Psalm 18 ~ the word of the Lord proves true

Psalm 18

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.

7 Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8 Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9 He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
12 Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

16 He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

20 The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his rules were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23 I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from my guilt.
24 So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp;
the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
29 For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30 This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

31 For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?—
32 the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand supported me,
and your gentleness made me great.
36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
and did not turn back till they were consumed.
38 I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;
they fell under my feet.
39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
you made those who rise against me sink under me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
and those who hated me I destroyed.
41 They cried for help, but there was none to save;
they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
42 I beat them fine as dust before the wind;
I cast them out like the mire of the streets.

43 You delivered me from strife with the people;
you made me the head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
45 Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling out of their fortresses.

46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation—
47 the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
48 who delivered me from my enemies;
yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you rescued me from the man of violence.

49 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing to your name.
50 Great salvation he brings to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever.

George Carlin used to say, in the seventies, "God can throw a boat right over a hedge."

God would agree.

For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.


Excavations to Jericho ~ At the north end, a portion of the mud brick wall atop the stone retaining wall survived, demonstrating that the city wall did not fall in this area. Nothing remains of the mud brick city wall at other points investigated, showing that it had collapsed everywhere else. Remnants of the collapsed city wall were actually found still in place in three places at Jericho. According to the Bible, Rahab’s house was incorporated into the fortification system (Jos 2:15). If the walls fell, how was her house spared? As you recall, the spies had instructed Rahab to bring her family into her house and they would be rescued. When the Israelites stormed the city, Rahab and her family were saved as promised (Jos 6:17, 22–23). At the north end of the tell of Jericho, archaeologists made some astounding discoveries that seem to relate to Rahab. A portion of that mudbrick wall was still standing to a height of 8 ft. What is more, there were houses built against the wall! It is quite possible that this is where Rahab’s house was located.

We have learned of battles in the middle of the night where troops turned on themselves and went home. We know of Biblical prophecies fulfilled. Mostly this is people hearing in faith and walking in faith. Like Moses with his hands held up high for the battle. 2 Samuel 5 has David listening to the wind to hear when God is with him.

Eliat Miazar found David's Palace by looking for the Biblical directions. She found the clue, David built outside of the city walls - trusting God to protect him more than walls a troop can climb.


Amazing Miracles During Time of War -

by Perry Stone

As America continues its war against terrorism and begins to engage in the war with Iraq, it is fitting to relate several astonishing miracles that have occurred in previous wars that Israel has fought. Many of the incidents are equal to the miracles we read about in the Bible. These are stories that have been related to me while visiting Israel or speaking directly with individuals that had direct knowledge of the incidents.

Edmund “The Bull” Allenby
In 1917, the Egyptian Expeditionary Forces were moving across the Sinai Desert, headed toward Israel and Jerusalem. Edmund “The Bull” Allenby was the Christian General directing the army.

After arriving in Israel, Allenby was concerned about bloodshed in the Holy City of Jerusalem. After prayer, he read in his Bible the following passage:

“For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.

“As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.”
- Isaiah 31:4-5

Allenby noticed the prophecy alluded to a lion. Being from England, the General knew the emblem of the British Empire was a lion. Isaiah predicted God would fight for Zion (Jerusalem) as a lion. He then observed how the battle would be won... by birds flying.
Allenby decided to fly small scout planes over Jerusalem and drop notes in the Turkish language instructing the Turks to surrender Jerusalem. Having never seen an airplane, many of the Turks became fearful. After reading the pieces of paper dropping from the planes, the demand was to surrender Jerusalem. It was signed Allenby. In Arabic, the phrase Allah Nebi (similar to Allenby) means God’s Prophet. Needless to say, the Turks gave up Jerusalem without firing a shot and the British took control of the Holy City in 1917, where they occupied it until 1948.

The Battle of Netanyahu in 1948
When Israel was restored as a nation on May 15th, 1948, they were virtually unarmed. As a nation they owned five machine guns with about fifteen rounds of ammunition. They owned one mortar shell, and one tank. The surrounding Arab nations gave Israel one week to exist.

Between Tel-Aviv and Haifa the battle of Netanyahu occurred. The attack was planned by the Arabs to begin eight days after Israel’s proclaimed independence. However the Israelis’ had an idea that would be a trick, but it might work. On May 23rd, 1948, at midnight, the men, women and children lined cars, trucks, taxis, and anything they could find with an engine, side by side along the beach. They removed the exhaust pipes from all the vehicles.

At the same time another group took a number of large oil drums, put rocks in them and placed them at the top of the hill. At a given signal the engines were started and the drums were rolled down the hills. Early in the morning, the Arabs were awakened in the distance by a loud blasting and rumbling sound that filled the entire area. They were unable to see where the noise was coming from. The Arabs thought America had brought in Sherman Tanks. The entire Arab army of men fled, leaving behind a large chase of artillery.

The Battle of Bethshean
The Arabs had taken the city of Bethshean and the Jews had no weapons to fight with. Then someone had an idea to trick the Arabs into giving up the city. A truck carrying metal pipes had wrecked. There were also a number of old wagons in the area. The Jewish men took the wagon wheels, and laid the metal pipes between them, forming what appeared to be cannons. In all, twenty fake cannons were created from the pipes and wheels.

That night they set the fake cannons around the city. In their possession they had two mortars. The next morning they called into the city demanding the Arabs to give up the city or suffer destruction. The Arab leader laughed and the Jews shot a mortar into the city. The Jewish leader then told the Arab leader that he was surrounded by new cannons. A second mortar was fired from the opposite side and the Arabs, fearing the consequences the Arabs surrendered the city.

The Ship with Paper Missiles
The year was 1956. Israel had been a modern nation for eight years, surrounded by hostile enemies who were planning wars to destroy the Jewish state. The navy of Israel was for all purposes, almost non existent. The main enemy of Israel was the Egyptians, under the leadership of President Nasser. The Egyptians had several battleships and Nasser gave orders to move one of the large ships toward Haifa, in Israel.

The Israelis had one beat-up hull of a ship. They immediately painted it and put huge paper Mache missiles on the deck. When the Egyptian ship arrived, the Israeli’s sent a smaller boat out to meet it and warned them they had a new ship with very large missiles pointed at the Egyptians. The orders were given for the Egyptians to surrender immediately, or be destroyed. Oddly enough, the Egyptians surrendered their battleship, to a hull with fake missiles!

The Miracle of the 67 War
Numerous miracles were reported during the famous 1967 war. One such story involved a Catholic journalist who was reporting on the front lines during the war. Ernie Miller had personally met this man in Baton Rouge, LA. The journalist was reporting from the Sinai Desert during the 1967 war. The battle had become very intense and there were numerous casualties. At one point an Israeli soldier was rushed into the medical tent, where the journalist was wiring front line information.

The journalist observed that the soldier was severely wounded. In fact he had been shot in the intestinal area, and his intestines were hanging from his body. He knew it was only a matter of time until the man would die. Yet, the man, who was fully conscience, began praying and saying the various names of God in the Hebrew language. As he prayed he began to talk about God’s ability to heal him and to defeat the enemy armies. To the journalist amazement, the man suddenly screamed, and jumped up from the cot. His intestines were back inside his body and the entire area was healed! The man was jumping and screaming, and ran out of the tent praising God.

The journalist told Ernie, “I am a Catholic and I am suppose to believe in miracles but had never seen one. That day, I saw one with my own eyes that was a true miracle!”
These amazing stories clearly demonstrate that the “Battle belongs to the Lord!”

As America fights a war on terrorism around the world, we should be in prayer that God will demonstrate his supernatural power to protect, and defend our young men and women who are risking their lives for the sake of our freedom.

The God of the Bible is a God of miracles and He still manifests His power today!
Remember, your greatest secret weapon is faith in God and prayer, and your greatest gift is the ability to use wisdom to your advantage. Many of the battles won by Israel have been a result of outwitting the enemy.

Note: One of the most important Psalms in the Bible is the 91st Psalm. It would be well to copy this Psalm and place it somewhere in a pocket or in an area where it would be on you at all times. Remember, hundreds of thousands of Americans and Jews and Christians from around the world are praying for your safety and your safe return! A thousand shall fall by your side and ten thousands at your right hand, but it will not come near to you (Psalms 91).

God bless us - having eyes of faith toward HIM.

Philippians 2:13
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him

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Luke 15:11-24 ~ he came to himself

Chris Greenwood known by his stage name Manafest, is a Canadian Christian rapper and rock artist from Ontario.

Preacher, Preacher what you got for me save my soul
See beneath, and clip my wings I'm not an angel
I try and try to be good, I've lied with pride I'm a crook
Turn the lights down, burning up the night now

Sign my life out, I'm sick of living here yo
If you can help choir boy ring the church bells
I'd turn back if I could, erase the pain if I could
But I'm an animal and I don't know if I can

Hey
Cause I'm the prodigal man of this avalanche
I'm going down, I'm going down, down

Hey
And if you turn me in
I'll confess my sins
I'm going down, I'm going down, down

Before I'm six feet deep
I'm washing my hands clean
Just get me out of this avalanche

You scared the junk-crap out of me man
The Ghost Rider, hold my soul tighter
Jehovah take the ropes I'm a
Fly a plane out of the atmosphere
I've attacked this fear
This scar still here
I'm going on to the end

I'm holding out to a friend
I'm going I'm going
I don't care
I cursed a lot
The worse, the black sheep of the lot
Christopher Scott prepare to meet God

Hey
Cause I'm the prodigal man of this avalanche
I'm going down, I'm going down, down

Hey
And if you turn me in
I'll confess my sins
I'm going down, I'm going down, down

Before I'm six feet deep
I'm washing my hands clean
Just get me out of this Avalanche

Get me out, Out
Get me out, Out
Just get me out of this avalanche
Get me out, Out
Get me out, Out
Just get me out of this

You guided me when I was
Blind with pride a right off
Knocked me off my saddle
Sabotaged and overshadowed
Watched you chase a man down
Watched you raise a man out
Mercy on me, forever I'm free

Get me out, Out
Get me out, Out
Just get me out of this avalanche
Get me out, Out
Get me out, Out
Just get me out of this

The Word of God ranges from metal to rock.

Luke 15:11-24
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.



What draws us to Father God? God celebrates, pivots and awes.

Few of us reach the point where the still small voice can be heard before we have exhausted our own solutions.

We see the sixteenth chapter of I Kings has - dust, anger of sin, death, conspired murder, coupe, burned the king's house over him with fire and died, and Baal worship. Baal worship is complete with infant sacrifice. I'm not sure it gets much worse than this.

Enter Elijah ~  This is a FINE Time to Hope for a Man of God.

1 Kings 17
Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him

What??? Things are supposed to get .... better.

Things are so bad in the promised land, Elijah will be called out to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. It's not going to rain again unti ,,,l the Eighteenth Chapter when Elijah will have a chance to make fun of Baal. And kill priests who advocate the killing of infants for Baal. Elijah is rock metal meets John the Baptist. Wearing hair wrapped by a belt. This man is far more rock metal than Southern Baptist Convention Meeting. And Elijah is going to have to run for his life. The Holy Spirit is portrayed in the New Testament as a burning fire.

God is not always a small, low, whisper voice.

Another time will call Elijah back. This time when the Roman Empire sweeps more money into Israel than any other time until the Renaissance Revival of the 14th Century. Anno Domini.

We always picture Elijah's Holy Spirit as the calm, low voice. Elijah's time was FAR from quiet or comforting.

Judges 13 (Sounds like a fairly good movie)
2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.

When Manoah hears of this his reaction is - saintly. No. Manoah has a pretty reasonable reaction to hearing his wife heard from an Angel of the LORD.

8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.” 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, “Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.” 11 And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.” 12 And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?”

Okay. Now we get to the docile part.

15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.” 16 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord.) 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” 18 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the Lord, to the one who works wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching. 

20 And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground.

21 The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.”

23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.”


Now we move from metal to Rock. There is another Being with the Father, during creation, who was known to laugh with pleasure in the Book of Proverbs - also called Wonderful.

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 
This is the One who saves.


Luke 18:19
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good."

(Was Manoah more pleased than this man?)

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1 Chronicles 4:1-10 ~ Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me,

1 Chronicles 4:1-10 ~ English Standard Version

The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. 2 Reaiah the son of Shobal fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites. 3 These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi, 4 and Penuel fathered Gedor, and Ezer fathered Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem. 5 Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah; 6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7 The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. 8 Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel, the son of Harum. 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. 


The Word of God is living and active, I remembered the Prayer of Jabez as "so I might not have pain." Not that he would be kept from evil. I have heard JL Packard, one of the most influential evangelicals in North America, who studied under CS Lewis and helped bring us the English Standard Version of the Bible. Packer served as General Editor of the English Standard Version, an Evangelical revision of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, and Theological Editor of the Study Bible version. I tend to believe he had this correctly!

We recently looked at the Prophets of the Bible and what attribute of God drew them to HIM. And Prophets have stories. They have historical placement, hometowns, family troubles, marriage troubles, children troubles and safety issues.

Frankly, any time the LORD wants to bless me with Jabez's blessing - I'm here... hands out, hearts willing and gratitude at the ready. Me! Sent Me!

So we get to the sons of Judah we are reading a genealogy list. Immediately - we all think - Oh, thanks Lord. C'mon, we do. And suddenly interest peaks - boredom first - then AHA!

Now let's really dig deep into Jabez. He was honorable, didn't want to cause pain, and asked for blessings. And he didn't want to experience pain. And... well a thud.

Jabez doesn't really have a Biblical Story. We forgot that in the nineties when we all wanted Jabez's blessing applied to our lives. Now why doesn't he have that story - there is NO Angst to learn from. Nothing to discuss. This would bore a psychologist to death. Would it even fall into the realm of normal - if that exists?

I knew a lady, in Dallas, people spoke of, when we all asked if  knew anyone someone with almost no problems -  . A gracious lady from a very prosperous family, who married a prosperous man, had a son and a daughter and sent them happily to college. Graciously giving to life and being good to the people around her. A Christian lady. In her fifties, her son's wife wanted to leave him for another man and take the two granddaughters with her to a new marriage. She suggested her new husband adopt the daughters. The lady, who had never even experienced a parental death, had her father dying and her daughter-in-law taking the grandchildren. She really frankly was experiencing pain for the first time - in abundance. And a very large dose of anger to go with that. Lather she would say, I had to experience for the first time, death and grief, and how to forgive when the offender - frankly did not care. Facing the fear my granddaughters would never know us. This good lady managed to overcome these things, she is a person who loves the Lord. She told us she was grateful for the decades she experienced without these problems. She smiled as she said, she hoped this was the last of these difficulties.

Frankly, it's an interesting story. I'm not sure Jabez is interesting. But I'm willing to live the situation and let you know...

Proverbs 30
5 Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

7 Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Hebrews 12:28
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe

2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.

Which always requires some of this -

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

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Psalm 19 ~ like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.




Marriages are made in Heaven. I rather doubt that. But I will bet you they are written in the Book of Life.

We are spending the July 4th Holiday with our son Cal's dear, dear friend Jeremy.
I'd have to say we are all rather fond of Jeremy - who is just a bit older than these old photos. Jeremy is getting married and we are proudly hosting the reception, a Texas at home BBQ.

Jeremy-  back in 2001 - used to say, from time to time,  "And I'm going to get hit by a truck." At first that was disconcerting, but we tossed it behind us. Jeremy's mom was ill with two separate illnesses, so he was here with us a lot. The first week of summer, in 2003, the phone rang and it was our Youth Minister, in tears, saying he'd seen a child hit by a big Dodge Ram pickup truck and pray. 5 minutes later an elder from our Church called to tell me it was Jeremy. PRAY!!! Not only had he been dragged fifty feet by the truck, leaving a great white shark imprint - his head left a ! round head shape on the hood - no helmet was worn.

We did. We PRAYED!!!

Jeremy went down to our huge trauma hospital and was greeted in the ER by Dr. Red Duke. Red Duke said Jeremy was in terrible condition and bleeding out. Head damage to be assessed later. Remove a kidney and spleen. Bargains were discussed. They would wait three days to remove the organs. 

Our Church had a baby blanket brought to Church, everyone who promised to pray wrote their name in permanent marker. Covered in prayer. Promising to pray multiple times during the day. Jeremy got to keep his kidney and spleen. The attending doctor said, "Jeremy must have had prayers said for him." His head and brains were still intact, miraculously.  Jeremy spent his summer in the ICU with many of his youth group coming to visit. And, later, his recliner at home. He started High School in a wheelchair, his leg had a rod in it. In October, his mom died. And we spent some time with Jeremy.

As he went on that youth ski trip, about a year later, his operation was pending to retrieve the leg rod and I held Jeremy's hand and prayed for him not to break a leg with some sheer adult terror. I asked him if he was worried and he said, "Nah!"

That next summer, our Pastor told Jeremy how well Jeremy had coped with all these changes. The rod could not be removed and become part of the bone. We all worried Jeremy would limp pretty badly the rest of his life. We underestimated Jeremy.

And the fortunate kids went off to college - Jeremy worked for fast food, made car payments, car insurance payments and rent. Paying for the occasional car repair and other things were hard to do. One day Jeremy stopped in to see the Navy Recruiters. The officer was nice to Jeremy but expressed doubt a slight built young man with a rod in his leg could qualify. Jeremy told the officer frankly - the people left from High School were drug dealers and he really had never hoped to be a drug dealer or run with dealers. That made the Recruiting Officer rather quiet. The Officer said, "Jeremy, there is no way a smoker, built like you, could run ten miles, but when you can, call me and I will run with you - then we will talk about enlistment. What do you think, son, about a year to learn to run ten miles?"

Jeremy went back in weeks. And he ran that ten miles and talked that officer into placing him en route to paramedic training. He'd never left the state of Texas before.

This weekend is Jeremy's wedding to the girl he asked to Senior Prom.

Raechel had another boyfriend at the time. But Jeremy told her, her boyfriend wouldn't mind. And later Jeremy went back to tell the same boyfriend, Raechel had changed her mind about her boyfriend, but Jeremy was going to take her off his hands - to help him out. Some. Jeremy shook his head as he told the story, and said he didn't dislike the old boyfriend. But the guy was sorta miffed. We laughed like mad.

Jeremy went off to Japan and didn't see Raechel much for three years. We saw on Facebook and on Leave - there was drama. And high anxiety. And forgiveness. And sparkle. And grit. And love. Reviving the soul.

By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

Raechel and I went to pick out flowers and a wedding cake with a chocolate groom's cake, as we got in the car, heading home, we saw the Christian radio playing "Jeremy Camp (where Jeremy reports daily) Overcomes. Thank God, Jeremy does!


Jeremy is being deployed by the Navy, for six to nine months. Possibly to South Korea, where his bride will wait behind. Your prayers for their July 5th wedding with a red, white and blue theme, at our house - complete with Edward's BBQ extravaganza ... Your prayers for the blessing upon their marriage and his naval career and safety are much appreciated.


May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

The Marriage Ceremony done by the Justice of the Peace was a miracle I will hold in my heart for always.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.

The traditional vows were read, and asked to be repeated before God. As they were pronounced as man and wife - they were told - this marriage is of HIM, let no man put this asunder.

Luke 1:78
because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

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