Luke 19:1-27 ~ He entered Jericho and was passing through

Luke 19:13 A mina was about three months' wages for a laborer

Luke 19:1-27

He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”


Deists believe God was passing through, set up the earth, saw it was good and maybe watches a lot of Humphrey Bogart films and likes the George Burns "Oh God" movies.

And because we all have some doubt in us, these two passages are one of my favorites and one of my least favorites.

I love Zacchaeus. Truly, I really do. Zacchaeus is like Cornelius, he believes if you show Jesus "I'm here - You matter to me," Jesus is going to have a glad and willing heart to say, "There you are!" Zacchaeus is a mirror showing all of us - how MUCH Jesus Loves. You don't have to search and search and search for the LORD, He is always going to say "My special, chosen, precious, created-purposefully, unique, Loved Child."

Zacchaeus shows us perfectly when Jesus loves, our response is to say - "Please let me give back." Love has been explained for millenniums as a circle - Zacchaeus completes the desire for the circle to continue. He is part of God's Love.


Then we get to the minnows of life. Small and stinky. Unbecoming. The things you just don't want to put on your good table and display as "I love these things." Small talents. Flaws. Indecisive. Cropping up again and again. No disguising this is not so wonderful. And we are told, we can be doubters, fearful, ungrateful and we displease HIM. It makes me feel like I did nothing much for HIM today. Nagged. Unhappy. Unwilling. And all this measure up ness is not fun. At all. Then, suddenly I worry I'm not little minnows, but big fish, and I've not been feeding the others. It makes you want to abandon the fish tank. Tank is the exact word.

However compare and contrast, you see something. If we see Jesus as the Judge, we are negative, whiney, authoritarian adverse, and BAM. Jesus did not come as the Judge to condemn us, Jesus came as the ONE who reached down into the water for Peter - who Thought he could self-righteously walk on water. Jesus sat with the woman caught in adultery. And HE called Zacchaeus to come down from an ivory tower, while honoring the effort to get there.

Luke 9:50
"Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."

Luke 11:23
"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

How do we see God? Judging us or Helping us? This places us either up there with Zacchaeus or down there with the enemies of HIS, who did not want HIM to reign over them.

God wants us - so - dearly. To acknowledge HE loves us. And to say - Let Your will be mine. To believe HIM so much, we have honest conversations with HIM, saying today I'm Zacchaeus. Help me not to be mina-small tomorrow, or ever again. It's the effort to reach Him, that pleases Him the most. With trust. He is not asking us to sit next to HIM and say - I'm god too. He wants us to say, Lord, I love you! And know we are for HIM. And He for us. 

The talents, mino, can worry me. Instead I pray, "Lord, today  Your Lord's Prayer says, 'Give us the day!' Today, Father GOD, I need Your help making the day You've given me the talent You want. Let Your Word, Your Will, Your Love - be my day and I put out my hands to You in prayer. In the highest name of Jesus Christ the LORD. Amen" 

Today salvation has come to this house. 

Deuteronomy 31:8
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Matthew 28:20
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Matthew 10:6
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Luke 21:28
Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

Hebrews 13:5
I will never leave you nor forsake you.


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Psalm 86 ~ For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Psalm 86

A Prayer of David.

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in you — you are my God.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.

8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant,
and save the son of your maidservant.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.


This Psalm is rather unique and is a very active prayer Psalm.

We've been asking Father God since David's day and definitely in the days of Jesus becoming flesh, dwelling among us, seeing His glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth, receiving grace upon grace - what is Good Prayer LORD?

David, we can all agree, prayed very well. Not listening to David's opinion on prayer reminds me of this quote:

Luke 13:34 partial
How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
 


"for I am godly"

Micah 6:1 partial
Hear what the Lord says:
Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.
2 Hear, you mountains

6 “With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God




"I cry all the day - Gladden the soul of your servant"

1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you!

Matthew 8:10
When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith."

Right. Jesus expects us to expect HIM.



"I lift up my soul"

Nehemiah 8:10
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Hebrews 3:6
But Christ is faithful as the Son over God's house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.



"In the day of my trouble - I call upon you"

1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Ephesians 4:14
So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.




"You alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth"

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 62:5
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him



"unite my heart"

Matthew 6:10
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Psalm 116:1
I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my voice and my supplication.

1 John 4:19
We love because HE first loved us

"I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart"

In life, you have to dig, like the vineyard the vinedresser told us. Dig, remembering your blessings and not rest on them.


Psalm 107:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

It would be interesting/horrifying hearing what the LORD says about people who sneering, coughing, and disregarding the twenty-eighth verse of chapter eight in Paul's Epistle to the Romans. Things like this must apply to soft voiced vicars from the old country. Men with rheumy eyes and fond remembrances. However, as you reach the grand old age of fifty with an o attached, you begin to realize - this ties in with this -

Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!

And there are few tales of decades pass with a thought backwards and Garth Brooks, "Sometimes I THANK GOD for unanswered prayers." Seems a few people agree....

"Show me a sign of your favor, because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me."

Titus 2:13
While we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

Proverbs 31:25-26
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Romans 8:19
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Lopuck Watercolors

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Daniel 9 ~ Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession

Darius, Seated

Daniel 9

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.




History, Winston Churchill wrote, is written by the victors. Darius was a victor. This points out, the Scriptures maintain, both the evil and the good press forward to accomplish His Plan.

Let's begin with Darius. One of Three Emperors of Babylon to say - they would return the Children of Israel.

According to Livius, Articles on Ancient History

Darius wanted to be remembered. In the upper part of His mosiac, he summarizes his reign and recalls the confused early days and his conquests:

The full inscription on
the tomb of Darius can
be read here.

The upper part of the tomb of Darius the Great at Naqs-i Rustam. Photo Marco Prins.
The upper part of the tomb of Darius the Great

Ahuramazda, when he saw this earth in commotion, thereafter bestowed it upon me, made me king; I am king. By the favor of Ahuramazda I put it down in its place; what I said to them [my subjects], that they did, as was my desire.

If now you shall think that "How many are the countries which King Darius held?" look at the sculptures of those who bear the throne, then shall you know, then shall it become known to you: the spear of a Persian man has gone forth far; then shall it become known to you: a Persian man has delivered battle far indeed from Persia.


The Lower inscription is more personal.

I am a friend of the right. Of wrong I am not a friend. It is not my wish that the weak should have harm done him by the strong, nor is it my wish that the strong should have harm done him by the weak.

The right, that is my desire. To the man who is a follower of the lie I am no friend. I am not hot-tempered. What things develop in my anger, I hold firmly under control by my thinking power. I am firmly ruling over my own impulses.

[...] What a man says against a man, that does not convince me, until I hear the sworn statements of both.

[...] My body is strong. As a fighter of battles I am a good fighter of battles. [...] I am skilled both in hands and in feet. A horseman, I am a good horseman. A bowman, I am a good bowman, both on foot and on horseback. A spearman, I am a good spearman, both on foot and on horseback. These skills that Ahuramazda set down upon me.

This text became an Achaemenid 'classic' and was copied by Darius' son and successor Xerxes in what is now known as the Harem inscription. Yet, before these sentiments became stereotypical, they were original and sincere, and this is how Darius wanted to remembered. 

Pharnaces paying honor ('proskynesis') to king Darius the Great. Relief from Persepolis. Archaeological museum of Tehran (Iran). Photo Marco Prins.

Proskynesis: relief of the northern stairs of the Apadana at Persepolis (National Archaeological Museum, Tehran)

Darius had at least six daughters and twelve sons. Only one of them could succeed him: Xerxes, the oldest son of his first wife Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus the Great. His succession had been carefully prepared. As early as 495, a frieze showing the king and the crown prince had been placed near the northern stairs of the Audience hall (Apadana) of Persepolis, where everyone who came to celebrate the New Year's festival could see the intended successor. (The frieze was later brought to the Treasury, where it was excavated.)

Nobody objected, and when Darius died, there were no rebellions comparable to those at the end of the reign of Cambyses. Admittedly, there was some unrest in Egypt and Babylonia, but no full-scale civil war.

Darius had inherited a loosely organized kingdom. He left behind an empire that was well-organized and strong.


Daniel reacts to his great understanding of the WORD of GOD in the same way Isaiah reacted.

Isaiah 6

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the traina of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”

4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”


Daniel reacted in the same manner, to begin apologizing for incorrect actions and attitudes to the LORD.

The LORD is overwhelming. Yet, His Word tells us of mercy.

Hosea 6:6
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Matthew 9:13
But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

The mercy of God provides a sense of overwhelming emotion. He give gifts to men.

the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the traina of his robe filled the temple.


Ephesians 4:11
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

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1 Chronicles 16 ~ “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”

1 Chronicles 16

And they brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord 3 and distributed to all Israel, both men and women, to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.

4 Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. 5 Asaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, who were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. 7 Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers.


David's Song of Thanks

8 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
10 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
11 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
12 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles and the judgments he uttered,
13 O offspring of Israel his servant,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

14 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember his covenant forever,
the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac,
17 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
as your portion for an inheritance.”

19 When you were few in number,
of little account, and sojourners in it,
20 wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people,
21 he allowed no one to oppress them;
he rebuked kings on their account,
22 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
do my prophets no harm!”

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.

28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;^{[holy attire]}
30 tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

35 Say also:

“Save us, O God of our salvation,
and gather and deliver us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!”

Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord.
Worship Before the Ark

37 So David left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required, 38 and also Obed-edom and his sixty-eight brothers, while Obed-edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. 39 And he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon 40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly morning and evening, to do all that is written in the Law of the Lord that he commanded Israel. 41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever. 42 Heman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate.

43 Then all the people departed each to his house, and David went home to bless his household.

David did NOT have to give gifts. He could have just taken. Kings usually do.  And unique to the Old Testament - David was giving to the women. Just like Jesus. David didn't have to give a gift at all.

David is so forgiving, he does something we just don't discuss. Something rather marvelous.

View from David's Palace looking upon Jerusalem. From this passage we gather, David did not look down upon his flock really.

Several things are captivating in these Chapters. David has named a son after... Nathan, the prophet, right before the birth of Solomon. Recalling that Solomon is his second child with Bathsheba, and Nathan a whistle blower for the LORD in this matter of adultery. Nathan is still very dear to David and is mentioned thirty-five times in the four chapters explaining David's life.

1 Chronicles 14:4
These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon

 
This is a pretty amazing order of names. Nathan was already hip deep in telling David he was going to have some very major trouble ahead. 

1 Chronicles 17:15
In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

David is good, very good, to the Prophet of the LORD telling David, "David, you blew this one - and HE Knows alllllll."


How does Nathan feel about the apple of God's eye?

1 Chronicles 17:2
And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

We gather from seeing Nathan is a name sake to a child of David - Nathan did not bring hate when bringing bad news to David. David, being a man who understood he was a soul of God wrapped in an earthly body - understood what was being said and why. David's heart was repentant and open to God's love.  

And this is interesting - 73 Psalms are directly credited to David. Psalms 2 and 95 are mentioned in the New Testament as being composed by David. Some Psalms are also thought to have been written by David. This is Psalm 96 - accredited to David in the Holy Spirit's creation.


 
The Lord asks us to be orderly. Even when you look at the Commandments, HE arranged His own requirements to start first - surely a good thing to communicate what you need and how you ask the needs to be met. Quite sensible. Not relying upon intuition or vain hope. 

Then Father God begins, outside of Himself, with parents and works His way down the list.

And as we work down the passage we see something for us...

Psalm 96:9
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;^{[holy attire]}; tremble before him, all the earth!

And still of interest - this is also referred to as worship- Worship Him in Holy Attire. Not to shlock in saying, "Well better to show up, than to stay home." Sure, we have casual Church, casual attitude - nope.  His Word says Holy Attire.This is true, this is His Word. And we must consider this. If we leave for Church in mussed up clothes - we are interested not in worship, but self. I'm not saying a suit and a tie, I'm saying clothes we feel we've honored Him in wearing them.Our clothes present our bodies as His. In His Church.

Worship is really about Looking Up to HIM. Sure we have times we drag ourselves off to worship after a rough week. And we say - "Lord, I need You more than You need me." Yet the point of worship isn't our convenience and emotions - the point is Looking Upward to HIM.  Holy attire is our best foot forward, an outward and visible sign - saying we clean up for Him. 


Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.

The Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.


Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!

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John 4:46-54 ~ When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

John 4:46-54

46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48 "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."

49 The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

50 Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."

53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.

54 This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

Jesus was just getting started. He was spreading His wings in the Holy Spirit. His first sign in His ministry could have been chasing the money changers out from 36 acres of the Temple. Or could have been flinging open His Word in His Hometown Synagogue. Jesus could have had his first sign be walking on water. Instead Jesus started His ministry showing he'd been invited to a wedding with His mom and some friends.

So this - austere - Jesus. What did HE do after He created wine at a wedding? And is this politically correct? Some people should not drink. I mean this might offend someone. And maybe if this is a Church event, Alcohol Should Not be Served. You might cause something. Perhaps we should explain this to Jesus.

Well, back to the point. What did Jesus do after the first sign. Oh c'mon. No one Could Know what Jesus DID after the first sign. He is the Son of God and God is not that interested in telling us the details of Jesus like That.

John 2:12
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Jesus gives us the example not just of wine, but honoring parents with time and attention. According to Exodus 20, this is the fifth commandment.

Jesus is the Word of God incarnate.

What do we learn about the Great I Am, the Lord, the Father, the Creator, God Himself Almighty from this.

His second sign raises a child from dying with a mere Word. A spark of faith. A possibility.

Colossians 1:15-20

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.


God makes wine so a wedding is blessed. God expects us to enjoy life, believing His Word.

Now, that is worth celebrating. 

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Psalm 149 ~ Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands

Psalm 149

Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the godly!

2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
3 Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the godly exult in glory;
let them sing for joy on their beds.

6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats
and two-edged swords in their hands,
7 to execute vengeance on the nations
and punishments 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 honor for all his godly ones.

Praise the Lord!

Isaiah 6
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”

4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Psalm 63
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.

Today was a lovely day. A beautiful day. Our Pastor became Bishop Clark Lowenfield. A life's work, A Calling by the Lord! Was being fitted perfectly into the puzzle and adventure of life. And the joy on Clark's face. 


Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Isaiah 25:9
In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."


We gathered, we fixed food and we saw old friends. And everyone rejoiced. We all agree this was like a double wedding and filled the large Church.

One of the reasons, when you get together for a large gathering with lots of people, you are usually at a wedding or a funeral. And the talk goes along the lines of the occasion.

I went to the funeral a long time ago of a friend's mother. She was rather young and died unexpectedly. She had been very, very active in her Christian Church. Her minister praised her saying, "You could always count on this lovely lady - her belief was right or wrong - her Church!"

Nothing could be further from what is pleasing to Father God. He expects us to walk by faith and discernment.

I spoke with a lovely lady today who left the Church, primarily because grief for her almost life long departed lovely husband. And there is a problem with the way America looks at grief. If we loose someone we dearly love, tears are appropriate for around two years. It has become rather fashionable, I heard in a prayer circle recently, to dredge up a grieved person's hurts, and say sadly we just don't know how we will watch this person not progressing. Not progressing? Grief is a two year process. What goes around comes around, deal gently with grief.

One thing we all agree upon, you go to Church, you are going to encounter people. What other building material is there for the Church??  You can count on being rubbed the wrong way. However, you can count on being loved as well. The people who love Jesus make mistakes.We are people. And We are the Children of God.

Jeremiah 31:19-20
After I strayed,
I repented;
after I came to understand,
I beat my breast.
I was ashamed and humiliated
because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
the child in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
I still remember him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
I have great compassion for him,”
declares the Lord.

Isaiah 33:5
The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness.

Matthew 23:37
How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings

Colossians 1

To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.

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