Psalm 91 ~ my refuge

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will saya 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.”

Matthew 17:5
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Matthew 12:18
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations."

Matthew 22:37
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.







John 3:35
The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.

John 8:42
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.

John 11:36
Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

John 13:1
Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

John 14:15
“If you love me, keep my commands."

John 13:35
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Abba,

We ask Jesus to pray and travel this life with us. Dwell with us, Jesus, Holy Spirit.

The Joy of the Lord is our Strength. Love carries burdens, making the path easier. This is the Way, Truth, Life.

Hate is too hard a burden to want to hold on to.

For the Glory of Jesus, place me and my loved one's in Your Protection. Let Your Love Guide us each day and those around us.

Abraham was loved for God for his mercy,

Genesis 18
32Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.”

He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

With more of God's Holy Spirit increasing our Hope,
We recall with Love those we Love
Increase our Love
and pray more of God and His blessings for our lives today stretching to Eternity. Infinity and Beyond!

The closeness of God to hear our Hope in Him for our needs, health, arms, healing, surgery, and the Joy of God to spread to those we love and pray for. For all the people God has placed in our lives we recall the ones upon our hearts and minds.

Father be mindful with mercy for our lives - keep us on a path of meaning and Your care as we journey in this life. Go with us, Please!

We end our prayer rejoicing with Father God the prayers of the faithful cover, cover, cover the earth with God daily. Seeing with Father God again the absolute Goodness He sees in His Creation yesterday, today and tomorrow. Our Father God's Word is Good.

Concluding our prayer with Gratitude for - all of Father God's Love and Word is True.

Jesus Christ is our Alleluia and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Mark 12:28-34 ~ Most Important of all

We had a wonderful Sermon today on The First Commandment, which tied so much of the Bible together - we were indeed warp speed.

The Light of God.

Mark 12:28-34

“Which commandment is the most important of all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”



This is an important place to Jesus - being right up next to the Kingdom of God.

At God's Heart.

Jesus is giving us His Name, covering us from our sins.
Bringing us as Worthy as Jesus' own to Father God.
Jesus is delighted with His Father.
And is Bringing us - bought at a tremendously High Price.
Giving to Holy, Holy, Holy Father God a new Kingdom and a new earth.

It's not just the Temple curtain that split. The floor of the Temple split also with earthquake. Jesus is splitting Heaven to toss out Satan. He is suddenly saying earth has no boundaries - all of mankind - is sought to be saved.

Surely this is the Son of God.

This is a very Large God. Perhaps as Large as the Universe. Asking us to present Father God with something all the parables about weddings and invitations is telling us - God would go out on a limb and put us in a life sometimes having High Winds howl. And God is asking us if we - the prodigals - want to give Father God our trust, our love, our heart, our soul, and our mind and will. And here we find the beginning of the Kingdom of God.



Elijah found himself confronting eternity in a cave. Life had gotten very, very serious. And we find God was gentle with Elijah. Not in the howling justification of a false prophet murderer. Elijah was post traumatic stress for what Elijah had witnessed of God's Power. How would Father God comfort Elijah? Of Course God Knew. To speak softly to Elijah's soul.



Moses. Michelangelo got a little Latin as a Second Language Upset. Carving the Statue of Moses. Rays of Light from a man speaking to Father God Himself.

Cecile B. DeMille might never have known God's friend Charlton Heston without the gaffe. Even if people were confused for 500 years - what was Michelangelo thinking??? All things work together for good!

However if God decided Cecile B. DeMille might miss some of Michelangelo's Work
- God might say wonderful and good Cecile B. DeMille might have missed the Elijah moment -
Really fabulous and loving Cecile B. DeMille might have missed - Our God is a Personal God.

Our Father God is God of Love.

Our Father God is God of Encouragement.

Our Father God would call a deaf man aside and make motions so healing was not placed upon him like a Lion.

Our Father God would walk with the blind man to have a quiet moment and put warm living water on his eyes.

Our Father God might send this man quietly sent to the Pool of Siloam to have time to process momentous change.

Our Father God would be such a loving Creator of the entire Universe that when the Blind Man has Jesus' own Living Water upon his eyes. Jesus stays with him to make sure all is understandable, reliable, clear as life floods the formerly quiet senses.

Our God does not just take away deafness, our God stays to see that words are clear.

Our God does not just heal at the Pool of Bethsaida after 38 years and leave. Jesus finds this man with 38 year hoping - to speak with him again.







Where is the Moses Moment ??? I didn't know until Today. Moses says "Not me God, Not me!" And our Father God says, "I will be with you."

Same yesterday, today and tomorrow God of Elijah.

God understands the frailty of mankind. Immortal, steadfast, immovable God understands the fuss, fret, fried, fricassee, fraidy cat. Of mankind encountering God's pretty vast Creation.

Isaiah could See.

Isaiah 43

1 But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel,
"Do not fear,
for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!

2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.

3 "For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior"


Jesus understood. Jesus commanded, "Love"

Matthew 28:20
"And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age."









We get things tangled up trying to understand God so Vast and Loving.


Galatians 4

1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.




4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.


Faith is the assurance of the unseen. We have to wade through a lot of life and still believe the work of mankind is to believe God.

We have to believe as we drain the swamp, with this alligator or that one - Father God is God and His Word is God's Word.

This is massive - to believe you are God's... heir. Special. Loved. Chosen. Held in tenderness. Agreeable to God. God is for you.


8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

Name it and claim it, what seemed important and in ten years, five, a year - is tiddly winks.





9 But now that you have come to know God,
or rather to be known by God,
how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?



We labor to fill our calendars...


10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.



And now will we tune out what is meaningful, precious, as smothering, burdensome and weary? Enviable and snide this :


12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,
14 and though my condition was a trial to you,
you did not scorn or despise me,
but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

15 What then has become of the blessing you felt?

For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.





+

Jesus cried out to those listening to Him, "You Know Me!"

++







16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.

18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!

20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.




Since the days of God walking in the cool of the Garden, mankind has wanted to pick and choose knowledge of good and evil.


21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?

The Law is every Word of God. God does not chit chat. Often. :) However God says tell Me every part of your life and what you need and want. Be thankful for My Replies says God.


The Law tells us to be kind even to the stranger and sojourner. And Abraham saved Isaac (as he should), hoped for encroaching blessings on Ishmael, and wanted us to be quiet about Abraham's second wife Keturah - Genesis 25 - as he sent his own sons by Keturah away.


22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.


What is mankind You are mindful of him, O God? We make messes and messes. And the story of Genesis says Jesus delights in us as His own.

27 For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!

For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband."



28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.


Jesus saw promise in His own Brothers as they mocked Him to go to the Festival.


29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit,
so also it is now.


Day after intense day the Pharisees hounded Jesus. Being God, Jesus understood where fear should be placed. Jesus did not fear. He trusted God that if God would know even the Sparrow, all things were going to work out for Good for those who love the Lord and work according to His Purpose. Jesus in the middle of Living Water. feeding the Multitudes, Living the Plan of God was asleep in the storm in the boat. To wake to save easily.


30 But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman." 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.


The Work of mankind is to believe God. What is the Word of God? Is this for You and Your daily life? Are you the chaff or the heir?

Most Important of All

The Glory of God is His Love. His Mercy. His Delight. His Tenderness. This is the Prodigal's Father. John saw God and said, "God Is Love." God says Jesus is the Highest of All Names.

Looking to Father God, we can be trusting God. Looking at all the details makes us understand to hold on to our Truth. Even explaining Galatians 4 can make us forget what a loving, loving, loving, tender, tender, tender Jesus we have.

Scripture repeats explaining

God's tenderness

is steadfast love.

Our Abba!

Isaiah 42:5
Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it

We ask for an increase of the Holy Spirit just asking Jesus to pray with us. And Increase of God's Love around the praying world.  Really.

For all who Love God, the Church, her People and Pastors - more communicating with Love.

Our Living God, Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”

When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit."

And more of Your Holy Spirit we receive with Joy. Your Willingness to be with us. Thank You, Abba.


With more of God's Holy Spirit increasing our Hope, we recall with Love those we Love and pray more of God and His blessings for their lives today stretching to Eternity. Infinity and Beyond. The closeness of God to hear our Hope in Him for our needs, health, arms, healing, surgery, and the Joy of God to spread to those we love and pray for.

We end our prayer rejoicing with Father God the prayers of the faithful cover, cover, cover the earth with God daily. Seeing with Father God again the absolute Goodness He sees in His Creation yesterday, today and tomorrow. And we end our prayer with Gratitude for - all of God's Love and Word is True.

And that is our Prayer Plan. And this is a pleasure, You say God is God's Joy - God and to us - His Beloved.

Thank You for Rain in Texas. Reign of God. Your Word is Truth

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

John 6:40 ~ Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life

John 6:40

For it is My Father's will
that everyone
who looks to the Son and believes in Him
shall have eternal life,
and I will raise him up at the last day

Romans 5:8
God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2
4 Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5 made us alive with Christ,
even when we were dead in our trespasses.
It is by grace you have been saved!


Because of the established purpose of God's Plan, we must look at the entire world as each person, God would willingly save.

Many people wonder if God loves them. The people who spend time wondering about Father God's thoughts, have God on their mind. And in their heart and soul. A seed of Jesus' parables is growing.

I recently had a talk with someone who wonders if God loves them and almost all their life has expressed Love for God and wonder. In my prayer life, I have had a 'knowing' of what I know. God loves this person very much. This is another person who feels cut off from religion and tired of people supposing this dear soul to require work. And as I assured this dear soul of the certainty the good life and kind heart is very pleasing and acceptable to Father God - Love bloomed. A soul glowed. All posture and thoughts changed to being a glowing Light. It's the guess work of opinion suppressing the Light of Christ Jesus.

The assurance of Father God's love encouraged the response, "I know that. I did Know!"

Joy. Pure Joy.

God's love crowds out the gloom, the meh, the wet blanket. God's Love causes Light, Joy, Love, Peace.


What does God have to say for all of us:

Luke 1
"go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of 
the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine
 on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet
 into the path of peace.”


The Joy of "This Little Light of Mine" is for us all, who love Jesus, the understatement of the millenniums!!! The wonder of allowing this Light within to be appreciated and admired is to adore God dwelling within. Comforter. Yes. God explains. Understands. Displays His Mercy.




Our Loving, Loving Abba!!!

We ask Jesus to go with us to pray. Opening our hearts to Jesus, displaying all Your Mercy.

Psalm 22:9-10
Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb; You made me trust when upon my mother's breasts.  Upon You I was cast from birth; You have been my God from my mother's womb.

We celebrate Your Word is Truth. Romans 1 says we have an understanding within us of God's Mercy. And even in polls, we see most people believe in Your Heaven. Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Jesus “has put everything under His Feet.”

Father God, You raised Christ from the dead. Thank You.

In fact the dead are raised. Thank You.

Christ has been raised, Your Love has given us faith. Thank You.

Because of Jesus we are still in Your Mercy. Thank You.

Those who have fallen asleep, who are in Christ, upheld safely and joyously. Thank You.

For this Way, Truth and Life - we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most blessed. Thank You.

Thank You!!!




Father God please dwell in us and those we Love. Please increase the Holy Spirit by sincere invitation, we ask.

Father God, in Your Parenting and Love for us, be in the prayers of the faithful cover us daily. Father God, You delight in Your Beloved Children. Delight in us again yesterday, today and tomorrow. Forgive us when we are weak, when we are wrong, we are sorry for all the ways we are frail and determinedly wrong.

We ask for health all through out our bodies, arms, hearing, seeing, and the heart You give us. Speak Your Word of Life, Thank You. Guide us to completion in new endeavors, we ask. Surround us with Your Loved Ones.

Love and bless the hearts, souls - Life for those we Love. Guide, Lead, Protect and Nurture. And the people You have given us, we give Blessing to in Jesus. For employment pleasing to You. Neighborhoods giving You joy. Cities, Churches and our Nation. Knowing You cover our lives with Your Word. Covering the world. Empower those knowing Your Love to be able to give witness to Your Love.

We give You Thanks for Your Plan. Enable us to fulfill Your Plans. Thank You when we cannot, we know You are God. God You are God of Love, Encouragement.

Your Way is Mercy. Thank You.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

James 2:1-7 ~ My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus and the Money Changers

James 2:1-7


My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.

3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

The War on Jerusalem, by Francesco Hayez 

Psalm 50
The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

We have always said in our blog Scripture for Today, God forgave the people who crucified Jesus and Jerusalem was sacked at 70 A.D. Surely God would not undo the work of Jesus to heal and build up these people. However, 70 A.D. was a new generation. Jesus was still being blasphemed in the Sadduceen Council, you can see these Talmudic records still in Scotland today. He was dishonored. Still being dragged into their court, still being declared to have had a fair trial. His Mother Mary still being defamed. The advice of Gamaliel disregarded.

Acts 5:34-39
34 A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men[a] to be taken outside for a little while. 35 He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re going to do to these men. 36 Not long ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about 400 men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his partisans were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following.[b] That man also perished, and all his partisans were scattered. 38 And now, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” So they were persuaded by him.

The Temple became more corrupt.

These steps had 13 Contribution Steps. This ended where Women could enter the Temple. Jesus witnessed the poor widow but her coins here. The trumpets made noise to "show" alms and prevent theft.

The inner area of the Temple contained three courts. The easternmost court was the Court of the Women, and it contained the Temple treasury where people donated their money (Mk 12:41-44). Three gates led into this court, one on the north, one on the south, and a third on the east. This third gate on the east side is almost certainly the "Beautiful Gate" that was mention in Acts 3. A fourth gate, which was much larger and ornate led from the Court of the Women west into the Court of Israel (women could proceed no further), which was elevated 15 steps higher than the Court of Women.

The 13 Contribution Chests (Trumpets)

According to the Mishnah (Middoth 2,5) the Women's Court was was just over 200 feet square between bounding lines. Each court on the outside was 60 feet square. The colonnade ran around the court, and within it, against the wall, the thirteen chests, or 'trumpets,' for charitable contributions were placed.

These thirteen chests were narrow at the mouth and wide at the bottom, shaped like trumpets. There were actually eleven treasure chests of the Temple for the voluntary offerings of money, and then also two at the Gates, for the half-shekel tax.

Their specific objects were carefully marked on them. Nine were for the receipt of what was legally due by worshipers; the other four for strictly voluntary gifts.

Trumpets 1 and 2 were appropriated to the half-shekel Temple-tribute of the current and of the past year.

Into Trumpet 3 those women brought turtledoves for a burnt / sin offering dropped their equivalent in money, which was daily taken out and a corresponding number of turtledoves offered. This saved the labor of steps and allowed modesty of those who might not wish to have their offering publicly known. This trumpet, Mary the mother of Jesus, dropped her offering (Luke 2:22,24) when the aged Simeon took the infant Savior 'in his arms, and blessed God.' 

Josephus records a unique history of the The Court of Women! This curved staircase of fifteen steps led up to the Nicanor Gate (m. Mid. 1.4; 2.6). According to Josephus, this gate was larger than the other nine gates (being fifty cubits high with doors forty cubits wide); its doors were supposed to have been made of Corinthian bronze (War 5.201) and it took twenty men to open and close it (War 6.5.3; 293). The Levites would stand on these steps when they sang the Song of Ascents (Pss 120–134), The doors lead to the Court of Israelites, where only ritually pure Jewish men could enter (Ant. 15.11.5; 419). 

According to Josephus, during the Roman attack on the revolutionaries who had taken refuge in the Temple, the Nicanor Gate opened of its own accord after having been closed and bolted [War 6.5.3; 293-94].)

God was indeed finished with this Temple. When God, who is slow to anger, takes vengeance, He does not take it twice; it is not needed.

Nahum 1:9
What do you plot against the LORD?
He will make a complete end;
trouble will not rise up a second time.

Notice with me, our New Testament Bible is written while the Temple is operational. Paul writes of the sacrifice being offered daily in the Temple. These men who walked with Jesus in awe and wonder were giving up their lives before the Temple was done. Not written four hundred years later. Ryland and other papyrus show us the Word is exactly what they wrote and when. Enduring 400 hundred years of persecution to bring you the Bible in your hand today. The sacrifice ended at the natural lifetime of Jesus.  God never wrote us of the end of His Holy Temple. Jesus instead told us to build. Build ourselves into the Temple of God. Well worth remembering. The God of Love.

2nd Century A.D. Capernaum Synagogue


The Pillar reads the Son of Alphaeus, the son of Zebedee, the son of John. Later century.


James was not lightly expressing an option, he grown up with Jesus as his brother. James gave us 5 chapters on what he learned. Jesus did not push the wealthy out. Peter and Andrew were very well to do according to the size and placement of their home - next door to the Synagogue. Matthew was a wealthy tax collector. Jesus felt that God sets color, class, careers, social status and even, Simon the Zealot's, political motivations aside. God is not anti-nepotism - James and John were sons of Zebedee (listed as a Synagogue contributor, perhaps later family). We find Herod's higher ups contribute to Jesus. Acts finds this to be true too.

Aerial of Peter's house, in Capernaum, before the unattractive building was placed over it in the 1960s.

Our Abba,

We ask Jesus to pray with us.


Psalm 138

I will bow down toward your holy temple
    and will praise your name
    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
    that it surpasses your fame.
3
When I called, you answered me;
    you greatly emboldened me.
4
May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,
    when they hear what you have decreed.
5
May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for the glory of the Lord is great.
6
Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
    though lofty, he sees them from afar.
7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
    with your right hand you save me.
8
The Lord will vindicate me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever—
    do not abandon the works of your hands.



Father, we thank You for Your Word about the Holiness of Your Plans. We feel encouraged to
know Jesus Boldly.

Jesus could move not only mountains, but clear 36 acres of the Temple. Our God is Mighty to Save.

Psalm 138:3
On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

Our Father God, You answer prayers and strengthen us.

Your Armor and Word of God is Power and Strength.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him,
and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.



We invite You, our Father God to dwell in us and those we Love. And in the prayer we increase the Holy Spirit by sincere invitation, we ask.

Father God, in Your Might, the prayers of the faithful cover, cover, cover the earth with God daily. Father God, we delight with You, again, the absolute Goodness You see in Your Creation yesterday, today and tomorrow. We ask for health all through out our bodies, arms, hearing, seeing, and the heart You give us. Thank You.

Care for those we Love. Guide, Lead, Protect and Nurture. And the people You have given us, we give Blessing to in Jesus. For employment pleasing to You. Neighborhoods giving You joy. Cities, Churches and our Nation. Knowing You cover our lives with Your Word. Covering the world.

Your Way is Strength. Thank You.

Father delight in us as You did in Creation. We love You. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 1:67-80 ~ Tender mercy of our God

Luke 1:67-80

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

And we all like to see friendly faces and be greeted. God does things differently than we do. God believes His Self Esteem is God. And He is not taking votes.


Exodus 3:14
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am."

Yahweh.

Why did all the millenniums from Moses until John the Baptist want the Messiah? And why did Herod and rest of Jerusalem fear when the Magi asked to see the new baby King? God fully and completely decides His own Plan. Our Hope and Future. Paul said in making plans, "I will see how it goes with me."







John's father has demonstrated the art of not sassing the Lord. He has been a priest questioning the veracity of an Angel of the Lord in front of His Altar. And we find as the Messiah is explained, the priest has found God's overwhelming Mercy. God has swept up Zechariah in doing God's Plan. As many in the Scriptures lived revealing God's Power in creating circumstance.





God is Father. He is telling the world through Zechariah's Joy of God's Plan.

1 The Lord God has visited His People.
2. The purpose is our - yours - mine - redemption.
3. And to be saved.
4. The Tender Mercy of God fulfills old, old, old promises of His Word. Longed for.
5. To give Light of God.
6. To walk - the way of peace.

Let's renew within ourselves seeing why we want Jesus to dwell within us.

To fan the flame of God.

Hope lift, Faith dwell and Love given to us in Joy of the Lord.

And how long would this take? 3,000 pages. The Disciple John said the books of all the world would not explain all of the Awesome Wonders of God.

And let's enter into a journey in this. Every time we pray, let's plan on several things.

1. We ask Jesus to join us in praying. Jesus our mediator and Savior. God Himself.

2. We remember Gratefully something God has told us of the Glory of God seen in Jesus, the Bible and His Promises.

3. We invite God to dwell in us and those we Love. And in the prayer we increase the Holy Spirit.

4. We end our prayer rejoicing with Father God the prayers of the faithful cover, cover, cover the earth with God daily. Seeing with Father God again the absolute Goodness He sees in His Creation yesterday, today and tomorrow. And we end our prayer with Gratitude.

And that is our Prayer Plan. And this is pleasure to us and to our Father God.





Our Abba,

We ask Jesus to pray with us.

We give You thanks You tell us the Presence of the Holy Spirit when we pray together. Telling us this is wonderful and effective prayer. The Love of those agreeing in prayer.

Father we invite You, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to make a home and dwell in us. Giving You the Glory for this prayer circle You have created. We ask You to live in those we Love. We are increasing Love.

Father God, we are affirming in this prayer - I am a Child of God. God dwells richly and lovingly within me - His Child.

We ask you to cover our needs with Your Good Will. With the Highest Name Jesus Christ. Knowing You are God of Love. And in covering us as Your free gift of Jesus' Love, You give us the free gift of forgiveness of our sins. Your Grace is unearned. Jesus Your Son is Your Beloved Gift to us.

We cover those we love with Your Love and tender mercy. And dwell with Joy and Hope in Your Love.

We lift up the prayers of those who have asked for prayer with us. Remembering with awe Your answers over the years. Knowing sometimes the answers show up astonishing us later. We give Thanksgiving for Edward's cysts are benign and will just remain. And lift up my left arm for healing perhaps before surgery Tuesday or after.

Father God, we cover our employment with the Name and Hope of Jesus each day showing us Your Willingness in dwelling in us. We lift up our schools. We lift up those who risk their lives every day for their communities. We lift High our Churches to be Your Glory. We lift up our Nation and the news to be held Firmly in Your Compassionate and Capable Hands. We rejoice in the communion of saints - the prayers You have with Your faithful sweeping across our world. We Thank You for Your Creation and see You find Your Works good Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Thank You for Your Love and Good Plans for us in Jesus.

Thank You, Abba, for Your Good Will and Love. Covering us all. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †