Matthew 17:1-13 ~ This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him

Matthew 17:1-13

And after six days (Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi Matthew 16:10) Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

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

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

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.



7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.


2 Peter 1

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 

17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, 
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 

18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 

13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Romans 8 18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that revealed to us. 

 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 

For in this hope we were saved. 

Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 

27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, 

because

The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Abba,

You are our Willing Father, hearing Hearts. Your Plans are for Hope and Future. Your Children fill the Fullness of Your Good Creation with prayers of more Heaven on earth and Your Good Will to be accomplished.

Let the Holy Spirit live in me and let this prayer be the Holy Spirit moving to intercede my heart to You. Fill Your Loving Heart with Your Willing Word upon our cares and fill all of our Loved Ones with Your Love and Steadfast Care and Encouragement.

Let us know Your Nourishment in our Souls. We put ourselves in Jesus Christ. Our Loved ones in Jesus CHrist. Our Communities and Churches in Jesus Christ. Our Nation in Jesus Christ. The Nations in the Name and Power and Love in Jesus Christ. Knowing the Comfort of all of Creation is in Your Mercy and Love. We will specifically pray for Elliott's healing. And also for Dee. 
Amen in Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Luke 6:43-45 ~ For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

 Last Judgement by Michelangelo, in the Sistine Chapel.

Luke 6:43-45

43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."

Oh, if only the walls had eyes. The very real and very honestly depicted saints of the Bible would be watching the The Last Judgement fresco by Michelangelo on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. The Second Coming of Christ and the final and eternal judgment by God of all humanity.

All the saints would see Biagio da Cesena, Pope Paul III's Master of Ceremonies. He was painted in the judgment for telling Michelangelo his painting was fit for bars and taverns for the nudity portrayed. Michelangelo worked Cesena's face into the underworld (far bottom-right corner of the painting) with Donkey ears ( meaning foolishness during the Renaissance, while Jesus and David liked their donkeys very much), and Cesena's nudity is covered by a coiled, biting snake.

What would the saints say to the Fresco of The Last Judgement?

And there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." To Abimelek king of Gerar

Isaac said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." Isn't God open to the prayers of parents for blessings? Jacob blessed all of his sons and some grandsons.

Noah was drunk and uncovered; Noah cursed his son for not covering him, but merely telling.
“Cursed be Canaan;
a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

The disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"

Jesus is not a Fresco in the Sistine Chapel.

Now what is the point here?

Jesus Christ the Lord

These saints are real and when life presses and presses and presses us - we all must accept what God has said of ALL OF US.

Romans 3
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.


What the Scriptures do tell us is this - God is very real. His Word is Real.
The saints would agree we are all headed in the same Direction.

THE SAINTS AGREE.

Galatians 4
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

1 Peter 2:25
For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

Because

Matthew 18:15
If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.


~We all want the blessings of God. 

~This is having the courage to stay to the path.

~ Going back to the path when you are in need to be renewed on the Path of God.

~The wisdom to know while the Law points out our sin, adhering to the Goodness of God allows us to have the framework to establish a life in Hope, Faith and Love. 

~Diligence in pressing forward to God. 

~Moving Fear and Reluctance Aside.

~Fighting the Good Fight. Not rolling over and saying someone else will fix something. 

~Rejoicing with Thank You's To God when things are Good.

~ Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.



Setting Faith in Action and Belief when wind is not blowing our sails, staying in belief because the Word of God is Accurate, Truthful, Real, Enduring, and Love.



Psalm 128
A song of ascents.

1
Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in obedience to him.
2
You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4
Yes, this will be the blessing
for the man who fears the Lord.

5
May the Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
6
May you live to see your children’s children—
peace be on Israel.


Abba, Father God, 

Who will live in Your Sacred Places? Who will live, as Isaiah and Psalm 15, tell us of Your Holy Mountains?

Help us, Father God, in the Righteousness of Jesus to walk in You blamelessly. Help us to do what is Righteousness. Help us in Jesus to speak truth from our heart.

Jesus, we want to spend time with those who Honor the Lord.

Keep us in our vows and oaths to You. Help us to be consistent in You.

Giving kindness not to be repaid.

And in these things real life produces character and hope. Fear is put aside and Joy has a place to dwell. Thank You God for Teaching us this

The Blessing of Healing in Jesus for us all. For Elliott and Harby. For Dee.

. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Nehemiah 6:5-19 ~ with the help of our God

In the 20th year of Artaxerxes I (445 or 444 BC), Nehemiah was cup-bearer to the king. This Relief is of King Artaxerxes I. The Cupbearer stands behind the King.

Nehemiah 6:5-19

Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. 7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” 

8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.”

But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” 11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live?I will not go in.” 

12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. 14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. 

17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. 19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.

This is a great Chapter to include with this:

Matthew 12:20
A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.


We all feel if we wonder or worry we have let God down. Nehemiah was doing all he could.


Nehemiah 1
1The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capital, 2one of my brothers, Hanani, came with certain men from Judah; and I asked them about the Jews that survived, those who had escaped the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3They replied, ‘The survivors there in the province who escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.’

4When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5I said, ‘O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments; 6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family have sinned. 7We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses. 8Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; 9but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish my name.” 10They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. 11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!’
At the time, I was cupbearer to the king.


We can better understand this by looking at Mary.

She exalted and glorified God to hear His Plan.

Mary escaped her family with great haste for 3 months.

She had to live with her family until Joseph had mercy and collected her to travel, great with child, to Bethlehem.

Mary pondered the words of Shepherds and the Wise Men, pondering the words in her heart.

She was confused where Jesus was as a boy. And witnessed Jesus grow up with great wisdom and stature as a child to man. And then try to drag Him home away from His Ministry.

We do not disappoint God easily. God's Plans will always be fulfilled. And God's Plans Glorify God. Jesus came down from His Mountaintop Experience with His Father God, to find the Disciples didn't do as well when Jesus was absent. Jesus didn't rebuke the father of the son in spiritual upset. Jesus did not rebuke His Disciples, He said this situation will require prayer and fasting.

God's Love and God's Mercy are Astonishing. Jesus is Grace upon Grace.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Ephesians 1 ~ our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ

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.

SADLY THE PHOTOS WERE REMOVED BY THEFT

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

May we all feel as Chris Janson has about "Good Vibes"  as Jesus Loves us. To be lifted, filled and fill others.

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.

The Light of God continues to shine. For Elliott and his family and healing. For Janice.

Thank You for Bringing Rain we pray for California and Thank You for West Coast rains. Thank You for rain and cool temperatures at my house.

Blessings of Jesus.

Amen.

Jesus Living Water of God, Nourish, Renew and Fill as our Father knows exactly.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Ezra 1:1-11 ~ the Lord stirred

Cyrus's Cylinder
1995 Dr. Bryant Wood. Cyrus's Cylinder, declaring freedom for captives in Babylon to return to Israel and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and the temple.  Cyrus was amazing for his time and had incredible interest in human rights.  Ezra 1:2-4

Ezra 1:1-11

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled,

...the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem.

4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. 6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. 7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. 8 Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.

9 And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 10 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; 11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.

Jesus told us "it is written" many times. How blessed to find His Word recorded in nations and in the fullness of His earth.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †