Psalm 71 ~ Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone

“…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
James 5:16

Psalm 71

1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.

2 Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness;
turn your ear to me and save me.

3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of evil and cruel men.

5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD,
my confidence since my youth.

6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother's womb.
I will ever praise you.

7 I have become like a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.

8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.

9 Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.

10 For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.

11 They say, "God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him."

12 Be not far from me, O God;
come quickly, O my God, to help me.

13 May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.

14 But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.

16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.

17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.

19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,
you who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like you?

20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.

21 You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.

22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I, whom you have redeemed.

24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.

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Genesis 1: 1-3 ~ And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

Genesis 1: 1-3

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

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Psalm 47 ~ For God is the King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise

Psalm 47

1 Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.
2 How awesome is the LORD Most High,
the great King over all the earth!

3 He subdued nations under us,
peoples under our feet.

4 He chose our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
Selah

5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.

8 God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.

9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted.

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Psalm 63 ~ You have been my help

Psalm 63

1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

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Psalm 44 ~ redeem us because of Your unfailing love

Psalm 44 reminds us that Jesus endured Good Friday for us. In troubled times, we still look for Father God's steadfast love.

Psalm 44

1 We have heard with our ears, O God;
our fathers have told us
what you did in their days,
in days long ago.

2 With your hand you drove out the nations
and planted our fathers;
you crushed the peoples
and made our fathers flourish.

3 It was not by their sword that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
and the light of your face, for you loved them.

4 You are my King and my God,
who decrees victories for Jacob.

5 Through you we push back our enemies;
through your name we trample our foes.

6 I do not trust in my bow,
my sword does not bring me victory;

7 but you give us victory over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.

8 In God we make our boast all day long,
and we will praise your name forever.
Selah

9 But now you have rejected and humbled us;
you no longer go out with our armies.

10 You made us retreat before the enemy,
and our adversaries have plundered us.

11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep
and have scattered us among the nations.

12 You sold your people for a pittance,
gaining nothing from their sale.

13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors,
the scorn and derision of those around us.

14 You have made us a byword among the nations;
the peoples shake their heads at us.

15 My disgrace is before me all day long,
and my face is covered with shame

16 at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me,
because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

17 All this happened to us,
though we had not forgotten you
or been false to your covenant.

18 Our hearts had not turned back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.

19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals
and covered us over with deep darkness.

20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

21 would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?

22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

24 Why do you hide your face
and forget our misery and oppression?

25 We are brought down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.

26 Rise up and help us;
redeem us because of your unfailing love.

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Matthew 18:15-20 ~ by my Father in heaven

Matthew 18:15-20

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed [1] in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Footnotes
1. 18:18 Or shall have been bound . . . shall have been loosed

Our family is expecting our third child, a daughter, in November. This week, we had news that our infant daughter, Isabelle, may not live long after birth. Please agree with us in prayer that we will seek a complete miracle for Isabelle. We will agree in prayer, in the highest name of Jesus, that she will be healed. And we will thank Father God for His answer.

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And the phone rang, people called to pray. Flowers arrived. People took us to prayer/healing meetings. At one of them, about 10 members of our Church family were there waiting for us at another Church's service, Wednesday night at Woodsedge. I cried, they cried. The minister prayed. And... our daughter Isabelle leapt for joy. I could tell she really liked the prayer and the beautiful music. She was less and less active, but at that prayer meeting she was dancing.

Because Isabelle died while she was being delivered, it is one of my beautiful memories of her.

Our prayers did receive an answer. We have a daughter who lives in Heaven. Isabelle knows the highways and the mountains of Heaven. One day we will have the joy of holding her again.

Isaiah 49
8 Thus says the Lord:
“In a time of favor I have answered you;
in a day of salvation I have helped you;
I will keep you and give you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages,
9 saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’
to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’
They shall feed along the ways;
on all bare heights shall be their pasture;
10 they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
11 And I will make all my mountains a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
12 Behold, these shall come from afar,
and behold, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Syene.”

13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.


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Luke 5 ~ gifts of the Spirit

Old wineskins were harder and less resilient. Their shape was fixed by the wine that was put in them when they were new. New wine would exert more pressure than the old skin could tolerate. The skin would fail and be ruined, and the wine would be spilled and lost. Old wine could be put safely into old wineskins, but new wine could not. The context of all this is that we cannot receive and benefit from the Holy Spirit if we are unwilling to become new. We cannot make ourselves new. Only God can make us new again. The Holy Spirit gives us so much more than we are used to, that it will burst out of an old style life. If we try to force the Holy Spirit into our old lives, it won't work. We must have a new life in Christ to make full use of the Holy Spirit. And the gifts and the new life come together. That's God grace acting on our behalf.

