Psalm 141:1-2 ~ Let my prayer be counted as incense before You

A column capital and a huge stone that was part of the original Temple in Jerusalem. Unlike our grandparents and great-grandparents - we can visually see part of - in this case - part of Solomon's Portico 1st Temple and the Second Temple.

Psalm 141:1-2

A Psalm of David.

O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

The Building Plan of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

Solomon's Temple. It's an Unusual Shape!

 

1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?





It's wonderful the door pillars were called Jachin and Boaz (Great-grandfather's name).

1 Chronicles 9:9-11
and their kinsmen according to their generations, 956. All these were heads of fathers' houses according to their fathers' houses. Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11 and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief officer of the house of God

Boaz? David's Grandfather, Solomon's Great-Grandfather.

Boaz knew himself. And told us of his heart.

Ruth 3:12-13
"And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”


Even the Temple of THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY had touches of family, hearthstone and heart. 

 Incense offered on the altar - horns could be grabbed for sanctuary. 
In front of the Holy of Holies.

Outside of the Temple were the Sacrifices

Our prayers before God:

Revelation 8
When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel

What was offered to God as pleasant aroma? Flatbread. Toast!

From the Court of the Priests in the Temple
where the Bread Offering was. 

David remembers distress and fear. He recalls salvation belongs to the Lord. And remembers prayer will help him. God regards our prayers as something pleasant.

Numbers 15:3
and you present to the LORD food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the LORD--whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings--

2 Corinthians 2:15
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing

2 Corinthians 2:14
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.















1 Timothy 2:8
Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.


Abba,

When we are tired, we cannot be elaborate in prayer.

We can call upon Jesus and lean upon His Wisdom and Love.

Remembering with Jesus those we Love.

The People God has given us to be sheltered in His Great Love. Those who are ill - for Your Great Power and Healing.

Our Communities, Churches and Nation to be led by God's Love and Wisdom.

Knowing You hold us completely and forever in the Power of Your Love and Your Word. Life is sustained. Eternally.

The Great Salvation and Your Great Invitation are Blessings beyond compare.

Let our Prayers be a fragrant and sincere offering to Your Heart towards us. Thanks be unto Jesus.

In Jesus Christ's Name. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 18:1-18 ~ God give

Prayer changes over the years. When I was 16 and first believed - I was on fire. God was going to answer. Then He did not automatically and I assumed He was Big and I was little, so when I went to prayer groups I prayed like I meant all the prayers and went home and promised to pray and did not. It didn't have any affect. So, I was called on this, and I said, yeah, I pray as much as you all do. The response was a shunned - oh yeah. We were all teenagers. One person swore she prayed. We all looked at her.



And in my 20's 30's I did pray. Not much happened. But we all prayed. We were all busy and the prayer group drifted apart. We were very different people. We had little children and had jobs and no jobs with some with ill health. And financial troubles all of us. And the middle age older people - how could you relate - it seemed mostly health issues.

And in my 40's, a ladies group met for a number of years, but really they had sharp words for one another and this ended.

And in my 50's, we still meet with our original 17 year Couple's Class. We enjoy our Fellowship and discuss God in our lives. We have fun.


I did attend a Bible Study that met and we prayed with the healing videos of Judith and Reverend Francis MacNutt. He is a Harvard Catholic Priest who was forgiven by the Catholic Church for leaving to have a healing ministry and getting married to Judith. A many decades friend, Psychiatrist, friend of my mother, who was going blind from genetic failure of blood vessels - was healed from going to many, many, many, many healing classes. And all of their seminars.

Our Prayers, of our class: We did the video classes and saw a 90 year old priest healed from heart failure - by Jesus Christ - this priest is about 70 years old again and very, very happy. We saw an atheist/agnostic friend of the daughter of one of the group, from New Mexico, healed from repeat and scheduled terrible surgery as he arrived at MD Anderson. No other group was praying for him. He emailed us not to show up for his intense nerves, but said he was so glad someone was praying for him. When he arrived all was healed. This was his second bout with oral cancer and was very severe until healed by Jesus.

A man with gangrene in his second toe was prayed for on Tuesday. I told him I was sorry I had known to bring him my Tens Unit, please forgive me. He did. He was healed before his next day Doctor appointment on Wednesday. Jesus can heal just fine without the Tens Unit.


That intentional healing of people intent to heal and praying - had 3 miracles. Of Jesus Christ hearing our prayers for others.

What was the difference?

This was not a social gathering. The people in the group knew each other. It was not make a friend make conversation. This group was intent the purpose was to pray wellness into lives. The people in the group were mature Christians. They knew the Mercy and the Willingness of God. The discussions were serious about healing and about people we had heard had Jesus miracles. Conversations were about the Mercy and Grace of God Himself.

So, when we pray by ourselves - what can we hope for?

This really depends.

I've had some amazing conversations this week. Talk to a minister or blogger. You won't be identified but the Body of Christ will have an idea of where we are. Really.


I've talked with someone who voluntarily leads The Church with laity ideas. And this person is putting up a front as wealth and fierce believer, traveler, and is rather, playing at being a Christian. And in private, this laity person is - weeping - about Salvation. Truly worried. Why the noise for the uncertainty? Because this person is not sure we are all not kidding and full of gas. To grow in Jesus Christ - pretense to others about Jesus has to be gone. This person has iffy faith and in loud noises is making more iffy for this person - inside themselves.

If you are uncertain of faith - find someone to be real with. Be Real. Growth of a new branch or a new vine is real. It is not going to pretend to be an established full branch and really be a half afraid twig. You can memorize all the Scripture you want, but if you really doubt you are saved... Tell someone you trust. A real believer is not going to tell your husband, parent, sibling, friend that you are fake. But will with prayer, address the situation.

I have lived doubting faith. I had a time where I had to decide and I decided. Early on. From being Real about what I thought about God. To people I trust. This is not playground material - this is the basis of Life. Tears about Salvation are important and worth being quiet about to trustworthy people.



*****(Private discussions are not going to be revealed. Names are not said, identities will not be released. Be at peace.)





I have talked to someone mature in their faith, who feels discouraged about the faith of people around the faithful. This was not fake discouragement, but real. We do not pray to a God who gives us alllllll these prayers with few answers.

This relates to the Willingness and Goodness of God to whom we Trust. Father Mike Endicott, of the U.K., said that he used to really not enjoy being a priest after about 20 years. Getting down on his knees to beg God for health for cancer patients. Jobs for those going bankrupt. For a faithful mother with children on drugs she worked so hard to raise in the Church. People divorcing. Begging God to just - Care. And one day this blind priest said God spoke to him. "Mike - do you think I am a Bad Father?"

God continued, "You must think I am a Bad Father, but you are blind. And you see well that being blind was my Good Will and Plan for you. Why can't you see that M
y Good Will is not for you to judge. Why do you pray to Me, if you must beg ME for goodness? Why don't you lean into the Willingness of God? Looking for what is Good where the I Am would go?



If we pray to Abba with a second who said, "I will never leave or forsake you." Jesus. Jesus is with us.

What has God done for me? I've seen a spleen and kidney healed by the faithful signing a baby blanket to cover them with prayer. I've seen a brain injury from a terrible, terrible car accident healed from the same baby blanket idea. No chance of recovery. I've seen Jesus heal a thyroid tumor to no tumor. I've had one benign breast tumor named, "Vanished" and that happened. I've prayed for Leukemia to be healed and felt Jesus answer and seen the Leukemia vanish that week. I have seen someone about to be fired have a good conversation and get a raise. So many prayed for events, circumstances, - - - just seem to be held by God and healed in His Time. My mother was going to die according to 3 doctors and 3 Hospice members. Except the Word of God told me she would Live. Her hearing - was lost during the injury - and would heal over the next year. Doctors said a month would tell or 6 weeks. She is back to being able to hear. We will keep praying for her memory.


What is the Body of Christ - when we pull together for the Glory of God. And this happens time and time again.

This is the fuel of Life. To Love God. To be pleased with God. To accept what He brings. To enjoy life - to see prayers answered. To have Faith.

To do just a little good and know we have done what is in our hand to please our Father, Abba.

Luke 18:1-18

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


2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’”

6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says.

7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

This is being at peace with Salvation. This is believing God is God. This is the assurance we can pray to Jesus Christ and He will answer.



This is what the Word of God tells us to do. To believe God is willing. And when God is not willing - we trust He has a Plan.





Houston has seen unbelievable miracles in the willingness of many to help one another. To pray. To work. To donate. To connect. I can tell you with all joy, with all peace, with all happiness - we have seen Jesus seeing faith on this earth. And we have Joy and hope for the future.

Thank God.


Abba, our Abba,

Thank You Jesus goes with us.

Thank You for the many, many times You have blessed us. With Parents. Grandparents. Family. Health. Prayers answered. Treasure in Heaven. Healing. Jobs. Ideas. Solutions. Work. Joy. Effort rewarded. Ideas about the Future. Dreams answered. Dreams to be in awe over.

Hope for others. Joy in years to come. Nourishment of Body and Soul. Blessings of Care. Blessings to Love and Care for others.

The Privilege of seeing the Faithful rejoice. A sight of Heaven.

Knowing Your Promises are Steadfast. Knowing the Glory of being Invited to Heaven Forever. Knowing Jesus is Alive. Knowing Jesus is Alive. Knowing Jesus is Alive.

Thanks be to You, for ourselves and the ones we love. As we pray, we cover our communities, the state, the Nation, those in dire need of prayer for rain and fire. We pray over those who need health restored. We know we cover those people unto the Nation and the world. Jesus is Alive.

We ask You for good rest and good peace. Jesus is alive.

Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

John 14:27-28 ~ Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful

John 14:27-28

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you.

If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I."




This is the perfect time to consider Peace. A time of great trouble, when people are still working and suffering. Where Facebook shows people of Florida are praying and closing until next Wednesday. A time to really Pray.


The Disciples rarely experienced Peace. They had awe. Political ambition. Love. Loyalty. Fear.

Mark 10:32
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.




Jesus never fired the Disciples.

Jesus never stood up and said, don't have fear. Now, from time to time. Jesus said, with stern voice, "Have Faith."

Jesus is not known to flout Peace. Jesus never, never, never ever said, "I have Peace, where is yours?"




Jesus had something to say for castigating others.

Matthew 23:27
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean."

It's not a good idea to add on to what Jesus says and make Peace a Spiritual Litmus Test.

During a time of Spiritual perfection - Acts of the Apostles - the newly devoted Christians were told to share the meal. To make sure all were fed and not overfed. To make sure people did not go home hungry from the meal.












When we really examine the lives of those Closest to God represented by His Son - we find they had fear. We find they fell down in the water looking at God. We find Peter never tried to walk on water again. We find they told Jesus to hush about fearful death. We find they chased off children to make Jesus' time more scheduled cleanly and effectively. We find them questioning each other on basic logistics in the face of Jesus Christ God - feeding the multitudes. We find them, cowering, not wanting to ask Jesus about the bread, for fear this amount of Godly perfection was going to turn to them and say, "YOU FORGOT THE BREAD??? PETER, MATTHEW, JOHN, JAMES?"



We find the man healed by the Pool of Bethsaida, after 38 years, used his healing as an opportunity to rub elbows with the higher ups. We find the 10 lepers were healed and one gave thanks. These are people who fell down on the job of real Peace. Lack of gratitude for prior events. Lord Jesus help us!!!



We cannot say if we are well employed, in health, blessed, well housed, have an inheritance, were always parented well, well educated and covered in life - "I have peace... where is your's?" We are not walking in that person's shoes. Instead we are cutting off their process of Peace. God's incredible Peace. We need to affirm and sponsor what Peace is. Mercy. God has always said He desires Mercy over sacrifice.

We cannot say to those with chronic Anxiety - buck up. You ain't got Jesus.

In the face of flood and hurricane and recovery. Jesus would not preach mandatory Peace.



And if you look at Peter and at Paul - as their life got ready to close - with suffering. They said people ran out on them. And people stayed and they were hurt about who ran out. The Bible is very, very honest and Father God has us discuss personal flaws a lot. A great deal. And at their death, these men discover - The Narrow Path. Peace.











Which entirely and completely brings us back to John 14. Where Jesus says clearly that if He says something is true - in the first few verses of John 14 - then really - what we have is the True Word of God. What is Jesus saying here?

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you.

If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I."

 Time and Processing Life

John never recovered from discussing evil in the world after seeing the Son of God die. Mary was told, and we know this is the truth, that a sword would piece her soul. John would come to preach, not the anger of God at human flaws, but the incredible riches of God's Vast Mercy. John lived finding Peace. In John's long life, we see his later Bible of God is about The Incredible Graciousness of God to the human condition. The Jesus who looks at us - you and me - and has compassion on His Lambs in need of Jesus.

So - in these verses - what is Jesus preaching about Jesus' Peace?

Jesus is saying something of vast worth - we need to hold on to. Hold on to your truths. Jesus is saying this - when we lose someone we Love - we will have grief. And probably for two years of fierce grief. Jesus is saying - when life is dark, bleak, sad, the stories around you are sad, when problems reoccur, when we feel pressed flat to the earth, - we have a portion of the Holy Spirit telling us - we are going to survive.

When we lose someone we love - we - KNOW - they do not want us to suffer. Jesus is telling us to find that part - that glimpse of Light - telling us - this is surmountable.

Isaiah 40:31
Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Father, we pray Jesus to lead us here.

Jesus is telling us that glimmer of Hope is Peace. This is the Peace of God  This glimmer of peace is the Father seeing you at a distance and beginning to run to you.  And when we are Able - CLING to that Peace. God is Helping is.

This is Him Advocating for you.

Remember the Prodigal Son.

~Time the Father had to swallow his pride and sell what was of value to him. Time to arrange the sale. Suffering.

~ Time to watch the son walk off - knowing this was not good.

~ Time to wonder where the son was - knowing this was not good. And yet rejoicing the older son is with him and shares all that is with the Father.

~ Time while the son was working a poor job and starving. The Father was doing life - and probably praying a lot. Time.

~ Time to see the son in the distance and know rejoicing was at hand.

~ Time. Finding Peace. The Way, the Truth, The Life with Jesus Christ.


Jesus knew the disciples were not going to be overjoyed Jesus was dead, alive and taken to Heaven in front of them. Jesus was telling them they would be allowed to have Peace.

What does this PEACE enable, strengthen, establish, build in us?

To hope. To get over events like loosing a still born daughter. Many will tell you - you never recover. You do when you have Peace to believe she is alive in Heaven. You will know her and the hills and highways of Heaven. Isaiah 49.

To believe. On the days we have too much to do and no energy. Small hope. To have the Peace to decide we can do a few things today and wait for tomorrow and renewed mercies to strengthen us to do more - tomorrow.

In days where our mood just won't be brightened. No reason. Life was good yesterday. Is horrible today. And back to being good tomorrow. Then we have the Peace to know not to make major decisions today. Same as when you have the Flu or Strep Throat. The Peace to decide God will decide and we will Rest on His Peace and His timing and His Love.

Sometimes Peace is allowing this day to be the less wonderful day. Rest in God more good days will be another day.

Is God's Peace Miraculous. YES. Sometimes. YES.

Peace. When we see loved ones in Jesus Christ go on to Heaven. With utter and complete Peace. We are seeing the work of God in Heavenly Proportions. They are teaching us Belief in a Major Capacity. Life Changing Witness of Jesus Christ and His Peace and Faith. Utter God Given Peace. The Peace that passes understanding. Taught by those we love most. Profound witness to Jesus. God blessing us in the Narrow Gate.

Even if we employ God's Peace in small, minute times. We find Father God has really built a steel frame bridge covering troubled waters and, in small steps, we find the Bridge holds. Life is sustained. We can believe this today.

And at the end of our life - we will look back - astonished, amazed, awed Father God has carried us so many, many times over troubled waters in a ho-hum day, Because we found a small, little bit of Peace of God creating a Marvelous, Huge, Bridge of our Lives Carrying Us Over Trouble Waters. Because that day, we just held on the Holy Spirit and let the Holy Spirit be Comforter to us.

The Peace of God is exactly like the Light of Jesus Christ. The Light shines over the darkness and the darkness did not overcome and we - hardly knew - The Comforter, The Teacher was urging us on and giving us Hope, Faith and LOVE.

You say, "Do I know the Peace of God? "

Yes, you will be Thanking God for the times your little faith was flamed on in God's Tender Grace. We have to look at with eyes of Faith.

The things we will see -
with our eyes enlightened by Jesus Christ - in His Heavenly Kingdom
- we will laugh with delight for the times Jesus held our hand
- and enabled us to have Hope, Faith and Love.






Abba, our Abba,

You are Daddy. You are filled with tender Love for us.

When You cover us in the Name of Jesus our prayers go amazingly far. When we ask Jesus to go with us in prayer as our Mediator and Advocate.

We pray for families of Jesus Christ to be filled with Love. We pray for our Loved ones to have the Comfort You bring every day. We thank You for Your mercies Daily.

We come fully with confidence and honestly for the things we need.

We with abundant and filled Thanks Bless You for Your Answers all our Life.

We pray not only for the people You have given us - but for the people we are hearing about in the news - in some very difficult troubles. Please carry burdens for them. Help us to Help Others. We ask for Your miracles over these things under Your feet.

We fully and with Love thank You that Your Plans are for a Hope and Future. We ask for the fulfilling of Your Word bringing Good News. Praying to see soon how all things work together for Good for those who Love the Lord God and work according to His Purpose.

Jesus be praised for His Mercy, Grace, Forgiveness, Wisdom and Joy. You are a God we can look to with Great Pleasure in Your Love and Goodness.

Thank You Jesus. Thank You Abba. Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 7:11-17 ~ Arise

Luke 7:11-17

11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.

12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."
14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."

15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"

17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

We will just not know until we are in Heaven, if the widow's son was a child or an adult.



But Jesus came to tell us this:

Romans 12

15b Weep with those who weep.

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but

give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.




Jesus never said there was no crying in baseball. Jesus is tender. Jesus meets us where we really are. We come before Jesus just as we truly are. And we learn that mankind delights God as He sees us. There is no wonder after watching the Cajun Navy and all of Texas work  - to help those flooded out.

When we can't, God will comfort us. We know. We can put ourselves on our Jesus and our Father when life is tough.

Psalm 131

1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
    or things too wonderful for me.

2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.

3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord
    both now and forevermore


Tell people the truth of your struggles.





And in the truth, Jesus tells us this:

Standing up is important. When we are able. When we feel His mercies renew. Stand up when we pray - this is fine, Gabriel tells us he stands in the Presence of God. Luke 1.

Stand when you are able.


Ephesians 6

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes,
you may be able to stand your ground,

and after you have done everything, to stand.

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.




Joshua 7:10
10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?

God tells us He is God of Encouragement.


Nehemiah 9:5
5 And the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—said:

“Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. ”
“Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.



Job 11:15
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;
you will stand firm
and without fear.


Psalm 3:1-6
"O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God.

Selah But you, O Lord,
are a shield about me,
my glory,
and the lifter of my head.

I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me."



When we can stand and let God lift up our face.

The Joy of the Lord is our Strength.

Mark 12:30
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.


Matthew 22:37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."





Abba, our Abba,

Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and we want to hold on to Jesus. We will stand with Jesus.

In good times, You are our Joy and Strength.

In bad times, You are our Comforter and Helper.

In times we are afraid, You slept calmly in the boat. And then stood. Matthew told us in His 8th Gospel, Jesus stood to rebuke the wind and the water.

Father God, You rested. We must rest.

And we will be different this time next year.

Abba will remain the same. He has carried us for many years. He will lead us Home. We will expect His Goodness and Love. And for those we Love to live knowing the Joy of Jesus.

We will Live Praying Jesus' Love on our Nation. Blessing all Christians praying His Love bringing more Heaven to earth.

We thank You Father Puerto Rico was spared. We pray Barbuda will be helped and Irma will stall before hitting land. We pray more blessings like those of Puerto Rico. 

Jesus Christ over us all.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 116 ~ What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?

Psalm 116

1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.

2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. 4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!"

5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.

6 The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;

9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

10 I believed, even when I spoke, "I am greatly afflicted"; 11 I said in my alarm, "All mankind are liars."

12 What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, 14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

16 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Praise the LORD!






Harvey was supposed to rain another week. The storm passed by. The winds were supposed to cause major tree damage with sustained winds. We did not see the winds. The flood was supposed to last 3 weeks. And did not.


My mother was told to us, last year, she was dying 4 times. Hospice came to call to collect her 3 times. She enjoys her life today.




When we are told God will be with us. Let us be glad. And not fear the worst. Like Peter did and cried out, "I'm a sinful man Lord God. Look from me and depart!"



Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord,
who daily loadeth us with benefits,
even the God of our salvation. Selah.

His mercies renew.


Psalm 8

4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?


Why would the God of the Universe care to know my name?


Psalm 8
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!


The moments of our lives we do not relive often.

Your longed for birthday as a child. You were loved and honored.

Your first pet. Given for you. To broaden you.

Your first day of school.

Your first set of friends.

Your first day of High School. The Big Time.

Graduating from High School almost feels like you have dropped off a cliff - where are you going?

Suddenly finding out - you are considered to be an adult and live like an adult.

A good accomplishment.

Deciding to get married.

Your wedding day. Your honeymoon.

Finding out you are expecting a child. Going through the changes of pregnancy.

Childbirth.

Bring home a child and finding out parenting.

A job loss. Worry.

A job found. Great Day.

Your child asks you things of precious worth.

You worry for your child.

Blessings.

Finding time passes.

Wondering what happens next.

Times of trouble.

Wondering what happens next.




Being told, "God is with you."



Rejoice. Rejoice. Emmanuel shall come to Thee
Oh Israel.
Beloved of God Rejoice.



Romans 2:7
To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.




Abba Father,

We are invited. Invited. We will See Jesus. We will see His Glory, Honor. God Himself gives us Jesus' Immortality. Invited.

This is quite an Invitation.


Father God, will we find that the Streams of Life leading to Your Throne, the Tree of Life will look like a Sequoia.

Will we find that Angels and Archangels stood beside us as mighty, mighty Giants.


Will we be able to remain standing when we see the Heavenly Host and hear their Praises of You.

Will the best of all of Your earthly creation rush beside us as we recognize Heaven.

We will know Home. We will want to see You run to us with Your favor.


In these days:
Help us Father God to speak as You'd have us speak. Help us to listen when You'd have us Listen.

Let us do the Good Works You have put before us to do.
Rejoicing we are not God and are the sheep of Your Hand and Heart and someday of Your Hearth.

Steady us when we are frail.
Encourage us when we feel so small.
Strengthen us as You are God and we would be a Lion of God with Jesus.
Forgive us, please, when we are wrong.

Keep us on Your Path.
We Believe Your Plan is for Good. You are Good.
You are our Hope and Future.

Please hold our soul and heart and keep us in Your Heart.
O Lord God, My Rock and My Redeemer.
May the words of my mouth
and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Thy Sight,
Jesus Lord God, Rock and Redeemer.

To You we entrust those we Love.
To You we dwell secure.

And for Your many given blessings surrounding our very lives - We give You Thanks and Praise.
Holding up this Nation under God
and the people trusting in You.

Your Beloved People, Thank You Father.
Great I am. Jesus our God.

Praise You Father, being part of the Free.

Able to Pray knowing You alone are God.

Rejoicing - Knowing - You are God.

Your Word is Good. Jesus God Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 84 ~ Blessed are those whose strength is in You

Psalm 84

To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!

2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.

8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed!

10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

We have seen the fires of Los Angeles get better and still have some concern. Montana fires are on our prayer list. And Hurricane Irma Category 4.

Hurricane Harvey is being called the 1,000 year flood. We had the 1,000 fires in 2011.


Weather concerns are not new to the planet. About 246 A.D. the weather was so severe the Roman Empire was worried the calendar change signaled the end of the world. Historians record panic. Lightning fires, very frequent earthquakes and terrible storms. Diocletian was set to begin the rehash of terrible Christian persecution and massive reforms fundamentally changed the structure of Roman imperial government and helped stabilize the empire economically and militarily, enabling the empire to remain essentially intact for another 150 years despite being near the brink of collapse in Diocletian's youth. His nephew was well known as - Constantine the Great. This was a time of very great changes.




I know the story of a very successful attorney.

He had 8 years of college - he just didn't seem to be working out well in higher education. And he entered the work force to find out - he really did want that college degree. When he graduated, all the success had begun to build to make higher education seem possible. He went on to Law School.

He found something enabled him to make Law School enjoyable.

There were a tremendous number of brilliant people in Law School and  he found he was going to be able to do these 3 years. This was a cause for concern for him at first. So many extremely gifted people in Law School - would he survive? He found that he didn't have to have the top grade. And he began to coach himself. He made a B on the exam. Well that was really good. He knew other people were higher in class rank, but he was pleased with his own grades.

And as he graduated he saw many go to very high-end firms. He joined a small town District Attorney. Doors opened. Doors opened. Doors opened. Doors opened. He has done very well. By wanting to improve a community for 'the good guys' - he found more work and more opportunities. And has done very, very well. With positive affirmation.


This actually is Biblical. This man did not sweat what others were doing. He was grateful. And in having good motives, he found a career.






The news is about to become rougher.

Two hurricanes, fires and North Korea. News likes to be sensational and we are hitting a fast pace stride.

This does not mean we will be facing this same news - next year. I watched our local water utility gear up for storms based upon NOAA forecasts this spring. We had new drainage dug and the drains were tested. We can prepare ourselves and be grateful Father God has put us in this time of antibiotics, where our we have every expectation to live to be old and out live our children. Technology and advances sometimes makes us edgy about too much new.

We are blessed. I've seen the Local Houston News Reporter Ted Oberg of ABC 13 say the Cajun Navy prompted more and more Texans to join them in recovery. We are the people who have lived an example I can't remember other than Dunkirk. We are seeing more and more people rise up to help.






Spiritually what does this mean?

Rise up. Take time to pray - ask Jesus to join you. Expect the Goodness of God. The Lord's Prayer. Search the morning to find when your gratitude rises. We live the adventure of finding His Mercies Renew. We will Rise.

Christian Obligation. St. Augustine was asked and he said something real and beneficial - to hold on. I'm going to paraphrase. We want to live the Book of Acts. To see God act dramatically. St. Augustine said if we are really trying to care for just the few people God gives us and tell them God Loves them the way St. Augustine's mother believed Augustine would learn and love and know and dwell in God's Love - then we are pleasing God. If we can do one small thing for our community - our neighbors - our children - were we speak up - ONLY a LITTLE - we have done something marvelous every single day.

It's not ram down God. It's find ways to let that person know God is the Father - who is Pleased and Loves them - as they are.

How can we know? Look at the story of the man who could not stay in college. He decided he'd keep trying. And he gave himself permission to enjoy his talents. And in being honest with his goals - being calm - wanting goodness - he didn't see the whole Path look like The Oscars. Time Man of the Year. Each day - a little step. And in this goodness - God has blessed him and blessed him and blessed him.




When our small children ask - what will we do?

We will tell of our blessings of wisdom - knowledge around the situation. We will say each day we will do a little. We will keep trying and find good days ahead. We will with God find our blessings each day. We will put our hands out in prayer. We will put our hearts open for using the changes life brings us to find good.

We will say with faith, "All Things Work for God, for those who love the Lord and work according to His Purpose." An adventure of belief.

We will tell our children about the Cajun Navy and the Volunteers. We will tell them of the Restaurants that expect to find diapers - all ages. Home building tools and supplies. Dog food. Cat food in baskets put out believing we will continue to care.



And we will remember - we haven't seen this of our nation in a while. And we make the choice to care and love and try. Knowing God is pleased because we try. And we will remember to smile as our head hits the pillow - we tried to please a loving, good, merciful, easily pleased - Father - God - Our's.

Abba, our Abba,



Deuteronomy 20:4
For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies,
to give you the victory.’


We will put down lumping all of this culture as done in.
We will be reasonable.
We will ask You - numerous times
We will look for what is honorable, just
worthy of praise.
Taking off our concern for ourselves.
Find excellence in entertainment
Find what we can praise.

Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope,
be patient in tribulation,
be constant in prayer.


Psalm 39:7
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in you.

The Certainty of this Good News:

Proverbs 23:18
Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Psalm 71:14
But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more.




We will allow the ebb and flow of time and circumstance.
We will not push out our hopes for those we love and ourselves. We will expect better times ahead.

We will make the effort to listen. We will sent help for the needs of others on a continued basis.


Thank You, Father God, the flood waters have receded quickly. We pray for those near water who are and have taken on water in their homes for the first time. We pray for the weeks ahead hearing about recovery near and far to see this as recovery.

We pray that the Spirits of our neighbors, friends, Loved ones are encouraged in the Holy Spirit. We pray for Montana and Los Angeles as well as Houston. We pray for Hurricane Irma to make a U turn and stall out over water.

We have seen a few Hurricanes just go back out to sea - IRMA - Go Back out to Sea. In the Willingness of God - we put all our trust in Jesus Christ.

We pray as Hope has increased, we will feel encouraged. Please Bless those praying all over the world in Jesus Christ. The prayers surrounding Your good earth. Your arms around those we Love. God bless us in this Nation. God strengthen and encourage the Goodness.

In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ a future and a hope

(Sound begins about 36 seconds in.)


The Opinions I express here are my own:

To watch the video is to feel sorrow. And the truth is, Houston floods rather frequently. Not usually like this. I'm a 1984 Aggie. And in 1981, I had a friend tell me he'd had a summer job with The Corps of Engineers, learning the Levy system around New Orleans was broken and old and only a mere 17 feet. I didn't believe him. I said Congress would fix that. He said a 2nd Level Hurricane would level New Orleans. Not the USA! Ever. We know this is a fact, Louisiana Senator John Breaux publicly apologized knowing the situation.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco said she knew that the systems were weak for evacuation and later did agree it was known the levy was too small and old with a budget that flew to the tyranny of the immediate.





What is Houston?

Houston is awakened to the fact we have a system of drainage really needing improvement.

More importantly, we are awakened to the fact of Good News. The struggling up and down oil economy has made Good News. We have discovered a Spirit that is indeed not a lame "spirit of Texas or yada yada". This is deep Spirit of Holiness. Where volunteers wait in line to help. Jesus is here.

Houston. Where our hearts are crying for the people destroyed again.



Today in Church we sang, "GOD Will DO THIS AGAIN!"

We know our Father Will do this. And Our God has given us Engineers everywhere in Houston. People our God has gifted and gifted with talents of mass engineering feats. People who can make little pipes go down 5,000 feet into the earth and extract the fuel of the world - can certainly Yangtze River the canal for Lake Conroe to Lake Houston to the Gulf.

We can  instead of just redo-ing water pipes for drought, we can scrap the roads deep, deep like Venice and allow the roads to flood and the yards be graded from the roads so deep.


Houston planted 6 million dollars in trees to make Houston shine beautifully along the Highways for The Super Bowl. And true life challenges kicked in. We had the 1,000 year drought before the 1,000 year flood and the trees kicked off to Heaven. What did Houston Do. Well, we read the budget was dead. And the trees... were re-planted up here. Honestly, I think they were replanted in Houston. God Almighty, I hope so.


If we can redo the Trees - we need to see the City of Houston to start making plans for streets to flood and people to stay dry.


In reality, The Katrina Evacuees were fed by Houston's Second Baptist Church drawing a Grid of ALL Christian Churches and all the Churches fed the people for months and months. Casseroles. Ask Ed Young, he'd say yes. We won't forget these Guests. We have loved and loved those who need our Christian Spirir of Jesus.

Now we need the Engineers to grapple with making this never happen again. Houston - we have a few Engineers.






And how will we be in a year... we hope to be so carefree we travel along mimicking Sonic commercials and talking about Chris Tomlin. Where our joy is being Footloose - from this incredibly sad set of circumstances. Where we are so Loved by Jesus and so grateful we hum.

And maybe we can talk about searching for Pokemon.

Houston - Solve the Problem.

Jesus would want the employment, the hope, the love, the good use of talent.

We will, with God's help in Jesus Christ - plan on the Goodness of God - putting in motion Good News of Hope and a Future.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,
plans for welfare and not for evil,
to give you a future and a hope.


Father God,

With the Holy Spirit alive and well. We fight the Good Fight.

Jeremiah 30:10
'Fear not, O Jacob My servant,' declares the LORD, 'And do not be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar And your offspring from the land of their captivity. And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease, And no one will make him afraid."

Jeremiah 30:18
"Thus says the LORD, 'Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob And have compassion on his dwelling places; And the city will be rebuilt on its ruin, And the palace will stand on its rightful place."

We will never, never, never give up the Calling of the Holy Spirit. To comfort those in need. And plan to look to our Father God expectantly with Joy for His Goodness. And provide security and protection for our children and grandchildren. Praying Jesus Love for those yet to be born. 

Making this huge city with populations equal to 26 states - a place where Jesus is proud of us. Today and tomorrow! 

Our prayers. Our works. Our words. Our Hope. Our Future. Jesus be in these long range hopes for a plan.

We pray with Los Angeles for rain. Father God bless Los Angeles.

WE are the Easter people. God's New Covenant is Love for one another.

In the Name of Jesus. We Pray. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †