Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem(12/3/22)[Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 12/3/22 | left that other site

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Matthew 16

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

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New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Dear Father In Heaven,

How Holy and Sanctified is Your Most Wonderful Name!

We Love You With Our Whole Heart

With Our Whole Soul

With Our Whole Strength

And With Our Whole Being.

You Alone Are Worthy of Worship

You Alone Are The One true Holy and Righteous God.

Rock of All Ages,

Our Creator,

You Have Made Us,

and All That Is.

We, Your People, The Sheep of Your Pasture,

Come Before You in Repentance and Praise,

to Pray on behalf of Our Beloved Nation.




Let all that has been Concealed
Be Revealed.

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.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Matthew 16

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn't bring any bread.”

8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

_______________________________________________________

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Here are a couple of "Trailer-Park-Parables":

1. Marie, a widowed single mother with three sons, lives in a mobile home of fairly recent vintage. That is a good thing, as it doesn't need constant repairs like some of the older trailers. However, there is always a certain amount of upkeep that has to be done, and all three sons are "on the spectrum", so they are not helpful. While I am sure Marie gets some assistance from Social Services, it is not enough for anything major on the house.

One day I was walking Penny(RIP) by Marie's house, and Penny perked up her ears and began pulling me towards the skirting around the bottom of Marie's trailer. As I got nearer, I heard the sound of a waterfall, emanating from underneath. Then I saw a huge puddle growing rapidly and spreading into the yard. I knocked on the door.

"Marie, you have to turn off the water main. I'll do it for you if you can tell me where the shut-off valve is."

I told her that if the pipe was on one side of the valve, the landlord was responsible, but if the breach was on her side, she was.

We examined the breach, and it was, unfortunately, on her side. Plus, it involved the shut-off valve in such a way that we couldn't stop the flow of water. This was a big job, and an expensive one.

"I can't afford this!" cried Marie. "And LOOK what it's doing to my walls!"

I peered through the front door and saw it...like a scene in an old horror movie, black mold was emanating from the wet corner of the house and marching towards the ceiling. I advised Marie to call the Social Worker who worked with her sons to arrange for emergency plumbing and mold mitigation. A few days later, the trucks pulled up and the matter was resolved.

I went through something similar with my water heater, but I was able to turn the water main OFF by crawling under the trailer in my church clothes and pulling the red lever. Major dry-wall work had to be done to keep the mold from forming. My dear brother helped me with that. My emergency happened over two years ago, and mold has not appeared, THANK GOD!

2. The trailer park is owned by a huge real-estate developer whose mission in life is to raise our rent every year and provide nothing in the way of services. After a string of ineffectual property managers, we finally got one who wanted to DO SOMETHING, and make the park a nicer place to live. Since he did not get an adequate budget to work on the common areas, he got a bright idea. Why not improve the park's appearance by forcing the homeowners to tidy up their yards and repair their trailers? That would not eat into his budget at all. So, he and his assistant now patrol the park four times a year with their little clipboards, and send letters out to the homeowners to fix this or that, or get fined. Unpaid fines could lead to eviction. Suddenly there are more rules and regulations than I remember ever seeing in my original lease. I have to admit, the community does look nicer now, but at what cost? The people (mostly widows and disabled people) are really getting depressed...because they are being oppressed. That's what happens when community spirit and pride of ownership gives way to a huge increase in Rules and Regulations. I love my little home, but I wish it was on my own land.

These two little slices of life illustrate Today's Reading in a number of ways. First and Foremost, we need to trust God, even when the situation seems impossible. As you all know from my stories, God has always come to my aid in the most dire circumstances. A long-forgotten uncashed check from an Insurance Company, a refund from a credit card for bad dental work, even my brothers showing up with their tools to help me level my kitchen floor, are all stories I've told on this thread. If Jesus had to remind His disciples, even after the Miracles of the Loaves and Fishes (TWICE!), how much more does He have to remind you and me?

Sometimes, the Loaves and Fishes are in the guise of an unexpected check in the mail. Sometimes, however, God will use you or me to be the "Loaves and Fishes" for someone else. Remaining open to either possibility is Faith.

Jesus also tells us to "Beware the leaven of the Pharisees". The "leaven" is the mountains of nit-picky rules and regulations that pile up to force compliance with God's Law. Like the property manager with his clipboard, the Pharisees wanted everybody to obey each new rule they created, supposedly to make the world a better place. To avoid eating unclean foods, for example, they would strain everything they drank through a fine mesh to catch even the tiniest insect, lest it be swallowed inadvertently. Meanwhile, those who didn't strain their drinks were looked down upon as "unclean".

Like the dreaded black mold, the "Leaven of the Pharisees", if unchecked, would grow and spread until life became unbearable. Leaven, in this case, is definitely a symbol of corruption. It is a corruption of the law of God to turn it into OPPRESSION.

It's not just First Century Pharisees who do this. There are plenty of Christian sects who have so many rules and regulations that one wonders if they ever read the Bible at all.

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

[linMcHlp]

Thank you for the story and lesson.

[DarthVader]

Amen !!! <><

Psalm 61

To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.

1 Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth I call to you,
when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I;
3 for you are my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.

4 Let me abide in your tent for ever,
find refuge under the shelter of your wings.
Selah
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6 Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
7 May he be enthroned for ever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

8 So I will always sing praises to your name,
as I pay my vows day after day.

[TianaHighrider]

Thank you. Blessings and prayers up ❤ 🙏.

[etabeta]

Beautiful lesson!

Joining in prayer. God bless.

[redryder_90]

Amen

[NEWwoman]

Amen, left that other site

Too many rules can be oppressive.

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

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Etabeta, 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, linMcHlp, 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, DarthVader For Your Prayers and Excellent Psalm 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, 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

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, redryder_90 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, 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

[Silentgypsy]

Amen and thank you.

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Silentgypsy 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

[Jeanbl]

AMEN, thank you. Joining together 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