Psalm 46 ~ God is in the midst

 

 

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,

    a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam,

    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 

Selah

4 There is a river 

whose streams make glad the city of God,

    the holy habitation of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

    God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

    he utters his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,

    how he has brought desolations on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

    he burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God.

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth!”

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Selah

I was looking at Social Media today. Who is upset? People are very upset with those who are rude. Social media with jump on that like white on rice. And they are upset if you don't adopt their opinions. Or if you are a minimalist. If you are Christian and talk about the Church, badly or well.  The discussions can suddenly make you wonder who you are speaking with. Goodness or Dark. And as they argue, they flash, light to dark or dark to light. Or if you brag. If you are political. Or if you help someone out. Or if you don't help except to offer judgement.

Comment on the loss of childhood from the 80s and 90s, now inside entertainment is pervasive.  The need for income. The lack of gracious, easy life. But life has been sliding away from gracious time to parent and have backyard cook outs. There might be a good reason, Bam, we have to face the direction life is being shuffled to. Like the end of Gift Shops. Wedding Registry Shops.  The end of Toy Stores. Child Castration discussions. 

People are very vocal about their unhappiness with the shape of the nation.  And the problems we all face. Talk about fading friendships and isolation. And offer to barb each other with comments to fall over.

Wildlife groups explaining how to rescue wildlife in need of immediate help. Wildlife groups who are kind about having alternative solutions to problems. Like people who believe cats should be allowed outside with a jingle collar on. And will hear about problems in NYC and Chicago with massive, scary rodent populations.

And then there are the groups that have no one clapping for them. 

Who pray for each other. Talk about helping the homeless, do help the homeless and know who they are speaking about, with details. Help out a child having a birthday, they never met. Offer supplies to someone rescuing an animal. Offer shelter to an animal that has been abandoned. Foster an animal. Help give advice to homeowners on something broken. Offer experience and comfort.

You can see why God would enjoy us. And laugh. And frown. But He is not worried. His Plan will prevail.

God is a safe place to hide,

    ready to help when we need him.

God is our refuge and strength,

    a very present help in trouble.

Yes, We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,

    courageous in seastorm and earthquake,

Before the rush and roar of oceans,

    the tremors that shift mountains.

    Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,

    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

We will not fear though the earth gives way,

    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam,

    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 

Selah

4 There is a river 

whose streams make glad the city of God,

    the holy habitation of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

    God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

    he utters his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Selah

4-6 River fountains splash joy, 

blessing God’s city,

    this sacred of the Most High.

God lives here, the streets are safe,

    God at your service from crack of dawn.

Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,

    but Earth does anything He says.

8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God!

    He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,

Bans war from pole to pole,

    breaks all the weapons across his knee.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,

    how He has brought desolations on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

    he burns the chariots with fire.

“Step out of the congestion, the traffic! Take a long,

    loving look at me, your High God,

    above politics, above everything.”

10 “Be still, and know that I am God.

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth!”

11 The Lord of hosts 

is with us;

    the God of Jacob

 is our fortress. 

Selah

Luke 1

 16 And He will 

turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 

17 and He will

 go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah,

 to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,

 and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, 

to make ready 

for the Lord 

a people prepared.

Matthew 19:26

Jesus looked at them 

and said, 

"With man this is impossible, 

but with God all things are possible."

1 Thessalonians 3:13

So that He may establish your hearts

 without blame 

in holiness 

before our God 

and Father 

at the coming of our Lord Jesus

 with all His saints.

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit 

within me.

Ezekiel 36:26

Moreover, I will give you a new heart 

and put a new spirit within you;

 and I will remove the heart of stone 

from your flesh 

and give you a heart of flesh.

Deuteronomy 30:6

“Moreover 

The Lord your God will circumcise your heart 

and the heart of your descendants, 

to love the Lord

 your God 

with all your heart 

and with 

all your soul, 

so that you may live.

He's got the whole world in His Hands.

He's got the wind and the rain in his hands.

He's got the whole world in His Hands.

He's got the little tiny baby in His Hands. 

He's got the whole world in His Hands.

He's got you and me, brother, in His Hands. 

He's got the whole world in His Hands.

He's got you and me, sister, in His Hands. 

He's got the whole world in His Hands.

He's got everybody here in His Hands. 

He's got the whole world in His Hands.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You, Jesus

Psalm 103 ~ Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His ministers, who do His will!

 

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and all that is within me,

    bless His Holy Name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and forget not all His benefits,

3 who forgives all your iniquity,

    who heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit,

    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5 who satisfies you with good

    so that your youth 

is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord works righteousness

    and justice for all who are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,

    his acts to the people of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,

    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 He will not always chide,

    nor will He keep His anger forever.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,

    nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far  

does 

He remove our transgressions from us.

13 As a father shows compassion to His children,

    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.

14 For He knows our frame;

    He remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;

    He flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

    and its place knows it no more.

But the steadfast Love of the Lord 

is 

from everlasting to everlasting 

on those who fear Him,

    and His righteousness 

to 

children's children

To those who keep His covenant

    and remember to do His commandments.

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,

    and 

His Kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, O you His angels,

    you mighty ones 

who do His word,

    obeying the Voice of 

His Word!

21 Bless the Lord, all His hosts,

    His ministers, who do His will!

22 Bless the Lord, all His works,

    in all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

As we collect years, we have our favorite things. One of my favorite things was the Blessing of the Name of Jesus and, then, asking His Blessing. Reminding ourselves, we please the Lord of our Hearts as we give the Lord thanks and praise, worshiping His Goodness. The joy of reminding ourselves of the Joy of God and His Love and Blessings.

 Bless the Lord, all His hosts,

    His ministers, who do His will!

The meaning of Lord of hosts in the Bible? “ The Lord of Hosts” implies God reigns over the Heavenly and earthly armies of God. As Gabriel begins the most famous of angel encounters, he assures the Zechariah, Gabriel stands in the presence of God.

Stand is a military obligation, a sacred duty. And stand is what we saw in, "To Kill a Mockingbird" for Atticus Finch.  Stand. Stand the Line. Hold the Hope. Stand as a joy accomplished. 

John the Beloved Disciple stood in the presence of God during his lifetime. Exalted, allowing us to have glimpses of this glory on earth. Putting our hearts right, our feet right and our paths in His Plan.

He calls the Heavenly Host by Name.

The Heavenly Host  description -  being made up of angels, and gives descriptions of angels in terms of the military command and structure. Daniel saw this as well, on earth, like the stratosphere, to the sun. A Heavenly structure to be found on earth.

Genesis 32:1–2

Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

 2 And when Jacob saw them he said, 

“This is God's camp!” 

So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Psalm 91:11-12

For He will command His angels concerning you

    to guard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up,

    lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Daniel 10:1-10

In Cyrus’ third year as king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel (who had been renamed Belteshazzar). The message was true. It was about a great war. Daniel understood the message because he was given insight during the vision.

2 During those days I, Daniel, mourned for three whole weeks. 3 I didn’t eat any good-tasting food. No meat or wine entered my mouth. I didn’t wash myself until the entire three weeks were over.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was by the great Tigris River. 5 When I looked up, I saw a man dressed in linen, and he had a belt made of gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl. His face looked like lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and legs looked like polished bronze. When he spoke, his voice sounded like the roar of a crowd. 7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision. The men with me didn’t see the vision. Yet, they started to tremble violently, and they quickly hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone to see this grand vision. I had no strength left in me. My face turned deathly pale, and I was helpless. 9 I heard the man speak, and as I listened to his words, I fainted facedown on the ground.

10 Then a hand touched me and made my hands and knees shake. 11 The man said to me, “Daniel, you are highly respected. Pay attention to my words. Stand up, because I’ve been sent to you.”

Daniel 10:13

 

For twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia 

blocked my way. 

Then Michael, one of the archangels, 

came to help me, 

and I left him there 

with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.

Matthew 13:41-45

41 The Son of Man will send His angels, 

and they will gather out of His kingdom 

all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 

42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. 

In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

43 Then the righteous will shine 

like the sun 

in the Kingdom of their Father. 

He who has ears, let him hear.

44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, 

which a man found and covered up. 

Then in his joy he goes 

and sells all that he has 

and buys that field.

45 “Again, 

the Kingdom of Heaven 

is like a merchant in search of fine pearls"

Matthew 26:53

Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, 

and 

He will at once send Me

 more than twelve legions of angels?

Hebrews 1:7

Of the angels He says,

“He makes His angels winds,

    and His ministers a flame of fire.”

Moses and the

Burning Bush

The most said phrase, said by Angels, the messengers of God, "Fear Not!" Understandable!

Today, I had the most unique thing happen. I was so overcome, I climbed into the car and meant to call Edward. I said to my phone with the button held down, for all the world I mean to say, "Call Edward." And what actually came out of my mouth, with the button pushed for Siri, was this: "Tell Father God, Thank You!" And the reply returned, "You are welcome."

This week I woke up with sciatica. In the middle of the night. 

I haven't had this since 2018, which was when I took up swimming, treading water, in the pool in the backyard in 50' water. Works amazingly well.  I tread water a lot.

And we had some repairs made to the pool, I missed probably about 5 weeks, but I've been swimming again for a week and a half. So, 3 nights ago, I woke up and suddenly was in pain and had very little sleep. Felt terrible everywhere.  Rotten enough to not want to unload the dishwasher and rest continually. Not surprisingly, I have been praying a lot and asking God to remove the prayer from my body. I could completely visualize this leaving my body and felt very comfortable with this prayer. Not to have a healing time, but to heal.

Today, I decided to take the dogs, not to walk over roots and trees paths, but to find solid ground and take the tennis ball thrower.  Keep moving is good for the back, in moderation.

And we discovered this was working. As I threw the Tennis Ball Thrower, I stepped forward and landed perfectly on our big Poodle's Leash.  Full throttle, full body now on his leash. He ran pell-mell for the tennis ball.  Standard Poodles can pull 2,000 pounds.  There are Poodle contests to find their torque.

Taken completely by complete surprise, I noticed I was now flying backward, eyes on the blue sky. And my body held no weight. Until I landed my full-body weight on the grass, on my sciatica backside.

My first reply, "Wow, I really did not need that." From my back on the park ground, I wondered about traction and doctors. What next year would be like, for back pain. All this while looking at the sky. My two dogs looked, at me and above me, in concern. I really hated to stand up. Being flat on the ground, seemed to be ok.  I slowly stood up and felt no trauma. I wondered if I'd had a miracle. Something that forced everything into place. In fact, we had just begun to throw with the tennis ball thrower and I continued to throw until the Poodles, let me know, we are now bone weary and this is fine. Time to go.

Got home and rested upon the heated blanket. And I feel as good as I did a week before all of this happened. I'm thinking I have had a Work of the Lord. And Celebrate this in full happiness. Thank You, God.

Edward did this same type accident the week we moved into our house, 23 years ago. The boys had been given Razor Scooters by my mother as a moving gift. Edward decided he would scooter, to give them a try. As he incredibly pushed the Scooter, it shot out from underneath Edward and he flew up in the air, all 6'4" of legs and arms dangling in the sky. And he landed on the concrete in a Perfect V. Edward was so contrite, he jumped to his feet and marched into the house. We went from utter horror to complete hilarity. Not what one hopes, when you are display and injury. Especially from family. However, Edward could relate exactly to the picture my flight and fall made.

Abba, Father,

From Ghoulies and ghosties, 

and long legged Beasties. 

And when we make our own personal thump, 

Good Lord Deliver us. 

And Thank You, Jesus Christ.

Amen

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thanks, be unto the Lord

and His Blessings

To all who Love Him

and bring

more Heaven to earth