Lord, I lift (name of child) up to You and ask that You would put a hedge of protection around her (him). Protect her (his) spirit, body, mind, and emotions from any kind of evil or harm. I pray specifically for protection from accident, disease, injury, or any other physical, mental, or emotional abuse. I pray that she (he) will make her (his) refuge "in the shadow of your wings" until these calamities have passed by" (Psalm 57:1). Hide her (him) from any kind of evil influences that would come against her (him). Keep her (him) safe from any hidden dangers and let no weapon formed against her (him) be able to prosper. Thank You, Lord, for Your many promises of protection. Help her (him) to walk in Your ways and in obedience to your will so that she (he) never comes out from under the umbrella of that protection. Keep her (him) safe in all she (he) does and wherever she (he) goes. In Jesus' name I pray.
MEDITATION
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him i will trust. ~Psalm 91:1-2
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling ~Psalm 91:9-10
One day, when I was in college, a shifty-looking character approached me in the student union with a leather jacket he wanted me to see. It was a beauty: buttery smooth cowhide, with artfully stitched seams and long leather fringes. Buffalo Bill Cody would have worn it proudly. I can't remember what the price was, but it was obviously too little for such a jacket. Even as I forked over the money, I knew something wasn't right, sure enough, a couple days later the jacket's real owner, a student about my age, approached me as I was on my way to class. "That's my jacket," he said, "and I want it back." "No way," I answered. "I paid for it, and I have no idea if it's yours. It's mine." He didn't challenge me, and I left, but the uneasiness I had about my new possession now had visible face. A few days later, riding my bike across campus, I saw the real owner standing on the sidewalk. I rode over, took the jacket off handed it to him, said I was sorry, and rode off without another word. More than the weight of the jacket had been lifted from my shoulders. We're all human, which means that sometimes we do things we shouldn't do or say things we shouldn't say. Sometimes we realize too late that our actions have been hurtful to somebody else. When these hard times occur, the best response--the only response, really is, "I'm sorry." Owning up, promptly and forthrightly, helps the other person begin to heal. But just as important, it cleanses our own soul and sets us free. That is a small price to pay for a clear conscience.
source: 50 things that really matter hallmark book In this story you see the woman who bought a jacket off a peddler. When she was confronted by the owner of the jacket, her selfishness and greed she pushed off the fact of how she bought the jacket and if this could be the owner. Although, her conscious kept telling her that something wasn't right with that purchase. Given the chance to see the person again she apologizes and gives the owner the jacket. She left feeling freed from the guilt that was holding her prisoner inside, even if the other person never forgave her. She asked for forgiveness for the crime she had done, even though this was a two party crime. What about when someone has done you wrong, when you are the victim, Joseph is a prime example. Joseph Reassures His Brothers Genesis 50:15 15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Matthew 6:14-15New International Version (NIV) 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 1:18-25King James Version (KJV) 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.
Judges 9 New International Version (NIV) Abimelek 9 Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, 2 “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.” 3 When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” 4 They gave him seventy shekels[a] of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers. 5 He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding. 6 Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king. 7 When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’ 9 “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’ 10 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’ 11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’ 12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’ 13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’ 14 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’ 15 “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’ 16 “Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? 17 Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. 18 But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. 19 So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20 But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!” 21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek. 22 After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, 23 God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. 24 God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers. 25 In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek. 26 Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. 27 After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. 28 Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek? 29 If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’”[b] 30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. 31 Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. 32 Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields. 33 In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.” 34 So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. 35 Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place. 36 When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!” Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.” 37 But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill,[c] and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.” 38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!” 39 So Gaal led out[d] the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. 40 Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. 41 Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem. 42 The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. 43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. 44 Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields and struck them down. 45 All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it. 46 On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. 47 When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, 48 he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do!” 49 So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died. 50 Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it. 51 Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women—all the people of the city—had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. 52 Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, 53 a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull. 54 Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his servant ran him through, and he died. 55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home. 56 Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57 God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them Commentary
With Gideon dead, Abimelek wanted to take his father's place. (Jerub-Baal is another name for Gideon see 6:32) To set his plan in motion he went to the city of Shechem, his mother's hometown, to drum up support. Here he felt kinship with the residents. These relatives were Canaanites and would be glad to unite against Israel. Shechem was an important city a crossroads for trade routes and a natural link between the coastal plain and the Jordan Valley. Whoever controlled Shechem would dominate the countryside. (Judges 9:1-3) Israel's king was to be the Lord and not a man. But Abimelek wanted to usurp the position reserved for God alone. In his selfish quest, he killed all but one of his 70 brothers half brothers. People with selfish desires often seek to fulfill them in ruthless ways. Examine your ambitions to see if they are self-centered or God-centered. Be sure you always fulfill your desires in ways that God would approve. (Judges 9:2-5) Politics played a major apart in pagan religions such as the worship of Baal-Berith. Governments often went so far as to hire temple prostitutes to bring in additional money. In many cases a religious system was set up and supported by the government so the offerings could fund community projects. Religion became a profit-making business. In Israel's religion, this was strictly forbidden. God's system of religion was designed to come from an attitude of the heart, not from calculated plans and business opportunities it was also designed to serve people and help those in need not to oppress the needy (Judges 9:4) Abimelek was declared ruler of Israel at Shechem, the site of other key Bible events. It was one of Abraham's first stops upon arriving in Canaan (Genesis 12:6,7). When Jacob lived there two of his sons killed all the men in Shechem because the prince's son raped their sister (Genesis 34). Joseph's bones were buried in Shechem (Joshua 24), and the kingdom of Israel would split apart at the same city(1King 12)(Judges 9:6). In Jotham's parable the trees represented Gideon's 70 sons, and the thornbush represented Abimelek, Jotham's point was this: a productive person would be too busy doing good to want to bother with power politics. A worthless person, on the other hand, would be glad to accept the honor--but he would destroy the people he ruled Abimelek, like a thornbush, could offer Israel no real protection or security. Jotham's parable came true when Abimelek, destroyed the city of Shechem (9:45) burned "the tower of Shechem" (the city of Beth Milo, 9:46-49) and was finally killed at Thebez (9:53-54) (Judges 9:16) Abimelek was the opposite of what God wanted in a judge, but it was three years before God moved against him, fulfilling Jotham's parable. Those three years must have seemed like forever. (source: Life Application Bible)
Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. ~Ecclesiastes 10:1~
Flies were just a way of life in ancient Israel. No refrigeration, few preservatives--you had to expect something like this to happen. Stinky things were a nasty part of life. Sometimes even in modern life we have to put up with powerful, nasty smells.
But do our lives stink? Whether or not they do depends on how we act. It doesn't take much to have a foul smell emanate from our lives. A little dishonesty or selfishness, and actions that once smelled like perfume instead smell like dead flies.
Some of today's corporate leaders have begun to smell like defunct flies. Their greed has impacted the lives of hundreds--even thousands --of employees and investors. While they've lied about their companies' bottom line, they've impacted the lives of thousands who have lost their jobs and money.
Not only do actions like that stink to us, they stink to God. Those who are found out lose the respect of others and pay a price, It may not consist of jail or unemployment, but it will certainly contain God's disapproval and punishment, Imaging smelling like putrefying flies to God's nose! What could be worse?
Let's Look At Greed In The Bible: The Israelites With Greed
Numbers 11:4-6
4 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”
Numbers 11:31-34
31 Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea. It scattered them up to two cubits[b] deep all around the camp, as far as a day’s walk in any direction. 32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers.[c] Then they spread them out all around the camp. 33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah,[d] because there they buried the people who had craved other food.
Judas With Greed
Matthew 26: 14-15
14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Matthew 27: 3-8
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
False Prophets With Greed
2 Peter 2-4
2 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,[a] putting them in chains of darkness[b] to be held for judgment;
resources: Life Application Bible (NIV) and Everyday Guide To Success
But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.
Imagine following God fully! What a testimony to any believer's life aware of own sinfulness, we'd hardly claim to follow Him so well. Caleb was not perfect any more than we are, but his heart was committed to God. You can see that by the way he stood up for taking the Promised Land, and through the years, his hear for God never lessened. Yet this faithful man still spent forty years in the desert, companion to the faithless Israelities. All that time, his eyes must have focused on the promise God made here. He would eventually see the land God had promised him and his children. Caleb's heroic qualities appear larger than life in part because of his faithful waiting. Despite own correct choice, he did not get an immediate inheritance. Yet the Bible never says he whined, complained or blamed anyone else. He displays impressive composure.
How to Follow Jesus
Mark 8:34-37
The Way of the Cross
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
Are You Ready To Follow Him?
resources: Life Application Study Bible, The Everyday Guide To Success,
Today we as black people hear our cry of BLACK LIVES MATTER, yet other blacks are also saying "BLACK ON BLACK CRIMES MUST STOP." Then we are paid less and are given more work than whites. We are the less than 11.6% of the work force and our unemployment rate is 9.5 to whites 4.5. We are often the victim of police brutality. We are consider lazy and are on welfare more than any other group of people. On top of all this, we have blacks who sell us out for their own profit and gain. To add to that, black's with a slave mentality who only want to serve their white master. These things happen when you are under OPPRESSION. Let me show you... 1). This is why BLACK LIVES MATTER read... EXODUS 1:6-10,1:15-17 6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Hebrews were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.
8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Hebrews have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.” 1a. Because of fear and intimidation of them being over ruled, or left to work for themselves, the Eygptians try to stop the population of the of the Hebrews and kill the boys to keep the population down. EXODUS 1:15-17 15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 2). When we cry out "Black on Black Crimes Must Stop" we must first look at the reason why we are having "Black on Black Crimes" to begin with. Read... EXODUS 1:13-14 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” 14 The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.” 2a). When under oppression we will turn on ourselves because we are the easiest target to attack. We have been condition under Stockholm Syndrome to have feelings of trust or affection felt in certain cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a victim toward a captor. 3).Why we are paid less and have more work than our white co-workers, for prosperity of whites. Read... EXODUS 1: 7,11-14 7 “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. 8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. 11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13 and worked them ruthlessly. 14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly. 4). We are often times the victim of police brutality...Read EXODUS 1:11-12 11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12 Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 4a). Because we are under oppression when are the likely target of police brutality and unsolved murders. When people say "All Lives Matter" after we and I say after we say Black Lives Matter they are trying to play down what is happening to our black people. Especially coming from a history of being consider 3/4 of a person. 5). We are consider lazy and on welfare...Read EXODUS 1:6-8 6 That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: 7 “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. 8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, 5a). So when you see reports about black being lazy and on welfare don't believe this America was built on the backs of slaves and is continually strives on black people. We even won't talk about Melania Trump's speech for just an example. 6). Black's selling out black people...Read EXODUS 1:14 14 And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?” 6a). Some blacks are helping keep black people oppress just to have life better for themself, as you can see the Israelite/Hebrew people had their own overseer, so that meant they actually were not doing the work but made sure their people continued to do the work. 7). In spite off everything that happen to the Israelites/Hebrews some of them still wanted to go back to their oppressor... Read NUMBERS 14:1-4 14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” 7a). Stockholm Syndrome along with the rest, is what we face as people of OPPRESSION...
This is only for the definition of Stockholm Syndrome all of his views I don't necessarily agree with.
