Psalm 139 ~ the wings of morning

 

Psalm 139

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!

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me!

20 They speak against you with malicious intent; 

your enemies take your name in vain!

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? 

And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.

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!

The Scriptures are of God and simply not useful to blot out the unpleasant Bits. We have to know how many times Anger/Frustration/Not our path/Not yet Heaven at all, at all, at all and realize Scripture says God gets all of these things Himself. The difference is, God covers His Wrath and gives us Goodness and Mercy. He is really rather overwhelming to Love us. But not to give up being I Am. The I Am of His Holiness as Mighty God. He just, only, simply, marvelously will be Love to us.

When we get to the Lord's Prayer, 

God didn't thunder on about sin. He could have. He just does not. Instead, He covers wrath and asks us to please want more Heaven on earth. To know His Will is good. For His is the Kingdom of Heaven, with 12 open gates, where He tells us no more mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

God, He makes everything new. 

Today, Edward and I were talking about funerals. Remembering, thinking and wondering about the next set of Funerals. Not usual for us. Nope, not.

As I had Psalm 139 out to read

And tonight, characteristic of the chain of coincidences life offers, my brother let me know my first cousin, once removed, on the Rosedale, Bolivar County, Mississippi Wilson side had passed on. Anne Cable. The Reverend Wm. Tate Young's only child. I'm Anne Laurel because Lawrence is a huge name in our family. And I'm Anne because my mother liked the name so much, it's her nickname. And I'm Anne Laurel because I have a cousin named Anne Cable who is brilliant and one of the first women graduates of the Colorado School of Mines in Petroleum Engineering. My name, my first name, was meant to remind me all the time of family. And always has.

Tonight, God; He makes all things new.

This was a symbol of my childhood. 

Daddy wore Ray Ban Hawkeye glasses. Grandmother Bit wore Ray Ban gold edged Clubmasters as well. Tate wore Ray Ban Hawkeye Clubmaster same glasses continually, they stood out from his full head of thick, white hair. And all my people, all, had the same eyeglass cover. Like a Team. This way, the eyeglasses went on the car's visor. As if. If this had ever happened.  No, in the car, they seriously had glasses on. The family eyeglasses. And eyeglass cover case.

Rev.Wm Tate Young never ever, ever was without his glasses. I think he was born with them. In fact, the only way I knew he was really gone on to Heaven, Tate's glasses were on the dining room table. 

"Oh GOD." What? What, Anne Laurel. "The GLASSES." Oh. Grandmother gathered the glasses and they were not seen again, until Heaven. 

Heaven is a journey 

God makes all things new.

As John was telling me about Anne Cable passing. I remembered Anne Cable being 28 years old. A new wife. Smiling. Glamorous.  Her husband with his chin high and a ready hand. They drove this hippie type van. Except it was a Plymouth, so. Yeah, smarties.  Missed the Hippie boat. Darn. But still Glamorous.  And with Uncle Tate, Anne Cable's father, who could light up a room or even the whole house. And they had this fat beagle. Tolerable. 

They got better as the aged. By the time Anne Cable hit 31, she had baby Pam. Oh, my God. Pam. Smocked baby dresses and toddling about smelling of Baby Powder. Tate saw angels and heard Heavenly Choirs singing.  Pam existed to be an airplane. Flying in their hands being an airplane. A sweet smelling, amiable, smiling baby who thought all toddlers were continuous airplanes. 

Anne Cable and Bob were still cooing as she went off to NY College in bobby socks, plaid and deeply purple hair.  Still smiling, when she handed them the bill for antiques, while getting her Master's in Geology.  Brave Pam! Not purple hair, then. I'm convinced, Tate would be relieved.

Now, all of this is pretty nostalgic and good. Brought me to tears. Except. We are real people. And real people sometimes bother, goad, nag, flip off the communications.     Let's sum it up by saying... And Tate got angry. Not with us. With his own beloved. And Tate was not wrong. Mistakes were made. And people failed to gather. And time went by.

When people get older, they complain. And they can complain and grouse about the same ol thing. Not that you ever noticed, I'm sure. Sometimes space is a good thing. Time must pass. Clear heads prevail. And wrong can be righted. Even when you just gasp.

What is Eternal. God's Plan. And that is no sad or sorry subject. God is Love. God. 

He will make all things new.

New. Anne Cable and Bob could complain. And they did. And mostly they complained about ...

Anne Cable and Bob. Well, it's America. People grow apart. And they grouse. And if they complain this much, well, you know the next step.  It's not pleasant, but it's America and we know what people do when they grouse. And complain.  And then 1993ish. Bob had a stroke on a trip to the UK, and Anne Cable had to go to hospital and wait. And wait.  Bob came home and Anne Cable began to complain. About the horrible thing happened to her Bob. And Bob started watching Anne Cable and the intense worry she had. And Bob started to bloom. And then, Bob started taking up for Anne Cable. Not always in perfect ways, mind you. Because we are real people. And we fall far from the Glory of God.

Is December 6th. And last year and a day was December 5, 2021. It was the funeral of my cousin-in-law Bob. He died the day after my mother of Covid, like she did. 3 Counties over. Not together.

I know because my mother's funeral was also December 5, 2021. And on December 5, 2022, my first cousin once removed Anne Cable passed on. (Yes, I'm Anne Laurel and my cousin is Anne Cable, all my life.)

God makes all things new.

1993ish Anne Cable and Bob turned their grousing about each other off. And instead began to be intense, and conversational, about their health issues and complaints. And became advocates of one another. Most of their conversations were about the care of the other. And the intense care and advocacy. 

It gave us something to grouse about. Well, some of us, anyway. And like I told my brother on the phone, actually, they turned their marriage into something glorious.  And we forgot to remark about that. Pretty remarkable.

Tate. I can hear him yelling, as he reaches Anne Cable,

"And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. "

"And I heard A Loud Voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people,"

"And 
God himself will be with them as their God." 

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Abba, Father,

May the Lord

Bless us and keep us,

Make His Face to Shine upon us,

Be Gracious to us.

Lift up His Countenance,

His Smile,

Upon us

and give us Peace.

His very own Peace.

May the Lord give us the Name Jesus,

Fill us with Jesus,

put us on His Path

and 

We Are Blessed.

Always.

Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Romans 12:15-16 ~ Rejoice

 

Romans 12:15-16

Rejoice with those who rejoice; 

mourn with those who mourn. 

Psalm 61

4 I shall live forever in your tent;

 oh, to be safe beneath the shelter of your wings! 

5 For you have heard my vows,

 O God, to praise You every day, 

and you have given me the blessings 

You reserve for those who reverence Your Name.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day that the Lord has made; 

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Clothed with strength and splendor, 

and look to the future 

with confidence.

Psalm 71

For you, O Lord, are my hope,

my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;

you are he who took me from my mother's womb.

My praise is continually of you.

7 I have been as a portent to many,

but you are my strong refuge.

8 My mouth is filled with your praise,

and

 with your glory all the day.

2 Corinthians 1:4

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. 

When they are troubled, 

we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

Psalm 31:7, 8

 

 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, 

 because you have seen my affliction; 

 you have known the distress of my soul, 

8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;

 you have set my feet in a broad place.

 9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, 

2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.
Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and teaching!

Colossians 4:3

As you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word,

so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ

Abba, Father,

You, Our Father, has loved us so much that we are called children of God. 

And we really are His Children!

John, Your Beloved Disciple calls You, "God of Love." 

Paul calls You, "God of encouragement!"

We pray rightly over Christmas! For us all!

Please You Bless us and Keep us,
Make Your Face Joyfully Shine upon us,
Be Gracious to us!

May we Lift up Your Face to Smile upon us!
Cover us in Your Peace, the Very Peace of You, Our God, Knowing Your
Willing Plan for a Hope and Future!

To place the Name of Jesus in our souls. Jesus before us,
Jesus behind us, Jesus Living Water pouring and flowing surround us and those we Love. Help us to Seek You First. Dwell with us.

Help us to have more Heaven upon earth.

The Blessing of Jesus upon us. 

For all the Times You've 

Helped Thank You!

Alleluia and Amen in Jesus Christ!

We put our Hope of Blessing upon Jesus

Amen  

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Proverbs 31:25 ~ Strength And Splendor

 

Finding our Christmas Spirit in a difficult and challenging year. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

God hasn't forgotten our address. He knows our difficulties. And He has a Plan. 

Psalm 118:24

This is the day that the Lord has made; 

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Looking for God's Plan, we have to unravel our mixed blessings to see more blessings. Look. Watch. Say Thank You. Do not grow weary. Most of have concerns in good times to see them last. We can take comfort that difficulties heal as well, we do our part, speak up, act with courage, keep asking the Lord to Bring Us This Day.

Colossians 3:17 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, 

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

We want our Father to never leave nor forsake us,

we can do our part. Seek the Lord first.

The Adventure.

The Word of God says not all knowledge increases happiness. Not everything we do is joyful. And in the Old Testament, the Children of Israel used the Balm of Gilead believing this was a healing Help.  In the New Covenant,  we know the Name of Jesus. Prayer can always put the Balm, which is really The Highest Name of Jesus. We can apply The Balm of Jesus in us to what hurts, asking Jesus to go deeper in every cell and every direction we don't even fathom. The Scriptures assure us our Prayers go farther than we imagine.

I like the Prayer of the Balm of Jesus. Jesus understanding our emotions and situations better than we do ourselves. His Love.

.

 

James 1:17  

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of lights

 with whom there is no variation 

or shadow 

due to change.

Blessings. Seek and ye shall find.  Life has a way of handing us wet blankets. People and situations  want us to know we don't come first and are far down the line. Not with the Lord.

His Plan is Triumphant. You matter to the Lord.  Your Prayers have to be seen as Part of "Your Will be Done."   It's easier to have some cynicism. Jesus was dealing with the Pharisees and He said He did not trust them, He knew what was in mankind. John 2:24.  John found it necessary to put this statement in the early part of His Gospel Truth. But cynicism is cynicism, and is the root of bitterness.  

Jesus goes on to tell us the Parable of the Ten Talents. What we think about God is very important in our inner core. What was Jesus talking about when He said He is living water? He meant once you know in your depth that God is for you, the rest is fairly insignificant in our deepest safety and inner heart.  And like roots, this takes a Relationship growing in the speed God would allow.

God says man has plans which can be millstones. The Ten Parables  Where we put our faith, depends on the heart. The deeper the resources and faith in our heart, the more places God can fill. Oh the Places, He Will Go. 

The Blessings Scriptures ... when we fill empty, can say we are missing something. Yes, like an Emperor watching a child or grandchild walk, He could be disdainful of the lurching effort. God Himself, sent us Jesus, who says He will not bend or break a bruised reed. This is our Father, who has given us Jesus and Advent is the time we can be filled with wonder. Knowing Joy of Love. Love that believes we are capable of the Good Works He has given us to walk in. 

Find a Scripture about Blessings never having a diminished effect. We see in life, life changes and we ride the river of ebb and flow. Yes. The Adventure.   Ok, find a Blessings Prayer without variation. The Gates of Heaven are open constantly. Never does our Abba close His 12 Gates. Never does He call, He is in bed and too relaxed. Instead, He invites us to pray as if we are Best Friends.  God Says, we will sometimes view Him as an evil Judge, and He invites us to remember this isn't the truth.

God tells us if we allow Him, He will be Living Water flowing through us. Replenishing, filling what is needed, allowing what is empty to be filled.  Water will find a path we didn't know existed. God says He is Living Water. He leaves Heaven to be Grace upon Grace. He desires Mercy more than sacrifice. This is truly Love. And do we believe Heaven is Real? God does and this is the wisdom of the Universe. This is the One who says seek Him and we will find Him. His Gates are open.

Seeking is open hearts, open ways, filled with Love. Merciful. Renewing. John the Baptist said brood of vipers, God says Good Creation Filled with Joy. Joy. Jesus knows how the Bible closes in Revelation 22. Eden is Restored. Walk with the Lord.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

Prayer John 17 is eternal. Blessings of this:

Ephesians 1:16 

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers

Our Father is able to do immeasurably more 

than all we ask or imagine, 

according to His power 

that is at work within us, 

to Him be the glory in the church 

and 

in Christ Jesus 

throughout all generations, 

forever and ever. 

Amen.

Now, let's consider three final Blessings Scriptures.

Colossians 3:15 

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, 

which indeed you were called 

in one body. 

And be thankful.

The Diversity of mankind. All have different gifts.  The need for us to yield to ... the Lord. His Good Will, we Believe will be Done. The work of mankind is to believe in the One He has sent. John 6:29. The Ten Talents Parable believes greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world. Believe!

Do not grow weary. Allow Living Water to be your search and Find Him.

Consider what Paul said about the ebbs and flows of life, as a blessing:

Acts 2: 2-3

2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: 

"We have enjoyed a long period of peace

 under you, 

and your foresight has brought about reforms

 in this nation."

3 Everywhere and in every way, 

most excellent Felix, 

we acknowledge this 

with profound gratitude.

The 1980s did all kinds of conclusive studies

on Prayer and Health or Positive Outcomes.

Keep Oil in Your Lamp of Faith!

Proverbs 31:25

Clothed with strength and splendor, 

and look to the future 

with confidence.

Abba, Father,

Dwell in us mightily.

Know every cell and bring Light

within us in Your Joy and Love.

Be the Light to those I Love.

Help this Joy fill Your Good Creation.

Help us to not grow weary

Renew us

remembering our Living Water 

Streams of

 Jesus Christ, Messiah, Son of the Most High

In Your Mercy

help us to be

Your Joyful Temple.

Help us to Seek You First

and Pray

to You

in Jesus Christ

with all Joy of Your Steadfast

Love.

In The Highest Name of

Jesus Christ

we believe

and 

ask

Please Father,

Your Willing and Immeasurable

Blessings!

Our Father is able to do immeasurably more 

than all we ask or imagine, 

according to His power 

that is at work within us, 

to Him be the glory in the church 

and 

in Christ Jesus 

throughout all generations, 

forever and ever. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YAY JESUS