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Thursday, 25 October 2018

The Book of the Small Prophet Amos Chapter 6

 

Book of Small Prophets


Amos 


Chapter  


6

 

 

 

¹ Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria the notables of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel resorts.

 

 

 

(The Book of Small Prophets Chapter 6 verse 1) 

 

 

 

 Alas to those of us, even at times myself, who may feel that they are walking according to God's way and may be under the impression that their faith is complete and that their place in heaven is secure because we are familiar with God and His Word and maybe because we pray every day and attend to this or that particular prayer group.



Alas for us, even though we may feel in our comfort zones, You my God and Father are asking us to make leaps of faith in our life, to continue to grow in our faith, for because even if we may be of an age we are still infants where it concerns our faith. I pray that we become more aware of the need to grow in our life holistically including our faith and spiritual life Amen.



² Cross over to Calneh, and see: from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is your territory greater than their territory?




(The Book of Small Prophets Chapter 6 verse 2) 




Oh God, my Father in a spirit of prayer I ask myself the same question. What have I given You more than others that I may live in Malta, where I can feel safe and secure and happy, even though the opportunities it offers cannot be compared to those of the USA, however I am still happy and grateful to live in Malta and to be called a Christian and a Catholic Amen.



³ O you that put far away the evil day, and bring near a reign of violence?




(The Book of Small Prophets Chapter 6 verse 3) 




Oh God my loving Father You are the only one who can press the reset button and bring an end to all the injustice taking place in the world and that will take place in the future. You have control over all things and over all situations. I pray that You bring an end to all suffering according to Your will so that we will be freed from the bondage of sin and evil will be no longer. Oh, what a day this would be my God and Father Amen.


⁴ Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall; ⁵ who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music; ⁶ who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!




(The Book of Small Prophets Chapter 6 verses 4 to 6) 




Oh God, my Father, we can also end up being alienated from the realities and needs of those in our inner circles and even those who do not pertain to such circles. I pray for those in power so that they use it well in a sensible and sensitive way in order to achieve the best for their subjects Amen.



⁷ Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.



(The Book of Small Prophets Chapter 6 verse 7) 



Alas for alienation it is our ruin all things of the world will pass by but Your promises shall never remain passive Amen.



⁸ The Lord GOD has sworn by himself (says the LORD, the God of hosts): I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds, and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.



(The Book of Small Prophets Chapter 6 verse 8) 


Oh God my Father, You can swear as much as You want to but I cannot use Your name in vain, I love You so much. There have only been a few moments when I was pushed to the edge of my sanity and I ended up swearing by Your Holy Name, and for such moments I plead for Your forgiveness Amen.


⁹ If ten people remain in one house, they shall die. ¹⁰ And if a relative, one who burns the dead, shall take up the body to bring it out of the house, and shall say to someone in the innermost parts of the house. "Is anyone else with you?" the answer will come, "No." Then the relative shall say, "Hush! We must not mention the name of the LORD."




(The Book of Small Prophets Chapter 6 verses 9 to 10) 



Oh God, my Father You are a jealous God who never accepts to occupy the second place in our lives. You do not accept the ways of the world such as cremation for this goes against Your will Amen. I pray that You help me overcome the trials of life in order to obey You Amen.



¹¹ See, the LORD commands, and the great house shall be shattered to bits and the little house to pieces.




(The Book of Small Prophets Chapter 6 verse 11) 


Oh God, my Father as I have always believed and as found written in the Bible, all is under Your control and You control everything. Therefore I place my will under Your command and may Your will be done in all the circumstances of my life and not mine Amen.



¹³ Do horses run on rocks? Does one plough the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood-¹³ you who rejoice in Lo-debar," who say, "Have we not by our own strength taken Karnaim for ourselves?" ¹⁴ Indeed, I am raising up against you a nation. O house of Israel, says the LORD, the God of hosts, and they shall oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Wadi Arabah. 




