Psalm 130 ~ For with the Lord there is steadfast love

 

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!

2     O Lord, hear my voice!

Let your ears be attentive

    to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,

    O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness,

    that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

    and in His word I hope;

6 my soul waits for the Lord

    more than watchmen for the morning,

    more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!

    For with the Lord there is steadfast love,

    and with Him is plentiful redemption.

8 And He will redeem Israel

    from all his iniquities.

Matthew 9:2

And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”

Mark 1:4

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 2:5

And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Mark 4:12

so that “‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”

Luke 1:76b-78

 go before the Lord to prepare His ways,

77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people

    in the forgiveness of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

Luke 5:20

And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Luke 6:37

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven

Luke 7:47

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little

Luke 24:47

and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

John 20:23

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld

When I was small, my grandmother Anita gave me a Bible. Not something I was unacquainted with, we had an Episcopalian Priest as step-grandfather, Tate, and I'd been to parochial school for several years. And we went to Church, where I drew with crayons on the Bulletin and listened. One day, Anita walked in and said I should have my own Bible and she gave me a Children's Bible Living Word.

Grandmother Anita asked me if I had a comment or question while I looked at it, probably for about 15 minutes. I looked up and I said, "Why do we always begin with sin and forgiveness? It seems like, if people knew how Loving God is, they would be more drawn to Him? And why is it told, in the Old Testament, 'this is what God says" instead of Jesus going around healing the people and forgiving them?" 

Grandmother said, "That's a good point and I didn't figure that would be what you'd say." 

In High School, when I decided I'd go with the well-behaved kids to Youth Group, by then I still wondered this. Being Episcopalian, I wondered why we started here, the forgiveness of sins. And in High School, I figured it had to be a throw back to the Puritans and being religiously puckered. A foreign aspect of Religion and not so much about Jesus Christ of God.  We learned so much about Baptism, I started to think Episcopalians could be puckered up too. And, in fact, took an impromptu vote to stop studying Baptism.

Mark 1:4

John appeared, 

baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance 

for the forgiveness of sins.

Why would such a man as John the Baptist do a pretty "Godspell" view of new beginnings, take everyone out to be in Nature and see the Beauty of Mt Hermann spilling into the Jordan River and start talking about sin. Seems so off. The Garden of Eden was about walking with God in the cool of the Evening.  So, next our Youth Minister Priest wound up Baptism and said what about when everything is wrong and one thing happens that is right, but it's Fornication. Right turn, Clyde.

No. We decided that's like sinning and praying later that you are saved. Putting Salvation down to a wing and a prayer. I think the Priest thought we were like waves tossed back and forth. But he did go on to a great career in Atlanta. Then again, maybe, the Right Turns were to make sure we were listening.

John the Baptist, was like Noah. Two by two. Exactly as Jesus sent out His 72 or 70 wish washy Disciples. John the Baptist, far away, was Jesus' Co-Pilot.  The day Jesus fed the multitudes by the Sea of Galilee, Matthew 16, was the time Peter was chosen to be the Rock where the Church would be built.

John the Baptist was doing Genesis. Because Jesus Was, and Is, Doing Genesis. During Genesis the waters were rising up, watering the earth. Livng Water. The Holy Spirit hovered over the waters.  Isaiah was walking with God in His Home and discovered He needed Forgiveness. This Forgiveness is necessary to our Holy, Almighty God. Why the Prodigal had to be remorseful before being allowed back to the Father's Home. The seeds had to be planted first and then watered, like Genesis. Living Water.

How can our Wonderful Jesus ask us to be something we just ain't finding natural to us?

James 5:16.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

We know we are invited to Prayeth Much. Sounds a lot like Repenteth Much. We can't get along when one side doesn't favor the Goodness.  One side says, but I'm ok. The other side says, no you ain't. And we all have a clue, none of us have what this takes. So, we pick at the threads for one side to win. Or walk off. Or we favor not to have the conversation at all. God by passes this and says, be real, be honest, be sincere, find Love. Say the truth about how it is and how you are. Tell me about this, I forgive you. Just like having to confess the bumper is dented - and you know the real reason.

Prayer is another way of saying, talking with One too High, too Loving for us. Forgiveness says we have entered the Holy of Holies and what we have to say is treasured. Even if we aren't treasure, but .... might be after Love is applied.

Luke 1:76b-78

 go before the Lord to prepare His ways,

77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people

    in the forgiveness of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

To walk in the Garden of God's Home

Mark 4:12

so that 

“‘they may indeed see but not perceive, 

and may indeed hear but not understand, 

lest 

they should turn and be forgiven.’”

Matthew 4:15-19

beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 

16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, 

for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

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. 

19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Luke 6:37 

Judge not, and you will not be judged; 

condemn not, and you will not be condemned; 

forgive, and you will be forgiven

Matthew 9:2

And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed.

 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 

“Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”

John 15 

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 

Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 

Abide in me, and I in you."

John 20:23

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; 

if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld

Luke 5:20

And when He saw their faith, He said, 

“Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Luke 7:47

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. 

But he who is forgiven little, loves little

Luke 24:47

and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name 

to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Isaiah 65:24 ~ Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.

Isaiah 65:24

Before they call I will answer; 

while they are yet speaking I will hear.

We live in a time we really want to see answered prayer. And, yes, Covid is still active. But the population of the USA says 2/3rd's are closer to God and read Scripture more than before.

Life experiences tell us Christians know God answers their prayers. Today, I had this occur to me. Yesterday's Post was titled,  "Lifted Up".

Today, this week, has been, "remember how many years ago" week:

My mother had her 88th Birthday. Let's see, Edward and I have been married 35 years, we married when I was 22 years old and our niece Brooke was born the next year, she is 34. She married in 2011, she and Brad have been married ten years, and now they are having their first child. Making this, Susan and Brad's first grandchild!

My mother and mother-in-law are both 30 years apart from me, born in 1933, so this is the day of my mother's 88th birthday. We moved her from her house of 47 years. And travel from our house of 20 years once and twice a week for six months to visit both my mother and Edward's mother.

Mother had a Chocolate Mouse Birthday Cake, and I was hurrying outside her house.

I fell really hard in the front yard and landed on the sidewalk. I landed on my hand and knee, my hand had part of my knee on my hand.  I cried like a child, loudly and sobbing, it hurt so badly. I couldn't even move off from the terrible position. The fall was so swift, I wasn't aware I was falling. 

When I finally felt I could move, my hand, my whole left hand, didn't move. It was utterly, it was utterly broken. The fingers were splayed apart. My hand, I couldn't get it to move curl or straight, it just was limp. Finally, my hand would move, but not my fingers. And I knew that I'd have to go to the ER until Friday. Then I realized my knee hurt. Edward had arrived and I was sobbing loudly, unable to stop.

15 minutes later, I could stand up and sob, still like a child. By the time I could stand up, my hand worked perfectly and has a small scrape. Pebbles dotted my palm where my had had landed on the sidewalk. I know my hand didn't work and looked frozen and useless.

Within 30 minutes, we were traveling home. Moving briskly down the interstate. And as we drove home, we saw a huge rainbow.  This was a mere tens of minutes later, from the accident, and I had amazingly recovered from. But I just couldn't look for the whole Rainbow. I was too jarred and pained to twist, to look for the whole rainbow by Downtown Dallas about 8 pm.

Genesis 9:12-17 LIFE

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” 17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

I said to the Lord, Yes Jesus, Life! I prayed if you want me to see the whole Rainbow, I know you healed my hand. And then there was a shadow, a double Rainbow. And I said, "GOOD WITH ME!

THANK YOU, LORD JESUS CHRIST!"

And then the whole Rainbow appeared bottom to top the beginning and the end.

As I sat to write the Post, I just realized the Post is, "Lifted Up". Jesus the Lord is GOOD!

Abba, Father,

Dwell in us.

With the Light of Jesus Christ,

help us to be a joy for You to know us.

We want to seek You first.

And end well.

We earnestly seek this blessing for those we Love

and give You thanks for the people You have given us.

So many prayers, You uphold the Universe by Your Word.

And we pray diligently, sometimes for years like

Grandmother Anita for her beloved son, Jimmy.

And 7 decades of Prayer became Joy.

Today, I cried like a small child for the hurt felt in an accident.

And suddenly, before I could even ask, in the shock, hurt and surprise,

I didn't even pray yet, just cried.

Your Love and Mercy are overwhelming.

Thank You.

Bless our State,

we are experiencing so many new Covid cases in Texas and surrounding Houston.

The vaccinated are unharmed, mostly.

We pray for Haiti and Afghanistan.

For our Nation to rebuild and heal, health, hearts and employment to 

Your Glory, Jesus Christ.

We ask Your Help for all the world.

And rest all our daily concerns

in Your Capable Hands and Love.

Grace upon Grace.

Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Isaiah 40:3-5 ~ Lifted up

 

Isaiah 40:3-5 

A voice cries:

In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be lifted up,

and 

every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level,

and the rough places a plain.

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

and all flesh shall see it together,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

When would God speak tenderly to His People?

When would Father God comfort His people?

In the Vast Love, our God of Hope, God of Love, God of Encouragement - we find out. Days would come. We read the news.

When everything is in question. So many changes. To destabilize the world - nothing is comfortable. When we are all uncomfortable - then we are easily scattered. Fake News?  Less likely to work for our families and pull for all their future. Hezekiah became so concerned with how huge Assyria and the future was - he just gave up and shrugged when it came time for his children's futures. And Hezekiah was Quite a Saint. Hezekiah was raised to give up Judea to the Assyrians - to become a puppet king to the powers that be. Instead, Hezekiah fought bravely. But we can't give up on our children as easily as Hezekiah did.

We will Give the Comfort of God.

We will Seek the Comfort of God - for our Families and the people He has given us.

We Will. In Jesus Christ.

Days would come.

God spoke so tenderly to His Beloved People - after Jesus died. Brings tears to my eyes. Jesus said not to weep for Him, weep for us.

Father God knew the vast changes coming. In 16 years religious persecution was really upping the ante. At 70 A.D. For 325 years. Father God knew the sheep would come forward looking for our Jesus. They were like sheep going astray, but now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. Can you fathom it - His Son was Killed. God our Father would comfort us.

To Father God, a day is like thousands of years.

Comfort, Comfort My People

This is what the probable, 2 million people, flooding the 36 acres in the Temple right- after the First Easter - Saw:

Colonnade left from King Solomon's Portico. Could be from the First Temple used in the Second Temple. John 10:23. A portion of the Temple, according to Josephus History of the Jews. 5:5, section 1; Ant. 20:9, section 7, remained from Solomon's time. It rose from a great depth, occupying part of the valley, and supported by a wall 400 cubits high, formed of immense stones, some 20 cubits long. The Chaldeans spared it, for the strength and beauty. This is where the Remnant left from the Babylonian Exile worshiped.

Jesus the Lord walked in the Colonnade left from King Solomon's Portico. 

God's Plan is so far back - as the people gathered to find Jesus - this comfort of Solomon, of David holding the material, of Jesus - The Portico was there for the multitudes after Jesus died.

Acts 2:6       
And at this sound, the multitude came together, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.  

Acts 5:12 -15      
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.     
        
Joel 3:14 
Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

 A very active time after Jesus was crucified.



 

We can see this today. Our Grandparents wouldn't have. But Technology has allowed your eyes to see part of Solomon's Portico.





In Crisis. People prayed.

Acts 1:14
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Mary and her children were with the believers.
 Unified in God's Care.

You are God's Temple

 Father God knows your path through this great wilderness and journey. 

These many years, the LORD your God has been with you. 

God has carried you these many years 

and

 He will safely lead you.

 Mark 9:24 

 After Jesus questioned the father, Jesus told him, 

“All things are possible for one who believes.” 

You are God's Temple.

God the Almighty, Creator of All Things. Our Father Who Knows the Heavenly Host by name. 

Abba with us as we view the stars, babies, weddings. Moments we know Emmanuel, God with us. God within. 

Philippians 1:18-22 

 Yes, and I will rejoice, 

19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 

20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful work for me.

And give You Thanks for the many Years and Eternity where You will Continually Bless us.

Thank You, You Dwell in us.

Help us to always seek You first.

We want to end well.

Please Well Bless our Families

and Loved Ones.

Thank You, Father God for the amazing ways we have all witnessed Healing 

and answered prayer. 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.

Abba, Father God,

I sing a song of the saints of God,

patient and brave and true,

who toiled and fought and lived and died

for the Lord they loved and knew.

And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,

and one was a shepherdess on the green:

they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,

God helping, to be one too.

 They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,

and 

God’s love made them strong;

and they followed the right,

 for Jesus’ sake,

the whole of their good lives long.

And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,

and one was slain by a fierce wild beast

And there’s not any reason, no, not the least,

why I shouldn’t be one too.

They lived not only in ages past;

there are hundreds of thousands still;

the world is bright with the joyous saints

who love to do Jesus’ will.

You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,

in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;

for the saints of God are just folk like me,

and I mean to be one too.

Our Alleluias 

are in Jesus Christ.

Aaaaaaaamen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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