Isaiah 40:13 ~ Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?

Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Isaiah 40:13

My husband and I graduated from Texas A&M, I've always liked the way the professors have looked at weather patterns changing and not come to hysteria over things like global warming, saying we can even look at Charles Dickens books and Elizabethan era history to see weather patterns change without causing dire circumstances.

We had Swine Flu at our house, my son in college was quarantined to our house. I thought the media attention for Swine Flu, Avian Flu was like hungry seagulls.

I know Christians have even earned a Wikipedia page for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%932011_midwinter_animal_mass_death_events suggestions of Apocalypse.

But, experts say, massive die-offs like these are not at all unusual. What is more unusual is the AP Wires report die-offs and major news isn’t reporting them. Google does if you dig into different wording of it.

Did you hear of the 10,000 -20,000 cattle dying in Vietnam. I think something that large going unreported is bizarre.

Bird Deaths December 2010 - January 2011

Chronological Order

South Korea, December 2010
So far, more than 100,000 chickens have been culled and more than 10,000 ducks due to new outbreak of avian flu.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12097615

New Zealand, December 2010
Penguins, petrels and other seabirds are dying in large numbers and washing up on our shores, says the Department of Conservation (DOC), NZ.
Autopsy reports showed they died of starvation due to a lack of small fish to feed on in the ocean.
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=188024
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1012/S00781/unusual-weather-conditions-causing-mass-death-among-seabirds.htm

North Carolina, USA. December 2010. (It was originally thought these deaths were caused by malicious humans, but that has now been retracted).
Large number of pelicans
Cause : presently unknown (awaiting results)
http://www.enctoday.com/news/-86417-jdn--.html

Arizona, USA. 26 December 2010
70 plus bats
Cause - one theory is because it was “unseasonably warm”
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/12/28/20101228tucson-70-dead-bats-found.html
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/article_0c307d8f-baf4-5a2f-ab95-93c7d846ff30.html

Illinois, USA. Late December 2010 onwards
Multiple birds (estimate 50 - 100), clustered around a few households.
Cause unknown.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6185536/dead_birds_reported_by_residents_in.html?cat=8

Kentucky, USA. Late December 2010.
Lots of birds (seemed to fall only in this lady’s backyard)
Cause unknown
http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/Woman-reports-dozens-of-dead-birds-in-her-yard-112830524.html

Tennessee, USA. Estimated time of death last week of December 2010
120 blackbirds (very localised cluster)
Cause unknown
http://www.wsmv.com/news/26379609/detail.html

Georgia, USA. 30 December 2010
3 rare cranes (all found together)
Cause unknown
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110105/NEWS01/301050085/Authorities+investigate+whooping+crane+deaths

Arkansas (Beebee), USA. 31 Dec 2010
5000 blackbirds.
Reputedly killed by fleeing from fireworks

Chile, South America, 2 Jan 2011
Thousands of birds fall from the sky and die
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mrlH3BgKPxk

Manitoba, Canada, 3 January 2010
10,000s of Birds Found Dead in Manitoba
Cause : local reports suggest bird flu
http://www.bbsradio.com/cgi-bin/webbbs/webbbs_config.pl?md=read;id=11811

Louisiana, USA. (Labarre) 3 Jan 2011
500 blackbirds and starlings
Cause presently unknown
http://www.wbrz.com/news/hundreds-of-dead-blackbirds-found-near-new-roads/

Italy, around 3 January 2011
300 doves
Cause unknown at this time
http://www.geapress.org/ambiente/faenza-piovono-tortore-morte-foto/10282

Japan, 3 January 2011
Multiple birds death
Suspected : avian flu
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/health/04global.html?_r=4
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101220a2.html

Sweden, 4 January 2011
50 - 100 jackdaws
Local vet theorises they were scared by fireworks, landed on a road and “didn’t know how to fly away from cars which hit them”.
http://www.thelocal.se/31262/20110105/

East Texas, USA, 5 Jan 2011
200 birds found dead on a bridge
Theory : “Hit by cars”
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7800408-now-east-texas-also-reports-hundreds-of-dead-birds

2011-01-09

Unexplained bird deaths have struck again this time at a farm near Quebec City in Canada. More than 80 pigeons have been found dead of unknown causes. The country's environmental officials state...

Jan 11, 2011

Major, Bizarre Fish Die-Off Along Lakefront in Chicago A bizarre scene is evolving on the Chicago lakefront, with Canada geese and mallard ducks gulping down dead or dying gizzard shad.

A major die-off of what appears to be the 2010 class is happening in Chicago harbors. Thousands, perhaps far more than that, of dead gizzard shad in the 3- to 5-inch range are frozen in the ice of Chicago harbors or floating around in open patches of water.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/01/11/major-bizarre-fish-die-off-along-lakefront/

January 12th, 2011

Sonoma County California has its own bird death mystery on its hands. More than 100 birds were found dead on Saturday clustered on the ground off of Highway 101

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Bird deaths in California - Charleston Environmental News | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-charleston/bird-deaths-california#ixzz1BcMWgt4z

Jan 13, 2011

371 Dead Birds Fall from Sky on LA's Sunset Blvd; Similar to California, Arkansas, Louisiana Bird Drops http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6218358/371_dead_birds_fall_from_sky_on_las.html?cat=9

12 Jan 2011

Romania – hundreds of birds, gov’t say died of alcohol poisoning

2011-01-19

Dothan, Alabama (DCE)- The plot thickens in the mystery of massive animal die offs as recent bird deaths occur in Alabama. On January 10th-14th scores of dead birds had been found in Scottsboro, Tanner and Dauphin Island, Alabama. 300 plus dead birds discovered along highway in Alabama

Continue reading on Examiner.com: 300 plus dead birds discovered along highway in Alabama - Charleston Environmental News | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-charleston/300-plus-dead-birds-discovered-along-highway-alabama?cid=parsely#parsely#ixzz1BcMzOPxI

Jan 18, 2011

Hundreds of dead seals in Labrador, Canada – dying since December http://coto2.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/hundreds-of-dead-seals-in-labrador/

1/18

Last week about 300 birds were found dead on the side of the road in Athens. Now another massive bird kill in the Tennessee Valley has the State Agriculture Department investigating, this time in Jackson County. http://www.waaytv.com/news/local/story/Another-Massive-Bird-Kill-in-the-Tennessee-Valley/zHVxdW6X4k2lJFJvmWK3TQ.cspx

Jan 20, 2011

Colorado is now on the list of states where birds are mysteriously dying.

CBS4 You Reporter Stacia Shane sent in pictures of dozens of dead birds she found on I-25.

The birds were found near Dacono.

More than one hundred birds were found and most of them were under tree

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/01/20/mysterious-bird-deaths-investigated-near-dacono/

Jan 21, 2011

Beijing reports mass bird deaths http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/01/21/40584234.html

Jan 23, 2010

10,000 Cattle Dead In Vietnam: Cows, Buffalo Part Of Mass Die-Off

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/4119/seven-people-die-from-cold-in-central-vietnam.html

http://www.salon.com/wires/world/2011/01/21/D9KSK8GO0_as_vietnam_freezing_cows/index.html

Blamed on cold weather 48’ Fahrenheit, one night of freezing temps

January 27, 2011

Massive amounts of gizzard shad fish die off in Lake St. Clair, Michigan

http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/01/27/news/local_news/doc4d4218be854a9301809608.txt

Dead Fish Chronological Order

December 2010 - January 2011

Indiana, USA, 17 December 2010
Dead fish wash up on Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana beach (frozen gobies, trout, crayfish, and mudpuppies).
Cause : attributed to stormy weather
http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/Dead_fish_wash_up_on_Washington_Park_beach_112105654.html

Phillipines, 18 December 2010
Many dead fish floating
Cause : suspected pollution
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20101218-309667/Residents-gather-eat-dead-fish-floating-in-barangay-Ibo#

Sydney, Australia. 19 December 2010
Dead fish clog lake at airport
THOUSANDS of dead fish have been found floating on the surface of a small lake inside Sydney Airport.
Cause : unknown. (I can’t find any results for investigations for this yet).
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/dead-fish-clog-lake-at-airport-20101218-191ba.html

Haiti, around 20 December 2010 onwards
“Scores of dead fish”
Cause presently unknown
http://www.france24.com/en/20101227-authorities-probe-dead-fish-haitian-lake

South Carolina, USA, 23 December 2010
Cold water kills thousands of starfish on SC coast
http://www.lakewyliepilot.com/2010/12/23/964237/cold-water-kills-thousands-of.html

Vietnam, around 24 December 2010 onwards
More than 150 tonnes of red tilapias (world’s most popular farmed fish)
Cause : “Tests on the fish and water samples reveal the deaths were caused by frequent ebb tides and the high densities of fish kept caged in pens," say officials
http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20101231-255737.html

Italy, 28 December 2010
Two miles of beach full of fish, clams and crabs dead in a stretch of coast
Cause : suspected pollution in area
http://corrierefiorentino.corriere.it/firenze/notizie/cronaca/2010/28-dicembre-2010/strage-del-mare-natale-181158495607.shtml

San Antonio, Texas, 29 December 2010
Tourists Greeted By Dozens Of Dead Fish In Museum Reach Section Of River
Cause : Officials suspect “recent rains” and cooler water temperatures
http://www.ksat.com/news/26316464/detail.html#

Argentina, 30 December 2010
Lots of dead fish
Causes : unconfirmed but officials are talking “natural” and “suffocation”
http://www.el-litoral.com.ar/leer_noticia.asp?IdNoticia=152947
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=136401&catid=2

Brazil, 29 December 2010 onwards
Millions of dead fish - at least 100 tons of sardine, croaker and catfish)
Cause still presently unknown (waiting for test results)
http://www.parana-online.com.br/editoria/cidades/news/502434/?noticia=MORTANDADE+MISTERIOSA+DE+PEIXES+NO+LITORAL#id=google_ads_frame5&parent=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parana-online.com.br&rpctoken=adsense_rpc_key&_methods=expand%2Ccollapse%2C_ready%2C_close%2C_open%2C_resizeMe

Arkansas, USA, early Jan 2011
100,000 drum fish
Cause presently unknown

Wales, 2 Jan 2011
Hundreds of dead fish, mostly bream, carp and roach,
Cause : cold water stress suggested
http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=79520

Peterborough, United Kingdom, 4 Jan 2011
Scores fish dead in brook (not the first time either)
Cause : suspected pollution
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/environment/concern_as_fish_die_in_beauty_spot_brook_1_2224957

Canada, 4 Jan 2011
Hundreds of gizzard shad fish
Cause : put down to “natural occurrence”. Officials said such die-offs are not unusual but usually happen in the Spring
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/01/04/16757321.html

Florida, USA, 4 Jan 2011
Thousands Of Fish Dead In Spruce Creek
Officials said it was due to the cold but the fish kill is unusual because it is warm, according to people who live along the creek.
http://www.wftv.com/news/26367953/detail.html

UK, 5 Jan 2011
Dead fish in pool
Cause : cold weather
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/01/05/anger-over-dead-fish-left-floating-in-pool/

Maryland, USA, reported 5 Jan 2011 (happened late December it seems)
2 million, primarily adult spot, with some juvenile croakers
Cause : cold water stress suggested
http://www.wbaltv.com/r/26357581/detail.html
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/bs-gr-fish-kill-bay-20110104,0,5624655.story

Michigan, USA, reported 5 Jan 2011
Hundreds of dead fish, gizzard shad (type of herring) turning up in rivers
Cause : suspected cold stress
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/26378636/detail.html

New Zealand, 5 Jan 2011
Hundreds of snapper
Cause presently unknown (some without eyes)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10697906

UK, reported 5 Jan 2011
Over 40,000 dead crabs
Cause : attributed to cold stress
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora--fauna/40000-crabs-die-of-cold-in-britain/articleshow/7223955.cms

Past Cases

1973: Stuttgart, Arkansas. Hail knocked thousands of birds from the sky.

