John 17 ~ You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me

 

John 17

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, ² since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.  

³ And this is eternal life, 
 that they know you the only true God, 
and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 

 ⁴ I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵
 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
 

⁶ “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. ⁸ For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.  

⁹ I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹ And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, 
 keep them in your name, 
which you have given me, 
that they may be one, even as we are one.


 ¹² While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.  

¹³ But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, 
that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.  

¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

²⁰ “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, ²³ I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, 
so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

²⁴ Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵ O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Why would anyone put themselves out to share Jesus and the Gospel? The Love with which He Loves me.

The believers of God are His Lights. It is up to us to Shine for Him.


Father God,
You have given us Life. Help our soul to be a place You love to dwell.

In our lives, help us to have the wisdom and ability to explain that You are Life, Love, Peace, Joy, Comfort and Strength. That those we Love are warmed and held by Your Love. 

The Nation is experiencing economic upset, help Your people to be calm and hopeful in You. It is hard for people creating jobs to put effort into their products when war and terror are always discussed. Help us to educate with wisdom and employ with neighborliness.

We ask Your Help and Guidance for the Nation, the states, the places where we live, the People You have given us. Let Your Love shine. In Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

1 John 5 ~ he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God

What would Jesus be thinking of Houston and oil prices dropping?


Luke 12
You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

1 John 5
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?


I have a theory, and this is just my thought.
And having lived through Dallas restructuring in 1987, I don't think this is particularly the worst thing.

When I was in college, we were told a battery of enormous proportions would not be ever invented. Mankind was now in nano technology and this would not be happening in 200 years.
West Texas is refusing to put in electrical car re-energizing stations.

What recharges all batteries? Natural Gas and Oil.

What recharges the Bloom Box battery used by Google and ebay headquarters. The same thing as the source to recharges these car batteries. This is primarily natural gas and oil.

We are in point in history, were focus is going to shift away from the Middle East for our power. And we have not yet caught up with this realization. There is a new invention recently told of by CNN, that is helium related, but different  - blimps are now going to be more economically feasible to ship 21 million pay loads 1,000 feet above our highway system.

Houston faces challenges Dallas saw in 1987. Corporations are tightening belts. Shell Oil employs 22,000 people and announced they will lay off 10,000 today.

Macy's says Retail has entirely changed and will change with the times.Not a bad idea. My great, great and great- grandparents were part of a wagon trail Texas city arriving after the Civil War. Their house was shipped to them by Sears as a kit. Carpenters arrived and built the house. Amazon and renewal are part of the challenges of regeneration.

Time to fully explore how to keep and capture Natural Gas. We might think of Porter Ranch in California as a time to explore how to capture gas of any kind. NASA says there is a leak in the four states area Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.

2 Corinthians 9

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

We are educated people with ideas who have moved a lot of substances around the planet to fuel trade and economies of our Nation. We are a city where Jesus is honored. Churches flourish. 

When Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed these two states, the Churches of Houston met at Second Baptist and formed a grid. And in this grid all the Churches  - way out to the suburbs began feeding evacuees in hotels and even in the Stadium. The Government did not feed the Evacuees for these months and months - primarily the people who love Jesus and the Churches did. I wish there was a book of the volunteerism that fed hotels and stadiums each day.

This Holy Spirit that has led us to have the ability to shelter those hunkered down from the storm. Will indeed empower the people of Houston to be fed and nourished in hope, faith and love to find new solutions to again say, "Thank You, Father God."


Father God,
The world is in a state of change. When I was a child there was one rotary phone in the house and that dial the phone system relied upon an actual spark. Today we have phones that are astonishing and amazing.

Father God let us lift our eyes to You and find hope, love, joy, peace. Not to have war, and instead see innovation and renewal to fuel a new joy in this country.

Let us be people of solutions fed and nourished by the Word of God. Knowing we can trust You.
In Jesus Christ we lift up our loved ones and this Nation to see the future with encouragement and not so much worry. We lift our hopes to You, Father God and rest. Amen always in the Name of Jesus covering us. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Philippians 2 ~ the same love

Philippians 2

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.


19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son[d] with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.



Jesus tells us when you have seen Jesus, you have seen Father God. The New Testament is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and proclaims Father God's tender love to us. The men who were empowered to write the Word of God are displaying His Splendor.



The encouragement of Christ Jesus,
Comfort from love,
Affection and sympathy,
Complete joy from the mind of Jesus, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Father God's equality and humility counts us equally.
Holding fast to the Word of Life.

Father God is glad and rejoices with us.
In Jesus Christ's gift to us, Jesus sees us as blameless and innocent, His children, without blemish.
Father God puts the Light of Jesus in all mankind and says a believer in Jesus shines as Light.

Jesus says we have no one like Jesus, who is genuinely concerned for our welfare.
Jesus has proven His worth in His invitation to Life.
Jesus will come to me, with the fulfillment of His Promises. 

Jesus gave His life to complete what is lacking in me.
God has mercy, mercy, mercy on me. 
Jesus is always eager to see me.

Our response to the Love of God. Thanksgiving.
And Thanksgiving will have a Harvest.

Look at the seasons of fruit:
Sun, warmth, rain, bud, bloom, fade, fruit, time, promise, and fulfillment.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.


Ezekiel 31
5 Therefore its height was loftier than all the trees of the field And its boughs became many and its branches long Because of many waters as it spread them out. 6 All the birds of the heavens nested in its boughs, And under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth, And all great nations lived under its shade. 7 So it was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its branches; For its roots extended to many waters.

Father God,
Thank You, You are our Jesus. Our one Living Water feeding and nourishing those who call upon Your Love and Goodness.

We begin our faith journey as the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.

Father God, in You we move, live and have our being. We gladly lift up those we Love to You in faith and Love knowing Your tender care for them. And the People You have given us, help us to know through the Holy Spirit to pray and do as You are pleased. Knowing all Good is from You. For this Nation and her needs. These states, communities and Churches. We give this to You, Father God and rest with Joy knowing You are King and Father of all of this.

In Jesus, we give this to You in comfort. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 7 ~ Jesus has done all things well

Joshua passing the River Jordon with the Cloud by Day. By Benjamin West

Cloud by day and a fire by night. Why, in the world, wouldn't the Father of All and the Creator use His tools at hand?

Mark 7

7 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.[c]) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
7
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”


14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?”[f] (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.


31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Yesterday we talked about the old Testament and how fierce God could be. Jesus says when we have seen The Son, we have seen The Father. He heals and tells them to hush about that miracle and even uses the word CHARGE and they run boldly to tell their astonishment. The passage also says Jesus told them a few times.

We approach our real thoughts of faith and God with respect. What comes out of our mouth can define and defile us. Mark 7. The questioning of finding out how to swim is work, finding our faith is real and we have to have our decisions from learning. Timothy is told how to deal with people. We deal with Father God as well like this -


1 Timothy 5

5 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

We consider the God of the old as harmful, when He dealt with some pretty brutal actions of people?

When has Father God actually used FIRE.  Not very often. Looking up fire ~To be a pillar of Fire to His People in the Wilderness, light. To be the Light shining in all mankind. Fire consumed the offering. Nice to be appreciated when a gift is given. Father God puts coals in front of His Throne. I like that. And His Temple smells of toasting bread. His Seraphim are unique. And music is heard to soothe and give joy. Jesus says he would bring a fire to be kindled, this is zeal for Father God.

Even as Jesus did His ministry, all people were aware of this man - This is God. He is doing acts and Words setting Himself apart to be worshiped, loved, enjoyed, welcomed. Jesus shows He is Life.


What God brings the planet - we just have to look up. I hear people tell me God is irrelevant. Doesn't speak within them. And He does. We have to point out to people who do things like find.


Psalm 97

97 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
2
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3
Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
4
His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.

6
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
7
All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!

8
Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O Lord.
9
For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

10
O you who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11
Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

We all have seasons.
Today felt like fire burns up the day. And God says He will baptize us with fire.
However when God would use trouble, even Solomon said the day of blessing and of adversity is from His hand. 
Edward is not feeling so well these days, he had a 17 hour day and walked 8 miles on Sunday.

Usually Edward is doing very well nationally in his Disc Golf rankings. This weekend having a 17 hour day took a toll and he forgot to finish out on one of his shots, got so frazzled he walked away from his game in being that tired and pressed. A disc was seen to land and never found, a penalty. When you have a diagnosis of serious proportion, these things drag and pull.

And in his tired overcoming - today we put tires on the car, the monitoring system was not fully redone and I surely was not going to delve into the electronics of the car, but Edward sorted it out and we figured out the right PSI for the tires. A victory of needed proportion. The challenge is to see the day as fulfilled and not in need for years ahead.

There is privilege in finding your life has a time to honor and care for those who have cared for you. There is concern for the worry and strain. And without faith, this could be extremely overwhelming. In the stock market, in winning seasons, all seasons have concerns and times where pause is taken. Generally, it's good to know this is allowable. Some times are more dramatic than others.

How to find the balance, well we have been doing this for a few years, and realize now some days have difficulties. The season isn't straight down, and instead has one downward and then an upward bounces. God has given Edward the ability to find ways to please himself - liking being good at Disc Golf and stock contests. And Father God has given Edward a kind spirit when this illness causes anger and more of a Dr. Jekyll outlook - with brain trauma. Instead Father God has found ways for Edward's soul (which is lasting) to feed his mind. Usually we have calm and surprising recall of long ago memories.

Making me say with all sincerity, Praise God in His Goodness to us. This illness is the worst and Edward is mostly happy and good.

Father God is good on the voyage. We are allowed to go to Jesus and say, "Well, that is traumatic." And know He understands. And tomorrow is a new day, new possibilities, new ways to punt. 

Father God,
You are the God of All. We lift up those who struggle with ill health. There is not much we can do, however You are God and Your ways are Good. And we look to You with hope.

Jesus, let us put our Nation in Your care and rest. Let us give You the concerns of our Loved ones and be at peace. The People You have given us, comfort and upbuild.  Our communities, Churches, work places, state and All the People You would save.

We look to You, Father God. On with the Path of Life You would give us.
In Jesus. Amen.   

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Numbers 25 ~ And the Lord said to Moses

Would we ask the Swiss Family Robinson to build a radio or use Google maps?

Numbers 25

While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. 2 These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 4 And the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the Lord, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” 5 And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.”

6 And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand 8 and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. 9 Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.


10 And the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy. 12 Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, 13 and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’”

14 The name of the slain man of Israel, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, chief of a father's house belonging to the Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of Zur, who was the tribal head of a father's house in Midian.

16 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 17 “Harass the Midianites and strike them down, 18 for they have harassed you with their wiles, with which they beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the chief of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague on account of Peor.”



No coward soul is mine,
No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere:
I see Heaven's glories shine,
And faith shines equal, arming me from Fear.

O God within my breast,
Almighty, ever-present Deity!
Life - that in me hast rest,
As I - Undying Life- have power in Thee!
-  Emily Bronte

Is the god of the Old Testament without mercy, mean, cruel and utterly blood thirsty? Compare and contrast with:

Deuteronomy 21:18-21
A Rebellious Son
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20 and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

This is today medication and counseling for the violent before violence happens.

And if you want to go further, our blog post Judges 20 ~ Tell us how this awful thing happened. lists a third horrible event that really is in Scripture.

So, Scripture for Today has decided to not be cowardly; let's look at Scripture some people, who do not like the Scriptures, love to tell you they have heard of. Okay.

God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. And His Word is living and active.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God deals with each generation with faithful love and steadfastness. We use the tools - at hand - to live our lives. You could not ask the Swiss Family Robinson to build a compass and a radio (not their era), they did not have the tools of even their own fictitious generation. God tells us deal with problems, don't sweep them into a large lump under the rug. One of the first rules of youth ministry is: discipline.

Proverbs 3:12
For the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

If everyone is jumping on the sofa and popcorn is flying, no real time for deep growth is going to occur. If you sit down to memorize the 10 Commandments, you realized they are orderly and start with GOD. Why. This is really important. We do not serve Google. Or a flowchart. We love a GOD who is interested in creation, in emotion, in the depth of our hearts. We love a God who says, I'm important too. And that, is very admirable. And honest. And lovable.

So, we are working today our way back up to the top, reverse order. The city in the Scriptures did not believe someone who completely disrupts the world should be ignored. Like the people in the United States who have taken guns and shot multiple people to death. No one who knew these people were surprised they acted so terribly. Today we have more knowledge and pharmaceuticals, and believe stoning might mean Medication while receiving group therapy. The Scriptures tell us we should not ignore problems. Or leave people we love undisciplined.

Okay. Phineas. You can't just foggetaboutit Phineas. Because David did not sweep Phineas and these deaths under the rug.

Psalm 106:30
Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed.

What was the Baal worship so terrible that the LORD considered it to be whoring. Not "The 10 Commandments" Movie scene, they were collecting Egyptian gold and jewelry while dancing around a cow.

Baal worship is prostitution. Works for dollars. Sacrificing human babies, letting the blood run into the fields, or desert, in exchange for prosperity. This is even today, abominable. Baal worships funds.

In the middle of the Old Testament, we run into a Biblical event. We all remember Jesus with the woman caught in Adultery (the man somehow ranked exclusion?). And we wonder why was one woman being punished. John's Gospel tells us so many things are about Jesus, we don't know all of them. In this chapter of Numbers 25 - during the time of Moses, this prostitution was not limited to the Moabite woman - the Holy Spirit condemns the Israelite man turning her in. The chiefs of the people and hung in the sun, not like the Pharisees who made sure, instead, they wore the best robes and sat in the finest seats.

In our attempt to condemn a violent outcome, we find, we have over looked lack of hypocrisy in the government of Moses. We remember the "staff" of Aaron's budded to be an almond branch, when in Ecclesiastes we see an almond branch means a head of white hair filled with terror of old age and not mature peace.

However, to believe this was of the LORD, you'd have to believe the LORD was speaking to Moses.

Galatians 3:6
Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."


Father God,
You have wisdom in Your Decisions. When we seek to see You as Jesus and Good, when we seek to have wisdom in seeing Your ways, we find this answer.

We pray for our lives to be filled with Your Wisdom and Your Tender Mercies. Bless those who worry about illness and heal them to not suffer and to arrive in Your Kingdom as Victorious, when their time this occurs in Your Plan.

We thank You Catholics pray each week for the mercies of God now and at the hour of our death. A fine prayer.

With expectation You are Life, we ask about the concerns of those we love, the People You have given us, our Churches, communities, states and the Nation. Please cover us with Your Love and Your Name. In Jesus' Joy. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

Psalm 89:19-52 ~ My faithful love will be with him

Statue of David by Verrocchio

Psalm 89:19-52

19 Once you spoke in a vision,
to your faithful people you said:
"I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
I have exalted a young man from among the people.

20 I have found David my servant;
with my sacred oil I have anointed him.

21 My hand will sustain him;
surely my arm will strengthen him.

22 No enemy will subject him to tribute;
no wicked man will oppress him.

23 I will crush his foes before him
and strike down his adversaries.

24 My faithful love will be with him,
and through my name his horn will be exalted.

25 I will set his hand over the sea,
his right hand over the rivers.

26 He will call out to me, 'You are my Father,
my God, the Rock my Savior.'

27 I will also appoint him my firstborn,
the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
28 I will maintain my love to him forever,
and my covenant with him will never fail.

29 I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.

30 "If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,

31 if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,

32 I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;

33 but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.

34 I will not violate my covenant
or alter what my lips have uttered.

35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
and I will not lie to David-

36 that his line will continue forever
and his throne endure before me like the sun;

37 it will be established forever like the moon,
the faithful witness in the sky."
Selah

38 But you have rejected, you have spurned,
you have been very angry with your anointed one.

39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant
and have defiled his crown in the dust.

40 You have broken through all his walls
and reduced his strongholds to ruins.

41 All who pass by have plundered him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.

42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.

43 You have turned back the edge of his sword
and have not supported him in battle.

44 You have put an end to his splendor
and cast his throne to the ground.

45 You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with a mantle of shame.
Selah

46 How long, O LORD ? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?

47 Remember how fleeting is my life.
For what futility you have created all men!

48 What man can live and not see death,
or save himself from the power of the grave ?
Selah

49 O Lord, where is your former great love,
which in your faithfulness you swore to David?

50 Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked,
how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,

51 the taunts with which your enemies have mocked, O LORD,
with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.

52 Praise be to the LORD forever!
Amen and Amen.

You would think having David's life explained, this would be a Psalm of David. However, this is Ethan the Ezrahite, a Priest. Even a Priest in the Golden Age of David and Solomon could understand how difficult life can be.

Few people have been depended on by a large number of people and they all live in a ditch in a place called Ziklag and this looks - plumb awful.

John 16:33
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us

2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.


This passage is for all who do not grow weary of going good.

We have been discussing the Power Ball Lottery lately and I remember when my Aunt Clarice died  - before we knew the next day,  I dreamed  I had a phone call from her. Where she was screaming and yelling that she was standing just outside of Heaven's Gates and could see into His Kingdom. She said the one thing to remember about this call is "All of this is True! All of His Promises are True! And Winning the Lottery has NOTHING on getting to see ALL of Heaven and ALL of His Promises!!! Remember! Remember!   
Jesus Loves You!!!"

Revelation 3:21
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.


Psalm 131
A song of ascents. Of David.

1
My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
2
But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.

3
Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore.

Father God, what is our best prayer?

Father, I do not know, but You do. Speak the Word and this shall be healed.

Father, I give You my Loved ones and say "Please, in the Name of Jesus." And we lift up the People of this Nation, and our communities, Churches and States. And in expectation of Your Great Love, we will rest in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †