Luke 6:17-26 ~ when everyone speaks well of you

Luke 6:17-26

He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.

Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24“But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.

25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.

Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.



Take the culmination of our life
To God.
Then take your - self.
What you like that makes you.
What could make you more of that Person to Him.
What YOU LOVE.
What you really are forgiven for.
What makes you worry and fret.
What you can do for those YOU LOVE.
What makes them more of what You Love about them.
And makes something you say as you go to Jesus - I did this.

What is your best and real self
What is your HA THAT"S ME SELF that's good.
WHY WE NEED TO BE FORGIVEN and say gasp THANKS.

And do that with the discipline you have.

This passage hits me hard.

Father God,
We can look and find passages where Jeremiah complained. Paul died. And David was very sad. We can see Rehoboam mess up Heaven and bring life.

Noah got drunk. People get mad. They don't care what your life is - they want this to be tidy and without feelings of discomfort, jealousy. They want God to act as if God was running for President.

Not creating His Son in scandal and being born in a barn from a town were family dwelled. Not seeing brothers rarely got a long in the Bible.

Joel Olsteen recently said a lot of life feels like life passed you over. And these are the moments that we can actively seek to do pull ourselves up only in belief God is for us. Clark said pull up our boot straps to love. Won't work. Only God creates in us the goodness to Love and Go Forth in hard circumstance.

The message of the Bible is to do our best. To not base self worth on the opinions of others who do not know our circumstances. That God covers offenses not with cheap and easy grace but with Sheer Love and Compassion when we pour our our earnestness to Him.

In faith, when we have given this our all and sit like Psalm 131, Jesus would say as He cradles us - there is no condemnation in Jesus Christ. Because God covers us with HiS Righteousness.

Father God, I know what I want for myself. What can I do for You today? Help me to get there with Your Help. In Jesus - who is Good. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

<><

John 9:1-23 ~ That the works of God might be displayed

 

John 9:1-23

9 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

Jesus is God. Jesus has the right to create harmony.
Jesus had the right to Judge.

Jesus absolutely -
Jesus loves you. Me too.
Jesus created Salvation and wants Christians to be in peace. The growth of new Fruit of the Spirit.
Jesus wants us to Grow in Him daily.


Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

Jesus is dealing with a major fear mankind has preventing growing closer to God.
We are afraid to tear down walls.

Soul to soul intimacy. Guts out and the fear of being rejected.

Philippians 3

1. Selfishness creates disharmony

James 4
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.


2. We are better at building something new and not maintaining. Weariness in doing good.
Today's John Chapter 9 passage has major fear of something new. Not a rejoicing at Good.

3. God is the only explanation for good.

4. Our culture tells us to improve ourselves, have more, sparkle better. Live for yourself. Ego - Edge God Out.

5. No team is created. We all need to nurture the people God brings us.

6. Selfless. We think of others, listening to what is said. Not just our own interests.
Creates something new.
Rising above behavior with kindness - creates a new harmony.
Jesus listened to the man needing healing. His background was carefully considered in the healing.

Showing up creates a new path.
Attention, listening, is giving of treasure. Listening is giving life.
Hospitality is a path. Even offering small things.

GALATIANS 6

Sowing and Reaping in God's Strength.

What does God want to Reap? God as Father tells us - ?
The story of the Prodigal Son - who do we admire in - the Jesus told us - this?
God admires - The Father. The Father is creating a team, enfolding souls, Upwards building. Doing the Work of - God.
Because ... very important... Love.


God wants us go plant, affirm, give Words of God. God's vision goes so far - He sees solutions, possibilities, forgiveness leading to new paths.
Respond to God - not what other's want you to do.

Galatians 6 Creates Growth

Not returning evil but rising up in God's strength.
Fruit of God is Galatians 5
Galatians 6 tells us how to Sow for God.

1. Respond to people gently.
God is going to give us the strength. We think of ourselves first. God is going to help us to overcome our natural inclination of self.

2. Do Good.
God and Peter - Jesus immediately reached down for Peter...
Jesus reached for the man who had been blind from birth - knowing there was a cost.
Pride leads to arguments. Criticism. Looking down at people. Competitiveness. Comparisons are not allowing us to being the unique people God has created us to be. Harmony in the Body of Christ.

3. Test our own work. Face the ouch. Bear our own personal responsibility.

Examine spaces...
A proud attitude. Topping the last story. Not admitting problems. Using humor as a weapon to create space.

Insecurity
The fear and disabilities of public opinion

Acquire the attitudes of God.
Courage to build love. Like Jesus making breakfast on the beach.
with all humility
and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another in love, (well put - patience!)
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace!


This passage of John 9 boldly tells us there is one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Therefore it says,

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

In God We Trust.

The news certainly is telling us the world offers no certainties. We are constantly besieged with what is wrong. The news then circles in the problems. God is always offering us the opportunity for renewal. For encouragement. When we believe God - we are strengthened. The prayers of a righteous man availeth much. How shall we attain this? The one touch of the favor of God? Easily. To pray the Lord's Prayer. We are covered. The Holiness of God. His Hopes and Aspirations for us. His Forgiveness. His protection. His guidance. In this Prayer, God opens His heart to us always.

Our Father,
Who art in Heaven,
Holy is Your Name,
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy Will be done on earth as in Heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread.
Forgive us our Sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
Deliver us from evil.
For Thine is
The Kingdom, The Power and The Glory.
Forever.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Father God, strengthen our hearts to Love as You do.
Today, I open my soul and all of me to You, Lord Jesus.
Encourage us to do good actions.
Give us wisdom to renew our lives.
In Hope we will go far with You, Lord Jesus.
In Faith, we give to You the ones we love and want to bring You forth for eternal Love.
The snare of death is broken,
and we have escaped!
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
In Love, dwell within us to be renewed on the wings of eagles.
Jesus our Living Bread, Our Shepherd, Our Salvation,
we call upon You with earnest hearts. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

<><

Luke 1:1-4 ~ The certainty of the things you have been taught

Abiding in Father God

Luke 1:1-4

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

 The Word of God is never limited. Jeremiah, like all the believers of God, reaps the promises of God. 

God has been orderly for centuries. Jeremiah was told from the beginning - he would turn out just fine for doing the Will of Almighty God. God teaches certainty in an uncertain world.

Jeremiah 26

Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord

19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear the Lord and seek his favor? And did not the Lord relent, so that he did not bring the disaster he pronounced against them? 

24 Furthermore, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

Jeremiah 1

1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, 3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

11 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

13 The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”

“I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.”

14 The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord.

“Their kings will come and set up their thrones
in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
and against all the towns of Judah.
16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people
because of their wickedness in forsaking me,
in burning incense to other gods
and in worshiping what their hands have made.

17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. 
Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 
18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 
19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.”


Certainty  - Worry, Circumstance, Endurance and the Nature of God.

So did Jeremiah worry? Jeremiah 4 tells us Jeremiah - worried! Good to know for all of us slugging along. The disciples worried. Jesus made bold statements! He said, "Do not worry little flock. God wants to provide."

What are we to think when Jeremiah is thrown to apparently die in a prison hole in King David's Palace where his servant Barruch went to Jeremiah to buy real estate in a besieged land? We are to remember that prophets and disciples worry. And to call up our gumption and remember Jesus immediately reached to Peter. We are to remember with supreme and overwhelming gratitude that God makes His promises good to all who have fallen short of God's goodness.

God is so Good, that nothing we could suffer would nullify God's willingness to make us righteous for His name's sake.

This is the God who would make breakfast on the beach for the disciples who failed. His forgiveness is so complete - they squabble with God over His Goodness to the loyal and loving disciple John.

When we are going to ask Father God for blessings - the blessing of being loyal as John's love is a good place to start. To be the Grace God bestowed in John's heart. John lived well - staying loyal to God. According to Roman Historians he converted many in the Colosseum by surviving unscathed a boiling vat of oil. John did not have the honor of being a human torch for the Games. Like Jeremiah, John was to encounter kings. John encountered the wrath of Emperor Domitian.

Blessings of Hanging in There When Circumstances are Uncomfortable

By survival with good will, John demonstrates with extreme long life why 14 generations cover 500 years in Scriptures. John demonstrated God's love of loyalty by still being in vigorous communication during the 2nd Century A.D. in the attitudes Christians should aspire towards. Collecting disciples instead of a nursing home. That Cave on Patmos Island? We should all get to live rent free on a mountain looking over the azure Mediterranean Sea - and to the is day the view is about the same. Imagine that. God did not have John imagine - his eyes were blessed to see and live with Jesus - God of Love.

We will end this Post remembering Jesus said: Jesus said to worry less.  Circumstances go up, down and around, teaching us to rely upon God's Promises. Life is building us to be the people God would want us to aspire to be.

May this KING bless us this Day with HIS Presence. Just as believers have for years trusted in God. So shall we trust in Jesus. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

<><

Psalm 126 ~ He who goes out weeping, bearing the seeds for sowing

Padre Island - where a Catholic priest brought his siblings' families with him to compete his tasks to God

Psalm 126

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.


Luke 12

8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

 

\We all are called to different ways to preach. God is vast like Ephesians 4.
What does He requires of us?

This is the beginning of Psalms. A good strategic place for this comprehension of the Power of God and His Scriptures. Jesus frequently astonished, worried and panicked His Disciples.

Today, we are too "with it" to fear God. To truly comprehend God, we must understand His Authority. 

John walked with Jesus, calling Jesus, God is Love. And then we understand, Perfect Love Casts Out Fear. God would never have us walk in fear, for He has given us a Spirit of Power, the Holy Spirit, Jesus gave us by cancelling our sin in His Sacrifice of Atonement. Joshua spoke of this in the balance God told him as he took upon himself the mantle of the failed Exodus. In Joy!

To do this path, we must speak with God and pray knowing He has set us on a course, like the way we want our kids to go to college. God is distant. And completely within us and completely in our thoughts. We are not far from God - ever. Nothing takes God's love from us. 

Be refreshed in the Gospel's comprehension again. Refreshed, encouraged, renewed.  John's first Chapter is glorious - and bland - as John tries to cover up the astounding Transfiguration - his explanations of God's Glory reverberate through the millenniums. No one has the ability to read this Chapter with a God inspired heart and come away the same.


And John takes what he has the talent to describe - covering the disciples fear, awe, questioning, lack of loyalty, loyalty and their sorrow - to the culmination of their approachability to God Himself. The last Chapter of John explains how closely they are attached to Jesus even in the squabbles. The Scriptures are Real. Relationship with the vast Father God of Ephesians 4 and all of the Bible, millenniums and His Good Creation.

God again covers us - He loves us first, And He doesn't leave or forsake us. A God who wants to save His world!

When you read the writing of Peter and Paul - they LOVED. Peter and Paul expected God. They expected that His message of Love would be respected and carried beyond their lives. They held up God and knew that His Work would go forth. They were not desperate. I'm sure they looked worried when towns descended upon their work. Empowered and equipped + to try again tomorrow.

When you really study how Love works - there is awe.

When you look at John ending His Gospel. Probably Mary was sitting with John, the Gospel ends by saying Jesus was so complex and so many things surrounded Jesus that the Gospels can't contain them all.

The fullness of Christ Jesus.

And these personal miracles grew. And more people showed up. People began to see the dead were raised. Jesus was creating an atmosphere of belief. He wasn't requiring them to believe what they couldn't understand. This is why the Mediterranean Ocean from one side to the next was rocked to the core in 16 years.Why a persecuting Empire went another 200 years after almost collapse from 300 years of persecution, to hope. Christianity propped up and propelled the Roman Empire.

Life changes with Jesus.

Luke 18
The tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

That's a great reminders for those bringing the Gospel forth. We need that lesson - like I do - today.

Father God, in all the tasks we would do for You, bless us to persevere,  endure and thrive. We ask Your blessings - In Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

<><

Mark 16 ~ Jesus rose

Mark 16

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]

9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Imagine you were part of the traveling Christian dispersion,  in the early centuries - on the Run because you Know Jesus is Lord. The first, second and third centuries had people doing this. As they fled, they carried the Good News with their travels.


Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.


The reason Mark 16 doesn't have the Resurrection in all manuscripts; If you are afraid of being killed for carrying the New Testament and yet, your heart Cries Out You Must Have Some Written Word of the Gospel...


1 Corinthians 15:12-19

12 If it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

The reason for Mark writing The Gospel of Mark was to put all the passages people in the early centuries spoke more about. These passages were the "hit parade" of the common themes where the heart was opened to the life of Jesus Christ. Mark was with Peter and these were the events most in demand to be retold. John's Gospel boldly states, more could be added to the Gospels.


The completion of Mark 16 ~ is why the Gospel is written. This important page of the Good News - traveled near the heart.

Father God turn the hearts of Fathers to their sons. Complete families with love. Strengthen what You would have strong, Father God. And refresh those who look to You. Thank You Father God for those who have worked for the Holy Spirit and for the families and this Nation. We look to You for these victories. In Jesus. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

<><

Psalm 81 ~ God our Strength

Psalm 81
To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith.[Musical Term] Of Asaph.

Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel,
a rule^{[just decree]} of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph
when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:

6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.
7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

People hardly ever sit down and ask you - why are you a Christian. What makes you interested in intransigent Christianity?

abiding, age-long, ancient, constant,
continuing, durable, enduring, evergreen, hardy,
immutable, lasting, long-lived,
long-standing, long-term,
of long duration, of long standing, perdurable, perennial, permanent, perpetual, persistent,
persisting, steadfast, tough, unfading, vital

Christianity has not had a changing message since the day the Book of Acts was becoming part of this planet. Jesus Christ loves us that much.

What possible blessing is there really in believing in something you cannot see and taste?

When I was 16, I went from being slightly snide about my grandmother's rock solid faith and was asked if I believed all of the impossible claims about God, His Son Jesus and the promises of the Written Word in Scripture. I discovered when asked to really decide I could and did. I accepted an asked for promise to read His Word every day. And I have. A couple of times, sure, I've been stuck somewhere without a Bible, but I have repeated the Lord's Prayer.

So what is the benefit of being a Christian. Eventually the line between faith unseen and imperceptible begins to dim. And perception becomes part of the continual prayer language of everyday. People say they have a hard time praying, after years of thinking and praying I think prayer and thinking to hand in hand. Like having a thought and turning that thought towards the ONE who is always listening to us anyway. Prayer isn't so much about a form as it is sharing in a heartfelt way, our thoughts, the virtues, flaws and sins.

In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder

There have been times I've wondered why hard things happen to good people. Only to realize God weaves what isn't good into His plan. Surely one of the purposes of life - growing up to go Home to Him - is not giving Him so much to sweep up. We really should not treat Him as if He was a waiter or a servant of ours. And even if we aren't praying for the sterling aspects of our lives, its important to remember we do ask in the Lord's Prayer for His will. And one of our purposes is to bring His Kingdom to earth in our lives, actions and words.

1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.

This is the Good News of Jesus Christ - The God we Love, Loves far more.




Matthew 6:27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This summer I was in Sam's with my son, Cal. It was a day I was trying to decide if I was upset enough to cry. Just about all of it all the time. And the clerk in the check out line said to me, Very Cheerfully, "Today is sufficient. God gives you JUST what you need today. Learn to be grateful and trust HIM." You know I was leaving the store, I had to go back and tell her - "God Bless YOU. You are just what I needed to hear." And being a person of faith - she smiled as bright as the sun at noontime.

You have to really appreciate the Light. Especially when He speaks to you so clearly. You know you have heard from Him. The words spoken to me have radically changed my life. Speak up even if your voice squeaks. Hold on - with gratitude - when you hear from HIM. Always look to HIM with awe and wonder.

I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

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

Mark 2:5
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

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






Father God bless the families that gather this weekend. Bless the driving.

Please help the people in Texas experiencing rain and flooding to have Your blessing of Help. Father if I could have a prayer request, I ask Your Word of Mercy to be fulfilled. I ask Lake Travis to be filled with all the rain -  the rest of Texas would like some gentle sunshine. Thank You for the END of Drought!

 Thank You, Father God, for the ones we love. Let us Bless You by showing Your great love to the ones we love and let that Love Pour Forth. In the Great Name of Jesus. Amen.

 Padre Cloudy, but hoping for some Sunshine!

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

<><

1 John 3:11-21 ~ The message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 3:11-21
~ Today's New International Version

11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a fellow believer is a murderer, and you know that no murderers have eternal life in them.

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you?

18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence. 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God.

John has themes that he returns to again and again as he writes. John talks about God as being light, without any darkness at all. Dark is not even dark to God. He then goes on to speak about God as love – "this is the message you have heard from the beginning" – we should love another (verse 11), as Jesus loves us.

Love, as John rightly suggests, should consume our whole being, and be evident from every pore of our body. What we do, what we say and what we think will reveal us to be people of love and people of God."

John saw Love modeled by Jesus. This would be John's eyewitness account of what drew the disciples of Jesus and the crowds Jesus had such compassion upon. We, of course, pale in comparison.

Come, Lord Jesus, dwell in me.

Conflict is inevitable. The Bible is all about personal stories of the path of reality becoming Love.

A grudge is when you let someone live in anger in your heart. Forgiveness is when you have allowed healing to begin and continue. When Jesus said turn the other cheek, He didn't mean not communicate. He meant don't stir up anger unnecessarily. Paul writes to Timothy - present yourself as one approved before God, present the truth accurately. The disciples faced false accusations and anger. They stood up to explain. Communication is not against what God asks of us.

Jesus lived so many examples that John said the world couldn't contain all the examples of Jesus. Not every one adored Jesus. And He forgave them. Jesus appeared to 500 - the 500 who had loved Jesus. Jesus was not to enter the house of his accusers again.

God did not invalidate Jesus' forgiveness. Jerusalem was not to burn to the ground until the forgiven generation of Jesus had died. God allowed peace to reign on those multitudes who had come to mourn the fate of Jesus. On the healed. On those great crowds who had come far into the wilderness to see Jesus.

In marriages, in families, in loving friendships - people have disagreements. In the early Church. In the disciples. In the last Chapter of John's Gospel. 1 Corinthians 13 explains the perfect Love God has in His sufficiency for those who do the work God gives mankind to believe God and trust Him. This is being held by God's grace, mercy and favor as He longs to put us under His wing. God longs to love us. He is the Prodigal Father - He is not about earned in His unobtainable gift of Salvation for those who profess and believe in their earnest hearts. This is how God says there is no condemnation in Jesus Christ. This is not easy Grace. It is earned by the death of Jesus. A most serious concept. Once a friend gasped to me upon watching "The Passion of the Christ" - how could we possibly, ever, ever watch that - unless we Knew Easter Was Coming?

How do we take an argument in a marriage or anywhere else and not become a prisoner to a grudge or a vow or a family? Truly this takes God to make a path. Forgiveness, a way to bend and yield with mercy. We have to fight the good fight for a true peace. We cannot allow half truths to press peace into a meaningless phrase. The truth should not be treated as if it is not known. And encouraged to be spoken again - if a fact is known - this is known.

Paul told Timothy - present yourself as one approved - Timothy knew in his heart to God, he was approved - teach the message of truth accurately.

Love allows people to make mistakes and love allows communication. People admit their flaws and are allowed to be forgiven for truths expressed. Pressing people to admit a fault not their own and asking false submissiveness is not a path of love. Taking one's own emotions to find fault with another not responsible but obtainable to rail at - is not a path of truth. False implications are not love. But allowing mistakes to be made and moving past them with truth expressed is. If we look for perfect people, we are asking for a false pose. God Himself says we are flawed. It takes God to make forgiveness.

What we do with believers of God is this:

Hebrews 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

We believe People of God have the goodness of Reasonableness and Justice. We believe Loving people have God in them. We expect them to draw near and to be approachable and loving. We expect to be able to reason with the Beloved of God. We believe a faith of discussion and love exist and continue forth.

We believe truth is a goal of “Love your neighbor as yourself” and is covered by love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We believe fighting the good fight for these things bear fruit. To accept less or expect less is merely the way of the world and not a path of Hope, Faith and Love.

I am fortunate enough to work with the youngest generation making a path in the world today. Blessed.

I found one person today who was terrified to be pregnant. She had decided to believe the media that sexual liberation at age 18 was reasonable. What she found is that she didn't enjoy sex when you are forced to be involved in something unskilled in real love. Young people are Astonished to hear real love can laugh during love making. That getting into a discussion of pleasure is valid. That skill of intimate knowledge is required in real love making for pleasure. People who can express their flaws and be loved. Real love has your face held, your eyes looked into and fabulous love revealed - is part of the commitment of good sex. Real love making makes the people around them involved in rules - families feel protected and not opened up to serious consequences.

This is not part of the sexual revolution - and the truth is the sexual revolution provides a lot of hurt feelings, bad intimacy and STD's. Her 18 year old comment was, "I wish I could have all this taken back and not happen. What the media portrays as easy sex - is a lie." She is going to make changes in her life. She asked about paths forward and how to help her mom with a 3 year old sister - also abandoned by a "baby daddy."

All that framework called marriage - this makes families with a dependable structure. But this 18 year old child turned her concerns from herself and on to helping her mom. God using her circumstances to realize what her mom is in need of. Sex isn't a great goal of self, family is the goal for life that is abundant. This eighteen year old has family and goals that involve pleasing God. She is unpregnant and thrilled to be out of trouble - this has made her heart for her mom grow.

The next young person I encountered is thrilled to be married, have a job in a good place, with not a lot of money. She is pregnant with their third child - on one partial hysterectomy. In her low income, she and her husband are providing a home for her abandoned mother with a great deal of love. And for her younger brother too. Her younger brother was thrilled to be an uncle for the 3rd time and was aglow with the idea of more family to love. Money is not a big priority - family and love is. Drugs are frowned upon - why do you need them when Love is so available.

The next young person sat on the same sofa and cried because her ovary is inflamed, bleeding, cysts that rupture and bleeding. She said with kleenex in hand that she hates the idea of having a partial hysterectomy because she wants to have more children. God is so Good isn't He? I told her of the woman in that room that day and how God brings people together that don't even meet. She quit crying! God will find a path.

Her boyfriend told her they would not date. They met outside of a restaurant and happened to run into each other two weeks later. Love at first sight. He said that he was a the child of foster parents and wouldn't date until he had made a best friend. A year later, and many good times later, their first kiss occurred. Then the dating began. This still exists in the world today. They moved into the foster parent's house and tried to rescue their mortgage. In the real world, things happen out of order. But this is love and there will be marriage. Her boyfriend, she will marry, is the only father her son has known. His dad cut out his visits when he found out that child support was coming his way. Now this child has a real dad.

Jesus is Living Water. He goes were He is needed. He soaks in and makes life. Thank God for Jesus.


Father God, Your mercies renew each day. Let us draw near to You for Your encouragement that there is trouble in this life and You overcome trouble. In Jesus we place our Hope, Faith and Love to stand before Him to hear Him say, "Well done My Beloved Child." We pray Your abundant mercies and blessings upon us. And the ones we Love. Thank God the Highest Name is Jesus and we rest upon Him. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

<><

Psalm 116 ~ For you, O LORD!

Psalm 116

1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, save me!"
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
6 The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.

7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

10 I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted."

11 And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars."

12 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.

14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

16 O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD-- in your midst, O Jerusalem. 

 Praise the LORD.

James 3:17-18 

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all
pure; 
then peace-loving, 
considerate, 
submissive,
 full of mercy 
and good fruit, 
impartial 
and sincere. 
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.


Sincerity.

We believe the path of God looks like the photo above.

However ...

... the truth is this is life a lot of the time. Temporary. Work. Effort. And our real attitudes - matter to God.

The first photo, used at the top of the page, is not a glorified photo of summer. We see the sky is bright blue and crops are probably already taken out of the field. Summer has been warm a long time. We are probably counting the days to cooler temperatures.

And the promises of God - for His kindness as we face - work, bills, family with expenses, poor attitudes, the daily grind, disrespect, and the routine of life -

- well the promises of God are - sure.

For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

God never took His people on a magical, mystery carpet tour.

Faith.

Hebrews 11
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.


The Lord God Almighty did not leave us like a sailboat without wind in the sails. Usually - there was too much wind!!! Something He knew we could appreciate!

And when there was too much or too little - Father God, remember with me, gave tasks we could do each day. He did not leave us orphans in the storm in a Ship Called 'Oh Someday.'
Father God starts out these sailboat stories with God. Good start. Pray.

And why do we pray??? Because in conversation - God is stirred. Moved. Enthused. God told us why - we are created in the image of God.

Now, the photo is great for prayer. The colors are right. We might feel like an airplane under the clouds, but God is reaching us to move past the clouds into the brilliance of pristine whites, sunshine, leaving our cares in Faithful, Trustworthy, Loving Hands of Our Father.

Then refreshed in the mercies of God ~ We can see what God would give us - His Disciples - to do. There are so many things we could quickly become worked to death. We ask God to show us - what task would make our lives better - exercise we enjoy. Like... starting the day with a Gospel passage! And then real exercise to tell the Lord - thank You for this place - dwell here.

What person can we reach out to instead of text. I've learned in my 50s - an invitation given with kindness - really does not cost any thing. Accepted or declined. Kindness to a Child of God is given and that is the good.

And in our daily lives - what can we buy second hand to enjoy? Recycling is green and ebay is usually fun. The economy thanks you for your purchase. What task makes home better. And increases joy of, "Come see!"

Our discussions will involve politics. What really matters? That we vote. That is truly when opinions matter. What can we do daily for our Nation - Land of the Free? PRAY. Look for inventive solutions. You never know when your idea falls right into the heart of someone who can make a difference or God will offer you the opportunity to make a difference.

What else? Offer up an attitude of can do. The people who expect God? God assures us - we will find Him. We will leave a legacy of goodness and mercy as our footprints.

Father God - what can I do today for You - we want our loved ones to know how much God adores them. Remembers their years of expectation. And delight. God is our steadfast and enduring fire - inspires us and we will go forth with God.

Father God we lift up to You - small babies, old people, worried people, and people in the rut. Encourage them - You are Love would would cradle them and hold us. To know again the delight and Love You have for us. In Jesus we see He prepares His disciples to to go forth and dwells within. Father God dwell in all my aspects and help me be cleaned, renewed and inspired in You today. And always. In Jesus. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

<><