1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~ the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Corrie Ten Boom not only survived the fleas in World War II's holocaust. She reworked her career with her father's business. She found hope from carnage. And she told us to look at the circumstances within the circumstances.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

This confirms to us, in the midst of trouble, God has chosen our path for this very day. And has a purpose.

Jesus said we should always pray and never give up hope. Luke 18.

Today my 25 year old son, Alexander, went to our GP of many years because he has had a bleeding place on his face. And on the way to the doctor, Alexander discovered this bleeding place has been there since 2014. That sounds dire and I was very worried. Turns out it was a Cherry Angioma and no problem.

For the rest of the morning, I discovered I had a very upset stomach, but was wildly happy. If you have healthy children (after the loss of our daughter during birth) you have no basis for whining. And I resolved to realize that the rest of life was merely gravy.

Until the water bill was not adding up for anything and recorded August twice in a year of 13 months and $200 off. I was miffed and realized that August is always fight the water bill month. We even had turned off our sprinklers due to rain. And really, injustice and budgets added to my upset stomach and I was off to being "Quite Upset."

Add to that I missed paying another bill deadline. My glue was not gluing. My statue art form is tilted to one side for months dealing with glues. My other son needs a something taken off his face and he was abrupt. My husband also has a mole on his face that requires attention. I have Cystic Acne flair ups and my over-lip has a pimple. And my husband had skin cancer surgery last year and this mole is where my brother-in-law has had extensive work for skin cancer. Which the brother in law doesn't know we prayed for him a lot.

My mother tried to die having family stay with her and 3 adults could not get her to the hospital - where she was critical for days and days Who knew that Respiratory Collapse happens.. It was very scary and a first in our lives - as now we are the responsible generation. Last week, 5 weeks later, we rode from physical rehab from her Pneumonia in a hired Ambulance to the Pulmonologist for the diagnosis of continued Pneumonia. This week she turned down the x-ray swallow study recommendation for a feeding tube. In fact all 3 family members agreed. And today, if the yo-yo effect never ends, my mom called to tell me twice what she needs for rehab from her home and tell me not to help her decide on her next step. Bossy to the hilt with a diagnosis of Dementia. For example, traveling 6 hours for a month's worth of out of town trips to help her and then to be refused a genuine kiss and hug because she has Dementia. Now I am just about merely the maid. And and and ...her pneumonia crackle in the stethoscope is GONE. Today.

Edward has a form of Dementia, he should be off the rails with his own terminal Diagnosis. He continually amazes me with his ability to take the day and make it cheerful and fun for him. But in the ambulance ride, he had been unhappy in the car twice and now was telling the Ambulance Driver to ignore me and continue to drive in circles. So I realized we had plenty of time to get there and determined to start enjoying doing something very different and just wait until they were tired of driving in circles. And we circled until finally they were all willing to hear me say, "Take that street." And we got there.




And I felt so tense that I worry I am getting Dementia from worry. I drove errands around town, and I promise you I must look worried, because the man at the dry cleaners was oozing sympathy at me. Kindly.

And I finished all my errands, when suddenly I was Overwhelmed. And out of the blue, I started to sob. I just do not remember ever sitting at a traffic light and being embarrassed because my shoulders were shaking.

Finally I had the emotion at hand I needed for the push, push, pull, pull pull day.

The emotion was ... Gratitude.

Really.

My brain had time not to solve a problem but to sort.

I was grateful my mother did not pass away in her sleep. My brother and I had time to fight off Hospice 3 times. I had prayed for years for all of us to 'Pop Off To Heaven'. We discovered that even if she is in Dementia, no one was going to 'Pop our Mom off to Heaven' if it did not look like Jesus was really ready for her. And the ensuing guilt of that, well, all people lined up to say "Thank you for finding Life Precious" and "if it wasn't her time, you know that in your soul."

I am profoundly grateful to Jesus for giving me the memory of my brother, husband and me - saving my mom's life. Getting people hoping that day for Life. Grateful to hear her on the phone (except the second time of being the maid today!)

I am profoundly grateful to God for my husband crying for my mother. I will never forget that. I am Grateful that my 20 somethings the Psychologist at my volunteer job gave me the "Dr. Phil" low down on 20 somethings and terminal illness - they basically freak out. But my two sons - showed up for the Grandmother who loved her career and gave way out of date Christmas odd gifts to their age range - while dashing off to go shopping for more - Things.

