Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Our Father,
Who Art In Heaven,
How Blessed and Glorious is Your Most Wonderful and Holy Name!
You Made Us,
and Everything there is,
For Your Are The Creator,
The Only One.

Once Again we are puzzled by the actions of The Patriarch Jacob.
Even the Wise and practical Joseph was a bit annoyed by his father,
Blessing his sons in reverse order of their birth!
But over a half millennium later,
When the Tribes are allotted their portions in the Promised Land,
We shall see why Jacob blessed Ephraim First.
Manasseh and Ephraim become "Half-Tribes" under the banner of Joseph.
No other grandsons of Jacob are given this honor.
Joseph is Truly Blessed!

Let those who hate Zion be turned back,
According to Your Word, Oh LORD.
Let The Enemies of The Truth be Put To Confusion and Shame,
According To The Will and promises of The LORD.

Keep My Heart Pure Toward You, Oh God,
That I May Always Be In Your Will.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

(Sigh) I have just been informed that yet another Blizzard is headed our way, so it will be some time before the streets are clear enough for me to ride my Harley!

Those of you who know me have read of my little adventures on the motorcycle, and one of my favorite things to do is ride the semi-rural roads around the South Shore of Massachusetts. The shortened riding season is well compensated by beautiful curving roads, quaint white clapboard churches, seaside mansions and ancient farmhouses, and even the kitschy Tourist Attractions in Plymouth. Actually, that is my favorite, as I can park the bike and visit any number of antique stores, funky taverns with live music, and historical sights like Plymouth Rock, The Mayflower Ship, and a reconstructed Pilgrim Village. Plymouth Rock is emblazoned with the year 1620, commemorating the Pilgrims' Landing nearly 400 years ago...which brings us to Today's Meditation.

When Jacob and his Family arrived in Egypt, there were less than 100 People. (The Mayflower had 102 Passengers, only 37 of whom were of the Separatist Religion). Jacob's family arrived starving, and were refugees from hunger, while the Pilgrims, seekers of Freedom to Practice their Faith, encountered starvation in their first horrible Winter in the New World.

Now, in two years, Plymouth will be celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the Landing. Israel sojourned in Egypt 400 years as well. Both groups exploded in population to fill the land, and I venture to fantasize that the Chief of the Local Wompanoag Tribe may have looked at the resulting spread of their White neighbors with some alarm, much like the new Pharaoh who had no idea who Joseph was. And so, we will begin the Story of the Exodus tomorrow. A lot can happen in 400 years, and yet, in the History of Civilizations, it is not a very long time at all!

Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. Be always ours this day and for evermore.
(St. Patrick)

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS