2 Thessalonians 1 ~ The glory of His might!

With all the facial hair today, maybe Saints are back. These are 4 icons of Silas.

2 Thessalonians 1

1 Paul, Silas and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

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


3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so,
because your faith is growing more and more,
and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about
your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials
you are enduring.


5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling,
and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness
and your every deed prompted by faith.

We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.



2 Peter 2:9a
The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials


So  who is SILAS? In the first verse???
Bishop of Corinth. Reference to in Acts 15:22-40; 16:19-40; 17:4-15; 18:5; 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Peter 5:12

During Paul's second mission Silas and Paul were imprisoned in Philippi where an earthquake broke their chains and opened the prison door. Acts 16:25-37 According to Acts 17 and 18, Silas and Timothy travel with Paul from Philippi to Thessalonica where they are treated with hostility in the synagogue by some traditional Jews. The harassers follow the trio to Berea, threaten Paul's safety, and cause Paul to separate from Silas and Timothy. The two catch up with Paul later in Corinth.

Thessalonica House Church like the Book of Acts, 4th Century and Today!




NowSilas shares with Timothy and is in Corinth and Timothy lives to be almost 90 years old - no small accomplishment for a disciple of Christ in early 1st Century. History leaves Silas as the first Bishop of Corinth. Corinth was Christian friendly until Timothy at age 87 is killed in a theological debate. His aged death brings a close to Christianity in Corinth briefly, however it was such a tragedy Christianity rekindles.

In Macedonia (the death) of blessed Silas, who, being one of the first brethren and sent by the Apostles to the churches of the Gentiles with Paul and Barnabas, was full of the grace of God, and readily fulfilled the office of preaching; and, glorifying Christ in his sufferings, was afterwards at rest." 
~ From the Roman Martyrology for July the thirteenth, the date on which the feast of Saint Silas is generally observed. 

An amazing wonder is recorded. The relentless persecutor of the new faith have suddenly converted, and creatied zealous champions of the Truth, confounding the Jews as he reasoned with them. There is a letter of a Rabi of a town near Jerusalem writing all the miracles will kill the Jewish faith with great concern. The Good News spreads and spreads wider and wider. Gentiles are converted, and Christian assemblies began to be formed outside the land of promise.  Churches!!! What the rabble of Thessalonica declared was indeed true - the world was being turned upside-down.

Timothy and Silas are men who have probably inherited something God did for Daniel.
Wonders of God are blessings!!!

Daniel 1:9
Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel

And how far back does this go? Abraham.

Genesis 12
2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse.

And how did Abraham react to this blessing of God's?

Genesis 18:19
For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."

And how does Father God keep working if we are not led by a bit in a horse's mouth? Instead we are led by the Love of God.

Romans 11:36
For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Hebrews 13
20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Father God, We thank You for August rain. Please let Your hand give Your people unity to carry out Your Plans and live the Living Word of God. We ask Your blessings upon us, our loved ones, friends, the people you place in our lives, Church, the States surrounding us and our Nation. We pray for the Nations near us and the Nations we interact with to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to please You. For continued healing of my cataract and the joy of seeing and seeing color again. In Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 25:17 ~ according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

About a million years ago, when people were just beginning to get used to microwave ovens as an every day part of life, I went to week long seminar on the understanding the Bible. My parents were divorcing after 25 years of successful marriage. We were asked if GOD wrote you personally a letter, would you read it? And I thought I'd LOVE to have a letter from God. I did promise then,  I would read the Bible every day since the age of 16. And I have. We were told if we read the Bible every day, over time, it would become a personal letter. After many years, that has become so.

Our young friend, James, was discussing a rough Thanksgiving, with the fam, as we discussed families. Our young friend asked me, "What do you think of stuck up religious people?"

I said, "I LOVE Stuck Up Religious People!!!!" We all laughed, after all you are supposed to love stuck up religious people too! My friend looked a bit hurt and he waited for the game to resume, looking at me. I told him with honesty and insight, " I think you are going to turn out alright, there is hope for you." He was pleased.

So we are going to think about "Stuck Up Religious People" by looking at saints and then pharisees and ~ why there is a great hope for my young friend.