Wayne Tucker

Luke 5 (Today's New International Version)

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, [a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."

5 Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. [b] When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.

14 Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."

15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

31 Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

33 They said to him, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking."
34 Jesus answered, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast."

36 He told them this parable: "No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. If they do, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. 37 And people do not pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39 And none of you, after drinking old wine, wants the new, for you say, 'The old is better.' "

Footnotes:

Luke 5:1 That is, Sea of Galilee
Luke 5:12 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.

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Matthew 12:22-32 ~ the age to come

God sees everything http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU0aNAHXP0

Matthew 12:22-32 (New Revised Standard Version)

Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons." He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered.

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.


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2 Samuel 12: 1-12 ~ before all Israel

2 Samuel 12: 1-12

12:1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”

The commentary from The Methodist Church of Great Britain points out that men in charge of government often work very diligently hiding unpleasant points of their leadership. David was king having absolute power to hide aspects of his kingship, but instead we all grew in the word of God knowing this truth. This honesty kept David in God's favor during the failures of David. God's judgement for the coming hardships of David's life were just, but even during the difficult times, David relied upon God not to leave him without love and comfort.

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Hebrews 10:32-38 ~ live by faith

Hebrews 10:32-38

But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For,

“Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”


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Psalm 149 ~ exult in glory

Psalm 149

1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful!
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker, let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King!
3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre!
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.
5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,
7 to wreak vengeance on the nations and chastisement on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 to execute on them the judgment written! This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!


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Matthew 16:13-20 ~ He asked his disciples

Caesarea Phillipi - Philip II (Philip the Tetrarch) built and expanded the city, in order to please Roman authorities and retain his own power. This Jewish King called it Caesarea Philippi to brown nose. Jesus was claiming His authority & His Church over the earthly powers to reveal Himself to His disciples in this location. Also, we see that rock upon which the Church was built was in Rome, where Caesar’s authority went forth.

Matthew 16:13-20

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

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Acts 28 ~ pitched in and helped

Acts 28 (The Message)

1-2 Once everyone was accounted for and we realized we had all made it, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. The natives went out of their way to be friendly to us. The day was rainy and cold and we were already soaked to the bone, but they built a huge bonfire and gathered us around it.

3-6 Paul pitched in and helped. He had gathered up a bundle of sticks, but when he put it on the fire, a venomous snake, roused from its torpor by the heat, struck his hand and held on. Seeing the snake hanging from Paul's hand like that, the natives jumped to the conclusion that he was a murderer getting his just deserts. Paul shook the snake off into the fire, none the worse for wear.

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Perfect Nativity, Christmas Cloud

Matthew 11:16,25-30 

  

  "To what can I compare this generation? 

They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17" 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn.' 

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." 

'But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

  

25 At that time Jesus said, 

"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 

26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. 

27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. 

No one knows the Son except the Father, 

and no one knows the Father except the Son 

and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 

28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest. 

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Wrestle with the Grinch that stole peace?

Philippians 4:4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

How are we going to deal with 

"The Peace that Passes All Understanding" 

Today? 

And I took a class on Evangelism. Telling us only tell about Jesus for the pure Joy to tell about Loving Jesus. Effectively.

So... Then I wanted to kick this out there and do this and... I met a young woman who told me she had been raised with Religion and wanted none of this. Her best friend is a Pastor's wife. She smiles. The light of her face is pure. I just found I liked her and I wanted to tell her about Jesus.

And Baby, I rammed Jesus right down her throat and wiggled on her tonsils. I told my friend, who said, "Man, that one is not coming back." Well. She is. She was really gracious and said that made sense.


This is the True Challenge to what our culture is seeing.
Not something exactly new, but our younger people do not see a reason
to follow the Faith of the Fathers.

Surely, not a new concept even to the last generation, which had in the aftermath of World War II simply quit Church.

We have to have empathy, people find the possibility of Peace as positively frightening. As if we would all be preparing to die grinning like hyenas.

Really... we need to think upon this...


If Scripture is going to follow us around and bother us - and you are faithful - this one about "The Peace that passes all understanding" might do that. I've seen a woman with serious cancer cry because she is worried and Jesus would be so disappointed with her. When Reverend Francis MacNutt discussed the miraculous healing of people he has witnessed, he tells us Father God is so gentle when we are healed, and in this Father God is like the mother of a foal trying out new legs. Reverend Francis MacNutt was a Harvard man.

The person who is healed becomes tender and gingerly and gangling, trying to see if the miracle is permanent. Finding Father God delights with them in their amazement and joy in His Generous, Loving Miracle.

This is what the group walking with Jesus saw in the Jesus they threw down their lives to follow:

Mark 10:32

They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and 

Jesus was walking ahead of them. 

The disciples were 

filled with awe

Christian radio has a song proclaiming we really believe Jesus has a gavel in His Hand. Many times in Scripture the word "Yar" is used, which actually means  "reverence" and not fear

We know the Disciples became, grew, matured and died. We are pretty convinced, this might be God's plan for our lives and worry. The Disciple John had perfect peace and did not worry before being handed to the Emperor and what to say to Emperor Domitian. Who promptly threw John, not to the lions, that might elevate John, but to the dogs to tear him apart? Which didn't work. The dogs wouldn't attack. So bring out the smoking oil.

... Phenomenal Event of Peace Passing ALL Understanding, leading to a Blessing of
Life Abundant.

Tertullian in the 36th chapter of "The Prescription of the Heretics". Also, John Foxe, 1583 'Book of Martyrs' in the early Church martyrs section. And early Church Father Jerome referenced Tertullian and the Eusebius.

Emperor Domitian had John brought to him, and proposed to make a spectacle of John murdered. Other sources say it occurred at the Latin Gate, and not in the Coliseum. Domitian decided to have a vat of oil heated up to boiling or smoking. Christian persecution were not going as well as planned, and were not a crowd pleaser back in those days of the not yet very converted Roman Empire. We all have the meek to die knowledge, as Christians were painted as cannibalistic villains and 'disrespecters' of the various Roman gods. And supposedly the paranoid Caesars.

But, when introduced into the boiling vat of oil, John did not react as expected to the torturous heat. He was preaching as he was introduced to the oi and went on preaching about Jesus. And as the seconds became more seconds and I suppose minutes, it became clear that John was not in agony....or pain....or discomfort. He just preached.

Many converted to Christianity because of what they saw.

Saint John in Oils Chapel.

***A chapel named 'San Giovanni in Oleo' stands in Rome. The Saint John in Oils Chapel standing today is not so ancient, but is definitely the Latin Gate. Yet, it is unlikely that a chapel could have been built within the Coliseum.

As for John, he was removed unharmed from the oil at some point, and Domitian's plan 'B' was to have John sent to the isle of Patmos to work at hard labor. There John eventually was given the visions, becoming the Book of Revelation. And Different from all other Bible books, specifically stating a blessing to whichever Churches read it aloud together.

Scripture loves to repeat! Very similar to the miracle experienced by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3, when King Nebuchadnezzar threw them into the furnace for refusing to worship him. Domitian had the lion idea nixed, for the lions looked grand. And really surviving dogs in the Coliseum was not a huge, spectacular deal. However, surviving oil and twice - That - was a Huge Event.

Now, today, IF we want to tell about Jesus'
Love, Joy, Comfort and Plan
WHY? To encourage us to come home, and to tell the NEXT Generation to make them 

WANT To Know Jesus.

We have to understand that basic knowledge of Christianity says this:

We meet people who sincerely do not want to smile all the time, like Homer Simpson's Neighbor. They would like to look as if they have a clue. And they surely do not want to die and not think in advance of what to say.

This concept is frightening. And really inside our Nation, the highest martyrdom event I know is Cassie Bernall (November 6, 1981 – April 20, 1999) the girl killed in the Columbine High School massacre at age 17. The shooter asked if Cassie believed in God moments before she was fatally shot. She answered, "Yes"

WE HAVE A SALIENT POINT WE FORGET HERE.

81% of our Culture does Pray. 

BELIEVING IN GOD.

But Most To the Point in Our Culture Today:
Father God does not need us to give people the smile of the frozen chosen, who well understand that these doubters are doomed and uninformed. Because we are one step up on the Ladder to Heaven today.

Yes. WE HAVE A SALIENT POINT WE FORGET HERE.
81% of our Culture does Pray. BELIEVING IN GOD.

It's the don't grow me - I'm gonna get there of WHY WOULD WE WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS JESUS.


Remember with me
Tell about Our First Love for the Lord. 


What is the Point of Scripture...

To choose what is good. Building up ourselves to a life of meaning and creating a culture wanting the more difficult path - choosing what is Good. Believing God will help us. God will reward us and Heaven and earth will see the difference.

John's Patmos Dwelling. The view is still very much the same! 

God is still working and He is still caring for us.

The astonishing thing about "Peace that Passes All Understanding is" This valid and necessary tool happens again and again and again because, when we see our loved ones who love Jesus passing to the Heaven of God's Kingdom, we see this Peace. And it's needed!

Now, for the most part, Peace is not going to grow us.

And Father God sent us on this quest, this adventure, to bring our soul home and show Father God what we have made of this place called Soul.

All these people experienced this Life, this ongoing River of Life, that pushes and perplexes and asks us to twist or go the straightened paths where clear thinking and good choices can remain to make the framework for our soul to keep the Fruits of the Spirit = Love, Joy, Laughter, Peace, Comfort, Rules of Conduct, Patience and endurance with characters of Faith, Hope, Love.

These Scripture people did not walk around with Peace alllllllll the time. 

Scripture IS ALL ABOUT THE MESS OF LIFE AND HOW TO OVERCOME !!!

HEBREWS 11

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again.

Seek God and we will find... GOD. Simply prayer and reading Scripture is going to place us as Children of Willing, Loving, Able Father God.

And when we have that Comfort, the Holy Spirit says this is COMFORT. We are going to want to get the kids to Church to experience what is Love and Nourishment to Our Souls.

If we throw out part of the Scripture that draws discomfort, we have missed a rounding out, necessary point, we have failed to see the ripple effect of Truth.

God's Word is Living and Active. 

God loves Wisdom and asks us to use our gifts and talents to find the Word of God that applies to this situation. GOD's Word is far from a glorified and sweet journey of life. God tells us of all the hair-pin curves, the horror, the violence, the sweetness, the ups and perpetual downs of getting used to even our blessings.

When we dig to discover the Word of God, we are going to be given wisdom, sometimes. 

The Bible goes on to tell us Wisdom is not always happiness. 

And Yet, Wisdom is Truth. And Truth provides the framework where GOD will dwell. And what we learn dwelling with GOD, we learn, we can go places, do things and be confident of God dwelling in us - that whatever Tomorrow brings - God is going to be with us Today and in Today - We can DO what GOD would like us to Do with Today.

This Framework is a balance Joshua and Romans 8 bring us. 

This is the Balance of Truth and Spirit and Worship in John 4. And in displaying God's Mercy we find God's Framework is where we want to always Dwell - Bringing Glory to GOD - where gratitude is fruitful.

We are not bringing out one single hair shirt 

       - the Bible does not even own one hair shirt - we are bringing out the tools that God would place in our hands - to make Life Meaningful - not missing out on HIS GLORY.

This is the Balance, the goodness, the wonder of GOD we want People to Quest for.

Joy. And His Highest Name is - Jesus the Lord.

Abba, Father God,

Your Scriptures are alive and active. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Jesus appeared in the flesh,

was vindicated by the Spirit,

was seen by angels,

was preached among the nations,

was believed on in the world,

was taken up in glory.

Jesus will one day say to us all, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. We will join Him in the Holy City of God.

And in that day, let me be in the Numbers of The Saints Come Marching In.

Knowing All our prayers have been heard, listened to with care, with Love and Decisions. Lifting up prayer again in gratitude, David knew God would put forth the Blessing merely because this delights Our Father. For those who are ill, and worried, for those in new circumstances and for those with prayers to be fulfilled in His Time.

And Father God, let the family live together in beauty and peace of the generations. The people we love, and are given. We pray for our work places, Churches honoring Jesus and believing Scripture, our States and Nation. 

We lift up mankind to You, knowing Your Mercy is to draw all to You.

A God sized work. For His Glory. 

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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2 Corinthians 10:12-18 ~ within the field

2 Corinthians 10:12-18 (New Revised Standard Version)


We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense. We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you. For we were not overstepping our limits when we reached you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the good news of Christ. We do not boast beyond limits, that is, in the labors of others; but our hope is that, as your faith increases, our sphere of action among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may proclaim the good news in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone else's sphere of action. "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.

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