Psalm 72 ~ his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound

Psalm 72

1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!2  May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!

3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!

4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!

5 May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!

6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! 7 In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! 8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! 9 May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! 11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!

12 For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. 13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. 14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! 16 May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!

17 May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!

18 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.

19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!

20 The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

Hezekiah's Empire of Judah is considered to be as successful as King Solomon - the light green portion under the Assyrian Empire. Not a puppet state. Small independent and shipping all over the world. Egyptians wanted honey from Judah. Archaeology is still finding the amazing numbers of clay sealed products. A Bee, is in the clay as a stamp, a lot of times.

All of these maps are supported by history. Some guess Solomon's reign went all the way to the Euphrates River of Babylon.

In particular he continued his father's very profitable relationship with the Phoenician king Hiram of Tyre (see 'wealth' below); they sent out joint expeditions to the lands of Tarshish and Ophir to engage in the trade of luxury products, importing gold, silver, sandalwood, pearls, ivory, apes and peacocks. Solomon is considered the most wealthy of the Israelite kings named in the Bible.


Hezekiah's Judah is smaller than Israel, and yet the landmarks and the archaeology shows us Hezekiah did not marry into Egypt and instead Egypt was ladden with the produce of Israel.

Solomon begins his kingdom set in the lap of luxury for a king, by his father King David.

Hezekiah has to have war and belief to attain what he accomplishes.

Solomon said the Hand of Blessing and the Hand of Woe is the same of Father God.

Hezekiah had to abandon all the teachings of his earthly father to attain His Empire. Gambling on God, instead of the nest egg his father wanted Hezekiah to present to the Assyrian army as a client/puppet state. Isaiah was there. God does help us.  The trust in God provided the framework against impossible odds. The people were vastly in support for God, Himself.

David, of course, began in war. And in discovering how harsh life can be, David forged his belief system and ran a country remembering him 3 millenniums later.

We are learning - the Hand of God might have woe and might have vast struggles. When Solomon attained the great age of 80 years - he saw - "All things work together for good - for those who Love the Lord an work according to His Purposes."

Recently, I went over things from the year 2006 I considered loss, a long, long list - and realized 11 years down the road - it was the most unfortunate - and - Amazingly Highly Blessed Year of God's Purpose Unfolding to Good. Purposes has flipped over to see fully the good.

Again we learn, Thank God for the circumstances that appear harsh - and later hold the Blessing of God Himself.


Father God,
In all circumstances, help us to know, You see much further for our good. Our Hope and Future.

In tired times, in repeat times, in victory not to feed ego times, in times you want to complain, understand God sees further. His mercies renew each day, remember. Even at the end of a day of work and repeat.

Bless the days we have those to love. Even on tired days of limited sleep. Even on the days you have to be reminded. Remember. THANKS.

We will see the Good.

In the expectation we find in Luke 3, we place ourselves, our needs, our loved ones, health prayer points, and the people God had given us.  God has heard our prayers. Jesus The Lord God, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

1 John 3 ~ kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are

1 John 3


3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers,[c] that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us

There was a day, like Proverbs tells us of the Light of the World - Jesus - laughing with Joy and Father God to see the Beauty of Creation.

There was a day, about the time of the Acts of the Apostles when Scripture was fresh ink on new reed papyrus. And had the aroma of new parchment and ink. Jesus would probably say this was A Day of Jesus; we would all say, if only, we did not live in "Days may come".

What would the Apostle John have in common with Moses? Revelation. The next time you say the Lord's Prayer and end with "for Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory" - remember this comes from Revelation Chapter One and Six where John is an eyewitness to the Glory of God in the Transfiguration and an actual visitor to the Throne of Jesus and of His Father.

When papyrus was new... Paul - the majority of New Testament - was unaware of Paul's own Godly Mission of Paul's destiny.

From Paul's viewpoint:

Galatians 1
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Paul has very, very little idea of his importance to the history of the Church of of the world. His Holy Spirit Word is needed by us because we identify with Paul's need for overcoming personal sin to talk about Jesus. We are like Paul, we did not walk with Jesus and see Him with awe during His ministry here.

Paul writes as one who finishes in about 30 years. A good long time. I suppose.


Jude writes of his brief on this earth to be with the Lord ministry. Perhaps Jesus needed His Brother with Him quickly. Jude writes of worry we will corrupt or not see the pure message of Jesus.

Jude, Brother to Jesus Christ

17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

James, Jesus' Brother, tells us of growing up as the Descendant of David, twice, in the Roman settlement and the overcoming of Jesus in a difficult time. A personal growth.

Peter is so busy teaching the godly, he has little time to write. Mark helps write Peter's most selected and asked about times of Jesus the first century is hungry to know about. These are the column of Peter's oral talks about Jesus. Peter calls Mark his own son for the scribe work Mark grows into becoming, after failing Paul and Barnabus 'encouragement' works with his kin - Mark - to create a mature Christian who endured when others ran out.

Peter's main message is the Glory and the Ways of Jesus.

Scripture studies will tell us if you get to the Non Gospel portions of the New Testament - when the second chapter is called for - this is going to be when you find out what the writer sees as the most discouraging part of the culture surrounding the journey - the writer has found in the God destination of Life Eternal.





Back to our original question. How is John like Moses? He is unlike Moses in that as he sees God, he sees Light. God has hidden Himself from John, probably to bless Moses. John is an actual eyewitness to "for thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory".

John is like Moses for being tired at points in his life of the grumblings of 'believers'. And yet, Good News, John has the gift of years just like Moses. Moses was 80 years old when he started and 120 years old (Noah said he could be) when he was blessed by God at the end of The Pentateuch.

John has the years and years and years of Christ life on this earth to tell us what he has gathered going all the way to vibrant life in the 2nd Century A.D. and even collecting a new disciple Pliny. John is reported in 2 A.D. to be blasting out about the real Jesus and not a man and not Gnosticism. Jesus is not hidden only to the 'special' - Jesus is God reaching forth and going where we need Him. Jesus is available to all who seek Him - He will be found.

Why 1 John 3 and not 1 John 2? Because 1 John 3 is a continuation of John discovering the troubles of ministry and life and just the bother and business and frustration of life - do not matter. These present struggles can be put away and Sunday afternoon becomes - ending up in the real "Living Room of Jesus". Revelation 1.

John is explaining Jesus fully, totally, completely, and with all reliability will reach out where we fail as mere humans. We just earnestly, sincerely, totally, completely give Jesus our best heart and effort and Jesus is going to be the fulfillment of every Word of God we live by. John is explaining the relationship of God - gives him rest and peace.

John does not need to hammer and rail. John has realized the Love of God causes the bloom, the shine, the Light.

1 John 3 follows because 1 John 2 overcomes.

Abba,
May the Glory of God be the Light we rest in and have peace for ourselves, the ones we love, the people You have given us. Thank You, Abba. Jesus Is God. Amen, Amen, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Deuteronomy 2:1-23 ~ The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness.

So God never explained the reason HE would not let the Children of Israel be part of the other nations was because they sacrificed their newly born children to the god of crop financial prosperity and happiness. The newborn's blood made profit in the crops.


And God had the reputation of being an angry and mean God. I guess HE just didn't see the need to explain for people who were going to say, "God better improve".

To see the Chapters and the Books connect for the Bible - takes Decades. To see the emotions written in the connections takes a willingness to have Wonder and Relationship with a Deity who says "I Am." Yes, you have to enter into faith believing God is Good. And you have to work with that belief - because God Himself says - faith is the 'work' of mankind. Doubt is easy.


In my decades and decades of looking at Scripture, I'd have to say - I believe I have found the reason for life. That's the story of, that's the glory of - all this mess, confusion, power positioning, envy, lust, trust, hope, glory, wonder, desire to be known, desire to know God - LIFE.

In my opinion, Life is like the Mississippi River, we are on the destination ride we do not control. We are on the path of the Prodigal Son. God has sent us off to college - life - and we are going on a journey God is waiting to see us present what we did with our souls. We are all going to see Jesus - the Scriptures tell us. We just sincerely hope Father God is going to run to see us coming Home with Joy.

The Life Journey

Wow. The Exodus. There is so much information in the Exodus, as our Bible Study remarked upon the Study we all have bits and pieces of information - and we are lifelong Christians. I write a Blog on Scriptures and I recounted a fiction work I read a decade ago to give Moses' wife Zipporah more dialog - as if this is true. It was not - I re-checked.

And the study said that the Children of Israel died before entering the Promised Land. That is incorrect - I re-checked. Only the warriors perished. God must have believed, known, they had the ability to take the Promised Land and had seen the wonders and refused.

Desert near Mt. Sinai

And that caused me to Wonder - 

How is the Promised Land 40 Years Exile

Comparable to 

The Early House Churches of Acts of the Apostles

We are told God is the same of the Old Testament and the New Testament - let's give that a whirl.

The New House Churches arrived, after Peter's House Church, (that archaeologically relates to the remains of Peter 80 feet under the Vatican Alter in Rome) from people who were exiled.

A journey of life we are all on, if we travel or not.

The Exodus was about killing nations and foreigners - so how does this relate to God who says, "I am a Light to the Nations" ?


God has been working His Plan far longer than 40 years for the Exodus or 70 years Jeremiah correctly explained for the Babylonian Exile (told also on Babylonian Chronicle Cuneiforms in the British Museums). God has been planning to be a Light to the Nations - even during Isaiah.

Isaiah 49

5 And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, And My God is My strength),

6 He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

7 Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and its Holy One, To the despised One, To the One abhorred by the nation, To the Servant of rulers, "Kings will see and arise, Princes will also bow down, Because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You."

We know correctly House Churches welcomed all nations. Where was this tenderness of Father God in the Exodus. This - covers Jesus being in Exodus as a child. God sees the honor of Jesus living in Egypt as an important saying of where His Son would go. God is God.

Hosea 11:1
"When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt."

Exodus 4:22
"Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, "Israel is My son, My firstborn."

Hosea 13:4
Yet I have been the LORD your God Since the land of Egypt; And you were not to know any god except Me, For there is no savior besides Me."




Where is the Harsh God? Here is the tenderness of God:

Deuteronomy 2:1-23

Then we turned back and set out toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea, as the Lord had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir.

2 Then the Lord said to me, 3 “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north. 4 Give the people these orders: ‘You are about to pass through the territory of your relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, but be very careful. 5 Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own. 6 You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’”



7 The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness.



These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and
you have not lacked anything.




8 So we went on past our relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion Geber, and traveled along the desert road of Moab.

9 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any part of their land. I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.”

10 (The Emites used to live there—a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites. 11 Like the Anakites, they too were considered Rephaites, but the Moabites called them Emites. 12 Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land the Lord gave them as their possession.)

13 And the Lord said, “Now get up and cross the Zered Valley.” So we crossed the valley.

14 Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley.

By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. 15 The Lord’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp.

16 Now when the last of these fighting men among the people had died,
17 the Lord said to me, 18 “Today you are to pass by the region of Moab at Ar. 19 When you come to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them to war, for I will not give you possession of any land belonging to the Ammonites. I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot.”

20 (That too was considered a land of the Rephaites, who used to live there; but the Ammonites called them Zamzummites. 21 They were a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites. The Lord destroyed them from before the Ammonites, who drove them out and settled in their place. 22 The Lord had done the same for the descendants of Esau, who lived in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day. 23 And as for the Avvites who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorites coming out from Caphtor destroyed them and settled in their place.)

This is Mount Sinai, and nearby the Tomb of Aaron. And the Monastery of St Catherine at the foot of Mt. Sinai. What happens when God provides a cloud protecting from heat and overwhelming desert? What about when a Fire by Night keeps desert cold away? What do clouds also provide. See the plant growth? What happens when food is provided? There is more time for community and conversation. Learning. Their clothes and shoes did not wear out.

How will we relate this to a House Church?

Luke 9
3“Take nothing for the journey,” He told them, “no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no second tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that area."


Numbers 9:14
'If an alien sojourns among you and observes the Passover to the LORD, according to the statute of the Passover and according to its ordinance, so he shall do; you shall have one statute, both for the alien and for the native of the land.'"

God does not separate out one rule for one people and another for another.


What God would say to the exiles bringing forth the Word of God of Jesus Christ to the Nations, something like this:

Joshua 1:7-9

1:7 Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do. 1:8 This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful. 1:9 I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.”


John 6:31
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”


Jesus is the Living Water flowing into the dry places - creating Life.


1 Corinthians 10:4
And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.


Isaiah 12:3
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Isaiah 58:11
And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

John 7:37-39
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit



Father God,

Grow within me an Oasis. Banish the desert.

Jesus answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person.

Father with Your help, I am forgiven, completed. Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to You, my Rock and Redeemer.

Blessed are You, Lord Christ. Help us to Journey in the Path and the Faith You have given us to travel. Bless those I love, bless the people You have given us. We look to You for the Nation and all the people of the world in the Communion of Saints to Pray. Amen covered in the Love, Mercy and Name of Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

1 Corinthians 11:17-34 ~ He had given thanks

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

The mosaic of the Theophany is a significant and detailedThe mosaic is , very complex, with a detailed border, and a lot of elements within the scene. The focus of the image is Christ as shown by his gaze, his position in the center and the halos surrounding Christ’s head and body. Church of Hosios David. It is in a naturalistic style depicting Christ holding a text saying in Greek,

“Behold our God, in whom we hope and we rejoice in our salvation, that he may grand rest to this home.”

Tucked away in the heart of Thessaloniki, closer to the mountains. This Acts of the Disciples House Church is debated to be 4th, 5th or 6th Century A.D. It is removed from the center of Thessalonike, the Church of Hosios David was not converted to a mosque immediately after the Turks conquered the area, as the Turks converted all the best churches, and best locations first.

The original architecture of the Church of Hosios David was constructed in a cross pattern with squares as the main shape of the floor plan. The structure contained square bays in the corners and then the bays all connected to the main cross room via hallways. The bays also connected to the outside.


The early Churches felt Communion was a meal. Just as Christ had the Last Supper. And just like John 21,  this Chapter shows - they had trouble being - not people.

The roof on Osios David has had many, many changes. Sometimes it has been very, very wavy and worn out red tiles. Another season had green clay tiles. For a time Osios David was covered with intense shade by a steel structure we use a lot in Texas. The looks dwarfed the building and held the fragile and very, very curvacious from the elements. And actually, what we call the steel structures - Barns and sometimes Shopping Centers.

I'm happy to report the front porch of Osios David is frequently used for the Church Family to do things like hold - children's birthday parties on Sunday afternoons or any 'ol time.

In fact this 1,600 year old Church tells us of seasons of Change.

About the infancy of the Church in 390 A.D.

Thessaloniki's location was a revolt against the emperor Theodosius I and his Gothic mercenaries. Botheric, their general killed in an uprising triggered by the imprisoning of a favorite local charioteer 7,000 - 15,000 of the citizens were massacred  – an act which earned Theodosius a temporary excommunication.

A quiet interlude followed until repeated barbarian invasions after the fall of the Roman Empire, while a catastrophic earthquake severely damaged the city in 620, resulting in the destruction of the Roman Forum and several other public buildings. Thessaloniki came under attack from Slavs in the 7th century (most notably in 617 and 676–678); however, they failed to capture the city. Byzantine brothers Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius were born in Thessaloniki and it was Byzantine Emperor Michael III who encouraged them to visit the northern regions as missionaries where they adopted the South Slavonic speech as the basis for the Old Church Slavonic language. In the 9th century, the Byzantines decided to move the market for Bulgarian goods from Constantinople to Thessaloniki.  In 904, Saracens, led by Leo of Tripoli, managed to seize the city and after a ten-day depredation, left after having freed 4,000 Muslim prisoners while capturing 60 ships, and gaining a large loot and 22,000 slaves, mostly young people.

Following these events, the city recovered and the gradual restoration of Byzantine power during the 10th, 11th, and 12th centuries brought peace to the area. As the population of the city expanded, according to Benjamin of Tudela, a Jewish community of some 500-strong was also established in the 12th century. During that time the city came to host the fair of Saint Demetrius every October, which was held just outside the city walls and lasted six days.



Amazing the 1,600 year old Church survives.

Then, again, considering that Empires usually begin with anhilation - surprising - The Church honoring Jesus Christ continues.

How does the Church continue. The Word of God. What is the Law of God? The 10 Commandments? The Moses first 5 books of the Bible - The Pentateuch? Jesus told us He came to fulfill God's Law.


Matthew 5
17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.

Jesus went on to say that when we put God first, in Love, and ourselves with our neighbor we are close to the Kingdom of God. And, and, and Jesus said:

18 For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.



Jesus has caused the world to survive plagues - mankind was willing to have hospitals as 1/3 of the world - vanished. Men died to bring forth the Word of God in other languages. The Mongols are reportedly 1 of every 6 people today due to war and rape. They ended when Christian women married these amazingly awful people. The Word and Will of God have gone FAR.

And to what will we compare this?

Love. And the desire to put down self glory and rise up in Jesus.

Acts of the Apostles - Chapter One

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.”

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.

14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.



When a man loves the Lord, even his enemies are at Peace with Him. The Light of Christ Shines.

Matthew 5
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.




Abba,

Even in the photos we can taste and see the goodness of the Lord Jesus.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Blessed be You, Father God, for giving us Jesus.

We lift up our prayers to You, in confidence and approach the very Throne of God. Knowing with gratitude we lift up those we love, good health, the people You have given us and the days to come. Lifting up healing ears, allergies, and say we want our souls to feed our mind, body and will in Jesus the Lord.

Amen for ourselves in Jesus, for the communion of saint, living here and in Heaven's Home. Amen and Glory to God for His Goodness.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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 †