Saints

What is a saint? Abraham, we remember, did some fairly incredibly not saint like things, yet Scripture says, "His faith was credited to him as righteousness."


1.) Simon (whom He named Peter, the Rock of the Church) Peter was always making mistakes. When he was able to look Jesus in His Eyes and when Jesus had gone to Heaven. If you think Peter is named Rock because he recognized Jesus as the Christ, first, you are very mistaken. Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Read John 1 and the last Chapter in John.

Peter is the Rock because he had enough faith to walk on water, and when he quit believing in his own self-righteousness, he wanted to see Jesus so much, he jumped into the water to get to Jesus. Jesus works to repair their friendship, making Peter breakfast. Peter gets so comfortable, with the risen Jesus, he begins complaining  John might have the blessing of living on earth until Jesus returns.

If you don't believe me, read the last Chapter of the Gospel of John. This is a tremendous statement of how imperfect we are and perfectly loved. A tremendous statement of the way saints behave. How people behave. How the Church behaves ~ to a Risen Jesus.

John 2:25
No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like.


2.) Andrew
John 1:40
40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

Andrew tells Peter. Andrew is a great brother and brought his brother to Christ. A quiet hero we learn in the Scriptures, who lives with Peter, Peter's wife and Peter's mother-in-law. Archeology tells us they were wealthy from their house in Capernaum. 

3 & 4) James and John, Sons of Thunder ~ The newer Synagogue built upon the one Jesus taught in. An Aramaic inscription on one of the broken columns records the name of the donor, "Halfu, son of Zebida". These names in the Greek form (Alphaeus and Zebedee) are mentioned in the New Testament. Jesus Christ's Disciples, James and John, were sons of Zebedee.

Quiet, humble saintly people. Especially mom, too. Matthew 20.  Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him (a great approach) she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” (I'd like to know the tone for that question.) She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

Now, because Jesus was dealing with saints. They did not complain. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. If you overlook incredulous as a stuffy word, you know the chins were pulled in and complaining commenced.


5.) Philip Philip did desert Jesus. However in Acts he did great things, like go where God wanted him to go and he heard angels speak to him.

6.) Bartholomew Recently archaeology reported finding a first century portion of Scripture Bartholomew carried into India. This compliments the Scripture found in the U.K., from 60 Anno Domini. Bartholomew and, that stuck up religious, Paul got into a not speaking fight over Bartholomew's nephew John Mark. Bartholomew stuck up for John Mark and said he'd turn out okay.  John Mark went on to grow up and write the Gospel of Mark.

7.) Matthew was a opportunistic yuppie. He loved Jesus stepping up for him so much, he threw Jesus one of the four parties Jesus attended. Jesus came eating and drinking. Matthew invited every non-rules oriented yuppie and thug, Matthew (and Jesus) knew and loved.

8.) Thomas Thomas was famous. We get that. Who wants to be know as "Doubter" to all.

9.) James son of Alphaeus a whole lot of James. This one was short and therefore called James the Less. These were tactful people. (James the Just is the deserter of his own flesh and blood brother, Jesus. The physical brother is the writer of the Book of James, not this James the Less.) Not much is know about James the Less. He was martyred in Egypt. A rather amusing comment I read once said Live for Jesus Another Day and Run. Well almost all of our Scripture was saved by those willing to flee. James, however, was not going to deny Jesus again, after becoming convinced Jesus is God's Son, our Savior. James was standing up for Jesus and with this effort - Scripture, Hope, Faith and Love is the Bible in your hand - at great conviction and fighting the good fight.

10.) Simon who was called the Zealot was the one we would sing the Beatles Revolution about, he was political gorilla~ish. Buried in the Vatican with Thaddeus. The bones of saints were never forgotten. (Peter the other Simon has hundreds of pilgrim made graffiti on his house identically matching Peter's found grave. 80 feet under the Vatican altar and protected from decay by a "rock" - that Jesus knew of what He was telling us. The Vatican spent 60 years double checking the archeaological intact city they found under their 400 A.D. site for the Vatican - the first one burned in 1400 A.D. and was designed by Michelangelo who lived to be almost 100 years old saying God was keeping him alive. And Botticelli. )

11.) Thaddaeus, so called instead of a second Judas, son of James. What do you do when there are too many Judas ,when Jesus also had a brother named Judas, you call him  ~Thaddaeus. Jesus did well for a grass roots organization; He sent 72 disciples out 2 by 2. Thaddeus and Simon were martyred together and buried together. There was an archaeological dispute over their bodies until recently. Thank HIM for Archaeology proving all the time Scripture is reliable.

12.) Judas Iscariot- later replaced with faithful Matthias. Scripture records Judas as being hung and disemboweled in two separate stories. Remember what a time of confusion this was. The Potter's Field was a cemetery and I think Judas hung there for some time until falling and becoming disemboweled, when removed. The saints were rising from the dead declaring Jesus as risen. The disciples were preaching in the Temple itself.



Pharisees

Pharisees are rarely confused with tax collectors.

Luke 18:13
But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'

Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

The Saduceen Council  was interested in Jesus. And one of them, in a cowardly fashion, traveled to see Jesus at night.

John 3
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

If we paraphrase Jesus' answer to Nicodemus we find Jesus is a bit waspish and a little stinging and asks Nicodemus:   If he is a teacher of Israel, why does he not walk in the day. And why is he asking these questions. Nicodemus probably thought Jesus was a stuck up religious person, at least for a few minutes. However, it is very important to remember, Nicodemus was left deliberately out of knowing about Jesus' trial and went to Pilate to help Jesus, claiming His Body;  he wanted to help Jesus.

So some stuck up religious people, actually want to help us.

Jesus offended stuck up religious people, and proclaimed every day mercy and kindness over sacrifice.

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
 

How my friend is probably going to end up quite well. Faith, Hope and Love.

Faith. My friend spoke willingly of his belief he would make an ace. Jeremiah said we should believe God has good plans for us.

Hope. My friend stated that if he won, he would share with those around him.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Love. I watched my friend follow through on his promise to share the winnings of his ace.

Matthew 5:37
Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.




Father God, we lift our loved ones up to You. Your hand is that of Love and Salvation. We lift up our cares, and cataract complete recovery. We lift up our friends, Church family, Churches in our area, our State and States. Our Nation to be One under God. The Nations near us to be blessed by God. In Jesus we pray, Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 3:11-12 ~ with the Holy Spirit

Matthew 3:11-12

11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Jesus told us there is a Kingdom of Heaven and of hell. Wheat is used as example of this. The chaff surrounding the grain is tossed in the air. The Wind, or Holy Spirit, carries what is to burned, the chaff, away.
This was done in a circle. On a Threshing Floor for more accuracy for keeping more wheat.

We are all going in the same direction - to Jesus. Only Father God will decide if we have obtained the Salvation of Jesus in our beliefs, words and actions. Even demons believe. James 2:19

Romans 9:16
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy.


Ruth 3:1-18

1 Then Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi said to her, "My daughter, should I not look for a home for you, so all will be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz of our family, with whose women servants you were? See, he is dividing the grain from the waste at his grain-floor tonight. 3 So wash yourself. Pour oil on yourself and wear your best clothes. Then go down to the grain-floor. But do not let the man know who you are until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, watch where he lies. Go in and take the covers off his feet and lie down. Then he will tell you what to do." 5 Ruth said to her, "I will do all that you say."

6 So Ruth went down to the grain floor and did all her mother-in-law had told her to do. 7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and his heart was happy, he went to lie down beside the grain. Then Ruth came in secret. She took the covers off his feet and lay down. 8 The man was surprised late in the night. He turned and saw that a woman was lying at his feet. 9 He said, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth, your woman servant. Spread your covering over me. For you are of our family." 10 And Boaz said, "May the Lord bring good to you, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than your first by not going after young men, with or without riches. 11 Now my daughter, do not be afraid. I will do for you whatever you ask. For all my people in the city know that you are a good woman. 12 It is true that I am of your family. But there is one closer than I. 13 Stay this night. In the morning, if he will have you for his own, let him take you. But if he does not want to have you, then I will take you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning."

