Psalm 97 ~ be glad

 

Psalm 97

1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; 

let the many coastlands be glad!

2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him

 Righteousness and justice 

are the foundation of His throne.

3 Fire goes before him 

and burns up his adversaries all around.

4 His lightnings light up the world; 

the earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim His righteousness, 

and all the peoples see His glory.

7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,

 who make their boast in worthless idols; 

worship Him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and is glad, 

and the daughters of Judah rejoice, 

because of your judgments, 

O LORD.

9 For You, O LORD, 

are most high over all the earth; 

You are exalted far above all gods.

10 O you who love the LORD, 

hate evil! 

He preserves the lives of His saints; 

He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light is sown for the righteous, 

and joy 

for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the LORD,

 O you righteous, 

and give thanks 

to His Holy Name!

2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him

Verse 2 gives us a new way of seeing winter skies.

When I was a child I spake as a child and drove my mother to distraction over the Nativity Set. The angel in our Nativity Set looked like my father's mother. I was very young and my mom would find me with that angel in my hand - she didn't want me to play with this because it was clay. One drop and grandmother/angel/clay would be over. Nativity Sets were my Thing.

My mother had a lovely Nativity, but as I grew into being an adult and married, she wanted the Grandmother, Mother-in-law clay angel.  After my mother died, her caregiver asked me what I was going to find first. I found Grandmother Bit's angel. And this little clay angel has survived 5 decades.




Which leads us to this:

If the Shepherds saw the Angels - why didn't they describe them? Where they Tall? Evidently, there were a lot of Angels. And how did they feel, seeing all the Angels?

And you know, Scripture repeats and repeats -
until something catches our ears, hearts, soul and we are warmed like Jesus traveling lively to Emmaus in Victory.

The actual Path John the Disciple took to the top of His mountain on Patmos, where John chose to live.




We know people who have met the same type situation, and wanted to talk about this.

John said this:

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true Light, which gives Light to everyone, was coming into the world.

We have seen His glory, 

glory as of the only Son from the Father, 

full of grace and truth.

For from His fullness 

we have all received, 

grace upon grace.

Peter was also in the presence of the Kingdom of Heaven Hosts. And he explained in:

2 Peter 1

you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 So I will always remind you of these things, 

even though you know them 

and are firmly established in the truth 

you now have. 

 I think it is right 

to refresh your memory 

as long as I live 

in the tent of this body

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you 

about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 

in power, 

but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 

He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him 

from the Majestic Glory, saying,

“This is my Son, 

whom I love; 

with Him 

I am well pleased.”

18 We ourselves heard this voice

 that came from heaven

 when we were with Him

 on the sacred mountain.

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, 

and you will do well to pay attention to it, 

as to a Light shining 

in a dark place, 

until the day dawns 

and the morning star 

rises in your hearts. 

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 a

s they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

We credit Peter with making so many mistakes, we draw comfort. When Jesus spoke of Bethsaida, He said the hometown of Peter, Andrew and Philip in that order. The most minute Word of Jesus is inspiring, warming, gracious and Loving. Peter is not all that bad - he tells Jesus and Moses and Elijah in despair of what to say, in fear, - "Let's put up tents!?"  Peter is inspired, he is right. When we find faith. When we have the moments where we have reached the Truth and are in faith - we want to stay - we want the assurance. The comfort is God stays. We can grow in the moments we find Jesus in our souls, we see and feel and know His "Love, Joy, Peace, Steadfastness Diligence, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control." 

We have this in us and we know we grow and mature and these moments stay with us always.

Abba, Father,

Jesus Bless us, we ask:

Jesus Bless us and Keep us

Jesus make His Face Shine upon us

Jesus be gracious to us as always.

Jesus lift His Face and smile upon us,

Jesus give us Peace.

His Peace.

Jesus cover us in His Highest Name.

Jesus Bless us always we pray:

Jesus, please, for ourselves,

Jesus, please, our Loved ones,

Jesus, please, our Communities,

Jesus, please, our neighborhoods,

Jesus, please, our city and county,

Jesus, please, the People You have Given us.

Jesus, please, the Nation.

Jesus, please, strengthen the world asking 

and praying with You in Abba.

Increasing the Peace of the Believing world 

- Light of Christ spilling to all.

Joy in our daily Life believing the Word and Promises of You.

We Thank You. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus

You are God 

Luke 1:57-68 ~ the time came

 

Luke 1:57-68

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John."

61 And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name."

62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.

63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John."

And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" 

For the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 

 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, 

for he has visited and redeemed his people"

Jesus told people He had come for the Sheep of Israel. We also know the sheep seeing the Heavenly Host were calm enough upon seeing all of Heaven singing  -  the Shepherds left to find Jesus.


Now, indeed indeed indeed - we are mixing Thanksgiving, Christmas and the Preparation.

We are in a day of Preparation... everyday!

Zechariah is a communicator. To this very day.

He is a Rabbi and all know he has encountered something of Heaven while in the Temple. And his older wife is successfully given a son. Zechariah is mute and now they are making signs to him as if Zechariah is deaf. The sheep of Israel are displaying being sheep. Life is hurrying past. Yes - it's a miracle child - a son. Sure, yep, an angel visited. Something is wrong with the Rabbi - make signs. These are the people who have taken time to show up for this miraculous birth. The Sheep have not taken time to consider the events all the way through. They have a snapshot and are ready to roll on.

Zechariah is a communicator, a teacher, a Rabbi. Zechariah writes what is important. 

"His name is John." No time is wasted on reproach. The question is answered. Zechariah is mute on the day his son is born. We know suppressing emotion (frustrations of being mute, wonder upon Elizabeth's health) can lead to Hostilities. Zechariah is at terms with all that has occurred. The Teacher is the Comforter and solution is the - step that arrives next. The Problem is Solved.

Zechariah is given 'his voice' back.

Did Zechariah consider his words and the right solution presented? We are not told the emotions leading up to the miracle of restoration. We know instead the actions. Just as the Story of Luke 1 and Luke 2. Emotions are secondary. Actions are first. And we find healing occurs.

The Joy of God with us has crowded out - emotion.

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, 

for He has visited and redeemed His people"

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

And All His Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

God with us.

Being a Sheep of Israel by adoption of Jesus - this Chapter reminds me, we can blunder making signs at a hearing Rabbi and we are still given the Miracle. Father God does not withhold from the uninformed, the mistaken, the busy or the naive. We are Given the Miracle. We are Given Jesus. God is not First Prize takes all. God is the Shepherd who is looking out for the least of us. The little lamb wandering around is not to be forgotten.


Even seeing Zechariah writing down, "John." The Mercy of God permeates all of the events. Blessings are Everywhere. Even to those who need the Blessing pointed out to them. We all need a few pointers.

Abba, Father

We are so Glad You are God. 

Thank You for Being our God. Thank You for Jesus

We look to You for Your Willing, Lavish and Abundant Blessings. 

Help us each day to walk in Your Good Works 

knowing The Blessing of Salvation is a Gift.

Gift this Nation trusting in You to know Your Love and Good Pleasure. 

Bless us, we ask, during this Holy Season. 

In ways we could not even know to ask or imagine. 

Being Blessed to know this Prayer is Yours 

and goes further with You.

Bless the people 

Especially those knowing to ask with the Holy Spirit 

for more Heaven upon earth. 

Help us to seek You first.

Covering this day 

and all those we Love 

with the Name

Love

and Salvation 

of Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You, Lord Jesus

You are God 

Luke 19:1-10 ~ And behold

There is a tree in Jericho, preliminary tests say is many, many centuries old. Like the Abraham Oaks of Mamre, the Oak tree was re-seeded and re-planted. Some say this Sycamore tree is that important 2 millennium mark. Others - not so sure.

Luke 19:1-10

 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 

2 And behold, 
there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 

4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was about to pass that way. 

5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to Him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 

6 So he hurried and came down and received Him joyfully. 

7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 

8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 

9 And Jesus said to him, 

“Today salvation has come to this house, 

since he also is a son of Abraham. 

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Joy is the great explanation of God's Plan. John 14, 15, 16 and 17. Joy.

People ask, did Jesus laugh. I believe Jesus laughed when He said, 

"Turn the other cheek."  Not just asking to be slapped, but turn away and be at peace with one another.  In other words, "Drop it."  

Perhaps, maybe, possibly, and just wonder with me.  Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God, walked on water because He had such Joy.  Jesus said, "Rise!" Quite a lot. Jesus could cast all the momentary irks, pains and sorrows and just rise over it, knowing the Lord God Almighty

Luke 4, as Jesus merely walked through the people He lived with in Nazareth for decades.  They wanted to throw Him down 1,000 feet off of Nazareth's Cliff.

Luke 4:29-30

And they rose up, and cast Him forth out of the city, 

and led Him unto the brow of the hill 

whereon their city was built, 

that they might throw Him down headlong. 

But He passing through the midst of them went 

His Way.

Luke, was a Greek Physician. Luke did not travel with Jesus during His Grace upon Grace years, as a Disciple.  And yet, these verses are told as if Jesus was giving a dinner party and giving Grace upon Grace with Joy.

Jesus would begin to tell about His Day:

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

And the Disciples and women traveling with Jesus would smile or laugh. Why?

Quite a few of the Disciples have traveled with John the Baptist and display some pretty interesting discussion questions with Jesus. They have been looking for God. Asking and seeking.

OK, the Disciples and women traveling with Jesus would smile or laugh. Why?

The test of God to the 40-year-Exodus to finally achieve Israel was to head to Jericho first.  Because Jericho was not supposed to be the stopping point. This was the first time Joshua, and not Moses, was leading them. 40 years in the desert and stop in Jericho. Jericho is considered to be the Oasis of Israel. A land of milk and honey.

Out of Egypt, I call My Son.

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

So the Disciples were ready to hear more of Jesus - telling them about His Day.

And Jesus tells about a small man, who climbs a huge tree they probably know in Jericho. A very large tree.  The smiles surround the thought of the small man climbing the large tree. And... this man is a notorious Tax Collector. Even funnier.  Tax Collectors aren't a funny situation.

Jesus fully knows the man because He saw Nathaniel under the tree praying. The Disciples know Jesus, they fully understand. The disciples bear witness about these things, and have written these things, and we know their testimony is true. 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. And Jesus calls him Zacchaeus.

And Jesus comes to his house. Bringing the gift of Salvation for always, forever and many days.  Even when we have been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the Son.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Isaiah 40:26

Lift up your eyes on high and see: 

Who created these? 

He who brings out their host by number,

 calling them all by name, 

by the greatness of His might, 

and because He is strong in power

 not one is missing.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus

You are God