Calmess

Closeness 

Connections 

Conversations

Compassion 

Commitments 

Cooperation 

Comforting 

Completing

Correcting 

Concentrating 

Can do

Callings

Ceasing 

Creating 

Cultivating 

Culturing

Climbing 

Covering ground 

Covering your bases

Coasting 

Coming home 

…

Life is Carrying Out Your Calling.

Cooperatively. 

Amen 

.

Carry your cross in cooperative calling.

Carry out Christ in connections.

Carry out Christ in compassion.

Do no complaining.

Do no comparing.

Cover ground for you.

Make no comparisons to others.

Carry on…

Yes, Lord, I love to roam.

I also love to be home.

With You, Lord, love is the norm, You are my HOME.

.

Traveling, I love the gift of a new sight.

And with you Lord, I appreciate the “It’s alright.”

I bless You with my praises with every flight.

.

And since You are in every place.

I can be comforted as I run my race.

I love You Lord, Your Mercy and Grace. 

.

So now I see You, Lord, in each grass turned green,

Spring springing beautiful into summertime glean.

Fall and winter and all, thank You for putting me on Your Team.

.

Thank you Lord for my roam, my meeting new people and also for being home.

Life we live because You give.

Thanks for the life being on the love team.

Amen

It’s a glorious, sunny day and easter feelings continue not to mention the beautiful flowers that have sprung this time of year, it’s “greening up”… (and oh yes, yesterday I started my month-long regime of allergy medicine for the BIG pollen coming soon, the tree pollen.)

And resuming wonderful walks, I couldn’t help but think of the amazements of Easter and the spring springing… Life is coming alive. And on this wonderful walk maybe my neighbors don’t realize the hilarious visual, the juxtaposition of their giant skeleton halloween decoration, which remains up, still wearing a Santa hat, now surrounded by springs finest blooms… Imagine this giant skeleton now being chased and imaginingly being run over by the brightest yellow forsythia, yellow daffodils and white and pink hyacinth, and greenest of grass coming up between it’s toes. LIFE OVERTAKES DEATH. Life will scare the death out of you, and it will never return…

In HIM was LIFE, and the LIFE was the LIGHT of men. And the LIGHT SHINES in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

There’s nothing compared to the roar of spring bursting onto the scene, except the ROAR of JESUS coming back to LIFE and the quiet humble entrance roar of Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. The lamb may have been slaughtered, but the lion of Judah surely reigns.

I may have written about this giant skeleton previously, because it does look familiar to me, of a puppet of death not able to think,  it’s plastic anyway, being used as a prop, but LIFE is LIGHT, the darkness would never be able to understand and will NOT win out.

Jesus saves. No one can take you out of Jesus’s hand. In jesus gives everlasting life. Death has lost its sting.

Okay, time to get that allergy medicine and get my walk in… Everybody keeps shining the LIGHT and know LIFE will scare the death out of the world and forever more.

Amen

John 1:1-34 NKJV 

The Eternal Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John’s Witness: The True Light

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Becomes Flesh

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

A Voice in the Wilderness

Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”  He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?”

And he answered, “No.”

Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The Lamb of God

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”

And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

Wishing you the most glorious of Easter’s best – the knowledge of Jesus in Salvation. Easter Resurrection is Everything… Hallelujah

---

Eagerly 

Anticipated 

Savior’s

Triumphant 

Easter 

Rising 

.

Resurrection 

Easter 

Savior 

Undoes

Rescues 

Rectifying 

Empowering 

Christians

Triumphantly

Immanuel 

Overcomes 

Necessarily

.

Amen

Happy Easter!

HE HAS RISEN INDEED!

---

John 20 NKJV

The Empty Tomb
Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord
But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

The Apostles Commissioned
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Seeing and Believing
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

That You May Believe
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

A poem for Holy Thursday…

. .

It would be best, I do not jest,

To pray for others, us and the rest.

.

Reserve a SPACE FOR GRACE,

To FORGIVE others in place.

.

Moments of life,

Sometimes bring strife.

.

Our attitude of gratitude, 

Is actually like a beatitude.

.

Blessed are those who give GRACE.

Who re-gift forgiveness with time and space. 

.

Let our hearts carry a new beat, like a new life pacemaker. 

Christ-like, in forgiving, let us be His PEACEMAKER.

.

May we all know God’s Grace, 

Then share it in THIS PLACE. 

.

AMEN 

—

Matthew 5:1- NKJV

The Beatitudes

And seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Believers Are Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

In the Road to Emmaus, Jesus kept walking, 

Jesus could TALK while He WALKED.

In the Road to Emmaus, Jesus kept talking, 

Jesus could WALK while He TALKED. 

.

In the Road to Emmaus, the disciples kept walking, 

The disciples could LISTEN while they WALKED.

In the Road to Emmaus, the disciples kept LISTENING, 

The disciples could WALK while they LISTENED.

.

At end of the walk,

Jesus could STAY, Jesus could SHARE.

At the end of the walk, 

the disciples could SHARE, the disciples could GO!

.

At the end of the sharing and walking, there was going and sharing. Jesus has us coming and going. Jesus has us going and sharing. Jesus has us sharing and understanding. Let us walk worship into understanding…

Understanding. 

Amen 

I appreciated the scripture email this morning from my Bible Gateway subscription, I also appreciated, during this Holy Week, it is Old Testament prophet Isaiah recording God’s good Word about the Messiah coming but already accomplished His Goal:

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:5-6

Isaiah writes in old testament prophecy, before Jesus was born on earth, in verbiage past tense because God made the plan and the plan was perfected of a perfect person in Jesus – well before we were born – and from before the beginning of time. God already knew our way of sin – our transgressions – our birth into Adam and Eve’s sinful state – and knew of our need for a Savior. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, gives us the Peace that He was pierced for – His wounds – by His Stripes we are healed. We do have the ONE peace we have – Jesus. That is a thoughtful Tuesday triumph this Holy Week – God got the job done – the war won – before the battle even started.

Life, therefore, should be lived in the present – knowing the past and the future are surely under God’s control.

“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” David Bowie

Down time last night was so necessary for me after a very blessed busy day at the science meeting – including re-seeing a friend first time from over 35 years ago – we were young in an early lab setting as undergraduate workers – time flies but our 10 minute recap of each of our lives proved the statement by David Bowie – life is not boring.

Also in the day was much networking, random interactions that blessed my time, and again delicious food provided in this bubble of scientific blessing – including the talk of the day – the visit from the therapy dogs – so cute.

My downtime last night included a completion of the HBO documentary on David Bowie’s last 5 years – as a singer and artist – and icon and aged time traveller – the fast train lifestyle that David Bowie lived in the 70’s yielded a reclusive lifestyle in the early 2000’s – and his cancer treatments and illness were hidden until the days he released his last album and passed away 2 days later. I loved remembering the love that poured out – and yes the videos and songs “Lazarus” and “Blackstar” spoke to me as coming from someone readjusting and realizing his mortality and God’s gift of immortality. Imagine now, David, that where you – where we – are going is not going to be boring – not in Heaven – not in not Heaven – not in earth now – not ever. 

NOT BORING…

If we could gather any strength from this Holy Week Thoughtful Tuesday, let it be from realizing Jesus making a Way where there was no way. Let it be known that Jesus died for all – those who have not yet met Him but will – those who will not believe Him but might – and those who KNOW – KNOW that He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors – FOR OUR PEACE...

Peace be with you today and always…

Amen

—

Isaiah 52:14-Isaiah 53

Just as many were astonished at you,
So His visage was marred more than any man,
And His form more than the sons of men;
So shall He sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths at Him;
For what had not been told them they shall see,
And what they had not heard they shall consider.

.

The Sin-Bearing Messiah
Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
And they made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.

---

Who Knew

3 months after Christmas, Time Flew

And now SPRING – we are starting ANEW

And we pay we can say, in faith, WE GREW

.

An image of a new green sprout – 

Really that is what life is all about – 

Green and bright – strong and all right

And Spring takes away the dreaded winter doubt.

.

So let us start a new path

A new shoot, a new graft.

Let us look at the Lord and say WOW

Let us look to Him and say AND HOW!

.

So truths are abounding

Jesus is surrounding

Life is rebounding

And the scriptures are resounding.

.

Spring is Sprouting ANEW

Let us know “Winter, we are done with you!”

Let us all hear and view.

Let us let Jesus’s voice resonate through!

.

AMEN

By Faith not sight 

Walk knowingly without fright 

Sometimes HOLD TIGHT 

Then fight the good fight 

.

By SIGHT things are confusing 

Beware of folly even if amusing 

Decisions are about BEST choosing 

So do right by God by listening with FINE TUNING

.

Be the one holding your refilling cup.

Walk with head down but CHIN UP.

You know it’s dangerous to grandstand, but NEVER give up.

God will lead, so BY FAITH look up.

.

By Faith not sight 

Heaven is our home 

Yet Earth we must roam

So be able to wait for the Lord for HIS LIGHT.

.

And decide to be alright. 

. 

Amen 

A continued recipe to strengthen us – from Heaven. We are to be strengthened by the knowledge that God is the one strengthening us – that He is guiding us place to place and even when we stay still – and He, our Lord Almighty, is guarding us – our hearts and our steps. For this we are to be thankful and to step carefully and to return to Him – going WITH God.

We continue from St Patrick’s Prayer – the middle part – more strengthening and arising. A recipe to remind – because when we see the majesty of the creations of the Lord – how can we not also realize that He cares for and strengthens us…  We are an amazing part of His creation – a VERY GOOD part.

Part 2 of St Patrick’s Poem:

I arise today –

through The strength of heaven, The light of the sun, The radiance of the moon, The splendour of fire, The speed of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of the sea, The stability of the earth, The firmness of rock.

I arise today –

through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s host to save me From snares of devils, From temptation of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near.  

(to be continued tomorrow – stay tuned or read ahead on the attached prayer)

AMEN

I appreciate pick-me-up phrases like:

“You Rock !!!”

“This is your season!”

“Keep your head down, but your chin up!” (wrote this one myself)

and

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”

OH!!!

The last line there is scripture not just a saying – and scripture IS Jesus – the Word Made Flesh – so Jesus says He is FOR us! Really, could we be more blessed than that? WOW!

Jesus, YOU ROCK!

Jesus – IS the Rock – our Savior and Salvation – and some amazing friend too.

I came across a “YOU ROCK” figurine as I walked into a new moment at an old place – I appreciated it many ways including that when I had walked out the back door of the same place, the last piece of paper that I saw was a placard I had made that said: “YOU ROCK!” Seemed not eerie but cool – and I smiled…

“YOU ROCK” is also “YOU, ROCK, You Jesus are my Rock – my foundation and my security and my hope and my step”. Yes, Jesus is all that. The firm foundation of a life of faith is not to be ignored or underplayed or taken for granted – it is our faith which gets us through – it is HIS FAITH in us which comes from the Holy Spirit expressing praise through us to the Holy Hope we have.

And when we are down and out in worldly situations, we are to remember WHOSE we are – we are children of God – and blessed to be – and not to take a self-righteous swagger but to hold onto the righteousness of the Lord “righting” our situation, “standing us back up” in His Strength, not ours. I was the one who combined: “Keep your head down but your head up” meaning keep you head down and don’t be a rabble rouser or sour note – don’t be a troublemaker for trivial things nor put yourself out there to be lopped off and discarded – keep your head down so you live to live another day – AND “keep your chin up” is a classic saying which means don’t get discouraged – don’t be glum – be optimistic… 

Romans 8 scripture from Paul has more of those great “pick me up” sayings like:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” – “who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”

“Jesus has made me free…”

“And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness”

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons [children] of God”

“you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.'”

As children of God, we are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ”

“if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

“we were saved in this hope”

“all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

“we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us”

“neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”

NOTHING SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“So keep your head down but your CHIN UP!”

YOU ROCK!!!!

AMEN AMEN AMEN

—

Romans 8 NKJV

Free from Indwelling Sin

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.  And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Sonship Through the Spirit

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

From Suffering to Glory

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

God’s Everlasting Love

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Perseverance Pep Talk Poem

I should surely seize

Every opportunity to be on my knees,

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, yes, geez.. 

“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord”, PLEASE. 

.

Today I start a new day to PRAISE,

Awareness of Him to RAISE.

WALK IN THE LIGHT THESE DAYS.

Blessed opportunities even in trials, Oh to only Him I gaze.

.

If we only knew,

How TRIALS are TRAINING, TRUE!

Perseverance will get us through.

And this surely I can attest to!

.

Let us take Your Guidance Lord, let us not gawk.

Let us come to your Word and further our walk.

Help us to believe, not just talk the talk.

I will wait upon the Lord, then WALK. 

.

Thank You Lord for this pep talk!!!

.

Amen 

.

Psalm 27:14

Wait on the Lord;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!

.

“POC” – it’s an acronym that has lots of possibilities. 

Point of Contact 

Proof of Concept 

Point of Contention 

But how about Power of Christ?

What is the Power of Christ in our lives?

POC

Power of Calling 

Power of Caring 

Power of Concern 

Power of Continuing on…

POS 

Power of Salt?

Point of Salvation 

Proof of SHINE 

Possibility of Surrender…

POWER 

Prevent our worry each rest 

Pluck out water entrenched rescue 

Pause over what everyone requests 

Point out with enthusiasm righteousness 

POWWOW

Pray Oh Wonder While Often Walking

Pursue Only Wondrous Worship Over Woe

Partake Of Willing Work over Whim 

Power Of Witness Will Offer Proof 

Amen to the Power of Christ 

WOW WOW WOW!

God’s creations and our appreciation – that’s the Mote Aquarium visit of yesterday’s day 4 Florida vacation – WOW WOW WOW – BEAUTIFUL beyond imagination…

Our trust in God and in each other… that’s the amazing trip to the circus – the AMAZING Sarasota circus – WOW WOW WOW – even especially seeing the amazing skills and strength of the performers. WOW.

THE TRUST THE PERFORMERS HAVE FOR EACH OTHER AND IN THEIR CREW, WOW. AND WOW SURELY THEIR TRUST IN GOD TO GET THEM THROUGH. WOW!!!

WOW. If we can trust swinging in the air, surely we can trust God Who made the air!

The aquarium showcased so many of God’s amazing creatures from playful otters to shy octopus, from silky smooth rays to spiny sea urchins, many of which I touched, and liked touching the starfish, it felt real and really alive… The dedication of the staff is a microcosm of how God trusts us to take care of His creation. If God can trust us with His world, surely we can trust God Who made the world. 

And as for getting around this week, now did I put my trust in the airplane pilots and trust in the boat captain, trust in my friend’s driving and trust in the cybertruck, which self drove half of our trips down here. Well, if we can trust technology and human nature, to a point, even trusting that it will fall apart at times, then SURELY WE CAN TRUST GOD, Who picks up the pieces in the world and of the world. 

TRUST is the WOW WOW WOW of living. Trust God today!

And as I close this vacation, flying out this morning, I will trust in the Lord for everything, and THANK the Lord for my generous friends here, and for His generosity for my free time.

If God takes care of the birds, surely He will take care of us.

Amen 

Proverbs 3 NKJV

My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.

Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.

My son, let them not depart from your eyes – Keep sound wisdom and discretion; So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake. Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

“DON’T OVERTHINK IT”

“Don’t overthink it” they said at the training I attended yesterday – which means “Let go and let God” – which means let the Holy Spirit show you the way – which means “His ways are above our ways” – which means in a prayer for discernment: Don’t over scrutinize. 

I know it’s a universal scripture, but it pertains to me in quite unique ways, right at this very moment. (Yeah WOW I see God moving things around in my life, which is a BE STILL moment)…

A poem:

Don’t overthink it.

Don’t overblink it.

Let go and Let God.

Don’t think God as odd.

Follow the Spirit 

Believe it and hear it,

Actually Believe Him, Love Him, 

(3 in 1 is Him of Them)

An abundance in life, 

Over pain or falsehood or strife, 

Is listening to Him,

Over any whim.

Including when and what to begin again. 

Amen amen 

So, I wrote “don’t overthink it” on my hand, Actually wrote a lot on my hand for I havent for a while, but the reminders and scripture were paramount, and I took a photo before I washed it off. “Don’t overthink it”  and also wrote a repeated reference to the best scripture of my day/week/month: Luke 5:47 “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Yeah, a rephrase on my hand that I wrote: with God ALL things are possible… YEAH…

Discernment is part of our blessing using God’s Wisdom. Discernment is hard using just our human instincts. Discernment of His Plan over our plans is just plain hard when we don’t let God work His Plan – not that we can stop God – but we can fail to realize God is saying: “Hey, I’m working here!” Let us let God be God and us NOT overthink it. 

Amid my cutting and pasting of the actual scripture, I realized that it was immediately before my “life verse” which I often fail to comply with, Luke 5:38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” YES LORD I WANT TO COMPLY, WITHOUT ALWAYS ASKING WHY…

YES. WE BEST ask God to use us, or at least try to see how He is ALREADY using us.

Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live…

So, in DISCERNMENT, let us yield to the Lord with His Plan over ours (over mine). It’s not that He doesn’t include me, include us, because He certainly DOES, it’s exactly that He is USING US IN His Plan. Many times He only gives us info one day at a time, so let us refresh listening each day.

As for me? It’s best I commit these scriptures to memory, because my hand has to get washed, and because God’s Hand and God’s Word is sufficient (and never returns to Him void).

Thanks Lord for this pep talk (again).

Amen 

Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

—

Isaiah 55 NKJV

An Invitation to Abundant Life

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Incline your ear, and come to Me.

Hear, and your soul shall live;

And I will make an everlasting covenant with you – the sure mercies of David. Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people. Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you shall run to you, Because of the Lord your God, And the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you.”

Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

“For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

My friend just showed me a photo of her new young cousin. As well as showed me a 40-year-old photo of her sister as a baby.  Amazing striking resemblance. Her sister is passed on now – like 30 years – a tough cancer that had taken her too young. Yet this new baby cousin brings my friend the sweet memories of her sister all while being the unique person she is.

Likewise I am spitting image of my grandmother. People tell me I even sneeze like her, LOUD. Plus my daughter looks like me so much that I call her my mini-me. The hair and the face – there are characteristics that one can recognize even if we are very unique in ourselves.

I wonder how God envisioned this for us – that we have strong enough DNA to express face characteristics and body types – and yet the mixing and matching of chromosome rearrangements during meiosis over the generations give us uniqueness – and add on top of that our personalities – yeah that is an independent expression in us – including that LOUD sneeze of mine – a LOUD yawn too – of that feels so good.

God made us in HIS IMAGE – He probably likes looking at us and smiling at the resemblance and yet it is not looking in the mirror at Himself but looking at how He expressed His creation into being – I believe that we carry His Spirit because He told us that He instills that into us but also because I feel it – He is in us and we are in Him. Solomon would right that God placed eternity into each of our hearts – and that is where I find my mind wander even if I know my steps are to be one day at a time. And worry? Well, if we are to be most God like – we need to stop worrying about the things we can’t change because God can change things – at least He can bring things to fruition over eternity if He doesn’t choose to change something today. We just have to wait it out – we just do.

In eternity, I am hopeful to meet my grandmother once again – as well as my great grandparents and whomever gave me my DNA – and my sneeze – and my yawns. And I long to see God face to face – to see Jesus and feel Him holding me – to once again see a renewed spirit in myself and to see how God re-reconstructs us for an afterlife family reunion. Oh the Love – and wow God’s Sprit which is LOVE will prevail in being expressed in our spirits and we will understand God’s waiting and His LOVE – Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Imagine in God’s Image how He sees us – He sees us HOME – He sees us HIS – He sees us as more than just a warm fuzzy of faces – God wants to see His Eternity in our hearts. God waits and endures all things – and God watches us as His come HOME.

Amen

—

Ecclesiastes 3 NKJV

Everything Has Its Time

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

The God-Given Task
What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.

I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.
That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past.

Injustice Seems to Prevail
Moreover I saw under the sun:

In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there;
And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there.

I said in my heart, “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked,
For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.” For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth? So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

—

1 Corinthians 13 NKJV

The Greatest Gift
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

My Dad set aside some coins for me, now vintage  like me, like this set of my birth year, in a bag with my name “DEBBIE” on it with big block letters. These coins are not super rare or valuable, but because they were set aside, they are PRECIOUS to me. My Dad set aside for me, for sentimental remembering and for worldly value too, but the most value to me is the sticker where he wrote my name himself, he took the time to set it aside and to direct it to me.

Our Heavenly Father also has and will “set aside” – set aside not necessarily worldly things but “set aside” you and me. Yes He sets us aside from worldliness. Our God, names us as His. We are set aside uniquely and for forever.

Our Lord will also call us with a new given name, revealed to us in Heaven. We are set aside by name. 

Our Father Who Art in Heaven will greet us there too. We are set aside by LOVE. 

On earth as it is in Heaven, our Lord Jesus has shown us the Way and tells us we are His, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” We are set aside as His.

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish...” We are set aside for forever. 

“neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” We are set aside and not forgotten. 

We are set aside for PURPOSE.

We are set aside BECAUSE WE ARE CHERISHED.

The Truth Shall Make us Free – WE ARE SET ASIDE BECAUSE OF GOD’S TRUTH IN US.

Let us TRUST in GOD.

AMEN

—

JOHN 8:31-36 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

—

John 10:27-28 KJV

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

—

2 Corinthians 5:12-21 NKJV

Be Reconciled to God
For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Today I ponder that Ash Wednesday snuck up on me – it is already LENT? Well tomorrow… How did that happen when Christmas was less than 2 months ago – or am I counting that wrong? No, truly I still have Christmas candy all over my table – at least the Halloween candy is long gone…

But really – if I think of the Christmas season less than 2 months ago – how can I even fathom that I also forgot about my Christmas mindset too! I was pondering back then – Luke 1-2 of how Jesus came – and how He started His work – and now we have to think of Him walking to the cross? Time flies – and so does the life frenzy…

But we condense time mentally too, it was thirty years before Jesus walked to the cross 

2 months ago in a devotion I said something about finding peace in pondering the Lord: “Today I ponder a Christmas Jesus – it seems that the only break from stress comes when I ask the Lord to calm the Christmas commotion in my life – it really happened 2 days ago when I was in a frenzy and just prayed and just calmed down… Returning to the Lord gave me peace back.”

That was 2 months ago and now I can’t even remember what that particular frenzy was, except that I know it was Christmas frenzy time – enough said! 

Now, I feel that tapping into our peace of purpose is paramount in pondering Lent – it is not that we rush Jesus to the cross – but that we need to slow down our stress in these days,  just like when He Jesus Himself stopped and prayed…

I wrote 2 months ago at Christmas that: “our knowledge of the Almighty Amazing Forever Hope – Jesus has victory – we best pause in that praise and ponder…” 

So yes, we recognize the Christmas Jesus because we know the Easter Jesus – we know why it was and is important for Jesus to be Jesus. We feel the pain of the Lenten Jesus and hopefully know the HOPE of the Easter Jesus.

Let us attach to OUR Easter Jesus – OUR Lenten Jesus – OUR always Jesus, now and forever…

Amen 

A poem of P’s for Peter

.

Perhaps passionate is a particular for Peter, he is passionate in his personality and purposes. 

Peter was Simeon and snagged sea creatures in success but Jesus summoned Simeon to be more, to be Peter, passionate Peter, to pursue people. Peter became the pitcher of plans.

. 

Peter at a Passover party proposed a pushback to the problems Jesus proposed but Jesus saw stuck Simeon saying that, so said “get behind me Satan”. Peter pitied his own self. Peter’s sword picked up a fight painfully. Then on the night of the pursuit of partners of Jesus, Peter positioned himself pushing back, in the polar opposite of his proper place. Peter fell to pieces. But the posted poultry protested presently and Jesus peered painfully at him. 

.

Peter paused and Jesus pitied. 

Peter pained.

Peter powerless.

Peter was Peter.

.

Peter glimpsed then the Plan.

Peter pushed past people who peered into the empty earth pocket. Where perhaps was Jesus?

Peter was particularly pursued in Presence and purpose for Risen Jesus’s Passionate Pledges: “Yes, Lord, I love You.” 

.

Peter had to learn place, piety, and where to place his purpose.

.

Peter’s passionate pleas pursued a plethora of Jews and Gentiles on the planet, people of the Plan, pieces of the puzzle.

.

There’s proof in the pudding, Peter’s powerful pleadings were the passion not passive power that pursued. Peter said we have become a priesthood not for pride but for prayers and praise. 

.

Pleadings Pledges Place.

Prayers and Praises.

Thank you Peter.

Praises from Pilgrims, Preciously Purified, Prophetic for Peace.

Amen

Amen 

1 Peter 1 NKJV

Greeting to the Elect Pilgrims

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

A Heavenly Inheritance

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

Living Before God Our Father

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

The Enduring Word

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because

“All flesh is as grass,

And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.

The grass withers,

And its flower falls away,

But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

---

Reading Psalm 90, I am reminded of my frailty and our frailty – and yet our strength – gifted by God. We are amazing bodies – and yet we do run out of steam…

I was surprised (even though I should not have been) at how TOUGH it was to get my trash cans out from the embedded snow and ice – wow – plus they were full of junk that we had tossed in for 2 weeks while not being able to get them to the curb due to the snow and ice and them being stuck – I put it off – but this week made the effort and dug them out – whew!

In doing so, I remembered that I was grateful that my friend, who acknowledged her frailty, moved into single living apartments for seniors last fall – before this classic winter of snow and ice. She and I had discussed her issues with these trashcans – which are taller than some people I know – and that the smaller ones were not yet available – and wow yeah – nearly impossible to deal with if you didn’t have the strength. Even the cans themselves crack and lose wheels in the rough handling of the trucks – it is a price we pay for throwing stuff away – and for accumulating too much of it ahead of time too…  That is who we are – we just do – me too…

Frailty in us is such the reminder that God is NOT frail – God is forever – and God is God – from everlasting to everlasting. And time passes so quickly that we should ask the Lord to number our days – and that we are just a short time on this earth like every person: “In the morning they are like grass which grows up: In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers.”

So we pray compassion from our Lord – we pray “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – and we pray for ourselves and for others that “we may rejoice and be glad all our days! Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us…”

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.

Yes Lord, establish the work of our hands – and bring us strength for the lives we lead (and for the trash cans too).

Amen

—
Psalm 90 NKJV 

The Eternity of God, and Man’s Frailty
A Prayer of Moses the man of God.
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

You turn man to destruction,
And say, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it is past,
And like a watch in the night.
You carry them away like a flood;
They are like a sleep.
In the morning they are like grass which grows up:
In the morning it flourishes and grows up;
In the evening it is cut down and withers.

For we have been consumed by Your anger,
And by Your wrath we are terrified.
You have set our iniquities before You,
Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.
For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;
We finish our years like a sigh.
The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knows the power of Your anger?
For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Return, O Lord! How long?
And have compassion on Your servants.
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!
Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us,
The years in which we have seen evil.
Let Your work appear to Your servants,
And Your glory to their children.
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.

It is never too early to start thinking about Vacation Bible School – and this year (for one of my church families) we get excited about the most recent Group Publishing kit: Rainforest Falls.

Here are the amazing bible lessons and scriptures – amazing bible messages this year: from Group Publishing – I will dive deeper into them this week…

https://www.group.com/childrens-ministry/vbs/rainforest-falls/

Rainforest Falls VBS (2026) focuses on the theme “Wow, God!” 

Psalm 103:22: “Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom.” 

The five-day curriculum highlights God as Creator, All-Knowing, Safe Place, Love, and Forever.

Daily Scriptures:

Day 1 (Creator): Psalm 103:22 – “Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom”.
Day 2 (All-Knowing): Psalm 139:1 – “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me”.
Day 3 (Safe Place): Psalm 142:5 – “Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, ‘You are my place of refuge'”.
Day 4 (Love): Psalm 136:1 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever”.
Day 5 (Forever): Psalm 115:18 – “But we can praise the Lord both now and forever! Praise the Lord!”.

Key Bible Stories & Themes:

Creation: Genesis 1.
David/God’s Knowledge: Psalm 139.
David/Saul: 1 Samuel 23–24.
Jesus’ Love: Luke 22:39–24:12.
Heaven: Revelation 7:17; 21–22. 

Psalm 103 NKJV
Praise for the Lord’s Mercies
A Psalm of David.

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

A friend sent this note about Lent. Because I am away camping with scouts, seems a great read to send!

Others have been asking I know, so this I send to help information flow:

—

From a pastor friend: Parts of which are taken from https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/book-of-worship/introduction-to-the-season-of-lent

“Lent begins [on February 18 this year] with a service on Ash Wednesday. Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo–Saxon word lencten, which means “spring.” The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time for penance by all Christians.

“The First Sunday describes Jesus’ temptation by Satan when following the Lectionary; and the Sixth Sunday (Passion/Palm Sunday), Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his subsequent passion and death. Because Sundays are always little Easters, the penitential spirit of Lent should be tempered with joyful expectation of the Resurrection.

“Ash Wednesday emphasizes a dual encounter: we confront our own mortality and confess our sin before God within the community of faith. The use of ashes as a sign of mortality and repentance has a long history in Jewish and Christian worship, and the Imposition of Ashes can be a powerful nonverbal and experiential way of participating in the call to repentance and reconciliation. This practice is the historic focus of Ash Wednesday observance and gave the day its name. Services usually include imposition of ashes and communion to begin this season of Lent.

“The Great Three Days—sometimes called the Triduum or Pasch—from sunset Holy
Thursday through sunset Easter Day are the climax of Lent (and of the whole Christian year) and a bridge into the Easter Season. These days proclaim the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. During these days, the community journeys with Jesus from the upper room, to the cross, to the tomb, and to the garden. They should be seen as a great unified service beginning with a service of Holy Communion on Holy Thursday and concluding with the services of Easter Day. These services may be connected with a prayer vigil lasting from Holy Thursday evening (or Good Friday) until the first service of Easter and may be accompanied by fasting.” (From The Book of Worship, p. 320-321, ©1992 The United Methodist Church Publishing House.)

You woke me up, Lord.

What Lord do I write?

It’s late or early, I know I know, just write.

Is it a plight ?

Or a fight ?

Or a praise, of course that’s right. 

A praise is a best to write.

.

There are people, Lord,

Who are hurting 

They are yearning 

A faith wants to start burning 

Their minds are churning. 

Your trust You are earning 

Help them Lord, bless their learning. 

.

Lord, how are we to praise more?

You do ask us to explore

How and that You do but don’t keep score,

Foreverness is instore,

For those who know, You do assure,

And for those who ask, You give Forgiveness galore.

So let us draw closer and closer more.

.

It’s You, Jesus, right?

Hello Lord, We pray You to set things right.

It’s a broken world that gives fright.

It’s tough to see and yet easy at times to ignore others plight.

In Your love we walk by faith and not by sight. 

We best pray unceasingly, day and night.

.

I’ll best keep moving, Lord.

So this I do write,

Knowing Your blessing is insight.

I can pick up Your Sword to fight, 

Your Word is Your Sword, setting Truth into a righteous delight.

Even if we are blind by day and night,

You are Lord, today and tonight. 

.

Thank You Lord,

For this praise to write. 

.

Amen

INSTEAD

INSTEAD you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 

I got an opportunity for saying INSTEAD. 

It came from words I did dread.

A change of plans, not planned by you

But fear not, God IS with us, TRUE. 

Life changes and you now are in that INSTEAD.

.

INSTEAD, think of how God doesn’t change. 

Yet we need to think of and live in God’s rearrange.

We might say: “WHY, Lord, Why?”

God says: a new thing you must try!

Yeah, that’s life, even if it is strange!

.

So now what?

Give it thought. 

Be a seeker of a clue not a thrill.

And always say: God, if You Will.

His plan is not for naught. 

.

Our life is but a vapor for a little while.

Vanishes away quickly, that’s life’s trial. 

Oh what a mist.

Oh what we miss.

So cling to what is good, give God a smile.

.

That’s the end of this rhyme.

Stopping before crossing the line.

Don’t fret the next step.

Be His and in His Time.

Then remember in Him, we will be just fine.

.

Amen (again)

…

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” From James 4

AMEN 

—

James 4

New King James Version

Pride Promotes Strife

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

Humility Cures Worldliness

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Do Not Judge a Brother

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. INSTEAD you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

“What are you willing to take a bullet for?” That is the bold question/phrase that sticks in my head from a conference talk given by Michael Card, amazing Jesus-junkie author and singer songwriter. What are you willing to take a bullet for – or a bomb – or even willing to bite your tongue? He said he was willing to take it for the Gospel’s sake but NOT necessarily other causes – he knew to hold true to the Gospel truth but don’t get caught up in the world – to really really think about what you get up in anger for… Otherwise, we are to remember WHOM we work for – God – and we are to be spreading the love and the knowledge of Jesus – acknowledging the Holy Spirit to move us – knowing that Jesus is our Rock (Psalm 18:2). We are to live spreading love and kindness. We are also to be sheltering in God’s love when we do have to step out in danger. God shelters us – we should shelter ONLY in God. When everything else seems shaky – God is our Strength.

I think that in the world today (and forever in the past which had it’s horrors too) that we are to be patient and working in LOVE. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1

I had such peace on vacation – I did NOT feel like I was stepping out into danger when on vacation – I mean there are bad areas everywhere in this world – and we can stick with the touristy ones and be OK – and we can stick with family and be OK. I was OK and I loved being on vacation. I had such peace that I was supposed to be there and to connect and to enjoy and to rest in less worry and more watching.

It was and is surreal to simply be and be on vacation and also be able to know that home was OK and be able to come home. One of the amazing things that I collected on vacation was memories – of family and places – of being in the historic places – and imagining their plights. And connections – I continued to collect new connections to family of old ties.

And one of my cousins sent me a documented memoir of her distant relative – who was in the forced labor for the war machine.

I can’t really imagine war that bad – can only imagine due to stories – because we live in a land fairly peaceful – well very peaceful compared to other flare ups in the world right now – and those in old times – especially in the midst of the WW2 scenes described in this memoir. He wrote of forced labor of men from neighboring countries pulled in to support the axis war machine – info which is easily shared and distributed today but would have been made into a problem during the war itself – if that person spoke up it would have been fuel for punishment and worse.  The horrors of war are imaginable by some and known to far too many. I will include some excerpts of his memoir at the bottom of this blog. Oh how we are best to share love over war – war is complicated and all that. And LOVE is DIVINE – Love is what we need to share and to teach. I can not comment on uprisings and when one becomes a martyr for a cause – it is so very very complicated and there are many many tears. All I know is to keep sheltering in God, He leads.

On my guided tour of a city in the middle of Austria, after visiting the castle, we stopped on the main bridge and I took a quick photo of an embankment’s entrance that was labelled – the tour guide stated that this was an air raid shelter built during WW2 – and built by concentration camp and labor workers chosen for their skill sets. WOW. We did not enter it but I found some info on the web – there were political prisoners (mostly from being inhabitants of the invaded countries) who were forced in these work camps to build up the axis war machine and it was even envisioned that new copies of cities would be recreated in these neighboring countries. The prisoners built this air-raid shelter which now has a “tunnel of remembrance” museum. We did not enter the tunnel but I can imagine through photos. Separately on this trip, I was in many underground locales – including a restaurant that had cellars down to roman-built era stone walls and a water well – covered now – and the underground tunnel cave cellar was used to hide from attacks by the invasions in 1520’s and 1680’s. Yeah – old wars – always part of our history. And sheltering? Always a part of our needs.

We need to shelter today and all days in the love of the Lord – we need to know that God is covering us with His wings even in the midst of tragedy.

My extended family was touched by those unthinkable levels of war – some like my own ancestors left before the wars of their time flared up – left before WW1 even – but some of the family that remained, and many of the people at that time were unwillingly drafted into war preparations and into the political prisoner camps simply because they lived where they lived.

In Europe, the history lessons are immense and full of forever conflicts – uprisings cataloged from the 1600’s to 1800’s were intense and in the 1900’s, less than one hundred years ago, they flared up again, including many people who got taken up as political prisoners like my distant relative but with some local freedoms to live too – a false sense of security – he was forced to work in the north in a factory – these were labor camps but since he was a skilled worker he did not suffer the same cruelties as worse off people of the time. In the memoir, he mentions the work they did was in a former engineering and iron foundry – a small factory – there were other prisoners from his region and surrounding areas that also were highly skilled. They were made to work from 1943 to 1945. He escaped during the 1945 air-raid bombings led by the allied forces. 

He said that “the years 1943 and 1944 passed quite peacefully, worked 10 hours a day and on Saturdays until 1 pm.” They attended local museums and sights and even concerts. He said that near their factory was an old gothic church, where hundreds of people took refuge during the air raid and were buried there in the ruins. He stated that on the evening of the first raids that he “went to the train station to send a box home (it never arrived). In front of the train station, I saw hundreds of refugees, from the East, fleeing from the advancing army. I returned to the camp in the factory. At about 10 o’clock in the evening, there was an air raid on the outskirts, which we watched from the window… planes arrived in two waves. By then we were in the shelter on the outskirts of the factory.”

He got to a shelter – they surely knew war was coming and they built these shelters – and he got into a shelter. Oh may we also know when the horrors of war are coming and get into God’s almighty shelter.

He continued: “We heard the bombs falling near and far, one so close that the shelter shook and sand poured. I sat and waited, shoes on, a light coat on, a briefcase with some food and a razor in my hand. How would it turn out? Some knelt and prayed.” … “It took a long time, it gradually passed like a summer storm. Finally there was calm, we climbed out of the shelter through the damaged entrance. Our four-story factory building was in ruins, the rubble was about two meters high. Everything we had in the camp was gone.” … “After the disaster it was clear that no one would watch over us, so several of us decided to leave immediately. Others stayed there and survived two more days of day and night air raids. We only heard it on the way home.”

OH – ‘on the way home’ – isn’t that the best calling – to be living and walking with the Lord – we are going on our way home and we do see and will see the horrors of the day – but we are to keep walking.

He continued: “We had only just seen the devastation on the street. Caused by fragmentation and incendiary bombs. Time bombs exploded in front of us and behind us. The houses on both sides of the street only had perimeter walls, through the windows you could see everything being demolished – all the floors from the roof had caved in. A water pipe had been torn out on the street, water was flowing. Time bombs exploded in front and behind, but we still continued to the edge of the city. We passed through unharmed, but the sight was terrible.”

I will have to read more of his memoir – but just to summarize – they walked and took trains, met up where relatives were – and just got out of there and went back home.

Thank God – going home saved him and allowed for family to be born after him that allowed me to go back and meet this family – and know connection and know plight – and know sheltering – and know blessings of living to tell stories.

This is where I connect to an immensely powerful scripture in James 1 – to learn and to persevere through trials – and to shelter – and to know – and to wait. and while waiting – do the perfecting that God wants to do in you. Don’t wait and wallow – but wait in perfecting workings in you to have that faith that God wants you to have that He is in control. 

Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting.

And if we have the peace of the moment right now in prosperity – let us remember how rich we are and to not gloat but to remember our fragileness: Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away…

And if we have war or we see war – let us shelter in God’s love and grace and be patient: So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

AMEN

—

James 1 NKJV

Greeting to the Twelve Tribes
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

Profiting from Trials
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The Perspective of Rich and Poor
Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

Loving God Under Trials
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Qualities Needed in Trials
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Doers—Not Hearers Only
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

I returned from my trip, here is a writing that I pre-started while on the trip – about feeding the birds and being fed ourselves.

I did not feed any birds today, but wow, I was certainly fed!!! Wow vacation food amazing, hotel breakfast and dinners and wow amazing food and amazing sugar sugar sugar sugar… and I got some protein in too… and a little bread… I had excess bread and filled my left pocket (and when I got home there were still lots of crumbs in it).

Most days I can and even the day I left, I feed the birds. So on the day I left, train to the plane, I accidentally missed getting off at the station at the airport, oops. So I had to get off at the next station and wait ten minutes for a train to go backwards – I RARELY – well never – do that – but it happens when you are not paying attention… It thankfully didn’t cut into my excessive prep time too much, only 30 minutes, and I made it to security, the plane etc… whew! 

And I had extra bread, so I decided to feed the birds at the station… it made me happy – happier to share… And I imagine the truth of that scripture: if God takes care of these birds, how much MORE He is taking care of us…

And when I got to Vienna, I had extra bread and I fed the pigeons… pigeons are like the unwanted but isn’t it so amazing that pigeons have this beautiful purple sheen to their feathers.  And they certainly get enough food even in the middle of a city. God takes care of those birds… surely He take care of us… and I’m not just talking about food.

Today I did not see any birds, but the weather was bad for birds today, in the tiny town that I was in. I was thankful for my nice boots and also thankful for my warm clothes and I was thankful for the place I was going to and the place I came from – as well as being able to travel to the places in general – with lots of opportunity to be thankful. I was thankful for friends, old and new, thankful for the opportunity to visit, and thankful I had a warm place to return to after a nice tour… and even though I am still shifted in sleep, I know the Lord has taken care of me immensely. I am the bird He has fed today – And yesterday… and the day before – and that He will feed tomorrow.

… and tomorrow after that… And I’m not just talking about food…

Be fed… Let the Lord share His with you. 

Amen

Matthew 6:26-34 NKJV
Jesus said: Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Praise and Prayer are POWERFUL.

Prayers are Powerful but perhaps put off by pride. Pity… please pray!

Pray pray pray. Praise praise praise. 

Parking Spots are PREMIUM, particularly in Prague. I PRAYED, powerful petite prayers for parking peace and placement. After put-off prayer in my pride, it popped up – A PLACE! Perfect position, piled particles (snow) did not prevent, I PARKED ! Proof in GPS (God provided satisfaction).

Prayers for parking gave peace. Prayers were for petrol too, pulled up and out, pleased to putz around place to place. Plane paths were provided, particular plans and participants played out particularly pleasantly. Praise praise praise.

Pleased to put away proudness for humbled praise after some oops of my almost perils. God PROTECTED me. We (I) should make praise paramount. 

Praises place to place, I ALSO saw physical Pillars of Praises!

Praises in Pillars built post-plague (after 1700) prove that people praised and prayed. Prayers have ALWAYS been part of piety, pray knowing God’s Power to provide paths of petition. Especially in plague. 

Pestis and pestilence prevention is paramount, our power to prevent them is pleasing, and our hope through pleading with our lives lived in clean passage, oh we will praise!

They praised and prayed after plague, 1300s-1700s, so surely we can praise and pray before and after ALL problems. 

We have POWER in PRAYER. God is PAYING ATTENTION ALWAYS. 

Amen

—

PS – this is a photo from europe of one cities “Plague tower”… I will provide more photos later of my whole trip, planes trains and automobiles.

PPS The plague Black Death from bacteriun Yersinia pestis started in the 1300’s with outbreaks every 5-10 years, last ones in the 1700’s, at times killed 25%-75% of populations, last cases then prompted pillar tower buildings all over Europe.

From a tourist web page: Plague Column- “The Holy Trinity Column, one of the Baroque monuments of the city, better known as the Plague Column. It was built as a thank you for averting a plague epidemic.

“It was created by sculptor Matthias B Braun and stonemason M Bäumel during the years 1718–1719 and it is situated on Castle Square as a thanks for the cessation of plague infection in 1713. The sandstone Baroque three-sided obelisk is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The decoration features reliefs and statues of plague saints – St Sebastian, St Roch and St Charles Borromeo. Above the ledge of the central section are reliefs and statues of St Hieronymus, St Paul and St John the Baptist, the patron saint of the town of Teplice.”

If there ever was a great message – it is that even just grasping for the crumbs of our daily bread – Jesus – is so worth the pick-me-up…

Here is an old writing I did – still love the story:

Precious story – Jesus and a Gentle woman, a Canaanite, Jesus NEVER refuses the call for Him to provide mercy. Matthew’s Gospel are writings to the first Christian communities – new in their faith…

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15: 21-28)

Mercy, Jesus NEVER refuses the call of Mercy…
Matthew describes the ever-present crush of people seeking Jesus – crushed by the crowds and yet a small puppy of a persistent person catches an eye and an ear… Oh just the crumb of connection… This Canaanite woman would not be brushed off by the disciples, she is smart and very engaging in her direct conversation with Jesus. We need to be that way too.

She has faith that the Lord, her Lord, could save her daughter.  We need that faith too. Even if she knows she is on the outside (a Canaanite to a Jew), this woman is going to try anyway… Persistent – begs for mercy – giving it all she has… that is us too saying “I have to try”… saying “I have to talk to Jesus”… she believes in His mercy… we can too… Jesus takes pity… Jesus says ‘all you need is faith’… Jesus says ‘it is your faith that heals you’…

Crumbs are what the puppies will take… Crumbs at the bottom of the bag, they still taste sweet and are full of flavor… Better a crumb than nothing. Crumbs… the last few crumbs of your hope… a last-ditch effort… try and try – and know your faith will bring you to Jesus’s mercy… We have to try… We have to believe…

If we don’t believe in Jesus, we won’t look for Jesus…

If anyone can help us, Jesus can. Jesus does.
Jesus NEVER refuses a sincere cry for Mercy. Seek Him.

Everyone, no matter what, can ask for mercy. Follow Him.

Ask Him.

I know I do… How about you?

Jesus loves you.

It is interesting to remember and revisit old posts (while I am still travelling and pre-posting) – and this post from 2019 was simply and truthfully about not getting ahead of myself…. Yes – a head of my enemy is my own head and getting rescued by God again and again from getting away with myself…

Here is that classic THANKS GOD post that I could write a thousand times over…

— (AMEN FOR REAL for whatever it was bothering me that time that I can’t even remember now!)

A HEAD OF MY ENEMY, 24AUG 2019

I’m glad to set this devotion down, out of my head. Because I have been thinking about it for weeks…

It is related to a favorite praise song – Defender.

The Defender lyrics speak of God knowing what is best for us and speak about Him going to win our war before we even know He’s gone.

And the lyrics talk about him bringing us the head of our enemy…. So, before you say that is archaic and grotesque and awful, or even if it is figurative – let me tell you my take on it – YES, God will bring you a head of your enemy because most of the time your enemy is your own HEAD. A HEAD of my enemy is me getting AHEAD of myself…

A HEAD of my enemy is me getting AHEAD of myself… 

I do it all the time, I get ahead of myself!!!!

I over think things and I think of things that I should just give up to God.

I need to pray to focus on the Holy Spirit to move me and even keep me still… We all need to focus on the fulfillment of the Holy Spirit’s needs, not ours. I have to stop running to catch up.

I have to be still enough to be caught…

A great sermon reminder this past week was: “what if you are asking for a specific thing but God wants to give you something EVEN BIGGER?”… Therefore, give up your own agenda and let the Lord bring you what He knows you need and He will bless you even more …

Yes…

Defender – You go before I know –

The lyrics ring so very very true and also are telling of the old testament story of Jehoshaphat – God went ahead of him, won His war. Jehoshaphat was told to send out praise singers ahead…  To let God fight your battles and win THE war also rings true for the story of Deborah of the book of Judges, as she told Barak that God had already done the work, all he had to do was fulfill his duty – be the Lord’s…

Us too…

Be the Lords…

Amen

—–

A HEAD OF MY ENEMY, 24AUG – #730

Defender – lyrics

You go before I know

That You’ve gone to win my war

You come back with the head of my enemy

You come back and You call it my victory

—

You go before I know

That You’ve gone to win my war

Your love becomes my greatest defense

It leads me from the dry wilderness

 —

All I did was praise

All I did was worship

All I did was bow down

All I did was stay still

—

Hallelujah, You have saved me

So much better Your way

Hallelujah, great Defender

So much better Your way

—

You know before I do

Where my heart can seek to find Your truth

Your mercy is the shade I’m living in

You restore my faith and hope again

—

All I did was praise

All I did was worship

All I did was bow down

All I did was stay still

—

Hallelujah, You have saved me

So much better this way

Hallelujah, great Defender

So much better this way

Hallelujah, You have saved me

So much better Your way

Hallelujah, great Defender

So much better Your way

—

When I thought I lost me

You knew where I left me

You reintroduced me to Your love

You picked up all my pieces

Put me back together

You are the defender of my heart

—

When I thought I lost me

You knew where I left me

You reintroduced me to Your love

You picked up all my pieces

Put me back together

You are the defender of my heart

—

Hallelujah, You have saved me

So much better this way

Hallelujah, great Defender

So much better Your way

Hallelujah, You have saved me

So much better this way

Hallelujah, great Defender

So much better Your way

—

All I did was praise

All I need to do is worship

Lord I will just bow down

I’m just gonna stay still