Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

Our Lord and Heavenly Father
King of Kings,
And Lord of Lords!
You are The God of Glory,
The Epitome of Power
The Peak of Authority,
There Is No One Like You!
Your Glory thunders like many Waters,
You Are So AWESOME!

We Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem,
According to Your Will and Promise.
We Pray For the People and Leaders of Israel,
that They Will Look to You for the Protection
and Prosperity of their Nation.
We Also Pray For Revival in our own Beloved USA.

  We Pray For The Leaders of Our Nation,
May They Be Inspired and Led By You,
And Please Guide Them in All Things.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

Click to listen:

Pray for Peace

In the East, in the cradle of the world
Lies the jewel desired of kings
Even though it's just a diamond in the rough
There will come a time when its light will shine

Don't you know, that city of Jerusalem
Is a beacon to the world
It holds the key that opens ancient prophecy
To the sons of grace, it's a holy place

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
Pray for the peace of the world
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
Pray for the peace of the world

And as we part, don't allow your heart to fail
I'll come again for you one day
Keep your eyes looking to Jerusalem
As you rise each day, don't forget to pray

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
Pray for the peace of the world
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
Pray for the peace of the world

Pray for Jerusalem; pray for the world
Pray for Jerusalem; pray for the world

In the East, in the cradle of the world
Lies the jewel desired of kings
Even though it's just a diamond in the rough
There will come a time when its light will shine

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
Pray for the peace of the world
Pray for Jerusalem; pray for the world
Pray for Jerusalem; pray for the world

Pray for Jerusalem (oh, you gotta pray)
Pray for the world
Pray for Jerusalem (oh, for Jerusalem)
Pray for the world

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

For Christmas in 1963 (I was 11), "Santa" brought me a guitar. It was a huge arch-top with very stiff high action that bruised my hands as I attempted to play it, teaching myself, as guitar teachers were not numerous back then. At the time, the "Beatnik" culture was in full swing, and the Beatles had not yet reached our shores. So I learned guitar playing songs by Tom Paxton, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and, of course, Bob Dylan. Unfortunately, these songs came with a load of left-wing political baggage, and as an idealistic pre-teen, I bought right into it. And so, by the time I was 15, I was sitting under a tree in Boston Common, with flowers in my hair, still playing the same songs by Tom Paxton, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and, of course, Bob Dylan. Although I loved the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, and had all their records, I had a false notion of music being a conduit for "social justice" and so I stagnated. But, heck...I was staying "down with the struggle" and being a self-righteous purist so, whatever.

Then the "movement" started being insulting to our veterans. I COULD NOT buy into that, because my Dad, a veteran of two wars, had instilled in me a love for my Country and her Warriors. So I left that musical environment, and found out that, in just a few years, the world of Popular Music had left me woefully and inadequately mired in the musty past. Not only did I not know any new songs, but my guitar technique was antiquated and corny. I had no idea about Scales, Soloing, Power Chords, etc. And so, I went to work to catch up. In the intervening half-century, I learned four more instruments, taught myself how to read music, served in Music Ministry, developed music therapy programs for elders with dementia, taught children with Down's Syndrome how to sing rock and roll, built my own recording studio and produced several albums, and now teach part time. I also enjoy going to Open Mike Nites at local pubs and playing Classic Rock songs with my sister and her hubby, and enjoy the company of people my age, doing the music of our era and even more current songs that are still on the radio.

Anyway, last night, my sis and her hubby were the featured act at an open mike in our area. I had gone to this particular open mike before and knew it was a little "folky" for my current tastes, but I went to support my sister. She did a great job and had a mix of current and classic rock material. Then I got up and did some Fleetwood Mac, Rolling Stones, Van Morisson, Tom Petty, and some original. Then the other folks got up there. Their guitar technique was quite good, but the did the songs I learned in 1963 Tom Paxton, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, but not even Bob Dylan (too Christian, I guess). I found myself cringing with horror, as I realized I was "in the belly of the beast" and that this anachronistic display was a picture of how I could have ended up if I had not discarded that whole "scene" back in the late 60's.

In today's Scripture Portion, Jesus prays for His Disciples. Although He will "leave them" soon, they will not be alone. Jesus sends them out into the world, to be in the world but not of it. They are to be radically changed by The Holy Spirit, and not be content to sit around in coffee houses in the back streets of Jerusalem, reminiscing about how cool it was "back-in-the-day" when they hung out with The King of the Universe.

Incidentally...remember that I said that these guys' guitar technique was very good? It dawned on me that, if you play the SAME SONG for SIXTY YEARS, you start getting technically good at it, but...is that what you really want from life?

Jesus requires a radical change to follow Him. He does not want you to do the same old thing, only better with practice. New wine can't be poured into old wineskins, nor a new patch on an old garment.

(Speaking of garments, it's a good thing I didn't wear my MAGA hat last night! LOL!)

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

"The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance..” Psalm 33 NASB

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

Amen and thank you.