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.

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God appreciative, Humble thankfulness is best.

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

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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

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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Amen and Amen.
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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 

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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. 

…

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. 

…

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

…

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!

…

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.”

…

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

—

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?”

—

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.

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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!!!

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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.

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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.