Psalm 37: 23-24 The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

SO MANY people went to the water today – for a polar plunge – and soon after they were quickly scattered and gone… WHEW! never saw so many clear out so fast…

Some people were scared and some were dared – and some of course were like “it’s not that hard” because they were PREPARED.

Isn’t that what we are supposed to be? PREPARED! If we step into the world, we are expected to get sometimes a cold shoulder to our warmth, get a slap of cold water onto our warm heart, get interrupted BY someone in the middle of a prayer FOR that someone… Well? keep praying… keep walking… keep splashing… keep hearing the call – though you may stumble you will not fall. The Lord upholds with His Hand and His Plan… The steps are firm even if they go squish thru the mud. Mud, you know, is how they make bricks, and buildings, and walkways…

Keep splashing the Spirit… Keep the faith… Keep stepping thru the mud!

I was feeling dry,

But the Lord said don’t cry. 

It is readily reading from my Word that you should ply, apply, and reapply. 

I don’t know Life’s whys but I know His Word is WHY.

It’s WHY, it’s What, it’s How, It’s When, Where and Why.

When? Now. Now, Then, Forever and in every When.

God’s Word is Him. Sufficient to be in. Good time is spent within.

Amen

---

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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

Isaiah 55:8-13

The Strains of the Cross,

The Stains on the Cross,

The Pains of the Cross,

The Remains on the Cross,

The Reclaim of the Cross,

The GAINS on the CROSS.

.

Our Savior Reigns. Forever Life Regained. 

.

The once Banes of the Cross, 

Death’s Disdains by the Cross, 

Led to EXCLAIMS on the Cross, 

Salvation PROCLAIMS via the Cross,

A Savior Reigns over the Cross,

The Name Above All Names CHOSE this Cross, HIS Cross.

.

Our Savior fulfilled only Gains. Our Lord Savior Saves. Proclaim His Name.

Amen

---

Isaiah 12

In that day you will say: “I will praise you, Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

Psalm 96

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.

In looking for “Closure to Open”  29MAR – #541 – a favorite blog over half a blog life ago, I found/find comfort in where the Lord had my head, and where He needs it now.  I am thankful for thankfulness… I read in my little devotion book this morning about thankfulness. About it’s being a shift in your life and 100% percent I say YES.

So with thankfulness (and a busy schedule) I rerelease a few of my favorites at that link below – including this one:

Closure to Open

a Holy Thursday Reflection…

A counselor once told me: “You need closure, so that you can open up fully…”

I thought that was an interesting juxtaposition of terms – of closing to be open…

I’ve been praying on that irony… and I understand. To close wounds allows us to redirect our energy, our purpose, our hope. God heals and we help by allowing Him to do His work.

The Living Water of Jesus was purposefully directed to us, His flow allows us to LIVE.

A rose waiting to bloom is ready to open, but not until directed cues cause the water to enter the petals, the cells to expand, and a bloom form for the eye to behold…. see, feel, smell the sweet aroma of life.

Can you see your heart like a rose ready to bloom? God holds your heart petals together. Can you see how the closures of leaks would not remove the water that may have leaked thru the tears but redirects the water into hydrating flow that will grow you? He will bloom you. He makes all things beautiful…

“You need closure, to open fully…”

Jesus thru His death and resurrection brings back the sweet aroma of life, today, everyday, evermore. Back to the Garden… Easter is the opening, the redirection of His Spirit for our future to be realized in the present – God wants to be known. He blooms new life into us because of closure of Jesus’s short earthly form. The flow of Living Water now available for all.

“You need closure, to open fully…”

Closure is a process none of us takes lightly, nor can we try to force it… Any time we need closure, remember that it’s because Loving God wants redirecting of His Life in and thru you… to open you… to bloom… to bear fruit…. to LIVE… to LIVE now… to LIVE again…

Amen

…

https://debbieupper.blog/2018/03/

Death and the thought of it (especially in Easter time) brings us closer to life.  Closing one Act and opening another…

I watched the school musical, Addams Family, so well performed, watched it twice, 2 sets of actors in lead roles, each brought the characters to their own interpretation still while staying true to the established expectations of us TV generation – and that’s not easy because this TV generation kid knows even the expected smiles of the beloved characters, – so even if the wardrobe was perfect, it’s the smiles or lack there of that sells the story as “authentic” Granted this musical is based more on the movie than the TV show…. 

What makes me now smile internally is seeing the Christian references pop out in “secular” stories…  Talking about the dead, how could it not? Looking at graveyard scenes, it was filled with crosses. The display case too had a vintage era looking weathered cross. Interesting that in secular places, one lead actress in her alternate non-lead character on the 2nd night, was portraying a deceased nun as a backup player. A nun with a cross around her neck, naturally…  She held up the cross as defensive offensive work in some of the scenes where all the craziness was coming out in the characters…  Yeah – this was not presented as a faith play but I got a smile because God found His “in”… 

God finds His “in” – or simply we scratch the surface of where He already IS in… Yes, in death we just reflect on the need for the Lord – and even those who don’t necessarily worship the Lord can often be seen to appreciate those who do – and take it as “a norm” to turn to faith…  Of course, this is not true in each country – we can both demonstrate our faith and even demonstrate a ho-hum attitude to it in the US – but in many countries they have to keep their faith underwraps but open to the Lord’s needs. And in some they become martyrs for their faith.

Good Lord – I do ponder our ability to both believe and not believe… And I do appreciate opportunities to give you credit where credit is due…

The Addams Family is funny – and as a hat trick to this past weekend where the sermon at church and songs played all seemed to point (naturally) to the truly Easter theme – “death brings life”…   Death of the Lord brings Him and us new Life. Our own death will bring new life in Him. In the meantime, death of our earthly wants and cruxes, brings new Life in freedom from shackling chains that we get to drop. And death to the wickedness of evil in a broken world (after the Rapture and 1000 years Millennium) will be SO JOYFUL after such pain. Even if we will see not necessarily in our lifetime, surely as Heavenly observers, we will witness these stages of death to new life time…  

At intermission of the Addams Family musical I ate cookies while waiting for the final act – and took some home for later…  At this Lenten time of reflection, let us also be joyful in waiting for the final act – hold onto Joy and take some home for later… We already have been admitted to the “theatre of life” – the ticket was paid for and punched – and the curtain has not closed yet, so keep living it out. Keep living LIFE before Death to prep for LIFE after Death. Even best, we are now “behind the curtain” – so we get to see Jesus bringing for His new Acts to Life…  

Amen 

—-

Psalm 97

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.

All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols— worship him, all you gods! Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, Lord. For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.

There’s projects that will go unfinished in life, and some we finish some just to finish. Some things left half done or 90% done but we need to push to wrap up, some we don’t even start because we are afraid we can’t finish. 

My sewing pile, that letter to a friend, half thoughts not shared, work stuff. And sometimes we wish stuff would go away, like icky projects. Sometimes they do. Sometimes we can just walk away. Sometimes we just need time to walk back.  

If there are piles of unfolded laundry, we just move those baskets around, need motivation to put them away, but a fresh dryerfull, still warm? mmmm, I could dispense with that in no time. Hmmm… A house cluttered for weeks, but if company is coming? In 10 minutes it’s marvelous.  Hmmm… Solution? Rewash the laundry and invite people over for visits and keep up with the motivation. Or don’t sweat the small stuff and have people over anyway – wear stuff from the laundry baskets too…

Many a devotional thought is half finished when I stop to think about it rather than just live it, maybe it is to rest on my brain longer,  in my heart too. Maybe we are to hold thoughts of pondering Him and see then how He tackles the day, is the Way, and suffers too the lost projects. Oh, I see where this devotional writing it going: we are God’s unfolded laundry… oh… We collectively have members of the world who are unfolded, not in Jesus’s sheep fold-collective yet because they still have the wool over their eyes, and He is out there working on finding them, ready to give them a clean shave to see. Even us who stray and fray and gray are sometimes too long out in the field, due for a rewash, a fresh start, a breezy clean smell of Holy Spirit. If the motivation is what we need, only one spark can re-light our fire, the Lord. 

One thing that we do know, is that unfinished stuff will always remain on earth. Like breaking up a house, either we do it or someone else will. Like the sewing pile, someone knowledgeable will salvage it, or someone overwhelmed will toss it. But God? He knows where and what to do with HIS STUFF: US. He did finish the work He established by sending Jesus to take away the burden of sin and have us walk as sheep into His fold, and better yet He lifted us in because no matter how high you can jump out of your skin, you can not jump our of your sin – Jesus needs to lift you to His Arms and lift your stains from your way, His Way. And if we get stale or soiled, we can be rewashed on the spot. Jesus, His motivation never waivers… He finishes. He recollects, He rewashes. He re-folds.

Jesus finished the wash but He is still folding…

Keep the faith that Jesus will be there for everyone who wants to be clean.

Amen

 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

THE LORD -Reigns -IS Robed -IS Majestic -HAS Strength

THE LORD -IS Established -IS Firm -IS Secure -IS Throned -For Eternity

THE LORD – IS Lifted -IS Vocal -IS Mighty -IS Mightier -Stands Firm

THE LORD -IS Holiness –IS High on the Mighty -IS IN HIS House

FOR Endless Days

…

Psalm 93 – One small Psalm – One God LARGER than all.

The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure. our throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea – the Lord on high is mighty. Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.

Oh the fun of scratch offs – which you know are rip offs – but fun anyway to play to dream to puzzle and oh to win…  even if it is only a dollar to get another ticket…

I don’t over indulge and too many do in a “get rich quick” dream obsession, but a scratch off sitting in the trash can next to the ATM really caught my eye – it was not scratched off.  It had the QR code scratched only – what weird waste of the fun part of the scratch off games…. what a waste of not money but the “not time” devoted to fun…  hmmm….  i grabbed it and took a photo and yeah i scratched it – only 4 8’s where 5 were needed to win…  yeah i confirmed that scratch offs are likely to not pay off…  but what is the point of buying and not scratching… Hmmmm…

That got me thinking – what is the point of faith without works – and works without faith….  IT IS FAITH that helps put us with the works that God asks us to do – like give a hug, a helpful hand, a haul of stuff, a holding of a hand of hurt, and a huffah of a laugh whole heartedly…   Don’t grab your salvation without scratching the surface of servanthood – or even some of the suffering…  Don’t scratch minimally and run…. Savor the Scratch of the Surface of the Savior’s Style…  Be Present. 

I gave my mom scratch off tickets for her birthday – she is a leprechaun – even if not irish – she celebrates the irish…  she IS lucky and she IS blessed…  she does win thing – but these scratch offs that I gave her for her birthday are just for fun – i collected via my friends from 11 different states – cool huh? just for unique fun…  does it matter if she makes cash? not really – because we already won fun.

Does it matter if we scratch the surface of our faith more deeply  – OH YEAH!!!! It Matters!

Be the blessed of the lucky today – and take God’s advice – BE HIS…

Amen

.

—–

Proverbs 11

The Lord detests dishonest scales,
    but accurate weights find favor with him.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom.

The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness delivers from death.

The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
   but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

Hopes placed in mortals die with them;
    all the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.

The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.

When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

A gossip betrays a confidence,
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

For lack of guidance a nation falls,
    but victory is won through many advisers.

Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.

A kindhearted woman gains honor,
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

Truly the righteous attain life,
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.

The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,
    but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

A generous person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.

Those who trust in their riches will fall,
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

If the righteous receive their due on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Have you ever known someone who wastes energy in fighting a fight that won’t be won? Or someone carrying a grudge which prevents them from experiencing the benefits of that relationship? well – yeah – and so sad but so common… and who are the people around them that suffer that tiptoe-ing ripple effect… yeah, wasted energy.

And how much more beneficial when we don’t put ourselves into that defensive mode and just either move on or move away from situations that drag us down rabbit holes of resentments? Stay away from gossips and fear mongers and all those other wasters of time. Notice how people come in and disrupt things and then they disappear when the money is gone or the challenge to build their fame is no longer interesting. Best to keep a lower profile and keep working – be the tortoise instead of the hare –  keep tilling the soil – be in it (life) for the long haul and the plentiful harvest. Desire the Farm over the Fame. The Righteous for God are in good company: “for the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it.” 

Scripture says: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…” , well I just saw LOTS of palm trees in Florida and some were flourishing in natural areas without people trimming and removing the leaves – or they were maintained to perfection high and mighty. The important thing to know about palm trees is their roots are very shallow but they stand so tall and seemingly sturdy – but like us, it is the grip of roots firmly into the soil which keep them from teetering over.  Trees have to withstand the strong storms, but we do have the ability to take refuge in God’s Hands: “But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.”

So how do WE keep from teetering over? realize who is Righting-us, Whose Righteousness is keeping us going. Not ours – and not our “I’m Right” fightedness. It is the Lord for the Lord’s purposes Who is shining His benefits our way. And not just the wicked will perish but the unimportant things of the day – the squabbles – the misunderstandings – the people who disrupt our world and then walk away.  Don’t let them steal your roots from His Soil. All is temporary anyway, except God. All changes, except God. All earthly things won’t make us any better in Heavenly terms, so get right with accepting and wanting His Righteousness over our own. Stay Green not in naivety but in child-like faith

And not all palm trees are coconut palms, just a few…  So, what is the productive thing about coconut palm trees (in addition to looking so nice like the other palms)? Bearing fruit…  The coconut is desired for it gives a highly nutritious power-packed fruit to eat. Many Many more coconuts (like 150 a year) will be produced than the trees that will sprout and grow from them…  Like acorns from an oak tree, averaging over 25 pounds per year of shared fruit, possibly 2000 acorns for a 100 year old tree in a good year, we too must be like these trees and bear good and plentiful fruit to have excess to give away as food and food for thought. “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, witness and experiencing: “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock…” The people who experience and respect His Righteousness are too busy producing good fruit than spending time showing off their leaves, because what are leaves for? Gathering the sun and nutrients and producing sugars to grow into fruits… God knows what you are doing for Him – keep doing it…   Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?  Does he who formed the eye not see?

In other words – don’t worry about showy people or fly by night and disappear people or whim-like people, and keep producing fruit, HIS fruit… Hold your roots onto His Rock and not in the unstable soil of distractors.  Be productive for Our Lord Gardener, Vinedresser, Father…  How Great are HIS Works!! Great enough to let you bear some of His fruit on you! 

Fruit over Folly. Forever. Stay Green my friends.

Amen

——

Psalm 92 – A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.
It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,  proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts! Senseless people do not know, fools do not understand, that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.

But you, Lord, are forever exalted. For surely your enemies, Lord, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered. You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured on me. My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

—-

Psalm 94

The Lord is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long, Lord, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, Lord; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless. They say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.”

Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?  Does he who formed the eye not see?  Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge? The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile. Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.  When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Can a corrupt throne be allied with you – a throne that brings on misery by its decrees? The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the Lord our God will destroy them.

Yesterday I was complaining about not being in Florida warmth anymore. I wonder, if I hadn’t experienced it, would I have been complaining so much about the cold? Hmmm… I AM glad I appreciated it then either way – but yeah, we have expectations once we have privileges. 

I watched a CNN story of a NY Canada border crossing for immigrants as asylum seekers (video link at the bottom), I was touched by the politeness of the situation, the compassion of guards, the local community woman giving out free warm clothes and we heard “God bless” on national TV-video, and I sensed the gratefulness in the hug of the Russian man who just physically reacted in love… there is no greater expression of thank you than one that comes from the heart.

Regardless of legal circumstances, the compassion here was freely given, and I don’t think it was just because the cameras were rolling. We all have to be compassionate to others who have less. I am sure these people will get much scorn later because of an illegal status, but that did not deter a lady giving away mittens – she probably is these people’s statue of liberty in disguise. Lady Liberty off the clock after the boom of “manageable” welcomed huddled masses has been long gone. Yes, so not a legit entry method, but imagine if we had a fraction of compassion as if we watched the Sound of Music’s triumphant mountain climax of asylum seekers.

COMPASSION pours out of us, regardless of our political views of asylum seekers. If you see these faces, it’s hard to stay so cold in spirit. It is a broken world out there – it really is. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. Jesus knew it was a broken world, and if we start to look at the world in those terms then it is easier to put aside the anger and start the compassion.

When I have crossed the Canadian border, which I’ve done at least a dozen or 2 dozen times for vacation, I have always had just a little bit of nervous fear that they wouldn’t believe me – not that I was who I was- because they probably scan the license plate anyway – but because I was worried they wouldn’t believe my intentions or that I wasn’t carrying more than chocolate souvenirs. Yes, people do smuggle stuff across the border, maybe like home improvements construction supplies, people just tend to stretch the rules sometimes. People just are people. In the 50’s and 60’s, my dad’s car was stripped apart at border crossings in an attempt to find any smuggled cigarettes or anything, it was with good trade fairness intentions, hopefully, by the guards, even if it probably also was to demonstrate their authority. And no, my Dad never got in trouble, but I always will remember his stories. 

I’m not making a political statement about the process of nationalism or illegal immigration, but wanted to WITNESS to the COMPASSION of people, or least the routine-ness of it even on a very cold road. The guards were mostly not wearing hats, very adapted to the temperatures, but the immigrants wore hats and mittens, they were walking COLD on a cold road into cold Canada but had some true warmth of insulation: mittens, well-wishes and HOPE. They had real suitcases, paid real money from NYC onto a bus, then money to the taxi driver 28 miles up to the crossing, were walking a cold road but with the best plan they could muster for the future. Again, not to be political but to observe that so often the road of unknown is traversed with hope even through heartache. 

Not surprising, this crossing is getting busier, they walk into being arrested with all the implications and yet someone (who knows the brokenness of the whole situation) helps them with their bags, their paperwork, their hopes. Hmmm…   Jesus walked in to being arrested too… The scriptures state the shock of the guards, falling down. Jesus stood up to say TAKE ME. How interesting that He walked into a broken world WILLINGLY to get us eventually to One that won’t be broken anymore. How interesting that Jesus rode into Jerusalem and was greeted by a warm welcome, but in tears for the people mistook His intentions, thinking He was to make THEIR earthly kingdom restored in the immediate sense, but unaware that He came to make God’s Kingdom restored in a forever sense. How interesting that Jesus took on the known cold road in fulfilment of the scriptures. 

It’s that awareness on the journey we also must walk, we are aware only in part of the healing hope ahead… and we WILL experience this broken world along the way of the Way. We WILL sometimes be the crossing people and sometimes feel like the crossing guard, but must realize JESUS is our crossing guard who helps us with our bags AND our paperwork.

Thank you Jesus for Your Compassion of us – the immigrants you are bringing in from the cold.

Amen

—-

John 18:1-9

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

—

Here is the video:

Roxham road: Why the US northern border is experiencing record migration | CNN

https://us.cnn.com/2023/03/13/us/roxham-canada-border-migrant-increase/index.html

My vacation long weekend quick trip included many choices: discussions of which rental car, which pool, which beach, which restaurant, which bulk candy to scoop, which skeeball machine to play and which toy prize (I got a donut with sprinkles keychain)… ALL GOOD choices to choose from. Our trip to the Atlantic Ocean beach (so beautiful) found us with so many seashells to choose from – collecting all shapes from spirals to oyster shells to cement-like Coquina made from fossils even, broken shells formed into sedimentary rocks, brought in by the waves. We took some, but never could you deplete all the good choices – it is sort of, well totally, unbelievable how many good choices there are. What if we looked upon our life choices that way? Building upon God choices that He brings in like a wave. Pick up on some – and leave some for others.

My friend, local to that beach, discussed her own new life choices, like where to move. My other friend from our earlier days of vacation time had also been contemplating life change: which career path to take now as all kids are of school age… SO many good choices – maybe hard decisions, maybe easy ones – but always many MORE good choices than bad…

Perhaps these life choices for all of us are so numerous that almost like the seashells, there could be no wrong choices or at least time to study the opportunities. Perhaps bad choices could be tossed back to the sea. Granted for both shells, and small and large life choices, some decisions are heavier to carry or harder to carry out, some are temporary like that rental car, or short-lived like that candy, or made into a stepping stone for job choices, like Coquina shell rock, using the past to build the future.

In all, we must learn to trust the Lord to lead our decisions and forgive our mistakes. We need to build upon God choices.  

A friend recently described the benefits of the Holy Spirit going THRU US rather than just to us – and this is as how you channel the whole ocean through your hands, by leaving them open and available to move in God’s Work. Maybe that’s why we have SO many choices because the Holy Spirit wants so many to be OK. We don’t collect the whole ocean but let it flow thru our lives. We use that power of the Holy Spirit to move well. Earthly decisions are TEMPORARY, going out with the next tide, but Heavenly choices? They flow us forward to the Lord. Let us follow God’s Heart as best we can.

Don’t worry about tomorrow, God will give fresh God choices then. Live in today’s wave…

Amen

—
Psalm 93
The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure. Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea — the Lord on high is mighty. Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.

Psalm 91
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

I appreciate that many people write self-help books, they DO want to help – and do want to give you what THEY THINK is great advice – and reach out to enrich our philosophical souls…  However, often this is earthly advice, with a greater purpose in mind… So truthfully, after all my readings of scripture, I can say that Jesus knows the Way, is the Way, sends us on His Way without us having to go it alone. God-given advice looks beyond the boundaries of our mirky view…  Don’t try to read the bumper sticker, hop in the car with Jesus.

Any advice one should ALWAYS check against scripture.  So, although this book “Advanced Soul” seems to have some scriptural inspirations, I find it is mostly not… and the most red of red flags for me was the instructions to randomly flip through the pages, point your finger and get your answer. Hmmmm… God can help pull lots in His favor, but don’t try to read tea leaves if God says don’t drink from that cup. (My apologies to the author and my friend who passed it to me from giving someone else who was done with it, I will stick with the Word).

We are instructed that if it is not from the Word, or contradictory to the Word, it is missing the mark. So I have learned to try to steer clear of the artificial advice, misconstrued mumble, and things seemingly insincere.  This book did come via a beloved friend – and maybe for her it was ok for a season, (like Ecclesiastes 3:1 states) “to every thing there is a season and a time under the heaven.” But maybe it just didn’t satisfy. Maybe it ran dry. . . Maybe I know why, it mostly wasn’t living water to satisfy. 

So for me, I will stick to the Word, I will go for SIMPLE TRUTH in a saved soul over having an “advanced soul”. I will try to be childlike rather than jaded. I will stop fishing for answers and let the Fisherman who caught me just feed me ‘His Line’…  Faith is not a trap but an open path out of the valley of the shadow of death…

Remember always:

God’s got this

God’s got this

God’s got this…

Amen 

Love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

-‐-

Psalm 89:1-29 – A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’”

The heavens praise your wonders, Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings? In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies. The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it. You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name. Your arm is endowed with power;  your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness.

For you are their glory and strength,  and by your favor you exalt our horn. Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: “I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have raised up a young man from among the people. I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. The enemy will not get the better of him; the wicked will not oppress him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries. My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted. I will set his hand over the sea,  his right hand over the rivers. He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’ And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.

—-

Psalm 87
Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.
He has founded his city on the holy mountain. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, city of God: “I will record Rahab and Babylon  among those who acknowledge me— Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush— and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’” Indeed, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her.” The Lord will write in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.” As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.”

---

Well – an hour less of sleep tonight – but that also means an hour less of worry tomorrow.

An hour less of mess, an hour less of complaining, an hour less of stumbling, an hour less of waiting…  an hour less until Jesus comes again…  (hey I like my sleep too – but wow, Jesus is coming an hour quicker now? cool…..)

And Christmas came to me today – and DIDN”T pinch me – wow!  I mean Christmas the crab AND Christmas the shopping!  Yes – I had a Walk to Emmaus Gathering today and brought Christmas with me – the crab – he (yes I studied and determined him as a he) went for a ride and was the basis for my talking about my journey in the spiritual weekend – I didn’t know that I was going to be in charge of one of God’s creatures – 5 years now – he is very low maintenance – and yet Christmas was lost on the ground that october day – a walk directed for me and my walking partner as we listened to our hunch of which path to take (thanks God!).   SO, how could we not pick him up – except we didn’t and had to go back again the next day – he was still there…

In my talk today I spoke about how Christmas has changed shells – and often we do as well – but of course we are strongest in the Armor of God. I also spoke how important it was for me to “come out of my shell” to my co-walking ladies at that weekend – and same now – to have companions of Christ – to have brothers and sisters of each other – we understand each other – and we are NOT to judge…  NOPE!  I also spoke of how Christmas molted and how I had to wait (just like we all have to wait) – and how we are new creations in Christ…

In my Christmas shopping today (I know it is March, but a HUGE sale was brewing at the craft store), I got craft kits for little trees – less than 50 cents each – and christmas wreaths for 1.25…  wow! 

And here is the biggest Christmas gift I got to participate in today – the gift of the Holy Spirit timing…  I hope that my words are not taken as my timing or bragging but that the Lord gave me charge of Christmas the crab for many reasons I don’t see coming until they do, I got to show Christmas to 20 young children today…  WOW! I was walking down the stairs after the Emmaus event – and since I had parked in the back – and grumbled about walking all the way around earlier – I had to leave thru those downstairs doors – and wow!!!  100 children were there for “saturday schoool” – a local eastern european ethnic community raising their children in a church closeness…  feeding them lunch and everything…  cool…  I stopped at the bottom of the stairs for a crying child – he must have fallen – was inconsolable. He did not want to look at Christmas when I pulled him out – but the other 20 children gathered around and I explained how God must have sent me (and my friend) to find him – he was lost…  cool…

We are lost until we are found – and so many children need to hear about God – hear about Jesus – hear about HOPE. We need to let them come and be children and curious and called.  I had many smiles today that God gave me – I had many opportunities to praise…  Who needs grumpling anyway when each day we can PRAISE…

So, one less hour tonight for sleep – but wow – one more hour closer to Jesus coming again – keep an eye out – just like Christmas – and WHAT A SURPRISE that will be!!!!

An hour less is an hour more.

Amen

—

Psalm 85 For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

You, Lord, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.

Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation.

I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants – but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.

Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.

I often pray so hard for a sudden event but follow up with praise afterwards so much more minimally than I should. I have LOTS of praise, and God has even MORE goodness than we could ever praise. 

Praise and prayers for my travelling – classic pray a lot – but how much better for me to start with praise for the last time God delivered answered prayers… in other words  praise praise praise. My vacation time was great, started last Saturday after SLEEPING: 9 to 4! Wanted 5am, but God got me up even earlier, seeing how He thought I was well rested enough to spend the extra hour with Him..  I did write some part of this devotion then,  then wrote alot of others on vacation like I was clearing my mental backlog by remembering to praise! I finished up a fun song below, from what I didn’t finish that first morning before the plane flight. 

It’s back to work now and “regular” life, but praising? We (I) should be praising even more!

Here is the song! Sing it with me! (Inspired by Dolly Parton’s genius)

Sleeping 9 to 5, 

Exhausted from your livin’

Barely gettin’ by

It’s all nappin’ and no dreamin’

You could lose your mind

And the bed is not forgivin’.

It’s enough to drive you

Crazy if you let it.

.

Sleepin’ 9 to 4

What a way to start vacation’.

Sleepin’ 9 to 3

God needs you in devotion’.

Sleepin’ 9 to 2

“Don’t go there” dream interruptn’. 

It’s enough to drive you

Praise-y if you let it.

.

Praising 24/7

That’s how we should be livin’.

God has got us GOOD.

How can we be forgettin’ ?

Rescued me,

I am forever grateful. 

It’s enough to drive you 

Joyful and you know it!!!

—

Amen!

Love being on Vacation.

Love opening a Bible as an OPEN BOOK that I know I have become very blessed to understand and desire… blessed to not back down from a faith conversation either… I loved the opportunity to “flip to a page” from the bible in the hotel room…  it was the “set your face as flint” passage from Isaiah 

The travel was awesome and so was the sticker that had Jesus on it – that I used as my bookmark… I love that statue from Rio – and it is cool that people will think of Jesus when they travel… and when they live…

Get your strength from Heaven – there is no better place!

Amen

—————-

Psalm 84 New King James Version

The Blessedness of Dwelling in the House of God. To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young— Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah O God, behold our shield, And look upon the face of Your anointed.

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

The Lord will give grace and glory;

No good thing will He withhold

From those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

I had a WELL DONE burger at the restaurant last night, which was a tourist opportunity for appreciating wildlife in captivity (gators, parrots) and in the wild. Well done burger for food safety, and yet how even more safe we are in Heaven, and there we can say: “Well done, Lord!”

Driving through rain and traffic back from dinner, I was appreciative of the safe landing at our home away from home on vacation… I bet a couple days from now I will be grateful for a safe plane landing back home… so in between I will be grateful for everything… and forever I will be worshipful grateful for God’s Provisions… WELL DONE LORD!!!

AMEN 

We are a VAPOR, God knows that for sure… 

He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return. Psalm 78

.

God gave us a brain, let us use it. 

God gave us Grace, let us accept it. 

God gave us life, let us live it. 

We are a vapor, He is eternal. 

But He still blew life into you anyway, so your vapor could be IN His Breeze.

.

David became a shepherd to the sheep, 

a king to the kingdom, 

an ancestor to the Lord. 

David came from a people who drifted and strayed, 

but God kept the Kingdom coming anyway. 

.

God chose to take the vapor and cook up something good…

God chose you to be with Him.

Amen

---

Psalm 78, a History of His Faithfulness

Psalm 78
A maskil of Asaph.

1 My people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
3 things we have heard and known,
things our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their descendants;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
to teach their children,
6 so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
7 Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds
but would keep his commands.
8 They would not be like their ancestors—
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God,
whose spirits were not faithful to him.

9 The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows,
turned back on the day of battle;
10 they did not keep God’s covenant
and refused to live by his law.
11 They forgot what he had done,
the wonders he had shown them.
12 He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors
in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and led them through;
he made the water stand up like a wall.
14 He guided them with the cloud by day
and with light from the fire all night.
15 He split the rocks in the wilderness
and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
16 he brought streams out of a rocky crag
and made water flow down like rivers.

17 But they continued to sin against him,
rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High.
18 They willfully put God to the test
by demanding the food they craved.
19 They spoke against God;
they said, “Can God really
spread a table in the wilderness?
20 True, he struck the rock,
and water gushed out,
streams flowed abundantly,
but can he also give us bread?
Can he supply meat for his people?”
21 When the Lord heard them, he was furious;
his fire broke out against Jacob,
and his wrath rose against Israel,
22 for they did not believe in God
or trust in his deliverance.
23 Yet he gave a command to the skies above
and opened the doors of the heavens;
24 he rained down manna for the people to eat,
he gave them the grain of heaven.
25 Human beings ate the bread of angels;
he sent them all the food they could eat.
26 He let loose the east wind from the heavens
and by his power made the south wind blow.
27 He rained meat down on them like dust,
birds like sand on the seashore.
28 He made them come down inside their camp,
all around their tents.
29 They ate till they were gorged—
he had given them what they craved.
30 But before they turned from what they craved,
even while the food was still in their mouths,
31 God’s anger rose against them;
he put to death the sturdiest among them,
cutting down the young men of Israel.

32 In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;
in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.
33 So he ended their days in futility
and their years in terror.
34 Whenever God slew them, they would seek him;
they eagerly turned to him again.
35 They remembered that God was their Rock,
that God Most High was their Redeemer.
36 But then they would flatter him with their mouths,
lying to him with their tongues;
37 their hearts were not loyal to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
38 Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
39 He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return.

40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
and grieved him in the wasteland!
41 Again and again they put God to the test;
they vexed the Holy One of Israel.
42 They did not remember his power—
the day he redeemed them from the oppressor,
43 the day he displayed his signs in Egypt,
his wonders in the region of Zoan.
44 He turned their river into blood;
they could not drink from their streams.
45 He sent swarms of flies that devoured them,
and frogs that devastated them.
46 He gave their crops to the grasshopper,
their produce to the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail
and their sycamore-figs with sleet.
48 He gave over their cattle to the hail,
their livestock to bolts of lightning.
49 He unleashed against them his hot anger,
his wrath, indignation and hostility—
a band of destroying angels.
50 He prepared a path for his anger;
he did not spare them from death
but gave them over to the plague.
51 He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt,
the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.
52 But he brought his people out like a flock;
he led them like sheep through the wilderness.
53 He guided them safely, so they were unafraid;
but the sea engulfed their enemies.
54 And so he brought them to the border of his holy land,
to the hill country his right hand had taken.
55 He drove out nations before them
and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance;
he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes.

56 But they put God to the test
and rebelled against the Most High;
they did not keep his statutes.
57 Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless,
as unreliable as a faulty bow.
58 They angered him with their high places;
they aroused his jealousy with their idols.
59 When God heard them, he was furious;
he rejected Israel completely.
60 He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh,
the tent he had set up among humans.
61 He sent the ark of his might into captivity,
his splendor into the hands of the enemy.
62 He gave his people over to the sword;
he was furious with his inheritance.
63 Fire consumed their young men,
and their young women had no wedding songs;
64 their priests were put to the sword,
and their widows could not weep.

65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
as a warrior wakes from the stupor of wine.
66 He beat back his enemies;
he put them to everlasting shame.
67 Then he rejected the tents of Joseph,
he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;
68 but he chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which he loved.
69 He built his sanctuary like the heights,
like the earth that he established forever.
70 He chose David his servant
and took him from the sheep pens;
71 from tending the sheep he brought him
to be the shepherd of his people Jacob,
of Israel his inheritance.
72 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;
with skillful hands he led them.

The flip side of Jesus going after the one sheep lost, is that he leaves 99 behind… But I know shepherds surely don’t usually work alone; they have other shepherds to help…  So, those other 99, they probably will be perfectly fine. They (we) like sheep can stick together closely, right? Jesus is sure they will – otherwise He wouldn’t charge them with taking care of each other… We do know best to stay together and we must be willing to be OK. Yes.

We do know how to stick together, right? Yes, we do. We do know how to huddle and ask Jesus to come find us, right? We hopefully do. We do know how to follow and keep on the path, right? We prayerfully do.

Jesus would go after just the one, and we must also sometimes put our needs aside and be Jesus to go after that one or this one or any one. (Sometimes simply most powerfully in prayer we can reach them by God if we can’t reach them by hand).

So often we need to take some time with Jesus. Jesus would understand that, Jesus Himself went 40 days out into the wilderness just to be with God and God alone. In ourselves we can find that special hidden place where we discuss everything with God. 

The Lord knows so much that He waits out where you are going, He knows. Jesus is there, Jesus is aware. We are children of His flock.

Amen

---

Psalm 77 (said Jesus from Heaven)

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.

I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.

I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night.  My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

“Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles;you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.

Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.

You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 5:8-10

Children of the Light,

Try to live life right.

Sleepers of the night,

Try to sleep tight.

Awake children to take flight.

Work the soil and fight the fight.

Be the Lords, be HIS Children of the Light

Amen

I heard a “new to me” term – “LAZARUS SATURDAY”… What? Oh! That makes sense. Those days/weeks before Palm Sunday (and a few times before that) are when Jesus was with Lazarus, Mary and Martha in Bethany… OH!!!!! So cool to appreciate this term… I Googled and Wikipedia-ed it and it IS a real feast observance day for some near the end of Lent. “Lazarus Friday” and “Lazarus Saturday”… There’s even a tasty feast bread “Lazarakia” made to look like a wrapped Lazarus bodies. Cool… (Imagine tearing off some bread strips like his wrappings – and remembering Jesus in breaking the bread is like Him by taking the rap and allowing us to take some of the wraps of death – the grave cloths – off of ourselves.)

When my son was little, in Sunday school, the class did the classic toilet paper wrapping of each other to pretend like being Lazarus – adorable- but also I said to myself, “someday I hope my son will remember this” – our experiences in making Bible characters come alive for children (and us) puts motions to concepts, gives understanding at a basic level, and gets seeds planted deeply, protected and ready to sprout dozens of years later.

Lazarus. Jesus knew that plan. Jesus walked that plan. Jesus lived that plan: to let death enter into the equation of how life will become forever. Jesus came to Lazarus but only after a few days, He knew God needed the people to see a HUGE sign, Jesus knew that He had to let his friend Lazarus pass away, and the hearts break in Mary and Martha. Jesus knew His Own Walk would mirror this time, take His Own close friends and family and followers from triumphant Palm Sunday into DESPAIR, just a short time later. This job, was a job only Jesus could do. Only Jesus could know, act, wait, weep, and bring it all to be worshipful. Only Jesus. That was a Jesus Job.

What was something only Jesus knew? That He had to WAIT. Jesus was walking towards His death and deliverance, He even pre-wrote in His Word all thru the prophets in the old testament. We wait all the time for little things, IMAGINE the LONG TIME Jesus had to wait. (Imagine the long wait even now for Jesus to return)… Jesus had even to endure knowing that Lazarus was so so close and yet the action plan was not timed yet to go, Jesus had to WAIT. When it really was time, His disciples were then wondering IF they should travel or not over to Lazarus, said to be a short trip but perhaps dangerous, but Jesus knew He had a “Jesus Job” to do. 

He came. Martha said, He’s dead, Mary also said: if only you could have come at our request. They all were in total despair, and their teacher also seemed to have been distant. Jesus wept. Jesus wept for and with them. Jesus was made to wait for the longterm solution and NOT the quick fix. No bandaid approach. Just REAL HEALING. Jesus then had to remind her this was not the end. Jesus had to say: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

Was it human agony to wait out the pause? To wait and watch God-sized ducks get in a row? For Jesus to NOT call down an angel, or simply walk to Lazarus before he was dead. Who could endure such agony in WAITING? WHO? JESUS.  Who could face their own death as part of the plan, then keep walking and working up until that last moment? JESUS. 

OH LAZARUS SATURDAY, LAZARUS FRIDAY… What distraction it must have been to focus on one person’s death and life (and the teaching of hundreds, thousands, billions in addition to 2 sisters) all while walking into your own death. Not just death but complete distance from God to remove all our sins. Only Jesus could take that job. 

Waiting..  only Jesus… Actually? Only Jesus? Knowing what we know now, can we do some of Jesus’s waiting? Could we pick up some of these other “Jesus jobs” too? Hmmm… I bet we can, with the help of the Holy Spirit, Jesus knows we can.

If you are waiting on a friend, to realize something, to wake up, to calm down, to come back? You have a Jesus job.

If you have to forgive a grievance, right a wrong that you did not cause, you have a Jesus job.

If you see someone lost and have to hand them a map, you have a Jesus job.

If you are facing suffering and death yourself but have to keep faith, have to encourage, you have a Jesus job.

If you believe when others waiver, and you can speak in truth, that IS a Jesus Job.

If you ever had to wait on anything in your life, Jesus has been there (Jesus is here) waiting with you.

Jesus was made for the Job, the Job was made for Jesus. Let us be Lazarus-like and renewed, be Jesus-love-like and be believing in FOREVER.. how ever long the wait is to get there… Let us believe in Jesus and be one less tear He needs to shed.

Let’s pick up some “Jesus jobs” while we are waiting. 

Amen 

—

John 11:25-44

Jesus said to her [Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

---

Lord, Please Settle My Dust.

Ahhh, from dust we came, and to dust we shall return. Lord, please settle my dust before I return.

Lord, our dust is damaged and in disarray from earthly pain and perturbations of Your Spirit flow. Lord, please soothe and rearrange us to Your standards and make us joyful instead of anxious. Lord, settle our dust.

My dust Lord is missing a few pieces, but You know where they went. It is ok if You gave them away to help others,  it is even better that Jesus gave me some new dust from His dust to make me whole. My dust Lord is sometimes clumped clumsily in me, my toil incomplete and often ineffective, please iron me out, bring me into Your usefulness again. My dust, Lord, is sometimes dormant. I wish to reassert my ways for Your work. Give up my knowledge in exchange for Your masterful plan. Lord, light our way and unclog our vision, settle down the dust we blind ourselves with, help us to clearly see You. Our dust collectively will return to the earth, so Lord, please use it to replant Your Garden.

Help us make the most of our dust and leave behind dust trails that glorify You. I want to know what I have done with my dust has pleased You.

Until the day we return back our dust, keep us Lord, in Your Fortress, magnetize us to see You, know You, follow You.

You are our refuge. In You, Lord, we trust.

Amen

---

Psalm 91

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Dust Storm

I am so blessed to have heard a sermon on Ash Wednesday from a friend who spoke of ashes as dust – dark and light, black and white and to be reminded that we are “made from ashes – and to ashes we will become”…

This morning in my mediation in the Word, I had like a beam of light that shined thru some of that dust inside my head and as I connected my thoughts there was a mini explosion of a dust storm….  whoosh…

We are a Dust Storm! We are a Dust Storm in the process of settling down. And when we shine the LIGHT of Jesus – that GLOW from our face – that is when our dust settles down and stops blocking out His light from beaming thru us…

YES! He SHINES when our dust settles down.

Our reflection of His light is better thru our selflessness than morphed as refractions thru our selfishness.

When dust storms settle, the light will shine thru better and brighter… when dust storms kick up, you can still see the light illuminate each and every particle of dust – you still see light and know that you are a part of a bigger event… Then, when dust settles, we can look out past our dust storm to the horizon…

When we look past our own selves, and our own cluster of dust, we can see the future God is trying to move us to.

When I am confused and stressed and life is full of a jumble of thoughts – I need to talk it out of my system to settle the dust storm in my head… I don’t lose the dust, I just settle it and build upon it.

When I am so overloaded with joy and energy and exuberance – I need to work it out of my system to settle the dust storm in my head. I don’t lose the dust, I just settle it and build upon it.

And as Jesus is the living water, when I dampen down the dust in my head with His mist, and look for His Light, then Jesus can shine thru…

When we pass our fingers thru dust settled on a table, we reveal the clear surface underneath. This is a microcosm of times when God pulls His Son, in His right hand, thru our minds, clearing the picture, seeing the clear path to follow… We need Jesus to settle us and light our way.

God wants to settle us into a proper place.   Jesus is the light that shines thru… AND Jesus is the living water to hydrate the situation.

Settle your dust and see a chance to move towards peace.

Amen

God is LOVE and love does not boast. (1st Corinthians 13). I have a friend who says (and actively works at) this process: “Breathe in Jesus and breathe out me”… It is an active exchange: removing ego of self – and instead taking in the desire for more serving – more sensitivity – more selflessness.  Be Jesus – Breathe Jesus… Be renewed and renewing. Less Me, More YOU, Lord. How else will we be of clean hearts?

Love is not a force of arrogance nor is boastful.  God is not arrogant, He is all powerful as a fact. We might want to boast about God and His power – but it is not like He is doing it as a show. God really is ALL POWERFUL to the point that He can and did give up His Son in sacrifice, and Jesus gave up His life in sacrifice, to bring us closer to Him forever. God is powerful enough to take the hard road to victory. LOVE wins.

But LOVE does not boast. We put human attributes on God when we shouldn’t. He is not boasting in love but being in love. He is also not “out to get us” – but “in to keep us”…  In my case I can often see that God is grabbing me by my head and moving me place to place, to work for Him and to tell of Him. God is trying to keep me Holy so I should try to keep Holy. Sometimes I start to say something  probably I shouldn’t and an interruption causes me to realize that maybe I should rethink what I am about to say or boast about. Sometimes reading someone’s face is most important – how are they looking at Jesus if I am trying to shine out OVER His image.  I can say that I am a “Psalm 139 type person” – God sees me wherever I am and comes to get me. You too?  Psalm 139 is all about God – He is the LOVE that protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres (1 Corinthians 13) – AND WANTS US TO REALIZE HIS LOVE – AND WANTS US TO SHOW HIS LOVE – Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Ps139)

The scriptures state that sometimes we see others who have so much and we become jealous and that is when we falter – see Psalm 73. And isn’t it better to have little and peace than a lot and a lot of problems?…  Sometimes we encounter the wicked or at least the boastful and we want to be like them. DON’T. We SHOULD know that being boastful and arrogant often might cause us to be discrediting God. That is probably the worst thing we can do is discredit God – not only not be thankful but be boastful of our own doings – to turn our back on Him and not credit Him with His work in Salvation let alone us simply breathing…  Really God could strike us down instantly, or like the wicked, wait until that day when they have to stand up in God’s presence, in judgement. Better to clear the air, clean the heart, return to faithful worship. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. Better to realize that God is the One allowing us to live – providing all these times for prosperity – and providing moments even to have peace. God the father is not the Godfather profiting from us but the Father God providing for us.

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory… (ps73) And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1Cor13)

Amen and thank You God for being in charge – You know the Way to go – LEAD ME. Breathe in Jesus, breathe out me…  THANKS.

Amen

—-

Psalm 73  of Asaph. NIV. (Asaph was a skilled singer and poet in king David’s time – whom was part of the choir and led others in these skills too.)

Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.

They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.

Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.

From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.

They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.

Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.

They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”

This is what the wicked are like – always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

.

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.

All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.

If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.

When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; 

then I understood their final destiny.

Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.

How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!

They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.

.

When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,

I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

.

Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;

I will tell of all your deeds.

—–

Here is more info about Asaph himself from “gotquestions .org”

There were a number of Levites that King David assigned as worship leaders in the tabernacle choir, according to 1 Chronicles 6:31–32. Asaph was one of these men (1 Chronicles 6:39). Asaph’s duties are described in detail in 1 Chronicles 16. According to 2 Chronicles 29:30, both Asaph and David were skilled singers and poets. Asaph is also mentioned as a “seer” or prophet. The “sons of Asaph” are mentioned in 1 Chronicles 25:1, 2 Chronicles 20:14, and Ezra 2:41. The sons of Asaph were likely a guild of skilled poets and singers, modeling themselves musically after Asaph, their master. The church musicians of our day can be considered spiritual “children of Asaph.”  Psalms 50 and 73—83 are called the “Psalms of Asaph” because his name appears in the superscription at the head of those psalms. Regarding Asaph’s role as a prophet, of particular interest is the imprecatory Psalm 83, which deals with God’s judgment of Israel’s enemies: Edom, the Ishmaelites, Moab, the Hagarites, Gebal, Ammon, the Amalekites, Philistia, Tyre, and Assyria. If we examine the psalms written by Asaph, we can see that all of them have to do with the judgment of God, and many involve the prayers of the people at the prospect or moment of a particular event.  Asaph was a gifted individual. He understood where the gift came from, and he used his music to praise the Lord and communicate His Word to a needy world.

---

1st Corinthians 13 – New King James Version
The Greatest Gift

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

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

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

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

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

---

Psalm 139 NIV – of David

You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.