South Carolina

The upcoming hearing of the appeal by TEC and its local agents against the first instance decision in favor of the Diocese of South Carolina is due to start on September 23rd.

1 Chronicles 27:25 (AMP)
Over the king’s treasuries was Azmaveth son of Adiel; and over the treasuries in the country, cities, villages, and towers or forts was Jonathan son of Uzziah;

Azmaveth–strong as death
Adiel–the witness of the Lord
Jonathan–Yahweh has given
Uzziah–Yahweh has helped

Our Father in heaven,
Your witness, Your help, Your gifts are the treasures of the Diocese of South Carolina. We thank You for the bounty of Your treasuries.
You are the Lord of life, our Creator, and You overcome death. Be present to the Diocese of South Carolina during the ongoing litigation, we pray. Amen.

Ebola vaccine–praise report

God is good! An answer to several Lent & Beyond prayers.

From CNN:

A newly developed vaccine against the deadly Ebola virus is “highly effective” and could help prevent its spread in the current and future outbreaks

Rest in peace, Jean

Several years ago, I had the great privilege of visiting my fellow prayer blogger, Torre Bissell, in his home. He and his wife Jean were so grounded in the presence of God, a beautiful witness of the “one flesh” of marriage.
For years, we have all been edified by the “word received” by Torre. God would quicken his spirit while he studied scripture. Torre would share this word with his helpmate Jean to verify it was truly of the Lord before posting it. Torre and Jean were like a light on a hill. Torre continues to rest in God’s presence in his grief.

Below is the death notice from the Diocese of Albany.–JW

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)

It is with sadness that we report the death of Jean Bissell, who passed away on Tuesday, August 25th, 2015. Jean was a long-time lay spiritual leader in the diocese and had served as a missionary in Pakistan, Liberia, and the Diocese of Albany. Funeral services will be at Christ Church, 970 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12307 on Saturday, September 5th at 11:00 a.m. Clergy who wish to vest and process are asked to be in the underground by 10:30 a.m. Either cassock and surplice or cassock-alb is appropriate. Stole color is white.

Innocent blood

Please note that the destruction of Judah resulted from the sins of the king’s great grandfather (Jehoiakim, Josiah, Amon, Manasseh, in reverse chronological order).

Abortion counter: 58,206,323 abortions in the US since Roe v. Wade

2 Kings 24:2-4 (ESV)
And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldeans and bands of the Syrians and bands of the Moabites and bands of the Ammonites, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servants the prophets. Surely this came upon Judah at the command of the Lord, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, and also for the innocent blood that he had shed. For he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord would not pardon.

Lamentations 4:12-13 (NLT)
Not a king in all the earth—
no one in all the world—
would have believed that an enemy
could march through the gates of Jerusalem.
Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets
and the sins of her priests,
who defiled the city
by shedding innocent blood.

Our Father in heaven,

We have shed much innocent blood in this nation.
Lord, have mercy on our descendants.
Christ, have mercy on our descendants.
Lord, have mercy on our descendants.

Hebrews 11:3a Young’s Literal Translation
by faith we understand the ages to have been prepared by a saying of God,

Father, You can put the ages in their proper alignment.

Isaiah 58:12 (ESV)
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to dwell in.

Father, raise up humble peacemakers in our nation that will lead us to repentance. Forgive our nation this great sin of abortion and repair the breach that has been created.

Lord, we yearn for Your life and blessing to flow to our descendants.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Amen.

Reference: Inspiration for this prayer came from chapter 3 of
An Appeal to Heaven by Dutch Sheets.

Torre 8/18/15

Mark 11:27-33, Holy Spirit, give us all the courage to tell what we know about Jesus.

Mark 12:1-12, Father, help me yield up the fruit in my life that you have a right to expect of me.

2 Samuel 18:16-18, Jesus, thank you for giving me a monument of living stones (our children and grandchildren) who believe in you.

Psalm 121:2, LORD, thank you for sending me help in my time of need.

Psalm 123:1–2, Jesus, I look to you to carry me and Jean through this time.

Word: I Am faithful to those who love me. Keep looking to me for help- I will be with you in your hour of need.

Torre 8/15/15

Mark 11:6, Lord, so many doors open when we are obedient to your word.

Acts 22:25-29, Holy Spirit, help us value our citizenship as Paul did.

Psalm 107:35, Father, turn my present wilderness into pools of living water.

Psalm 108:13, Lord, the last enemy is death — win the victory over it. Thank you.

Word: Pray according to my Spirit, according to my will. Then you will see my victory.

God’s throne

Revelation 4 (NIV)

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”

Rainbow colors glittering,
Awe-filled elders seated ’round.
Lightning splits the atmosphere;
Rushing air completes the sound.

And the sea lies undisturbed.

Seeing creatures magnify—
Three-fold Holy! round the throne.
Overcome by glory’s weight,
Elders sing their praises prone.

Glory, honor, power, and worth
Is Yours, Creator, God of might.
By Your will we have our life.
By your word, we have this sight.