What Your Father Wants for You:

And this is Father's Day. Most people have two Fathers. Just like Jesus.

An earthly Father and a Heavenly Father. Ephesians 3 tells us in the 15th verse: that Families live in Heaven and on earth. And from Father God, we get our name. There is going to be a Great Reunion. Jesus even describes that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob eat together in Heaven.

I believe Jesus. Amen.

So a child is born. You. What does God really, really want from you on Father's Day and every day? There is a Purpose. And the Plan will unfold and God's Desire is Fulfilled. For you.

We are all building. Building a life. With our own purposes.

83% of Americans say the highest and best use of life - is to be as happy as possible.

Would Jesus disagree? No. Jesus tells us the Fruit of the Holy Spirit is - Love, Joy, Peace and Patience. Jesus tells us in John 16 and 17 - Jesus has Joy. And Jesus is the Lord of Lords - He has a Plan.

Patience? You can't build a house without Patience.

We Hope To Give Father God? What?

And then, if we are willing to see, then Jesus shows us perfectly Father God, then in His Goodness, we have seen God. Our Father.

So Father God sets us out on this Journey called Life. Is our good Father going to tell you, "Gosh, I think you really need to look like your brother Paul. Or Peter."

This is called the Foundation.

And what is our Foundation? God wants you. He wants you so badly to come Home from this long journey - that He has sent His best part - Jesus to make sure you are called holy and blameless before Him. Jesus has run ahead of your journey - to make sure you are called Worthy as - a Child of God.

There is a song out there called "The Cross has made you Flawless." Jesus has done a good job.

And we set off in life with siblings and grades and kids and adults who tell us what we need to do to improve. Some of this extremely like a Father God would want. And others tells us that our skills, talents and burdens are making us unworthy of the Grace of God.

Billy Graham says, “I've read the last page of the Bible, it's all going to turn out all right.”

Jesus tells this event too: Luke 15

20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.




And Now we have a clear foundation on our house we are building. We start out here, but we are really just beginning to live here.

Now Doors will be considered.

This is a deep question. What is happiness? Having something in 15 or 20 years that we have grown? Allowing freedom to all things, drugs, adventures, people, pets? You know a door depends on the environment.

In a tough neighborhood, you are not going to put out a glass sliding door as your front door.

And really if you are buying a house, you need to feel free to approach the police - to get a police report. The neighborhood does not put up a sign to say - "Wow, do we have crime."

I know a few people who were surprised at the crime that is planned and at "opportunity theft." And people will tell you years and years and decades later about what they lost and how that felt.

Drugs are like that. I have volunteered for almost 4 years and found out some dealers think rape is a bonus for their profession. You won't see a sign on a dealer saying, "I rape my clients." I've known two people to tell me when they bought pot, their dealer told them, "You are getting the good stuff." One was in High School. We did years and years of High School Student Ministry. And the good stuff? Was Cocaine. And another time Meth. The Cars say "Let the Good Times Roll." So do the French. "Laissez les bons temps rouler !!!"

I agree. And say there is a lot of bad out there and beware.

Our first little neighborhood was cottages around White Rock Lake in Dallas. Matter of fact 4 of our neighbors were recent graduates of Highland Park High School. My neighbors went to Mardi Gras and got so drunk, in their 20s, that they huddled passed out in a rough neighborhood on a porch. Terrified. They call that the night, "The Night we Ended Alcoholism." I asked them if the home owner knew. They laughed and said the door didn't open, but I bet they prayed!!!

Those Doors serve a purpose. The child who found out she now had a preference for Cocaine. Still has trouble to overcome. We all have sat and said, "Who says today I am going to try Meth or Heroin?" I'd bet you, big bowling for dollars - that - few people say that and are helped by helpful illegal drug salesmen.

That door? It is not ever going to have the doorbell ringer say "Here to destroy you!"

One of my volunteer hours was helping a woman "there to have a good time" who was so out of it - her dad's two year girlfriend decided that stoned women make perfect prostitutes. We could call that adventure - the shotgun blast - where the purchaser of human flesh - decided that his purchase also bought him the unique experience of - hunting a human being with a shotgun.

The Colleges loose students every year to alcoholism for something easily avoided.

And again, balance is good. We wouldn't want to be so safe, that we don't have anything interesting to say. No adventures of helping people along the path.

Windows. See the Light.


And the news. If you are unscrupulous - you might have come from the 15 year old I met who was happily expecting a baby with her very joyous mother to have a grandchild. Unfortunately, this is the new way to have a family run pimp business to collect more women to make more money to support the pimp family. "You can see the child, when you provide the money for today."

The other news from a highway with the one of the highest sex trafficking business in the USA is called FM 1960 in Houston. Is adapted Muslim life-style. If you have a lady and she is so sexy - but why be tied down with a paper of marriage??? "It's only an institution, honey." Well, if you give her 3 kids, she is going to need support to raise them. And if you get tired of the old ball and chain. You move on. Or you move back and forth between the sexy ladies. With 6 kids, the women will do what you want. Until you find someone who will help these women into a shelter for battered women or they wake up.

I have heard of women in the prosperous Suburbs in the same situation. And the departing High School College "Fiancee" said of his family of four - "I don't even need a divorce!"

Welcome to the agenda of Don't Need Marriage.

Ephesians 1

17 and asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. 18I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. He displayed this power in the working of His mighty strength,

Choose to see the Light.

2 Peter 1:10
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble

This is called looking for the good we can present to Father God each day.





Perhaps the most puzzling thing about building your House:

Your comfort. If you idolize your comfort, eventually the comforts are cold. Who will you step on to be more comfortable. Is getting the best of the best your only goal. Passions surround comfort. Greed. Lust. Gluttony. Gluttony for happiness at all costs. Gluttony for oblivion.

And this is very much like putting beads on a rope where were are told if we tie the knot we have denied our natural inclinations leading us to our internal happiness. Only an uptight, moral bigot would tie a knot. And the beads will slide off. And be lost.




Some people will tie the knot so hard that the knot will break. That knot can be our undoing. We start to fight things that are no danger. We become brittle and cold to what is no threat. Jesus balances people - to Trust God and not be such negative bringers. To have Joy.

Peter 2:1
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

The necessaries - the good, the bad and the ugly.

Blooming where we are planted. This life had to take Trust to get through. People are certain to not be your anchor. There is a reason why the Bible stories are real and honest about human behavior. We need something to fall upon that is our anchor. If we trust God that we are able to do the hard things life requires - we are going to get through difficult times and days with Joy. To look to the future with real hope. My grandmother Anita was placed in a nursing home after a stroke at age 90. I think she was the only one in her family to be in nursing home care - Anita turned this around. Even the nurses would gather to hear her stories. Her conversation. Her hope. Her endurance. Her ability to overcome.

When no one will applaud you. When your deeds are unseen and not encouraged and you are fighting the good fight - You Know what you know what you know.

Character Compassionate and Care
Champion a cause to make the framework of life better.
And in doing the Good Will of God - You are STRONGER.

Like my grandmother Anita.


The Bible - is - REAL.
The characters - reality.
The Troubles - we can relate to.
The Victory - Belief - and is Assured in Jesus Christ.

What we do with every happy, lame, good, boring, routine day, month, year - is our life. The "lag" times
are when we are building - a life.

Live in every room of your house. Let each day have meaning. The most scary idea in the world - is an idea. And Then - If we change that to Prayer - To the Creator of the Universe - Our Father in Jesus Christ. We are going places.

All those years will have favor, valleys, peaks and plummets. Learning to have the courage, strength, compassion, character - to bring your life to others. To help them up. To learn to be strong - and to help others be strong - Makes Life Worth Living.

Jesus was asked famously, "Who is the neighbor?"

"The one who showed Mercy."



Father God,

Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Jesus said we have a need to pray at all times and not lose heart.

Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

We want to come to You saying, "I did the very best with the gifts and talents You gave me."

Knowing we pray for those surrounding our lives and hearing Father God saying to us and to the people we love, "Beloved Child. Enter into Joy of Father God (Matthew 25). Today, you will be with me in Paradise."

Thank You, Father for Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 15:20 While he was still a long way off, his father saw him

Luke 1:13
your prayer has been heard

Luke 5:13
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”

Luke 5:20
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 5:31-32
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 5:37-38
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”


Jesus is part of our lives

Luke 7:6-10
So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

Luke 8:50
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

Luke 10:21
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said,

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

Luke 15:20

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Jesus. The Lord. Our Righteousness.

Your Prayer is heard.
Jesus reaches out His Hand and is willing.
Jesus cleans us and makes us forgiven to our Father.
Jesus sees faith.
Jesus forgives.
Jesus answers.
Jesus goes with us.
Jesus is God and in charge.
Jesus praises us for faith and love.
Jesus' heart goes out to us in compassion.
Jesus comforts fear.
Jesus has told us Jesus has Joy. The Holy Spirit is Joy.
Jesus enjoys us when we keep things simple.
Jesus will run to us when we are in need with good expectations.



Father God is not chincy. Nor fearful. God is Father completely.

Jesus has two Fathers. His earthly father, Joseph, who saved Jesus' life in the womb - making sure Mary was not stoned. Marrying Mary. Taking the family to Egypt. Remembered in Nazareth as a a good father.

And in the Giving Goodness of God - Jesus had the joy of knowing He was blessed by God the Father.



Father God,

We thank You. You are Father. And like Jesus, You go with us.

We rely upon You for our needs and those we love. For the Families, Churches, Communities, jobs, nation and the world.

We thank You, You have heard and have compassion upon us. Help us in the Plan and Path, Your Way.

We Bless You, Father. For Your Word. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Colossians 1:9-14 ~ we have not ceased to pray for you

Colossians 1:9-14

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

 ¹¹ May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, ¹² giving thanks [patience, with joy giving thanks] to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 

 ¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  

One of the striking things about the New Testament is the fervor the disciples prayed for the people they met in their travels.  If you count the times that Paul  told of the Love he had for the people he spoke of to Christ, this is a Jesus Holy Spirit Love.

Of course, Jesus tells us He is working and His Father is working today. The Holy Spirit bares witness that the sighs of our spirit are the unceasing prayer of our advocate, God's Son.

Pray for family and friends. Usually it is one word will do and an image. Jesus holding the person - the light from their soul radiates. Really God understands this prayer. 

The Name of Jesus is better than all words put together.

- to know God’s will (verse 9)
- to do God’s will (verse 10)
- grow in the knowledge of God (verse 10)
- experience God’s power (verse 11)
- persevere as Christians (verse 11)
- thankful for all that God has done for them (verse 12) 







This is also the parable of the seeds Jesus gave us.

 That we might be the good seeds falling on good soil. Not judging others in their journey, but offering the prayer of encouragement. The Steadfast Love of Jesus. Holding us. Let us always be the one of the ten, cleansed, healed and ready to give thanks to our Father. 


How could we grow presence of God - His Holy Spirit
- to give thanks.
- not be carried away by error
- in your kindness, and in  love. For if these qualities are yours, and are increasing, you are uselful and fruitful in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mostly - The Lord will rescue us from every evil and will bring us safely to His Heavenly Kingdom. For His glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Father God,

Jesus loved to repeat Your Good Word back to You. We ask Jesus to pray with us.

Hebrews 13, and this is written

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant. This is Amazing for Israel, Jesus and for us.

Please equip us
with everything good that we may do Your Will, working in us that which is pleasing in Your sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.



God's Will will be done. We can Count on the Goodness of God.

Proverbs 19
Many are the plans of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Exodus 33:14
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”



Let the Holiness and Goodness of God Flourish.

1 Thessalonians 3:12
May the Lord make our love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as Jesus' does for you.



Joy.
Psalm 77:14
Abba Father, You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your Might among the peoples.





The Strength of God in us.

Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.



What about when we are shaken and want to give thanks and this alludes us? We can still collect, and list, the reasons to be grateful in adverse circumstance - like we see in eyewitness reports of the nightly news.

Hebrews 12:28-29
28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a perpetual fire.

The Fire of the Holy Spirit from The New Testament stretching back to the bush not consumed inspiring, leading, guiding Moses.


We will rely upon Jesus for our own needs, those we love, the Church, reaching to the Nation and World. This Journey takes all of us in the same direction to Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 97 ~ For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.

Hurricane Ike in 2008 was the size of the entire Gulf of Mexico.

Psalm 97

1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!

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

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

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

10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sowna for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

I think until Hurricane Rita and Ike roared in and so many people were grid locked - I thought I was impervious. We were not leaving, for Hurricane Ike. I was pregnant and would have delivered Isabelle if we tried to leave.  ABC's Houston Channel 13 was amazing telling about premature babies and Barimetric Pressure. I don't think I've ever prayed harder for premature babies (and I've had two)  and still remember the compassion of Travis Herzog. Galveston premature babies were air lifted.

Until then this gridlock, I guess I believed I was blessed enough or smart enough to escape most trouble.

Recently, it was disclosed Facebook sorts out bad news with a bias.

And I saw this on a friend's FB and really laughed, for quite earnestly, real, out loud. We are so fussed up with opinions.

You know we get to - VOTE. And we get to write and email our elected officials. And then what we can do the best is Pray for the Nation and the leaders. And after that we get to listen in a style that says I will listen to you. And whatever we speak - we can be assured - most people are going to do what they are going to do.

Two women I know have been friends for 40 years. They had a huge squabble over President Obama and quit speaking. I told the one I know well, "President Obama does not know you, call her back and make friends again. You won't hurt President Obama's feelings!"

And I'm mostly centrally located on the political test, my son gave me, and  lean to Pro Life.

The Good News, regardless of the anxieties and the wails and sirens of the news, is this - Hurricane Ike left. We all survived, by the Grace of God.

In Prayer. In expectation of faith, hope and Love. God is going to be there when we call Him. One of the largest uses of the internet is people looking up Prayer and Bible and Churches.


 


"Lies, damned lies, and statistics" - Mark Twain.

The Pew Report says we are an active Christian Nation. 

Perhaps we like Bad news too very much.


 

The Actual Upward Path to the Disciple John's Home on Patmos Island with a Great View

Dennison Forum 2014

Online searches say much about our fascinations, fears, and faith. According to Yahoo!, these were the top 10 searches in 2014, from number 10 to number one: Jennifer Aniston, the iPhone 6, Miley Cyrus, the Disney movie Frozen, Kim Kardashian, Kaley Cuoco, Jennifer Lawrence, Ariana Grande, Minecraft, and Ebola. Clearly, we're fascinated by Hollywood and high tech, and afraid of diseases.

Notice what topic was missing: God. 

Does this mean that the Lord is absent from the Internet? Not at all. According to the Barna Group, one third of all Millennials (adults ages 18-29)

regularly view online videos pertaining to faith.

The number increases to more than half of Christian Millennials.

What about other spiritual resources? When asked where they would go if seeking spiritual guidance,

41 percent of Millennials and 29 percent of adults 30 years and older say they would "talk or listen to an inspirational person."

Twenty-two percent of Millennials and 28 percent of adults 30 and older would "read an inspirational book." However, only one in six from both groups says he or she would turn to the church.

It is obvious that the church must go to those who will not come to us. Marketing exists because businesses know they can't wait on customers to find them. Jesus called his first followers to be "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). Fishermen don't wait for fish to jump into their boat.


(Plato said young people are the worst ever. And Average Church Attendance has always been with 50 year olds - their parents wore out their own knees. Keep praying.)






 



We are told Porn is up 83% and Heroin is up 32%. How many Heroin users do you know? Has the number increased over the years? Did you know that you have to spell s and m for that to roll up on the Google Search. And still the Pew Report says 83% of the USA prays to God and expects Him to hear.

In Law, in trials, - this is called the Moose Head Truth of Life Applications. The Pew Charitable Trust says not a 32% increase - 1% of the population has tried Heroin.





We have a Presidential Candidate who says we should, bluntly, reevaluate what we read about in the news.

Accordingly, is still a lot of interest in The GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ.

We have come so far. God has seen us through so much.

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.
Abraham Lincoln

When we Look UP to GOD, we are Finding the GOOD NEWS.




Father God,

As a Nation, we long for the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.

This will guard our hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We achieve this finally brothers and sisters. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think on these things.

Remember, remember, remember what God has taught you. Remember your own Living Parables from Father God. When you have seen what God says come forth in life in fruition. Whatever you have learned and received and heard, and seen, put these things into practice.

The Promises of God are true. We can lift our concerns up to the Jesus Christ. We can lift our gratitude, especially when we feel doubtful. Remember our blessings, what we have enjoyed in life. We can find people we think of - and pray for them. The News? Pray for the News and the People. We can believe we have overcome and continue to overcome. We can believe God has a path for us. We can live believing this.

And, we believe, and we believe until we know - the God of peace will be with us. And in doing this Good News, we can expect this Light of Christ to Shine forth as He has done for us before and will Continue.

Let us Bless the Lord God.

Thanks be unto  willingness of the Father, Abba, His Holy Spirit and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Our Living God!

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †