Proverbs 14:33-35 New King James Version
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
Music Link: https://youtu.be/nJCYLB13ArM
I spent a number of years traveling the country...well All of my adult life at various times. I was still anchored in the Dallas area from about 1989 to maybe 2006, but I would leave at various times.
Sometimes, I would visit new ministries in which were popular or had an effect on Charismatic Christianity. Other times, I might follow a trending evangelist to observe his ministry and the impact in which he had on the churches.
And although, I worked through many of those years in some major jobs, many times I would find myself "laid off," due to Plant shutdowns, Corporate Layoffs, or for any number of reasons. Well, this was when I would usually respond by taking the time to get closer to God through Prayer, Fasting or by just leaving the house, going on the road to visit ministries or what have you.
It was like a special time in which I would find myself closer to God.
I guarantee you that if you just step out of the house, go on the road and then find yourself walking down some highway in the middle of the night where you barely have a clue, as to where you are or how you got there or where you are going next, it will bring you to a closer relationship to Jesus.
Nonetheless, as you grow much older, you tend to remember those times as some of the "best times," of your life. Just myself, my savior and not a care in the world other than where you are going to eat in the morning?
Well, in about 2005-6, I found myself in Metairie, La, at a Church where they were a distribution center for the victims of Katrina. I volunteered my services and because I had a CDL Professional truck driving license. For a short time, I was helping to deliver some food from warehouse to distribution centers and other places around New Orleans.
I had made a few friends since we were lodged in a set up type of "Tent City" on the grounds of the church. Nonetheless, I had spent a number of months intermingling with the victims of Katrina, the volunteers and at the same time I was observing the churches and the ministries involved in the restoration of these people's lives.
There were many churches and pastors who were well compensated by the government and that in turn gave them great incentive to help the people.
Well, fast forward almost twenty years and we have a similar hurricane happen in 2024. The event therefore had brought back many memories of my time during the aftermath of Katrina. I had arrived a number of days after the initial destruction, but I observed a lot.
So, last week while watching a few Fox shows, I was surprised to hear a few individuals make comparisons to Katrina and this latest hurricane Helene. Then it happened again yesterday where someone made a similar remark speaking of the failure of FEMA, during Katrina.
Well, I don't doubt the sincerity of these commentators as many of them were journalists and I am sure they did a good job of covering the event. Nonetheless, I recall the event from a different perspective because I was on the ground.
I was listening and gathering my information from the direct victims of the hurricane.
Well, I am sure that there were many victims who had been short changed or who had trouble being compensated, but there were many many others who were well taken care of amidst the chaos and confusion.
The other day, I was trying to remember the exact particulars of this memory, but it has just been too long. Nonetheless, as I recall this guy was a victim who was going to receive a trailer from FEMA, but he wanted a newer model which had a much larger Flat Screen TV.
Well, then I was recalling the hundreds of trailers in which FEMA had sent to the victims, and the amount of the event was like astronomical in wasted expenditures.
Then there were hundreds of victims or imaginary victims who applied for re-building loans for businesses and homes and all sorts of things.
I mean, the government, as I recall was so generous, and then a year or two later you read where like hundreds of people were filing bogus claims which had cost the government billions of dollars which if my memory serves me right were never recovered.
AI OverviewL:
The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) estimated that between $600 million and $1.4 billion in potentially fraudulent individual assistance payments were made after Hurricane Katrina. The FBI investigated over 900 people involved in fraudulent activity related to relief funding, which cost Louisiana taxpayers around $2 billion. Some examples of the fraudulent activity
included:
Other impacts of Hurricane Katrina include:
From Google:
How much did Hurricane Katrina victims get?Over 167,000 claimants received payments averaging $97,000 (King, 2013). Finally, it is estimated that charitable donations from the private sector for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita summed to about $6.5 billion in the two years after the hurricanes (Giving USA, 2007).
Maybe it was a year or two, perhaps even five years later and I believe that it was while I was driving on I-10, in the distance you could see these hundred or so, house trailers all were parked next to each other just sitting there useless.
I imagine the wasted cost of that fiasco took millions of dollars from the government.
There was one time, I recall when I thought to myself while working in the recovery, "It is too bad that I happened to receive my license while living in this Southeastern state because had I been living in New Orleans, I would have had it made."
You see, I saw many many people prosper from all that the government was giving to those who just simply had a New Orleans address on their license.
Who knows, perhaps it was a; little "jealousy" that reared its ugly head in my soul?
NONETHELESS, my point here is that although the Katrina "screw ups," were many, not a lot of people suffered a great lack, as we see today from this administration.
I have now been living in Houston for over five or six years, and through that time, I have encountered many former New Orleans people, who were well compensated and moved here start a new life in Houston.
So, when I carefully scan the information from "You Tube," clips, or I watch a news cast, I find it quite insulting that apparently no one from FEMA or this administration has so much as visited these disaster towns in the middle of North Carolina,
I mean, I haven't even heard of an individual visit town by town to deliver a pack of matches, that the people can light a fire in some old rusty barrel at night?
Could it be a lack of funds?
And if so, where did all those billions and billions of dollars have gone which were readily available to the Katrina Victims?
Lastly, please someone go back, and fact check that my observations were right as recorded in this paper.
I am not trying to slant or distort anything in favor of one political party over the next.
My only goal in life is to present the "TRUTH," in every situation.
Link: https://youtu.be/u8ejFXYXTss
2nd Link: https://youtu.be/Ao9ix5XjD8Y
Music Link: https://youtu.be/E5bJguYEapg?list=RDE5bJguYEapg
Lyrics:
God You’re the gardener
And Jesus the vine
Come have Your way
In the branch of my life
Whatever is growing
That doesn’t belong
Cut it away
Whatever is thriving
Rooted and strong
Oh let it stay
For my good
For your glory
Do what You have to do
Do what You have to do
Make me pure
Make me holy
Prune me to bear Your fruit
Do what you have to do
Jesus You grafted me
Into Your tree
Through every season
You’re working in me
Whatever is growing
That doesn’t belong
Cut it away
Whatever is thriving
Rooted and strong
Oh let it stay
For my good
For your glory
Do what You have to do
Do what You have to do
Make me pure
Make me holy
Prune me to bear Your fruit
Do what you have to do
Written by Ben Shive, Sarah Kroger, Maria Roate
Music Link: https://youtu.be/PvjaesgAs4U
In the Old Testament there is a very odd story of God's mercy.
King David was 'incited,' to take a census of the people and in response God, being a "Holy" God, had to dispense a punishment to Israel because when David did this it was a sin.
Please see: https://www.gotquestions.org/David-census.html
Also read: From (Google)
AI Overview
Gad was a prophet who came to King David and presented him with a choice of three punishments from God: seven years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies, or three days of plague, after David had ordered a census that was considered displeasing to God; David chose the plague.
Key points about Gad:
Prophet and Seer:
In the Bible, Gad is described as a prophet and seer who served King David.
Delivering God's Message:
When David took a census, God was angered and sent Gad to deliver a choice of punishments to David.
The Three Choices:
The options presented were seven years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies, or three days of plague.
_____________________________________________________________________
Well, in the Old Testament, it is explained above that what David did was to break a law of God recorded in Exodus.
Following taken from:
"Conclusion
God wanted Israel to be holy and pure. He wanted them to be completely different from the extremely evil pagan nations around them. Some of the laws promoted good health, some kept them from immoral practices, others taught lessons about holiness and others prevented them from doing anything that resembled an idolatrous practice. There are some laws that are hard to understand, but remember, the reason that particular law was given, was to keep them “set apart” as God’s holy people.
What about the Other Old Testament Laws?
The Old Testament Law (including the book of Leviticus) was given to the Nation of Israel (the Jews) in order to separate them from the rest of the nations of the world and to prepare them for the coming of the Messiah. All of the laws, the requirements, the feasts, the sacrifices, the priesthood, how to worship, the Sabbath and more, were also designed to lead one to the Messiah (Jesus). Now that Jesus has come, that system has been done away."
______________________________________________________
I love the Bible, as it is the, "Word of God."
So, we see in the Bible this story, which is a lesson on obedience to God, but many times there are also "Spiritual" lessons being taught in these narratives and I believe that this is one.
We see the story where David displeased God by breaking a law of God, but I have always read it from the standpoint that David also took the census because of a lack of 'Faith,' in trusting God.
He considered his accomplishments his own and not God's apparently.
Many Preachers do this today.
Taken from link immediately following statement:
" The record in Chronicles places this right after a great victory over the Philistines, so the sin was probably related to a problem with pride and self-reliance. A census was preliminary to a draft of soldiers and a levying of taxes. It seems, therefore, that David’s intent was to increase the royal power in a way that contrasted with humble reliance on God."
Link: https://www.tenth.org/resource-library/articles/why-was-davids-census-a-great-sin/
This was an insult to God.
Nonetheless, this is a great story with a lot of applications.
Tonight, I was watching a rerun of Hannity and I heard again about an individual terrorist who has recently been captured on American soil. Apparently, he was planning a huge event to happen on election night, with the consequences of many dead Americans.
Well, it was about a year ago, when I sort of prophesied, or used my 'common sense,' on one of these papers. I suggested that the reason why America which has been inundated with terrorists who have walked over our BORDER, as if it was a Sunday after church 'stroll in the park,' were not committing these terrorist activities, as they have been doing in Europe for years, was because they were waiting until after the Election.
I stated that most likely "these terrorists from all over the world were laying low was because they were afraid to death of Donald Trump becoming President again."
Therefore, I suggested that most likely once the election had taken place then these many MURDERERS, were probably going to be released in masses, as mortal enemies of our own citizens as they reside in our very own country.
You see, I surmised that they knew that if they were to commit these acts of terrorism before the election, then the voters would in a 'heartbeat,' wish once again for just such a leader as Donald Trump.
This is why when I kept hearing in the background all day yesterday of this "Terrorist," who planned an Election Day celebration in the manner of October seventh, it was really no surprise to me.
I just wonder how many more TERRORIST is out there lying in "wait," for the Election to be over, as they celebrate over a "weak and feckless" new President or a Bold and Forceful Leader who will not allow any of them to justify themselves to be in this country?
That was a rabbit trail.
You know, I was thinking also about this hurricane "Milton," isn't that a funny name for a hurricane of such proportions?
It keeps bringing to mind "Uncle Miltie," of the fifties, really before my time.
Oh, never mind!
But it also has reminded me of an Israeli Bunker Buster bomb. You know, sometimes here are plagues and destructive forces which are activated and sometimes even God can't stop them.
You see, God is a Holy God and a Just God and He has to let the "Laws of the Universe," such as "Justice," play out.
He is a humane God, much like Israel is so many times to their enemies. Israel may give warning to their enemies and even explain to them.
"We are about to level the ground with a Bunker Buster Bomb, so perhaps you might want to flee to Georgia or Miami?"
Well, God is even more just than that, in some cases he can "turn things around for mankind," should mankind Pray and ask God to intercede on their behalf.
David understood this principle, so when given the options of three punishments David replied to the Prophet, “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”
2 Samuel 24:11-19 New Living Translation
11 The next morning the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, who was David’s seer. This was the message: 12 “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’”
13 So Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me.”
14 “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”
15 So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. 16 But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
17 When David saw the angel, he said to the Lord, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family.”
(David Builds an Altar)
18 That day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”
19 So David went up to do what the Lord had commanded him.
Music Link: https://youtu.be/-Gv8VDqc-os
Matthew 18:19-20 New Living Translation
19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Mark 11:23 New Living Translation
23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.
Mark 11:23-25 The Message
22-25 Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no shuffling or hemming and hawing—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.”
Mark 11:23 Amplified Bible
23 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart [in God’s unlimited power], but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him [in accordance with God’s will].
Matthew 7:9-11 The Message
7-11 “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?
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