Psalm 80 ~ Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

Psalm 80

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.”  Of Asaph. A psalm.

1
Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth 
2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.

3
Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

4
How long, Lord God Almighty,
will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?
You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.

7
Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

8
You transplanted a vine from Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it,
and it took root and filled the land.

The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
Its branches reached as far as the Sea,
its shoots as far as the River.

12
Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
Boars from the forest ravage it,
and insects from the fields feed on it.


14
Return to us, God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine,
the root your right hand has planted,
the son you have raised up for yourself.

16
Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
at your rebuke your people perish.


17
Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.



Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,

67 Miracles of the Scriptures

1 Kings 17:13-15

Then Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. "For thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.'" So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days.


Exodus 14:16
"As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.


Joshua 3:13-17
"It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap." So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest)

1 Kings 17:5
So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.

2 Kings 4:41
But he said, "Now bring meal." He threw it into the pot and said, "Pour it out for the people that they may eat." Then there was no harm in the pot.

2 Kings 5:10-14
Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean." But Naaman was furious and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.' "Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went

Mark 2:10-12
"But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home." And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

Luke 5:24-25
"But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,"--He said to the paralytic--"I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home." Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.

Matthew 9:22
But Jesus turning and seeing her said, "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well." At once the woman was made well.

Mark 5:34
And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction."

Luke 8:48
And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

Luke 1:38
And Mary said, "Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Hebrews 11:29-30
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.


Matthew 14:29
"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came to Jesus

Mark 6:5-6
And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.

2 Kings 4:3-6
Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. "And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full." So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured.

John 2:1-11
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples

Matthew 17:14-20
When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. "I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him."

Exodus 14:31
When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.

Exodus 4:30-31
and Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses He then performed the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped.

John 7:31
But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, "When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?"

Acts 9:33-35
There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed." Immediately he got up. And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Acts 13:12
Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

Matthew 15:31
So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

Mark 7:37
They were utterly astonished, saying, "He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

Daniel 3:24
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, "Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, O king."

Acts 3:10
and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Acts 8:13
Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

Acts 12:16
But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.

Acts 3:8
With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the Temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Exodus 15:11
"Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?"

Psalm 9:1
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.

Daniel 3:28
Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king's command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.

Daniel 4:2-3
"It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me. "How great are His signs And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom And His dominion is from generation to generation.

Daniel 6:26-27
"I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever. "He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."

Luke 19:37
As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen

Acts 4:21-22
When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Acts 8:6
The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

1 Kings 17:24
Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth."

John 2:23-24
Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing.

Exodus 15:20-2
Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. Miriam answered them, "Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea." Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur

2 Samuel 5:24
When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the LORD is moving ahead of you

Numbers 20:11
Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice: and water came


Luke 17:17-18
Then Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine--where are they? "Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?"

Exodus 16
31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey

Mark 5:15-17
They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the "legion"; and they became frightened. Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine.

Luke 8:36-37
Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned.

Acts 5:5
And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.

Acts 19:17
This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified.

Matthew 14:31
Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter.

Genesis 17:17-18
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before You!"

Genesis 18:12-13
Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?'

Luke 1:18
Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years."

Exodus 8:19
Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

Exodus 11:10
Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; yet the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land.

Isaiah 38:5
Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.

Matthew 12:15
Many followed Him, and He healed them all

Luke 9:11
The crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

John 9:18
The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight

Matthew 23:37
How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings!


Matthew 20:34
34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

2 Samuel 7
After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD ... “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? ... and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.

John 11:47-48
Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs.

1 Kings 3:12
11God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. 13"I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.

1 John 5:14
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you


John 21
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.


Father God,
We will pick one of these miracles and hold this to You, knowing Your Word is Living and Active, knowing this miracle has warmed our heart, just as You did for Your disciples.

And in this Great Mercy and Love, we will say, "Come into my heart Lord Jesus, and help my soul be a place of oasis to You."

And in this prayer, bless those I love, the people You have given me and let us find perpetual love, joy, faith, hope, wisdom, guidance and comfort.

In You, we live, move and have our being. We ask Your Blessings upon our Churches, communities, our state, our Nation and the People who Love You, to let Your Love fill the Planet. In Jesus' Love, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 7:1-16 ~ When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

Luke 7:1-16

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 

3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 

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


9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 

10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 

16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”





Thank You Father God, today I woke up with the idea of Christmas and the joy of a child. I thought, yes, if we are glad for life we are pleased You Have Given. We look to the day understanding whatever frustrations occur if we stay in Jesus, we can smile, usually, at the end of the day for Pleasing You.

We have Church chimes nearby and the chimes started and JOY was even better as the sun dawned.

 God is King even when we have household items that break, like just this morning God is in charge and in His Goodness that was fixed.

I believe GOD gives Great Talents and Wonders and Signs and Love. We are supposed to figure things out and depend on Him, with prayer and clear minds. And I feel comfort. And FATHER GOD, You, are in Charge.

Jesus said troubles will happen. People were deliberately rude in a billing inquiry and that too at the end of the day is ok in Jesus.

I am blessed to have people alive I truly love. I love and therefore I am nourished. In Jesus providing Love.

God has given me choices.
I can be a door of hope, encouragement, faith, trust.
I can encourage others only with sincerity.
I can provide this.
I can close the door on coldness, usury, lewdness, bad examples, lying.
God has given me wisdom to know His Direction and I will go there. I have had good advice from people who care and I will hold on there knowing they have given me their good advice for a good path.

You Father God are this : The Door is Jesus. He says
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Jesus wants to smile and does smile upon me.

Numbers 6:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
25
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

We are Blessed. We are the people of Jacob who believe Blessing is for all people and His Name, His Mighty Name that Covers us is JESUS THE LORD. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 1:40-45 ~ Jesus will

Mark 1:40-45

40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”

41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”

42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

Why was there leprosy in Israel? Why is this such an issue in the Bible? Houses didn't have windows with glass and the elements came in and stayed.

This is like people, we don't want to be outside and freeze and burn up in the outside world, so we go into our houses and if Light and Joy and Forgiveness and Discussion of Truth don't free us with God's Light in mankind, well things fester.

And if you don't feel well, then you stay home and the walls are moist, better than the direct intense heat or sunlight. Or it's cold and the winds don't blow at home and you didn't feel well so you stayed home. Or if when you went out, you felt odd so you covered up more and looked confident but felt ill.





Jesus had a few things to say about being honest. And seeking the light of God in mankind. Jesus was all about balance, don't overly burden your neighbor with visits, don't be insincere.

Here we see that Jesus did remarkable and brave things for people closed up and ill. We know Jesus would do this - this is why we love Jesus.

Jesus healed many, yet only said two things about lepers - one they were cleansed in Jesus. 
And, then the story of Naaman the Syrian being chosen for being of faith - his willingness to go to God. God would indeed help him. Elisha wanted Naaman to be obedient to God and was healed by being obedient to the Word of God. However Naaman was then taken advantage of by Gehazi (Gee hazy !) for money.

Gehazi felt that he could accomplish two things at once and be with God, yet it was Elisha who was working for the Glory of God. And Elisha said his heart went with the man who was healed.






 


The other story is about Simon the Leper, at the dinner and a woman  kissed the feet of Jesus and anointed Him. Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 7. Simon was a leper and did not become effusive about Jesus. Possibly to guard his own place in town  and not appear to be weak, needy or  in need of healing.

Simon did not want the woman to anoint Jesus' Head or wipe His Feet. This lack of being open hearted caused Jesus to do several things. Jesus did not turn the worshiper away. He did speak to Simon in front of all for his cold heartedness.

The one who had loved more Jesus said, had believed in the cancelled debt Jesus spoke of.

Jesus went on to say, when we are generous with our love to Jesus, then His Glory will Speak in us. Jesus did not say only Jesus was responsible, Jesus called for loving behaviors and God to be honored. Jesus honored brave adoration and He did not shun even Simon for being careful.



Father God,

You find people in all conditions who are closed up. You reach where no one else would reach. You encourage the ill to be included, You encourage and support love and bravery. And even support those who are less than Brave!

Jesus, You unite people to cheer for healing and a happy ending and solutions. Everyone today would cheer for all of Jesus' solutions.

Let us unite together to pray for one another, even the forgetful, for Your Many Blessings to encourage us to hope, smile and enjoy the Love You provide in the people near us.

Bless our loved ones, the People You give us, this community, this state, this Nation and all the People of the World needing prayer and especially those who Love You.

In Jesus the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 2 ~ they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong

Luke 2

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.


8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.


22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30
for my eyes have seen your salvation
31
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.




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


41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Psalm 122
A song of ascents. Of David.

1
I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2
Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.




And Psalm 90
4
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days!
15
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

17
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.


Not all people Celebrate Christmas alike. I have to say -  there is joy, in seeing a few of my neighbors continue their Christmas now, and Christmas trees stand lighted in their windows.

People  have worked and wrapped and traveled and EATEN until they want to enjoy this tree and the beauty reflecting the Birth of God's Willingness to be with us every day of our lives.

With this amount of relief:

Mark 2
So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

This is the quietness of the relaxation. Joy in what God has wrought!

"It's great to celebrate the birth of our Lord, but greater still is the realization that he is born everyday within the temple of our heart and lives therein within us eternally."

Surely Charles Dickens understood!  Scrooge was declared to have "Kept Christmas in his heart all the days of his life."





The people I have talked to after Christmas, some seem to feel  certainly they took a vacation from their concerns, worries and needs for a solution, but now - back to the grind  -of worrying. Time to take stock of our entire lives, struggle to see the pineapple and consume this problem in one bite, top and all.

And if you speak to the Psychologists I have been blessed to volunteer with,  January 18th has a name. Not Black Friday, not Good Friday, but the 3rd Monday of January is considered to be the most depressed day of the year and is called "Blue Monday."

Psychologists report great optimism for change and pleasing unpleasable people at Christmas renders many people coping with recovery. Others are faced with bills from forcing all the expenses of Christmas to try to exist in one month after August for those with School Children is equally as costly.

And so after years of either racing to get the tree down and all productivity of January 2nd or, now January 7th after Epiphany is finished, I really enjoy seeing Christmas trees light up and imagine people with coffee, tea or Chocolate are enjoying the work of their hands, looking at old Christmas ornaments and remembering many Christmases with peace and joy in their hearts.


These laggers and dilly dallyiers who are still celebrating the darker days of winter with the lights of Christ. How pleasing for them, your neighbors say, "Thank You!"

Our Kitchen has a an upper counter - a buffet - and we place garland and all types of berries and pine-cones given to me by my grandmother Anita's not twin brother, but very, very similar brother from the late 1980s by Uncle Frank. Add to the collection the squash and the pumpkins that are so almost real from over different Thanksgivings and some lemons because this IS the Christmas Kitchen counter. Which cause hilarity when people come over and decide to try to slice one of the faux lemons from the garland

- WELL usually that is our left behind Christmas decoration for Lights of Christ.

Which puts Kitchen things in proper perspective with things like the way Grandmother Anita prayed as she cleaned and even had a framed prayer she wrote about gratitude for cleaning up after her loved ones. AND our ideas of seasonality of Christmas!

Galatians 4

9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

And that brings us to taking today,
finding that moment that can occur praying and brushing your teeth when you suddenly realize, with minty clean teeth: "His Mercies Renew Each Day!"

And so after many years, a decade or more of having out the garland, I decided, I needed a change and this year our table held faux long needle pine, hydrangea and red assorted berries from decades of after Christmas sales and the profound love I have for all things that grow. And faux that doesn't have to be watered.  I left out the dining room Christmas and put ropes of hearts that usually go on packages to my delight to see hearts glittering above my Christmas.

Change is good. Seeing things from a different perspective. This week Rick Warren did a great Sermon I listened to just as I began walking again. I turned on the sermon on my phone and the sermon from Saddleback was the testimony of several people on the redemptive qualities and needs of exercise daily.


1 Corinthians 9:24
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Jesus says all the time, He looks for humility. We have to love ourselves. Say thank You for the body we are given. And with the taking care of our bodies, we nourish what God has given us. We nourish our stamina, our endurance, our seeing things with new perspectives, we increase our immunity. This is the great time to start for warmer weather persistence.

Father God,
We pray for those we Love to be lifted with Your Tender Hands. Settled under Your wing, resting in Your Love and Care.

Getting ready for each day to meet the challenges of the day at hand. Not turning our lives into pineapples to be eaten whole. Giving the cares and concerns of the people you give us to You in expectation to what You will Bring in Willingness of Blessings.

We lift up all the cares of the Mississippi River floods, Porter Ranches Methane gas leak and the fact only state governing bodies are visiting. The Methane gas leak Nasa reported in Four Corners intersection of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. We lift up our foreign situations for Your help and understanding we do not rule the world. You Reign, Father God.

May Jesus Christ pray with us and for us daily, give His Word and Gift of Peace we pray for ourselves, states, towns, communities, Churches, work places and the Nations serving Him. In His Name, Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

1 Timothy 3 ~ in a manner worthy of full respect

1 Timothy 3

3 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach,
the husband of one wife,
sober-minded,
self-controlled,
respectable,
hospitable,
able to teach,
3 not a drunkard,
not violent but gentle,
not quarrelsome,
not a lover of money.

4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

He must not be a recent convert,
or he may become puffed up with conceit and
fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.


8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.


14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 

15 if I delay, 
you may know how one ought to behave
 in the household of God, 
which is the church of the living God, 
a pillar and buttress of the truth. 


16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

Jesus left His Words on peace -  people willing to be at peace find peace.

The Word of God remains. Stands sure. Is with God. Is fulfilled by Father God. Is sent from Father God and returns to Him complete. Lives and is Active. Jesus Christ is the Word of God.

This Word is for people who want to live in peace. These are HIS Words on Peace.

be above reproach,
the husband of one wife,
sober-minded,
self-controlled,
respectable,
hospitable,
able to teach,
not a drunkard,
not violent but gentle,
not quarrelsome,
not a lover of money.

And He adds to have humility in verse 6.

Verse 15. Our day to day. This is when we are giving our lives back to Father God with our daily lives, our attitudes and actions.
Delay. Lag. Wonder. Wait.

Does this happen in Scripture? Would God take His time?

Methuselah - was know for his endurance.
Noah built that boat for 120 years.
Abraham merely waited 25 years.
Jacob worked for his father in law for 14 years and a few years more before he returned to his homeland.
Moses was 80 years old and 40 years in the desert waiting upon Father God's timing and plan.
Joshua waited 40 years.
David waited 25 years.

Lag in our hurry up times. Why?

Father God in Jesus said we are bound to have problems in life.  We return Home like the Prodigal Son having grown up some.

With Jesus, all of that happened in 3 years. Or more when you consider even at His birth, God was working.

God's timing - is the Lord's.








Father,

In Your Holiness -
Blessed are the Words of God.

Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol Him, all you peoples.

For great is His Love towards 
us,
and the Faithfulness of the Lord 
endures forever.

Light shines on the righteous
and 
joy on the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
and praise His Holy Name.

Jesus is Lord. Alleluia.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Galatians 3:23-29 ~ in Christ Jesus +

 

 

Galatians 3:23-29

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.


When I was a teenager, our EYC Father decided to give us the theologians' approach to Baptism covering all the reasons for infant Baptism, child of reasoning age Baptism, adult Baptism.

Finally after about 3 months of all the arguments that truly started to sound like a convention of Bylaws for Congress, I yawned.

Our EYC Priest said, "Do you find this boring? It's vital information."

Baptism is like Numbers 6, the Blessing.

22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

24
The Lord bless you and keep you;
25
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”


 

Do the Scriptures tell us God smiles and laughs? Seek God and you Will find Him. Joy is all of this.

The invitation, the asking for God to put the name of Jesus upon us. To seal us in His Holy Spirit. 

How could the Father God, the Almighty, the King of kings, lift up His Countenance when He sees us. We never have created life without His Blessing, never created a day the sun rose, never created a planet, a solar system, caused His sun to bring warmth to the life on this planet in the middle of a desolate space. How could Father God lift His Countenance, when He has to bend so far, to reach a mere mortal? 

Father God, Lord of All, lifts up His Countenance -  when He Shines His Smile upon me ! And upon you!




 

 At what age, at what water? It does not matter. What matters is that the Name of Jesus is fully honored, revered, loved. What matters  - we can never save ourselves, we can never find a ritual holy enough to deserve what Jesus did for us. What matters is  we respond to HIS love, we love Jesus and invite Him. 

Because He smiles upon His, Scripture calls us, "His Beloved"! In this we see, Father God in the name of Jesus - sees us as His Loved Ones.


We pray for our children, why would we not want them sealed in Jesus immediately? Our eldest son nearly died at birth, our favorite Man of God asked me incredulously why he was not called in to Baptize immediately. I was ashamed, but I replied because my son was innocent and Jesus loves the innocents. I will tell you, the question is a good one from a Good Man of God. And the Man of God did agree, Jesus loves the children.


Jesus is Living Water, and in His Willingness, Jesus goes where He is asked !!! Praise God from whom all Blessings flow!

God wants to save the world. God sees His people as being drawn to Jesus. God seals us in Jesus and says there is hope for us, we just call upon Jesus with faith. God sees our hearts, Romans 7 and Romans 8 tell us the level of this Great Grace and our response is to be Thankful to God.

Father God,
Each day let us get up asking You, be pleased with me today, Father God. Help me to please You. And go to sleep knowing that if we tried, smile, knowing we did please Father God.

Father God, we lift up those we love, the People You have given us, the People we have seen today, the faces reflecting Life and those with sorrow - to be held in Your Embrace.

We lift up those who have emotions we do not wish to feel with them. We lift up Your Grace to help us go further.

We lift up ourselves to love ourselves. We will put forth the effort to eat wisely, seek health and life, to exercise, to provide You with a warm hearth inside of ourselves to have relationship with You, Father God.

We lift out our Churches, work places, communities, cities, states and Nation. The people all over the world who proclaim Jesus as Lord. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †