Psalm 23 ~ want

 

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

    He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

     He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

    for His Name's sake.

 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

    I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

    your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me.

 You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

    my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy 

shall follow me

    all the days of my life,

and 

I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

    forever.

Psalm 23 brings up the most tender of feelings. Sometimes difficult memories. Hope when we feel hopeless can feel narrow as a gossamer thread grasp.

We have all experienced deep changes in Pandemic Recovery.  Daniele Bolelli is the History Professor who runs "History on Fire" Podcasts. I follow Daniele Bolleli on Facebook with 18k others.  We are different politically, Daniele has very Italian views on politics. We have different ideas on several issues. Daniele is a steadfast man with interesting insights. I value his opinions, when I don't always agree. This week he posts he has lost 4 friends this week due to Covid Recovery World and health issues. Daniele is in his 40s. 

This is a season of want. A time of trial. A season that feels like the roof of the car pulled off and we are exposed without wanting a convertible.

Journey interrupted 

This week I've heard two prayers, people found great comfort in.  A Houston sermon: 

A woman who †holds on to a piece of fabric she tucks in her wallet. This helps her remember, she can hold on to Jesus. His Promises are true. Jesus is willing and available. Amazing love for the Beloved who hold on to Jesus. Forgiveness. Love. Willingness. 

We are not deserted when we feel angry.  Frustrated and unhappy to anger. Over 500 times in the Scriptures, we find anger being dealt with. Never forsaken when we are unpleasant. Scriptures say:

Ephesians 4:26

Be angry and do not sin

Psalm 4:4

Be angry, yet do not sin; on your bed, search your heart and be still. Selah

James 1:20

For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God

The Prodigal Son season. Only 3 parts. Deserted and deserving. Self centered, down and out. Righteous and unhappy, physically diligent.  

3 Parts only. Forgiving with Love. Finding those believed a good soul, bringing greater and abundant Love, life and joy. Way,Truth and Life. 

†Humble and repentant, giving himself a speech before greeting the Help, he so desperately needs. 

Angry and vocal. Nonviolent. Truthful in conversation. Given Comfort.

Comfort. So much has changed in our life, recently.  My mother and I used to discuss, our lives never seemed to have much change for over almost 4 decades. Some was monotony. And some was a plain, human failure to see vast blessings. Now, so many of the people who were the fabric of our lives are alive in Heaven, always knowing and Celebrating Jesus as Lord.  Some are infirm.

And my mother rejected moving from the duplex she and my father had purchased in 1977 while they were married. And lived there for forty years.  Rejecting help to fix up and improve. Now Mother had gone on to know and see Jesus in His Kingdom. And I have the joy of making her home, again, as my brother said, "It's 1980 again." This is a brief window. It's not for us to maintain this from a distance.  Yet the year has brought joy, seeing people from our lives. Seeing the familiar lifelong sights still embedded, part of the changes of life. These days move on, but the joy of having them now.

This last week, we were traveling back into our area, we came up, up, up on the Highway Bridge passing the last two, gigantic skyscrapers as Houston ends and there won't be more until Dallas, the radio played, "I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles."  We are so very fortunate to have the blue skies left from the relatively brief lockdown. Unbelievable color. And we have... the ability to feel hopeful. To believe Pandemic end is just wretched. And we will find new solutions and new prosperity, back to law and order. Humanity will, "Rise Up" as Jesus tells us to do in victory and in misfortune with hope. 

We just have to be so patient with one another during the next few years. People are still punch in the airplane upset.  Speak up. Tell the truth. Have Brave Tact. Indeed. Patience. Endurance, brings the strength to have Hope. Persevere! Hope!

Surely goodness and mercy 

shall follow me

    all the days of my life,

and 

I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

    forever.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Matthew 9:9-13 ~ when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

 

Matthew 9:9-13

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 

11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 

12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

If you have a crowd of people in a room - there will be different opinions, attitudes, thoughts. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. I once saw a PBS (Public Television) documentary of theologians at a long table - like a dinner table - and the photography was very interesting as it swung from person to person as if you sat at the table. Let's see all the implications of Jesus at this particular dinner table, today we will sit and look around this table. Jesus invites us every day of our lives to sit with Him.

Jesus should be first. We know God is holy, but we tend to shy away from the Books of the Law. We have forgotten God gave us His Word about all types of law - when you read it - you find the Law contains things you've never thought of doing. Shudder. God knows well what humans are capable of. Jesus chose to be part of us. God chose His holy and righteous Son to live the human condition. God has gone to help sinners for millenniums. We do not deserve God. Jesus is still doing His Father's work. Jesus speaks for Himself, He does not change.

Psalm 103:6-13
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him

Matthew. Jesus called all of his disciples in this manner. Follow me. And they rose and followed Him. What did they have in common, these disciples: poor fishermen, rich fishermen, Rome-loving tax collectors doing Rome's work and pocketing money with a nod at Roman power, a zealot- hungry for a war against Rome, and a thief who would become a traitor?

This is an important question, why would all of these people put aside their lives and follow Jesus? Consider Nathanael or Zacchaeus - climbed a tree to see Jesus. His life was full, he had all he needed. Zacchaeus was seeking, he wanted someone to see him for who he really was and love him. Jesus saw Zacchaeus and knew him, loved him, didn't label him and invited him to be a friend and follower of Christ Jesus. Zacchaeus didn't even hesitate - his soul had been called, his life changed, his soul loved.

Pharisees. The Pharisees by the 9th chapter of Matthew are not comfortable asking Jesus and they ask the disciples to justify Jesus' actions. Why? Several reasons, Jesus is amazing to them. They see the authority, the miracles, the Words & the people following Jesus. The Spiritual Fruits are Astonishing.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Pharisees are interested by the disciples, not just the dinner companions. Why? This is not purely hypocritical, this is the Wisdom of the Old Testament. Proverbs tells us to be wise in our companions, Psalms tells us to not be with the crooked of heart. The Law is about purification and sanctification. The Pharisees want to see if this Wonder Worker is real.

(When Christians were first allowed to gather together legally in the Roman Empire ,in 325 A.D., The First Council of Nicaea is regarded as the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church. Invited by Emperor Constantine, about 318 world-wide Bishops, who had risked their lives and were condemned for serving Jesus, traveled across continents and oceans, continued to risk their lives in dangerous travel, to express the basis of the church today. The Ecclesiasticus, Book of Sirach was included in the Bible these men chose.It follows along with the other books of the Bible and is historically accurate.)

Ecclesiasticus, The Book of Sirach 6:6-17 ~ (New American Bible)

6 Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant.
7 When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him
8 For one sort of friend is a friend when it suits him, but he will not be with you in time of distress.
9 Another is a friend who becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame.
10 Another is a friend, a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes.
11 When things go well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants;
12 But if you are brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you.
13 Keep away from your enemies; be on your guard with your friends.
14 A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.
15 A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.
16 A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds;
17 For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself.

These heartfelt examinations are, of course, true for the Pharisees like Nicodemus or Gamaliel, seeking God. The Word of God tells us to examine spiritual matters and guard our heart.

Who is left? The crowd. Why are they here at dinner, what happened to them?

Matthew 24:38-44

For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

When Jesus described the end, He was not just speaking of the end of the world. He was telling us we are mortal, we live our lives as if it will continue indefinitely. So caught up in work, entertainment, our relationships - we sometimes miss the good portion.

Who will be saved?

With God all things are possible.

Jesus spoke with Nicodemus, the Temple Elect. Jesus turned down an opportunity to meet Herod. Jesus spent time with Tax Collectors and Sinners. And the Bible said, Pray for the Government and those in authority. We can pray for Goodness to Prosper and those who are in sheep's clothing to go home to retire.  

Bishop Robert Barron is the most listened to Catholic in the USA, in this sermon, he went to Rome this last week and met with Pope Francis. His comments are interesting and well worth listening to.

Abba, Father God, 

Help us each day to fulfill Your plans for us and the work You would have us do. Be our Light and our direction. 

This week I've had a stomach bug and felt not so energetic. Prayer is wonderful.

In the Highest Name of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ. 

 Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Hebrews 13:17-21 ~ keep watch

 

Below, the Glue Society created this overview image of Adam & Eve in the garden of paradise. Scripture says, "The Bright Morning Star" is Jesus in Revelation 22. This Eden image would be the view of The Bright Morning Star. The Garden of Eden was given to Adam as a gift, until sin removed him from the Garden. Man then toiled in creation even today.

How is your Eden?

Hebrews 13:17-21

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

May the God of peace, 

who through the blood of the eternal covenant 

brought back from the dead 

our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 

Equip you with everything good for doing His will, 

and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, 

through Jesus Christ, t

o whom be glory for ever and ever. 

Amen.

Genesis 2: 15

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

Why would God tell mankind not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Mankind has always, from Genesis on, wanted to replace God's wisdom with his own. Each of us seeks to place himself as God.

Genesis 3:8

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

The Lord God knew where they were and why they were hiding, but it is our question for today: "Where are you?"

I Corinthians 15: 45
So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; "the last Adam, a life-giving spirit."

To clarify the above question, "Where are you?" It means - are you a life giving spirit or Adam - just being a salmon swimming upstream - doing the old, messy thing?

This term 'last Adam' is to point out the similarities & differences between Adam and Jesus.

Colossians 1: 15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

17 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 and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

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

This Biblical quote examines the question again...

Galations 1:10

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

We all work with each other. And we are accountable to Him.

Colossians 3:24:
It is the Lord Christ you are serving.


Where would we begin to have this renewal of life-giving in our lives?

It begins with 3 steps.

Romans 10:9
Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

And in all of our actions to allow Jesus to be part of them and most importantly -

Psalm 116:17
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

Why would giving thanks be a sacrifice? We have to give up what our selfishness calls for and see the blessings God bestows, gives and packs into our lives. We have to be willing to look, search and be grateful each day.

The blessings are there - we have to be willing to look for them. In the way we are all selfish and self-centered, it requires some deliberate effort. Not just to make the choice to be happy, but to appreciate the real goodness God has placed in our lives. In turn, being the right person to bless each situation.

Ecclesiastes 11:1
Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

Deuteronomy 15:10
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

Matthew 25:40
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."

Matthew 25:45
Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me."

Rejoice
Rejoice!

May the God of peace, 

who through the blood of the eternal covenant 

brought back from the dead 

our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 

Equip you with everything good for doing His will, 

and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, 

through Jesus Christ, 

to whom be glory 

for ever 

and ever. 

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

In the Highest Name of Jesus

we are blessed to pray,

Amen

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus