Compline or Night Prayer (before retiring)
Texas is having some cooler weather, we hope to paint our yard furniture during the pleasant temperatures away from the 90' mark of this week. So pleased to find the can of paint in the utility.
If you see Houston, Texas is above the Covid 19 case marker of 445 positive tests, today, please know this number would include Fifteen (15) Counties, it's very surprising to see included in numbers for Houston, Texas. Other large cities in Texas list about four counties, but 15 is surely surprising to be listed as Houston. We heard Houston would be seriously increasing Covid Positive Tests for travel between Galveston and Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but this is not the case as of today.
We are all praying for one another. We are still having some pollen and this always causes some alarm for allergies. No one wants any sniffles, drainage, sneezing or coughing. Especially in public like the grocery store. How awful. Today we rested because we both woke up with sore throat which, Thank God, has gone away.
We are praying for New York. Denver started out with a high number of positive tests and has not seen exponential growth. We pray New York City will do this too.
Acts 25
Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”
6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. 8 Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” 9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”
13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. 14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, 15 and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. 17 So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. 18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. 19 Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”
23 So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”
Few of us really hope to have the suffering Jesus Christ endured. In fact, I've seen grown men cry to watch, "The Passion of the Christ."
Paul endured quite an ordeal knowing he was going to Jerusalem to face this. Tough times do not last, tough people do. Paul was going to see better days. And live to be world travelled and old.
Uphill is referred to twice in Acts 25.
It's interesting to see Caesarea is North of Jerusalem, but compass isn't as important as the travel costs of travelling uphill. Jerusalem in all respects is a Higher Elevation. We are all travelling uphill right now. The Destination is going to be to be Elevated. We have taken care of our families. Cared for their needs. The needs of our friends and the neighbors. As well as countless others we don't know.
Like Acts 25, we feel confined. We feel as if we are undergoing trials and we know we are. And like Acts 25 we know better days are ahead. We don't even have to rely on the hindsight Paul would have needed to know this.
Like the news, we have to tally our Blessings Accordingly. We do not have children being maimed for life. We will not be like the Black Plagues of the Middle Ages, dragging our children and family to the graveyard, where we will be assigned a time to dig their grave. We will find our mortgages have grace. Small businesses will be creative to keep employees and find willing hands to make businesses go.
Adjustments will be made in the medical fields upon learning from this unprecedented time. I've seen a reduction in stress. We all wondered if China was done with Covid 19. Would this actually be plague. It's not. And the people I've seen near tears look far more calm. We have all lived with changes in the economy. We are surely the people who are praying. Noon for the Lord's Prayer for the Nation and our hopes and cares on Jesus Christ. 3 p.m. for the ill we know and the ill we don't know. Praying for the health of the world.
Even the driving skills have improved. We all feel more informed and safer in the news. We haven't seen anyone else run a red light or dart over 4 lanes of traffic. The people out walking, jogging and biking do not look as if they will fall over.
Our God gave David tremendous trials. And David always looked to find the Mercy of God changing paths, interweaving what was wrong to become something good. Romans 8:28
Abba, Our Father,
Today we will pray Your Word. Our foes are fear, uncertainty, doubt, illness and financial constraints. Our doubts and fears sometime crowd into our minds to rob our Peace.
Feeling cooped up. Being in need of Strength to go forth and plan to make the day a pleasing day. Help us to find You first and seek Your Kingdom. To Live in Love, Peace and Joy.
Thank You my left eye surgery and prayers have been so blessed.
To rejoice in the answered prayers we have lived in You. Elliott healing. Jim healing, Dee to feel better in her back. The people waiting necessary surgeries, to have Healing and Peace. The Virus to leave to be able to have these surgeries. Especially those waiting Cancer Surgeries.
Psalm 35
Great Is the Lord of David.
Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler
and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin
against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation!”
4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor
who seek after my life!
Let them be turned back and disappointed
who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!
7 For without cause they hid their net for me;
without cause they dug a pit for my life.
8 Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it!
And let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it—to his destruction!
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord,
exulting in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say,
“O Lord, who is like you,
delivering the poor
from him who is too strong for him,
the poor and needy from him who robs him?”
11 Malicious witnesses rise up;
they ask me of things that I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good;
my soul is bereft.
13 But I, when they were sick—
I wore sackcloth;
I afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed with head bowed on my chest.
14 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother;
as one who laments his mother,
I bowed down in mourning.
15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;
they gathered together against me;
wretches whom I did not know
tore at me without ceasing;
16 like profane mockers at a feast,
they gnash at me with their teeth.
17 How long, O Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their destruction,
my precious life from the lions!
18 I will thank you in the great congregation;
in the mighty throng I will praise you.
19 Let not those rejoice over me
who are wrongfully my foes,
and let not those wink the eye
who hate me without cause.
20 For they do not speak peace,
but against those who are quiet in the land
they devise words of deceit.
21 They open wide their mouths against me;
they say, “Aha, Aha!
Our eyes have seen it!”
22 You have seen, O Lord; be not silent!
O Lord, be not far from me!
23 Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication,
for my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 Vindicate me, O Lord, my God,
according to your righteousness,
And let them not rejoice over me!
25 Let them not say in their hearts,
“Aha, our heart's desire!”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26 Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
who magnify themselves against me!
27 Let those who delight in my righteousness
shout for joy and be glad!
And say evermore,
“Great is the Lord,
who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness
and of your praise all the day long.
Abba, we give Thanks to see David did grumble and complain to You.
And we present ourselves sincerely to You knowing You Care for us.
We Boldly and with Confidence Pray the end of this Virus.
Jesus taught us to continue to Pray always with hope.
Even in the times we have despair and think of You as an unjust Judge
Jesus welcomes our Prayers and we ask the Virus to end.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart
be pleasing
and acceptable
to You, my God, my Rock and My Redeemer.
In Jesus Christ we remain in You
Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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