Luke 1:19 ~ Glad Tidings

Luke 1:19

“And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these glad tidings.”





What do you have in common with all the Children of God?

John 1

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

If we consider - the absolute truth is not Daniel, not Zechariah, not Mary felt any day or any moment of their lives - The Archangel Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God Father Almighty - was ever just about to visit.


Look at the Renaissance Idea of Angels....

The Word of God does not record anyone asking if the Angels if they want crumpets with tea or an olive or celery in their drink.

The Bubonic Plague gives us the history of why Mary would be wanted to be god-like. People truly missed their mothers. People did not read the Bible, it was the age of illiteracy.  An unknown fact to this time - they did not know Genesis records Adam being made in the image of God and then later Eve was from Adam.

God is a whole parent. The tenderness of Mother. The strength of Father. Remember Jesus had someone cry out blessed are the breasts that raised you. And Jesus replied, "More blessed are those who do the Will of God." Jesus has a very strong idea of what is what.

I was water sealing my backyard statues today and I suppose we all want angels to represent Peace, Love, Joy. And yet God is a 'peacekeeper'. God is the instuctor of His messengers - with the Power of the Holy Spirit.











Angels do something repetitiously  for all the millenniums of Scripture. The first thing Angels say is very condensed. "FEAR NOT." You would Not be meeting someone stylized by Mattel Toys.

White Angel On Christ’s Grave Fresco From The Mileseva Monastery Circa 1230 AD In Serbia

Father God must find people interesting.

A priest is told his prayers are answered by an angel. Sometimes men are more harsh when they are afraid.

A teenager will lose her reputation and perhaps her betrothed and she is willing to do God's Plan. Zechariah is her cousin in law, and Mary might have surely decided to be brave and courteous.

Daniel is a slave in a lavish foreign culture seeing all types of behavior far from kosher and instead of being angry at his fate, apologizes for their sins. A slave apologizing to Father God for the reason he is a slave.


And all go away from God's messenger - enlightened.





God does not use coincidence. God uses His Plan and His Will. His Heavenly Host.

Here is "Raphael's" (One of the Archangels is Raphael) painting of Michael the Archangel.

Archangel Michael looks, as he kills evil, like a Roman Centurion. Jesus and the early disciples had several soldiers they were very fond of.


Does Michael the Archangel leave us advice?

Jude 1:9
But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

Michael was polite in the face of extreme situations. God has chosen wisely in Michael.

Where did this story come from? It's not in the Old Testament. Jude is - the growing up in the same household - actual brother of Jesus Christ. I'd say his source is credible!

Why would we care about the images of angels?

We believe angels are polite - babies. We could tell them - we are only tired today and we are just grumpy. Angels say "Fear Not" and give commands and enlighten from God. Angels believe fully GOD is GOD.

No Angel is ever recorded as singin' a song travelin' along.

We believe being rude has power. Angels believe being Polite Has Power.


1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Maybe this is difficult for you. And why should you try?

Luke 6:31
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

The Word of God is pretty cast iron tight. What you sow = you reap.

Ecclesiastes 11
Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.


Romans 12:10
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Matthew 15:11 It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.



Want an example with more umpha?

Joshua 5

13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”

Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”

15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

And another 'polite' comment on the fall of Jericho - the archaeologically proven fall of the Wall of Jericho. Rahab was a prostitute. And who wouldn't want to get out of that? Usually forced into prostitution as a youth. Rahab was polite to strangers and in this polite conversation - she served the Lord, saved her entire household, had a God Himself sized opportunity - just from being polite.


Another example? David felt as God's Anointed, he must be polite to King Saul. David felt that unless he was polite to Saul - he had not served God. It was not at all a worldly view to be polite to a king who even slaughtered priests for merely serving a meal; David was polite.

Did God reward David for his polite attention to God?


2 Samuel 7:18-29

David's Prayer of Gratitude

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:
“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!
20 “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

22 “How great you are, Sovereign Lord!

There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?

24 You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.

27 “Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.

28 Sovereign Lord, you are God!

Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”



Father God,
We hope to be as blessed as David. To be blessed like Joshua. And to react, with Your help, with courtesy, love, warmth and wisdom.

You Love is Steadfast. Nothing is too hard for You. Nothing is impossible.

In Your Love we give our concerns and the people we love to pray for. Knowing You are our Shepherd, Father and God. To You be the Glory. Please have Your Word bless and fulfill those we know stretching to the ones we love, this nation and the world. The Light of Christ to Shine Forth. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 18:1-6 ~ In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

Jesus has loved Father God with all His Strength. Giving His Father a new Heaven and new earth.

Proverbs 23:24

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

Psalm 18:1-6

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
He said: I love you, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
 my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, 
and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, 
and I am saved from my enemies.

The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help.

From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.




Psalm 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry.


Father God expects us to know He is our Father and helps us.

1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Matthew 5:18
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.

1 Peter 1:25
but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

Numbers 23:19
"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

"The Wizard of Oz", the original movie has the narrator intoning, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

If we have no clue where God, our Heavenly Father is, then we might feel as if our prayers hit the ceiling and bounce off.

Isn't 2,000 years or 3 or 4 or 5 to Abraham - just old men in old robes that raised livestock.

Instead:
Father God wants the curtain torn. Father God shook up the ordinary ideas of the status quo. Father God loves for us to travel in new ideas of our Loving Father.

Just as the Temple Curtain has the Seraphim, many hundreds of years before Isaiah saw them, we see God has told us of His Home.
Isaiah 6
2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory."

Psalm 104:4 
Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

Ezekiel was considered to be so far reaching into God's Throne, Ezekiel was not allowed to be read by the laity until the last two millenniums.

The Throne of God Himself. Is that of Our God, creator. Interested in all. Where people do not throw themselves on the floor, as John was asked to stand up. God wants us to rise up. Stand in our Father's Presence. Why? He wants to see your face, look into your eyes, know His beloved Child.

Seraphim - the word means fiery ones, probably for their love - the status of Angel.

This is where our Father, inhales our prayers and answers us. This is His Word to give us the idea where God dwells:
Ezekiel 1

1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.2On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), 3 the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the Lord was upon him there.

4As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.

15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. 16 As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. 17 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went. 18 And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. 19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. 20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

22 Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads. 23And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body. 24And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.

26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. 27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.

Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.


And with this description, we meet not a stodgy God. Not an easily understood Creator. Not a God in a sealable box we can store away. A very intelligent and complex Throne. Our God, who says to John, stand up, you are fine, you are safe.

Our Father,

You are in Heaven and from Your House and Your Throne, we know You are close. You know our prayers as well for the Holy Spirit living in those who know in their heart Jesus is Lord. Just as Your Spirit was flame over Your Disciples, we have part of the Fire of the Holy Spirit in us. Living God, living within us.

We pray for our health, our Joy in You, for our cares, for the people we Love. For the people you have given us in our lives - we will pray for them.

Our Father,
Who art in Heaven,
Holy is Your Name,
Your Kingdom come,
Your Will be done on earth as in Heaven.

Give us this day!
Our daily Living Bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
Deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom, Power and Glory - Forever and ever.
Amen as Jesus prays with us. Amen.

Thank You for covering us Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

1 Corinthians 15:51-58 ~ Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain

We are all on the same destination journey.

1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

 For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

 
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

How do you 'see' the photographs?
What if this photo was the Red Sea and you were to walk this with your family to escape slavery.
And what if this is part of the path to Heaven?


Today I was reading the Bible and found a verse I did not know. And this fits - all - the Fruits of the Spirit.

Romans 15

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

And we are - all  -on the same exact journey. Every knee will bow, every tongue confess Jesus is Lord. And if you were on the path to the 12 Gates of Heaven. You would want to know as you got closer to the Wall like the Temple of Jerusalem, if the Gates are open - if you will find the Father running to you. If the welcome will be a warm one. A reunion.

 

And you wonder...

And on this journey, I will tell you about a beach vacation I took as a young bride with my father's best friend in High School and his wife.

