John 3 ~ came to Jesus

 

Genesis 1:2 

The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Thanking God for rain, the trees and plants needed so much

after the freeze. Today, Beautiful mists. Fog tomorrow.

John 3

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."

3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 

Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Matthew 16:27

For the Son of Man is going to come 

with his angels 

in the glory of his Father, 

and then he will repay each person 

according to what he has done.

Demystifying the news about the Church and Faith 

in 2022

In 2016, we had an optimism. The Pew Report said 81% of the USA prayed and believed they knew an absolute miracle in their lives, only brought about by God, who Loves them.

Then 2020, the internet reported an astonishing number of people reading the Scriptures. 

Now, 2022, we have a lag reported. Sort of. It's reported badly and says, "Orthodox Christians grow in number, up 6% while all other Churches report down in attendance." No, it's not people with tassels. These are Churches who hold fast to the faith of the Word of God.

When asked if people are born again, most people would like some privacy. The truth is, for the last 12 years, Churches grow when faith in the Scriptures is held fast. Born again.... is the people who have changed Churches they were born into, to find true faith. 

John 3 is important.

Nicodemus has so many attitudes put around him for approaching Jesus at night. The chapter is deeply about being born again. Nicodemus has questions about Jesus. He doesn't approach Peter or the Disciples. Boldly and with caution, all of his perceptions alert and ready, Nicodemus seeks, finds, questions Jesus and expects honest answers. Jesus is just a bit sassy. Boldly, Jesus does not woo Nicodemus, instead Jesus expects Nicodemus to have personal wisdom and realize Nicodemus has some hollow aspects within. While telling Nicodemus to be born again, Jesus is speaking to a mature adult with life skills and knowledge. 

Why does Jesus bother. Nicodemus has a full and large position in life. His own opinions. 

Luke 13:31-34

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." 

32 And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, `Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.' 

34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 
killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! 

How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 

Song of Solomon 1:16

Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful.  

Nicodemus is like the tree Jesus spoke of in His Parable of Heaven. The smallest seed becomes the branches of shelter. And the birds of the forest gather. Nicodemus grows. He becomes bolder and shelters the Lord Jesus in His darkest hours. 

David honored his own father, Jesse. Jesse didn't always honor David, trying to bypass David with Samuel. David was not such a fine example of fatherhood. Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, father of Hezekiah, learned about the birth of Jesus born to the Virgin Mary. Still Ahaz tried to teach Hezekiah to dismantle the Temple to give for political and national safety as a ransom. Hezekiah almost did, and chose instead to serve the Lord instead of his father's lessons. Hezekiah gave up the peaceful life of his own sons. Why didn't these people pray for the mercy of the Lord?

Jesus gave Nicodemus room to have growth. Jesus gave His own brothers time to learn about Jesus as life unfolded. Why would we do less in our mercy for one another? The Ten Talents Parable is about trusting God to be merciful as we try. 

Abba, Father,

You, Our Father, has loved us so much that we are called children of God. 

And we really are His Children!

John, Your Beloved Disciple calls You, "God of Love." 

 The willingness to do the right action even at a cost. 

Knowing You are giving more than what  would have been done for you.

 Loyalty. Endurance. Recreating a spark. 

Remembering past gratitude. Adherence. Care. Constancy. 

Dependability, trustworthy, giving truth.

Gentleness - tenderness and kindness.

Paul calls You, "God of encouragement!"

Comfort, delight, elation, glee,

 humor, pride, satisfaction, wonder, exultation, frolic, 

gladness, gratification, indulgence, merriment, 

rejoicing, revelry, and good humor.

We pray rightly over Christmas! For us all!

Please You Bless us and Keep us,
Make Your Face Joyfully Shine upon us,
Be Gracious to us!

May we Lift up Your Face to Smile upon us!
Cover us in Your Peace, the Very Peace of You, Our God, Knowing Your
Willing Plan for a Hope and Future!

To place the Name of Jesus in our souls. Jesus before us,
Jesus behind us, Jesus Living Water pouring and flowing surround us and those we Love. Help us to Seek You First. Dwell with us.

Dwell in those we Love.

Help us to seek You first.

Help us to have more Heaven upon earth, please Jesus,

pray with us and hear our prayer.

The Blessing of Jesus upon us, we pray. 

For all the Times You've 

Helped Thank You!

Alleluia and Amen in Jesus Christ!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus 

Isaiah 40:3-5 ~ Prepare the way for the Lord!

 

Isaiah 40:3-5

A voice of one calling: 

“Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; 

make a straight highway for our God in the desert. 

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain 

and hill made low;

 the uneven ground will become smooth, 

and the rugged land a plain.

And the glory of the LORD will be revealed

What is Isaiah saying? The Holy Spirit is moving over all of our history and even when the sun was formed and God our Father spoke, "Let there be Light." And explained the beginning of Light 8 times. Isaiah is still telling about His Light.  Jesus explained again and said, Jesus is the way, the truth and the Life.

Adam was asked to prepare the way for the Lord. The Garden of Eden. Literally prepare the Way for the Lord. 

Genesis 2:15

Then the LORD God took the man and 

placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.

Adam was a youth in extraordinary ways. He had no basis to know if he was blessed or unblessed.  Let's think for a minute about what Adam heard. He heard from the Lord. Jesus and Moses heard from the Lord. And if we want something we can relate to here... consider what Eden sounded like. We can understand this.

Genesis 2

 

 10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon. 

It is the one that flowed around the whole land 

As Adam worked to cultivate and care for the Garden of Eden, he could hear water at any time.

The Holy Spirit is told about during the Creation of God's Good Creation, the Holy Spirit hovered over the water.

Genesis 1:2  

The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Matthew 4:16,17

We knew we loved hearing water. And just as we learn Aslan is not safe and is not a tame lion, we find out about the water noises in Eden.

Psalm 29:3

The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, 

the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.

We all travel great lengths, with effort, to hear Niagara Falls. Iguazú Falls, South America, heralded as dramatic, perhaps the most monumental system of waterfalls in the world.  The waterfalls thunder inside of us. Echo within. 

A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; 

make a straight highway for our God in the desert. 

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low;

 the uneven ground will become smooth, 

and the rugged land a plain.

And the glory of the LORD will be revealed

Adam had no idea he lived in the Garden of Eden.  No idea of travel beyond. Adam is the first son, he had no Scripture to read. Just as the Children of Israel, living in Goshen, had no idea what God's Name was as they lived enslaved by Egyptians. 

Adam, if we put this in our own level, is the first example of, "Don't complain, or you will learn what it is to complain." Oh, me.

This was a rough year for all of us. It wasn't the end of Israel in 70 A.D.  It wasn't 1941 of World War II. Our difficult year wasn't 2020, wondering if we would all suffer and die. And this year wasn't the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Yet, the cold has continued in many places. 

Adam probably didn't have time to understand preparing the Way of the Lord is a path making every day. David, for all his many, many flaws and virtues, knew something about making a path!

Scripture is sometimes given to us on a plate. 

What would this aroma be? Our Father God has favored toasted bread. Actually, for most of us, we should picture this as a toasted tortilla. Delicious aroma.  This is a verse for David explaining making God's path straight. David brought straight, terrace garden farms to Israel and Jerusalem. 

David knew path making for the Lord.

Psalm 23

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.

David had something he did daily in his, "Give us this day." David put the Lord first in his life, mind and heart. He wanted to think about what God was doing. David looked all over the rough world and David wanted God first. Usually. And then, later, again. David always expected, with 10 of the 10 Talent Parable, God would be merciful to David. David was, usually, very obedient to the Lord God Almighty. 

Matthew 6

 Faith 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying,

 ‘What shall we eat?’ 

or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 

32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, 

and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, 

and all these things 

will be added to you.

Matthew 4:16,17

The people living in darkness have seen a great Light; 

on those living in the land of the shadow of death, 

a Light has dawned.

From that time on Jesus 

Psalm 119:89-90

Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed

 in the heavens.

 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; 

You have established the earth, and it stands fast.

John 14:17

Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because 

it neither sees Him nor knows Him. 

You know Him, for He dwells with you 

and will be in you.

 John 1:12 

To all who did receive Him, 

who believed in His Name, 

He gave the right to become 

children of God

Abba, Father,

You, Our Father, has loved us so much that we are called children of God. 

And we really are His Children!

John, Your Beloved Disciple calls You, "God of Love." 

Paul calls You, "God of encouragement!"

We pray rightly over Christmas! For us all!

Please You Bless us and Keep us,
Make Your Face Joyfully Shine upon us,
Be Gracious to us!

May we Lift up Your Face to Smile upon us!
Cover us in Your Peace, the Very Peace of You, Our God, Knowing Your
Willing Plan for a Hope and Future!

To place the Name of Jesus in our souls. Jesus before us,
Jesus behind us, Jesus Living Water pouring and flowing surround us and those we Love. Help us to Seek You First. Dwell with us.

Dwell in those we Love.

Help us to seek You first.

Help us to have more Heaven upon earth, please Jesus,

pray with us and hear our prayer.

The Blessing of Jesus upon us, we pray. 

For all the Times You've 

Helped Thank You!

Alleluia and Amen in Jesus Christ!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus