Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem(8/1/23)[Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 8/1/23 | left that other site

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

John 1

John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[d]

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 “I baptize with[e] water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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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

Oh LORD, Our God
Hallowed Be Your Most Holy Name,
Help us to see with Your Eyes,
Help us to hear with Your Ears,
And help us to see through the deceptions of this world.
Our Intellect and Education will not save us.
Our Careers won't save us.
Our Beloved Families can't save us.
Our Government, and even our precious Founding Documents can't save us.
Nor can our leaders, political or religious.
None have the power to save us, not our religion, friends, lovers, spouses, brothers, sisters, or parents,
Fame, fortune, ancestors or children.
We Must all stand before You, and You are the final Judge.
Only You have the Power and Grace to Save.

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

John 1

John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[d]

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 “I baptize with[e] water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

_______________________________________________________

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.

We have some new Prayer Warriors in the Garden of prayer, so I will be sharing an incident that some of you may have heard before. However, the lesson from the story will be different. As usual, the Story is 100% TRUE:

"You'll love the Open Mike Nite at Jones's Tavern," said my sister. "All the REAL musicians hang out there, and will jam with you if you ask them to. You get to have a whole band back you up!"

Well, that sounded good to me, as I have been playing professionally for over 30 years, and even as a retiree, it's nice to jam with fellow professionals. So, even though I had to work quite late that evening, Jones's Tavern was in the next town over from my last student of the day, and a pleasant ride on the motorcycle. I did not have my guitar with me, but I figured that one of the "Professionals" would have a decent instrument that I could borrow for my set.

I was welcomed, and given a very nice electric guitar to play, and as I went up to the stage, a man with drumsticks in his hand asked if he could play with me. I assented, with full confidence that this was going to be FUN! Well, from the first chord, it was evident that this was the worst drummer in the HISTORY OF MUSIC. Not only was he bad, off the beat, loud, and in the wrong style from the simple rock song I was playing, but he was obnoxious and belligerent about it, playing loudly against my singing, stopping and starting in the wrong places, and putting "flams" and loud accents where they didn't belong. I kept singing, keeping perfect time on the rhythm guitar, and soldiered on as all kinds of thoughts went through my head. Was this man mentally challenged? Did he come here every week and people just humor him so he could feel some self-esteem? Were people afraid to say no to him? Could he become violent if I ask him to stop? Was I being a snobby jerk by wanting him NOT to play with me? Had I been "set up"? I looked out and tried to ascertain what was going on with the crowd. They seemed to be laughing. I tried to be gracious, but the truth was, this guy was AWFUL.

At the end of the third song, the Emcee went up to the "drummer" and said "ML wants to do some solo work now." He tried to get the drummer to step down, and at that point it became clear to me that the copious consumption of adult beverages was the reason for the atrocious behavior of the drummer. He was not mentally challenged, nor was he a regular at Open Mike Night. The TRUTH was that he was a mean drunk.

After he was "escorted" from the stage, I did three more songs solo and was warmly received. Afterward, I found out that the laughter I saw in the audience was actually admiration for me being so "professional" that I could still perform three songs in perfect time with all that racket going on, and that I had been so "gracious" to someone who did not deserve grace at all. The TRUTH was, the guy was a jerk. Being only human, I could not be 100% Grace and 100% Truth at the same time. That's why, when John says "FULL of Grace and Truth" he is speaking of a phenomenon that can only be present in The One True God.

The story about "The Drummer from Hell" also has a little connection to Today's reading. John The Baptist appeared out of nowhere, preaching in the wilderness like an Old Testament Prophet. The Pharisees, who had the added duty of keeping the peace in their religion so as not to aggravate the Roman Occupiers, were also waiting for the Messiah. From Scripture they knew that The Messiah would be preceded by Elijah, or a "Prophet" as described by Moses in Deuteronomy (18:15-19). They were all waiting for Somebody, but it couldn't be just Anybody. Just as the Open Mike Host should have vetted the alleged "drummer" before letting him up onstage, the Pharisees were within their rights to question this new Preacher. As they asked John questions, one-by-one, John's answers become more terse until he finally quotes Isaiah 40:

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight [ a]in the desert A highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made [ b]straight And the rough places smooth; 5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, (NKJV)

No matter how much noise there is all around you, if you really listen, you can hear it.

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

[Hiskid]

Amen

[etabeta]

My prayers always for the Peace of Jerusalem and the World. 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

[left that other site]

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

[DarthVader]

Amen !!! <><

Psalm 34

Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant;
so your* faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
and was saved from every trouble.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
9 O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,
for those who fear him have no want.
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Which of you desires life,
and covets many days to enjoy good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil, and do good;
seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the broken-hearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord rescues them from them all.
20 He keeps all their bones;
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, DarthVader, For Your Prayers and Awesome 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

[TianaHighrider]

Thank you very much.
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

[NEWwoman]

Amen, left that other site

Good story

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, 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

[Jeanbl]

AMEN, and thank you for leading in this mornings prayer and praise. Joining together for our the Peace of Jerusalem, for our families and friends, for our Nation, for ourselves.

[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