Psalm 91
He will cover you with his pinions,and under his wings you will find refuge
Today we were in Lansing, Michigan. Until 4:30 a.m. We turned a corner downtown and a very, very large and impressive Church had a billboard reading "Do not joke about the Apocalypse." The small, black, moveable letters were lighted up with a green light and the marque was small, but architecturally impressive. I decided I had to look fast at the Church to see if this was a joke in serious downtown Lansing, Michigan or if this was Church and Church Seriousness. Wow, this was Church of impressive size, impressive Architecture, beautifully immaculately, maintained in the best part of downtown and we - were - past - this - Church with Large Buildings blocking the view.
I think I read it to say, "Be part of the solution."
My week is crossing the continent twice since Monday and once by car (20 hours, 2 vehicles, 4 people) and next by plane on Friday. My eldest son is off to Michigan State University! Wow. Texas - om. Wow. This is some very serious Architecture. Wow. 8th Largest Campus in the USA. Amazing. Bruce Wayne, aka Adam West, we need the Bat Light.
Very Friendly. School children ask about the dog. We slept one night at my son's duplex rental. In charming Lansing about 4 blocks from the State Capital. Inner city. Michigan. My son's landlord is a Michigan State Professor. Friendly - delighted we had picked Michigan apples for a pie I hope Cal is going to make - he loves to do Apple Pie. About a 1910 building and the crime rate is low - very intermixed racially. People walk to the grocery store and say hello to you on the porch. You bet the porch - no air conditioning and 63' at night.
And how was your week. Nothing upsetting on facebook. Nothing disturbing in the news - same ol. Normal, logical. Except. A few ... things. Buckling seat belt.
Passing through segregated Little Rock - people very friendly. Missouri - same. Illinois - same. Michigan - pure friendly. News - whoa. Stop.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a Magic Mallet.
Not to do harm - but to cause the people of the USA to stop and see what they truly have.
To see how much of the USA is beautiful and not crowded or jammed up. Peaceful. Grateful. All the polls say the USA has a higher than 85% believe in Jesus and pray. The people polled don't have to say this. They just - meant this.
Sit on your front porch. Say hello.
Refuge.
His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
God has delivered us safely
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
If we are honest. Our nation has 319 Million People. Millions and Millions and we had 11 injured in Chicago's 3 million. I'm sure the hospital was just ... shocked. 9 people injured in Charlotte. 37 in Barcelona, worlds away.
And 2,300 people murdered in Juarez in - a - month. Where is that upset? Real people. Not statues. Not people who are dead long, long ago. People with living breathing families. Sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews. Children.
Real issue - suicide goes hand and hand with substance abuse. And we are ignoring substance abuse for flaps over metal. We need to give hope, faith acheiving and Love.
Travel across the USA. See how beautiful and peaceful this country is. Maybe we are flapping about the media and not about real life hardships. Wall? No. One word. Tunnels. One more word. Mercy. Mercy. Mercy.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone. (a statue)
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Abba, Our Abba,
We are the Nation who declares in God we Trust. We are the people who tell strangers 85% pray regularly. And believe Jesus is God and hears.
How beautiful are many places offering words of kindness to one another.
We are the place were we anticipate to sleep safely. We are the Nation where 80 years ago people tied tires to their feet to have shoes. We had no Social Security. We had no Health Care.
We are the nation where Theodore Roosevelt lost both of his parents in their 40s because that was the age limit. They had actually died of old age - as most of the Continent of Africa today. And he honored them by fighting for equality for all people.
We are the nation who borders Mexico - where 2,300 people die in a month of drug related and crime related deaths.
And because we pray - we Thank You for our loved ones expecting to live long lives. We anticipate college costs to be reasonable again - like Social Security was created.
We anticipate our youth and our retirees to go to Missions and help the poor. We know we volunteer and know others who do. We help - because - Father God You have endowed us with Blessings. We bless the Churches who have armies and helpers who build wheelchair ramps and paint houses. We bless the Churches sending Meals on Wheels. We bless the Church for feeding the Hurricane evacuees for months and months and months - their source of food.
God bless the poor hunks of metal that are art. God bless the 1 in 6 families who would like a mentor to get out of hunger situations.
Thank You Father God for the wars we have had - that we may not war in that direction again. Yesterday has past and we have prevailed.
Father God, Thank You for the health of the ones we love. For our own health concerns. Thank You we will sleep safely this night and for the people You have given us who will be safe as well.
Abba, our children are well, they are blessed to want and find education. We have better community colleges than ever before. We have educated Churches who work with the people in cities, states and our Nation pressing forward our 'real' needs. We hear about Constitutional Conventions. We think upon Solutions. We anticipate the Goodness You are. No man can boast of his righteousness, but we have the numbers who confess Jesus is God and pray. And we will pray for other Nations in Jesus Christ.
We will not be discouraged from our Blessings.
We will never forget, never forget, never forget our Blessings.
We will not be discouraged from our Blessings.
We will not be discouraged from our Blessings.
We will be mindful of our Blessings.
We are Blessed. We will Thank You, God.
Your Grace cannot be bought. And You have showered us with Goodness.
We are the Easter People and Jesus is our Savior, Alleluia.
Day by Day we will persist and have Joy in Jesus Christ our God. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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