14 So Ruth lay at his feet until morning. She got up before the people could see each other. For Boaz said, "Do not let it be known that the woman came to the grain-floor." 15 And he said, "Bring the coat you are wearing and hold it out." So she held it, and he loaded her with six jars full of grain. Then she went into the city. 16 When she came to her mother-in-law, Naomi said, "How did it go, my daughter?" And Ruth told her all that the man had done for her. 17 She said, "He gave me these six jars full of grain. For he said, 'Do not go to your mother-in-law with empty hands.' " 18 Naomi said, "Wait until you know what is going to happen, my daughter. For the man will not rest until the thing is decided upon today."

Photo~ Threshing Floor for Grain Bethlehem and Threshing tools

Boaz has a happy heart. That day the chaff was burned away. Work had been done culminating from a diligent season. The wheat was gathered.

Ruth had also done work from a diligent heart. She had moved herself from growing up in a family of various gods and had understood God Almighty's desire for loyalty when the family had had multiple deaths of the sons and the father leaving Naomi with no one. She walked through the desert with Naomi to find a town where work was always required to harvest food. This was not a lush town. Ruth had made difficult choices and was a foreigner.

Was Ruth happy? I'd have to say reading about Ruth - she was a happy person. And understood emotional diligence.

This Third Chapter of Ruth is Matthew 3:11-12. God is gathering. He is piling up His wheat to make a path for Jesus Christ to have family. There is desert, death, desertion, poverty, bitterness, work for small rewards, being foreign,
...and ultimately choosing God.

When God is allowed to be God and is seen as God that Naomi's sons did die. That Naomi's husband did die. That it was difficult and probably frightening to walk that far between countries. To chose to go with a widow walking away. To gamble a future on putting yourself on the threshing floor.

This is part of the humility and trust that God is going to care about your life, your actions given to God and that there is a plan with life seems only harsh.

Hardship, work and hope in the harsh realities of life. Faith that who we are makes a difference.

This Chapter of Ruth three is the Celebration. God is in charge when the threshing of life occurs. And there will be a banquet - if we Trust God to Be God.



This unusual Chapter can be related to Luke's Gospel Chapter 10.


Jesus sent His Disciples two by two. Just like the 7 pairs of clean animals in Noah's Ark. Ruth is sent by Naomi. Eventually Ruth is the disciple with Boaz and Naomi is the disciple with Naomi's son. Luke 10.

Ruth does not rest there, she returns to Naomi. Luke 10.

Both women "wait to see the will of God", acted upon by Boaz. Luke 10.

Who and why is he merciful to Ruth? "Her merciful neighbor" is Boaz. Luke 10.

Who has "chosen a better portion" - Ruth chose Naomi as godly and needing of her assistance, more than the gods of her father's house. Her sincerity was shown in her diligence. She spoke of her goal. Luke 10.

This is an unusual Bible Chapter. And in the honesty of Scripture, truth is discussed. Jesus chose people as his ancestry on both his mother and father's side.


Father God, we lift our loved ones up to You. Your hand is that of Love and Salvation. We lift up our cares, tomorrow's cataract surgery at 2 pm. We lift up our friends, Church family, Churches in our area, our State and States. Our Nation to be One under God. The Nations near us to be blessed by God. In Jesus we pray, Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 7:15-29 ~ Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Matthew 7:15-29

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’


24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

How are we to know? Jacob prospered with spotted sheep. David was a little spotted and God said David was the apple of His eye because David would do what God wanted him to do. God would have His only Son come from David's descendants.

Noah had troubles after completing God's long term project. So did Moses - toward the end. Joshua or Yeshua - his name was very like Jesus' name - and he hung in there.

Hezekiah was part of the splendor of a nation remarkably and miraculously spared from becoming any part of the Assyrian Empire.  He stripped the ancient gold from the Temple doors to sell.

The Proverbs of Solomon - who spent many years on the hilltops asking God to speak with him and playing his own life his own way -

Proverbs 24:12
If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?"

Paul agrees with Solomon. Even when we judge ourselves. can we be entirely right? God has given us Jesus. Paul tells us to lean upon Jesus.

John agrees with Jesus is Love. John decided that he would continue with Jesus beyond what was comfortable for him. God rewarded John with historically very long life. We know he was exiled on Patmos and Roman historians record John survived unscathed being boiled in oil - giving the Coliseum something to think about for a long time. John in old age, history records, was given the ability to be engage in life to a large degree in the 2nd century A.D. John was continuing to make disciples who were carrying the faith and ar the go to Biblical studies of the 2nd Century and his disciple Polycarpus was still in Jesus Christ and leaving Papyrus to the 3rd Century. So - following Jesus is to make us lean forward and try for Father God's love to go forth.

Bad lamb. Balaam was asked by Moab to curse the Children of Israel and God swept in and changed that to be a blessing.

Deuteronomy 23:5
However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.

This is a stunning thing to say.
God is at work to sweep together all things to work together for good for those who Love the Lord.

The Expectation of God. Saying I know Father God, I believe Him, I trust Him.

Being honest about sin. Like the people of the Scriptures. Looking in Glad Expectation of God and the signs of our Living Father God.

President of Baylor University, Ken Starr sent out an email saying that Baylor University takes a stand against Sexual Violence. Saying Baylor had an incident in the athlete student population. We can take a moment when we get an email like this to agree with Ken Starr and pray for our Nation where this happens to one in six men in the USA. Christians believe God hears and answers our prayers for our loved ones, friends and the Nation. This is a sign to pray. Prayer makes us braver. Bravery defeats "situations."

Matthew Perry was in the news 2 days ago saying he has benefited from his public announcements concerning his substance abuse troubles. Matthew says he is an award winning alcoholic and with the publicity of his troubles, he has opened Perry House (his own former house) and supports Phoenix House. “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my life and a lot of wonderful accolades,” he told THR, “but the best thing about me is that if an alcoholic comes up to me and says, ‘Will you help me stop drinking?’ I will say, ‘Yes. I know how to do that.’”

Matthew Perry was in a movie about Pro-Life in 1997 called "Fools Rush In" part of the the main characters salvation was looking for the signs God provides. When we trust God to be part of our lives - seeking Him - HE IS!!!

Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

John 6
68 Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."…


Father God, We call upon You to cover us in the Name of Jesus the Lord. Keep us in You, Father God, the ones we love, our friends, neighbors, co-workers and Church. Keep our States and Nation in You, Jesus. Amen.


 

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 17 ~ Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours

Matthew 17

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21] [a]
Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.

24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

26 “From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”


This passage amazed me when I discovered it the first time. I had to read it again. God meeting Jesus' financial need. And Jesus needed money. A really prime example of Jesus as a man. It wasn't until many years later I saw Jesus sharing what He received with Peter. Rarely done in the world of taxation! It has to be right up there with the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

Isaiah 29:18
In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.

So, Peter was saved financial expense. It wasn't what kept Peter's heart.

Peter ran from Jesus during His time of greatest need. And Peter hid himself for days thereafter.

When Peter saw Jesus several times after His Resurrection, Peter was the first one (not to walk on water to Jesus, Peter was done trusting in his own righteousness) to swim to Jesus. Why? Jesus was willing to forgive Peter. Peter knew he would be forgiven.

Forgiveness expands our lives in all directions. And possibilities. God works all things towards good.

John 21:7
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

Father God, We open our hearts to You to dwell in us. Help us to make this place where You delight to Dwell. We ask Your blessings upon us, the ones we Love, our friends, neighbors, coworkers and Church. Be with us as we travel and play an "A" tier tournament. Please be with Jacks, Dee, Mary, Fred, Edward, Cal, Xander and me. Blessings upon us and this State and Nation. For my cataract surgery on Monday. All things are possible in Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

1 Kings 21:17-29 ~ Go

1 Kings 21:17-29

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. You shall say to him, "Thus says the Lord: Have you killed, and also taken possession?" You shall say to him, "Thus says the Lord: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood."

Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" He answered, "I have found you. Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, I will bring disaster on you; I will consume you, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin. Also concerning Jezebel the Lord said, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the bounds of Jezreel.' Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat; and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the air shall eat."

(Indeed, there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord, urged on by his wife Jezebel. He acted most abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites.)

When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth over his bare flesh; he fasted, lay in the sackcloth, and went about dejectedly. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: "Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster on his house."


Ahab is remembered for being an evil man and king. Elijah brought him The Word of the Lord, but Ahab didn't like Elijah and thought of Elijah as his enemy. The Lord was more impressed Ahab reached beyond the messenger to hear The Word. We can be glad that the Lord hears our prayers, even sinners have the Lord's compassion. Good news for all of us!

However, we can always hope not to just have one encounter with compassion, but to foster the way of our lives bringing more Heaven to earth.  Finding ways to tell someone of their gifts and abilities their Father God loves and admires in them. A Father Jesus proclaims 100 times is "Our Father.."

Ahab down. Compassion forward. With this willing of a heart, makes you wonder what Ahab would have done with meeting Jesus. Lord, if You will - Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will".


Father God, You have said You Equip us with all good things to do Your Will. Help us to encourage the people You have brought us to see their Talents, Gifts, Abilities, the aspects You have given them as our Father to melt Your heart. Father God, You are a God who runs to us as we saunter on. Father God, You tell us to be encouraging and honoring to each other. Father God Thank You for not being a finger shaker. Instead You are the God of Love John proclaims You to be. You are the warmer of hearts - Your disciples said who walked with You.

Help us to bring Your Love forth to those who miss this. We ask Your blessings upon ourselves, our loved ones, coworkers, loved ones, Church and friends. In Jesus we pray for new students and teachers, Jacks, Dee, Hope, Mary, Fred, and my cataract surgery the 24th. For this State and for our Nation- In Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 17:5-10 ~ have faith

Luke 17:5-10

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Lamentations 3:19-26

I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.




Matthew 19
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”


Adversity, adversity is a learning tool. We learn installing an oven in 1,200 parts. Putting in floor joists.  We become a working knowledge with hope. Our daily bread - is like manna - daily. And the circle to give back stretches us more.

Adversity. Faith. Trusting God knows our heart. Our pain. Sufferings. And we can say to Him one of the most important aspects of Working to Believe God  -  Your will be done. Not in giving up, shrugging shoulders, but the servant going a little further. Dad, 

Father God, I trust You. I have aspirations, hope, needs, but I know You are my port. You slept in the storm. Knowing the winds blow and we don't always see where, but You do. In Jesus, Amen for our loved ones, friends, neighbors, co-workers, Church. Amen.

John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

God is our Port. Our refuge. We trust HIM with our deepest desires. God knows ..... anyway. When we ask in faith, we are answered. No. Yes. Maybe. Maybe later. He is - always - going to say have faith. Faith the Way is forward and the Truth will be learning. And the Life, sometimes head before heart. However the soul asking with hope,faith, love is where HIS Heart is.

And the wind in the sail, stirring hope is that - all things - With God, all things are possible.

Your Will be Done.

Give us the Day.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Nehimiah 2 ~ The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

Painting by Edwin Longsden Long

Nehemiah 2

In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.

9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.  

The ruins were charred with fire.

11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
 

13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 

14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate.

  16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.



17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 


18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”


God's Work. An unusual way to begin. One man started asking around and gathering up the idea to begin. Jeremiah had said this would happen in 70 years, and he was correct.

 The Archaeological Reliefs depict the return of the Jews to Israel in the Babylonian Kingdom.

Moses began by talking to Father God. Imagine what our prayers can still do.

John 5:17
But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Father God, We thank you for the rain in Padre Island. The wonderful smell of rain in the King Ranch. Our rain today. Texas is blessed with Your provision. Father God we ask for more as areas are very dry. 

Father, in Nehemiah's time - the ruined walls were black. Thank You in Jesus, You make us clean and white as in the Book of Revelation.

We lift to You our loved ones for Your mercy and Love, friends, co-workers, neighbors, the community, the encouraging signs on our roads about Father God, our State and Nation. We earnestly look to You, to build us up to lean to You. And Thank You Father, You delight in us. In Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †