Psalm 56:9-13 ~ God is for me †

The grave did not hold Jesus and His Name would be proclaimed for many years, secretly, with many changed lives, until Constantine would appease the growing number of Christians to allow Christianity to be the Religion of the Roman Empire.

 

 

Psalm 56:9-13

 This I know, that God is for me.

10 In God, whose word I praise,

    in the Lord, whose word I praise,

11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

    What can man do to me?

12 I must perform my vows to you, O God;

    I will render thank offerings to you.

13 For you have delivered my soul from death,

    yes, my feet from falling,

that I may walk before God

    in the light of life.

We live during a time that isn't known for comfort and good news. The arrival Jesus promised of the Holy Spirit continued to grow. Like the First Easter, with the Disciples hiding as the day began, Christianity spread through meeting in places like the catacombs.

Why remember the chaos of the beginning of Christianity? 

To point out, that times of distress can form thoughts and goals. The building up of mankind.

Catacombs are the billboards of yesterday. 

Christian Art has been discovered only in recent decades. What an amazing time we live in. I grew up thinking Pontius Pilate was a myth. And the census of Augustus driving Joseph to bring Mary to give birth to Jesus Christ in Bethlehem is now discovered.

The Catacombs have major art. They are now famous for Christian burials beginning in the 2nd century. The white tombstone is the Funerary Steele of Licinia Amias, one of the most ancient Christian inscriptions. Upper tier: dedication to the Dis Manibus and Christian motto in Greek letters ΙΧΘΥC ΖΩΝΤΩΝ / Ikhthus zōntōn ("Fish of the Living"). The other art is Jesus as Shepherd and the Eucharist. Peter's home in Capernaum was covered with praise inscriptions as well.

Why was this such a time of great change? Only a carpenter's son was condemned after Pontius Pilate declared him to be innocent. We know from written history, other political zealots had declared themselves to be the Messiah of God.


Jesus was unusual for the lame walking, the blind seeing, the deaf hear and the poor had good news preached to them.

Jesus Heals, painted by James Tissot

And so, more than likely, Annas and Caiaphas were ready to jump back into the swing of things as business as usual. My husband, likes, without theological background or seminary, to call this the Zombie Passover. And the painter James Tissot would agree. Actually, this would have caused me a very great upset to see. The Disciple John, the beloved disciple, believed he had seen evil and that Good Friday, day, changed him and his writings more than the other disciples who had hidden.

Passover was not the joy they had known - instead, they had major looming problems.

Matthew 27:51-54

At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and e went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life, Painted by James Tissot

And the graves were opened - "Graves" or sepulchers were most commonly made, among the Jews, in solid rocks or in caves of rocks. The rending of the rocks, therefore, would lay them open. The graves were opened by this earthquake, but the dead in them did not rise until after his resurrection.

So what did the Temple government look like upon The death of Jesus Christ the LORD and His Resurrection?




Today in Jerusalem, this is a model of the 2nd Temple with a close-up of Solomon's Porch.

Acts 5:12-16 ~ American Standard Version

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders

 wrought among the people;

 and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 

But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: 

howbeit, the people magnified them; 

and believers were the more added to the Lord, 

multitudes 

both of them and women; 

insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, 

and laid them on beds and couches, 

that, as Peter came by, 

at the least his shadow might overshadow 

some one of them.

 And there also came together the multitudes 

from the cities round about Jerusalem, 

bring sick folk, 

and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: 

And they were healed every one.

Quite a change. From hiding behind locked doors, the disciples are preaching Jesus Christ the Savior in the 36 acres of the Temple Court.

John 20:19-20

On the evening of that first day of the week, 

when the disciples were together, 

with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, 

Jesus came and stood among them 

and said, 

"Peace be with you!" 

After He said this, 

He showed them His hands and side. 

The disciples were overjoyed 

when they saw the Lord.

Newly found Roman Road to Jerusalem about 2012.

Just found, with Pilate coins

Found in the Roman Road near Bethlehem:

Coins — a coin minted by Roman prefect of Judea, Pontius Pilate from 29 AD, a coin minted by Agrippa I from 41 AD, dating to the second year of the revolt against Rome (67 AD) and a later Islamic coin from the Umayyad period.

One of the interesting parts of archaeology in Israel,

human remains are not as easily found.

Not what you'd expect in a dry climate.

Creating an interesting observation

in Ezekiel calling for dry bones to rise up.

Scientific American

https://www.scientificamerican.com › article › stop-ho...

Scientists call for wider access to rare samples rich in DNA. By Ewen ... precious samples, three archaeologists charge in a August 9 letter to Nature.

Stop Hoarding Ancient Bones, Plead Archaeologists

Scientific American

https://www.scientificamerican.com › article › stop-ho...

Scientists call for wider access to rare samples rich in DNA. By Ewen ... precious samples, three archaeologists charge in a August 9 letter to Nature.

• 
  

  Stories by Ewen Callaway News and Research

  https://www.scientificamerican.com › author › ewen-c...

  Stop Hoarding Ancient Bones, Plead Archaeologists. Scientists call for wider access to rare samples rich in DNA. August 14, 2017 — Ewen Callaway and Nature.

John 20:28-29

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; 

Blessed are those who have not seen 

and yet 

have believed.”

Abba, Father,

I must perform my vows to you, O God;

    I will render thank offerings to you.

13 For you have delivered my soul from death,

    yes, my feet from falling,

that I may walk before God

    in the light of life.

Times of distress can form thoughts and goals. 

The building up of mankind.

Father, we ask for Your help.

Luke 18:1

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them 

that they should always pray 

and not give up

For great is the glory of the Lord!

Blessed Be the Name of Jesus

and those who call upon Him

Blessed be those who have

their hope in You

Thank You for hearing our prayers

and answering us

as our Father.

In the Highest Name of

Jesus, Alleluia,

Amen

We Pray for Your Help

to end the drought so many have experienced,

in the Highest Name of Jesus Christ.

Amen

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Lord Jesus 

Psalm 107:4-9 ~ Thank the Lord †

 

 

Psalm 107:4-9

Some wandered in desert wastes,

    finding no way to a city to dwell in;

5 hungry and thirsty,

    their soul fainted within them.

6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

    and 

He delivered them from their distress.

7 He led them by a straight way

    till they reached a city to dwell in.

8 Let them thank the Lord 

for His Steadfast Love,

    for His 

Wondrous Works to the children of man!

For He

 satisfies the longing soul,

    and the hungry soul 

He fills with good things.

This morning, I didn't look at Blessings, I didn't have an attitude of gratitude and felt all my flaws and difficulties. Upset, angry and sad. Edward was lovely to me.  And I headed off to Church, fellowship and Eucharist. 

Edward pointed out to me, we tend to have one of us upset, but kindly we take turns. Edward had to visit a specialty doctor. And this doctor told us, as we collect years, our hormone levels drop and the general age groups begin to complain more and be upset. Usually something to consider as gratitude is an attitude we attain. I had the right to remain silent and this wasn't within reach.

Job 7

11 Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; 

I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; 

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 

12 Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, 

that You must keep me under guard?

And all troubles we have, we feel might be too heavy for Church. I was the prayer person for Church a few years ago, and a woman came to pray about crying in Church. We all sometimes have emotions. And we can put stairs on them to climb up, with faith in God's Goodness.  KSBJ Christian Radio has callers who say, all the time, the song made the outrageous, push down portions of life - lifted way up. We were outrageously chewed out for attending my mother-in-law's 90th Birthday.  And you have to realize, it's not you being chewed out. It's life, to chew out, for no purpose, is sunk in the times and sad circumstances, without the tools to be calm and encouraging instead of angry.   

Our next door neighbors are so disturbed, and they live to bother the neighbors to the north and the south of them and others. To the point they want their young, happy dog to bark uncontrollably. The dog is a very good-natured little pup. Last weekend, for at least two hours, they kept him on a small leash in a fenced yard and praised him for being in torment and barking. We live on a 3 acre, wonderful pond, all the neighbors on the pond could see and hear. The very strange neighbors have thrown dead ducks into the other neighbors' yard. And the Game Warden was called.  The weird actions of these people, making multiple false calls to the police - I guess preemptively. The police told me a few months back, they have false reported at least 11 calls, and it's multiple neighbors they complain about.  And outraged our upholsterer, who called for me to call the police on them. There are outrageous portions in life.  The police are watching them and when they set off commercial grade, golf course sized, Roman Candles when neighbors left their house, during the drought, the police were there within a mere set of moments. And God lifts us up to pray for the poor dog and his nice life. For the neighbors all to be released from such unhappy neighbors with boom boxes of coyotes and coyote attacks.  These unequipped and confused, weird people should want to get away from the reputation they have made and move to a fresh start, with more tools to learn to be less unhappy and very odd.  To pray for the south neighbor who has had the ambulance due to high blood pressure.  Lord Jesus, we ask Your Help, Amen.

We can feel life brings us to our knees emotionally, and then stay home. And then we see Sunday morning:

It don't have a job, don't pay your bills

Won't buy you a home in Beverly Hills

Won't fix your life in five easy steps

Ain't the law of the land or the government

But it's all you need

And love will hold us together

Make us a shelter to weather the storm 

- Matt Meyer, Love Will Hold Us Together

Nothing about Scripture telling us about life promises perfection. But to be in Church, with the people on their knees asking God's Love, mercy, joy and peaceful victory. To be greeted all morning long by the people who love others and want to know God's Goodness. Wow. Then we are overcoming.  We see what good. We live what is good. We put ourselves in the Mercy and Blessings of God. Our feet have taken us to a great place. Our choices, given to us, are made well and beyond satisfying. Victory is seen. Hope has taken us where faith has believed. 

Philippians 4:8

Whatever is good, whatever is noble 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, 

whatever is right, whatever is pure, 

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable

—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy

—think about such things.

Is to see the people asking God to direct them in His Goodness. 

No one has every day or every Church experience as perfection, but to meet the people trying. Is to understand Heaven. This kindness won't pay the bills, or the other lyrics. And then again...really.... to be collected, nourished, sustained, forgiven, given the Joy of the Lord, is the Hope and Faith to make Life worth living. Meaningful. 

But it's all you need

And love will hold us together

Make us a shelter to weather the storm 

As we find more Heaven on earth

S0 many people are asking the Lord about our nation, culture, families and values.  We pray for renewal. To go to Church, we all realistically recognize, has bumps and bruises, but is the Renewal each week we hope for all of us. The Joy of the Lord is our Strength. Renewal is seeing Heaven come to earth. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.

Hope for everyone.

My mother-in-law had her 90th Birthday, living in Assisted Living. The family gathered to fill the Assisted Living Birthday for her, including their weekly great singer, with balloons, cake, ice cream and sandwiches.  And everyone was so pleased. A room with smiling and singing faces. Judy has a new gentleman admirer resident, who is a well-known person in Dallas. He was sitting next to her and Judy was so pleased to have all the joy life gives. Evidently, 90 is a very good year. 

My grandmother Anita also had the talent of taking what is given and finding joy. After her stroke at about 90 years old, Grandmother Anita's room in Assisted Living was where the nurses gathered. She always had some interesting things to say. Her room was the one where the nurses were laughing and chatting. 

Grandmother Anita is the one dancing in Heaven. Her 70-year-old adopted son, after a lifelong hatred of Christians, and Christian women, heard Joel Olsteen on TV and became a believing Christian who loved Jesus.  Grandmother's rooms in Heaven have dancing. She liked Prohibition! They danced a lot, when they went to the bank at night to have a party. 

7 He led them by a straight way

    till they reached a city to dwell in.

8 Let them thank the Lord for His Steadfast Love,

    for His 

Wondrous Works to the children of man!

For He

 satisfies the longing soul,

    and the hungry soul 

He fills with good things.

David said, when my baby was alive, I had hope. And then God gave a new set of circumstances, and we go forward in God. 

When we have Life, God gives us worship, our opportunity for our good choices. Being Thankful. Glad. And seeing so many reach for the Lord, know the goodness in a life with difficulty. Finding the good, knowing renewal and Hope. The forgiveness of God makes a path of Renewal. Church is a privilege to worship with His community, loving the Lord God.

Go to Church.

Find God of Love, God of Mercy

God of Encouragement

Find the actual Word of God Honored

Look for the Good.

Shake off the meh 

Outrageousness and coldness, are what

we leap past.

Be kind, be merciful,

look to find what is noble, good and

praiseworthy.

Meh to outrageous cold!

Abba, Father,

You alone are the LORD. 

You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, 

and 

all their starry hosts,

 the earth and all that is on it,

 the seas and all that is in them. 

You give life to everything, 

and the multitudes of Heaven worship you.

You are God of all grace, 

calling us to Your glory 

in Christ eternal,

with only small suffering,

You will,

 Yourself, restore us 

and make us strong, firm and steadfast.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, You are for us. 

Cover us, the ones we Love and You Love 

with the Strong Name of Jesus.

 Covering all of us, the world, You will save in Jesus Christ. 

Thank You, Father,

You have given us Jesus Christ

and

Dwell in us,

dwell in those we Love, God of Love.

God of Hope. 

God of Encouragement.

Help us to seek You

First

and 

we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

We know Your Love, Salvation, Promises

and Blessings. 

Thank You.

Knowing we are very Blessed in Jesus.

We continue, in expectation, to pray for rain for ourselves

and the Nation.

Gentle weather.

God provides relief and peace.

Thank You, Abba.

Thank You, Jesus Christ.

Alleluia 

Amen.

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

2 Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

3 Without speech or language,

without a sound to be heard, 

4 their voice has gone out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

Abba, Father,

We pray as the Gulf and oceans cool,

the weather will come to us

in relief and gently.

And as we deal with one another.

Gently and to ask respect

and brotherly love.

Jesus is the Lord

and is working,

we ask in this prayer,

in the Highest

Name of Jesus 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thanks be unto the Lord

and His Blessing

to all who Love Him

bringing

more Heaven to earth