(The Book of Small Prophets Chapter 6 verses 13 to 14) 


Oh, brothers and sisters, we have removed God from the core of our lives and we are trying to take full control. We have become foolish enough to claim ourselves almost to be God of our lives. We are depending more on ourselves and our means than on You my God and Father. In doing so we are making a mess of our lives and those of others. I pray that You take control, my God and Father Amen.



Oh God, my Father, I would like to end this sixth chapter of the book of the small prophet Amos with the following prayer:-


Oh God my Father shake us out of our state of alienation. Show us the holy road to our salvation. Turn us away from our sinful ways. Give us your light for we are blind. Amen. Thank You Jesus.


 




 

Tuesday, 19 September 2017

The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5

 

Book of Small Prophets


Amos 


Chapter  


5

 

 

¹ Hear this word that I take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel; ² Fallen, no more to rise, is maiden Israel; forsaken on her land with no one to raise her up.



(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verses 1 to 2)



Oh God my Father Your instructions are clear. They are for us to hear and listen attentively. We no longer can take You and Your Word for granted. It is a must that we pay attention, for as a world we have already went donw the scale from sons and daughters of God to maidens as in the case of Israel. We have also fallen due to the weight of our sins. We would like to wake up and be responsible and carry our weight on our two feet, but we are happy living in an alienated life of virtual reality with the mouse in our hand and the impression that we are in control of our lives. Wake up! Brothers and Sisters! This is an ilusion! the opium of the people that Karl Marx had predicted so long ago. Somebody forgot the valve of the opium flowing and today we are still under its drowsy effect. We think that we are seeing reality but we are not help us oh Jesus, for we need Your help urgently!


³ For thus says the Lord God: The city that marched out a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which marched out a hundred shall have ten left."


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verse 3)



Oh God my beloved Father, had we paid heed to Your prophecies life on earth would have been much better, however we all made plans of our own and put aside the plans that You had made for us ever since the beginning of time. However I still believe that You are in control and that Your will be done. Amen.


⁴ For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel Seek me and live; ⁵ but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing.


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verses 4 to 5)


Oh God my Father, the choice has always been the same and will always will remain so, this is You. All life finds its meaning in You, and in You only can I  find true and everlasting life. I pray that I will not be tempted to seek the corrupted ways of the world, but only the paths that lead to You Amen.


⁶ Seek the Lord and live, or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire, and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it.


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verse 6)



Oh God my Father I am trying to seek You but I  am dying instead of living, Your hand has rested on me in a way that my life is not even worth living. My life is being devoured by Your fire and the fire of my sins. It is not worth living any more all is becoming ashes. Amen.



⁷ Ah you that turn justice to wormwood and bring righteousness to the ground!


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verse 7)



Oh God my Father this is a word or message or admonition for all of us for we are all sinners, who in a way are selfish in our ways and if given the opportunity we turn a situation into our favour. I pray oh God my Father, that You free me and the rest of humanity from this circle of selfishness Amen.


⁸ The one who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning;, and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name, ⁹ who makes destruction flash out against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.



(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verses 8 to 9)



Jesus, Jesus that is his name, If I could oh God my Father, I would personally go throughout the world and spread the wonders of Your name Amen love You Jesus my God and Father.



¹⁰ They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verse 10)



Oh God my Father, those who do not like the truth abhor it from the bottom of their hearts, I thank You for giving me such love, that thirsts for You even though at times I feel sad and discouraged, however, every time You lift me up and empower me. Amen.


¹¹ Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verse 11)


Oh God, my blessed Father, I pray that You give me the wisdom, love, and strength to cater to the needs of vulnerable people and even help to preserve their rights. I pray that You help me in assisting a person who is really and truly vulnerable, I pray that You help me in advocating for him Amen.


¹² For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins- you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate.



(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verse 12)


Oh God my beloved Father, You know me even more than I know myself. You know my strengths and You know my weaknesses. You know how much I try to do my best and how much I try to overcome myself and place my trust in You. Amen.


¹³ Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time.


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verse 13)


Oh God my beloved Father, You have taught me that there is a time to speak and a time to hold my silence. I pray that You help me in achieving this state of control over myself so that I will discern more when to keep silent Amen.


¹⁴ Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts will be with you, just as you have said.


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verse 14)


Oh God my Father, this is the best of instructions that if we remain on Your side You will always be with us. However, we can only do this by means of the grace of Your Holy Spirit for as humans we are we are prone and subject to sin.

I would like all to join me in the following song and prayer called 'Standing on the Lord's Side' credit to allun2him


Leaning on the Lord's side

¹⁵ Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verse 15)


Oh God my Father, I pray that today You will enable be to be just as in other days of my life and seek the balance between what is right and what the emotions dictate as to be the truth. I pray that You make me have an objective attitude that leads me to arrive at the truth Amen.


¹⁶ Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord; In all the squares there shall be wailing; and in all the streets they shall say "Alas! alas!" They shall call the farmers to mourning, and those skilled in lamentation, to wailing; ¹⁷ in all the vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through the midst of you, says the LORD.


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verses 16 to 17)


Oh God my beloved Father, what a heartbreak it would be if You were to pass among us and we would not be aware of Your Holy and mighty presence. I pray that I am always ready to welcome You in my heart and that I am always receptive to You my God and Father Amen.


¹⁸ Alas for you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness, not light; ¹⁹ as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake.


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verses 18 to 19) 



Oh God my Father, for those who do not have Your fear, the day of the LORD is going to be great trauma, for they will realize that the God that they did not believe in really exists. When one realizes the illusion that one was living, there will be more than gnashing of teeth. God my Father have mercy on us Amen. 


²⁰ Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verse 20) 


Oh God my blessed Father, if one is deep in mortal sin and has vowed to never live according to Your ways, the day of God, will be a terror, however I still believe that in that darkness You my God and Father will manifest Your light and give us the opportunity to repent Amen. 


²¹ I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verse 21) 


Oh God my Father, I understand the reason for hating our festivals, because many times certain festivals are not focused  on giving You praise and worship but a good opportunity for meeting friends and maybe having a drink.


²² Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. ²³ Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. ²⁴ But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.



(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verses 22 to 24)  



Oh God my blessed Father, I pray that You purify the Roman Catholic Church and even other churches. May we fully convinced in our faith, especially when we take part in celebrations such as that of the Holy Eucharist. Amen


²⁵  Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? ²⁶ You shall take up Sakkuth your king, and kaiwan your star god, your images, which you made for yourselves; ²⁷ therefore I will take you into exile beyond Damascus, says the LORD whose name is the God of hosts.



(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 5 verses 25 to 27)  



Oh God my Father, I totally agree with You. When the going is good we refer to our own idols and even ourselves however when the going gets tough we offer You our prayers. This is use and abuse of Your love, mercy and justice Amen

Oh God my beloved Father, I wish to end this meditation on the fifth chapter of the book of the small prophet Amos with the following prayer:


May we remain faithful to You my God and Father. May You always be the most important person in our lives. Forgive us when we used You and even abused You by referring to worldly idols and practices. Amen.




 


 




















 

  




 


 

Sunday, 5 February 2017

The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 4



Book of Small Prophets


Amos 


Chapter  


4



¹  Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on Mount Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to their husbands, "Bring something to drink!"



(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 4 verse 1)




Oh God my Father if the prophet had to look upon our world in 2017 I would wonder what he would call us, maybe murderers, persecutors, abortionists, unfaithful, paedophiles among others. I pray for my own constant healing and even that of the whole world, from our sins and from the form of culture that we are living today that is becoming more secular and atheistic than ever before Amen. May the flame of faith keep on burning in our hearts Amen.




² The Lord God has sworn by his holiness; The time is surely coming upon you, when they shall take you away with hooks, even the last of you with fishhooks.




(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 4 verse 2)


Oh God, my Father whenever we wander away from You, we become the dead meat in the presence of our greatest enemy who takes pleasure in seeing us suffer. Right now I feel as if I am a swimmer who is pursued by a colony of deadly sharks. Although I am seeking shelter in You my God and Father, the forces of evil are blocking all my escape routes. I pray that You continue to help me because I feel alone and afraid even though I have made the right decision.



³ Through breaches in the wall you shall leave, each one straight ahead; and you shall be flung out into Harmon, says the LORD.


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 4 verse 3)


Oh God, my Father, I pray that we face the consequences of our actions because in this way we experience growth on many levels. Amen



⁴ Come to Bethel - and transgress; to Gilgal - and multiply transgression; bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days; ⁵ bring a thank offering of leavened bread, and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them; for so you love to do, O people of Israel! says the Lord God.


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 4 verses 4 to 5)



Oh God, my Father Your call is one and always the same, that is the call for us to repent of our sins and start again in our relationship with You. Even though we may be hardened sinners and stubborn in our ways and deeds You are calling us to repent. You have paid the bill or account of our transgressions Amen. Thank You, God my Father.


⁶ I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places, yet you did not return to me, says the LORD.


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 4 verse 6)



Oh God, my Father I thank You for Your divine providence and Your infinite love, I thank You for catering for all my needs and wants in abundance. I thank You for Your timing and even for those moments when You said 'No' instead of 'Yes' even though at the time I could not understand or accept Your reasons Amen.


⁷And I also witheld the rain from you when there were still three months to the harvest; I would send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city; one field would be rained upon, and the field on which it did not rain withered; ⁸ so two or three towns wandered to one town to drink water, and were not satisfied yet you did not return to me, says the LORD.
 

(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 4 verses 7 to 8)



 Oh God my Father You have given us many signs in order to enable our understanding and raise our awareness but we are interpreting the signs from a purely scientific perspective and are not getting the message that from a spiritual perspective something needs to be done, before our time is up especially on a global level.


⁹ I struck you with blight and mildew; I laid waste your gardens and your vineyards; the locust devoured your fig trees and your olive trees; yet you did not return to me says the LORD.

 
(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 4 verse 9)


Oh God what are we waiting for in order to change our lifestyles and our sinful ways, You have given us many signs of the consequences of our unhealthy and sinful ways of life, however, we are still living the same reality. I pray oh God my Father, that You do not give up on us but keep on trying Amen.


¹⁰ I sent among you a pestilence after the manner of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword; I carried away your horses; and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils; yet you did not return to me, says the LORD.



(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 4 verse 10)



Oh God my beloved Father, You make use of many different situations in order to get our attention, even a car accident, or unemployment, may be a means of getting us out of a situation, or even a person that we fail to make contact with. However, even though You do Your best from Your side, You still give us the free rein in the decisions that we make Amen. 




¹¹ I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a brand snatched from the fire; yet you did not return to me, says the LORD. 


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 4 verse 11) 




Oh God my Father, You perform many acts on our behalf, without our being aware of them, You try to save us from ourselves using many means, however, we still do not always respond positively to You my God and Father. I pray for forgiveness in the name of all. Amen. 



¹² Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!


(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 4 verse 12) 



Oh God my beloved Father, may it be that I consider each day of my life as being the last day and that before I do an action I question if I would really do that act in light of this being my last day and that a couple of minutes or hours after I would appear before You. This scenario helps to keep me in check my God and Father Amen.



¹³ For lo, the one who forms the mountains, creates the wind, reveals his thoughts to mortals, makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth-the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!



(The Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 4 verse 13)




Oh God my beloved Father, blessed be Your Name, may Your will always be done on earth as it is in heaven. May we learn to trust in You during the good times and even during the not so good times Amen. Blessed be Your Holy Name. I invite you to join me in this song and prayer Amen.



Blessed be Your Name (Credit to Tracy J001) 




Oh God my beloved Father, I would like to end this fourth chapter of the book of Amos, the small prophet with the following prayer:-



Oh God, my beloved Father, as in the Old Testament You gave us many warnings and even made us aware of the outcomes and consequences of our actions if we continue not to live according to Your ways. May we all accept responsibility the consequences and not blame You for what is to happen in the future Amen.


  





  

 



  





Saturday, 2 July 2016

The Book of Small Prophets Hosea Chapter 14


THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET

HOSEA 

CHAPTER 

14





1. Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. 2. Take words with you and return to the LORD; say to him, "Take away all guilt; accept that which is good, and we will offer the fruit of our lips.


(Book of Small Prophets Chapter 14 verses 1 to 2)



Oh God, my Father I also pray that You take away my guilt for I am also a great sinner, even though I confess my sins, time and time again I am still weak and end up repeating the same sin again and again. I am afraid that I also offer You lip service and that when I will face the final test in Your presence, I will not be worthy of appearing before You because of my sins. Amen. 



3. Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; we will say no more, 'Our God' to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy."


(Book of Small Prophets Chapter 14 verse 3)





Oh God my Father You are my only saviour and nobody or nothing can match or take Your place. Some may give their achievements unlimited value more than they really deserve. I pray oh God that 
I always keep this though in mind that neither work, career or even family can ever be an idol that competes with You my God and Father. Amen.



4. I will heal their disloyalty; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. 5. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily, he shall strike root like the forests of Lebanon.


(Book of Small Prophets Chapter 14 verses 4 to 5)


Oh God, my father you love us so much, even though at times You vent Your anger like all parents as myself but in truth Your love is never ending my God and Father. Amen.



6. His shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like that of Lebanon. 7. They shall again live beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom like the vine. their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon.


(Book of Small Prophets Chapter 14 verses 6 to 7)



Oh God once You deliver us our spirits will be renewed again. We will experience Your beauty so much that i twill reflect on us. We will start living in Yor presence again and we will have new life in us and be fruitful in all levels both the material and the spiritual. I thank You, my God and Father, for never giving up one me Amen.



8. O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me.



(Book of Small Prophets Chapter 14 verse 8)



Oh God my Father You have always been true and faithful to me but I have not always been true to my commitment. I pray for forgiveness oh God my Father.



9. Those who are wise understand these things; those things; those who are discerning know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.


(Book of Small Prophets Chapter 14 verse 9)



When meditating on Your Word or 'Good News' You make me aware of many issues that I had never stopped to reflect on them before. You enlighten me with a new perspective of how to view the world in light of the teachings found in Your Bible, the teachings of the Church and the messages that You pass on to me every time I meditate on Your 'Good News'. I thank You for such precious moments my God and Father. Amen.




I would like to end this last chapter of the book of the Prophet Hosea with the following prayer:-



Oh my, God and Father, I thank You for the many times that I have lost count of that You saved me out of my moments of Egypt crisis and pain. I ask for Your forgiveness for not always being faithful to Your Word, when You were always true to me. You love me so much. 


Thank You my God and Father






Wednesday, 29 June 2016

Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 3



Book of Small Prophets

Amos 


Chapter  

3






1. Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: 2. You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.


(Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 3 verses 1 to 2)





Oh God, my Father I thank You for being in a relationship, with me throughout all these years, even before you created me, I was already part of Your plan for my salvation.  As one of Your many sons on earth, I welcome  and accept, Your chastisement for I know that I merit it and am also aware that it will help me grow both in my relationship with You and also as a human in my inner self Amen.


3.Do two walk together unless they have made an appointment? 4. Does a young lion cry out from its den if it has caught nothing? 5. Does a bird fall into  a snare on the earth when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground when it has taken nothing? 6. Is a trumpet blown in a city and the people are not afraid? Does disaster befall a city, unless the LORD has done it?




(Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 3 verses 3 to 6)


Oh God, my Father there is nothing that is beyond Your control or that You are not aware of. You have control over everything and everyone, however, even though You have such authority You do not abuse it, by forcing us to love You and others and to live according to Your ways. Amen. 




7. Surely the LORD God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.



(Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 3 verse 7) 



Oh God, my Father You love us so much that You always prepare us in some way for what is to happen next in our life. You create circumstances that raise our awareness so that nothing will come as a surprise Amen.  




8. The lion has roared who will not fear; The Lord God has spoken who can but prophesy?


(Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 3 verse 8)




Oh God my Father during our times, we are so alienated, that even if a lion roars nobody will ever notice. People are going unnoticed and later on they are, being found dead in their homes, in the village core where the community is a close one. We are so centred on our self or on those of our inner circle that we are not aware of others who might be in needs. Our ears are blocked so that even if we hear Your prophesy it will not be effective. I am very sorry oh God my Father and plead for Your forgiveness Amen.    



9. Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod, and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say, "Assemble yourselves on Mount Samaria and see what great tumults are within it, what oppressions are in its midst."


(Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 3 verse 9)


Oh God, my Father our Mount Samaria can range from our inner self to our family or inner circles. A mountain is a high place where we can have a bird's eye view of the location. Likewise, from our vantage point, we can stop and look at our inner self and reflect on what could be creating chaos in our life, possibly our sins and seek to repent and change our ways Amen. 



10. They do not know how to do right, says the LORD, those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.



(Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 3 verse 10)



Oh God my Father some of us for some reason practice self-harm on themselves intentionally and at times unintentionally. When biting one's fingernails one is harming the fine tissue beneath the nail and at times causing the finger to bleed. One may say that one is tense or anxious and when in such a state without being aware one, bites the nails and damages the skin. However, there are others who perform acts of self-harm such as whipping oneself which can have negative consequences on the body especially on a long term as in the following video clip that I recommend to be seen after it has been seen by parents.



Film showing acts of self-harm 



11. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: An adversary shall surround the land, and strip you of your defense: and your strongholds shall be plundered.



(Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 3 verse 11)



Oh God my Father, the adversary is the evil spirit of Satan who is on the loose and is always ready to make us sin and turn against You my, God and Father. During such moments of prayer, I am still tempted more and more to do what is not according to Your will. God have mercy Amen.  


12. Thus says the LORD; As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who live in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.


(Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 3 verse 12)


Many times oh God my Father, You rescue us from our sins and their related consequences such as drug addiction or obsessive-compulsive disorder, however, we already may have done great harm to our minds and bodies and even our souls. Therefore our healing process will take longer, however ,You my, God are not limited by time and therefore You can heal us whenever You want to Amen.


13. Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob, says the Lord God, the God of hosts: 14. On the day I punish Israel for its transgressions, I will punish the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground. 15. I will tear down the winter house as well as the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end, says the LORD.



(Book of Small Prophets Amos Chapter 3 verses 13 to 15)



Oh God, my Father I pray that You bring down Your wrath on us Your Church for we truly deserve it even in 2016. We have defiled the churches by being people who do not live what we have professed to believe. Our lives at times are contrary to what we are to live and then we come to church to receive You without no feeling of contrition. We are defiling the sanctity of Your presence in the Church.  I also pray that You tear down the riches and well-decorated areas of the Vatican and also the summer and winter houses, for even the Vatican has been contaminated by the sinful acts that have taken place.  I believe that You would never have chosen such a rich place to dwell in but somewhere reserved quiet and holy far away from the business of mankind, however, a place where all can come and have fellowship with You.  



Oh God, my Father I would like to end this third chapter of the book of the prophet Amos, with the following prayer.



Oh God my Father today I thank You for having called me to follow You. Even though I am a sinner. I pray that baptise the Roman Catholic Church and other churches with a new baptism. Cleanse and renew our souls with the power of the Holy Spirit so that we may be renewed in spirit and in faith Amen. Strip down anything and anyone that stands between You and us and that is hindering us from living our faith as we are to be Amen.


Thank You Jesus.