John 15:5 ~ Abiding in Jesus

The complex, selfish Israel Jesus cried out for. He longs to place us beneath His Wing. Photo from Domius Flevit's Church.




John 15:5
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

John 15:7
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.



Jesus calls us, "My Family." Jesus is KING. Lord of Lords. Our righteousness.
I believe this and in this I am Blessed. Jesus is Truth.
When two or more in prayer, in His name, He is there.

Jesus commands Love.


Life gives us examples. Parables. The lives we know the entire life story and we are bolstered, challenged, encouraged, warned to do differently. These are the Living Seeds of the Parable of Seeds. I know two people who decided life was too hard. And they mostly decided to stay home for decades. And then you are not being buffed to shine. Life bumps and jostles us all. It's up to our prayer and hearts to find fuel to love and courage. Boldly going back to Life. Jesus is the heart and core of daily seeing His Mercies Renew.

We Live as believers.



“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

"As for other matters, my brother, my sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord."

"It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God."

We will see the Valor of God and we will defend His Righteousness. We will see His Mercy Shine and Overcome.


"The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving kindness and truth; who keeps loving kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished."

"In this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. Greek, Jew, Slave or Free there is no partiality. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well."

"This is not up to us to take revenge or vengeance. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. I always to thank God for you, brother and sister loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. Never tire of doing good."

Isaiah's 60th Chapter explains our lives and these wondrous times to us.


1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,

and thick darkness the peoples;

but the Lord will arise upon you,

and his glory will be seen upon you.


3 And nations shall come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your rising.


4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see;


they all gather together, they come to you;

your sons shall come from afar,

and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.

5 Then you shall see and be radiant;

your heart shall thrill and exult,a

because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,

the wealth of the nations shall come to you.


7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you;

the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;

they shall come up with acceptance on my altar,

and I will beautify my beautiful house.



9 For the coastlands shall hope for me,

the ships of Tarshish first,

to bring your children from afar,

their silver and gold with them,

for the name of the Lord your God,

and for the Holy One of Israel,

because he has made you beautiful.






“Find him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us, for

“‘In Him we live and move and have our being’;
“‘For we are indeed His Offspring."



" Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. And this Jerusalem shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it."



"There shall be heard again the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord:

“‘Give thanks to the Lord of hosts,


for the Lord is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!’




In the midst of all our struggles. Jesus is our Destination. Our Hope. Our Love. Our Savior.

Father God,

We list our concerns to you. For using each day to be positive, building tomorrow up because today we chose to see what is Good. Taking time each morning to see Your Mercies renew. I promise toothpaste for me makes the whole world seem shiny and new. I am grateful for toothpaste. For this as an analogy for our Righteousness is in Jesus.

For being greeted by enthusiastic creations of God.

For lifting up cares of Edward's health. Blessings on Preston Village Physical Rehabilitation helping my mother overcome Double Pneumonia and her hospital stay. For the many people who worked in the Hospital to get her to live. Four nurses there who tell me they pray for their patients. For the man who took his time on the phone making sure my mother was checked up on at Preston Village.

Blessings for the cares and concerns of the people my mother has who call regularly to check up on her. For our family in Louisiana to be well and recover well from the rain and flooding. Especially in Baton Rouge and in Washington Parrish Franklinton. For all the south to recover from the August flood. For the USA to pray to share the weather instead of one area having feast or famine.

For the Country to pray as we vote, God helping All the People to have the promises made. He will hear our prayers. For peace for the nation and the world.

For the cares we all have for our children. Their needs. For our families that cares and needs are presented to our Loving Father God.

We will continue to Pray. Knowing hearts of warmth and love are His domain. His reaction to the strange world is to see us all through and through and to Save us for His Own. Amazing, Loving Father God.

In Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Jonah 1:1-2:2 ~ I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me.

 

Psalm 94

1 The Lord is a God who avenges.
O God who avenges, shine forth.
2 Rise up, Judge of the earth

9 Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?

10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?

11 The Lord knows all human plans;
he knows that they are futile.

12 Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
the one you teach from your law

 Jonah 1:1-2:2

1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil [evil or disaster] has come up before me.”


3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 

6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah (Proverbs 16)

. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”

 9 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 

10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.

11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 

12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” 13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard [the men dug in their oars] to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” 

15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah – Chapter 2:1-2

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying,“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

Jonah was not having fun with the whale. However we have all overlooked important aspects of the Jonah Story.

1. Jonah appears to be the only one where God demanded His Way, Truth and Life.

In His Capacity: Daniel was enslaved. Moses had leprosy for a minute and a half. Zechariah went mute and Elizabeth was found pregnant - no angel had asked her. Joshua lived in the desert for 40 years. Samson went into prison. Joseph went into slavery and prison. God has way with His Good Will and Plan. God always - wins. We win when we say sincerely God is my Hope and my Future.


Is Jonah True? The Bible is True. Jonah is True. We also see this:

3. The Assyrians allowed Judah to continue. They had a fondness for this Jehovah and His Capabilities.  Hezekiah had the most impressive reign. And in my opinion, Hezekiah far exceeded Solomon. The People were on the side of God and King Hezekiah had to ask them to stop donating. They worked hard for the Lord and their tunnels with water are visible today.

2. The Babylonian Exile was 3 vast, violent sweeps by Nebuchadnezzar who believed himself to be blessed and mentioned by Isaiah 14:12-15. He reign took over the Assyrian culture.  Isaiah 14 did indeed tell of the rise and fall of Nebuchadnezzar, conqueror of Judah. Without Jonah, Nebuchadnezzar would not have granted the slaves the renaming and calling them "exiles". They would not have had the freedom to worship the Sabbath together. Ezekiel, as a priest, would not have been given a house by the Kebar River. Centuries apart, Jonah laid the path for Jeremiah's prophecy of 70 years in captivity to be True.


3. Many of the aspects of Jonah are recognizable in ourselves. The desire to love God and fulfill our own plans. Our selfishness. Johan continues to be mighty in God as he flees. He tells the Truth. A noble thing. Very admirable. And in the Truth - this life comes to be useful to God and to us through the millenniums.

4. Jonah is not a fish tale of one who got away. Jonah begins to tell us about Jesus. Jonah felt his life was in God's hands and Jonah is brave and mighty to save - others. Jonah, like Jesus, will be calm during the storm and see what unfolds. Jonah is ready to put down his own life to save them. Jonah - is like us - he had no idea God was going to step in and Save so Mightily.





Father God,

Today - We call out to the Lord in our distress and He will heal us.

In the Lord Father God Almighty we see many grow in their God for Loving Kindness and Maturity

We give You Thanks, that was distress and problematic - terrifying was meant for Good.
All things work for good for those who Love the Lord God and work according to His Purpose.

Psalm 94
17 Unless the Lord had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.

19 When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.

Thank Jesus Christ the Lord for hearing our Prayer. We Trust in You.
Amen, Abba, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 7:1-14 ~ Jesus came up and touched the bier

Church roof at Sea of Galilee

Luke 7:1-14

7 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.” 

Jesus is the same Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Just as the biers stood still, we encounter Jesus today.

Discovering Jesus, the men in a Capernaum fishing boat simply left their lives to walk with Jesus.

Father God,

Colossians 2

When the men of Capernaum and Nain encountered Jesus they saw firm faith in God the Father. A Spirit filled with delight in the godly. They discovered Jesus to be fully and richly in complete understanding of the mysteries of God. A Treasure of God filled with wisdom and knowledge. The Presence of the Light of the World, Son of God.

To physically be the eyes seeing Jesus filled them with some fear, but great Thanksgiving centered upon Jesus the Christ of God.

Jesus disarmed the powers and authorities the people recognized as not fully filled with Jesus. The Herod appointed status quo Temple with an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment.

Jesus did not reveal a shadow of things to come. Jesus Christ is Love.

To our Living Father God and working Savior Jesus Christ, we present ourselves before His Throne, by the shining waters, knowing we can bring our cares to Him.

To put ourselves at His feet. Rest upon His legs. Embrace Him. Our Father welcomes us. And we do His work, telling Father God of those we love and their needs. Knowing He covers us in the Name of Jesus calling us Righteous by His Great Salvation of Mercy and Love. Placing our communities, Churches, neighborhoods, city, state and Nation. Concerning ourselves around the world with the Love and Power of the Holy Spirit readily called upon by all who believe.

We will do His Good Will and His Mercy bringing Heaven to earth. Making Today eternity. Finding His mercies renew each day and Feeling His Love.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

John 1:29-34 ~ “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

National Geographic 2012 Photo Contest Winner taken in Lake Mary, FL

John 1:29-34

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 

30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Combined with this Scripture passage:


Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings^{[than God and the angels]}
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

This is the Son of God. Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to be upon the people who would ask in His name, with belief. So many, many times we are left with a photo image of a dove descending upon Him at His baptism. The important message - the Spirit remains.

Psalm 8 continues the message saying His name, Jesus, is majesty, glory and establishes strength. 

Many times in life we feel diminished, and this passage reassures us we are so important to HIM, the Spirit remains. The work of our hands, our life, will be established in Him. The journey, the path - His - He established for us.

My mother has been in the Hospital for 16 days. We met people who had people in the Hospital for 42 Days. The Hospital makes you tired when the patient is going to have changes, questions, tests, doctors, needs and personality up and down and almost comatose.

We were fortunate, 7 people came right away. All with emotions. And the people who called back and worried and called and texted all have lives too. Changing lives. Including the two realtors my mom doesn't really know who showed up to ask too many questions and were left with the sleeping patient. There might be another sale, right?

Hospice was uninvited and showed up 3 times. Well ok, 4. Acute care was prevented. Nurses worked their legs off and one wept when she got better. They got a letter from us in Administration taking names and saying, "Thank You."

Questions were asked about health from people without health backgrounds. And answers were sought until answers were found.

One of the people consistently patient with us about asking and finding out - in in the massive Flood in Louisiana. He is our family who shows up for weddings and funerals and visits. Thanks Cousin. He is interesting. He likes Minister Jesse Duplantis and recommends him. I have found Jesse Duplantis very inspirational. Thanks, Cousin.

We have a far flung friend who has a husband in his 90s. A minister and a 14 year old dog - both in ill health. She has made countless wedding dresses. And is as shy as Napoleon Bonaparte. Her stove from the 1910s is beautiful and she rewired that stove herself. Their farm house had all the walls knocked out by fire before they purchased that and not replaced to see the creek in the back and the field in the front. The beams are interesting and acquired from the barn they tore down to place in the huge one room living area. Cooking, crafts, choirs, discussions on the Bible. And flower arranging.

My mom was a daily participant in the University of Fun. For decades. And she went back to work after the divorce and started mourning and became a friend to many and very busy.

One of the people providing food has remarked with my mom that the 6,000 people they went to Church with since 1956 have departed. And they see a whole new 6,000 person congregation. In fact the neighborhood looks 50 years younger suddenly. And she has said this is like living through the Black Plague. No one told her. She and my mom go to 3 funerals a week, in their 8th decade, and could go to more funerals. Both ladies say they go to say goodbye and see who is alive.

Edward and I listen to the radio and learn from the University of Pittsburgh that exercise changes the brain and the chemicals that say "I deserve and work and work to have good health" feed the mind in good health.

We have had a long time friend who is a doctor - who had an Amazing Job. And we are very fortunate to have had her advice. Even when she had her mouth drop open because this line of medical thinking is What? She is in her 80's and she is rounding people up and Shepherding them in her gracious goodness. Driving 3 hours to put eyes on my mom and then going home.

And one lady has just finished teaching school and is quite young at heart. In her Eighties. And my mother's dear boyfriend, our neighbor when I was a very young child, is very active and repairs his collector cars and revamps his belongings to stream line and redoes areas of his house and does his own yardwork. He is older than 85. And is a good judge of circumstances and is fun.

A very good friend has lost her husband a year and a half ago. She is out cleaning and making new things. And then napping and mourning. Surely a healthy combination.

Sibling support, sibling rivalry, sibling enjoyment, sibling gotcha. Dang. And for them $2,000 emergency airline tickets - 8 days of jaw dropping scary and what the - what the - what the. And after a blood sugar of 300 - Mom doesn't remember we were there. Sometimes 12 hours a day. My brother wept to find out she doesn't remember after her - sort of - coma.

My husband wept, and my brother and I worried we should have let Hospice take my mom. Maybe we were just creating a corn husk left of a Person. Enough to make you worry for weeks. But we face the decisions as God would want us to face them and had discussions with strangers of personal things that are frank and emotional. What is appropriate medicine - what is extreme - what is loving - what is the best. What to do. And you drive 3 hours home, sit in a chair and suddenly in young 50's feel fragile. And start exercising more. Praying A LOT.

America doesn't really like funerals, grief and recovery. But we surely were blessed with people from all over the USA bringing acts of kindness. Really blessed. Amazingly blessed. Next time you know someone in the hospital - go - not everyone gets visitors. A kind word - in the hospital - changes a life.

Next time you want your words to matter - try kindness in the Hospital. There kindness changes the entire course of a life.

What I have liked about the people who have visited with us with phone and
face visits - they put their lives in front of us as they are (minus the women looking for a sale).
Work in progress. Striving. Hoping. Believing. Praying.

A lot of these people are in CHANGING TIMES. And we saw support and going with God.


Writing this Post, is amazingly good for me. I have mourned times past. And in being to sit in the gratitude chair has made what is good apparent again. Blessed to write this Gratitude Down.

Thank God when HE has us make lists of Gratitude.



Deuteronomy 2:7
For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.”’

Psalm 34:10
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Romans 11:29
For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.

Asking us -

1 Peter 2:17
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

John 15:17
These things I command you, so that you will love one another.




Walking with faith. We all have questions, not necessarily lack of faith, but questions. Jesus gives us an abiding Holy Spirit. John the Baptist knew he was serving God, he'd heard about his family, John had to have known about the Christmas story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. John went along his faith journey and God showed him the path forward.

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”




And really, the people who gave us strength encouraged this:

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"


We are group of people known to the people around us as Christians. Sure there was some pandering of mouthing faith near us. But really - what real faith brings - the ability to be who you are. Deal with it as it is. Face the facts. And Go Forth With Love, Joy, Faith and Hope. Even when you're going to sit in a chair and say, "Ommm" for a little while. And go and do more staying with Physical Rehabilitation Next.



Life is going to Change. Children grow up and have families. Husbands get terminal diagnosis. Mom's have Pneumonia and go to Rehab. People age. People mourn. People rebuild. Lives Change.

Father God,

What do You tell us about the Wild Waves of Life?

Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer. Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Have compassion. Abide in Hope of a better outcome and ending. Go Forth and do not shrink back.

Father God will not leave nor forsake us. Be strong and courageous. Obey the Word of God. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

When we trust God, we are open to the Holy Spirit.

Dwell in me and the Ones I love. Be with the Churches of Jesus Christ. Our communities. Our State. This Nation to please God our Father. Asking Him to bless voting for The Word of God Honored. Pray as we Vote. We know He will hear us as we Call upon Him. We place our cares and the people around the World Celebrating and Believing and Praying Jesus for our days. Today.

No matter the muddle or mess. Jesus is the Lamb of God, creating a Holy Path. We Trust Him.

Amen in Jesus the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 138 ~ my strength of soul you increased

Psalm 138

1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise!

2 I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word!

3 On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased [you made me bold in my soul with strength].

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth, 5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord!

6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.

8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands!

When we read the Scriptures with our hands and souls open in prayer, we should notice as we read them, they speak to us. Sure some passages have a phrase containing a favorite verse and we will look to it as our favorite spot in our home or yard. Yet sometimes, you read a passage, and part of it leaps to you, your eyes are opened to the Scripture. 

When I've read Psalm 138, sometimes it Is the joy of God. Or another day, the thrill of a situation solved. In times of difficulty, the promise of the LORD who says to me, He would never forsake me, I am the work of His hands. This is the Scripture being living and active to us. 

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.


You made me bold in my soul with strength


This is a true story. Stacy opened her door one day to find her next door neighbor, Betty, there. Her neighbor said, "We've lived next door for some time, we haven't known each other well, but I've come to tell you we are moving away."

Stacy asked if it was a job transfer. No, replied Betty, nothing like that. Stacy was filled with concern with the look on Betty's face, Betty was staring at the floor with a woebegone, stricken look.Stacy  asked if Betty would share the trouble with her.

Betty said, "I guess the main trouble is my husband and I are hopeless alcoholics. We've tried therapy, but really don't have the money for years of help. We've tried Alcoholics Anonymous, but we can't find the strength to stick with the program. We are loosing the house, they are coming to take away one of the cars today. We will divorce. We just aren't good for each other." Betty's voice cracked. "If it weren't for my son, I don't know if I'd care, but I don't know what will become of him to be from such a broken home."

Stacy said to Betty, quietly. "There is a solution."

Betty looked up to see Stacy, "What solution would that be?"

Stacy said, "Jesus heals people. Jesus saves people."

Betty replied, with some scorn, "Oh, religion. We've done that from time to time. Well, I mean I believe in God, but He hasn't been around much or seemed to care much really."

Stacy said, "Well, you really want to change is what you are saying. Isn't it? You want help with all of your heart. You want the solution, isn't that the truth in what you are telling me?"

"I've never heard it put exactly that way, but yes. Yes, it is what I am saying." Betty said.

Stacy asked Betty to ask Jesus into her heart. Betty said she didn't know how. Stacy and Betty got down on their knees together and this is what they prayed, "Father God, I am a sinner and an alcoholic. I need You. I cannot give up alcohol on my strength alone. I need Jesus to come and live in my heart. I am about to loose my marriage, my house, my car and I don't know what to do. Please help me. Please help me to see a way forward. I ask for your help in Jesus' name. Amen."

3 nights later, their neighbor Bill, Betty's husband, came over. He said I understand Betty came over here. She is completely different and things are changing in my household. I don't know what you did to her, but I need that too. That night Sam, Betty and Bill knelt for prayer on their hard kitchen tile and prayed for Bill to have Jesus live in his heart. Bill surrendered his life to Jesus.

And what happened? The marriage was saved. Their son did not grow up in a broken home. The house was saved. The job was saved. Betty and Bill were saved. Forever. Eternally.

That is what Jesus does. He saves the broken, the bruised reed. The undeserving. He is the Light that Shines.

John 5:17
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."

Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up

For great is the glory of the Lord!




Father God, The Joy in being able to have the Word of God dwell in you richly! We will never be far from the Kingdom of GOD. Child of the Most High God. We ask those precious to us and dear ask God to dwell in them. 

The gift of knowing you understand God is precious. God bless those precious Children of HIS. Be with us every day of our lives. Guide us Father God, love us God, dwell in us and help us make that dwelling a Wonderful place for You and for ourselves.

 Jesus, You Love and Live. In Jesus we pray. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Mark 8:22-26 ~ He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.

Mark 8:22-26

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 

23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. 

When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 

26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”



This week I've gone mostly every day to the Chapel in Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas. To hear what God has to say. When I go into the Chapel as I worship, I will fling open the Bible and the Bible will spill forth to me - the Conversation of the Vast Attributes of Jesus Christ, His Father and the Holy Spirit. If God is willing, the conversation will fill me with awe and wonder for weeks.




The Bible is the Word of God. I love reading the Word. I Love the Lord and He covers me with His name, Jesus the Lord.

Remarkable?
My Mother was dying last week - fling open the Bible and Proverbs 12 yields up
 "The Righteous do not die."

If... you... believe... you have been given the Balm of Gilead. To return to find Mother is able to say one word and she says her one word...."FATHER?" When you know Mother, you see no fear, but you see you've been given that one word from a Pneumonia Patient capable of one word on maximum oxygen. So you complete the sentence and ask Mother, "You want me to Pray?" Emphatic nod goes forth - but minus fear. Prayer happens. Then a brisk nod from the pneumonia patient.

God's Job, His Conversation, His Delight, His Words - are completed in a Circle of Love. Yes. His Word is very important.







Now after a week of one day death, one day miracle, one day more recovery is needed - well - you know your soul has been in effect emery board bruised.


And Church is needed. Now the idea of Worship is placing your heart before God.

Now, The New Testament will tell you - getting in Church - in Bible Study - in Ministry - is work. Like getting in  Carpenter Chapel and flinging open the Bible. The Word of God. Seeing God tell us about Himself. The Bible was written for you. Every Word. Lasting millenniums, for us today. Every Day.

In fact, we would NOT have but only 3 Gospels of Jesus Christ's ministry if we had ... quitters. John Mark was not very appreciated by Paul. Eventually Mark grew to not only accompany Barnabas, but was with the nitty gritty end of Paul, Peter with Luke and Silvanus.


Bruised. Sure. Life calls for bruises. And endurance, hope, grit, faith and overcoming with Love.

In fact... there is not one individual in the New Testament who loves people the way Father God loves people. That Word is Honest. Reliable. Enduring and tells that people will let you down and provide an opportunity for - a solution.





Ecclesiastes paints a picture of an old age house A soul, if you will.



Ecclesiastes House. And I personally had a house in our family from 1917 to 1999 show this type of aging. And this comes from lack of sharing. Isolation. Grieving with Anger being the Strength.


Ghostbusters says "Who you gonna call?" The Truth is - The New Testament. And if the New Testament says that it's rough out there, like Rodney Dangerfield - Believe you me, The Bible is where we are going To Believe What is What. The New Testament witnesses to the struggle of relationships in the Body of Christ. Of the struggle of just - LIFE.






Church. What is the actual point of Church if you can read the Bible and tune into God.
Something Jesus Christ prophesied about. Something Jesus expects of us.


This last Sunday morning I had a Moses morning, an Isaiah morning, a John of Revelation morning with reading Matthew 8. The Light of the World filled me. I was completely satisfied. I'd prayed and prayed for all the prayer needs I know of. And was brought to Jesus in the complete meaning of the phrase "Come to Jesus."

Imagine. See. Hear.  Does your heart strangely warm?


Jesus is Busy.
He is the Son of - God.
And the blind man is walking with - JESUS.
Jesus doesn't say "Ok, quickly, quickly, go around the side corner and go in the side door and ditch the crowd."

Jesus the Savior. The Hero. God who decided the Universe needs - YOU.

Jesus holds the hand of the needy, the weak, the despairing.

Jesus takes that hand and they walk far. This is JOY to Jesus.

Chapter 14, 15, 16, 17 of John. Luke 1, 2. Matthew 2 are telling us Jesus loved Life. He finds His Creation - GOOD.

Jesus is about to do something Jesus finds Enjoyable
Thrilling
Worth HIS Time
to walk out of town
and be Himself.
And make another person Whole. Holy.
With wit. Verve. Zest. Salt. Light. "Hey, man, Don't Even GO to that Bethsaida Village."

So if we can get our relationship on with Jesus and the Bible. Why the heck would we want to fuss with Church. Going to a Service. Why not TV Church. I am me. You are you, end of story.


Not the end of the story that Billy Graham talks about. This His Story is an ongoing, amazing, wondrous, boring, white water, thrilling, chilling, heart warming this is Dan and this is God revelation. We are all headed in the same direction. Jesus Christ.

If you, the Body of Christ are the eyebrow and the eyebrow sits home, the eyebrow is going to get grey, bushy or fall out. We need not to be Ecclesiastes House, unable due to neglect and we definitely need - not to fall out.


We are learning our faith. We are learning ideas of God from different points of the family table. We are strengthened in the Discussion of Jesus Christ.




I went to Church Sunday, flung open the Bible and read this:



Isaiah 46

9 "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is no one like Me,

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure."




Isaiah wrote exactly what the Holy Spirit said. And man will interpret their portion of Isaiah and act upon this. Causing the Magi to knock on the door of Herod's Palace for  Jesus.

The Purpose of Church is to sometimes see your seat in God's Table is not the same as the elbow or the forehead or the thumb. But to know that the Shepherds saw what Isaiah saw. That the Disciple John saw what Moses saw. John stayed with Jesus to the end and still saw the face of God as a Brilliant Light - John, like Moses, was in the same place, with the same God. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.





 
I am dealing with a husband with a fatal diagnosis and a crisis with my mom's health. I have suffering and feel strongly about suffering. And the recent History of Pew Research about Suffering and Church Attendance.

We are in a hurting world.


Does  God want us to suffer for Him. This type of thinking caused most of England to leave the Church when the World Wars were over. No one sees a Good God as one who wants suffering. It doesn't make sense. What makes sense with Father God - is He helps us in difficult times.  And still. and of course and really - suffering produces Character and Hope.  A Purpose. We want to see this meaning in our lives. Rick Warren says in reality we all face trouble or we are just leaving trouble.

We know God loves us and we want to see how this is shifting towards God. Our Father.

Honestly, Genuinely, with Earnestness. Forget that. I don't even sing that suffering part. Mouth shut.  I have suffered in life and I say that there is so much Joy in Jesus. I say Jesus has done Salvation. Are we required to be part of the goodness of God? Absolutely. Do we say - yay  - suffering. No. Unless maybe, you are part of the Body labelled Suffering. I want to do God's Will without being the mule who needs a bridle. I want to do this with Joy. I want to be like David saying, "Heck yes get the donkey, I love that donkey." And be so brave with Jesus Love that the real me blesses God.

Yes, we are bought at a Price.

 Yes this will require diligence, but why can't we do our diligence with seeing the Help of God, Joy in Prayer, The Helper, The Comforter, The Goodness of God.

I knew a man who called Isaiah 32:8 his goal in life.
Noble men make noble plans and stand with noble deeds. 

This truly noble man, leading his city, mayor, leading his Church in Bible Study. Leading his college in fund raising - truly a God Job. Said that the rest of Isaiah 8 was for God to take care of.

I know a joyous Bishop who says "His Banner of me is Love." Salvation is His mercy and we want to live His Words with Joy. And Love and Mercy. Our lives saying we live His Words. People will see we live His Words and see we Love Jesus.


God tells us the Joy He has in Creation!!!

God tells us the Beauty and Majesty in Creation are an echo of Heaven.

And we see, honestly, poverty surrounds our most beautiful areas of the earth. This is not Heaven. But we also see in this poverty, many times - Faith and Joy.

God tells us His Plan to send His Son to be part of Life. And time is spent telling us not just of suffering and death and cost. God tells us of healing, and holiness. Pages and Pages of Miracles we find hard to fathom. God is not like us. His Storehouses are never empty. He has suffered, died and Overcome Death to even bring Breakfast to the Beach to continue the Relationship.

Father God has a reaction to seeing the inner core of mankind ~  Salvation !!!!!!!!!!!

If we overlook this Salvation Blessing, we have also forgotten the invitation
 to bring our real soul to Father God in Jesus Christ
and have Eternity with God.

Jesus tells us in many Chapters in the Gospel of John what He thinks Life is. This is as He is about to willing bring us into His Sacrifice - to be able to dwell with Jesus and Father God. Jesus is telling us God sees this life as difficult, but yesterday, today and tomorrow, with God all things are possible - God sees His Creation as Good.

John 14:31
I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. 

Rise, let us go from here.

With Jesus, the answer is, Upward is God and this is Good.

Father God,

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Matthew 6
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Father God,

Today I did have sadness. But say that Joy is what Jesus says Life is and when we look for what You provide more than flaws, we will see the Joy.

I am lifting up Health in our family, particularly my mother. Thank you the 3 Hospice calls were overlooked. And today she is fighting back to health in skilled Nursing. Many people went forward to help my mother get into this very skilled nursing place. Good people at the Hospital made sure.

The nations of the world where Your people count on You. You are God. Holy. Marvelous.

We will look to the times ahead with Joy and smile and Laugh. God Lifts His Face to Us.

We are covered in the Name, the Mighty Name of Jesus the LORD.

Thank You, in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †