Psalm 69 ~ the talk

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni created his David statue when he was 26 years old. It took him 2 years. Commissioned as one of a series of statues positioned along the roof line of the east end of the Florence Cathedral, the statue was instead placed in public, outside the Palazzo della Signoria, the seat of government for Florence. David symbolized to them the defense of their civil liberties, a city-state threatened on all sides by more powerful rival states.

What spirit is so empty and blind, that it cannot recognize the fact that the foot is more noble than the shoe, and skin more beautiful than the garment with which it is clothed? ~ Michelangelo

Do you know that women who are chaste remain much fresher than those who are not? ~ Michelangelo

Psalm 69

Listen - click for new tab, this is a good Scripture to listen to.

1 Save me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck [Or waters threaten my life ].
2 I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying out;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.

4 More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?
5 O God, you know my folly;
the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,
O Lord God of hosts;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,
O God of Israel.
7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
that dishonor has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my mother's sons.

9 For zeal for your house has consumed me,
and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
10 When I wept and humbled [Hebrew lacks and humbled ] my soul with fasting,
it became my reproach.
11 When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword to them.
12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate,
and the drunkards make songs about me.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
14 Deliver me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
15 Let not the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
17 Hide not your face from your servant;
for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies!

19 You know my reproach,
and my shame and my dishonor;
my foes are all known to you.
20 Reproaches have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none,
and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me poison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

22 Let their own table before them become a snare;
and when they are at peace, let it become a trap .
23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see,
and make their loins tremble continually.
24 Pour out your indignation upon them,
and let your burning anger overtake them.
25 May their camp be a desolation;
let no one dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom you have struck down,
and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.
27 Add to them punishment upon punishment;
may they have no acquittal from you [may they not come into your righteousness].
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;
let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

29 But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

30 I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32 When the humble see it they will be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33 For the Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. 35 For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; 36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

When David spoke with the Lord, what did the Lord God Almighty see?

1 Samuel 16:12-14
And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he."


1 Samuel 17:42
And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.


David didn't pretend to be holier than he actually was. One of the qualities the LORD loved about David.

1 Samuel 16: 7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

David sounds like we all do in the midst of bitterness. David was a warrior and completely capable of damage done in revenge. Instead David doesn't hide from the Lord, as Adam and Eve did in the garden of Eden; David believes His Father has a plan and His Father will deal with evil and evil doers as He sees fit.

David releases his bitterness to God so completely, David then moves into Praise. I believe if we were to see David head into our worship services on Sunday, as an analogy, he wouldn't be consumed throughout the whole service with David: David's problems, David's anger, David's bitterness. We would see David come into the Sanctuary a few minutes early. See him in intense prayer and then he would release his difficulties to God, just like Noah released the dove. Like Paul, who said he became content to see what God would do to bring events to glorify Him.

1 Samuel 18:5-7
And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,

"Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands."

1 Samuel 18:14
And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him.

1 Samuel 19:5
For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel.

1 Samuel 27:12
And Achish trusted David, thinking, "He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant."

(The Lord was in charge of giving David a path, when David was excluded from Israel.)

1 Samuel 30:6
And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.


1 Samuel 28:16-18
And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? 17The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day.


Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.

¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;


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1 John 5:1-5 ~ Who is it that overcomes the world

1 John 5:1-5

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1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

What should cause us to tremble?

Psalm 96:9
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!


Isaiah 7:9
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.


2 Chronicles 20:20
20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”


Matthew 6:30
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

Matthew 8:
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For 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.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

Matthew 9:2
Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Mark 11:22
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

Acts 15:9
He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

Romans 1:5
Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for His name’s sake.

Romans 1:17
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 3:28
For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 John 4:8
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.


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Isaiah 40:13 ~ Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?

Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Isaiah 40:13

My husband and I graduated from Texas A&M, I've always liked the way the professors have looked at weather patterns changing and not come to hysteria over things like global warming, saying we can even look at Charles Dickens books and Elizabethan era history to see weather patterns change without causing dire circumstances.

We had Swine Flu at our house, my son in college was quarantined to our house. I thought the media attention for Swine Flu, Avian Flu was like hungry seagulls.

I know Christians have even earned a Wikipedia page for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%932011_midwinter_animal_mass_death_events suggestions of Apocalypse.

But, experts say, massive die-offs like these are not at all unusual. What is more unusual is the AP Wires report die-offs and major news isn’t reporting them. Google does if you dig into different wording of it.

Did you hear of the 10,000 -20,000 cattle dying in Vietnam. I think something that large going unreported is bizarre.

Bird Deaths December 2010 - January 2011

Chronological Order

South Korea, December 2010
So far, more than 100,000 chickens have been culled and more than 10,000 ducks due to new outbreak of avian flu.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12097615

New Zealand, December 2010
Penguins, petrels and other seabirds are dying in large numbers and washing up on our shores, says the Department of Conservation (DOC), NZ.
Autopsy reports showed they died of starvation due to a lack of small fish to feed on in the ocean.
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=188024
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1012/S00781/unusual-weather-conditions-causing-mass-death-among-seabirds.htm

North Carolina, USA. December 2010. (It was originally thought these deaths were caused by malicious humans, but that has now been retracted).
Large number of pelicans
Cause : presently unknown (awaiting results)
http://www.enctoday.com/news/-86417-jdn--.html

Arizona, USA. 26 December 2010
70 plus bats
Cause - one theory is because it was “unseasonably warm”
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/12/28/20101228tucson-70-dead-bats-found.html
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/article_0c307d8f-baf4-5a2f-ab95-93c7d846ff30.html

Illinois, USA. Late December 2010 onwards
Multiple birds (estimate 50 - 100), clustered around a few households.
Cause unknown.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6185536/dead_birds_reported_by_residents_in.html?cat=8

Kentucky, USA. Late December 2010.
Lots of birds (seemed to fall only in this lady’s backyard)
Cause unknown
http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/Woman-reports-dozens-of-dead-birds-in-her-yard-112830524.html

Tennessee, USA. Estimated time of death last week of December 2010
120 blackbirds (very localised cluster)
Cause unknown
http://www.wsmv.com/news/26379609/detail.html

Georgia, USA. 30 December 2010
3 rare cranes (all found together)
Cause unknown
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110105/NEWS01/301050085/Authorities+investigate+whooping+crane+deaths

Arkansas (Beebee), USA. 31 Dec 2010
5000 blackbirds.
Reputedly killed by fleeing from fireworks

Chile, South America, 2 Jan 2011
Thousands of birds fall from the sky and die
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mrlH3BgKPxk

Manitoba, Canada, 3 January 2010
10,000s of Birds Found Dead in Manitoba
Cause : local reports suggest bird flu
http://www.bbsradio.com/cgi-bin/webbbs/webbbs_config.pl?md=read;id=11811

Louisiana, USA. (Labarre) 3 Jan 2011
500 blackbirds and starlings
Cause presently unknown
http://www.wbrz.com/news/hundreds-of-dead-blackbirds-found-near-new-roads/

Italy, around 3 January 2011
300 doves
Cause unknown at this time
http://www.geapress.org/ambiente/faenza-piovono-tortore-morte-foto/10282

Japan, 3 January 2011
Multiple birds death
Suspected : avian flu
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/health/04global.html?_r=4
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101220a2.html

Sweden, 4 January 2011
50 - 100 jackdaws
Local vet theorises they were scared by fireworks, landed on a road and “didn’t know how to fly away from cars which hit them”.
http://www.thelocal.se/31262/20110105/

East Texas, USA, 5 Jan 2011
200 birds found dead on a bridge
Theory : “Hit by cars”
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7800408-now-east-texas-also-reports-hundreds-of-dead-birds

2011-01-09

Unexplained bird deaths have struck again this time at a farm near Quebec City in Canada. More than 80 pigeons have been found dead of unknown causes. The country's environmental officials state...

Jan 11, 2011

Major, Bizarre Fish Die-Off Along Lakefront in Chicago A bizarre scene is evolving on the Chicago lakefront, with Canada geese and mallard ducks gulping down dead or dying gizzard shad.

A major die-off of what appears to be the 2010 class is happening in Chicago harbors. Thousands, perhaps far more than that, of dead gizzard shad in the 3- to 5-inch range are frozen in the ice of Chicago harbors or floating around in open patches of water.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/01/11/major-bizarre-fish-die-off-along-lakefront/

January 12th, 2011

Sonoma County California has its own bird death mystery on its hands. More than 100 birds were found dead on Saturday clustered on the ground off of Highway 101

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Bird deaths in California - Charleston Environmental News | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-charleston/bird-deaths-california#ixzz1BcMWgt4z

Jan 13, 2011

371 Dead Birds Fall from Sky on LA's Sunset Blvd; Similar to California, Arkansas, Louisiana Bird Drops http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6218358/371_dead_birds_fall_from_sky_on_las.html?cat=9

12 Jan 2011

Romania – hundreds of birds, gov’t say died of alcohol poisoning

2011-01-19

Dothan, Alabama (DCE)- The plot thickens in the mystery of massive animal die offs as recent bird deaths occur in Alabama. On January 10th-14th scores of dead birds had been found in Scottsboro, Tanner and Dauphin Island, Alabama. 300 plus dead birds discovered along highway in Alabama

Continue reading on Examiner.com: 300 plus dead birds discovered along highway in Alabama - Charleston Environmental News | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-charleston/300-plus-dead-birds-discovered-along-highway-alabama?cid=parsely#parsely#ixzz1BcMzOPxI

Jan 18, 2011

Hundreds of dead seals in Labrador, Canada – dying since December http://coto2.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/hundreds-of-dead-seals-in-labrador/

1/18

Last week about 300 birds were found dead on the side of the road in Athens. Now another massive bird kill in the Tennessee Valley has the State Agriculture Department investigating, this time in Jackson County. http://www.waaytv.com/news/local/story/Another-Massive-Bird-Kill-in-the-Tennessee-Valley/zHVxdW6X4k2lJFJvmWK3TQ.cspx

Jan 20, 2011

Colorado is now on the list of states where birds are mysteriously dying.

CBS4 You Reporter Stacia Shane sent in pictures of dozens of dead birds she found on I-25.

The birds were found near Dacono.

More than one hundred birds were found and most of them were under tree

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/01/20/mysterious-bird-deaths-investigated-near-dacono/

Jan 21, 2011

Beijing reports mass bird deaths http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/01/21/40584234.html

Jan 23, 2010

10,000 Cattle Dead In Vietnam: Cows, Buffalo Part Of Mass Die-Off

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/4119/seven-people-die-from-cold-in-central-vietnam.html

http://www.salon.com/wires/world/2011/01/21/D9KSK8GO0_as_vietnam_freezing_cows/index.html

Blamed on cold weather 48’ Fahrenheit, one night of freezing temps

January 27, 2011

Massive amounts of gizzard shad fish die off in Lake St. Clair, Michigan

http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/01/27/news/local_news/doc4d4218be854a9301809608.txt

Dead Fish Chronological Order

December 2010 - January 2011

Indiana, USA, 17 December 2010
Dead fish wash up on Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana beach (frozen gobies, trout, crayfish, and mudpuppies).
Cause : attributed to stormy weather
http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/Dead_fish_wash_up_on_Washington_Park_beach_112105654.html

Phillipines, 18 December 2010
Many dead fish floating
Cause : suspected pollution
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20101218-309667/Residents-gather-eat-dead-fish-floating-in-barangay-Ibo#

Sydney, Australia. 19 December 2010
Dead fish clog lake at airport
THOUSANDS of dead fish have been found floating on the surface of a small lake inside Sydney Airport.
Cause : unknown. (I can’t find any results for investigations for this yet).
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/dead-fish-clog-lake-at-airport-20101218-191ba.html

Haiti, around 20 December 2010 onwards
“Scores of dead fish”
Cause presently unknown
http://www.france24.com/en/20101227-authorities-probe-dead-fish-haitian-lake

South Carolina, USA, 23 December 2010
Cold water kills thousands of starfish on SC coast
http://www.lakewyliepilot.com/2010/12/23/964237/cold-water-kills-thousands-of.html

Vietnam, around 24 December 2010 onwards
More than 150 tonnes of red tilapias (world’s most popular farmed fish)
Cause : “Tests on the fish and water samples reveal the deaths were caused by frequent ebb tides and the high densities of fish kept caged in pens," say officials
http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20101231-255737.html

Italy, 28 December 2010
Two miles of beach full of fish, clams and crabs dead in a stretch of coast
Cause : suspected pollution in area
http://corrierefiorentino.corriere.it/firenze/notizie/cronaca/2010/28-dicembre-2010/strage-del-mare-natale-181158495607.shtml

San Antonio, Texas, 29 December 2010
Tourists Greeted By Dozens Of Dead Fish In Museum Reach Section Of River
Cause : Officials suspect “recent rains” and cooler water temperatures
http://www.ksat.com/news/26316464/detail.html#

Argentina, 30 December 2010
Lots of dead fish
Causes : unconfirmed but officials are talking “natural” and “suffocation”
http://www.el-litoral.com.ar/leer_noticia.asp?IdNoticia=152947
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=136401&catid=2

Brazil, 29 December 2010 onwards
Millions of dead fish - at least 100 tons of sardine, croaker and catfish)
Cause still presently unknown (waiting for test results)
http://www.parana-online.com.br/editoria/cidades/news/502434/?noticia=MORTANDADE+MISTERIOSA+DE+PEIXES+NO+LITORAL#id=google_ads_frame5&parent=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parana-online.com.br&rpctoken=adsense_rpc_key&_methods=expand%2Ccollapse%2C_ready%2C_close%2C_open%2C_resizeMe

Arkansas, USA, early Jan 2011
100,000 drum fish
Cause presently unknown

Wales, 2 Jan 2011
Hundreds of dead fish, mostly bream, carp and roach,
Cause : cold water stress suggested
http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=79520

Peterborough, United Kingdom, 4 Jan 2011
Scores fish dead in brook (not the first time either)
Cause : suspected pollution
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/environment/concern_as_fish_die_in_beauty_spot_brook_1_2224957

Canada, 4 Jan 2011
Hundreds of gizzard shad fish
Cause : put down to “natural occurrence”. Officials said such die-offs are not unusual but usually happen in the Spring
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/01/04/16757321.html

Florida, USA, 4 Jan 2011
Thousands Of Fish Dead In Spruce Creek
Officials said it was due to the cold but the fish kill is unusual because it is warm, according to people who live along the creek.
http://www.wftv.com/news/26367953/detail.html

UK, 5 Jan 2011
Dead fish in pool
Cause : cold weather
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/01/05/anger-over-dead-fish-left-floating-in-pool/

Maryland, USA, reported 5 Jan 2011 (happened late December it seems)
2 million, primarily adult spot, with some juvenile croakers
Cause : cold water stress suggested
http://www.wbaltv.com/r/26357581/detail.html
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/bs-gr-fish-kill-bay-20110104,0,5624655.story

Michigan, USA, reported 5 Jan 2011
Hundreds of dead fish, gizzard shad (type of herring) turning up in rivers
Cause : suspected cold stress
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/26378636/detail.html

New Zealand, 5 Jan 2011
Hundreds of snapper
Cause presently unknown (some without eyes)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10697906

UK, reported 5 Jan 2011
Over 40,000 dead crabs
Cause : attributed to cold stress
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora--fauna/40000-crabs-die-of-cold-in-britain/articleshow/7223955.cms

Past Cases

1973: Stuttgart, Arkansas. Hail knocked thousands of birds from the sky.

1976: Maryland: 15 million spot fish died early 1976 and a smaller number in 1980.

2001: Arkansas. Lightning killed dozens of mallards at Hot Springs.

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Psalm 127 ~ gives to His beloved

Psalm 127

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1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

25 years ago today, it was our wedding day! We looked a bit younger, but boy, the weather was better! A balmy 80 degrees! So thanks for that Father God, I am still remembering and rejoicing.

At this weekend's 30 different ecumenical Church gathering, my husband Edward took the time to tell me how much he loved me. I don't think I've felt such overwhelming love in my life. It was a wonderful thing and I'll carry it with me through this life and into the next. I'll tell no sad tales of my life, but our 25 year marriage was preceded by our dating in High School and College until we were apart in our Sophomore year until Edward graduated. After I graduated, we were engaged for a year while I traveled all over the country with my work.

We celebrated our 3rd anniversary with our preemie son in his swing at the foot of the dinner table. He had apnea, hernia surgery at 6 lbs., and forgot to breathe for the first year of his life. We've had seasons of financial woes. A healthy second son. Years of youth ministry. A daughter still-born in September of 2008, she was beautiful & 2 lbs at birth. We've had our share of what life can give. Nothing is better in life than having a Savior and having people who love you and you get to love.

Psalm 127 is great for this. Worry, worry, worry isn't going to cut through life ...or help. Only God's love and His mercy gets us through.

I was touched yesterday by the obituary of Eunice G. Sanborn of Jacksonville, Texas. She died at 114, the oldest person in the country. She said, ""My secret is my Savior," she said in 2007. "A lot of people don't know Him, but I do. I love Him. He's going to keep on being my secret. I don't know how long I'll be here, but I've enjoyed it. I'm thankful," Sanborn said. "Life is a wonderful thing if you make it that way. If you don't make it right, it isn't wonderful. If you do things right and love the Lord, you'll be all right."

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah!

!!!!!

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Psalm 16 ~ Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

Please read the PS at the end of the page

Psalm 16

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1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight [I say:]

4 The sorrows of those who run after [who acquire] another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being [my glory] rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption [Or see the pit].

11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Tonight The Woodlands had 30 different ecumenical Churches gather together after 21 days of fasting and prayers. We met as one Church, as the Bride of Christ. 600 chairs were filled at HopePointe Anglican, plus the people standing in the back, the people sitting in the side windows. We said, " We come together to acknowledge the Church is one. We gather to love the Lord Jesus Christ and say He is why we exist."

(Praying before the Service)

How many times have you gathered together with the excellent saints of God to worship in standing room only and no one wants to leave? It began at 6 pm, there wasn't an ending time, but the ladies who baked the 660+ cookies guessed at about 8 pm. ~ 8 pm came and went. What... joy. How can just a mere word hold what the evening was. The ministers, the pastors, the priests, all stood to say what had been the Word of the Lord coming to them from the time spent praying, fasting for an awakening of the Holy Spirit.







One of the phrases drawing laughter was the phrase, "All is not right behind the trees." Living in The Woodlands, referred to as 'the bubble', there is a certain pressure to appear to always have our perfection on. To strive, to achieve, to be perfect. Not to be lonely, or worried, or afraid. Church should be the place your real self reaches out to the Living God. Come as you actually are.

We are a new Church with 200+ Church Family. We stood in our beautiful atrium, if we'd been younger, we would have pressed our faces to the glass, the parking lot was full, the Junior High School's parking lot next door was beginning to overflow. In awe, we would hear people say softly, "More people are still coming up the drive."It must have been repeated 20 times. We are thinking it was 700 people from 30 Churches. One of the Pastors said to Clark he'd guessed about 40 people would show up. If only you could have seen the smiling faces arriving at our door.

My friend, Dee, had a young 30-something woman come up to her and ask her if her daughter was Kathy. She used Kathy's maiden name. Dee replied she was. It was the High School friend who had led Kathy to Christ in High School. I turned to Dee, I said this is like being at Heaven's Gate. It created some real thought.

Can you imagine a more beautiful way to begin a new year? There isn't one. Jesus told us:

Matthew 6: 17, 18
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

If you've begun this year in ways that don't please you or the Lord, you can still be part of this prayer for awakening in our area, we extend the invitation to you! For your area. Begin your own 21 days of giving up something or adding something to strengthen you. Prayer is the power of God; it's your fuel, and ours, and our bond. Our joy can be your joy, in the Spirit of God, time and place are His.

Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

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My PostScript or P.S. is - later this summer we would experience the worst drought in recorded history. Our rainfall levels were lower than the deserts of Texas. Our county experienced a tri-county fire. 3 counties on fire together. We had firefighters come from all over, including Alaska and North Carolina. Many, many thousands of trees that were decades old were lost. And in the middle of all of this scary horror you can see home after home that was saved. The fire marks scorch the house - this is a tribute to the firefighters - but fire has an element of wind that cannot be contained without Help from above. I do not think these prayers for our community did anything but bless all of us during this time. Thank God and then thank God for the Christian leaders who brought us together for community prayer and fasting. It really was a very Holy and Awe-inspiring Evening.

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Daniel 2:1-23 ~ O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked

In London’s British Museum, there is a baked clay tablet (just under 3¼ inches) with cuneiform writing (wedge-shaped characters) recording important activities of king Nebuchadnezzar between the years 605-594 B.C. 91 times Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned in the Scriptures. Amazingly, this is a Scriptural calendar.

"And Jehoichin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he and his mother[!]... And the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his [Nebuchadnezzar's] reign." 2 Kings 24:12

"In the entry which deals with the 7th year of the king (598-7 B.C.), in the month of Kislimu, the king of Nebuchadnezzar] marched his army the capital city of Judah. On the second day of the month Addaru [the capture of Jerusalem, dated precisely to March 16, 597 BC.], he captured Jerusalem and its king. He appointed a new ruler [Zedekiah— 2 Kings 24:17] and took heavy tribute and sent it to Babylon [2 Kings 24:13]. Another remarkable archaeological confirmation of biblical record in the last 60 years.

Other archaeological discoveries relating to the fall of Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon are well known. His palace has been excavated in Babylon and many of his records recovered (Wiseman 1985; Klengel-Brandt 1997: 252–54). One such record, the Babylonian Chronicle for the years 605–595 BC, describes the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC, the so-called “second deportation,” the first being in 605 BC when Daniel and his companions were taken to Babylon (Dan 1:1–5). The tablet was found in Babylon and purchased by the British Museum in the 19th century.

Daniel 2:1-23

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1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” 8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9 if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

12 Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He declared to Arioch, the king's captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.

17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king's matter.


Luke 18:26
18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

How was Daniel saved? The gift of wisdom. It was an impossible task; a miracle given to a heathen king. God was after the soul of someone He had gifted tremendously. Not just the righteous Daniel, but Nebuchadnezzar.

36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

Why the secrecy of the dream? Surely King Nebuchadnezzar was afraid. A dream were kingdoms topple would be frightening to a king. God Almighty allowed Nebuchadnezzar the power to conquer the Children of Israel, He wasn't going to let Nebuchadnezzar get by with being a self-impressed, powerful, heathen.


46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

Nebuchadnezzar had many distractions from his spiritual life. Pride was his downfall. After building an idol, sacrificing Daniel's friends to the fiery furnace, God gives them salvation. Nebuchadnezzar proclaims again in Daniel 3:

8 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”

Nebuchadnezzar is so impressed, his salvation and devotion continues to the next chapter, Daniel 4:

King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

Nebuchadnezzar has another dream given to him by God and a gift of wisdom interpretation by Daniel, Daniel says, "Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Nebuchadnezzar is too content and impressed with himself to remember.

28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”

Nebuchadnezzar is finally healed, in the Lord's time.

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”

36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Nebuchadnezzar now had something in common with the remnant slaves returned in freedom to a country he razed. They understood enduring God's righteous judgment, understood He corrects those whom He loves and know the tender mercy of Almighty God the Father's forgiveness.

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