WOW – stepping into 1st Kings scriptures, I feel like I finished (with the Israelites) that 40 years of wandering and then 400 years before some real peace. And Peace IS what Solomon’s time on earth got to enjoy – and wisdom – and building…  The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him.

Building – they spent 20 years building – serious labor building – building not just a temple but a people – not just a people but a PRAISE: “But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.”

Solomon saw what his father David had hoped. We get to see what our Father has built thru His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit as His Advocate. 

We are many years after Solomon – but let us not forget what the Lord wanted to build in us, and still does: PRAISE. (and THANKFULNESS). The Lord also wanted to – and did – and showed – that he built us into His Priesthood, His Hands and Feet, His Loved Children. We have Jesus with us now – we were built into a Temple ourselves for Him. For Holding and Sharing His Spirit – able now to hold and share His Grace and Goodness and tell others too.

Reading 2 chapters (1 Kings 5-6), the writings have not even gotten to the temple yet, just the preparations. Not since Noah’s ark and the Ark of the Covenant have we seen such detailed instructions for building. WHY? 

AND here is the WHY: (and not JUST because the Ark needed to get placed somewhere) –  Because God is SERIOUS about building up His people to PRAISE, to LOVE, to LIVE, to WORSHIP. to BE HIS. TO LIVE AMONG THEM. 

The word of the Lord came to Solomon:  “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father.  And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.” So Solomon built the temple and completed it.

What now can God build in us and can we dedicate ourselves to giving a firm foundation? HIS PRAISE! We can ever be building PRAISE for what He has built in us, for us, with us, thru us. How can we not see that the Lord wanted to, and still wants to dwell among HIS people. Not only do we roll out our doormats, but we open our hearts. We find that He already dwells within but we needed to open ourselves to give room to allow Him to Breathe Life into us. The most the Lord can do for us is to walk with us, be with us, dwell among us, be there for us. The most we can do for the Lord is also the least we can do – give our lives and PRAISE.

God built for us His Temple in us – even though we are “wasting away” – we are not to let Him get squished out of our Temple. He will LIVE in us and we NEED Him.

Let us Build Praise today. Let us open our hearts and Let God Dwell There – AND THRIVE.

Amen

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Read part 1 here (a great read in chapters 5 and 6) knowing part 2 will be just as spectacular!:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+5-6&version=NIV;KJV

And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name. Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.

And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the Lord this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people. And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household. So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.

And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year. And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.  And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.

And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work. And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord.

And the house which king Solomon built for the Lord, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits. And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house. And for the house he made windows of narrow lights. And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about: The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.

So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar. And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar. And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying, Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir. And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place.

And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long. And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen. And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord. And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.

So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold. And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold. And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high. And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.

The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub. And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house. And he overlaid the cherubims with gold. And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without. And the floors of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.

And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall. The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees. So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall. And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams. In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the Lord laid, in the month Zif: And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.

Do we have the wisdom to simply be THANKFUL? 

I look at small worries in comparison to MIGHTY BLESSINGS.

God You ARE Good.

One example, I’ve had a job in the same place for 20 years. It’s unique in these times, but nothing compared to the 50 plus years my Dad had at his job, or 35 for my mom who balanced working and time at home… she’s even been retired for 20 years… As we need to work, the wisdom of the Lord teaches us to work hard as if for Him. I’m just grateful that I’ve enjoyed my time. 20 is cool, but hey, so is lots of miles on my Subaru. I DON’T need commending, just realize I am THANKFUL. 

Really, do we understand HOW blessed we are for just having the ability to be able and to be working? Do we count our blessings and have WISDOM to be THANKFUL?

We should be THANKFUL. I should be MORE thankful. The phrase “Grin and Bear it” is related surely to scriptures which state to tolerate (1Peter 2). Yes, trials, but wisdom says Grin and Bear it… Scriptures being the Word, being Jesus, is our primary example to tolerate and invigorate, forgive and live.

Solomon prayed for WISDOM. Not praying for wealth. God gave him both. The people were many, they provided 12 months year round for Solomon. Solomon had wisdom pour into and out of Him. It was a time of serving the kingdom and knowing the blessings of the Lord. 

I can only glimpse at blessings that will be immense when we get to the Lord’s kingdom. Let us remember those, especially in war-torn places, who are struggling. Let us not forget to count on the Lord’s WISDOM to light our way. If we use WISDOM (and ask for more of it), we must then be willing to use it, especially in thankfulness. 

Be Thankful.

Be Blessed. 

Be Wise. 

Be His.

Amen 

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Lord, I am Thankful…

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1 Kings 3:20-34

Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal, Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl. For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon’s table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.

Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

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Look! I made the big screen!

I am THANKFUL for a great place to work!

20 years anniversary at CRL Malvern and Wayne.

I am blessed!!! The BEST people, that’s what makes it the best place. Important projects, that’s what makes it important to go to work. A job that fed and housed my family, funds my Subarus, and gives such good flexibility, that’s a Godsend. (And NOW, a job to keep Mom busy while the kids do their own thing, LOL!)

20 is unique in these times, but nothing compared to the 50 plus years my parents did. 20 is cool, but hey, so are lots of miles on my Subarus. I DON’T need commending, just me realizing I am THANKFUL.

HOW blessed for the ability to be working, count blessings and have WISDOM to be THANKFUL.

Lord, I am Thankful…

Returning to my reading, I’ve crossed over from God-loved but flawed King David in 2nd Samuel to God-loved but flawed King Solomon in 1st Kings. (We are all flawed, in humanness, of course, ONLY Jesus is perfect, AND We are ALL loved by God, God IS LOVE)…

Solomon had avenged many situations for the hardships, killings, backhanded promises and grief dealt to his father David, securing the future of his house. After these “loose ends” were tied up, scripture states: The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands.

NOW WHAT? Solomon, you’ve just been made king, you’ve got your kingdom, legacy lined up, and not just any kingdom, but Israel’s Kingdom of what God promised would be established at that time, the earthly set up for Jesus to enter our earthly scene. NOW WHAT?

Solomon asked for WISDOM and DISCERNMENT. Not just for himself but for helping his people. The next BIG discernment we read about (1st Kings) is the two mothers who both want the one living baby.

Ah, if only we too would ASK FOR DISCERNING WISDOM (and use it well).

“Understanding to discern judgment”

King Solomon had to get from point A to point B. He had to rule a kingdom and was one of only a few who knew that the future was promised. Oh…. Wait, isn’t that us too? We know the promised future but need to get from here to there. That’s only going to go more smoothly if we ask for WISDOM and DISCERNMENT.

How many times does it seem we don’t have EVERYTHING falling into place the way we want it? Well the best prayer often is for wisdom. And how many times do things ACTUALLY fall into place,  what is ALSO the best “thing”, TO ASK FOR WISDOM.

This is a big issue in life, not just a snappy Alan Parsons song that sings “Where do we go from here?”

The mother of the story, whose baby was alive, came to quick discernment in herself when Solomon offered to divide the baby in half, as if it were not a living creature. That true mother both in grief and in love, lived in love and would rather have given up the baby whole than see devastation. The grieving mother who lost her baby could not see beyond her grief and lost connection to life and to life’s meaning beyond her own situation.  This is not just a story of them, but sadly of us. We must discern our day to day in the living state and not just mechanically go thru the motions. We must be like Solomon and want to be there for the people, to live outside ourselves and our needs or wants. To mother is to love. To love is God’s being. To recognize life is to recognize God’s purpose.

In Easter life, we remember God gave up His Son, like the mother would give up her child to preserve the whole. God gave up one Son for the whole of us.

In sin and death and brokenness, Satan causes chaos to control confusion. He wants people to be dejected in grief and make a rash agreement to slice the baby in half, Satan does not want wholeness. Nor does he want us thinking of the future, of others. He lost the connections and will take down whomever he can.

We know better. We know we are LOVED.

We know better. We must discern day by day our actions to bring hope to wholeness. We must live to love. From point A to point B, our living can be best lived by stitching in love to the net that holds us all. How will we strengthen our walk? by washing away worldliness.

As Solomon loved the Lord, he wanted to love His people. He knew that riches were not always peacekeepers. But God knew how to rule the people. Rulers must rule in love.

We must ask: What else would we want, but WISDOM.

Keep praying discernment. A to B.

Amen

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1Kings 2:4-16

And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

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A Wise Ruling

Now two harlots came to the king and stood before him. One of them said, “Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.

 “During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him.  So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I, your servant, was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”

The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.” But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king.

The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’”

Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king.  He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”

But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”

Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”

When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

Was driving home with my daughter a bit ago and I wondered if this really was the quality time that I would have picked or just normal time for helping. Well sitting in the Starbucks drive thru, I found it interesting timing that the school robo line called strangely on a Sunday, and I listened and my daughter listened… Sadly it was that a teacher’s aide staff member had unexpectedly died, and the vice principal asked us on the recorded message to ask our kids if they knew this person and if they needed support.  Well, my daughter (a graduate few ago) said “WOW”, she did know this teacher and she casually knew his son, her age. I realized that all my fretting about whether “normal” driving around and “chores” days was important became mute.  My concerns went out my mental drive thru window. It DID matter. It DOES matter to do the mundane, because I was IN the car WITH one child, and another at home, whereas this family of the same age had now unexpectedly LOST their dad. It DID matter because if I wasn’t doing the “normal” mundane things, who would? How would they live successfully as they are. And one more realization, that I got to be IN the car and BE THE CAPTIVE AUDIENCE to hear all about her days, her thrills, her ughs too, her mundane and not so mundane daily challenges over the last month when I saw her last, I got to hear them in person and provide her the space and place to share them…

I got to be there – I get to be there – where the mundane is no more mundane. I realize that God gives us this day to drive around in His Way: PRESENT.

Always let God do the driving.

Every “mundane” day as a parent is NOT. Every time I take my son driving, we choose a new road, keeps it fresh. The only same road is the road home. Every time God takes the wheel, He takes us on a road He wants to take us on, and eventually, if we stay in the car long enough, it WILL be our ride Home. So, look out the windows and be aware of the traffic, be present IN the car. Keep making those mundane trips because one day, mundane becomes a memory too. Your presence will be evidence.

Mundane no more.

Amen

One of my funny awkward moments of Easter Day was giving mega-church Pastor an Easter card, just after the 6AM service.  (I’m sure I had more 7AM energy than most, as you would expect!). I made a tiny palm cross and included it inside, because he said something funny about palms the previous week. I also included a copy of my writing of the Alpha and Omega words, which I had written months ago, actually meaning to give to him but didn’t. I think folks don’t want to bug him but have some questions that it would be good to chat about. He is gracious to the flock.

I am sure I could bug him A LOT, but he has 10,000 or more in his flock, and I simply feel for me to be a blessing to encourage him. You could say the same for a media star, just like I wait for a picture with a favorite DJ (which I just did recently). But a pastor? He’s not in it to meet fans or for publicity of himself, he’s there to teach. I am there to LEARN! (And how blessed am I with like a couple dozen pastor friends, I can just be an encourager here. I am SO happy when people pick up their callings. God knows people need to know Him. Jesus came both to save and to TEACH)

Me encouraging, sure, but is it a bit like a fan groupie? Well, is it blessing or bugging? Well, yes. Both. I’m excited about people sharing faith.

So, an Easter card, I think that’s just the right amount of encouragement without bugging. Encouragement for him to say “Hey, busy servant child of God, who is also an amazing pastor shepherd – I am praying for you.” I am sure he also likes it when you laugh at his jokes. As for what makes him surprised, is the POWER of God to rally the faithful. 

Encouragement is to say God Bless you, is simply to say: “Hey, I get you, you are DRIVEN by the Holy Spirit too, I APPRECIATE you allowing God to move you (not that you can stop God, but many don’t allow themselves to serve fully).

If we can remember Jesus IS our PRICE of Peace and Prince of Peace, we can push ourselves out of our comfort zone. There’s important balance between bugging and blessing. There’s an important blend of serving and stepping aside personally and reducing pride. Certainly there is a time and place for our humanness, that’s life. And certainly there’s always time to be respectful and not a burden.  

But the one true blessing that’s NOT bugging? PRAYER. ALWAYS PRAYER. 

Prayer is in private as well as public. Prayer is petitioning for Pursuit of Peace. It is so important for all of us to pray for Pastors. So important to pray for all of God’s servants.

PRAYER. Jesus NEVER runs out of ears, Jesus VALUES listening, so much He even repaired the ear of one in the garden who would then march Him off to capture. 

When I said to Pastor that I was praying for him, he said “thank you, I covet your prayers”. He’s human like all of us, and we know that the Lord is keeping tabs on us but MOST IMPORTANTLY fueling our faith and waking us up everyday. Praying is the one thing that never could be given in excess, if they are sincere, but could be too few. Prayer in private is God’s knowing that you are not in it for the recognition. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 

Prayers is like keeping track of perseverance. “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered.”

Prayer is KNOWING God intervenes 

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The Prayer of Faith

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” John 5:12,13-16

Paul thanked the church for prayers in his letter to the Thessalonians (1st:16-24). He wrote: “JESUS IS FAITHFUL.” That we believe!

We can all be thankful for prayers, we have many and won’t know it, but God does.

GOD DOES HEAR. 

Amen

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Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Oh – so blessed to see another Easter – even though I had one just last week! I was blessed to visit an orthodox church, Eastern European, for Easter with my friend and her daughter. She was so happy to go – and happy that I would drive – so that she did not have to, because she suffers from chronic heart failure. Yes, the Lord is keeping her alive and walking too, because she is surely doing Heaven’s work on earth, being the best mom and wife she can be for her family. She is an AMAZING Child of God – and so Holy Spirit-filled. A blessing.

The service was traditional orthodox and unusual for me for it to be MIDNIGHT to 4AM, WOW! (Good thing I am a good napper!)

At the peak moments of the service, one of the older altar servers took out a cell phone to take photos for their website or facebook. There were others taking photos on occasion, so I felt OK taking pics of what I used to think was private and secret, I was wrong, it was open and OK. Then after the service we were able to walk around the sanctuary – so very ornate and beautiful. 

Midnight – sleepy sheep – but I had a 3 hour nap – and who am I to complain about late nights for the Lord – and even the night before I got up at 130 am to see a favorite radio DJ at a record store. Life is meant to be lived!  Live it!

We are blessed to experience all this diversity – in the many churches and denominations and “movements” (which are not technically denominations). It’s most important to be in the SPIRIT OF THE SPIRIT.  This night I WAS enchanted by the ornateness – but ALSO interested in the people watching too, both their faith and their ways. I am a student of people and was kinda surprised at some church things so human and modern – like the cell phones – and THE STICKY NOTES! The priest read from the Holy Book, very ornate, but also in his small prayer book, I spied the set of handwritten sticky notes – he took one for that section of the service while we were (outside) and stuck it to the back of the ornate cross which also carried flowers. He was able to proceed with teaching and preaching the liturgy of the stations of Jesus in procession from conviction to cross – by using his sticky note and not have to hold his book too. I thought that was cool, cute, human, real, ingenious. (Jesus did say we would see great miracles, and I think sticky notes are one small ones.) After he finished that section, he simply switched the sticky note. We then went inside after a ritual knocking at the door.

It was a whole singing service – the whole thing – 3 hours – the scriptures and prayers sung – the responses sung – then in both languages the priest chanted “CHRIST IS RISEN”.  

Before the service and throughout, people continued to light their candles from the priest and from each other. My friend said that some people hope for miracles by getting their candlelight directly from the priest during the service but others think it is slightly disruptive – Well, Jesus would understand ALL OF THAT!

Sleepy sheep – there were many families with kids and teens – teens hunched over in sleep on the pews by 2AM. One baby – a crawler – was the picture perfect cherub who only cried maybe once in 4 hours? AMAZING…  Some teens were giggly and that was good relief when one caught her hair on fire – YIKES.  Well, oh the quick action of mom – the smell was real – but the giggles were bigger than it all. whew…  I also ALMOST caught my hair on fire once – but didn’t – whew. I don’t think I have ever run thru a whole candle before – it took 2 hours of burning – and there were so many candles that people would get up for a replacement candle. Even saw people leaving at 4AM still with lit candles headed back to their cars. Light is a serious pursuit. I had a second candle handed to me.  These people were generous – open – friendly – and the service was in both languages.

There was much standing and sitting – singing and solitude but also it felt super normal for a human crowd that was going to be there 3 hours. The occasional cell phone, the occasional reshuffle of seats. I also fixed candles in the windowsill near me that kept getting knocked from a non-observant man who walked back and forth like 10 times. Hmmmn.

The pinnacle moment was to be of communion being shared. And I loved the prayers, the Apostle’s Creed, the known canter. This is also where I felt my old understanding of denomination differences creep back in. See, having been raised Catholic (but then attending other denominations and community churches and church movements), I knew the prayers and knew the liturgy, and knew the motions – yet I also knew this was not an “open table” – this was one of those times of  “only those of this faith denomination who followed the rules get this communion” – and then only if they fasted (if able). Yes – I know that Jesus said “You are Worthy because of me”, but this was NOT a time for me to grandstand for a gram of bread, this was NOT that at all. Never is time for any grandstanding in Christ anyway. I felt sad only for a half-second because instead I felt that humble feeling that communion is a GIFT, like Salvation is a GIFT. Jesus is a gift and so is the ability to worship Him at His feet and to say You are worthy and I am not – but You make me worthy. 

My friend said: “Stay here”, not judging, just factual. I guess I forgot for a second of our differences. It took me only a second to snap out of sadness because I switched importantly to WATCHING – and appreciating people of faith. Some of the ladies covered their heads with scarves – many kissed the portrait of Jesus, then took communion from the cup directly from the priest who used a stick that he placed in their mouths, then they kissed the cup, and kissed the priest’s sleeve. On the side there was a portrait of Mary with a bowl of “extra” bread cubes – not sure why there were there but people took a handful if they wanted and kissed that portrait too. ( I later got a cube of that bread so I considered it my communion this night, but my communion really was remembering Jesus). I watched in grateful joy that there were people of faith who were able to express it by devotion. I was able to walk around the church with the people at the beginning of the midnight service (about 200 to 300), and then I was able to have a seat inside. I was AT the TABLE – no need to be ungrateful – we ARE at the Table with Him – and Jesus says – you don’t need to worry – you are IN because of ME.

Happy – my friend came back and she was HAPPY! She was happy and said “I MADE IT!” – happy – she was able to come and stay 3 hrs for communion at the end – and happy that she was alive to be here – rough in her ailments but strong in her faith – the Lord HAS held her together. Happy – I was happy to hear “I MADE IT” – and we surely will say those EXACT words when we get to Heaven and say to each other; “I MADE IT!!!” Jesus, You Make our Lives Complete in You. Jesus, you will say: “You Made it!”

A cup of communion dessert? Well, at 3AM we finished the 3 hour service and got to go downstairs for fellowship – and after 2 covid years, you could feel the relief of fellowship. They had plastic cups, hundreds, of bread cubes in wine. wow and YUM, and the Priest blessed these all as well as baskets of food that the people brought for sharing with their family members. He spoke a few words of blessing then took the holy water and sprinkled all of us. I crossed myself in catholic fashion and many there crossed themselves over and over in orthodox fashion with hand to head, heart, right then left shoulders. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

A gentleman shared some of his blessed basket of goodies – some chicken and other meats and cheeses – so nice of him. A few ladies of the church brought gifts for my friend’s family, bread and toys. Many came to bless her. She blessed one person in particular on our way leaving at 4am. She stopped to console a father who had recently lost his young son (I am not sure, maybe cancer), he touched his fist to his heart in thanks to her – in praise to the Lord for support – in sadness but acceptance. 

Isn’t that what we must all have – some sadness for we only have a short walk in this world – sadness in brokenness – but acceptance that this IS our walk and we will not be without suffering just as Jesus was not without suffering. We DO have salvation as sheep – as sheep of OUR Shepard – salvation in sweetness of sorrow.

Sheep – we are not all the same sheep and we are also of many flocks but with one ultimate Shepard. We are to embrace the diversity of the world (not conform to it) and to share love with the people. All knees will bow at the Lamb of God one day. It reminds me of the sheep in Ireland, they roamed fairly free, and were marked with color spray paint on one patch of their wool. This meant that if they intermingled with other farmer’s sheep, they could just continue to live and then at the end of the season, the farmers would get together and exchange the sheep back. All sheep – all unique – all loved – all owned. We ARE able to be invited in to other sanctuaries and we should invite others into ours. We ARE those sheep – we are all unique and loved and owned by our Lord God and Father God, and we are all to be collected at the end. (We are to avoid being goats which Jesus will separate one day as non-sheep). We can be unique sheep. I know that the women who went to the front of the church who wore their scarves and sang their songs could easily be my cousins and ancestors in the Eastern European country of my ancestors. The women and men our brothers and sisters in Christ. Just because they have different colors of sheep paint on occasion, we are all sheep. All Sheep. One Shephard.

One last bible lesson, how sometimes we think we have to be dressed a certain way for church – or act a certain way – or fast even if physically not able – well, NO. We talked about the scripture that the thief to the side of Jesus on the cross came to Him at the last minute, came as he was, came a sinner, yet when he asked to be with Jesus, Jesus said TODAY, you will be with me in Paradise. Our SALVATION does NOT rely on us – only on our Shepherd who laid down His life as the Lamb Sacrificed. 

Sheep, Souls, Singing, Scarves, Sticky Notes, Singed hair, Sharing, and Salvation.

May we realize we are all sheep of our Shepard. 

Sleepy Sheep awake, Jesus came for us all. He IS coming again to judge the quick and the dead.

Jesus says: YOU MADE IT!

Amen! CHRIST IS RISEN! HAPPY EASTER!

Mercy, have we prayed enough for mercy for others and not just ourselves? God’s mercy is real. A dear friend always prays the blood of Jesus to cover people, meaning she asks on their behalf for Jesus’s forgiveness – given thru His blood to cover their offenses. May none of us lack this coverage. May we all extend prayers to even the worst offenders.

God’s Mercy is shown throughout the scriptures. God’s STRENGTH is in how He RESTRAINS His punishments, how He restrains the evil as well.  Mercy IS Jesus in saving us, being the Blanket of Forgiveness, a blanket of His own blood not a blanket of wool sheared from His sheep. He requires nothing of us but our following of Him as Shepard. To believe in Him because God sent Him. He is our Shepherd. We are His sheep.

We, the sheep, have wool, warmth, and surely wandering. Jesus the Shepherd has blood forgiveness, a burning LIGHT of HOPE, and TRUTH beckoning us to get back on track. 

Give it up for the sheep. Jesus did. 

David, the KING and once earthly shepherd, was the always returning servant. David realized when he went astray and he returned to petitioning and sacrificing for God. David knew he needed repentance (so do we).

“These are but sheep. What have they done?”

In David’s realization of wrong, he knew to ask to be in the Lord’s courts of trials (once again) because he KNEW the Lord to be MORE merciful than human man. God gave David choices but David left it up to God to inflict punishment with mercy.

David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

AND the Lord SHOWED mercy and restraint for He could have destroyed more, as His anger burned against Israel, but at one point God stopped the angel who was dosing out the plague. 

When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.”

God, our Lord God, we beseech you to take these current plagues and roll back the forces of destruction. We beg if we have done wrong to become a repented land. We find hope in You Jesus. 

Restraint. God gives us restraining pens of hedges of protection. God puts up blockages for where we should not go. He restrains our free will with a will to be free in Him. God begs us restraint over retaliation by telling us to forgive and turn the other cheek. Restraint on our part will let Him work out long terms of His Grace over our hurried judgment. 

Wouldn’t it be best for us to pray mercy over all? Over those we don’t know and especially our enemies. Drop our grudges and give Him rights for His Judgments. Perhaps our trials are partially our training to pray, pray, pray – to pray mercy for our enemies and not just ourselves. Yes our anger burns, the Lord Himself has anger, but our prayers rise like incense to God’s pleasure even more.

Give it up for the sheep, Jesus did.

(And WE TOO must return to God knowing His mercy. Don’t stay out in the cold if you are drifting or have drifted. Be sure to come back, hear Jesus calling, be still and know His forgiveness and love.) 

Pray mercy. God is great. 

Accept mercy. God is giving it.

Give mercy. God is for all.

Amen

---

2nd Samuel 24

Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”

But Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.

After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer. They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah.

After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.

David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”

Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’”

So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come on you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”

David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.”

David Builds an Altar

On that day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad. When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.

Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”

“To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”

Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. Your Majesty, Araunah gives all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the Lord your God accept you.”

But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+24&version=NIV

Still in Easter mode…

TORN and NOT TORN

Jesus was accepting that His time for the cross, this meant He was torn away physically from those He loved here on earth, but not in His love. They must have felt He was torn away from them. I think back to Simon seeing Jesus, the day Joseph and Mary brought Him for circumcision, Simon knew, warned and blessed Mary for her trials to come. Simon was NOT TORN from that temple even in old age, asking the Lord’s blessing to see the Messiah. 

TORN AND NOT TORN 

The curtain. The curtain TORN and no longer was the Holy Place separated from the worshipers, no longer was life separated by death from us. Jesus was NOT TORN away from His mission. The curtain TORN, the rocks TORN, the graves TORN back open. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

NOT TORN 

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s NOT tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled. Scripture has NEVER been TORN.

TORN AND NOT TORN 

Joseph was torn away from his fear but never torn away from his faith.

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead….there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 

NOT TORN AND TORN 

Mary, Jesus’smother, many Mary’s and women were not torn away from comforting Him, watching Jesus die nor from comforting each other. They did stay until Jesus was prepared in death for the tomb then placed in the tomb, by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. These women were the last to see His body. Mary of Magdalene was one of the first to see Him risen. These women were eventually torn from the tomb because of the sabbath, and they were not torn away from their duties nor their faith. 

TORN 

Nicodemus, the most famous and respected teacher of the Jews, whom had quietly come to Jesus in the night (John 3) was torn from his hiding, torn from his doubt. Nicodemus brought 100lbs of embalming spices, myrrh and aloes. As the rich man, He allowed Himself to be TORN AWAY from greed and instead gave. 

TORN and NOT TORN 

The stone was rolled away.

Guards watching the tomb were torn away from other duties and trusted to guard it. After they saw the stone rolled, and recovered, they were not torn away from the truth of what they saw happen there. Even if they were bribed to keep quiet, they knew truth. Truth is never torn. Stick with the Truth. 

The World is torn in torment and eventually will be TORN totally:

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief… … what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” ButLove is NEVER torn away. 

God’s LOVE lasts forever. 

Amen

John 19:30-42

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

—

Mark 15:39-47

The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”  Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

The Burial of Jesus. It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

—

Matthew 27:50-61

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children.

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

—-

Luke 23:46-56

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

—-

2nd Peter 3:10-18

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.  Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen

Until Jesus comes on a cloud, any near day,

my goal is to read through the whole Bible before delay.

Gaining in knowledge of Him is necessary today,

knowing Him as merciful is a blessing, to learn of His Way.

Reading scripture is hearing what Jesus has to Say,

Living well, thru Jesus’s teachings, helps us not to stray.

Living Holy, in fear of the Lord, is necessary you see,

to learn of His Love, to understand what gives Him Glee.

We know that in His Love we are made alive and free, 

He has gifted all of His Love to stir within you and within me.

Fear Him to live Free.

Lord Jesus, You rescue me.

Amen

What’s a most appreciative part of our day? Someone to talk to.

Why did God make man and women? So we could find someone to talk to, someone different but the same. Women like to chitchat with each other. Men like to shoot the breeze together. Men and women can bond and talk about togetherness or dreams or nothing at all and just be. Friends can be friends. 

What’s a most appreciative part of Jesus’s day? 

Someone to talk to.

Why did the Lord Jesus walk the earth? 

To find us to talk to us.

Why did Lord Jesus come directly to us? 

To tell us of Our Father. 

What did Lord Jesus say of Himself? The Son can do nothing by himself – whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father LOVES the Son and shows him all he does. 

What did Lord Jesus say of us? That whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

Why did Lord Jesus become the inSPIRITation of the Word written down? The Bible Himself? So we too would HEAR the voice of LOVE thru the Son of God. That we would know He came to bring Heaven to us.

Those who hear will live.

Why is Lord Jesus willing to talk to us? Because the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. 

Why is Lord Jesus wanting to talk to us? To tell us He LOVES us, to tell us God, Our Father LOVES. 

Why do we NEED to TALK to Jesus to intervene for us with Our Father? Because Jesus said: “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but HIM who sent me.”

What’s a most appreciative part of GOD’S Day? Someone HEARING.

LISTEN, HEAR TALK, LOVE.

Love talks.

Amen

---

John 5:17, 19-29

 “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 

………………………

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. 

Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 

Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 

Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

David sang to the Lord:

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me.“

David had much to sing about to the Lord. He had praises as well as petitions for/from perilous moments. Us too. We have sticky situations and dangers… but we do have praises, above all.

We must praise and sometimes petition, especially when no one else understands us. We have to humbly cheer: “I’m glad the Lord understands me.” – We have to tearfully kneel: “I’m glad He has Mercy for me in His Majesty.”

There’s often surprise at how other people seem to be (including us) – the world wacky or wild, people are often good, bad, indifferent or scheming, ignorant or naive. Or people are just people living in a fallen world. It’s not just simply in modern soap operas (portrayed for our entertainment), nor in real deal modern war conflicts (of which power plays are prominent), this struggle of humankind to get the upper hand is DOMINANT in the pages of scripture.

One situation is especially deeply detailed as dangerous living in 2nd Samuel, where we find King David even more scattered away from his home by the hands of his son Absalom, similar to when he was chased by his father-like King Saul. David had mercy for his son as well. David walked often in those valleys of the shadow of death. 

David did much good but David also did many wrongs… And yet there is Mercy. God’s Mercy brought and brings reconciliation. God’s Mercy brought David, the shepherd and King back to being a sheep. God’s mercy brings us reconciliation. For David and for us too, reconciliation comes by a Redeemer in Jesus. David’s redeeming was both of his self and within his legacy. Jesus came as a descendant of the House of David to rule as King forever.

David showed his failings, his worldliness, in how he dealt with Bathsheba’s husband Uriah. His lust of her, and a cover up became a scheme to kill Uriah. Then things went spiraling out of control for David. David lost, he lost children, yes, and nearly except the legacy God laid out for him. David called out to God and God forgave David but warned him of this hard life path. Yet, David NEVER lost the LOVE of God – and God NEVER stopped LOVING David. 

God NEVER stops loving us.

The jealousy David had must have torn him away from appreciating what he already had. His mourning was real. The Mercy was even MORE real. God expressing MERCY is His message, here and forever. Tough love is but truth in love. Protection by discipline. 

We see conflict thru these chapters of David’s life, we see fights back and forth on the pages, terrible betrayals of brothers and sisters, fathers and sons, with disregard for the foundation and provisions given to them by God Himself. There is no war to end all wars here. There is no peace when these people want pieces of worldly pursuits. 

David became in danger and he unraveled. Yet, the strung-out unraveled life remained tethered to the Core of who he was, a child of God. 

It’s not like the immediate danger of a lion or a bear that stood in front of now King David, not even a Goliath, but it was the circling of conspiracies and swaying of innocent people one way or the other to make a mess of life. David had much trouble from his son, Absalom, but in the end he asked for mercy for his child. He was heartbroken by Absalom’s death.

You could say that our modern conflicts do the same, there is sway over people to one side or the other, whereas God watches and waits for all and each one of us to return to our senses. God weeps thru Jesus tears for “they know not what they do.” God waits and knows the brokenness in us, knowing that the people on the pages will just keep fighting until He blows the trumpet. At some point He will pick up the pages of time and blow it all away, keeping just those who He brought to Jesus, and Jesus netted up. Jesus never loses anyone. 

We who love Him will have a new song to sing.

God knows that we are so very human. Can we survive this world, this society? We must live above it. We must cling to the hope, the foundation, be glued to the pages on which the Word works. We must view beyond the conspiracies and calamities. We must tremendously remember God’s MERCY and spread that ourselves. 

People are in old conflicts, but God in all His Mercy does not change, and waits for His children’s return. 

We too must light a lamp of HOPE. Jesus gives us the opportunity to forgive and forge ahead.

We should not want to walk anywhere without JESUS. 

AMEN 

—-

Reading thru much of these trials, we realize we are in new conflicts are but in old evils, just with modern people.  David’s response to the Lord delivering him was real praise.  

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+15-22&version=NIV;KJV

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One of the songs of David:

2 Samuel 22

King James Version

And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.

Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters; He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.

He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.

Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.

And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God?

God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not. Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad. Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me. Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me. And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

This took me a couple days to write and get back to during Holy Week, I appreciate time to still study Jesus’s walk and work of those days and warnings and descriptions of the future… There is IMPORTANT focus on knowing what is yet to come for us and others, not just hints but direct teaching. Direct references to plans fulfilled, plans continuing and plans in end times. We need to get on board and start tossing life vests into the water for helping others.

It seems Jesus, in His Way to the Cross, ALSO tells us to appreciate what we do have, that things could always be worse. (Maybe the current times are showing this too). It’s important to teach what Jesus taught. It’s always important to know the “reason for the season” – we celebrate Christmas, Easter, but do we know there are also reasons for what will be experienced in the NEXT seasons of tribulations, millennium and forever…

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Read Passionately

Written Passionately, Jesus Speaks.

Walking Passionately, Jesus Demonstrates. 

Living Passionately, Jesus Saves.

Taught Passionately, Jesus Predicts.

The Bible is to be read PASSIONATELY, because JESUS IS SPEAKING, speaking with purpose, and we can listen on His walk WITH the cross to complete the plan OF the cross. Jesus ALSO PREDICTS our and the world’s FUTURE.

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PART 1: THE PLAN FULFILLED:

Jesus, after the last supper, spoke in the garden to our Father. Jesus made clear what He knew: He came for all, and He lost none of those given to Him, led to Him by our Father, including His disciples. Jesus then let them scatter free that night, knowing all but Judas would be found by Him again. Plan complete for them. Plan also set in place for His Mother, and just by His thoughtfulness and strength, acceptance and teaching proved with presence and signs that He was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. 

Jesus in being forsaken, sacrificed, and pre-provided as The Lamb to be slain, Jesus took on His Father’s Will for Him for us. When He died, HE ALREADY KNEW HOW FAR HE HAD GONE. Far enough to save us all. Jesus finished it before He said “It is Finished.” But He said it anyway. 

Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. John 18:8-9 fulfilling John 6:38-40: “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” 

John 19:25-30 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.  Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

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PART 2: THE PLAN PRESENTLY:

Jesus took time to speak about what future believers would need to know and do. Hope and purpose.

We do want others to hear of His Hope and our home with Him in Heaven FOREVER…  We must carry HIS Light as a torch and also help those still willing to find His WAY within their walk. And He brings a powerful message for us to share of Him being sent to save. Presently we must also agree and show our beliefs. We teach because He taught. We love because He loves. We believe because He believes in us.

John 17:18-26 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

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PART 3: THE PLAN PREDICTED:

We do know that Jesus knew when “it’s my time”, because He knew when “it’s not yet my time”. That Last Supper, He knew the time drew near and would begin the crucial night into day walk to take – to complete God’s plan for His earthly walk. Then it went dark then light. And now, we will see dark cone again in the future BUT KNOW THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE FOREVER LIGHT. 

Jesus KNEW and even in His battered state, walking with the cross, He took time to speak of TIMES TO COME. He was speaking of how awful end times will be for those who do not follow God’s plan and how terrible the devastation will be. For He and we will be removed from this place and DRYNESS of Life will be the next season.  The lack of His Hope,  shunning the Spirit will cause even more anguish: “For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”

We are in the green season but our world and the world’s people show times are closer and closer to drying up…  Jesus does not change and God does not change, the LIGHT is still burning bright, but the season WILL change, our earth and our fellow men will continue down the path towards Rapture and post-Rapture days, many tribulations where there will be attempts to pull all back into darkness. But so many won’t know to look at the times. Jesus prays so all would know Him and BE WITH HIM. There are many who will miss the message.  For others, LIFE will be chosen, but by being martyrs is those times. The ones experiencing wrath, predictions of the Book of Revelation, will beg to have the mountains fall on them to be put out of their misery. Jesus spoke of these people even while moments from His death. 

Luke 23:26-29, 34 : And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

—-

Revelation 6:7-17 (shown to John): When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.  They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”

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When Jesus said: “Forgive them Father, for they do not know what they do”, at least the people there in Jerusalem and surrounding areas knew His name (or would shortly) – but what about the people in the future?

Jesus chose to educate, so should we.

Let us now CHOOSE JESUS, CHOOSE FOLLOWING, CHOOSE LIFE. 

Know the Plan, fulfilled, present and PROMISED. Keep sharing the Good News AND WHY we have HOPE. 

AMEN

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https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2027&version=NIV;KJV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2015&version=NIV;KJV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22-24&version=NIV;KJV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17-19&version=NIV;KJV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%206&version=NIV;KJV

To prepare our palettes for Easter goodies, it’s good to clean out the fridge, ESPECIALLY if you’re getting Amish market faire for all your side dishes and dessert. (I’m only cooking a ham, haha! awesome)

To prepare OURSELVES for Easter, it’s good to clear out our hearts and heads too and make them ready (and only fill them with LOVE not fluff). 

Shopping at the Amish market, means NO WORK to prepare the meal. Yes, it does cost some,  but minimal, and seriously it is NO WORK. 

Salvation gifted from Jesus cost A LOT, but we didn’t pay, He did.  WE DID NO WORK. This gift is ALL from His Sacrifice, from Him paying the price, seriously a ransom for us at the highest cost was still worth it to Him. We could NOT do anything for eternal life except accept it, KNOWING that we NEED Jesus to cleanse our sins. We DO need to believe in Him, JESUS, as the One God sent to hear our repent. 

So this Easter my prayer is for everyone to open up their hearts and their heads (and their refrigerators) and ACCEPT the BEST BLESSING OF ALL! JESUS JOY!!!!  Endless Easter in Eternal Life!!!  

God Bless You All and Happy Easter!

AMEN 

I do wish often to think of what Jesus was thinking this Holy Week, on the way, in His Way, to the cross.

But then I just realized, what if Jesus took His Own advice. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”   “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”

Yes! Jesus, who relied upon God to give Him direction and instructions, also would have been thinking and living in the present. He knew the future, thus saying and knowing: “each day has enough trouble of its own.”. 

Jesus knew the past, the future, IS Alpha and Omega, and yet Jesus took one step at a time, took time for those He needed to be with that day. He absorbed the day for itself and said each day was enough for each day.

Focus. 

I have been helping my son practicing driving. A BIG important skill is to pay attention to your depth perception. YES, Jesus had/has the ultimate depth perception of seeing thru time, thru people, thru His Journey.  He spoke to Our Father every step of the way. (I trust in God in this new day of driving, it’s the best way to walk with the Lord thru the day)

So, be like Jesus today, be WITH your family and friends, co-workers and those God needs you to be around, and those He wants around you. Be like Jesus and take time away to pray. Be like Jesus and perceive and know ahead, but keep your mind and emotions in today. How else could Jesus sit down to eat and to pray unless that WAS what he needed to do that moment of that day. 

Good Friday is the day Jesus picked up His Cross, but Holy Thursday is the day He picked up His Feet and kept walking for His Mission. Each day and Today IS a day for us to live thru the Word while walking in the World. Know next week is coming, but stay on task today. 

Be in the moment. Jesus is. 

Amen

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:34 KJV

I must say that walking the Stations of the Cross was one place as a child in the Catholic church where I felt walking IN faith, to feel my faith, to feel the drama, to witness the strength and determination of Jesus. To see. 

Now I walk NOT to see but TO KNOW. 

The Good Friday’s of my youth were with my catholic school taking a short walk up to church. One of the very vivid memories was the reading of the Passion scriptures – and that ALL the priests showed up to participate in the service at the same time – that really spoke volumes to me of the importance of the day – and the importance of remembering the day – remembering the walk of Jesus.

It was a Good Friday to remember. For Jesus to remember and save us is good. For us to remember Jesus is good, to appreciate the Passion of Christ – not that we could ever grasp the enormity of His Sacrifice.

Jesus made a commitment to us before we were even born. This also means He walks with us today. To walk while pondering Jesus allows the Holy Spirit to place us, and as believers, we can and should walk TO our stations, FOR the sake of cross, ALLOWING ourselves to be stationed not stationary. STATIONING ourselves in readiness and witness. 

The Stations of the Cross presented WITH the scriptures let us know that He wanted us to know His journey. He still does…

Turns out that some of the stations are imagined “traditional thought” (Jesus falling and the woman wiping his face) but most stations of the cross are scripture derived. I was pondering this during this Holy Week, really wanting to keep and know truth over tradition, when today I “found” a noontime outdoor “Stations of the Cross” service near my work. WOW, I “picked it” from google maps and websites but I am SURE the Holy Spirit knew all along where to send me to walk, because I LEARNED a NEW WAY to walk the Stations of the Cross. This church service walked a “new” 1990’s version of the Stations, based on Pope John Paul II’s “Biblical Stations”. I was FASCINATED – and appreciative – and IMPRESSED that the Holy Spirit KNEW my pondering – and we (about 50 to 75) walked in the beautiful sunshine among outdoor stations, set up as an eagle scout project. 

Before I left, I went to marvel at the stained glass windows – the color and symbolism – the beauty. The Lamb with a sword – that was the window that spoke to me – the Lamb of God whose Sacrifice took away the Sins of the world.

What a Good Friday to remember that He Has! “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10

I appreciate the old time Stations, but what I really am excited about is when we will be STATIONED in witness around His Throne in Heaven. In the meantime, everyone take your stations today for witness!

Amen 

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Biblical Way of the Cross – stations:

1. Jesus prays in the garden
2. Jesus is betrayed and arrested
3. Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin
4. Peter denies knowing Jesus
5. Jesus is condemned by Pilate
6. Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns
7. Jesus takes up his cross
8. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus
9. Jesus meets the weeping women
10. Jesus is crucified
11. Jesus promises paradise to the crucified thief
12. Jesus cares for his mother
13. Jesus dies
14. Jesus is buried

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Ah, I was SUPER trepid, 

But the water was goodly tepid. 

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The pastor offered to wash my feet, 

me the tired, scared, sleepy sheep. 

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Stinky work feet certainly YES, 

she said it’s OK, this meant only to bless.

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To symbolize, Jesus washed the feet. 

To save, Jesus won us back from sin’s defeat.

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The choosing and saving of us was not thru our ability, 

that’s why my tears fell in humility. 

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The water’s warmth says thru Him we are worthy, 

The Living Water’s cleanse comes because He is Holy. 

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I was maybe embarrassed and silly afraid, 

but Oh that feeling, that warmth, Oh so blessed to be saved.

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I want that warm loving feeling Forever.

Jesus, Your Embrace, I will always treasure. 

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Now I too must wash other’s feet. 

That’s how we make Your Love COMPLETE.

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Amen 

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What a blessing, and a remarkable experience… oh how Jesus humbled Himself, not just for washing feet but for Saving those – both who already loved Him, but also those who would scatter. He also washed for the ability of those who never knew Him to sit with Him and feel His cleanse. He did this so we would remember Him as servant, and to be like Him. He loved and served us first. Amen Amen. 

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John 13:3-15 KJV

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

It’s interesting to note who’s one’s KING by where He sits. A mule. A throne. OUR HEARTS? Who is our King? An Easter Week reflection of two parades of an earthly king and our heart and Heaven King, in Jesus. 

Mules and Thrones 

Solomon was made king by David his father, but really by the Lord God’s appointment. David has Solomon ride his own mule to show the transition, which was needed because someone else was trying to steal the throne while David was weak and dying.

The Lord, our Lord, Jesus came likewise into Jerusalem on a mule, because He was to fulfill a prophecy, many prophecies, but specifically this prophecy. Yet He knew that the people mistook Him as an earthly King. Jesus wept over those people as He entered. He rode the mule, He had left the throne of Heaven to come here, for entering earth as a baby, walking in the world. Yet He really wanted, still wants, to occupy a throne sitting inside our hearts. My heart. Your heart. He becomes our King when we acknowledge Him as King Lord, fulfilling God’s Plan. A Servant Savior, Jesus. Can we, you and I, make Way for Him as our King? Will we, you and I, cheer and worship Him as He works through our hearts? Can we bow in submission yet feel risen in life?

When King David (also once a shepherd) made clear the succession of Solomon as King, he said:  ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’” David was blessed for the Lord kept him safe all thru the years, many trials, now followed up on the promise of Solomon hus son to become King. When we bow down to worship God, we need to acknowledge that Jesus IS the Promise fulfilled.  We ourselves acknowledge and ask to see Jesus take His throne over us, within us, and hope to see this Kingship over the world. We have not seen all this yet, and there are going to be more struggles until the prophecy in the book of Revelation is fulfilled in Jesus’s return. It will get earthly worse before it gets better. But as we WILL see this New Jerusalem Kingdom roll in, we also now get to say: Praise be to the Lord, the God of ME, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor IN MY HEART, on my PERSONAL throne today.’”

Let us let Jesus be our King. For Easter week is a triumphant end to a week of trials. Let us remember our King will forever reign. 

Let us find the mule that Jesus has set up within our lives and let Him ride in to be our heartly King – let us appreciate we have seen Him take His throne over us as Lord, Shepherd, King, Savior. 

Let us cheer on our Savior, today. 

Amen

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John 12:12-15

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

——-

1st Kings 15-53

King David and King Solomon 

Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him.  Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king.

“What is it you want?” 

My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals.”

While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. And the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.

Nathan said, “Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite. Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

David Makes Solomon King

Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!”

So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”

And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.

Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?”

Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.”

“Not at all!” Jonathan answered. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king’s mule, and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That’s the noise you hear. Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’”

At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed. But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”

Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.” Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%201&version=NIV;KJV

It’s Holy Week, What Did Jesus Know? Think? Do? WDJK WDJT WDJD?

He KNEW it was time to start His journey towards the cross.

He KNEW the people did not understand why He was on earth.

He KNEW too many would never hear of Our Father. 

He KNEW too many would hate Him and hate the Father. 

He KNEW that love was stronger than hate, but hate came from the brokenness of this world.

He KNEW that He was mobbed with crowds but they could not understand He was not simply an earthly king to provide and heal sick, restore the earthly thrones and restore Israel and “just that”.

He KNEW He was working for God, Who was and IS more than “just that”.

He KNEW that to get to each person on earth physically and spiritually, God had a plan that included the Holy Spirit and us.

He KNEW God’s Plan to take His life in order to grant LIFE to us all.

He KNEW those who would beg for Him.

He knew those who would betray Him.

He KNEW those who would LOVE and Follow Him.

Jesus KNEW He had to leave Earth so that the Holy Spirit could come as the Comforter.

He KNEW He could and would come back.

WDJK?

What Did Jesus Know?

…

WDJT?

What Did Jesus Think?

We ask that question because we think over just knowing. 

We ask that question because we fear death. 

We ask that question because we value life.

We ask that question because we can not wrap our heads around Someone Who would and did give up His Life for us.

We ask that question because we can not imagine enough what the afterlife with the Lord will feel like.

We don’t always know even if we should. We don’t always think like Jesus, but He did. He KNEW and THOUGHT. WAS AND IS AND WILL BE.

Jesus was there at the beginning of time. The Word With the Father Wrote the Walk for the Father, Working the Way for the World. 

What Did Jesus Do? WDJD?

All the Father’s Requests.

Jesus WAS, IS, WILL BE.

Jesus IS COMING BACK too. 

It’s Palm Sunday, 

What Did Jesus Know?

What Did Jesus Think?

What Did Jesus Do?

“TIME TO GO TO WORK”. 

And He DID.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Amen

—-

John 15:12-27, 16:1-12

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.

He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

…

Continue here:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15-16&version=KJV;NIV

Anger, fits of rage, non-comprehensible pain… ANGER. 

It’s not easy or healthy to suppress anger. It’s not productive or good to let anger get out of control. It IS good to let God deal with our anger, He can control it, as HUGE as it is.

Anger is a real response, I long for the time anger will no longer show up in Heaven. After all the wrath poured out is complete. I fear for the unrepentant. I humbly tear up in His awakeness in me.

Anger. Anger comes naturally from brokenness, disbelief, unfortunate incidents and unfairness. 

Anger. I realize that one person’s anger mirrors what anger Jesus must have had, what God must rage. From the beginning, Jesus’s suffering was long and His endurance of His acceptance of God’s anger upon Himself REMARKABLE. 

Us? We now can SEE and KNOW the ANGER of iniquities of the world, of all the brokenness of people, of all God’s losses, were laid upon one man, JESUS. THIS Holy Week is when the Wholly Wreck of a broken world IS laid, controllably NOT uncontrollably upon One Man, Jesus. Our Easter is His message of forgiveness. Our Easter is His “Welcome Home “. 

Our ANGER is still in us to rage, but His ANGER was, is, will be vented in a controlled stage.

Controlled, calculated, calm, consistent, complete. Anger. All of it laid.

All of it.

The Lamb of God slain.

The pain of God rendered into sacrifice. 

The sadness of God to be appreciated. 

The Lamb of God slain, even for those who will never understand or know Him.

All in All.

Jesus came and WILL COME AGAIN. It was and IS finished with Jesus dead and buried. It was our walking path laid down and our coverage by His blood, but we ALL await God’s CLOSURE for the whole of the world still walking or wandering. We await the final Wrath of God poured out precisely (Revelation 16) but then CLOSED,  disappated. God will retreat from His anger and sadness and be done with His wrath. Jesus will complete their prophecy and we will be His bride. 

Then all mankind will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 49:26, old testament prophecy).

“Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.” Revelation 16:7

Walk don’t wander. 

The anger needs release and closure. The old will pass away. The Lord must come again to bring us Home. The Home of Heaven and of earth will be rolled away to make way for a New City, eternal, filled with the garden of life, filled with God’s love because it will be filled with us. The great banquet. The feast of forever. 

Don’t stay outside in God’s anger, come inside with Jesus within His Love. Jesus took all the iniquities of the world upon His own flesh and renewed our lives away from the flesh forever. 

Away from the anger, oh what a feeling that will be…

Amen Jesus, thank God for You rescue us to be free.

Thank You for an Easter, now, for us, for me, and thank you for a Revelation of what is yet to be.

Jesus, yes, Thank You for setting us free.

Amen 

---

John 19:28-30 

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Revelation 19:10-16

the angel guiding John in this revelation of our FUTURE said: “…and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

John wrote: I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.“

—-

Restoration awaiting IN OUR FUTURE:

Revelation 22:1-5

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

---

This morning I awoke in anger, rare for me but real out of my dreams, real. My anger, I hated the feeling! It made me realize the anger of God multiplied, additive and yet He controlled it, He made the One in Jesus bear it, and Jesus took it. Jesus Was Is Will Be strong enough to take it because HE IS GOD.  God strength… thanks Lord for my processing of praise and pondering of Your Power. Double Amen!

I’ve noticed those folks (including us often, me all the time) living in the world and not apart from it, who may value worldly things over those spiritual satisfactions of living in the Word. The Word being Jesus, the Word-living being us emulating Jesus in forgiveness of others, emulating Jesus in teaching/preaching/reaching, shining Jesus thru our spirit, in living a surrendered life that God wants us to live.  

When we live in the Word apart yet entrenched in the world, we can let go of worldly things. We can “not sweat the small stuff” as well as bear up to the beatings of cruelty. In war, and in small skirmishes, how much more does the Lord reward those who tolerate rather than retaliate.

I’ve noticed some people without money become very jealous of it – and some people with money live greedily for more of it. I myself often retract in penny pinching after God has given the dollars to dole out freely.  If we lived spiritually in the Word yet entrenched in the world, we would best see money as a tool. There’s a classic phrase: “money is a cruel master.” But we are all to know, “money is not everything.”

I’ve noticed some people without (or with) titles at work or seeming social rankings, who value them over simply just getting the best job done. I’ve seen climbers who have invented mountains. They don’t stay on anything that starts to crumble but are seen to jump ship,or supporting themselves with the stuff they ignored now piled underneath. I’ve noticed people looking for earthly glory, caught myself doing the same.

I’ve grown to appreciate instead, the people who walk the real ground under their feet. Don’t take time to self-preserve by separation. Who know all that previous earthly glory has crumbled. Theri attitude makes it easier for us to look at others with compassion and awareness. 

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Let us follow Jesus’s example and do good, do Our Father’s Will and Love. Jesus looked at Peter LOVINGLY. Loved Peter who walked WITH Jesus even while he was often fumbling with his faltering faith. 

Peter grew up from these early days, he grew spiritually to live in outreach to the Gentiles and to us. He could teach: “rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”, because Peter Himself grew upto taste the Lord’s goodness.

Peter and we can learn the ancient scripture: For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” Let us try to walk more with the Word, even if in the World but not of it. Let us walk alongside Jesus and see the people He needs us to see. Let our suffering be set apart as something we endure for HIS SAKE. 

AMEN

—–

1st Peter 2:10-21

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.  For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.  But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

—-

1Peter 1:13-25

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.  For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%201-2&version=NIV;KJV

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 

Like a Potter, God is Master of the clay, His Clay. God is IN charge of the wetness of the slip. God shapes the vessels of us over and over again with His Hands. God makes us strong yet just from dust.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 

We do hit bumps in the road and our imperfections show. We are, however, OK, because God makes the clay smooth again when we let Him take charge of us, clean out our rough spots and loose clay outcastings. Then, when we rest in His Will, stop moving so fast, we can dry and lighten our load.

Persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 

We are to know that the fire only strengthens us, makes us suitable for service. A kiln for ceramic pottery and our spiritual life clay both require constant stoking of the Fire, requiring us to remain in the heat for as long as it takes. Bake for His sake.

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

We do know these trying times indicate evil abounds, but restrained evil, restrained by the Hand of God. We pray Lord Jesus come quickly back to earth and yet right now we must appreciate this time in our lives, to show Jesus being alive to others, THRU US. Reveal Yourself, Lord Jesus, in our every spin of the wheel, the circle game of life. 

made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 

We know Christ SHINES, how dare we NOT ask for a fresh filling of His Spirit. We KNOW that LIGHT leads. We must allow it to SHINE bright. Our vessels, our jars of clay must be held together in order to hold water too, the Living Water poured into us. When we hold HIS Water, we can feed the flowers of our faith. May our faith flowers ever be in full bloom.

“Let light shine out of darkness”

Amen

—-

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2nd Corinthians 4:6-10

I never felt more close to the Ukrainian people than when I was at the prayer service where they organized and brought together dozens of Ukrainian churches. Thousand people nearly, maybe more? PACKED. Well dressed and somber spoken. Prayerful and passionate. Loving and Longing for peace.

There is no weapon more powerful than prayer, both the local Ukrainian leader and the many pastors stated.

It was a packed house. I slipped into a seemingly empty row, middle back, but then realized and slid to the middle of the pew, because the first band who came off stage was to sit there. Cool, I was “with the band”. Holy Spirit cool too as I bumped into the same band leaving, with too much to carry and grabbed gear to help bring to their car. We can’t all be in the band but we can all be “roadies” of real support.

I was blessed to sing with these thousand folks all, as they put up lyrics in both languages and WOW the singing gave me chills, especially when the 50 choir members took the stage, their music so beautiful, harmonious and strong, CHILLS… We were all blessed to be knowing that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and how many churches come together and strengthen their brothers and sisters. And for me an opportunity to put aside my small life concerns to pray for other whole life situations.

Prayers were collective and they asked for small group prayers as we naturally divided into groups of five, without moving seats. That was something so powerful to witness and participate in. It was a spirit-moving event AND our lips and hearts moving too, plus the second prayer time, they asked you to gather with a new five people. Then each person spoke in English or Ukrainian in prayers in the circle. I prayed for the blood of Jesus to cover us all. 

The amazing power of collective prayer is experiencing how it is said prayers rise to God as incense rises (from the book of Revelation, as my band seat mate spoke of). The collective power of prayer this night prayed for God to bring us peace from bloodshed, for strength for medics firefighters soldiers, for the Ukrainian president and also for repentance of the Russian aggressors. 

We all prayed with passion. So I don’t think my ears have ever heard something like that few hundred circles of whispered prayers – like standing in a forest fire of incense rising. It was so cool and so inspiring and warm. There was one circle of older folks still standing that when we sat they continued prayers for a couple minutes and I watched a shaking teary older woman and the support next to her and in the room. What I also watched was how young people were watching their elders and each other in prayer. That’s something we rarely see these days, a packed house of prayer of all generations. 

About 40 to 50 pastors were in attendance and some did come read scriptures throughout, with translations posted. Then at the closing prayer about five gave prayerful pleas.

During the service, we had a live video link to a Ukrainian pastor in an Ukrainian “safe spot” where he was continuing to help those people including his adopted church kids and family members. (We had amazing translators throughout – translating the speeches but not the prayers). He described funerals and people telling him of the bodies found. His prayers were so tearful and his strength so holy-inspired.  The unfairness of it all resonates greatly, yet the prayerfulness of the Ukrainians shows the strength, resilience, resistance to evil, and power of “DON’T EVEN THINK DARKNESS COULD OVERCOME LIGHT” 

Next to me on my left was a soft-spoken man who just brought in his nephew from Ukraine yesterday. Behind me the gentleman was bringing his sister from Ukraine thru Mexico. The band member on my right, who works in a similar industry to mine (small world), he may take time to fly to be a translator for refugees. I honestly don’t know how many refugees are coming, but I know it will mirror with incredible hope and separation sorrow like my great grandparents trip to America from Eastern Europe. Likewise I know these communities are opening loving homes, wallets, and HOPE. 

As we left, they shared Ukrainian chocolates in the cafe. A display of floral headband, intricate embroidery, delicate Ukrainian easter egg. The chocolate amazing, yet the greatest sweetness for me was seeing the families together. The sweetness was knowing Jesus in all of them gathered and feeling their spirits. The sweetness of chocolate reminds us of the after-death sweetness of eternal life. 

I felt that in closing the Ukraninan-spoken prayers of one pastor were so passionate to be tear-bringing, but when the crowd stood to sing a Ukrainian prayer love unity song, I could see the SPIRIT rise stronger than the tears.

Sweeter than anything is knowing God is saying: LET LIGHT SHINE. 

God bless Ukraine’s LIGHT. 

Amen Amen 

—-

Psalm 59 – English Standard Version

Deliver Me from My Enemies

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him.

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;  protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men. For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see! You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah

In SPIRIT, we look for TRUTH. In TRUTH, we look for SPIRIT.

IN looking, we find HOLY SPIRIT looking for us.

Let us Know, Witness and Worship God – in Spirit and in Truth.

—

The Spirit moving in us will bring us to Witness and Worship. The Spirit can put our desires just to live in the flesh to death and give us LIFE. LIFE comes from Jesus covering us with His Blood.

Jesus is in us in Truth. Jesus is True in us because He is unchanging Truth. Jesus is Spirit in us because He is God. We grow because faith is more and more revealed in us if we ask Him to increase Him and reduce us. Jesus brings us the clean bill of health to get closer to God, our Father.

Our Father is God. God is looking for us. Loving us. We love because He loves.

In SPIRIT In TRUTH In GOD

IN ALL

Amen

—

Jesus said to his disciples (and us):“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17

—

Paul taught: But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:10-18

It’s not an April Fools (April 1st) day joke, but instead knowledge that Jesus wants us to both BE SATISFIED and BE HUNGRY. Both.

Not knowledge just from experience but from His existence. Yes, foolishness by believing in Him, in His Holy Way, was never a joke.  Foolishness in us, sometimes said by others, is for us to NOT being interested in appearance but in ADHERENCE…. Really, how smart it is in letting those worries go. The having of internal knowledge of God is not from our achievement in learning but from our allowing of filling, in letting the Spirit lead and interpret our HOPE. Be satisfied.

Be Satisfied and fueled up with Holy Spirit. 

Does the Spirit make us hungry? Yes. 

I had a partial dream this morning and a conversation of faith came up in the corner of the scen. It was a conversation with someone, but I don’t know with whom, perhaps just and wonderfully it was with the Holy Spirit Himself who told me: “Be satisfied”. He and I leaned into knowing that God is in control and we have life parts to fulfill.  It was not BE SATISFIED then stop moving, but just keep knowing to work IN UNDERSTANDING, in believing and to be SATISFIED with His instructions, purpose, plan. BE.

How many times we learn by the hard way to internalize our motives, moments, and more. To hide our hearts, first from the desire to not appear foolish then hide our hearts because we would be taunted by our peers or ourselves for not serving ourselves more. How much more in these times do we find the ONLY ONE who understands us is the ONE who created us. If we deny ourselves and open to His Will, we Will find the Way.

How can we survive, yet be cross-foolish? Because our survival is not dependent upon us. Let us hunger for more of Him, His Ways, His understanding of what’s important and BE SATISFIED. 

We do need to open our eyes to our REAL needs, versus what we thought we needed. We also retrospectively should know we are forgiven for our previous forever worldly following, we are forgiven. And the foolishness of forgiveness is believing God tells us: BE SMART today, for the new day.

This can be a deep philosophical introspection, or we can take this pondering in a light hearted look at our lives. We best live in the present moment. God who does not change, and the answer will ALWAYS be: Be still and know that I am God. Be still and let Me do what REALLY needs to be done. Be still.  BE. BE YOU, MY CHILD. 

Be

Be Satisfied. 

Keep going…

Amen 

—

1st Corinthians 18-21

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

This was a tremendous movie of a tremendous servant Nektarios: “Man of God”.  This was a special showing. Theater was mostly full, likely mostly greek orthodox folks, like my friend who invited me (please pray for a miracle healing of her heart in chronic heart failure, thanks.)

Nektarios was first a preacher, then also a healer. We hear of someone like Bernadette and her faith at Lourdes, healing pools of water, but this movie focused on the man himself not the miracles, until the last scene with Mickey Rourke’s character experiencing a powerful healing for paralysis, tears in his belief and repentance, quite moving. 

Nektarios walked the walk and talked the talk, including not talking, taking punishment for himself instead of inflicting others…. and we heard his conversations with the Lord for he was persecuted unfairly. His writing was powerful and moving, in the 1910’s and 1920’s, he had quite the following and even helped a group of women establish a convent monastery. They were pestered by accusations, but all cleared of any wrong… 

He was at minimum always repenting for being a sinner, even though we would call him super good. He always prayed for forgiveness. I was just reading about king David and inflicting pain and death unto Uriah, being reprimanded by Nathan (2 Samuel 12), and how opposite this Nektarios was, living simply and taking on punishment for others. 

This movie was special and riveting, set in Greece, and even miraculous happenings for its filming. 

I especially enjoyed the constant reminder of not the miracles but that they represented true faith. He kept saying: my faith is not up to me. That’s a central truth we also must realize. Our faith is God expressing His Truth thru us. We preach, He reaches…

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt6060964/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

“Exiled unjustly, convicted without trial, slandered without cause. Man of God depicts the trials and tribulations of Saint Nektarios of Aegina, as he bears the unjust hatred of his enemies while preaching the Word of God.”

In SPIRIT, we look for TRUTH. In TRUTH, we look for SPIRIT.

IN looking, we find HOLY SPIRIT looking for us.

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Let us Know, Witness and Worship God – in Spirit and in Truth.

The Spirit moving in us will bring us to Witness and Worship. The Spirit can put our desires just to live in the flesh to death and give us LIFE. LIFE comes from Jesus covering us with His Blood.

Jesus is in us in Truth. Jesus is True in us because He is unchanging Truth. We grow because He is more and more revealed in us if we ask Him to increase. Jesus brings us the clean bill of health to get closer to God, our Father.

Our Father is God. God is looking for us. Loving us. We love because He loves.

---

Amen

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Jesus said to his disciples (and us): “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17

---

Paul taught: But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:10-18

I realized the typo in the previous post – ALPHA AND OMEGA – which is fitting and wonder-ful…

I wrote: Price of Peace instead of Prince of Peace.

So cool how our mistakes are even in His message – just like He always covers us.

He covers our mistakes because His life is the Price of Peace… as He is the Prince of Peace…

Cool, Lord, cool…

Thank You Lord, Thank You!

---

ALPHA AND OMEGA

Lord

Prince of Peace

Holy One

Almighty

---

Overcomer

Messiah

Emmanuel

God

ALPHA AND OMEGA

---

ALPHA AND OMEGA

Lord

Price of Peace

Holy One

Almighty

---

Overcomer

Messiah

Emmanuel

God

ALPHA AND OMEGA

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Placing flowers on my Dad’s grave for what would have been my Dad’s birthday, I enjoyed watching the birds and hearing God’s comfort. We remembered many blessings of my Dad. Here’s my devotion of remembrance: reprinted and condensed from last summer:

Bluebirds for the Word

It is said that miracles serve to bring us back to the Word.

While walking in the cemetery this morning, supporting my mom in placing flowers on my Dad’s grave for what would have been his birthday, I couldn’t help but hear the birds singing loudly. The Holy Spirit reminds us that God is active in our lives, the Holy Spirit “IS” MOVING in our midst… 

This reminded me of the BLESSINGS, after my Dad’s passing last summer, of spending time with family, in LOVE’S outpouring of support. Two days after he passed, we took a respite visit to the Farmers Market. The blue flowers caught my eye, I had 4 bucks left. SOLD. Carried it back to the car then I quickly looked at the tag and saw the name was BLUE BIRD. Haha Lord!!! The name of my Dad’s favorite bird: BLUEBIRD.

I don’t have to tell you all my many God-sightings (God winks) to convince you that God is paying attention, I know that you also have seen these Holy Spirit movements. One could wonder what is simply serendipity coincidence, but I knew at that very moment, this WAS the Spirit saying that He Himself IS taking care of my Dad. And Jesus taught us that if our Father takes care of the birds, how much more He takes care of us. 

Bluebirds are special and so was my Dad, this miracle points me back to the Word because if bluebirds require special houses, high off the ground, how much more does the Lord love us and prepare a room for each of us in His House, His Kingdom.

We pray in Jesus’s name, He sends the Holy Spirit. I prayed for His Spirit to help carry my father. God gave me Hope. I know not just because a little birdie told me, but because Jesus did.

Amen

—-

1 Corinthians 2:7, 10-12:  …we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery…. as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 

A friend is a few weeks away from knee surgery, so this season finds her sitting on the bench today, but her new knee new season will be SO MUCH better soon… she will await the next season with anticipation. she has been reminded, like us, to number our days.

Like the old advice says, you CAN do everything, have everything, in life, but NOT necessarily all at once.

This also means to appreciate the season of your life now. Don’t let the coldness of the past keep you from enjoying today.

Sometimes seasons switch from spring-sprung to barely peeping. Snowdrops then the tulip trees as well as forsythia and daffodils. Next slice of the season will be flowering quinces – and this year they will be BEAUTIFUL because I didn’t overtrim the bushes at the wrong time last year. Yes, we need to know how to prepare for the next season. If the flowering quinces know when to bloom, when to fruit, and when to leaf-out, so can we. They have a cycle, they have seasons. Us too, like Joni Mitchell sings. A Carousel of Time, in The Circle Game… we can grab what seems to be a fast up and down horse or the stationary seat while on the ride of life, but the carousel will turn and move us at the same speed each time. It’s our time perception that changes. We realize at the end of the ride that we wish it were longer, or we spend the whole ride trying to win a brass ring for another ride that we forget to enjoy the ride we are on.

Our job is to realize which season we are in now and bloom OR spread our leaves, OR harden down for winter, or plant for summer… No one said you can’t do things off season, but it’s best to be IN SEASON with where you are now. Pick up on cues and clues….

Especially realizing earthly life’s being just a small slice of forever life hopefully makes us appreciate the beauty of the moment AND the OPPORTUNITY of the moment.

Opportunity, that is what the religious leaders of the time squandered in Jesus’s time. They were too busy to realize they were out of season and certainly were not watching for the next season. Simeon at the temple knew Jesus as Messiah as the baby approached, but all of Israel did not. They were stuck in their dry season. Jesus cursed a fig tree for not being in bloom, the symbolism is of Israel not being fruitful when they could have known the Messiah was on His Way.  We are also to know that Jesus is on His Way to us any cloud now. We are to be in current season ready, to bear fruit or use our harvest, and to prepare for the next season. Our preparation now will let fruits of this season benefit those in the next.

What can we know about today? That we are to make the most of it. Jesus also taught that if we ask in His name, we can move mountains.

Jesus also said: when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Like the old advice says, you CAN do everything, have everything, in life, but not necessarily all at once. Let us appreciate our life now. Let us not get stuck in last season but spring into life, one blossom at a time. Let us forgive to be forgiven. Forgiveness is the soil softening and soul softening we need all in one. All in One, due to One, our Lord.

Let us bear fruit in faithfulness and trust God to not only bring us thru this season, but prepare us for the next.

Amen

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Mark 11:12-21, 22-25 Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

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A Circle Game, Joni Mitchell

Yesterday a child came out to wander

Caught a dragonfly inside a jar

Fearful when the sky was full of thunder

And tearful at the falling of a star

…

And the seasons, they go round and round

And the painted ponies go up and down

We’re captive on the carousel of time

We can’t return, we can only look

Behind, from where we came

And go round and round and round, in the circle game

…

Then the child moved ten times round the seasons

Skated over ten clear frozen streams

Words like, “When you’re older” must appease him

And promises of someday make his dreams

…

And the seasons, they go round and round

And the painted ponies go up and down

We’re captive on the carousel of time

We can’t return, we can only look

Behind, from where we came

And go round and round and round, in the circle game

…

16 springs and 16 summers gone now

Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town

And they tell him, “Take your time, it won’t be long now

‘Til you drag your feet to slow the circles down”

…

And the seasons, they go round and round

And the painted ponies go up and down

We’re captive on the carousel of time

We can’t return, we can only look

Behind, from where we came

And go round and round and round, in the circle game

…

So the years spin by and now the boy is 20

Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true

There’ll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty

Before the last revolving year is through

…

And the seasons, they go round and round

And the painted ponies go up and down

We’re captive on the carousel of time

We can’t return, we can only look

Behind, from where we came

And go round and round and round, in the circle game

And go round and round and round, in the circle game