Something about this reminded me of the people counting the votes.
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the word;
the women who announce the news are a great host:
12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home divide the spoil—
13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,
let snow fall on Zalmon.
15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
at the mount that God desired for his abode
Yes, where the Lord will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them;
Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation.
Selah
20 Our God
is a God of salvation,
and to God,
the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The Lord said,
“I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,
that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”
24 Your procession is seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,
between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,
the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, O God,
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings shall bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Nobles shall come from Egypt;
Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.
32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord,
Selah
33 To Him who rides in the Heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, He sends out his voice, His mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from His sanctuary;
the God of Israel—
He is the One who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!
Oh, the places we go on Vacation.
Usually the places are dramatic and worthy of the time taken to get there. This year we spent time watching the webcams. We'd thought that it would be fun to see the places and how they'd look less crowded and found, instead, these wonderful places were usually jam packed.
The real deal is, Vacation is fine, but really can you survive the 9 or 10 month winter? Fun to visit, but oh, the real work.
Let's look at the effort. There is a dire sifting effect:
Smoke, wax melts before fire. Perish before God.
Marching through a wilderness.
Solitary.
Prisoners.
Rain in abundance.
Traveling up mountains.
People perish. Languish. Strike heads.
You have to really want to travel this road or have this life.
The finish line is displayed.
Exult before God, be jubilant with joy.
A song to sing even in the desert.
God will have us to Live Forever. And that's a mighty long time.
Renewal instead of languish.
Sheepfolds. Comfort. Holy Spirit.
To be with the worthy, the flock. God's own provision.
Even a parade, more sedately called a procession.
Warmongers rarely effectively given public rebuke, find Peace is present for the duration.
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from His sanctuary;
the God of Israel—
He is the One who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!
It'd be difficult to go on a real Vacation as this week is challenging. Instead, we have to do the steadfast work of being given power and strength as His People. All of us.
There is Power in His purpose:
Hebrews 12:12,13
So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.
Mark out a straight path for your feet
so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
God has a goal of Unity. To make us strong, to make the brothers, sisters strong. To be counted as meaningful, each of us being counted.
Finding personal meaning, contributing to all. When we try to make each person strong, we are working to make God's Plan on earth. His Kingdom comes.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Exodus 15:2
The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Acts 1 and 2 describe Overcoming in the human terms like Esther. Charlton Heston isn't doing Moses in all technicolor. Instead, Acts of the Apostles, Chapter One — faith is walking along, with an idea and not the full direction. Acts 1 has Unity. A new Unity. But this is moving along like a newborn colt. And in this time of waiting, for something they have the general idea — they have to make day to day decisions. Matthias is chosen to replace Judas. Prayer and looking for the revealing of hearts.
The Nation has a good heart.
A Prayerful heart. We pray together. We want Honesty, Transparency. We want our children to have the security of a rock solid voting system. We want our children to be secure. We want our voice, our vote to matter. We go into this time together. We are united in Integrity. We are not deeply divided today, we are evenly divided. And United.
Abba, Father,
In Jesus Christ,
The Ark of the Covenant is Within
Father God, please dwell within us and
Those we Love.
Jesus help, Covered in God's Love,
President Donald Trump and his family
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,
Our Nation to heal and be united.
The end of trouble surrounding this Virus.
The Research done on the Vaccine.
For Elliott with God's continued Healing, to avoid this virus.
Their loving family praying and helping him and Harby.
We believe Elliott will be healed.
Father, the Truth, the Way and the Life for our Nation we pray.
We continue to pray for the Safety of All the Nation.
Thank You for cooler temperatures on the Gulf of Mexico for us all.
We pray Eta will just not be a Hurricane of damage.
And end these storms, in Your Mercy, let us be pleasing to You.
Please let our Nation not continue in Integrity for All.
The Mercy of Jesus Christ Upon Us. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †