Luke 23:26-31 ~ a great multitude of the people

Today in Jerusalem, this is a model of the 2nd Temple with a close-up of Solomon's Porch.

Luke 23:26-31

       

And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.              

28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”      
         

A good question, surely, when we are 2 millenniums past Jesus giving us all of God's promises and changing Heaven forever.

A great multitude of people Mourned for Jesus. These are the people in the Book of Acts who filled the Temple.  They are referred to as a multitude again.    

Acts 2:6       
And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.  

Acts 5:12 -15      
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord,

multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.       

The number of sacrifices recorded at the Temple, would number around 2 million participants on High Holy Days.    About 400,000 at each Temple Holy Day Service, several times a day.

Joel 3:14 

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

People will forever disagree if the day is all at once, or like the people who come back from near death experiences - immediately. Time belongs to God. It is His invention. I suppose He can use time any way He wants. We, who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, will find out what time is all about in Heaven when we get there. 

What does the Book of Acts, Chapter 2, say about the time when the wood becomes dry?   
 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel ^{[2nd Chapter of Joel]}:  
 

¹⁷  “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,             
and your young men shall see visions,          

and your old men shall dream dreams;      
¹⁸ even on my male servants and female servants        
  in those days I will pour out my Spirit,  and they shall prophesy.      
 ¹⁹ And I will show wonders in the heavens above          
and signs on the earth below,                    
 blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;   
  ²⁰  the sun shall be turned to darkness        
 and the moon to blood,        
before the day of the Lord comes,       
the great and magnificent day.

  ²¹ And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’  
 

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Psalm 119:1-24 ~ Blessed are they whose ways are blameless

4QPs Dead Sea Scroll Psalm 119 First Century A.D.

Psalm 119:1-24

Aleph
1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
3 They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.


Beth
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.


Gimel
17 Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word.
18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
19 I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.
21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed and who stray from your commands.
22 Remove from me scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes.
23 Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees.
24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.


Psalm 119 is incredibly long.
And uses all of  the Hebrew Alphabet.
The stairs were used as a tool used in teaching today -  employing  a clever teaching method!

Psalms are thoughts on the nature of God. His vast attributes and wonderful qualities.
Psalms  are very useful in framing our own prayers.

With Psalm 119. we should recognize this is a prayer that is good - especially  in times of stress.

The Hebrew Name for this Prayer Psalm is in Hebrew, known by its opening words, "Ashrei temimei derech" "Happy are those whose way is perfect." Obviously this would be God. And because God's ways are not our ways - Forgiven people are covered in the Righteousness of Jesus. Our prayers are heard, we receive comfort. We look to God and do not leave empty.

Hope - God favors me.
Faith - God says He does.
Love - All in the Universe - believing in me, guiding me, comforting me, strengthening me, sustaining me, blessing me. Allowing me to draw from Father God.

Love never fails.

God is the Light within us. Sustaining Him. We can hand over to God our cares and concerns, worries and He will take them. God says in Psalm 139 even what is dark - is Light to Him because He shines that brightly.

That is our Father God!

 
Father God, In Your Son is our breastplate of righteousness. In the name of Jesus we find a strong refuge. In Jesus Christ alone shall we rest. And in His name we hold up our loved ones. Amen in Jesus and His Good Will.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Jeremiah 9:24
 Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

Romans 3

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Galatians 3
20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

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Matthew 6:25-34 ~ and all these things will be added to you

Matthew 6:25-34

 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Life is a lot like being in the Mississippi River, we are pushed by tremendous forces we cannot see or control. We have eddies and resting places, we convince ourselves - now we in control. We have life in our own boundaries. But the people we love - move, they age, they change - we change. The things, the places, the people we love are not within our grasp, our vision… forever. It isn’t all sadness! There is more to come.


Prayer is the coin paid to Gratitude. ~Jessi Lane Adams


Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us. ~Socrates


Be thankful that God's answers are wiser than your answers. ~William Culbertson


Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God. ~Edwin Keith

 
As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools.


It is good for us to keep some account of our prayers, that we may not unsay them in our practice. ~Matthew Henry


Deep down in me I knowed it was a lie, and He knowed it. You can't pray a lie - I found that out. ~Mark Twain


And help us, this and every day, to live more nearly as we pray. ~John Keble

 
God can pick sense out of a confused prayer. ~Richard Sibbes


What we usually pray to God is not that His will be done, but that He approves ours. ~Helga Bergold Gross


Philippians 4:6-8 ~
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

I had the opportunity, today with someone facing real and profound circumstance - with great calm, to have this post brought up to me in conversation - which makes you feel - pretty blessed to have this quoted back to you. Edward and I had this conversation.

Seeing this man taking each day with peace, with determination to enjoy the day, to do the best with what is given to him, to have honest conversations about emotions and events surrounding his  circumstance.  And the next part of the conversation was about fatalism - is God so in love with His Plan - His Book of Life - that our prayers change His plans???

Matthew 5
Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the humble and gentle, for they will inherit the earth.
{I saw a new Heaven and a new earth.}




Fatalism - God just does what He is going to do. We are forgetting the eyewitnesses of Jesus. Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee 3 times 13 miles - 21 KM. Jesus was from time to time met at the shore by the person He was coming to visit. An unexpected visit for the beloved of God - about to see and know the Love of God in healing.

God has a purpose for our lives. Faith is - we are not just cog 083034805805t8pdipig-g9. God writes us Life is a Test. Jesus tells us when we are calm with His purpose - we are going to find more Joy. Because God interweaves all things for good. Believing God is working today, Jesus told us this.  God approves of us finding the day sufficient. Finding the blessings in that day.


Psalm 118 was a Psalm even Queen Elizabeth rested upon as she faced death in the Tower of London as an innocent teenager.

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say: "His love endures forever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever."
5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.
6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.

She suffered from terrible migraines and the people who cared for her were always in great concern. And God found a path for her to fulfill her purpose. Brave people are remembered for their bravery.

Jeremiah found an essential ingredient to the Wisdom of God - far above us. Jeremiah was surrounded by a nation being carried off into slavery - Jeremiah was telling them in the middle of these days - step by step what would happen next. And these events that were frightening and overwhelming - were part of God's Plan. And what carried Jeremiah through this???

God spoke this to His  people  listening to the voice of God -

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 29
And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

We are all headed toward the same goal - God. Because of Jesus and what He brought us - Father God. God is Love.

Isaiah 40:9
You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"

Jesus said we are all headed to Paradise. In Joel, in Romans, in the Book of Revelation - all will stand before Jesus.

I can only imagine what it will be like

When I walk by your side

I can only imagine what my eyes will see

When your face is before me

I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory

What will my heart feel

Will I dance for your Jesus

Or in awe of you be still

Will I stand in your presence

Or to my knees will I fall

Will I sing hallelujah

Will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes

And I find myself standing in the Son

I can only imagine when all I will do

Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine, yeah

I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory

What will my heart feel

Come now Font of Every Blessing. Lord Jesus Christ.

What will we encounter when we find ourselves in front of the Living God?

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

James 2:13

 Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Matthew 6:33

The kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits!

Forgives all your iniquity

Heals all your diseases

Redeems your life

Crowns you with 
steadfast love and mercy

Satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's

Hebrews 4:16

Let us then with confidence draw near to the Throne of Grace, 

that we may receive mercy

 and find grace to help in time of need.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Matthew 7 ~ The narrow gate

Matthew 7

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”


28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.


The Scripture has one portion to start the whole 7th Chapter of Matthew's Gospel.

The Narrow Gate.  Relationship is the Key answer.


The Gate opens when we say "Jesus is Lord" and believe in our hearts.
We have opened up our soul to have the Lord God Almighty, Ancient of Days, Creator of All Things to dwell in us with Love. Jesus is God.

The first stage of my soul being open to God's Love was to realize - we are on different paths in the Body of Christ. As a teenager,  I took this very judgmentally. Really if I'd been listening with Love, I'd have found a Scripture verse that says

1 Corinthians 4:15
Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

What this verse is saying to a new teenage Christian believer is this - Look To God Our Father as your Gospel.

How do we deal with - don't be judgmental and not throw our pearls before dogs?
Carefully. And it is telling us in the Spirit of Truth - we don't owe everyone an answer. It can be turned into gossip.

Jesus is telling us the path to God is a narrow gate.
We are not looking for worldly approval. It's not always a good thing. And not seeking to be a rebel without a cause or create a stir to gain attention. Jesus didn't find that life was a smooth path. Neither did any of the apostles or anyone we know.

1 Corinthians 2:11
For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? No one can know the thoughts of God except God's Spirit.

A narrow gate is where you place yourself as you actually are before Father God. When we uncircle who we are to reveal to Him ourselves - He fully knows anyway - we are creating paths of honesty to God that create renewal and regeneration. We disclose to God when we feel like the movie "Nemo" - mine, mine, mine, mine.

We really are not looking for human praise - the praise of God is far more enduring than seasonal fruit even of Love, Joy, Peace. We seek God first. 

If I feel selfish and hide something away, I am not giving the ones who know me best the opportunity to bless or affirm me. This might well be a path that God affirms for me. And has always been His Plan. Recently, I told loved ones - I have an idea - and received blessings for that. It's a plan I've been in conversation with with God. And it's private in nature. Jesus healed a lot by calling people to a private time with only the two of them.

Seeking the narrow gate, seeking Jesus, is going to lead us to 12 more open gates. The timing is God's - which is another way to say God answers our prayers. Yes. No. Later. But all prayer is answered. Long term Christians - really do bounce - because they have learned - that life is full of circumstances - and we want to do unto others because - this could be us next. And That Mercy is Learned.

The Narrow Gate - where we sit and renew our soul to Jesus. Is going to take us further than the good seasons of good Spiritual fruit. We all can love Jesus as He calms the storm. But we all know the wild winds of life will sometimes howl. We have to be more than Seasonal Love, Joy, Peace, Patience. And tell Jesus how we really are. To avoid becoming false to Jesus. Hoping HE will count the good years. Like the Christian song says, "To praise Him in the storm." We will build our relationship to Jesus knowing God is God and we are His Beloved. Jesus is renewing us.

Psalm 126

1 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.


Jude grew up all his formative years with Jesus as his brother. He believed firmly in Jesus as Lord and Heaven is the Kingdom of God. Jude knew Jesus had spoken of hell. Jude's comments on Heaven are very profound... let us look at what Jude learned from Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves†

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Common salvation - Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.
The archangel Michael did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

You must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”

Beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire.

To others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.


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Mark 6:14- 56 ~ the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word

Mark 6:14-56

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 

31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 

33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 

37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.”  

And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 

38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”

 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 

42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. 
And as many as touched it were made well.

Psalm 131
1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.

The Scripture passage of Mark 6 has a lot of Jesus' personality. Tenderly, Jesus reacts to his cousin's death. With privacy. With prayer. With healing of all who would come to Jesus and reach even to the fringe of his garment.

Jesus does not turn away from His ministry - even when pressed. Jesus is filled with human emotions and still does the task God would give Him.

Revelation 10

1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.

4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."

5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay!

7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."

8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."

9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."

10 I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.
11 Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."

Jesus met life in critical ways.
Being God, He reacted wisely, with emotions we will all experience.
And He did not despair. Using His days wisely.

Jesus was with God in Creation. Creating all things.

One of the ways, Jesus is God. Jesus fully knew John the Baptist was in Heaven by the time Jesus was brought the news.

Jesus could indeed fully understand what John the Baptist was now living as his earthly life was gone and John had been newly placed in Heaven.

Jesus is the exact nature of God. Fully able to understand all of our emotions. Being in the boat with us. Not passing us by. And perfect comfort because Jesus is not part of something too large for God. Jesus sees fully the complete circle of the life of John the Baptist. He is not mourning John being gone forever - lost. Jesus is mourning the fact John suffered at the end of his days left to him. John had moments wondering if John was sufficient and died in full accomplishment of God's purpose - not mistaken and wrong. John spoke of his questions about his own purpose - addressing them to Jesus, correctly. Jesus was sorry John had spent time wondering.

Jesus displays God's aspects - John displays mankind's aspects. 
Jesus perfectly tells us in God's exact nature - Emmanuel - Jesus is with us.

Jesus did not share John's wonder about the purpose of John's life. Jesus understood John had made fast God's plan for John. Jesus was in mourning for John feeling fear and needing His comfort.

Jesus fully saw John's full circle arrival into God's Glory - as Revelation describes.
Jesus knew that John had been in the place of Elijah. Jesus loved John and created a memorial of John feeding five thousand. And letting those earnestly seeking Him be healed. Just as John the Baptist was healed that day.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thessalonians 4:16

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.

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1 Corinthians 2 ~ What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him

1 Corinthians 2

And I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.
 For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 

For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him?  So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.


We believe Jesus is Lord. These photos of Christian events don't alarm us.

The events would cause our hearts to be warm for years as we recall this.

Believers believe. I doubt the showing of God's messengers really changes lives. Even though to have participated, would be wonderful.

What changes lives?

The Power of God.

Our soul telling us of what God brings forth in our lives as fruit.

We understand what God has brought forth in us and He teaches us again.

The mind of the Lord is good - He is good to us as we learn and re-learn.

God is a Good Shepherd.

Pharoah dreamed the same dream for a year. Gideon's parents were sent the Angel called Wonderful twice. Israel has been destroyed and raised up. God does amazing things.

Isaiah 44
26 Confirming the word of His servant And performing the purpose of His messengers. It is I who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited!' And of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built.' And I will raise up her ruins again.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Philippians 1
5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Nehemiah 9:6

 You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.

Deuteronomy 32:4

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

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

Revelation 21

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." 5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."

Deuteronomy 10:17

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God

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