Psalm 113 ~ He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law

Psalm 113 

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!

4 The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

Perhaps you have read or seen "In the Name of the Rose"  it provides a look at some of the dour phases of Christianity.  And I am certain in growing ourselves, as eternal spirits in the promises of Jesus Christ, we actually should be able to look back at Christian growth in our very lives and be able to see ourselves. To be mature enough to say, yes, the Church has done such and I have forgiveness myself.


"The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett was a best seller in the 1980s and a mini-series, and was recently brought to my attention by the sequel. I didn't enjoy the sequel it was just too much political correctness of our era placed in the middle ages. Pillars stirred me in the strivings of Prior Phillip, working to build up the Body of Christ. Perhaps it was the constant play of blessing and struggle.

It is constant theme of God's. 

+ Genesis 12 has Abraham lying to Pharoah and protecting his own hide by the half-truth and truth of Sarah being his sister.

+ The midwives lied to Pharaoh about the birth of the Hebrew boys.

+ Rahab lied to the servants of the King of Jericho to protect the men of God.  David's great-grandmother.

 + Jesus told the mourners of the Synagogue's Ruler - his daughter was sleeping. Jesus was doing two things - encouraging the father of the girl and moving the mourners and scoffers out of His way. 

Paul also wrote of the Freedom of being in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 

²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 3:2

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

It would be HIGHLY doubtful God would have enjoyed seeing Abram lie to Pharaoh - who turned out to act more godly than Abram (who heard the Lord).  The midwives helped create a Nation chosen by the LORD.

Exodus 1:20

So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Romans 2:29
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Jesus refused to adhere to the Law when He healed on the Sabbath. Each day Jesus proclaimed mercy and sacrifice over Law. He was teaching the appropriate Spirit of the Law versus hiding behind appearance to sometimes inflict unkindness and the evils of having a heart merely for show.

Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?

It is GOD, who sees us with Mercy. Giving us His Son. Asking us to sit with HIM. Eternally. That is quite something.

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Romans 13:11-14

Romans 13:11-14

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

This is a serious story.

There is this "thing" on the internet.....It is in the realm of okay during the day, giving you something like 45 seconds of seeing people use their screens to do something like skype and see. It is well know in the teen years and college years.

Daytime is fairly good, as I said. People love to see each other. Night time is far from good. A lot of homosexual graphic acts.  And it all out there. This is what internet porn can be - forming a picture in your mind you will not be able to erase and speak of in years to come. These acts are meant to Shock or to lead into Temptation.  One night, 20 people drink quite a bit and gather in a dorm room. And they place 10 on once side and 10 on the other. And the man takes off his clothes to be nude. He takes his male anatomy and makes a gaffe. Like 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil'..... but there is not a gaffe like they use in transvestite bars, but it is tucked up. And still there is hair there. And he arranges his face to be very sensual.. The viewing people do not know if he is male or female. The people at his sides look just pleasant and very pleased by design. And the faces of the people watching are HORRIFIED. Because they started very early in the evening.

We have worked in Youth Ministry a long time, we've seen and heard lot.  And we are not easily shocked, sometimes to the sadness of Father GOD.  Our young friend said, well the parts were tucked in. We said. What. That is the Most Horrible Thing ever. Our friend said it was a prank. We said there is a name for that. What. LOW LIVING.

How do you mean, our friend, was a little puzzled.  You know people who want to be in the room with that and it was nudity as well as something else.  There were women in the room.... They thought it was funny. No, my friend, that is beyond being not funny.You should imagine what the Noble Generation, fighting World War II would say. They would throw up. That is called a terrible crowd.

That ended the conversation with a thud. There is a time to quit listening and respond.

As the seasons changed, I heard from our friend.  This young person had gone to Lake Travis with 25 or so friends. I was wary of the conversation.  And asked with trepidation,  and a desire to run away, if fun had occurred.

"Well, we rented a huge boat and everyone went in about $40 for a birthday. And there was something that happened I want to discuss with you. "

(.................Great.........) "Okay. Tell me, I'll listen."

"Well, the girls got loaded. (Oh, here we go.) And the wilder girls were going to get top nude and flash people. (Terrific). And so they got all ready to go. (.........) And. The wilder girls got ready to spring it on the next boat. (Ok,  next.) And the boat came nearer. And then we saw they had a Pirate flag."

"You mean what?"

"We didn't know what it meant. And.... Well it was men. (Ok.) And they were gay......... yes......... they flashed us. And it was.... BAD. And very....... graphic."

"Oh, how awful for you."

"It Was Awful."

"I bet." I said with real understanding.

Our friend went on to say, "The girls, were still dressed, but put on their tops and everyone got very quiet."

"Oh."

And the voice on the phone said," It was the best possible outcome. Right, it made people think. And I didn't want the girls to do it, they were skanks anyway, but it made it all in perspective....". It was the first time for that discussion to be understood about boundaries. And behavior. And homosexuals. You don't have to be mean about boundaries.

So God took something wrong and made it sweep up. 

The young people went in after the other boat laughed uproariously and darted off.

So. Father God, we give You this generation, the expense of college, the willingness of some professors to use their classes to spread disdain for boundaries. The need for affordable education. The shock a friend found in a college apartment as they moved their child in for a first year (or any year). And the need for the adults who used to participate in dorms and fraternity and sorority houses. We lift up the need to educate our country. And a Congress willing to educate the people without crippling debt. In the name of Jesus Christ, the LORD, sort us out Father GOD. Amen.

Amen.

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1 Kings 19 ~ Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

1 Kings 19

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. 

And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.

And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.



When mankind encounters the enormous acts of the LORD, usually there is fear.  Yesterday we remembered fear is used 437 times in the Scriptures - fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. In this Scripture we recall it isn't just the heathen struck by fear. By the power of the Acts of GOD.  Usually people want the comfort of company, Elijah is so beaten down, he craves being alone. Christians should always remember Jesus did not replace the fearful disciples and say, "God, we need better people." They were frequently confused and fearful even when the walked with Jesus. And Jesus reached His hand out to them.

This isn't just another story of God using the weak to overcome the strong, it is a story of how depleted even doing the work of the LORD can be.  And it requires something we have to see in our everyday lives, today -  requiring faith to see the hand of the LORD in our lives. God providing what we Need in our lives.

Wow.

And in our pondering and wondering in life, to realize what we attach meaning to isn't always the Way, the Truth and the Life.  However, we are instructed in this passage, we will Know when God is speaking to us.

In the bleakest and least joyous portion of Elijah's life, following the great and almighty act of the Lord,  Elijah hears a strong message of hope. There are others who love the Lord as he does, there are others pulling for the Lord and relying upon Him. Others sharing Elijah's hope and in awe of the Lord. God is giving Elisha as a helper, not just a replacement. Elijah will have days ahead knowing his greatest hope is realized, his work will continue. The Lord is stepping forward. Strengthening Elijah, restoring him, giving him a task dear to the Lord, seeing the Lord provide for him - even and up to his gathering up.

Thank You, Father God. You provide for us. You tell us that when we are hard pressed and discouraged - You are there. Even when doing the right thing is difficult. You tell us to have hope and press forward. Even when You are very quiet, You are there. We give You thanks, in the name of Jesus Christ.

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Psalm 128 ~ Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

Psalm 128

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
    who walks in his ways!
² You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
    you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    around your table.
⁴ Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
    who fears the Lord.

⁵  The Lord bless you from Zion!
    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
    all the days of your life!
⁶ May you see your children's children!
     Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 128 is completely a Psalm of blessing. Which is strange to our worldly generation - fear........ no, not fear. But fear is in this short Psalm - twice. In fact, I never noticed it before and usually read the Psalm with joy. 437 times the word 'fear' is used in both the Old and New Testaments. 269 times anger is used.  Add angry in and you find more....

So, He probably didn't mean 'fear' and we can discard it..... Man shall live on every Word of GOD.  A friend of mine at Needlepoint was asking about fear in the Scriptures, she said she joined her Church at age 10 because she really meant to please an angry God who would send her to hell.  And one of our group is a Baptist pastor's wife. I said, this is what I think of when I think of fearing God: 

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

I grew up going to Morning Prayer as part of school. My grandmother Anita gave me a children's condensed Bible of the Old Testament. It was an easy reader and I sat down one Sunday afternoon at age 7 to read it. I read a lot. And it was a play by play of all the major Acts of GOD. And I finished it and Thought, "OH MY GOD."  Nobody said this Guy was scary.  "And..... He can HEAR me.  Um. No, GOD, I am sure You are a Nice GOD. Um. Really. OH MY GOD.  So, You are a little scary. C'mon, You can hear me. Um. Thinking about what all what the Episcopal Priests said..... See. I get it..... think, think, think.  Oh, Yeah. God of LOVE.  And fear............... is the beginning of wisdom."  And I was better.

I went to School that week and asked Mrs. Frost.  Who'd believe their parents on that one? So, Mrs. Frost explained really, a lot of people who love the LORD go through this. The important thing to remember is God gave us JESUS because HE wants us to know HE LOVES us.

So the 437 times. He probably wasn't being poeti, even if Psalm 128 is actually a Temple song of ascents; it is the Holy Spirit inspiring us to Hear with our ears. And our friend at Church said, but we are Church who love to proclaim GOD is LOVE. And the Baptist Pastor's wife said, fear becomes another word for reverence. Whereupon people looked a bit confused. Like the Catholic Church saying Jesus' brothers and sisters were actually His cousins.  Hey, don't get angry, realize the word for brothers and sisters is brothers and sisters and John the Baptist's cousin was cousin. No one had the courage to change the word even during the Middle Ages.

So in reality. God is telling us.. He is in control. We have wanted to be God since......Genesis Chapter 3.  We want to decide what is Good and Evil. And God says, He is the boundary. He is the WAY, the LIFE and the TRUTH.

Like Kosher, people even today love to make fun of Kosher.  Kosher enabled the slaves of Egypt to give birth to a nation. Fulfilling God's promise to Abram.  And allowing the people in the desert to give birth for 40 years. Allowing King David to live to be old, and showing us in the Iron Age, 50 year olds take better care of their families than the non-kosher people living in their 20s.  Like Psalm 128. My family was better off because my Aunt Clarice lived to be 94. Aunt Eloise 94. Grandmother Anita 94.  My husband's uncle. 94. He was an example of generosity and family loyalty.  A lot of my Grandmother Anita's family lived to be in their 90s, as well as her mother living to be 100. She fed her family a noon day lunch for about 12-14 people for 80 years.

My own family wasn't good about being around the table unless we are dining out (my husband's family said their best dining experiences were actually dining out and he Loved that tradition)), but we have a lot of good memories with gathering together there. And holidays when all of the Church family came. 

Going back to the part we all love, Blessings. God says the people who see a God given road map, keep on the path - supporting each other in love. And He acknowledges something Jesus told us about ourselves and mankind. And if you don't realize this, you probably will one day:

John 2:25

Jesus needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Taking us to a larger part of Psalm 128. We are invited, to sit at the Table. The Banquet Table Jesus spoke of several times.  God knew when He invited Aaron to come in and splash animal blood around the Holy of Holies, that Aaron would only come in for the blessing. And Aaron is an analogy  no one is Pure enough for the LORD. Jesus says, I am the Prodigal's Father. Running to you when you certainly deserved only to fear. So really. Forget the fear. 437 times God uses fear to explain to us our nature and the rest of all of the 80 Books, roughly, 1,000 pages of the Bible, ratified by men who risked death to proclaim JESUS IS LORD, are witnessing to God being a GOD OF LOVE. Who - in Psalm 128 - reminds us, we are God's Family.



Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”



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Galatians 2:11-21 ~ I do not nullify the grace of God

Galatians 2:11-21

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing  the circumcision party.^{[fearing those of the circumcision]} 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified ^{[or counted as righteousness, three times in verse 16]}  by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness^{[or justification]} were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Even in the last chapter in John's Gospel, the disciples are not completely unified. We are all in different stages of life, with different viewpoints stemming from self-interest and the gifts GOD has given us.

1 Peter 4:10
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

1 Corinthians 4:1 
So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.

1 Peter 5:12
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.


Paul wrote concerning this dilemna:

1 Corinthians 9:20-23
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 

 Peter wrote:

1 Peter 4:8-11
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 It was a time of controversy. What distinguishes this from a lot of opportunities for growth - both Peter and Paul were seeking to glorify God.  And as they realized, Paul, the complete and total Jew educated at the feet of Gamaliel, had a heart for the gentiles - people who did not know the one, living God. And Peter, a wealthy fisherman, from Capernaum, loved the Jews seeking to know more about Jesus.  They split their gifts and parted, going forth to use the best of their abilities to serve God. 

The Grace of God, going forth for 2,000 years to build the Body of Jesus Christ. 

Each day, Father God, remind us in ways we see and understand, we love a Living God and seek to use the gift of life given to us, to further give thanks for the blessings He gives us. To You, Father God, be the glory and honor. The joy of being the unique person You have created us to be, using our talents to the Glory of God, in Jesus Christ the LORD. Amen.


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Psalm 107 ~ 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.

Psalm 107 is one of my favorite Psalms because it hits me where I live. And it evokes all kinds of emotions and memories for me. My husband loves and has loved working in the print industry for 16 years of the 21 years worked; the economy has hit this industry. And it is commission, earned pay. Some years he has led the sales force and others we have really, really, really struggled. Usually on Memorial Day and a few times at Christmas.

When the boys were very little, I went to a showcase house in Dallas and prayed. I prayed, LORD all of the earth is Your's. If You would just give Your Word, I would have a showcase home. And I promise I would be nice to everyone. And I remembered my prayer again when my son, Cal and I went to the Dallas Arboretum and we had a very memorable prayer about home and asking God's will.We moved into our lovely 3rd home after having the opportunity to completely paint and re-do the interior of our second home for 10 months making all that work, profitable. We'd lived in the house about 6 weeks when the neighbors told us, it had been the showcase house for our area in ... 1990ish. It had been a house we had both decided we would own from looking through the front door glass and seeing a pond named Long Lake.

And having blue dragonflies didn't hurt. Long Lake is the lake in "The Hobbit" before they meet the dragon.  And "The Hobbit" is somthing we have read and been read to as children and love.  Allen, our minister friend, dragged us to all the Trilogy movies.

But home faces financial times, family times and change.  And so Psalm 107 is my desired haven, and at the same time, the wild winds of life have done their worst. Especially during Hurricane Ike and infant stillbirth.

Today, we have been blessed to know we will be able to live in this house and leave it to grandchildren if we want to. And blessed to have two healthy sons in their early 20s.  A college graduate who returned to show us, what it is really like to live with a fraternity boy away from home for 5 years.  And a younger son who turned 21 this summer.

Today, I cleaned a side yard, a back yard, rounded up weeds, cleaned up a childhood fort with a new awning, carted trash around, cleaned out a composter, scraped algae,  arranged charitable donations, cleaned a closet, a bedroom, a bathroom, a guest bath, promised to clean another closed and discovered my husband's office looks exactly like... Animal House. I don't clean happily. In fact, I think about bodily harm in disgust and I make weird noises and shutter.  My grandmother loved to say she was privileged to have loved ones to clean for. And valuable ideas and convictions formed in her mind.  It leaves me.... upset.  Because I want them there, no doubt. I just want to tazer them. I want them to sing Clean Up with Barney. I don't want to find I now have a new 6 pack waiting for me in an unlikely place. Or week old glasses. Or dog vomit and diarrhea.  And fruit smoothy that looks like that. On expensive wooden boxes.

And then in the middle of remembering French curse words from my childhood, I sit down to read and write the blog. And here it is - Psalm 107. My desired haven.

From Ghoulies and Ghosties and Long Legged Beasties .......................... - And things that go bump in the night, like college aged vampires, -  GOOD LORD - Deliver us.


And Lord, Father God, help me to remember. Voices that used to sing the Barney Song can easily move to China for years. Prayer for my husband as he visits the GP and the urologist and possibly the neurologist. He has had one week of a respiratory illness, a cyst, and some memory issues.  Help me each day to remember the really good things my Grandmother felt so dearly. Keep me out of the tazer store. And let gratitude and joy be the guide to the LOVE You have for all of us.

Your Word, Lord GOD, my FATHER, is still Living and Active. Able to make hearts new.

 In the highest name of Jesus Christ the LORD.

 Amen.


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Matthew 19:16-26 ~ only with difficulty will a rich person enter the Kingdom of Heaven

Herod's Palace in Jerusalem

Matthew 19:16-26

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

There is a portion of the Bible I have been unable to find again, but it is an Old Testament prophecy saying in Jesus' day, there will be enough, but not an abundance. It says something like a cow, several goats, and possibly a horse to go with a donkey. Enough to farm, to work, to eat and not worry. And it was accurate for Nazareth.

However, in Jerusalem, the Davidic line was overthrown by the second exodus return from Babylon; for the first time the Herodians, not of the Davidic line, were calling themselves kings.In 63 B.C, the Roman Republic set up  Syria and Judea as a Roman client state with Judea being a suburb. Judea survived 103 years before yielding to the Herodian Dynasty in 37 B.C. Herod the Great married a Hasmonean princess, Mariamne (they had previously overthrown Rome), and planning to drown the last male Hasmonean heir at his Jericho palace. It was a time of such great riches, Oxford historians said it wasn't until the 14th century A.D that the wealth would be repeated.

The Temple was run on money, with the donations being declared by brass trumpets, both to announce the gift or tithe and to prevent theft.  The more money given, like the Scripture on Corbain, given to the Temple instead of parents, assures us position was determined by gifts. In one part of the Bible, we learn of elaborate prayer given to cheat widows of their houses.

Luke 20:45-47

And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

It was a time when wealth signified the very blessing of God.  It is done today in the Mormon Church. I had been a patient of a prosperous Mormon doctor for many years, I liked him very well; he had been made a Bishop in the Mormon Church, because they could see the blessing of God in his very prosperous salary.

One of the problems with a prosperity driven Gospel, - he had committed a sin, it was found out, he was supposed to repent in front of the congregation as he had been asked to resign his Bishop position.  Instead he took the opportunity to thank the congregation for the many memories he'd had of being a Bishop and treated the supposed rebuke as if he'd won an award. It really did not earn him the respect of his Temple and he lost most of his clients. 

This points out, we do not all really want to be Mother Theresa. And yet we have the desire to do what needs to be done to continue in God's favor. Combined with our unwillingness to be something we prefer not to be. When in actuality, this hits all of a little close to home. And we could become glum thinking about how we all fall so very short of God's holiness.  And Jesus being Jesus - does for us what he did for Peter (who was from the largest household in Capernaum and also closest to the Synagogue).

Matthew 14:31
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

Unfortunately, the man in the Gospel isn't named and we do not know what was his fate. We do learn how much the disciples believed material wealth gave them God's favor. This time echoes another time. Genesis 6. Noah's time. What did cause God to render judgement to the earth instead of Jesus' needed mercy?

Genesis 6:5-6
⁵  The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶ And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

The English Standard Version of Scripture regards this wickedness as partially explained with violence. We have come from a very violent last century in history. However, the Revised Standard Version finds this wickedness to be the desire for power as in position. Right to Life believers say that aborting life generally comes from a desire to prosper, as in power for position.  

We are always in God's blessing to pray for others. And to yearn for them to walk with God's blessings. However, Salvation comes from God. It is His work and He has done so much for us. To Him be the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory.  In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.



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Revelation 22:8-21 ~ if anyone adds to them

Revelation 22:8-21

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

 

… Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1: 21

…His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Might God,
…The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6

… God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord & Christ Acts 2:36

…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! John 1:29

…they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, the song of The Lamb Revelation 15:3


…Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5


..and the Bright & Morning Star Revelation 22:16


..and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life 1 John 1:1


…we have and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous 1 John 2:1


…whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke 1:78


…Before Abraham, I Am. John 8:58


…And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1: 34

…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25


…We have found the Messiah which, is being interpreted, the Christ. John 1:41


…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6


…through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 2: 20

..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16

…I am the Light of the World. John 8:12

…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9

…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come

The Almighty  Revelation 1:8  

Luke 2:10 

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

                                            

I was once asked if I felt badly about adding my words after the Scripture. I replied I didn't because I always make sure to make the Scripture bold and my words are not bold. I do my best to be a servant of the LORD. 

I love to see all the names of the LORD and feel so good to see them in one location. The Scriptures tell us once we all have a guardian angel. It is a stunning and awe inspiring thing to realize God gave Jesus, our Savior, His Angel. Just as Nazareth saw Jesus' blended family as whole and holy, Father God has once again proven to us that we are part of His Family.  Adopted before Jesus died on the cross, as John was, and confirmed to Mary Magdalene - He is our God and Father. For always. In Jesus Christ the LORD.

Amen.

 

 

 

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