Mark 14:3-9 ~ the Gospel proclaimed in the whole world

An alabaster flask found in tombs in Israel. Persian era. Museum of Israel.

Mark 14:3-9

3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 

4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” 

And they scolded her. 

6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 

8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

Let's be frank.
Let's be honest.
Let's wonder together.


John's Gospel recounts an episode with many similarities. Where Jesus attended a dinner hosted by Mary, Martha and Lazarus. According to John's Gospel, the meal at Bethany happened six days before Passover. Mary anointed Jesus' feet.

Matthew and Mark report the meal as taking place two days before Passover. Martha served and Lazarus sat at the table. Matthew and John report Judas Iscariot and other disciples of Jesus were in attendance and protested the costly anointing of Jesus.

The Gospel of Luke - Simon the Leper is sometimes identified with Simon the Pharisee (see Shimon ben Gamliel), as the host of a meal during which the feet of Jesus are anointed by a penitent woman.

Efforts have been made to reconcile the events and characters, but some scholars have pointed out differences between the two events. An alternative explanation for the similarities is that the Luke 7 anointing and the anointing at Bethany happened with some of the same participants, but several years apart.

Simon the Leper is also sometimes identified as the same person as Lazarus of Bethany, or identified as his father or brother. This is because Matthew and Mark mention Simon, while John mentions Lazarus, but all four gospels assume one lodging at Bethany during the last week.






Could we answer the differences Biblically? Without a doubt - definitively.

But first a word from our sponsors. Biblical Truth Supported by Historical Documentation Available Today.

And where would we find this documentation?

Polycarp who later became Bishop of Smyrna. Polycarp wanted to record in history what John the Beloved Disciple thought of the Gospels (Truth) of Matthew, Mark and Luke. John is recorded for posterity saying: "He thought the Gospels were perfect and good."

Now if this is Biblical fact - we should be able to back this up Biblically. Yes. Perfectly. Before Matthew, Mark and Luke were read by John, John's (Truth) Gospel said this:


John 21

24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things and owe know that his testimony is true. 

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. 



1 John 1

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 

4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.


When we look at the Life of Jesus we find Jesus finds the colt He needs.

Jesus finds the taxes He needs and Peter's as well.

Jesus finds the Upper Room.

Jesus finds the person He sails to meet 3 times in one day.

Jesus finds Zacchaeus where Jesus looks.

Jesus tells us He always is doing that particular day what God told Him to do. These are not coincidences - This is the Word of God Manifest.



Now we ask what about the similarities?

The Angel of the Lord appeared to Samson's parents.
The Angel of the Lord appeared to Zachariah in The Temple.
The Angel of the Lord appeared to Samuel to tell Hannah. In his Words.
The Angel of the Lord appeared to Mary.

Moses parted the Red Sea by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Joshua parted the Jordan River by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Elijah raised a dead person by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Elisha did many of the same Acts of the Lord God by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
These Acts of God were repeated by Jesus Christ, Manifest Word of God.

When the Disciples went to get the colt, not all of them attended. The Disciples were sometimes sent ahead. Sometimes to other villages to heal and preach the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

When John says the other Gospels are true - John is being honest. The Bible repeats and repeats and repeats and repeats. Why - so the Living Word of God causes wonder and lives where we ask Jesus to live - in our soul.



Now if we repeat this idea - we will remember it more carefully. Study guides say state one sentence three different ways and our memory is set. Father God has the meeting of this woman blessing Jesus and the men wonder. We see - no matter - how - many years Jesus healed the blind, the leper, the deaf, the lame and the poor have Good News - we will always be the Children of Israel wondering if God is going to drop us on our head. Today. Is God God today?

And like Sam eating green eggs and ham - Father God said see we will probably remember this if God repeats this and all the Disciples see a version of this as important.

2 Timothy 3

16 All Scripture
is God-breathed
and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.


The Gospel of Jesus Christ is True. All the Disciples carefully considered their words. Gospel is Truth.


2 Peter 1:20-21

20 Above all,
you must understand that
no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things.

21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.


God explains the Gospel is Gospel.



Romans 4

20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God,
but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,

21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”

23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone,
24 but for ours also. 
It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Father God, Abba,

I wonder if Simon the Leper was one of the ten lepers healed. Lepers lived outside the village, not in homes giving dinner parties. I wonder if Simon, who was uppity, was one of the nine who did not give thanks. I wonder if Simon was the one who gave thanks and then acted like the Children of Israel in the desert - is Jesus Real.

And we believe the Word of God is true and Your Promises will answer these wonders some day.

We believe the Gospels are true. We believe Papyrus 46, owned by the University of Michigan, tells us the complete New Testament was written while the Temple was in operation before 70 A.D. -  not in 400 A.D.

We believe the Dead Sea Scrolls are a Gift of God giving us Historical Fact - the first intact Bible of 700 A.D. is the same as the Bible before Jesus was born. The Word of God is carefully, carefully copied by the Men of God All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

We pray for our loved ones and the people God has given us to have more Heaven on earth and more good works to walk in.

We pray for all Christians, our Nation, all Nations Trusting God.

And ask His Blessing on our prayer requests and to cover us in the Name of Jesus.

Amen in Jesus we pray. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Galatians 5:22-26 ~ Keep in step with the Spirit

Galatians 5

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

When we cook something new, we pay attention to the recipe. We are careful with the directions. And the next few times, we rely on what we did, recalling the recipe. Mistakes are more likely when we know what is what and rely on newbie knowledge.

Our journeys in life are like this. We spent time in Alaska meeting newbie Alaskans, under ten year resident Alaskans and long, long time Alaskans. Newbies are filled with enthusiasm for new experiences. The sparkle is there as eyes survey the beautiful views. The Middle Journey is filled with experience of Alaskan winter, rain, snow, being indoors and life. The need to travel mostly by water or expensive airplane journeys. And then the enthusiasm of long, long time Alaskans.

The views of the people who have lived the situations, the boredom, the communities and the problems and solutions. Tell us all something to learn and appreciate. What the long term Alaskans have found is Love and Joy and Steadfast Goodness.

How do we know this is true. The number of people who have returned to the Rain Forest and have loved the harshness of the physical environment to create communities drawing people to return and the next generation to go forth and return to have families.

We were in Hoonah, Alaska and found ourselves in a line of 3 cars through the commercial environment carefully placed to keep this active, clean and separate from Nature and from residential places. The Dock is new and set apart from the town - creating a place for the Dock to enjoy nature and make the commercial stand out to blend within pristine with pristine Creation of God.

And what we found is 3 cars is a traffic ham in Hoonah, Alaska. Having a population boom last month when 3 children are born and the population is now 763. And our guide is related to Hoonah by marriage and by blood. Be sure to wave, it's family! Our Guide in his 60s is the best representation of his island, his tribe, his family (pointing to his father's job that day) and what has drawn his journey to be long and full.

Joe remembers well when the community decided to put in a zipline just because one man in their community saw a zipline company in Utah on You Tube. Within a year. The idea was weighed and voted. No one counted on 14 feet of snow in Hoonah and 50 feet of snow on the mountain. The project costs doubled to hire local work to move the 50 feet of snow out of the way for the equipment moved to the island by contract. All the work and careful consideration were being snowed into looking very unprofitable. It was a time of disappointment. The project was now shrouded in disapproval. April came and snows cleared. All of the island came to see the completed project. Clear  the views - higher than the Empire State Building. Being called to rise up and see and experience life in a new direction. All the island could see what was done and experience this together. Approval went to 100%.

Joe dealt with the facts. He didn't sugar coat the experience.

What I saw - Joe was appreciative of the process. Every day. Appreciate one person had a dream. Participate in the fact gathering. Preparing in expectation to be a voice to be heard. Loving himself enough to deal wisely with the pull and push of the wild winds and pressures in life. The determination to be present in a community situation of opinions. To be part of the decision made by all. Working hard in unbelievable conditions of 50 feet of snow, helicopters, cables and people doing work they were not totally trained to do while working with the Utah professionals. The town was angry - both the new jobs and the extra expense. Opinions went very strong. To endure and be present for the presentation. And then - in the years to come, the forgiveness of words spoken. The appreciation of human capacity in God to forgive and enjoy.

"There is Donna - wave, she's my cousin!" And of course, Joe is related to everyone on the 1,300 mile island.

Abba,

We open hands and hearts to pray Your Word.

Father God, we smile to remember Acts 20 Eutychus (You teach us) fell out of the window when Paul was too long winded. So we will keep this prayer short.


Ephesians 6
Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord,
will tell you everything, 
so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose,
that you may know how we are,
and that he may encourage you.

23 Peace to the brothers and sisters,
and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

The Blessing of Jesus and His Steadfast Love.
Amen Jesus Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Matthew 20:29-34 ~ Lord, have mercy

Painting by James Tissot - Waiting For Jesus

Matthew 20:29-34

And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" 

31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" 

32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?"

33 They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened."

 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.


Christians love to say following Jesus isn't religion - it's relationship. You have to love this passage - it is what people are today. God in a neat little Tupperware box labelled "What I Think God is Capable of." The label continues with ..... " And I am Right."

I know this is true because we All have this in our lives. It shows up the most when someone goes out of their way to ask us to pray for them. And it diminishes when we truly care for that person and want the best for them.

Why is the crowd out there waiting for Jesus. If you lived during the days of the LORD, wouldn't you have gone to see Him? The Sanhedrin Council records still exist of the Pharisees and Sadducees leaving official gossip about Jesus and his mother. And Joseph. Jesus created a Whole Lot of Speculation.

The crowd wants these men to Shut Up. Why? Remember the Scriptures telling us about the 4 men willing to rip the roof off of Jesus' home in Capernaum? They wanted their paralyzed friend to have the possibility of Jesus. The crowd is looking for dazzling Jesus to entertain them.

Instead Jesus gives them " I am not a religion - I am a relationship." Religion is an image. Jesus ignored the fans and, in relationship, asked these men for conversation. Plainly, Jesus could see. He knew they were blind. He wanted to talk to them. He wanted them to give Him their desires, their prayers.

Isaiah - his response to GOD, The Almighty - was to proclaim "I am a man of unclean lips!" Peter...

Luke 5:8
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

How do the three blind men react? "We Wanna See!!!!" No. "Lord, let our eyes be opened." Milk Toast. Namby Pamby. Weak Willie. Wow. Very careful prayer. They even might have added "Thy Will Be Done." This way, Jesus might think they are happy with deeper wisdom. And they wouldn't be so noticed in the crowd.

Maybe they said it very earnestly.

Jesus doesn't look down from His Higher Authority in Judgement. Jesus is moved. He reaches out to touch them back. And lives are changed.

Jesus. Grace and truth. Choosing to dwell with us. Today.


Because the news is dire. Because situations are out of our control. We can be sure prayer is a good and needed aspect in our lives. When the Assyrian Empire threatened Judah, the people diligently prayed and God answered in a mighty way. Every 500 years, Father God's Holy Spirit does something amazing. We are in this time frame today and prayer is a very good thing.

We can't point personally to all of the good of our lives. We cannot point to our leadership and the economic instability of 30 or even 60 years to own a house and have what the Amish would consider to be entirely ridiculous. But we can always ask Him in Father God's goodness for His help and mercy. God has 12 open Heaven gates and an open policy on prayer.

Father God, even on Thanksgiving, our best prayer to you is, "Thanks." with gratitude and "Help Lord Jesus" when we need that help.

Please bless the two people who asked me for prayer for the desire of their heart, they are very worthy like Cornelius.

Bless our Nation, we need Your help, earnestly. Bless the families who gather to give thanks and have prayer. We have an excellent idea, You will. Thank You, Father, when You see faithful souls through out the Nation, who look to You. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 12:35-44 ~ Shepherd and Overseer

Mark 12:35-44

35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
    until I put your enemies under your feet.”’


37 David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?”

And the great throng heard him gladly.

38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”


Jesus Christ has about 9,000 Titles. Explaining a vast Authority. John's Truth, or John's Gospel explains as the Light of the world existing in all of mankind as part of God's vast Creation.

Peter sums up Jesus he lived and observed and loved and died for - after being human towards.

1 Peter 2:25
For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to
The Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.


The Jews lived in a time where they were registered and accounted. We have all found the internet and social media have made life more 'Registered". We live now seeing many times the theory of 6 Degrees of Separation is informational and helpful.

It's just plain Historical Documentation to be able to see in Scotland the Talmud and the Sanhedrin Council. The Sanhedrin was an assembly of twenty-three to seventy-one men appointed in every city in the Land of Israel. In the Hebrew Bible, Moses and the Israelites were commanded by God to establish courts of judges, they were given full authority over the people of Israel; and the people were commanded by God to obey every word they have instructed and every law they have established.

When they sat down to talk about Jesus, He was quickly placed as son of the living Mary, widow of Joseph (whom they all readily knew as having wonderful lineage of Matthew 1) and of Mary as Heli's daughter in Luke 3. Why we skate past Historical Fact is amazing to me. These records are real and obtainable.



Why did the Crowd hear Jesus gladly on this subject? The crowd knew as well as the Sanhedrin who Jesus exactly was in lineage. God fully and completely covered Jesus as Son of David. There just was no doubt Jesus was of David's Promise. Filled.


And in being Shepherd - Jesus wanted to explain as a Good Father does about money. Jesus was not giving people carte blanche to guilt money out of pockets. Jesus was explaining about goodness and corruption. Why? Just as Jesus is fully covered as the Son of David - Jesus grabs a fish and pays taxes - Jesus believes that the money we have and use is a gift to us by God. If someone wants your house and your household to fall - they are not of God. God wants households to Rise to Real Goodness. Jesus says we are the Temple of God. Behave as if God Trusts you to do rightly. This is real advice of a Real Father God.


God goes farther as Father. If you have given your all to your family, your career, your giving of heart and soul - feel the praise of God upon your soul. God fully recognizes just as David had real hardship and error and His Mercy. God understands where the playing field is really level. God sees success and accomplishment when this is not fully seen. We should never diminish ourselves by failing to appreciate our real successes. God our Father says He sees us entirely and loves our successes with us.


Reverend S. M. Lockridge is very well known for his full understanding of the Light of Jesus Christ in "That's my King, do you Know Him?"
▶ 4:47
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXbGxt7-Occ

Mark 12:35-44 fully rings with the bells of Fatherhood. You are chosen, special, advised, commended, trusted, as "God's Child, do you know this?" God your Father sees your life and He gifts you with His truth, His Words and His approval. Applauding the successes known to you and God alone.

Abba Father,

Thank You for Your Love.

I am blessed.

Jesus is God.

Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 132 ~ favor

Psalm 132

The Lord Has Chosen Zion
A Song of Ascents.

1 Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured

2 How he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 3 "I will not enter my house or get into my bed, 4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, 5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."

6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. 7 "Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!"

8 Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. 9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy.

10 For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one. 11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. 12 If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne."

13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: 14 "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy. 17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine."

I am so very pleased when one Post explains the next. The Posts are generally picked and then find the Scripture - rather a prayerful guesstimate. Or Easter Egg Hunt.

Yesterday we looked at Galatians 3:6-14 - God gave us Jesus to be our salvation because the Law is not Salvation. Per Abraham finding righteousness in believing God.





Father God loves when we know Scripture and believe the Power of God.
We can tell Father God - please have mercy on me as You displayed Your Mercy to Abraham. Believe. The vast appeal of Abraham's life to believe and obey God Himself.

Jesus worked with 11 Doubting Thomas Disciples (minus perhaps faithful John) and Father God worked with Abraham's faith which displayed some gaps.

Psalm 132 is Great and Good News

God Himself tells us David's Hard Life blesses David and us with Father God's Mercy.

God Himself tells us the Law is not Salvation and then tells us He knows the playing field of life is not always level. David knew and mirrors God's Mercy. David was not supported by all of Israel and was actually crowned in three separate lands of Israel until Israel merged and finally appreciated David as Anointed King. David's reaction was completely different from most conquering kings. David embraced and welcomed those who had not been appreciative of former war hero David on the run as hunted criminal.

David melted at the Love God had for David. David was willing to sleep in the Ditch of Ziklag, act as a mercenary, feign madness to escape enemies and marry the daughter of King Saul. David felt God's Love would be the Path. David knew God's Mercy would do more then David asked or imagined. David believed God's Impossible Claim of the Messiah would actually happen.

Good News!

Jesus told us He would not leave nor forsake us.
David's rather awful life of the ins and outs of being anointed as King would hold God's Love and Mercy for David and for us.

Abba, Father,

We Place our Lives in Your Hands.
Believing Your Heart holds those we Love more dearly for their own heart.


Trusting You with those we Love.
Placing Your vast mercy all over this Nation. You know so well.

We pray Your mercy on all the Nations Trusting in You.

We believe more Heaven on this earth. in Jesus.

Your Love on believing Children around the world. 

On cloudy days of doubt, Faith.
Your Love remains - we will live in Joy, Hope and Love.

And in the sun soaked days of Blessing -
We anticipate the Steadfast Love and Mercy. Believing more Blessings.



Jesus commends us to God His Very Heart and Throne of our Father
and to the Word of His Grace,

Your Love and Your Mercy, Father God build us up 
You will give us the inheritance among the sanctified.


Oh when the Saints go marching in, how I want to be in that number!

Thank You, Jesus Christ.
Aaaaaaaaamen

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Galatians 3:6-14 ~ in Christ Jesus the blessing

Genesis 15:5
And the LORD took him outside and said, "Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able." 

Then He declared, "So shall your offspring be."

Galatians 3:6-14

6 Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”

7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 

11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.






Abraham tended to be a little like Peter. Oops.
Oh. Oops again.

We focus so much on what Abraham did wrong, maybe got away with and maybe still the Middle East Trauma is still set in poor fatherhood. A hole inside left to find to fill. The History of Generational Un-fulfillment. Thanks father of nations. Little talked about fact - Abraham married after Sarah passed on. Genesis 21:9-14. According to the Book of Genesis, Abraham married Keturah after the death of his first wife, Sarah. Abraham and Keturah had six sons. Later Abraham decided to pay off the sons to move along and called Keturah his concubine. Father of Generational Need Improvement.


So we did this all over again. Oops. Abraham like Peter tells us - God works and loves and redeems and saves - Sinners.

We Love and Worship and Speak with and Cajole - our Holy Father - our Abba - and He works with Sinners. Thank God. Thank Jesus.




There is something we pass by much too quickly. Abraham was doing something Abba, our Father - just Loves. Abraham had a running conversation going with God. I can picture Africa and all the stars and think of Ancient Israel - Abraham stepping outside in vast, vast, vast starry nights to continue last night's conversation. This morning's conversation. Earnest conversation, doubts, upsets, sin, forgiveness. All the things God, Jesus - Light of the World and the Holy Spirit delighted looking into mankind since the dawn of His Creation.


Abraham Father of Nations.

Why?

Abraham achieved something. Abraham witnesses to us - Abraham changed God's mind. Abraham believed God to be merciful to sinners and he asks for lives to be spared.

Abraham changed God's mind and will - in mercy shown, asked and received.


The 12 Disciples. Just like 12 Tribes. Brothers. Hand-picked. They rather rudely tell Jesus to step up to John the Baptist and tell them how prayer functions for power. Abraham much more generously asks for salvation. Making Abraham credited as righteous in his faith. Abraham - definitely - Father of Nations.








Acts 20:32
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.


Abraham was merciful. God is still our Salvation.

Jesus explains:

Matthew 22:29
know the Scriptures
the power of God



Abba, Father,

We pray Your mercy on us and those we Love.

We pray Your mercy on this Nation.

We pray Your mercy on all the Nations Trusting in You.

We pray the Joy of Abraham on Your believing Children around the world. Expectant Prayer of You, our Father God's Mercy.

We ask more Heaven on this earth.


Thank You, Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 130 ~ You there is forgiveness

Psalm 130

A Song of Ascents.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

Hoonah, Alaska Zipline pronounces easily like Tuna - Hoonah. HURRAY. Really.

Faster than the 55 mph speed limit. Leaping in height above the Empire State Building. Is a life-long memory blessing. This is one of the 5 summer days with Sunshine. Thank Jesus.

Amazing and enduring 150 year old trees.

And this leads us to a Biblical Question.

Why would we Fear God in verse 4 for being forgiving?

Because the soothing phrase, "It's All Good" is just a little too sweet to be real.

If you drive across Rocky Mountain National Forest at 14,400 feet - people discuss more than the bald tops of majestic mountains. It's the tangible fear some people have. You could cough and, oops, drive off. Past the thin little sticks showing snowmobiles the edge. About a minute and a half to splatter.

Oops, there is a mountain goat. 1.5 minutes.
Your driver fell asleep. 1.5 minutes, get it together.
The oncoming driver fell asleep. 1.5 minutes.
The oncoming driver has heart attack. 1.5 minutes.
An RV lost brakes. 1.5 minutes.
The road looked stable, but the tiny little stick fell too. 1.5 minutes.
Oops blowout. 1.5 minutes.
Bad brake job. Your's, mine, other - 1.5 minutes.
Avalanche. Snow, rock, torrential rain. 1.5 minutes.
Argument over car stereo. 1.5 minutes.
Mom, he hit me with the tennis racket. 1.5 minutes.
Deadly fart argument, all roll down windows. 1.5 minutes.
I have a tan. 1.5 minutes.
It spilled on the new car seat. 1.5 minutes.
I dropped the cigarette - about 10 minutes ago - problem. 1.5 minutes
Does that cloud look like Uncle Roy. 1.5 minutes.
Is that our neighbor in the other car? 1.5 minutes.
Look all the license plates are out of state plates. 1.5 minutes.

Feel free to add on Worst Case Scenarios. I feel the need for massive 3 foot rock walls along the Rocky Mountain National Park. Yellowstone - you too. Somehow little sticks do not reassure me. Snowmobile - is that an icy part. Runnnmmm... 1.5 minutes.

I typically opt to be the passenger and do not open eyes much. Asking to drive on the solid yellow line and not stay in the lane unless necessary. We always stay in the lane. I nap.

There is a variable to the outcome. The variation is human in origin. Lives hang in the balance. I have fear.

Now put me on a train called White Pass Settlement. Trail of 98. 3,000 dead horses. Announce to me the two modern train engines and one hundred 100 year old metal train passenger cars are going 3,000 feet up to cross a wooden timber bridge - I can hang out with the bravest.

Today, put me on the world's longest zip line. 40 minutes to climb the Hoonah, Icy Strait, Alaska mountain. 90 seconds to descend 60 mph and I have a great time. The outcome is not really going to have variation. It's as good as if a 14,400 high road had massive 3 foot rock walls - and it should.

I'm not known to travel in Costa Rica where 2 lane roads routinely fall from earthquake, rain and mud slide or just because they were tired of being on top of the mountain. That sounds bad to me. Wouldn't be prudent.

Now, today, we have solved verse 4. God has variations. And this depends on Human Error.

If Father God were always angry and hostile, we could write Him off. We are, simply, doomed. End of the ride.

Instead, we are dealing with Father God. The Father Jesus gave His life to give this Marvelous Father a new Heaven and a new earth. And Father God is not only going to include you and me in His Kingdom - He is going to sort out the Hitlers and the Mansons to make sure He has done His Fatherly Duty. God is Good. I vote for God. His Marvelous Works inspire us to see the Creator.

And I strongly vote not to be the fire weed or the goat with horns 1.5 minutes.

The Promises of God never cease. He will not leave nor forsake us. And with this Fatherly Goodness - we want to be where God would protect us and cherish us. Steadfast Love.






Abba,

For the Life You give - we say Thank You. For the Plans You have for us - we say Thank You.

And You lovingly hear all of our cares and concerns to rest with You.
For those we Love. For the people You give us.
And for the Nation.

Trusting and praising You. Lifting up the people around the world who Love You.

Amen in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Luke 18:1 ~ always pray and not give up

Luke 18:1

New International Version
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

New Living Translation
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

English Standard Version
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.



When we are looking for the Will of God.

It's important to remember our prayer answers and it's good to talk to those who love and remember answered prayers.


Jesus has promised us He will not leave nor forsake us. So we are searching to see God in every day. How do we know God is speaking to you, His child. Sometimes we will suddenly be completely reminded of the past and a memory doesn’t make total sense, yet we are profoundly reminded of the past making a memory stamp on the future. As a random example, as the sun sets we see something like a European Cypress tree in the evening twilight where Cypress trees do not grow.

A Worship Leader was sitting one evening and was suddenly thinking of someone he had befriended, he began to pray for this person. In fact, he was urgently feeling the need to pray for their connection to Jesus and felt that this was a difficult area for his friend in Christ. And as the years went by, he saw this prayer need was genuine. At the time, this seemed like an unlikely prayer need – but he heeded the Spirit of Jesus. And he was wise enough to only ask a few trusted friends to pray with him. Wise not to turn this sudden prayer request into something that would harm.

Sometimes we can have an aroma memory. And any time we feel Father God has prompted us – we feel we have communication. And feel Glorious. We have Father’s Attention – wow, wow and Wow.

Life prompting us to think of God thinking of us. Our every day is part of His Day.
We really can find God and this is good. In the radio. In the movie. For reasons of prayer prayer prayer.


This is fairly new knowledge of aromatherapy as a memory tool. The Book of Revelation tells us Father God inhales our prayers. God does not need us to Laboriously pray all our prayer thoughts. Our God is the Word of God upholding the Universe. Jesus knew what the blind men knew before they asked. God loves the conversation of being in our lives. God’s prayer life is amazingly smooth.

God tells us not to recite prayers as the heathen do. I do pray the Lord’s Prayer so well, probably, exactly as you do – sometimes I realize I’ve handed God the Lord’s Prayer as smoothly as am ice skating event. And then I do the exact opposite of my last paragraph and go back and truly listen to the Word being prayed. When we remember David’s view on Father God’s mercy and Jeremiah’s belief in God’s accuracy and ability to have the Word of God live -when we remember Samuel prayed his words would not fall and God’s Word would be the Strength of his faith. When we remember the mercy of Abraham towards others even at the pain of Isaac and himself - - - we are telling Father God, “Remember the time You…” God is Living Word – He loves the conversation. God loves to know at what warms you to God. How He is so very dear to you.

We can all pray for a good long time, but I’d guess and say the conversational pieces I have over current life, conversations, thoughts and ideas, the past, people and dogs far away – I’d bet God finds this more interesting. Even if He does seem to bless the longer prayers which are more routine. I have been praying for my eyes – Edward’s eyes have no cause to be better in his mid 50's and they are. Edward needs to have fewer headaches and does, but first, my headaches suddenly ended as I felt Father God was telling me these sinus headaches were over. And they have been this year.

I don’t know what effect my arrow prayers on the handicapped I see in life, but really, I feel we strengthen all of us when we pray for people we can see their prayer request. And I used to hand mean ol’ God the offer He could buck up to handle the awful needs of His Children. This was so depressing.


The truth is more glorious.

We are built to handle our lives. And when we nourish ourselves in God – more than usually He is going to overcome the sadness life has. It works like the Alzheimer prayer I repeat and will again. We can live ‘this is so sad’ Dad is ill now and has house slippers on and non-matching exercise clothes with pajamas. Living in a facility. Dad isn’t Dad. Or we can see the relief Dad has being with people who don’t expect him to live in a tie and set of professional clothes he doesn’t want the burden of. We can be glad Dad has a happy look and is telling us his next door neighbor turns out to be his lifelong best friend.

God has always shown us in hardship He has placed strength. We can pray for strength, we can have the audacity to pray for healing. Why would a prayer for wholeness offend God when we believe God is a Willing and Good Father. Who calls us Home to Him and life is forever more?


So I don’t know what happens to the prayers I always pray for Ambulances. I think they are the best of Prayer. The outcome is “Thy Will be Done.” With all the trust in the world that God is God and the outcome will be good. All of the 1980 prayer studies show that the prayer candidate who knew and didn’t know they were prayed for usually had an 80 something percentage improvement over the non-prayed for person. PRAY – it’s God for God’s Business – US.

I have a prayer request. I am praying for my back and Sciatica and diet. I am also praying for my son’s wonderfully loving and tremendously smart and even more appealing Husky – Jackson who was so much better from old age and then sprained his left back leg in the rocks in our garden. Please Pray for Jackson. I’ve seen and lived our cat being hit by a car in 1987, TC (Timothy Cat) living when the Vet had no hope for him but couldn’t put down such an eager, wonderful and loving cat. He found his bladder could function after we gave him time to heal and TC healed with the Mercy of Jesus. We had our dog Merit have terrible, terrible bleeding skin cancers and have remission taking him beyond what Springers usually live. Thank God.

Each of these acts of a loving Father telling us - even the sparrows who fall are known to Father God - require continuous work on the part of the pet family. I am praying for a sustainable miracle with the miracle of a life ended in SUPREME OLD AGE in Jackson’s sleep. And I see no reason to not tell our Father God every little portion of the miracle I’d love to live with my son and Jackson. Father God we really, really ask this Blessing for wonderful Jackson.

Abba, Father,

We have lifted up health and Jackson to You. Jesus told us always to keep praying with Hope.

I love to remember something You have said – to make this Living Conversation.

Jesus was covered front and back with Matthew 1 as Joseph’s Son by Gift of God. Jesus was covered front and back with Luke 3 as Mary’s Son. Jesus is soaked in the Goodness of God.
The man Jesus prayed for who had Living Water placed on his eyes was not left nor forsaken. Jesus took hold of this man again when sight was not clear yet, and Jesus sent him with direction for his life.

We ask You to cover this Prayer with Your Love and Mercy and Deeds of Healing.
Blessing all the people we met on the Cruise and were so very kind to us. 

Asking You, Father, for rain on the West Coast.

Jesus blesses and bless and bless us with His Joy and His Love. Amen Amen Amen in Jesus we get to pray. Amen.

Amen

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Ephesians 1 ~ by the will of God

Gentle Leviathan C'mon Viewing!!!

Ephesians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

 In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,to the praise of his glory.


15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ  

The Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body,
 the fullness of him who fills all in all.



Dear Gentle Reader,

You may have have noticed the Posts are running a bit late. The seas have been at 3 and 4 meters making reading - rather difficult. Vestibular Rehabilitation has made my stomach far calmer than the ocean, and yet reading is rather DiFfiCUlt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ec55_eMlmY

Also not working is the internet's broadband capacity to show you The Wonderful Oceanic Regatta and our String Quartet opening our view to the Hubbard Glacier, larger than the state of Rhode Island, with... Handel's Messiah Alleluia chorus. Causing us all to sing, mouth, and hum like a band of Kazoos. People of God soar with the song. Well Chosen.


On Sunday the Post was the Jesus eating under the Chandelier. Possible. Sure. And on Sunday we were in Sitka, Alaska for the most beautiful weather God has created. Visiting St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church. Where I took a photo of the beautiful Cross on the Chandelier and looked up into the octagon tower sky blue. Causing the Post photo chosen before knowing what was picked - filling my heart with wonder and joy at the Goodness of God. When possible - I will place my photo on the post. So that will be an update.

Abba,

Your gift of Jesus makes all things possible. The Word of God is nourishment.

Bless us this day and always to be in our Jesus.

Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †