Romans 12 ~ serve the Lord. Rejoice

Romans 12

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.


1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,a by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 



I have a favorite movie, I just can't remember the title. It's very much a B budget film. A woman is invited to dinner, in our modern world, by Jesus. She decides that she will go - she hates fake Christians and finds out, in the movie, yes, this is Jesus Himself. And being Jesus He does Zacchaeus her, Nicodemus her, all the things we know Jesus draws from knowing our heart intimately.

The woman discovers that absolute goodness of Jesus. She discovers how much Jesus loves her as she is. Jesus knows all about her. Like the woman at the well. And she finds that the Love in Jesus cannot be left without loving with all her heart to Jesus.

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

 What it would be like to meet Jesus?

The Love unfolds tenderly. The response is allowed to bloom from her. This woman is never going to forget or dismay that Jesus is her destination.

What if ?

Suppose you were surprised to be invited to breakfast at the Beach. And when you got there, found out this was someone who you ran out on. And the breakfast is fish. You see a lot of fish, but you don't know what to say to the one you ran out on. And then you realize - in joy - forgiveness dwells here. An impossible reunion and forgiveness.

And you find out - you are being given a new name. Rock.

And you have a new job. Bring the Good News of this dead, now living Man to the world - which just killed Him. Terribly.

That's a very overwhelming job. 
So you start out and you are amazed the 36 acres of the Temples clear and multitudes who have seen Jesus are Joyous knowing He has returned not only to the disciples again and again for 40 days. Witnesses include 500 people who really know Jesus.

The multitudes go home, saved, they believe. 

And now you have to figure out how to bring this to the world. No pressure.

Well everyone decides they need administration. Good first step! Ok, accomplished! We can tell Peter is scratching his head. The rules people decide they see wavering and now is the time to start killing off the Disciples of Jesus! And put Peter in prison. The game of checkers is much more relaxing. Peter is so tense he thinks angelic help is a vision.

With God's help - even Josephus, a General of Judah - is astonished these men just don't quit. And began to be called Christians.

If you are Peter, you have to still be pretty overwhelmed. God helps. Pretty soon you have Paul. What are they going to do with... the world?

They decide with God that the really, really Jewish one is going to the Gentiles and the outskirts ex-thanks-to-God prison-sitter is going to the Jews. Whew, good deal the world is now divided into Jews and Gentiles. Only Half the world to go !!!

What happened? Life. God never flew the Children of Israel to the promised land. They were joined, rejoiced, honored, killed, raised, shipwrecked, cursed, feted, paraded, rioted, and joined Jesus.

God's Work Men Go Home and His Work Continues. To God goes the Victory. Peter and Paul with the Holy Spirit - did Mightily ! Glory to Jesus Christ !










What happened with so many believers for Two Millenniums. What was their purpose in this Life. The Purpose Driven, Chosen, Called, Fumble (Chorazin, Bethsaida, Antioch and Iconium, Asia), Bumble (his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall), Father God named you Ephesians 2 life.



The Scriptures are Vast.

When the Temple was thought of to be built. God said the Temple would not hold the edge of My Robe. And we wonder what was the mist in the Temple. This was the Vast Heavens displaying merely a glimpse. 

How Vast is our God. How far He reaches.

The creator, the Father of All, named you. And nothing you can do will repay Him for His Lavish Love.

John stayed with Jesus when only women - His Mother and her sisters and Salome would dare. John recognized Jesus. God of Love.

Let Love be genuine.

This is our Purpose Driven Life. John was not 'in love' as he stood with kill-you-dead- Centurions. There was a real possibility of death. Herod killed Jews all the time. John knew that this was Love, integrity and honor and he was not leaving. John said to himself if you've seen the Widow of Nain weep for impossible joy. If you've seen Jairus for his daughter's resurrection. If you've seen the 38 year waiting man at the Pool of Bethesda, If you've seen the life long blind man see. If you've seen Jesus walk on water. If you've seen Peter carried over water back to the ship. If you've seen multitudes of fish. You don't leave Jesus. This is Love.

There once was a man who was interested in what life was bringing him. He was the third of 10 children. Due to the times, his father's estate was divided among only 2 living children.

He took the high ground and began his home. Which fascinated him, until he decided that much, much more was available. He left his wife time and again. She was unwell and several times she bore children whom died and he never met. The only son died.  As she died, she asked him never to marry again because she did not want her two children raised by another woman. The man was so grief stricken in an era where grief was well known, people feared for him.

And his career continued. Eventually he thought to become President of the United States. Instead a very, very good friend became President and he became Vice-President. This did not seem fair. At all. The states knew him best. He had written the Declaration of Independence. He ruined the Presidency of his close friend. Humiliated him. Refused to be a solution, instead he was a mocking, cynic of what he had helped to create. From 1801 until 1809 President John Adams did not make public commentary. In 1803, John Adams went bankrupt. In 1809, John Adams began to correspond with two friends who encouraged him to contribute.

In 1812, John Adams began to revive his heart to Jefferson and write him. Not everyone wants to receive letters from someone they cast down. Jefferson had had conversations with a minister and had been looking at the Bible. In fact, Jefferson started cutting out portions of the Bible Jefferson said were pure gold.


Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Thomas Jefferson did not take to every Word of God. God tells us that in our minds, we are not able to take in the size of the Universe, the scope of creation, the permanence of eternity. God says we are not build to understand all things.

This friendship was so astonishing to both men, that they died on July 4th, 1826 - together on the same day and same significant date to them. Thomas Jefferson passed on first. And John Adams went on to Heaven proclaiming "Thomas Jefferson Lives!"

My grandmother went to Heaven and for an entire day she greeted people she had missed for decades. One of whom had died 40 years prior with news of current events. You cannot tell me this coincidence and news of God is not absolutely a miracle of Father God Himself.

Romans 12

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.




We are exactly Romans 12!  We are part of the Body of Christ. Finding Genuine Love. Living our lives to Abide in God and His Word.

If Thomas Jefferson did not fulfill all of the Vast Scriptures - he found the most beautiful of God's Promises. Jefferson's words are left to us of Jesus worship. The deeds of Thomas Jefferson.

Love.



I met a Bishop in Dallas, Bishop Sam, and he told me he could never ever attempt to understand all of the Scriptures, but one was his favorite.

His Banner over me is Love.








Dear Father God,

Our response to Your Vast Creation, the Promises we find in Jesus the Christ.

We rejoice to find we are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

Of this Gospel, I believe and speak, I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of Your power.

To us, though we are the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to speak with Love, the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for all mankind, what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in our Father God.

Our God - You have created all things. We pray Your Love and Strength to the Jesus Christ honoring and Gospel believing Church - the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

This is the eternal purpose Christ Jesus our Lord spoke of.

We want to learn to be in Love, wisdom, opportunity and joy to have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. We will not loose heart for the times we missed, we look forward to Your glory.

For Jesus. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father.

Knowing this infinite mystery, power, Love from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. According to the riches of His glory He may grant us to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in our inner being.

In partaking of Communion, we see ourselves again physically willing to have Jesus Live with in us. To see Him willing to be received. Honoring the New Covenant that the Holy Spirit dwells in us as the Light of Christ John 1 tells us.

Remembering Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith — that we, being rooted and grounded in love.

That we will in Jesus have strength to comprehend with all the saints
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
we know the Love of Christ surpasses knowledge, (God Himself says so)
and we will be filled with all the fullness of God.

And in His fullness of Jesus, we rest, our lives, our cares, our loved ones, our communities, our Churches, our States, our Nation and the people of God in the world today and tomorrow who call on the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

John 14:12-18 ~ we will ask Jesus anything in the Name of Jesus.

John 14:12-18

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.


15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."




Deuteronomy 4:7
For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?

Psalm 34:17
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.


So the news is grim. And sensationalized and compelling to people of violent nature.

And God still says keep in the framework of His Commandments. Why? When we stay within God's parameters we are able to say, in safety, what God does is good. We are open hearted with willingness to have difficulties. Not the pride of feeling all troubles should pass us by.

In the Willingness of God, this is our Joy. Finding reasons as time goes by, that God truly is our Hope and Future.


Jesus said, always pray, always have Hope. Hebrews 7 says God does new things all the time. Lamentations is written by Jeremiah. Most people would lament landing in the prison pit of what King David never hoped for. Jeremiah was the messenger for finding Judah doing life their own way cut them off from the Glory and Joy God provides. And in his lament, Jeremiah finds God's Mercies renew each day. 





Beloved Father God,

We are still praying. For Troy. For our loved ones, for our cares and concerns. For this Nation. For the news - for the good news to be evident even today. For our gratitude in each day. For the 50% of Americans who say they are born anew in Jesus Christ.

We thank You, Life is a Journey and more will arrive here.

We thank You we are a Nation trusting in You. For this Nation, our elections, and the communities that will cover the planet - trusting, in faith, hope and Love in Jesus Christ - given His Love and Promises we are united in the Holy Spirit.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Acts 1:12-14 ~ All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer

 

 

Acts 1:12-14

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.



We are missing a unity.

America may not have been this unified since 1776.
The riots of the 1960s do not reach the depths of the willingness of people to slant, mistakenly speak and act with the regrets of the people.


A unity - very seriously exists right now. Acts 1 has unity. Jesus is alive in the chapter and He tells the people not to be so concerned about government. A funny thing to point out when the photos on this post look like this:

Do we have two parties? Oddly the Democrats only gave up two people presenting themselves. That is just weird. Rubio is going home with 85 million dollars.

I was walking past a rock contest for a rapper here with 16,000 people gave the rapper a standing ovation for saying "Who can believe this utterly incredible media event that is unending and they have the gall to call this a Presidential Election." A standing ovation - not for music. For a good 5 minutes

So what do we have. We have 9% of the "United" States citizens are pleased with their choices to run the government. Ladies and Gentlemen - we have obtained Unity.

We have obtained a time where there is one solution. Pray. Vote and pray. When you listen to the National Conventions - you'd think we have obtained Nirvana. Let me tell you something, I think we have something here - I think we might have obtained the Sympathy of Almighty God.

Forget putting out these ugly signs. Do this instead:

Keep Hope.

Find Solutions.

Use times when trouble is present, riots, dissent, to keep peace and give God Authority. Lawbreaking. Confusion.

We have a general malaise. And this is the time to pray.

Jesus said when we need Father God to pray and not give up hope.

I'm praying everyday for the Nation and the world. I hope you are praying the Large Prayers.







1. There is no doubt our Father God has used powerful revivals as the major means of restoring the fortunes of a declining church and advancing the cause of the Gospel in the world. God regularly extends His kingdom, numerically and geographically.

2. Israel experienced this during the period of the Judges in the Old Testament. Every man decided what was right. The same cycle of sin and apathy, decline and defeat, desperate prayer for God's help and, finally, His powerful intervention, characterizes every revival.

Perhaps there is a time now for this.





Patrick Morley

1. TIMING: Revivals emerge during times of spiritual and moral decline, which leads to intense prayer.

2. PRAYER: God puts a longing into the hearts of many to pray for revival.

3. THE WORD: The preaching or reading of God's Word brings deep conviction and desire for Christ.

4. THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit takes people to a spiritual depth they could not achieve on their own.

5. CONVICTION: Affected sinners are inconsolable except in Christ.

6. GLORY FOR GOD: God receives praise, honor, and glory for bringing revival.

7. REFORMATION AND RENEWAL: Revival produces lasting fruit.

8. MANIFESTATIONS: Manifestations miracles vary by culture and denomination.

9. MESSY: Revivals are messy--controversies swirl about miracles, abuses, excesses, suspicions, and theological disputes (to name but a few)

10. CYCLICAL: Revivals inevitably crest and decline.

Is America Ripe for Revival Today?

A majority of Americans believe our country is going downhill. Yet church attendance as a percent of population has held relatively steady since 1990.

he number of born-again Christians has grown steadily to 46% of adults today.Given the state of moral and spiritual decay, how is that possible? People change life time denominations to find more about the Word of God.

The answer is simple. Today, Christianity is prevalent. We have the believers. We need our prayers to reach to be consistent.


We've not had an awakening in America of historic proportion for a long time. With such a great tradition of revival and awakening, a great base from which to start, and a great need to counteract the increasing moral and spiritual decline, our nation appears ripe for a fresh outpouring of God's Spirit.

History tells us that national revivals and awakenings cannot be manufactured. This is Good. We need God to do the work. We have to pray with consistency.

The earth and the fullness thereof belong to God.

God loves to respond to the prayers of His people (e.g., 2 Chronicles 7:14).





The Revival Library

In 1900 a revival broke out among South African Boer soldiers, who had been captured by the British and transported to various British colonies. At the conclusion of the war, in 1902, they returned to South Africa and the revival returned with them. Gypsy Smith reaped a great harvest there in 1904.

In Japan, during 1900, the church doubled in size as revival swept through many ailing churches.

In 1902, Torrey and Alexander conducted meetings in Melbourne, Australia, resulting in over 8,000 converts. This news spread like wild fire, igniting a passion for prayer and a fresh expectation for God to work in similar ways everywhere.

In 1904, Torrey and Alexandra were in Cardiff, Wales and, in the light of a minimal response to the Gospel, they called for a day of prayer and fasting. Suddenly things changed dramatically and thousands were converted during the next 12 months.

On the day of prayer and fasting (according to Torrey) Evan Roberts received an anointing of the Holy Spirit with great power, in a meeting conducted by Seth Joshua. Here the Welsh Revival began. It was Sept 22nd 1904.

However, the roots of the revival went back further. Young Evan Roberts had been praying for revival and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit for 11 years. Through a vision he received, Roberts believed that God was going to win 100,000 souls. In response to a further vision, he returned home in Loughor from Newcastle Emlyn where he had been enrolled in a Bible College.

During his first few meetings the heavens opened. God's presence seemed to fill the air. Many were prostrated with conviction, others cried for mercy and many were so filled with the Spirit they pleaded with the Lord to stay His hand.

Soon the revival spread to other places in South Wales. Teams of young people assisted preachers like Roberts, Sydney Evans, Seth Joshua, Joseph Jenkins and R. B. Jones. The revival then took hold in North Wales. Within six months 100,000 had come to Christ!

The Welsh Revival was soon the main topic of conversation throughout the Christian world. Wherever the news went it seemed to cause passionate prayer and began to ignite revival fires everywhere. Christians across Great Britain turned to prayer and church membership increased throughout the land.

In Scandinavia a current revival was fanned into a mighty blaze, as a result of the Welsh Revival. Germany was similarly affected as the flame spread across Europe. Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, the Balkans and Russia experienced awakenings.

The United States felt the after-shock of the Welsh Revival in almost every place. Prayer, conviction and conversion spontaneously occurred, resulting in unusual church growth.

In 1906 the modern Pentecostal Movement was born in Azusa Street, in Los Angeles, after a succession of local revivals through 1905. News of the Welsh Revival encouraged more prayer and suddenly the Holy Spirit descended. Daily meetings were held for the next three years. Visitors flocked there to catch the power of the Spirit and they were not disappointed. No one could have imagined that this was the beginning of the greatest and most effective missionary movement that the world had ever seen. It marked the birth of what was once called 'the third force in Christendom.' Some would argue that, 100 years later, it has grown into the largest and most powerful force.

Almost no country in the world was excluded from the effects of this incredible revival. Almost every nation, on each continent, received new power from heaven, a new passion for prayer and for the lost. Hundreds of thousands came to the Lord.





D L Moody, whose ministry may be described as "highly successful crusade evangelism interspersed with periodic revivalism". Moody began his ministry in Chicago and entered full-time Christian work in 1860, concentrating on his Sunday school and YMCA work. He was God's chosen vessel to take the sparks of the 1857-60 revival to ignite a fresh passion for God

in 1882, a worldwide interdenominational student missionary movement began. Though the YMCA in the States and Christian Unions in the U.K. had their inception during the former revival (1857), Moody's influence transformed these works into powerful missionary movements. The 'Cambridge Seven', including C. T. Studd, were products of Moody's visit and they went to on evangelise China in 1885. By 1912 Studd founded W.E.C., a missionary movement which had great success in parts of Africa. Wilfred Grenfell, the renowned missionary to Labrador was converted at a tent mission led by Moody in 1885.

What was Moody's Message? Always Remember God Loves You.

Never let anyone take from you - God Loves You.




What other movement centered on - God Loves You. The Acts of the Apostles.



The Last Century saw great wars. And most of us can point to what our grandparents did to keep families together and praying. Revivals are needed.




Father God,

For this reason I kneel before the Father,from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

pray that out of Your glorious riches, Father God may strengthen us with power through Your Holy Spirit in our inner being.

We invite Jesus Christ, that You, God, may dwell in our hearts through faith.

I pray, asking Jesus to pray with us, that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power,
together with all the Lord’s holy people,
daily grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.

And to Know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to our Father God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to God's power that is at work within us, to Jesus Christ be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

We lift up those we Love. Our cares. Their difficulties and Prayers. Our Churches. Communities, States. This Nation and all of the believers of Jesus Christ across the world. Jesus has told us to pray and have hope. 

Yes, we are asking Father God, for more of Your Holy Spirit. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 57 ~ God fulfills His Purpose for me

Psalm 57

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.


2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!

I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!





Anxiety. Every person on the planet with thoughts and hopes has anxiety. In fact, worrying can be a form of entertainment. And become a habit. We learn this from our parents. Little children see their surroundings and learn how to make solutions. Norman Vincent Peale said, "If you have concerns for life, (i.e. worry) you are alive, be grateful!"

Actually I think he was quoting Solomon, who quoted the Holy Spirit, who said better a living dog than a dead lion.


Ecclesiastes 9:4
Anyone who is among the living has hope --even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!


And let's add this to the thought from Pope John Paul II:
" We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song!"

From Deuteronomy to the Book of Revelation, every page tells us

"I will never leave nor forsake you." ~ Jesus Christ, our God.




Thank You, Jesus the Lord, we are here during the time of Jesus. When we look to the Acts of the Apostles to see how Father God's Salvation happens - we see thousands of people believe Jesus is Lord and are added to His Plan of Love to welcome us to Life. God has one direction - Love, Goodness, Mercy, Grace. Jesus calls us to have sorrow and turn to Him and He lavishes us with welcome to His Goodness.

Jesus works only with one type of person - sinners. The Disciples were never fired from having anxiety. Never fired for running away. Jesus found them - that is how enduring, steadfast, Loyal and Loving - Jesus - is. Today.

John 21 tells us differently than the gods of the world who require food sacrifice and worry - after Jesus gave His blameless, pure and loving life - Jesus cooked breakfast of fish for the erring disciples. This is our God.

Father God,

As Your child, I place this day, my life, my loved ones, my work in the Lord's hands. There is no harm in the Lord's hands, only good. Whatever happens, whatever results, if I am in the Lord's hands it is the Lord's will and it is good. Above all else, Jesus is LORD. To our glory and to the Glory of Our Father God!

Amen and Amen, Jesus!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

John 1:29-34 ~ Lamb of God.

John 1:29-34 ~ (Revised Standard Version)

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

This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."

And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 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.' "

And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."


I watched a special on the 2,500 to 3,000 year old mummies found scattered in China. It was really well done, they documented the success and failure to obtain DNA from each mummy and told about the known history of each person. One was a 5 year old boy buried with beautiful blankets, woven with great care. The loss of the blankets to the family indicated how much the child was held in esteem. Another a young woman with beautiful skin clothing and jewelry. A man they thought might have been a king, buried with a horse. Everyone was surprised to find the DNA indicated a high level of travel, there was Eastern European, India and a blend of DNA from around the world.

It is human nature to come from the beautiful miracles of John the Baptist's birth and Jesus' to wonder how John can say, twice, he didn't know Jesus. Or Jesus came before John, when John is older.

 Jesus is the Word of God, with God, in the beginning of creation. Proverbs also tells us about the joy Jesus found in Creation. Jesus was... before John.

How and why didn't John the Baptist know Jesus - his cousin? Why can't we be more surprised by the rest of the 1st Chapter of John. Men meeting Jesus for the first time declared to each other "this is the Son of God" in both verse 41 and verse 49 of John 1. This is far more astonishing - Jesus has men leaving their way of life behind to become His disciples in a mere afternoon of listening to Jesus.

So why, why doesn't John recognize his cousin Jesus? It's pretty obvious when we add up what we know. It seems we must look at this question. John's parents were old when he was born. As people become very aged, they do not travel greatly. Traveling was difficult even for the young. John's parents lived 90 miles from Jesus. John surely heard, in his youth, about Jesus and the "funny circumstances" surrounding the quick wedding of pregnant, un-wed cousin Mary. When we see the Gospels record only cousin Elizabeth's support for Mary, we must also remember John the Baptist probably heard more of the rumors from more of the family - who are not remembered in the Scriptures.

So .... why didn't John recognize Jesus??? For the same reasons we didn't recognize Jesus until we invited Him to be part of us. Before we really knew Him: we heard about Jesus from other sources. Not all the sources were credible, John the Baptist would have found. Family (Church) is sometimes boring and the time it takes to get there and back is too long. Why put the effort into going when people aren't always nice? We missed the family get-togethers (Church) for so long, people hassle us about That too. If you don't remember the family stories correctly there is mocking. It's all a big tangle to sort out and we have other things to do.

The Bible relates from millenniums ago, to the problems in the culture today. Bringing in - not just the Church goers - but the stay-at-home too. When we see the Spirit work - we see inclusion.

Then, more importantly, it comes to the decision time. As John grew spiritually into God's plan for him, Jesus became important to him. John took the time to dwell and think about who Jesus is. God revealed not just family, a good man, but a Savior. John, bravely, and with certainty says, "And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."




Father God,

We give You thanks and bless the name of Jesus.
You have helped my mother recover from weeks of Pneumonia.
This is a blessing of Your hand.

Great is the Lord, and egreatly to be praised
The Lord gmade the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before You, God.

Strength and beauty are in Your Sanctuary.

Thank You to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

Worship the Lord in nthe splendor of holiness;
You will judge the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let tthe sea roar, and all that fills it;
let uthe field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes wto judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Blessings Upon You, Lord Father God for answering Prayer.
Thank You for the renewed enjoyment my mother will have for going home since July 26th.

Thank You for assistance and joy.
We give You thanks, lifting up all our concerns.
The ones we love. The new people in our lives.
Prior thanksgiving, future thanksgiving.

The concerns of the Nation.
The blessing of knowing prayer happening all over the world.
We thank God for all His Love hearing all our prayers.
In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Proverbs 4:26 ~ Watch the path of your feet

Jesus cured the nobleman's son (John 4:46-47).

Jesus healed a leper (Mark 1:40-45).

Jesus healed the centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13).

Jesus cured the paralytic (Matthew 9:1-8).

Jesus raised the ruler's daughter from the dead (Matthew 9:18-26).

Jesus cured a woman of an issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48).

Jesus opened the eyes of two blind men (Matthew 9:27-31).

Jesus opened the eyes of two blind men (Matthew 20:30-34).

Jesus fed at least five thousand people (Matthew 14:15-21).

Jesus fed at least four thousand people (Matthew 15:32-39).

Jesus healed a woman of Canaan (Matthew 15:22-28).

Jesus cured a deaf and mute man (Mark 7:31-37).

Jesus opened the eyes of a blind man (Mark 8:22-26).

Jesus cured a woman who had been afflicted eighteen years (Luke 13:10-17).

Jesus cured a man of dropsy (Luke 14:1-4).

Jesus cleansed ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19).

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-46).


Not just the Centurion, not just the woman grasping the Hem of Jesus garment.

These were people who brought others, this happened again and again.

Proving, Prayer works. Proving Jesus, when sought, will answer.

More people saw Jesus so willing and they went to Jesus as well.

Maria: Dear Father, now I know why You sent me here. To help these children prepare for a new mother. And I pray this will become a happy family in Thy sight. God bless the captain. God bless Liesl and Friedrich. God bless Louisa, Brigitta, Marta and little Gretl. And I forgot the other boy. What's his name? Well, God bless what's-his-name. God bless the Reverend Mother and Sister Margaretta and everybody at the abbey. And now, dear God, about Liesl. Help her know that I'm her friend and help her tell me what she's been up to.

Liesl: Are you going to tell on me?

Maria: Help me to be understanding so I may guide her footsteps. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Liesl: I was out walking and somebody locked the doors early. I didn't want to wake everybody, so when I saw your window open. You're not going to tell Father, are you?

Maria: How in the world did you climb up here?

Liesl: It's how we always got in to play tricks on the governess. Louisa can make it with a whole jar of spiders in her hand.

Maria: Spiders? Liesl, were you out walking all by yourself? If we wash that dress tonight, nobody would notice it tomorrow. You could put this on. Take your dress and put it to soak in the bathtub. 
Come back here and sit on the bed, and we'll have a talk.

Liesl: I told you today I didn't need a governess. Well, maybe I do.




Hall and Oates have been singing about needing "What is right for me, yeah. I need a drink and a quick decision.Now it's up to me, ooooh what will be' For some time. And most adults get this.

You would think Maria would still be receiving spiders and the ill will of her charges. So many times in life, we are the recipients of advice and direction. And sometimes for years and years the same advice is given and ruefully and humorously agreed this is the road to take. And planned. What turns the key?

Suddenly you see a report, an email, a wisdom, a loved one's advice. Or in the case of Liesl, deep waters rush in and even war. And the day arrives, unasked and a decision is made. God moves.

What turns the action or the work? Actually, when all the advice adds up to a renewed vigor and heart dwelling of the Word of the Lord.

Liesl is a minor character in this classic movie, and yet no one has forgotten Liesl ~ we have all been Liesl. I knew parents, as my sons grew up, with a dignified father determined his children would never be away from any movie or idea even as small children. And the challenge to never create a time of discovering deep water - is mistaken. We all will come to times where we must decide from the pulls and pushed of life - who we are - what we answer to - our soul development.

In fiction, Liesl decides as she sees Rolf fall into the Hitler Youth. She has been gifted to see the Seed Parable unfold in front of her. A passage of growing up.


Parents, like Father God, are wise to protect their children to have these moments. And even more wise to have all the sincere conversations they can have. Genuine.



Liesl is open - for kindness, mercy. This is actually a conversation God would sit and provide us with. Decisions are made from loyalty, love, integrity, honor. This is the way Liesl's new parent is going to respond. This is how Father God feels towards us. This is the best of news. The Good News God bends far down to show us His immeasurable Love, Grace and Salvation.

Liesl was really Agatha.  Who was so impressed with her new parent, she wrote a book about her parents at age 91. Worked with the Catholic Church in kindergartens and lived to be 97 years old. The real Maria held her family together 11 years before Nazi invasion. Maria felt the movie portrayal wouldn't have kept the family together. Yet Maria felt her personality was held forth. Their immigration to America was announced and the path planned.

How did Maria arrive at her decision to marry Georg. The best of all reasons. Love. The Path to follow. Jesus, it is written, was followed with awe and wonder. And the disciple who would put his own life at risk fully understood - God is Love. Maria married and said her husband, she loved him more than I have ever loved before or after.


The path of our feet should travel in the Word of our Father God, His Banner over us is Love. Asking each day to meet God's timing with Joy. Expectation.





The Path opened with Love. In? Chapter 16, of course, almost 17!

1 Corinthians 16

13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.



Abba, Amen in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †