Psalm 69 ~ magnify Him with thanksgiving

Psalm 69

 Save me, O God!

    For the waters have come up to my neck.

2 I sink in deep mire,

    where there is no foothold;

I have come into deep waters,

    and the flood sweeps over me.

3 I am weary with my crying out;

    my throat is parched.

My eyes grow dim

    with waiting for my God.

4 More in number than the hairs of my head

    are those who hate me without cause;

mighty are those who would destroy me,

    those who attack me with lies.

What I did not steal

    must I now restore?

5 O God, you know my folly;

    the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,

    O Lord God of Hosts;

let not those who seek You be brought to dishonor through me,

    O God of Israel.

7 For it is for Your sake that I have borne reproach,

    that dishonor has covered my face.

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers,

    an alien to my mother's sons.

9 For zeal for your house has consumed me,

    and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting,

    it became my reproach.

11 When I made sackcloth my clothing,

    I became a byword to them.

12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate,

    and the drunkards make songs about me.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord.

    At an acceptable time, O God,

    in the abundance of Your steadfast love 

answer me 

in Your saving faithfulness.

14 Deliver me

    from sinking in the mire;

let me be delivered from my enemies

    and from the deep waters.

15 Let not the flood sweep over me,

    or the deep swallow me up,

    or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O Lord, for Your steadfast love is good;

    according to Your abundant mercy,

turn to me.

17 Hide not your face from Your servant,

    for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.

18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me;

    ransom me because of my enemies!

19 You know my reproach,

    and my shame and my dishonor;

    my foes are all known to you.

20 Reproaches have broken my heart,

    so that I am in despair.

I looked for pity, but there was none,

    and for comforters, but I found none.

21 They gave me poison for food,

    and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

22 Let their own table before them become a snare;

    and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.

23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see,

    and make their loins tremble continually.

24 Pour out your indignation upon them,

    and let your burning anger overtake them.

25 May their camp be a desolation;

    let no one dwell in their tents.

26 For they persecute him whom You have struck down,

    and they recount the pain of those You have wounded.

27 Add to them punishment upon punishment;

    may they have no acquittal from You.

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;

    let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

29 But I am afflicted and in pain;

    let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

30 I will praise the name of God 

with a song;

    I will magnify Him 

with thanksgiving.

31 This will please the Lord more than an ox

    or a bull with horns and hoofs.

32 When the humble see it they will be glad;

    you who seek God, 

let your hearts revive.

For the Lord

 hears the needy

    and does not despise His own people who are prisoners.

34 Let Heaven and earth praise Him,

    the seas and everything that moves in them.

For God will save Zion

    and build up the cities of Judah,

and people shall dwell there and possess it;

36     the offspring of His servants shall inherit it,

    and those who Love 

His Name 

shall dwell in it. 

We could begin this post with yellow leaves. 

But let's talk about blue instead.  When we get to the point we are weary and just sick and tired of being blah, we look for patterns in our lives to allow our discomfort to shine. We could point to this friend, that acquaintance, the neighbor and discuss how life isn't comfortable or shiny with glee in this blue season. And as we collect the blue facts, we have to shake this off.  Shake the pattern off.

Many people shake it off. It has been a year of hardship and difficulties for many. 

We met a family having 4 jobs. 2 careers and ,then, commercial fishing on their time out of the office. With grandparent child care.

Our peaceful neighborhood had 2 neighbors going to the Police for life and death consequences, and a Police car was seen in our streets today. Last night, a police airplane.

We will pray for health and safety for us all, worldwide.

And when we observe the earth, God saw it was Good. His Word does not fail. And when He speaks, He is telling us the truth of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Into our Good Souls. 

We have a swimming pool and this high summer, we begin, early, in high summer, to see yellow leaves in the skimmer baskets. In Texas, I'd laugh and say, we don't have Autumn (we do, just a little one generally) we have a gasp and the leaves fall off. The trees want the rest from the heat.  And yet, this year, we have had spectacular rain and cooler temperatures. And the leaves have begun to arrive. 

The trees are not tired, they are rested, have had high winds test their strength.  

And the dead wood fell off. In our yard, this Hurricane was 25 feet and 5 feet high. The trees must have felt better after a windy haircut. The next few days, the pile was 25 feet and 2 and 3 feet high. Some problems just diminish easily.  Even when we want to see the pile, to discuss it in loud tones and brag on the heavy work.  But instead, the problem is diminishing. 

So, now we have a bevy of yellow leaves.

 Why? The sun and earth. The Word of God upholding the Universe, is giving the land, the tides, the trees more rest. The seasons are making a gentle change. The trees, reaching up to the Light, feel the preparedness of change. Schools have parking lots suddenly fill with parents and children looking to the season changing.

We will choose Joy. Choose optimism. Gently. Patiently. With determination, even if we begin with

grim determination.  

We did a little of the dog in the water thing today, too. Not as dramatically. Definitely. 

We will turn our eyes away from what could potentially be blue. Say a prayer and grow in strength and verve. 

Gently, the season is changing. 

Proverbs 31:25, 26 Parallel

Strength and dignity are the clothing we pray for, 

 and 

we want determinedly 

to laugh at the time to come.

We will open our mouths with wisdom, 

 and 

teaching that kindness 

is on our tongue.

Isaiah 49:1-13

Listen to me, O coastlands,

and give attention, you peoples from afar.

The Lord called me from the womb,

from the body of my mother 

He named my name.

2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword;

in the shadow of His Hand He hid me;

He made me a polished arrow;

in His quiver He hid me away.

3 And He said to me, “You are my servant,

Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;

I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;

yet surely my right is with the Lord,

and my recompense with my God.”

5 And now the Lord says,

He who formed me from the womb to be His servant,

to bring Jacob back to Him;

and that Israel might be gathered to Him—

for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord,

and my God has become my strength—

He says:

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant

to raise up the tribes of Jacob

and to bring back the preserved of Israel;

I will make you as a light for the nations,

that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

7 Thus says the Lord,

the Redeemer of Israel and His Holy One,

to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation,

the servant of rulers:

“Kings shall see and arise;

princes, and they shall prostrate themselves;

because of the Lord,

Who is faithful,

the Holy One of Israel, 

Who has chosen you.”

8 Thus says the Lord:

“In a time of favor I have answered you;

in a day of salvation I have helped you;

I will keep you and give you

as a covenant to the people,

to establish the land,

to apportion the desolate heritages,

9 saying to the prisoners, 

‘Come out,’

to those who are in darkness, 

‘Appear.’

They shall feed along the ways;

on all bare heights shall be their pasture;

10 they shall not hunger or thirst,

neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,

for He who has pity on them will lead them,

and by springs of water will guide them.

11 And I will make all My mountains a road,

and My Highways shall be raised up.

Behold, 

these shall come from afar,

and behold, these from the north and from the west,

and these from the land of Syene.”

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.

John 13:1

Now before the Feast of the Passover, 

when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world 

to the Father, 

having loved His own who were in the world, 

He loved them to the end.

Abba, Father,

Dwell in us, please, Father.

Dwell in those we Love.

Help us to seek You first.

In Jesus Christ, we will finish well.

To see

to bring

to be

more daily

Thy Kingdom come

Thy will be done

on earth

as in Heaven

In Jesus Christ is 

Our Love, Joy and Hope.

Bless those working for

Post Pandemic Healing

and Care.

Bless us all, worldwide

with Healing

Safety

Prosperity and

Peace.

Thank You for Jesus.

To You, our Father, be the Glory

Our God is an Awesome God! 

Amen and Alleluia

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You Jesus

†

Hebrews 3:14 ~ share in Christ

 

Hebrews 3:14

For we have come to share in Christ, 

if indeed

we hold our original confidence

firm to the end. 

Yesterday, our Post was about least in the Kingdom of God to greatest. 

Vatican rooftop.

Oh, the Places He will go!

Hebrews 12

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses

We tend to want the Holy Spirit to speak to the Light within all of creation, Light of mankind, and let us diligently follow Him, together.  However, when the Lord told us:

Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8 

And He said to them,

“Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel 

to ALL of creation.”

And Being Help, Helper, Comfort, Comforter, God of Love, God of encouragement, He wanted to tell us we aren't orphans, 

“And Behold, 

I am 

with you always, 

to the end of the age.”

When we say the meek inherit the earth, well, we know, the fullness of the Lord is all of creation,  we are saying:

1 Peter 3:15

 

 Always be ready to give an answer 

to anyone 

who asks you 

about the hope you have. 

Be ready to give the reason for it. But do it gently and with respect.

What does the Lord mean to you?  He has gifted you with unique gifts and talents, for us all.

Have you experienced a warmth in your heart? When you knew, Jesus Christ was part of your heart, your soul.  

When did you discover the Lord was completely earnest, His Heart was open to you? And forgiving? 

When you go to Church, do you feel He has held You in His Pinions? Steadfast Love and Grace. 

How has the Joy found in the Lord, strengthened you? 

When you tussle with the ongoing portions of life, do you feel He is your Friend?  Does His steadfast Love give you the Hope you can pray for what you need? Jesus said God sees Himself as someone who would give a Judgement of Mercy, like a Judge who is Badgered. 

When we know The Lord, we want to see Him more in this life. His Will done on earth as it in Heaven.

Rev Bill Hybels, Sr. Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church wrote a book, "Walk Across the Room." This huge Church is a pulpit and a place where hearts are turned to the Lord. Bill Hybels decided they all should experience speaking of Jesus to all of creation. Equally and together.  

Quickly, it was VASTLY discovered, most people, most of the time, do not want this conversation. Not even with the famous of the pulpit! Not even in their good lives long. Not with a soldier, a priest, a fierce wild beast. No, not the least.  I wouldn't want to do this too. 

Not Stalked. Not for a day. Not 3 years. Not 29 years. God Help us. Amen

Not like the ages past, hundreds of thousands still. Where are the bright, joyous saints we so loved and knew.  We mostly love to do Jesus' will. Even in the Pew Report.  You'd think to have the conversation in Church, Sure. But in school? In Lanes? Are we at Sea? In shops, at tea, for the Saints of God are folk like me, and you, and we intend to be one too. Amen.

But in the Conference of the Design Team, Bill Hybels and Willow Creek decided they wanted this to work.  And Bill Hybels said if they do a movie about this, the young Soccer Team moving mooooving mooooooving down the field away from the Famous Preacher to avoid the conversation would be very entertaining.  It was soccer parents rolling suddenly with the ball and super intentionally radar, eagle eyed on jr soccer.  And the others were not having joy in the assignment as well.  Next they were designing the street corner.  This does not yield great results. Mostly. Like deep arguments on FB.

And they dug further to find. Yes, within the people we Love. And never with anger. And with the Love God has for the people, we exactly are. The DNA God put in. We have our gifts, our flaws and our Love. 

Bill Hybels discovered what Mark was doing, helping Peter have a list of the most important things people wanted to know about Jesus in the 1st Century.  People wonder about the Miracles of Jesus. If you know one, share with those you love, and then let God be the God of Salvation. 

Billy Hybels over the next 2,3 years, found a man he knew Jesus would want in Heaven. And as he walked with him in life and joy, they opened the Gate of Heaven and Salvation was found for an entire family. Good times and terrible times were shared.  The events of life come to us all, and we find that what started out as fun or not fun, sometimes has an enormous part to play in finding the Path of Good and leaving what is evil.  

This is what St. Augustine's mother lived. Love. 

In our youth group, we had the brightest apple on the tree. Not the tree of knowledge. 

Just the American Apple Pie of Apple. Smiling, bright light in his eye. Eager to do the Bible Studies, his parents gave the children the golden opportunities to experience in life.  And school seasons changed, and he messed up with a party and was sent to Christian School.  In our neck of the world, this can be the wealthier kids who have found out how to do what you want, with the appearance of groups having wholesome fun. He had a whole new fun crowd, who invited him to meet their out of school, previous school funnnn time.  

And soon his parents were going out of town. He was really excited to have these 50 kids over, as his parents were far removed from the party. His parents came home very early and found 50 people carrying out their belongings out of the house.  He was super glad to see his parents, come on in! And was surprised to find they thought their belongings were being carried down the sidewalk and out the door forever.  And he let his parents know, they were mistaken.  Wisely, his parents said little to him beyond putting him calmly to have a nice sleep. 

The next morning, he began to realize all of his favorite things were now missing from an empty room.  And he couldn't find the camera to even take pictures of the empty spaces because ... the phone was noticed as missing first.  And the remote to the TV was gone, with the TV. Plural.  His parents noticed it could become a very dull day. But they had a new friend for him.  Oh. Yes, someone to talk about habits in life and priorities and emotions.  His new friend has an office geared to teens. 

When he complained, his new friend, with the teenager geared office, offered to call his 50 friends to come visit again. He was somewhat concerned they would continue to visit. He wisely pointed out, he was without phone, to give the numbers out. 

Friends don't let Friends, they love, go forth into dire straights. 

Are these events exaggerated? No, not in the least.

How does this become part of Walk Across the Room? When this shining young man realized his parents would discuss having all his friends over, he realized, he was responsible. Responsible for his family. Responsible for their safety, even as they went to get pizza for dinner. His safety. Not having an empty, dull life. Sitting until new entertainment could be earned and earned and earned back.  He didn't want to try to afford to pay for more TVs and remotes and cameras.  Nor think about having his friends near the ones he loves. 

Friends don't let Friends, they love, go forth into dire straights. 

Our Apple Shining Friend, never missed Bible Study. Which was one of the reasons he sincerely was brought into Responsibility. 

He said with tears in his eyes, I've learned so much, but when I try to tell all the people I know from both schools, they don't want to hear me.  I had a huge collection of cigarettes stashed away and, now, I don't even want the smell of that.  And I can't even talk one person into sobriety and not even giving up cigarettes. I am a terrible, terrible, terrible advocate.   

Suddenly, most of the older portion of the room, could relate completely.

But when he discussed his revelation of sobriety, one of his own heroes was his much older brother.  The meek inherit the earth, man! Love doesn't let Loved ones, they love, go forth into dire straights. 

We are all glad to know, the rest of the story. Our Apple shining young teenager, went forth. He graduated from college, changed his major a few times, kept going.  And in his early 30s, met a wonderful young woman, who loves the Lord, they got married in white lace and promises, with a kiss of luck, and on His Way. 

Abba, Father,

Who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you 

with love and compassion

With Your Help, 

believing Jesus walks on water.

Dwell in me,

Dwell in us,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first.

And we will finish well, in Jesus Christ. 

HEAL OUR NATION

We have 63 days

until 

our National Election.

Please Vote 

and Vote

 responsibly.

For Children in their Schools, all safety.

For those who protect and defend the USA,

protect us from arsonists.

Keep our food supply safe.

Support the Police.

For Worldwide Peace.

And the Peace of Israel. 

Those who protect

and defend

All The Word of God.

Freedom in our Churches.

Wholeness

Holy.

Goodness.

And the Nations of the world,

Your Good Creation,

Calling upon You.

Lord Jesus Christ,

Bless those working for

Post Pandemic Healing

and Care.

The healing and safety of Your people.

The safety of those

helping the earth 

to heal.

Let evil and practicing evil

depart far from us

and our children.

Worldwide Peace

Prosperity and

Peace.

Worldwide

Peace!

And in Jesus - this Hope, 

Faith and Love - we will rise up believing Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You, Jesus

†