Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem(10/12/21) [Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 10/12/21 | left that other site

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Ecclesiastes 11

Invest in Many Ventures

11  Ship your grain across the sea;
    after many days you may receive a return.

2  Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
    you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

3  If clouds are full of water,
    they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
    in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

4  Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
    whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

5  As you do not know the path of the wind,
    or how the body is formed[a] in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
    the Maker of all things.

6  Sow your seed in the morning,
    and at evening let your hands not be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
    whether this or that,
    or whether both will do equally well.

Remember Your Creator While Young

7  Light is sweet,
    and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

8  However many years anyone may live,
    let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember the days of darkness,
    for there will be many.
    Everything to come is meaningless.

9  You who are young, be happy while you are young,
    and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
    and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
    God will bring you into judgment.

10  So then, banish anxiety from your heart
    and cast off the troubles of your body,
    for youth and vigor are meaningless.

Footnotes

a Ecclesiastes 11:5 Or know how life (or the spirit) / enters the body being formed

_______________________________________________________

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Our Father in Heaven,
We Praise Your Holy Name!
You Alone Are Worthy of Worship,
For You Alone Are The One True God.
Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent,
Teach us To Be Open to Opportunities,
And Teach Us Listen to Your Voice.
You Know Us Inside and Out,
And We Can Hide Nothing From You.
Some Trust in Chariots,
And Some, in Horses,
But We Depend on You,
And You, Alone.

Father, We Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem,
According To Your Will and Promise.
We Pray That You Will Forgive The Sins
of Our Own Nation,
and Lead us all to Godly Repentance.
Create in Us Clean Hearts, Oh LORD,
and Renew a Right Spirit Within Us.

This we Pray Together,
As We Await Your Messiah,
Blessed Be He,
To Set Up His Kingdom,
And Make All Things Right.

Let all that has Been Concealed,
Be Revealed.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Slowly but surely, the "Open Mike" Scene on the South Shore is creeping back. Some intrepid restauranteurs have erected tents in their parking lots, complete with propane heaters, so that local musicians can gather, sing and play together, and have a fun night out. The price of food is soaring though, and one can only attend a few of these per week. The Club Owner is happy, as he only has to pay the host (rather than a whole band), and has an instant clientele which shows up faithfully every week. All ages are represented, but, amazingly, everybody from teens to seniors sing the music from my era, Classic Rock. Anyway, that is the set-up for Today's Story.

Our friend Scotty is the host for a certain place on Sunday afternoons. He is a brilliant professional in a very stressful job, and loves doing Open Mike, and we love him and attend his show faithfully. If I could only afford to go to one a week, it would be to Scotty's show.

And so, still in my church clothes with my bass still in the car, and after playing for a rehearsal and two services, I picked up my sister, my B-I-L, and her guitar and we headed off to Scotty's Open Mike. I figured I would play my sister's guitar for my set, and maybe sit in on bass with some of the other artists.

When we got there, we ordered food and beverages, and I noticed that the prices had gone up. Oh Well. I still love the Coconut Shrimp Appetizer so I ordered it anyway, even though it was now $15.00. A single glass of the House Wine was $10.00, so now, my bill was $25.00 and counting. But we love Scotty and we love the faithful little group that shows up, so we just figured..."Hey, it's only once a week!"

Scotty got up to play, and I hopped up onto the platform with my bass. We had never rehearsed together, so both of us were all over the place. We did some Classic Rock and some Reggae, and were laughing and hooting at our own mistakes. The crowd was delighted. Several other artists came up, and I accompanied some of them. Sometimes it worked and sometimes not. The afternoon went on, and more food was ordered, and the little calculator in my head started ticking away. Another beer for my B-I-L, a couple of pizzas that we shared...eek. We're gonna go BROKE!

Then Scotty said into the microphone:

"Order whatever you want. I'm paying for it with the gig-money."

We sat there in stunned silence, until Scotty's teenage daughter whispered to me, "Were Gonna Go BROKE!"

I assured her that her Dad is a very smart man and she didn't have to worry. "This is his recreation", I told her. "If he had a speedboat, a sports car, or a motorcycle, it would cost a whole lot more, but this he gets to share with others. He is being a Blessing."

This morning, as I read the opening line of Today's Reading in my 1985 NIV Study Bible (that I got for $8.00 at a Yard Sale in Hull, MA), I noticed that Verse 1 was different than the 2011 NIV that was available electronically. Look at this:

1 Ship your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return.

Now, here is what I read in the 1985 NIV (Hard Copy):

Cast your bread upon the waters,
For you will find it after many days.

Do you see the difference? The 2011 Version describes a wise business transaction, while the older version describes a reckless joy in giving. The actions are the same, the results seem to be the same, but the attitude is different.

It seems that every translation except the most modern ones promote this lavish generosity that defies logic. After all, what happens to bread if you cast it into the sea? At best, it will be eaten by fish. What better way to attract others than by being open, kind, generous, and caring, to the point of being a little silly?

Next Sunday, the restaurant is striking the tent and paving the parking lot. Either Scotty finds another place or not. Maybe we will just have a party somewhere. After all, it's going to be my birthday.

In any case, we won't go broke if we keep following Solomon's advice.

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

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[DarthVader]

Amen !!! <><

Psalm 83

A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2 Even now your enemies are in tumult;
those who hate you have raised their heads.
3 They lay crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against those you protect.
4 They say, ‘Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more.’
5 They conspire with one accord;
against you they make a covenant—
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined them;
they are the strong arm of the children of Lot.
Selah

9 Do to them as you did to Midian,
as to Sisera and Jabin at the Wadi Kishon,
10 who were destroyed at En-dor,
who became dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, ‘Let us take the pastures of God
for our own possession.’

13 O my God, make them like whirling dust,*
like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest,
as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your hurricane.
16 Fill their faces with shame,
so that they may seek your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever;
let them perish in disgrace.
18 Let them know that you alone,
whose name is the Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth.

[etabeta]

You know how to tell a story!

Joining in prayer. God bless.

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, DarthVader, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Etabeta, For Your Prayers (and KindWords) For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[NEWwoman]

Amen, Left that other site

Interesting point in the update translations—which is why I like the later versions less. They diminish the impact of the verses.

Joining in prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem and for our beloved America.

[left that other site]

It’s weird how one can say the same thing two different ways and have the meaning completely changed.

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, NEWwoman, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[TianaHighrider]

Sweet Blessings and Prayers up ❤

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, TianaHighrider, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Kitty Mittens]

Some Trust in Chariots,
And Some, in Horses,
But We Depend on You,
And You, Alone.

Amen to your Beautiful, Anointed Prayer, Dear Servant of the King of kings.
Joining you in Thanksgiving, Prayer, and Praise.

[Jeanbl]

Amen, joining in prayer.

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Jeanbl, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Kitty Mittens, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS