Digging Ditches Across the USA

. . . Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches”. . .2 Kings 3:16 (NKJV)

p.s. A great resource for prayers for the USA: https://amillionwomen.org/

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.



As At The First

 

…as at the first… Jeremiah 33:11 (NKJV)

The three-month Paint-the-States challenge recently concluded with prayers and prophetic acts across our nation.  Participants and prayer warriors are trusting Jesus to station His seraphim and see us through the coming storm.  

As I prayed each day for our nation, often walking over the nearby interstate bridge, I joined the thousands in “commanding the forward” for the United States, decreeing that we would return to the “forward” of our history, the vision of the founding fathers, the one nation under God.  Yet I also prayed for something more… I “commanded the forward” of God’s Book, the Holy Bible.  I prayed for a return to the Old Testament Laws, the Ten Commandments, the Sabbaths and Feast Days.  I know we are not saved by following theses Laws, for we are saved by the blood of our Savior Jesus, Yeshua Messiah.  Yet, as an act of repentance and to shine as lights in this world, we celebrate the Sabbath as a sign to others that we are God’s children.

There is a little phrase I’ve read again and again this year as I’ve followed the M”Cheyne Bible reading plan.  The words are… “as at the first.”  

We read this phrase when Moses returned to the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments a second time, after the Israelites’ golden calf failure…

And I fell down before the Lord, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you committed in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. Deuteronomy 9:18 (NKJV)

As at the first time, I stayed in the mountain forty days and forty nights; the Lord also heard me at that time, and the Lord chose not to destroy you.  Deuteronomy 10:10 (NKJV)

We read this phrase when Joshua attacked the City of Ai, after their first attempt without the Lord failed..

Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city; and it will come about, when they come out against us as at the first, that we shall flee before them. For they will come out after us till we have drawn them from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us as at the first.’ Therefore we will flee before them. Joshua 8:5-6 (NKJV)

We read this phrase when the Israelites fought their own brothers of the tribe of Benjamin because of their horrific Sodom and Gomorrah sins…

And the children of Benjamin said, “They are defeated before us, as at first.” But the children of Israel said, “Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways.” Judges 20:32 (NKJV)

We read this phrase when the Prophet Isaiah gave us hope of a time to come…

I will restore your judges as at the first,
And your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.  Isaiah 1:26 (NKJV)

We read this phrase again in Isaiah when he told of the lands of the coming Messiah…

Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.  Isaiah 9:1 (NKJV)

And we read this phrase when the Prophet Jeremiah told of the remnants’ return to Israel…

And I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those places as at the first.  Jeremiah 33:7 (NKJV)

This is not a new doctrine (Romans 16:17), it’s the old path found right in our Bibles (Jeremiah 6:16, Romans 15:4).  Father God allowed His children Sunday worship for a time as they separated themselves from the unbelieving Pharisees, but now He calls all people to repent, starting at the household of God.  My pastor used to say, “Today you can’t tell Christians from the rest of the world, we watch the same movies, go to the same stores, participate in the same activities… Perhaps God can’t tell the difference either, even as He looks at our hearts,  Let’s be a sign to our Father in heaven and to the world by celebrating Sabbaths and walking in His Law (Exodus 31:13, Ezekiel 20:12 & 20). Be lights to the world and show our good works of obedience that He prepared for us beforehand (Ephesians 2:10).  And someday soon, the Great Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, our Savior Jesus, will come on the clouds in glory and make all things like the Garden of Eden, as at the first.

who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Prayerfully consider how you can honor all God’s Commandments and shine your light into the darkness.  Read Exodus 20 and 23.  Let’s “Command the Forward” of our Bibles and return our nation to even better than it was at the first! 

Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Jeremiah 6:16 (NKJV)

Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored;
Renew our days as of old.  Lamentations 5:21 (NKJV)

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.  Psalm 1:2 (NKJV)

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17 (NKJV)

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  Romans 15:4 (NKJV)

Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.  Exodus 31:13 (NKJV)

Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. Ezekiel 20:12 (NKJV)

Hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’  Ezekiel 20:20 (NKJV)

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.”  Revelation 1:17 (NKJV)

Calling the Seraphim

When[leaders lead in Israel,
When the people willingly offer themselves,
Bless the Lord Judges 6:2 (NKJV)

The Lord God has been calling His children to anoint the borders of the USA and its states this summer.  Many are doing so while on vacation or as they make special trips for this very purpose. You can read about this amazing work of the Church in Dutch Sheet’s Paint Your State.  I received word of this border anointing just after returning from a trip to see family and wondered how I could still help while at home.  Let me share how Jesus has called me to join the “painting” of the states and perhaps it will inspire you to do the same!

Almost every morning, I take a walk down the country road where we are temporarily living in a camper.  The road goes over Interstate 90 and up into the mountains.  As I walk across the I90 overpass bridge, I see oodles of trucks, cars, campers, boats, motorcycles and so forth, traveling from west to east and from east to west.  And so, in the Name of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ our Lord), I have anointed this overpass bridge!

Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers.  Judges 7:16 (NKJV)

I’ve prayed for the Lord’s seraphim angels to station themselves on this bridge with trumpets in one hand and a pitcher in the other like Gideon’s 300 soldiers (Judges 7:16).  As each vehicle passes beneath the bridge, I pray these seraphim will pour their pitchers, anointing these vehicles with the Holy Spirit.  May their pitchers be full of new oil that never runs dry (Psalm 92:10, 1 Kings 17:14-16).  And God’s Spirit will go from Seattle to Boston, from Boston to Seattle, from West to East and from East to West. 

But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox;
I have been anointed with fresh oil.  Psalm 92:10 (NKJV)

The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.  1 Kings 17:16 (NKJV)

I’ve asked the Lord to station these seraphim not just on my I90 bridge, but on all the I90 bridges across the country!  And not just on I90, but on ALL interstate bridges across our land!  So now the oil is being poured out from West to East, from East to West, from North to South, and from South to North!!!  Every vehicle will receive the blessing! Yehovah Rapha, our healing God, will heal this land! And Yehovah Shamar, our Shield, will protect this land!  America Shall be saved!  I command the forward our forefathers founded this nation on in the Name of Yeshua Messiah!  Go, Jesus!  

So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  2 Kings 6:16-17 (NKJV)

I’ve also asked Jesus to open my eyes to see these seraphim as he did for Elisha’s servant in 2 Kings 6:16-17, so that I can see those who are with us are more than those who are with the enemy. Though blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29).

Another thing I’ve been doing is praying the scriptures.  Many of you know I follow the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan.  So, with the verses I’ve read these past few weeks, I’ve prayed and written in my prayer journal for the USA….

When you have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed down to them, then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.”  Joshua 23:16 (NKJV)

…Yeshua Messiah, forgive this nation. Hear the cries of Your children who live here.  Turn hearts back to You! Pour out Your Holy Spirit. Forgive this land! Station Your angel armies at every border and highway and river! 

How long will the land mourn…? Jeremiah 12:14 (NKJV)

...Abba Father, help us to learn carefully the ways of Your people (Jeremiah 12:16) and follow all Your commands and be one nation under God again, a shining light to the world. O My Father, if it is possible (Matthew 26:39) remove this coming shaking and pour out Your Holy Spirit instead! May we repent and be converted that our sins may be blotted out and that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19).  And that He may send Jesus Christ.  I claim repentance and times of refreshing for America! Come, Holy Spirit, Come!!! 

You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord your God is He who has fought for you.  Joshua 23:3 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Please join this “painting of the states,” anointing your state or county or city borders in the blessed Name of Jesus!  Share the unique way God has called you to pray for our nation on the Paint the States website.  Read Jeremiah 18:7-11 and keep praying! See the miracles our heavenly Father will do!!!

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:57 (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

 

4:7 Aftermath

A prayer for America on the Aftermath of Election Day 2022 with verses from 2 Kings 22, Psalm 142, Joel 1-2 and Hebrews 5 from the M’Cheyne Daily Bible Reading Plan for November 10.

Hebrews 4:7 Again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

O Father, O Jesus, forgive us for our hard hearts. Soften us to hear and obey Your Holy Spirit, O Lord, TODAY! Forgive me, forgive my family, forgive our nation, forgive Your church. Soften me, soften my family, soften our nation, soften Your Church. For today I am sad that our nation is still lost, still having broken elections, though there were glimmers of hope. I cry out to You with the cries of the Psalmist and claim the promises of Joel.

Today we offer up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears to Him who is able to save us. I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord, I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. Our spirits are overwhelmed, Lord Jesus. The locusts have even eaten our elections and votes. We prayed and voted for God-fearing leaders across this nation, and we received a few, but not enough!

O Jesus, we thank You for the victories, and yet we rend our hearts and return to You again in prayer to ask, “”How long?” and “Where did we go wrong?” and “What more can we do?” Forgive us for becoming dull of hearing. May we learn obedience through all our suffering. Help us discern good and evil. Spare Your people, O Lord. Do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the nations, “Where is their God?”

O Father in heaven, give us leaders like Josiah whose heart was tender and he humbled himself before the Lord, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to the Law of Moses. We cry out to You, O Lord, You are our refuge, a very present help in trouble. You are gracious, merciful, slow to anger, of great kindness, and You relent from doing harm. Turn to us, Lord Jesus. Hear our cries. Leave us a blessing! Spare Your people, O Lord. Do not give Your heritage to reproach.

We decree the Lord will be zealous for His land and pity His people. The Lord will answer and say to His people, “Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them. I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations. Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done marvelous things! Do not be afraid! I will restore to you the years the locusts have eaten! You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God. I am the Lord your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” America shall be saved! HalleluYAh! Amen!

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.


America Shall be Saved

A prayer for America on this Election Day 2022 with verses from 2 Kings 19-20, Psalm 139, Hosea 14 and Hebrews 3 from the M’Cheyne Daily Bible Reading Plan for November 8.

O Lord God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth. Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord and see and hear the words of our leaders which reproach You, the Living God. We spread all the news before You… the fake news and the truth, for You know the truth.

O Lord, You have searched the USA and know every heart. You know when we sit and do nothing, and when we sit and pray. You know when we rise up against our neighbors, and when we rise up to help them. You know the path this nation has taken, a path of rebellion since its birth. And You know when we lie down and fail to take a stand for what is right. You know every word that has been spoken in truth and in lies, in anger and in love, with our mouths, texts, emails, tweets, posts, grams and all… You know every detail.

You have hedged this great nation from its conception with peaceful neighbors of Canada and Mexico (Lord, save them, too!), yet also with Your mighty angels poised over every state. Your hand is heavy upon us now to do what is right. We cannot flee from You any longer. O Lord, lead this great nation back to YOU! Remember how You formed this “One Nation Under God.” We praise You for we are fearfully and wonderfully made and in Your book all the days of the USA were written, and we are not finished yet!

O Jesus, forgive our sins, we repent, we return, we come back to YOU! Search us, O God, and know our hearts; try us and know our anxieties, see if there be any wicked way in us, and lead us in Your way everlasting! We declare this day that You will wipe our government as one wipes a dish, turning it upside down. You will purge us with hyssop and make us white as snow. The people of the land will “execute” the evil leaders this day by casting them out with votes for good! Oh, that YOU would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from us, you blood thirsty men.

O USA, return to the Lord your God! For You have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the Lord! Say to Him, “Take away all our iniquity, receive us graciously.” O Father, we claim Your promise to heal our backsliding, You will love the USA freely, You will turn Your anger away from us. All those who dwell under Your shadow shall return to You. They shall be revived like grain and grow like a vine. We declare that the USA shall once again be partakers of the heavenly calling, with hearts turned to the High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus. Just as every house is built by someone, our Heavenly Father will rebuild this nation with His Son over us.

Today, we will hear His voice, we will not harden our hearts as we did in rebellion for the past 246 years! Forgive us for testing and trying You, O Lord, teach us Your ways. Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon America!!! Now therefore, O Lord our God, we pray, save us that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone. May we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of hope to the end! In the precious name of Jesus, Yeshua Messiah and the blood He shed on the cross, and by the power of the Holy Spirit that raised Him from the grave we pray, America Shall be Saved! HalleluYAH! HalleluYAH! HalleluYAH! Amen!

Many thanks of Dutch Sheets and Give Him 15 for the encouragement to pray for the USA so boldly. America Shall be Saved!

4:7 America

Today I continue my 4:7 Prayers, Petitions and Proclamations for America. God bless America!

1 Samuel 4:7 So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp!” And they said, “Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before.

We decree, God shall come into the camps of our enemies and they shall fear You, O LORD!!! Come into the camps in DC and Switzerland and Iran and Russia and Ukraine and Canada and everywhere the enemy lurks. Please, Lord Jesus, put Your fear in the hearts of our enemies and turn them to YOU for salvation. May they know You are the One True God. And I also pray for You to come into the camps of our homes and schools and court houses and state capitals and home schools and prayer meetings and fellowships and churches and nursing homes and hospitals — flood this nation with Your Holy Spirit and send a revival! Come into our camp, Yehovah God!

Ezra 4:7  In the days of Artaxerxes also, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the letter was written in Aramaic script, and translated into the Aramaic language.

People have been writing against the USA and against Israel and against Your children, O LORD. They have stopped the work for Your kingdom here and in China and around the world. But we trust in You, O LORD! We wait upon You, O LORD! You will use even this for good, bringing people from around the world into Your kingdom because of the persecution. Many will cry out to You and everyone who calls upon Yeshua Messiah (Jesus, our Savior) will be saved to the glory of God the Father. Amen! From Psalm 60… Oh, restore us again!…Heal its breaches, for it is shaking…that Your beloved may be delivered, save with Your righthand, and hear me… O Jesus, You are our Lawgiver, enforce Your laws…give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly for it is He who shall tread down our enemies! HalleluYAH!

Nehemiah 4:7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry,

O Jesus, this happened to the USA and now all kinds of people have broken down the walls and stopped the work. O Jesus, save us, protect us, give us strong leaders to rebuild the wall and enforce our boarders, letting only the innocent citizens and immigrants and travelers to cross. For Your children were once strangers in the land of Egypt, we should welcome and care for strangers, too.

Jeremiah 4:7 The lion has come up from his thicket,
And the destroyer of nations is on his way.
He has gone forth from his place
To make your land desolate.
Your cities will be laid waste,

Without inhabitant.

LORD Jesus, NO! Father God, NO! AS Moses pleaded with You for all Israel and You heard and answered, we plead with You for the USA! Hear, forgive, answer, have mercy on us, O LORD! Do not destroy this city on a hill, this One Nation under God! Be our Tabernacle, our Shade, Our Refuge, our Shelter, our Shield, our Strong Tower, and protect us from the enemy. Save us, LORD Jesus! Thank You for the miracles You are about do do!!

Luke 4:7 “Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

There he goes again, the devil trying to tempt our Savior Jesus with his lies and false promises, just like he tries to do to us every day. That’s why we must fill ourselves with God’s Word each morning and put on the whole armor of God! The crazy thing was… all the earth already belonged to Jesus for He is God’s Son! It reminds me of the C.S. Lewis story, The Silver Chair, where the true prince has been held captive underground for years while the lady of the green mantle (Satan) trained the prince to conquer and rule his very own country. He was rescued just in tine!

Many of today’s leaders have been fed the same lies… I will l make you a great ruler or politician if you… support killing babies, support gambling, support perverted persons, join the world economic forum, etc. etc. It is all one big lie from the father of lies, Satan! And we say as Jesus did, “Get behind us Satan! For it is written. You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve!” WE will only have leaders who follow God’s Word and Holy Spirit, who pray and see His face, who protect babies and women and children, who teach men to be men of God, who throw out all the perverted persons from the land, who help the poor and needy and addicts, who make no treaties with evil, who believe in “One Nation Under God.” Away with you, Satan, from the United States of America! Psalm 108:5-6, 12-13 Be exalted, O God above the heavens, and Your glory above all the earth; That Your beloved may be delivered save with Your right hand, and hear me…give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies. May they know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses… Your kingdom will be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules… be righteous, show mercy to the poor (Daniel 4:26-27).

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. 

Let Freedom Ring!

Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 106:1 (NKJV)

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
Psalm 16:9 (NKJV)

In June 2022, God answered the cries of my heart, taking me back to Wisconsin to be with my grandchildren. As I played with the kids in their backyard, I heard the bells of St. Mary’s Church chiming over the rooftops. Those same bells had been my companions in the early days of our granddaughter’s cancer, as we came to help for weeks at a time.

On a 100 degree June Tuesday, we had the joy of witnessing our granddaughter Kennedy ringing the cancer survivors’ bell at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital. After almost two and one half years of chemo, Kennedy is finally finished with all her treatments and pronounced, “cancer free!” We praise the Mighty Name of Jesus for this miracle and glorify His Name!

I want to thank everyone who prayed for our granddaughter these past three years. Your prayers rocked the throne room of heaven and the Lord heard your every cry. Your prayers gave healing to Kennedy, strength to her parents, comfort to her grandparents, and hope to so many. You are a blessing, and I thank Jesus for you!

I want to thank the doctors and nurses and physical therapists who cared for Kennedy all this time. God has put His kindness and compassion into your hearts. You poured it out on our granddaughter when she was so very sick. You encouraged her parents when the nights were dark, assuring them there was a light at the end of the tunnel. You were the hands and feet of Jesus, reaching out to heal the sick and lame.

I want to thank Kennedy’s Mom and Dad, Nana, Papa, and Auntie who were on the ground, doing the hard work each day, taking Kennedy to appointments and babysitting the little ones. You were there during the worst of times. The love you poured out on our grandkids is unmeasurable. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.  Luke 17:15-16 (NKJV)

And, most of all, I thank Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, who heard the cries of Kennedy’s grandmas’ hearts. You were there when the “tea first spilled,” as we cried “Abba, Father, take this cup!” When we didn’t feel able to bear this load, You were able and bore it for us. You promised to send healing when I anointed Kennedy with oil (even anointing her hospital room and house). And when our little girl could no longer walk and we cried out, “Talitha Cumi,” You helped her to walk and leap again! You taught this precious girl to pray and blessed her with not one, but two younger siblings, first a Robin in spring and then a Princess in summer. You carried our granddaughter through every sick day and night, every treatment, every set back… You were there. Thank you, dearest Jesus.

And now, we celebrate this great and awesome victory over cancer. It was on a Tuesday that Kennedy rang the cancer victory bell, and Tuesday’s child is full of grace. The Grace of God healed our Kennedy Grace. This girl who was born on her paternal grandma’s birthday, rang the cancer freedom bell on her maternal grandma’s birthday. How awesome is that! He who died for our sins, healed the sick, made the lame walk, and raised the dead has now set our granddaughter free from cancer! My TEA CUPP overflows!

Today’s TEA CUPP: This 4th of July we have so much to celebrate… freedom for babies who will be given life instead of death, freedom from cancer for our granddaughter and others, and freedom from sin because of Jesus’ work on the cross. Our nation, the USA, was founded as one nation under God that we may also live in freedom. Let us glorify the Lord and celebrate all this freedom today! Let Freedom Ring!

Grandma and Kennedy in 2020

Kennedy and Grandma in 2022

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)

Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases.
Psalm 103:3 (NKJV)

Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.
Psalm 146:7 (NKJV)

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 (NKJV)

A few “Ring the Bell” Hymns for you to enjoy…

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Prayer Journal Snippet for the USA

Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing? Psalm 2:1 (NKJV)

Very often I pray for our nation. My next book, More TEA CUPP Prayers, has a whole section on praying for the USA. As I work to complete this book, you may have noticed I have less time to share posts. But, never fear, I’m still praying and writing! I hope to announce More TEA CUPP Prayers is published before the end of summer. So this week, I share a snippet from today’s ADMIT section of my prayer journal. I used verses that are in the M’Cheyne Daily Bible Reading Plan.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Won’t you please join me in praying for our nation again and confessing its sins? Thank you, dear one…

Deuteronomy 21:8 ...do not lay innocent blood to the charge of Your people Israel. O Jesus, so many babies have died from abortion, so much innocent blood. Forgive the USA, O Lord, for this horrid sin. Reverse Roe Vs. Wade. May the Supreme Court release their final statement on the Dobbs case and may it be for LIFE! Do this miracle! Keep the pro-life justices steadfast. Guard and protect them. Have mercy on the USA, dear Jesus. Heal our land.

Psalm 108:11 ...and You, O God, who did not go out with our armies? Of course not, they aren’t inviting You! They are doing abominations and gay pride. O Jesus, end this pride month! You said right in Genesis that you created us male and female, marriage is for one man and one woman. End this great evil! Forgive the USA and set it back on Your straight and narrow path with Your Laws and leaders and justices. Send a revival across this land and pour out Your Holy Spirit, even upon Zoo Montana in Billings, Montana. Don’t let them host a drag queen story hour on June 22. O Jesus, stop all the evil, forgive our nation for all its sins. Have mercy on Your children, O Lord.

And when we are forgiven and back in Your good favor, all people will know that this was done by Your hand, that You, O Lord, have done it! (Psalm 109:27).

In the name of Jesus I pray, Thy Kingdom Come. Thy Will be done.

Amen

Thank you for stopping by My TEA CUPP Prayers. If you enjoyed today’s post, you might also like to read Wars and Rumors, Consecrate a Fast, and Every Age Needs Jesus.


Consecrate a Fast

Blow the trumpet in Zion,
Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly.  Joel 2:15 (NKJV)

Dear Ones, Can you hear the trumpet blowing? God is calling us to fast!* Our nation has been in an uproar this past year with mandate after mandate, vile law after vile law, immorality after immorality… we cannot deny that we are on the course for a train wreck unless something changes immediately.  Some very hard-working people spent the past year researching evidence to prove that the 2020 election was stolen (God bless these courageous souls!).

On Tuesday, November 23, they will be taking this case to the Supreme Court of the United States of America.  Dear ladies, if the election can be overturned and Christian leaders put in office, we will have more time to bring people to Christ before He returns (which is imminent).  If the election is not overturned, if the justices close their ears to the evidence, the judgement of America will be just days away with Jesus standing at the door!  Either way, we want to get our hearts and houses in order!  

...then they will fast in those days.  Luke 5:35 (NKJV)

God has held out a plumb line (Amos 7:8) to our nation and we are not plumb, in fact, we are very crooked!  The handwriting is on the wall. We’ve been measured in the balance and found wanting.  Our days are numbered (Daniel 5:25-28).  We are not prepared to meet our God (Amos 4:12).

A few weeks ago I was at a prayer meeting where the November 23rd court date was mentioned. When I arrived home, I read an email from our old church in Ohio, calling everyone to fast on that day.  Then I started reading many fasting verses in my Bible and I knew this is God’s calling. I invite and exhort you to join us in fasting that day, not just for one meal, but for the entire day.  Rend your hearts, not your garments.  Feed on God’s Word, not your fridge.  Consider it not a pre-holiday diet, but a fast so that we may continue to celebrate those Holy days!  

As these brave men and women take their evidence to the gates of our nation’s highest court with this crucial case, let us storm the gates of heaven with our prayers and fasting, begging the Lord for His favor and and mercy for this great nation that was started in His name.

No one is too old or too young to fast.  When Baby Jesus was brought by Mary and Joseph to the Temple to be dedicated, an 84-year-old lady named Anna, who had been fasting and praying, greeted and blessed them (Luke 2:37).  In the book of Jonah (3:5-7), the entire city of Nineveh, from the king to his youngest servant to even the animals, gave up food and water. When King Saul died, valiant men fasted for seven days before asking David to be their new king (1 Chronicles 10:12).  Even wicked King Ahab fasted and God heard his prayers (1 Kings 21:27). And King Darius fasted for Daniel when he was forced to throw him in the lions’ den (Daniel 6:18). Esther, Ezra, Isaiah, Nehemiah, Moses, Jehoshaphat, Paul and many others… even Jesus all fasted and prayed, and we must follow their example.

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions… So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.  Ezra 8:21,23

Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. Joel 2:12 (NKJV)

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 2 Chronicles 20:3 (NKJV)

Our Father who art in heaven, we boldly come before Your throne this day, pleading with you for mercy for our nation, the United States of America.  We know we don’t deserve Your forgiveness, but ask that You show Your grace and mercy yet again.  Help us lay aside all filthiness and receive with meekness Your salvation and the implanted Word of God. Help us return to You, Lord.  For You have torn, but You will heal us. You have stricken, but You will bind us up.  We set up kings, but not by You, we made princes, but You did not acknowledge them. Bring the ark of God, Your Word, the Bible, back to America, our schools, our courthouses, and our government.  I claim Your promise for Mike Lindell and all his helpers who asked You, “Shall I go up against the Philistines?”  And You replied, “Go up, for I shall deliver them into your hands.” Help our judges and leaders to do as You command and overturn the 2020 election, reinstating the rightful president. And You, O God, will break through our enemies like a breakthrough of water!  May justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. May You use President Trump and all the new Christian leaders to cleanse this land of all the evil doers and wickedness.  Like David, his fame will go into all lands, and the Lord will bring the fear of him on all nations. Most of all, people will know Jehovah God, the Great I Am, has done this!  Send a last Great Awakening before Jesus Christ’s return, where missionaries can travel without fear nor vaccine mandates, and are welcome to bring the Good News of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ to open hearts.  Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Thy Name be the Glory! We pray all this in the precious Name of Your Only begotten Son Jesus whose blood was shed even for us and even for such a time as this. Amen.

(Hebrews 4:16, James 1:21, Amos 5:24, Hosea 6:1, Hosea 8:4, 1 Chronicles 13:3, 1 Chronicles 14:10,11,16, 17, Psalm 115:1)

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Please fast on Tuesday, November 23 for God’s justice to prevail at the Supreme Court hearing.  Please also consider fasting again the following Tuesday, November 30th to pray for the December 1 Supreme Court hearing to overturn Roe vs. Wade and turn back God’s wrath on America for the deaths of all the innocent babies.  Thank you and God bless you!

* Fasting is when you give up food for a time, that’s why the first meal of a new day is called “breakfast” because you are breaking your nightly fast. When we fast and pray, we give more power to our prayers, and with each hunger pain, we are reminded to pray yet again).  For someone who has a lot of trouble with food, fasting can be hard for me, but when God calls me to do it, I do it with all my heart and steadfastness and by His strength. This is one of those times!

P.S. Please share this with others, God hears our prayers!

“Save us, O God of our salvation;
Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
To triumph in Your praise.”
1 Chronicles 16:35 (NKJV)

But let justice run down like water,
And righteousness like a mighty stream.  Amos 5:24 (NKJV)

Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.  Luke 6:21 (NKJV)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13 (NKJ)

I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth
More than my necessary food.  Job 23:12 (NKJV)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.  Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)

He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.  Luke 1:52 (NKJV)

To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.  Luke 1:74-75 (NKJV)

Thank you for stopping by My TEA CUPP Prayers.  If you enjoyed today’s post, you might also like to read My Fasting TEA CUPP and Prayers for Our Nation.

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 

Every Age Needs Jesus

God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every dayPsalm 7:11 (NKJV)

Every age needs Jesus.  Every age needs Jesus, not just every age of person, from babies to grandparents, but also EVERY AGE as in every time in history.  Recently I was reading the book of Judges where people did “what was right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25).  In this Bible book, God’s people continually strayed away from Him, so God sent prophets to call them back.  Reading the book of Judges is much like reading a newspaper today, so many heart-breaking stories.

A long time ago, I made a list of Bible Stories I don’t like and Judges 19-21 was at the top of the list.  If you want to ready the bizarre, you should read these passages.  This story brings up so many questions, like why didn’t the man protect his wife?  Why did he cut her up into 12 pieces?  Why did the Israelites think it was okay to steal wives for the Benjaminites?  These questions might spark your curiosity enough to read this Bible selection!  Yet the answer for every question is the same, the people did “what was right in their own eyes.”

Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
But establish the just;
For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
Psalm 7:9 (NKJV)

Hundreds of years after Judges, Acts 25:13 shows us more wickedness.  In this passage, the Apostle Paul was brought before King Agrippa and Bernice. This royal couple was another example of people doing “what was right in their own eyes” for Bernice was King Agrippa’s sister. Their marriage was against God’s law.  Paul, like the prophets before him, took full advantage of his time before the king, giving his testimony and declaring, “…repent, turn to God, do works befitting repentance”  (Acts 26:20).  

Many times in the Bible we see where God honors the faithful and the wicked are punished.  Jeremiah 35 is such a place.  The Rechabites had been told by their father Jonadab to live in tents and not drink wine.  They were obeying their earthly father.  Jeremiah told them, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever” ’ ”  (Jeremiah 35:16-19). What a blessing for this family because of their faithfulness!  

Dear One, Let God’s Word reassure you. When Jesus was born, the Romans ruled that part of the world.  Joseph and Mary had to travel miles to be counted by those Romans.  And just at that time, the Father had His Son be born to a virgin, in a stable, because there was no room in the Inn.  God sent GREAT HOPE at a time when it was needed most, to a poor couple, in a barn with animals,  all living under Roman rule.  That precious Baby grew to be the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ who gave His life for us on the cross and rose again on Easter morning, opening the door of heaven for all who believe in His Name.  

Dear One, don’t you think He can do the same today? This certainly is another time in history when people are doing “what is right in their own eyes.”  Ungodly marriages, abortion, murders, rioting, sinful leaders… As we look at the tragedy in Afghanistan, the damage of hurricane Ida, the fires and smoke in the West (shrouding our beautiful mountains daily), the continuation of vaccines and Covid, we might lose hope, but we won’t!  We hold onto God’s promise to send His Son Jesus to right the wrongs and reign on high eternally! For every age needs Jesus!!!

Today’s TEA CUPP: Please pray with me…Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.  From the end of the earth we cry to You. Our hearts are overwhelmed for the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished! We claim Your promise that the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, for You are coming on the clouds.  You are with us in every trial and tribulation, through every fire and storm. You are our Great Hope and Healer and Savior. Come, Lord Jesus, come. (Psalm 61:1-2, 2 Samuel 1:27, Psalm 49:14, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 22:20)

...We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22 (NKJV)

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  Revelation 22:20-21 (NKJV)

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God will shine forth. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent;
A fire shall devour before Him,
And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.  Psalm 50:2-3 (NKJV)

My prayer friend Shannon shared this inspiring devotion from Dutch Sheets!  Please check it out and find great hope for America.   As we remember the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 this Saturday, there are many opportunities to join others in prayer. Check out these sites… Behold He Comes, The Return: Africa, American King Foundation, and others.

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson