Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 ~ And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength

 

DISCOVERED: Nehemiah’s Wall DISCOVERED: Nehemiah’s Wall Archaeology proves the famous biblical account of a desperate attempt to fortify the Holy City Archaeology proves the famous biblical account of a desperate attempt to fortify the Holy City

https://watchjerusalem.co.il/793-discovered-nehemiahs-wall

The Towers are the Lower Part of the Map

Mosaic believed to be Nehemiah, taster to the King

Left of the seated King

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.

Nehemiah 8:5-6

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Nehemiah 8:8-10

8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord.

 And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

We finally had Christmas, January 22nd. The family experienced Covid in stair step doses. Edward and I had delivered a few meals to the door step. We took the 3rd booster, when 2 Cases of Covid were fatal in two elderly (80s) family members died. My son and his fiance, had Covid for nine days, with a lot of ill health. Then our oldest son, passed the Bar in 26 states, went on a celebratory ski trip, caught Covid and was sick for ten days. Quarantine has just now ended for all of us. 

 We stayed up too late, had too many lovely things to eat. Had several brisk discussions and overall had a good time.  We had good news to Celebrate, not so good news to overcome. Discussions of the previous years being filtered into this year.

Not everything seems to be ordinary, regular, pleasing and comforting. 

Not for any of us. 

But the story of Nehemiah and Ezra is one to draw comfort from today. Rebuilding. Renewal. Allowing what is painful to pass by and draw Joy and Strength from the Lord to take new chances, overcoming fears.

Today, Edward and I collapsed in the den chairs as our oldest went to the airport and watched Church on YouTube. We heard a lovely Sermon about Prophecy. All of God's Word is Prophetic. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. I love to hear Nehemiah as the Liturgy, knowing God is certain this is still Good News.

Do we believe in Prophecy, I do. 

About, 1982 I was hired as an hourly worker, in College by the Texas A&M Psychology Department, as one of three tests. Three Saturdays. The last one was to demonstrate ESP.  3,000 flash cards would prompt the test subject, I was one, to find if the shape on the back the test subject couldn't see.  The color. The number. Anything the flash card asked. 

We left the test in about 2 hours. And as my friend and I left the Business College Building, called Blocker, the Psychologist Grad Student tester, walked up and joined my friend Kathy and me, as we walked back to our dorm. He laughed loudly. And asked me if I actually believed in ESP. I said vaguely, but mostly I believe in the Prophecy in Scripture. Why? This is where our faith is, and faith is one of the greatest aspects of life. The Grad Student laughed and said I was definitely fired. Why? Because of the 3,000 questions, I had only answered 3 correctly. The Department had not seen anything like these results. 

Today, I'm rather pleased with the memory. Life is an adventure. We live seeing signs around us. Some people find a song bird. A song. A sermon. A daily Word of God, the Scriptures.  And when we are encouraged to believe God, we have touched what is meaningful in life.  The Renaissance is filled with history of the encouragement of the People of God.

To find Joy in the Lord and find His Strength and begin again. Not just for ourselves, but the people we care for, our family, the people we Love. We believe in our prayers coming to bring us Home to the Kingdom of God, His Heart, The Kingdom Jesus told us exists on earth as in Heaven.

Thursday, the Post was about being brave and protecting one another. Friday, I got a text from a friend to pray for her daughter, their school was experiencing a bomb threat.  God prepares our hearts to believe the danger is real and the solution is found. Safety, security. Historically we can believe the next few years have real challenges and human upheaval in emotions and plans that are unwise. The Pandemic History tells us we can prepare for upheaval and then times of building and renewal.  In Jesus Christ, we can be strong and do this with Joy. Even when Joy is a choice and we remind ourselves to find and hold this Joy with God's Help.

Christmas is when Jesus is born, trusting God's Son as an infant to mankind. And in the Celebration, we give gifts to each other. God does this for us daily. His mercies renew. Daily! 

 Ephesians 4 

 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, 

the pastors and teachers 

 12 To equip his people for works of service, so that 

the body of Christ may be built up 

 13 Until we all reach unity in the faith 

and in the knowledge of the Son of God 

and become mature, 

attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

My Aunt Eloise, Uncle Cary, Cousin Maxine and JT,

used to have this Prayer on the wall near their Front Door.

Old English and Scottish Prayer.

Father God,

I will be verree busee

this day.

If I forget Thee,

please, Father,

Do not forget me.

Amen.

We pray this for our families

during all times

but especially now

when times are different

and challenging.

Romans 8:28 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, 

for those who are called according to His purpose.

Abba, Father,

The Spirit of God come upon us

and give voice to this prayer, we ask in Jesus' Name.

  May the words of our mouth and thoughts of our heart

be the 

        the utterance of mankind whose eye is true,

    The utterance of one who hears what God says,

        and knows what the Most High knows,

    Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,

        enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:

    How goodly Your Refuge and Your Strong Tower

Name of Jesus Christ.

      

   We who Believe are like gardens beside a stream,

        like the cedars planted by the LORD.

  

  His wells shall yield free-flowing waters,

Let Justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream

    In Jesus, we shall have the sea within reach;

   

Jesus, Lord of Lords

King of Kings shall rise higher,

        and His royalty shall be exalted.

We thank You, Abba, God, for rifts healed

as the Pandemic gave us time to think and talk.

We thank You for Your Mercy.

We Thank God for children and parents to unite.

We pray for the suffering, for the Comfort and Love of God Himself.

Jesus, Lamb of God, comfort, we ask, and heal.

Peace. 

Dwell in those seeking Your Love and Mercy

Dwell in us and those we Love.

Help us to seek You first.

And we will finish well.

Amen in Jesus and 

Alleluia to the Glory of God.

Roads of Heaven

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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(The Post is a day late! Our family has had stair step Covid cases, now quarantine

has lifted and this Saturday, January 22 we are celebrating Christmas

with the Tree, gifts, decorations, plane flights and the trimmings!)

March for Life 

January 21, 2022

Students for Life of America

 #MarchforLife! 

By this video, It's estimated there were just under 150,000 pro-life marchers. The bitter cold could not dampen the spirits of the Pro-Life Generation ! We hope we're celebrating the last anniversary of Roe v. Wade today. The largest human rights march in the entire world IS against abortion.

My son is in from Colorado. We stayed up to 4 a.m. discussing the world. When we all try to picture large numbers, we have to put this in perspective was part of our discussion.

150,000 Marchers in pretty bad weather.

When you look at the Population of American cities, and you get to Jackson, Mississippi, you have reached a city with a Population of 150,000 people.  Jackson, MS is the 170th city in the USA by Population.

There are 3,243 Counties in the entire United States. This includes boroughs, parishes, census areas and county equivalents. In a regular USA county, 150,000 people is huge. Before the Pandemic, in good weather, this march was larger. However, this is a magnificent turnout!!

 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish 

but have eternal life.

Abba, Father,

Jesus spoke Your Word telling us always to Pray and Have Hope.

We lift up to You, Father God, our most pressing prayer request, knowing You have heard and answer. 

Dwell in us. 

Help us to seek You first. 

Please Bless our souls, lives and hearts with Jesus. 

We will seek You first in Your Love. And we will finish well, with those we Love.

Picking up the New Year for All!

Let Covid pass, the world to heal and our Nation to have the true 

sympathy and care for one another in healing,

as Your Praying Nation, we are.

Thank You, Father God, and Blessed be the Name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

 

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Kindness is a sign of well being and happiness

Kindness is a sign of being well!

Colossians 3:12

Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness

and patience.

This Post is about Wrath. I've had some discussion, with those who are reading, to be in disagreement. Interesting. Find faults.

Are we in Wrath in the USA? God's Wrath?

Ok, let me give you, "The Definitive Answer." 

The Essenes wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls. And they left the Temple loudly proclaiming the Holy Spirit had left the Temple. The problem with man's wisdom is THIS with, "The Definitive Answer." Jesus Christ was Presented to The Temple when he was born, but the Essenes ... Missed THIS. Missed this? What would Jesus say about the Essenes? Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." The Essences 'definitively' missed seeing Jesus in the Temple about 10 recorded times Jesus was in the Temple or synagogues. 

The point of the discussion about WRATH is pretty important.

I know 6 people who have died, minus Covid, with Pop Off The Planet. Ages 35 to 62, believers, with the majority in mid to late 50s. And today, a few blocks away and one subdivision, a younger, long-time neighbor had the Police, Fire and Ambulance arrive without anyone moving the stretcher. God Bless her family. Today, probably, 7.  I have, never before, seen this in all my life.

Why? Probably Broken Heart Syndrome. And that is not counting the movement of cause of death as suicide from 13th in this Nation. To 9th.

It's not just the news. It's not just me - see the airlines. People are being extremely rude to each other. 

They feel free to vent all their fear and the idea they are better than, in many ways. I went to the Pharmacy and saw an 80-year-old lady and 24-year-old clerk almost come to blows. 

WRATH

People are worried.

So, I'd say no one wants to be the Essenes, but if we are going to talk about the problems people are concerned about - The Hope and The Future. And that, is always going to be Jesus Christ.

Are we in Wrath in the USA? God's Wrath?

Medical families are upset. I have seen extremely upset Medical People.  Because the Medical Family is overwhelmed.

Are we in Wrath in the USA? God's Wrath?

Are we ending as a human civilization and heading to "Madd Maxx." Or, if you prefer, the Danes are going to eat the UK. Or King Arthur is being run over by the savages.  Or, as the News says, society is ending.

We don't have to have Civilization End. 

In February of 2020, I saw a young woman suddenly boo hoo like a baby because all this Pandemic scared her. In Starbucks.  Strangers went over and just patted her shoulder. Several. 

The Danes eventually saw the UK learn not to be slaughtered, instead they learned how to be seen. We are going to get past these times. Medically, Spiritually, financially in God's Strength.

Like  Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker

Exactly like Stacey Lippel who pulled her students to Safety.

Ken Yuers who put his life on the line to save Students.

The First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, our House too.

Hawaii. A church elder grabbed the shooter's gun hand, pointing the weapon away from the victim and the crowd, and disarmed her, Asuega said. A church elder, Tony Williams, 57, is being called a hero for his quick action in grabbing the shooter’s gun hand, pointing the weapon away from the victim and the crowd, and disarming her.

Verbal Bullying. Stop.

I was at the Pharmacy, and an 80-Year-Old and a 24-year-old clerk decided to offend each other mightily over $7. And the manager of the Pharmacy was cool-headed, he began to just deal with them with a Non-Pandemic Brain Sensibly.

And I thought, well, one of us makes sense, looking at the Pharmacy Manager. He got it calming down. He turned to me and said, "What do you think about this conversation and exchange between these two arguing people?" 

I said, "I think we all see the Airlines and the problems between people. We have to Chill Out and Calm Down."  I probably should have said be more Polite. 

How is your neighborhood. We have had five things that drop my jaw. And we have seen something improve dramatically.

Complain. 

Complain, when this is done in a manner fully explaining what has happened. 

No one needs to feel like a victim, but jawing and complaining isn't being motivated to win the solution for all.

Work to Explain. Complain when this is done, to rational People. Speak the evidence calmly. Get the Solution. Be Polite. Win. Stick to calling the Boss. Let people keep their jobs. Find the Solution. Persist. Pray. Try again. With all the polite, you can find. Pray. Forsake getting all bothered. The anger of man, does not produce the Righteousness of God. James 1:20. 

Are we in Wrath in the USA? God's Wrath?

What is WEIRD WEATHER? 

What we know is we don't learn from History. 

If you say, please, see the 2nd or 4th Century. 

Who checks on history? And how many people do you know who have routinely been killed by lightning? Now, babe, that's Wrath. Forgged aboud, Grannie got run over by a Reindeer.  The weather in the 2nd and 4th Century is worth knowing about. 

Or if you have a Volcano Erupt and massive amounts of Carbon goes into the atmosphere - no one is using their common sense. Where is the Carbon counter now? THE John Muir saw the Glaciers Massively Shrink. The ones I saw in 2018.

Nuclear Power. 

Hey, I 1981 visited one IN COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS and had the Geiger Counter placed on me with almost giggling in the need to 'be safe measures'. And that summer, the 'completely safe' building put out something that kills people and animals XX.  My family is from Claiborne County, (and Bolivar County) Mississippi. And I can tell you for a Fact Jack, Nuclear Power has had 80% of the plants shut down. This isn't fun and games. Ask the Mississippi River about the TRILLIUM put out by Claiborne County's Nuclear Cutie.  Ask Baton Rouge about where this went. Ask Claiborne County why their population has Plummeted? Nuclear. 

 

Are we in Wrath in the USA? God's Wrath?

We do have a place to look for, "The Real Definitive Answer."

By the Time all the Prophecies in Scripture have God returning, the entire world will know the Old Testament and the New Testament. This is not complete by almost one third of the world. 

Are we in God's wrath? According to Jesus, He says when He returns, He doesn't think He will find faith.  Faith. 80% of the USA is praying in the Highest Name of Jesus Christ.  And this isn't just the nice, elderly people. 71% of Millennials believe God and prayer are a large part of their life. 

If we aren't in God's wrath, what are we?  Time to pray. Time to be polite and bold. Time to pray. Time to insist on the rights, Jesus would ask us to cling to. Time to pray. Time to speak up, time to have mercy. Pray. Time to take care of our family. Pray. Time to take care of the children, Jesus loved to have draw near to him.  Time to help your neighbor. Time to insist on the rights Jesus wants you to desire. Time to Pray. Time to be strong. Time to Hope. Time to think about the future, believe and be today. Cover us in the Name of Jesus, Father. Amen.

 Abba, Father,

Thank You, Father God, for Your Wonders of a New Year. 

You make all things new in Jesus Christ.

 Jesus tells us You are working and Jesus with You. 

We pray for Colorado.

We pray for their recovery.

And we ask for fewer weather incidents.

More of Your Holy Spirit this New Year, having You dwell in us 

God of Love. 

God of Encouragement.

For our history, our generations

have pleased You

Loving and Caring for our Children.

Look with us, and Bless us, Father.

Smile upon us, remembering

our heart to please our families

and You.

Forgive us when we err

in weakness, need and fear.

Strengthen us in Your Love.

Thanks be to Jesus, for His Grace upon Grace.

I will wait upon God all the days of my life and dwell in the House of Lord for His Word to me. Alleluia. 

This is as sure as the Promises of God for us in eternity who call upon Jesus.

 Speak the Word God and I shall be well. 

Psalm 139:1-18,23-24

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

    you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down

    and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue,

    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before,

    and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

    it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?

    Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

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.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

    and the light about me be night,”

12 even the darkness is not dark to you;

    the night is bright as the day,

    for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;

    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

    my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

    the days that were formed for me,

    when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

    How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

    I awake, and I am still with you.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!

    Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting!

Your Word 

gives us Hope

Love

Faith

Encouragement

We can ask for Your Holy Spirit to know

all of us

every cell

every molecule

Just as water is a wonder

You have created us as Wonders of Your Creation

and as Your Holy Spirit

knows every thought, every molecule

every cell

the hairs on our head

we have been filled with the 

Light of Jesus Christ

and only the better

for Jesus to be the Light within us.

Our Prayer this year,

The Light of Heaven,

The Light of the world, God's Good Creation

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

The Light of Nations

The Light of Mankind

will be

the Light filling this complex time

with more

of Your Love, Encouragement

Guidance, Mercy

Grace upon Grace.

We ask simply God

for Your Love

and Your Mercy

Your forbearance with this time.

Knowing Spring follows Christmas

Summer brings warmth

Autumn tells the Glory of God

and Christmas renews us in Hope

New Years is Jesus giving us pause to 

remember

Jesus Christ makes ALL things New.

Psalm 139:1-18,23-24

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

    you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down

    and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue,

    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before,

    and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

    it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?

    Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

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.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

    and the light about me be night,”

12 even the darkness is not dark to you;

    the night is bright as the day,

    for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;

    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

    my soul knows it very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

    the days that were formed for me,

    when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

    How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

    I awake, and I am still with you.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!

    Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting!

To You, our Father, be the Glory

Our God is an Awesome God! Amen

and Alleluia

in Jesus Christ and His Glory!

Lebanon had lost most of its great forest.

These Trees had built the Temple in Jerusalem, by cooperation.

Queen Victoria gave gifts to Lebanon to replant the forest.

We enjoy seeing today. 

Matthew 13:31,32

Jesus put before them another parable: “The Kingdom of Heaven 

is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.

 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, 

yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, 

so that the birds of the air come 

and 

nest in its branches.”

As we are asked to remind God

to bless us with more Heaven on earth,

His Good Will be done.

To You, our Father, be the Glory

Our God is an Awesome God! Amen

and Alleluia

in Jesus Christ and His Glory!

Matthew 13:31,32

Jesus put before them another parable: “The Kingdom of Heaven 

is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.

 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, 

yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, 

so that the birds of the air come 

and 

nest in its branches.”

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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