WHERE ARE THESE FOLKS SUPPOSED TO GO??????

Proverbs 21:13New International Version (NIV)

¹³ Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out and not be answered.

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This verse came to mind this morning as I looked outside and saw the snow again!  Then I started to watch the early morning news.  It showed how the authorities are ousting the homeless here in Denver on a regular basis.  These folks have nowhere to go.  Their possessions are thrown into large garbage trucks that follow the police as they displace the people from downtown in an effort to ‘clean up’ the city.  This all in an effort to entice people from other states to visit and move to Denver.  Better for our economy they say.

This morning I saw that they are now going under the bridges and over-passes, tearing up the homeless camps there.  WHERE ARE THESE FOLKS SUPPOSED TO GO?

I understand the problems that arise with disease and unsanitary conditions in these camps because of trash,  urine and defficating…but how do we displace these folks with no regard to their well-being, and no plan as to where they can go?

I have many questions…and mostly no answers to this problem.  However, I’m sure there is a solution.  The city has so much land; why not take a large plot and let them all go there!  How about port-a-potty’s placed near/within these camps?  And a few shower stalls as well?  How about those large tent like structures that construction companies put up to house all of their equipment?  That would house many people who have fallen upon hard times and have nowhere to go.

I guess this is more of a rant today, than it is a blog post, but I really “feel” for these people!  My dad used to say, “When you see someone that’s ‘down and out’, don’t give them a boot to the face…give them a hand-up!  Maybe that is all the encouragement they need to change!”  He was right!

Some of these folks want to get jobs, but have no address or I.D. -which is required to be employed.  Why not give this plot of land an address.  Why not allow these homeless folks access to an I.D.?  Obama offered an opportunity to the illegal aliens a while back to go to the DMV and provide them with I.D. cards so they could register to vote!  Why can’t we give I.D. cards to homeless folks so they could find jobs?

A lot of these homeless folks are former Vets.  They fought for America.  Many still have PTSD problems, but cannot get any medical help.  Why don’t we have volunteer Medical Doctors, Trained psychologists, Nurses, EMT’s and Interns set up a free clinic to aid these folks?

I could go on for hours about “how” we could at least help these folks…give them a glimmer of hope…give them some of their dignity back…set them on the right path…help them recover and be a productive members of Society, instead of a drain and a plight…but there is not enough paper, ink, or time.

So, I will end with this…read the verse again.  In everyday, plain language it’s saying this:

DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU…WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND, KARMA,  …or my favorite…

“Don’t be misled–you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.”  -Galatians 6:7 NLT

Anita

EARNING A PROPHET’S WAGE

I just read the following post on Fat Beggars School of Prophets.  It reminded me of something my dad used to say.  He said, and I quote: “We may never know what kind of an impact we’ve made on someone with our testimony and walk with the Lord, until we get to Heaven.  But know this…EVERYTHING we do and say in the Name of the Lord, makes a positive impact on someone! ” -Maurice B. Schuessler

As I read the following post, it moved me to tears!  What a wonderful thing to discover…that years later, your life changed someone; your words, and your testimony-however feeble you may think it to be, has actually helped someone…turned them in the right direction…made them a soldier for God Almighty!  WOW!  This post gave me chills!  Thanks Agent X! And God bless you and your ministry! -anita

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One of my favorite instructors from academic days was a wise, old professor who had taught numerous generations of students and prepared them for ministry or grad/postgraduate work.  And while I would not characterize him as jaded, he did have that wry wit of one who “has been around”.  I recall that on several occasions he remarked that over the years students would come through from time to time and fancy themselves prophets.  To any of us young people giving him a listening ear, he suggested that if we were real prophets (not just self-styled and fashionable), we should be prepared to earn a prophet’s wage.

Of course the old man was referring to the fact that prophets suffer the message they bring from God.  Prophets largely go unheeded, at least during their own lifetimes, and when taken seriously, often punished in various ways – up to and including death (even death on a cross, as one famous prophet can attest!).  Thus the professor would have us students take such a calling with all seriousness and not think it to be somehow academically fashionable.

I took his remarks to heart and purposefully avoided an embrace of prophetic vocation.  Only through subsequent years of NOT earning any money for my ministry, as well as largely being ignored and/or shunned, AND dealing more and more with apocalyptic symbols, have I begun to accept even the idea that I might, after all, be called to prophetic ministry.  Yes, though I resisted the notion for years, it seems to me that I have worked very hard to earn the prophet’s wage – at least in being shunned.

But recent days have revealed another kind of wage to me, one the old professor did not speak of – one I had never expected or dared to dream.  In order to explain it, I must tell a brief story about my experience in life and ministry – a story that depicts one very important layer in the foundation of my life and calling of which its importance has only just begun to take shape for me.

Getting Admitted To School

I first went to Bible College with a dark cloud over my head.  I really must keep the details of that part of the story private, because in subsequent years, I have made peace with those who opposed me.  So with no details I will say this, I found myself embroiled in a church conflict over the course of about a year just prior to admission.  While at first, my part in that conflict helped a fellow minister (a much older and well established career minister), he eventually opposed me, and upon discovering that I planned to enter the academy, he wrote a letter to the dean (who was a personal friend), and those in charge of handling my admission, outlining for them what a bad idea it would be for me to get admitted.

To be fair (and again without going into detail), I was guilty of sin.  In the course of that conflict, I had behaved poorly and hot-headed.  To this day, I believe firmly in the cause I stood for, but if I could change some of my own behavior at that time, I would.  I had lashed out inappropriately.  I will not deny that fact.  But I will insist that my bad behavior played a small part in a larger conflict where everyone else’s behavior was bad too – and I was the young one needing guidance and not getting it.  Thus, I take responsibility, but only for my sinful part.

The whole thing caused me to have a “bad” reference.  Matters grew worse yet, though.  I reached out to other established ministers for help, but these people did not know me very well.  In all honesty, they could not vouch for me – not with any depth.  And when I look back, I recall how another young man, about my age, had turned his life around from drug and alcohol abuse and gained broad support from our church, the year before.  He had obtained good references and went off to a sister school only to run aground as a sex scandal broke out.  Only a year into to school, and this young man was out to the shame of all who had endorsed him.  Here I was, not too dissimilar except I had made a mess of my reputation being a troubler of the church before I even tried to get into the academy.

I felt desperate.  I needed someone to write me a reference that I could trust.  Someone who could and would tell another side of my story.

A Second Opinion

Well, it so happened that in the two years leading up to this moment, I had befriended an adolescent, young man at church, who like me had an enthusiasm for Heavy Metal music.  Yes, I don’t hide it, I am an old metal head.  But at the time, I was a young man finding Jesus, and I was finding that more important than my musical tastes.  Meanwhile, there was this family at church who had a couple teenage sons who they felt were somewhat “at risk” and who, like me, were into metal music.  That family hoped I might be a positive influence on their boys.  So I made an effort, and sure enough the younger boy took to me.  We became unlikely friends.

We will call him “Agent Metal Head”.

So, Agent Metal Head and I worshipped together every weekend.  I became close with his family, and we spent lots of time doing other things as well.  But at least two or three times, Agent Metal Head and I also went to major rock festivals in the city.  We saw Oz Fest and Lollapalooza, among other shows.  It was clear to us that most, if not all, of the “artists” who made music to our liking were not Christian and did not promote Christian values.  There were, of course, Christian rock bands, and we explored them too, but somehow, by the grace of God, we managed to navigate these cultural pitfalls while developing an ever deepening love for Jesus.  And that seemed quite clear to me even then.

Thus I asked Agent Metal Head to write a letter of reference for me to send to the dean and those helping with the admissions process.  And at fourteen years old, Agent Metal Head was hardly the “qualified” opinion those nice folks were wanting to hear from.  The academy has its standards, you know, and this stunt just did not really respect them.

I did not read the letter Agent Metal Head wrote.  He tried to show it to me, but I insisted that it should be private between him and them.  I did notice that it was written in pencil.  I was aware that Agent Metal Head was not strong in – shall we say – grammar skills.  But when I prayed about it and looked around, his was the only reference I knew I could trust to share part of my story that would be meaningful AND bright if only the gate-keepers would take it seriously.

To shorten a long story, just a bit, I will say that in subsequent months and years, I did discover that the original bad reference letter did in fact cost me dearly, but that this “stunt” I pulled by having Agent Metal Head also write a letter on my behalf was viewed as very immature.  Today, I would call it prophetic or prophet-like.  It actually cost me even more than the bad reference.  It was beneath the standards of the academy (and I would say beneath contempt).  Of course I was never given details on any of that.  Admissions decisions are almost always made behind closed doors, and even in this case, they played their cards close to the vest.  I was let in, thank God, but only on the conditions of every academic probation the school could foist on me.  It was telling, perhaps, when I got my first report card (I still have a copy of it) which showed I made all A’s but also a “U” for UNSATISFACTORY!

Yes, I am likely the only student in the history of my alma mater, no way to know for sure, who made straight A’s and did in UNSATISFACTORY style!  Who does that???

So, anyway, this story paints the picture of my calling to prophetic ministry, alright.  It is just one layer.  I wrote on this blog a while back about my experience at Hogback, New Mexico and how that too played a part in my prophetic call.  Yes, there are several layers to that story… that process.  But there is more to this one still….

In just the last few days, Agent Metal Head has reached out through the internet and found me again.  We have not spoken in ten years.  I have not laid eyes on him in twenty. He is grown up now.  He is no longer that 14 year old kid I said goodbye to on his grandfather’s driveway as I loaded up and moved to Texas where I would study Bible and ministry.  He has his own family now, his own career, his own ministry, even.  But I have not kept touch with him.

Revealing Another Kind of Prophetic Wage

It just so happens that a few days before he found me, I was recounting to a friend about that reference letter Agent Metal Head wrote for me.  I recounted how that with all the LOVE of God dripping from every misspelled word and mis-punctuated sentence, that letter was said to have cost me in my bid to go to the academy and learn about Jesus.  It was just one more layer, I thought, in all that picture of a minister who earns a prophet’s wage instead of a paycheck or ecclesial respect.  And in the recounting of it, I felt a bit confirmed all the more in what I do and say and all I stand for.

And then Agent Metal Head finds me.

But as I said above, near the start of this long tale, there is another kind of wage revealed to me in all this.  It turns out that in all the years since I have seen or spoken to Agent Metal Head, he too has developed and grown into a life of ministry.  He did not go to the academy, but he demonstrated to me very quickly that he reads (voraciously, I might add) both his Bible and the works of many leading Bible scholars.  He doesn’t read just the pop-Christian stuff, he gets into some heavy theology as well, and demonstrates some very serious thinking about Jesus and Christian faith.  Meanwhile, he devotes his chosen profession (he is a chef) to feeding the homeless.  In addition to that, he and his wife are foster parents!   I am just blown away by the poetic sense of justice I get in all that.

No.  I am not legit in the field of ministry.  I lead no church; I am no published scholar; I don’t even have the respect of my peers.  But I have jumped through all their hoops with finesse, though still with that label “UNSATISFACTORY”.  I earn, at least in a general sense, that prophet’s wage my old professor warned us aspiring ministers about.  But I earn another wage too.  That strange investment I placed in that adolescent so long ago – even when I was young and struggling to know anything at all – is paying off right where it counts!

Like flowers blooming in the desert as Israel passes by (Isa. 35), so too the path on which God has placed me bears fruit I MIGHT have played a small role in planting.  I did not stay in Agent Metal Head’s life and groom him for this.  If I had tried, I almost certainly would have jacked it up somehow.  But God gives me deep encouragement – perhaps it is even food the disciples don’t know about (John 4:32).

Yes.  I am blessed with my wage – a prophet’s wage.  And though that might involve suffering a lot of injustice, it always points to (and under God’s care and in his time achieves) true justice and peace.

Agent X -Fat Beggars School of Prophets

BE THE FIRE INSIDE OF ME…

“Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the LORD.  -Song of Solomon 8:6

Last night as I was preparing dinner, I decided to listen to Pandora.  I heard this song I’d never heard before.  Below are the words. -anita

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You Won’t Relent

Misty Edwards

You won’t relent until you have it all
My heart is yours
You won’t relent until you have it all
My heart is yours

I’ll set you as a seal upon my heart
As a seal upon my arm
For there is love that is as strong as death
Jealousy, demanding as the grave
Many waters cannot quench this love

You won’t relent until you have it all
My heart is yours
You won’t relent until you have it all
My heart is yours

I’ll set you as a seal upon my heart
As a seal upon my arm
For there is love that is as strong as death
Jealousy, demanding as the grave
Many waters cannot quench this love

Waters cannot quench this love
You won’t relent until you have it all
My heart is yours
Waters cannot quench this love
You won’t relent until you have it all
My heart is yours

Come be the fire inside of me
Come be the flame upon my heart
Come be the fire inside of me
Until you and I are one

Songwriters: CASSIE CAMPBELL, DAVID BRYMER, MISTY EDWARDS

© MUSIC SERVICES, INC.

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This it the kind of love God wants us to have for Him, and He won’t relent in his pursuit of us until He has it!  He wants to be a fire inside of us, an all-consuming fire…a flame upon our heart until we are at one with Him!  One in purpose…

My prayer for myself, and for you today, is this:   that we will  allow God to build a fire inside of us; a fire that will spread to those around us…a Holy fire that will change lives-including ours!

Anita

WHAT WE SAY MATTERS!

My son Joel and I were talking about some things this morning….  He was up at 6:15! UGGG!   🙂   He was in the mood to talk-so I listened.  He asked if I would be alive to see my great, great grand babies.  I said I really didn’t think so since I’m already a senior.  He then said that he probably wouldn’t get very old…that he would most likely die of Cancer.  I was shocked!

We then went into a huge conversation about the power of words.  I reminded him that God made the worlds and everything in them with His words.  He spoke and things came into being.

That led into a discussion about the “Big Bang” theory.  Joel asked if I believed in that theory.  I said that as a matter of fact I did.  His eyes got real big and he said, “Really mom?”  I said, “Yep!  I believe that God said, ‘Let there be light…’ and BANG!!!! (I clapped my hands together real loud!)   …there was light!”  He laughed and said…”Good one mom!” LOL!

But seriously folks…there is power in our words.  When we say we are stupid, or ugly, or worthless, unloved,…or any other adjective you want to put in there that is degrading, we open a door for those things to become real in our lives.  I also believe that when we declare and agree with the enemy that we are sick…we give the devil an open door to come in and make those things come to pass.
He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles. -Proverbs 21:23

 

Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. -Psalm 141:3

I remember one time before I retired, I was sitting in the break room and all of us ladies got into a discussion about annual check ups.  (Now most of you that really know me well, know that I only go to the Doctor if I’m so sick, I’m crying.)  Now, I agree that this is probably not a wise decision on my part, I won’t argue that point; but I’m just not crazy about running to the Doctor for every little thing.  Anyway…back to the ladies in the break room…

One of my co-workers overheard me telling another co-worker that I had not been to the Doctor for a check up since my last son was born.  He was twelve at the time.  She said, “Oh my goodness!  You need to make an appointment right away!  You might have Cancer and not even know it!”

My response to her was simple…”Don’t curse me with that!”

She meant well…and I understand that, but I wanted to make sure that if her words opened a door to the enemy to come in and do his worst, that I was going to slam it in his face before he entered  my mind and heart!

Here are a few more verses for you to study  regarding this subject .

 

Proverbs 18:21 – Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

John 1:1-51 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Genesis 1:1 -In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Joel 3:10 – let the weak say, I am strong

Anita

 

THE SALVATION OF THE LORD…

¹⁰ And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.

¹¹ And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

¹² Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

¹³ And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.  -Exodus 14:10-13

¹⁴ The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

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As a kid growing up, I always marveled at this story!  It was one of my favorites.

I have to admit, that yesterday…I felt a bit like the children of Israel as they faced the Red Sea before them, and Pharos army closing in from behind!   Something greater than fear gripped my heart and I questioned “Why?” I had taken on a task, become attached, and now, in all likelihood, this wonderful journey would end and the thing I loved most  would be snatched away from me.

The clock slowly ticked away as I waited for things to unfold, and I kept on thinking…It would have been easier to stand on the side lines and cheer on someone who was much younger than myself to do the job…seize the task at hand; but God spoke to me and said I was the one to do the task…I was the one to get in the race and run it with all my heart, all my mind, all my soul.  So, I did; yet here we stood with the possibility of this race being cancelled.

I don’t think I’m alone in this boat.  When the road following Jesus gets steep, rocky and rough, I believe that we question “Why?” we didn’t take the easy path…even if it’s but a passing thought!    But Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14

Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: But strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

Following Jesus is not for the faint of heart!  It takes real courage…guts, to look the devil in the eye,  stand your ground and fight-even when it looks hopeless.  And  not for a medal or a purple heart…or any recognition from the world, but just because it’s the RIGHT thing to do!

So…I stood my ground and fought, even when it looked hopeless…and then it happened!  God opened up the way…right through the middle of all the mess; he performed the miracle that we needed,  and swept the enemy away right before our very eyes!  Thank you Lord!  I’m so glad I was able to see the Salvation of the Lord!

WHAT AN AWESOME GOD WE SERVE!

Anita

 

 

READ IT. BELIEVE IT. TRUST IT!

I awoke this morning with much apprehension and anxiety.  I know this is wrong of me, for Jesus said in  Matthew 6:26-34New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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But today, we have a very important meeting…hence, the anxious feeling of wanting it all to be over.  All of you that know me well, have learned that I am not a patient person; So,   I would ask that all of you pray for God’s Will to be done in this matter, and that I would allow God to take over.

As I thought about my recent prayers regarding this situation, Jesus gently reminded me of the twenty-third Psalm.  I just need to put all things in His hands, and allow Him to LEAD me…REST in Him…because He IS with me!  He will make my enemies be at PEACE with me…He will even give me FAVOR with them.

I read this in a commentary I found on Google,  and I quote: “God is in the business of refining and guiding us to a greater and better future but our journey takes us through dangerous and perilous terrains. However, those who place their trust in Him can rest assured that His eyes can see through the dark valleys and his powerful hand will carry us through our pilgrimage journey so that we emerge more obedient and approved of God….” Concerning the rod and staff mentioned in the Psalm, he says:  “They both symbolize the authority and the presence of God and His reign over us…. The two are indispensable to our victory over sin and evil and the source of our spiritual guide to the green pastures for our souls.  –Ezekiel Kimsop

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So…if you are facing a problem today that looks insurmountable, I leave you with the following passage.  Read it.  Believe it.  Trust it!

Psalm 23King James Version (KJV)

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

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Anita

BLESSED…

On Resurrection Sunday (Easter), our pastor wrote this short play and Sarah Roark acted it out.  It was amazing!  As a mother myself, I could feel the anguish of Mary as she watched her son…Gods Son, hang on the cross. The portrayal of Mary, I believe, was  accurate.   If you missed it…you missed a real blessing!  But, here is your chance to read it.  As you do, put yourself in Mary’s place; can you imagine seeing your child die?  Especially when you take into account the WAY He died, and the people He was dying for thought it was a joke.  Vulgar words were spat at Him, they cast lots for His clothes, they purposely  made Him hang naked – in humility before all to see….  Put yourself at the scene….  This will break your heart, and hopefully bring you closer to the Cross.  -anita

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Blessed.  A short play by Daniel Leavitt

[no props or sets, maybe just a head covering, you can take a lot of time and go slowly, part of the anguish is reflected in the inability to put thoughts together. At times it should seem like you can’t find the words to say.]

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Mary:

Blessed?

She said I was so blessed among women? She said her own baby jumped in her belly when I walked into her house. Where is my cousin now? They killed her son first. And now my Son has been beaten and ripped apart.

 

How can I be blessed? This is more of a curse. They cheered You when You entered the city just a few days ago.. They shouted,  “Hosanna”  and waived branches. Everyone was so happy. I was happy and yet I will never forget the look on Your face. Were You crying? What did You know? Is this what You saw? Did You see those nails?

 

My Son, I hardly recognize You. You did nothing wrong, You healed so many people. They loved You when You fed them. Where are they now?   I saw blind people, people who could not even stand and You healed them.  Why did they whip You? You are bleeding so much!

 

People came from all over the world when You were born, even though we couldn’t find a place to stay. Where are they all now. Where are the kings and Wisemen?

 

John is here. He is true to You.  But… where is Peter? Where is Bartimeaus?

 

I will never forget when You taught the Rabbis, when You were a child. We were scared to death when we couldn’t find You. I think it was Passover, just like now, so many people in Jerusalem… and we finally found You in the Temple. Everyone was astonished by Your teaching from the Torah but your father and I were so upset with You. You said You were doing your Father’s work. We didn’t understand… I am so sorry…

Please come down…

 

Please!   Come down…

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I am so glad that Jesus didn’t come down!  He died for me…for you.  WAS THAT THE END? ……………………. NO!  Three days later, He was resurrected!  IT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING OF OUR SALVATION!  -anita

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Written by: Daniel Leavitt

Performed by:  Sarah Roark

Fish Food or Fisher of Men? – Sermon by Danny Leavitt

 

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

 

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (MSG)

But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There’s no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you’re no good for anything else. The last and final word is this:

 

Fear God.

Do what he tells you.

 

Luke 2:9

…Just then, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!…

 

Matthew 4:19

And he said to them, “Follow me, and…

I will make you fishers of men.”

 

 

Jonah 1:1

The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai

 

2 Kings 14: 25 Jereboam II was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea, in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.

 

The setting of Jonah

 

 

 

The Assyrian Army was strong and ruthless. They discovered that iron was stronger than bronze and could be made into weapons much quicker.

 

 

One of the carvings found in Mozul shows an underwater breathing devise.

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDbnwFbd14o

 

Mankind Is Accountable to the Lord

2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

 

3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

 

4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.

 

But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”

 

7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”

 

9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

 

10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)

 

11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”

 

12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

 

13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.

 

Psalm 67 (NKJV)

An Invocation and a Doxology

To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

 

God be merciful to us and bless us,

And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah

That Your way may be known on earth,

Your salvation among all nations.

Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!

For You shall judge the people righteously,

And govern the nations on earth. Selah

 

Jonah’s Prayer

Jonah 2

“In trouble, deep trouble, I prayed to God.

He answered me.

From the belly of the grave I cried, ‘Help!’

You heard my cry.

You threw me into ocean’s depths,

into a watery grave,

With ocean waves, ocean breakers

crashing over me.

I said, ‘I’ve been thrown away,

thrown out, out of your sight.

I’ll never again lay eyes

on your Holy Temple.’

Ocean gripped me by the throat.

The ancient Abyss grabbed me and held tight.

My head was all tangled in seaweed

at the bottom of the sea where the mountains take root.

I was as far down as a body can go,

and the gates were slamming shut behind me forever—

Yet you pulled me up from that grave alive,

O God, my God!

When my life was slipping away,

I remembered God,

And my prayer got through to you,

made it all the way to your Holy Temple.

Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds,

walk away from their only true love.

But I’m worshiping you, God,

calling out in thanksgiving!

And I’ll do what I promised I’d do!

Salvation belongs to God!”

10 Then God spoke to the fish, and it vomited up Jonah on the seashore.

17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

 

Matthew 12:38-40 (NLV)

Then some of the teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers said to Jesus, “Teacher, we would like to have you do something special for us to see.” 39 He said to them, “The sinful people of this day look for something special to see. There will be nothing special to see but the powerful works of the early preacher Jonah. 40 Jonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of a big fish. The Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the grave also.

 

 

Matthew 12:41New King James Version (NKJV)

The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

 

 

You cannot run from God or His plan

 

Isaiah 46:9-10 (NLV)

Remember the things of long ago. For I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is no one like Me. 10 I tell from the beginning what will happen in the end. And from times long ago I tell of things which have not been done, saying, ‘My Word will stand. And I will do all that pleases Me.’

 

Romans 15:4-6The Message (MSG)

That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!

 

1 Samuel 15:22 (NLT)

But Samuel replied,

“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice?

Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,

    and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NLT)

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

 

John 14:23

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXd9crzBsQI

 

 

 

“I HAVE OVERCOME!” -Jesus

“In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Here is the little poem that went along with the above verse on the Promise card:

“God understands your weakness, He knows the tempter’s power; and He will walk beside you, however dark the hour!” – Unknown

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I’ve heard this verse quoted since I was a little kid, and since becoming an adult, I have experienced it…literally; so I should not only know it’s words…but I should at this point in my life realize the truth…the power, in this verse!

Yet, here I am again, going through some stuff; and while my boat is hurled about upon the waters of life’s troubled sea, I find myself doubting – once again.  When you’re in a storm, holding on for dear life, it’s difficult to “be of good cheer.”

But…the only way to have peace…to stay comforted in times of trouble, is to KNOW who the Captain of your boat is.  To realize He is guiding your ship.  To remember He walked on water! To be certain that He commands the winds and waves…He calms the storm!

If you KNOW Jesus as your Lord and Savior, yet you  find yourself worried, fearful of the outcome regarding a certain situation- remind yourself WHO pilots your boat…WHO has His hands on the wheel…WHO is at the helm and in control.  It’s JESUS!  And like the song says,

” There are some promises in a letter

Written a long, long time ago

They’re not getting older,

They’re getting better

Because He still wants us to know

He didn’t bring us this far, to leave us

He didn’t teach us to swim, to let us drown

He didn’t build his home in us, to move away

He didn’t lift us up, to let us down

He didn’t lift us up, to let us down

Never use the word defeat

Claim His promises, every one of them

Every spoken word He’ll hear

Because we’re everything to Him!”

It is unclear who wrote this song, but it is believed to be a Tim Shephard song.  It has been performed by many artists, including the Imperials

Whoever wrote it, or has sung it in the past, we must remember the words, and take them to heart!

GOD IS IN CONTROL…so let go of the wheel, raise your hands in Praise…and trust the Master to safely guide you through your storm!

Anita
 

PRAYER ON ANGELS

Here’s a good on by Ben Murray.  Enjoy! -anita

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Mighty Creator,

As we look throughout the Scriptures,

we see odd and magnificent creatures.

These creatures are spiritual beings

And their sole duty is obedience.

They are almost incalculable in name,

In duty, and in religious fame,

Yet their sole joy is in humble service.

How magnificent to see this perseverance.

A perseverance since the day of their creation;

A diligence that is without cessation.

Yet why would any of them rebel?

Surely eternity with You is better than Hell!

How could these beautiful creatures fall

And roam about opposing your purposes in all?

They had the choice to sing “Holy, Holy, Holy!”

But some determined to oppose You fully.

They know full of your great might

Yet each and every command of yours they fight.

Satan and his innumerable grotesque horde

Causes in us fear, confusion, and discord.

But all of this gives an even greater question.

Is it the path of obedience or rebellion

That we walk each and every day?

Today we gather, repent, and pray

That You would let us decide worship

With those angels with the blessed lip

That gets to cry “Holy, Holy, Holy!”

May we be determined to obey you fully.

And may each and every choice made

Be one that shows that your glories never fade.

Ben Murray