1 Samuel 14:1-23 ~ Bring the Ark of God

Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

Finding The Joy of the Lord today.

The ravines serve two purposes: One. We can find the Biblical Story very easily. Two, the deep crevices make the place hard to travel. Tourists and the unwary have found a sudden rain can cause death from the intense flooding.

1 Samuel 14:1-23

One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave at Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men, 3 including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, wearing an ephod.

 And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 Within the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” 7 And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” 8 Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. 

10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.” 11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” 12 And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” 

And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.” 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. 14 And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land. 15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there. 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count and see who has gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 

18 So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel. 

19 Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 21 Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle.

 23 So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven.


When we read the Scripture, we are looking not at dry, dusty trails - we want to find what makes this alive to us.

The most obvious portion would be Salvation. Winning.

With Scripture, and life, mostly the win comes after a huge struggle.
 God arrives with the Ark and Israel is saved.

We need requirements when we look to see the Ark of the Covenant. It is a Throne. The Seat of Mercy. We know immediately God would approve because when we think of God, we should think of Mercy. The angel wings shouldn't block God's Body from sitting bodily on the Ark of the Covenant. The wings should do as Messengers of God do - Support God. The Holy Spirit is Comfort, so the Ark of the Covenant is our Comfort for God's Rest. His Seat of Mercy.

You'd think David would be the hero in this Win. So that's a point to ponder with the first paragraph that the Ephod is with these men who don't have an idea what is going on.

The superior point of Scripture.
It's not all sunshine and happy endings. It's a mess, and we are supposed and asked, study the mess deciding what we'd do. And in the real depictions of David's messy life, Samuel's sloppy parenting, learning this from Eli, and Saul's descent into total selfishness - we are supposed to notice this:

The man carrying the Ark at his discretion, the Ephod of God Priest - have problems. Where do we put our trust if God lets Himself trust Saul and Ephod bearer? Right - with the Holy Spirit. Learn our Bible, learn the less than perfect to personally find the New Covenant - God Himself blessing you with the Holy Spirit turning your soul not to look like the photos.

God is working His Best. This is not where the Ark was dropped. These men have worked diligently, with the Power of God to not drop the Ark. See the Miracle.

The setting of these Verses has a pretty good impact on Pandemic 2020.
There are well-worn paths of worried thoughts. If rain occurs, it's going to pour. We want the Ark and the Ephod as of Yesterday. The year has been as plentiful and pleasant and green as the photos. And we want to see bravery knock this thing OUT.

I love to do the Posts, I pick the Scripture out before finding out what it is and them Sleuth to find what God is saying. To find 3,000 years fall away is to be assured God our Father is fully and divinely Present as Helper and Comforter.

We find hiding in dry holes is part of the Scripture. And suddenly Pandemic at home appears much better.

And we find Violence.
The Old Testament is condemned for retribution warring violence. And the whole Nation finds violence disturbing. And as God appears, the violence is quelled and Peace Returns. The Scriptures say God has Saved Them. Apparently, we find again, Peace is the Desired Haven. Even in the "Old Testament." Not astounding.


We know to always look at Scripture finding the idea Jesus is arriving for Permanent Salvation. This will make our prayer easy today.

Abba,

We ask Your help to lift tired brows and worried thoughts. 

To ease the point in our foreheads showing tension.

We pray Isaiah 35

1 The wilderness and the land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. 2 It will bloom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

We know one day will come when we will be without the virus again.

Isaiah 25:9

And in that day it will be said, "Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation."

And during this time, we will do more than worry. We will pray for ourselves, the ones, You, God have given us to Love and the people we see each day and find You place for us to pray for.

We anticipate the Victory and Your Great Mercy.

Isaiah 43:19

Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

We ask Jesus pray with us, like this:

Mark 9

23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Abba, we ask for Strength Daily for all, all, all of us.

We pray to come out of all this year's difficulties, like the Hebrews came out from hiding.
Nothing is too difficult for our God. And we need You, Abba.

Ezekiel 37:9

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”

Abba, we believe You will call this Pandemic to end and we may see life again. We ask the storms in the Gulf will calm the Gulf with cooler temperatures and Your Blessing. We ask the onions be held back and no more problem with onions.

Thank You, Father God, the Food Chain supply has been so very good. So many hard working people.

Thank You, Father God, the storms have calmed down in the Gulf of Mexico.

Thank You, Father God, people have begun to look more assured. So many have worked so hard.

Thank You, Father God, for the death rate to be so low, protect our children and help them to go to school safely. Help the teachers. Blessings for their help and encouragement during this time.

Blessings on not only the first responders, but the people building all the equipment we have found to increase in supply for the Pandemic. Manufacturers.

Father, we ask as the Scripture says to rise up to you and be given Love, Encouragement, Steadfast Love and Wisdom, with Peace. And we pray for Your Steadfast and Enduring Mercy.

Blessings on the people who keep our families together and our daily life to move in the Lord God.

Blessings on the people working in stores, focusing on speaking kindly to those they help. Deliberately making life more warm.

Blessings on the emails and texts on neighbors making sure we stay connected.

In Jesus Christ,

The Ark of the Covenant is Within

Father God, Dwell within us and

those we Love.

Father in Your Strength,

we will fine More Heaven on earth and

see You first.

We will place those we love confidently in Jesus Christ.

Giving Thanks for Cal and Alexander.

We ask in the Name of Jesus for Your Help.

Jesus help us in this Nation to be in Your Word and more Joyful.

Covered in God's Love,

President Donald Trump

Vice President Mike Pence

The Presidential Team

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Robert Redfield, Dr. Deborah Birx

and their families.

Governor Abbott and all 50 Governors and Legislatures.

Today and always Senator Tim Scott,

The end of trouble surrounding this Virus.

For Warp Speed to 12th Man
the Vaccine. WhoooooooooooP!

(And Blessing on Oxford and all others working on the vaccine!)

A prayer we know will be heard and answered well.

I Believe.

Father, the Truth, the Way and the Life for our Nation we pray.

Thank Jesus. Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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Jeremiah 1:4-6 ~ before you were born

If you are African American and pulled over 18 times by the Police, would you hate the Police?


Or would you look for the way forward for ALL of us.
Not Red, Blue, Brown or Purple.

Jeremiah 1

4The word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”

If we want to find the center of this Nation, we would find 80% pray and Believe God of Love, Father of our Savior Jesus Christ has heard and loves and cares and helps. Believing God is Helper, Comfort and Comforter. And to see if this is true, you'd know that parents want their children to have lives with a Hope and Future. Father God applauds and helps us to love the children He has given us.

I am only a child!

God believes in us so much. He gave Himself. He gave the Son of God, an infant in a germy barn to tell us HE trusts us. And He honors what we want for our children.

What will we fund? We will fund with our hearts. We will pray for Senator Tom Scott's phone mailbox not to be filled with hate.

We will find the Path forward with Love. We will leave any box that puts us in a place to hate. We will pray for Love in this Nation. We have the Love, we need to be able to express the Love. And this Love is costly. Love requires Peace, not short range plans of overpowering anyone. Love requires Truth when a lie is easier. Love doesn't demand it's own way. So, Love doesn't have to be spoken, Love requires to preach the Gospel without the box to put us in a stereotype class. We don't need words to Preach the Gospel.

We don't have to read and listen to what is hate. We just recognize hate speech and move back to Love. Love is Peace. Love is Not Violence.

Love requires Belief. When we pray give us this day, our daily bread - we state we believe today God will give us what we need. We believe this is the day of Eternal Life. We believe if the day is dull or routine - we believe God is going to make this Day matter.

Because what we strive for is Love.

Abba,

In the Name of the Father, 

in the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ our Savior, 

in the Name of the Holy Spirit. 

We have Your Help.

Father in Your Strength,
we will fine More Heaven on earth and
see You first.

We will place those we love confidently in Jesus Christ.
Giving Thanks for Cal and Alexander.

We ask in the Name of Jesus for Your Help.

Jesus help us in this Nation to be in Your Word and more Joyful.
Covered in God's Love,
President Donald Trump
Vice President Mike Pence
The Presidential Team
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Robert Redfield, Dr. Deborah Birx
and their families.
Governor Abbott and all 50 Governors and Legislatures.
Today and always Senator Tim Scott,
The end of trouble surrounding this Virus.

A prayer we know will be heard and answered well.

I Believe.
Father, the Truth, the Way and the Life for our Nation we pray.
Thank Jesus. Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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1 Peter 1:1-23 ~ your faith and hope are in God

This music is from our friend, Elliott Hodges, who appears in minute 4:39 of the Video.



Elliott was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma last summer after suffering a hurt back and finding cancer of the blood instead. Elliott's done very well with a Stem Cell Transfer at Wake Forest in December of 2019. He's had reports showing zero cancer cells. Elliott at age 42, with his wife, Harby, 3 young children, have surely had more than their fair share of medical expenses. Elliott spent 4 months in the hospital in 2019.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-elliott-with-his-battle-with-cancer

1 Peter 1:1-23

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 

17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.

(Father God, Bless those who send seeds

to express sorrow, hope and Love. Amen.)

Abba,

Thank You so much for Elliott and Harby who have been able to see blessings in adverse times. We pray Elliott continues to do well, especially when we are in this Virus Pandemic. 

We pray Safety over Elliott. 

And continual healing from the Word of God to be spoken and Healing is as sure as the Name of Jesus.

When I pray for Elliott and Harby, I picture Elliott as a 90 year old man, with Harby and young grand babies and grand, grand babies. And I Believe.

When Elliott and I prayed and asked Father God to heal Elliott, we said if Buffalo, Texas still had the Statue of Huge Angel to always remember a miraculous dream and cancer healing of an 80-year-old homeowner, who lived another 20 years, then we said if the Statue is there, we will believe Elliott will be healed. And the statue is still there.

In Your Holiness, Father God, we pray this miracle for Elliott. Who has done very well. Thank You, God.

Father in Your Strength,

we will fine More Heaven on earth and

see You first.

We will place those we love confidently in Jesus Christ.
Giving Thanks for Cal and Alexander.

We ask in the Name of Jesus for Your Help.

Jesus help us in this Nation to be in Your Word and more Joyful.

Covered in God's Love,

President Donald Trump

Vice President Mike Pence

The Presidential Team

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Robert Redfield, Dr. Deborah Birx

and their families.

Governor Abbott and all 50 Governors and Legislatures.

The end of trouble surrounding this Virus.

A prayer we know will be heard and answered well.

I Believe.

Thank Jesus. Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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Exodus 37:20 ~ Almond flowers

The Top of the Ark of the Covenant. God's Mercy Seat.

Numbers 17:6-11

6 So Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 7 And Moses placed the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.

8 Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Bring Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die.” 11 Thus did Moses; just as the Lord had commanded him, so he did.

The Budding Almond Branch was in the Ark of the Covenant.

Exodus 37:17
They made the lampstand of pure gold. They hammered out its base and shaft, and made its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them.

Exodus 37:19
Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand.

Exodus 37:20

And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms.

Exodus 37:22
The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

The Exodus was filled with woes and hardships. When the people began to share, give and build up - each other and literally create and build - then the Exodus wasn't so terrible. Aaron's Branch was to be celebrated. Digging deep to find the Wonders of God and place this in their lives and not forget. The miracle wasn't swept aside as unimportant - instead held to be of God.

The Daily Wage

Exodus 38:26

One beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone who had crossed over to those counted, twenty years old or more, a total of 603,550 men. 

Exodus 38:25

The silver obtained from those of the community who were counted in the census was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel –

Work and funds were put into the Sanctuary. We can see eyewitness accounts of what we are reading in the Arch of Titus in Rome.

The Arch of Titus is here today because Catholic Popes in the 6th and 8th Century refurbished this record. Like Exodus 37, hard times led to restoration of many important things. A time period when the Roman Empire, vanished from Rome, was upheld by Catholics supporting the Old Testament of Jewish History. When 300 years earlier, Jews were killed and Christians.

We have this important record for the histories and the people reaching to each other and embracing the past to make the future.

Abba,

We pray to Bloom even in difficult seasons. Leaning to Your Mercy and Love.

Luke 13

1 There were some present at that very time

who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2 And Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 

3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: 

do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 

5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Repentance, Regrouping causing the Mercy of God

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 
‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. 
Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’

8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on dirt. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Jesus did not just tell of seeds and figs that were not fruitful, Jesus spoke of Mercy and working with times we only hope to prosper. Help us to have mercy on each other.  Help us to repent of anger and brains we know are weakened with illness and worry. Help us to strengthen weak knees and frail hands.

Exodus 39:32

So all the work on the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses.

2 Corinthians 5

5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling

Romans 8:26

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

 For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

We find in this time, we are fine and fine and fine and suddenly we realize we want life to be different from this season. And we strive for the words to tell God and don't want to whine.

Jairus' daughter

Exodus 40:34

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, 

and the glory of the LORD 

filled the tabernacle.

We will take the strength of God and find:

Hebrews 11:3

By faith, we understand 

the universe was formed at God's command,

so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Hebrews 11:27

he persevered because he saw him who is invisible

Hebrews 11:2

This is what the ancients were commended for.

As we read and pray this, we know our God, Our Father God has seen our prayers
like Nathaniel under the fig tree.
Blessed to pray and be heard.

When our prayers seem too large to pray, we remember Abraham
lived in the Promised Land in a tent. And realize, that Tent was known and seen.

Father in Your Strength,
we will fine More Heaven on earth and
see You first.

We will place those we love confidently in Jesus Christ.


We ask in the Name of Jesus for Your Help.

Jesus help us in this Nation to be in Your Word and more Joyful.
Covered in God's Love,
President Donald Trump
Vice President Mike Pence
The Presidential Team
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Robert Redfield, Dr. Deborah Birx
and their families.
Governor Abbott and all 50 Governors and Legislatures.
The end of trouble surrounding this Virus.

A prayer we know will be heard and answered well.
Thank Jesus. Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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