1 Kings 20:1-16 ~ Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord

 

1 Kings 20:1-16

Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. 2 And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad: 3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.’” 

4 And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.” 

5 The messengers came again and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I sent to you, saying, “Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children.” 6 Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.’”

7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him.” 

8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.” 

9 So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” 

And the messengers departed and brought him word again. 10 Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.” 

11 And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’” 

12 When Ben-hadad heard this message as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, “Take your positions.” And they took their positions against the city.

Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad

13 And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? 

Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” 

14 And Ahab said, “By whom?” 

He said, “Thus says the Lord, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” 

Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” 

He answered, “You.” 

15 Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232.

 And after them, he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.

16 And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him. 

The Scriptures explain chaos and trouble in established lives. 

True upset, true emotion. God helps us daily. Unusually,  this is about Ahab. And it wasn't, this was about the Children of God. And Ahab is one of His children. God has given Ahab opportunity to turn to God. Ahab literally has time to sit down and consider the Reality of God and decides, Scriptures tell us, to look to his interests only.

Ahab ends up like Henry VIII, being cleaned up — ultimate God insult — his blood is cleaned up by dogs. This Verse is the Opportunity to consider God and others. God is saying God is Father of all and even Ahab has a role in Helping the Eternal.

Considering others. Considering the needs of the many.

My Brother John gave me the gift of going to Washington DC for my birthday. 

He brought my niece along with us. We walked everywhere and John's phone told him one day we walked 18 miles. Every day we traveled far. We saw just about everything. We'd been in Washington D.C. for a few days, and we went to Arlington Cemetery to find our  Great, great Uncle Artells Elliott.  My Grandmother told us so many stories of her Army Uncle, we felt we had just about met Artells. Every visit was like a gift and Artells would come from all areas of the earth. The Military had always been Artells' passion, and he'd been once expelled from VMI for smoking cigarettes at the wrong time. Artells was understood to have lived a vivid life, with colorful experiences. He'd brought home one of the first German Police Dogs as a gift for the family. Cop. The dog we have photos of, ninety years later. Even the dog's history and life have times there were unhappy consequences.  Because the stories are real.

Artells had been an assistant to General Patton. He and Patton got on very, very well. And one day he followed Patton into a hospital to see injured soldiers and Patton encountered what he considered failure to do the man's best. Letting down those depending on him.  General Patton struck a soldier with PTSD. The General had had a magnificent career and Artells was soon being reassigned due to Presidential removal of the General. Even illustrious careers and bravery have consequences, when self conflicts with Gracious Duty.  Artells was loyal to Patton, but he did agree the slapping and the humiliation was over the top.

We were earnest and serious the day we got to Arlington Cemetery. 

We watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier several times. We knew other family had attempted to find Artells and the cemetery isn't the most easily navigated due to the intense size. John said today we weren't going home until we found Artells. We were on foot again and my foot decided to have a blister rub on the top of my foot to the shoe. I tried limping to avoid the raw patch. Suddenly, I knew this was take my shoes off and walk or ruin the rest of the trip. 

The roads are narrow in Arlington Cemetery. Carriage and hearse width. 

Beautifully cared for and astonishingly well paved and smooth. Not terribly well-marked for destination. So soon, I was barefoot and my shoes were in my hands. We didn't run into too many people, hence making it more difficult to find Artells.  And we walked all over Arlington, and everyone we met said to me, “Thank you for removing your shoes. What a great idea.” Pretty soon all three of us were replying, “Well, it's a Blister, but, yes we see the point.” This began to generate conversation as we walked and ran into other people just as serious at Arlington  Cemetery. And one man said, “I know what you are saying about Blisters, but I'm removing my shoes too.” And another couple did too. And then my niece did. My brother and I did agree that it was rather embarrassing a blister should cause a beautiful reaction, when the case started out being necessity. 

We finally found Artells and had help after frustration. 

A man said he comes out a lot to see both his father and grandfather. And he helped us. By the time we reached Artells, we were dehydrated, tired, warm, serious, intent, determined, a little embarrassed to be lost, and to have so many comments. We found Artells and touched his tombstone. And all of us were misty. A lot of our family has done military service, and like Artells, survived. In that age, long ago, there were only letters from amazing places and our great, great-grandmother so missed her only sibling. His letters brought home Japan, Europe, World War II. The dog who took his place as he served the Nation. Later German Police Dogs would be renamed German Shepherds.

We were proud of our rough and tumble Great, Great Uncle. 

We could put our hands on long, lost family history. And my brother urged us to put our shoes on for the photo. He said it's just not 'us' to wander around barefoot and this is, “Artells.” 

John was right. Artells knew he wasn't, “all that”. Artells may have been  Best of the Best for the tough military men. But in an age of no divorce, Artells was divorced and his children had moved around and past him. He'd been extremely glad, while being in the Veteran's Hospital, at the end of his life, to have great nephews who would travel far to see him, “Off”.  My father was a young man to go and pay duty like this. Everyone wept talking about the end of Artells. A good man had served. There had been costs. In fact, Artells children had become the unknowns by their own deliberation.

Ahab. We are all Ahab. The Scriptures tell us no one is good. Jesus explains only God is Good.

The Pride we had in Artells was for the man who held the Line. The Law. The Freedoms. No one out at Arlington Cemetery is out there lightly. The quick and the dead. They died to give us our Freedom. To be part of Republic history rarely sees. The Choice found in Freedom.

One man, one vote.

Sacrifice.

Integrity.

Valor.

Diligence.

Loyalty.

Binding and Building.

Honor.

The Rocks are a Jewish Tradition.

When far from home, bring home a rock for the top of the grave.

Unforgotten.

Theodore Wilson Gate.

1 Corinthians 6:20 

 you were bought at a price

Therefore, honor God with your body.

So many times in the Gospels, Jesus healed and asked for some type of service. Travel to see Jesus, go see the priest, wash, tell others, remain silent. These men and women answered prayers we didn't even know to pray.

Maintain the Integrity.  Improve the Nation. Preserve the Process. Love One Another. All diligence for Justice. Mercy for one another.  Worthy.

Revelation 5

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and riches and wisdom,

And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth 

and under the earth and such as are in the sea, 

and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power

Be to Him who sits on the throne,

And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!”

And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”

When you arrive about minute 6, you'll find from the 1970s S.M. Lockridge probably prays for the Nation, prophetically. God's gifts are for us all. All have God who ask Him.

Abba, Father God,

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name. 

Your kingdom come, Your Will be done, 

on earth as it is in Heaven. 

Give us this day

 our daily bread, 

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory.

Amen.

Jesus Son of God — Bless, Heal, Sustain, Comfort, Guide

President Donald Trump, and his family, 

Vice President Pence and his family,

The White House Staff,

Especially those in need of healing today, Ben Carson and Mark Meadows

 God Bless Them!

Safety and wisdom for:

Governor Abbott

and all 50 United States Governors and our Legislatures

Praying for Elliott, Harby and their family 

For complete blessing of healing.

We long for Your Love and help, Father God, to have Your Kingdom, 

Power and Glory upon Your Throne. 

The Fringe of Your Robe placed upon all of Your Good Creation. 

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts. 

We pray more of Your Good Will filling the whole earth with Your Glory.

We will remember our answered Prayers. 

And live this Day. Looking in expectation. 

You will strengthen us, the ones we Love. 

We will Seek You first and find Your Kingdom.

Covering us with the Name and Power of Jesus,

Brave people. Holding up Life for one another.

We are People with the Help of Jesus,

we can make

Redemption

Strength.

Praying the Victory!

And Virus end!

Knowing God is going to bring

us past the storms into

His Plan of desired Haven 

In Psalm 107.

Unity.

Fruitful Justice for 

ALL.

For our families and children yet unborn

The Freedom in Jesus we call

Liberty and Justice for 

All!

We ask Jesus to dwell in us and those we Love always,

and finding God First.

Amen in Jesus Christ!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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Isaiah 55:12-13 ~ an everlasting sign

Isaiah 55:12-13

 For you shall go out in Joy 

and be led forth in Peace

The mountains and the hills 

before you shall break forth into Singing, 

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; 

instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; 

And it shall make a name for the Lord, 

an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Romans 15:13 

May the God of hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in Believing, 

so that by the Power of the Holy Spirit 

you May Abound in Hope.

We have reached an odd time in our lives, even before the Pandemic. 

At age 52, Edward was told he had terminal dementia due to injuries, and an allergy during a surgery. As we told people, reactions happened everywhere. Our sons pursued higher education and employment opportunities arrived from God, actually.  This is a Blessing. We need our children to be secure — all of us.  

Ripples. 2010.

Edward started taking extraordinary naps and had large emotions.  I started crying.  The ripples, far off, hearing of the news started making plans. And not all the rippling plans were pleasing or kind. To any of us. The ripples were as intense as the news we knew, before that something was wrong, but who wants the doctor to explain this. Suddenly, we had reactions at the news from every direction of the clock.  My sons discussed all of them with me.  And calls from far away asking to stay with us to visit and to live.  Some were strangers. Absolutely bizarre. And some of these bizarre plans and questions, had all of us working together to dissuade the ripples.  

My faith. Edward has a lot of faith. But he ordered me to not be so sympathetic and by the Power of God, don't look morose, sympathetic, crying or worried. And don't put hands on him and pray. Especially out loud. Sure. Easy Breezy. 

All things work together for good, for those who Love the Lord and work according to His Purpose. 

Caregiving isn't falling over with kindness. 

Caregiving is living with a difficulty and not carrying around the pillow for one of us. Caregiving allows us both to muck out the stall. Keeping quiet when you really want to Complain. Overcoming feeling sorry for yourself. Listening to the same complaints a lot. (Poor God.) Being honestly optimistic. For both of us. Suddenly, a marriage has two different futures and one heart.  

People explained the term, “Orphan of the world.” 

My youngest son said, you have to see a new future as a Plan to unfold.  Like a boat released from the dock? And I wasn't happy with this conversation, I remember so well. Easy enough to say as a young man with a new Master's Degree. 

Nehemiah 8:10 

The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength 

Next thing to do,  cast the line off of people who suddenly decided we looked like a Dormitory. And in doing this, this plague of, “Nice to meet you, my husband and I will be in town, we'd like to stay with you.” (Literally. And hey, I haven't heard from you in 5 or more years!) 

We also met people who point-blank gave us their plans and said fund this. Awful. Then I made plans, and made people angry because I'd make plans.

I saw these plans makers as another herd of Locusts. 

Instead, some plan makers were unusually persistent, I found a new adult manner of understanding, God, Himself, has plans for just me, and I am able to choose where my journey in Jesus Christ finds Goodness. And what I had to grow into, the understanding, God was providing the wind, to be able to find the Harbor.  As a diligent ship, learns to travel the voyage. I'm going where God wants me.

Psalm 21:6 

 For You make me most blessed forever; 

You make me glad with the Joy of Your Presence.

Now is the time, to have another reverse Honeymoon. 

To have time to look at Edward, allow him his plans and times apart. To drag him out of the house to get conversation from him on a path or at Coffee. And to find his challenges, in conversation, and in life, call me not to be downhearted as the times are changing again.

Lord, I have faith. Help me to have more.  And I look in prayer and in the Word of God, to create a place God would be glad to dwell in me.  Not to mope to the Lord, but to ask, and be me, and live in Grace and complain and work to believe the One Jesus Christ He has sent.

These are the Words of God leaping up to me today.

Isaiah 40:31 

Those 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.

Glad.

If God is making Plans for your life, are you doing yourself any favor to shriek. We ask God to Dwell in us, and He absolutely sees us for who we are. Haggai said we get to take the lemons and make lemonade. To dance in the rain. To find new levels for Joy. To be eager to find the Blessings like Easter Eggs. And this can be so damn daunting.  So, I find, if I look at God's Word, I am going to find God of Hope, God of Encouragement. If something eats my lunch mid-morning, I'm going to immediately ask why me. And did I do this right?!  And then, I'm going to find a memory of overcoming. And then I'm going to find a Word from God and I'm going to put my faith — right there. 

 

We go to God and this is Eternal. So, our Soul is our only home. Not our brain. And if we are presenting our lives through the memory of our soul to God, aren't we called to Bring Joy and Find Joy to Bring God.

 For you 

Will go out in Joy 

and be led forth in Peace

The mountains and the hills 

before you will break forth into Singing, 

and 

All the trees of the field

Will clap their hands.

To allow us to find The Joy Given.

To Believe God in the Encouragement of Each Day.

To Live

 not the down crusted Ecclesiastes House

instead,

 Upward God and His Love.

To find the Chores, Work, Job, Career, Family, 

Drudgery become 

Plan

'Given.'

Even if, there is, — a not what we planned!

And find within us

Wind, Joy and Presence of the Holy Spirit. 

Daily He Loadeth us with Benefits.

(Where we didn't expect.)

Joy 

We pray God would say this:

 

 For you make Me most blessed forever; 

you make Me glad with the joy of your presence.

Abba, Father God,

In this Season, help us to take this day finding You first, to build Life in ourselves and

in the people we Love, in You let the Light of Jesus Christ fill us all to completion

in Your Love and Great Mercy.

Nehemiah 9:19

Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness.

By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path,

nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take.

Father God, fill us with Your Holy Spirit

Guide us on our Path You have for us

Shine Your Love upon the Way

Fill us with Your Truth and Life.

Help us to Seek You First,
Guiding us to open our eyes to You, Your Heaven and Possibilities.

To bring Heaven - by call, act and to give others Heaven.

Jesus, Wonderful Jesus, we ask despair, hopelessness to lift, any Emptiness to be lifted to You.

All are given the ministry to Have Your Living Spirit.
And in this ministry, we will not lose Heart.

Hard-pressed on every side, but we are not crushed. Perplexed — Not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Life is At Work in Us in Jesus Christ. Raised with Jesus. He is Present.

Jesus praying for us daily.

Truly Bless our Families, we ask.

All Things work together for Good, for those who Love the Lord 
and work according to His Purpose.

Jesus help us, this Nation

Covered in God's Love, we are with God. 

President Donald Trump and his family

Vice President Mike Pence

The Presidential Team

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

Governor Abbott and all 50 Governors and Legislatures.

Senator Tim Scott.

God is on our Side. For His Good Creation.

The end of trouble surrounding this Virus.

The Research being on the Vaccine.

Our Historic Employment Continue to Rise.

For the economic incentives to take hold and all Thrive.

Thank God for His Strength.

Please God end the divisions.
God's Blessings are for ALL.
Amen in Jesus Christ!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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Revelation 18:1-8 ~ And He called out with a Mighty Voice

 

Revelation 18:1-8

After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And He called out with a Mighty Voice,

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!

    She has become a dwelling place for demons,

a haunt for every unclean spirit,

    a haunt for every unclean bird,

    a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.

3 For all nations have drunk

    the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,

and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,

    and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

“Come out of her, my people,

    lest you take part in her sins,

lest you share in her plagues;

5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven,

    and God has remembered her iniquities.

6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,

    and repay her double for her deeds;

    mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.

7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,

    so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,

since in her heart she says,

    ‘I sit as a queen,

I am no widow,

    and mourning I shall never see.’

8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,

    death and mourning and famine,

and she will be burned up with fire;

    

For Mighty is the Lord God Who has judged her.”

The Book of Revelation will cause you to look twice while reading. 

And as God's Word, when you read this something new will become alive. As I looked over the Verses, I noticed Light. God is putting out Light. Just as Jesus is always explaining and always offering the opportunity for His Love and Goodness, we saw this in the Posts recently. Jesus heals the Storm. He Speaks to the wind and the water. Light and calm return. 

Luke 14:1-11 ~ He took him and healed him and sent him on his way.

Jesus heals the Storm. He Speaks to the wind and the water. Light and calm return.  

Sunrise

If you've been, “All Shook Up” by last week,

Maybe you'd like some Good News and look at Revelation 18. 

Where is the Light seen?  

When we began the Pandemic, looking at people in the stores, you'd find people looking like a Bank Robber had jumped in the room filled with Automatic Weapons. People were terrified.

Now, we've been herding political cats so long in this nation, people are merely being polite —  until — they can open Social Media at home. Silent — no more  — and actually haven't been. Now, with the American-Can-Do-Attitude arriving at Censoring, I’m seeing people posting things just to make the Media Mongols Miffed.  Main Stream Media mitigates miffy mainly malevolently leveled mirrored on Media.  Mmmmmmmmm, back at you. I'm seeing people counting how many things they post to be censored. Really. And listing the results of the censoring. (She had 5 today, but he had 4 yesterday.)

People are speaking of moving media accounts. Maybe. Or maybe just miff the Censors.

Social Media is catching on at the more than mid-sized malaise.  

Now, you can merely mute the X on the message.  We have to see the humor in this.

The Movable Mute Button.

We can turn Babble on to off.  Today, we can mute out demons on TV. Some is Political. Mute the unclean. Mute what is detestable — i.e. as in Revelation 18 “Payback”.  The unhappy fringe want lists for “Payback.”  As if there was power in the luxurious political overthrow?  The wave isn't blue. The wave isn't red — The Wave is Moderate and not Nutty. And isn't really silent. Moderates mask and don't mummify the viewers mentioning masking mundanely.

The Vote Counts.

And the Vote will be Trusted.

Just like we want our Political Leaders not to vacillate. 

Steadfast and True.

Nutty Political Views — wake up  — The American People have spoken. No more torment and mourning. Political Nuttiness is so yesterday. Moderates are Voted In.  Entertainment to Dazzle our eyes: The Senators are speaking of Moderation!  The Moderates are balancing and the VOTE will be recounted! 

Light is going to shine. Marvelously. The USA will maintain 142 Million USA Voters will feel heard and will believe in the value of the Vote.

The Moderate Middle is Returning.  

Like Republican Stimulus Packages.

We have learned the power of the mute button. Thank God. 

 

Abba, Father God

You are The Good Father asking us to Love ourselves. 

To have a Spirit of Power.

To Love others.

Abundant Love flowing down. Soaking us All!

His Living Water flows.

Opening our doors with expectation of Your Continued Goodness

in ourselves, in the ones we Love,

Jesus Christ in the people You bring us.

We pray for the safety of

our Schools to be a safe, good,

warm place for the Children

Children need their Schools.

We uphold them with our Love and Prayers.

We ask Your Mighty Word

to for all the re-openings

Finding Your Blessing and Word of Love.

Blessing our Nation, blessing us.

Ending our Divisions.

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

Covered in God's Love,

President Donald Trump, the First Lady and Their Family

Vice President Mike Pence, the Second Lady and Their Family.
All of Our Families.

The Presidential Team.

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

Governor Abbott and all 50 Governors and Legislatures.

Senator Tim Scott

Thanking You, The Southern Hemisphere

Didn't see flu the 2020 Winter Season.

Saying, 'no' to the hype over  Elections.

We get to Vote November 3rd, is our choice.

God's Blessing upon us ALL!!!!!!

The end of trouble surrounding this Virus.

Please, Jesus.

Thank You for the Warp Speed Vaccine.

Help this Storm to end quickly, safely

The Storm is cooling down the Gulf of Mexico! 

Thank God!

Help Hurricane Overcomers.
And California Fire Overcomers.

Thank you, all the Willing Help You'd Give us

Thank You for Hearing Our Prayers!

Thank You for the Gift of the people

who inspire us

And bring Heaven to earth.

Thank You, Jesus, for Your Good Gifts.

Please continue to bless us with Peace.

In Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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