Posted on 11/09/2006 6:49:58 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum
Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Psalm 127:1>
At this time, when feelings run high, the world seems crazy, and anger seems to be the one thing the peoples of the world have in common, I invite you, my fellow FReepers, to join me in prayers and meditation for guidance, God's help and for our fellow man, for America, our troops, and all our own needs.
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
William Bradbury
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
Psalm 46: 1-3
Let me never forget how you gave yourself, O Lord, to the soldier's whip,
three thongs of leather braided together, each thong capped with a biting tip.
How they gathered together,the soldiers there, with blows of anger and mocking,
Twisted together the wreath of thorns in jest for a brutal crowning.
How unfairly condemned you were that day with two thieves at your side --
Yet by all of this, the blood you shed, and the hard death that you died,
you wrought our salvation.
Still today we hold the soldier's whip so tightly in our grasp,
Hearing the leather hit your back and your breath's quick choking gasp,
the flagellum with its biting teeth flailing through the air
The blood from the crown we weave anew dripping down in your hair
each time we choose to hurt, to have the final say,
each time we chose to have by force, intent on just our way,
each time we ignore the need, and choose to gloat instead,
each time that we laugh at good, and wish another dead
instead of longing for your salvation.
Have mercy, Lord, on the hardness of our heart,
The many many sins and darknesses that tear this world apart,
Warm us in spite of our coldness, so that we might heal instead of harm,
to bless instead of curse with your strength in our strong arm,
to love instead of hate, when anger fills our life,
to be your word of peace instead of tools of strife,
to be the the tools of your salvation.
Instead of the whip, O Lord of life, give us hands of peace,
Give us true repentance to make that harsh whip cease.
Forgive us all our hardness that beats you more and more,
O with your grace, O Lord of Love, may we may go and sin no more,
rescued by your salvation.
Suspended in that heartbreaking place
where Heaven and earth meet in a crashing line,
Cruciform, an intersection of time and space
an unheard of mingling of mortal and the Divine,
in one man's flesh.
Hanging there in plain sight
You are an offering of love unimaginable,
burning with a never-ending light
dying, You give hope unfathomable
God giving up to God in sacrifice.
You wait there, Bridegroom of light
feeling the life you offer ebb away
throb by painful throb, in Heaven's sight
Your life extinguished, your death will be the ray
of an unfading lamp to lead the lost.
O Light to lead the lost, remember me,
Here in the darkness of this wayward land.
Light my every step so that I might see
The loving touch of your blessed hand
That reaches out to take me home.
BTTT
Isa 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
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Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
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Psa 22:23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
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Psa 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.
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Psa 96:9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
.......
Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.
Oh LORD we are jealous for your Name's sake that the Fear and Reverence of you would be in the earth.
That at the Name of Jesus every knee would bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is LORD to your Glory.
I pray today that insofar as I am able to convey the Beauty of your Holiness, and the riches of the Fear of the Lord, you would be Glorified.
Let our minds be renewed by the Power of your Word and the glorious thought of Your Majestic Name.
We worship and adore you, bowing down before you,
songs of praises singing, Hallelujahs ringing.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/c/l/cclflord.htm
Come, children, learn to fear the Lord
And that your days be long,
Let not a false or spiteful word
Be found upon your tongue.
Depart from mischief, practice love,
Pursue the works of peace;
So shall the Lord your ways approve,
And set your souls at ease.
His eyes awake to guard the just,
His ears attend their cry;
When broken spirits dwell in dust,
The God of grace is nigh.
What though the sorrows here they taste
Are sharp and tedious too,
The Lord, Who saves them all at last,
Is their supporter now.
Evil shall smite the wicked dead;
But God secures His own,
Prevents the mischief when they slide,
Or heals the broken bone.
When desolation, like a flood,
O’er the proud sinner rolls,
Saints find a refuge in their God,
For He redeemed their souls.
--Isaac Watts, 1719
BTTT
Dear Jesus, bring to mind often that sad, holy, day
When You changed the world for sinners like me
As You carried that horrendous burden sin all the way
On Your sinless, torn and battered back to set us free.
The unrighteousness of others rested upon Your head
On You, the Son of righteousness, the Father's gift from above,
The dark sin of mankind wanted You dead
To put out your light,You who are all love.
And yet, by carrying all that darkness to the grave
You opened that path that would reach out and save.
O Lord, my light and my hope, let me think of the crowd,
And know it was my sins joining the cry
Of angry men in the courtyard screaming so loud
Demanding the cross, that You had to die.
Let me think of the whip slapping hard as it flails --
How my sin was there in the stripes that it left,
Let me know that my hand hammered the nails,
My sins caused pain for your Mother, bereft.
Through all the times I have chosen sin over right,
I was there with the crowd there to darken your light.
O Lord my salvation, all the days of my life
Let me never take for granted the gift that you give,
the pain and the sorrow, the mocking, the strife
that you bore for me so that my soul might live.
Instead let me offer you at the foot of your cross
the tears of my remorse, bitter as gall,
Repentance of heart for the hard cruel loss
You gave to save me, to redeem one and all.
I offer the sighs of my heart, O Bridegroom divine,
For the love that you have for this poor heart of mine.
Amen.
Tony has asked to be remembered in focused prayer at noon and through the afternoon.
Is that when he's having his surgery?
BTTT
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/n/anowtsun.htm
As now the sun’s declining rays
At eventide descend,
So life’s brief day is sinking down
To its appointed end.
Lord, on the cross Thine arms were stretched,
To draw Thy people nigh;
O grant us then that cross to love,
And in those arms to die.
All glory to the Father be,
All glory to the Son,
All glory, Holy Ghost, to Thee,
While endless ages run.
A CHILD OF THE KING {Lyrics: Harriet E. Buell, 1877. Composer: John B. Sumner, 1877}
My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.
I’m a child of the King, a child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His when He comes by and by.
I’m a child of the King, a child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,
But I've been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.
I’m a child of the King, a child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They’re building a palace for me over there;
Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.
I’m a child of the King, a child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
Thank You, our Master of Grace, for All You have Done to Rescue Fallen man. Our Father, Thank You for Saving us, for Saying to us, "Live!" Oh, Your Mercies, my King, have Given us this New Life! We Love You, we Honor You, we Lift Your Royal Name High!
Be Pleased, Your Highness, to Hear our Heart's Earnest Cries. Grant All Things Needed to Thy Lambs, O Strengthening God. Please Bless our Dear Brother in Christ, Tony Snow, and Grant him Healing from Thy Throne of Grace. O Mighty God, how we Worship You! We Love You, Dear Father our King, Praying in our Jesus' Name, amen.
Amen Miss Kitty Mittens.
Good night to you and all.
Psa 66:16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
Psa 66:17 I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.
Psa 66:18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Psa 66:19 But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Psa 66:20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!
Oh Father, You desire Mercy and not sacrifice.
We come to you needing forgiveness and thank you for your gracious pardon and cleansing.
Psa 130:3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit, as we do your will and seek to be pleasing in your sight.
Let no hindering weight of besetting sin hold us back from completing that race set before us.
Father, will you turn the hearts of Many to seek you in repentance.
LORD, who can save but Jehovah?
Luk 18:27 But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
We ask for your Mercy for this backward and rebellious Nation that exalts itself before you, the King of the Universe.
In the Name of Jesus we ask.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/t/oturnye.htm
O turn ye, O turn ye, for why will ye die,
When God, in great mercy, is coming so nigh?
Now Jesus invites you, the Spirit says Come!
And angels are waiting to welcome you home.
How vain the delusion, that while you delay
Your hearts may grow better, your chains melt away!
Come guilty, come wretched, come just as you are;
All helpless and dying, to Jesus repair.
The contrite in heart he will freely receive,
O why will you not the glad message believe?
If sin be your burden, why will you not come?
’Tis you He makes welcome, He bids you come home.
--Samson Occom (1723-1792).
Lord,
Let me not take it for granted,
each pain filled step
you took that day,
each step a lover's step
beneath the heavy beam,
each pain-wracked breath
a lover's kiss,
the bridegroom on his way
to redeem his bride.
Let me pause and think
of the taste of dust
mingled with blood
you swallowed
willingly
like a cup of wine
to celebrate,
the crown of thorns
you bore like a garland,
the bloodstained robe
your festal garment.
O Lord,
forgive us,
far from being worthy
of being loved,
far from being deserving
of your care,
And yet,
even knowing what we are,
even knowing what we do,
you stretched out your arms
in a lover's touch
to embrace the cross
to take us home
into your heart
into forever.
How could You Love this Wayward Sheep,
And Seek to Bring her to the Fold?
The Cause is Found in Christ, not me;
He is my Lord, my Treasured One.
I Love You Truly, my Shepherd-King;
My Trust is in Your Gracious Son.
To You my Spirit will Ever Sing,
Through All Eternity Yet to Come.
Glory to Jesus! Glory to the Lamb!
Our Sovereign, we Lift Your Name High!
The Old has Passed; the New has Come;
Praise God Who Gives us New Life!
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. (Rev.22:21)
Sorry, Knitting just saw this.
I know everyone here will continue to pray for Tony and all of our friends and family members fighting cancer.
BTTT
Lord, Let me not take it for granted, each pain filled step you took that day, each step a lover's step beneath the heavy beam, each pain-wracked breath a lover's kiss, the bridegroom on his way to redeem his bride.
Let me pause and think of the taste of dust mingled with blood you swallowed willingly like a cup of wine to celebrate, the crown of thorns you bore like a garland, the bloodstained robe your festal garment.
O Lord, forgive us, far from being worthy of being loved, far from being deserving of your care, And yet, even knowing what we are, even knowing what we do, you stretched out your arms in a lover's touch to embrace the cross to take us home into your heart into forever.
Feel free to, Polly!
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