Habakkuk 3 ~ O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known

Painting by James Tissot

Habakkuk 3

1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth.

2 O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.

3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. Selah

4 His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.
5 Before him went pestilence, and plague followed at his heels.
6 He stood and measured the earth; he looked and shook the nations; then the eternal mountains were scattered; the everlasting hills sank low. His were the everlasting ways.

7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.

8 Was your wrath against the rivers, O LORD? 
Was your anger against the rivers, or your indignation against the sea, when you rode on your horses, on your chariot of salvation?
9 You stripped the sheath from your bow, calling for many arrows. Selah 

You split the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw you and writhed; the raging waters swept on; the deep gave forth its voice; it lifted its hands on high.

11 The sun and moon stood still in their place at the light of your arrows as they sped, at the flash of your glittering spear.
12 You marched through the earth in fury; you threshed the nations in anger.

13 You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck. Selah

14 You pierced with his own arrows the heads of his warriors, who came like a whirlwind to scatter me, rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret.
15 You trampled the sea with your horses, the surging of mighty waters.

16 I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.


17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.



Father God is the same Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. When Jesus was born, He went to Egypt - God was not finished calling His Son from Egypt or discussing the Works of God in the Exodus. John 5 - Jesus is condemned by the Pharisees for providing His own Testimony - something Jesus is surely capable to provide.


Here Habakkuk is clearly skipping through time and space - time is not a cage to God. And recalling Numbers 12. Habakkuk clearly demonstrates himself to be a lesser prophet and this appears to be fine with Habakkuk to recall the Glory of God - Today.


Numbers 12

3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. 4 And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. 5 And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. 6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord.


Perhaps what has appealed to God, in Habakkuk, is his humility. Moses is so humble - today people have to search finding the outcome for the sons of Moses.

Did Moses clearly see Jesus? What did Moses have to say about Jesus?


1. Genesis 3:15.....Seed of a woman (virgin birth).....Luke 1:35, Matthew 1:18-20
2. Genesis 3:15.....He will bruise Satan's head.....Hebrews 2:14, 1 John 3:8
3. Genesis 5:24....The bodily ascension to heaven illustrated....Mark 6:19
4. Genesis 9:26-27...The God of Shem will be the Son of Shem...Luke 3:36
5. Genesis 12:3...As Abraham's seed, will bless all nations...Acts 3:25,26
6. Genesis 12:7...The The Promise made made to Abraham's Seed...Galatians 3:16
7. Genesis 14:18...A priest after Melchizedek...Hebrews 6:20
8. Genesis 14:18........A King also........Hebrews 7:2
9. Genesis 14:18...The Last Supper foreshadowed...Matthew 26:26-29
10. Genesis 17:19.......The Seed of Isaac.......Romans. 9:7
11. Genesis 21:12 …Seed of Isaac…Romans 9:7, Hebrews 11:18
12. Genesis 22:8...The Lamb of God promised...John 1:29
13. Genesis 22:18...As Isaac's seed, will bless all nations...Galatians 3:16
14. Genesis26:2-5..The Seed of Isaac promised as the Redeemer..Hebrews11:18
15. Genesis 49:10...The time of His coming...Luke 2:1-7; Galatians 4:4
16. Genesis 49:10.......The Seed of Judah.......Luke 3:33
17. Genesis 49:10......Called Shiloh or One Sent......John 17:3
18. Genesis 49:10...To come before Judah lost identity...John 11:47-52
19. Genesis 49:10...To Him shall the obedience of the people be...John 10:16
20. Exodus 3:13,14........The Great "I Am".......John 4:26
21. Exodus 12:5...A Lamb without blemish...1 Pet. 1:19
22. Exodus 12:13...The blood of the Lamb saves Romans wrath...Romans. 5:8
23. Exodus 12:21-27...Christ is our Passover...1 Corinthians 5;7
24. Exodus 12:46...Not a bone of the Lamb to be broken...John 19:31-36
25. Exodus 13:2…Blessing to first born son…Luke 2:23
26. Exodus 15:2...His exaltation predicted as Yeshua...Acts 7:55,56
27. Exodus 15:11...His Character-Holiness...Luke 1:35; Acts 4:27
28. Exodus 17:6...The Spiritual Rock of Israel...1 Corinthians 10;4
29. Exodus 33:19...His Character-Merciful...Luke 1:72
30. Leviticus 14:11...The leper cleansed-Sign to priesthood..Luke5:12-14; Acts 6:7
31. Leviticus 16:15-17...Prefigures Christ's once-for-all death...Hebrews 9:7-14
32. Leviticus 16:27...Suffering outside the Camp...Matthew 27:33; Hebrews 13:11, 12
33. Leviticus 17:11...The Blood-the life of the flesh...Matthew 26;28; Mark 10:45
34. Leviticus 17:11...It is the blood that makes atonement...1 John 3:14-18
35. Leviticus 23:36-37...The Drink-offering: "If any man thirst." ..John 19:31-36
36. Numbers 9:12...Not a bone of Him broken...John 19:31-36
37. Numbers 21:9...The serpent on a pole-Christ lifted up...John 3:14-18
38. Numbers 24:8… Flight to Egypt…Matthew 2:14
39. Numbers 24:17...Time: "I shall see him, but not now."...Galatians 4:4
40. Numbers 24:17-19…A star out of Jacob…Matthew 2:2, Luke 1:33,78, Revelation 22:16
41. Deuteronomy 18:15..."This is of a truth that prophet."...John 6:14
42. Deuteronomy 18:15-16..."Had ye believed Moses, ye would believe me."...John 5:45-47
43. Deuteronomy 18:18...Sent by the Father to speak His word...John 8:28, 29
44. Deuteronomy 18:19...Whoever will not hear must bear his sin...John 12:15
45. Deuteronomy 21:13-23…As a prophet…John 6:14; 7:40, Acts 3:22,23
46. Deuteronomy 21:23...Cursed is he that hangs on a tree...Galatians 3:10-13


We have quite a few examples here. Jesus knew Moses well. During the Transfiguration - Jesus knew who was participating.

God closes the Five Books of Moses saying:

Deuteronomy 34:

So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. 10 And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.





One of the biggest signs of the Patriarchs of the Bible is the Sign of Jesus. The Willingness to find favor. The Mission of God to Save the World in His Desire to Hold us in His Arms, the idea, the completion of being a Blessing. The Surprising thing about the Blessing of Moses, he calls his testimony upon Jacob Israel. The Blessing of God is inclusion. For all the varied states of the Children of Jacob. Moses then adds his own Blessing in Father God.



Let's participate again in Moses Giving His Blessing:





Deuteronomy 33

1 This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death.

2 He said, "The LORD came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; he shone forth from Mount Paran; he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at his right hand.

3 Yes, he loved his people, all his holy ones were in his hand; so they followed in your steps, receiving direction from you, 4 when Moses commanded us a law, as a possession for the assembly of Jacob.

5 Thus the LORD became king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.


6 "Let Reuben live, and not die, but let his men be few."

7 And this he said of Judah: "Hear, O LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him in to his people. With your hands contend for him, and be a help against his adversaries."

8 And of Levi he said, "Give to Levi your Thummim, and your Urim to your godly one, whom you tested at Massah, with whom you quarreled at the waters of Meribah; 9 who said of his father and mother, 'I regard them not'; he disowned his brothers and ignored his children. For they observed your word and kept your covenant. 10 They shall teach Jacob your rules and Israel your law; they shall put incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar. 11 Bless, O LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; crush the loins of his adversaries, of those who hate him, that they rise not again."

12 Of Benjamin he said, "The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders."

13 And of Joseph he said, "Blessed by the LORD be his land, with the choicest gifts of heaven above, and of the deep that crouches beneath, 14 with the choicest fruits of the sun and the rich yield of the months, 15 with the finest produce of the ancient mountains and the abundance of the everlasting hills, 16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwells in the bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, on the pate of him who is prince among his brothers. 17 A firstborn bull--he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh."

18 And of Zebulun he said, "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents. 19 They shall call peoples to their mountain; there they offer right sacrifices; for they draw from the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand."

20 And of Gad he said, "Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad crouches like a lion; he tears off arm and scalp. 21 He chose the best of the land for himself, for there a commander's portion was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, with Israel he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments for Israel."

22 And of Dan he said, "Dan is a lion's cub that leaps from Bashan."

23 And of Naphtali he said, "O Naphtali, sated with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD, possess the lake and the south."

24 And of Asher he said, "Most blessed of sons be Asher; let him be the favorite of his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil. 25 Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be.



26 "There is none like God, O Jeshurun [Jeshurun (Hebrew: יְשֻׁרוּן‎), or Yeshurun, is a poetic name for Israel used in the Hebrew Bible. It is generally thought to be derived from a root word meaning upright, just or straight, but may have been derived from שׁור, shur, to see, or may be a diminutive form of the word Israel], who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty. 27 The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy. 28 So Israel lived in safety, Jacob lived alone, in a land of grain and wine, whose heavens drop down dew. 29 Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread upon their backs."


Abba, Father,

In Love, faith and hope in the Wonder of Your Son Jesus Christ we shall see Jesus, all of us. We will live the Adventure of faith that all things work together for Good for those who love the Lord and work according to His Purpose.

We will know my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Thank You for answered prayers today. We continue to lift up those who have asked for healing. Thank You for my mother's ears, I lift up mine tied to eating and hearing. Remembering with great Gratitude, for prayers heard and answered.

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that
you have received it, and it will be yours.

In the abundance You are, we will put those we Love and the People You have given us. Knowing where we cannot, You are very able. And we lift up the Good Works You would have us walk in. Thanks be To God for Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Micah 6:8 ~ your God

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Yesterday I was asked what this blog writes about. The reply is, "What Jesus is saying, what aspect of Jesus is present - Today - living and active. God of Love."

Today and two weeks ago I was asked if being a Christian implies you blindly follow being kind. As if having an invisible friend makes you about 4 years old, as if you are a Linus with a blanket. A zombie to the rules.

Nothing is further from - The Truth.

God could very, very easily have flown the Children of Israel to the promised land. He required them (Hebrews 11) to "Believe God." A real step of faith to walk between an ocean being parted so far - that the walls of water - do Not Reveal the Other Side.

God expects us to be doing the right Spiritual Worship. We please God and He sees we are never possibly going to be creating people, and substances, not even a planet, much less a Universe. God answers the prayers of those who just - purely - genuinely believe - I cannot do the Law. I cannot be good enough. I cannot be God. I need the Loving Father so very much. In this Joy and Comfort of God, He provides the Strength, the diligence, the wisdom, to do each day with - Love, Faith, Hope, Peace, Joy and Wisdom.

Daily we need God. Daily He gives us firm footing on the path as if we were Peter put in the boat on the Sea of Galilee. Daily we have the assurance in the wild winds of Life - God is going to call for Calm and Peace and Provide.

God does not put Christians on the path of His as idiots. He clearly tells us to expect the people around us to work, to be honest, to not free coat ride. We should not feel God ever places us as the god Atlas to hold up our lives and enable those around us. Because we are never God, we will have bullies, we will have those who feel they will control us, we will have those who feel sorry for us to Love Jesus.

However, what this type of human being does not see - the Light of mankind Shines. And Shines.

The Adventure of Life - is the Love God puts in us as Strength. God is a very firm foundation.





When a Child of Abba, loves the Father - even his enemies live in peace with Him.

I had a feud I never called for put on my life. About 2005. This was someone who is part of my life and she is a Christian. She decided we needed peace a few years ago, 2012, and called my house with the tone in her voice saying, "Yep. Both Christians and you are going to get into my washing machine and I am going to run the spin buttons" and the words said, "Come on over, I have two of my best pals here and we want to have you for lunch." I really did not feel like being lunched upon that day and I declined. And about a year ago, a well meaning friend put us together to make peace for the feud the other lady had called for. I spoke with her and the tone was back, "Oh let's be friendsies, why not." I said, "This makes me uncomfortable for the glib way you are so easy breezy with peace when your best friend will not speak with me until you have left. And then she is quite friendly. I think this speaks volumes about the water still going under the bridge." She said she was the better Christian. I said, "Love does no harm to a neighbor."

The truth is this. Peace - Real Peace is real and hard won when one side is not at peace. Peace requires truth. Peace is a process even for the Prodigal Son's Father.

The point of the story? The adventure continued. My husband is not always well, but he is a walking miracle to have joy and purpose with each day. Edward placed us in a restaurant exactly beside this long time friend and feuder. I began to wave and speak, but was greeted with a stone wall. We pretended a distance of 5 feet made us oceans apart. I felt in my soul. Searched. I had done no harm, I would not suffer someone else and their agenda. This is God's Day and I will find the Love and Joy. I had a great time at the restaurant and decided life is a gift, I have today and I will find the Love and Joy.

Is the woman a Christian? You bet. And is she wrong? You bet. I've been wrong in my life. I do not need to cast a stone or sling a barb.

What happens with Christians? I love to walk. I get about 2 to 4 miles a day. When I don't have a project that takes hours and is my exercise. I ran into this lady and we stood and were rueful of the years this has taken. We recognized our similarities. We recognized our differences. We stood and remembered years we were friends. And enjoyed each other. She spoke words of future plans that put an end to the feud. Real words of a real acknowledgement of wrong and of change. This is peace. God has made a division and God will plan a better Peace. God does not say nicey and friendsy and no problemo. Abba says I love you. Abba says there is no partiality and paths separate. And Peace can begin in God being accepted.

Peace.


Celebrate the day. We can be the Princess with the 40 mattresses and the pea. Celebrate - a chore you had help with. A huge project several people helped you with and you Love them. Celebrate working hard and the food tastes so good. Celebrate God provided. Celebrate being healthy enough to go for a walk. Celebrate the survival of a parent and listening to good times and being glad to even have the grumps of real life. You've never missed a parent more than they are too ill to even dial a phone for 4 months and one day the phone rings and this is YOUR PARENT.

Celebrate when life moves slower and you slow down with someone you love. The memories become a little more cherished. The dog with way too much energy will slow down and one day you will walk ahead of your pal. Remember that when the yard is trampled. Celebrate the other side of the bed is occupied with the same person for 30 years. Celebrate the chores God puts in your hand to do. My Grandmother Anita had a very well known prayer my mother has typed up and framed for lots of people. "Thank You God for the awesome and auspicious privilege of doing dishes for the people I love." I never could really wrap that around me, and now I fully can appreciate that.

Celebrate an 8 year old ringing your doorbell to have "friendship party day" and the day is your facebook birthday. The Light of the world is shining. Better never forget to enjoy seeing Jesus work His amazing Mission Plan. Enjoy your old cat, one day he is your sweet memory.

Awesome and amazing, Jesus blessing us to see the Father Day.
Amen Jesus! And even if it is Lent - Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
God has heard our prayers, His Word is True, His Love is Permanent.
God is always Good. Thank You, Jesus. I place my loved ones with You with adventure and expectation. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Matthew 4 ~ Follow Jesus

  

Matthew 4

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.


12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”


18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”[b] 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 
22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.


23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 

25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

A Great Sermon at HopePointe Anglican Church
Oxford University's
The Rev'd Dr Simon Vibert  - Sermon Link
Director of the School of Preaching at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
A joy and privilege to have him with us! He has a strong interest in training the next generation of Preachers. https://www.amazon.com/Simon-Vibert/e/B00DXKAMPC/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1


The Bible is Living and Active. And when we concentrate on Jesus, we are going to read a Scripture verse or chapter and see something different. We are all part of the Body of Christ and will have a different Purpose in Jesus Christ. This enables us to have conversation and reach out to the entire Body. This will provide a different viewpoint on Scripture - The Word of God is Nurture and Nourishment.

Why Matthew 4 During Lent?

Good point. Jesus was fulfilling the Word of God. When a ministry is begun - all of us will do something God does as well - Proverbs tells us - count the cost.

Lent is a season of preparing for the jolt of Holy Week. Remembering again the Terrible Cost of Amazing Grace. Jesus died for me. We are thinking of the absolute Gift of Jesus.

Jesus Servant King as a very auspicious presence in counting the cost. Someone who very dearly wants Jesus to count the cost as too high, too dear, too tragic, too messy, too uncomfortable, too ignoble, too insignificant for God, too inconspicuous, too ill advised, very un-glamorous.

God wants Jesus to be fully informed. The presence will use God in Deuteronomy to try for the path of good intentions.

What is the Cost to Minister Jesus

Jesus is - fully, completely informed of the cost. The Cost. Jesus has seen Nations and Glamor and Power. Jesus has Chosen to be - My Redeemer. Your Redeemer. The Redemption of your children. The Redemption of your grandchildren.

This is Truly the Son of God. A man fully - who has given wellness, healing, hope, encouragement and Love. His Blood will flow, His Heart will break - causing the murders to cry out, "This Truly is The Son of God."

What we Need to Represent God

Evil knows that to represent God - we are not sufficient. And Evil begins to plot what to ask Jesus to do. Tell us Your Strength. Tell us What You Can Do for Us.

Evil is not terribly creative. Evil repeats and repeats. Turn stones to bread. Feed The People. Give them something they will WANT you for. There are variations. Evil would say you deserve to be 'stoned'. You deserve the adultery - you hurt. You deserve to overspend. You deserve to be selfish. Evil starts out by saying "Give them something they Want."

Jesus - could do this. In fact Jesus rebukes the massive crowd fed after John the Baptist died and Jesus fed them to look beyond the visible. Jesus refuses to put on - a show.

Jesus The Lord -  is going with Truth. We will go with Jesus.

What We Think We Need to Represent God

Evil tries again. Be Spectacular. And reveals how Spectacular Spectacular can be. Jesus knows He is not a Rock Star, Jesus is the Foundation of God. The hope of mankind - our very Light and Life.

Jesus is our Righteousness. Jesus Tells us Be Confident and Bold before God Himself.

Hebrews 10:19
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus


1 Corinthians 1:26-30

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus,
who became to us wisdom from God,
righteousness
and sanctification
and redemption,
31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

The Response - The Word of God

Luke 10

18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”


Jesus did not want evil to be part of His Father's House. Jesus said rejoice your names are written in "Heaven" and plan on excluding what is not God's. Jesus was giving His Father. Giving. A new Heaven and a new earth. Giving.

Lent would be a good time to refrain from many things not pleasing to God.

The Deeds of God

Jesus did not plan on His Rise to Power. Jesus did not plot to take down Herod or Herod's children. Jesus did not plot to take over the Temple. Jesus did not say, "Set up tent here, lads." In fact, Jesus had a different response to the Treasury of the Temple.

Jesus frequently asked for privacy. Jesus frequently healed taking the dear beloved one privately and using gestures that the deaf could understand or the blind would have sensation to be involved.

Jesus frequently spoke in the wilderness. Jesus did not ask for money - Jesus asked for hearts. For lives of ministry. Sadly, Jesus rarely received gratitude outrageously. And Jesus received the gratitude after the Cost was given. Telling us, our fathers and our children and grandchildren "You will want to see the Days of Jesus."

Pleasing God Himself in Jesus Christ Our Righteous Lord

Father God, We want more of You.

Dwell within us, help us bring more Heaven to earth. We count on Your Righteousness to be our life. Help us to see Your Willingness daily. Send us there. We want to be pleasing to You as we work daily to be Loving, Mercy, Justice, humility, Hope, Faith, Joy, Peace, Goodness. Enable us and strengthen us to put You First, Jesus Christ.

Remind us to have Gratitude for Your Blessings. Call us to see Your Mercies Renew each Day.

We are not sufficient and call upon Your Mercy for those we Love and the people You have given us. Help us to lift Your Face to Shine and Smile. Give us the Joy Jesus tells us is His. Cover us in the Name of Jesus, Abba. And we will have Peace. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

1 John 4 ~ whoever loves God must

1 John 4

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them,
for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us.

By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God,
because God is love.

9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

This morning I woke up and was very busy. I wanted breakfast and thought of many breakfasts, fast, sleepy, unaware - with people I love. Some are asleep in the Lord, some are Home with the Lord. Some I spoke with today at home and on the phone.

We moved 2,000 lbs of rocks and 800 lbs of dirt on a project for the yard and this will create a flower bed and better drainage in the back yard. Hard day? I Love to Garden and this was pure Joy. I surely bought small flowers and herbs living in the sub-tropics and seeing spring emerge on the new-leaf green tress.

I gathered my family and we headed out to arrive at a crowded restaurant - bone deep tired and hungry - this would not do. We traveled on to quieter Crisp - where they had their weekend Brunch going. Perfect. I was as happy as Bilbo Baggins, Hobbit before Long Lake arrival. Food has never tasted as good as anticipated and surprised with Joy and accompanied by Love.

View from John's residence, Patmos, Greece.

What we want to come Home to. The Scriptures tell us of our destination. Father of The House. Father God's Kingdom.

Quite a view.

John, the Beloved Disciple had lived seeing Jesus. Infused, soaked, satiated with the ability and loving understanding to stay with Jesus. Remain with Jesus. Placed by Jesus to care for the only woman to take a group up - several times, in the life of Jesus - to save the life of Jesus.

When we see John's view of Jesus - we have - an eyewitness of God. God's witness. John survived seeing evil kill God's Son. He has a real understanding of evil. Better by far - John begins with Genesis - the Light of the World. Incredibly complex beginning to place the Light of the World feet on the ground. To the 21st Chapter - amazing feet on the ground becoming the Fulfillment of God's Word.

John can take a complex story and make Solomon's Hubble Cloud in the Temple alive and seem as if we can see Jesus this day.

When we read John, we see Jesus. Merciful. Good. Where we want to be. God's Love. And in the warmth of God's love, we want more.


Blessed Father,

Bringing us Jesus - to be able to see You.

Let us have more of God.

Jesus our Wonder, Joy, Love and Savior. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 18:9-14 ~ God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

Luke 18:9-14

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”




Habakkuk 3

Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. "

The book "Rich Father" deals with growing up with great attitudes of hard work, self confidence, correct spending, correct saving. Most of us will have some seasonality.

I was told by a family friend, when I was in High School, to prepare for the future. I really thought my future would be made and was astonished to find out we had to learn solutions and have a different life than our parents. And finding the solutions was the joy. Finding good reason Habakkuk has joy. Truly, we have had season of being impoverished and I'd say - that is a terrible way to have to learn. Poverty is boring. Self depreciating.

When we find we have a needle and thread to our life and we are willing to work with what God's Blessing and woe provides - the beginning - begin not to be defeated. Find true hope, faith and Love.

And usually, the people who are willing to work with respect within Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" - people who give reassurance, polite responses, diligent respect - are not going to end up with a life so clean - that sterile looks dire. Human warmth. Diligently applied. Sincerely. God is right - treat people with respect - find a path in God.



How is your Lent going? I was mildly gastro ill and tired. I have not done my exercises, I have not done all I planned. Things on the to do list pile up. And then I had compassion on a pressing chore from my son and friend. And this was a result of not going on excursion planned due to gastric illness. I'd say God has blessed me with several jaw dropping kindnesses and I am in the position of receiving kindness. What a wonderful feeling.

I have not fasted. I have fallen in all I hoped to do.

And I will say this to kindness given to me today, this week, in abundance:

Philippians 4 ~ To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

And I hope that next Easter time, I rediscover this Lenten Post and remember how very touching this is. To re experience Gratitude for this week.

My family has had some true failings, but one of our successes has always been humor. To finally laugh at ill humor. To see the humor in being a jerk. We have always called that "Whoa. Stop. Anderson Do Over Day." And we begin again.


1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Isaiah 43:18
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Internal change. Your mood for the day.

Your ability to have faith for the large issues in life.
Your ability to have faith for the pressing and scary issues in life.

The important portion here is - your soul and your belief in Change with wisdom. Believe in this Change yourself. Love God. Love Yourself.

Rejoice in the Mercy of God. 

Romans 8:27
And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

The Grace of God in Salvation



1 Kings 8
38 whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands toward this house; 39 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know, for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men

Deuteronomy 4:31
For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

Jesus prayed to find God's Willingness. Jesus wanted to go where Father God would take Him.

We live in a world with calendars and events and lists. Jesus went where God placed Him.

Jesus healed at the waters of the Pool of Bethesda, The Pool of Siloam, using His saliva. In His Willingness to continue healing even when He was told this was evil - lives changed longing for more of Jesus.

Matthew 6:10
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven

1 Thessalonians 5:18
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 6:2
For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

Gideon, Jonah, Peter - God kept helping them. God is not going to quit or drop you on your head.

John 16:33
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”


Our Father,

Thank You, You hear prayers and Your Glory answers. We will have our Amen in Jesus with Joy. This is where we want to be. Almighty Father God.

Jesus the Lord!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †