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

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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.

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Our Savior Reigns. Forever Life Regained. 

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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.

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

Amen

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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

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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 

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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

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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

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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

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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.”

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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

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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 

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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.”

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

THANKFULNESS could prevent many things, 

Imagine what an attitude of: “Thank You God” brings. 

THANKFULNESS could prevent OVERthinking or jealous overtaking.

THANKFULNESS means “I can move forward with FORWARD thinking”.

THANKFULNESS could prevent sinful pride, or being snide.

THANKFULNESS could put both your grief and your anger aside.

Thankfulness might even prevent overwhelmedness, 

unless you are overwhelmed with thankfulness.

.

God appreciative, Humble thankfulness is best.

“I am Thankful for _________”, I bet you could fill in the rest.

.

We can be thankful for the past, surviving many a test.

But imagine how THANKFUL we should be for the future for HIS gracious REST.

Thanks for listening, I think you are all the best.

Thank you God for those who understand my zest.

Amen

—

Psalm 72: Imagine David’s thankfulness for the past – but here David writes, in Psalm 72, his THANKFULNESS for the FUTURE, He both writes about his son Solomon, immediate future king, AND David writes about Jesus, of course he does, Jesus is the writing Himself.. David writes in THANKFULNESS of God for the past and future, Jesus IS the Alpha and Omega. We see how He came – and we will see Him come again.

THANKFULNESS!!!

Psalm 72

Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
.
May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy;
    may he crush the oppressor.
May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
.
May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust.
May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him.
May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.
May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
.
For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
.
Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.
May grain abound throughout the land;on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops flourish like Lebanon and thrive like the grass of the field.
May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun.
.
Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

.
Amen and Amen.
.
This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.

My college kid daughter did not travel home as planned yesterday because she locked herself out of her apartment doing laundry, oops, so today I drove up to bring her her passport (and some treats of course like girl scout cookies),  and to give her hugs. She is headed to Italy in 2 weeks… what great thankfulness I have for that blessing for her. She gets education, she gets adventures… she gets a future. 

I just watched a CBS 60 Minutes pair of stories: Ukraine regions still under fire and old sad news of girls in Afghnstn who don’t get education, except some refugees in Africa… wow… Count your blessings, in Ukraine they turn the heat off to survive. We’ve best to not complain about our situation of freedom and opportunities. Italy, huh? Didn’t we just have a pandemic recently? Italy especially? Let’s not complain and THANK GOD for calming our catastrophic situations.

SO, driving the way back home I stopped by Liberty State Park. I love seeing the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the train station. It is not crowded here, easy parking as no ferries stop here in winter… My son is working, so mom has FREEDOM, and a Subaru, and a decently half-full tank of gas. Love freedom on a Sunday… I prayerfully touched the 911 I-beams, looked at the Empty Sky Memorial and the new Freedom Tower for a little while, took a needed walk, and I enjoyed the purple crocuses which tell us spring is coming. 

Yesterday, also in Jersey (don’t worry, I got a good rest at home in between AND washed all my stuff). I was south of here for the annual Polar Plunge, actually 100,000 spectators they calculated for 7500 plungers, WOW. NEARLY 3 MILLION DOLLARS RAISED, for Special Olympics by jumping into an ocean that is practically ignored 23 hours of this winter day…

After the plunge, while I was munching happily on snacks back at the rental, wearing nice dry warm clothes, sitting by the fire, someone new came and marveled at our energy. He asked if doing the polar plunge was spiritual for me, I blurted out, not even thinking too much, “It’s ALL Spiritual”... I’m not being flippant, but in retrospect I meant that I was THANKFUL to plunge, to be anywhere especially here, and to be THANKFUL because I know Whom to thank. I am thankful for God delivering on my prayers for fun. SO, reflecting upon our life opportunities, my life opportunities everyday, I am sooooo THANKFUL… It IS spiritual to be thankful. I enjoy being thankful simply in that fact that we are able to BE THANKFUL… Yup, that’s the core of a spiritual thing for me… God allows Freedom yes, free to forget to be thankful or freedom to have THANKFULNESS… yeah… choose the latter. 

So today was writing this sitting in Jersey again, Jersey City – looking at the back of Lady Liberty , still inspiring because she is looking FOREVER FORWARD. And at this location and viewpoint, the huddled masses would have already made it to the Central Jersey trains and the promised land USA. Looking back or looking forward, count blessings. I think that God reminds us that EMBRACING the FUTURE is best looked upon by FACING FORWARD. “No one who puts their hands to the plow and looks back is fit for service“.

I saw thankful families taking photos today on a Sunday stroll, and seemingly a mix of all nationalities. These probably are families who came more recently to US America, so their trips here are closer in the rear view mirror than my family’s trips. I am thankful my family trusted the opportunity to move forward. Remember, those boat rides must have been pretty scary. If our ancestors could see us now… let’s remember: You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

God wants to take us all to the place where we WANT to trust Him as well as NEED to TRUST HIM. Then He wants to see us embrace life. Facing forward, we can walk… Then how will we see what is hidden just beyond the horizon? FAITH. Keep the Faith… let God go ahead. That’s a favorite reason for spiritual thankfulness, GOD gives us FAITH to know He is working. 

God is in control, BE SPIRITUAL and PLUNGE INTO LIFE!

Amen 

—

Psalm 71 New King James Version

God the Rock of Salvation

In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, and save me. Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For You are my hope, O Lord God;

You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You.

I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day.

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails. For my enemies speak against me; And those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together, Saying, “God has forsaken him; Pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.”

O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Let them be confounded and consumed

Who are adversaries of my life; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor who seek my hurt.

But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all the day, For I do not know their limits. I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.

O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.

Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

Also with the lute I will praise You – And Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; for they are confounded, for they are brought to shame who seek my hurt.

No doubt, God calms… before storms, before wars, before old age, before adventures and adverse times. God’s got it all under control. Psalm 71 says so much, especially about already having taken refuge and already praise and prayer for the times the Lord DID save the day in the past, and now looking towards the future…

If you are a worry-type person, give it to God.

If you are looking for refuge, go to God.

If you are “safe thus far”, give PRAISE to God.

“Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God?“

If you need calm before a storm, read Psalm 71.

If you’re surely grateful for being delivered in the past, sing Psalm 71.

If you are a child of God, LIVE Psalm 71.

Amen and read ahead…

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Psalm 71 NIV

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 

Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.

Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.” Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me. May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.

As for me, I will always have hope;  I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God?

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.

I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you — I whom you have delivered.

My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.

AMEN!!

Psalm 68:7-10 When you, God, went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.

God gives the rain and sometimes God withholds the rain to make a point!

I just re-read about the widow who was kept OK in supplies, in flour and oil, so she could continue to make bread, life-sustaining bread during a long drought that God used to reach the people who didn’t believe in Him. The widow could make bread from near empty but never really empty jars. Bread for herself, her son, and prophet Elijah, who told her to “just do it”.  It seems in this part of the story that she may have believed her good fortune was from God, but not believed, until the end when Elijah also resuscitated her son who suddenly took ill and passed away. Did she believe prophet Elijah was sent from God? Well, he was but maybe for her, the unending jars of flour and oil was seemingly not enough to convince her it was Elijah working for God. God resuscitated resurrected her son, and it was through Elijah’s prayers – then Elijah presented her son back alive. Then she said: Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.” … 

This sounds so much like Jesus with Lazarus – to rise him from the dead (a many days dead that Jesus knew about) – and rose him from the dead so that the people watching would believe.  This sounds so much like Jesus Himself being rose from the dead – Jesus had to fulfil the prophecies – but as the added bonus – he was able to be the demonstration to actual people, one by one, that He was fulfilling the prophesies and that God sent Him – so that they would believe.

Elijah begged mercy, God delivered. Elijah said to God: ‘do You hear me now?’ And God says to all of us: “listen to the one I sent, and asks us: “Do you HEED ME now?”. Jesus begged God’s mercy to the ones who wouldn’t believe. Jesus could and can intercede with the Father – and we are the beneficiaries – now and forever.

We too must realize our jars are never really empty. And if we do run low, aren’t we best to dip into God’s reserves? If God brought us this far, He CAN take us Home.

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Elijah stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth. 1st Kings 17:21-24

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What is the number one wish, well one of the wishes, of Jesus as He walked the Earth? That all would BELIEVE – that it all would click in the beliefs and God would open their eyes – that the scriptures plus the situation plus the scenes of miracles would clue them in that there was now salvation security. Jesus simply asked for them and us to believe in and love the Father, and believe in the One He sent, Jesus. 

Years later, Jesus allowed John to see Heaven’s Revelation and to write down much, with the intention of letting us all know that Heaven is not just a stopping place, but a time when we will see how Jesus will rend all evil to be put down completely. A long process and a longing process. Then we will be blessed to walk in and out of God’s City, New Jerusalem, and partake in the Tree of Life, and live Heavenly ever after. Never will God’s resources run dry.

Jesus says what Elijah also came to demonstrate: that you’ve got to believe in God and the One He sent. We are still being sent signs, we get to rise each day. We get to enjoy God’s gifts of food and shelter. We get to enjoy extra things in life too. And we get to see a cycle of life that doesn’t end with the grave, but continue in Heaven. Most importantly, by Jesus and the Spirit of Truth, we get the opportunity to believe and heed Him, without that we will be stuck outside His gates. 

‘Will you heed Me now?’

One more thing: we are to believe Jesus is coming back too – SOON…

“All will heed Me then”

Amen

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Revelation 22:7-17

“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”  I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!” Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning: “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

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Psalm 69: 13-18

But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.
Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me.

Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; deliver me because of my foes.

For some reason, during Ash Wednesday service, I kept thinking and thinking (you know those times your brain gets on a track or maybe a dust trail)… thinking not just about “from Dust you came and to Dust ye shall return”, but I kept thinking about Dust Bunnies – yup, Dust Bunnies are something the Lord puts together…

Dust Bunnies in our houses just seem to appear out of thin air… mine get chunky bits to anchor them down. My Dust Bunnies become a little bit thicker because I have the love of a sheddy cat… even my work gets hallway dust bunnies from the carpeted desk spaces… they do appear out of thin air…

What about us, not from air but mud, clay, God’s Hands working our new day. We are dust but not supposed to be hidden in a corner. 

We ARE dust in processing, dust in pre- and post- earthly existence and VERY GOOD dust in between. Then surely in this season of Lent, as we are eagerly awaiting new birth, we are groaning and growing towards Easter, then we SHOULD be DUST BUNNIES in the making. We should be a collective people of God. We should congregate together. 

Dust Bunnies. YOU AND ME AND JESUS ARE WE. A collection of Christians in motion is a Dust Bunny. A collection of children of God whom God puts together in His own way, in His own unique clumping together, that is a Dust Bunny. A Sunday school class is a great Dust Bunny. (Imagine the joy of Easter for the little ones). Imagine also a set of very tired week-weary souls who find God’s strength to sing His praises – they are a Dust Bunny of His making. Also, times of a huddled grieving family who prays, they are a Dust Bunny dampened with tears, God holds them special to collect their tears, then God has the Holy Spirit take them back out into the world. 

Dust Bunnies must let God realign their dust.

This week we had Ash Wednesday service, with a soup supper just before, and I could only marvel at these blessed brothers and sisters whom God brought into my life for this season, a family whom God brought together for good reason, grateful a DUST BUNNY ready to serve, appreciate each other, and ready to give Lent its due by keeping walking with Jesus in humble joy. We know we have a Savior. We know we need saving. We know that we could not live forever or even just in this world one day without our DUST SWEEPER KEEPER.

Maybe we are here for just a moment, a vapor, a mist… but our dust trails? Those Lord, let others notice. Let others see our clumps scattered about and let them start to wonder, and let’s attract their dust to collect too. Above all, Lord, we pray others to see our dust trails leading DIRECTLY to You.

Lord bless our DUST BUNNIES through and through. 

Amen 

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Psalm 63:1-8  NIV  A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.

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Psalm 65 NIV for the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.

Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!

We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.

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What’s that Ash Wednesday joke?? “From dust you came and dust you will return. I don’t dust because it could be some of my friends…”

Haha, I do dust, it’s good to be God’s dust and be detailed away, like from a car, cleaned and put in proper order, washed away and free. There is no freedom like God’s freedom. 

Yeah, DUST. My friends, we are made from DUST turned into MUD turned into MARVELOUS.  Marvelous because God calls us beautiful and very good from the very beginning, so much so because we are made in His Image and He calls us His own children. That’s why our inside stuff also is so marvelous: order in organs and sensational systemic systems… and WOW, our circulatory complexity catches and culls critters, and our lungs leverage us into life… Unreal but totally real and we are ready to live because God holds all the parts together… our parts… dust from the rust, grow old gracefully. 

“Wow… that’s some delightful detailed dust you got there!”

What then is the Spirit inside of us? It is, of course, more than simply icing on the cake, it is divine delivered and destined. We hold His Holy Breath in our being. To dust we shall return, but our spirit will be called out to speak, better is one day in His Court than a thousand elsewhere. Our dust will be cleaned in the cloaking cover of the Savior. Jesus Saves and the advocate of His Spirit which indwells us will be freed. Our Judgment Day will be better understood if ahead of time we read THE BOOK (that is not thrown at us), read it now and live it. In the Good Book,  we have the opportunity to see where God keeps all the dusty souls like us: UNDER HIS WING. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

The GOOD NEWS for us reads like today’s headlines should: Jesus Saves. 

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… a poem:

Ash Wednesday, are we in disarray?

Let us get our dust ‘DETAILED’ today.

Let Lent lead us prayerfully to His Glorious Easter Day.

Let us broken people go on living best we can, cleaned up in His Way.

Let God say: My house is filled from dusty people because I always loved them anyway.

Love IS the Order of the Day…

Amen 

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Psalm 84 NIV

For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, 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 have her young—

a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”

Endless endless times I am reminded of what we all forget: that we are not in a broken system but surely in a broken world, a place of blessing, yes, but also a place to look further FROM, especially in hard times, and always we are to look with eyes and hearts towards HEALING, if not from our efforts, then from the Lord. Yes, the Lord who already conquered fear and death. 

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Often we have tongues to waggle about our woes… and fears of our foes… Yet our protection is closer than our nose… We should reach to the One Who KNOWS. 

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I ponder at so many writings included in the Bible from David, about being chased by enemies and being protected by the Lord. I agree with the protection but why so MANY included that are inclined to lament, have sorrow near despair? And the eventual truth: God IS in control.  Perhaps so MANY are included as we are continually reminded of NOT looking to the world for our Joy, not to the broken world for answers, not even to this rambling writing for comfort. Our God binds up and heals the brokenhearted, sometimes not in place, but in our placement.  

If we look ABOVE the fray of the world, famine war fear, enemies who don’t even know our name, we realize even evil can’t match THE LORD OUR GOD WHO SAVES. 

Perhaps the Psalmist(s) are expressing what we know, Jesus was taken down, willingly, to the showdown with the enemy but God’s Plan was/is SO MUCH BIGGER. So big the world can’t understand, but we can, one by one as we are called, we are not of this world.

Psalms 52,53,54,55,56,57,58… so much about real danger, real fear… and yet have BLESSED PRAISE for letting God have the First and Last Word.

Calling out to the Lord, in Psalms 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68… are reminders for us often calling out in praise for the God Who Saves. 

Just wait on the Lord. and while you are waiting? SING PRAISES…

Really… 

Amen

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The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then people will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.” Psalm 58:10-11

One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.” Psalm 62:11-12

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:2-8

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Psalm 57

New King James Version

Prayer for Safety from Enemies

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah

God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

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Psalm 68

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.

May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him. 2 May you blow them away like smoke — as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

When you, God, went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.

The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng: “Kings and armies flee in haste;
the women at home divide the plunder. Even while you sleep among the sheep pens, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
its feathers with shining gold.” When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.

Mount Bashan, majestic mountain, Mount Bashan, rugged mountain, why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the Lord himself will dwell forever? The chariots of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary. When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious— that you, Lord God, might dwell there.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins. The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea, that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share.”

Your procession, God, has come into view, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary. In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the young women playing the timbrels. Praise God in the great congregation; praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel. There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah’s princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

Summon your power, God; show us your strength, our God, as you have done before. Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings will bring you gifts. Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war. Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will submit herself to God.

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens. You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:1-3

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I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. from Psalm 27

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It has been 3 years since COVID came to the US – really we have come a long way since then – so long that we have mostly returned to normal – but not everyone…  what is normal anyway?…  

In other words, whoda thunk we would get a pandemic and whoda thunk we would get out of it… surely anyone in King Tut’s time up until George Washington’s time would not have envisioned getting out of smallpox “so easily” or so many of those other diseases…  and sometimes we forget that major calamities that we have conquered (mostly) are still raging in parts of the world (for example Rabies caused about 17,400 human deaths worldwide in 2015. More than 95% of human deaths from rabies occur in Africa and Asia.)

I bet if we look at the Psalms and to David was writing about being pursued by his enemies who eventually God took care of, and see how David escaped, we should ALSO be singing HIS praises that we got here from there…  We got back to “normal” – well at least a new normal…. In other words: We are blessed in no matter what circumstances…

Here are some UNFINISHED blogs from early 2020 – just found them in my “drafts” folder. I am not going to finish them now but with realization that “we have come a long way baby” from 3 years ago, they are worth sharing…  TIME FLIES… To loosen our memories is an opportunity worth food for thought to sing praises today.

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TP, Spring 2020

I saw a wonderful toilet paper moment today at the grocery store where one woman asked a couple where they had found the pack of toilet paper in their cart and they tried to give it to her… sweet…

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Hope Not Hush, Spring 2020

I am not too fond of the phrases that “the virus stole Easter” because if you asked Jesus, He also was cut short in this life and He had to get His work done anyway… So do we…

Easter is a life, not a basket of flowers…

I love the festivities, you know I do… 

Let’s this year know and tell of HOPE, 

The disciples on Silent Saturday were mourning…

But WE have no less days to sing His Praises than when we first begun!

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Right on Red, 31MAY2020

This is not intended to be political, but I have to make an observation of how people are living in our “red zone”… People are making “right on red”, just like in the car… and many people are being careful too… the VOLUME of people out and about is amazing and has increased tremendously …

But that’s not stopping many people,  the stores are packed – the garden centers packed – I even saw a funeral home yesterday with tons of folks outside,  packed together, 90% no masks… people make their own choices, people take their rights, even in red… 

People take risks, me too, I think because many of the cases are in nursing homes, not perceived to be from outdoor living or contact on surfaces that people do take risks. They are moving on with their lives… Rights on red, right in red. 

Me too, I hope we and I turn the corner cautiously, some are taking the “California stop”, rolling thru without a complete stop. Some people simply pretend they never saw the red light.

Some are driving life while impaired too.

I have a great life and am a risk taker too when compared to some. I am not a risk taker compared to other people… 

The data will eventually show us where the crashes were…

Problem is, by the time we know. we will wish we knew back when… 

Think about how we are going to get out of this intersection then drive carefully!!!

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Lots of Nursing Homes APR2020

I feel so sorry for the families of the nursing home residents who have survived so many years, but are now being felled by this COVID19 virus… pneumonia, no time to get to the hospital even, no room at the hospital either… not every place is well cared for, it’s hard work at a nursing home… It’s hard living…

I wonder, and Lord forgive me for speculating, how or if the Lord deflected this disease from the young to the old who surely had many years to prepare for coming home. Every time to say “Goodbye” to family, wonder if this is goodbye…

The Lots of Nursing Homes….  Proverbs 16: The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

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OK, Going to wrap up this post-covid crisis set of half blogs with Pslam 27…  (covid is still around but like a regular flu fear now).  Psalm 27 – I hope many listened to these words of hope and reduction of anxiety back then – and now – it is like God had these things written down on purpose to help us – gee, hmmmmm, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Psalm 27 Of David.

The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. 

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me your way, Lord;  lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

There is a bottle of water by my bed, but I don’t usually open it, I really don’t drink enough water at all… I should NOT just save this bottle for only emergencies. I should DRINK it ALL IN. Replenish myself, and go back for more.

There is a devotion book, by my bed, and a Bible too, but I really don’t drink in enough Living Water at all… I sip when I should savor the Savior.  I should not just save our Jesus for only emergencies. I should drink Him IN all the time. Replenish myself, and go back for more.

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Salvation

Hydration

Education 

Remediation 

Personalization

In Every Jesus Situation 

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Open the Book which will open you.

Read the Bible and it will read you.

Realize, always, Jesus is WITH YOU. 

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Amen 

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Psalm 73:22-26

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.

I have to say, the Lord is good to me. 

Johnny Appleseed sings and so do we! Our singing grace at girl scout camp, before spaghetti dinner with super sauce and meatballs, was: “The Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the Appleseed, the Lord is good to me.”

Then I got home to BUSY!!! Including Big Game craziness and lots of laundry… And this week had a few other hiccups… but let’s close this week with: The Lord is good to me. God has a proven track record. Nothing that happened God couldn’t handle for me (us)…

We don’t always know the level of God’s interplay in our lives. Things that start and stop we can’t see God-level BIG PICTURE… I was speaking at camp of a fire-burnt forest, spoke about it to the hiking scouts in the woods, looking at Mighty Oaks and Pines, telling them that after a BIG fire, often (always) from the ashes spring NEW LIFE, that now thrives HAVING the sunshine and warmth and water. The seeds and seedlings can now NOT be overshadowed by the trees with which they could NOT compete.  Isn’t it true about us too? We can see the truth after the fluff flies away… the rumble of the thunder yes scary, but remember that a rainbow comes after a storm. And a rainbow is because of the Sun.

This week and our times had/have storms, for many including the earthquake folks, tornado folks, health crisis folks, and those who lost loved ones. God bless them all. Our times in crisis make us cling to the Lord more tightly and surviving through those storms, we are given opportunity to learn that our TRUST IN GOD was warranted. When we realize God’s sovereignty,  and His Mercy, AND His comfort, our praise starts: “Lord God, Thank You!!!”

Not always in the pain and suffering can we physically speak. We best surround ourselves with prayerful people, sometimes we desire alone time. The Lord God is always patient with those who are hurt… He doesn’t give you JUST the quick fix pick-me-up, He gives real peace. And He loves His children more than we could ever imagine. 

Psalm 50 was a powerful read to me this morning. Our God means business,  His business.  Gathering His people.  All are able to see His Strength and Sovereignty. Our Wisdom to respect the Lord and His Plans will open our eyes to His insight. “God will shine forth. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people: “Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

Think of God’s Hand in our lives, then we must conclude that God IS in charge. EVERYTHING is under God’s control…

So… Think of the Lord BIG PICTURE and BIG TIMELINE! He owns the fields and the cattle on the fields, and my BIG TIMELINE too. Lord, THANK YOU!

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He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear Him. Ecclesiastes 3:11-14

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Psalm 50 – New King James Version

God the Righteous Judge, A Psalm of Asaph.

The Mighty One, God the Lord, has spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its going down. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.

He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people: “Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is Judge. Selah

“Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God! I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, Which are continually before Me. I will not take a bull from your house, nor goats out of your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.

“If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls,

Or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, or take My covenant in your mouth, Seeing you hate instruction

And cast My words behind you? When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have been a partaker with adulterers. You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s son. These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes.

“Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver: Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”

I didn’t see it coming, 

But I saw it going, 

It was the Lord Who kept it rolling…

Rolling OUTTA HERE… WHEW!

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I didn’t know what was brewing, 

I did start to smell something stewing,

It was the Lord Who was cooking…

Cooking Up HIS Plan. 

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I knew the Lord was WORKING,

I knew the Lord was PLANNING,

How could I know how He was BLESSING?

Not my method. Not my way. No way to understand on THAT day.

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I will take the life challenges He’s Given.

I will trade doubt for belief in unbelievable Wisdom.

I will TRUST even in unexpected life schisms.

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I will puzzle how but He does work everything out, 

every which WAY and around.

I MUST SING, LOVING HIM FOREVER, 

Knowing His Renown.

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AMEN

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“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,” 

declares the Lord. 

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“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

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As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

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SO IS MY WORD that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

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You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

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Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”

Isaiah 55:8-13

Have you ever thought about the sheer fact that we are fearfully made, and so delicate yet so able to make it through life? If we are struck down by illness or injury, hardship or pain, we usually recover. If not in this world, surely in the next. Just HOLD ON.

Well we do live well enough to sometimes forget that we live by the Grace of God. We know those who don’t know the Lord, but He surrounds them too. We recognize the Goodness of God. We feel the Grip and Push of His ability in us. We should tell of the Glory of Him through His Victories. I doubt that I praise enough, but every step I take is His Victory lap of Him grabbing me into the “Saved” category. Every praise I give is of His Spirit pouring through me. And trust me, we should praise ALL DAY for Him. He’s got us. Oh Lord, how can we beg enough for You to open the eyes of the hearts for all in this world? Save Lord my unsaved friends and even foes…

I love this song: Surrounded (Fight my Battles) – “It may look Like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by YOU.”

The singer mentions scripture by Isaiah, pretelling the coming of Jesus, old testament gems that we must realize speak of Jesus to “bestow on them [us] a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

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Last weekend, how I loved girl scout camping and using my blessings of skills and time and patience (and a Subaru full of good reusable junk before recycling it). In some states I could have made a mini-fortune in returning bottles for redemption. REDEMPTION, AH! God has stamped us like bottles for redemption! How much return on His investment does He get? How much use does He get out of us and our praise before He recycles us back to dust. I hope we all recognize His Reward, and make best us of our praise until His Return. 

I loved especially when being at camp that I felt the peace of God, I felt Him telling me in my heart and head: ‘This IS where you are supposed to be, right now.‘… and WOW, seeing the faces of the girls wanting to soak up the info, or noticing them learning by playing with the projects. One girl so sweetly holding the mighty oak seeds sprouting… Trust me that I’ve never seen oak acorns sprouting like I do here at camp… it’s the sand, rain, sun, surely… it’s the right atmosphere for sure… They get to sprout, but just need a new place to flourish and grow. Us too. If we sprout, flourish, grow, we MUST praise God for His Righteousness righting us upright. We must recreate His atmosphere for growth too. We got nothing but we Got God, actually He’s got us.  “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor…

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… For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.”

This righteousness in us that springs up and restores us is Jesus, is what was foretold, is what He is: a Savior. 

We are walking in His Glory and should remember we are made for a time like this… no hardship will withstand His Joy… no death will withstand His Life… no one can sprout us plant us grow us love us like the Lord. We are redeemed and returnable. 

Our lives are but a mist, a vapor, and yet it’s God who gains us into His Powerful Steam. . . Let’s keep chugging along…

Let’s realize God’s sovereignty and save. Let’s stop self-pity and start realizing our blessings. Let’s fulfill a recognition of scripture and salvation by praising God. If others see us as blessed, we should rejoice and praise too… We can’t take this for granted because how else will others know faith moves mountains. We should be a billboard of praise, a Bible people read by just seeing our smile or our walk. Any boast should be a boast in the Lord.  Praise God and return the joy of REDEMPTION He has given you. Return His investment by first using yourself for His purpose. 

“All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

Let us see that in us too! 

Amen 

(and Lord, let my praise help others feel Your raise.)

(Maybe these acorns, pictured, will be food for the forest creatures since there are so many. Maybe not every seed is for a tree, but seeds still nourish. Seeds are for nourishment AND sprouting… plant some of faith today… Double Amen)

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Psalm 49 NIV

Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, both low and high, rich and poor alike: My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding. I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle: Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers SURROUND me – those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?

NO ONE can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them – the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough – so that they should live on forever and not see decay.

For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others. Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.

People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. 

But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself. Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. Though while they live they count themselves blessed – and people praise you when you prosper – they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.

People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.

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Isaiah 61

New International Version

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

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They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.

Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.

“For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=YBl84oZxnJ4&feature=share

That favorite scripture this week Isaiah 40:8, 11, 28-31

whether we rise or fall – God’s got us all – we must rise or be risen – our afterlife in HIM Is GIFTED GIVEN…

Life is short – God is Forever….

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“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

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He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

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Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

I had wonderful conversations with the organizers of a local food bank distribution center near my work. The one gentleman spoke of giving talks at organizations, especially from more affluent areas, about these pockets of poverty, areas really in socio-economic hardships with people in need. Well, I would say driving through this old old OLD town it was a whole lot of rundown houses but I had a big sense of how they were renovating HOPE. This organization (in the beautiful old YWCA building) is truly a gem in this pocket of poverty. I mentioned how wonderful instead to see the pocket of HOPE.  I witnessed not only SO MUCH food, but I saw a reinvigorated LIFE in a co-volunteer at this food bank, not just a spark, but a whole fire of excitement.  It’s a humble witness I must have, I must, because I saw him crushed broken by a tragedy, and now I’ve seen him re-pieced together.  Now returned to a fire-work of energy, a spark to get a fire going in others, that he has something so passionate that he is feeling about that he wants to share.  I am BLESSED to witness him back to his old self. Thank God. Thank You God.

Pockets of HOPE. I know God did that. Pieced him back together after a great tragedy. Hope. This is an ongoing process, for his whole family, continued prayers appreciated. 

This foodbank is also unique in that it doesn’t check residency or limit monthly visits. Each week they pick up excess groceries and combine with the donated food. People lined up and with photos in my heart I forever hold on to the clearest view: HOPE. 

Pockets of HOPE. 

Amen. 

Thanks God.

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

There is so much tragic news (and fluff too) filling our news cycles… Sometimes it is hard to hear what’s relevant. But I saw one AMAZING STORY – I saw the story that made me tear up instantly, a baby born in an earthquake, her umbilical cord still attached to her mother, who surely died after giving birth. The rescuers heard the baby’s cries. Wow.

Especially in the aftermath, what’s the sound that is heard? Crying. Especially every day what of our lives, what is heard and held by the Lord? Our tears.

The baby is OK!!!!!  By the grace of God. a survivor. The baby is the only one of the family and all are amazed. Umbilical connections? Yes, that’s not just for this baby but that is for ALL of us. We are NOT detached.  WE ARE STILL ATTACHED. God’s got us! We are HIS children.

Sometimes people make a statement, “it was like going through hell” – or “give em hell”… But what is hell? The absence of God’s forever life. The second death. No, we are not yet there, nor will we get there if God has anything to do with it – and He does !!! 

Let us keep remembering and appreciating we are under God’s care. We are cradled. We are loved. Let us be our God’s children. Love in Him and Him in us.

We are Still Attached.   

Amen

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Revelation 21:1-4, 6-7 – John seeing life forever and hearing about it directly from Jesus:

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”… … He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

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When I wake up each day. 

My mind goes EVERY WHICH WAY. 

It races to pre-stress being in the world’s FRAY.

But under His Wing I need to STAY.

I need to BE WITH HIM when I start my day, HIS DAY.

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We can wake up and first can PRAY.

We can read the WORD to apply pre-day.

We can LISTEN to what He wants to SAY.

We can just BE STILL and let JESUS instead start the day.

We can just LOVE living His Way.

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I NEED Him everyday. 

And He wants us to be IN His Day. 

He wants us to speak in a certain way. 

Knows the people who need to see Him thru us today.

That’s why He wakes us up each day.

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Let us be His Hands and Feet and Mercy-giver today.

Let us let Him give us words to say.

Let’s watch Him make a Way even when there seems no Way.

Let us PRAISE HIM at the start and end of today. 

Let us say Amen and Hooray!

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AMEN AND HOORAY!

Everyone, now go and have a GOOD day!

HIS DAY WAY.

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Psalm 40 sounds like a life history of David in praise and thankfulness, that WE ALSO could heed. Being one to recognize God’s sovereignty and our part in speaking about Him. And 100% praising Him.

In trials, let’s try even more to look to Him. Let us also realize that by Jesus’s sacrifice we get to approach God and see our names in His book. By Jesus we are saved. Jesus, the Word, wrote Himself into David’s and our life stories. 

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Psalm 40 – NKJV

Faith Persevering in Trial – A Psalm of David.

I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth – Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.

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Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.

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Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”

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I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness in the great assembly;

Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly.

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Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; Therefore my heart fails me.

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Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me! Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion Who seek to destroy my life; Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor who wish me evil. Let them be confounded because of their shame, who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

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Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!” But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2040&version=NKJV;NIV

‘A Terrible Minute” is how the county district attorney replied to the reporter’s question of how long the altercation took place. Maybe 30 seconds? Not long. A ‘terrible minute’ at most, as a man fought verbally with another then was run over and died.  I don’t know the people, I just saw the headline. The news conference was detailed and tragic and really baffling – and yet tempers do flair.. It’s sad all around. 

The District Attorney, I recognized him and his name, and I remembered meeting him at a police/community coming together event. He was someone another friend had the blessing to WITNESS the gospel to. I was there later when my friend came over to say WOW… the Lord’s Word was shared that day.

ANYWAY – back to the story…

So the tragic event was filmed by security cameras (not shown at the news conference). This District Attorney sounded so non-judgmental to the driver of the fleeting vehicle, really just want him/her to come in to learn what happened. “It’s already tragic, don’t leave it a mystery.”  They want to leave the door open for discussion and forgiveness. The DA spoke kindly asking: “just tell us what’s going on”, and also honestly saying “this is atypical”. On the table would of course be justice, but first on the table is OPENESS. Wouldn’t we all want to know what caused this terrible minute to become tragedy?

We know God DOES know. Pray for all involved. The family prays for justice. We also can pray for them as we pray for honesty within ourselves of communicating with God about our brokenness. 

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A Terrible Minute – we have them too – our brokenness spills.

A Terrible Minute – many times in our stress, our minds race. A terrible minute – tempers flare and wickedness warps out, whether we intend it or not. And yes, even us normally even keeled people have minds ‘that go there’, even if we physically won’t. We too need forgiveness and the Lord’s protection from our own worldly processing. My mind may race but I pray that I have a safety net of Holy Spirit conviction to pull me back. In our own terrible minutes, may we search for You Lord, the Lord of mercy and justice. May we calm down and be repentant.

I have NO IDEA the full or even splintered story from this terrible minute caught on video mentioned by the DA, but I DO know that I heard an olive branch offered by the DA, of ‘just come in to talk’. 

I know that reaching out to the Lord for all parties will bring comfort. As Psalms 41, 42, and 43 remind us all, God is Whom we need to seek… 

Amen 

“so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

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Psalm 41:4-10

 I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.”  My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?” When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around.

All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying, “A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.”

Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.

But may you have mercy on me, Lord; raise me up, that I may repay them. I know that you are pleased with me,  for my enemy does not triumph over me. Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me.

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Psalm 42 KJV

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

—

Psalm 43 NIV

Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation.

Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked. You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?

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Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

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If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 1st letter of John 4:13

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If you are LOVED (and you are), God is in you. HE IS.

If you LOVE anyone, then God is in YOU.

If you LOVE mindfully, conversing with the Lord, then God is in YOU.

If you LOVE knowing God is IN CHARGE and will RIGHT all wrongs (in His Timing), then God is in YOU. 

Do everything in LOVE. 

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If you LOVE and forgive (even until it hurts), JESUS lives within YOU.

If you LOVE the JOY of life (like little children), JESUS smiles within YOU.

If you LOVE connecting directly with someone (down to earth), JESUS walks within YOU. 

Do everything in LOVE. 

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If you are being perfected in LOVE, the Spirit corrects you within YOU.

If you are LOVING more and more, the Spirit GROWS within YOU.

If you are being conformed to His LOVING Image, the Spirit SHOWS within YOU. 

Do everything in LOVE. 

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Do EVERYTHING in LOVE, because LOVE is within you.

Thank God.

God, the Big Man Upstairs? 

He’s actually SO CLOSE 

He’s counting your hairs.

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“Jesus take the wheel” ?

He’s not sitting on your lap,

He’s inside your very soul, listening to you squeal. 

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Holy Spirit, Three in One?

The Spirit surely leads

where LOVE’S deeds are to be done. 

BE THE INSIDER -Let Jesus Live. Let Jesus Love. 

In Love Inside, where you can’t hide, Jesus is walking.

INSIDE, loving you for you.  

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Although we think we are walking side by side with Jesus, or even distant, in REALITY, Jesus is INSIDE… 

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LOVE is placed IN US to SHOW.

Love is expressed out for everyone to KNOW. 

Love in us is commanded and blessed to GROW.

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Be the INsider. Do everything IN LOVE. 

Amen 

---

1st John 4

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

We love him, because he first loved us.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

—–

Psalm  36:5-9

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

People may look at me as weak – or too soft  – too lenient – too whatever but not firm…   well…  maybe…  but if you asked my kids (when they were younger) they would probably say that I am demanding with what I want when I want it – like grades like dishes like cleaned rooms…  Well, they did get the grades – and they did eventually clean their rooms – and well you could say that is the stuff mom’s ask for – listening doing understanding…

At work – people might say that too – but between being SO BUSY, I am trying best I can – AND I am working the system – not just the work system but THE SYSTEM!!!  THE SYSTEM that is God’s System – God’s loving to hear “Here I am Lord, is it I Lord? – Have you placed me here in this situation for YOUR Work?” – YUP – the answer to that ALWAYS is “Yup”…  OK – what fish are we frying today… I love that phrase: “don’t sweat the small stuff – there are bigger fish to fry…” And yet there was a situation that I was called upon to be firm and be real and be actionable…  My faith for the timing was solidified by Jesus who helped…  My words were solidified – for He put the umpfh under my ugh. My love was solidified and the respect that I gave was apparent to me to be the right thing and even if many others didn’t see it – BUT SOME DID… I knew that I would probably be using this situation to tell people that I needed the Lord to help me thru this situation – I did – I do – I will. My weaknesses were made strong by the Jesus listening and Jesus reinforcement to my net-time – I acted in Love – He acted in ALL.

Jesus was Who Jesus IS – a ROCK for us to stand on (even if the waves of opinions were harsh) and Jesus a gentleness who SOLIDIFIED the right thing to do in that situation – like FORGIVE – like teach – like ask – like listening doing understanding…  Jesus is not “lenient” but He is “prevenient” – meaning Jesus came before – He came to us to be Jesus – to forgive us – to apply grace and mercy.

To FRY BIG FISH…. 

Jesus appeared to the disciples many times after He arose – at the Sea of Galilee He was cooking a breakfast for them on the shore when He called out to them – fish and bread. They could not catch anything that morning – of course He was able to tell them where the fish were – of course He knew they could them have so many fish – of course the net DID NOT BREAK – of course they were AMAZED – of course He must have broken that bread with them – of course Jesus was there to teach them – to solidify their faith (“Peter do you love me?“) – of course… of course….  

Jesus IS the Fisherman with BIG FISH TO FRY – but actually, He already fried HIS Fish…  Jesus already made ready the Way – made the Path – made OUR PATH – in forgiveness Grace Mercy and in Netting us. The disciples had fish yet to fry – and so do we – and we do have bigger fish to fry then our small fish that get squished in our stress and busyness. How do we make our way in this world? By listening doing understanding – and bringing a big net – HIS…  Notice how the net will NOT be broken, only the people, including us. 

Apply LOVE.

Amen

—

IN weakness, APPLY LOVE

In STRENGTH, apply LOVE

In harm, apply LOVE

In hurt, hold LOVE

In all, love all.

in love, find LOVE….

—

John 21:4-14

But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.

I don’t have enemies like some, certainly not like King David of Biblical times had, and of which he pleaded about in Psalms 35, 36, 37. And I am NOT in a war zone nor a center metropolis mess of drugs, theft and murders. (God please help those folks) I count my blessings and could remind my children all day to count our blessings that we have a FORTRESS to our fortunate circumstances, by suburbia soothing… Those of our good fortune or even those “day to day” making ends meet, we are reminded there are many worse off. We pray for them.

We must realize God has calmed our storms many times. We must praise Him. We must not gloat in the boat.

Sure, like everyone,  I’ve got sticky situations, sure, and a warp of worldly wants and stress in time stretched so thin, but no one I know is “out to get me” like getting King David. Sure, often we are targeted for credit card info, electronic identity, but that’s nothing personal, just worldly want causing crime – but none of these are personal. If anything, crime and turning a blind eye to it is apathy to know better or make it better. Crime also is a disease of a sickened society, sickened by greed of want of money. Sad.

“Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.”

David called out to the Lord. He WAS being surrounded. “May all who gloat over my distress  be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.”

“There’s never a cop around when you need one.” We say that in traffic. The shoplifting scenes portrayed on social media result in car chases sometimes, but the employees are often trained to not intervene and risk their own lives. Video shaming is the chosen method to vindication. Nobody says No, lest they put themselves in danger… wow…

David put His enemies into God’s Hands. David knew a God of salvation could also judge those in the nation. 

“… may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation. My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

David ALSO knew people were rooting for him. We too should remember we have friends who will help us out of a jam. And we should all praise God who helps us by being in charge of this jelly jar we call earth. “May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.” “

Let’s remember even the stickiest situations are washable by Living Water help. Let us call out to the Lord for rescuing and when IN the calmed seas remember that “God did that” – it is not luck and it is not just us… All good things are from God. AND LOOK LONG TERM – GOD HAS HIS DAY OF JUDGEMENT – not us.

Lord, help me praise you too – Don’t Gloat in the Boat.

Amen

—-

More from Psalms 35-37

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.  How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”

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How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.

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Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

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The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

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I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

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The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2035-37&version=NIV;KJV

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14

A MIST

A Vapor… a Mist… but oh…

Maybe to be STEAM!!! Hey, surely a girl can DREAM. 

Maybe to be FOG, oh my brain does clog.

Not hopefully being SMOG, dust and dirt, a throat with a frog.

What about snowflakes, theys gots what it TAKES!

Rain? All down the drain.

Dew? Well that may suit you.

Ice? In a drink that’s nice.

Sleet? Slippery under our feet.

Hail? No not my prevail. 

Water, like a sea? oh too lofty for me.

An ocean, make a SPLASH! Smile a Smile to LAST.

A VAPOR, a MIST, life is short so make it a sweeter WISP.

Here today, unknown tomorrow… 

JOY is God’s Gift, no one can steal, only borrow…

Live LIFE like a MIST.

You get the GIST?

Go with God’s Stream.

Be on the Living Water Team.

Amen 

We sometimes put tragic circumstances in the back of our minds, sometimes, but those in them still live them. I often remember that we can’t fix situations but WE CAN PRAY. We are witnesses to when it is time to fill the voids with PRAYERS. And scriptures tremendously remind us that The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. From Psalm 34

We are God’s Placement, our Prayers are His Patches. Even pulling on the patch reminds us He is very close. We are God’s placement to be those prayer partners. Our brokenness to His glory…  Someday we will be WHOLE, but now, know our tears are for His touch. We cry a Living Water leak of tears… Jesus please comfort and lift us all.

Our PLACEMENT around others is for making PRAYERS for PATCHING IN His HEALING until that day of full healing…  

Thanks and Amen. 

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.Well, my brain doesn’t shut down at night, but I believe God DOES open up the MANY half-closed folder tabs that are filled with WAY TOO MANY half thoughts (plus a sea of sticky notes) and He starts pulling on the tangled mess, teasing tangled strings to unravel, to re-roll memories into a smooth ball of yarn, so perfectly lined up like ONLY He could do it. Reconciliation really… Saving sanity from a swamp. Swamped brain tabs are like wet soaked strings, needing to dry out before they can be rolled. Rolled before they can be knitted. Swamped is what we can get, no matter if life takes us up to our knees in water or over our heads. SWAMPED. 

When I remember snippets of dreams, especially from middle of the sleep cycle wake-ups, it’s jarring and important to know where I was going off the beaten track of thought.  And how Genius God is to invent such a saving soothing system!… (Sleep cycles like riding on His Unicycle Bicycle… No, actually we are on God’s Tricycle super steady Three in One, less likely to teeter. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.)

ANYWAY,,,!!! Back on THIS train of thought… When I wake up from a dream, I realize God is like setting His Hands to work out a knot in us, to rescue seedlings of thoughts entrenched in weeds, to pause a moment to unfuzz the unfaithfulness or failing moments that the brain (my brain) could go into. Stop the show. Unravel, Unroll, Unreel and Unreal the tape. Reconcile the raw spots to re-wrap the yarn strings of thoughtful thoughts better and leave the rest on the cutting room floor. (Thanks for Vinedresser pruning)… I believe we sleep because we need to Be Still, and know that He is God over our genius and our garbage. God is God and so Good to NEVER be swamped. God grants a Holy Spirit Hoverboat? No, Jesus jumps right in. Swamp Savior. 

Jesus. Thank God for JesusJumping,  Your Genius not ours. Please rescue our swamp and our sanity. Reconcile.

Psalm 32 and 33 are written of JOY, but interestingly Psalm 34 is by David, writing after GOD GOT HIM OUT OF A JAM…. Wacky is the Word gone Wild… David had to escape enemies one time by PRETENDING HE WAS INSANE. Really all types of tangled messes of situations are covered in the Bible.  “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”

That Whole story unrolled in 1Samuel 22, So David pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard…. WOW!!! David got out, he knew he was rescued!

We need rescuing, our thoughts and our souls. Not by going wacky but by going to the Word. Jesus jumps in and hands UP our hang-ups. The Holy Spirit intercepts the dropped calls. God’s forgiveness is IN Him forging some good needed rework to recreate His created “Very Good” Work. He takes your clay and reshapes it. He takes the wacky out of your wobble. He is. Let us rejoice and be glad. We have God as a LOVING Dad. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation… 2Cir

REJOICE THE UNJAMMING. GOD’S RECONCILIATION takes fixing Swamped Sanity SERIOUSLY. 

Amen!!!

—-

Psalm 33

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. 

From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth – he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

—-

Psalm 34

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

I have been enjoying the sermon series “Half-truths” that my friend Pastor has been giving… Sayings that we tend to say but are not in the bible, like: “God helps those who help themselves….” that is not in the bible and GOD is the one who helps!!!!  God is the ultimate help for things we can not help ourselves do.

IN GOD WE TRUST.

One phrase or concept that I don’t know if Pastor will talk about (or not) is related to our recent flurry of sports activities here in town… The phrases I hear and we tend to say is: “I don’t want to jinx it”… Like we could make the biggest difference in a highly-trained workforce (sports or otherwise) by whether we wash our shirts or not… Playoff beards and lucky socks. Thinking about jinxing is a different phrase than I don’t want to harm you – or I don’t want to disappoint you – or I don’t think you could do it all by yourself.  In truth we do think of ourselves as big parts of the “pull” in the universe (as if we could jinx) at the same time that we tend to think of ourselves as “nothing” in the universe… Well we ain’t nothing…

Something – we are at least SOMETHING in the universe or else we wouldn’t be here.  And in God’s eyes you’re everything…

How about praying or wishing for snow? None this season yet for us – so how are people going to pass on that tradition of wearing your pjs inside out to get school cancelled the next day…  Trust me, we never did that or even heard of that as kids and school DID get cancelled – in my day – but then again we had snow as a norm not a novelty… Do we have a pull on the weather? 

And don’t get me started on being lucky or not – the lottery – in love – in winning the big stuffed useless thing at the carnival…  There is skill – there are rigged things – there is STATISTICS – In fact, Accuweather said that compared to a 1-in-whatever million odds winning jackpot, “getting struck by lightning would seem like a near certainty! According to the National Weather Service, a person has a 1-in-15,300 chance of getting struck by lightning in their lifetime, 20,000 times higher than hitting the winning numbers for the next jackpot.” 

Well, you got to be in it to win it… well…..

What about life? You got to be in it to win it…  Well,….  God put you in this life but who has “won it”? God.  Who created? Who gave skills? Who uses the lighting and the snow and the sunshine and the earth and even those snowdays to His advantage? God.

The Psalms from David speak of both PRAISE for keeping himself safe – and PRAYER for keeping his enemies at bay – and PAUSE for anytime he doubted. Really his prayers and our prayers are similar – well at least maybe – David both acknowledged God’s POWER and his MERCY…  David was reminded and reminds us to fear the Lord and realize He is the one who moves mountains and all that stuff that we tend to think we can have power over…  We don’t…  THE ONE THING WE DO HAVE IS PRAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WE CAN CALL UPON THE POWER OF GOD…

Back to football – there is a mom who has sons on each of the teams – a prime example of letting the game play out..  and perhaps that is what we should do as well – LET GOD PLAY OUT HIS GAME – WHICH IS NO GAME – REALIZE WE ARE needing to be letting OUR MINDS AND HEARTS TRUST GOD over simply letting God Do Something – BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO DO IT OR NOT…

David said in Psalm 31: ” In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; … deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” and “O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

Like David – we need to know God – knowing what He does and why He does it will help us ask the questions that we need to – but realize that God does it regardless of us – but also FOR the LOVE of us…. God is Power…  

Remember that penny that people put in their pockets or purses for “luck”? (like my aunt who has a 50 year old plus collection of every purse she owned)… Well that penny (those 50 pennies for luck) even say: “IN GOD WE TRUST” !!!

“IN GOD WE TRUST”

AMEN

—-

Psalm 32

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.  For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.  I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Gypsies for Jesus, are you one too?

I should forever be a Gypsy for Jesus.  The Lord Himself does not change, so He needs us to be adaptable, flexible and lift-able. Perhaps we are free moving people… actually in Jesus we are already free, but if we are called to be Gypsies for Jesus, then we must NOT move of our own free will but ONLY move by the Holy Spirit calling us, moving us, pulling us, settling us.

Sure, we are free to move, but we ALWAYS need our roots to be fed by the Lord…  the Lord often sinks old roots really quick into a new feeding, where the people actually look thru root collections to learn how and where to connect with you and each other…  We often are placed where we can be useful. Simply put, we are planted to bear fruit, planted NOT in the world, but in His Word. Psalm 1.

I am fed so that I can feed.

One day in the middle of the 2 church services, in a church that the Holy Spirit surely moved me to, I sat IN JOY on the back pew nestled between 2 wonderful gentlemen of my father’s age. The first gentleman, Lee, introduced me to Bob – I will call him Mr Whipple because he received a life-saving technique – after pain and medical issues, the doctor found he had pancreatic cancer – a 96% fatal disease – Bob is in the 4% – he survived – he said the Holy Spirit apparently needs him around. Not knowing why, he said that 4 times he was saved from near death. The Holy Spirit saves us because the Holy Spirit needs us.  Bob reminded us that even thru pain, God has a plan.  I immediately said back to the first gentleman, Lee, “Wow, wasn’t our earlier chat EXACTLY about just that?” He agreed and I said: “Look how the Holy Spirit connects our conversations: Even thru pain, God has a plan”.

Look for the Lord and wait out the storm… Psalm 121

Oh, how blessed I felt when I sat between Lee and Bob, learning just as much as I was talking, listening just as much as I was laughing, being at peace just as much as processing rough edges of life… I lingered… listened… and I loved it…

The Lord often is stirring up His mixing bowl of life. I’m one of those unprocessed clumps of cookie dough stuck to the spoon and I happened to have gotten scraped off into another section of the bowl to meet these new people, to pick up their new chocolate chip bits of praise, to hear new faith stories, AND to put my own issues in perspective. I often pondered on how UNBELIEVABLE it was that I landed where I landed. This church – that church – this place – the next place. It is no doubt because I was placed. We are placed. We are planted NOT in the world, but in His Word. Psalm 1.

I will always TRY to be a Gypsy for Jesus, rather than requesting a place to go, I will try to go where I am called, thru the Holy Spirit’s power, not mine, and both still be still  AND  be free to linger as long as the Lord needs…

I WILL LINGER FOR THE LORD.

Amen

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A  mom’s dream,

Could be a clean living room scene. 

But actually it was working with the TEEN who helped rearrange and CLEAN. (Such is the scheme to plan a football watching party scene).

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A mom’s dream,

Could be chasing her own dreams.

But actually it is sending her child off away to their own – then exchanging text messages of beautiful sunsets scenes… and a cooler full of ice creams. (Yum)

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A parenting dream is to see children grow and financially succeed.

and yet we don’t want them to be in a rush,  nor have worldly success greed.

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Surely the only thing FOR our children that we REALLY need,

Is to help them to TRUST God, LOVE Jesus, and understand and FOLLOW the Holy Spirit’s LEAD.

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Teach

Study

Explain.

Live in Faith.

Long for God’s embrace. 

Pray too to grow in Grace.

Reflect God’s Glorious Face.

For we do wish for our children to understand FORGIVENESS and to grow in their FAITH.

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This mom loves to see each child’s face.

This mom longs for each child’s embrace.

This mom’s best dream is to one day see them in Heaven’s Forever Scene… With God, Face to Face…

Face to Face.

Amen 

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Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass [reflecting] the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2nd Corinthians 3:17-18

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If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: FAITH, HOPE and LOVE. But the greatest of these is LOVE.  1st Corinthians 13

Friday Night 

A strong night of NOT getting anywhere  but still being HERE.

Where? Here. But not there…

In the beginning of the checkers game at the great church “Community Night” FILLED with a sea of happy bustling children around us playing games, we couldn’t even remember WHERE to PLACE the checkers pieces to start…haha… LAME… Dark or light squares? or some of each? We were not embarrassed enough to not google it, so we did – dark squares… and so we started… Stealth checker strategy would win… In the middle of the game we didn’t doubt that I would win, I had many kings. But in the end, we realized there was actually no end to the game at all. We knew it would be a chase around the board, a never ending of 2 minds on equal par. A CAT GAME… but it was NOT a lame game after all, it was time well spent for a while realizing that even in a cat and mouse chase, there is a point where the cat will get bored… but NO cat game is lame because you STILL get to play the game.

We left the game aside. Even aggressive play didn’t win. Even defensive ploys didn’t lose. We just left it and even if my opponent said I won, I really didn’t. But it was OK as it was still a good game. It made us each think… 30 minutes? Yeah, 30 minutes for a checkers game?  crazy… crazy not lazy… thinking until almost all was all thought out…

At home, I settled into a perfectly IRREVERENT and touching NETFLIX film, I highly recommend it: “Sr.” – about Bob Downey Sr, who is Robert Downey’s dad – a filmmaker – an IRREVERANT 70’s artistic filmmaker. This documentary movie even Jr asked: Who was documentary-ing whom? Who was framing whom? It was a crazy life lived and a film made for forever – as Parkinsons took Sr’s mobility away but not his humor. He became stuck but not out of the game… He still had laughter and a way to move his eyes along a camera editing frame view…  and this movie RE-FRAMED their LIFE IN LOVE… I  learned a lot about Robert Downey Jr too and his growing up life, they all irreverently lived interesting lives… (They all regret the drugs)…  I HIGHLY recommend this Netflix film, “Sr.“, especially on a Friday night that fades away, there still is love… A tribute to love of a father and a son…  LOVE… (and for me it was OK, tomorrow (today) being another day…  and especially when the next day is SATURDAY… endless possibilities)…

SO thanks for letting me ramble and rhyme, life is no gamble it’s really fine. We ARE living and talking on God’s dime. You must flow in rhythm and rhyme during one’s lifetime. … Take heed of the past as it won’t last. Take hold of the present, it IS a present. … There is no lame in any life game, NONE. …No cat game is lame, because in life you STILL get to play the game, until it is DONE.

…

I also will add in Psalm 27 because God DOES rescue us from our mundane, our enemies and our thoughts – and even knows the plan for a dress that doesn’t zip and knows the comfort plan and anything else going on in this game we call LIFE… Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

A cat game has no winners with equal opponents. (remember the movie “War Games” with Matthew Broderick? The computer melted down mentally because it couldn’t win the cat game… Life’s game however? GOD WINS,  and therefore we win, because God has NO worthy or equal opponents… GOD WINS…

Let’s get in God’s Game.. 

Amen

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Psalm 27 Of David.

The Lord is my light and my salvation

 whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life  of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,to gaze on the BEAUTY of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of JOY; I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.

Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.

Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.

I remain confident of this: I WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD in the land of the living. WAIT FOR THE LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

AMEN… !!!

One of the many reasons I work at my workplace is that I’ve always had plenty of people to talk out my problems with and had an opportunity to listen to theirs (work or otherwise). We problem solve, we vent, we understand each other, and often we realize things aren’t so bad compared to what others go through. (And we do work at work too, LOTS of work)…

That’s the corner conversation by the coffee machine, the after-meeting mulling over, and the random not random intercept to someone’s rant, ours too. That’s us able to talk it out… And listen…

What about remote working? Call up the people. Reach out… read and write messages in chat conversations. Listen. 

That’s us too with the Lord. Talk it out. Be in a place to be honest. Vent. Voice. ConVerse-ation. Prayers are not always or ever needing to be formal PowerPoint presentations, prayers can be an informal cooler conversations of the day with the Lord who wanted you to realize He was orchestrating the day anyway.  An attitude of decompression, in prayer, can be like sitting around the table for happyhour and saying “Jesus, did you hear that? Geez, did you see that?”…. and imagine Jesus saying that to you? Jesus saying: “Did you see how your problem was answered? Did you see me intervene here? Did you notice Me in the person coming to ask for your help and friendship today?… With the Lord, we problem solve, we vent, we understand and we realize things aren’t so bad compared to what others go through. Compare any of your uneasiness with Jesus’s treatment by people and He certainly DOES understand. 

Talk it out with the Lord.

Prayerful life activities alone can include reading His chat messages to you. From snippets of psalms to colorful stories of how He handled things. Of course our gathering together with his faithful increases our faith. We all realize we ARE God’s remote team on location. Of precious alone time with just us and God are actually suggested by God. 

One of the devotions I read this week essentially said: DON’T rehearse your day, just go live it. Encounter things with an attitude of there WILL be challenges and there WILL be joys. Walk WITH me… At each moment: TALK IT OUT or just understand and BE. 

…for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him….

Let us approach today (speaking and listening) in a fresh way, His Way, for Jesus is walking WITH us. Let’s talk the Walk. Then walk the Talk.

Amen

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Jesus instructed (in Matthew 6:6-15):

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

King David had lots of concerns, but He (and we) had a BIGGER God. 

We have days, months, years filled with CONCERNS, but God has FOREVER to be FAITHFUL. Everything pales and fades in comparison… Hold on to His promises…

I was holding on tight to the steering wheel last night, rain as intense as I’ve seen plus flash flooding.  I would have taken snow over that… i got home safe. I had a LONG day, but I reached to the Lord for energy and organization… I’ll never have nothing to do, but these last few months have been a silly amount on my plate… luckily, blessedly, God helps me sort – what to do – what to wait… Where to REACH? God.

Chocolate… I don’t need chocolate, but wow what a treat God has given… and I left half a dark chocolate bar from Christmas in my car. Maybe even my mom gave it to me, Christmas was one month ago, seemingly feeling forever ago, that’s an example of how fast and far we get… we move fast… we are moved into the future… 

Chocolate… I dropped a piece while driving.. I didn’t need it but ugh, can’t waste it! God knows my hands stayed on that wheel, both hands this storm was bad… the distraction mentally of chocolate (5 second rule) was more of a driving force than my fear of driving. My mind was focused visualizing that piece. Within but not safely easily within my reach. But it was preserved and OK.

I think that’s a fraction of how God focuses on us (small correlation), He loves us SO MUCH, that NOTHING can separate us from His Love. His reach? Ha, we are ALREADY in His Hand. He is NEVER distant. We are OK before we even think we are in danger.

I stopped my car, safely on the side, I was APPRECIATIVE of the mental break in my hour rainy 730pm commute from that long day. The chocolate was there, not in a puddle, not melted, not smeared by my driving foot… INTACT! Survived the moment. I reached and brushed it off… YUM… (See I have new weather tech mats, so clean enough!) 20 more minutes home, I was thankful. Safe thus far…

Imagine God being so intense and we are protected in the moment! We are!!!… Imagine God being so loving and we are protected from our enemies and our concerns and our foibles… WE ARE !!! He’s better than weather tech mats, He’s in us and not just around us. He’s better than chocolate, so soooooothing… He’s better than better… He’s saved us…

And ALWAYS GOD IS WITHIN REACH!

AMEN!!!

Psalm 20

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but WE TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD.

They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!

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FAITHFULNESS 

Psalm 26 – of David.

Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life;

I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.

Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. 

I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites. I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.

Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells. Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty, in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me. My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.

There’s one BIG scripture of four little words which is sometimes tough to adhere to, but a blessing to remember. A reminder for when we count our blessings: “I SHALL NOT WANT”…

Psalm 23: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I SHALL NOT WANT...” 

As David writes and surely sang, is a reminder to get what we need from the Lord and realize He has been providing all along. Worldly possessions won’t forever pacify us. He provides preparations, provisions, protections, purposes, pastures, paths, placements and PEACE. Our cups overflow… (Note there is One PEACE for all, not peaces)…

I’ve not been perfect in realizing this myself because I am human and we tend to get hung up on the small stuff, we clash with people who should be on the same page, or at least resting in the same green pastures of Peace. We wander away from the Shepherd too. We get jealous not just of others and their fortunate circumstances (the grass always seems greener) but we get jealous of the lives we think we SHOULD have had for ourselves.  We are jealous of what we want in unbrokenness, frustrated with ourselves sometimes. We should be ambitious but not jealous. 

Perhaps (definitely) we need to shift our eyes and REFOCUS ON THE LORD. If we are not so willing to accept hardships as challenges to overcome by ourselves, let’s try doing so WITH the Lord. If we don’t want to walk through these valleys of the “shadow of death”, then don’t stop and sightsee the situation, REFOCUSon the Lord!!! He Leads… 

We forget we are not walking alone… We should remember to ride under God’s Wing. We shall not want…

Jealousy of a life without God’s leading is no life at all.

Keep looking at the Lord. FOLLOW. WALK. REST. KNOW.

AMEN 

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Psalm 23 – a psalm of David. (KJV and NIV)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=KJV;NIV

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Treasures!!! Precious Treasures!!!

This is the first time in a few years that the Bohemian Czech Crown Jewels were put on display…  They are held hidden under 7 pairs of locks and keys distributed to various members of the government and in the church… The re-creations (which I have seen) are beautiful and so these original pieces on video appear exquisite… one of these years I would love seeing the real ones, but the trip itself was even more priceless to me. The amazing St Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle is just one of the sights to be seen… 

Treasure any time you can take a trip!  I sure do… The people who saw the jewels had to wait outside in the cold for a couple house. This year is special for new presidential elections. This is also the 30th anniversary of the separation of Czech from Slovakia. And it was 33 years ago when the velvet revolution got Czech people away from the iron curtain, I bet they waited a LONG time under that regime, behind the curtain. I have to wonder how much prayers were prayed in waiting it out… In a country of Europe, a continent of people losing their faith, many did not. Thank God. 

King Charles of Bohemia, 1300’s, was also a man of faith and the Holy Roman Emperor, he had these jewels put together. There is faith in worldly items and then there is faith in God. If riches are as precious on earth, then heaven treasures are priceless! Priceless Heaven – our ticket bought by Jesus. Charles knew he had earthly jewels! And the gold overlays in his castles are unbelievably beautiful. Charles (Karl) also believed that He had hundreds of relics from Jesus’s time, including breast milk from Mary and especially a thorn from the crown Jesus wore. He had that thorn placed inside the cross in the jewels, they have no reason to believe that it is not still there. Charles used earthy riches in decorative art to honor God.

My scriptures this day are from another king, King David, who at times was under much distress and hiding from duress… Psalms 22, 23, 24, 25… What best JEWEL did David find in his heart? THE LOVE OF GOD… David BELIEVED in God’s rescue and he saw it! We should believe too.

There is nothing more precious than what God holds precious: His Love for us. David knew the Precious Love of God in rescue and in respite. (included below is His famous Psalm 23 – such a comfort to know God’s strength)…  Even when David felt so distant from God, he knew God was looking for him. I pray we do too…

I pray we know we are PRECIOUS in God’s Hands. WE ARE HIS PRECIOUS TREASURES!

And He is ours.

Amen

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.

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Here are videos of people going to visit.

Here is some history

https://www.hrad.cz/en/prague-castle-for-visitors/other/the-bohemian-crown-jewels-10273#:~:text=They%20are%20considered%20to%20have,1531%20and%20Emperor%20in%201556.

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Scriptures

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+22-25&version=NIV

Psalm 22:14-23

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

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Psalm 23 – a psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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Psalm 24 – of David. A psalm.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory?  The Lord Almighty – he is the King of glory.

Psalm 25: 1-7 – of David.

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those  who are treacherous without cause. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.

I appreciate the brief few years I sang in praise bands. I praise the situation and the unbelievability of it too as a non-trained singer, but mostly I praise the Holy Spirit for putting me where I needed and need to be. The songs were new to me, my praise was given an outlet, and it still is in recordings of those and other songs. Good thing because what was memorized before fades away…

Singing is soothing. My praise pours out loudly splashingly or it sips on His soothing of pain like sipping a cup of tea… in other words the Praise songs as well as life tears include BOTH praise and pain… isn’t that true… True. Pain and praise intertwine.

“There MAY BE pain in the night, but JOY comes in the morning.” That’s a lyric from a modern praise song which comes from old truth in Psalm 30 of David.

And Psalm 19:1-4 is speaking praise without speaking: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

My bandmate friend from many years ago wrote a new song, based on that scripture and others. It’s complex and yet so are we and so are our lives, there’s a mixture of pain and pondering and pure happiness. Joy can be in all, and one’s JOY in the Lord can be deliverance or diversion from pain. In other words when we look big picture, God view, the problems fade away.

How could we not feel pain alongside our praise. Sometimes we fall silent in pondering. Revelation 8 states that heaven goes silent for half an hour between revelations of the seals. Even in heaven there is pondering…

Sometimes we don’t hear the song or it doesn’t lift from the page until notes are added which can be understood musically. We don’t know the tune of these psalms. But our life experiences can make them our own. We travel our own tune.

In other words, music lyrics and song are meant to be together. Life Praise and pain are the same way on earth, intertwined they give completeness to our comprehension. How more intense our praise when pain is stopped. 

Remember The Word IS Jesus, Jesus understands the pain and the prayers and the praise. Jesus IS the truth, the Way and the Life… He knows it all… And with Jesus comes forgiveness If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. (Psalm 130:3-4)

Since we are not there yet, we humanly feel that pain still real and raw. Our relief – and our eternal relief – we are still taking hold of. It is a new mix for us remedying pain, pondering, and praise. Let us wait on the Lord – My soul waits on the Lord – He can be the mixing table for our new songs.

Amen and keep singing…

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I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:1-5

—-

My Soul Waits for the Lord from Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

Simply waking up in the morning, I realize how blessed I am to embrace a new day, even if one doesn’t feel like starting it quite yet on my feet,  much to the cat’s disappointment… I like to start my day by embracing our God who gave me rest to be my best. I’ve yet to do many things, but I WILL start with the best morning activity I have in trying to please Him more – SIMPLY TO GET TO KNOW HIM BETTER. In us He WILL give us a new day, so in Him we should PRAISE.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

We tend to think of OUR problems, OUR issues and of course OUR deliverance. Even that great scripture “Be Still” – we think of that as ‘people-centric’ as ‘Be Still and God is working things out FOR US’… And yes, He IS, but in reality read the Psalm 46 full text, it is referring BIGGER than that – it is that God telling us to Be Still, He WILL be EXALTED even by those who didn’t think He was handling everything… He WILL get credit where credit is due. Let’s start that now.

That is another reason to jump on the PRAISE bandwagon, be an optimist of God’s deliverance of the whole situation on earth, and praise of the little things too. Be still knowing – Be still PRAISING. 

All in All, have faith in God being Whom He is. This does allow us to ask for help… Yes, we have much company in people who reach out to God to ask for help – and in the asking is also the faith – in the knowledge of deliverance… So, Psalm 18 is yet another great opportunity for David to sing of the Lord’s deliverance and His Victories even to the next generations…

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?

Remember that God was telling David that He was favored, He would have a whole line of people (including the greatest King, Savior to Jews and Gentiles, Jesus) come after him in his bloodline – David was being told that Jesus would be connected to him, a remnant of Judah even if Judah was just in rags by then (God predicted the ongoing strife and exile). David already knew to speak of the Lord as “my Lord”, and God promised fulfilment…

Psalms 18, 19, 20, 21 all are of God’s Amazing Power deserving of PRAISE. We too should say “My Lord” in appreciation for it is true and for the appreciation that God is good. Psalm 46 is the Be Still psalm… We can find familiar phrases in our psalms of praise. That’s how I’m starting this day… Knowing and PRAISING..

Amen!

(These psalms below are worth the read!)

(OK, cat has spoken, time to get going and move out the Christmas decorations!)

—

Psalm 18:25-36

To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. 

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.

——-

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the Lord is PERFECT, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

—–

Psalm 20

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but WE TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD.

They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!

—-

Psalm 21

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord. How great is his joy in the victories you give! You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked you for life, and you gave it to him— length of days, for ever and ever. Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.

Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes. When you appear for battle, you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and his fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind. Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed. You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.

Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.

—–

Psalm 46: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee. 

I always say: be careful not to major in extracurricular activities (in college or at work). Always get your basic work done. When you work at work, don’t forget to work… That’s life too!!!  Being everything you are and want to be, like being a mom, like running a house then setting aside things to be able to get out of that house (laundry WILL WAIT and so will the dishes). Be who you are supposed to be but also know how to focus. Yes, WORK your situation… (and if you can’t get something to work – ask for help)…

When I started working at my near 21 year place of work, I started landing some unique projects and fulfilled unique roles in my department and in my whole building and in my global organization too. I could do the science or the activities or the new hire trainings or the client conversations or the fill in the blank… There is a nice niche of work, cleft for me… set aside… yeah… and sometimes when I do get called upon for my experience and expertise, it IS because I both have knowledge AND I learned how to maneuver within the system and get stuff done. (how can you not learn SOMETHING after 20 years – it is NOT that I am special it is just I never left…) ANYWAY, you have to know the system to work the system. This is NOT unique to me, but I recognize this as a blessing. 

If you are fortunate, your niche may make you a “go to” person as needed – but if there’s too much on your plate (or you want to take a vacation) and you don’t know how to get thru your “to do list”, then first do what ONLY your skill set can do, then do the other stuff anyone can do.  Work within your niche but also branch out…

Cleft for me. Is this God’s Will? Is this God’s Action Plan? To have the niche and yet branch out from it too?

Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me… So, I only recently truly read and understood this hymn. I woke up and the tune was on the top spinning disk in my head. This DOES pertain to work and to life. Like our cats which sometimes sleep hidden tucked away, remember that they ALSO sometimes sleep WIDE OPEN and sprawled out because they feel safe, they feel comfortable to do so, they TRUST you, they recognize a protective environment. Us too – we much know what to trust – we have niches and we have the opportunity for branching out!

If one knows the Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me old-time 1700s tune, one can easily follow along the words, close the book and leave it there. But if you READ the words, like I recently did, you can get SO MUCH MORE out of it. “Cleft for me” is us being able to hide ourselves in Thee, because the Rock opens a spot to nestle in, to protect us within. To be under God’s Wing. To be safe in a storm. The Rock of Ages is our sturdy foundation. No wonder He sends us out to the world, He knows we are protected and yet given opportunity to work. You have to know the system to work IN the system – and to work FROM the system. God Bless HIS System!

The Rock of Ages tune, whenever it plays in our heads, double reminds us of Jesus’s love AND a niche He carved out for us: to live and to work and to be protected and ALSO to be SAVED… The lyrics proclaim (in verse 1) of a double cure: water and the blood bring guilt relief AND cleansing… 

The next two verses speak of Jesus’s actions and our saving thru Him ALONE… He fulfils the Law (Moses’s Law as given by God) as the ultimate sacrifice. Our SALVATION is not from the labor of our own hands, not from our doing, not out of our system. Verse four reminds us of the AMAZING AFTERLIFE… close your eyes and IMAGINE IT then nestle into His niche to really live.

Can we really live now? In God’s system? No matter how broken and bumpy the ride is? Well Yes! Through Jesus, God Almighty and a Living Spirit, we don’t always have to hide under His wing, we can be out sharing in His Joy. But don’t worry – His rock IS cleft for us. He will keep you HIS.

HIS.

Amen

.

Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

Verse 1

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure;

Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

.

Verse 2

Not the labor of my hands

Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone;

Thou must save, and Thou alone.

.

Verse 3

Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress;

Helpless look to Thee for grace;

Foul, I to the Fountain fly;

Wash me, Savior, or I die.

.

Verse 4

While I draw this fleeting breath,

When mine eyelids close in death

When I soar to worlds unknown,

See Thee on Thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.

.

Read about the author’s own coming to faith story: Augustus Toplady (1776) from a website with lyrics alongside music playing (like hymn karaoke): https://hymnary.org/person/Toplady_Augustus

https://my.hymnary.org/song/126/rock_of_ages_cleft_for_me_let_me_hide

And another online link:

Rock of Ages

“These wounds are a story You’ll use…” 

Scars is a song that hit me “just so” this morning… I am grateful for songs that touch your own experience(s). And no matter your original pain and no matter how deep your healing became when Jesus touched you to bring you to Himself, the scars – in Him and in us – are something that make us worthy – because of His Worthy…  “Thankful for the scars”… and the scars we bear, and can show bare to Him, can make us remember not just the experience of getting them but especially of the HEALING – HIS HEALING – even if it took a long time – even if it is still ongoing – even if it takes forever…  

No scars in Heaven will be as deep and as powerful than those of the Lamb, Jesus… No Healing on earth or in Heaven is done as powerfully and completely as from Jesus’s healing of us. God’s glorification of Jesus for our sake – and for His Ability to Hold His Children blameless and near to Himself. Rescued. Restored. Really…

The “Scars” song is said to be inspired by John 17 (posted below with Jesus’s words to Our Father and His disciples and us). Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Below are the lyrics of “Scars” – a good praise song for thankfulness… “And I’m not who I was before… No, I don’t have to fear anymore”…

No Fear – only Faith…

No sin – only scars…

Scars of Praise…

Amen

—-

“SCARS” by I AM THEY
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=i-lWfVupxU8&feature=share

lyrics:
Waking up to a new sunrise
Looking back from the other side
I can see now with open eyes

.
Darkest water and deepest pain
I wouldn’t trade it for anything
‘Cause my brokenness brought me to you
And these wounds are a story you’ll use

.
So I’m thankful for the scars
‘Cause without them I wouldn’t know your heart
And I know they’ll always tell of who you are
So forever I am thankful for the scars

.
Now I’m standing in confidence
With the strength of your faithfulness
And I’m not who I was before

No, I don’t have to fear anymore

.
So I’m thankful for the scars
‘Cause without them I wouldn’t know your heart
And I know they’ll always tell of who you are
So forever I am thankful for the scars

.
I can see, I can see
How you delivered me
In your hands, in your feet

I found my victory

.
I’m thankful for your scars
‘Cause without them I wouldn’t know your heart
And with my life, I’ll tell of who you are
So forever I am thankful

.
I’m thankful for the scars
‘Cause without them I wouldn’t know your heart
And I know they’ll always tell of who you are
So forever I am thankful for the scars
So forever I am thankful for the scars

…………..

John 17 NIV – Jesus Prays to Be Glorified

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples
“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Jesus Prays for All Believers
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have 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.”

In my notes from a Michael Card conference on Hesed (loving kindness, forgiveness, grace, mercy), The Scripture from Luke 6:35 is highlighted – it says “But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High.”

My notes are that of reciprocity but in a paying it forward kind of way. We were given this Hesed first. We were given the opportunity to be those children of God because God loved/loves even the sinners, gives love and does good. God does WANT love from us – and when we realize how good He is, we appreciate it. So we too are to do what is good, even to the bad – to our enemies -a hard pill to swallow sometimes and yet Jesus went to the cross for this. The ultimate sacrifice of good for bad, for forever-sake.

Jesus came to teach us all this in the fulfilment of the One who will cover our sins and missteps. To train us to be like Him. “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”

David also wrote about being upright and doing what was good. David said one can despise a vile person – but we are to honor others – especially those who fear the Lord. Doing what is good, even to the bad. Jesus still says to love them. Tough love, huh? But David reminds: the person who lives upright will never be shaken.

In today’s world, it is often a murky scene of people – yet we can see clearly if we focus on the love and the forgiveness (no matter how hard) and study the ability to forgive over the sensationalism of sin. And remember Jesus’s REAL DEAL advice: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

We ain’t perfect – let us realize we HAVE the love and grace and Hesed from God and give it to others best we can.

Amen

—–

Psalm 15 NIV – A psalm of David.

Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?

Who may live on your holy mountain?

The one whose walk is blameless,

who does what is righteous,

who speaks the truth from their heart;

whose tongue utters no slander,

who does no wrong to a neighbor,

and casts no slur on others;

who despises a vile person

but honors those who fear the Lord;

who keeps an oath even when it hurts,

and does not change their mind;

who lends money to the poor without interest;

who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things

will never be shaken.

————-

Luke 6:27-42

Jesus said: “But to you who are listening I say: 

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 

If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. 

If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 

Do to others as you would have them do to you..
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Had some Great News – with is good news for me – and for us:

God proved very trustworthy – not that I doubted but He pulled thru!

So – I have a praise playlist – better than my words are my praises…

God IS Trustworthy – so Just Trust… Listen… Believe…

.

What’s the best rescue from God? The ultimate one. What’s the best NEXT rescue? A RESCUE from going it alone…

.

In anything and everything, just remember that God is going with you, better yet He has gone ahead!

.

REALLY!

.

So here’s a playlist of PRAISE I started just then rather than any other explanation… I START with PRAISE before anything else because I was already listening to praise…  YES, I’d rather have Jesus than ANYTHING this world affords today (even good or bad news)… I’d RATHER have JESUS… YUP…

The playlist is called RESCUE. 

WHEW!

(Now, if my news had gone the other way? It’s still the same playlist. It’s the same PRAISE, because He STILL is there. You Don’t Walk Alone (oh that’s a good song too!))

Thanks God! REALLY!!!

---

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Surround (Fight my Battles) – because This IS the Way we should fight our battles – by noticing His Surround on us.

Goodness of God – because He IS GOOD!

Is He Worthy? – He is!

Word of God Speak – yes let Him talk…

Wonderful Merciful Savior

I’d Rather Have Jesus

You Raise Me Up

Oh Lord, Your Beautiful

The Heart of Worship

Defender

Surround (Fight my Battles)

Word of God Speak

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You’re in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I’m finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You’re in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You’re in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s okay

Songwriters: Pete Kipley / Bart Millard

Word of God Speak lyrics © Songs From The Indigo Room, Wordspring Music, Llc

I have a spiritual reading “to do list” and I’ve held onto some notes for 3 years now – and this packet always is BARELY kept from being completely buried. I wrote part 1 of my notes of going to Michael Card’s conference in 2019, never finished part 2.  I will restart. But first, I have a story, I do remember the plain ole cold I had been getting over, the cough drop HESED *grace mercy* when Michael Card HIMSELF gave me a cough drop when I had a huge coughing fit and was stuck, no water, totally landlocked in my seat location by so many round tables and chairs and people staring… I was so embarrassed that I intensely cried outside the church for like half an hour… INTENSE embarrassment. I’m sure Michael and those people don’t remember, I do, the crawl under a rock feeling… Most importantly, I remember the forgiveness in the situation. I remember walking back in… I came back, back from outside and back, out of the field of fear.

Hesed is God’s forgiveness. In hindsight my coughing fit was just 6 months before covid hit, (and imagine the EXTRA stares I would’ve had then?!!!) Well, SO, my long-winded start here brings me to the thought and truth that THANK GOD,  that GOD is in charge of Salvation by His actions and not ours. By His Love.  Hesed. Loving kindness forgiveness. He’s got the power to forgive (and He does)!!!

This note paper (photo attached) is from that day, and it has the EXACT scripture that was read in my church yesterday. WOW! It’s a parable told by Jesus of a king paying day-laborers a wage whether they were short or long in the field, and his generosity allowed him to pay them all the same, regardless of time in the field. It’s a parable to demonstrate God’s forgiveness, His Hesed, IT’S GOD’S GENEROSITY, IT’S GOD’S MERCY HESED GRACE LOVING KINDNESS… God brings us into Heaven based on His ability. Jesus came to call the sinners…

The Vinyard in this parable can be a place to work, but what about the flip side? (Actually many flipside lessons from this but let me talk about just one angle): What of the “fields of life” that people wander in and around every day? I am going to take a cup of Holy Spirit contemplation within this story, and state that just like me coming back in from my “field of fear” after the coughing incident, we all need to come back out FROM the field to accept that offer, back to the King, back to the One who pays our way into forgiveness… Come back to Jesus,  especially when we are feeling lost. Don’t stay out in embarrassment for sins or stupid stuff, or even perceived fear. Especially don’t stay away from fear of others. 

Remember Jesus is looking too, looking for you. He’s leaving the 99 behind (whom He knows won’t stray at that moment) to come get you, His lost sheep. Come back from being out in the field of lostness.

(And we also need to extend forgiveness to others so we are also not stuck out in the field)…

God has HESED, loving kindness, grace and mercy to give you peace.  Come get your Gift of Him, from Him, no matter how long you were gone. 30 seconds or 30 years, time is meaningless in the face of the Creator of all. 

Let’s return to one of the the actual (non-flip sidebars) of the parable of the workers in the vinyard. God is saying “you all come” – and my notes from the conference state that Matthew was writing this story down FOR those former Jews who lost their Jewish identity by following Jesus. Matthew explains this love to those new believers, explaining “you are the salt of the earth, light of the world”…  “[YOU ARE PART OF THE KINGDOM. Accept it, you do have an identity.]”  We do too.

Remember God’s the One, 

giving even His Son, 

whose telling you your battle is won. Don’t stay out in the field when the day is done.

Amen 

---

There’s many more sidebar learnings, from this parable… just like tilling the soil, we are only scratching the surface of Word, and it’s wealth of understanding… put your roots in deep… here’s the link:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2020&version=NIV;KJV

always worth re-signing this song… there is a season…

Ecclesiastes 3 NIV

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²  a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

⁹ What do workers gain from their toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³ That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

¹⁵ Whatever is has already been,
    and what will be has been before;
    and God will call the past to account.

¹⁶ And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
    in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

¹⁷ I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment
    both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
    a time to judge every deed.”

¹⁸ I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. ¹⁹ Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath^[c]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. ²⁰ All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. ²¹ Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

²² So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

I have often wondered why we sleep, maybe we won’t sleep in Heaven, but I bet cat naps will still be available when needed, I mean who wouldn’t need that sleep time for processing Heaven’s Almighty Amazing views. But we will rest assured in Heaven if we don’t need to rest at all… Well, I will take whatever God gives me and say THANK YOU….  MEANWHILE, here on Earth, I appreciate sleep and I bet God does too, He needs it to happen in us (and we need it too) to REPAIR our broken thoughts, to give us FRESH perspective after rest, to RESOLVE muscle aches, to get us simply QUIETER in our world for a third of the day. I think our Guardian Angels must say ‘Whew, THANK YOU! I’ve got that person in just one place to not get into trouble for a while…’ Most of all, us resting restores some order to the System. Order is VERY Godly. 

ORDER. 

These are my views of sleeps’ benefits, but God’s view IS from His seat. He Knows. I just speculate. I bet He is SO SATISFIED to know that His children (us) are resting peacefully and in one place, just like I am thankful for my two children right now sleeping in my house. 

ORDER.

Order is completing life laps around the sun. Following life’s course. Finishing the Race ‘one day at a time’. 

ORDER.

Order IS Very Godly. Very Mom-appreciative. Especially teenagers, I get a 6 hour lead time of quiet work around the house on weekends, nowadays still getting woken at 5AM, get to write, sip some tea, then spring into action all while keeping quiet (including not waking up the cat.)

ORDER. 

Revelation scriptures by John certainly show us an orderly Heaven. Order. Apostle Paul saw an orderly Heaven. Order. Acts reveals Peter seeing a portion of Heaven – whatever he saw to be there was supposed to be there – so why wouldn’t God have ordered it to be there…

ORDER.

A preacher once mentioned that in Heaven we will have perfect pitch singing, I mean why wouldn’t we?!!! Singing sounds so good to me for something in Heaven. I LOVE SINGING, ESPECIALLY HIS PRAISE! I am always singing (much to the chagrin of my kids). It’s the best calming thing…  Singing restores order to my thoughts or at least replaces some of the worries with words of praise or positive vibes or processing pain in potent lyrics. Recently I was singing (humming) a praise song at the work copy machine not thinking anyone would notice, giving myself peace processing. A co-worker later said she loved how I was singing and it reminded her of her mom (who lives back home far away), almost made her cry thinking of her mom. Singing is universal in voices and hearts made by God. GOD MADE SINGING.  

ORDER.

In John, Jesus says “in my Father’s House there are many rooms…  I go to prepare a place for you…” Surely Jesus, Who can know the clean and unclean in people’s thinkings and cover them with His Blood, and Who can also wash physical dirt off of feet, can prepare rooms in an orderly fashion for us… Surely Jesus, Alpha and Omega, seeing and knowing the desired order can have ordered it organized. Surely God re-ordering the order by sending Jesus means that we are made into a new creation in Him. Surely the leaves of the tree in Heaven planned for “the healing the nations” will provide God His desired outcome then if we can’t make peace now. ORDER comes from the Lord’s Peace, we have to wait for that too..

…

ORDER.

…

We have to wait many times for God to reveal His Plan. We have to wait for HIS TIMING… and if there is no revelation yet of something like a medical diagnosis, or a financial situation, or even the dawn to come up, then just WAIT on GOD…  He knows the order and DON’T RUSH HIM.

In other words, REST, REST in HIM, take the moment to praise first, pray second, and then continue waiting…

There is an ORDER to everything…  Why wouldn’t there be? GOD’S IN CHARGE.

Amen

(PS it was dark when I started writing, the cat is now up watching me, the sun is now up welcoming me. The cat is back to cat napping. God gifts a new day – just wait for it… God ‘ordered’ this day, take full advantage of it from His Menu. Double Amen)

One day I was visiting my neighbor, who recently moved to a new place. She was in pain after broken hip surgery, had yet to take her ibuprofen, and so I suggested ice, simple ice… She remembered that she had a bag of frozen peas. She hates peas, but she had them, not for eating but for pain. Frozen peas are the perfect ice pack that contours easily. Yes peas also refreeze. A simple solution to pain. Remember that we have something to reach for. Keep it just in case. Basic pain relief. Ahhhhh…. My neighbor was visibly relieved. Didn’t need the hard medicine stuff quite yet, just frozen peas…

HOPE. Hope is a simple complex thought that we often have. Hope IS what we remember we should tap into and do actively reach for. Hope could be a specific prayer request we have or a general feeling that God will intervene. Hope comes in all sizes, we can keep it in the freezer, refresh it, use it again. Hope is the belief God will act and the witness that He has already, so many times.

We have rough times and we have good times. Before, after, in between all we have God who does not change and is listening.  In our remembering of His existence, in our reaching out to Him and in towards Him, we need to remember not just Him but remember how POWERFUL He is. And remember God is the Temple as well as being Whom we praise in the Temple. He is the Owner of both the strong bird wing that we hide under and carries us as well as the still air giving the bird flight. 

He is the Hope as well as Whom we hope into. God is All. 

David in Psalm 16 remembers our Lord God is the portion AND the cup. God is the Joy AND the One Who fills us with JOY.

We ALWAYS need to remember He IS available.  GOD IS. Reaching for God is kinda (well much much more) like remembering the frozen peas, reach for Him, and apply… God IS in the reach as well as the relief.

The application of HOPE is prayer. The result of prayer IS HOPE. 

The existence of God is also His Power. The Power of God is He exists. 

Amen 

…

A bag of peas and a Psalm of “pleas” and “please”

Psalm 16 NIV of David.

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. 

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

.

“GIVE LIGHT TO MY EYES”

I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

The amazing thing (well there are many) about God is that God HAS prepared the Way for His Plan and for His people well before anyone roamed the earth or moaned in pain on the earth. He was preparing the Way for His people, even through a wicked minefield of mayhem. He saw the other side because He MADE the other side. If David could see it and put it to pen, David also must have seen the refuge,  felt it, especially since he has so many writings in the Psalms. God is credited with being both ALMIGHTY (slaying the wicked) and being a God of refuge (protection for those seeking His Face).  Psalms 10 through 14 are a walk through of both: ‘Why are the wicked so wicked?’ AND ‘You Lord are the Rescuer, Resource, Restorer.’ Yes, everything pales compared to God’s Glory.

For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

We may know trouble here and there, but unless you are in much much more corrupt company, we ALREADY have and know a protective barrier of God’s protection. (That’s why we remind folks to count their blessings!) If you are even having a chance to read this text (and I had time to write it), then we will have already been afforded by God time, precious time, time to rest, time to work, time to reap benefits from working income or rescue financing, and we will likely have moments of remembering when we have been rescued. Just us whom get to Friday and can say TGIF, Thank God it’s Friday, it is like the week fades away in the face of a weekend. Think especially then how the life wickedness and strife fades away in the Face of Almighty God. 

The upright will SEE His Face…

Give LIGHT to my eyes…

So why do we read so much historical prayer in the Psalms about the enemies of God? And the rescue of the innocent? Why do we hear of those enemies whose minds are corrupt “in all his thoughts there is no room for God”?  We are told because He has a way to destroy them. IN HIS TIME, not ours. AND, because we are to be aware there are pockets of real wickedness in the world and plain pastures of wicked ways that derail people. And because in the future, others who are oppressed need to hear that GOD WILL PREVAIL!

We are often sheltered from hearing as well as having to face the situations and the people suffering thru them. God hears them. God hears you if you are going through something terrible. God has already made a Way. Trust Him.

This is the month (January) where we recognize that human trafficking is real, is evil, is hidden from our ivory tower lifestyles. (Just do an information search on the big sports events and the increase in trafficking.) God DOES see this. God will bring all the enemies of God to His punishment and justice in due time. Our awareness of situation may make us able to help. If anything, we can pray against the wickedness and praise the protection of God’s shielding to those who escape. 

You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.…. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.

If we have seen BOTH evil and good, then we can share our witnesses of God taking care of our situation and salvation again the ultimate evil of sin and death.  Then we should share that David saw the Lord prevail, we see the Lord prevail, and our future brothers and sisters will ALSO see the Lord prevail. If David waited for salvation, we see salvation, others live in the shadows of death, we must share hope against enemies. God already won, keep hope. Let us hope to see. GIVE LIGHT TO MY EYES

TGIF?

Thank God it’s FRIDAY. 

Thank God it’s FINE.

Thank God it’s FINISHED. 

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Amen Amen

“GIVE LIGHT TO MY EYES“

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Psalm 10 NIV

Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by him; he sneers at all his enemies. He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.” His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims; like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.”

Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account”? But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.  Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out.

The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.

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Psalm 11 NIV

For the director of music. Of David.

In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.

He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

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Psalm 12 NIV

For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue—those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?” 

“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.

You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.

---

Psalm 13 NIV

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, Lord my God. GIVE LIGHT TO MY EYES, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

---

Psalm 14 NIV

For the director of music. Of David.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord. But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

You know, Christmas was over roughly just 2 weeks ago – crazy – seems forever ago and yet it’s not. I still have the tree up, still snacks too. It is nice to sit quiet on the couch now and appreciate the lights and the beauty – the quiet – and appreciate not having to clean up Christmas just yet.  So much work – but worth it! I am SO HAPPY to be on THIS SIDE of Christmas – THANK GOD! It was like a jump over an arbitrary dateline. When my daughter goes back to campus, that’s probably when I will start to de-Christmas, but not yet. Enjoy what did happen. 

Sounds funny to say but I am speculating that God also says ‘Thank God! Christmas is done’ – and ‘Easter is done’ – not the dates but the actions. Thankful His children (we) who hear are saved from sin and death… and I feel certain that Jesus must have felt that relief to “get the job DONE” – to get people back to God by cleansing them with His blood – however painful and however long it took – Thank God It is Finished! Scripture Fulfilled. 

Thanks God for Your Plan. 

But unlike Christmas where some get the urge to rid the decorations out of their sight quickly, to clockwork take that tree down at the appointed hour of moving on, GOD DIDN’T. GOD DOESN’T. GOD LINGERS (for now)… God knows everyone doesn’t know. LINGER. Jesus walked the earth for weeks after rising on Easter. He taught, He connected the dots for confused people whose eyes could only see once God unveiled the fog from their heads. Jesus even asked God to send the Holy Spirit (Who is also God) to come at the appointed time to help the disciples and us to be filled with His mission, His motivation, His movements. God wants us to want more Holy Spirit. 

So, I am not rushing this post Christmas cleaning until the tree is too dry to keep safely. I’m not rushing the new season in, however I do notice that I don’t notice the old newness of Christmas, that’s because we move forward (we have valentines day next a 5 year old told me! A holiday of love, how fitting)… Each day brings God’s new steps… And each day brings us asking for a fresh filling of Holy Spirit. That’s God’s Walking Working Way.

Now we are waiting again – and creation is groaning waiting – for there will be a time that Jesus comes again. Will it be a surprise? Yes. Only God knows. We just have to be ready – and what does that mean? Endurance – Working – Sharing Peace – Spreading the Word. It means it’s NOT OVER, THANK GOD!

It is Finished, but it is not over, and we WAIT. Keep working. Keep walking. Keep watching. Keep loving!

I’m so happy to be on this side of Christmas. I’m so grateful to be on this side of the Cross. I’m grateful for the Holy Spirit to reveal our life IS with God. I’m so blessed we still get to live now. I’m also so grateful to live again… 

(We also wait for the jump to over the grave, don’t rush it but hold His Hand before and after. Holy Spirit help us count our days not waste them away.)

Amen in Him

Amen

—-

Jesus speaking to the disciples and us before His death (John 14:25-27)

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

—–

Jesus speaking to the disciples and us before His death: (John 16:5-15)

…”but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

—

Jesus in Revelation 3:11-13

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

There’s historical artifacts looking through collections from a house lived in from the 1950s. Cool things to show your kids and teach them about the past (and be VERY grateful for modern conveniences). In my neighbor’s house (all our section was built in mid 1950’s), I discovered a nifty real Western Union Telegram. Saved and tucked away and still readable and understandable. It’s a congratulations note from friends – maybe for a wedding or baby’s birth. Nice note! “Congratulations and Best Wishes! Sorry we couldn’t be there.” The extra cool thing about the Telegram is that it’s single line text printed and glued to a paper backing. Vintage versions of “over the wires” text messages, sent to be “fast”… Maybe a novelty then but effective! And a hint at our modern message systems. Imagine every message now over the wires and even wireless. Amazing.

How is this like us? Single messages glued in our heads? Sent wireless?The Telegram paper backing is like a clean slate and God’s Word wants to be laid on our hearts. GOD Himself in Jesus as the Living Word. That’s the ORIGINAL Messaging System for sure! God’s Word spoken to us from others and especially by our own reading. Phrases and advice that we can pull up later. (Interesting enough I am placing this Telegram in a Bible now. The “WORD” is our Heavenly Telegram).

Here’s a one great “one-liner” from The Word: “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” That’s from David in Psalm 8. He wrote many songs of praise and many of prayer. One word prayers are also heavenly said, like THANKS!

How EXCELLENT God IS, He is WORTHY of our thanks, and PRAISE to Him is knowing there IS power in His Words, even just in saying His Name. 

We can send messages to each other now in modern ways, but will the other person opens the message fully or pick up on the nuances or not?… God does. GOD KNOWS ALL. God not only hears, He KNOWS the PRAISE (or the PRAYER) or even our grunts BEFORE they even go out of our mouths!!!. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. That’s David’s realization, Psalm 139.

I also tell myself again and again: “DON’T FORGET TO SAY THANK YOU TO GOD!”, especially after I know He helped me, and even in waiting I say THANK YOU! It’s good to send that message instantly – pray it – say it – praise it. Our thankfulnesses. Those praises sustain us. 

Imagine times when we are in such pain that we can’t get the words out, God already knows the ache in our hearts, God already sees. He knows tears, He knows to send friends to hug us, to listen and understand. He wants us to turn to Him. David in Psalm 9 says: “The Lord shall endure for ever….The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee…Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.”

Let’s keep singing. Let’s keep reading the Word, and incorporating it into our hearts and making it READABLE by our ACTIONS all the time.

If we Listen, we can better know. 

If we hear Him, let us follow. 

Let us truly be led, 

by what the Lord has said!

Amen

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. David in Psalm 139

——

Here are the complete Psalms 8, 9, 139 by David. (Especially I love singing Psalm 139)

Psalm 8 KJV

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

—-

Psalm 9 KJV

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right. Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.

But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

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Psalm 139 NIV

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. 

Hmmmmm….

I was thinking about the BACK STORY for 2 recent posts, about the PEACE that I got from me STOPPING OVERTHINKING about a situation and just TRUSTING GOD, to where my doubts changed to my witness of His deliverance. I’m always amazed when He delivers results BIG TIME. Yet He makes everything beautiful in its time. 

God knows the know-how that we see as WOW. 

Let me mention what we surely learn to know: God IS the Power behind ALL our good circumstances, our good strength, all our good hope. He IS the backing we need to do anything. No wonder King David sang songs/Psalms to God again and again. “The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.” David knew to wait on God, to wait for something good. We need to wait.

WAITING. 

Waiting situations… I picked up a pizza, I had to wait a little extra, the owner (such a nice guy) said he did not like how the first pizza came out and was remaking it for me! WOW, weird but wow… Good thinking and his generosity and GOOD that a back up second pizza was already cooking so I wasn’t delayed more than 5 minutes.

Backups… it’s good to wait.

I wished there was back up support at the mini Starbucks too (in the grocery store), as they only had one worker. And a physical makeshift sign (an old receipt taped onto the screen) posted to say “be right back”. Well, hmmmm… I waited over 10 minutes, first world problem of course, but I didn’t have any other way to get the particular sandwich (for my daughter). Even though all of the kiosk was WIDE OPEN for me to walk into, I had no capability to find or make that sandwich anyway. I wouldn’t cross the arbitrary barrier of behind the kiosk. (And I wouldn’t steal anyway).  So, I was stuck with no backup! Waiting… I needed them or their backup to make it happen. There’s stage actors have understudys who prep and wait and amazing the young woman working in the regular store saw me wait and stepped in using her previous Starbucks skills and made my sandwich and cashed me out. What’s the chance of that, a backup who intervened for my timelines and for the overworked kiosk worker too.

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Backups… The Backing – The Back Story… Jesus, fully God on earth, had God send the Holy Spirit as an Advocate, a Holy backup on earth to help disciples and us after He arose.  He told the disciples to WAIT for the Power, the Holy Back up. God is the Back Story (God is the Whole Story). 

God IS needed to get stuff done! *Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. *Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.*Psalm 127:1

What about money? Money usually is based upon GOLD backing, giving paper or tin copper zinc coins backup value. Well I found these old bills at my neighbor’s house, from the early 1940s, but they are practically worthless even though looking like collectibles. The “funny money” is real, but it lost its value as soon as it was issued by Japan to pay for items in the Philippines in 1941-1945. Such funny money had no GOLD backing so that they called it “Mickey Mouse money” and used it like paper. Worthless because it had no backing! It’s a souvenir sure, but according to ebay and money exchanges it’s worth less than a fraction of the price of that Starbucks sandwich. And the coins? The souvenir 5 Francs from 1945? With no metal available in WW2, 95 million of these coins were made from aluminum. So light and chipping at the edges that I thought someone ate the chocolate out of it (LOL!), but it WAS real money, just felt so fake, was not made of material worth its weight. 

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Jesus reminds us about treasures: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The coins and bills are examples of things which could be valuable but are not always. Isn’t that common to “things” in life… Treasures are not always treasures and almost always less of a monetary treasure than the MEMORY treasure. My treasure is the memory of my friendship with my neighbor (who had those coins and bills) and not the money they are worth (or not worth). Blessings that are GOD-backed not gold-backed.

The treasures of life are in Heaven and bringing Heaven on earth, but it IS sometimes work to work out Heaven on Earth. But when you do the Lord’s work, there’s power and JOY and energy behind it all. God is the Back Story for our histories and our mysteries too. My amazement in God power to get things done is related to the recent posts I made: I doubted but He delivered. I doubted the ability and the smooth sailing and the timing – but God coordinated. God got it done over my doubts. Put it in God’s Hands and Vroooooom, He IS in the driver’s seat. Each the moment I doubted and I said ‘it’s up to You Lord’, that’s when I heard the Vroooooom of Him…. 

God IS the backstory to our motivation and energy.  I dream flat tires, but He convinces me of His Power. We (I) should be in awe of God. Putting my knees to the floor. (Good thing the floor is the solid rock of the Lord too.) So that’s the backstory, understory, little story from BIG God.

Amen, I BELIEVE in You Lord!

Amen

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Here are the 2 recent blogs of my doubt and my witness:

Don’t Dream Flat Tires 

Don’t Dream Flat Tires

Knees to the Floor 

Knees to the Floor

This time of the year and always, let us try to complain less.  

Job (see the book of Job) was in BAD STRAIGHTS, he didn’t know he was being sifted by the devil and watched by God.  (We on the other hand SHOULD know this). Job’s friends consoled but that only seemed to extend the conversation, even made it worse. (Wow, they went on and on….) … I do wonder why the many many many chapters were given for these conversations (we would too) and its not just that “Job had to get it out of his system”, it’s just Job did not use his wisdom to apply to the system… and Job had LOTS of words seemingly more than almost everyone, except of course,  THE WORD.  Jesus (the Word) would know this feeling of suffering physically and feeling also… also seemingly separated from God to take our sins away, but never was He nor us nor Job separated from God Almighty. Never separated and always on the same page.

I know it is curious why we suffer, and yet we don’t know the half of it. So many suffer so much that our suffering should pale in comparison and yet we speak in distress, we are but human, it’s natural.  Perhaps so much more that we are to reach to the Supreme Hope. We are instructed that we are to fear God, acknowledging both His Power and His compassion. 

Reading through the book of Job, I saw a passage that I could discern an answer – Job said the following: “He [God] is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.”

Oh!!!!! I can read between these lines, into the Wisdom of God. He DID create a mediation path, a forgiveness, an advocate. We ARE in life now able to keep safe under God’s Wing because Jesus covers our sins with His blood.  Let us apply wisdom and allow Jesus to be our Savior. 

We MUST fear God, He really IS all that powerful, yet we must LOVE God, He really IS that compassionate. Love God. Understand that we are human and we are NOT God to understand it all…

God has the power and He uses it! So importantly God has the power to save. He gave us wisdom, unlike some creatures. And God’s wisdom protects His children. 

After the trials, the Lord spoke to Job (remember all these Words are Jesus the Living Word that remind us God IS God): The Lord said to Job: “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!”  Then Job answered the Lord: “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.” Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm: “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his? – Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low, look at all who are proud and humble them, crush the wicked where they stand. Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave. Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.”

Who IS this RIGHT HAND? (Of God, not Job)

JESUS, that’s Who.

Let us start now with belief… and wisdom to know.. 

In the end we will all see all, like Job. And we will understand!!! Until then, let us just BELIEVE!!!

We MUST have the WISDOM to WAIT upon GOD. 

Amen!

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Here us how the earthly story ends:

Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

Epilogue

After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.

After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.  All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.

The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so Job died, an old man and full of years.

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One more passage about wisdom:

“The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork.She lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand,unmindful that a foot may crush them, that some wild animal may trample them. She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers; she cares not that her labor was in vain, for God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense.”

God has wisdom He wants to share.

His children, we, in whom He does care.

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Amazing God. Just AMAZING!

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God, You Did SO WELL, You suceeded AGAIN.

AND You nearly finished my problem before I even knew HOW to even begin.

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You say to those who know much, they will be given insight even more.

Well we humans dream flat tires but You, Holy Spirit, fill big tires and You put Your Pedal to the floor.

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Vroooooom……

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I know a Lion of a Lord.

I can hear Him ROAR!

I know a Lamb of a Lord. 

I need to bow down to Him, knees to the floor. 

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‘Put it in God’s Hands’ we always say.

Well, YES, and let us watch Him really Work, He will have His Way.

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For this task and many more, You Lord certainly got it done. 

You Lord, WON.

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We live a life parable, and so often YOU let us know that YOU are in charge.

Love Lord God’s control, He knows best how live life LARGE.

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And how You do it all? I don’t know, that I must confess.

You also cover the little details, You BLESS. 

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And so today let me say,

I watched God work here today.

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I also knew God put me to work with JOY and ENERGY.

I felt our “can-do” God open my eyes to feel His SYNERGY. 

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Of course I stand convicted by my doubts, my previous words were vinegary.

I now feel convicted for judging when my words should have been more lovingly.

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And yet even for our sinning.

You redeem us in Your forgiving.

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So today Lord, let me explore,

Let me see Your victories, let me see MORE.

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If You need me, knock on my door.

I am down here, knees to the floor. 

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Knees to the Floor. 

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AMEN 

Epiphany is the most relevant history,

  More than any other Jan 6th infamy. 

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See, a King was visited by kings pre-known, 

 seeing a Seed of Everlasting Peace Who was sewn.

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Jesus did it by stepping off the throne.

 And from Him our Salvation was grown. 

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Welcome Wisemen and Wisewomen to this very day!

A baby alive in your hearts will surely start you on the Way! 

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This is the Epiphany shown to all, I do pray.

Let us Praise God’s Given then Arisen Son, Forever and Today!

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Amen

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“One king held the frankincense – 

one king held the myrrh – 

one king held the purest gold – 

ONE KING HELD THE HOPE OF THE WORLD…” song lyrics from One King…

…the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace…

Joni Mitchell sings “You dream flat tires” and honestly many of us do. I quite often realize that I OVERTHINK! I don’t even give God a chance before I’ve already declared a situation to be a disaster or a problem insurmountable. In other words, dreaming flat tires when things are actually rolling along OK.

“Don’t worry worry before worry worries you!” – “Don’t make a molehill back into a mountain “… Yeah well, good luck with that.

Trust me, don’t dream flat tires because it is like you are already saying to Almighty God that you don’t think He can prevent a disaster nor fix a situation. You’ve reduced God, at least I have, to the backseat if you even let Him in the car. Trust me and trust your own experiences that God IS in control. Let Him Drive. 

Don’t dream flat tires (hey and I’ve had plenty of flat tires and the situation was always fixable! Plus there has ALWAYS been a spare. And aren’t we HAPPY when we actually see the nail as opposed to not know what made our tire flat?!)

My latest over-stress-ings have been over something that HASN’T EVEN HAPPENED YET (and actually NOT even an earthshattering situation, so I won’t waste the time explaining) and yet my stress has been real and yet my worry surely has been and will be matched and overcome by God telling me to TRUST His Guidance.  No, He’s not pulling off a miracle (yet) both because the situation hasn’t even happened and because God IS saying: ‘Haven’t I told you to let tomorrow worry about itself? Focus on today!’ Yup. Plus God HAS given me tools and people skills and people helpers and perspective.  Our perspective can be: what can I do, rather than later say: how have I failed to prepare. We do have options in life, God just wants us to talk them out with Him. Start talking and better yet, start listening!

And so I opened today’s devotion book and sure enough God’s repeated this advice to me (to us): “Come to Me with positive expectations, knowing that there is no limit to what I can accomplish.” Yes, that scripture is based upon Isaiah 40 and other passages. That Way of life is knowing: GOD is in control!

So, I will stop dreaming THIS flat tire of fear and actually put right thoughts first, both because I know God is in control, AND Jesus helps me walk (roll along) AND yes, God provided A SPARE TIRE in my trunk because the life helper IS the Holy Spirit – IS Whom Jesus had God send to us to move us along in His Work.  A spare in the air… Holy Spirit gifts us air in our tires and breath in our lungs.

Today’s problem is not a problem (yet) if you let God give you the answer, which is: “Trust Him!” God is the Answer (and was the answer before anyone even had a question).

AMEN!

PS – today Jan 6th is Ephiphany – so those Kings traveling for so very long must have TRUSTED GOD to get them to where they were going – to get them to see the King – to survive along the way and not feel their travel was in vain… did they have flat tires? who knows – but even camels carry extra water with them!

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The whole devotion for Jan 6th by Sarah Young’s book “Jesus Calling”:

“I am able to do far beyond all that you ask or imagine. Come to Me with positive expectations, knowing that there is no limit to what I can accomplish. Ask My Spirit to control your mind, so that you can think great thoughts of Me. Do not be discouraged by the fact that many of your prayers are yet unanswered. Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon Me, to trust Me in the dark. The more extreme your circumstances, the more likely you are to see My Power and Glory at work in the situation. Instead of letting difficulties draw you into worrying, try to view them as setting the scene for My glorious intervention. Keep your eyes and your mind wide open to all that I am doing in your life.”

based upon: Ephesians 3:20-21; Romans 8:6; Isaiah 40:30-31 (NKJV); Revelation 5:13

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… the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

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Isaiah 40:28-31

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. (David in Psalm 3)

We all have enemies, maybe not always physical ones but mental enemies too, like fears, like dividing forces, like Satan himself.  We all have various ways to deal or not deal, to ignore, to pray away too… There are certainties in life, death, taxes and yes the enemy of sinful ways which we simply cannot avoid because we are human. The last commandment against jealousy will be our downfall in the law. That’s why we needed and need Jesus.  Forgiveness… We need God’s Shield. 

(And what makes people war against us, even if only in their hearts?… Jealousy… yeah… that age old division of evil, we need to shun that in ourselves too.)

Enemies… Psalm 3 is written by King David trying to escape from a big enemy, his own son Absalom. Wow, going back to the books of Kings, Chronicles we learn that keeping enemies at bay (with God giving the victory) fills hundreds of years of history which the Chronicler (likely Ezra) wrote down to give courage to the current population fighting enemies. So that they would look to God. Written down for us too.

From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

God’s Word is written down so we pick IT up and pick UP on it. You will have enemies, but even better: YOU WILL HAVE GOD TO FIGHT YOUR BATTLES. AND God to comfort.  

Psalms 3, 4, 5 of David (God’s annointed son and leader) help us know that even God’s most beloved were fighting enemies. David was, Jesus certainly was. And God Himself was fighting the enemy of sin in the people’s lives, and God won.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

… let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

God gives us the ability to chose right vs wrong. God looks for us to look to Him and shake off malice, malaise and mistakes. God will be our shield, but we must choose Him as our God. Jesus will be our Savior but we must recognize that we need saving. We must recognize enemies are around us, but God is around it all. And let God work in His Time frame, not yours.  

Be at peace with a God who saves!

…for the Lord sustained me…

…I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety….

Amen!

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The 1st 3 verses of Psalm 5 are a song I would sing in my old band:

“Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”

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FYI the Psalms are divided into 5 books – here’s some info: “Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save…”  https://www.esv.org/resources /esv-global-study-bible/chart-19-03/

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PSALMS 3, 4, 5 by David, in KJV

Psalm 3

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Psalm 4

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 5

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

There is great comfort, consolation and direction by staying the course and living by God’s Word, mediating on it, reading it like the best advice you will ever get… Never separated from God, He knows the Way. Both not doing wrong but striving to do right. Listening to stay on course is watching (actually feeling) His Peace light the way.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who MEDITATES on HIS LAW day and night. Psalm 1:1-2

MEDITATION, not on mindlessness or mind emptying, but ON GOD’S WORD over worldliness. Not living with intent of sinning or mocking but MEDITATION on God’s Law, on Jesus’s fulfillment, and on His Holy Spirit Scripture Song in your heart. Moving forward WITH GOD is every day’s best game play.

We can stay on course in life by listening to God’s Way. Stay out of the rough, just like the willing golfer to pick up the clubs and walk through the game. The woods are not where you want your ball to land, and yet the wood club is the tool for getting your ball up into play and farthest down the course. More golf references: The Wood of the cross, by Jesus’s death gets us all farthest to Heaven. Irons are strong clubs to get the middle of the game going. The irons of scripture are sharp to help each other – helping us stay on course. And the puttering around on the green help us all finish the game. Life is no game, but know that God already won it for us.

It’s no wonder that the Psalms were written as songs… How comforting they must have been to face the world with the song of scripture. We too may sing our way into comfort with a hymn or pick me up song. King David wrote at least half, 75 of the 150 Psalms. And after reading his adventures, triumphs and failures, it’s a blessing to learn that keeping one’s heart towards God is the best course of life. God loved David for it. God kept David’s family line alive to deliver Jesus into it. God’s Son Jesus is the King to Whom all earthly kings will bow down to. God even told Samuel, the prophet who announced David as God’s anointed, that earthly kings will make slaves of the people  and be fallable. God wanted the people to follow Him, keeping the Law. God knew to send His Son Jesus. His earthly son David was inspired to write: Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2

Yes, let’s take refuge today.

God knows the Way.

Iron sharpens, God’s Word cuts thru the course of the day and makes our steps work. God’s Will, Way, Word, don’t leave home without it!

Amen 

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Psalm 2 of David 

Why do the nations conspire land the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”

I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

A friend brought me a new juicy-looking orange for 2023 on New Year’s Day all while reminding me to hunt for that old one lost in my purse that I wrote about yesterday (https://debbieupper.blog/2023/01/02/happy-new-year-one-day-and-one-step-at-a-time/ ). I did find it, still tempted to eat it because it’s not TOO old. But now that I have a new orange, should it be “out with the old” everything? Well not too sure about that, and certainly not before I took a photo… Carrying over old into a new year is not necessarily bad… I can at least try the juicy old fruit that took so long to develop, if not I’ll compost it back to the soil. 

Another example of good stuff from “old” last year is a “new to me” almost vintage mug gifted from my neighbor who is moving soon. She let me make a cup of tea in it from her keurig when I visited weekend mornings these last few weeks. How BLESSED to embrace some time together in person, steeped in love,  and now take our memories of visits with us in our hearts. Old friends are super best to carry into the new year, even if they themselves move forward into their own new experiences. God wants us ALL to be fruitful in life. 

BLESSED is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1

The best “old” thing (which is hard to call a “thing”) to bring in and ring in the new year with IS the best old thing there ever was and is: LOVE. Love is timeless. Love conquers all. Love fufills one ultimate request commandment of God, to love Him back.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

If we listen to Psalm 1, knowing Jesus fulfilled the Law (a sacrifice of all time) and He fulfilled the prophecy of the Prophets, and if we do know how GOD IS LOVE, then we really do know that “Blessed is the one who delights”… Delights in LOVE, shares LOVE, appreciates God’s LOVE, and performs acts in LOVE. 

Love wins. And fruits of the Spirit become ripe for harvest. 

Let us make a NEW resolution EVERY DAY this year to find how TIMELESS LOVE applies to EVERYTHING. Every resolution of peace, get that from God. Every step we wait upon God to take, let it be stepped and steeped with LOVE. Pray Holy Spirit, please fill us all up. Let us love comfortably like a beloved old cup, fill us up and serve fresh love each day. Let us love uncomfortably too and fulfill and delight in the law of the Lord. 

Happy 2023 to you and me!

Delight in God and LOVE will set you free.

Amen 

—-

PS, what a delight to step into the new year with reading and writing about a “new to me” book chapter of the Bible, I finished Job in 2022 now in Psalms for 2023… what a delight of meditation on God’s Word. It’s also the lyrics of one of my favorite songs to sing from my old band, which I have framed. “I will delight in the Law of the Lord. I will mediate day and night. And like a tree firmly planted I’ll be, grounded in the Word.” – “Blessed is the one who follows the Way of the Lord. Blessed is the one.”

PPS – the old orange tastes just as sweet!

Happy New Year!

So many possibilities!

So much new – new to you but known to God, so why not let Him direct our paths. 

I woke up with gratefulness, a dream slipping away in my forgetful wakeness (was something about clear vintage glassware pink and clear, awesome vintage shapes), and a devotion to write: a message of the New Year is not yet walked so don’t race through it. Take each new step with the Lord’s Direction. 

Yes, the new steps are so new to you that a new year is either scary or exciting. But honestly it’s not a different message of how to live because we ALWAYS should be looking for the Lord’s guidance. That’s our best resolution, to actually listen. 

There are old memories and missions that we must finish up and even nagging feelings too of things we forgot in 2022 – like I woke up to remember that 31DEC devotion I fell asleep writing AND woke up to remember that I think I have an orange at the bottom of my purse from a week ago, yikes. I’ll have to look, but surely the Holy Spirit of watching out is helping me and intends me to clean up my act in so many ways… that’s the new year resolution, not the cleaning but the LISTENING. 

And so, before I look for that orange, let me finish these thought – we must be willing to work for God – we really are in this together. One big thing we can do in 2023 (gee it rhymed better in 2022, “can do 2022” becomes “let’s see 2023”)… But seriously, one thing for me in 2023 (and maybe big thing to do for you too) is TEACH – teach the children because you also were taught – teach the children who grew up not getting taught because you have the wisdom and knowledge to share. TEACH, REACH, PREACH, embrace your walk… SHARE… and don’t dare to go anywhere on your own, go with God!

Old advice, new resolution to FOLLOW God.

One day and one step at a time. 

Go with God…

Amen 

Dust-in (ring-in) the New Year!

The scripture: “for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” MUST have extra meaning referring to my VERY dusty house (I’ve been deep cleaning dust I haven’t seen in years)… We have the sin of Adam therefore we always have to work for our food and till the soil (see Genesis 3 for the fall from grace), AND forever since then, we have lots of cleaning to do because since Adam, LOTS of dust has been created and recreated… Farming, cleaning and dusting is sweat of the brow work given to Adam that surely we WON’T have to do in Heaven, RIGHT?… And who knows but God where all this dust came from… So if I needed, if you need, yet another reminder that we AIN’T in Heaven, start dusting… DUST…

Seriously, since we are made by God’s Hand as our Potter, He would surely gently and firmly purposefully make us STRONG yet delicately weak unless filled with Him – His Spirit. In Jesus, our Grace from God is corrective action. Yet sometimes we are in the need of rework here and now, especially when we don’t listen. The slip of the clay is like dust plus water, therefore directed living dust (us) plus Jesus (directed Living Water) is the makings not of just MUD but MAN. Surely God is rendering us alive. And fresh filling of the Spirit restarts us every day.

In Heaven, we rise again in Spirit and in Jesus’s Power and Victory. His Spirit-indwelling within us gives LIFE. Our life will be risen from the dust here on earth. 

“The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”

God knows how to organize His dust. Adam was dust, I have dusting (seemingly of dust gifted unto me), and IN Jesus we all have VICTORY. 

Heaven is Dust-free Dust-freeing victory… Death (and dust) has been swallowed up in victory.”

Amen [Thank God]

—-

1 Corinthians 15:35-58 NIV

The Resurrection Body

But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised?  With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”  –   “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

It was a little interesting to see this scene in my yard: the baby Jesus Christmas light had figure fallen face forward between Mary and Joseph from the big winter storm. But it’s a reminder to think… Think about Jesus STILL SHINING, no matter what… and since Jesus NEVER changes.  NEVER WOULD HIS LIGHT GO OUT. NEVER.  

We could say Jesus especially GLOWS when IN us He GROWS.

He is the Sight of Light Upright. 

…

It was a big windstorm with rain and I must have put the decoration on non-solid ground, simply collapse of the hinge, they are sturdy enough to survive. Would Jesus really do a Faceplant or even make an audible “ugh” from a misstep? Probably surely not. There is not something Jesus would be caught in by surprise. NEVER. Jesus KNOWS His Steps (and ours). Jesus IS the solid rock ground we stand on. Jesus is the One who holds us. He loves before we leap.

The interesting thing about this scene is that when the baby Jesus is glowing (upright or on the ground), He looks the SAME from the front or the back. You might say Jesus can SEE OUT THE BACK OF HIS HEAD. Yet we must realize Jesus KNOWS over seeing, like when the woman touched his robe hem secretly, He knows not only our coming and going, He knew us before we were born. 

A FaceSmack hand to head in disbelief is something I envision Jesus doing in response to my often missteps – giving Him a grimace or a  surprised face. But a FaceSmack from Jesus is highly unlikely since Jesus KNOWS our weaknesses already AND He uses BOTH hands to hold us in COMPASSION. Nope, Nothing surprises Jesus. Not ever. NEVER. 

—-

Consider the plight of Job, Satan getting a chance to test Him, the chapters of conversations of “WHY?” between Job and his friends, in similarities to God letting and making the placement of His Son into the World (*a path of the Light determined from the beginning*). In the world,  Jesus had to illuminate the darkness. Job says of God: “He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.” In His crucifixion suffering, Jesus never turned away from God even though He stated His questions: ‘My God, My God, Why have You forsaken me?’ AND “Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Thine be done.” God’s Will was fulfilled and Jesus carried all the weight of our sins upon Himself. God shunned the sin but loved the Son. God made the Light burn bright enough to know how to send Jesus on this mission to remove our sin, and bring Jesus back with us, never to leave again. The Light NEVER goes out.

Jesus is the Word made flesh, a Light, a hope… 

Will Jesus change? Never. Not a chance. Nope. 

Look for the Light.

Be the Light.

Upright. 

Amen 

—-

Job’s friend Zophar said of God: “if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.” Job 11:13-18

There’s no sense, actually it’s nonsense,

To make human sense 

Out of God Sense.

.

God is God and we are Not. Even if try a lot!

We on earth are not even in a Heavenly spot.

But in His Grace, He helps us – a lot!

.

Jesus born baby humble is not human sensible.

Actually it sounds quite utterly terrible. 

Then His death sounded really really unbearable. 

.

But Jesus obliged, He was/IS God Sense-able.

Scripture is His Word, educationally intended to be prepar-able.

And Scripture says Human sin was/is only Godly repairable.

.

In Human sense, LIFE thru death may sound like nonsense.

Yet LIFE thru death is God Sense.

It IS God Who makes LIFE, Who makes a difference.

.

Jesus came and will come again, the Word is Readable.

God wants us all seated at His Table and be TEACHABLE. 

So in Jesus we became save-able.

.

There’s NO sense 

To making human sense 

Out of God Sense.

.

A rainbow, a dove, a Promised Jesus, are all Gifts from ABOVE.

We are ALL made for Him to LOVE.

God Sense is made from GOD LOVE.

.

God Love…

God Sense…

Amen 

It was a special extra Christmas eve night and church message, a LOVELY real message of Christmas, of God’s Love in Jesus, a Son Given, that I and others absorbed from being at Christmas Eve services. There was also a funny site as we saw the teenage drummer decked out in fine Santa attire with Grinch pants and yes a Grinch mask too… (it’s a great “come as you are church – pajamas even allowed! Love it!)… don’t worry the Grinch mask did come off, must have been too hot… lots of enthusiastic great music!

Our Pastor spoke about the LOVE of God wrapped around us like cloth, like a surfers wet suit for protection and warmth, like the warm sheets at night, like a blanket which she received made by the Sunday school kids… And here I was dressed not so warmly but more “fancy” in a colorful christmas skirt with stockings on a bitter COLD night. I could have used a few more layers riding up and down our external elevator lift to unlock and lock it,  brrrrr. I wished then I was wearing those Grinch fuzzy pants!

Well, I WAS (for years) a Grinch at Christmas, not because I stole anything but because I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND what Christmas really TRULY meant. Everyday a blinded Grinch not FULLY understanding past the glitz of the world to see humble Jesus. I WAS clueless that Jesus was INSIDE of me. INSIDE!!! Yes, I could see others expressing the love of Jesus, but I did not interpret the growth came from inside of them.  I knew the stories of Jesus, but never watered those seeds, frozen in place. Then one Christmas season, few years back, over the course of weeks, God started filling in the data that my brain lacked – warmed my soil – made me like that expression on the Grinch’s face when he hears Whoville singing in the REAL spirit of Christmas,  even though they had no “material” possessions of Christmas… BELIEF and understanding grew and my heart started to EXPAND with Jesus being born IN ME, OHHHHH….. Jesus as our (my!) Lord and Savior INSIDE US and like the Grinch: “GREW THREE SIZES THAT DAY”… 

Christmas comes to us, we can open It, and we then can become “THE GRINCH WHO EXPLAINS CHRISTMAS”. That’s why God EQUIPS the CALLED, to demonstrate, to teach, to REACH!!!

Within my cute “little church with a BIG impact” the people ask for and tap into the HOLY SPIRIT. The Christmas present celebrated by each at Christmas is that Jesus, God incarnate, was big enough to humble Himself enough to come to Earth as a baby. God with us. Jesus came to connect and grow LOVE’S flow.

The cutest of sights and sounds that I felt “in the Spirit” this Christmas eve night was from the energy of those authentic Sunday School kids and I remembered our littlest Sunday schooler helping by handing out the candles for us to light during singing Silent Night. I handed the candles to her and she shared. She gave one to an elderly woman who was having trouble walking but was supported by her daughter. The littlest one shared with the oldest one there, and I saw both their Spirits smiling BIG at that moment, a transfer Gift of Light from the Holy Spirit into the Christmas scene, yes, Spirit to share.

So, now I pray us each who werea former “Grinch” who didn’t fully understand Christmas, to be one who loves to EXPLAIN Christmas, to look for OPPORTUNITIES… Opportunities abound (Like at work opportunities last week while wearing my Santa suit),let us take a few minutes to EXPLAIN the HOPE gift in Jesus to someone – SHINE and SHARE the LIGHT.  

God, with these gifts of His Spirit, at somepoint WILL (Lord-willing) make it Christmas morning for those folks to open and KNOW and BELIEVE in the GIFT of JESUS. 

Keep shining sharing and EXPLAINING the LIGHT!

Merry Christmas to all !!!

God Bless you and warm you and keep you!

What Way? Go The WAY of Jesus.

I had to do something. I did not know which way to go, so I went THE WAY. THE WAY OF JESUS. 

Serve, Listen, Walk.

. 

I had a problem,. I did not know how it would go down, so I looked UP… looked for THE WAY.

THE WAY OF JESUS. 

Listen, Walk, Know.

.

I spent a LONG time waiting in faith for when this issue would resolve. So I watched THE WAY it did resolve. THE WAY OF JESUS. 

Walk, Know, Wait.

.

I searched for the right words. I stumbled through my clumsy way into His confident Way to say them better, in His WAY.

THE WAY OF JESUS.

Know, Wait, Speak. 

.

I saw human support wane. I sensed His support strengthen. I knew I was working His Way.THE WAY OF JESUS. 

Wait, Speak, Believe. 

I felt RELIEF. Relief of doing it His Way. THE WAY OF JESUS. 

Love, Love, LOVE.

.

Love the WAY, sometimes hard.

Love the WAY, always right.

Love the WAY, always LOVE. 

Amen

What Way? THE Way. 

The Lord showed me the WAY, so I FOLLOWED. 

.

The Lord lighted the WAY, so I SAW.

The Lord told me the WAY, so I HEARD. 

The Lord explains the WAY, so I UNDERSTAND.

The Lord made the WAY, so I will LIVE.

The Lord lives the WAY in LOVE. 

Love the WAY. 

Love the LORD.

AMEN 

---

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Reflect for Christmas and New Years on our blessings over our burdens. Then walk that lighted path remembering God’s provisions. Remember we DO have God WITH us, Emmanuel. 

Let us remember to count our blessings and live more in tune through applying the Word of God in our lives now and next year. Bless because we are blessed.  Forgive because we are forgiven. Let us also turn to God for our troubles and reap His rewards for He is faithful to us.

If you are struggling this Christmas, I suggest this advice from those counseling Job, in the Book of Job chapters 4 and 5. Job was afflicted by the Devil like a demonstration sport during a time God was demonstrating His strength INSIDE Job. The disaster devil could do external damage, but God strengthed Job’s ability to look big picture. God gives strengthening to each of us from the inside too. Jesus, God with us, also brought God to bring us the Holy Spirit. We need insight of the inside Holy Spirit. 

Job’s counselor friend, Eliphaz, reminded him of God’s strengthening even though Job was suffering such pain. He reminded that the innocent survive, that God wants to hear us, wants to bless us.

“But if I were you, I would appeal to God;  I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside. The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.”… “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.”

I pray us all this season and everyday to remember to align with God’s Way. Number our days and make the most of them.

I have learned these things too… God provides.   Reflect on that… 

Reflect on…

Amen

——

Job 4:4-9, 5:1-27

Eliphaz told Job (who was sitting troubled):“Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. Should not your piety be your confidence and yourblameless ways your hope?

“Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. At the breath of God they perish; at the blast of his anger they are no more.

….

 “Call if you will, but who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. I myself have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed. His children are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender.

The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from among thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth. For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground. Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.

“But if I were you, I would appeal to God;  I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside. The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. 

“He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away. Darkness comes upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope as in the night.

He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; he saves them from the clutches of the powerful. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.

“Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.

“From six calamities he will rescue you; in seven no harm will touch you.

In famine he will deliver you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword. You will be protected from the lash of the tongue, and need not fear when destruction comes. You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the wild animals. For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you. You will know that your tent is secure; you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing. You will know that your children will be many, and your descendants like the grass of the earth. You will come to the grave in full vigor, like sheaves gathered in season.

“We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself.”

God Bless You All!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Luke 2:8-14
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”

Matthew 2:10-12
When they [the wise men] saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

John 1:14 (NKJV)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Romans 10:9-13 (NIV)
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Psalm 107:1
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever!

Romans 15:13 (NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

---

(Christmas verses (ESV) collected by https://www.concordia.edu/blog/20-christmas-bible-verses.html)

I appreciate this special gift of this 3D printed night light with switch from a work friend, appreciate this gift for many reasons. It illuminates nicely and then you can see the details. It’s a cool use of 3D technology, decorative, even if not a glamorous world-changing use to print machine parts etc. The gift of work holiday parties was also awesome this week for getting me in the mood of being APPRECIATIVE this season. Other than that, I’ve got miles to go for Christmas. But I’ll get there. Lord willing.   (At least the village is set.)There’s Christmas gifts, Christmas readiness, Christmas overload and never enough time. A working mom has to make the money, find time to spend the money (whew that hour on my phone Saturday shopping Amazingzon paid off), get sleep  enough to wrap everything, and to create the desired ambiance and result Christmas morning – all with the stress of: will they like it? Will they have years from now complaining first world problems of not getting the best legos, the latest trends, and that classic girl complaint of “why did he get games and I got lotions shampoos frilly girl things (oh that’s MY 1st world complaint)…sorry… I’m just as human in my expectations at Christmas and always…. human in the need of DIVINE intervention… something needs to change in me…

Anyway….

The Christmas Gift we should personally ask for is a FRESH FILLING of the Holy Spirit. Accept this Gift, over and over. It’s like this 3D printed night light, someONE needs to turn on the Light switch in us so that we can be internally back-illuminated by Jesus’s Light. Be filled with His Purposes and Shine Him through! 

And forever freshly we need Jesus again and again to illuminate our actions to detail the fruits of the Spirit brought to the surface… Fruit to help others in LIFE and Fruit of feeling blessed. The Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.

Ah… SELF-CONTROL…

Now because SO many ask me “are you ready for Christmas?” I can mentally answer “that’s COMPLICATED”. But my best self-controlled non-whining response would be “I will be… Lord Willing…”.

I love Jesus lighting the Way from WITHIN. That’s the Light we need.

We NEED the Holy Spirit to follow a star to where we MENTALLY need to be. We NEED to come to see and celebrate Jesus as the Gift.

SHINE the Spirit within you. Lord, turn on Your Light! Jesus come quickly. 

Amen

Merry Christmas for God IS with us.

Amen Amen 

You see a lot of signs these days that say “Keep Christ in Christmas”…

I think I would prefer a sign that instead said: “Give Christ for Christmas“. Yeah, that’s the sentiment I like!

It is a Christmas GIVEAWAY!

When we GIVE Christ, it means we are giving to others the BEST of us…

When we share Christmas, and share Christ, this means we are not keeping Christ for ourselves for our own salvation but we want to share HIM to help God’s action plan…

When we GIVE CHRIST at Christmas, we are saying that we are believing God wants to be with ALL of us.

He does…

.

SO spend less time griping about what is taken away

and instead be praising what is given today.

Christ the Lord is Christmas’s Giveaway.

Salvation is the preferred Way.

Christmas is our blessing to say:

We wish you a Merry Christmas, everyday!

Amen

5 years ago I was adopted as the caregiver to Christmas the Crab… I don’t do much – but change water and food, occasionally a carrot and a new stick… Hermit crabs who live in the woods adapt to eating sticks… who knew?!

Here is the original story of finding Christmas…. We are lost and found – and we are ALWAYS CHERISHED!

Christmas is Waiting

How long was Christmas waiting, we don’t know… Maybe he wasn’t waiting at all, he just existed doing the best he could in a strange region and climate – cold October – and it was up to us to find him. Maybe our instinctual guidance directed us that way on our walk. We didn’t know it, but apparently God knew we needed to find Christmas. Maybe we just never figure out all the little nuances of life, maybe it’s just fun to listen and watch for God.

A friend and I really enjoyed the walking parts of the retreat – both in the spiritual walking and also in the chance to hit the trails of Camp. A few of us walkers took quiet time to enjoy this exercise which keeps us young physically and young in marvelous appreciation of being spiritually out in God’s great creation.

Camp is an old friend, a compact oasis of retreat facilities and woods in a sheltered setting.  Up the hilly trails, a friend and I took off, a chance to talk. We climbed past the frisbee golf trail, up to where I’ve only traversed on a hay wagon ride during an open house… A fork in the road? Which way to go? She and I discussed and we listened to our instincts and we took a right… Grassy trail towards the road… of course we didn’t want to be late for dinner!

Christmas… What was a Christmas ornament doing out here? I looked and then it MOVED!!! WHAT? The Christmas ornament was no ornament, it was a hermit crab!. How in the world did this floral-painted shiny but muddy hermit crab get out here? In these woods? We could speculate all we want about the camp setting, and who might have thought this crab would be okay in the woods and apparently he was okay for the unknown amount of time…. We even put him back on the trail and let him be. We marveled that we saw this hermit crab but for some reason we didn’t take him with us. We kept walking…

We told the others, who were excited!!! But then we started to think maybe we should have taken him. It was starting to dip in temperatures at night to a seasonal cool, although it had been unusually warm this autumn. We thought he’s not going to survive the winter. We need to go back the next day. Could we find Christmas?

Beautiful Saturday – another spiritual gift of morning and we knew we had just a certain little amount of time before lunch, so we teamed up immediately and up the hill we went. Took a left into that grassy trail covered in gorgeous woods… could we find him? Did he run off? My companion immediately spotted him, like a good grandmother would. Christmas! We found Christmas! Oh YES still alive, still near the same chilly spot… Didn’t want to move? Hunkered down for the cold? Still there, yup, seemingly dropped from the sky.

The people back at camp we’re shocked – half cringed and half clamored to hold the crab – but we all agreed how unusual that the crab was there… how unusual we found the crab (twice)!!! We cherished him, fed him, loved him. Camp crab!

How NOT unusual was the JOY that this little crab brought in an already cherished retreat situation… How NOT unusual was that we, who had been focusing on God’s direction for our lives all weekend, knew it was more than just luck that we had been led to find Christmas the crab. There are no accidents… Why us? Why then? Why not??? It’s just normal for God to tweak the system… God provided us for this crab, and God provides all of creation, including crabs, for us to LOVE and nurture… Scripture tells us to nurture nature, watch over and protect.

In hindsight, it connects to the scripture “If we did not praise, the rocks would cry out”, and this little painted rock moved!

Scripture tells us to walk… And reminds us to always be aware of those around us, we are walking with Jesus even if we don’t know it. God could have walked us right over Christmas the crab too and we could have been distracted and wrapped up in our own problems but it was up to us to notice him. And he moved! Not exactly the same, but similar is how God has placed Jesus in the world for us!!! Jesus came and He is still here for us to notice him. Listening to the Holy Spirit guidance is another gift from God – for us to keep walking as we work for our Father – and are called by the Great Commission to spread the Good News. Jesus came for us – we must pick up on the clues that God puts right in front of us – it is up to each person to accept the gift of Jesus – the kingdom of God is the kingdom of the heart. We can do our gifted job to point Jesus out to others. We can share His LOVE. We pick up the tools that God has given us and we use them with our spiritual gifts for reaching His Children to know Him better in this world.

Christmas is waiting for everyone.

Keep walking.

AMEN

original post: https://wordpress.com/post/debbieupper.blog/4312

A Christmas ornament fell from the hook and I didn’t hear a crash but instead the branches of the tree caught it, just in time… I found it resting and nestled,  safe but precarious and ready to fall. I grabbed it gently, and hooked it securely on the tree.

That’s Christianity right there.

How more plainly can I explain that God has a plan for each of us, but to fully embrace His plan, you have to be hooked in by Jesus. Jesus secures our safety salvation security sensibilities and souls.  God wants us forever with Him.

The tree branches are like a net, the sturdy and weak branches must be studied before heavy or light ornaments are tested against their strength.  Even the heaviest weight can be anchored by the strong enough hook – that’s Jesus for us – our heaviest burdens can still be lifted, our deepest sorrows embraced. Jesus rescues!

An ornament without a hook, resting in the tree, might be protected for a while, but it is not truly safe if the tree is shaken, if a storm of life brews, or simply if a brush of an innocent unknowing hand shakes it up…  If the tree dries up and the needles fall then the ornament will fall crash and smash, no longer hidden or protected. The ornament could be fragile – itself delicately made and beautiful… Blessedly we pray the decorator’s hand to guide the hook to secure it. We and our loved ones are delicately made, beautiful in His eye. Can we reflect His light in our lives like the ornaments’ beautiful shine. We are called to recognize the beauty in all people, to pray for all people, pray for them to Be Still and let God’s Hand guide them.

Jesus – ask Him to hook you safely in God’s plans.

What is it going to happen to the ornaments when the needles fall off the tree? – it may look dry and sad – because the trunk got clogged, the transport of life-giving water no longer flows to the branches… will the ornament be OK? Yes if it they are hooked. At the end of our earthly lives,  our souls hooked by Jesus will be removed and embraced by His love to be stored in Heaven. How many beautiful saints are resting in Heaven? Oh, can you imagine that glow!

We are not just ornaments for the Lord, we are even more intrinsic to Him – we are branches in His tree of life.

In God’s tree of life, some dead branches will be pruned, some cast off into the fire, but those branches asking Jesus to clean out the clogs, to clean our hearts,  to help shed darkness and fill lives with light will bring us to be branches bearing fruit and make us alive with faith – we will be able to support even more life in support of His plan – we will look forward to living forever in HIS LOVE. But today we can be fruitful for Him!

If you are an ornament,  be grateful for your hook – HOLD ON.

If you are a child of God, be grateful for the hand of Jesus – HOLD ON.

If you want to fully live as a branch of the Lord – filled with life – you must go to the vine of Jesus and drink in His Living Water – LIVE ON.

If you want to bear fruit for Him, share it and He will give you more.

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Merry Christmas – God is with us.

Rejoice.

Amen

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Jesus is the Word made flesh – we have Security in a Savior, therefore know your strength comes from Him. Be fruitful.

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Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

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Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. John 15:1

original post: https://wordpress.com/post/debbieupper.blog/4859

Protective Purification Parenting while Satan is on the Prowl. In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

The best parenting skill is PRAISING GOD. 

The Book of Job has many deep stories to tell – especially about PARENTING. Job made provisions for his children, not just raising them but also in worshiping God by doing what he could as a servant for God and his fellow family by providing purification prayers and sacrifices for his family. He took the opportunity to praise God’s faithfulness and the prescribed way to forgiveness. Job took on the job. So can we.

‘Job would make arrangements for them [his children after celebration times] to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.’

My dear friend would and does always “Pray the Blood of Jesus” over each person we were praying for. She essentially was carrying out Job’s prayer of purification with acknowledging the now true process of Jesus’s Blood covering our sins. We don’t make purification rituals anymore as Jesus took on the ultimate substitute for atonement. But we must go to Him in asking forgiveness. There has to be a realization that we are human and He is Divine. His blood shed covers our sin-caused dread. We also do have this opportunity to pray this purification for anyone good or bad, everyone human, each child or family member we have. ASK for FORGIVENESS for them…

Why? Satan is on the prowl, not just to trip you up from acting right but from believing that God loves you and has forgiven you. (A preacher I know says it’s not big satan whose attacking you but his little “helpers” who you COULD pray against by calling upon God.) Yes. It’s like the little temptations which eat away slowly at the foundations of faith… Don’t crumble and stumble. Worship and thank God, even for trials. Seek God and Satan will flee (see James 4).

And let us provide this guidance and act for our children. God certainly did by providing His Action Plan of sending Jesus. We act by asking His forgiveness of others and doing this forgiveness ourselves. We must act by praising. We ourselves cannot be forgiven without us forgiving. 

Much befell Job, yet specifically in the first chapter, losing his children,  Job did not fail to praise God. Job did not BLAME God, as that would be a sin. Job praised God, as should also be the first words out of our mouths. We should not become so bitter as not to praise. 

Job said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Jesus taught his brothers and sisters, making them Word-filled and Worthy… Jesus’s brother James reminds us to: Submit Yourselves to God. Job did not curse God, nor shall should we. 

Our Way is to be the Way of praise, petition, peace. 

GOD “gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. 

ThisIS the greatest job of parenting, praising God who gave us all LIFE. 

Amen AMEN 

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James 4

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

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Job 1. Prologe

In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

One day the angels [sons of God in the Hebrew] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

1While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Be Ready to Follow and He will lead you.

Not a surprise but HOW GOOD this past week that my neighbor LOVED her visit to the nice assisted living facility where she “interviewed” for suitability for placement. So so GLAD that she is relieved that it is a good place! Her kids essentially said: Mom, we wouldn’t have picked anything less than a good place for you.!!!! THAT’S REASSURANCE!

Now it’s just less than a month until she moves in.  My neighbor is excited because she now knows where she is going! NO SURPRISES!

The director was so nice and told her “All we do is eat!”,  LOL … And said the staff is so nice and they wait on you, bring your medicine, take you on senior field trips, and have many pre-scheduled activities! BINGO! SOUNDS HEAVENLY!!! 

My neighbor told her daughter: “make sure I get cash for the trips!” LOL.

My first favorite sight on the example menu was sweet potato fries! [Yummy spiritual-level food for me, VERY MUCH SO!] Then I also saw: “DIRT PUDDING WITH WORMS” – now that made me LAUGH OUT LOUD!!! It’s candy gummy worms in whipped cream and cream cheese pudding mix and crumbled Oreo cookies, layered and looks like dirt! All sugar but when I’ve made a version of it, people were laughingly confused! The worms are supposed to be a SURPRISE! How interesting that this menu gives away the Surprises… NO SURPRISES.

Is that part of what Heaven will be? A surprise or no surprise? Knowing our path to Heaven is through Jesus, we should not be surprised on HOW to get there (don’t need cash for that forever field trip). He Knows the Way (because He IS the Way). A surprise might come to some who haven’t heard, not knowing Jesus, yet for us who HAVE READ THE STORY, the BIBLE STORIES, it should not be a surprise. 

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened”. Matthew 7:7-8

BINGO! I am sure that Heaven will be filled with justified surprises, like when you get to meet your great great great grand-generations who went before… I mean what’s it like when you meet Moses? Mary and Joseph? And your own kin again.

Now, as for my neighbor, I pray her a great experience with moving. What’s maybe surprising to some is the willingness of someone whose lived 55 years in her house to go so easily, (isn’t better all around to live each day without whining) – but if you KNOW where you are going, and you TRUST the Way there, and you adjust your expectations and even plan your steps, won’t that make life MUCH easier all around? Pray and God will give you the strength to move forward. NO SURPRISES THERE!

Amen 

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

PS

I found today’s “Jesus Calling” entry so fitting to the no whining clause in scripture – based on a few passages including Isaiah 30:18-21. We do have good teachers who show us the Way and the Walk without the whine.. including especially JESUS… No Surprises there! 

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

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2nd Corinthians 4: 3-18

 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 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. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

It was not lost on me that waiting to enter and park for the Wreath laying at National Cemetery, that the radio “randomly” played the Snoopy and Red Baron Christmas song while I was next to a house’s Peanuts Display… That song is about a Christmas truce and PEACE, even between enemies. 

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This beautiful wreath display, the solemn scene of gravestones and the hubbub of very active families all reminded me that the true meaning of Christmas is the REALIZATION of the Peace Prayer, the time for us to no longer treat enemies like enemies, and KNOW how ultimate PEACE comes from our Prince of Peace,  Jesus.

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I was so happy to see so many families visiting their family stones… Soldiers and scouts were here too. We are all better for remembering these are the Christmas days when we count our blessings for freedom by other’s service. The valiant missions, the struggles in war, all are now at rest here… 

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Sleep in Heavenly PEACE… 

Amen

Snoopy’s Christmas lyrics

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum
Do kannst mir sehr gefallen!

The news had come out in the First World War
The bloody Red Baron was flying once more
The Allied command ignored all of its men
And called on Snoopy to do it again

Was the night before Christmas, 40 below
When Snoopy went up in search of his foe
He spied the Red Baron, fiercely they fought
With ice on his wings Snoopy knew he was caught

Christmas bells those Christmas bells
Ring out from the land
Asking peace of all the world
And good will to man

The Baron had Snoopy dead in his sights
He reached for the trigger to pull it up tight
Why he didn’t shoot, well, we’ll never know
Or was it the bells from the village below?

Christmas bells those Christmas bells
Ringing through the land
Bringing peace to all the world
And good will to man

The Baron made Snoopy fly to the Rhine
And forced him to land behind the enemy lines
Snoopy was certain that this was the end
When the Baron cried out, “Merry Christmas, mein friend!”

The Baron then offered a holiday toast
And Snoopy, our hero, saluted his host
And then with a roar they were both on their way
Each knowing they’d meet on some other day

Christmas bells those Christmas bells
Ringing through the land
Bringing peace to all the world
And good will to man

Christmas bells those Christmas bells
Ringing through the land
Bringing peace to all the world
And good will to man

Christmas bells those Christmas bells
Ringing through the land

Songwriters: George David Weiss / Hugo Peretti / Luigi Creatore

Father, Son and Holy Ghost 

  Believe, otherwise your soul may toast.

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Sometimes we are snide, 

   Showing hidden human pride.

We might guffaw,

   Humans have that kind of flaw.

Let’s NOT be a ‘know it all’,

   They say pride comes before a fall.

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Don’t be a mimic,

   Don’t fall for every gimmick.

What can make you smart?

   Certainly not your heart.

Remember who DOES reign, 

   You’ve got to give Him your brain.

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Don’t grumble, 

   Be humble. 

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Who is Lord of all?

   Who’s All Knowing of big and small?

God the Father, God the Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One.

   In Them our lives have RE-BEGUN.

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Remember Who you serve,

   Follow Jesus, do not swerve.

Listen to what you’ve heard,

  Jesus IS the Scriptural Word.

It really does mean a lot,

   to follow Him nonstop.

You will not regret.

  To Jesus you are His “Get”.

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God will find you,

   Let Wisdom remind you. 

Father, Son and Holy Ghost,

  You ARE whom they LOVE the MOST. 

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Amen 

Christmas Snow

Found my Christmas SNOW,

Temperature so crisp your breath will SHOW.

Your cheeks get so rosy, oh how they GLOW.

Grace Winter’s beauty and let your Christmas LOVE from God GROW.

Take a moment to appreciate God’s Christmas SNOW. 

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Winter Trues

Put on your Winter shoes,

Not your Winter blues.

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Outside is already aware, 

For Winter you simply must prepare. 

Don’t be bitter, don’t you dare.

So bundle up, step out with care

Feel and breathe super crisp air. 

God wants you to be aware.

Embace Winter Trues.

And know winter snow fuels Spring’s blossoms’ flare.

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It is up to you to choose,

To put away your Winter blues.

There’s Riches…

There’s Life Stability…

There’s Recieving Wise Consul…

There’s Knowing YOU WILL BE OK!!!

Which of these do you prefer? Maybe all….

I’ve been talking to a neighbor who will be moving to an assisted living facility,  I’ve really had those conversations of “you can’t take it with you!”… and sometimes people get to an age where their children take over, so you both can’t take it with you and you can’t give it all away either without some hurt feelings.  It’s tough to be in a situation where hurt feelings cloud relationships. I was cautious when my neighbor said: “take whatever you want”. I didn’t, I don’t even know her kids, but I know it’s not good to hurt feelings of others who have more claim than I, if they don’t take it, I’ll see it in the trash anyway… I only took a lawn chair that I had actually lent her. I only asked for one bowl because she had lots and this one matched another bowl I had. And she gave me 2 knickknack statues because she thought I would like them. The knickknacks reminded her of her grandparents. I like that she gave me her memory …And I’m MOST thankful that she has given me her friendship all these years and her trust. I can sit at the kitchen table and we talk about life without fear or anything hindering frank conversations… it’s better to air our life issues privately with a friend and let them go than put them in heavy baggage that we DON’T want to take with us.  Don’t make your misery into a museum. 

I also don’t need anything from her because not only do I have a house filled with “treasures”, oh my how my own family’s houses are museum-level collections, from statues to butter churns, Elvis bubblegum cards to too many beanie babies. My mom’s friend gives stickynotes to people and says label what you want when I go… I am sure I best preserve my “collection” as memories over the many moths in our attics… I found perfectly preserved 1976 bicentennial napkins in one hidden closet. My one aunt (i have 9 aunts) collected those coupons off the peanut butter cups to mail in for more peanut butter cups… Oh hundreds of points she cataloged still in a box… I remember them, that was the 1970s her cutting them and us eating that free candy… fun… yet now surely both coupons and the candy company are expired. The memory remains. 

And then there’s DISHES… oh so many dishes… My Aunt (other side of the family) gave me some treasures of hers because she said “my kids will just roll up a dumpster”… That’s tough that day when the treasures (with the boxes they came in) will not be saved… But isn’t it MORE valuable to have the ability to sit with someone for a cup of tea rather than dust fancy tea cups that never get used? My Aunt also gave me my grandmother’s dishes since I was “closer” physically and in timeframe visiting her. I love them but I appreciate my memories more. I would give away all the dishes just to have one more cup of tea with my aunt, one more conversation with my Grandmothers and Grandfathers, my aunts uncles, all my family and my friends who are gone. 

In Queen Esther’s time, she was able to see the Jews survive and thrive and be granted VICTORY over their enemies, after exposing a plot to kill them, and as the king granted her everything she wanted. But an interesting part of this story is that THREE TIMES the scriptures state: “But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.” I don’t know if this was a custom, an edict, or just a frame of mind, be thankful for your lives and livelihood but don’t overdue your victory dance… perhaps leave these earthly treasures because others will need them and you as exiled people will be leaving this land anyway someday, not taking plunder with them… happy to escape and celebrate life…

That sounds like good advice for us. We WILL be leaving this land of our temporary stay. We WILL be granted the real Kings Kingdom some day. Don’t plan to take anything with us but our lives. Don’t plan on leaving too much behind except great memories. Best to smooth the way for our children to cherish us over having anguish in us. Teach them what really to value. 

Since we do live in our own splendor, raised as Americans who started collecting stuff in post-war shortage surpluses, let us enjoy our lots in life but be ready to let them go… As one of my elderly friends used to say: “You don’t know what day Jesus puches our train ticket”… I am certain on that day, Jesus will pickup and LEAVE your baggage at the station, ALL of it… His Fare pays for ONLY what God’s Image is in us. He leaves our sin baggage behind… we will live free in Him.

In Heaven (and Heaven on earth):

Our PRAISE is required.

Our PRAYERS are desired.

Baggage becomes expired. 

Let us look for Jesus and His “plunder” in Heaven. Jesus’s “plunder” is collecting all of us for God.

God’s Memories are of making us. Our souls He seeks. Let’s keep our treasures in Heaven. 

Amen!!!

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Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Do Not Worry

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:19-27

If you need a moment to realize that God IS in charge (lest we forget) and need a humbling shock that we DON’T know or see everything in this world let alone the Heavens – then take a Milky Way Moment – go out and see the stars. Not just any stars but ALL of them, if you can… 

I took a moment driving up home to park my car (safely) on a very very dark road, open the moonroof, shut off my car headlights and then take a moment to adjust my eyes. I was in the “boonies” meaning the far far backwoods where NO light pollution can obscure the starlight that God put into our sights. I’ve been here before. God NEVER disappoints.

Of course you absolutely HAVE to ADJUST YOUR EYES to see better deeper and brighter.

Feeling the REAL cold is a wake-up gift from God too because you feel more alive. It was 19 degrees, snow on the ground, I stepped outside and my breath was taken away – but that was by the STARS not just due to the cold…  That level of intricate light, placed just right, is SO AMAZING… And we miss it everyday, don’t we?… We miss it in the sunshine as well as in the light pollution.  We miss A LOT of what God wants to show us.

It is an overwhelming AWE in seeing so many stars because there are MORE light spaces than dark spaces. And the depths are deep… I am also in awe that this view is much closer to the skies that Abraham saw,  Jacob,  Moses, John the Baptist saw… yes to what Jesus saw… A view to what God placed there to guide the Way of Wonder…  

If you can appreciate your ability to have appreciation of everything and anything as a gift from God, you might appreciate the stars even more. But first you must adjust your attitude. That is MORE important than adjusting your eyes.

God is in control. 

Take a moment to say THANK YOU!

AMEN 

There’s a famous quote by Charles Stanley which says “The shortest distance between our problems and their answers is the distance between our knees and the floor.”

Yes, God delivers and is Deliverer. We must listen, act, trust. And He knows the solutions more that we know even what the problems really are.

Perhaps God wants to hear us praise Him before we even bring up problems. 

It’s all in the ask. It’s “what” we ask, “when” we ask, it’s in “how” we ask, and it’s in “why” we ask… and in our follow up, it’s then in how we DO what is asked of us… Will we trust? Can we have faith? I HOPE SO!

Prayer… Petition… Putting ourselves out there…

Many warrior kings won the battles by fierce fighting. But Queen Esther won the lives of a whole generation of people by prayer, fasting, asking, and sticking her neck out to ask the King a question without the normal  chain of events, to identify that she was Jewish, that her people were in death’s danger by decree, and to be in that dinner WITH the person who wanted her dead before even knowing who she was. Hmmm…. (that last part is so Jesus-like, having dinner with Haman then accusing him like Jesus accuses Judas. Haman and Judas wanting the death of someone before knowing their true identity. Esther and Jesus going up against governing rulers to set their people free, Esther to life and Jesus to death)…

Esther did an unusual thing, she asked the king Xerxes and Haman to come to dinner twice, she put a pause in the middle. Meanwhile king Xerxes couldn’t sleep and while reading his history found out or refreshed his memory that Mordecai previously had saved him. Meanwhile Haman, all puffed up and pompous saw Mordecai and wanted to kill him. But the tables were turned and Haman’s downfall started. And the Queen waiting until that 3rd opportunity to ask (original approach plus 2 dinner banquets) got to both save her people and see that Haman was incriminated. The TRUTH set them free with the king’s NEW decree.

Esther’s TIMING was key, the time was given for the king to process all that was going on. God knew how to bring down a bad man and save a people. God’s continued motivation to save the Jews was to keep David’s line, the root of Jesse, as a Light in the Darkness, from where Jesus earthly family paved the way to the Way.

Esther’s ask and save becomes celebrated in the Jewish feast of Purim, which usually lands in February or March. We all should celebrate joyfully the triumph of courage and how we all know God is a God who saves. A strong woman and brave, Esther reminds us to ask God and give God time to work on the situation. We must be willing to do what God needs. If He asks us? You know He has a plan! King Xerxes would have given Esther half the Persian kingdom. God’s son Jesus held onto the WHOLE of the HEAVENLY KINGDOM and DELIVERED. 

Mordecai reminds Esther that if she doesn’t act, God would still get His Plan accomplished in another manner, but how awesome it is for her (and for us) to be a member, a doer, an instrument of God’s Peace. 

God’s BIG ASK for us is to resist the devil and to be a part of His Peace. 

As for me and my peace,  I will ASK the Lord. 

Amen!

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Esther 5-6-7

Esther’s Request to the King

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

“If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

“Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

Haman’s Rage Against Mordecai

Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai.  Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.

Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.

Mordecai Honored

That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.

“Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.

The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.

His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”

“Bring him in,” the king ordered.

When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”

“Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”

So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”

Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.

His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!” While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.

Haman Impaled

So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”

King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”

Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.

Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.

The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”

As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”

The king said, “Impale him on it!”  So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.

The king who decreed punishment to the Jewish people (king Xerxes) during “the Persian Period” did so by giving up his signet ring to another (Haman). Took it OFF and let another take some control. King Xerxes was letting someone else seal a deal without full knowledge of the people’s plight or character, including his own wife, Queen Esther. Esther was able to stop this plot of extermination, as it became her TIME to reveal her identity as a Jew, a daughter of God, one who hoped in a mighty King promised in David’s lineage to save generations and restore God’s Kingdom. Esther’s intervention unsealed the earthly kings seal. A new edict (after the plot was revealed) sealed the king’s order to save the Jews. God’s plan prevailed. 

No one can unsealed God’s Holy Spirit Seal on your soul. “When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.” This is what was revealed to us by the Spirit Himself in the Word.

God who created us in His Image does mark us as His, and He makes this mark Himself. God brings us to Jesus. And remember this means Jesus is coming back to redeem us. Redemption is not like a small coupon to save money, but an unfair unforgettable exchange of Jesus’s Life for ours. He ransomed Himself to redeem the price for our freedom. He gave us the Holy Spirit to show that we are His. He moves us thru the Holy Spirit now to spread this Good News.

Haman would have paid in silver for killing a generation of Jewish people because one (Mordecai) failed to respect him. King Jesus paid in full for saving all, not just Jews, but ALL. And ALL will respect Jesus when He returns. 

Esther approached king Xerxes and he said he would have given her upto half his kingdom if she asked. King Jesus redeems ALL of the Kingdom.  Jesus asks us to remember that and share that news. 

Esther revealed that plot by Haman. Mordecai was saved and so were all the Jewish people. King Xerxes took back his ring from Haman (who was impaled by the torture he had intended for Mordecai). King Xerxes gave the ring instead to Mordecai, whom had previously saved his life. We too will live, and have the marks of the Heavenly King Jesus’s seal. We too are saved…. Sealed by the Spirit. 

We know the end of this story BECAUSE it IS the Holy Spirit who reveals it as TRUTH to us, to those who believe in Jesus. Let us pray for those who have yet to find their way and learn their identity too. We ask God to open their eyes to both the plots of the devil and to seeing the saving Grace of His mercy. We know that we are scattered in the Kingdom, but You know when to call us.

Let us step out in faith. Lord, we are blessed to know You in us.

Amen 

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Esther 3:8-11

Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”

So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.”

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Ephesians 1:13-14

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,  who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

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Esther 8:1-11

The King’s Edict in Behalf of the Jews

That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.

Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.

“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”

King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”

At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language.  Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king. The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves;…

You might think it’s unusual that a flat tire reminds me of how life is FILLED WITH GOD’S CALLING ON OUR LIVES, and especially to remember His timing and Ways are bigger than our ways, but every bump in the road is a moment to SHINE OUR FAITH. And if life is smooth sailing, we best credit God for that! Moments in time are all a gift, make the most of them. In all, we must reveal our identity: One who TRUSTS in God.

Queen Esther had to acknowledge her MOMENT IN TIME TO TRUST GOD. Yes, TRUST GOD, step out in faith and approach the king, Xerxes, and expose and stop a plot to kill all the Jews. She had to take a risk revealing her identity too. That king did not know Esther also was a Jew, because her cousin/counselor Mordecai requested that she keep it a secret the whole time due to the many dangers they faced as foreigners. The exiles from Jerusalem were taken by a plundering conquest and the prophesies said their people would return to Jerusalem and a mighty KING would rise from their ranks (the House of David) – of course we all know the prophesies were of Jesus.

Certainly nowadays our bumps in the road are nothing in comparison and how we handle them are not as dramatic as this, but we are ALSO called for MANY actions in our faith FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS. “You were called for just a TIME as this.”… and sometimes (often) ALWAYS we are to embrace GOD’S TIMING in how it all plays out. If we rant and rave in anger over small things – how do we demonstrate that we trust God? Well, it wasn’t just my flat tire’s “timing” but it was also when I knocked down the squash and salsa and cheese glass lunch container that next morning that I REMEMBERED a connection to patience and petition to God. I thought about Esther and TIMING. A sticky situation needing attention immediately. These delays in my life surely are when I KNOW I am being paced by God, slowing me down from multi-tasking, resetting “my agenda schedule” – maybe even preventing me from a car crash or being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  God moves us to bless us AND to be with others in His timing for them too. You must realize that we ARE God’s Hands and Feet… See, this is why I consider the flat tire A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, that dealing with small things as well as big, are in God’s plans. We must TRUST HIM. We must change our attitude FASTER than it takes to change a tire.

I knew I had a slow leak, discovered just that day, so when I saw the actual flat I was forced to pause, well sort of, because God lined up the day in HIS Way…. There actually was a yellow truck actually idling right next to me, WHAT TIMING!  Even if he “randomly” was there at my workplace for a broken down big rig, I chatted with the driver about my own tire, talked about getting to a holiday event with friends. He DID have an air pump and he DID fill me up with air without complaining or asking for anything AND also he filled me with cautiousness while we discussed how perhaps I should call roadside service AAA anyway. He cared. He was a counselor placed in God’s timing to me. I already pay for roadside service so I called them anyway just because I had a long trip, better to not get stuck on the turnpike itself then I would NEVER make it to my friends’ event on time. It was then I saw the nail,  perfectly placed inside the treads making it plug-fixable in the future. Yup, not God’s nail but a reminder to NOT be mad, just be GLAD I had options AND had roadside service on the way and especially God to rely on.

My spare donut was on within record speed by a AAA driver grateful for my call (and for my tip since this was only his 4th call all day). Meanwhile I watched the yellow big rig tow driver on the ground hooking up that stranded truck, such hard work! I went back over to thank him for his help and advice, tell him I had a safe tire on now, and wish him Merry Christmas. He was grateful I said Christmas not holidays and I was grateful to give God praise in that moment WITH someone.

Yes, I made the get together with my friends, and we donned our festive lighted headbands and were grateful to SHINE. I ran into dozens of girl scout and church friends. Their love SHINED God’s Love to me and to all… I saw “God’s Miracles in Motion” (my friends who are medical miracles). And I met a new person whom helped put on that holiday event, we have mutual church friend connections, so AT THAT MOMENT I knew God must have wanted me to meet her, chat with her, make her feel more welcome to our community. All these interactions brought to me – connected by God’s TIMING. Whom am I not to LET HIS LIGHT SHINE. One flat tire becomes 10 opportunities for GRATITUDE. So imagine what we could PRAISE for every time we DON’T have a flat. Praise for every time we see friends.

It always helps our attitude by giving God gratitude. Got out on a limb like Esther for God’s mission. Go out with a LIGHT to share God’s Love.

I thank my friends for their friendship, for putting the shine into my smile – and I thank the Lord for putting HIS batteries in our LIGHT. He IS this SHINE of mine. I’m going to let HIM SHINE. 

Amen

PS, I did not fix my tire yet, I am riding on my “spare”… going to see how that nail in the tire gives God’s opportunity to praise Him today! God Bless TODAY!

…

Esther 4:13-17

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

…

Been down this road before. 

Life stuff, heavy workloads, drama, and so much more. 

Keeping afloat I sometimes put my nose into work, my face to the floor.

Been down this road before. 

.

On this road is a fellow Traveler, wait I’ve seen Him before. 

He tells me not to worry about people full of broken ambition, trying to keep score. 

Nothing personal but you might get in their way when they are striving for MORE.

Been down this road before. 

.

Lift your face off the floor.

Embrace His Face. Open His door.

Listen to and walk with Jesus, He knows everything and His birth evened the score.

Jesus also knows valleys of shadows, He’s triumphed over those roads before. 

.

Start with God’s Praise,

Your heart, soul and face will raise. 

Continue to truly know,

Jesus knows the Way to go.

.

Amen 

…

Follow Him

Jesus – Always IN Season…

.

Spring says GO 

To an Easter flower’s GROW,

But in December? Hey, where’s the SNOW?

.

March’s weather in December 

Brings an opportunity to REMEMBER. 

Easter we know Jesus’s blood will FLOW.

Christmas we know Baby Jesus’s LOVE is all AGLOW. 

.

A flower out of season 

Has no reason 

NOT to SHINE. 

Our souls CAN reason

It IS Jesus season.

ALL OF THE TIME.

. 

Christmas’ Advent 

is Easter’s Lent.

Jesus sacrificed to come to earth, 

In His very humble Birth.

Jesus sacrificed again leaving earth,

Death became sin’s deepest dearth.

.

Merry Christmas Happy Easter

Jesus Season occurs at either.

Thine Love so amazing,  so Divine.

Jesus’s Love is now forever yours and mine.

Amen 

Happy Early Merry Christmas – a good time for reflection and hope. 

I decided to revisit some of my original writings…  This one was #8 Dec 24th 2014…

I speak of 4 miracles in this piece – and you probably know people like them – amazing miracle survivors – all around us every day. Which means that our prayers are often answered – so let us keep praying them for today’s people who need miracles.

Reflect on the past miracles, reflect on the hugs, reflect on the real meanings of Christmas including that HOPE that God gives. Then be ready to see some more good things – because God is good ALL YEAR…

Amen

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Got Santa to pause to sit down for a cup of tea after the gifts were placed under the tree – I appreciate this year – I appreciate the time now to sit and have a cup of tea and bask in the glow from the lighted tree – an undecorated tree – but lighted – and so fragrant and soothing. It’s almost midnight now – all is still and quiet – I am going to work hard this next year to keep this Christmas spirit alive in me all year round.

I did the most important things at Christmas – but not all the things you normally want to do…  the tree is up but barely ten ornaments?  I did hang one this year – one of my kids together as babes in arms – really that is the only ornament I need to hang on my tree – they ARE my life – my tree is rooted in loving family and I never want my kids to forget how much their family loves them and how much I love them.

My God sightings for today are a selection of miracles – earthy miracles that I have witnessed with my own eyes:

1)  I delivered a poinsettia to a woman who has been battling an incurable disease – on her second liver and no one is more of a fighter than her.  Today when I brought the plant to her and her family, she was cleaning her oven…  last time a similar situation, I visited her one week out of the hospital with doctors baffled at her recovery off her deathbed – after a moving prayer service for her – well, I visited her and when I recounted her condition later to friends, they gravely asked “how is she?” – I said: “she’s doing laundry!!!”… up and kicking…  laundry, cleaning the oven – preparing Christmas dinner for a family who needs her so much…she is my hero…

2) I sat right behind another medical miracle in church today – a survivor of a rare heart surgery – only very few have had it done – his whole family was together for Christmas – pure, pure joy to see them all together!

3) I sat near another miracle near me in the church service – a young man who survived a life-threatening infection just months earlier – such a scary time for his family. Today, the joy of seeing him – a miracle.

4) Another miracle at the living nativity – I met a young man recovered from a terrible accident… a man on “Bonus time” as he puts it.

There were likely so many other miracles right around me that didn’t occur to me to notice today – miracles so commonplace that we forget they are miracles, but they are…

I so appreciate the miracle of laughter and love – the bonding in families and in our church families. we are truly blessed in how we feel so much a part of THE family – especially this time of year when we see so many friends. I even had real sit down conversations with some great friends over the last few days – that feels like a miracle – to pause and talk.    I so appreciated the hugs – I must have had at least 25 tonight alone – plus the hugs from the whole week – I had hugs at work – hugs at church – hugs with friends – hugs at home.  If a picture can speak a thousand words, then a hug – placed at the right time can speak a thousand pictures – that’s a million words. Hugs of hello – hugs of love – hugs of understanding – hugs of sorrow – hugs of good bye…

Thanks for allowing me to share my God sightings and I am sending a virtual hug to you all!   

Merry Christmas.

Midnight God Sighting Reflections, Dec 24th- 25th #8

FAITH – and processing an awakening – This writing mirrors me starting to believe in Jesus – I didn’t think it was silly – but my heart was not yet believing until I was seeing… AND THANK GOD – He Himself opened my eyes to be seeing HIM. It is none other than Jesus Himself thru the Word thru the Holy Spirit who is trying to get you to see Him for REAL. God brings us to Jesus – drives us right to Him – open your eyes and be ready to see!

I was on the list of the lost in my faith – truly now I can see why Jesus is trying so hard to wake us. We are dead in our fatih so often – at least I was… Jesus knows when we are sleeping – He awakes us – God brings us right to Him – and when we are in Jesus’s Hand, He will NEVER let us go.

Why is this important? To be awake in your faith? because Jesus is the ONLY WAY to be covered in Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. John 3:35-36

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. John 5:20

Below is my devotion with the unbelieving becoming believing – just have to keep looking!

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Miracle on 34th Street – “I Believe, I Believe, it’s Silly but I Believe”

My favorite movie – not just Christmas movie – but all time movie – is Miracle on 34th Street.  Not the ’70’s version, not the colorized version but the original 1947 version – Edwin Gwynn as Kris Kringle – Maureen O’Hara, Natalie Wood as mom and daughter…  and Fred Gailey the lawyer (John Payne) who was an early believer in Santa, in Christmas and all that Christmas stands for.  Yes, my favorite movie of all time – ever since I was young…

Little Susie says “I believe, I believe, it’s silly but I believe”. She was talking about Santa Claus – but the movie goes much deeper than that – see Santa (Kris Kringle) was looking for belief in people – in everyone who didn’t believe – looking for hope to continue in his line of work – to continue hoping for the world.  Fred was asking Doris (Maureen O’Hara) to believe – to believe in him – to believe in anything – she swore off fairy tales, swore off any belief in what she wasn’t in control of.  she suffered from too much reality check – “should be realistic and completely truthful with our children and not have them growing up believing in a lot of legends and myths” … “And by filling them full of fairy tales they grow up considering life a fantasy instead of a reality.” Fred will work on Doris – Kris Kringle work on Susie too – together they can make this happen – it is a movie after all – together we will see how it all unfolds…

At the pinnacle of the movie – Doris is upset that Fred throws away his career by taking on the seemingly win-less case of proving that Kris Kringle is indeed Santa Claus – the one and only Santa Claus… Fred urges her “Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to. It’s not just Kris that’s on trial. It’s everything he stands for. It’s kindness, joy, love, and all other intangibles.” “Someday, you’re going to find out that your way of facing this realistic world just doesn’t work. And when you do, don’t overlook those lovely intangibles. You’ll discover they’re the only things that are worthwhile.”

Fast forward to Doris trying to reassure Susie that Mr Kringle will be ok – Doris is not sure she yet believes what she is telling her daughter – but Doris tells little Susie that she has to have faith – Doris even adds to Susie’s letter that “I believe in you too” – win – Kris Kringle gets the letter and all the other dead letters at the post office and Fred wins the case – Kris is recognized by the federal government to be the “One and Only Santa Claus” – WIN!

Susie has asked Mr Kringle for something big – bigger than a normal present – she asks for a house – one of those Long Island cape cod’s – similar to the suburb house that I live in today  quaint, quiet and family friendly… Susie expects Mr Kringle to deliver – big time – expects a miracle – expects that snap and she will have this house – puts it as a test to him…  No – she doesn’t get it at the Christmas morning party – Doris has to say – “You must believe in Mr. Kringle and keep right on doing it. You must have faith in him.” … “you’ve still got to believe in people. I found that out.”

“I believe. I believe. It’s silly but I believe” – Kris has orchestrated a car ride home with Fred – down a quaint quiet street – in a family neighborhood. “I believe. I believe. It’s silly but I believe” – Susie repeats and repeats – and then – oh snap! there it is – the house – on a quaint and quiet street – the perfect house – it’s for sale – it’s unlocked – with a swing in the back – WIN.

Fred learns from Susie that Doris told her “Mommy said if things don’t turn out right at first, you’ve still got to believe. You were right Mommy!”  – WIN – Doris to Fred “I never really doubted you. It was just my silly common sense.” WIN – BIG WIN. Kiss – realization that believing is seeing – believing came first – then seeing Kris Kringle’s cane in the house – hmmm….

Believe – it was and is that belief has to be there first – the rest follows – you have to believe  – to have faith when common sense tells you not to…  BELIEVE

https://debbieupper.blog/2015/12/20/miracle-on-34th-street-i-believe-i-believe-its-silly-but-i-believe-04jan-16/

Be open this Christmas to knowing and teaching the true deep down meaning of Christmas…

God opened my ears and eyes but most importantly opened my heart in a Christmas season… Allow the Lord to be born in You – and Lion and a Lamb – this Christmas and always. My prayer is for all to be open, be opened, be opening…

A Poinsettia Prayer

A beautiful showy poinsettia is often misunderstood… botanically-speaking.  Its big flowers a beautiful splash of red. Christmas red with the evergreen brings cheer.

But, those big red flowers or white pink speckled – they are not flowers at all.

No, they are leaves (botanically speaking they are bracts). The flowers are barely noticed – if they are present at all – they are divided into yellow stamens and a nearly invisible pistil deep down below lip-shaped stigma – which is in the shape of a smile.

At the base of the invisible overlooked flower, nestled in the center of showy colorful bracts, is the place where the flower will bear even tinier seeds. The seeds will be enveloped, embraced and provided food to nurture the next generation of baby plants.

Christmas time is full of showy colorful splashes – but its real meaning is often misunderstood – it is really about a tiny baby – a hope for peace not brought on by a giant clashing war to end all wars – but instead by a non-showy tiny sweet baby – who will grow into our hearts and bring peace when enveloped, embraced and provided nourishment.

So look closely this Christmas – not at the showy leaf bracts, but at the tiny flowers – look for the tiny baby – and look for the true meaning of Christmas deep down in the middle of your heart.

Peace.

We could read LOTS into the backdrop to the story of Esther and the King Xerxes. We could marvel at the opulence of his “royal treatment” for the nobles and officials, allowing them liberal activities in a 7 day party after a whole 180 days of showing off his treasures… The GARDEN party locale had hangings of white and blue linen, couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones, plus had wine served in goblets of GOLD… wow… WOW!

The Queen Vashti also gave a party but we know nothing about that. And it doesn’t say WHY the Queen didn’t attend her husband’s party when CALLED to bring her to Him, but the text DOES say he was inebriated and in a drunken state when demanding her to come with the crown to show off her beauty, such a surface living worldly want… WELL!  (and she didn’t go – so eventually they banished her to set an example – and we never hear her side of the story).  

Well, it’s TOO EASY to put our opinions into the Word, finish the story, to suppose… SO we NEED TO BE CAREFUL anytime we guess (and I am NO scholar). We should ask “WHY” God’s Word is mentioning certain details and it IS good to know the backdrop to the story. The king sending one queen away made room for another – becoming the open opportunity for Esther to step into the palace. And it IS good to know the personality of this king, and how their society exists (outside in an area where Jewish people were exiled), and how impressed he and everyone was that Esther wasn’t demanding, was smart in addition to having beauty, and the fact that she exposed a plot to kill the king… But let me give yet another couple big picture thoughts: 

1) Queen Vashti didn’t choose to join the garden party of a drunken man with opulence and a show, even if he was a king… Wouldn’t this party be a big contrast to the REAL garden gathering with our REAL King, God in all HIS glory? People of faith are looking for the Real Deal . When God in his Good State CALLS, He is doing so to bless us. We will be willing to OBEY our King, we will know His voice as His sheep.

2) The earthly king and earthly followers thought that when the king’s edict was “proclaimed throughout all his vast realm” that all the women will “respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.” – because they would be motivated by punishment… Well, hmmmm…. Even if that was “customary” in a different era, it seems if the queen and king were in a BETTER position to BLESS each other, to RESPECT each other, and not fight by proxy, that the relationship may have MUCH BETTER chance… This is a good way to remember that Jesus as our GOOD King motivates us by His MERCY, His sacrifice and His elevation of us to the Kingdom, not using punishment. He is both our Lord AND our God as well as a Servant to Save. 

3) The earthly king had to consult the law and counselors and then banished Queen Vashti. In contrast our real King Jesus came to FULFILL the law and save us. We need to consult Him. God did tell prophet and counselor Samuel (serving Saul and David) that the people were MUCH better off to serve God and NOT ask for an earthly king… well, they still asked to be controlled and that sent whole communities down wrong paths from then on. Let us Serve God.

4) Esther gained favor to this earthly king Xerxes,  by being honest and also using sometimes clever ways that God gave her, for her mission was for her people, the Jews, and she was called by God to use her position for good, not for entertainment in a drunken state of worldly wants. She had to think about what God was CALLING her to do and work within her system, given thru advice by her cousin father-figure Mordecai. She willing OBEYED. She was prepared for THIS Heavenly King’s command. 

Jesus came and is here now, and now through our Holy Spirit we are being made new, given the tools for work, we are to be a “bride prepared for her groom” as the church, not a surface clean but a deep desire in us must grow. To know our King is to love Him and know His Ways… To be prepared is to allow the fruits of the Spirit to develop in us. 

Aren’t we ALL looking for God’s BETTER Garden? Let us appreciate Our King. 

Amen

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Esther 1

Queen Vashti Deposed

This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.

For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa. The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality. By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.

Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.  But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.

Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.

“According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.”

Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.

“Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”

The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed. He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes long SILENCES scream in processing and people’s SPIRITUAL thoughts… Who knew how silence is the stronghold of the Spirit. God does.

I was at a BEAUTIFUL precious memorial service, a celebration of life, a huddle of hungry spirits holding onto hope even more strongly than what we could and can hold onto on earth… a support sea of people… a place I HAD the privilege of being present even if none of us wanted it under those circumstances.  The stories shared were tremendous,  and so was the silence… yes the silence…

When the young man stood up to speak about his dad, he looked both broken and determined… He sighed… He stood silent… He cried… We sat watching and trust me the people absorbed the silence… We surely needed to see what we knew, the sudden death of a dad, of a loved one, is a horrible shock to the system – there is NO sugar coating. The REALNESS is in the RAWNESS and God KNOWS THAT. If the widow could give her last mites to the service of the Lord, surely we could sit for a moment in silence to let this young man let God work him thru his grief. 

We waited in prayers and I watched the pastor pray across the room, physically pray without ceasing while still in his chair, his hands directed towards the young man and even though he was silent to us, his lips were moving mightly, he sent the Spirit SuperSpeed soaring across that room – in soul moving style. I saw it. The young man sighed again, he needed that. We prayed for him. We didn’t need to fret, and he DID make it thru, speaking softly and mostly saying he was grateful, thankful for the time with his Dad… Even later I saw the young man smiling at the luncheon later – he made it thru. But during that tearful tense time, I felt the awkward silence that I should have felt as a human, AND I felt the tearfulness of brokenness of the Spirit… I felt the tearful moment was a time when Jesus cries with us.

So for the silent time I felt to be transported to be standing on the hill across from Jesus’s crucifixion, WAITING.  Then another wait – like with the women with anointing spices but unable to perform their duty because it was the Sabbath, they WAITED (Luke 23:49, 55-56). We were being made to WAIT upon the situation. God’s timing, not ours, not mine. WAIT in obedience for the processing. We did.

I was also transported to be in the post-crucifixion room, listening to the processing of the disciples, oh how that long-night and day-long Sabbath must have been! The set aside time to be with the Lord. The brother of Jesus DID later write “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” – I wonder how many people he told that to, over and over again, in his own immediate processing after his big brother passed… If James was in that secreted away room, scared and shaken about his brother’s death, surely we could let him process. 

But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. … The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

We were watching and being witness. And later the sister DID get up and help coordinate the situation with ease, as any of the women coming with the spices would have found that courage to serve. That Spirit which processes while we are still walking… 

Why did Jesus spend SO MUCH time in the absence of the earthly view of Him? Not for Himself but for His people to process, that’s what I’ve heard from a former pastor of mine, that the awkward silence of Jesus gone gives EXTRA appreciation for Jesus being present. 

Jesus never goes anywhere in our times of silence, it just takes a moment of stillness to find where to look.

Silence is STILL STILLNESS in the Spirit. 

Amen 

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Like those Jesus tears poured out at the tomb of Lazarus for his friends who felt so broken and not knowing death is a window to forever life. Jesus also needs us to know death is NOT final… 

God bless that son, that daughter, that family… God bless that Pastor who KNEW to put God’s Power over the situation FIRST… and God bless my friend who lost her husband, when she saw me she gripped my hands so tight I KNEW that God needed me there to be witness to Him holding His people. We hold what He holds dear, each other, often in silent tears. I bet we will fall silent in the moment we meet our Maker in Heaven, in processing. And then not be able to stop Spiriting our JOY of HIM in our PRAISE. 

Amen