Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem(2/23/23)[Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 2/23/23 | left that other site

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Mark 6
John the Baptist Beheaded

14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying,[b] “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

15 Others said, “He is Elijah.”

And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”

16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled[c]; yet he liked to listen to him.

21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of[d] Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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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

Our Father in Heaven,
How Blessed and Glorious is Your Most Holy Name!
You Alone Are Worthy Of Praise And Worship,
For You Alone Are The Creator of All Things,
Omnipotent,
Eternal,
Omniscient And Almighty!
It is You Who Created The Stars and the Galaxies,
and the Intricacies of the Human Heart.
It is You Who Feeds The Sparrows,
And Clothes the Grass of The Field With Wildflowers.
It Is You Who Causes The Thunder and Lightening to Crash,
And It Is You Who Calms The Storm Within My Soul.

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

[DarthVader]

Amen !!! <><

Psalm 128

A Song of Ascents.

1 Happy is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways.
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands;
you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion.
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
6 May you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Mark 6
John the Baptist Beheaded

14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying,[b] “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

15 Others said, “He is Elijah.”

And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”

16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled[c]; yet he liked to listen to him.

21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of[d] Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

_______________________________________________________

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.

"Well, your Mama said the only thing I could give you was a reputation"...Billy Joel

While Billy Joel included these words as lyrics in a song, I remember my own Mom saying those same words. Getting a "Reputation" could be the worst thing that could ever happen to a teenage girl. If fear of that would keep a girl out of trouble, So Be It.

A huge corporation that started here in New England has dropped the word "Donuts" from its official name. At what must be great expense, the Parent Company has been busy replacing signs on all the stores, as well as reprinting all their coffee cups, napkins, and displays.

Last night, as we drove by a franchise that had been completely transformed, my sister and I got into a discussion as to why a huge, successful business would make such a drastic change. I suggested that, since donuts were associated with obesity, poor health, and "Keystone Cops", maybe the word had become offensive. My sister offered an alternate explanation:

"Their Breakfast Croissants are awesome, their Muffins are huge and delicious, and their COFFEE is the Best in the World. But their donuts? Not so much. Any coffee shop on the South Shore can give you better donuts!"

After we passed by the "Donut" Shop, we happened to drive by a hospital. I noted that the hospital had once been a terrible place, but since it had been taken over by a Big Boston Medical Chain, it has become MUCH better. In fact, their Trauma Center is now considered one of the best. Even so, like the donut shop, there are people who will always associate the name of the hospital with its former "incarnation".

Both of the businesses we passed coming home last night were trying very hard to improve their image and performance. Unfortunately, both have been saddled with a "Reputation" that is hard to shake off.

What exactly is a "Reputation"? It is simply what other people think about YOU. Are you a "fast girl", a purveyor of products that cause laziness and obesity, or a dirty, unsanitary healthcare facility? Those are all reputations that could take YEARS to overcome.

Today's Reading is full of "Reputations". First of all, Jesus had gotten a reputation as a Holy Man, a Prophet, a Healer, a Teacher, and a Miracle-Worker. Herod heard about Jesus all the way up to his palace.

Herod had a reputation too. He wasn't even a real king, but only a "Tetrarch" (one of four rulers). Yet, the first word in this Passage is "KING Herod". Even though Herod was just one of four appointees of the Roman Empire, and even though he was despised by the people as a puppet and a traitor, he wanted to be addressed as "King".

Hearing about Jesus put fear into Herod's already cowardly and superstitious heart, and he imagined that Jesus was a ghost or reincarnation of John The Baptist, whom he had put to death.

We all know the story of Hero's imprisonment of John, at the urging of Herodias. Paintings, Operas, and Movies have depicted the infamous dance of Salome, and the beheading of John.

Here, in Mark, we find the reason Herod went to such extremes. He had made an oath in front of his guests to give Salome anything she asked for...and that was the head of John on a platter.

Even though he knew it was wrong, Herod went through with it because he had to "Protect his Reputation" in front of his guests. Instead, he gave himself a worse reputation, as a coward, an adulterer, a murderer, and an easily manipulated JERK.

THAT reputation persists to this day.

Never do the wrong thing to preserve a "reputation". The wrong thing will eventually be found out and the reputation will be worse. Doing the Right Thing may harm you for a while, but will eventually be vindicated. It won't take 2000 years to work out either.

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

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, DarthVader, For Your Prayers and Wonderful 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

[etabeta]

My prayers always. God bless.

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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

[TianaHighrider]

Thank you and Prayers up

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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

[NEWwoman]

Amen, left that other site

I’ve thought that Herod could have kept his promise to deliver John’s head on a platter without beheading him. Just take a live John, carry his whole body out, only use a silver platter as a pillow. Yet no one thought of that.

Anyway, the worms are waiting for Herod.

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

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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

[Hiskid]

Amen. Fear of man is a snare.

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Hiskid, 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 in prayer.