Psalm 148 ~ Praise HIM

 

Psalm 148

 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the Heavens;
    praise Him in the heights!

2 Praise Him, all His angels;
    praise Him, all His hosts!

3 Praise Him, sun and moon,
    praise Him, all you shining stars!

4 Praise Him, you Highest Heavens,
    and 

you waters above the Heavens!

5 Let them praise the Name of the Lord!

For He commanded and they were created.
6 And He established them forever and ever;
    He gave a decree, 

and it shall not pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
    stormy wind fulfilling His Word!
9 Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock,
    creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth 

and 

All peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
    old men and children!

13 Let them praise the Name of the Lord,
    for His Name alone is exalted;
   His majesty is above earth and heaven.

14 He has raised up a horn for His people,
    praise for all His saints,
    for the people of Israel who are near to Him.
Praise the Lord!

To read the news is to find new areas of the world with wild changes and unhappy people. Arriving with the actions swirling around the planet, not to even see the horrible damage in Nepal, of lives and hopes. Recently I was reading Jeremiah 45.

The Lord has seen Baruch working for Jeremiah. Baruch is honestly soaked in despair seeing all of Judah and Jerusalem being swept for slaves, 3 prior times, the 3rd being "The Big One." Knowing Jerusalem will be burned beyond recognition and swept into history, becoming deserted due to murder, arson, destruction, and kept enslaved for life. 

Picture Baruch loading up on his faithful work, bending him down into destruction. The events have begun to show the signs of ending.  Baruch has a target on his back. Yet is convinced this is where he should be. Baruch arrives for the daily assignments going about Jerusalem while Jeremiah, the one who speaks with God, gives him the tasks sending him into the war. He arrives to help and finds God wants Baruch to have the reward of speaking to God.

Jeremiah Chapter 45

The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke

to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah

In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 

2 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: 

3 You said, ‘Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.’ 

4 Thus shall you say to him, 

Thus says the Lord: 

Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—that is, the whole land. 

5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. 

But I will give you your life 

as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”

 

We are going to tie this together.

The Liturgy today: Jesus telling us to take up your cross as an act of faith.  

I cannot help it, every time I hear "Take Up Your Cross" I divert from any sense of obligation and shift to remembering the long explanation of public evangelism in "Prince of Tides." Pat Conroy’s bestselling 1986 Southern gothic epic novel, "The Prince of Tides" Amos Wingo literally carries a massive wooden cross on his back. The eccentric, religious grandfather of the narrator, Tom Wingo. And eventually this enormous love is understood.

And this sermon today explains life is going to bring all of us a cross to bear. So much of life is circumstances we will find carry us in the great river of life.  

With faith, we find we are privileged to have God speak to us. To not become just a minor cog unknown, unheard. We carry the cross. Our part is to dream, pray and to not allow God's plan to go without gratitude and wonder.

We get caught up and do not find the Joy. See the events as they are.

Mary the Mother of God, 

Luke 1:51

He has shown strength with His Arm;

   He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts

Baruch would have had hopes God would miraculously spare Jeremiah. And Baruch. From war, death, disaster, slavery, prison and from being in the hole in the ground in David's Palace. (Where almost 2,480 years later Baruch's bulla would be found and even say his father's name.)  

Baruch knew he and Jeremiah were teaching the Entire Nation of Judah not to be so forsaken in soul: to be captured, enslaved, ruined. He had to have some pride in their work.  But eventually the thoughts of escape would end.  And Baruch, evidently, had his prayer life become begging the Almighty.  

And in the death of Lazarus, Jesus wept. God wept enough for Baruch's prayers to set Baruch back on the path of Truth.

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength. 

To believe the pieces and stubs, and bits and pieces 

of life 

have a God Pattern of a quilt. 

Not my quilt, but what beauty.

A stained glass window. 

Take part in God's Book of Life. 

Our Abba, Father

 Moses in the Power of the Holy Spirit said:

Deuteronomy 30:15, 19

  

"See, I have set before you 

this day

 life and good, death and evil... therefore choose life." 

Our Alleluia Chorus will come from Jesus.

 Amen!

Psalm 139

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

    you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down

    and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue,

    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before,

    and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

    it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 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.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

    and the light about me be night,”

12 even the darkness is not dark to you;

    the night is bright as the day,

    for darkness is as light with you.

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.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

    How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

    I awake, and I am still with you.

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!

    O men of blood, depart from me!

20 They speak against you with malicious intent;

    your enemies take your name in vain.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?

    And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

22 I hate them with complete hatred;

    I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!

    Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting!

The Earth is the Lord's

and

The fulfillment

Thereof

Houston has had rain.

Now we pray for the Tropical Storm to be gentle enough

Pray with hope!

Ending

Bad weather experienced 

And

be good weather again.

Praying for safety and prosperity in these days.

Please continue to pray for peace and the wishes of our parents and great

 and 

grandparents to be fulfilled in a peaceful and complete manner. 

Because we know our Father.

The Father of mercies

and 

God of all comfort.

This is Our Father and Jesus, 

comforts us 

enabling us, 

strengthening us,

able to comfort those in any affliction,

 Blessings of Grace 

Blessings of Peace,

we ourselves are comforted 

by God.

Dwell in me,

Dwell in us,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first.

Peace and the Joy God gives us.

And we will finish well, 

in Jesus Christ. 

We are praying for 
NATIONS

to put

aside

Tyranny

and Cartels.

In Christ’s one offering of His life, and in His sufferings,

we share abundantly in comfort.

We pray the 

impossible 

more Heaven on earth and 

for the believers of God 

and 

the ones they pray for 

To Know Your Love 

and

See the weary world REJOICING in Christ Jesus.

We can do absolutely nothing about Massachusetts killing babies.  Shake our heads at the horror of babies murdered. We can moan and cry and do absolutely nothing. And those babies will die badly.

 Or we can find life and grace. Blessing the great and grand and parents to find Love has made a path straight forward. 

Pray and make a path for these preborn children to LIVE.

To Know Your Love 

and

See the weary world REJOICING in Christ Jesus.

Life for preborn children. Human Beings. Babies.  Hoping for love and warmth to give and receive.  So many willing hearts and homes. Valid Adoption Agencies.  Hope for the biological mother, instead of a life of sadness.

Saint Nicholas of Myra, b. March 270 – 6 December 343, Nicholas of Bari. Known as St. Nicholas. 

Pere Noel. Father Christmas. Santa.

If our Saint Nicholas 

buys 3 women out of being trafficked. 

We can certainly 

ask 

the mother to accept payment 

for bringing

God's Gift of Life 

into the world. 

Support 

The Book of Life!

Support 

The Book of Life!

In the Name of Jesus 

fill us

surround us

Embolden us

lead us

redeem us

and 

keep us forever.

Lord Jesus Christ

Only Son of God, our Father.

WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE

IN

JESUS CHRIST

THE LORD

Father God, Dear Father God,

WE PRAY 

BLESSINGS 

for those

helping the earth 

to heal.

Jesus Christ

Shine on us

ALL

Let evil and practicing evil

depart 

far 

from us

and our children.

Health for

American Gray Whales

and their solid survival

facing Orcas. 

Thy Kingdom come

Thy will be done

on earth

as it is

in Heaven. 

And we will be blessed indeed. 

Jesus the Lord. Alleluia

and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You, Jesus

Yes, The Lord Fulfills His Purpose!

.

2 Peter 3:8 ~ Beloved

   

Where did the phrase, "A Day to God is thousands of years" generate from?

Peter and...

2 Peter 3:8

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, 

that 

with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, 

and 

a thousand years 

as one day.

And who first said this in the Holy Spirit?

Psalm 90

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

Matthew 17:4 

 "And Peter said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.'"

90 Lord, You have been 

our dwelling place

    in

 All generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth,

    or ever You had formed the earth and the world,

    from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

3 You return man to dust

    and say, 

“Return, O children of man!”

4 For a thousand years in Your sight

    are but as yesterday when it is past,

    or as a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,

    like grass that is renewed in the morning:

6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;

    in the evening it fades and withers.

7 For we are brought to an end by Your anger;

    by Your wrath we are dismayed.

8 You have set our iniquities before You,

    our secret sins in the Light of 

Your Presence.

9 For all our days pass away under Your wrath;

    we bring our years to an end 

like a sigh.

10 The years of our life are seventy,

    or even by reason of strength eighty;

yet their span is but toil and trouble;

    they are soon gone, 

and 

we fly away.

11 Who considers the power of  Your anger,

    and Your wrath according to the fear of You?

12 So teach us to number our days

    that we 

may get a heart of wisdom.

13 Return, O Lord! How long?

    Have pity on Your Servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast Love,

    that

 we may rejoice 

and 

be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us,

    and 

for as many years as we have seen evil.

16 Let Your Work 

be shown to Your servants,

    and Your Glorious Power to their children.

17 Let the Favor

 of the Lord our God be upon us,

    and e

stablish the work of our hands upon us;

   Yes, 

establish 

the work of our hands!

And for Nepal to have seen such terror. Their recovery to be swift. And filled with God's help and mercy.

Our Abba, Father

 Moses in the Power of the Holy Spirit said:

Deuteronomy 30:15, 19

  

"See, I have set before you 

this day

 life and good, death and evil... therefore choose life." 

Our Alleluia Chorus will come from Jesus.

 Amen!

Blessed is our the God and our Father.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, has presented the Father with a New Heaven 

and a new earth.

Pray with Hope

a new earth

His will done

on earth

as

In Heaven

The Earth is the Lord's

and

The fulfillment

Thereof

Pray with hope!

Ending

Bad weather experienced 

And

be good weather again.

Praying for safety and prosperity in these days.

Please continue to pray for peace and the wishes of our parents and great

 and 

grandparents to be fulfilled in a peaceful and complete manner. 

Because we know our Father.

The Father of mercies

and 

God of all comfort.

This is Our Father and Jesus, 

comforts us 

enabling us, 

strengthening us,

able to comfort those in any affliction,

 Blessings of Grace 

Blessings of Peace,

we ourselves are comforted 

by God.

Dwell in me,

Dwell in us,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first.

Peace and the Joy God gives us.

And we will finish well, 

in Jesus Christ. 

We are praying for 
NATIONS

to put

aside

Tyranny

and Cartels.

In Christ’s one offering of His life, and in His sufferings,

we share abundantly in comfort.

We pray the 

impossible 

more Heaven on earth and 

for the believers of God 

and 

the ones they pray for 

To Know Your Love 

and

See the weary world REJOICING in Christ Jesus.

We can do absolutely nothing about Massachusetts killing babies.  Shake our heads at the horror of babies murdered. We can moan and cry and do absolutely nothing. And those babies will die badly.

 Or we can find life and grace. Blessing the great and grand and parents to find Love has made a path straight forward. 

Pray and make a path for these preborn children to LIVE.

To Know Your Love 

and

See the weary world REJOICING in Christ Jesus.

Life for preborn children. Human Beings. Babies.  Hoping for love and warmth to give and receive.  So many willing hearts and homes. Valid Adoption Agencies.  Hope for the biological mother, instead of a life of sadness.

Saint Nicholas of Myra, b. March 270 – 6 December 343, Nicholas of Bari. Known as St. Nicholas. 

Pere Noel. Father Christmas. Santa.

If our Saint Nicholas 

buys 3 women out of being trafficked. 

We can certainly 

ask 

the mother to accept payment 

for bringing

God's Gift of Life 

into the world. 

Support 

The Book of Life!

Support 

The Book of Life!

In the Name of Jesus 

fill us

surround us

Embolden us

lead us

redeem us

and 

keep us forever.

Lord Jesus Christ

Only Son of God, our Father.

WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE

IN

JESUS CHRIST

THE LORD

Father God, Dear Father God,

WE PRAY 

BLESSINGS 

for those

helping the earth 

to heal.

Jesus Christ

Shine on us

ALL

Let evil and practicing evil

depart 

far 

from us

and our children.

Health for

American Gray Whales

and their solid survival

facing Orcas. 

Thy Kingdom come

Thy will be done

on earth

as it is

in Heaven. 

And we will be blessed indeed. 

Jesus the Lord. Alleluia

and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You, Jesus

Yes, The Lord Fulfills His Purpose!