Psalm 78:1-39 ~ the children yet unborn

Psalm 78:1-39

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.

5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;

8 and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.

9 The Ephraimites, armed with the bow,
turned back on the day of battle.
10 They did not keep God's covenant,
but refused to walk according to his law.

11 They forgot his works
and the wonders that he had shown them.
12 In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders
in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it,
and made the waters stand like a heap.
14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
and all the night with a fiery light.
15 He split rocks in the wilderness
and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
16 He made streams come out of the rock
and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

17 Yet they sinned still more against him,
rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18 They tested God in their heart
by demanding the food they craved.
19 They spoke against God, saying,
“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
20 He struck the rock so that water gushed out
and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
or provide meat for his people?”

21 Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath;
a fire was kindled against Jacob;
his anger rose against Israel,
22 because they did not believe in God
and did not trust his saving power.
23 Yet he commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven,
24 and he rained down on them manna to eat
and gave them the grain of heaven.
25 Man ate of the bread of the angels;
he sent them food in abundance.
26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
and by his power he led out the south wind;
27 he rained meat on them like dust,
winged birds like the sand of the seas;
28 he let them fall in the midst of their camp,
all around their dwellings.
29 And they ate and were well filled,
for he gave them what they craved.

30 But before they had satisfied their craving,
while the food was still in their mouths,
31 the anger of God rose against them,
and he killed the strongest of them
and laid low the young men of Israel.

32 In spite of all this, they still sinned;
despite his wonders, they did not believe.
33 So he made their days vanish like a breath,
and their years in terror.
34 When he killed them, they sought him;
they repented and sought God earnestly.

35 They remembered that God was their rock,
the Most High God their redeemer.
36 But they flattered him with their mouths;
they lied to him with their tongues.
37 Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.
38 Yet he, being compassionate,
atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all his wrath.

39 He remembered that they were but flesh,
a wind that passes and comes not again.

Have you ever played the video game, The Sims? You build your person - Sim, from the head to the feet. You gift the Sim with traits. You educate your Sim and you house your Sim. If you become bored with your Sim, you can delete them, or build another one & ignore the first ones. It's a blend of Monopoly, Barbie Dolls and Stepford Wives. After all, Sims become tired, irritable, look up to you, wave and begin to complain.

God was tempted to delete the Children of Israel.

Yet he, being compassionate,
atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all his wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
a wind that passes and comes not again.

What dark sayings of old?

They spoke against God, saying,
“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
20 He struck the rock so that water gushed out
and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
or provide meat for his people?”

But they flattered him with their mouths;
they lied to him with their tongues.
Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.

I like the Sims, but never once has my homemade Sim even tried once to tell
me - thanks for my efforts. What would please Father God?

our fathers
to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments

How important?

he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their fathers

"He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel."

This is basic truth. If God has not spoken, if He had not testified to his Word, His will, then we are adrift about the meaning of life.

How does God begin the 10 Commandments and see His Commandments?

Exodus 20
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."

God gave us His Commandments to set us free from the bondage of sin.

Give your children the knowledge of God and the hope He provides.
Blessed are you Father God. Help us to remember Your glorious
deeds and to look to You in hope. You have atoned for us in Jesus.
Help us to be the faithful, to abide in prayer and wait upon Your will.

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Psalm 11 ~ if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Psalm 11


1 In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord's throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.

David knew living in a kingdom, where the king was not just. Against David personally. The foundations of the King of Israel were not what God hoped for His Israel. David did not kill Saul, even when Saul forced him to live as an outlaw - an outlaw neighboring kings hoped to hire as a mercenary to kill and raze Israel. Saul killed priests who had helped David & still David did not kill Saul when Saul was put into his hand. It's amazing. David even mourned Jonathan & Saul on the day they died.

Do you remember the name Darlie Routier. I do, I am from Texas. She was convicted of killing her two sons. It was claimed a home intruder with a knife killed the boys. The prosecution knew they didn't have evidence to convict Routier. So they told her it was very cleansing and to have closure, she should visit her boys graves. She did and she sprayed silly string all over their graves and the police videoed her doing so. She was convicted.

Today people are upset with the death of 3 year old Caylee Anthony. Where is the justice for Caylee? A nation will mourn for Caylee. The people who bought Caylee all of the toys she was photographed with, the walls lined with baby equipment and baby decorations, the people willing to report Caylee missing, will mourn Caylee. The Lord comforts Caylee.

What will we say about the foundations of our Justice System? According to Wikipedia, Crime in the United States is actually very much the same since 1970. With the American Justice System having the highest incarceration rate in the world.

What can be said about Casey Anthony? She did not care her child had disappeared. She lied to the police. During all of the discussions since 2008; Cindy Anthony sought to have Casey sent to a relative after discovering Casey, at age 13, was a sociopath and pathological liar. What evidence do we have of this? The recorded visits of Casey Anthony's family to her. Loving, kind and concerned even though they reported finding an offensive odor in her car and the child being missing. What justice for Caylee? We all know a 3 year old does not tie herself up with duct tape in a swamp. But we will never know the cause of death. Casey continued to destroy her family after Caylee's life was over. Casey has blazed a path for her life. Now she will live in it.

The prosecution was building a wall. The wall should have been labelled sociopath and the bricks of that path. Not party girl. The charge shouldn't have been murder, the cause of death couldn't be proved. It should have been reckless abandonment. Manslaughter. Failure to report a crime. The wall the prosecution built was media attention. The jury said the wall wasn't sound.

What justice for Caylee?

Isaiah 54:7-107 For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
⁸ In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,”
says the LORD your Redeemer.

⁹ “To me this is like the days of Noah,
when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.
So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,
never to rebuke you again.
¹⁰ Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

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1 Peter 2:21-25 ~ straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul

1 Peter 2:21-25

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

People are like sheep a good bit and that is not an insult, entirely.

Matthew 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.


Sheep do indeed sing in chorus, well, I know they do when they are lambs. Texas A & M used to have flocks of lambs, they were precious.

David, was a Shepherd and did go astray. God caught his attentions with a lamb.

2 Samuel 12:1-6

12 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.

 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

You have to hand the analogy to Nathan. We have remarked before, Nathan has so much love for God and David, we can all feel the anguish of the rebuke. This is a Word fitly spoken. And we have noted before, David did name one of his children Nathan and our prophet Nathan was with David as he slept with his fathers, as a very old man.

I was once asked by my brother John, one very starry night on Padre Island, Texas if I believed man was inherently good or evil. I said actually, I believe most people are sheep. John said, oh sure right, right a Biblical answer. I said no, Charles Dickens had this correct. Man falls into a circle from proclivity and believes the circle of his existence is the correct method of life. There are good circles propelling us forward to Him, to grow up and go Home to the Father so willing to run to us. And the other circle, promoting doubt and elbows-out-master-of-our-own-destiny.


Matthew 25:14-16
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

What we tell ourselves about our Father God is important. Believing what we say and do has an impact. Life has puzzles, and suffering, Jesus saw past the suffering to the joy.

21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’




And if we believe the Master has joy, then we see this as well...


Matthew 9:15
And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?"

John 15:26
But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

Psalm 30:11-12
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!


Proverbs 31:25
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

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Luke 15:12-24 ~ when he came to himself

Luke 15:12-24

And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

What if we looked at the Scriptures to see if life is a puzzle, reaching towards "Pass Go".

When we have an interlocking puzzle, don't we look diligently?

Luke 15:8-10
“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Matthew 13:45
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

And don't we place puzzle pieces as we consider how they fit?

Matthew 13:24
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field

Matthew 13:47
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.




And as we start to figure out the puzzle - the puzzle takes shape quickly...

Matthew 13
33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”



What is the purpose of a puzzle?

Matthew 13:14
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Can we fail to work our puzzle?

Psalm 127
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.

God enables us to work His Plan, yet He gives us free will. Huge is the highway leading to destruction.

What did the prodigal son find when he came to himself, leaving behind his blind servitude to feeding the pigs?

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves

Ephesians 5:15-17
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Jeremiah 9:24
"But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” 





Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.


On the journey to the narrow gate what are we going to find?

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

God runs to you. Build your life, your House.


Now is this just made up??

2 Peter 1:2-8
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.


His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Hebrews 13:20-21

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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1 Corinthians 1:1-17 ~ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

St. Paul painted by Doménikos Theotokópoulos. Doménikos always signed his whole name, but known by his nickname The Greek or El Greco - characterized by modern scholars as an artist so individual he belongs to no conventional school. Painted in 1604, found today in the City Art Museum, St Louis. Paul holds a letter. Is he carrying a sword or a knife, you decide

1 Corinthians 1:1-7 Bible in Basic English

Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the purpose of God, and Sosthenes the brother,

To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been made holy in Christ Jesus, saints by the selection of God, with all those who in every place give honor to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give praise to my God for you at all times, because of the grace of God which has been given to you in Christ Jesus; So that in him you have wealth in all things, in word and in knowledge of every sort; even as the witness of the Christ has been made certain among you: So that having every grace you are living in the hope of the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ


My father once said something to me I think of occasionally and, more recently, the Christian book club in our Church read a book about possibilities ~


John 21
21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers [and sisters] that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.



What if God wanted the apostle John to live until Jesus returned, what would it be like - to be able, in this life, to meet an actual apostle of Jesus Christ?

What would Paul say to us today? What would it be like to receive a letter in the mail from Paul? This letter begins to tell us what Paul would say to you, a child of God, adopted by Jesus.

Paul would let you know, right away, where he stands ~ Paul works for Jesus Christ’s purpose. He’d write to you, to tell you, God has called you to be a saint. Only because God has personally chosen you. But you aren’t called to be a lonely saint; just as Paul has Sosthenes, his friend, (who is as close to him as a brother) you will have others who join you to give honor to Jesus Christ.

Paul says you have: love, you’ve received forgiveness and peace, then you can give forgiveness. Not from Paul, but given from Father God and Jesus.

Next, Paul says you are a new beginner in Jesus, so take things...carefully.

Nope, this isn’t said at all. No. There is not a level of babyhood to relax in. Paul says you are God’s, Paul is grateful for you. Paul says you live in the hope of Jesus’ gift of eternal life and eternal forgiveness, living faith, hope and love, living God’s purpose for you – you have all the spiritual gifts you need. God gives us what we need to accomplish His purposes.

Paul tells you, you are a workman approved by God, you are God’s own child. When you don’t do something correctly, because you are human and need a Savior, God’s grace is coming to you.

Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.


2 Timothy 2:10-14
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.

Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

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Ecclesiastes 12 ~ the almond tree blossoms

Ecclesiastes 12

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.


Dear Edward,
We have gone round about a conversation, 'Omnipotence, is God's plan irrefutable and is being resigned to the will of God a good thing and prayer changes nothing' since Isabelle died in 2008. Sometimes the Lord gives us a conversation congruent to one in your mind and then the thread picks up again elsewhere and you know He wants you to have the discussion.

We laughed today about you reading Ecclesiastes at our friend Allen's suggestion; when you went back to uncharacteristically low moan, he ignored your uncharacteristic sedate moan, to be DELIGHTED to know you followed his suggestion. It's a great thing to laugh. However you said life was perhaps not as joyous again, after reading Ecclesiastes.

Clark told us to prepare for seasons. And Clark says a lot of the time there is no Coincidence in the Christian Life in HIM.

My flipping open our Sanctuary Bible today was this - on Coincidences - being from HIM


2 Kings 8

Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the Lord has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.” 2 So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3 And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land. 4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.” 5 And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.”

Frankly, this is the first time I read the events of the woman from Shunem.


Coincidence and Christians is a sign from HIM and is joyous. A wonder we should enjoy as knowing how lovingly HE is involved with us praying and talking to HIM in our move, dwell and have our being with HIM.

Hezekiah, you know, changed the Hand of God to be blessed completely. Hezekiah lived carrying the cross of Jesus. At one point, Hezekiah stripped off the gold, a scar that remained, to follow his father king's advice to strip the Temple of Gold to keep the Assyrian army at bay. God fully forgave Hezekiah. And gave him blessing upon blessing upon blessing. For believing and being obedient to God. Hezekiah's reign was almost as prosperous as Solomon, and we have many, many rich archaeological finds to be able to see this blessing of God.

Edward, miracles Only happen because of this:

John 15:7
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

This verse was on the radio, at work, after we were talking about God and His attitudes on prayer. It seems to me, maybe, you are stuck in Ecclesiastes.


Luke 18
And he told them a parable to show that they must always pray and not be discouraged, 2 saying, “There was a certain judge in a certain town who did not fear God and did not respect people. 3 And there was a widow in that town, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary!’ 4 And he was not willing for a time, but after these things he said to himself, ‘Even if I do not fear God or respect people, 5 yet because this widow is causing trouble for me, I will grant her justice, so that she does not wear me down in the end by her coming back!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge is saying! 7 And will not God surely see to it that justice is done to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, and will he delay toward them? 8 I tell you that he will see to it that justice is done for them soon! Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, then will he find faith on earth?”

Are we on the same page? How Can Jesus compare HIS Father, the ONE Jesus tells us is the Only Good ONE, to a corrupt judge? Obviously, our Father God wants us to see HIM in a light that is gentle, favorable, calm, loving, reverent, placing HIM as first in our thoughts, hearts. Knowing He loves us that much.

When we go to Him, constantly in prayer, He wants you to Love HIM as much as you loved, miss, wept, continued to miss, still get misty, Buddy.

Knowing, that you know, and I know you know - your dad actually does fish, completely well and heart-ily in the waters of Heaven, described as beautiful in the Book of Revelation. 

Isaiah 49 tells us there is a place for a tiny, smiling little baby girl we love. An actual living place, where Isabelle is cared for by tender hands. Her left hand restored.  Knowing the hills and highways of Heaven, her grandfathers. Here we will see her longing to see us again. To hear our voices and we shall hear hers.

One of your favorite verses is this:

Luke 23:39-43
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

When I think of our home, I've named our home as Psalm 107
Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.





Psalm 107
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.

17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

23 Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell,
and they establish a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards
and get a fruitful yield.
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their livestock diminish.

39 When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction
and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright see it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.


Okay! Which is absolutely marvelous, yet describes some of the wild ride life has been for us.

People always ask why did Saul (people have nicknamed you this sometimes) become so angry, bitter, horrible in deeds? He refused to go with God's Plan. Counting each day in joy. Giving back to God, what God asked of Saul.

We did the Bible Study at our house for about two months - 100 Stories of the Bible You Should Know. The determination was you get ONE Choice. You can do God's Plan. Or you can be resentful to the point of evil, and
... you get to do God's Plan.

Every day you have the opportunity to greet the One who Loves you most. And you can be resigned, but this isn't encouraging to the Father God who would RUN Run run run run run RUN RUN RUN to meet you. Because you are, like all of us, a prodigal son. The Holy Spirit said to the prophet Samuel, are you going to continue to mourn Saul? Well Edward, the Holy Spirit understood Samuel. God understands Love - better than most of us.

Remember when you called me from Las Vegas. And your voice was thrilled. You got pressed into having your palm read, and in the middle of that phewy, when asked when are you connected, revved up - you had a moment of Profound Joy. Rushing off to call me.  You felt connected to Love. In Church. In music.

Psalm 111
Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.

Ecclesiastes 12 is a season. Trim your lamps, women!! Prepare for the Bridegroom. This season can be planned for as in, see a need, fill the need.

all the daughters of song are brought low—

Let your sons see encouragement - of them - of team work - desire to see them - times to call them - gentle conversation, encouraging - all of us.

Don't let your house run down - House is both physical and Spiritual. Be thankful any time you can. This is the only real gift we can give HIM.

Let the Light within Edward shine. In the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.

John 1:4
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.


1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Love,
Anne Laurel

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