Psalm 80:1-3,14-15 ~ Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine

John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Galatians 5:22-23
Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law

The botanical truth is that grapevines live 50 to 70 years depending on their variety. At age 3, they begin to provide fruit, as the grapevines age, they diminish - not producing as much fruit.

Rita Lotti was born in 1381 in Roccaporena, Italy. In the Province of Umbria, Italy. Rita had an amazing and difficult life. Thwarted Christian desires, poverty, arranged marriage, violence, murder and sarcasm from her sisters after she was amazingly allowed to join a convent in middle age, without a dowry.

Perhaps a little art history would reveal how long ago, she was born. The Convent, Saint Mary Magdalene at Cascia - has art from the era at the door:


Due to her age, the convent did not want her. A miracle foisted Rita upon them. So Rita was given a dead stick to water and care for. And plant the stick she did – and watered it every day for a year. Then the “stick” put forth leaves and became the most beautiful and bountiful grape vine in the convent garden. Today, almost 600 years later, that same grape vine remains bountiful and beautiful. Every year some of these grapes are sent to the Pope and used, today, for communion in the area were Rita lived 629 years ago.

A 600 year old grapevine, planted by Rita is a live today. The only other grapevine in the world to even come close to this amazing miracle is 400 years old and located in Yarra, Slovenia. Perhaps it would be a good time to tell you, Rita's Roses are also still alive and bloom in the garden. Yes, you know it, this woman is a Saint. Saint Rita of Cascia. Link - to her live of devotion and the fruit still alive today. Rita's life is too amazing to believe, but the proof is still alive. If you still feel a little sceptically, you can google the photos from the vine in Yarra, Slovenia and you will know Rita's vine is the real deal.

Rita's Grapevine grows from under her window and covers the convent.

Psalm 80:1-3

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
and come to save us!

3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Psalm 80:14-15

14 Turn again, O God of hosts!
Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
15 the stock that your right hand planted,
and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.

Remember yesterday we looked at David's Holy Spirit inspired Psalm 119. David, Joseph (v. 1) and Rita had something in common. Not just the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, but their lives held the actions & power of God.

1. Believed God specifically created them to live within His plan.
2. Believed in the success of their godly desires/lives, with insurmountable circumstances against them.
3. Wanted to give God's love, to shepherd the people around them. Give love and care.


Father God, each day, we put our hands out to You. Give us Your love to do the plan for us. In the power, love and glory of Jesus Christ. Amen.

<><

Psalm 119:73-80 ~ turn to me

Psalm 119:73-80

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame!

Psalm 119:73-80 ~ (The Message)

With your very own hands you formed me; now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you. When they see me waiting, expecting your Word, those who fear you will take heart and be glad. I can see now, God, that your decisions are right; your testing has taught me what's true and right.Oh, love me - and right now! - hold me tight! just the way you promised. Now comfort me so I can live, really live; your revelation is the tune I dance to. Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds; they tried to sell me a bill of goods, but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel. Let those who fear you turn to me for evidence of your wise guidance. And let me live whole and holy, soul and body, so I can always walk with my head held high.

There is a self-centeredness to these verses of Psalm 119. And I like it. So many times we fall short of the holiness pleasing to God, and it happens because we believe we never measure up - never measure up - and so why not give up and give in to what we want...

Where did David get his moxie? His mojo? Why could he pray with such confidence to get the Almighty's attention?

David had the full power of the Holy Spirit - He believed:

1. God made him; specifically made him as part of God's plan.

2. Believes in success as the result, because he relies upon God and God's glory.

3. Believes hardship would happen, also part of God's plan, to provide strength, endurance, learning.

4. Believes comfort from God is a promise, looks for it.

5. Believes his decision to follow God makes him an example to teach, comfort others around him.

6. Believes the responsibilities are beyond his own skill level, asks God for help in righteousness. (Renew a right Spirit within me!)

Too many times we feel not perfect enough. Humility is part of loving the Lord, but humility doesn't give in to wallowing in self-centered, false meekness. Humility levels the playing field and asks mercy of our behavior. David had a job to do, a life to lead and he plunged ahead looking at what God had to say.

Psalm 139:13-16
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.


Father God, let us unshackle doubt and despair to look with real faith at the promises & gifts You've given us. We want Your help to accomplish the plans You have for our lives. In the highest name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

<><

Psalm 82 ~ rescue the weak and the needy

Psalm 82

1 God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I said, “You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,
and fall like any prince.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!

Jesus said there would be days like this:

Matthew 9:37
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few


When the waters are deeper than we like, O Lord, be with us, guide us and lead us. For the glory of your son, Jesus' name. Amen.

<><

Jeremiah 6:10-19 ~ look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it

Jeremiah 6:10-19

10 To whom shall I speak and give warning,
that they may hear?
Behold, their ears are uncircumcised,
they cannot listen;
behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn;
they take no pleasure in it.
11 Therefore I am full of the wrath of the Lord;
I am weary of holding it in.
“Pour it out upon the children in the street,
and upon the gatherings of young men, also;
both husband and wife shall be taken,
the elderly and the very aged.
12 Their houses shall be turned over to others,
their fields and wives together,
for I will stretch out my hand
against the inhabitants of the land,”
declares the Lord.
13 “For from the least to the greatest of them,
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
and from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
14 They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
15 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
No, they were not at all ashamed;
they did not know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,”
says the Lord.

16 Thus says the Lord:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I set watchmen over you, saying,
‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’
18 Therefore hear, O nations,
and know, O congregation, what will happen to them.
19 Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people,
the fruit of their devices,
because they have not paid attention to my words;
and as for my law, they have rejected it.

So what part of the world are you from? I'm from Texas, we currently have the oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico and we've just had our first hurricane of the season. Texas is in recovery, in the larger cities, from the housing price fall. New homes aren't being build much. Maybe you are from New York and felt the 5.5 earthquake in Canada recently? The cars in front of our house, guests, were burglarized during my son's birthday party in our neighborhood which had no crime 5 years ago. We now have the first named "B" storm coming up in the Gulf.

Or maybe you are from Wadena, Minnesota where they had multiple tornadoes? Some were F-4. After the tornadoes went by, the churches were packed and overflowing. Why? Incredible devastation, but so many destroyed places had one thing still standing - the cross. Where a cross had been placed, the tornado left the place where the cross stood. So many places were utterly ruined, but no lives were lost.

Friday, before our Independence Holiday, Americans experienced the 11th day of the fall of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange - the recovery can't be predicted to be on when unemployment isn't showing improvement. Illinois' news is their new financial crisis. Hard to believe the state, where Chicago pulls people along, has trouble.

And war, we have two. Were you for them or against them when we last voted? Boys who have played hide & seek at my house (and video war games) have gone from our neighborhood and now are far away, looking to promote peace, really. One of the finest examples of good men, his body now resides in the Houston National Cemetery. He was 20 when he gave up his leave to his buddy to go home instead and see the buddy's newborn baby. But he is at home now, really. And there will be a fine homecoming for us all.

These are troubled times. Yet I believe. I believe God is still there for us. I am comforted our sons' fallen childhood friend - his family still prays for our country and has hope.

I am seeing yard signs around the United States asking us to pray for our country. I am so pleased. Aren't you. Let me also confess, I am glad because then I remember to pray.

I spent time really being interested in politics (moderate Republican), but really decided, when Isabelle was discovered to be so ill, that it doesn't matter a lot. We can have opinions and definitely vote, but it's too large an animal for our opinions to matter. I am for the middle class. Middle class for everyone - the right to work and be rewarded, the right to believe what we do matters to God and to each other. I am for our country to have good public schools, reasonable college costs, a health care system that people with grave illnesses approve of. Taxation needs to be fair to all classes.

Wouldn't it be great if we could respect each other (even politically again), be polite, defy false email campaigns and agree that majority rules without oppressing the minority opinion??? United we should stand in remembering there is NO place like home.

The soldier in the photo above? It is all of us, we are warriors when we pray:

1 Samuel 12:23
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way

James 4:2
You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not.

1 Thessalonians 5:7
pray without ceasing

Luke 18:1
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.


Abba, bless the people who put out the signs asking us to pray for our country. Abba, thank You we live in a country where we can put these signs out. Abba, have mercy on us, draw us to You and bless us, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

<><

Job 19:25-27 ~ my Redeemer lives!

Job 19:25-27

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!


1 Peter 1:6,7
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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.


1 Peter 5:7
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.


Jeremiah 17:7,8
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Luke 17:21
nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

3 John 1:2
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

Genesis 21:22b
God is with you in all that you do.

Isaiah 49:13
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.

1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Blessed be God Almighty, His Word goes out and never returns empty. Blessed be Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

<><

Amos 8 ~ searching for the Word of the Lord

Movie, "The Book of Eli" - Denzel Washington

Amos 8:4-12 ~ (New International Version)

- Audio Link to Amos 8

⁴ Hear this, you who trample the needy
and do away with the poor of the land,

⁵ saying,
"When will the New Moon be over
that we may sell grain,
and the Sabbath be ended
that we may market wheat?"—
skimping the measure,
boosting the price
and cheating with dishonest scales,

⁶ buying the poor with silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals,
selling even the sweepings with the wheat.

⁷ The LORD has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: "I will never forget anything they have done.

⁸ "Will not the land tremble for this,
and all who live in it mourn?
The whole land will rise like the Nile;
it will be stirred up and then sink
like the river of Egypt.

⁹ "In that day," declares the Sovereign LORD,
"I will make the sun go down at noon
and darken the earth in broad daylight.

¹⁰ I will turn your religious feasts into mourning
and all your singing into weeping.
I will make all of you wear sackcloth
and shave your heads.
I will make that time like mourning for an only son
and the end of it like a bitter day.

¹¹ "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD,
"when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

¹² Men will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the LORD,
but they will not find it.

When we read the Book of Isaiah, it's never clear if it refers to yesterday, today or tomorrow. All of the books of Scripture have the same quality, the word of God is living and active. As Amos wrote, Israel & Judah were in peak form. The Temple of Solomon held up the traditions and the reading of God's word.

Amos, what a trouble maker... Amos sees the coming of the 2nd exile & end of Solomon's Temple, due to corruption. Amos sees the coming destruction of the 2nd Temple, not even built. Amos' timeless writings, the power of the Holy Spirit, see the Essenes leaving the 2nd Temple because Herod the Great, a Samaritan married to his brother's wife, rules the priesthood. Thirsty for the Word of God? What about a world ending the worst warfare century? The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls left from a time of hunger for God's Word, reach out and touch part of the world after another 2 millenniums.

Amos' writings cover "The Book of Eli", the movie. Just as Eli is in a destroyed desert world, so are the Essenes. Our first photo today is from the movie, the second from Qumran, the settlement recording the Bible before Christ. The same Bible, word for word, we read today, 2,000 years later.

People who don't know the Scriptures often say it was written by "the man" who wrote it & used it to control the masses. Read Amos. God isn't trying to control the masses, but to educate them about corruption or greed. God isn't interested in promoting selfish interest - God promotes fair trade.

"The Book of Eli" works because it's believable. Believable not only because it tells of portions of the future, but interesting because it has occurred again and again. Allowing something bigger than Hollywood, hope from 2 millenniums past bring the Word of the Lord to our lives.

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.

The Essenes believed they had reached the time of Apocalypse, the world's Apocalypse, instead they had reached the time the Romans would end their lives and world. It was the Essenes' Apocalypse. But the Essenes reached out and touched the world more profoundly than they imagined. God works all things together for good, greater than man imagines or plans.

Help us each day, Father God, to work our lives to your purpose. In Jesus Christ's Holy name. Amen.

<><

Acts 10:24-48 ~ in the presence of God

Finding the Presence of God

Acts 10:24-48

24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, [3 p.m.] and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Acts 10, begins by telling us Cornelius:
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”

The Scriptures are not clear if Cornelius, a centurion, was the same centurion in whom his servant was healed & Jesus found the greatest faith in Israel, Matthew 8 & Luke 7. Both centurions were credited for generosity. I have to say, I always hoped so, for his faith to be so blessed.

This centurion fell at Peter's feet for the honor at a visit, in his home, from Jesus' rock.


Luke 7:2-9
The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, ⁵because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." ⁶So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. ⁷That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." ⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.

Matthew 8:13
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.

Linking the biblical narratives today is important. Many people travel just to feel the presence of God. The Centurions given the great honor of biblical memory makes an important point, just as nationality or place isn't important to the Lord, but faith is.

1 Kings 19:11-13
¹¹ The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"


Psalm 139
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.

Father God, always present with us, we rejoice in Your goodness. Amen.

<><

1 Samuel 12 ~ serve the Lord with all your heart

Rain storm over the area of mountainous area outside of Jerusalm, Israel the Scriptures say was Samuel's home


1 Samuel 12 ~ (New International Version)

-Audio link to 1 Samuel 12


1 Samuel said to all Israel, "I have listened to everything you said to me and have set a king over you. 2 Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. 3 Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the LORD and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these, I will make it right."

4 "You have not cheated or oppressed us," they replied. "You have not taken anything from anyone's hand."

5 Samuel said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." "He is witness," they said.

6 Then Samuel said to the people, "It is the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your forefathers up out of Egypt. 7 Now then, stand here, because I am going to confront you with evidence before the LORD as to all the righteous acts performed by the LORD for you and your fathers.

8 "After Jacob entered Egypt, they cried to the LORD for help, and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your forefathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

9 "But they forgot the LORD their God; so he sold them into the hand of Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them. 10 They cried out to the LORD and said, 'We have sinned; we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.' 11 Then the LORD sent Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, so that you lived securely.

12 "But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, 'No, we want a king to rule over us'-even though the LORD your God was your king. 13 Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the LORD has set a king over you. 14 If you fear the LORD and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God-good! 15 But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers.

16 "Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes! 17 Is it not wheat harvest now? I will call upon the LORD to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the LORD when you asked for a king."

18 Then Samuel called upon the LORD, and that same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the LORD and of Samuel.

19 The people all said to Samuel, "Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king."

20 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away."


~ evidence before the LORD as to all the righteous acts performed by the LORD for you and your fathers.

When you think about the Lord's mercy, think upon this chapter. God's people have asked God to replace Him as their King. God's people are not consistent, yet the Lord keeps making provisions for them. Christianity does not ask for perfect people, Jesus Christ came to save sinners. The people of God feel insecure, threatened, bored, indifferent, lukewarm, but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Lamentations 3:22
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

Psalm 136:26
Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Deuteronomy 5:10
but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments

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.

Father God, Your grace is our salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.




<><

Acts 12:1-11 ~ the Lord has sent

Amazon Jungle near the Waodani Tribe

Acts 12:1-11

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Peter had a difficult time believing an angel of the Lord would be sent to protect him. Snopes has the same problem when discussing part of Billy Graham's book "Angels: God's Secret Agents". The writers of Snopes have a hard time believing angels deliver people and end the article by saying, " The Christian commandment not to bear false witness isn't getting the mileage that it used to." http://www.snopes.com/glurge/26guards.asp

We walk by faith and not by sight. I believe with faith, prayer saves people - the hand of God moves to deliver them. I believe, just like Peter, it is hard to believe, but miracles happen. Reverend John Paton was protected by the hand of God when natives were going to kill him and his entire family in New Hebrides Island. Later, God's protection allowed the natives to understand Jesus Christ isn't for the perfect, Jesus Christ is for those who need a Savior.

In the whole Snopes article, they are appalled at the variations of the same theme. The theme is God protecting people and spreading His word. It happens again and again.

Well, what about the famous Jim Elliot, missionary to the Waodani Tribe? Didn't God fail him? No, the Waodani Tribe were an extreme human example of the capacity to murder. They killed Jim, and four other missionaries, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming and Nate Saint after repeated acts of kindness and gifts from the missionaries.

Jim Elliot's last journal entry was published in a book by his wife, Elizabeth Elliott, in "Through Gates of Splendor". He said, in part:

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain, that which he cannot lose. (Quote from Phillip Henry)

Luke 16:9
that when it shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

Scripture leaves so many stories untold."

Jim Elliot was right. The Gospel of John 21:25 says there are so many stories of Jesus, the world itself could not contain all the books. We have another story of Jesus Christ. There is an important account of the deaths of these loving men, that remained untold for decades. It was the murders' account of the deaths. Given, also, in the movie, "End of the Spear".

Here is the Waodani account of their murders of the missionaries:

"Two Waodani women and a man came to see the 5 foreigners. Nate took the man up for a ride in the plane. The mission team is exhilarated. Everything seems to be going according to plan. Contact has been made. The first three Waodani they had interacted with seemed positive.

At this point, a lie sabotages the missionaries’ strategy. The Waodani man, Nenkiwi, concocts a lie to tell the other men who had been hunting: “The foreigners attacked us. We ran. They killed and ate Dayumae!” The men respond: “We must spear them!”

The joy of the missionaries on the sand bar is suddenly shattered as the Waodani warriors run from the jungle and without any warning begin spearing the men. Following behind them the women hack at the fallen men. Despite being armed, the missionaries offer no resistance. They die courageously, fully committed to reaching the Waodani for Christ, trying to communicate their message of God’s love to the very end.

A rainstorm erupts. Canoes with armed men searching for the missing missionaries come down the river. A military helicopter comes overhead. Mincayani hiding in the forest expresses the fears of the men: “We have angered all the spirits!” They torch their village and flee."

What were they speaking about when they killed the men and said 'they had angered all the spirits.' As the missionaries lay dying, the Waodani involved all saw heavenly spirits appear around the men. It scared them so much, that their lives were permanently changed. It wasn't until decades later, when children of the murdered missionaries returned to see the evidence of the tribe's Christianity that the message of the heavenly visitation was found.

God's hand moved after the sacrifice of these lives, but many people were changed by love by this ultimate gift. The murders in all the tribes stopped with great sacrifice to the people brave enough to act with love. For the first time in Waodani history, there is a generation of young children with grandfathers.

The end of this video is amazing, the Waodani today.



Father God, we live our lives - not by sight - but in the hope of Your great mercy. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

<><

1 Samuel 9 ~ to lay aside

Is Saul also among the prophets?

1 Samuel 9 (New International Version)

- Audio Link - 1 Samuel 9

¹ There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. ² He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the others.

³ Now the donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys." ⁴ So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha, but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.

⁵ When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, "Come, let's go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us."

⁶ But the servant replied, "Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let's go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take."

⁷ Saul said to his servant, "If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?"

⁸ The servant answered him again. "Look," he said, "I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take." ⁹ (Formerly in Israel, if a man went to inquire of God, he would say, "Come, let us go to the seer," because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.)

¹⁰ "Good," Saul said to his servant. "Come, let's go." So they set out for the town where the man of God was.

¹¹ As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water, and they asked them, "Is the seer here?"

¹² "He is," they answered. "He's ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place. ¹³ As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time."

¹⁴ They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

¹⁵ Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel: ¹⁶ "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me."

¹⁷ When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD said to him, "This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people."

¹⁸ Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, "Would you please tell me where the seer's house is?"

¹⁹ "I am the seer," Samuel replied. "Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. ²⁰ As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your father's family?"

²¹ Saul answered, "But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?"

²² Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited—about thirty in number. ²³ Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside."

²⁴ So the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, "Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion, from the time I said, 'I have invited guests.' " And Saul dined with Samuel that day.

²⁵ After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house. ²⁶ They rose about daybreak and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Get ready, and I will send you on your way." When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together. ²⁷ As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us"-and the servant did so-"but you stay here awhile, so that I may give you a message from God."

"Is Saul also among the prophets?" Was an important saying - a pop culture question for millenniums ago - during the time when Saul was elevated to be leader of God's inheritance - King. It wasn't really a question... when it should have been. The people of Israel were used to godly leadership. Saul, in their eyes, was anointed by God, therefore a judge of Israel, a prophet, like Samuel. The people expected a Samuel - type person, but in warrior fashion. The people expected this in Jesus, as well.

2,700 years ago or today, we are always looking for more security and more happiness. Maybe there isn't enough thanksgiving, gratitude or prayer.

This is a great Scripture chapter for people considering marriage or even dating.

When you think about the Book of Judges, you'll remember there were always raids and skirmishes, sometimes some oppression from neighboring enemies. Small wonder, when Israel had been the new neighbor. But the grass is always greener, the people wanted more security.

The people of Israel had asked to put aside Samuel, who was old, and to have a king, to be like other nations. Just as Saul didn't have the inclination to know about Samuel and the real gifts of God, the Children of Israel were in the same pop culture frame of mind. The people did not ask or pray to God for a man like Moses, Joshua or Samuel, they merely asked Samuel for a king. Unconcerned about spiritual blessings, they were interested in only the seen, the practical aspects of life.

Beautiful and tall, Saul is already displaying his flaws and virtues, even in the very early morning of his first meeting with Samuel. Saul has no idea where Samuel - the Judge of Israel, the Seer, is from. And importantly, his offering to the Lord doesn't even come from Saul, but the servant. Hannah, Samuel's mother, had no offering to bring of her own, when she prayed so earnestly for help (a child). But Hannah's concern wasn't the offering or sacrifice. Saul's first concern is payment for the prophet, not an offering to the Lord.

The Old Testament is quite different from the gift of the Holy Spirit given to the baptized in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, people were powerfully servants, driven to be instruments for the Lord. The Holy Spirit rested powerfully on one individual instead of the group of people, following the Lord, we see in Acts, Chapter 2. We see from the beginning of 1 Samuel 9, Saul has the worldly attributes of a winner, but the gifts of God haven't concerned Saul enough to learn of them in his past. This does not mean God didn't love Saul and plan good for him. Saul still brought safety and care to Israel.

We've read 1 Samuel 9, this year, in Scriptures for Today. If you'd like to see another aspect of this chapter, the Lord's forgiveness extended to Saul, please see - 1 Samuel 9 ~ behold.

Father God, help us to remember Your requirements for each person & each day are different from our own. With Your wisdom, mature us each day to learn to put aside what isn't needful for us. Help us Jesus, to become the person - soul - You would have us to be. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

<><

Job 6 ~ darkened by thawing ice

Job 6 (New International Version)

- Audio link to Job 6

¹ Then Job replied:

² "If only my anguish could be weighed
and all my misery be placed on the scales!

³ It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas—
no wonder my words have been impetuous.

⁴ The arrows of the Almighty are in me,
my spirit drinks in their poison;
God's terrors are marshaled against me.

⁵ Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass,
or an ox bellow when it has fodder?

⁶ Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
or is there flavor in the white of an egg ?

⁷ I refuse to touch it;
such food makes me ill.

⁸ "Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant what I hope for,

⁹ that God would be willing to crush me,
to let loose his hand and cut me off!

¹⁰ Then I would still have this consolation—
my joy in unrelenting pain—
that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.

¹¹ "What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
What prospects, that I should be patient?

¹² Do I have the strength of stone?
Is my flesh bronze?

¹³ Do I have any power to help myself,
now that success has been driven from me?

¹⁴ "A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends,
even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵ But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,
as the streams that overflow

¹⁶ when darkened by thawing ice
and swollen with melting snow,

¹⁷ but that cease to flow in the dry season,
and in the heat vanish from their channels.

¹⁸ Caravans turn aside from their routes;
they go up into the wasteland and perish.

¹⁹ The caravans of Tema look for water,
the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.

²⁰ They are distressed, because they had been confident;
they arrive there, only to be disappointed.

²¹ Now you too have proved to be of no help;
you see something dreadful and are afraid.

²² Have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf,
pay a ransom for me from your wealth,

²³ deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
ransom me from the clutches of the ruthless'?

²⁴ "Teach me, and I will be quiet;
show me where I have been wrong.

²⁵ How painful are honest words!
But what do your arguments prove?

²⁶ Do you mean to correct what I say,
and treat the words of a despairing man as wind?

²⁷ You would even cast lots for the fatherless
and barter away your friend.

²⁸ "But now be so kind as to look at me.
Would I lie to your face?

²⁹ Relent, do not be unjust;
reconsider, for my integrity is at stake. [my righteousness still stands]

³⁰ Is there any wickedness on my lips?
Can my mouth not discern malice?

We have arrived at the book of Job again. To be honest, I don't leap for joy at Job. Yet Job has a discernment to it that our generation, media watchers, can fully comprehend. In the previous generations, they didn't have nearly as much emphasis placed on entertainment. Job has an element used in Sci Fi or Horror Movies. Job knows in his soul, he keeps trying to tell his friends, that God has sent these problems to him, purposefully. Job wants to lament with Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar how unjust God is to do this to him, personally. (Here we could use a chorus of the Jaws movie theme - and pan a shot to black ice.)

Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar, totally, & completely don't understand what Job has perceived. They have decided Job is guilty and deserve what comes his way. His friends grow tired of Job's complaints and want him to confess he does not comprehend God.

So... we'll just remove the chapters of Job where Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar speak- their advice to Job is as enlightened as black ice. That would be only chapters 4,8,11,15,18,20 & 22. No. We aren't. Scripture remains in the Bible because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Actually the chapters of Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar have some Holy Spirit led insights to the goodness & justice of God. Insights about friends who search for God themselves, but friends are human. An important guide to understanding friends is important, but not to place them in the same category as the Holy Spirit to you.

The Book of Job has another hidden virtue - which lends itself more to the finesse of literature, instead of the glamor of movies - Job writes off the advice of his friends because he doesn't want to hear it. But Father God, creator of the universe is vast, more enduring, more faceted than any diamond - He created, is telling us Job won't want to hear about the attributes of God. A guide to direct those needing Spiritual help, but not receptive. A reminder for those of us trying to help a loved one, God is still the one in control.

But back to our original opening paragraph, Job is at the complete end of his tether because he just Knows God Has Done This to Job with Malice and a Poor Sense of Justice. How does Job arrive at the conclusion of peace? Job has heard, and discarded, what his friends have said. Partially Job is correct, God has judged Job to be a good man. Righteous. But how is Job going to arrive at the peace Job eventually finds? Job finds it by searching his own soul and allowing the Words of God to soak in. God saves Job, not his friends.

Job is partially correct, God has allowed Job to suffer. Job is incensed. Job just knows he is too righteous to have suffering. Job is cast down that his wife, his children (the ones left living), his servants, his family and his friends look down on him for his troubles. Job just knows he was righteous and worthy enough to sit with the village elders at the gate to welcome people. Job did a good job looking good for God.

Job eventually calms his soul well enough for the Words of God to soak into his soul. God allows us to have trouble, are we to judge God? Job eventually realizes God does not judge us incorrectly. Job is not God and must realize God's purposes are good. All the time. Job must consider Job is not righteous enough to save himself. Just as God tells Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar they have flaws even as they attempted to correct and direct Job. The close of the Book of Job touches on the majesty, the vastness of God. Job, Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar have all attempted to touch on God's attributes and have partially understood. But not being God themselves, have hidden flaws they must allow God's enduring grace to save them. They must grow in faith to lean in to trusting Him.

Job 40:1-4
1 The LORD said to Job:

2 "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who accuses God answer him!"

3 Then Job answered the LORD :

4 "I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.

Job 42:12-17
¹² The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. ¹³ And he also had seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴ The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. ¹⁵ Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. 

¹⁶ After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. ¹⁷ And so he died, old and full of years.

Father God, help us to love and follow You with an undivided heart. In Jesus' name. Amen.

<><