Psalm 28 ~ hear the voice of my pleas for mercy

Psalm 28

1 To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary. [ your innermost sanctuary]

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people; [is their strength]
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

The Lord is the strength of his people; He is the saving refuge of His anointed.

We have such a great hope in Jesus Christ, only Son of God, the Most Almighty. When we accept Jesus to live in us as the Holy Spirit, we are building the Kingdom of God.

There will be those who will not be built up. The Scriptures say so from Genesis all the way to Revelation. What greater hope is there, for those we know who are not building up the Kingdom of God other than Jesus Christ himself?

1 Samuel 12:23
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way.

Father God, You hear our prayers, You listen in love. We will continue to pray and know You are our hope always. In Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Psalm 48:2-8 ~ ships of Tarshish

Psalm 48:2-8 ~ (Revised Standard Version)
[2] beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
[3] Within her citadels God has shown himself a sure defense.
[4] For lo, the kings assembled, they came on together.
[5] As soon as they saw it, they were astounded, they were in panic,
they took to flight;
[6] trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in travail.
[7] By the east wind thou didst shatter the ships of Tarshish.
[8] As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes for ever. [Selah]



Isaiah 2:12-20
12 For the Lord of hosts has a day
against all that is proud and lofty,
against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;
13 against all the cedars of Lebanon,
lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan;
14 against all the lofty mountains,
and against all the uplifted hills;
15 against every high tower, and against every fortified wall;
16 against all the ships of Tarshish,
and against all the beautiful craft.
17 And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled,
and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low,
and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

Yesterday we discussed Job, Isaiah and spiritual voyages. We looked for God to uplift us in troubled times and talked about how Jesus spoke of Heaven as growing from a seed into a beautiful tree. Spiritual voyages looking for the Lord in earnestness, will always end in God's grace and salvation.

In another era, we might not be able to believe what the Holy Spirit wrote about the destruction of a port or a fleet of ships. God tells us not all will be built up. We could imagine it when we think of the city of New Orleans - 2 hurricanes and now a spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Yet really, this is not what this speaks of.

New Orleans wouldn't have to be hit numerous times, if it was God's punishment. God is at work, but this isn't His retribution.

Nahum 1:9
What do you plot against the LORD?
He will make a complete end;
trouble will not rise up a second time.

The ships of Tarshish are struck only once by God's hand. The destruction worked so well, we know only Tarshish was on the Mediterranean. The ships of Tarshish are an analogy. What man sees as a sure thing, as enduring, God does not. God protects Jerusalem time and time again:

Exodus 14:30
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

Joshua 6:20
When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.

1 Samuel 7-10
While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.

2 Kings 6:18
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.

Judges 7:22
When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Mehol

2 Kings:42-44
⁴² A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. "Give it to the people to eat," Elisha said.

⁴³ "How can I set this before a hundred men?" his servant asked.
But Elisha answered, "Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the LORD says: 'They will eat and have some left over.' " ⁴⁴ Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

2 Samuel 5:23-25
so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. ²⁴ As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." ²⁵ So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

2 King 20:4-6
Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: ⁵ "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. ⁶ I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.' "

Luke 7:12-18
12As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. ¹³When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry."

¹⁴Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" ¹⁵The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

¹⁶They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people."


We look to you Father God, for Your blessings. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Job 24:1-8 ~ His days

Job 24:1-8

1 “Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty,
and why do those who know him never see his days?
2 Some move landmarks;
they seize flocks and pasture them.
3 They drive away the donkey of the fatherless;
they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4 They thrust the poor off the road;
the poor of the earth all hide themselves.
5 Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert
the poor [they] go out to their toil, seeking game;
the wasteland yields food for their children.
6 They gather their [his] fodder in the field,
and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man.
7 They lie all night naked, without clothing,
and have no covering in the cold.
8 They are wet with the rain of the mountains
and cling to the rock for lack of shelter.

Isaiah 1:11-17

11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of well-fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs, or of goats.

12 “When you come to appear before me,
who has required of you
this trampling of my courts?
13 Bring no more vain offerings;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts
my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
17 learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow's cause.

What did Job and Isaiah have in common? Obviously God. These are not the Glory of God stories were God Triumphs..... immediately. These are the biblical histories of people having a tough time of it - struggling. Job famous for feeling - condemned and pressed by his problems. Isaiah, the prophet, was called on for 4 decades and 4 kings, to solve Judah's problems of oppression & war from large and small foreign neighbors/governments/kingdoms.

Job had renewal/regeneration and new hope. When Judah listened to Isaiah, there was peace. Job considered God a lot, but God wasn't looking for "consideration." During Judah's difficulties, the sacrifices were offered daily, the grain offerings and bread of the presence were ready. God was not looking for the "I follow the steps of worship, now bless me, God." God was looking for us to look beyond ourselves. God hears a lot about what we want in prayer. God wants to look at our lives and see people not foraging for the best seat, the best place, the coronet of "perfect life". God wants our hearts to be filled for other people, to care about other's well being. One of the reason's Job's life was renewed, he was able to care for others. It led him to be able to understand God is greater than Job's opinions and problems. It led him to the heart and soul and love and worship of God.

Rarely in Scripture does a miracle occur immediately, with God all things are possible, yet just as Job had steps in his spiritual voyage, Judah had steps during Isaiah's mighty Spirit filled time. It isn't a limitation of the power of God, it is growth like Jesus told us.

Matthew 13:31-32
He put another parable before them, saying, ““The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

Matthew 22:37-39
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Father God, each voyage begins with a footstep from our home, help us to be willing to leave our own interests to help others. In the name of Jesus, who loves us, Amen.

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Joshua 1 ~ and Joshua commanded

Sea of Galilee

Joshua 1

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

10 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’”

12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13 “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, 15 until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

16 And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses! 18 Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

In Aramaic & Hebrew, the name Jesus is "Yeshua". Jesus was probably called "Yeshua". Joshua is “Yehoshua”, in Hebrew - Aramaic. Jesus and Joshua in English. Similar names. In Greek, both names are “Iesous”. Joshua stands as the shepherd to Israel in this chapter. Like Jesus.

Joshua is told turn neither to the right or the left. Jesus was proclaimed to be the straight path to the Lord. Joshua, as shepherd of Israel, is to lead the way, the truth and the light. We should honor the advice given to Joshua, Jesus puts us as light being fed by His Holy Spirit, dwelling in us. We should all realize - we are called to be like Joshua - a light to the world. God's people are called to believe and act on the promises of the LORD. Our light brightens the dark parts of life. We have been called by God, God is with us wherever we may go.

Father God, be our guide and we will turn neither to the right nor the left. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Mark 1:14-28 ~ Quiet

Mark 1:14-28 ~ (New American Bible)

14

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:

15

"This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

16

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen.

17

Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

18

Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.

19

He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets.

20

Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

21

Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.

22

The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

23

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;

24

he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

25

Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!"

26

The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.

27

All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him."

28

His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

When people try to tell each other about a conversation, they frequently say - "it was the way it was said."

So, what lesson did Jesus teach..... no message was given. What persuasion did Jesus use to the apostles to get up & change their lives... no message was given. Why was Jesus allowed to teach in the synagogue in Capernaum? He got up and taught.

The scribes would have been culturally (no women, no invalids, no non-Jews), ethically (blind guide to Scripture acknowledging non-Jews, their heart was far from God while giving man-made rules), religiously (allow Herod to dictate priest position), politically correct (not mention Herod's adultery) challenged. The Essenes believed the status quo had smothered the Spirit.

What we learn from this passage. Jesus had authority. Not just any authority, or another authority, but his fame spread because of His authority. Jesus acted as God.

Father God, help us to give you our hearts. Let words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our rock and redeemer. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Psalm 17 ~ keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings

Wilderness, painted by Ron di Cianni

Psalm 17

1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
2 From your presence let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!

3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,
you have tested me, and you will find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who do me violence,
my deadly enemies who surround me.

10 They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11 They have now surrounded our steps;
they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.
12 He is like a lion eager to tear,
as a young lion lurking in ambush.

13 Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14 from men by your hand, O Lord,
from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
You fill their womb with treasure;
they are satisfied with children,
and they leave their abundance to their infants.

15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

In our early years of marriage, with 2 young children, one of our treats was a rental movie. We lived in Dallas, at the time, and I had to return the rental movie that night. I was worried, it was night & my mom had always taught me females should be cautious at night. I began to pray for a parking place in front of the door. There was - I was so pleased, the rental place was located right off of a major highway. That very evening, a young nurse was taken from that parking lot after visiting the book store, next to the movie rental place. Her Blazer, truck, was found with a receipt in it from the bookstore, the news reports listed it as being at 9:15 - about the same time I was in the parking lot. Her blood was all over the vehicle, causing the driver to be pulled over by the police. Her body was later discovered in the Trinity River. Her murderer was tried and convicted.

My maternal grandmother was a prayer warrior - a believing Christian. Her worst vice was the perpetual worry in her life. If she heard I was sailing on a sunfish, she would call and ask me to stay home. She just knew I would drown. I have been worried about going out at night ever since I wasn't taken from that parking lot. Great reward to the Lord for His protection.

David had a lot to worry about. If Saul wasn't trying to kill him, other countries were raiding his band of followers- they would not only steal, but kidnap women and children. As a child, he was a shepherd in a region where there were lions and all types of dangers. We all have different types of dangers in life. David prayed about his fears and went on with his life, this Psalm is a prayer.

So many times when life has fear, we can read the Word and rely upon it. To remember the Scripture, Jesus asleep upon the cushions in the middle of the storm. We let the Word of God carry us like that ship.

Jesus Asleep in the Boat during Storm, painted by James Tissot

Mark 4:37-40
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Be with us Father God when we have fear, You are a God who has walked among us and lived our human state. Help us to leave our fears with You, to act with wisdom and live the courage David lived. We always ask for Your protection. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Psalm 80:1-3,14-15 ~ Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine

John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Galatians 5:22-23
Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law

The botanical truth is that grapevines live 50 to 70 years depending on their variety. At age 3, they begin to provide fruit, as the grapevines age, they diminish - not producing as much fruit.

Rita Lotti was born in 1381 in Roccaporena, Italy. In the Province of Umbria, Italy. Rita had an amazing and difficult life. Thwarted Christian desires, poverty, arranged marriage, violence, murder and sarcasm from her sisters after she was amazingly allowed to join a convent in middle age, without a dowry.

Perhaps a little art history would reveal how long ago, she was born. The Convent, Saint Mary Magdalene at Cascia - has art from the era at the door:


Due to her age, the convent did not want her. A miracle foisted Rita upon them. So Rita was given a dead stick to water and care for. And plant the stick she did – and watered it every day for a year. Then the “stick” put forth leaves and became the most beautiful and bountiful grape vine in the convent garden. Today, almost 600 years later, that same grape vine remains bountiful and beautiful. Every year some of these grapes are sent to the Pope and used, today, for communion in the area were Rita lived 629 years ago.

A 600 year old grapevine, planted by Rita is a live today. The only other grapevine in the world to even come close to this amazing miracle is 400 years old and located in Yarra, Slovenia. Perhaps it would be a good time to tell you, Rita's Roses are also still alive and bloom in the garden. Yes, you know it, this woman is a Saint. Saint Rita of Cascia. Link - to her live of devotion and the fruit still alive today. Rita's life is too amazing to believe, but the proof is still alive. If you still feel a little sceptically, you can google the photos from the vine in Yarra, Slovenia and you will know Rita's vine is the real deal.

Rita's Grapevine grows from under her window and covers the convent.

Psalm 80:1-3

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
and come to save us!

3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Psalm 80:14-15

14 Turn again, O God of hosts!
Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
15 the stock that your right hand planted,
and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.

Remember yesterday we looked at David's Holy Spirit inspired Psalm 119. David, Joseph (v. 1) and Rita had something in common. Not just the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, but their lives held the actions & power of God.

1. Believed God specifically created them to live within His plan.
2. Believed in the success of their godly desires/lives, with insurmountable circumstances against them.
3. Wanted to give God's love, to shepherd the people around them. Give love and care.


Father God, each day, we put our hands out to You. Give us Your love to do the plan for us. In the power, love and glory of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Psalm 119:73-80 ~ turn to me

Psalm 119:73-80

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame!

Psalm 119:73-80 ~ (The Message)

With your very own hands you formed me; now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you. When they see me waiting, expecting your Word, those who fear you will take heart and be glad. I can see now, God, that your decisions are right; your testing has taught me what's true and right.Oh, love me - and right now! - hold me tight! just the way you promised. Now comfort me so I can live, really live; your revelation is the tune I dance to. Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds; they tried to sell me a bill of goods, but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel. Let those who fear you turn to me for evidence of your wise guidance. And let me live whole and holy, soul and body, so I can always walk with my head held high.

There is a self-centeredness to these verses of Psalm 119. And I like it. So many times we fall short of the holiness pleasing to God, and it happens because we believe we never measure up - never measure up - and so why not give up and give in to what we want...

Where did David get his moxie? His mojo? Why could he pray with such confidence to get the Almighty's attention?

David had the full power of the Holy Spirit - He believed:

1. God made him; specifically made him as part of God's plan.

2. Believes in success as the result, because he relies upon God and God's glory.

3. Believes hardship would happen, also part of God's plan, to provide strength, endurance, learning.

4. Believes comfort from God is a promise, looks for it.

5. Believes his decision to follow God makes him an example to teach, comfort others around him.

6. Believes the responsibilities are beyond his own skill level, asks God for help in righteousness. (Renew a right Spirit within me!)

Too many times we feel not perfect enough. Humility is part of loving the Lord, but humility doesn't give in to wallowing in self-centered, false meekness. Humility levels the playing field and asks mercy of our behavior. David had a job to do, a life to lead and he plunged ahead looking at what God had to say.

Psalm 139:13-16
13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.


Father God, let us unshackle doubt and despair to look with real faith at the promises & gifts You've given us. We want Your help to accomplish the plans You have for our lives. In the highest name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Psalm 82 ~ rescue the weak and the needy

Psalm 82

1 God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I said, “You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,
and fall like any prince.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!

Jesus said there would be days like this:

Matthew 9:37
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few


When the waters are deeper than we like, O Lord, be with us, guide us and lead us. For the glory of your son, Jesus' name. Amen.

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Jeremiah 6:10-19 ~ look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it

Jeremiah 6:10-19

10 To whom shall I speak and give warning,
that they may hear?
Behold, their ears are uncircumcised,
they cannot listen;
behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn;
they take no pleasure in it.
11 Therefore I am full of the wrath of the Lord;
I am weary of holding it in.
“Pour it out upon the children in the street,
and upon the gatherings of young men, also;
both husband and wife shall be taken,
the elderly and the very aged.
12 Their houses shall be turned over to others,
their fields and wives together,
for I will stretch out my hand
against the inhabitants of the land,”
declares the Lord.
13 “For from the least to the greatest of them,
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
and from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
14 They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
15 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
No, they were not at all ashamed;
they did not know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,”
says the Lord.

16 Thus says the Lord:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I set watchmen over you, saying,
‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’
18 Therefore hear, O nations,
and know, O congregation, what will happen to them.
19 Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people,
the fruit of their devices,
because they have not paid attention to my words;
and as for my law, they have rejected it.

So what part of the world are you from? I'm from Texas, we currently have the oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico and we've just had our first hurricane of the season. Texas is in recovery, in the larger cities, from the housing price fall. New homes aren't being build much. Maybe you are from New York and felt the 5.5 earthquake in Canada recently? The cars in front of our house, guests, were burglarized during my son's birthday party in our neighborhood which had no crime 5 years ago. We now have the first named "B" storm coming up in the Gulf.

Or maybe you are from Wadena, Minnesota where they had multiple tornadoes? Some were F-4. After the tornadoes went by, the churches were packed and overflowing. Why? Incredible devastation, but so many destroyed places had one thing still standing - the cross. Where a cross had been placed, the tornado left the place where the cross stood. So many places were utterly ruined, but no lives were lost.

Friday, before our Independence Holiday, Americans experienced the 11th day of the fall of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange - the recovery can't be predicted to be on when unemployment isn't showing improvement. Illinois' news is their new financial crisis. Hard to believe the state, where Chicago pulls people along, has trouble.

And war, we have two. Were you for them or against them when we last voted? Boys who have played hide & seek at my house (and video war games) have gone from our neighborhood and now are far away, looking to promote peace, really. One of the finest examples of good men, his body now resides in the Houston National Cemetery. He was 20 when he gave up his leave to his buddy to go home instead and see the buddy's newborn baby. But he is at home now, really. And there will be a fine homecoming for us all.

These are troubled times. Yet I believe. I believe God is still there for us. I am comforted our sons' fallen childhood friend - his family still prays for our country and has hope.

I am seeing yard signs around the United States asking us to pray for our country. I am so pleased. Aren't you. Let me also confess, I am glad because then I remember to pray.

I spent time really being interested in politics (moderate Republican), but really decided, when Isabelle was discovered to be so ill, that it doesn't matter a lot. We can have opinions and definitely vote, but it's too large an animal for our opinions to matter. I am for the middle class. Middle class for everyone - the right to work and be rewarded, the right to believe what we do matters to God and to each other. I am for our country to have good public schools, reasonable college costs, a health care system that people with grave illnesses approve of. Taxation needs to be fair to all classes.

Wouldn't it be great if we could respect each other (even politically again), be polite, defy false email campaigns and agree that majority rules without oppressing the minority opinion??? United we should stand in remembering there is NO place like home.

The soldier in the photo above? It is all of us, we are warriors when we pray:

1 Samuel 12:23
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way

James 4:2
You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not.

1 Thessalonians 5:7
pray without ceasing

Luke 18:1
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.


Abba, bless the people who put out the signs asking us to pray for our country. Abba, thank You we live in a country where we can put these signs out. Abba, have mercy on us, draw us to You and bless us, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Job 19:25-27 ~ my Redeemer lives!

Job 19:25-27

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!


1 Peter 1:6,7
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.


1 Peter 5:7
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.


Jeremiah 17:7,8
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Luke 17:21
nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

3 John 1:2
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

Genesis 21:22b
God is with you in all that you do.

Isaiah 49:13
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.

1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Blessed be God Almighty, His Word goes out and never returns empty. Blessed be Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

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Amos 8 ~ searching for the Word of the Lord

Movie, "The Book of Eli" - Denzel Washington

Amos 8:4-12 ~ (New International Version)

- Audio Link to Amos 8

⁴ Hear this, you who trample the needy
and do away with the poor of the land,

⁵ saying,
"When will the New Moon be over
that we may sell grain,
and the Sabbath be ended
that we may market wheat?"—
skimping the measure,
boosting the price
and cheating with dishonest scales,

⁶ buying the poor with silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals,
selling even the sweepings with the wheat.

⁷ The LORD has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: "I will never forget anything they have done.

⁸ "Will not the land tremble for this,
and all who live in it mourn?
The whole land will rise like the Nile;
it will be stirred up and then sink
like the river of Egypt.

⁹ "In that day," declares the Sovereign LORD,
"I will make the sun go down at noon
and darken the earth in broad daylight.

¹⁰ I will turn your religious feasts into mourning
and all your singing into weeping.
I will make all of you wear sackcloth
and shave your heads.
I will make that time like mourning for an only son
and the end of it like a bitter day.

¹¹ "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD,
"when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

¹² Men will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the LORD,
but they will not find it.

When we read the Book of Isaiah, it's never clear if it refers to yesterday, today or tomorrow. All of the books of Scripture have the same quality, the word of God is living and active. As Amos wrote, Israel & Judah were in peak form. The Temple of Solomon held up the traditions and the reading of God's word.

Amos, what a trouble maker... Amos sees the coming of the 2nd exile & end of Solomon's Temple, due to corruption. Amos sees the coming destruction of the 2nd Temple, not even built. Amos' timeless writings, the power of the Holy Spirit, see the Essenes leaving the 2nd Temple because Herod the Great, a Samaritan married to his brother's wife, rules the priesthood. Thirsty for the Word of God? What about a world ending the worst warfare century? The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls left from a time of hunger for God's Word, reach out and touch part of the world after another 2 millenniums.

Amos' writings cover "The Book of Eli", the movie. Just as Eli is in a destroyed desert world, so are the Essenes. Our first photo today is from the movie, the second from Qumran, the settlement recording the Bible before Christ. The same Bible, word for word, we read today, 2,000 years later.

People who don't know the Scriptures often say it was written by "the man" who wrote it & used it to control the masses. Read Amos. God isn't trying to control the masses, but to educate them about corruption or greed. God isn't interested in promoting selfish interest - God promotes fair trade.

"The Book of Eli" works because it's believable. Believable not only because it tells of portions of the future, but interesting because it has occurred again and again. Allowing something bigger than Hollywood, hope from 2 millenniums past bring the Word of the Lord to our lives.

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

The Essenes believed they had reached the time of Apocalypse, the world's Apocalypse, instead they had reached the time the Romans would end their lives and world. It was the Essenes' Apocalypse. But the Essenes reached out and touched the world more profoundly than they imagined. God works all things together for good, greater than man imagines or plans.

Help us each day, Father God, to work our lives to your purpose. In Jesus Christ's Holy name. Amen.

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Acts 10:24-48 ~ in the presence of God

Finding the Presence of God

Acts 10:24-48

24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, [3 p.m.] and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Acts 10, begins by telling us Cornelius:
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”

The Scriptures are not clear if Cornelius, a centurion, was the same centurion in whom his servant was healed & Jesus found the greatest faith in Israel, Matthew 8 & Luke 7. Both centurions were credited for generosity. I have to say, I always hoped so, for his faith to be so blessed.

This centurion fell at Peter's feet for the honor at a visit, in his home, from Jesus' rock.


Luke 7:2-9
The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, ⁵because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." ⁶So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. ⁷That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." ⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.

Matthew 8:13
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.

Linking the biblical narratives today is important. Many people travel just to feel the presence of God. The Centurions given the great honor of biblical memory makes an important point, just as nationality or place isn't important to the Lord, but faith is.

1 Kings 19:11-13
¹¹ The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"


Psalm 139
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.

Father God, always present with us, we rejoice in Your goodness. Amen.

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