Matthew 16:18 ~ on this rock, I will build My Church

So suppose you wanted to play the National Favorite Pastime of Build Your Cathedral.

First, you'd want to get all your fish in a row.

This photo, and the one of "The Lord Heals" is from Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, where my mother was not going to live, and Hospice arrived. Due to God's Plan, my mom went to exercise today and the grocery store and complained about the price of dry cleaning and got an ice cream cone. Thank You, Father God.







A Church is a sacred thing. We feel the Holiness and Goodness of Father God - Who would run to His prodigal child - me. You. And we are welcomed into His Warmth.  Warmth. This is a good and joyous thing, worthy of all of mankind to be received!  A fire within you. Warmth of Hearth and Home.

Today, I'm talking about a Cathedral.

I loved the novel  "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett. Seeing the goodness rise up of monasteries who had life long joy, satisfaction and Jesus Christ feeding, 'beering', educating, loving the community and finally, beginning, hospitals when plague arrived. And building Cathedrals over centuries. I just really enjoyed - This Book. And getting the picture of how hard life was when 1/3rd's of England starved to death under serfdom - realities of the true work of Christ set in. Valor of hard work and daily being part of communal life. Willing to do weeding, wedding, scrubbing, enduring communal rivalries, death from germs, forgiveness, wisdom and Love. No wonder Jesus loved vineyards.

Church is a very, very sacred thing of God.







Ok. Great. Bam. Cathedrals are works of God and take Centuries. And in the journey - can turn into works of Herod for the wrong reason. Popular and trendy to bash the empty Cathedrals of Europe. Forget - that. Cathedrals are for understanding the Beauty and Sacred Honor of Housing God. A glimpse of Heaven. A work of mankind to Honor God.

(PS Herod built the Royal Stoa and this was the infamous Money Changers Building Jesus threw out the people with whips from the of the 36 Acre Temple. Constantine and his beloved mother, 80-year-old, archaeologist seek was sent out,  Helena. {Constantine ended up giving his very elaborate tomb to his beloved mother to be seen today.} Then the First Vatican was an exact replica of the Royal Stoa. Om, oops? 4th Century until 16th Century. The Vatican of today designed by dream team architects: Donato Bramante (Renaissance master), Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno (Father of Baroque Architecture) and Gian Lorenzo Bernini (leading sculptor), well considered the holiest church in Christendom. From Pope Julius in 1506 to 1615.)










Ok, Let's Do That. Honor God.




Jesus being God, took His Disciples to Caesarea to see all the Roman buildings Herod had built to please his master, Caesar. It was inspired to explain where Jesus would build the Church none of the Disciples knew would exist.


Matthew 16:18b

and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it

Dome of the Rock

Mount Moriah, meaning the chosen of Jehovah. This is where the Sacred Rock Abraham and Isaac were rescued by God.

And the Rock above Peter enabled his bones not to decay. 80 feet below the Vatican altar of both Vatican 1st Building - 4th Century to 16th and Vatican 2nd Building - 16th Century to today. The Bones tell us Peter was about 5' 6" tall, a bit plump, 62 years old and feet removed from his crucifixion cross.






Now let's consider Heaven.

When we really study Revelation, we are seeing something history did not see. This view of His Throne seemed sort of 'way out'.  Revelation,  we see God doing the inhalation of our prayers through smoke. Streams of Living Water. Emerald Green and Red. We find God is showing all of His Wisdom and Inspiration of Much Higher Thought. Almost scientific. Very Tree of Life and nature oriented.


And when we see Ephesians 2 we find families live in Heaven. And we live 'many will sit down at the table of Abraham and Isaac'. We are seeing Moses, Elijah and Jesus live together. The centuries are going to find a path to live together. The Bronze Age meets Hubble Telescope.

We are going to see Cathedrals have a Wonderful, Wonderful Place.

What if You could build a Cathedral???

Here goes mine!!! I need mine to be available. Daily.


We will start at the top. Jesus Christ and His gift to Father God - a new Heaven. And the Lord's Prayer - bringing more Heaven to earth. Some practicality.

Steeple. Yes. Look Up. God's Way. Jesus. High enough to bring encouragement for the people who pass by and are praying with Jesus.

Life High the Cross! The Cross of Jesus Christ Hymn!
May Jesus Christ dwell in our Hearts with His Love and Grace.

The Cathedral will bring in Nature. God's Good Creation.


And just a photo idea of what I'm thinking about:

Lots of windows in the Foyer:

And, remember, available and practical :)

Becoming a little more like this:

Where was Jesus born?!!!

We see the top again:

What are the beams? Carved Styrofoam. Lighted, I'd hope.

And the floor? I guess we'd go with a white Limestone. Like the Rock.



Light of the World?

Very gentle and merciful. Too much color is not stained glass and is overwhelming.

And this transitions. Not during entering a Light filled Cathedral. The brilliant colors told to us of Heaven and the walls. However, Not after being filled and nourished by God of Love and Encouragement. Warmth. Warmth, Warmth.

And definitely, Not scary like this:

The parking lot? Definitely a golf cart tram. Long rides? So much the better! Chatty Charlie or Chattie Cathy create Fellows in a Ship. Fellowship.

And surrounding?

The Beauty of God's Earth. The grounds are Vineyard and Trees and Rocks and Water. Pleasing to Jesus who loved to sail, to walk and to greet His People.


The rest? Here is the Cathedral, Here is the Steeple. All we need are God's People!!!


In all seriousness, there are so many styles and ideas. We just cannot do all 3,000 pages of God's Word. This is the Light of one thought.

Most Churches are very, very Beautiful.

Just as paintings in a museum differ one from another - we would be utterly, utterly remiss not to Glorify God for His Goodness in His Bride - The Church. Be blessed with this idea from just me.

God's People coming to His Table to Worship Jesus Christ 

And know Holiness is His Word, His Church and His Love. Be filled with God's Love and Warmth.

This idea is really about using what we have and beginning new ideas.


Our Abba who runs to us!

God of Tender Mercy and Abundant Love,

Our Father God The Lord bless you and keep you;
Our Father God The Lord make His Face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, His Beloved Child,
Thank You, Abba.
Our Father God The Lord, lift up His Countenance, smiling, upon you
and abundantly. willingly give you peace.


Abba, Your Mercy is Everlasting
please place the Highest Name of Jesus Christ upon Your Beloved people
and Your willing and abundant blessing upon Your Beloved Children and bless them.

In Him, we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of His grace,
He lavished on us
with all wisdom and understanding.

Blessed, Blessed, Blessed be to us, Our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Our Father of mercies
and God of all comfort

God would never waste a hurt in life. It is Jesus who comforts us in all our affliction,
that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction,
with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

For as we share abundantly in Christ, we share abundantly in comfort
Thanking Jesus for John 14, 15, 16 and seeing His Joy in life.

Abba, who teaches us to try and try and stand again.
With God's help, Jesus Dwell all in me,
Dwell in every part of me,
help me to stand in Jesus Christ
help me to help others stand in Jesus Christ's abundant Love, Word of God
and Your Unending Love.

God Bless those we Love and this Nation. Bless the healing of our Nation and Your Goodness
upon John McCain - who has given to this Nation for many decades. Healing upon all who need prayers for Health.
And upon our families.

Thank You Gracious Father!!!

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 8 ~ O Lord, our Lord

East or West, Home Blessings are Best!!!

Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.


3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?


5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!


We are in the season of travel. And this year we are so blessed to have rain. And cooler temperatures. As I walked the dogs, people were all over enjoying the cool gift of a July that made you want to get out and see the Majestic sky.

Eventually, going to Church, you have a collection of memorable times Scripture was read and you realize you have connected to God. Sermons you will hear all your life. "What is man that You are mindful of him?" The Emotional Minister saying, "This is my Beloved Son Listen to Him." Blessing and watering the Church, water running as a blessing poured down, running over us and our lives.  Renewing. Redemption.

Hearing that life would bring us blessings to repeat. And repeat and Life would bring us our loved ones back to us. Echoing "Cry, the Beloved Country" Alan Paton explaining the brightness we see in others. The repeat rich and rewarding like the repeat of an Oriental Carpet. The Blessings God has stored for us and will give us in this life. Loved ones return in life.

And we are so required to pick up gratitude for what God gives us today. To search even the proverbial High and Low to see what God has renewed today. And see the abundance of His Blessings.

+

To see what God in His Willingness gives and gives and gives

What God pours into our soul - the times we reflect upon what He has placed in us to be God of Love. God of Encouragement. God of His Word. Living God. Living God Dwell in me. Every cell, all thoughts, every part, every place. Jesus the Lord God. The Almighty.


This is what God has placed in us. Home. God dwells in us, we find Home with God today. Always.

This is God quieting the storm. This is God making us comfortable with His Comforter. This is God wrapping us in His arms. This is the Helper.

This is getting through the difficult times. This is God making His Promises Live.



The Winds of Life may howl. Jesus will help. His Word says this is Truth.

Colossians 1
16 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.




Psalm 30

1 I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.

6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O LORD,
you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.

8 To you, O LORD, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,d
if I go down to the pit?e
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me!
O LORD, be my helper!”

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!



Abba God,

Thank You. Thank You for the goodness we have seen in the land of the living.
For Today and Tomorrow.

Abba Our Father.

Forgive us our sins. Grant that the Mercy of our Lord Father God Shines. Because in Your Mercy we are Redeemed. The warmth of our Father God running to the Prodigal.

Abba Our God, Giving us Jesus Christ God to cover us and give us His Peace.

The Glory of God shines our souls, to our lives. Blessing in Jesus Christ those we Love. We welcome Jesus to dwell here. God is Love.

In the People God had given to Pray for. We bless You Father God for yesterday, today and tomorrow. You are God. Eternal. Loving. Sure. Willing. Our Way, Truth and Life. Shine us from within!

We Ask with Joy and Verve for Jesus to pray with us and we ask in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †