Acts 1:6-11 ~ power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth

Acts 1:6-11

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”




1 Corinthians 15

15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that 
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 
4 that he was buried, 
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, 

most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 

8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 
9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.


1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


1 Corinthians 6:14
By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.


Isaiah 63:7
I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us--yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.


Lately, I have written of the struggles of dealing with a house with a very ill mother, recovering from 8 weeks of Pneumonia. And my husband having a terminal diagnosis of FTBD and his determination to have each day be as interesting and capable of joy and determination as possible.

We spent Saturday with family, loading my 83 year old mother in the car in her wheelchair to visit her very wonderful 86 year old boyfriend in the hospital recovering from a bite or sting that was infected in his arm. Mother got to see her house, go to lunch in wheelchair and to the Hospital where they both delighted to see each other. My brother held my mother for several minutes and told her he loved her. And he told me he loved me, too. Memories were made. Years were reaffirmed. And the fussy of reassembling was to be overcome.


So Sunday was better? We spoke of his old neighbor recovering from Cancer and her mail to them about the Cancer recovery. He related with some rare sadness, they had tried to plunge into Church, basically for the first time, but it had been a sadness they did not blend well. Their neighbor was a Pastor and she is in terminal Cancer discovery and remission failure just as they began to be neighbors.

They spoke of trying to be comfort to her and she was not receptive.

You know the truth is, most Church attendance in the USA begins in the age group of the 50s and 60s. And the story with that is - that's ok. The doors of the Church are open. It's just that, we shouldn't put all our emphasis on the closeness of people. A great-great grandfather of mine wrote that people go to Church to see their fine hat displayed. But, today,  so many of the Churches are so large, that people say they leave for the leadership not being all that to them.





I had a woman psychologist I volunteered with say that her many years of being in Church ended when her pastor had affirmed her during her child's death, but had not been there for her when her marriage failed. She felt rather bitter about her Pastor. I asked her to write him a letter that was very respectful and to explain her emotions. She, being a Psychologist, ruefully laughed and said that she would have a difficult time being respectful. But as we prayed, we all agreed, the Pastor is a man with a job. Our job is to belong to Jesus.



The point of Church is not really how a Pastor behaves as a counselor or friend.

The point of Church is not to be seen in new clothes.

The point of Church is not to gather with friends.

The point of Church is what Jesus said to us about the Church that did not exist, in Caesarea. This is NOT Peter's great declaration alone. This is the Church of Jesus Christ of God.

Matthew 16

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on the earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.


We are presenting ourselves to God at the end of this life. We are forming a bridge, not just for our feelings, but for our children to observe, for Church, for the community to prosper, for society to have Heaven on earth and not hell.




We assemble together to Praise a Living God. For our lives to be ministers of His Word. We are the Temple of God, in our body. Bought with a Price of Jesus.

Can you imagine? This Jesus - who raised the dead many times and during the Resurrection itself. Who willingly touched the leper. And only one in 10 gave thanks. Who made the paralyzed go forth in victory. Who caused the blind from birth to see. Who took the deaf aside, away for the crowd, to have personal healing - this is the Son of God. Light of the World - who is Your God. - This is why we go to Church.

Today. This is this Jesus - to - you. This is who we Worship, Love and Affirm. Praise the Name of Jesus.





Today, we are living by faith. His Righteousness covers us. We worked so hard on Saturday and with weeks of ambulance rides, 12 hours of hospital visits. I was basically ill. We got up early visited my mother and then just fall over to one side and rest. For the next family event, my mother-in-law's birthday (not my mom with Pneumonia). About the time the day was settling, my two sons, and my son's new car had a blow out after a construction zone about an hour outside of Dallas. It was getting to be dark and no tow truck was answering after hours on a Sunday.

Everyone basically got loud voiced and opinionated and worried. The two loudest debated loudly and the two quieter ones discussed via text what the solutions where.

King of Kings. Lord of Lords. God is Love. Jesus our Redeemer.

I began to pray for all of us. For safety, For Jesus to put His arms around us. For the comfort of the Holy Spirit as Comforter. With the Love a Father has as He places His Arms around us. For Safety. These prayers, hold us to Jesus. Love happens. I pray for these 50 people daily. Results are seen. Even when it's just my soul staying open. However, prayers are answered.

Let me tell you, look around you. This funny world. Where TV is vulgar and the church-going laugh about the jokes. We dashed into an inner Dallas grocery store where the world is prosperous. To get cash for this tire. And a woman was reaching out the the grocery store clerk, holding her hand. A woman who was sophisticated and had elan. She was telling the grocer, "I pray for you. I am praying for your daughter this week. I am hopeful to hear good news next week." The black woman and the white women held hands across the counter. Everyone in the Dallas grocery turned to see. All cared.

I would bet with you, the whole grocery store prayed at that moment.

The time had been taken for two people who are believers of Christ Jesus to communicate in the time they saw each other each week. Speak up. Life is still beautiful. Jesus is the Light of the World.





We got to the Adult Book Store to do the u-turn in Corsicana. It's gratifyingly empty for our many trips up and down I-45. How does that place stay in business? Well, it's pretty full on Sunday nights, sadly. And we got to our sons and the car resting for 1.5 - 2 hours on the side of the busy Interstate. Three Corsicana police cars rode past them. (Now I am Pro Police, in a big way for my brother serving as attorney for 5 years to the Dallas Police, but we saw speeding tickets being collected, what about the two on the side of the road? What did Corsicana police think stranded motorists were going to do about dark on a Sunday night? The four tow truck services did not answer. We found that not all new cars do not arrive with a spare donut even.)

But I want to tell you this.

I'm going to find this man's name again and write it here tomorrow. We are all going to make a yelp comment for him. This man told them to check again with the tow service, that would be best and safest. He replied he would help when no one else would answer the call. He spent almost two hours going to Fairfax to get a tire that would work when his four donuts would not. And for his efforts as the dark arrived on a Sunday night, he asked for $120 for a tire and his service and his time. This is the America I grew up in. Gouging was not part of helping stranded people. Jesus the Lord bless the Good Samaritan. Bless him and bless him and bless him. My sons met a true Gentleman.





Father God, Father of the World, Giver of Jesus, God of Love,

Help us to serve one another, to use our gifts, each day to be good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

In the Joy of Jesus, to work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Even a cup of coffee given with goodness, has it's reward. Jesus bless her. Bless the man giving the tire and his Sunday night. Thank You, for the warning of the oncoming truck was avoided. For our safety. For redemption from our flaws, our weaknesses, for the upbuilding of our lives to the glory of Christ Jesus. In gratitude for His Grace, Love and Mercy.

For building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. In His Steadfast, daily Love. As sure as the sunrise and as sure as the tide.

To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.

Each day as His mercies renew. To comprehend, how high, how wide, how loved - you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Proverbs 8:27 ~ Jesus is there

Proverbs 8:27

When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep.




When did Paul ever encounter a circle of the deep? With a variation of the meaning 'deep', Paul knew the ship he was traveling on, was headed to circle the deep and remain forever in the shallow of shipwreck.

And how did Paul handle the shipwreck? He believed God was sovereign. And God was in charge. Being God's chosen of the Acts of the Apostles, demonstrating God would continue to believe in His Children after Jesus ascended to Heaven, Paul did nobly. Paul endured, developed character and his hope was secure.


Faith - says God knew how His Words would tell us there are circles of the deep unseen by Bible authors. Paul understood his journey would continue. We can take our flaws, struggles, weaknesses and rest ourselves upon Father God.


Father God, we rely upon You. when we are tired, when we are frustrated. And wait to feel renewed. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Revelation 7 ~ A great multitude

Revelation 7

We put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,

from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,

from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000,

from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,

from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,

from the tribe of Levi 12,000,

from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,

from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,

from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.




9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb




The most amazing and grateful aspect of God is recorded as far back as Solomon. We may not even know ourselves completely, yet Father God does. Proverbs tells us our heart is known to God, the sorrows and the joys.

The gratitude is God sees us as we really are, and God sees all of us - His reaction is to save the world. To say we need a Savior. To give. Great cost. For great reward.

For eternity.

The reaction is we have to see - from this - Who God is.


God is Love.


Thank You, Abba. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

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!  †