Luke 1:76-79 ~ the tender Mercy of our God

 

To picture the Sea of Galilee, so filled with Jesus moving from shore to shore healing and bringing the wonder of God Himself. God would choose to live Grace upon Grace with the Sheep. Bleating and unsure. 

Jesus is Alive.

During Covid lockdowns: "We are fine, yes, of course we are fine. But maybe not a little, ok, fine." 

I will borrow from Pope John Paul II, 

"We are the Easter People and Alleluia is our song."

And we who love the Lord, will get through the difficulties, challenges and concerns because of Love.

Luke 1:76-79

  

You will go before the Lord 

to prepare His ways,

to give knowledge of salvation 

to His people

    in the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender Mercy of our God

  Whereby the sunrise shall visit us 

from on high

 to give Light 

to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

    to guide our feet into the way of 

peace.

Abba, Father,

Our heart hears the call from You.

And we see in Scripture 

the mercy of the merciful

Luke 17:17-19

Then Jesus answered, 

“Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 

Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 

And He said to him, 

“Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Help us to live each day

putting You first.

As the Name of Jesus covers us

and the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

We pray diligently

and with our hearts

We thank You, Father,

that fires

will cause new blooms.

And pray Your Mercy

on the people,

animals, homes

and businesses.

We ask healing

of Your Good Creation

The fullness of the earth is Yours.

The healing of those we pray for
in our heart and soul.

The Healing

of the Nation.

Wholeness

Holy.

Goodness.

Dwell in us, Father,

Dwell fully in those we love,

Help us to seek You first

and we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

Thank You.

Our God is working. His Son, 

Jesus is working.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YES, Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You Lord Jesus

Psalm 30 ~ His Favor is for a Lifetime

 

Psalm 30

A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have drawn me up

and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

2 O Lord my God, I cried to You for help,

and You have healed me.

3 O Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol;

You restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you His saints,

and give thanks to His Holy Name

5 For His anger is but for a moment,

and 

His favor is for a Lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning.

6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,

“I shall never be moved.”

7 By Your favor, O Lord,

You made my mountain stand strong;

You hid Your face;

I was dismayed.

8 To You, O Lord, I cry,

and to the Lord I plead for mercy:

9 “What profit is there in my death,

if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise You?

Will it tell of Your faithfulness?

10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!

O Lord, be my helper!”

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

You have loosed my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness,

12 that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!

Psalm 30

A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the Temple.

I will extol you, O Lord, for You have drawn me up

We want to find out how we can have gratitude.  Everyone has the wobbles sometime. Even if we can look like concrete pillars.  The truth is, we all have a few days that are better and then a few days looking bleak to us. 

I was looking over a February Post of 2014. 

An acquaintance from my last Church was in a Facebook Group for Moms she recommended.  We joined.  The Group promised open hearts and open minds for moms. This friend is named Lauren for this story. Lauren was hit by someone running a red light, her larger vehicle turned over and was destroyed. She had carpool, with her children and a child's friend with them. The car didn't roll just once. The Post showed the Police, the flattened car and Lauren told the group she had never been more glad to be alive, thank God they survived.  The group went ape and told her others died, in other accidents, and she had hurt and preached about survival and had the gall to Thank God. It went just badly offff. And the group told her to apologize for preaching. She really hadn't. And then the next few days she was removed from the group.

The result was our group left. They never even knew we were a group.

Grateful.

I'm grateful we are all more aware of the Gratitude to be Alive.  

I'm grateful that if this woman said her child survived going to the Hospital with Covid, Thank God, no one would tell her, or write her, to shut up. We have all lost people we never dreamed we would see pass on so early in life.  2/3 rds of Americans write they have better and more important ways to live life.

This is so essential and important to see compassion for the soul we all have.

We see violence in airplanes. 2023 saw the airplane violent go to the FBI and violence went down.

Airline stock is down. Travel is down, but travel nearby is up.

Beauty is being appreciated.  Family is more appreciated. More sorting things out has happened.

Abba, Father,

You gave us Jesus Christ

to save the world in Jesus Christ.

Dwell in us.

Help us to be the Delight of Your Heart.

Dwell in those we Love.

Help us to seek You first.

And with You, we will finish well.

May the Lord Bless us and Keep us

and

Make His Face to Shine upon us

be gracious to us.

May the Lord God 

Lift His Countenance upon us

and smile

give us peace,

put Your Name, Highest Name Jesus

upon us Your Beloved

and we will

be Blessed.

Amen in Jesus Christ.

Abba, Father,

In Jesus Christ, we will never give up.

Jesus the God of ALL.

Jesus, we pray Life and healing

Joy and Love in all of us.

Jesus, God of Encouragement.

Jesus, Hope and Future.

Jesus the Lord

saves the world

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YES Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You Jesus

Romans 8:28 ~ work together for good

John 1:5

The Light shines in the darkness

and the darkness

has not overcome it

Houston in the last few weeks: a historic flood from 3 counties above the Gulf of Mexico, 127 mph winds like a hurricane, generated from inland. Unusual. Then Hurricane Beryl's eye traveled directly through Houston.  This week, we may have a Tropical Storm, but we are praying! 

Perhaps it is the weather, but the climate worldwide wants

The Light not to be overcome by darkness. 

We, as the Body of Christ, want to know the Body is nourished all over the world. We want to hear Good News of the Body of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God 

all things work together 

for good, 

for those who are called

according to 

His Purpose

I was late hearing about the Olympic opening. The outrage had already reached a crescendo. So much so the viewing was easy of the photo and the video needn't be watched. Beautiful Paris is a city of dichotomy.  A Republic. A Civil War of unbelievable violence. A policy of violent foreigners ejected swiftly and, not necessarily asked, the destination of choice. Wonderful beauty and a country of rural areas with great loyalty. Paris has huge, vast suburbs with suburbanites. The city is filled with those who are diverse, faithful and unique.

If we were to decide Easter is a lovely time to visit Paris, we might be surprised. Just as Paris endeared the world, again, when the crisis fire occurred in Notre Dame, Easter is sacred. Paris closes. A weekend with family. A good restaurant, or any restaurant, will be closed. Museums and stores will be closed.

Paris closes for Easter Weekend. The Restaurants and shops close. And here is the schedule for

2020

Usually, this is Notre Dame:

Easter 2019

The Joy of the Belief. Faith.

Joy of the Belief. Faith.

Paris did not forget Easter of 2019, Saint Eustache held Paris closely.

Last Supper, painted by Vasely Polenov

The Russians had enormous Gospel painters

A Revival of the Arts

Just as the Russian Revolution was heating up to critical

Yes, the opening of the Olympics was supposed to shock and awe to bring in viewers.

This might well have the opposite effect.

We cannot put a label on the French or even the Parisian. How would we know? A Biblical verse. The Dichotomy exists on all of us. Saint Paul to everyone. We can point to this verse:

Romans 7:15-24 

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 

20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Last Supper by Nicholas Ge, Russian

To complete the circle

John 1:5

The Light shines in the darkness

and the darkness

has not overcome it

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God 

all things work together 

for good, 

for those who are called

according to 

His Purpose

Wow. Everyone has had the chance to speak up. And Everyone Did!!!

1 Corinthians 16:13 

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

1 Corinthians 15:58 

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, 

always abounding 

in the work of the Lord, 

knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Romans 12:2 

Do not be conformed to this world, 

but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, 

that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, 

what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Peter 5:9 

Resist him, firm in your faith, 

knowing that the same kinds 

of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood 

throughout the world.

2 Thessalonians 2:15

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions

that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

James 1:12 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, 

for when he has stood the test 

he will receive the crown of life, 

which God has promised to those who love Him.

Philippians 4:1

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for,

 my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, 

my beloved.

Galatians 5:1 

For freedom Christ has set us free; 

stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Joshua 1:9 

Have I not commanded you? 

Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, 

for the Lord your God is with you 

wherever you go.

Abba, Father,

Our heart hears the call from You.

We ask healing

of Your Good Creation

The fullness of the earth is Yours.

The healing of those we pray for
in our heart and soul.

The safety of our nation,

the safety of our homes

and loved ones,

the wellness of the culture.

Dwell in us, Father,

Dwell fully in those we love,

Help us to seek You first

and we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

Our God. His Son, 

Jesus Christ.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YES Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You Jesus