Luke 2:9-11 ~ “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people

Luke 2:9-11

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Did Jesus want to endure the shame of the Cross? Was being here just merely enduring this life?

God tells us that He is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Genesis 1
10 And God saw that it was good.
12 And God saw that it was good.
18 And God saw that it was good.
21 And God saw that it was good.
25 And God saw that it was good.
31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.


Deuteronomy 10:14
Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the LORD your God.

Exodus 19:5
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,

1 Corinthians 10:26
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof!

Matthew threw a party for Jesus. Many good things are recorded in the Gospels, the events Jesus loved!

John 15:11
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Jesus had a happy childhood, as the adopted child of Joseph. In a small town, everyone's business is known, but Jesus' hometown saw that complete blended family and said:

Matthew 13:
5 3When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?

Luke 2:
48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." 49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 3:
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Mark 1:14,15
Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Mark 1:
17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.


Luke 5:
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

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.

John 2:
1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now."

Matthew 11: 19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."

Mark 1:
41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.

Mark 2
23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.

Mark 3:
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.

34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Mark 4:
1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge.

Jesus must have recognized His own life in this parable:
30 Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.

Mark 5:
34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" ). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around.

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Mark 6:
4 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

50b Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Luke 6:
7 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 7:
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."

22 And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

Mark 7:
37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Mark 8:
29"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

Mark 9:
1 And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"

24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Mark 10:
14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him.

Mark 11:
7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
10 "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Mark 12:
29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."

34a When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Mark 14:
6"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

9  I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." 

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Acts 21:37-22:16 ~ Jesus of Nazareth,

Acts 21:37-22:16

37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?"

"Do you speak Greek?" he replied. 38 "Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?"

39 Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people."

40 Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic:

Acts 22

1 "Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." 2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.

Then Paul said: 3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 "About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?'

8 " 'Who are you, Lord?' I asked.

" 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.

10 "'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked.
"'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.' 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.

12 "A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him.

14 "Then he said: 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'

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Matthew 12:15-21 ~ He healed them all

Matthew 12:15-21

 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all ¹⁶ and ordered them not to make him known. ¹⁷  This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁸  “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
    my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
¹⁹ He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
²⁰ a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
²¹      and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Jesus the Son of God.


1 Timothy 3:16
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: 
He appeared in a body, 
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.

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Jesus Christ. God. Son of God. Prince of Peace. True Light of Light. Only Begotten Son of the Father. From WHOM all things were made. Lamb of God.

Jesus Christ Superstar is appealing, but really leaves an aspect of Jesus behind. Jesus did not just jump into the fray. The events around Jesus continued to swirl quickly. So many times all the actions, words and conversations were fast paced. But Jesus is Prince of Peace. He spent deliberate time and energy in prayer and in rest.

Jesus  often - to pray. 
Jesus heals all who followed HIM.
Jesus, not seeking fame for healing. 
Jesus proclaims Justice.
Jesus not seeking quarrels.
Jesus heals the bruised.
Jesus sparking into flame, the tiniest thought of faith.
Jesus bringing justice to Victory.
In the name above all names. JESUS THE LORD.  We shall all Hope.

Amen. 

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.


Colossians 3:15
the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

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John 20 ~ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed"

John 20

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Events of the Bible repeat. And do we recognize them? The photo of the giant Archangel cloud was taken on Lake Texhoma by my cousin Bob with my brother John and me, the day he was trying to decide if he would join the Corps of Cadets at Texas A & M in 1989. We watched as Bob happened to have his camera and we were so glad. Relieved. Who takes a camera on a boat? This decade didn't have people carry around cameras all the time. The Angel was HUGE. We discussed - was this Jesus and decided Jesus never required wings. Cherubim require wings. John declared it was a sign. The Angel cloud did not disperse. And stayed a very long time. Sadly, we ignored the cloud and remarked, Wow there Still Stands the Archangel.

The Archangel Cloud remained more than an hour, perhaps two.

Events of the Scriptures will happen again and again. At Thanksgiving, several years later, Bob retrieved the Photo and I was awestruck. And wowed. My brother sarcastically asked me if I knew anyone who had ever seen anything like that - I replied that I would Truly Like to See That. The Looks I received were rewarding - enough. And I forgot again.

Another time - I was told of a young woman at a posh office being told, by her Ivy League Boss, stories of patronizing and advancement due to returns for sexual favors in college. The young woman was embarrassed, because if someone wandered by, that would sound like sexual harassment. What we don't see is Amazing.

John Adams was dying. He has set aside political glory to rekindle an old friendship - Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson had sacrificed old friends, had skated around and back on his promise not to remarry. His wife Martha was reportedly not happy with her husband's many absences and his time away when their son died. She had made him promise to never remarry for his absences. They were people with funds, yet no portrait or sketch exists of Martha. Thomas Jefferson's wife died after they'd been married only 10 years. She was young, had already been widowed, and spent the majority of her marriage to Jefferson ill. Five of her children died during her short lifetime. Jefferson was an almost inconsolable widower. And still John Adams, who had lived and died and thrived and sunk down to rise back up in the political tides of this Nation - reached past personal sorrows of Thomas sinking his presidency - and shored up Forgiveness.

Thomas wrote of his later years search in Scriptures in a letter to John Adams, dated October 13, 1813:

"In extracting the pure principles which he taught, we should have to strip off the artificial vestments in which they have been muffled by priests, who have travestied them into various forms, as instruments of riches and power to themselves.

We must dismiss the Platonists and Plotinists, the Stagyrites and Gamalielites, the Eclectics, the Gnostics and Scholastics, their essences and emanations, their logos and demiurges, aeons and daemons, male and female, with a long train of … or, shall I say at once, of nonsense.

We must reduce our volume to the simple evangelists, select, even from them, the very words only of Jesus, paring off the amphibologisms into which they have been led, by forgetting often, or not understanding, what had fallen from him, by giving their own misconceptions as his dicta, and expressing unintelligibly for others what they had not understood themselves.

There will be found remaining the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man. I have performed this operation for my own use, by cutting verse by verse out of the printed book, and arranging the matter which is evidently his, and which is as easily distinguishable as diamonds in a dunghill. The result is an octavo of forty-six pages, of pure and unsophisticated doctrines."

All have sinned and fallen short. What Thomas Jefferson found, was a relationship of crystal clarity - the Word of God, in Jesus the Lord, recognized in the soul of Thomas Jefferson.


Our Lord God, our Father GOD, has a unique sense of humor about the wisdom of man. Most supernatural events, miracles, are not included in Jefferson's heavily edited razor cut out "Words of Jesus."  And as John Adams was dying, he spoke, his son records, "Thomas Jefferson Lives!" July 4th, 1826.

Do we recognize miracles in our own lives?

We have to let the Wonder of what He would show us, speak to us in His Word, make a difference - and hold that faith.

What does God want for us? Jesus in the turbulence of His Sacrifice, offered these words twice. How many times did Jesus repeat Himself - Not Often. Jesus expected people to listen to Him. It's the Scriptures that repeat. Not God speaking as Jesus.


John 20:19
Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”


How comforting to know, when troubles come, God wants us to have Peace. Equipping us, in John's Gospel Chapter 20, with the Holy Spirit. Our Comforter. And Jesus asking us to reach up and forward for Peace. Not demanding us to be in Peace, not scolding Peace, but with instruction, with declarations of Love - asking us to Reach for Peace.


Lord God, creator of Heaven and earth, please dwell within me. Help my soul be a joy to You and be in all my cells and lighten my darkest corners. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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Psalm 145 ~ Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.

Psalm 145

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.

5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.

14 The Lord upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.

16 You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.

18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Why isn't the Scripture discardable and why isn't new Scripture being written today?

The people who wrote the Scripture of the New Testament - Lived Abundantly with Jesus. We could argue about Luke and Mark, yet we Know Jesus had 70 or 72 Disciples. Who knows... maybe the other two were standing behind Jesus when the disciples wanted Jesus to call down fire...





The point being, Learn. We see Scripture stories and we grasp them because our lives allow us to suddenly have the ability...

Acts 9:18
And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized

This is exactly why the Word of God is Living and Active. Read the Scripture and find the portion that leaps to your soul. God is speaking to you. His Word is written just for you.

Perhaps you've experienced this with me; I've been to a Bible Studies when reading the Scripture gives me an entirely different message than the study for reading the Word of God. A Question was answered, a path encouraged, a way forward. One more reason why we have Church and corporate worship.

We read in Scripture how beautiful are the feet of those bringing the Good News. Actually beyond washing Feet off from use, usually feet are ignored. Yep. Because the point isn't the feet of the preacher, but the Message of God. If you have to avoid looking at a tie, or a flaw, look to the feet. Guarantee you will still hear the Message. (I have no idea what Steve's feet look like!)

Today I was privileged to Worship Corporately today. We sang with an orchestra by candlelight. Practiced new songs for Easter visitors with Joy and Hope. Learned about new generations (grandchild) brought forth in suffering of labor. The mercy of trouble encouraging us not to be all about ourselves. Seeing Churches being brought forth in cities needing a Church, back in the USSR. 





So God, tests our character? The prayer of Jabez and Jabez, although prosperous, was not heard from again.

And heard Pastor Steve Bradley really connect dots for me about suffering. Using a key word - Produce.

Romans 5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.





Exodus 3:7
Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings

~ The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

~ The Lord is near to all who call on him,to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him.




God put Himself on the Cross to bear our burdens and curses.

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord who daily carries us. God is our deliverer.

Think on this - if you were given an area of land to grow. Would you invite the worst people you know, perhaps instead, you'd find people you want to develop. You would hope that being with them would propel you forward to better and greater things - to glorify God. Allowing God to say, "Well Done."

2 Thessalonian 1
5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—

God is our Father to our prodigal. Growing us to Come Home to Him.






James is the Brother to Jesus Christ, telling us today -

James 1
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

James 3:12
Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.






Wisdom...

~ My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

When we are part of HIS Plan willingly, we are on His Path.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

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Exodus 2:23-3:15 ~ behold, the cry of the people has come to Me

 Painting by  Henry Ossawa Tanner

Exodus 2:23-3:15

During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

Exodus 3

Shepherd the Flock, Vance

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!”

And he said, “Here I am.”

5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.

10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11

 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”

14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

+ The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

Pie in the Sky? If you Google 'angel' images, you find amazing and some questionable things.

Hebrews 1:12
Like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.

2 Peter 3:8
Do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.


Isaiah 30

5 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.

18 Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.

19 For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

22 Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, “Be gone!”

23 And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and bread, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. In that day your livestock will graze in large pastures, 24 and the oxen and the donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. 25

And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26

Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.

Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar


Philippians 2
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth


Blessed Be You Oh Lord, Jesus Christ Our Savior. On You our Hopes Rest and Cling. Amen.

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John 5:31-47 ~ If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.

John 5:31-47

“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John.

For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me, has himself testified, concerning me. You have never heard his voice, nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

41 “I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.

46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

Matthew 22:29
Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God."

Mark 4
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

1 Peter 1:25
"The word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Matthew 16:18
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.

Thesselonika David Osios House Church 4th Century, Book of Acts Model Church

James 1:18
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

John 11:43
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”

Lazarus Tomb site in Israel

Does God need us to give Him glory? Jesus says He does not.


Psalm 50:12
“If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine."

Deuteronomy 6:13
Honor the Lord your God, worship only him, and make your promises in his name alone.

Deuteronomy 10:12
“Now, people of Israel, listen to what the Lord your God demands of you: Worship the Lord and do all that he commands. Love him, serve him with all your heart, 13 and obey all his laws. I am giving them to you today for your benefit.

To the Lord belong even the highest heavens; the earth is his also, and everything on it. 15 But the Lord's love for your ancestors was so strong that he chose you instead of any other people, and you are still his chosen people.

So then, from now on be obedient to the Lord and stop being stubborn. 17 The Lord your God is supreme over all gods and over all powers. He is great and mighty, and he is to be obeyed. He does not show partiality, and he does not accept bribes.

18 He makes sure that orphans and widows are treated fairly; he loves the foreigners who live with our people, and gives them food and clothes. 19 So then, show love for those foreigners, because you were once foreigners in Egypt.

20 Have reverence for the Lord your God and worship only him. Be faithful to him and make your promises in his name alone. 21 Praise him — he is your God, and you have seen with your own eyes the great and astounding things that he has done for you.

22 When your ancestors went to Egypt, there were only seventy of them. But now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Psalm 103:2-5

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.


Daniel 2:20
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His.


Lord God strengthen Your people. Help them to walk in Your ways and discern Your path. In Jesus. Your Will be done. Amen. 

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Numbers 17 ~ The Tabernacle of the Lord

Numbers 17

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, and get from them staffs, one for each fathers' house, from all their chiefs according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. Write each man's name on his staff, 3 and write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each fathers' house. 4 Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. 5 And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you.” 6 Moses spoke to the people of Israel. And all their chiefs gave him staffs, one for each chief, according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. And the staff of Aaron was among their staffs. 7 And Moses deposited the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the testimony.

8 On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from before the Lord to all the people of Israel. And they looked, and each man took his staff. 10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.” 11 Thus did Moses; as the Lord commanded him, so he did.

12 And the people of Israel said to Moses, “Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. 13 Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the Lord, shall die. Are we all to perish?”

Millennial Generation (18-29) young adults do not love the Church, but love the Lord. Numbers 17 would indicate, it's best to stay out of the herd. They just complain and jump to conclusions. The Children of Israel were constantly in knots. They always were in need of something.

The Lord is not telling the Children of Israel to go their own way, to make camp on their own.

The people of God cry out for gifts of the Lord to meet immediate need, yet in all of the books of the Bible, when Father God gives a miracle - a gift - awe of the Lord, need for more instruction occurs. Isaiah saw only the hem of the Lord fit in the Temple. Isaiah realized he was unclean compared to the Lord. Peter, when first meeting Jesus, asked to be left alone because he was just a man.

We seem to be much more comfortable with the fruit of the Spirit, instead of a definite sign of God. Spiritual fruit occurs over a season of time:

Galatians 5:22,23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Aaron could have been given just an Almond branch.
Aaron was given a gift,
 God was with them all - in every seasons. 

The bud, the blossom, the fruit. God was involved with Moses, Aaron, and the needs of the people. The steadfast, enduring love of God for the entire community.

Father God, we pray for the Churches believing in Your son, Jesus Christ. We pray for Your Word to be taught and believed with truthful, tender love. We pray for Your Church to reach out to all your children and to become a Church family. We pray for this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

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