Lord, forgive my humanness 

I DID…

Lord, forgive my worldliness

I AM…

Lord, forgive my lack of focus

I WILL…

…

Lord, please provide 

I DID – REMEMBER?

Lord, please provide 

I AM – LOOK!

Lord, please provide 

I WILL – HOPE.

…

Lord, LEAD 

I DID – Reflect. 

Lord, LEAD 

I AM – Watch.

Lord, LEAD 

I WILL- Know.

…

LORD, I KNOW 

LORD, I GROW 

LORD, I PRAISE

…

AMEN 

“You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God.

Ezekiel 34 digs deep into God’s care – God’s knowledge of how we behave as humans – and God’s desire. God wants His people to know He is their Shepherd. God wants Israel to know they are His People. Ezekiel speaks for God who is telling His flock directly to have hope, hold on…

This is calling for those times in about 600 BC and also for now – so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land… “

Yes, God is speaking of Israel coming back to His Land for them and of their regathering – and of their hope – and ours.

God also sets forth the issues that the self-indulgent are bringing to the scene – God is against those who take advantage of the weak and who live for themselves. God will do the judging Himself. God will punish (and therefore we won’t have to do the punishment – LET GOD HANDLE IT!)

God’s servants serve God’s Flock – as God chose David, God would continue to serve His people by providing a Shepherd – yes David and then from the lineage of the house of David we know Jesus came to be Shepherd and servant to all – ready to bless all who would hear – all who would call Him Lord – ll who would be a sheep to His Shepherd.

Old Testament wisdom – brings this up again and again – God will protect and provide – He simply wants the people to know that He is Shepherding them! God as Shepherd will find His flock: For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.”

May we continue to believe and know this Shepherding – may we learn from God’s requests of the people of Ezekiel’s time and not be those who trample others. May we then be the sheep of His flock.

Amen

Ezekiel 34 NKJV
Irresponsible Shepherds
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.”

‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”— therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”

God, the True Shepherd
‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”

‘And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture—and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet? And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet.”

‘Therefore thus says the Lord God to them: “Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

“I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God.’

“You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God.

“In the 12th year” – God told them there would be a captivity and fall – that it would be 70 years in all. It would take a while to accomplish the maneuvering of the peoples into place – the captives and the captors, the war-ravaged and the warriors… So – as prophesied, the cherished Jerusalem would fall, and as prophesied and urged, it was important to “Stay the Course”, wait it out, be ready for God’s next move. That is SO TRUE for us today too. We best continue to open our mouths FOR the Lord rather than drop our chins in astonishment of the times. 

Don’t Gawk, Walk. 

Ezekiel had to stay the course prophesying, even if God told Him that the people might ‘smile and nod’ at what he said but then NOT do the work God wanted.

The people would NOT be obedient but times would come when they realized a prophet had been there with them. Those are the people whose jaws would drop.

SO let us NOT drop our chins, mouth open but empty, let us praise God as we travel ourselves thru His predicted times, and still be working. If we get to the end of this set of times, then let us know that we knew that Jesus had come and will come again – and put our hope IN the Lord. Let us try to work at explaining where our hope is rather than where our complaints are.

In our “x” year, we don’t know the time – Let us remember these times when the bible was saying PAY ATTENTION…

Ezekiel’s call was to tell them all.

With Jerusalem’s fall and all, he stayed the course.

Amen

——-

Ezekiel 33:21-33

The Fall of Jerusalem

And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, that one who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has been captured!”

Now the hand of the Lord had been upon me the evening before the man came who had escaped. And He had opened my mouth; so when he came to me in the morning, my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute.

The Cause of Judah’s Ruin

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Son of man, they who inhabit those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one, and he inherited the land. But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession.’

“Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “You eat meat with blood, you lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land? You rely on your sword, you commit abominations, and you defile one another’s wives. Should you then possess the land?” ’

“Say thus to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “As I live, surely those who are in the ruins shall fall by the sword, and the one who is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in the strongholds and caves shall die of the pestilence. For I will make the land most desolate, her arrogant strength shall cease, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that no one will pass through. Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.” ’

Hearing and Not Doing

“As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. And when this comes to pass—surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

Masks?!!! 

When I look overwhelmingly at the graduated college kid’s stuff PILED from coming home, now re-attacking it to sort and pare down, I stopped to MARVEL at the mom-made homemade COVID MASKS (and ones supplied by the college). Remember those? LOVE the fabrics… LOVE the playful or elegant ways to keep walking… 

Ancient history now in my life 4 years ago (4 yrs ago was prepping for a 2nd year return of a 5 year program, she got nearly all semesters on campus, thank God for her education and life experiences). ANCIENT HISTORY now in my mind, and maybe in hers and probably yours too. TIME FLIES!!!

It was a moment in time, WE GOT THROUGH IT, think Psalm 23 in miniature.  College survived and we survived college, now we move on (still got to deal with the pile, lol)… When I think of 5 years of college, the PILE(S) IS WORTH IT… When I think of the FUTURE, the past was powerful in saying KEEP GOING! Power through and THRIVE!!!

Now of the future, how can we think of anything but the blessings of KEEP MOVING… “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever”.

Amen!!!

—

Psalm 23 KJV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Ezekiel’s Call

Came because God knew Jerusalem would fall.

Ezekiel called upon Israel to worship ONE God not fake gods, not at all.

.

Ezekiel’s Call

Spoke God’s Word after a muted squall.

No one but God’s specific special messenger was up to Ezekiel’s Call.

.

Ezekiel’s Call

Was a warning to them all.

They said the way of the Lord is not fair – but don’t forget it is HIS righteousness which forgives sins big and small.

.

It is all of our jobs to hear God’s Word – in our own Ezekiel call.

It is our blessing to have the Grace and Mercy God showers on one and all.

Thank you Ezekiel, for answering the call.

Amen

—

Ezekiel 33:1-20 NKJV

The Watchman and His Message

Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’

“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

“Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, “If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?” ’ Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

The Fairness of God’s Judgment

“Therefore you, O son of man, say to the children of your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live because of his righteousness in the day that he sins.’ When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die. Again, when I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ if he turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right, if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of his sins which he has committed shall be remembered against him; he has done what is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

“Yet the children of your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ But it is their way which is not fair! When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it. Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways.”

“This is it!” And with that, the Titanic sank, Rose and Jack kicked hard and they rose to the surface of the cold Atlantic (which was so sound-studio calm I couldn’t believe it). This movie ship sink was the worst cinematography and graphics I ever saw in a movie from this era. Star Wars 20 plus years earlier was SO much better, I believed in those ships! The rest of the movie was beautiful, the stately ship was/is still superb, even under the sea. And the souls… sigh…

It was a late night youtube find, I watched the movie in fast forward in under an hour, having never saw it. It was sad, poignant and stark. It was beautifully written and I understand it was a hit. I thought so interesting at the end that Rose did not disclose her real name, choosing Jack’s name in defiance and in love. She turned her face away from the evil fiancé too, he never found her and we know she was free of his controlling grip. She turned away from the fall – to rise to a new life. No idea what the blue sapphire represented either as it was tossed into the sea except maybe she finally gave away the hurt of that sour relationship to gain the healing of the good relationship with Jack that never could continue. I liked the last scene of their kiss, Jack and Rose. Together forever. I appreciate that her name is ROSE.

I wouldn’t even write about this movie or goofing-off escapism, except for the SCRIPTURE, yes the scripture of Revelation 21, in a recitation by a tearful fearful clergy man with kneeling accepting petitioners who never got to a lifeboat (most of the passengers didn’t get a limited life boat). These scripture-saying, believing-believers did, however, get in the Life Boat of the Lord. “…and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

Lord Almighty. 

“God Almighty”, is what the unsinkable Molly Brown, played by Kathy Bates, would say looking at the carnage in motion from her lifeboat. It was sad, it was sad too the perceived guilt of survival. I can’t even imagine the realness.

But I can appreciate the scripture, and the belief, and the hope despite despair and despair despite hope. What would we think, to sink or rise?

That’s why through life, sinking we must RISE – and know this scripture, perhaps commit it to memory – and say God Almighty, we are SAVED. 

In the movie – Rose but in real life we RISE and one day we will have ROSE because God Almighty had RISEN.

Sweet….

Amen

—

Revelation 21:1-4 (V2 not in the scene) 

V1 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

…V2 not in the scene: And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

V3 “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

V4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

AMEN AMEN

I knew the storms were coming. I’m a weather radar junkie, but I also could see the cat’s expression – ten minutes before the front, she was already alarmed, ready for hiding in the back of the smallest space she could find – but rather stuck with me on the couch – looking at the windows…  cool…  summer… power and intensity. 

Now the storms have passed, the heatwave broken, and ‘regular’ summer back.

I wonder in the book of Ezekiel if the Egyptians and the Pharaoh understood the intensity and sincerity of God’s decree against them. I wonder if they were alarmed when hearing about the coming wrath of God. Hid or didn’t – I would guess they didn’t. And did Ezekiel’s fellow Israelites have ears perked knowing this big situation would go down and watch like the radar or hide or best, listen to God to what they should do. They were in exile and were told to wait it out. I know Ezekiel told them to know the storms would pass. God’s mercies fresh in the times to come. But they best keep their ears perked!

We always know that God means business – and we should also know that in preparation to His doing His business, He advertises what He will do – and He tells whom is going to do the work needed too…  There is no bigger sense of “You are going down” given that than to Egypt in this section of the book of Ezekiel – Egypt is being prophesied against. Egypt also will become the spoils for the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzer, hook, line and sinker. 

And when God is talking about Pharaoh with the fish of the river to stick to one’s scales (twice) – the Lord knows His punishment will be severe and purposeful – to let folks KNOW He is God. The river and all in it are God’s and Pharaoh making himself a god-like ruler doesn’t mean he was one.

God said so then showed so, with Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar ready to ruin Pharaoh. 

The chapters devoted to this crush (chapters 29, 30, 31, 32 link below) are a sense of many years of war. And reinforcement of the truth that God DID bring the Babylonians over Egypt. Now with ears perked, hearts petitioned to listen, may the Israelites (and we) know God is Sovereign. 

Amen 

—-

All 4 chapters 29 to 32:https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+29-32&version=NIV;NKJV

Ezekiel 29 – Proclamation Against Egypt

In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt. Speak, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“Behold, I am against you,
O Pharaoh king of Egypt,
O great monster who lies in the midst of his rivers,
Who has said, ‘My [Nile] River is my own;
I have made it for myself.’
But I will put hooks in your jaws,
And cause the fish of your rivers to stick to your scales;
I will bring you up out of the midst of your rivers,
And all the fish in your rivers will stick to your scales.
I will leave you in the wilderness,
You and all the fish of your rivers;
You shall fall on the open field;
You shall not be picked up or gathered.
I have given you as food
To the beasts of the field
And to the birds of the heavens.

“Then all the inhabitants of Egypt
Shall know that I am the Lord,
Because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
When they took hold of you with the hand,
You broke and tore all their shoulders;
When they leaned on you,
You broke and made all their backs quiver.”

‘Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will bring a sword upon you and cut off from you man and beast. And the land of Egypt shall become desolate and waste; then they will know that I am the Lord, because he said, ‘The River is mine, and I have made it.’ Indeed, therefore, I am against you and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Ethiopia. Neither foot of man shall pass through it nor foot of beast pass through it, and it shall be uninhabited forty years. I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and among the cities that are laid waste, her cities shall be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries.”

‘Yet, thus says the Lord God: “At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered. I will bring back the captives of Egypt and cause them to return to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom. It shall be the lowliest of kingdoms; it shall never again exalt itself above the nations, for I will diminish them so that they will not rule over the nations anymore. No longer shall it be the confidence of the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity when they turned to follow them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord God.” ’ ”

Babylonia Will Plunder Egypt
And it came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre; every head was made bald, and every shoulder rubbed raw; yet neither he nor his army received wages from Tyre, for the labor which they expended on it. Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Surely I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he shall take away her wealth, carry off her spoil, and remove her pillage; and that will be the wages for his army. I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor, because they worked for Me,’ says the Lord God.

‘In that day I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to spring forth, and I will open your mouth to speak in their midst. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.’ ”

Ezekiel continues to warn the waring neighbors of Israel (during the Babylonian times – circa 600 years before Jesus came as a baby to earth) – and Ezekiel reminds us and them that Israel will be gathered – the people come from all the nations to where they were scattered. They will be the saved ones – and they shall know that God is the Lord and the Lord is God.

Lest we forget too – God is the Lord and the Lord is God.

Amen

Ezekiel 28:25-26 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’”

Here is the handout prepared for VBS about Peter – Jesus – and our red cabbage experiment – I always know that paper lives longer in people’s sight than emails… floats around the car – gets thought about before being discarded…  The Word is for sharing!

Jesus IS our friend – Jesus IS God and He came to teach us about God. “Greater love has no man than this, then to lay down His Life for a friend.” This is a scripture from John 15:13. This same gospel of John in chapters 19-21 tells us the story of how Jesus came to earth to die on a cross – and Jesus came back to life – this act would cover us in God’s Grace which is forgiveness.  Jesus came to share forgiveness for sins which allows us to be with God forever. “Our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:11.

Our Imagination Station experiment was of red cabbage (purple liquid after boiling in water) juice changing colors of a plant pigment by a change in pH (more or fewer Hydrogen and Hydroxide ions from treatment with acid (vinegar) or base (baking soda). This plant pigment is called ANTHOCYANIN and it is one of the protector molecules that helps protect plants from too much sunlight energy. The main molecule of chlorophyll causes the reaction of photosynthesis to occur (which makes energy-storage molecules (like glucose and starch) and oxygen from the sunlight and carbon dioxide). Anthocyanins and other pigments (like carotenoids and xanthophylls, etc) are part of the surrounding structures inside the plant cells and inside the chloroplasts. Anthocyanin is important to be around the chlorophyll. The red cabbage has a lot of these anthocyanins and it comes out when cabbage is boiled (you can do this at home – just be careful with the hot water!) To the cabbage juice, we added acid (vinegar) and base (baking soda) to change the color of purple to a variety of pinks and greens and blue… It was easy to change this color back and forth. The science is in the pH change. The acid or base addition makes the structure of the purple color pigment ANTHOCYANIN change. The structure reflects color to our eyes in a different way and it is a fast change.

Our friend Jesus had a very special friend, Peter, who was so sure he would not let Jesus down. But when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter followed and yet Peter did not admit that Jesus was his friend. Peter hid in plain sight – even lying about knowing Jesus while he was looking directly at him. Peter was scared and his courage changed so fast – fast like our experiment – that Peter denied Jesus even before he could think about it – three times. Our experiment with the purple cabbage anthocyanin is like Peter flip flopping, being wishy washy. Peter changed. Blessedly Jesus does not change and still loved Peter – just like He loves us.

Jesus died but then came back to life on the third day – a holiday we call Easter. Jesus showed Himself to Peter – called for Him by name – and brought Peter back to being His Friend – Jesus never left Peter and Jesus never leaves us.  Jesus will always Love us. Jesus is our friend.

We may sin or deny Jesus – but Jesus does not change, and HE WILL ALWAYS LOVE US.      Jesus is our friend!     Our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:11.

Day 2 VBS so much fun!

A dance party, a lesson about Peter and Jesus being his friend and ours. Our Imagination Station experiment included changing anthocyanins from red cabbage from purple to red pink or blue green by adding vinegar acid or baking soda base. It reflects how easy Peter had changed from defending Jesus (in the garden) to how he got scared after Jesus’s arrest and hid in the crowd scenes. Peter changed with fear, but Jesus’s love never changes and still loved Peter, as He loves us.

Jesus reconciled Peter with Grace. He extends to us the same grace.

Jesus opens friendship with God!

That your, our, Joy may be Full, walk in the Light.

Let our fear leave – take flight.

Let the Lord’s Righteousness make us Right.

Walk in the light as He is in the light.

.

If our trust is seen by day, what do we do at night?

Let our trust in Jesus set us right.

Be willing to understand life through a view of His Light.

Walk in the light as He is in the light.

.

If life is a take-down, should we put up a fight.

We know the future – the hope – the forever – right?

Calm ourselves and hold on tight.

Walk in the light as He is in the light.

.

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin – Jesus understands our plight.

Our forever secured due to HIS MIGHT!

Walk by Faith and Not by Sight.

Walk in the light as He is in the light.

Amen

—-

1 John 1 – New King James Version
What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Fellowship with Him and One Another
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

My friend is in her last hours, we think. All we know is that it’s the Lord’s timing, not ours. Not ours, maybe partially hers, as we probably have hold-out power, from our experience knowing others when they were “ready” to pass. All throughout hospice and before it, we have known that she is a loving follower of Jesus, so especially now I’m sure she is taking her cues from Him.

God’s got a plan. God’s purpose has a timing. God loves us too much to not help us through life and death and life again. 

Perhaps that is what or why people holding on, in hospice, pass when they pass. Perhaps it is both at their time determined by God and also when (and especially so) someone here on earth has to ‘let go’ of the person and especially completely put their trust in Jesus. Waiting on a prayer – includes the Lord waiting to hear someone say: ‘I trust you Lord, that I will see her again in Heaven.’ Yes. Holding on, that a person is becoming more believing – that one soul already saved helps save another. Iron sharpens iron – so prayers help praying.  The saved witness all the Way.

Saving Grace is to be embraced.  “He who does the will of God abides forever.”

When I saw my hospice friend’s smile, one week ago now, it was a ‘happy to see you’ smile. When I think of how the Lord must help her/us in final days, I’ll say that I pray we have that inside smile to say: “Happy to see you Lord.” 

And when we say ‘I trust You Lord’, and let go, no matter when/what the day, I sense the smile of Jesus greeting His little children as friends, as souls, as saved. 

I believe in the Power of Prayer – the connection of closeness – and the embrace of Grace. God is waiting on a prayer… from us.

May the Lord rest our souls – in His Time – He knows the Way it all goes… May we all TRUST and KNOW.

Amen 

———-

1st John 2:5-8, 12-14, 15-17

… whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

—

I write to you, little children,
Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
I write to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children,
Because you have known the Father.
I have written to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.

—
Do Not Love the World
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

AMEN AMEN

It’s still a memory even if it is from a faded photo. So I took a few pics of the photos with my phone, these were the treasures of the day in my sorting and cleaning at the farmhouse. These late 1970s early 1980s photos were the first era of color photos, and color doesn’t last long from that era… it’s not just 70s style of browns and oranges, it’s that plus the yellow of fading. My childhood is fading, at least 50% of any documentation is in 35mm slides, so any real photos are appreciated, yellow or not.

These are not surprises – my family took MANY photos of me and my cousins, of my Grandma and Grandpa,  Aunts, Uncles, and parents. And we went EVERYWHERE – zoos and state fairs – farm markets and curiosity places. I know these photos show the people and the era of the times, yet these photos are of forgotten days – I don’t have specific memories of THESE events, maybe because I went to SO MANY – and honestly how can we remember even a fraction of our childhoods. I know that we celebrated MANY birthdays but these pics, even with me in them, are new to me, yet confirm what I already knew – my family was and is great and we had great childhoods.

One memory that popped back up was eating picnic lunches from the truck of the car – the sandwiches baloney or peanut butter and jelly, drinks, napkins, maybe chips – all in that styrofoam or red cooler – classic 50 years ago. We travelled inexpensively then – often starting early and sometimes brought pillows to rest. I remember fractions of these times but with these things vivid. So with delight I saw many travelling kids this past holiday weekend, even a similar scene last Sunday at a park with kids eating snacks, sitting in a hatchback. Plus the car next to me at the gas station had their hatchback open, a little boy enjoying a snack. These are the memories in the making. I smiled and he smiled back – the whole thing made me happy. Home is where the Joy is.

