Psalm 108 ~ With God we shall do valiantly

Psalm 108

My heart is steadfast, O God!

I will sing and make melody with all my being!

2 Awake, O harp and lyre!

I will awake the dawn!

3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 That your beloved ones may be delivered,

give salvation by your right hand and answer me!

7 God has promised in his holiness:

“With exultation I will divide up Shechem

and portion out the Valley of Succoth.

8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim is my helmet,

Judah my scepter.

9 Moab is my washbasin;

upon Edom I cast my shoe;

over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

11 Have you not rejected us, O God?

You do not go out, O God, with our armies.

12 Oh grant us help against the foe,

for vain is the salvation of man!

13 With God we shall do valiantly;

it is he who will tread down our foes.


We all wake up differently. I am far less talkative in the morning. What I have found is that sometime in the morning - I truly feel like saying, "Thank You, Father God, I am here today."

Enemies - we all have those who dislike us. We even create our own problems. God will strengthen us to do our lives following His Plan.

We need to be awake and alert for Him. To have that time when God is telling us His mercies renew - are recognized. Psalm 138 says God gives us strength.  We need to lean into that moment when God is renewing our souls.  God is making us sufficient for the day - for His purposes.

God's earth, created at His Word, sometimes called the Big Bang Theory, creating a system on our earth of rain, becoming water, washing into the ocean, and becoming humidity and storms creating the cycle again. The Spirit renewing us as we rely upon HIM. His Sky Reflecting His Glory.

God give us a system each day. In genuine comfort. Systems exist even if we are unaware, like natural systems that are apparently chaos. And actually are complex systems. Creating emerging behaviors. We can be unaware of our own patterns. Renewal is a Wind and repeat pattern of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer journals and even old prayer request cards show us God is Working. We need to be diligent with even texts of Joy in our own lives - repeat patterns and moments of Joy - can easily be forgotten. Our patterns can confirm our own repeat thoughts or we can look for new Wind in the Holy Spirit.

Ending our day knowing we have been in conversation with Father God. Asking Him to renew us with encouragement, strength and new thoughts as the day closes. Giving thanks that in Father God - He found our day sufficient and pleasing to Him.

God would never comfort us with a lie. God is Truth, Love, Joy, Peace, Mercy, Strength in His Righteousness. God is where we will place our faith, hope, trust, Joy and Love. God's promises are for us as we seek Father God. Jesus is the exact nature of our Creator, Father, Greatest Love, Greatest Power to Do His Will.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 37:39

The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble.

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Psalm 33 ~ Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

Psalm 33

1 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous. Praise befits the upright. 2 Praise the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings. 3 Sing to him a new song; play skilfully on the strings, with loud shouts. 4 For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. 5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.


6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; he put the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

13 The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind. 14 From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth— 15 he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds. 16 A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 17 The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.


18 Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19 to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.


20 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield. 21 Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.


Today,in Georgia and Alabama as we rode along, the sunset wasn't recoded well on my phone. But the sky was identical to yesterday's photo of the sunset in early spring. God uses these messages to say, "Know I am here in your lives. Know I Love You. Know and Believe I am true, that faith, hope and Love are the best of life. All of My Promises are for you and real."

Peace. We want to have this oasis of joy. God tells us to cheer up. This Life is guaranteed to have troubles. Jesus will solve, cover, destroy, finish, recreate situations for us to learn. No. Jesus says He will overcome. With the Heavens proclaiming the Glory of God -
I'd say - God is indeed correct, again.

God says His fruit is Peace, well yes, but Love is first and Joy. Finding this in the midst of the push and pull of life. Sometimes we put up with situations with an enforced sense of calm - to give Love. Then we let that Love as an action begin to plant the seeds of Joy and Patience. With the balance being - let Love be genuine.

Jesus is pronounced very similarily to Joshua. A compliment to Joshua for discovering the Balance of God's Work in our lives - daily.

To wake and ask God - please be part of my heart today. To say in effect - let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to You. Oh Lord, my rock and redeemer.


To be very aware when the mercies of Father God renew each day - to tell ourselves even by text - what is exciting about today. The wonder of the Wind of Life picking up. God says if we earnestly seek Him - we will discover this Presence of God. Even as you pray for the ill and the needy you see in stores and airports. God is a bringer of hope and healing. God does not lie. He is bringing Salvation to the World through Jesus Christ. Believe this - God says the work of mankind is to believe Him.

How will we do this - God is our help - we ask Him to do this with us.

God bless us all. He can do this in Jesus Christ, He Is God. Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves +

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Joel 2:18-29 ~ Be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!

Joel 2:18-29

18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land
and had pity on his people.
19 The Lord answered and said to his people,
“Behold, I am sending to you
grain, wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
a reproach among the nations.

20 “I will remove the northerner far from you,
and drive him into a parched and desolate land,
his vanguard [face] into the eastern sea,
and his rear guard [his end] into the western sea;
the stench and foul smell of him will rise,
for he has done great things.

21 “Fear not, O land;
be glad and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things!
22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

23 “Be glad, O children of Zion,
and rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given the early rain for your vindication;
he has poured down for you abundant rain,
the early and the latter rain, as before.

24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 I will restore to you the years
that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
my great army, which I sent among you.

26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

Blessings. Miracles. Answered Prayer. The great things of the Lord involve Mercy from our Father. When the people, God rescued from slavery, cried out for a king, God did not withdraw His support from them. In the same way - Jesus did not let Peter sink in the water. Jesus could have let Peter suffer... just a bit. He didn't.

Matthew 14:31
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Immediately - sin was pushed aside. Sin removed and God let His blessing flow.

John 6:28-29
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Hannah proclaimed after a wonderful work of the Lord:

1 Samuel 2:2
2 “There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10
9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

1 Kings 15:4
Nevertheless, for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong.

1 Chronicles 17:27
Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed
forever.

O LORD, You are God! You have promised these good things to your servants. For You make us most blessed forever; You make us glad with the joy of Your presence. You give and thankfulness lives in us with Your Spirit. In thanksgiving, we say - Amen! Praise be to You, Lord Jesus Christ.Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰

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Isaiah 51:9-11 ~ Everlasting joy: attain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing will flee away

Isaiah 51:9-11

“Awake! Awake! Clothe yourself with strength,
you arm of the Lord!
Awake, as in days gone by,
as in generations of long ago.
as it not you who split apart Rehab,
who pierced that sea monster through?

Was it not you who dried up the sea,
the waters of the great deep,
who made a road in the depths of the sea
so that the redeemed could cross over?”

“The scattered ones of the Lord will return,
and they will enter Zion with singing.
Everlasting joy will be upon their heads;
they will attain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away."

John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."

John 6:40
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Ephesians 1:23
The fulness of Him that filleth all in all.

Joel, in the Power of the Holy Spirit, said we will all see Him. Paul also wrote of this Glory. John tells us all people will see Jesus.

Revelation 1:7
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰

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Easter 2015 Two Millenniums are Less than a Day to God

Luke 23:48-56 ~ on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment

The Women at Jesus' Tomb, painted by James Tissot

Luke 23:48-56

48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. 
 

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

 
Matthew 27:62-66
62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.


After a death, a severe blow - a tragedy, we know people pray. We know because we are fortunate to live in a time the city television news crews record people saying - they prayed and prayed to God.

Mary, His Mother, John - the beloved disciple and His Mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome, the women from Galilee, and there were also many other women who came up with Jesus to Jerusalem. They had stood at the Cross of Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.

What did they do on the last Saturday Sabbath. Passover. Holy Saturday. What was the first Easter Vigil? It is known -from the beloved disciple, John's writings. (John wrote in John's Gospel, in John 1,2 and 3, and Revelation.) 

It was not hard for John to Believe the end of the world - they had all discussed, personally, with Jesus - the end, was near. John, in the Scripture writings, had seen evil triumph. John had witnessed Jesus' Glory as the Son of God. John referred to this Glory seeing Moses and Elijah, hearing the Voice of God proclaim Jesus as His beloved Son, so 16 times in John's Gospel he speaks of Glory without breaking his promise to Jesus not to reveal it directly. John had witnessed the Son of God cry out His feeling of abandonment from God and he heard Jesus cry out His forgiveness. John spoke always of the Glory and the evil.

In the midst of feeling like evil  triumphed over The Messiah, what do we know was recorded? The crucifixion records shocked survivors clung with all their might during the first Easter Vigil. They looked at what their soul could cling to. They clung to in the hope, the consolation they were seeking from God Almighty's power and mercy.

We know today - from Good Friday. Jesus gave Himself for us. To forgive our sins and weaknesses - that in Jesus we are The Easter People. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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Good Friday

Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe.

They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.

Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”

So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.
Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”

When the chief priests and the officers saw Him, the world, you and I cried, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Jesus Christ came to save sinners. The sinners cried for His death.

The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Matthew 27:12
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.

Mark 14:61
But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"

Mark 15:5
But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

Luke 23:9
He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.


Isaiah 53

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. 

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. 

8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?

These are the Holy Words of God. The Sadducean Council records record Jesus, those who held His trial at night away from the people, in secrecy. The census of Augustus is found. The Historians of 4 Roman Emperors record Jesus and his brother James and the Christian followers who refuse to leave Jesus - risen. Twice the Roman Historian, taken from Judea, after the 70 A.D. Josephus records Jesus as Christ. Only one of the records is debated. We are comforted by the words of men. God is more Honest. Josephus is the first to call the followers Christians. Several historians who followed Jesus are found in the next century and held in honor.


Jesus spoke 7 times as He died in innocence to ask His Father for His Kingdom to allow pardon for sin. Sheol would no longer contain those Judged correctly by God to be wicked.


Luke 23:34:
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.


Luke 23:43:
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.


John 19:26–27:
Woman, behold your son. Son Behold your mother.


Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?


John 19:28:
I thirst.


John 19:29-30:
It is finished.


Luke 23:46:
Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.





Forgiveness - God knows I need this.

Salvation - is God's Purpose.

Relationship - God Loves me.

Abandonment - God has lived and understands my fears

Distress - God understands the depth of my immediate needs and concerns.

Triumph - All of the Bible points to Jesus for this day.

Reunion - God runs to His Son. In Jesus Christ I am a Child of God.



How is this night unlike all others?

Acts 8:33
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.

We are the Family of Jesus Christ. We will speak of Him. His Life was taken from this earth. We will Live for Him.


Father God,
You are Beautiful in what You did on the Cross to save me. When I stand before You, I want to say, "Jesus Christ saved me. Again, and again and again. I did valiantly for You and yet, I required Your Righteousness. Thank You for Your profound Love."

Dwell in my heart more through faith; root me in You, let me be grounded in Your Love, Help me to be able to comprehend with all the saints of earth and Heaven, the breadth and length and height and depth, to Know the Love of Christ! Surpassing knowledge! Please God, fill me up with all the fullness of Your Love.

Help me to stay on Your Path - Your Good Will for a Hope and a Future for me and the people I Love. For those You have given me in my Life. For You to forgive us. Guide us. Lead us. Give us Wisdom from You. Protect and Encourage us, please Father. We pray covered in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰

Matthew 27:54
When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!"

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1 Peter 1 ~ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

1 Peter 1

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you!


3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves
but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, 
things into which angels long to look.

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, 
set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 
who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead 
and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love,
 love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 
 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you!

When you talk to the millennial generation, they say - "Hey, that's great Jesus died for me and wants to save the world. And so we remember Easter with bunnies and easter eggs and, hopefully, Church and good lunch. But isn't it kind of sad that Jesus died and the world sorta goes on and all those old guys in robes died pretty young? I mean, it's all good sure, but they all died - that's well, um, not to be rude, but it's sort of bad marketing. Isn't it?"

Honest conversation is a good thing. You learn what gate is closed and what to say.

The Book of Revelation tells us Heaven is 12 Open Gates.

God has an open door policy. Prayer is something God values. 
Everyone should feel comfortable with asking God.
That's one of the reasons there is a class called the "Alpha Course" - ask all the questions you ever wanted.

Look at this passage - this is Peter. The man buried by Emperor Constantine 80 feet under the Vatican alter. The Catholic Church worked for 60 years using architects and biblical scholars to decide the bones of the 62 year old Hebrew were indeed those of Peter. The Church did not want to make a mistake in this announcement.

Peter was a favorite of God's. Peter made a lot of mistakes. Tried to walk on water and fell in. Then denied Jesus and didn't try to walk upon his own righteousness - swimming to meet the Victorious and Living Jesus and have breakfast - where Peter - having obtained Forgiveness from GOD Himself - promptly starts fussing.

Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

I'm sure Peter has more authority in Heaven than the keys to 12 open gates - but with "real" Peter - Jesus might have smiled!

Peter does indeed have a rock to stand upon:

Matthew 16:18 ~ Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church.(Scripture for Today talked about this in greater detail, with more pictures in an earlier post.)

This rock was placed above Peter in the cemetery. The bones around Peter, those other bones are still somewhat preserved, however do not compare to the remains of Peter. The Vatican alter is 80 feet above Peter's tomb that Emperor Constantine surrounded the grave with a pink marble relatively intact from 370 A.D. 

The graffiti commenting on Peter as a servant of God, matches the plaster in Peter's home in Capernaum. Peter's house became a house Church in continual usage.

Jesus was being figuratively true in telling his disciples about Peter being a rock Jesus would build an unborn Church upon. And Jesus was being literally true. Jesus being God, sees very far in the events of the world and our human hearts.



So, they all overcame fear and died young for Jesus.

Well, not exactly. Peter died at age 62. In 62 A.D., this isn't really, really young. Yes, some of the disciples died young. And some died telling of the angels and of Heaven opening to them. They were far more impressed with where they were going - into God's Heavenly Kingdom - and not regular ol' life. What the Disciples record seeing - as Heaven opens - is recorded today when people return from near death experiences. Many people back from these Heavenly experiences are vastly joyful - not for survival - but the incredible joy they have found in discovering God is True. For Real. All those promises - Matter. And are far beyond what we can even - imagine.

So who actually is this letter above addressing?

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.


These are the apostles, of course. The brothers of Jesus are recorded going forth with their wives (yep the old guys with robes where young and married!) The Dispersion is not just Jews who have left Israel - these are the "multitudes" who saw with their own eyes that Jesus raised the young man on the way to be buried in Nain, Judea and saw him alive and well. Not just Lazarus. They knew because they had seen the dead live - that Really and Truly - Jesus Is Alive.

"Multitudes" filled the 36 Acres of the Temple. It's fact based up on historical documents that Passover in the Temple in Jerusalem drew about 2 million people. The records of Temple Purchases are still available. So Multitudes could have very well meant 2 million people - just like the Times Square photo of 2 million people turning out to see the end of World War II.

A letter, perhaps 16 years after the death of Jesus - would have a hard time traveling by boat to reach a few apostles.
16 years is the length of time that the Emperors took - before the Name of Jesus as God - began to bother them with the miracles the size of The Acts of the Apostles. The Emperors began putting to death people and Scripture. For a few years? No, almost 400 years.

Making Papyrus 46
an amazing and perfectly reserved set of 300 chapters of the Scriptures from the time of Disciple John ( -who lived to be verbally fighting lack of faith and making new disciples in the 2nd Century A.D. Really old!) .

Now, John, when you read his Books of the Bible - you cannot help but melt. This is the man who never deserted Jesus except for that itsy - bitsy time he sort of asked to be really important in Heaven and get a good reward.  John walked with awe with Jesus and found God to be... Love! John writes a vast amount of Love and pride in the people he has encountered who walk and serve God.

Peter - when Peter writes of Jesus - you see how much Peter wants to help Jesus. Because with Jesus are the "Words of Life."

So who lived to be old - old? The people who stayed with the ones serving Jesus. John lived to be so old you see why we see 14 generations every 500 years. Forget only the good die young!  Luke stayed to the end with Peter. Mark stayed with Peter. Mark stayed with Timothy with Paul. These men - live to be Really Old. Titus lived to be very old and was very favored as being a loving, loving Christian. Titus was one of the 70 first disciples discussed in the New Testament.

You see - the Christians did not get cut a break for getting Constantine to become Christian and make Christianity "the good deal."  Christians went for loving people to understand God loves them. And this love changed the world.

We don't stand upon our own goodness.

The Disciples were afraid and sinful. When they discovered that "Heaven is For Real" - they found a huge pearl of amazing value - and they began to sell all they could to obtain that Field.

They wanted Jesus to know - that He died and they could receive forgiveness.   And in gratitude and In Love - they want others to know that Jesus Is The Real God.

Father God, God of Love, Live in my heart. I want the adventure of seeing You more and more. Your path for me is a plan of a Hope and a Future. 

Keep me on Your path and help me to discover the unique person You have created in Your Love. Bless me with Your Blessings. Protect me. Help me to be wise. Forgive me. Know all of my variations and shades and sins.

 Because You are about these things You value most in us - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. We love what You love to bring forth. Dwell in me Lord Jesus again. 

Thank You Father God for the movie "Do You Believe?" It's wonderfully, wonderfully done and expresses Your Love so well. In Jesus we always are able to give You one thing You did not give us first - Gratitude. Thank You Father God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰

1 Timothy 1:15

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost

Titus 3

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

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Jesus ~ our Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous

1 Timothy 2

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all

After Jesus died, The First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. argued how divine was Jesus. Saying Jesus was not divine. This is, of course, reprehensible. Jesus is perfectly described in the Bible and we understand how Jesus was before Abraham. Jesus records He was there and laughed at the joy of creation in Proverbs.

Father God, ours through the free gift of Jesus, for those who believe in in Jesus as the Son of God, know God wanted something from choosing to walk among us as Life, Light, Grace, He created all things.

God wanted to know what we feel like as we journey through life. Jesus cried out from the Cross, not to be forsaken. Jesus was dying, according to doctors of the profound shock at abandonment of His brothers, His disciples, and His favor. Jesus came to Save Mankind. And as mercy goes He did not suffocate on the Cross but died of a broken heart - much faster than the usual suffocation of crucifixion.

Jesus knew there were times when God's Spirit was with Him and in that power - He amazingly "healed them all."

With the certainty of knowing He could call down Angel's Holy Armies to Save Him - Jesus willingly opened his arms on the Cross to save us. This is divine faith. Jesus us showed us with complete certainty He is a man and God of emotion and moods that tell us of His personality.


John 15:9-11
Jesus said, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

Matthew 14:14
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Mark 10:21
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Jesus didn't try to be less than human
by shielding Himself from grief and pain. He allowed Himself to suffer these normal human emotions.

With this human life of joy, love, praise, healing, compassion ~
Jesus felt pain, sorrow, suffering, fear, doubt and died by being literally broken hearted; Mayo clinic doctors put up a website analyzing all of Jesus physical manifestations of His Sacrifice.
Jesus knew what it was to doubt His Sacrifice and be apart from His Father. Jesus knew about our doubts - He lived and died them in bravery.

Jesus knows Life and Our Lives.

John tells us when Jesus saw Mary weeping over Lazarus' death, "He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled." As Mary and Martha were taking Jesus to the body of Lazarus, "Jesus wept." He didn't try, as we all do in times of sorrow, to be outwardly "strong" and hide or deny His feelings. His strength showed through His tears. He had the strength to care enough to weep.

Jesus also wept over Jerusalem as He longed to gather us as chicks under His wings and set things right.

Jesus lived the Scripture words -  "Be Angry" and, being God, He did not sin.

John 2:15-16
"So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves He said, 'Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" 



Jesus even comforted the Disciples regarding His death - knowing - they would desert Him.

John 16:32-33
As Jesus prepared to leave His disciples in death He told them, "But a time is coming and has come, when you will be scattered, each to His own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus had emotions in healing. A drive to heal.




Jesus is filled with love and compassion  for those who earnestly seek Him.

Mark 7 
Immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

Zacchaeus climbed the sycamore tree and certainly knew when you earnestly seek Jesus - you have found His Love and Salvation.

 


Jesus has the Power of God.

Luke 6
19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

Luke 5
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

Jesus had grave worries in the Garden of Gethsemane. He asked for comfort of companionship and was failed then as well. Jesus knew loneliness.

Jesus told us to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.

God was living our life and He learned of bleak in, "There was no room for them in the Inn."
How God must have hurt to see as His Child would be born in a barn.


We do not live with peace all the time on this earth. When we have that - that is a gift. When we can obtain not to worry - that is a treasured Gift.

Elijah despaired life seemed bleak - God did not go huffy about that.
Moses turned God down. 
Peter could not walk on water in front of Victorious Jesus. Stunning.

God says if you can obtain the lack of worry, this is as excellent as Jesus in the boat. And He honors that with this calm being a fruit of the Spirit.

How is super calm going to weep with those who weep and rejoice with rejoicers?

Jesus wept
Jesus worried on the cross as He died of heart failure.  Jesus wanted to know our lives fully.

God hid Himself some from Jesus. Jesus' words tell us this. Jesus told God this is being mortal. He walked our shoes.
God Loves us.

JESUS is Indeed OUR MEDIATOR. Jesus volunteered and walked this life - fully.

This is the JOY.
God does not sit and scold many times in the Bible but He spoke honestly. Who groveled before God? Hannah and she was thought  to be drunk.

Thank You Father God, for Your tremendous sacrifice in Jesus. You have written Your Word that we see Jesus as fully like us - human. Until Jesus suddenly displays Himself to Be Your Son throughout the Bible. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰

Jeremiah 33:8

I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.

1 John 2:1

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

1 Timothy 2

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all

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