2 Corinthians 5:9 ~ to please HIM

 

2 Corinthians 5:9

So whether we are at home 

or away, 

we make it our aim

 to please Him.

MIB has a whole lot of quotes about memories being made.  And after working with Pro Life for almost 4 years, and having every kind of conversation, I can relate to this pretty well. Never had to say, "This one is eating my popcorn, honey." Not because pregnancy is so funny, at all. More because we did STD STI tests and people are in a state of shock and want someone to tell. These conversations were honest to the bone, raw and asking, even crying to have, a teachable moment. Very fortunately, we were sent to classes to have the compassion replace any other comment. 

We had some very astonishing conversations with young, young girls being pressed into sexual trafficking through pregnancy. These young girls were encouraged to give birth, to have their infants, babies, children taken from them until the daily quota was made. And have no idea this is about to happen to them.  Police understand this better than some of the mothers trying to be comforting. And we would refer these young girls and moms, when they couldn't understand, to free county legal aid. The third time a situation is explained by authorities, then the conclusions could be seen.

One young woman came in for STD, STI, (A disease can even be the flu. The term STD definition is this isn't the normal functioning of continued health.) We started to look at the results and I asked her why she had come in for testing with her father. They must be very close and comfortable to do this. Not usually something we saw in our offices. She said, no, that wasn't her dad. Her parents had both died very, very young in separate accidents. I said I'm sorry to hear that, my dad had died when I was 30. She said it had changed her expectations of her life, and now she worked in a restaurant, not something she thought her life was going towards, but it was ok. And we examined the test results, she was very calm. Which was really fairly unusual. I said she had obviously been working as an adult for more than 10 years, unusual for her age. She said she had been with her dad as an only child, and she usually tried to think about his reactions. He had told her he had to mature, quickly, as an only parent and widower.

We talked about the more personal aspects of dating, society, expectations. Things we did, mostly, during these tests. What the statistics are locally, within the state. What people emotionally feel. Mostly people cry, really.

We prayed, she said she had something she wanted to ask me, and it embarrassed her, could she be frank. Sure. Her mother had died when she was very young. And her mother was the Spiritual side of her marriage. So she remembered going to Church with her mom, and it was good. Her dad had filled her in on the basics of Christianity, but other than the songs during Church, she found she mostly thought about her own life. And did that make her... you know.. om... evil.

She looked more worried about being evil, than any STD test. I said no, of course not. 

"Ok, could you be more specific?"

I said ok, do you read the Bible, you said you have your mother's Bible.  She replied, yes, she looked at it about 2 or 3 times a month, but it's like reading the Bible is the same as going to Church. Her attention wanders all over the place.

I said, when the Bible grabs your attention, and it's the one phrase you see and remember, that is the power of God working to speak to your heart.

She said, ok, that's good. But, could you be more specific and give me a Bible verse that explains you understand your answer.

Sure. And that is an excellent point to consider!

Matthew 4:4 

Jesus answered, 

“It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, 

but by every word that comes 

from the mouth of God.’” 

 1 Peter 2:2 2

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, 

so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 

 Hebrews 5:13

 

To teach you the basic principles of God’s word. 

You need milk, not solid food! 

For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, 

inexperienced in the message of righteousness. 

14But solid food is for the mature, 

who by constant use 

have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

I went on to explain, that later, as she grew in the Lord, this might seem like I had insulted her, yet, actually, this was to explain why someone new in the Lord would not be drawn to listen to every word of a Church Service.

She asked what advice would I have for someone who remembered their mom in this religious way and this is why she knew she should be interested. I suggested reading the Gospels and the Psalms, to find the phrase warming her heart. And if she read one chapter and found one verse, then she was doing very well.

I'm sure she does well!

Mature Christians need this as well.

When we are pushed and pulled by good news and good days to find a tiff or a situation suddenly crowding out the Light, we need to have the hope His verse will uplift us.

1 Kings 19: 11

11 Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake,

 but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 

12 After the earthquake there was a fire, 

but the LORD was not in the fire. 

And after the fire came a still, small voice.

Psalm 100

Know that the LORD is God. 

It is He who made us, not we ourselves; 

we are His people,

 the sheep of His pasture.

2 Timothy 2:19

Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: 

“The Lord knows those who are His,” 

And, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord 

must turn away from iniquity.” 

20 A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, 

but also of wood and clay. 

Some indeed are for honorable use, 

but others are for daily and common use

Galatians 5:1

For freedom Christ has set us free; 

stand firm therefore, 

and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Freedom, not worrying about the daily and common use verse portion of God knowing who is His. The Ten Talents Parable tells us to expect the Grace upon Grace of Jesus.  We expect the Love and Compassion of His Word and do not ridicule or disdain His meaning. Every word of Scripture is for Salvation. And His Salvation is a gift. 

1 Thessalonians 3:8 

For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.

Abba, Father,

The Heart of Your Exact Nature is Jesus Christ.

Jesus has come to us from Your Word, 

and has brought us the good news of your faith

 and love 

and reported

 that You always remember us kindly and long to see us, 

as we long to see you— 

for this reason, brothers, and sisters,

 in all our distress and affliction

 we have been comforted 

about You 

through Your Faith. 

For now we live,

 if we are standing fast in the Lord. 

9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for our gift of salvation, for all the joy that we feel for Jesus Christ's sake 

before our God, 

10 as we pray most earnestly night and day 

that we may see you face to face 

and supply what is lacking in your faith.

Please, Father, Help and Helper,

Comfort and Comforter,

Now may our God and Father Himself, 

and our Lord Jesus, 

direct our way to You, 

12 and may the Lord 

make us increase 

and abound in love for one another

 and for all, as we do for The Lord Jesus,

so that 

He may establish our hearts 

blameless in holiness before our God and Father, 

at the coming of our Lord Jesus 

with all His Saints.

Isaiah 40:26

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? 

He who brings out their host by number,

 calling them all by name, 

by the greatness of His might, 

and because He is strong in power

 not one is missing.

Thank You for Your Protection. 

Let the Name of Jesus cover me

and you

 always, always, always. 

Thank You, Father.

Let Your Great Name of Jesus 

King of Kings 

cover my loved ones, 

the people You give me 

and the Nations of People,

peace for Israel,

 calling upon Jesus 

to have more Holy Spirit 

by asking in the Name of Jesus.

 Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus

You are God 

Colossians 3:15 ~ And be thankful

Colossians 3:15

 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

 to which indeed you were called 

in one body. 

And be thankful

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus

You are God 

Psalm 97 ~ be glad

 

Psalm 97

1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; 

let the many coastlands be glad!

2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him

 Righteousness and justice 

are the foundation of His throne.

3 Fire goes before him 

and burns up his adversaries all around.

4 His lightnings light up the world; 

the earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim His righteousness, 

and all the peoples see His glory.

7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,

 who make their boast in worthless idols; 

worship Him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and is glad, 

and the daughters of Judah rejoice, 

because of your judgments, 

O LORD.

9 For You, O LORD, 

are most high over all the earth; 

You are exalted far above all gods.

10 O you who love the LORD, 

hate evil! 

He preserves the lives of His saints; 

He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light is sown for the righteous, 

and joy 

for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the LORD,

 O you righteous, 

and give thanks 

to His Holy Name!

2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him

Verse 2 gives us a new way of seeing winter skies.

When I was a child I spake as a child and drove my mother to distraction over the Nativity Set. The angel in our Nativity Set looked like my father's mother. I was very young and my mom would find me with that angel in my hand - she didn't want me to play with this because it was clay. One drop and grandmother/angel/clay would be over. Nativity Sets were my Thing.

My mother had a lovely Nativity, but as I grew into being an adult and married, she wanted the Grandmother, Mother-in-law clay angel.  After my mother died, her caregiver asked me what I was going to find first. I found Grandmother Bit's angel. And this little clay angel has survived 5 decades.




Which leads us to this:

If the Shepherds saw the Angels - why didn't they describe them? Where they Tall? Evidently, there were a lot of Angels. And how did they feel, seeing all the Angels?

And you know, Scripture repeats and repeats -
until something catches our ears, hearts, soul and we are warmed like Jesus traveling lively to Emmaus in Victory.

The actual Path John the Disciple took to the top of His mountain on Patmos, where John chose to live.




We know people who have met the same type situation, and wanted to talk about this.

John said this:

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true Light, which gives Light to everyone, was coming into the world.

We have seen His glory, 

glory as of the only Son from the Father, 

full of grace and truth.

For from His fullness 

we have all received, 

grace upon grace.

Peter was also in the presence of the Kingdom of Heaven Hosts. And he explained in:

2 Peter 1

you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 So I will always remind you of these things, 

even though you know them 

and are firmly established in the truth 

you now have. 

 I think it is right 

to refresh your memory 

as long as I live 

in the tent of this body

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you 

about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 

in power, 

but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 

He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him 

from the Majestic Glory, saying,

“This is my Son, 

whom I love; 

with Him 

I am well pleased.”

18 We ourselves heard this voice

 that came from heaven

 when we were with Him

 on the sacred mountain.

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, 

and you will do well to pay attention to it, 

as to a Light shining 

in a dark place, 

until the day dawns 

and the morning star 

rises in your hearts. 

20 Above all, 

you must understand

 that no prophecy of Scripture 

came about by the prophet’s 

own interpretation of things. 

21 For prophecy never had its origin

 in the human will, 

but prophets, though human, 

spoke from God a

s they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

We credit Peter with making so many mistakes, we draw comfort. When Jesus spoke of Bethsaida, He said the hometown of Peter, Andrew and Philip in that order. The most minute Word of Jesus is inspiring, warming, gracious and Loving. Peter is not all that bad - he tells Jesus and Moses and Elijah in despair of what to say, in fear, - "Let's put up tents!?"  Peter is inspired, he is right. When we find faith. When we have the moments where we have reached the Truth and are in faith - we want to stay - we want the assurance. The comfort is God stays. We can grow in the moments we find Jesus in our souls, we see and feel and know His "Love, Joy, Peace, Steadfastness Diligence, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control." 

We have this in us and we know we grow and mature and these moments stay with us always.

Abba, Father,

Jesus Bless us, we ask:

Jesus Bless us and Keep us

Jesus make His Face Shine upon us

Jesus be gracious to us as always.

Jesus lift His Face and smile upon us,

Jesus give us Peace.

His Peace.

Jesus cover us in His Highest Name.

Jesus Bless us always we pray:

Jesus, please, for ourselves,

Jesus, please, our Loved ones,

Jesus, please, our Communities,

Jesus, please, our neighborhoods,

Jesus, please, our city and county,

Jesus, please, the People You have Given us.

Jesus, please, the Nation.

Jesus, please, strengthen the world asking 

and praying with You in Abba.

Increasing the Peace of the Believing world 

- Light of Christ spilling to all.

Joy in our daily Life believing the Word and Promises of You.

We Thank You. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus

You are God 

Luke 1:57-68 ~ the time came

 

Luke 1:57-68

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John."

61 And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name."

62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.

63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John."

And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" 

For the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 

 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, 

for he has visited and redeemed his people"

Jesus told people He had come for the Sheep of Israel. We also know the sheep seeing the Heavenly Host were calm enough upon seeing all of Heaven singing  -  the Shepherds left to find Jesus.


Now, indeed indeed indeed - we are mixing Thanksgiving, Christmas and the Preparation.

We are in a day of Preparation... everyday!

Zechariah is a communicator. To this very day.

He is a Rabbi and all know he has encountered something of Heaven while in the Temple. And his older wife is successfully given a son. Zechariah is mute and now they are making signs to him as if Zechariah is deaf. The sheep of Israel are displaying being sheep. Life is hurrying past. Yes - it's a miracle child - a son. Sure, yep, an angel visited. Something is wrong with the Rabbi - make signs. These are the people who have taken time to show up for this miraculous birth. The Sheep have not taken time to consider the events all the way through. They have a snapshot and are ready to roll on.

Zechariah is a communicator, a teacher, a Rabbi. Zechariah writes what is important. 

"His name is John." No time is wasted on reproach. The question is answered. Zechariah is mute on the day his son is born. We know suppressing emotion (frustrations of being mute, wonder upon Elizabeth's health) can lead to Hostilities. Zechariah is at terms with all that has occurred. The Teacher is the Comforter and solution is the - step that arrives next. The Problem is Solved.

Zechariah is given 'his voice' back.

Did Zechariah consider his words and the right solution presented? We are not told the emotions leading up to the miracle of restoration. We know instead the actions. Just as the Story of Luke 1 and Luke 2. Emotions are secondary. Actions are first. And we find healing occurs.

The Joy of God with us has crowded out - emotion.

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, 

for He has visited and redeemed His people"

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

And All His Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

God with us.

Being a Sheep of Israel by adoption of Jesus - this Chapter reminds me, we can blunder making signs at a hearing Rabbi and we are still given the Miracle. Father God does not withhold from the uninformed, the mistaken, the busy or the naive. We are Given the Miracle. We are Given Jesus. God is not First Prize takes all. God is the Shepherd who is looking out for the least of us. The little lamb wandering around is not to be forgotten.


Even seeing Zechariah writing down, "John." The Mercy of God permeates all of the events. Blessings are Everywhere. Even to those who need the Blessing pointed out to them. We all need a few pointers.

Abba, Father

We are so Glad You are God. 

Thank You for Being our God. Thank You for Jesus

We look to You for Your Willing, Lavish and Abundant Blessings. 

Help us each day to walk in Your Good Works 

knowing The Blessing of Salvation is a Gift.

Gift this Nation trusting in You to know Your Love and Good Pleasure. 

Bless us, we ask, during this Holy Season. 

In ways we could not even know to ask or imagine. 

Being Blessed to know this Prayer is Yours 

and goes further with You.

Bless the people 

Especially those knowing to ask with the Holy Spirit 

for more Heaven upon earth. 

Help us to seek You first.

Covering this day 

and all those we Love 

with the Name

Love

and Salvation 

of Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You, Lord Jesus

You are God