I can not understand how the Lord knows everything about us – when we don’t even remember a fraction. I know that the Lord IS God and we are not. I know that it is not faded in memories that He suffers when forgiving our sins – it is like a solid coat of His blood that washes us over – cleans us up – and restores us to pure. It is not faded memories but the KNOWLEDGE of whom we SHOULD be – CAN be – ARE – when viewed by the wholeness that He brings us.

I think that we are not judged by God for faded glory – but judged by God to restore us to WHOLE – to all colors of our beings by Jesus adding His restoration touch.

I also believe that He already knows what type of sandwich we like and He has that in that trunk of His in Heaven – the banquet table where we feast WITH Him – oh what an adventure THAT will be…

Amen

From Psalm 139 of David:

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

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

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God!

It was the fresh memory of my neighbor’s chimney fire the previous week which sparked my actions without second guessing to help my troop leader with the smoldering ashes from the fireplace, it wasn’t a big thing to do, but it had to be dealt with. We leave the place better than we came. Plus it was a great use of leftover lemonade anyway. A double plus was the best “cartoon character” of the weekend: the Smokey the Bear massive sign, which I passed 6 times during this camping trip. It was invaluable to remind me and teach new campers that you don’t leave things to chance. “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires” !!! Yup!

And plus plus plus, the girls were watching, they learn by watching. So even though I thought we could go hiking one more time, I found myself digging through a trash bag of plastic spoons, uneaten French Fries, plates, and the occasional lump of blackened coal/wood, cooled down in a soup of lemonade. Yeah, the ashes thought to be cool were not. No, not a problem to dive in, cleanest trash I think I ever picked through (and you know I love trash picking). There was thinking time, since we were safely outside, so I had grabbed old reuse of reuse big aluminum trays from my car, the type from sterno use and we dumped the trash into those to douse with lemonade (the girls said ‘where did she get the tray?’, ‘she’s science debbie, that’s why she has them’… funny…well at least they didn’t call me trash picking debbie…  But there’s treasure in that trash! 

Teaching moments!  Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Realizing a teaching moment, I paused holding a carbon ash chunk at the end to explain that wood burns back to carbon chunks. In other situations, diamonds also come from carbon, carbon that is stressed, pressured, compressed and made of the same molecules just realigned. The scouts looked at me weird, but that’s normal, and I’m serious, there’s diamonds in the rough of every moment we have on earth. The teaching moments alone, me and our troop leader saying we aren’t worried about trash sifting, we aren’t worried about getting dirty (especially knowing that at home the shower, the washing machine is awaiting), and that we aren’t afraid to look at a situation for its advantages over disadvantages. (Just wash your hands later!)

That’s looking for DIAMOND DAYS, diamond moments, in the rough, awaiting to be dug into. Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust. Burnt charcoal-ed in life, even the worst days in our lives can be found looking for the support of the treasure of the Lord. Even completely taken down here on earth we are renewed in.Heaven to meet our Savior Jesus who covers us white as snow… 

Our Lord God realigns our dust into wonderfully made creations, then we become dust again. God makes us His Valentines. We celebrate and remember that He loves every piece of our dust, even if we are humanly crumbled on earth.

Time is short, on earth, at camp, in life, so let us make the best of every diamond moment. 

Smiling in the coal is life’s goal. Dig for those Diamond Day moments everyday!

Amen 

—

Psalm 139 Of David

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

Where can I go from your Spirit. Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn,  if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

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

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

—-

Genesis 3:17-19 (The fallout from the fall.)

To Adam God said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ – “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Find PEACE, Move Thru Your Mountain, #576, 04Aug2018

I’m in a more peaceful spot, I’m back to reading my Michael Card “Imagination series” on the gospels – Mark 11 – that classic scripture of “Have faith in God – I assure you if anyone says to this mountain: ‘be lifted up and thrown into the sea’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen it will be done for him… therefore I tell you all things you pray and ask for – BELIEVE that you have received them and you will have them… and whenever you stand praying if you have anything against anyone forgive him so that your father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing…. But if you don’t forgive neither will your father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing.”

Michael Card reminds us that it’s a lesson on believing in personal prayer and focusing on forgiveness… Jesus said forgive. We can’t go anywhere or get over any mountain if first we don’t forgive others.

It’s summer, its variable hot weather, I know it’s going to be cold again way too soon… so I need to enjoy today before it goes away… my prayer today includes some healing of my hustle and bustle life – ask the Lord to forgive my preoccupation with myself – my prayer is to pause in prayer…

I long for the feeling of camping… Yet what am I longing for that I don’t already have? The freedom of not worrying, of leaving it all behind? Don’t I have that in Christ, ALREADY? I do but I forget that ALL THE TIME!… I pray for the freedom of being back in a place of nature and harmony with the world, of sitting quietly. Don’t I have that now? I do if I actually stop blocking my own PEACE… So will I achieve it? Christ says that I can.

It is quiet in my house at 6am, and I can open windows,  I have a window of opportunity for knowing peace… I can be quiet and listen to the morning birds, I can “Be Still” and hear the rustling of life moving… it’s just started raining, now pouring, the birds even hush…  my house can be considered a big tent… If I think in peace, then can I find peace and harmony inside my own tent? Can I move my mountains blocking my own peace? 

Yes, I can move myself into PEACE.

Yes. I can Be Still and pray to not miss witnessing the peace that’s already here… I can pray to God to forgive my own mountain that blocks His peace… I have obstacles, yet I know they are nothing that God can’t handle… He already knows that He can handle them, and He is, so can I remember to rely on Him?

Christ assured us that we can move mountains, He was standing on a mountain when He said that, and then He moved – moved forward on foot – moved forward in the plan… So, in our prayers we are to believe that we have already obtained what we are praying for… then we have to move thru that plan too.

We can overcome obstacles by prayer, we can let God handle the obstacles for us.  We can believe in what God has ALREADY done… we can pray for God to forgive our doubtfulness in His plan… then get over ourselves, and move forward… we still have to walk over and thru the plan…

My Prayer:

Do I believe in God? I do.

I believe I ALREADY have seen His faithfulness in me.

Do I believe in Christ? I do. I can learn His ways and I do believe in His power…

Can I move a mountain? Not without Him. Has He already moved mountains for me? Oh yeah….

Will He move the next one? Believe in His power and watch what happens…

Will we be required to work thru our mountains? Of course.

Is there peace to be found? YES. I believe in His PEACE, do you?

I believe that you believe too. Thank you for believing too.

Amen

Sledgehammer, 24OCT

Beginning again… Beginning fresh each day… New or Renewing faith… Paying attention is key to the renewing of one’s calling from the Lord to follow Him… Oh, there are MANY doors wide open, quite a few cracked open… Perhaps too many doors it seems for us to choose from…
Perhaps we are perplexed at the array of opportunities to share our faith – which door to enter first? Step away from some as others also seem to pull on us? Select certain times in each? So many opportunities to share the Good News – so little time… So now what?
What if instead of dilemmas and separate directions, God chooses us to look for a plan – His plan – a plan that doesn’t exclude opportunities… Proceed with wisdom, look for God’s guidance, listen…
Perhaps there are tools already laid out in front of us, which we ourselves must take action with… Perhaps these tools include a sledgehammer and a chisel…

What if so many doors are open because it’s our job to knock some holes into the walls between those rooms – what if it’s our job to connect the rooms…

Sledgehammer?… well, maybe test the wall first and use a small chisel and a listening device and start digging, poking, aerating, and then decide whether the situation is ready for a sledgehammer… Perhaps others will join you on both sides and hand break away the barriers… Let God’s plan drive the process… He’s the one with the big picture plan.

I’m talking about combining different areas of your life callings and making less barriers and more common spaces between situations… Can you think of any rooms within in your life callings? Sharing faith at work, or in school situations, or in public – like the hallway of a medical building? With a crowd of scared kids on a camping trip – telling them angels are watching over them? Or ordering a bagel and chiming into the conversation behind you where this guy says to the hysterical women in the other end: “Give it to Jesus…” then when you agree and call out to him in line, he hands you the phone and you also try to calm the distraught woman….. “Give it to Jesus”… Opportunities… Sharing… It’s about being aware in the present…

Grab your sledgehammer, see how the light peaks thru the holes?.., these walls disappear and the global church connects where it didn’t before… Then hands are free to join across the barriers… The voices too…
Jesus gives you the tools, so that you can find the way… “It is in your power to act”. The way is sharing in new ways… The way of the Lord is the way of wisdom.

Open the walls… Let the barriers fall… Pray for wisdom…
Pray for the wholeness of God’s children.
Pray.
——–

Proverbs 4:5-7 Get wisdom, get understanding;  do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;  love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Proverbs 9:10-11  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

Proverbs 3:13-14, 19-22, 26-27  Blessed are those who find wisdom those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold… By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place… by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,  preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, …. for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.  Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.

Michael Card lyrics:

The Way of Wisdom starts out
With a step of holy fear
And it makes its way alone
By every good word that you hear
It has to do with passion
And it has to do with pain
It has to do with One
Who has both died and rose again

I have a backlog of writings in my head from being “off the grid”, this is the first stemming from retreating to an AMAZING event, the Walk to Emmaus, I would encourage you to think about joining a walk sometime, I was BLESSED to get to know yet another great faith family that wrapped their love around me! And yet another array of pairing of fellow disciples called to work out in the messy world.

This writing topic had to wait in my head, but God found the right opportunity to get it back out, while I was quiet, 6am camping…

—–

It’s a Messy World, 21OCT 2017, #494

Bear!!! I’ve not felt that level of fear in quite a while…

Bear!!! My friends and I saw him at the same time that he saw us, he was just wandering like a deer would, apparently accustomed to our voices, probably smelled the smores, actually going for the bread the neighbor left out for him (oh!)… We were close enough to see his face… And he saw ours…. My fear couldn’t have been more real. My whole brain focused on “how do I get to that porch?” – he watched us – I envisioned him charging at us – but no, he went the opposite way – he ran scared too… I got to the porch of the cabin – Thank the Lord! But, then I didn’t want to leave the porch – even though I really wanted to get back to the campfire – but oh the fear…. it was a big bear! A real bear!

None of us at my friend’s cabin for girls’ weekend had been that close to this bear before, but I’m told he’s a regular traveler to the yard… Yeah crazy… The balance of co-existence, always a trade off for being in bear territory but a rare opportunity to stand around a campfire with the girls, it was a blessed escape off the grid, making new memories and decompressing life…

It’s a messy world... There are many tradeoffs for living in the world that we endure while we move thru life, but this particular event was also a reminder of the balance of living in the natural world, a world which could get dangerous… Bears are native and repopulating this and many regions. They were part of the natural balance of the woods before we, as industrial Americans, starting taking over every postage stamp-sized parcel for “safer” living, and we as Americans have both over-gleaned the natural resources and “sanitized” the heck out of life…

It’s actually amazing that bears can return to our wooded areas, just like there also are gators in Florida backyards, we barely remember that our ancestors lived in respectful fear of the natural world – with many more of these beautiful creatures…. They also maintained knowledge of what plants to NOT eat, they had to think about survival too, we don’t really experience that level of survivorship…Essentially the world, the natural world, was a messy world…

A week ago, I had another treat of a camp scene… a blessed time away, as a pilgrim at the Walk to Emmaus retreat. A series of faith education talks over multiple days of being with God, focusing on His love, His plan for everyone, His plan for us. Three days I was blessed to be able to be phone free, time management free, and embraced by a new layer of supporting fellow travelers. We are called to be disciples – we are travelers on this journey of faith and sharing – where do we start? – what do we bring? – who will we meet? The retreat was blessed time but really a regrouping to re-enter the world as disciples… Yes pilgrims on continued voyages thru the world… a world that we are “in” but not “of”… (John 16:17)

It’s a messy world.

The first series of the presentations stuck with me all weekend, and probably forever, yes, reminding us that “it’s a messy world” but we are called to be disciples in this messy world.  Jesus came during a messiest of messy time – we should remember that ours is not necessarily messier, it is just different messy – killings, devastating poverty, human trafficking, serious afflictions from substance abuse to fatal diseases taking their toll…. Whew…. Jealousy, greed, hate and probably the most insidious of ancient and modern-day plagues: APATHY… Whew… Isn’t that also one of the hardest affronts to overcome? Yes, APATHY… It’s a messy world. Many choose to ignore as much as possible rather than work for better life for all…

We are pilgrims – we are disciples – we are called to serve – to spread the Good News… How will we enter this world everyday – what are we going to do about our own attitudes, our history, our baggage, our self-serving drives? How will we accept our commissions?

Jesus said: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

And Jesus knew that even He was not taken seriously in His hometown, they all had to hit the road:

Jesus said: “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home. He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” Mark 6:4-11

Did the disciples have fear? Do we? How will we keep continuing to step out into this messy world of ours? – how we will remember to not let it paralyze us? – how will we put all our life concerns into a global perspective? Surely we will pray and try to obey. One step at a time…

We cannot and should not sugar coat the world just to live above the fray. We are continually called to remember to pick up the phone…  Jesus is calling, He says “Follow me”. We are to step out in faith and bring a friend. What’s your plan?

Bear! I was frozen in fright, but I had a plan, I was focused on getting to the porch and instinctually (although foolishly) thought about out-running that bear, but I knew to go slow. The others simply waved their hands – oh and they tried to grab their phones LOL – and he ran off – whew – safe for now – they returned to the campfire quickly…. I wanted too as well, but it took me a bit longer to be brave – to get off the porch – but I did – and I became ever vigilant for the bears return… I learned new fear and courage, I faced a fear that didn’t disappear by sugar coating it. And then as a team we all watched each other’s backs… As we should – for bears while camping as well as for the pitfalls of life…

Jesus needs us to walk with Him, He’s forever here with us as He gave us the Holy Spirit to be another guide “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.” John 14:16

But we have to get off the porch…  It’s imperative that we grab for Him, pick up our tools (which are our God-given gifts of talents) and then use our skills and take our crosses to bear, and keep moving… We acknowledge the weight bearing we must take on for our mission, the directions known and unknown… And those bears of the world’s problems we are called to face… And we step out in faith…

Perspective – it’s crucial to remember the scale of our problems (and maybe they are or aren’t as horrible as we think when we put them into perspective)… We think of the scale of our more unfortunate neighbor’s problems, the world’s problems, and God’s problem… God’s problem is that not everyone knows Him or knows of HIS love… We are called to work on His solution, suspend our agendas and work on His… called as disciples to step out into the messy world with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit…

The fear understandable, the commission great, the world messy…

God does not call the equipped but He does equip the called…

Go with God. God bless you fellow disciples.

Amen

I may have the agility of a mid-80’s teen playing video games like I was in the arcades, but that built upon 70’s and 80’s pinball playing – gaining much agility and knowing timing with the much waiting for the right flip of the flipper. And so, let me mention those flyswatter battles growing up, wow – I learned timing and severe strikes. Splatttttt! Flies are annoying, sorry Lord as I know you made them too. Did you make them to annoying? We are just in a broken world.

The severity of Splatttt now has been traded in for a much more ‘efficient’ action with handheld vacuuming which leaves no residue – and this is the heroic effort of mine to calm these city kids of mine, who didn’t master the swatting techniques like I did. We were getting a new flyswatter every year at every agricultural or state fair. Of course it was entertaining as we swatted flies at the farm house, and oh yeah, sure, we got tired of swatting unsuccessfully – but we TIRED of the flies even more.

A clear ‘TIRING’ of a bigger situation was the TIRING that the Lord had for the TYRE situation – whose battle warriors were continually like flies drawn to the rotting of the situation of wayward Israelites wandering jusr as bad as in Moses’s time. Tyre said “AHA” when they saw the teardown of the Lord’s set aside special place of Jerusalem. And did the Lord get the small flyswatter out against Tyre? NO – he brought in the “big bazooka guns” (well swords) from King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, against Tyre. BOOM! 

“I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

“you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’”

The Lord once again showing that He knows all that goes on and goes down – and that He is Sovereign. 

There will be more takedowns and a vacuum to clean up the mess – but for now, Ezekiel is simply in this phase of proclamations against those against listening to Him.

Let us NEVER tire of listening to God.

Amen

—

Ezekiel 26-27 NKJV

In the eleventh month of the twelfth year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’ therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves. They will destroy the walls of Tyre and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock. Out in the sea she will become a place to spread fishnets, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord. She will become plunder for the nations, and her settlements on the mainland will be ravaged by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: From the north I am going to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army. He will ravage your settlements on the mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp up to your walls and raise his shields against you. He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons. His horses will be so many that they will cover you with dust. Your walls will tremble at the noise of the warhorses, wagons and chariots when he enters your gates as men enter a city whose walls have been broken through. The hooves of his horses will trample all your streets; he will kill your people with the sword, and your strong pillars will fall to the ground. They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea. I will put an end to your noisy songs, and the music of your harps will be heard no more. I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread fishnets. You will never be rebuilt, for I the Lord have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Tyre: Will not the coastlands tremble at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan and the slaughter takes place in you? Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled at you. Then they will take up a lament concerning you and say to you:

“‘How you are destroyed, city of renown, peopled by men of the sea! You were a power on the seas, you and your citizens; you put your terror on all who lived there. Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your fall; the islands in the sea are terrified at your collapse.’

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths over you and its vast waters cover you, then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place in the land of the living. I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

A Lament Over Tyre
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre. Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘You say, Tyre, “I am perfect in beauty.” Your domain was on the high seas; your builders brought your beauty to perfection. They made all your timbers of juniper from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you. Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; of cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck, adorned with ivory. Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail and served as your banner; your awnings were of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah. Men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen; your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your ailors. Veteran craftsmen of Byblos were on board as shipwrights to caulk your seams. All the ships of the sea and their sailors came alongside to trade for your wares.

“‘Men of Persia, Lydia and Put served as soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields and helmets on your walls, bringing you splendor. Men of Arvad and Helek guarded your walls on every side; men of Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls; they brought your beauty to perfection.

“‘Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

“‘Greece, Tubal and Meshek did business with you; they traded human beings and articles of bronze for your wares.

“‘Men of Beth Togarmah exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.

“‘The men of Rhodes traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.

“‘Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.

“‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, olive oil and balm for your wares.

“‘Damascus did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods. They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar and casks of wine from Izal in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia and calamus.

“‘Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.

“‘Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

“‘The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.

“‘Harran, Kanneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Ashur and Kilmad traded with you. In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.

“‘The ships of Tarshish serve as carriers for your wares. You are filled with heavy cargo as you sail the sea. Your oarsmen take you out to the high seas. But the east wind will break you to pieces far out at sea. Your wealth, merchandise and wares, your mariners, sailors and shipwrights, your merchants and all your soldiers, and everyone else on board will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your shipwreck.  The shorelands will quake when your sailors cry out. All who handle the oars will abandon their ships; the mariners and all the sailors will stand on the shore. They will raise their voice and cry bitterly over you; they will sprinkle dust on their heads and roll in ashes. They will shave their heads because of you and will put on sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and with bitter mourning. As they wail and mourn over you, they will take up a lament concerning you: “Who was ever silenced like Tyre, surrounded by the sea?” When your merchandise went out on the seas, you satisfied many nations; with your great wealth and your wares you enriched the kings of the earth. Now you are shattered by the sea in the depths of the waters; your wares and all your company have gone down with you. All who live in the coastlands are appalled at you; their kings shudder with horror and their faces are distorted with fear. The merchants among the nations scoff at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’”