Several years earlier - They had just moved to Dallas from Little Rock and my father's friend, Joe, had just arrived to visit with my dad. Who was gone - really - because he had just decided to get a divorce after 25 years of marriage - and run off with a long time friend of my parents. Sue and Joe would move my mother, literally, out of the family home and then change homes themselves to live a block from us - so my 10 year old brother would not be a terrified latch key child.

So years down the road, we are all vacationing in Padre Island. And Sue is gasping. Every now and then she is just gasping for air. We are asked not to ask. Eventually my mother, husband and I are all staring at Sue - we are paralyzed. Joe says, "Sue, you owe our friends the explanation." Joe had given me my first job in the Dallas World Trade Center. We all knew each other as one block away neighbors. Sue said, "I'm having heart palpitations." Being 23, I said do we need to call a hospital or 911? I was very worried and so was Edward and so was my mother. Joe said, "No, she has been to the doctor and this comes and goes." I asked if it was bad today. Sue had a hard time answering. Finally she said, "Yes." And she said she would talk in a minute when she could get her breathe.

About 20 minutes later, Sue said, "I used controlled breathing. I hold my breathe and then my electric impulses renew the rythme."

We did not even know what to say. So we said that. Sue finally got her breathe and we waited. She said, " I will not panic. I will not fear. I will not take so many, many medications. I will simply say my life, this world, all we do - is in the hands of God. I will let God be my rhythm. I will not be scared into over reacting. I will exercise I will be calm. I will renew."

Well being the people we are, eventually my mother, Edward and I huddled up to discuss this away from our friends. And we were 23 and 25 - this seemed very damned serious and cavalier. I'm sure I seemed uptight. Edward had questions. My mother finally said, hand up, "Sue is not a foolish woman. Neither is Joe a foolish man. They know what they are doing. Just give them a nice weekend here."

And we did and as we visited Sue was fine. An hour or more later, she was apparently well. They had moved to the Harlingen area and we saw them about a year later at the beach. I asked Sue if she was well. She was puzzled. Yes. I asked again. She said, "What do you mean?" I looked at her and shook my head. She inquired again. I said, "If you don't want to talk about that, I will hush." "Well, Anne -Laurel, dear, what are you talking about?" "Your heart palpitations." She smiled and said, "Oh all that is over."

She was right. She is in her eighties and does well.

Amazing what Trusting God will do.

So, when we get ready to storm the City of God. And with bold confidence in Jesus Christ covering us as our righteousness, we will want - to find Father God really eager to see us. And the gates, all 12, Open.

We are really, all of us, on an incredible journey. We are going to present our souls - to - GOD.

We are invited to the Feast of Feasts. The new Heaven Jesus gave life and blood, pain and suffering, to purchase our righteousness to be able to invite us to the Feast of the Righteous - Eternally.





Abba, our Father,

Oh we want to be one in that number - with our loved ones and the people we pray for - You have Given us.
One of the Multitude - When the Saints Go Marching In.

We will proclaim! We Know our Salvation! Jesus is Lord God Almighty and we adore Him! Amen!

 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psaligm 147 ~ His Word runs swiftly

Psalm 147

1 Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 
3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4
He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 
5 Great is our Lord, 
and abundant in power; 
his understanding is beyond measure. 
6 The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. 


7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! 
8 He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth; 
he makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry. 
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, 
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

11 But the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. 

12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you. 
14 He makes peace in your borders; 
he fills you with the finest of the wheat. 
15 He sends out his command to the earth; 
his word runs swiftly. 

16 He gives snow like wool; 
he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. 
17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? 
18 He sends out his word, and melts them;
 he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. 
19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. 
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. 

March has come and gone like the Lion and Lamb March is known to be.

This Portion of the Word of God is balm. The soothing Good News Father God is charge. Today is going to be ok. Our Father has not brought you so far to drop you on your head. God has not abandoned you. God knows our cares and anxieties before they even occur. And God, of course, is part of us overcoming.

We have a choice. We can be Daniel, who believes God will triumph in all circumstances. We can be Peter who will stand, fall or swim to meet Jesus. Peter even goes forth when Peter thinks he has only a vision of the jail allowing him to leave. We can choose to let our storm gather anxiety, or we can make the larger prayer and decide to stand on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. Do the work Jesus has given us to do - Believe.

Mark 4

37  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”


Abba Father,
You are the Compass of North, South, East and West.
The Cross intersects mankind meeting God through the Lamb of God, Jesus.

In Jesus, we have a choice to stand on the firm foundation
and not to stay in the boat of storm and doubt.

We will forgo fleeting emotion like a shower and we will believe Jesus Christ.

And we will visualize Jesus calming the storm, helping Peter to stand on the impossible and be secure.

Giving thanks for God allowing us time and forbearance for our past flaws, sins and weaknesses.
And leaning upon God to help us to strive more ably. Getting on with our perseverance. Telling You,
Thank You, Father. We agree with the Words of Jesus, "Rise up."

We will picture rising up, standing with Jesus, telling Him we love Jesus. We will picture
our loved ones standing up. And we will rest with the Lord for His care and answers. Letting
God be our Father and providing His answers. 

Knowing our prayers touch others' prayers and seeing we form this prayer bond to Jesus Christ eternal. Giving thanks for Travis, who made the excellent point today our great artists, take what is sorrowful and make Joy, Love and Peace. Gratitude for healing to the God who sustains us, daily with His Word. And how wonderful to receive Wisdom in conversation as from the Lord. Jesus is the Light of the world and of mankind.

We will rise up in Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 7:1-14 ~ And Jesus went with them

Luke 7:1-14

7 After he had finished all his sayings in
the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 

Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.”

6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 

10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.


 
11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 

12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”




The Holy Spirit is not new, In existence, and - working - in the Gospels. Genesis 1 tells us The Holy Spirit hovers over the waters of God's new earth. The explanation I like regarding the Holy Spirit is this: God the Father has made plans for us all, before we were born. The Son, Jesus, builds the path for those plans with His very Life and Blood, helping the Will of the Father. The Holy Spirit provides encouragement, guidance, wisdom, protection, and the will to strive and run the race of good works and the faith to persevere.

Jesus is traveling in groups in this Scripture. One more intimate, one larger. Jesus displays a nationalism to Israel. Don't we all tend to act this way. We exist in circles, or communities. we add to them, we regulate them, we have faith in these groups, we admonish these groups, we cheer these groups. We tend to them like a parent It is not reasonable to say Jesus did not have groups, communities, Synagogues, areas like Galilee and even Israel.

 Like we do, to a certain extent. If we ignore our groups - we say we don't care, we aren't interested, we do not create a ripple in their order. By not commenting: "Surely this is peaceful." And absolutely declares - what we have here, by our silence, is no effect. What the circle says - we are. We do not ask for Kindness, Mercy, Moral Value. We simply exist. Saying this is 'better'.

I went to a funeral once, where the person who had died was praised for being loyal to their group - right or wrong. Mercy is good. Being humble because ALL people sin - is worthy to know. But participating in wrong - is wrong. We need to walk the path and plan God has for us - asking Him to guide, lead, encourage, help, raise, forgive - for the Glory of God. Looking to the Word of God creating the Fire of the Holy Spirit to lead us in our soul and mind for words, prayers and action.

If we exist simply - this is good. However examine what simple really means. If we want to leave a Light Shining - we are going to have to engage in the Gospel proclaiming Fight the Good Fight.


Revelation 4:5
And out of the throne proceeded lightning and thunder and voices

Revelation 10:3
Then he cried out in a loud voice like the roar of a lion. And when he cried out, the seven thunders sounded their voices.

Remember the Shining Water from His Throne:

Psalm 29
…2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in holy array. 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The LORD is over many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful, The voice of the LORD is majestic.


What is the Voice of the Holy Spirit telling us, in what we see of the Fruit of the Spirit, about the circles of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 2

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Jesus' people expect Him to want to help. Jesus' people expect Jesus to take action for good reason. Identical to the way we pray.





The Centurion is explained to ... Jesus - the God of Light and Life and Love - what man the Centurion could be expected to be. They are a little confused to not see Jesus as God. The circle the Centurion would improve - the Synagogue for the Nation.




Jesus is traveling the same path. He believes what the Father speaks will happen. He is willing to go to Nain with a huge group. Jesus is building an event of the dead son rising - the foundation of proof that the Nation might be saved. Jesus knows the circle will widen again - God wants to save the world through Jesus.







Our Abba,

Like Jabez, we pray to increase our opportunities. We pray the Work of our hands is pleasing to You for blessing. We pray the meditation of our heart and the words of our lips are pleasing to You. We pray even in quiet lives - today is meaningful in Your sight. What we do matters. Our prayers are like the centurion - what we love - leads us in paths that our Jesus Christ in us - Light of mankind - will make Your Glory smile and shine forth, making Your Will on earth like that of Heaven.

With renewed Faith, Hope and Love - we know with certainty and peace - our cares, our heart, our Steve, Paul, Edward, ears, our loved ones, the people you give us - are within Your Hand and Heart.

You are Jesus Christ. The Lord. Our prayers for the neighborhoods, communities, schools, Churches, work places are building up to our prayers for the Nation and then to the world. This is not too large for You, And in You we say the Amen, Lord Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 91 ~ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence

Psalm 91 (Hebe deine Augen Auf) composed by Felix Mendelssohn

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.

15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”



A very Strong Psalm. Psalm 91 is a favored Psalm. Sung at the Holy Festivals for the Jews. Read at Compline for Christians. This Psalm is supposed to be read at bedtime. Because many people over the 3 millenniums have found anxious thoughts at night. The Strength of God's Word as a Mighty Fortress - this is to feel secure.

Today Houston's KSBJ - Bill Ingram told us about praying for a teenage girl for years. She was 15 and as she told her parents she had given her life to Jesus Christ, her parents told her to hush about ''that", they aren't interested in 'such things',  they were getting a divorce. Bill told her to remain strong in the Lord and hold on to Him. Be diligent. This was a call in prayer to the radio station. Bill Ingram put her on his prayer list - his shorter prayer list - for over a decade. 12 years later he was called to the phone as Melinda told him this had been a rough set of years. She had held on to Jesus in good times and the difficult years ahead. Her parents had been saved by Jesus and instead of divorcing went to Christian Counseling and had decided to remain married. Bill Ingram wept when she called in and he told her he had prayed daily for her for 12 years. Jesus hears our prayers and is filled with Works of Compassion.

A reminder, all those prayers, like my Grandmother Anita. praying for her adopted son. Forceps at his birth,  caused a baby boy to stay at an 80 IQ - growing up to be an angry adult who disliked Christians, would in his 7th decade of life suddenly read Rick Warren's book and go on to believe Jesus after debunking Jesus for many, many decades. My uncle went Home to meet Jesus and his dancing mother - my grandmother.

Our Prayers go to a Mighty Fortress - the Goodness of God Himself. Inhaled to be a sweet aroma to the Lord.

Our Prayers matter. Keep Praying. Keep Praying.




Father God,
We will pick up weary thoughts with renewed interest. Revitalized. Renewed.

Jesus - we remember, has solved many, many situations. God saved the People of Goshen, His Blood on the Door, created a Fortress.

David survived lions. So did Samson. Paul survived a snake in Malta. The lame man recovered from the Word of Jesus from Peter. Paul recovered his sight.

And in this truth of millenniums of God's Good Work in Miracles that defy all explanations, we rest our cares, our loved ones, the people You have given us. And Know - You hold and encircle this earth - with mercy - to hear and answer Prayer.

In Jesus, we live, move and have our dwelling. Lord Jesus. The Word of God upholds the Universe and is fully merciful, Loving and willing to hear our prayers and answer in His Plans. Diligence. The Word of God is fulfilled. Amen Jesus Lord.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †