Dear Lord We Pray... ♥

God Answers All Of Our Prayers

Right Now, If You Believe, God Will Work A Miracle For YOU! ♥

"Faith is to believe what you do not see;

the reward of this faith is to see what you believe."

~ by Saint Augustine ♥

Right Now Medley by Judy Jacobs

Right NOW

If you believe

God will work a miracle for you.

Right NOW

If you believe

God will work a miracle for you.

He’ll take your feet out of the miry clay

On the rock to stay

He’ll turn your life around

He’ll place you up on higher ground.

I know that God will work a miracle for you

If you believe, that’s just what he’ll do.

He opened the sea for the Israelites

With gideon’s 300, the battle he did fight

The walls of Jericho, he did pull down

After 7 days of marching around

He took the heat out of the flames, for the Hebrew 3

And I believe God will do the same for me.

Right NOW

If you believe

God will work a miracle for you.

Right NOW

If you believe

God will work a miracle for you.

He’ll take your feet out of the miry clay

On the rock to stay

He’ll turn your life around

He’ll place you up on higher ground.

Have faith, in God

Just have faith in God

Trust in him and never doubt

I know the Lord will work it all out

If you’ll just have faith in God.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for

The evidence of things not seen

Just and upon his promise

Believe in your heart and you shall receive.

Have faith, in God

Just have faith in God

Trust in him and never doubt

I know the Lord will work it all out

If you’ll just have faith in God.

Not by might, not by power

But by my Spirit saith the Lord

Not by might, not by power

But by my Spirit saith the Lord

Not by might, not by power

But by my Spirit saith the Lord

It is a supernatural power, of the Holy ghost.

Scriptures to Strengthen Your Faith: Gems from God's Word ♥

Scriptures to Strengthen Your Faith

[source: Our Little Place]

Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. [1 Peter 5:7]

I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid. [John 14:27]

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ. [Philippians 4:6-7]

I waited patiently for God to help me; then He listened and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God. Now many will hear of the glorious things He did for me, and stand in awe before the Lord, and put their trust in Him. [Psalms 40:1-3]

Yes, the Lord hears the good man when he calls to Him for help, and saves him out of all his troubles. The Lord is close to those whose heart is breaking; He rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. The good man does not escape all troubles - he has them, too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one. [Psalms 34:17-19]

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. [Isaiah 40:31]

Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in Me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so you can always be with Me where I am. If this weren't so, I would tell you plainly. [John 14:1-3]

Be strong! Be courageous! Do not be afraid of them! For the Lord your God will be with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you. [Deuteronomy 31:6]

Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My victorious right hand. [Isaiah 41:10]

Such a man will not be overthrown by evil circumstances. God's constant care of him will make a deep impression on all who see it. He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him. That is why he is not afraid, but can calmly face his foes. [Psalms 112:6-8]

You are my hiding place from every storm of life; You even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory. I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress. Don't be like a senseless horse or mule that has to have a bit in its mouth to keep it in line! [Psalms 32:7-9]

Do not let this happy trust in the Lord die away, no matter what happens. Remember your reward! You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want Him to do for you all that He has promised. His coming will not be delayed much longer. And those whose faith has made them good in God's sight must live by faith, trusting Him in everything. Otherwise, if they shrink back, God will have no pleasure in them. [Hebrews 10:35-38]

He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Trust in the Lord always, for in the Lord, Jehovah, is your everlasting strength. [Isaiah 26:3-4]

Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for Him to act. Don't be envious of evil men who prosper. [Psalms 37:7]

What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son for us but gave Him up for us all, won't He also surely give us everything else? [Romans 8:31-32]

I am holding you by your right hand - I, the Lord your God - and I say to you, don't be afraid; I am here to help you. Despised though you are, fear not, Oh Israel; for I will help you. I am the Lord, your Redeemer; I am the Holy One of Israel. [Isaiah 41:13-14]

Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never, never fail you nor forsake you." That is why we can say without any doubt or fear, "The Lord is my Helper and I am not afraid of anything that mere man can do to me." Remember your leaders who have taught you the Word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and try to trust the Lord as they do. [Hebrews 13:5-7]

I will lie down in peace and sleep, for though I am alone, Oh Lord, you will keep me safe. [Psalms 4:8]

For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but My kindness shall not leave you. My promise of peace for you will never be broken, says the Lord Who has mercy upon you. [Isaiah 54:10]

No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm - I will come to you. [John 14:18]

Trust the Lord completely; don't ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success. [Proverbs 3:5-6]

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty, or want; for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ Who gives me the strength and power. [Philippians 4:11-13]

Stop your anger! Turn off your wrath. Don't fret and worry - it only leads to harm. For the wicked shall be destroyed, but those who trust the Lord shall be given every blessing. Only a little while and the wicked shall disappear. You will look for them in vain. But all who humble themselves before the Lord shall be given every blessing, and shall have wonderful peace. [Psalms 37:8-11]

But you will not need to fight! Take your places; stand quietly and see the incredible rescue operation God will perform for you, Oh people of Judah and Jerusalem! Don't be afraid or discouraged! Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you! [2 Chronicles 20:17]

And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans. [Romans 8:28]

Individual Salvation. There Is No Such Thing As Collective Salvation! At Least NOT From The Kingdom Of God Almighty! God Wants To Have A "PERSONAL" Relationship With You. ♥ YOU Are Valuable To God And Loves You So Very Much!

Luke 15 (New Living Translation)
[source: BibleGateway]

Parable of the Lost Sheep

1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!

3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents (asks God for forgiveness) and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

Parable of the Lost Coin

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents (asks God for forgiveness).”

Parable of the Lost Son

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

Jesus (Yahshua) Talks With a Samaritan Woman

Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman

John 4:1-42 (NIV)

1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

17 “I have no husband,” she replied.

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

The Disciples Rejoin Jesus

27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Many Samaritans Believe

39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.

42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

An Exuberant Declaration of Faith

An Exuberant Declaration of Faith
Psalm 27 NKJV

[source: Biblegateway]

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;

      Whom shall I fear?

      The Lord is the strength of my life;

      Of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked came against me

       To eat up my flesh,

       My enemies and foes,

       They stumbled and fell.

3 Though an army may encamp against me,

       My heart shall not fear;

       Though war may rise against me,

       In this I will be confident.

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord,

       That will I seek:

       That I may dwell in the house of the Lord

       All the days of my life,

       To behold the beauty of the Lord,

       And to inquire in His temple.

5 For in the time of trouble

      He shall hide me in His pavilion;

      In the secret place of His tabernacle

      He shall hide me;

      He shall set me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;

      Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;

       I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!

      Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When You said, “Seek My face,”

      My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

9 Do not hide Your face from me;

      Do not turn Your servant away in anger;

      You have been my help;

      Do not leave me nor forsake me,

      O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me,

        Then the Lord will take care of me.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord,

       And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;

       For false witnesses have risen against me,

       And such as breathe out violence.

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed

       That I would see the goodness of the Lord

       In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord;

        Be of good courage,

        And He shall strengthen your heart;

       Wait, I say, on the Lord!

SMILE... :D

I ♥ Monkeys! :)

I LOVE To Singa - Owl Jolson :)

CLASSIC Cartoon from my childhood.
Be of GOOD CHEER! Have a GREAT day. Enjoy! :)

Treasure Your Uniqueness! That's what makes you WONDERFUL... ♥
There is no other like you and that is a beautiful thing. ;)

You must first learn to love, respect and value yourself,

before you can expect to love, respect and value others.
Consequently, you will attract the same sentiment in return.

It starts from the inside out.

Be TRUE to your self... ♥

"Experience the plan God has for your life

by stepping out in faith and boldness…

one step at a time."

~ by Joyce Meyer ♥

"Each new step, each new adventure,

brings new richness, a new dawn,

and a new world around you."

~ by OSHO ♥

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.

But the really great make you feel

that you, too, can become great.”

~ by Mark Twain ♥

"At the centre of your being you have the answer;

you know who you are

and you know what you want."

~ by Lao Tsu ♥

"Each of us is meant to have a character all our own,
to be what no other can exactly be,
and do what no other can exactly do."
~ by William Ellery Channing ♥

“You have reached the pinnacle of success

as soon as you become uninterested

in money, compliments, or publicity.”

~ by Thomas Wolfe ♥

Passage to Earthschool. Beautiful Story! ♥ Please Remember... You Are Never Alone!

Passage to Earthschool

written by Susie Chavez in Eugene, Oregon

“Don’t worry: it’s only temporary. No one ever gets stuck in there forever,” the tall smiling angel teased. “Folks always manage to find the way back home. Anyway, you’re on a timer. When it gets down to zero, bingo: you’re outta there—whether you think you’re ready to Graduate or not. Gonna be fun to see what name they pick for you when you show up on the scene.”

“You’ve been briefed. Of course, you’ll not remember much once you get there—but your Guardian will watch over you every step of the way. He’s getting graded, too, by the way. Well, babe, if you don’t remember anything else, know this: you are mightily loved, and we’ll bring you back home safely: it’s a promise.”

With that, the door slid silently open and Zee entered her glowing cocoon and settled in. She lay awake for awhile, watching the colors and patterns on the misty pearlescent ceiling. Truthfully, she was a bit pensive; but mostly, she was excited. It had been an honor to be Chosen, and she would do her very best. Besides, with her giftings, it oughta be a piece of cake! She smiled, “Oh yeah! Bring it on!” she thought, then closed her eyes and slept.

With knowing smiles, the angels sealed her in.

This story is written for my courageous daughters. I ask: "And What If we are simply in a virtual reality learning system designed by Creator to teach us lessons of compassion and the proper use of power? And What If we are all safely tucked away in our biopods, dreaming?"

Laughter Came from Every Brick, A Poem ♥

Laughter Came from Every Brick

from Love Poems from God, by Daniel Ladinsky

Just these two words He spoke

changed my life,

“Enjoy Me.”

What a burden I thought I was to carry -

a crucifix, as did He.

Love once said to me, “I know a song,

would you like to hear it?”

And laughter came from every brick in the street

and from every pore in the sky.

After a night of prayer,
He changed my life when

He sang,

“Enjoy Me.”

***********************************************************

Tips to help you put more laughter in your life:

* Figure out what makes you laugh and do it (or read it or watch it) more often.

* Surround yourself with funny people — be with them every chance you get.

* Develop your own sense of humor but never at anyone else’s expense.

Back to the Playground... I Was Led To This Wonderful Description About Enjoying LIFE With Childlike Simplicity And Humility That I Want To Share With You! ♥

Back to the Playground

[source: Theology Essay]

I’m spending a lot more time at playgrounds lately. My grandchildren are coniseurs of playgrounds. When they come to visit, I usually ask them what they want to do. Invariably, they excitedly sing out, “Let’s go to the park!” Park to them means a playground. They can’t conceive of a park without a playground. I’ve learned some valuable lessons at the playground.

On our last trip to a playground, two of my grandchildren came along. They had just put clean clothes on and it had rained during the night. So I was a little apprehensive about the puddles of water on the playground. It wasn’t long before I spotted Kaitlyn on the playground digging through the rocks and mud. Just before I was about to scold her for getting her clothes dirty, she came running toward me with an outstretched arm and a smile on her face. When she got to me she handed me a little heart-shaped rock and said, “Here PaPa! Here is a heart for you – just because I love you! Keep it!” With tears in my eyes, I thanked her.

Did I scold her for getting her clothes muddy? What do you think? No way! And, yes, I still have that little heart-shaped rock given to me by my four-year-old granddaughter. It is one of the best gifts that I have ever received. I realized that many times we miss out on so much when we sweat the small stuff.

We need to spend a lot more time at the playground. Jesus said, “Except you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4).

What are some things we can learn on the playground to help us live simple, stress free lives?

First – SIMPLICITY enables us to relax and have peace. Jesus revealed that those who live in humility as a little child are the greatest in the kingdom of God. Children enjoy the simple things in life. We often take things too seriously. Prolonged seriousness will kill. It will kill your joy and, worse, it will kill your child-likeness.

As adults, we tend to make things too complicated. When David was a shepherd boy, he dared to believe with childlike faith that God would deliver the giant Goliath into his hands. He spurned all of the body armor and weapons that King Saul gave him. Instead, he met the giant on the battlefield with his simple sling and five smooth stones. He figured it was simple – the giant was so big he couldn’t miss! Who won? That’s simple – God plus one is always the majority. (See I Samuel 17.)

Second – SING. Sing a silly song sometimes. Children love to sing. The Bible says, “A merry heart doeth good like medicine” (Proverbs 17:2). (See Proverbs 15:13 and Ephesians 5:18-19.) Have you lost your song? Ask God to give you a new song to sing. (See Psalm 98:1.)

Third – STAY LOOSE. Children are not normally uptight and worried about life. Ask yourself, “Will this matter a year from now?” I picked up a great little book the other day that had an intriguing title – Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff . . . and it’s all small stuff by Richard Carlson PhD. It is Dr Carlson’s premise that whenever we’re dealing with bad news or troublesome situations, most of us get into certain habits, ways of reacting to life that don’t serve us very well. We overreact, tend to blow things out of proportion, hold on too tightly, and focus on the negative. We live our life as if it was one huge emergency! Stay loose – don’t sweat the small stuff. (See Matthew 6:25-34.)

Fourth – SHARE. Children usually love to share. Giving is fun and it doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate. Have you ever seen the delight of two children sharing an ice cream cone or simply jumping through mud puddles or dancing in the rain? I saw a wonderful bumper sticker not too long ago. It said, “Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty”. Practicing random or spontaneous acts of kindness is an effective way to get in touch with the joy of giving without expecting anything in return. It’s even more rewarding when you don’t let anyone know what you are doing. Remember that Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”. Also, why not take time each day and think of someone to thank?

Fifth – SPRITIUAL VITALITY brings everlasting and abundant life. Children are naturally attuned to the spiritual. Only as people grow older do they become hardened and insensitive to the spiritual. That’s why we need to go back to the playground and become as little children. Jesus warns us, “I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3 NLT). Perhaps you need to sing that old children’s song again, “Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves. Yes, Jesus loves me.”

Do you need to go back to the playground of childlike simplicity and humility? In childlike faith ask Jesus Christ to come into your life. “For as many as received Him gave He power to become children of God even those who believed on His name” (John 1:12).

A Faith To Imitate Child-Like Qualities And Its Blessings part 2 of 2

A Faith To Imitate Child-Like Qualities And Its Blessings

written by Pastor Leyrer

In working through this text I came across a poem that provides a fitting conclusion for what we’ve been talking about today. It’s actually a prayer, so in simple, humble and trusting faith I’d ask that you bow your heads and fold your hands. We pray:

Make me, O Lord, a child again. So tender, frail and small.

In self, possessing nothing. In Thee, possessing all.

O Savior, make me small once more. That downward I may grow

And in this heart of mine restore, The faith of long ago.

With Thee may I be crucified, No longer I that lives.

O Savior, crush my sinful pride. By grace, which pardon gives.

Make me, O Lord, a child again. Obedient to Thy call;

In self, possessing nothing. In Thee, possessing all. Amen.

A Faith To Imitate Child-Like Qualities And Its Blessings part 1 of 2

A Faith To Imitate Child-Like Qualities And Its Blessings

written by Pastor Leyrer

“People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.” If you took a walk through the hallways and the various rooms of our school you’d see them hanging on the walls. They also adorn the walls of many Christian homes. In the world of Christian art are many, many pictures of Jesus with little children.

The Gospels make this abundantly clear: Jesus dearly loved little children. He held them up as examples of faith, as He does in our text for today. He watched them at play and drew lessons from them. And He gave a stern warning to anyone who might cause them spiritual harm. You may recall this pronouncement from last week’s Gospel lesson: “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.”

Yes, Jesus loved the little children. Perceiving this, parents would bring their children to Jesus so that, as we are told in our text, He might touch them – meaning that He might favor them with a special prayer or blessing.

But the disciples apparently didn’t see it this way. When the parents come with their children in tow (by the way, the Greek word used in the corresponding account in the Gospel of Luke indicates that among them were the very young, or infants), the disciples shooed them away. As they saw it, Jesus was a first century VIP and they didn’t want themselves or the Savior bothered with such unimportant or trivial matters.

However, Jesus viewed things quite differently. We are told that He became indignant.

That’s a pretty strong term. It clearly conveys that Jesus was angry and upset with the behavior of His disciples. And the reason He became justifiably angry (or as we sometimes say, “righteously indignant”) was because, in a sense, they had mistreated the little ones He loves so much.

What the disciples considered a nuisance Jesus clearly considered an infraction. So in response to their actions: “He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it.’”

His point: The faith of a child – the kind of faith that takes Jesus at His word and believes the message of salvation and all the other promises of God without a hint of hesitation – that is what our Lord holds up as a faith to imitate. Let’s talk about this kind of faith on the basis of these three descriptions: Simple… Humble… Trusting…

A child-like faith is first of all SIMPLE. As you observe the faith of a child you’ll find this to be true. Ask one of our lower level Sunday School or Lutheran Elementary School teacher and they’ll tell you. Because my wife and I both worked there in our college years, this aspect of child-faith also reminds me of the residents of Bethesda Lutheran Home for the developmentally disabled in Watertown. Spend some time working there – or in any kind of similar situation with a similar clientele – and you’ll understand both the meaning and depth of simple faith.

And you will also learn quite quickly not to mistake a simple faith for a shallow faith. Shallow faith is often a mile wide but an inch deep. Simple faith is just the opposite.

What I mean is this: Neither a young child raised in a Christian home nor the devout resident of Bethesda will be able to give you a thumbnail sketch of each book of the Bible, and it is highly unlikely that you’ll find a Greek or Hebrew Bible on their nightstand as they pour through Scripture in the original. They will not possess that kind of academic knowledge.

But what they do know is this: Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

What they do know is that long ago on a hill outside of a city they’ve never been to named Jerusalem Jesus died on a cross to take away all their sins. And they know why: So they would be clean and pure in the eyes of God and someday live with Him forever in heaven.

What they also know is that Jesus didn’t stay dead, but that He rose from the grave. And they know Him to be their invisible but living friend who listens intently to them when they talk to Him in their prayers.

Those are the elementary, rudimentary truths of Scripture. Nothing complicated or complex about them. The child Jesus holds up as an example simply takes at face value the truths God tells us in His Word. A child-like faith is SIMPLE.

Likewise, A child-like faith is HUMBLE. When problems come it looks upward rather than inward for solutions. We live in a world which instructs us to look deeply “inside ourselves” for answers to our difficulties. And certainly we do have a responsibility to apply the Word of God we’ve been taught to our various situations in life.

But those with a child-like faith know that the power to change things comes not from within, but from without. Not from inside us, but from above us.

Children don’t let things go that far. Child-like faith humbly approaches the throne of grace well before the crisis point, recognizing that God is good and God is great and God is ever-present to help us in every situation. A child-like faith is HUMBLE.

Finally, a child-like faith is TRUSTING. Think once more of a child, this time at prayer. Hands folded, head bowed, eyes purposely shut. This is a picture of trust, because that is what they do. They trust that the Lord will hear them and that He is capable of doing everything they ask of Him.

Simple… humble… trusting. These are the elements of a child like faith. These are the components Jesus holds up before us when He speaks about the “little ones who believe in me.” In this same child-like way Jesus invites, counsels and asks us to trust Him, His Word, His promises and His offer of salvation.

And we say, yes, we really ought to do that. But we say it more in the wistful terms of a wish or a dream, as if it would be nice, but it’s really not possible. Too simplistic, we may think. Trust Jesus and everything will work out. Sounds great, but life is bit too complicated to reduce handling it in such an uncomplicated way…

And that, friends, is our biggest mistake. It is the mistake of not taking Jesus at His Word. Because when it gets right down to it, taking Him at His Word is what Jesus means by “child-like faith.”

Let me give you a Scriptural example of this. At the very outset of this sermon we mentioned the name of King David as one of the “Great Cloud of Witnesses” we looked at this summer...

Well, if anyone can lay claim to having a complicated life, it would be him. As the ruler of Old Testament Israel in its golden age of power and influence, every decision, problem and concern eventually came to roost at his doorstep. Nonetheless, listen to the inspired words this man wrote in Psalm 131. It’s only three verses long, but the child-like attitude of this hero of faith is one we’d do well to imitate.

1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.

These are the words of a man who did not question the Lord; a man who came before the Lord in humility, confidence and trustfulness. They are words for us all.

So, do we find ourselves worried? Are we anxious about life? Are we scared of what that great unknown we call the future might bring? If and when we are, our primary problem is probably this: we’re acting altogether too much like adults.

Jesus says when it comes to matters of faith, be a child. Trust. Believe. Then relax in the confidence that no matter how things may look or how things may go, God has them under control.

Start To Believe Again... ♥

15 Awesome Quotes by Charles H. Spurgeon ♥

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (19 June 1834 – 31 January 1892) was a large British Particular Baptist preacher who remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the "Prince of Preachers". He was a strong figure in the Reformed Baptist tradition, defending the Church in agreement with the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith understanding, and opposing the liberal and pragmatic theological tendencies in the Church of his day.

On June 5, 1862, Spurgeon challenged the Church of England when he preached against baptismal regeneration. However, Spurgeon taught across denominational lines as well. It was during this period at the new Tabernacle that Spurgeon found a friend in James Hudson Taylor, the founder of the inter-denominational China Inland Mission. Spurgeon supported the work of the mission financially and directed many missionary candidates to apply for service with Taylor. He also aided in the work of cross-cultural evangelism by promoting "The Wordless Book", a teaching tool that he described in a message given on January 11, 1866, regarding Psalm 51:7: "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." The book has been and is still used to teach illiterate people and people of other cultures and languages – young and old – around the globe about the Gospel message.

Following the example of George Müller, Spurgeon founded the Stockwell Orphanage, which opened for boys in 1867 and for girls in 1879, and which continued in London until it was bombed in the Second World War. The orphanage became Spurgeon's Child Care which still exists today. On the death of missionary David Livingstone in 1873, a discolored and much-used copy of one of Spurgeon's printed sermons, "Accidents, Not Punishments," was found among his few possessions much later, along with the handwritten comment at the top of the first page: "Very good, D.L." He had carried it with him throughout his travels in Africa. It was returned to Spurgeon and treasured by him. [source: wikipedia]

15 Awesome Quotes by Charles H. Spurgeon

1. A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.
   
   
2. It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.
   
   
3. Many men owe the grandeur of their lives to their tremendous difficulties.
   
   
4. Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.
   
   
5. I would go to the deeps a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary.
   
   
6. None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.
   
   
7. No one knows who is listening, say nothing you would not wish put in the newspapers.
   
   
8. Sincerity makes the very least person to be of more value than the most talented hypocrite.
   
   
9. The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation.
   
   
10. You might not always get what you want, but you always get what you expect.
    
    
11. Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of.
    
    
12. Economy is half the battle of life. It is not so hard to earn money as to spend it well.
    
    
13. If we cannot believe God when circumstances seem to be against us, we do not believe Him at all.
    
    
14. A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul.
    
    
15. Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend.

BONUS

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.

BONUS BONUS

You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.

Character, Integrity and Leadership

I am compelled to touch on these specific qualities we all must strive to achieve. I have these three quotes framed and hanging on my wall. I purchased them from Successories decades ago.

The Essense of Character:

Your TRUE character is revealed by the clarity of your convictions, the choices you make, and the promises you keep. Hold strongly to your principles and refuse to follow the currents of convenience. What you say and do defines who you are, and who you are... YOU are forever!

The Courage of Integrity:

The highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity. Choosing right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over popularity... these are the choices that measure your life. Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for there is never a wrong time to do the right thing.

The Essense of Leadership:

A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.

[This is the quote I live by.]
"In the end, leaders are much like eagles...

they don't flock,

you find them one at a time."
~ Unknown author

Join Me Down The Rabbit Hole...

This is an 8 minute video clip taken from the movie, "What the Bleep Do We Know". Someone put together a compilation of different segments leading us all to a higher level of understanding and consciousness. Why are we here? Time and space? Enjoy!

"How can any man or woman sin against such a Greatness of mind. How can any one little carbon unit on earth in the back waters, indeed the milky way, the boondocks, betray God Almighty. That is impossible. The height of arrogance is the height of control of those who create God in their own image." ~ From What the Bleep Do We Know 

I can only show you the door... YOU are the one that has to walk through it...

FREE your mind! Expand your level of awareness. Make an effort to remove the limitations that have been placed on you throughout your lifetime. We are finite beings living in an infinite Universe. Dare to step outside of the box of conventionality. You can only grow as a person if you choose to explore outside of your comfort zone and overcome your fears one at a time.

Fear, hate, and discrimination are forms of oppression and bondage. These emotions are what limit our evolution as human beings. They are forms of very low frequency. Meaning negative energy. These emotions subtract from your growth potential.

Our behavior is domesticated and our thinking is conditioned from birth. The authority figures I speak of and who influence us throughout our lifetimes are our parents, family, friends, teachers, community and government. All with the intent to maintain a standard. But who set the standard and which one is correct? Do we dare question the status quo?

Why don't you start first by talking directly to God. There is NO formal way for you to talk to Him. Just talk to Him in private just as you would another person. Trust me, you will start getting ALL of the answers you seek. Then God will reveal to you His standard and NOT the standards that have been set forth by MAN!

There have been several teachers throughout the history of man sent from up above to guide us to re-discover our Higher Self. However, it IS our responsibility to make that effort and re-connect 'WAKE UP' to the Source of our Being, our Existence. God = LOVE, Truth and Light

You have to wonder why HISTORY keeps repeating itself ?!?! People in positions of power will always use our weaknesses and our fears to manipulate, control and destroy the fabric of our Being! We keep looking to authority figures for answers, still unaware that the answers we seek, the TRUTH, lay dormant within ourselves.

Darkness can NOT exist where there IS Light

The Secret To You... ♥

Save this video clip and use it to EMPOWER yourself daily! Begin your day by reading these declarations out loud. In effect, you are saying to the Universe I AM!

We must first learn to love, respect and value ourselves before we can love, respect and value others. Thereby being able to give to others unconditionally. It starts from the inside out.

Sure the current state of affairs may be in turmoil. However, you can choose to be at cause instead of effect. You can decide NOT to become a victim of your circumstances. But to see this as a challenge for you to overcome! You MUST be determined to not let the negative forces that surround you have control over you. Don't let the dark forces steal your peace and your joy! Don't let the outside World dictate who you are or how you feel! Get to know yourself and strenghten your resolve. You are a unique and authentic person as God created you to be! Do NOT let anybody make you feel ashamed of who YOU are!!!

FEAR IS your greatest enemy and FEAR is a form of oppression. People are taught to substitute fear for reason. DO NOT allow fear to seep into your spirit. CHOOSE to be happy and find peace in the midst of the storm no matter what. Try smiling even if you don't feel like it, listen to music that inspires you, watch a movie that inspires you or better yet, say out loud "I choose to BE happy". Watch and see how doing these things quickly changes how you feel. Surround yourself with positive forces!

The seeds of discouragement can not take root in a grateful heart. What are you grateful for today?

The Secret of The Universe!

This is a 4 minute beautiful calming video that will help alleviate all of our angst and soothe our souls. God knows we need it right now. Enjoy!

You don't have to be defeated by life! Whether your situation was caused by bad choices or by forces beyond your control. Just know that you are NOT your possessions, your title or status. People place so much importance on these things that they don't realize they are in essence 'devaluing' themselves and void in spirit. There is so much more to life that is far more enriching than you can imagine!

God is ABLE to make ALL grace abound toward me; every favor and earthly blessing come to me in abundance, so that I may always and under ALL circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient! = meaning possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation. [2 Corinthians 9:8 AMP] "And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." [2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT]

That IS God's promise to YOU! God loves YOU soooo much! God is just waiting for you to invite Him in... You can start by saying, "God I need you right now." God will NEVER abandon you. He IS always faithful.

Get to know God. Spend time with God by talking to Him... God will answer you in many different ways; a song on the radio, something someone says on television, a movie, a billboard, nature, a neighbor, a friend, a book you're reading, or even in a dream in the form of a message.

You'll be able to tell the difference between a dream and a message. Because you'll remember every detail, it feels real and you never forget it. It's kind of like the experience people who have near death experience (NDE) have, only you do not die! God will also speak directly to your spirit. But you have to be receptive and be able to discern His spirit.

Give yourself strength/confidence by declaring to yourself every morning, I know that - "I AM a child of the most high God" - "I AM God's perfect creation" - "I AM a victor and NOT a victim" "I am an instrucment of Your will Lord, show me The Way" - "No Weapon formed against me shall prosper!" - "God help me become a better person."

Visit my pre-Christmas post to hear God's Love Letter To YOU!

Poem About Life... ♥ Have A Great Night Everyone.

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

At The End Of The Day Message... ♥

Once The Soul Awakens...♥ This Quote Is So Beautifully Expressed.

“Once the soul awakens, the search begins and you can never go back. From then on, you are inflamed with a special longing that will never again let you linger in the lowlands of complacency and partial fulfillment. The eternal makes you urgent. You are loath to let compromise or the threat of danger hold you back from striving toward the summit of fulfillment.”

~ by John O'Donohue ♥

Happy Friday Night Song! My Favorite Of His To Shake Off The Week! Gotta Leave That Nine To Five Upon The Shelf And Just ENJOY YOURSELF! :)

YAAAY... It's FRIDAY NIGHT!!! Time to kick back, relax with jammies and slippers on and a glass of wine in hand. Oh yeah and listen to some awesome tunes! Enjoy! :D

Off The Wall

~ by The Legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson

When The World Is On Your Shoulder

Gotta Straighten Up Your Act And Boogie Down

If You Can't Hang With The Feeling

Then There Ain't No Room For You This Part Of Town

'Cause We're The Party People Night And Day

Livin' Crazy That's The Only Way

So Tonight Gotta Leave That Nine To Five Upon The Shelf

And Just Enjoy Yourself

Groove, Let The Madness In The Music Get To You

Life Ain't So Bad At All

If You Live It Off The Wall

Life Ain't So Bad At All

(Live Life Off The Wall)

Live Your Life Off The Wall

(Live It Off The Wall)

You Can Shout Out All You Want To

'Cause There Ain't No Sin In Folks All Getting Loud

If You Take The Chance And Do It

Then There Ain't No One Who's Gonna Put You Down

'Cause We're The Party People Night And Day

Livin' Crazy That's The Only Way

So Tonight Gotta Leave That Nine To Five Upon The Shelf

And Just Enjoy Yourself

C'mon And Groove,

And Let The Madness In The Music Get To You

Life Ain't So Bad At All

If You Live It Off The Wall

Life Ain't So Bad At All

(Live Life Off The Wall)

Live Your Life Off The Wall

(Live It Off The Wall)

Do What You Want To Do

There Ain't No Rules It's Up To You

(Ain't No Rules It's All Up To You)

It's Time To Come Alive

And Party On Right Through The Night

(All Right)

Gotta Hide Your Inhibitions

Gotta Let That Fool Loose Deep Inside Your Soul

Want To See An Exhibition

Better Do It Now Before You Get To Old

'Cause We're The Party People Night And Day

Livin' Crazy That's The Only Way

So Tonight Gotta Leave That Nine To Five Upon The Shelf

And Just Enjoy Yourself

C'mon And Groove (Yeah)

Let The Madness In The Music Get To You

Life Ain't So Bad At All If You Live It Off The Wall

Life Ain't So Bad At All

(Live Life Off The Wall)

Live Your Life Off The Wall

(Live It Off The Wall)

So Tonight Gotta Leave That Nine To Five Upon The Shelf

And Just Enjoy Yourself

C'mon And Groove (Yeah)

Let The Madness In The Music Get To You

Life Ain't So Bad At All If You Live It Off The Wall

Life Ain't So Bad At All

(Live Life Off The Wall)

Live Your Life Off The Wall (Live It Off The Wall)

BONUS...♥ ;)

You Made It! Giving Out A Special Delivery of Friday HUGS!!! ♥ Hope You Had A FANTASTIC Week! :)

─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ▄ ▌ ▐ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▌

─ ─ ─ ▄ ▄ █ █ ▌ █ ░ ♥ ░ ░ DELIVERY OF HUGS ░ ♥░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░▐

▄ ▄ ▄ ▌ ▐ █ █ ▌ █ ░ ░ ░ FOR EVERYONE! ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░ ░▐

█ █ █ █ █ █ █ ▌ █ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▌

▀ (@) ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ (@)(@) ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ (@) ▀ ▘ ♥ ♥ ♥

...♥ Let's continue to send trucks loaded with hugs to our friends

If no one has told you they Loved you today, God LOVES you and so do I. I hope you had a FANTASTIC week and enjoy a fun lighthearted relaxing weekend... :)

"No one can drive us crazy unless we give them the keys."

~ by Doug Horton

[So very true! ♥]

"Make laughter your prayer. Laugh more.

Nothing releases your blocked energies as does laughter.

Nothing makes you innocent as does laughter."

~ by OSHO ♥

"I love people who make me laugh.

I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh.

It cures a multitude of ills.

It's probably the most important thing in a person."

~ by Audrey Hepburn ♥

USA: Criminal Complaint Against "Shrimp Boy," Democrat California State Senator Leland Lee Indicted For Drugs, Guns Trafficking, Fraud, Money Laundering and Murder-for-Hire

SF Uptown Almanac

Criminal Complaint Against "Shrimp Boy," State Senator Alleges Drugs, Guns, Fraud, Money Laundering & Murder-for-Hire

written by Jackson West

Wednesday March 26, 2014

News broke this morning that State Senator Leland Yee was arrested along with dozens of other defendants, including Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow, and homes and businesses in San Francisco and across the Bay Area raided by federal officials who found, among other things, a marijuana grow operation. This afternoon, Yee, Chow and 17 other defendants appeared before Magistrate Judge Nathaniel Cousins for an initial hearing to determine if they would be detained pending further hearings.

Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow (picture, left) was in the first group of twelve defendants for today’s initial hearing in a criminal complaint brought by U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag’s office. Friends and family of the accused were joined in the courtroom by dozens of journalists and attorneys, eventually requiring an overflow room to accomodate the crowd. The 133-page complaint was unsealed by Judge Cousins shortly after the hearing began. The charges, in brief, were read aloud in the court room.

Chow stands accused of money laundering and conspiracy to traffic in stolen cigarettes. Charges against the other eleven defendants, including Keith Jackson (pictured, right), a political consultant and longtime ally of State Senator Leland Yee, included gun running, narcotics trafficking and a murder-for-hire conspiracy. Each count of the money laundering charges alone could bring 20 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.

Based on the affidavit in the complaint, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has spent years investigating Chow, whom it claims is the “Dragonhead” of the Chee Kung Tong, having infiltrated the organization with an undercover agent posing as a member of La Cosa Nostra—Mafia members with connections in New Jersey. However, at the hearing, Elizabeth Faulk, Chow’s court-appointed federal public defender, argued for his release citing over a decade without being accused of any crime after Chow spent much of the 80s in 90s in prison on multiple criminal convictions including racketeering.

Five of the first twelve defendants were eventually released, with the rest having their bail hearings pushed ahead to Monday and Tuesday. Shortly thereafter, Leland Yee was among seven more defendants brought before Judge Cousins, and stands accused of gun trafficking and six counts of wire fraud. Yee was somber but alert in a faded windbreaker and only slightly tousled hair, replying only “yes” when eventually asked if he understood and agreed to the terms of his release, which includes a $500,000 unsecured bond and a ban on travel outside of California.

Yee is scheduled to appear for a follow-up detention hearing at the San Francisco Federal Courthouse on Monday, March 31st at 9:30am. Jackson is scheduled for 11am that same morning. Chow will have to wait until Tuesday, April 1st. Yee’s attorney has indicated that Yee will plead “not guilty.”

As for the complaint affidavit, the pretty compelling account was written by FBI Special Agent Emmanuel Pascua. After listing the targets of the complaints and the statutes allegedly violated, Pascua begins to describe the investigation.

At some point in the last five years, an undercover FBI agent (herein “UCE 4527”) was introduced to a high-level member of the [Chee Kung Tong]. As a results of this introduction, in may 2010, another undercover FBI agent (herein “UCE 4599”) was introduced to target subject Raymond CHOW. CHOW then introduced UCE 4599 to many of the target subjects…during a meeting with UCE 4599, while seated in a booth in a karaoke bar, CHOW whispered into UCE 4599’s ear that although CHOW was no longer involved in criminal activity, CHOW knew of and approved all criminal activities within his organization.

In October of 2012, local law enforcement conducted raids on two locations which turned up two marijuana grow operations, a loaded weapon and cocaine in locations connected to multiple defendants. Meanwhile, UCE 4599 was laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds between 2012 and 2014 along with purchasing weapons and drugs directly. Ultimately, Chow introduced UCE 4599 to Keith Jackson as a consultant for CKT. Jackson and his son Brandon Jackson, along with another suspect, allegedly sold UCE 4599 multiple weapons and bullet proof vests, fake credit cards and agreed to a murder for hire scheme suggested by the undercover agent.

In his role as principle at Jackson Consulting, Keith Jackson was busy raising money for Leland Yee’s mayoral campaign in 2011 and even hit UCE 4599 up for donations in excess of the $500 maximum allowed by law. UCE 4599 declined, but introduced Jackson to another undercover agent posing as a real estate developer, UCE 4733, who did make a $5,000 donation to the campaign. After losing the mayoral race but with $70,000 in debt outstanding, Jackson and Yee again went to UCE 4733 for money and promised to call and write the California Department of Public Health on behalf of a fictional client of the agent’s in exchange for a $10,000 donation. More requests were made by Jackson of more undercover agents, with checks made out to “Leland Yee Secretary of State” in exchange for political favors.

Yee and Jackson also promised to introduce UCE 4599 to an arms dealer who could arrange to have a specific type of weapon imported through Newark, New Jersey. Yee later explained that he had connections for weapons in the Phillipines, and introduced UCE 4599 to another defendant, Dr. Lim, who could help make a multi-million dollar arms deal, including shoulder-fired rockets, a reality. In exchange, Jackson and Yee repeatedly requested more funds for Yee’s Secretary of State campaign—which they would then break up into smaller donations in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

At one point in 2012, UCE 4599 asked Jackson to call Yee and as the senator to help out Chow because, according to Jackson (in transcripts of what was presumably a warranted wire tap), “somebody, maybe the FBI, had Chow ‘by the balls.’” Yee expressed concern about connecting himself to Chow because of the latter’s puported book and movie deals, and because “[y]ou know, some poeple still think he killed that Allen Leung guy.” Referring to money offered by UCE 4599 in exchange for Yee’s support of Chow, Yee lamented “shit, as much as I want that five thousand, I can’t do that man. Shit. Fuck. Shit.”

In 2013, Yee reportedly took meetings with another undercover agent, UCE 4180, posing as a businessman who wanted to become “the Anheuser-Busch of medical marijuana” and was looking for help changing the law in California to make it easier to do business. Yee said that only a ballot initiative could get UCE 4180 what he wanted, and that if elected Secretary of State, Yee could help with that. Jackson then met with Yee and later provided his account information so that UCE 4180 could make a “good faith” donation in exchange for “deliverables.” In June of that year, Yee, Jackson, UCE 4180 and another undercover agent and another (unnamed) state senator all met for a coffee at a Starbucks near the state capitol in Sacramento where Yee reportedly explained that “I’m just trying to run for Secretary of State, I hope I don’t get indicted.”

Whoops.

Of course, this is just a summary of the most egregious charges against Yee and the connections between Yee and Chow through Jackson. Dozens of weapons, millions of dollars and kilo after kilo of drugs - all together, it sounds like the plot to some sort of violent video game that Yee wants to protect your children from. Whether or not Yee is found guilty, with Democratic party leaders asking him to resign immediately, it looks like it’s game over.

****************************

SF Uptown Almanac

Senator Leland Yee, Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow Arrested in Federal Corruption Indictment [Updated]

written by Jackson West

Wednesday March 26, 2014

This morning, the FBI searched the office of San Francisco Democrat and State Senator Leland Yee while Yee was handcuffed and driven to the federal building as part of a corruption indictment.

Search warrants are being served across the Bay Area, including the Gee Ting Kong Free Mason clubhouse in Chinatown. Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow, President of the Supreme Lodge of Chinese Free Masons, has also been arrested in connection with the investigation. The infamous Chow has spent decades in prison for his role in violent, organized crime and connections to Hong Kong triads. Of course, that didn’t prevent Mayor Lee from honoring “Shrimp Boy” for “working ‘in the trenches’ as a Change Agent” in 2012:

No details about the nature of the indictment have been released yet, but the Chronicle claims from “sources” that the raids “stemmed from a shooting about five years ago.”

Former San Francisco Supervisor and Yee campaign volunteer Ed Jew has been in, then out, and now back in jail on federal and state corruption charges since being arrested in 2007, though there’s no indication the cases are connected. Chow has publicly distanced himself from his criminal past since last being released from prison in 2003, while Yee continued serving in the state senate after losing the 2011 mayoral election in San Francisco to Ed Lee.

Yee himself has a history with legal troubles:

In 2000, Yee was arrested in Hawaii on suspicion of boosting an $8.09 bottle of suntan oil by putting it in the front of his shorts.

A year earlier, Lee was pulled over twice by San Francisco police officer who suspected him of cruising the Mission District in search of prostitutes. In both cases, police questioned Yee at the scene of the stops on South Van Ness Avenue and let him go on his way.

Senator Leland Yee is currently a candidate for California Secretary of State.

Update: As the search continues this morning, the SFFD was called in to help crack a safe at the Gee Ting Kong clubhouse. Investigators are also searching the Bay Steel warehouse on Davidson Street in the Bayview according to KGO’s Jenna Lane, who reports “All’s quiet at Leland Yee’s home in the Sunset.”