Mark 7:24-37 ~ Yes, Lord

Photos are of Tyre and Sidon as told in Ezekiel and the Gospels

Mark 7:24-37

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

27 And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

29 And he said to her, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter."

30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.

32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.

33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 

 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Zealously!!!

How did you get out of bed this morning?

Jesus did something every day just as Jesus did the same thing for the Syrophoenician woman and her child and the many who was deaf.

Matthew 5 - in all conflicts - we decide if we will be Peaceful or escalate to trouble. If you have to pick the Beatitudes - pick the part in the front - to be peaceful. Be at peace with all in your ability. Matthew 5 is very key, very cornerstone, very foundation of Jesus.


Jesus is bringing Peace. Peace begins with Forgiveness. Jesus is forgiving the people He heals. We accept God is God.


And then something is very exciting in God is God.
It's not the regular get out of bed day.

Jesus told us to pray to His Father, "Bring us more Heaven to this earth."

Jesus told us to believe, "The Kingdom is at hand."


We pray for so many things. Things to heal. Opportunities to prosper. Help for our children and those we love and people who asked us to pray. We pray for things to be fixed. We pray for parking spaces and blessings. We pray for health. All the many, many, many things we pray for. We could cover this by saying with Jesus, "I pray for Your Care, You care for me." Peter wrote this in the Power of the Holy Spirit.

And all these prayers would be answered by more of God's Kingdom and His Will done on earth.


Heaven on earth.


Hebrews 11

14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

The Kingdom of Heaven - more on earth. Opening the 12 Gates of Heaven to pour out a Blessing on us as we ask Father God in the Name of Jesus.

33 who through faith conquered kingdoms,

enforced justice,

obtained promises,

stopped the mouths of lions,

34 quenched the power of fire,

escaped the edge of the sword,

were made strong out of weakness,

became mighty in war,

put foreign armies to flight.

35 Women received back their dead by resurrection.

(When did women receive back their dead by resurrection. Elijah healed a boy. So did Elisha. Jesus was teaching 500 after the grave could not hold Him. We are assured in our hearts Mary and His Brothers were part of this. And the Resurrection of the dead told in the Gospels on the First Easter.)




Prayer and Heaven is at hand is a very real concept.

Malachi 3

10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.


Lately, I've seen prayers answered for tear ducts to be healed. Mouth scars to be gone. Immune systems to protect skin. Pancreas to process sugar. Bladder to do it's job. And this is more Heaven on earth. Bringing more joy to all and prayers answered.

Abba, Holy Father,

We ask Your Willing Blessings. Thanking You all things work together for Good for those who Love the Lord and work according to His Purpose.

Jesus told us to Pray in His Name. You told us Father God honors the Name of Jesus above all. We can go to Jesus with all confidence in times of trouble and always.

In Jesus, we bring our times of Victory to our times of struggle and Jesus Himself is the Good Shepherd in all seasons.

May every good thought bless you in Jesus Himself God. May Jesus cover us in His Mercy and Grace.

We pray more Heaven on earth as Jesus taught. We pray this Blessing flows in our lives and cares.

We pray more Heaven on earth for this Nation.

We pray more Heaven on earth for all nations trusting in Jesus.

We pray more Heaven on earth for those we Love. We pray for all of God's children blessing God in their prayers and thoughts and praying more Heaven on earth.

And in Jesus Christ we have filled us all with the measure of God our Father.

To God is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory in Jesus Christ.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Ephesians 4:11-15 ~ measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

Ephesians 4:11-15

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

to equip the saints for the work of ministry,

for building up the body of Christ,

until we all attain to the unity of the faith

and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

to mature manhood,

to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Rather, speaking the truth in love,

we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.


To understand the Fullness of God
we find God will:

Give,
Equip,
Grow!

Creating a unity in the faith

To maturity from speaking the truth with Love.

Grow in every way.


God is giving us a Purpose statement of Life.
                 To know the fullness of God.

A God Given Purpose Statement. Filled with Grace and Mercy and Graciousness; God does not say rudely to "Grow up."

Our Father God is an Awesome God.

Abba,

Each day we rise to find Your willing Blessings.

The Blessings given to us to see in those we Love.

God is blessing our nation. The people seeking Jesus first.

The Christ of the Nations has us sharing international events and prayers. We are seeing more Heaven on earth

Thank Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 2 ~ all the world should be registered

Luke 2

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.


8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." 49 And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Anne Geddes Photography, Delighted Father and Happy Son


When we look at this generation, we see wonderful Good News. The Heart of God, our Father, and His Son, Jesus, is being sought.

Pew Reports 2013
85% of Americans pray Once a Month.
Over 33% report religion plays no part in life choices.
The Church in America was showing a 2% decline annually.

Pew Reports and Lifeway and Gallup of 2017 and 2018
A world high of 55% of the USA prays daily, feels heard and loved.
78% say Jesus Christ is the first of God's Creation and is the Son of God
38% report they believe God in part of all their decisions and consider themselves Very Devote.
Report 1% increases in Church Attendance


We would love to consider what is holding Father God's Heart in us, His Beloved, today.

Let's start with Luke 2. Thanksgiving isn't just remaining in food and food thoughts, Thanksgiving is when we all start considering how Christmas gifts and Christmas decoration are going to be showing the Light of Jesus Christ.

I feel very fortunate Thanksgiving is giving Thanks and being in thought about Blessings from Father God. The Perfect, Perfect, Perfect start to Advent - The Beginning of Christmas. We are even fortunate on Holiday placement. And we could be mindful the United States Congress held a Presbyterian Church on Sundays until the late 1950s.
The Church paid rent and this was fiscal responsibility. Reminding us Thanksgiving was placed before Christmas - by a very specific plan. A Good Plan.

What else would God's Heart be strangely warmed by this generation?

Babies. How many are in the Bible. Oh, exorbitant numbers - babies everywhere. No. Nada. Not. 16 mentions in the Bible. Another version in the Bible records 17 mentions in the Bible.

Consider the babies of Medieval art ~



It's not just babies were painted by commission from priests and monks - without babies. The Church had already won the battle ~ Jesus Christ is fully mankind and fully God. It was because 1 in 5 babies survived. It was not until after serfdom and the plagues finished when children were given a name before the age of 5 years. Babies were a bundle of getting your heart broken. Typically swaddled and hung on a peg on the wall to keep diaper rash avoided - bucket on the floor. And then they marry and move off. This isn't the Jewish method of houses built on houses. Being married at age 15 wasn't uncommon. Why display beautiful infants when you have lost yours? Expect ten years of parenting.

The Renaissance - when people began to name their children and have them painted. Serfdom is put down because we need people to collectively work on food growing and preparation. Literacy is improving. The Scriptures are being printed, known and read. Luke 2 is probably having an amazing effect on parenting.

Now in the Scriptures - before Renaissance - before the New Covenant -
Eli is told, correctly, his sons are criminals and no one - especially God - wants them to continue in the Levite Tradition of being a Rabbi or Priest. Eli is fine with this. Samuel is told his sons are not cut out to be Priests. Samuel seems a little sad and doesn't comment greatly. King Hezekiah is told his sons will never match his kingdom built with incredible faith of Hezekiah, Isaiah and amazing acts of the people building plans to be free to worship their God - seen in Israel today. Easily seen.

And then we participate in the Love as we read Luke 2. Joseph is taking Mary with him to be enrolled. She's "Pregnant". And included. Joseph is there with Mary during all the before and after birth preparations. Joseph is moving Mary in Matthew's Gospel to Egypt. Not shrugging there will be other infants.

Mary and Joseph continue to be very involved with Jesus. The Gospels record the family of Joseph to be very, very close.


When we consider The Great Depression

Centennial Series: The Children's Bureau and the Great Depression

Because home life was so difficult, many youth fled to look for work. These transient youth were not welcomed in the towns through which they passed. Times were tough everywhere, and an additional mouth to feed was a burden. Children's Bureau representatives visited States and spoke with those who interacted with these homeless youth, later reporting their findings to the Bureau. At a congressional hearing in 1933, Chief Abbott made a suggestion: "The experience with work camps in which there is an opportunity for training in a wholesome environment had been excellent. There ought to be opportunity for vocational classes and for work relief in the cities and towns." Her proposal was echoed in the Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Youth Administration, public work relief programs established as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal.

Results from the Bureau's study of unemployment during the 1921 depression indicated that economic struggle caused mothers to leave the home for work and children to leave school for work. The same trend held true during the Great Depression, and a breakdown in child labor law enforcement occurred. The Bureau published more than 30 reports on child labor conditions. Studies indicated the number of 14- and 15-year-old workers in the shirt industry had spiked. Thirteen-year-olds were working in Pennsylvania coal mines. Another study revealed that children younger than 11 slaved over piecework in their homes, earning less than $.10 an hour. In December 1932, an emergency conference was held regarding the Depression’s impact on child labor. The Bureau's focus on the effects of economic strife on children and families laid the groundwork for the crucial child welfare provisions in the Social Security Act.


And in this Generation - and mine - we are recognized for the Parenting we want to give.

We warm God's Heart because we want to parent as Jesus was parented.

And have all the relief God gives us knowing Mary misplaced Jesus the Christ of God.



Abba, Father God,

We Thank You for the many Awesome Blessings You willingly daily load us with.

We Thank You for Thanksgiving. And Your Good Plan.

We'd take the Willing Blessing You give us and bless our Loved Ones to be held tenderly in the heart of You,
Our Loving Father God.

We give Abundant Thanks for Your Beloved praying around the world daily for more Heaven on earth. Our cares held by You, caring for us.

We give Thanks for Your Shining Face being Light to our Nation. We give Thanks for Jesus as the Light to nations Trusting in You.

Blessings of Jesus Christ are upon us.

In the Holy and Wonderful Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Jonah 3,4 ~ The Word of the Lord

Jonah 3

1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you."

3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

5 And the people of Nineveh believed God.

They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish."

10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.



Jonah 4

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3

Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."

4 And the LORD said, "Do you do well to be angry?"

5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.

6 Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.

7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."

9 But God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?"

And he said, "Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die."

10 And the LORD said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"

Speaking of the Exodus.

A whale of a time.

Oh the places you'll go - the sights you will see.

What does Jonah have in common with the Exodus?

Jesus was so fond of the Exodus and Jonah - Jesus lived in Egypt and discussed Jonah. As if - gasp - Jonah is REAL. Considering the insider information and Hezekiah's miraculous escape from Assyrian Empire Soldiers - we definitely lived believing the truth when we read of Jonah and believe. (Jonah created admiration for the Jews and obtained mercy for his nation.)


God has told us HE is very fond of His Good Works in the Exodus.

Where He has demonstrated life of His Children is important to Him.

Fulfillment and Freedom come (outside the Church and Temple) and He fights for His Children to have basic human needs to be met. He is a FATHER not a program of rules.

God had the slaves leave with all kinds of gold. God believes in being paid for work.

God knew slaves would be afraid and His Good Works were not just for the eyes of Pharaoh. God was creating a path for the slaves to want to leave things like hail on fire and all the livestock perishing. Red Blood Water. God provided a propeller. The Children of Israel were ready to leave. It was not comfortable.

Comfortable. If you have good temperature, rain and warmth - Fire by night, cloud by day. Where clothes and shoes do not wear out for 40 years - God is making a path. Making Jericho, which was lovely, prepared to pass this up to do God's Plan.

God is a Father and He provides a Path.

God wants His Children to know they are Loved. And to have gratitude - that we would learn the goodness of His Works.




Jonah - sulked. And God did not toss him out. Nor did God abandon His Plans. God was compassionate to the left and the right. His Love did not have Borders.



The Mercy of God in the Bible has no narrator to say - psssst, "This is the part where GOD does not allow His Children to intermarry and agree with infant murder for blood for prosperity on the crops and field."

God says seek God. Seek Him. God provides no narrator to say - pssst, "This is the part where God tells us if we have a lot of children - their livelihood and children and childbirth and comforts Are Very Important To Him."

God says quietly, "THE EXODUS - I want you to have basic freedoms in life and the expectation of owning a home, vineyards to work and to enjoy, farming with a terraced view."

The Commandments Jesus Gave us. Psssst. Love God with all your mind and heart. He is your Father.

Pssst. The Person God places Second is - - - you. You are entitled to speak up. To have Dignity. Compassion. To have hopes of Happiness. God asks us to have concerns for others. Their jobs. Welfare. Hopes. To Love them and help each other. To raise one another up.


God does not tell us to hopelessly seek God. God tells us when we seek to see God - we will. God is not a desperation we must grasp. God is gently in our circumstances. Ever Father.

Our Father is Good. When we have seen Jesus - we know our Father.


Abba Father

The Blessing of God fall on us.

When we rejoice - we are happier.

When trouble in life comes - with You - we overcome.

When we see life multiplied - we Rejoice.

When we see life end - we have Hope with Love.


Your blessing fall on us and the ones we love. Upon the people You have given us.
All over our culture, all over our nation.
Soak is with the Steadfast Love of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

World wide we pray this and have the joy of thinking as we go to sleep -
Our Father God - You - cover the planet with the prayers of the believing hearts.

For the prayers we hold to us so closely. For the prayers of good health.

To know each day - we have opportunity - to have meaningful life - building our soul - to You.

In Jesus Christ. We Love Jesus and Bless Him. Thanking You for our Blessings and asking You to
uphold and heal our concerns.

We abundantly lift up the West Coast for healing and rain. Ending Fires.

Jesus is Willing. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 34 ~ I will bless the Lord at all times

Psalm 34

34 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.


5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!

10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.

14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Revelation 21

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” 

5 And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”


“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way".”
― Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull

1 Samuel 16:7
The Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Romans 5:8
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:16
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Romans 9:15–16
15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

Jeremiah 31:25
For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.

Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.



Abba Father,

We lift up our hearts, souls, mind and body to You. Knowing in You no secrets are hid and all desires known. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, in the Name of Jesus Christ. The Disciple John found and proclaimed, through all of time, finding the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory belong to You, Father.

Prayers are words, we hope to give You our heart as we pray.

Let the Love of Jesus Christ dwell in us richly. And in the Joy of the Holy Spirit open our heart, soul to Your Love. And help us each day to please You. As we rest, to know Your comfort. And as we rise, to see Your Mercies renew.

Enable us to see the good with the Holiness and Righteousness of Jesus Christ, and in being filled, to Praise You with sincerity and abundance. Each day, me we see the Goodness You proclaim over Your Creation. Every day seeing the adventure of Christ in us. Asking to see Your Willingness and rejoicing in this.

Asking You for Your Love, Blessing and Protection. For ourselves and the people we love. Knowing the faithful encircle the world, knowing Your Love. Giving thanks for the Holy Spirit within the Believers of Jesus Christ. Jesus gives us life and is our righteousness. Thank You, Father God.

We pray in Your holy name, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

The Church of Jesus Christ - Thanksgiving

2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful. 
He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

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.”





New believers have in the Word of God, the Bible was written by the people who did not seemingly triumph or live well. Didn't the wicked and evil men - triumph. Really?

History proves the agenda of men passed on and the Will of God Goes Forth.

Monuments today for the political leaders doing the regular leading thing?
Few sculptures of the scoffers. Less interest in their tombs.  Can you picture the government people leading the world?

See Paul's Tomb the Vatican excavated his tomb from the 1930s until the 1960s. Amazing.

The steadfastness of Christ and then the others

Pontius Pilate was so erased in History - we had the idea until the 1960s, he did not exist but recent archaeological records proved otherwise.

Who was the famous man Paul spoke to when the unnamed Sadduceen council arrested our PAUL ? Well if you look up that man, you find in Acts 23, that is Governor Felix. Which man does history honor?

High priest Ananias? His house was found in ruins, at the sack of Jerusalem in 70 A.D; His existence was doubted, as well, until the Talmud Records were found of the Sadduceen Council, for this era of Jesus walking the earth, in Scotland. These record the name of Mary's father. And say they were very concerned about Jesus' miracles and insurrection.

Capernaum.. Jesus' adult home town, picked as a land flowed with milk and honey, on the shores of the sea of Galilee, that town survived and thrived - avoiding war until the 13th century. Capernaum.

The Word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored.
There was no doubt Roman Emperors always win.

The triumph of Christianity is actually a very remarkable historical phenomenon.

Ian Wilson records a letter from a Jewish rabbi, of Lyracanthra, saying it would be the end of Judaism because of the incredible miracles of healing, restoration, life transformation and complete hope. These are letters confirming the Gospels show the Rabbi to be extremely unhappy. Josephus, the Israeli General turned traitor, turned Historian says Jesus was the Christ and his brother James formed the later Christian Church until martyred in 62 AD.

People you might not have heard of - and the world loved - and -yet- we can't place their face.

Trajan (c. 53 - 117) Philosopher Pliny the Younger's letter to Trajan on the subject of the Christians and the response of Trajan to Pliny the Younger. On Early Christian Writings. How to torture Christians to discredit the claims of Jesus Christ.

Hadrian (c. 76 - 138) Foxe's Book of Martyrs -- Persecution Under Trajen...... The forenamed authors, Antoninus and Equilius

Antoninus Pius (c. 86 - 161) Instead of stirring up persecution against the Christians, he extended to them the strong hand of his protection throughout the empire. Rather than give occasion to that oppression which he regarded as inseparable from an emperor's progress through his dominions, he was content to spend all the years of his reign in Rome, or its neighborhood. Under his patronage the science of jurisprudence was cultivated by men of high ability, and a number of humane and equitable enactments were passed in his name. 161 – 180 166 Christian persecution returned - The period was one of ever-increasing calamities. The earthquakes which had alarmed Asia under Antoninus were but the prelude to more serious convulsions. The Tiber rose to an unprecedented height and swept away the public granaries. This was followed by a famine, and that by a pestilence, which spread from Egypt and Ethiopia westward. Everywhere on the frontiers there were murmurs of insurrection or invasion. The year 166 was long known as the "annus calamitosus," and it was in that year that the persecution broke out and that Justin suffered. These calamities roused the superstition of the great mass of the people, and a wild fanaticism succeeded to an epicurean atheism. The gods were wrath, and what had roused their anger but the presence of those who denied them?

Marcus Aurelius (c. 121 - 180) The Thundering Legion incident (174)

During the war with the Quadi in 174 there took place the famous incident of the Thundering Legion (Legio Fulminatrix, Fulminea, Fulminata) which has been a cause of frequent controversy between Christian and non-Christian writers. The Roman army was surrounded by enemies with no chance of escape, when a storm burst. The rain poured down in refreshing showers on the Romans, while the enemy were scattered with lightning and hail. The parched and famishing Romans received the saving drops first on their faces and parched throats, and afterwards in their helmets and shields, to refresh their horses. Marcus obtained a glorious victory as a result of this extraordinary event, and his enemies were hopelessly overthrown.

That such an event did really happen is attested both by pagan and Christian writers. The former attribute the occurrence either to magic (Dion Cassius, LXXI, 8-10) or to the prayers of the emperor (Capitolinus, "Vita Marci", XXIV; Themistius, "Orat. XV ad Theod"; Claudian, "De Sext. Cons. Hon.", V, 340 sqq.; "Sibyl. Orac.", ed. Alezandre, XII, 196 sqq. Cf. Bellori, "La Colonne Antonine", and Eckhel, "Doctrina Nummorum", III, 64). The Christian writers attributed the fact to the prayers of the Christians who were in the army (Claudius Apollinaris in Eusebius, Church History V.5; Tertullian, "Apol.", v; ad Seap. c. iv), and soon there grew up a legend to the effect that in consequence of this miracle the emperor put a stop to the persecution of the Christians (cf. Euseb. and Tert. opp cit.).

It must be conceded that the testimony of Claudius is the most valuable of all that we possess, as he wrote within a few years of the event, and that all credit must be given to the prayers of the Christians, though it does not necessarily follow that we should accept the elaborate detail of the story as given by Tertullian and later writers 161 - 169

Lucius Verus (co-emperor) (c. 130 - 169) with Marcus Aurelius
180 - 192

Commodus (c. 161 - 192) All these who failed to follow the decree were brought to the Senate and were tried. This decree was a forceful attempt to put down Christians completely. But the followers who believed in Jesus Christ refused to accept this and many were ready to face the trial. "The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs" written.

Persecution slows down -

Pertinax (193)

Didius Julianus (193) .

Septimius Severus (193-211) Edict makes it illegal to convert to Christianity; persecution especially in North Africa, ca. 203: Perpetua & Felicity martyred in Carthage (North Africa)

Caracalla (211-217)

Macrinus (217-218)

Elagabalus (218-222)

Severus Alexander (222-235)

Maximinus (235-238)

Gordian I and II (238)

Balbinus (238)

Pupienus (238)

Gordian III (238-244)

Philip the Arab (244-249) .

Trajanus Decius (249-251) 250: Major Empire-Wide Persecution; Christians required to participate in Emperor Worship. Bishop Fabian of Rome martyred; Bishop Cyprian of Carthage exiled; Origen of Alexandria tortured to death.

Trebonianus Gallus (251-253)

Aemilian (253) .
Valerian (253-260) ca. 258: Bishop Cyprian of Carthage martyred
Gallienus (253-268)
Claudius Gothicus (268-270) .
Aurelian (270-275) some persecutions
Tacitus (275-276)
Probus (276-282)
Carus (282-283)
Carinus (283-284)
Numerian (283-284) .

Diocletian (284-305) Major Empire-Wide Persecution begins ca. 303; confiscation of Christian churches and books; arrest, torture, and execution of many Christian leaders. Personally sends troops to Nazareth, the Bishop of Caesarea Eusibius records Diocletian offering clemency to the nephews carefully recording their ancestry to Jesus Christ. All refuse and are tortured and put to death. Diocletian sends troops to Turkey to place the Bishop Nicholas (also known as St. Nicholas or, in German, Santa Claus, in prison.

& Maximian (286-305) Major Empire-Wide Persecution begins ca. 303; confiscation of Christian Churches and books; arrest, torture, and execution of many Christian leaders

Constantius Chlorus (305-306)
Maxentius (306-312) .
Galerius (305-311)
Licinius (311-323) 311: Edict of Galerius: toleration for Christians, allowing them to worship openly

 And Then - History Always Remembers Constantine

Constantine (307-337) 313: Edict of Constantine (Edict of Milan): toleration for all religions, including Christianity; ends persecutions

Constantine's position on the religions traditionally practiced in Rome evolved during his reign. At first he prohibited the construction of new temples and tolerated traditional sacrifices; by the end of his reign, he had begun to order the pillaging and tearing down of Roman temples. The day Christianity officially arrived in the Roman Empire was in 325 A.D. The First Council of Nicaea is regarded as the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church. Invited by Emperor Constantine, about 318 world-wide Bishops (including St. Nicholas), who had risked their lives and were condemned for serving Jesus, traveled across continents and oceans, continued to risk their lives in dangerous travel, to express the basis of the Church today and choose the Books of the Bible.




(* I compiled "Thee" above information and gathered from several sources and paraphrased.)

The triumph of Christianity is actually a very remarkable historical phenomenon. ...

Do not grow weary in doing good

Luke the beloved physician, lived to be in his 90s. He stayed with Paul, the only one, until Paul died.

Timothy, Paul's missionary friend he called a son, was the Bishop of Greece and lived well until his 80s.

Lazarus and Mary and Martha are well documented growing to old, old age on the Mediterranean Shores of France. Not too bad. They had Jesus to dinner in appreciation of His friendship and help.

And a lot of our Scripture exists because we had those willing to relocate to India and Africa.

John lived until history records him vibrant in the 2nd Century.

The Lord is faithful

Generations have called upon the name of Jesus Christ and have been saved.

Fruit of the Spirit...against such as these - there is No Law.

Governments have attempted, in our lifetimes, to restrict access to the Scriptures and the governments have failed; seeing a rebirth of Biblical interest and Churches.

The Word still generates faith, becoming hope, flowering into love.

We are still in the decade proclaimed to be the largest percentage of Christians on earth.

Romans 10:13
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

Abba, our Abba,

We want each day to start with Jesus. Saying Jesus God, please go with me. By the Power of the Holy Spirit - Guide, Lead, Encourage, Teach, Help, Prevail, Equip me with my life today. Enable. Protect. Give Wisdom. We want to be with Jesus. Because on His Path is going to find our Hope, Joy, Faith, Peace, Love.

Jesus is able to do so much more than we even imagine. Jesus is God who fed thousands with less than a meal. We want to live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' To all who did receive Jesus, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God, Who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

We want the Word made flesh to dwelt within us, and we have seen Jesus Glory. Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. From Jesus' fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Not from works, for man to boast. Purely from the Love God has for us. And He became our salvation and righteousness.

We cover all of our cares and people we love - with the Highest Name - Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Matthew 11:25-30 ~ find rest for your souls

 Texas Civilian Navy, Cajun Navy - Helper. Holy Spirit.

Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 


28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

We all have times in life - white knuckled prayer.

And we are familiar with the passage of Jesus promising His burden is light.

How do we combine the ideas of fear, works and Jesus offering rest?


Matthew 11 begins with our answer. John the Baptist is losing his ministry, his life-  he leaves being killed by the king. His life was for what purpose, John the Baptist, wonders. He to die when Jesus is God?

Jesus is the answer. Because John the Baptist has been with Jesus since the beginning of the ministry of Jesus.



The question is one we all face - fear.

Jesus is dealing with the fragility of life. Jesus is not negating the good works life calls for in the Light of Jesus.

Jesus is overcoming the fear.  Most of us have dealt with being impoverished. At any level.

Most young people are impoverished as they begin. Most parenting is faced with limited funds. Jesus is overcoming fear. Jesus is overcoming fear in unwed mothers facing a vast list of difficulties.

Jesus is overcoming our fear of being inadequate. At any age.

Jesus is overcoming fear when we face mortal illnesses in children, friends or the elderly. Fear the end - freedom from fearing the end.

Jesus tells us of what we can't face. When circumstance is overwhelming. Illness. Loss. Jesus is going to carry us. When we are not perfect enough.


When fear is vanquished - we are capable. We have our gifts in Father God when we are released from fear and face life and life challenges. As we grow older, we face more of life - with more confidence.

Jesus has proven we can Rest all of our cares with Jesus.

Because we know Jesus showing Father God's Love - we are able, given the ability to be ourselves and put our burdens down. Life inevitably offers burdens - daily. God allows us to say - we gave our best that day. Any day. Jesus covers ever dot and ever iota - we are not able to fill.  We rest knowing our Savior - fills all. In the overwhelming Mercy of God.




George Muller created more God paths for those without any means. He created Paths. The Prayer Life of George Muller, George felt prayer was all the work of life itself. When he prayed, he said, "Jesus, please." And God would help George Muller.



Father God,

As it is Thanksgiving - we give Thanks for the Goodness of Jesus.

And cover all and all with - "Please, Jesus."

Amen in Jesus, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 91:4 ~ His Faithfulness is a Shield

Psalm 91:4

He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

Jesus is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; Jesus fulfills the Law.  These are the attributes God gives us of His Son.

Love

The Lord God is a God of Love

1 John 4:7-9
7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

Jesus, Son of God, desires
all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all.



These are fine Words of God, how will we put them to our lives today? How can we have this knowledge/assurance?

Timothy and Paul spoke of this as fact.

1 Timothy 3:13
Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Today, when we are not so articulate in the Holy Spirit, we say this with the same belief as Paul, "We know what we know that we are assured, we know."

Peace

And in the Love God has for us we arrive at Peace.

Jesus dealt with His Chosen Disciples feeling unsure. Jesus is very sympathetic to all of our emotions. Jesus slept and then calmed the storm.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Greater peace and solid peace is what Jesus has for the human condition. A good place to be when we pray. The Bible records people often feel anger, fear, discomfort, longing and reasons to pray. God would say this earth is going to pass away for us. He will not. We are meant to grow and to find safe harbor in God. Peace is a gift of the belief God gives us. Jesus is never recorded as being amazed at fear - instead in Luke 7 - Jesus is very pleased and remarks with Joy when He finds Faith. Jesus is The God of Love.

(Jesus does speak with some dismay at finding lack of belief. God is God. Parents act like parents.)

The picture is more a summation of all these words.

Joy

John 15:10-12

10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.


Jesus is telling us, what He thinks of walking forth in this Life.

Jesus is  fueled with God's Love and desire to walk with God in the paths He is for us.

Jesus has told us to be Salt - filled with flavor. And filled with Light. We need to rethink what we picture the face of God expressing. God who desires all the world, all of mankind to be save.

Numbers 6, God tells us what a blessing we have experienced when God's face lifts and smiles.

Psalm 67:1
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

Psalm 4:6
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!

Father God,

You gave us this list of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit and You put Love first. When we realize these three words would put the Father shown as Your Son, Jesus. We have seen You and rejoice.

Thank You for being part and answering our prayers each time we pray. We lift all of our cares and concerns to You - Rejoicing in being heard and anticipation of Your answer.  Feeling the Joy and Safety of our Loved Ones. Resting all of the Believing world with You. Rejoicing in flowing Living Water being the anointing of Love and Faith, flowing on in the Great Love Father God has. Thank You, Abba, in Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †