:17
Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."


Father God,

With life moving in my 5th decade, I have seen many circumstances.

Thank You for many years. Learning in good circumstance and in difficult circumstance, You are working.

We take our concerns and our life adventures to Your Love and Care. We look to the future with prayer and hope. Lifting up our loved ones in Your Incredible Love.

We lift our nation trusting in God. And all the nations trusting in God. As we all have for our lives. Knowing the prayers of the faithful circle this earth.

Also knowing history tends to sort our time and later tell us we were in a time of hope and didn't even know this.

For all of our seasons, we trust the Lord Father God.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

John 10 ~ Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the Door of the sheep."

John 10

1 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him, the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

7 So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

We are always invited to hold on to Jesus.

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father." 19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?"

21 Others said, "These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"





22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.

24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

The Second Temple was a constant building project. No wonder the stone was found.


31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?"

33 The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God."

34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be broken-- 36 you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?

37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."







39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.

The Throne of God is beside The Shining Water.


41 And many came to him. 

And they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true."

42 And many believed in him there.

Jesus is always speaking to His fulfillment. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from His Every Word until all is accomplished.

Jesus goes to the Children of God as Shepherd.

Jesus makes a Straight Path.

Jesus goes to the lost and Jesus is their Shepherd.

Jesus is our Path.

Jesus is our Destination.

Jesus is Today.

Jesus is our Joy and Safety in the Path Tomorrow.

Father God,

We need You. You are the Rock and the Shelter we need.

All of us face, "Days may come." Be our Shepherd in the Storms of Life. 

We need You. Speak in the days may come and the water and the wind will cease. 

In Jesus we will abide.

Our trust and our favor comes from Thee.

Your Gracious Mercies.

In Jesus. Amen.

John 15:11 ~ These things

John 15:11

These things I have spoken to you, 
that my joy may be in you, 
and that your joy may be full.

When we say pick our cross for Jesus. That sounds harsh. I'm immediately reminded of stories southerners tell of men who embarrassed their families carrying a literal cross through town. And then you wonder what the fruit is and if you will be the one who has to carry your cross profoundly sadly. Probably not the most sought-after idea in Scripture.

However - God is for mercy more than He is for Sacrifice. Jesus is God and we are never going to walk on water in this life. We will never have the joy of healing the blind and the deaf. We will see prayers of Jesus and Father provide healing.

What we do need to do is establish our Joy in God Himself.

Where is your willingness - your joy - your delight in Jesus?

The woman wearing the silver cross and blue shirt in the photo, kicked off an enormous debate in the U.K., in 2013, to be able to wear her cross.

Many people said she should change jobs away from the airline. The courts upheld her right to her belief in Jesus and to wear the cross.

Another woman -Audrey Jarvis, a liberal arts major, asked until she received permission to wear her cross necklace. Her boss at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California said no. Sonoma State University said, “It was absolutely an inappropriate action for him to make that request of her,” the representative said, noting that the school’s president, Ruben Arminana is trying, through Kashack, to reach Jarvis for an apology. She spoke up and spoke up to wear her cross.

You have to love this persistence for something wonderful.

5 years ago we said 1/3 of the World population is Christian, our largest Christian world. Today we worry about birth rates of Muslims and Christians.  The birth rates of most Catholic nations are just as high as Muslim countries. The rest of the world is 12 to 16 babies as compared to 25 per 100 in the more populous religions. Billy Graham said this best - it's all going to work out. The Last Chapter of the Book is alive and active.

At the last Bible Study I attended, a third of the smaller group - about towards the end of all the Bible Study weeks - did say how they worship at home. This is after all  - deeply held conviction. In a major and growing denomination, of 8 women - 3 take prayer and prayer and then make communion at home. As Abraham or David might have minus the Theology Degree. This inward beauty is not just plastered about. Held tenderly as a practice to be closer to God. And yet - longing to help others have this internal and eternal Love.

We take our life's experiences and find a way to tell about how we really Love Jesus. Carefully choosing. I have a small fish with a cross on my car. And this year someone taking something out to my car said, "I like your fish and cross!" "Body of Christ!" "Body of Jesus Christ!" It's a lot like the First Century. This shared warmth. I love people to tell me, "I will pray for you." And as we left our Vacation Cruise, our concierge Armondo, put his hand on my shoulder and got misty-eyed and said, "I will miss you, God bless you."

These shared moments showing us How Deep and How Wide and How Fervently and How Dearly God has placed the Light of Mankind in us - today.

The Light of Christ is in all of mankind - John 1

Yes.
We are sure we are supposed to tell non-believers of Jesus Christ. Yes.
There is Adventure to be had in having on a cross - even on your car. We miss The Communion of Saints - goes far. Very far. The people of Jesus are the spiritual union of the members of the Christian Church. The Eternal Body of Christ living and the dead, those on earth, in heaven.

I heard on the radio of a man who loved to sing to Christian Radio and forgot his windows were all down and he was belting out the Song of Praise. The woman next to him rolled down her windows, had on the same radio station and they had a few minutes of Praise of God's Love. Wonder what they were singing?

Abundant - what God gives - Life.

With all heartfelt sincerity

Cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never, Never, Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, Serve the Lord.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people.

When we say we will carry the Cross of Jesus - we are also saying in our heart. Jesus as God's Son is the only one called to the Salvation of mankind. He is Worthy. Carry the cross - in your heart.

When we say our God is a consuming fire. We are saying our mind, our soul, our heart will carry Jesus with us with Great Love and Joy until our heart beats slowly and has burned out in the consuming fire and revives in our Eternal Home. A campfire of the warmth of God's Beauty has provided to our Thanks.

When we say Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, we carry this Love given to us - to share and rejoice and be humbled by His Grace.


And in the long road and in the warmth He brings to our hearts, we pray together that you and I and the people coming to God's love now and babies to be born and loved - are being rooted and grounded in love we may have power in Love, Hope and faith for the Joy and Peace God's Love brings.

As we live the consuming fire - together with all the saints, to comprehend in each of us the length and width and height and depth of His love. In faith, we fan the flame to know God saves the world today for mankind. The love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Amen in Jesus Christ.who alone is our Great Savior. Amen.

Our God Lives!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 7:11-17 ~ Jesus gave

Nain Vintage Photos

Luke 7:11-17

11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.

12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."

14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!" 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.


Imagine what Jesus was seeing.

Vintage Capernaum


Luke 7  starts in Capernaum to Nain - 40 something miles.

 Nazareth is part of the neighborhood

Nazareth to Nain about 20 something miles.

The miracles of Jesus feed the multitudes - for Millenniums. The Disciples told Jesus on the way to Emmaus, all of Israel knew. The truth is the world knows Jesus for 2,000 years.

Jesus was seeing more than we can imagine.

Jesus gave far more than we can fathom.

Isaiah 66:22
"For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "so your descendants and your name will endure."


Jesus tells us we are never forsaken. Look at the area Jesus has traveled - He is in his area. With His People. As Jesus sailed the Sea of Galilee, He could be seen doing His Father's Word and Ministry. Today, Jesus is dwelling in us. In us as the Holy Spirit.

Dwelling in a New Heaven with us in a new Covenant earth.

We Thank You, Father God, for Your diligence and Your love and care. We give You Thanks for Your many blessings. And look each day to see You are our Strength. Let us renew ourselves in Jesus the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †