Luke 11:1-13
11 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be Your Name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,
4 and forgive us our trespasses,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who trespasses against us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
5 And He said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’
And he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
My grandmother Anita was raised with 12 children. Lena, my 100-year-living great-grandmother, was very systematic in all aspects. They had a dry good store and sewing was a huge part of their lives. Each child was assigned to help raise a younger sibling. Anita was the youngest daughter, so she was child 11 and her assigned sibling was my great aunt Eloise. They would spend their lives together for 94 years, just blocks apart and daily seeing one another. Eloise moved to Dallas in 1917 and Anita would arrive to ride the trolleys and meet my grandfather.
Both of these women had the same gift, my mother shared the gift for most of her life. They woke up in the morning expecting to be blessed. God is Good and the adventure is life. If Eloise had plenty, then she shared with the dinner delivery to the ill for her Kessler Methodist Church. If Anita had people knocking on the door for a meal during the Depression, she cooked. If the police brought her a young boy and asked her to adopt him away from being beaten, Anita and Ray adopted.
If Eloise's in-law cousins were taken with flu and hospitalized, then the children lived with them. When Anita was in the hospital, before antibiotics, then my mother and her brother lived with Eloise. Eloise's husband was in the Texas Senate for 16 years, then mother's adopted brother had a job in the Texas Congress, as an aid. If a relative had a dire need, Eloise and Cary would give a car.
Each of the ladies made what they needed, they had been raised to find the solution and work this until something did work. Anita had a stroke at 89 years old. And during the stroke she could recall each medication, the purpose and the dosage. My mother made the decision not to burden her brother with Anita's care. And although Anita wanted to go home, she made the nurses happy with her conversation and riding in the covered wagon to see her grandmother life events. Even in the nursing home, Anita would go and see the sun set on the patio, every day. Can do, will do, find the joy.
1 Chronicles 20:1-3
1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army and ravaged the country of the Ammonites and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. And Joab struck down Rabbah and overthrew it.
2 And David took the crown of their king from his head. He found that it weighed a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone. And it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. 3 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and axes. And thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites.
Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Do we believe a man who turned to mercenary work when out of man’s political favor would favor and want peace?
1 Kings 12
5 “Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet. 6 Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.7 But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother
Thrust into war.
David's life does not reflect the easy choices of any easy life.
Scripture does not pass away, even when difficult.
Thrust into war. Kill or be killed. The Bronze Age. The Romans adapted by having Judean slaves build Caesar's Amphitheater, that today, we call coliseum. Death was ritualized as the glory of Roman right and might religion. And became as the Roman's said, a 'spectacle.' The word spectacle changed and is the gory show, blood lust show we think of when thinking of the coliseum. Is it coincidence we have "The Hunger Games" publications at this time. Few have been thrust into war. David was many times. The How to List: not letting the world take over his heart, mind and soul.
Christmas 2023 isn't the easiest, but we can know God is going to see us through. Not being changed by the world. Keeping our heart and soul in Jesus. Finding our core in the Lord lifts life's dirt off.
And in facing the trouble, understanding the Joy of the Lord is our strength and we find His Joy. Trouble may come, and we will overcome. The Joy of the Lord is our Strength.
David had so many situations pressed upon him. Shepherding, anointing, celebrity warrior of King Saul. Married. Deserted. Living in a cave. Mercenary. Seeing all of his children kidnapped and the families of his mercenary associates kidnapped. Being homeless. By passed in blessings. Doubted. War.
And David would seek the Lord in each difficult situation.
Christmas 2023 as war considers: war, invasion, morality, safety.
We are fortunate to be in Peace. Troubled, pressed, but in Peace.
Emmanuel, God with us. Today. Tomorrow. In all Seasons.
The Word of God does not quit. We have seasons we understand one portion of the enormous works of the Bible. And seasons we have a better understanding of another.
David fought for 22 years for the anointing of God to be shown to be true. When Saul died, David saw 3 people crowned before David. Little by little, David became King of parts of Israel until he was King of Israel. When he came into his power, David welcomed those who had not helped him during the hard years. David had learned, since childhood, about being a shepherd.
The Word of God does not quit. We have seasons we understand one portion of the enormous works of the Bible. And seasons we have a better understanding of another.
David fought for 22 years for the anointing of God to be shown to be true. When Saul died, David saw 3 people crowned before David. Little by little, David became King of parts of Israel until he was King of Israel. When he came into his power, David welcomed those who had not helped him during the hard years. David had learned, since childhood, about being a shepherd.
When David came into his city, David did not carefully plan his home - his home was outside the City Walls - David would see over the city and God would keep David safe. Preparations were well thought out.
When David built his great buildings, David asked outside of Israel for supplies, sometimes for laborers, and for designs of Architecture. David was a Shepherd like Jesus; he saw a need to be a light or ally to the Nations. Preparations were well thought out.
When David found a crown, he did not take it and have it melted down and or carefully re-jeweled. The crown was of value, but not the focus of David. It was a value and a symbol, however not the focus. The crown was now of nations. As the Light of Christ Jesus. Father God of all.
David returned to Peace. The City of David is Peace.
Finding the right direction and priority - in The Lord is yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Abba, Father,
We ask Your Blessings. You provide the seasons, challenges and opportunities.
When opportunities come, we would ask Your Wisdom and rely on You as God.
In this season of Holy Days, we would ask God to direct us. To stay on His Path. For His encouragement, teaching, Love, Mercy, Grace, Joy, and His Renewing Mercy every day. We are renewed daily in His Mercy.
We know this blessing of God's for our Loved ones and ask this to sweep this Nation. To fill the Nations trusting in Him.
Knowing the comfort of all of His Children praying for more Heaven on earth.
Being encouraged as the Children of God learn of so many praying every day.
In the Name of Jesus,
We rejoice in hearing of renewal of Peace, Joy and Love.
More Heaven on earth!
Amen
We pray for a
Time of Healing
for All People
in
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
Savior
God's Only Son
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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