"....IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED"

"Then a voice came from heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.'"  (Mark 1:11)

"In Whom I am well pleased"------also.

Father speaks here to the Son.  In John 12:28 again, Father speaks to the Son.  In Luke 9:35, when Jesus was with Peter, James, and John on the mountain and Peter wanted to start a building program, Father speaks again.  And this time He just points those present to the Son, Jesus.  I guess Jesus is the Word the Father has for us.

Maybe modern Christendom should get the picture.  Jesus is the only way to hear Father, to "see" Father, and to honor Father.  So may I repeat to you and me today what Our Father tells everyone, "This is My Son, Whom I have chosen; listen to Him."

Father, in Jesus' Name, may I hear Your voice more clearly.  Amen.

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WE DEPART FOR CROW COUNTRY TOMORROW, JULY 30, AT 09:00.  Thanks to any who have helped make this possible.

When Peter, an 18 yeaFr old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....AN ANGEL...ROLLED BACK THE STONE...AND SAT ON IT"

"And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it." (Matthew 28:2)

"....and sat on it."  What an absolutely great picture of in-your-face victory!

We spoke of the suffering of Jesus at the hands of the Sanhedrin and the Roman Government a couple of days ago.  As the black pastor once said, however, "It's Friday, but Sunday's comin'. 

And here it is.  If our text does not reveal the absolute control of the Godhead in the events that Passover Week in Jerusalem in the First Century, then nothing will.  Rome, in all its super power strength was powerless to stop the purposes of the Living Triune God.  

Remember that our Lord Jesus Christ said before all of this, as recorded in John 10?  "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This command I have received from My Father."

The next time you may feel powerless in some situation just remember that that same angel will, "descend[] from heaven, and...roll[] back the stone.., and s[i]t on it."  What a great picture of the powerful care of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, which He manifests in all who trust Him!  Jesus sets the prisoners free!

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for Your glorious angels/messengers.  Amen.

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CROW COUNTRY MISSION: JULY 30-AUGUST 12

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"THEN THEY SPAT IN HIS FACE"

"Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands."  (Matthew 26:67)

This is my fault.

This suffering was the result of our rebellion against the King of the Universe, Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  He created everything beautiful.  He even said during the creation, "....and it was good."

But then, in that Garden, we (Yes, you and I) chose to believe the Enemy of mankind, "You will not surely die,"  We believed the lie in the same manner, as those referred to in 2 Peter, "for this they are willingly ignorant of."  We chose rebellion because Satan's way was more appealing.

Yes, tears came to my eyes today as I read our text, and I began to sing, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."  One line says, "All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His Blood." (I'm sending a great rendition)

Father, in Jesus' Name, I do.  Amen.

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WE HEAD OUT FOR CROW COUNTRY ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, AT 09:00 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

PRAY THE WORDS OF GOD

"'If it had not been the Lord [Jesus Christ] Who was on our side,..when men rose up against us, they would have swallowed us alive...."  (From Today's Psalm 124 Reading)

I do so encourage you to find prayers in the Bible for yourself and your nation.  The Psalms, in particular, are full of great "national" prayers. 

For instance, my prayer partner and I prayed Psalm 71 again for America, and it was absolutely powerful for me.  Just instead of the pronouns, e.g., "me," "my," "I," substitute America (or your nation).  

Example:  "Deliver America, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel [persons]....O God, do not be far from America, O my God, make haste to help 

America!  Let them be ashamed and consumed who are adversaries of America; let them be covered with reproach and dishonor who seek America's hurt....You, Who have shown America great and severe troubles, shall revive America again, and bring America up again from the depths of the earth."

Jesus tells us to pray, "Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth (It is okay to specify, for instance, America, Poland, Czechia, Romania), our families) as it is in Heaven.  This is life-changing for you and me, and, for the nations.

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet."  Amen.

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CROW NATION: JULY 30-AUGUST 12

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2