1976: Maryland: 15 million spot fish died early 1976 and a smaller number in 1980.

2001: Arkansas. Lightning killed dozens of mallards at Hot Springs.

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Psalm 127 ~ gives to His beloved

Psalm 127

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1 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.

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

25 years ago today, it was our wedding day! We looked a bit younger, but boy, the weather was better! A balmy 80 degrees! So thanks for that Father God, I am still remembering and rejoicing.

At this weekend's 30 different ecumenical Church gathering, my husband Edward took the time to tell me how much he loved me. I don't think I've felt such overwhelming love in my life. It was a wonderful thing and I'll carry it with me through this life and into the next. I'll tell no sad tales of my life, but our 25 year marriage was preceded by our dating in High School and College until we were apart in our Sophomore year until Edward graduated. After I graduated, we were engaged for a year while I traveled all over the country with my work.

We celebrated our 3rd anniversary with our preemie son in his swing at the foot of the dinner table. He had apnea, hernia surgery at 6 lbs., and forgot to breathe for the first year of his life. We've had seasons of financial woes. A healthy second son. Years of youth ministry. A daughter still-born in September of 2008, she was beautiful & 2 lbs at birth. We've had our share of what life can give. Nothing is better in life than having a Savior and having people who love you and you get to love.

Psalm 127 is great for this. Worry, worry, worry isn't going to cut through life ...or help. Only God's love and His mercy gets us through.

I was touched yesterday by the obituary of Eunice G. Sanborn of Jacksonville, Texas. She died at 114, the oldest person in the country. She said, ""My secret is my Savior," she said in 2007. "A lot of people don't know Him, but I do. I love Him. He's going to keep on being my secret. I don't know how long I'll be here, but I've enjoyed it. I'm thankful," Sanborn said. "Life is a wonderful thing if you make it that way. If you don't make it right, it isn't wonderful. If you do things right and love the Lord, you'll be all right."

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah!

!!!!!

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Psalm 16 ~ Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

Please read the PS at the end of the page

Psalm 16

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1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight [I say:]

4 The sorrows of those who run after [who acquire] another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being [my glory] rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption [Or see the pit].

11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Tonight The Woodlands had 30 different ecumenical Churches gather together after 21 days of fasting and prayers. We met as one Church, as the Bride of Christ. 600 chairs were filled at HopePointe Anglican, plus the people standing in the back, the people sitting in the side windows. We said, " We come together to acknowledge the Church is one. We gather to love the Lord Jesus Christ and say He is why we exist."

(Praying before the Service)

How many times have you gathered together with the excellent saints of God to worship in standing room only and no one wants to leave? It began at 6 pm, there wasn't an ending time, but the ladies who baked the 660+ cookies guessed at about 8 pm. ~ 8 pm came and went. What... joy. How can just a mere word hold what the evening was. The ministers, the pastors, the priests, all stood to say what had been the Word of the Lord coming to them from the time spent praying, fasting for an awakening of the Holy Spirit.







One of the phrases drawing laughter was the phrase, "All is not right behind the trees." Living in The Woodlands, referred to as 'the bubble', there is a certain pressure to appear to always have our perfection on. To strive, to achieve, to be perfect. Not to be lonely, or worried, or afraid. Church should be the place your real self reaches out to the Living God. Come as you actually are.

We are a new Church with 200+ Church Family. We stood in our beautiful atrium, if we'd been younger, we would have pressed our faces to the glass, the parking lot was full, the Junior High School's parking lot next door was beginning to overflow. In awe, we would hear people say softly, "More people are still coming up the drive."It must have been repeated 20 times. We are thinking it was 700 people from 30 Churches. One of the Pastors said to Clark he'd guessed about 40 people would show up. If only you could have seen the smiling faces arriving at our door.

My friend, Dee, had a young 30-something woman come up to her and ask her if her daughter was Kathy. She used Kathy's maiden name. Dee replied she was. It was the High School friend who had led Kathy to Christ in High School. I turned to Dee, I said this is like being at Heaven's Gate. It created some real thought.

Can you imagine a more beautiful way to begin a new year? There isn't one. Jesus told us:

Matthew 6: 17, 18
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

If you've begun this year in ways that don't please you or the Lord, you can still be part of this prayer for awakening in our area, we extend the invitation to you! For your area. Begin your own 21 days of giving up something or adding something to strengthen you. Prayer is the power of God; it's your fuel, and ours, and our bond. Our joy can be your joy, in the Spirit of God, time and place are His.

Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

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My PostScript or P.S. is - later this summer we would experience the worst drought in recorded history. Our rainfall levels were lower than the deserts of Texas. Our county experienced a tri-county fire. 3 counties on fire together. We had firefighters come from all over, including Alaska and North Carolina. Many, many thousands of trees that were decades old were lost. And in the middle of all of this scary horror you can see home after home that was saved. The fire marks scorch the house - this is a tribute to the firefighters - but fire has an element of wind that cannot be contained without Help from above. I do not think these prayers for our community did anything but bless all of us during this time. Thank God and then thank God for the Christian leaders who brought us together for community prayer and fasting. It really was a very Holy and Awe-inspiring Evening.

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Daniel 2:1-23 ~ O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked

In London’s British Museum, there is a baked clay tablet (just under 3¼ inches) with cuneiform writing (wedge-shaped characters) recording important activities of king Nebuchadnezzar between the years 605-594 B.C. 91 times Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned in the Scriptures. Amazingly, this is a Scriptural calendar.

"And Jehoichin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he and his mother[!]... And the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his [Nebuchadnezzar's] reign." 2 Kings 24:12

"In the entry which deals with the 7th year of the king (598-7 B.C.), in the month of Kislimu, the king of Nebuchadnezzar] marched his army the capital city of Judah. On the second day of the month Addaru [the capture of Jerusalem, dated precisely to March 16, 597 BC.], he captured Jerusalem and its king. He appointed a new ruler [Zedekiah— 2 Kings 24:17] and took heavy tribute and sent it to Babylon [2 Kings 24:13]. Another remarkable archaeological confirmation of biblical record in the last 60 years.

Other archaeological discoveries relating to the fall of Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon are well known. His palace has been excavated in Babylon and many of his records recovered (Wiseman 1985; Klengel-Brandt 1997: 252–54). One such record, the Babylonian Chronicle for the years 605–595 BC, describes the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC, the so-called “second deportation,” the first being in 605 BC when Daniel and his companions were taken to Babylon (Dan 1:1–5). The tablet was found in Babylon and purchased by the British Museum in the 19th century.

Daniel 2:1-23

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1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” 8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9 if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

12 Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He declared to Arioch, the king's captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.

17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king's matter.


Luke 18:26
18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For 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.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

How was Daniel saved? The gift of wisdom. It was an impossible task; a miracle given to a heathen king. God was after the soul of someone He had gifted tremendously. Not just the righteous Daniel, but Nebuchadnezzar.

36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

Why the secrecy of the dream? Surely King Nebuchadnezzar was afraid. A dream were kingdoms topple would be frightening to a king. God Almighty allowed Nebuchadnezzar the power to conquer the Children of Israel, He wasn't going to let Nebuchadnezzar get by with being a self-impressed, powerful, heathen.


46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

Nebuchadnezzar had many distractions from his spiritual life. Pride was his downfall. After building an idol, sacrificing Daniel's friends to the fiery furnace, God gives them salvation. Nebuchadnezzar proclaims again in Daniel 3:

8 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”

Nebuchadnezzar is so impressed, his salvation and devotion continues to the next chapter, Daniel 4:

King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

Nebuchadnezzar has another dream given to him by God and a gift of wisdom interpretation by Daniel, Daniel says, "Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Nebuchadnezzar is too content and impressed with himself to remember.

28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”

Nebuchadnezzar is finally healed, in the Lord's time.

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”

36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Nebuchadnezzar now had something in common with the remnant slaves returned in freedom to a country he razed. They understood enduring God's righteous judgment, understood He corrects those whom He loves and know the tender mercy of Almighty God the Father's forgiveness.

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Isaiah 50:1-11 ~ Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Isaiah 50:1-11

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1 Thus says the Lord:
“Where is your mother's certificate of divorce,
with which I sent her away?
Or which of my creditors is it
to whom I have sold you?
Behold, for your iniquities you were sold,
and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
2 Why, when I came, was there no man;
why, when I called, was there no one to answer?
Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem?
Or have I no power to deliver?
Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea,
I make the rivers a desert;
their fish stink for lack of water
and die of thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness
and make sackcloth their covering.”

4 The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
5 The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
6 I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.

7 But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord God helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.

10 Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
who equip yourselves with burning torches!
Walk by the light of your fire,
and by the torches that you have kindled!
This you have from my hand:
you shall lie down in torment.

It is a beautiful thing when the Scriptures speak together:

Psalm 139
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.

To awaken each morning, like Paul, looking for the LORD during the day:

~ The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.

The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.

To have Pentecost, Jesus' gift of the Holy Spirit each day, together:

~ Let us stand up together.

Why?

John 8:7-11
“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones.

And Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”


~ trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.


Ephesians 2:8.9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.

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1 Peter 3:8-12 ~ Do not repay evil for evil, but on the contrary, bless, for this you were called, you may obtain a blessing

1 Peter 3:8-12

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8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Difficult words to remember in the middle of conflict. The Lord doesn't ask us to do the impossible.

Today was a pressure-cooker day. It is soothing to remember yesterday's message of Zechariah. A priest who didn't react with love and act correctly to the Angel of the LORD. The Angel's response to Zechariah wasn't a pat on the back, a warm/fuzzy hug. The Angel told Zechariah he would be made silent, until the Lord's words were fulfilled.

The Lord did not abandon Zechariah, who was righteous before Him. When God, our Father, makes a judgment, He has made the correct judgment.

When we are hard-pressed to make a wrong judgement to make "our lives smoother", a harsh reply is sometimes needed. Today I raised my voice in anger, for a long time, to an attorney who wanted me to sign an incomplete list, false in my opinion, to make a deadline. My mother has told me she was embarrassed, & she asked me never to raise my voice again. Words were exchanged about the possibility of continued employment for the attorneys for this Estate.

My husband & I spoke about emotion, later. Emotion isn't bad in and of itself, when truth is discussed. Anger and false words, exaggeration to make a point - lying to make an argument easier - that's wrong. Vengeance is wrong. Going out of the way to criticize or belittle someone.


Ephesians 4:26
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger


Mark 3:4-6
4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

Tomorrow is an opportunity for a new start. Not compromised principles, not being led to lie. An opportunity to speak calmly, to listen, to decide. Father God is filled with mercy for us. Sometimes we may be called to leave situations and people behind us, but God is in control. He will sort out all of His creation, His children. We can only be in charge of our reactions, not others.

2 Chronicles 20:15
He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.


Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I have worked as the Guardian for my elderly cousin Maxine for 11 years, she has gone to be with the Lord in April. Your prayers would be appreciated. For her family, the 58 cousins who receive her worldly goods, as a blessing. Thanksgiving and gratitude to have been helped from the family. Continued prayer for the work of my hands to be a blessing to them. For the Lord to lead the path!



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Luke 1:67-79 ~ Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied

Artistic representation of the tearing of the veil separating the people from the Holy of Holies. By A.L. Gardere
Close up of the Seraphim angel represented on the Temple Curtain

Temple view of Holy of Holies with the curtain open - not the usual view from the Altar of Incense.

The second altar was the Altar of Incense (mizbach haketoros) (Exodus 30:1-10), called also the Golden Altar (mizbach hazahav) (39:38; Numbers 4:11), and the Inner Altar (mizbach hap'nimi) stood near the Holy of Holies, before the Veil that covers the Ark of the Covenant.

The incense altar is chittim/acacia wood, covered in pure gold. It's a tall rectangular altar, measuring one cubit wide and deep, two cubits high, with a horn on each corner (grabbing the horns of the altar for salvation and refuge), and rings on two sides through which poles could be passed to carry it (Exodus 37:25-26). Moses consecrated the altar with the anointing oil when the Tabernacle was dedicated (Leviticus 40:9).

Incense was burned daily in the morning and evening prayers, and was very important. The incense used was made according to a specific formula (Exodus 30:34-35). Burning incense is symbolic of the peoples' prayer rising up to God. Revelation says God smells all of our prayers in the incense burned in His Heavenly Temple.

Luke 1:67-79

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67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us [dawn upon us] from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

I went to a parochial school, we went to Morning Prayer. On Fridays, an Episcopal priest would come in to discuss some of the readings with us. I remember being interested in angels at an early age. I loved our Nativity angel, she looked like my grandmother. I always wanted to be the one Gabriel, Michael or Raphael came to speak with. Like Isaiah saying eagerly, "Send me!" I thought, "Send me one!"

Zechariah, an older priest, and his wife Elizabeth (a child of priests - descendant of Aaron) were barren. And righteous before God. An angel appears to Zechariah during his rotation of offering Incense at that Altar in the Temple of the Lord. In other words, Zechariah is not in the Temple every day. It is an important occasion and there are people praying for him in another part of the Temple.

Zechariah is filled with trouble and fear at the sight of Gabriel, but didn't grab the horns of the altar for refuge. Instead he asks for a sign. (Instead of believing his wife is expecting?!) Why is Zechariah able to prophesy after the birth of his son?

Zechariah is without fear. He is righteous, again, before God's eyes. Zechariah is living forgiveness in the tender mercy of God.
because of the tender mercy of our God,
the sunrise shall dawn upon us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace

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Mark 6:1-13 ~ they went out and proclaimed that people should repent

Mark 6:1-13


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1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching.

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics [chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin]. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.


When we go to the movies, we can almost count on having the new homosexual agenda preached to us. Lately, we can count on the movies portraying Christians being portrayed as uptight, self-centered, angry & judgmental. Such portrayal is going to have the faint of heart run for cover.


Isn't it interesting God's book is different.

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

What does God's book, the Holy Scriptures say: If we look at the people of the Old Testament, and into the New Testament, the relationship of the Churches.... we do not find paper saints, we find people struggling with faith. Not sexuality anywhere near as much. People in and of the "Bible" have times they disappoint the Holiness of God. God's reaction is different than most people would expect. God does not walk away.

What is unappealing to the unchurched, the people sort of afraid & a little lazy about discovering the Bible... we are asked to repent. "Repent" sounds grim. But most of us would throw open the front door, throw open our arms and jump for joy at the possibility of goodness & love wanting to come in and visit. Even the urbane and sophisticated want most of all to be loved.

So... this passage explains this exactly. We have the LORD, who has known us (mankind) since Genesis. If we'd been Sims (video game), we probably would have acted as creator by deleting us and created a better being. The LORD figured us out when He came to the garden of Eden to visit and we were hiding from Him. Why? Because we wanted to be Him. Instead the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

So, we have the LORD in this passage..... how are we acting? We're following Him, but He offends us with His works and ideas. Jesus doesn't retaliate, He goes about doing the work of His Father. He is healing. He asks for repentance and He promises provisions. He will look out for us.

John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it.

John 5:17
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."

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