Ephesians 4 ~ the way you learned Christ

Ephesians 4

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? [the lower parts of the earth?] 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds [pastors] and teachers, [the shepherd-teachers] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, [to a full-grown man] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 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. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.


17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 


29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.


Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He didn't slap hands away and tell them to leave Him alone for a moment to think. He did not put a noose of truth around someone and tell them it was for their own good. Jesus never did learn how to lasso.

Om. I know that I do these things.

He calls us to be part of His One Body.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

What am I called to do?

2 Peter 3:18
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.


Jesus attributes in this passage for us to prepare for Lent:
~ humility 
~ gentleness, 
~ with patience, 
~ bearing with one another in love, 
~ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit
Bringing to the World a  ~ bond of peace.  Jesus calls people to live in peace to the best of their ability.

Romans 12:18
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Why?
~ for building up the body of Christ

Tell people when they do the right things. Thank them. Be glad for when good news occurs. Apologize with Heart. When Given Scripture to Read - Stay there and find all the Glory in that Scripture. Be diligent.

~ attain to the unity of the faith
Church is not all about me. One Scripture suits one's needs - another is read for someone else. Scripture IS for all. Emotion is to be thought about and held in self-control. Not repressed, not unexpressed, not to overwhelm.

~ Speak the truth - in Love. Brutal truth isn't necessarily the way for peace. We have to go easier on each other.

What happens to the spoken truthfully encouraged Body of Christ? The honest truth given with Love....

His ~  body grows so that it builds itself up in love. That is Good News. Jesus spoke truthfully to Nicodemus. Gamaliel stood up to boldly say work on God's path. Jesus was known to speak Honestly and Forthrightly.


~ The truth is in Jesus. We should want to honor Love so much, we work there with Joy. We hold up God's Goodness and want to build our framework there. His standards, His family He gives us, His truthful healing and His Honest conversation. His prayer daily in John 17.

Allow Jesus to renew us each day. In Prayer. In the Scripture. In Hope. In Faith. In Love.

God never made little clones. The Disciples are all different from each other. Andrew was quick to see Jesus as the Messiah. However, Peter was the one God picked for living with his mother-in-law. God saw endurance and tenacity. God encourages marriage in Genesis' beginning. In Matthew's beginning. We need to encourage our families to Peace. Because the Path God brings us - is the only one we want to be on. This is where God blesses us to know completely - God Loves Me. And you are not surprised to find God's Love- in seeking God's will for your life. In Scripture. In Truth. In Mercy. This is where we connect to how much God is Love.

Jesus was good to His Brothers. God is vastly Good. Jesus gave us the example - when His Brothers egged Him on to be a "Show." Jesus just let them play monkeys in a barrel. And did the Will of His Father. When His Brothers did indeed love and get very worried for Jesus - Jesus told them - He was going to do the Will of His Father.

When His Brothers went out to Proclaim a Risen, Victorious Jesus. They took their wives. Jesus saw that as His Father's Will. God is for building up the Body of Christ.

The Scriptures are very real. If you were to sit down and write the Scriptures out by hand to send to a friend, you might want to edit parts. Instead God let us see all of the emotions. All of the flaws. So that we can deeply grasp how much WORK -  HE has called us to do to Love one another.

In the last chapter of John - Jesus knew the apostles would still be arm wrestling each other - Jesus still made them breakfast on the beach. Jesus wasn't surprised and still - breakfast welcomed the men who had failed Jesus.

God was honest about how flawed all of us are - All have Sinned - All Have Fallen. So we understand that Innocent, Good, Loving, Healing Perfection came to us. Jesus said, "I will Heal them all." That is Love. Worth knowing, worth honoring. Worth respecting.

The Scriptures - were written for you. That every Chapter warms you to the Love that John did see in God. God the Creator, God the Father, God the Pappa, God the Warrior, God the All Knowing. God is Good. God is One. This is the God to give us Life and to Worship with all we have. Give us the day.


Father God, we Abide in You when we want to please You. Thank You for Your mercy and Your atonement for me. Only because of Your righteousness - do we Abide in Jesus. We bring to You in prayerful Love and expectation the Ones we Love knowing You Love far greater. Thank You God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Luke 7 ~ Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear

The Son is going to come up - tomorrow - bet your bottom dollar on Tomorrow.

Hosea 6:3

3 Let us acknowledge the Lord;

let us press on to acknowledge him.

As surely as the sun rises,

he will appear;

he will come to us like the winter rains,

like the spring rains that water the earth.

We are Children of God. Mary had something to say about the Son.

Luke 1

4 He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.

If you have two coats, give one to the one in need. Well, that is Bible and Scriptural warmth. The Love of God draws us to Him. Telling us that old sticky note is true - I believe in the Love God has for me - even on cloudy days.

Let me tell you. I love John's Gospel in the First Chapter. Give me the Light of God that shines in all men. Even the Alzheimer Patient her children are too sad to visit, and she asks her husband, "Who do you remember me to be?" And her husband smiles, "You are the one who Loves me." God says in Isaiah 49:15  He is going to remember us way past and beyond what even our mother remembers us.

And we continue in the warmth of God's days are millions of years. So Today - God says blessed are the eyes that see, more blessed are the eyes that did not have the blessing the prophets and kings asked God to see and yet - Believe.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Romans 8:35,37

So, this is our passage today and for us who believe - Luke 7 - is the question God remembers us -  how did we loose the name of the Centurion in this passage of amazing Love.  Love for Jesus that Centurion presented and the Jews have for a Gentile and a soldier to boot.

Luke 7:1-10

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

The Pillar reads the Son of Alphaeus, the son of Zebedee, the son of John. Of Course.

Jesus took up Capernaum as His adult Hometown. What happened to the name of the Centurion who built the Synagogue where we find a Pillar with the name Zebedee - as in Mark 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee. The Synagogue is newer than the Centurion built. But the ability to say - related - is spot on accurate.

The answer is clear. Peter's house went on to become a House Church. Told by the Graffiti on the walls. This "HISTORY" did not pause. Here are the photos from the 1960's of Peter's Beautiful House where his mother-in-law was healed and served Jesus dinner:

What happened to the humble Centurion's name?

Micah 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?

9 The voice of the Lord cries to the city—
and it is sound wisdom to fear your name:
“Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it!



Indeed two millenniums have covered over the name of the Centurion who Pleased Jesus with his Faith. God has wrought this. Do we have a doubt that God has his name upon His Hand? We Believe.

I'd venture a guess from two thousand years ago, the Centurion asked that God remember him and knew what is important. Because walking humbly with God, the narrow path, where we live with God - is the relationship we need.

God is Love.

Father God, bring on the Son for us all and remember especially the ones we love and like and You have given us. In Jesus we have the glory to ask in expectation. Amen. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Matthew 2:13-15 ~ Joseph did what God called him to do

Matthew 2:13-15

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 

14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”


Luke 2
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. 

And the favor of God was upon him.



We were asked to consider why Joseph dreamed and Mary was Privileged to speak with Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God Almighty Most High, Father of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Add to the fact of Joseph not Speaking to the Archangel - Joseph passed on when Jesus began His Ministry.

Was Joseph needed? The Sadducean Council records Mary was daughter of Heli, found to be a descendant of David in Luke 3. It's probable that Joseph was descended of David through Solomon and Mary descended of David through Nathan. C'mon. Jesus told us He could raise up descendents of Abraham from mere rocks. Imagine with me the delight of Jesus to wonder with the crowd at the Messiah being a descendant of David.  God does not need the DNA He created like a human does, God is the Father and Creator of the Universe by His Word.

Who was Joseph? He was called in a unique set of circumstance. Matthew 1:19 points out Joseph was just, faithful and righteous and dealt a hand of apparent mess.

Joseph is clearly identified in Matthew 2 during the presentation of a first born male in the Temple of God.
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

God didn't call Joseph Step-Father. Joseph is credited twice, Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3, as  seamlessly blending Jesus into Joseph's family and called Joseph's Son.

So why is Mary more privileged to be there for the mystery, the angels, and proclaimed today as the Mother of God?

1 Timothy 3:16
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Well. God planned for Mary to be the one who tried to rescue Jesus from the Trouble brewing and the one to stay until He was going to Heaven. Mary was sent on by Jesus.

However, Joseph still counts. How could a man stand to see His Son die? I think there would have been scenes of Joseph rushing in. You have to be God to give up Your Son. This family is biblically recorded as being tender love.


1 Thessalonians 4

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.


We are told Joseph is old. Because in the Acts of the Apostles - there is a Biblical quote - the old will dream dreams. However this was speaking of the end of days. A young Daniel dealt with dreams and so did a young Joseph, son of Jacob/Israel - Vizier of Egypt. We always thought their dreams were good!

Let's consider Spiritual Gifts:

1 Corinthians 12
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Why did God will Mary to see angels and Joseph merely dreamed? Because of God - they Loved. Maybe Joseph was not made to appreciate angels. Maybe Mary would have ignored a dream.

1 Corinthians 12:21
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

God is Love. His Gifts manifest His Love.

Where I volunteer - PACN; Recently, I spoke to a man who fell in love. He was divorced and his loved woman was working on a divorce. Her first husband had abused her and was unwilling to sign divorce papers. She had been in the court system for three years. And had just found out - she was pregnant. He was telling me that he didn't care if the biological age of the human bean was found to make the child another man's child. He was looking forward to a spring wedding. In fact, his fiancee found out her ex-husband signed the papers  - the day the next wedding was being planned, this very man and the woman, were talking to us - she found she could obtain a divorce. The first husband changed his mind. When I saw this woman later, at the sonogram, her fiance got very quiet and said he already had three children and he was not about to raise another man's baby. He left. She was crying. However, the father of the baby was thrilled to be having a child.




Joseph was thrilled to be betrothed. He was building a house. And news came, she was unfaithful. End of the dream. As righteousness would allow, Joseph could divorce her. Instead, Joseph was going to be merciful and his dreams began again. Very inconveniently. 80 miles with a donkey and a pregnant woman. His first baby. No hospital, not a clean bedroom available. No hospitality. Lots of men might have run out just for that. Joseph was going to have to take this child right into the Lion's Den to present the Child to the Temple. And then more dreams about leaving his home, his country, his livelihood. His family. His city. Joseph was like Abraham - willing to argue mercy for someone else.

Joseph was like Timothy, Luke and Mark. Willing to be there in the end.

2 Timothy 4
9 Do your best to come to me soon. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

Why did Joseph dream Dreams? Joseph Loved.

1 John 4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

This photo is for Anne Cable. She always wanted the Angel we saw on Lake Texhoma to have the words from 1 Timothy 3 on the photo.

Father God, Willing God, help the Beloved to stay on the Path. Give us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and remind us to bless. Greater is He in us. We ask in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Luke 12:40 ~ You also must be ready

What do you receive when you Prepare?

Luke 12:40
You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.


So, on Sunday we head to Father God's House to be fed by Loving Him. We call that Worship.

When you encounter Scripture, You encounter the Living Word of God. Jesus. Jesus starts all of the Scripture in the New Testament.

Yesterday and Today I had Psalm 139 read to me.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

The Psalm 139 Yesterday came with Aaron's Hebrew Priestly Blessing given to me. To be blessed with this - you close your eyes. Because the One who Loves You is there. Inner reflection with God. Your soul leans upon Him.

KSBJ - Contemporary Christian Music Radio Station has so many good things to say. They said prepare your hearts on the way to Church - Listen to Christian Music. Yes, I agree. And more. Start with Scripture.

Prepare on the Lord's Day and make every day of your life with God. I love to start out my day with Scripture to see what thoughts will come up and conversation to have with God. When I do this, a phrase my Grandmother Anita said to me floats up, "Valuable ideas and convictions form." The glories given to us in Scripture like -

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Which is a good idea, because actually - the only path you want to be on is the one God would give you.

So before we go to Church, we take all of our thoughts, hold them up to the mind of Christ. Give Him our all - get right before God - and Go Forth with God.

Naked we come into this world, naked we will leave. God created us and we want to go back to Him saying we did what He wanted us to do. Yesterday, we were prayed for and attended a Healing Conference. And we have been told this twice by Spiritual Christians, our family didn't always do what God would call generationally correct work. Like the Kings of the Old Testament. So, we are blazing a path. Like we all are. Not judged so much as fit to lead, but sincerely wanting God. Mature enough to understand a God of Love calls for Love to lead. The Scripture says a Father in God is rare and takes time. We need Love to lead us. God is Love.

Loving what makes us all unique in all of us. Immersing ourself in God's Word. His Child. God taking His time with us in Scripture.Seeing letters'of my Grandmother and Tate. Seeing my great-great grandfather writing about Worship in Spirit and in Truth. Knowing the hardship of the generations that fell away for feeling unworthy. Knowing God is So Vast, His Will is Amazing. His Aspects Profound.

Facing what causes pain. Picturing the name of Jesus on a Cross, on that brokenness.

Getting ourselves to be prayed for. Seeking God. Getting the privilege to hear again "God created us with talents, Loves us. Holds us. We are created as His Child." Hearing we all have places and situations that hurt. Jesus is the Source of healing. Knowing you have taken yourself to a good place where Jesus would go too. Jesus would put His Name upon that.

God Inspires us. Realizing God isn't a Season. God is the Love that sustains us.

No matter the storm, the situation, the whirling dervish. We are going to be fulfilled in God.
God sends us people who would send us profound words of Love to fill us - Plans to Go Forth in God. God sends us people to love to care for and about. Taking them for Prayer. Making sure they know they are worthy of this.

God has not brought us so far, to drop us. God will sustain us.

I had profound joy Friday to pray for a stranger in a Church Service. She ministered to me after the prayer by saying my hand grew warm and she could feel my last finger wrapped around her and pulsing. God gives us moments that hold us. Words the comfort and provide Joy and Love.

Then, God lets you take a profound moment and know you blew it. And He helps you reclaim the moment and go forth with new inspiration to Love and try again. Jesus told the fig tree to find fruit even when the season was not there.

Habakkuk 3:17
18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.


Father God, help our soul to be a place You are pleased to Live. In all circumstance,
help us to rejoice God saves us. Father, in a hundred years from now, let this life be called
as one who trusted in You.

Father, when I let gratitude fill me - I have awe for the mighty works and Words
that testify to You. Lord Jesus Christ. Your mercy fills all generations. We
rely upon You.

Lord, You have proven Yourself as reliable. And I pray to have Jesus always
in my thoughts, making straight paths.

Lord, all people are Yours. You have promised fire hones our work. The
Day of the Lord is mighty. Help us to be strong and to be humble.

In forgiveness, You feed us plentifully. And make our paths filled with joy.
In prayer, awesome circumstance happens.

You have INDEED Helped Your Beloved. We recall and are warmed and thrilled
by Your Deeds of Mercy. Your Word is Living and Active forever.

Father God, make a path for us to be pleasing You. Because in Your pleasure, we are blessed. 
In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Philemon 1 ~ I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus

Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ [service]. 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus [Useful], whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave [bondservant] but more than a slave, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Valentine's Day is actually a day of Love letters.

Similar to Mary encountering God. “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

In 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who included Valentine among those "... whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God" let us know Valentine was not famous, but well known and loved by the Lord. Valentine was like all of us. Someone who loved Father God and used his time on earth relying upon Father God's love.

What we can say, in certainty, with gratitude, Valentine's life refreshed many hearts in love. We cannot say he was a martyr, but his life is remembered with love letters. Not a bad thing when we consider God tells us His nature is Love. Like this passage of Paul's; he is in prison, but uses the opportunity Abba gives him to set others free.

Valentine is our beloved brother in Christ. In the promises of Jesus Christ, we have an eternity in front of us, Christ dwelling within us, to discovering the love and joy of Jesus Christ. Paul tells us our acts of faith, hope and love are known and appreciated, strengthened by Father God.

Our benefit to the Lord today... strengthening the path God would want for us.


Today we were at Church On The Rock/iglesia Sobre La Roca in Katy, TX. To hear Aglow Ministries ask Judith MacNutt to proved a day in Loving God in her Healing Ministry. Judith is, with her husband Francis MacNutt, in healing  for 40 years.  A ministry that has stood the test of time telling us of fruitful work for God.

Jesus ably prays for us in John 17,

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 

11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 

13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.


Father God. Bless the Church holding the Healing Service. How beautifully they welcome the Holy Spirit in clapping for His Glories. How loving the Pastor is with his wife and her housekeeping in the building of making sure like a Momma Her doors are open and closed. 

 Bless Judith MacNutt and her team for the Wonders of God presented with such Joy and humility. Bless the couple who gave me love and Aaronic blessings, please give them multiple, multiple blessings back for their love. A Jesus Christ filled Jew is a wondrous, magnificent thing - this Couple has all of His mercies. John 17.  And for Mary who prayed and Cindy and Justina and Dee. We ask You to provide a Blessing in Jesus. Please continue the healing in Johnette. Because Father surely we want to Bless the people who seek to bless others. In Jesus we pray. Thank you for our day with Donna, Steve and Karen. Bless Aglow Ministries and the wisdom returning to giving Testimonies in the  warm fellowship they provide so ably. Amen. The Joy in Jesus Given and Received.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Exodus 37 ~ Gold

Acacia tree and Acacia wood
The Table - made and shown today in Israel by the Temple Institute
The Lampstand made by Temple Institute. Today in Jerusalem Museum for Temple Institute
The Altar of Incense - Temple Institute
Mount Nebo in Jordan overlooking Israel. Where Jeremiah hid the Ark before the Babylonian enslavement of Judah. (Link Scripture for Today 2 Maccabees 2:4-62)
Relief of King Darius of Babylon and slaves (Link to Scripture of the Day)
Gate of Ishtar in Ancient Babylon (Link Scripture for Today)
Rebuilding of the Second Temple went on for centuries, this is a model (Link Scripture for Today). Although the Second Temple was given the listed Temple Treasures back, the Babylonian king could not return the Ark of the Covenant, because it has already been hidden and never was in the Second Temple. It's interesting the First Temple, built by Solomon, simply stood while the Ark was there, but the Second Temple was always being destroyed by war, or remodeled.
Jerusalem falls in 70 A.D. to Titus, this would have been about the end of Jesus' natural life on earth.
Model of the Coliseum, built from the money taken out of Jerusalem by Emperor Titus.
The Arch of Titus in Rome today.
Relief carved on the Arch of Titus showing the Truimph after the destruction of Jerusalem, these are the Temple Tools, but not the Ark of the Covenant. After 1,935 years, Roman Jews proudly walked under the Titus Arch, for the first time, because Israel was again a nation, May 14, 1948.
About the 3rd to 4th century AD, the Jews collected enough money to rebuild the Temple, but the building was destroyed by earthquake while still in construction. Then war.

How the relief appears today - 2,000 years later.
Mount Nebo, were the cross of Jesus Christ is placed with an emblem of Moses overlooking the Holy Lands, while visited by John Paul II.
The Coliseum today, an aerial. About 500,000 people and over a million wild animals died in the Colosseum games. It is damaged by earthquakes and stone robbers. On each Good Friday, the Pope leads a "Way of the Cross" procession around the Colosseum.
Ishtar Gate from Babylon, rebuilt using the actual baked bricks. In Germany (see above).

The Temple Institute Museum in Jerusalem.

Exodus 37

Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. 2 He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. 3 He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 4 Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.

6 He made the atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 7 Then he made two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 8 He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover. 9 The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.

The Table

10 They made the table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. 11 Then they overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it. 12 They also made around it a rim a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim. 13 They cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners, where the four legs were. 14 The rings were put close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. 15 The poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood and were overlaid with gold. 16 And they made from pure gold the articles for the table—its plates and dishes and bowls and its pitchers for the pouring out of drink offerings.

The Lampstand

17 They made the lampstand of pure gold. They hammered out its base and shaft, and made its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. 18 Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 19 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 20 And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 21 One bud was under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. 22 The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

23 They made its seven lamps, as well as its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold. 24 They made the lampstand and all its accessories from one talent of pure gold.

The Altar of Incense

25 They made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it. 26 They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. 27 They made two gold rings below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. 28 They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

29 They also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense—the work of a perfumer.


Why would God want to have an Exodus for slaves who did not have a Bible. Israel even forgot their Bible,actually the story is taken from Judah, during the time the Temple was used to worship God.

The Father of the Prodigal Son, even in giving out His inheritance, lives in anticipation of the talents innate in the soul of the child - will come into plain sight and fulfillment.

Exodus is an important concept.

Jesus, as He died, brought us His innocence and magnificent goodness to His death as criminal. Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus created a new Heaven and a new Earth.

Our Father God told us about the sin He saw. "Jesus said, “Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do.”

Hebrews 6:4-6
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Can any one of us picture Good Friday, or the movie "Passion of the Christ" showing us a glimpse of what Jesus must have partially felt and say with good conscience that His Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness would cover something we casually do knowing this is a downfall to us?

We all have a good idea Meth is terrible for us. A loved one came to me and said he had something important to ask me. He asked me as he died, if he had killed himself over cigarettes. If I saw that as an object of guilt or shame or desire to die. And he was very serious because he cleared the room to ask. And I could see his level of pain. 
 

Jesus told us the Law brings great blessings. And Jesus said the Law is impossible for man to fulfill. Jesus means for us to strive for the Love God brings us. Jesus comes to fill the desperate gaps. Jesus was not a slave. Jesus is the Word of God. Light of the World. 



One of my favorite people on the planet, went to electric shock treatment for cigarettes traveling cross Continent several times to stop smoking. Proposed to his family a smokeless cigarette.  (Be careful of the vaporless cigarettes many use a petroleum product and you might as well smoke Vaseline). And wore many patches. But having been exposed to cigarettes at the age of 9, could not conquer this life ending addiction. Endured oxygen canisters for 10 years in embarrassment. And explained to the child who loved him, he would go on until he was found to look as skinny as a stick. Being so kind as to prepare that child.

This loved one asked me why he was loved since he wasn't a saint. He witnessed by telephone the vast Kingdom he saw the day he was passing.

Romans 1 explains God tells us personally, because Jesus is the Light and Life in all of mankind what we are to Him.

He had four children, a wife he absolutely profoundly adored. A thriving business keeping him very busy. A profound dislike of a church that would treat God's grace with disrespect. And he found time to move his grandmother closer to him, who was blind and deaf. She led him to Jesus Christ by telling him she was going to Heaven, she loved him too much not to go to Heaven until he knew the Jesus who saves. Because Jesus Loves him that much. His grandmother made sure. He took care of his mother who was always gone and at night, as child, he would hug the clothes in her closet. Every day he called her. And he gave witness to Going Home to God.

Jesus is meant to close our gaps. Not be held up in any form of disrespect. Love should not be disrespected.

Father God, You are Love. Jesus is our Hero. Thank You, Father God. We sometimes forget Your Greatness, Father. Christianity was not honored by the Roman Empire. People with Christ in them, Loved what was real and the environment You gave them. In only the Holy Spirit, lives and hearts are loved and warmed to You. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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