My brother said, "It's wild, I have more compassion for her now than ever." And he genuinely looked shocked to the core. "How about you?" I agreed and we sipped coffee in stunned amazement.

And in this strange world, people now come up to me to offer Godly prayers. And spiritual advice and just like me - we are all a little stunned to be so bold. And we all leave with the Christ Jesus light of John 1 - glowing brighter.



I have - gratitude. For the beauty and complexity of Jesus in us - that the world tries to wash out - and this Survives, Thrives and is Helped.





And my son. Alexander. Who has a - let's say this LOUD AND PROUD - MY SON ALEXANDER HAS A 3.4 IN HIS MASTER"S PROGRAM AT LSU. Online. Because what he is doing is encouraging his dad that all the years MATTERED. THE Love mattered.

And Alexander sits with me and we discuss this and that - but what is really going on is - he is saying "Thank You."


We serve a gracious God.

Who is Our Father. And He does not always want to give us what we order by the menu. GOD is busy showing us that when you put your back into years of hard work to be with your kids and your spouse - when the chips all start to fall - that love and that time and all those Bible Studies and all that Youth Ministry and all that Friday Poker and Preacher - made A HUGE DIFFERENCE.






Gratitude for my other son - Cal -  to Say it loud and PROUD - made a 150 on the LSAT - Not even cracking the book open - he is so sad his dad is so ill. He came over and sat with us for hours this week. We had a rare and enjoyed family meal. Not the grouse with the same old thing, but a fuss and a discussion and a heal - for being real. That Son works really hard to make those around him pleased that he earns a living and makes hard work effort to better his employers.






Gratitude. Profound Gratitude. Alexander had a Cherry Angioma and not skin cancer. At age 25. We found has bled for two years. When you count up - when - did - that - start. Jesus has heard us pray for Alexander and we are so very, very, very Grateful. Even grateful the trouble happened because we got the chance to remember again how precious life is.


Will I remain grateful since I didn't all day long? Yes. This has made a supreme difference.

Reading the Bible made me realize, I am doing my flawed best. And God knows that. And He has said to me in Ephesians 2 - God is God and all my works don't make salvation.

Thank GOD for His Salvation. Today.

Father God,

Your Steadfast Love is our glory and Joy.

Give us more of Your Holy Spirit to to walk in a manner worthy of You, God, who calls us into Your own kingdom and glory.

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when we received the Word of God, which You made sure we heard from You, Father God, You accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

Gratitude, for you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as we did from the indignant and the 'religious' who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets.

We confess with sorrow this human indignation drove us down from speaking up Your Hope, Your Love, Your Joy to others in need.

We are sorry, very sorry to displease our Father God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. To proclaim the Kingdom of God is at hand and Strength comes from the Joy of the Lord. That this is meaningful life.


Just like the Prodigal Son, since we were torn away from Father God, brothers and sisters, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see Father God face to face.


For what is our Father's hope or joy or crown of boasting ??? Before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy and Jesus Loves Us.

Thank You, Abba.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Jesus.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Holy Spirit.

Jesus our Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Exodus 27 ~ four corners of the network

Acacia tree and Acacia wood



The Table - made and shown today in Israel by the Temple Institute
The Lampstand made by Temple Institute. Today in Jerusalem Museum for Temple Institute
The Altar of Incense - Temple Institute

Relief of King Darius of Babylon and slaves (Link to Scripture of the Day)
Gate of Ishtar in Ancient Babylon (Link Scripture for Today)
Rebuilding of the Second Temple went on for centuries, this is a model (Link Scripture for Today). Although the Second Temple was given the listed Temple Treasures back, the Babylonian king could not return the Ark of the Covenant, because it has already been hidden and never was in the Second Temple. It's interesting the First Temple, built by Solomon, simply stood while the Ark was there, but the Second Temple was always being destroyed by war, or remodeled.


 Jerusalem falls in 70 A.D. to Titus, this would have been about the end of Jesus' natural life on earth.
Model of the Coliseum, built from the money taken out of Jerusalem by Emperor Titus.

The coin of the Coliseum, made by Emperor Titus. Perhaps made with gold from the Temple.


The Arch of Titus in Rome today.
Relief carved on the Arch of Titus showing the Truimph after the destruction of Jerusalem, these are the Temple Tools, but not the Ark of the Covenant. After 1,935 years, Roman Jews proudly walked under the Titus Arch, for the first time, because Israel was again a nation, May 14, 1948.
About the 3rd to 4th century AD, the Jews collected enough money to rebuild the Temple, but the building was destroyed by earthquake while still in construction. Then war.

How the relief appears today - 2,000 years later.

Exodus 27

“Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide. 2 Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. 3 Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. 4 Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. 5 Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar. 6 Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. 7 The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried. 8 Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.

9 “Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen, 10 with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 11 The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

12 “The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. 13 On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide. 14 Curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, 15 and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.

16 “For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer—with four posts and four bases. 17 All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases. 18 The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases. 19 All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.

20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. 21 In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.








What these ol' things? Pure gold. 

From where? Oh, Egypt. The gold the Egyptians gave the slave as recorded in the Ipuwer Papyrus housed in the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden.
Documentation found on the Exodus? A few items not covered over like Mao. 
The Exodus. Circa 1447-1446 B.C. connects when the words Joseph, Israel, Goshen, Yahweh appear in tax records and official Egyptian documents. 

[1. In Ramses II's topographical list (ca.1275 BC) the place-name "Jacob-El" (#9) appears again (ANET 1969, 242; Simons 1937). The first appearance was in Thutmose III's list. This means that this city of Jacob has been around for two hundred years. Another interesting name that was found is yhw which is "Yahweh" in Hebrew (Horn 1953, 201; Giveon 1964, 244). 

2. It seems abundantly clear from all these topographical lists concerning Canaan that the Hebrews were in Canaan at this time, but they did not use the name "Israel" until there league of tribes was well formed by the time of Merneptah.

3. On a statue-base of Amenhotep III at Kom el Hetan which is the funerary temple of Amenhotep III there is a topographical list with the place-name Yspir (Series a:1; Kitchen 1965, 2). This is the same name translated "Joseph-El" in Thutmose III's Topographical list (ANET 1969, 242). After Yspir in both lists the place-name Rkd appears (Series a:2 in Amenhotep III's list, and #79 in Thutmose III's list; Simons 1937, 112). Rkd is the same place-name as Ruhizzi in the El Amarna letters (EA 53:36, 56; EA 5426; EA 56:26; EA 191:2; Rainey 1982, 354). The ruler of Ruhizzi is Arsawuya who seems to be located in northern Palestine or southern Syria (EA 53:36, 56; Moran, 125)]



Temple Tools are recorded again in 500 B.C. being carried out by King Nebuchadnezzar. Sustainable facts for reporting? Try the Museums. Complete Documentation of the Babylonian Exile as paralleled in - Scripture. Israel driven down into total annihilation and brought back to life by a character almost from the movie "The 300." That particular king was completely covered up and discredited by bureaucrats. Check this out as well. Except we took a historical leap there of a few feet. (Hollywood style.)

The Temple Tools? Returned by Emperor Darius. He took a shine to the God of the Hebrews and wanted that Good God to be restored. His funeral etching in the side of cliff is an ancient shape - recognizable today...

So the next time we hear about the Temple Tools - Arch of Titus - which is - very visible today in Rome. Matter of fact, Benjamin Netanyahu, got a tip from one of the finest espionage sources in the world - and went to see Pope John Paul II - asking for the Vatican Archive return of an unnamed Temple Tool - still intact from Moses.

Father God -
Give us the day! The wonders of Your eternal Word in Jesus.

Let us pray the end of Psalm 64.  Remembering what our God has brought about.
Pondering the Wonders of  our Father God, what He has done.

Let us be covered with the Name of Jesus, Believing His Word, Promises and Righteousness. And let us be in His Righteousness, rejoicing in the Lord.

This is where we take refuge.
Let all the upright in Heart see in awe our God's Wonders.

 Christ Jesus has seen this world through tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword. The Kingdom of Heaven knows about difficulties and violence.

The Church and the People of God are more than conquerors through the Love of Jesus Christ. Nothing from death, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
God Himself has given us our loved ones. His Work saves us all. Covering our concerns and sometimes anxieties with the Name of Jesus. We ask His Righteousness over our communities, Churches, States, Nation and rejoice in the Lord with all who call upon the Name of Jesus in Prayer.

In His Majestic gift of Salvation, we will never earn His favor. And this is only the Grace of Jesus saving us.

We ask Him to bless us, because He is our Father. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Mark 7:24-37 ~ Proclaimed

Tyre and Sidon were supposed to belong to the Tribe of Asher. They were called Rock (Island) and Fishing. Jacob spoke of it as the boundary of Zebulun.

Mark 7:24-37

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.”



Jesus travels outside of Judah. He is with the goy - the gentiles. Deliberately. Something Jesus did not suggest for his extended 72 Disciples.


Matthew 11:21–24)
Jesus pronounced judgment on Chorazin and Bethsaida suggesting that if the pagan cities of Tyre and Sidon had experienced what Chorazin and Bethsaida did, they would have long ago repented in sackcloth and ashes.


An interesting set of circumstances. 

Jesus was known to travel the distance of the Sea of Galilee three times in a day to find that one specific person on God's calendar. And here, Jesus tells the Syrophoenician woman to be humble - she is not of the elect. I'd bet ... Jesus traveled to meet her.

Her heritage was closely known to Judah:

David loved the Phoenicians and built his Palace in the Phoenician style. Tyre was considered an ally and friend to Israel and then Judah. They supplied wood and laborers for both Temples.


 Early in Jesus’ ministry, people from Sidon and Tyre heard about Jesus. They came to see Him (Mark 3:8) and be healed by Him (Luke 6:17).


Christ Jesus really tells us He is a Light to the Nations.

The Bible is arranged carefully by people who had seen Jesus. Mark's Gospel is the top hits of Jesus to help Peter tell the Biblical narrative quickly. At the time of the early Church - these were the Chapters on Jesus' life people liked the most and understood the best describing Jesus' personality.


Jesus returns from the Syrophoenician woman to the blind and deaf of Judah. Healing what is blind and deaf. The two events of Jesus' life are linked not by coincidence, instead to say, wake up see that Jesus sees the gentiles have humility and faith. Saying what matters to Jesus is a person as an individual. This healing was not to please the masses, is a personal God to one individual. Jesus is telling us the blind and deaf man is not healed by the reason of popular support - this is Jesus' Own Choice.





The people so new to following Jesus as Christ - saw Jesus as personal to them.


Jesus said to be quiet. Why? The answer goes as far back as Jeremiah. A personal God. Answering one person.


Jeremiah 45

The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

2 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch:

3 You said, ‘Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.’ 4 Thus shall you say to him,

Thus says the Lord: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—that is, the whole land. 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”


Baruch had to be terrified. And Father God had compassion on the man He would not make famous.

However:

Found beside the prison holding cell in the King's Palace (David's Phonetician Palace he bravely built outside the fortified walls of Jerusalem to obtain the view and have God's protection) was the Bulla, the stamp, the letter sealer belonging to Baruch, the son of Neriah. Freed by Emperor Nebuchadnezzar II from this prison. And including from 597 B.C. the very fingerprint of Baruch. Willing to Abide in the Lord, even when all was dire. There was not a parade for Jeremiah or Baruch and yet they were abiding in the Lord.



Father God uses all His Majesty to reach out to you and to me. The Bible is a miracle in our hands today. Brought to us by men and women who gave their lives to bring Truth. The astonishing and eternal proclamation, "Jesus does all things well." The horn of the Temple Shofar tells us "Nothing is impossible for God." All things are possible with God.





Father God,

When we look at Luke 7, we find when circumstance is dire. The point even of death - feel worthy to ask Jesus. A loving heart calls to Jesus.

When we read the Bible, we are far away in time and sometimes circumstance. We rarely think to presume to come to You, past the Gates of Heaven, to Your Home and Throne.

On one Word of Jesus, of Abba, what You say will be done. We will aspire to this faith, only in Love of the Lord Father God Almighty.

Let us hear from Jesus this: 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.


Father God, I pray for my ears to stop ringing, I pray for my mother's hearing and her Pneumonia and her failed x-ray swallow study - for her healing. For the joy in seeing her on her 83rd Birthday to have as much Joy as she did in her younger years. A blessing of a filled soul. We pray this for our families.

We lift up the concerns to you of our loved ones. And pray daily for them to be loved and encouraged by Your Wonders. We lift up our Communities to be led by You and radiate Your Joy and Love. We lift up our Churches for Your Love. We lift up this Nation to be led by You. We praise You for the Love and prayers of all around the world the believers who Love You.

We look to You with expectation of Your Glory. We want to see more Heaven on earth. We encourage Your Glory. Your Promises of Salvation are now. The Kingdom of Heaven is here in Christ Jesus. Glory, Glory, Alleluia.

Amen - Jesus - Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †