Mark 1: 35-37 ~ “Everyone is looking for You!”

Suppose you had rather a difficult career. And you liked time to be in solitude and be with God and nature. This is a good place to begin.

Mark 1
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

A man, full of grace and truth, who the Scriptures record to be part of the dawn of creation. Separating land from sea.

Mark 1:16
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

Matthew 4

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 

21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.

22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Matthew 8

1When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him

Jesus began to visit so much, he even liked the mother-in-law!

Matthew 8

 ⁴ And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.

Matthew 4
13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali

Peter, the most prosperous fishing family in Capernaum, had a next door view of the Synagogue.

Mark 1:20-22
Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Matter of fact, the synagogue has a column that Zebedee donated and named for to his sons, John and John. Zebedee had a large voice, perfect for yelling from one boat to another and he was called Thunder.

Sadly, today, Peter's house has a Church resembling a spaceship over it (it would make a nice MIB movie). However, the setting of Peter's house is beautiful. See the photos from the 1960s.

These men had many times together of joy, visiting Mary at a wedding in Cana.

Trips on the boat.

Rembrandt Storm at Sea

Picnics

 

Political Discussions which would eventually call for loyalty or division.

Long Talks

Long walks Mark told us about.

Mark 10:32
They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe

Other more memorable walks.

Disciples sometimes argued. Jesus was called upon to settle things.

Opportunities for Forgiveness.

And Loyalty

Lord, you have the Words of Life!










We would hope there would be remains today, telling us of this remarkable friendship. God's Son -

And there is. Tomorrow we will tell of the other House of Peter's. Because there is a vast archaeological similarity.

We loved the Musical "Godspell." It's actually a Biblical Repeat. Jesus wasn't born in the Palace where the Magi knocked. He chose instead what was meaningful. Love spoke to the many pilgrims who turned Peter's house into what we see in the House Churches of Acts. At one point, archaeology records Peter's house was one of the few in Capernaum with plaster walls. And during the time of Church Historians Bishop Papias of Hierapolis and Eusebius, the Bishop of Caesarea, we see no time lapse for Peter's house becoming a House Church, "domus-ecclesia", where pilgrims wrote Graffiti on the walls. The plastered walls came in handy.

Alpha and omega combinations were present, as references to Jesus Christ, but they were also found in reverse order, signifying Christ's role as the gateway to eternal life. Alpha and omega might also be separated from each other and connected by a thin line. Other letters signified other mysteries: tau indicated the cross, epsilon stood for Eden and nu for "nika", victory. But most important of all, curious combinations of rho and pi were references to the apostle Peter.There is a spiritual richness and hunger to those who visit Peter's House, leaving praise for the Lord on the Graffiti Walls.

Peter's wife and mother must have loved colored plater because red, pink, brick-red, yellow, dark brown, green, blue and white. The geometric decoration is made up of rectangular panels, lozenges, circles, floral crosses etc. Floral motifs are also recognisable, such as branches, small trees, flowers, figs and pomegranates. Apparently human or animal representations were not allowed.

Graffiti, monograms and symbols were found. The languages used in the graffiti are Greek (151 samples), Paleo-Estrangelo (13), Aramaic (9) and Latin (2).

Abba,

You renew our Mercies You load us with daily. It's so very pleasant to see Your Life You have called Joy.

When You created this earth, so many times You said, "It is good." Yesterday, today and tomorrow. It's sometimes easy to find what Joe Walsh calls, "A Flock of Wah Wah's!"

With the Help of the Holy Spirit take Hold of what God has given us. Today.

When we know Seasons change, be blessed with Today.

The seasons change and we will recall this season of summer with gratitude. We have seen family, repaired our roof at just the right time. And, we will say this again, see our family. Blessed and Blessed to be given people to Love.

Each day it's pleasant and good to remember You have delighted in mankind. You have delighted in Your Good Creation. You have delighted to give us Jesus. We will think on Your Promises and focus on what You Give. To be grateful.

We will stand firm in our faith in Jesus Christ. We will rejoice in precious times and look to the future for Your provision.

The seasons change, You do not, Father God.

You have loaded us with the benefits to pray for "Your will be done for More Heaven on earth as it is in Heaven." You have told us Heaven is a Restful Sabbath. You have told us when Nations in Heaven disagree, You provide Peace. You have told us we will need to Stand Firm in our Faith in Heaven. We want to do this with Joy on Your good creation earth. Thank You, Father.

Lifting our cares to Your capable hands. Lifting Elliott to healing from cancer, that he will play and know and rejoice with Harby in their grandchildren. For Dee and her back to be well. For the brave men and women who work to bring National Service to the people. We praise them and pray for their joy in life and safety.

Thank you, Jesus. Thank You, Father. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Hebrews 4 ~ we have a Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God

Hebrews  Chapter 4, part of ⁴⁶  Papyrus 46. Exactly as shown.
Absolutely a Wonder of God.

"Hebrews 1.7–2.3
Owned by University of Michigan, Library at Ann Arbor
Size 15 x 22.9 cm
Palaeographic Description
The ink is dark brown and has faded little. There has been little rubbing of the surface, so that almost every letter is still legible. The writing is of the book hand and the letters are carefully formed and well spaced. There are many slight spaces left in the text, often where they serve admirably for punctuation.

Acquisition purchased in 1930/1931
Language Greek
Genre literary
Author St. Paul
Type of Text/Title of Work Epistles of Paul"  - As stated in the Library of the University of Michigan.

⁴⁶ Papyrus 46 is 300 Chapters of the New Testament - Found Intact and exactly as shown. 


Hebrews - The Fourth Chapter. Papyrus 46 is 300 Chapters of the New Testament - Found Intact and exactly as shown. The dating debate is between the first Century and 175 A.D. One source of debate is ⁴⁶ uses an extensive and well-developed system of nomina sacra (saying this is 2nd century) however since the exact provenance of the nomina sacra system itself is not well-established. Therefore we can safely say, the 300 intact chapters date between the first and the second century A.D.

This would be during the life span of the Disciple John, this copy existed.

Hebrews 4

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 

5 And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, 
God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

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

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

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

Jesus as God - fills the Heavens!!!  He has seen all of His Vast Creation.
To be kind hearted. 
To Rest in Jesus.

Believe in your Salvation in Jesus.
For we who have believed enter His rest, as He has said. 
Eternity has begun for us adopted by the Grace of Jesus.

Obedient to the Word of God, living and active.
God fully knows and understands our thoughts.
Expect Grace from Jesus at our weaknesses, as sympathy. This would be why Father God ran to His Child as we could not aspire to be God.

God told us He is available at midnight, when others are asleep in their beds. He comes to us when we are seeking Him earnestly.

And because of this transparency and relationship - we know only Jesus is without sin.

Let us, with confidence, draw near to the Throne of Grace, where our Father sits.

1 Timothy 3:16
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.

Consider how we pray. Do we pray to up there far away? Do we pray to Jesus sitting next to us?

When we think of David and Solomon planning His Temple for many years does it seem very remote?

The Pillars of the Temple built by Solomon and the pieces collected for years and years by David and Solomon.

Matthew 1:5
Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse

The faith of Boaz to accept a widow, a foreigner. A farm worker. A family in need. Foreigners are not so accepted in Israel. Boaz makes sure his family, Naomi, is welcome as the  grandmother of their child. Israel did not accept foreigners easily, but would find a way for the widows to be provided for.

Boaz is someone Jesse, David's father, probably knew. David is welcoming his family to worship. The Temple is to provide what we see in Lazarus and the rich man, generation are found in Heaven.

Today,
I saw my father's mother's house is for sale. Her house is about a block through the woods of Rowan Oaks to William Faulkner's house where he lived at his wife's family house. Grandmother's house was actually a small, small boarding school during the Civil War. Called The Keys at the time. And to see her house - where the wooden planks are wide upstairs due to the extreme age of the house and narrow planks downstairs due to the use as a Civil War barn for Sherman's horses. To see her Newel Posts. To see the front door with the unexplained bronze knob on the inside of the door. The lack of the old chimney's original pieces. To find the walls don't match up as they used to.

To see all the familiar landmarks, is to long to see her. To hear her voice. To listen to her words.

This is to relive "Peggy Sue Got Married." The movie is set from Peggy Sue's hospital bed. And she is allowed to go back to visit her Grandparents, who had moved on to Heaven for 2 decades. The point of Lazarus and the rich man is to understand - the dead are not dead. Alive in Jesus Christ. 


Our hearts become life this day and we sometimes forget the Magnificence of God Himself. We read our Bibles where the Verses and Words are jammed up tight.  The Papyrus gives space. Alive in Jesus Christ. Alive! Old Papyrus, new Bible, God's Living Word.

One great day, One Great Day, we will walk and talk and live and feast and rejoice to be with the People we Love. They are Alive in Jesus Christ. Today.

I wouldn't doubt David with all his Passion for God, to Please God, to weep at injustice, to dream of the fulfillment of God's  Plans, to remember God's Victories, to relive His Help. To need His Help Again. I wouldn't doubt David passionately put Boaz's Pillar to welcome the Family of God.



When we pray, we are close to Father God. We bring Him tenderly close.


We can with expectation of Jesus' Promises, receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


Father God,
We Believe in the Lord Jesus, and we know we are saved-- Continue Your Mercy to our household and our loved ones.

We believe fully, Jesus is Lord. We believe in our hearts that You, Father God, raised up Your Son Jesus from the dead. We believe Your Promise of Salvation has arrived.

As we believe, so this will be done for us, according to Your Word. Yes Lord, we believe You are able.

We fully want Your Plan and Path, forgive us when we stray, please in the Name of Jesus. We will not fear, only believe. All things are possible in Jesus.


In the Name of Jesus the Lord, blessed are we who believe there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken from the Lord. We, in knowing Jesus, ask the blessings for our Loved Ones, our neighbors, coworkers, Church Family and our Nation. 

Father God, bless and protect our friend Matt starting his new job in Florida. For his continued blessing in You.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Psalm 40:5-17 ~ Be pleased, O Lord

Psalm 40:5-17

5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,

your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;

none can compare with you!

I will proclaim and tell of them,

yet they are more than can be told.

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,

but you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

8 I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance

in the great congregation;

behold, I have not restrained my lips,

as you know, O Lord.

10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;

I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;

I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness

from the great congregation.

11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain

your mercy from me;

your steadfast love and your faithfulness will

ever preserve me!

12 For evils have encompassed me

beyond number;

my iniquities have overtaken me,

and I cannot see;

they are more than the hairs of my head;

my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!

O Lord, make haste to help me!

14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether

who seek to snatch away my life;

let those be turned back and brought to dishonor

who delight in my hurt!

15 Let those be appalled because of their shame

who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

16 But may all who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you;

may those who love your salvation

Say continually, 
“Great is the Lord!”

17 As for me, I am poor and needy,

but the Lord takes thought for me.

You are my help and my deliverer;

do not delay, O my God!

A Psalm of David, we can tell - of course.

If we had to attach a motto to David, something new, we'd might say, "Be Pleased, O Lord!!!"

We know, of course, God is pleased when we Believe Father God and Trust Him.

God tells us every day He renews His mercies to us.
When we Believe God telling us this, why not be privileged to count our blessings. To be pleased with the people and places and activities we do and are given by Father God every day. Why not even ask God to take His mercies, to acknowledge our Blessings, and ask Father God to build our Blessings as Living parts to the Temple God has told us to regard our bodies as His Dwelling.

Why not ask God we could be Blessings to the people God has given us. Encourage Father God to know we appreciate what He has done for us.




Part of the age gap we find among people is - experience. The direction of the ebb and flow of life. The age gap of seeing what is older and fearful. I once received a phone call telling me in the middle of Youth Groups and Bible Studies and Youth Activities and Baseball - to be grateful for having my children at home - it would be the best part of life.

There is nothing like considering losing a Blessing to remind us of the Joy of having His Blessing.

And I began to study the older generations.

Blessings and Sheep.
God tells us He blesses us daily. Jesus tells us He can tell we need Him to be our Shepherd. We do. We would all like to incredibly bless our Children and Families. And today, with housing costs, jobs that create far away, medical insurance costs, education costs - we acknowledge blessing our children is more difficult. We are the Sheep of God's Pasture. We are not forlorn. We have the opportunity to bring our hopes, cares and dreams to Father God for His Plan.

And in acknowledging our blessings - we are more likely to share and be inventive.

I'm going to tell you a story of a friend of mine - who, like me, lost a baby right away. We recover from losses. The Kennedys and the Bushs, on the right and left sides of the aisle, lost a baby and made sure their child went to be buried with them. My friend was telling me of her loss after we had known each other 8 years. We move on from these events and it becomes part of His Plan. We were discussing her son and I said, remind me again of your young son's name. She told me his name. My mouth fell open. Her son-in-law of 20 years had the same name. The same name. David - like the Psalm.

My friend has faced struggles with her mother with a 'I'm Near Thee Perfection, what are thouest, tell me quick' attitude. And this made a rocky early life. And as a result, children are a JOY. She has been blessed, blessed, blessed going forward. Her Children Rise up and Call her Blessed. Ok really? Well... yes. If they have a roof problem, "David" comes over and gets on the roof and has a talk with her husband and they decide what to do next.

We bless each other with what we have. It's inventive.

For Thanksgiving one year, her youngest daughter said, "It's time!!!" My friend and her husband said, "What?" Out came a beroge of coffee mugs. What a coffee treat? Next - all over the house, rocking chairs appeared. The all local family and all the host of grandchildren were mystified. My friend and her husband had to laugh and laugh to see the looks of utter bewilderment on the younger generation.

"It's Time!" My friend and her husband, the two daughters and the two sons in law all sat in the rocking chairs in a circle. "It's Time for 'Mug of Pudding'!!!"

This was a celebration of the whole family living together as Master's Degrees were obtained by four of them. "Mug of Pudding" was a daily part of their family living together with a family of 4 becomes a family of 6. After their daughters married. Thanksgiving became a celebration of the Joy of Family and Blessing Seekers, Blessing Providers and Blessing Remembering. Six Grandchildren, 4 parents and two grandparents remembered, taught and celebrated Blessings.

It turns out, you can make pudding for one or six in coffee mugs in the microwave. And the day is discussed for memories made for future generations.

Water seeps, nourishes, takes hold where God would want the Living Water to flow. This family works sprinkler repairs together. Tomorrow - more glue will be applied. My friend is going to have a her small back fractures put together with concrete. We are praying for a total healing.

Abba, Father God,

We Give You Thanks for Your Willing Blessings Daily.

The One You Love is going in for surgery tomorrow. We pray for all nurses and doctors hands to have their gifts and talents blessing Your lovely, Dee. We ask in the Name of Jesus for Dee to have complete healing with the concrete for her back fractures. Instant and lasting healing relief.

Thank You so much this has been a blessing for Elliott, concrete glue, giving Elliott immediate relief from back fractures. We pray all healing upon Elliott and peace and joy continuing for Elliott and Harby.

We remember with Great Joy the Blessings You've Willingly Provided. And give You Thanks for the many Years and Eternity where You will Continually Bless us.

Thank You, Father God for the amazing ways we have all witnessed Healing. Your Word upholds the Universe. Thank You.

We give You thanks for Your Word telling us You Delight to bring Your Good Will and more of Heaven upon earth.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Psalm 84 ~ our shield, O God

Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

6 As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.

8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

9 Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!

10 For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.

12 O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Where is our Shield Located?
 Our Shield is located where we put our Heart.

We live in the Subtropics of the Houston area. And even in May, people were recovering from a pretty fierce flood. And again last week we had a Tropical Storm closing Montgomery County from Houston's Harris County. The highways and interstates close due to high water and the inability to travel. Signs are not put up. We had a dear family friend find about flooding in the May floods. She followed a car like a Jeep in a foot of water and found water found her tailpipe and her car was totaled. We learned flooding was expected and signs are not posted. Just expect to be very cautious everywhere.


Where is the Shield?
Continuance demonstrates the shield exists. Why does the city continue? To provide for families. To provide a place for love to exist.


We put our Shield where our heart is located. When we put our Trust in God, we find we are sustained, enduring, hopeful, resilient. Because our heart is with Jesus Christ.

When we pray the Lord's Prayer we identify Father God as our Heavenly Father. Why? We are being shown God loves us so dearly we will have to identify God apart from our earthly Dad. And unlike our earthly Dad, God lives in our heart and soul. We invite Father  God to know all of us and live and move and have His Being in us.

The 84th Psalm tells us about God's Love for me and for you.

God dwells in you and in me  as we say Jesus is Lord. And we are His chosen dwelling place as the Holy Spirit lives in me and in you.

Abba, Father God says:
Our dwelling place welcoming Jesus Christ, God with us is - Lovely.

We Long for God.
And will sing for Joy in this Love and longing.

Even the least of us - sparrows - will understand the Tenderness of God.
Father God would hold our soul as a nest for the heart to be held in this tenderness.

Blessed
Father God is so gentle, the little tiny - without feathers and ability to cope - children - are held in this tenderness to hold forth hope and trust.

God reminds us He is God the Almighty. He is not a waiter or merely exists to be a  nest holder. God is a Father with an Altar. King and God from Alpha to Omega.

Blessed are all who find this wholeness of Holiness is where we place our Heart in God's Good Will.

Blessed
With Strength to want His High Way
Hardships become places to find His Blessings, just like these floods in Coastal Texas. Springs, Pools, Living Water, Strength to Strength.

Blessed
To have our prayers heard. Blessed God listens to us.

Blessed
To have a shield and to plan ,with hope, a future in God. To hope God's Heart will keep us in His High Way.

Blessed
To want to be in the Number when the Saints go Marching In.

Blessed 
To say Let the Plans of Jesus be established because our Home is in Jesus forever.

 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.

O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Abba, Father God,

Your willing Blessing renews each day.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,

In the Name of Jesus we pray our Father God's Willing Blessings and His  Peace upon us, covering us, flowing from us having His Love indwelling 

Our Amen is in Jesus Christ.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †