Matthew 1:25 ~ And he called his name Jesus.

Matthew 1:25

And he called his name Jesus.

… Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1: 21

…His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Might God,
…The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6


… God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord & Christ Acts 2:36


…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! John 1:29


…they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, the song of The Lamb Revelation 15:3


…Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5


..and the Bright & Morning Star Revelation 22:16


..and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life 1 John 1:1


…we have and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous 1 John 2:1


…whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke 1:78


…Before Abraham, I Am. John 8:58


…And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1: 34

…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25


…We have found the Messiah which, is being interpreted, the Christ. John 1:41


…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6


…through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 2: 20


..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16


…I am the Light of the World… John 8:12


…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is,

and which was, and which is to come The Almighty Revelation 1:8


Luke 2:10

But the angel said to them, 

"Do not be afraid. 

I bring you good news of great joy 

  will be for all the people.

11 Today in the town of David 

a Savior has been born to you; 

he is Christ the Lord.

~ Dallas Morning News December 25, 1995

When we cannot find the right Word of Scripture to tell Father God exactly how we are feeling and thinking, we can call on Jesus. Jesus is the exact Word of God. The exact representation of God our Father. Calling on the Name above all others is a prayer. Father God honors Jesus prayers.

We are in His Capable, Loving Hands.

Abba, Father God,

We thank You for all Blessings of Jesus Christ. You cover us entirely and completely.

We delight in You, You cover and complete the ones we Love. You cover all our cares life throws at us. So high you cover our Nation trusting in You. You behold and enfold the Nations trusting in You.

You hold in Your Heart the Beloved of Jesus praying for more Heaven on earth.

Jesus for the world. Saved by God's Grace. For our friend to be healed.

Amen in Jesus.

Call on the Name of Jesus

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Psalm 76 ~ Jesus is Radiant with Light

Psalm 76

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A song.

1 God is renowned in Judah; in Israel his name is great. 2 His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. 3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.

4 You are radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game. 5 The valiant lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands.

6 At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.

7 It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? 8 From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet— 9 when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. 10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.

11 Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared. 12 He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.

Revelation 1

9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

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. But he 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"



The Scriptures Agree. All of the Bible points to the Lord. When we place the Lord first, we love ourselves. When we love ourselves, we are able to love each other. Placing our Trust in the Lord - makes us willing and able to go forth beyond what we believed we were equipped to do. God enables us to do His Plan.


God is orderly when He gives us the 10 Commandments - He prioritizes. What is the Law of God? Every dot and iota of God's Word is Law. We do the best we are able to do. With God's Help. When we are unable to do all - we ask God to forgive our flaws, our mistakes and our sin. We require the blessing of God taking wrath from us. Grace daily. Mercy. Complete and utter thanksgiving for God's Mercy every day and in this blessing we build as Jesus said, "Rise."



Abba,

We ask more Heaven on earth. More Holy Spirit, for ourselves, those we love, the people You have given us. Our cares and Your Plan. The Nation trusting in You. Our Jobs, schools, communities and Churches. The Nations trusting in You. The people around the world praying to Your Heart. For the healing of our friend.

m, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.

Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us

In the Name of Jesus, we ask believing the Will of God is Good. Amen 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 12:54-56 ~ interpret

Geese

Isaiah 34:16

Seek and read from the book of the Lord:

Not one of these shall be missing;

none shall be without her mate.

For the mouth of the Lord has commanded,

and his Spirit has gathered them.

Luke 12:54-56

54 He also said to the crowds, 

“When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 

55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Hebrews 11 spans from the Beginning about 3,000 BC Adam to today. Interesting because Hebrews is written about 60 A.D. while the Temple in Jerusalem was still offering God daily offerings.

The Scriptures are rich in experiences, not omitting the polite details. Giving the information of human failing. And sometimes terrible circumstances. I was wondering about Adam and Eve and we find we can all be traced to mitochondrial DNA - maybe Father God decided to give young Eve His Nod.

Our area has seen the stocks and supply of our major industries terribly hit. Enter polite light drug laws. And a horrible increase in STI or STD above the national averages. In the day to day struggle for God's work for mankind - to Believe in the One He has sent - Jesus Christ - we have people in their 20's who struggle to understand making ends meet. So much of abortion funding occurs because the childbearing years are considered to be - poverty. And taking the morning after pill is misinformed and cheaper than birth control. People, especially young people, do not know exactly whom to call and where to seek.

Texas recently was sued to allow the Foster Records of Adult Foster Children to be examined.3,500 Adult Foster Children enter Texas as adults a year. In doing this, many more private services and opportunities arrived helping young people who feel without families. Last Sunday, I met a distinguished woman who is self-described as widowed, without siblings and "one of Life's orphans."


When Jesus promised us not to leave or forsake us - Jesus was telling us we all feel like life's orphans during a traumatic day.

We can all guess this is true. God even gave us the story of 2 Chronicles 22. The Queen Grandmother goes very terribly wrong and destroys family and children. The future king is rescued from terrorism and

Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. 12 He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

There is not a situation in the Bible we cannot find.

So many times in life we need a decision, one Father God would bless.


Ecclesiastes 3

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.


Luke 24:32
They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while Jesus talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

When we search the Scriptures, Father God is going to bring us to a place of searching God, seeing His Word, finding our peace, bringing peace - and helping us know Father God is making for us His Hope and His Good Will Future.

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

Jeremiah 32:17
Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee

Luke 1:37
For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Psalm 4:6
Many ask, "Who can show us the good?" Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD.


When John began to write of Living in Jesus and the New Covenant, John explained Father God is sweeping all good things to God. We may have emotions and circumstances to deal with and God is moving all things in His Love to His Goodness.


Psalm 16:9-11
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.




Abba, Father,
Blessed are you Lord God and for giving us your son, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Genesis 17:15-27 ~ God ascended

Hebrews 11:9 

By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

Genesis 17:15-27

15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

22 When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.

23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.


Site of the Oaks (plural, during Abraham's life) of Mamre in Israel

 James Tissot painted scenes of the Life of  Sarah and Abraham

 Oak near Mamre

How will we describe God and Abraham?

Galatians 3:6
Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

~ 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”

God is not shaken about one falling down laughing episode. Even if Abraham could hear the Lord God Almighty, Himself.

The Lord God Almighty is intent upon His Purpose. Telling us all have fallen and He works with the world to be saved in Jesus Christ.

Genesis 15:4
Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." 5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

7 He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it."

8 But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?"

We saw a glimpse of faith and then... questioning. This could only be the Steadfast, Loving nature of God, I'd have found another person of bigger faith, immediately. This is indeed the same God, the one who picked up the deserter, Peter, out of the Sea of Galilee. Another one of the faithful, who thought he could walk on water.

So in Genesis 12, we meet Abram. He hears the Lord say:

1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;

What does Abram do?
4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him

Genesis 13: God tells Abram to walk the length and the breadth of the land. Abram uses the opportunity to pick where he will settle.

Genesis 14: Abram gets busy rescuing his nephew and turns down riches from the local king, because he will depend on what God told him. God would give Abram the land.

Genesis 15: Abram is told as a young man, he will have a son & God gives Abram a sign to remember His Covenant. This sign is a gift to Abram.

Genesis 16: Abram & Sarai interpret what God said & act on their own. Disaster for Saria, leads to marital disharmony, human mistreatment, Hagar  is terribly unhappy. God intervenes to let Hagar know she is important to Him as well.

Genesis 17: God tells Abram the Covenant now involves cutting his adult penis. (Very serious commitment.)

"As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

How seriously does Abraham take this forgiveness, with the blessing and now the sign required of him?

23 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25 and his son Ishmael was thirteen; 26 Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that same day. 27 And every male in Abraham's household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.


Genesis 18:13-15
13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD ? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."

15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh."

But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."

Genesis 21

1 Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac (laughter) to the son Sarah bore him. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

6 Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." 7 And she added, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."

God could have chosen Noah to bless. God could have chosen Adam. But the Lord God Almighty said to Abraham and to us:


Genesis 12
 and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Abba,

What we want to the Love Jesus has given for ourselves, for our Loved ones, the people You have given us. For our Churches, communities, county, state, Nation, the world asking for You and Your Love and Mercy.

We want to see more Heaven on earth increase to Your Glory.

We want to see more miracles of healing. Knowing You fulfill Laughter and Joy.

Making the daily journey of Life - meaningful - creating a path for the Light of the World - Jesus. And with Your help - in the name of Jesus, we will.

Amen in Jesus, Light of mankind. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Colossians 1 ~ Him we proclaim

Colossians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 

Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.

He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

9 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 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 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.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 

27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.



Isn't that a great photo? It's not Colossae, Turkey. (Ephesus - is the photo.) Because Colossae is not really interested in having archaeological studies done.

Suffering. People are not for suffering. People are not really interested in signing up for suffering.

It's not really a good sales pitch. People worry that the 10 Disciples died horribly and this is the path we have chosen. People worry being Christian is speaking up and pointing a finger with wicked backlash.

Why did these dusty roads have the long robed types heading out to point more fingers and make arrows fly, crosses, beheadings and shipwrecks with imprisonment as the Pension and Benefits?

We have seen Notre Dame burn. And we will live to see France stand to build Notre Dame again. We saw the faithful take to the streets to sing for the beauty and Love creating this centuries old Cathedral and centuries to refine the building, 1163–1345 A.D., as well. The world and the reflection of Jesus Christ in mankind, want Notre Dame to rise.

Jesus is the exact representation of His Father. Entrusted. Elevated. The Old Testament calls Jesus His Fathers "Delight."

The Loss of Notre Dame is a new and raw scar. The reverse was happening in the world on fire to learn more about Jesus who frightens the Emperor of Rome and the miracles the happened and happened and happened. Slaves were considered human. Written of in Philippians. Women join Jesus in ministry and are allowed to talk to Jesus as if they matter. Widows receive their sons back from the dead instead of being impoverished and disregarded.

Ian Wilson writes in Jesus: The Evidence of the letter available today, Ian Wilson records a letter from a Jewish rabbi, of Lyracanthra, saying it would be the end of Judaism because of the incredible miracles of healing, restoration, life transformation and complete hope. These are letters confirming the Gospels show the Rabbi to be extremely unhappy. Josephus, the Israeli General turned traitor, turned Historian says Jesus was the Christ and his brother James formed the later Christian Church until martyred in 62 AD. Incredible. Jews believed the miracles that would not cease even when the Disciples were without Jesus - would end the Temple for everyone calling on Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1 from 90 to 120 A.D. Held by the University of Michigan

What was going on all over the Mediterranean to make these Christians Love Jesus?

Make the word of God fully known,  the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.

He is the image of the invisible God

The Word of Truth.

in everything Jesus is preeminent.

Proverbs 8 does not just tell us Jesus is His Father's "Delight." Proverbes 8 tells us God's Son is Delighted with the Master Workmanship of God's Magnificence. Now this trails along into words merely becoming poet and grand. Jesus is saying as God's Son - Jesus is going to do everything God His Father can do. Will do. Wants to do. Jesus is thrilled to be God's Representative. Jesus is going to - walk on water.

Jesus takes men who are blind and they see. This is the letter of the Rabbi of Lyracantha. This is the discovery of John living on Patmos - of his first disciple (John's own disciples):

 AD 110  by Polycarp. Polycarp was a disciple of the beloved disciple John while he was an inhabitant of the Island of Patmos.

Bishop Papias evidence alone is compelling. Bishop Papias went to Judea to speak to those healed by Jesus during the first century.  But a chronology of the generations John to Polycarp, then Irenaeus - his is the  letter displayed below. Irenaeus  was the Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul. The three bishops succinctly form a historical chain. 

Abba, Our Father, Our Father, Our Father,

Jesus is the Fullness You have Given Your Son. Jesus represents the Willingness of You to hear and Love and heal and be with us to strengthen us in difficult times. Like Paul in what is believed to be his hurt and arthritic knees - unwilling to be still.

Father we delight to ask You in the Name of Jesus for more Heaven on this earth. Your Good Will.

The First Century world was knocked to their knees, the gods had been indifferent. Our Father God would heal today. Give today. Listen today. Not based upon our ability to point fingers, but upon the Goodness of God of Love, God of Encouragement for You to encourage and strengthen. Amazing Acts of God.

The Astonishing Son of God said we are invited to ask You for what we need and want asking more Heaven on earth. For Families, for Marriages. For the future to look promising. For Cancer to leave those we love. For healing for small children and doctors who gave comfort. To do the work of believing, to look for the solutions God provides and ask with FAITH.

You are the God of Your Word and Promises. God of Love. We will dwell securely knowing You provide for us and are the Light of the world and the Light of mankind.

You are God. Life. God is for Living.

We thank You in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Acts 22 ~ Father's

Acts 22

“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:

3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.

4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’

And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’

11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him.

14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’

19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’

21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this.

25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”

26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

And he said, “Yes.”

28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.”

Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

30 But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.

Don't we all listen much better when someone is speaking our language. Paul has a can do attitude.

Paul was not rigid and uptight. He understood with a heart of love for his listeners. His message was Jesus as Love. Not their plans. God's.

We wonder if God would come after us with this Fatherly devotion. The Scriptures are written for you, telling you God is for you. God's Love is for you. You are God's Beloved Child. He knows your days and He has given you your name. God's Love is for you.

Isaiah 40:26

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.

Father God,

May Your Words and Word be shown to your people, Your splendor to our children.

May Your willing blessings and favor rest on us; establish the work of our hands for You — yes, establish the work of our hands.

Help us do Your Will with joy and verve. We ask this for ourselves and our loved ones. Help our Church, co-workers, friends and Nation to joyfully serve and please Jesus. 

Rejoicing in this Nation trusts in God. And the Nations are filled with God's Children asking, "More Heaven on earth."

Let Heaven be the healing of our dear friend. One of the Greatest of all of Jesus' beloved.

Amen covered in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †