Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Our Father,
Who Art in Heaven,
How Blessed,
How Glorious,
How Wonderful,
Is Your Most Holy Name!
How Mighty and Perfect is Your Word,
And Your Promise,
Which You have allowed us a glimpse
into Your Perfect Will!
You, The Everlasting,
The Omnipotent,
The Immortal and Eternal,
Not Bound By Time or Space,
because You Created it.
Your Ways are not our ways
And yet we hunger and thirst for You,
like a thirsty little deer panting in the forest,
seeking a bubbling spring for a fresh sip of water!
Thank You, Abba Father,
For Being Our Hiding Place,
Our Deliverer,
Our Strength,
and Our Redeemer!
Fill Our Days With Songs Of Deliverance,
For Ourselves,
Our Families,
Our Nation, and For Your People Israel!

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

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

The Names and Titles of God (My Strength and My Redeemer)

Psalm19:14

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight,
O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

King James Version

________________________

Names are very important, and I have some great stories to share with you that are absolutely true.

1. The Passport. My Father-in-Law Al sold more of a certain brand of wallpaper than anyone else in New England, and so he and my Mother-in-Law Ruthie were given a terrific prize...a trip to Hong Kong! (Before the Mainland took it over). This necessitated obtaining passports because only Al had been out of the country before when he served in WW2 in the Pacific Theater. Evidently THAT didn't require a passport. Ruthie's was easy. She was born in MA and her birth certificate was on file at City Hall. Al, however, had been born in Detroit, in a Hospital that no longer existed. The computer was not in use as much in those days, so Ruthie and Al had to go to Detroit to hunt down his Birth Certificate in person. That's when the real adventure started.

The City of Detroit had paper records going far enough back to search for Al's Paper Copy. He knew his Birthday, but there was no Al, or Abraham, or Avram born on that day. There was, however, a Nathan born in Detroit, on his Birthday, to his Mother and Father, in the now defunct Maternity Hospital. That HAD to be him. He had to legally change his name to Nathan in order to get his passport. But to us, he will always be Al.

2. Two Guys Named Clayton: Back in the 1950's, we used to get mail addressed to my Dad, who had what we thought was a very unusual name. Upon opening the letters, the mysterious content would indicate that it was not meant for my Dad at all, but for someone with the exact same name, first and last. Mom did a little research that showed that there was a man in the Town of Randolph MA with the exact same name as Dad. She dutifully put the other "Clayton's" mail back in the envelope and forwarded it to the Randolph address. This was a kind thing to do in the face of such an odd coincidence.

Twenty Years later, my youngest sister met the Love of Her Life way out in Haverhill MA, while our band was doing a gig at a Coffeehouse. When the young man was introduced to my parents he exclaimed to my Dad:

"I have an uncle with the exact same name as you! He lives in Randolph!"

The two Claytons met at my sister's wedding and became dear friends. It solved the decades old mystery of the forwarded mail. Both Claytons served in the US Navy during WW2, and they are buried within a few feet of each other in the Bourne National Cemetery.

3. The New Arrival: Almost two years ago my Niece was expecting a baby. The Ultrasound showed a Girl, and it was announced that her name would be "Emma". All the creative ladies in our family went to work making baby things that said "Emma" on them. My sister (the proud Grandma-to-Be) made a wooden dollhouse that looked like a Medieval Castle. She painted every stone in the masonry and every shingle on the roof. Over the drawbridge, she painted a banner, upon which was emblazoned:

"EMMA'S CASTLE".

It was a big hit at the baby Shower, but of course, would have to be put away until Emma was old enough to play with it.

When the baby was born, she just didn't LOOK like an "Emma". She looked like she should be named "Violet", and that became her name. It was perfect for her, and her first and last name together form a pun on a Jimi Hendrix song. That's quite appropriate because her Dad is a Rock Musician.

Just last Sunday, Violet got a New Baby Sister. The Baby Girl was born in the afternoon and weighed 8 lbs 14 oz. SHE looked like an "Emma", so that is her name. Mom and baby are doing great, and Violet was brought to the hospital to meet her new little sister.

These three little stories show how important names are. Today's Name for God is from Psalms, which have many Names, one after the other. The Psalmist David was an incredibly talented Songwriter, and his Lyrics are with us to this day.

In this Psalm, David calls God "My Strength (Rock) and My Redeemer."

This Names God as, not only a safe place (Rock), inner fortitude (Strength) and Rescuer (Redeemer). The word "Redeemer" indicates a purchase, a ransom, or a premium, Paid in Full to free a person from slavery.

Although David had never been an actual slave, he knew that sometimes he was a slave to his own passions and attitudes. He was in bondage to sin, and needed redemption.

Bob Marley wrote a song about freedom from slavery, called, (what else?) Redemption Song.

I don't know if Bob came to know The Redeemer before he left us, but I hope so.

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

For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. (Mark 4:22)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS