Deuteronomy 18:15, 18
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites, and you must listen to that prophet...‘I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will tell that prophet what to say, and he will tell the people everything I command him.’”
Moses, painted by Rosencruz Sumera. The painting is interesting to see we are influenced by the media, even when it is from 1956 Cecil B. DeMille's movie "The 10 Commandments." Cecil DeMille chose Charlton Heston because of his uncanny similarity to Michelangelo's Horned Moses. Many artists depicted Moses with horns over a confusion between Hebrew words; Hebrew phrase "karnu panav" קרנו פניו. The root קרן may be read as either "horn" or "ray", as in "ray of light".
John 8:56
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day:
and he saw it,
and was glad.
We have an idea, in faith, Moses spoke with the Lord. Isaiah saw the Holiness of His Heavenly Kingdom. Abraham was given Promises as he spoke with The Lord.
And then we, the children of God traveling His path, have the glimpses of Heaven, influencing our lives and making faith stronger, joy more evident in life, hope pervading.
Wesley Arning
St. Martin's Episcopal Church
May 9, 2023
My grandfather passed away two months ago, and I could not fall asleep the night I heard the news. I tossed and turned for a few hours; images of my favorite moments with him kept going through my mind. I had a tough time even wanting to pray that night. Instead, these images of him kept rolling through my mind. Sadness and joy kept moving back and forth in my mind like the ocean’s waves.
And then, a new image came to my mind. It is probably the closest thing I have ever had to a vision. It was like seeing the top of a grand painting and slowly moving down to see the whole picture. At the very top were the hosts of heaven in bright gold and yellow. Light and more light that signified the glory of heaven and all who were there. It was overwhelming.
I saw that the glory was surrounding Jesus who was on His knees, bending down. He was pulling someone up with both of His arms, like pulling a child out of the pool. The body He was holding in His arms was lifeless, but it appeared with Jesus’ touch, the man’s eyes were just about to open. Life was about to surge through his body once again. I realized that the man was my grandfather.
The picture opened up even more as I looked further down this grand painting. There I was, my body hovering in the air, one hand outstretched towards Jesus, my fingertips having just let go of my grandfather as Jesus picked him up. My body was stretched as I looked toward Jesus, but I realized I wasn’t alone. Below me was a group of people standing in a circle with their arms outstretched towards me. I knew all of them, they were family and friends, church members and old acquaintances.
And then I realized this was a picture of prayer. When we pray for someone, we come before Jesus and entrust them to His merciful care. We must let go so that our Lord can bring them into His glorious kingdom with saints and angels, and all those who have gone before us.
He is the Good Shepherd and He will care for His sheep in heaven and on earth, but we are not alone. There is the community of prayer that lifts us in our time of sorrow. The prayers encircle us as we go before the Lord, and hand over the ones we love but can no longer see. The community is the church on Earth, which, through this sacred action, connects us to the church in heaven.
And so, my brothers and sisters, pray without ceasing.
The Rev. Wesley Arning
Associate for Young Adult and Small Group Ministry
Psalm 18:29
For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him
Psalm 40:2
He lifted me up from the pit of despair,
out of the miry clay;
He set my feet upon a rock,
and made my footsteps firm.
2 Corinthians 12:9,10
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me
Abba, Father
Bless us to stay close to Jesus.
To be like the Ten Talents Parable,
to trust the Lord's Goodness
and Mercy every day.
We ask the Lord's Pinions to cover us!
Dwell in us, Father
and with Your Help
What Jesus finds
will be loving!
Help us to Seek You First!
And we will finish well in Jesus Christ!
Let all of Creation
Pray with us now!
Revelation 5:13
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth
and under the earth and on the sea,
and all that is in them, singing:
"To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"
We thank You, Father,
for Jesus Christ
and His Love and Mercy
Psalm 148:5-6
Let everything He has made give praise to Him.
For He issues His command, and they came into being;
He established them forever and forever.
His orders will never be revoked.
Bless those we Love to be near Jesus the Lord God Almighty,
the Son and Christ of God.
Bless this Nation to Trust in You and have Your Favor.
Bless this Nation to Trust in You and have Your Favor.
Help all the mass killings worldwide,
the two in Texas
Brownsville and Allen
in gun control nations as well.
Japan, Australia, Europe and the UK.
Help the children in Foster Care to their full majority of adult years.
Bless Birth Control and Good Choices
to defeat Abortion.
Let Goodness overcome, thanks to Jesus Christ.
We ask in the Highest Name of Jesus.
Bless the Nations of the world, coming to Your Brightness.
God Bless, Uphold and Sustain the Library of Congress
and Library Cards.
Bless the Children of God, by His Will, to ask You
for more Heaven upon this earth.
And we are blessed indeed, indeed, indeed.
And we are blessed indeed, indeed, indeed.
Amen Jesus. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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