A cool part of the devotion-journaling journey, at a prayer gathering I attended, was to prune a spider plant, but instead of casting to the fire for unproductive dryness, these branches were making new offshoots and are to be replanted and grown. Easy for a spider plant because it doesn’t even need soil that much, it just grows and grows.  But yes, even better for me to plant it in it’s most healthy nutritional soil… 

Our lives, grown, fed, watered, pruned, cared for, loved… God does this pruning thing in love so we can bear MORE fruit, as stronger branches reach further, and good fruit makes good seeds… God’s got ideas for us with Him, we are to know then that they involve us! We need to know that He never leaves us.

So like plants, SOME plantings and plans are easy, like this spider plant just begging to get it’s shoots to other places. Some plantings are HARD, tough to nurture and are constant care-needy… Some won’t take in this lifeline but the effort still teaches and reaches…

God’s plans, plantings, and waterings are God-gifted and we know God wins, so we should soak our soul and soil in Him, watching the results in the spring and summer after our winter weather woes…

So let us regroup to fruit… We may feel pain in pruning or we may feel a burden lightened – either way Let Us Go God’s Way…

Amen

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Jesus speaks:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.  This is my command: Love each other.

John 15:1-17

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Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:17-18

No Sugar Coating – a HARD pill to swallow – the people of Israel were gone off the deep end and God was having none of it anymore… “Doom has burst forth” – WOW !!!

Written by Ezekiel: And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable.”

It would be a hard pill to swallow for the HARD HEARTS – but the people themselves weren’t even listening. Ezekiel had to play act many years of graphic depictions of the doom – God even sent Ezekiel a vision of his throne departing Jerusalem and the temple to go to Babylon – see chapters 10 and 11 – God was going to leave the building…

So here in chapters 7, 8 and 9, God was clearly telling Ezekiel the hard bad news and that there was no hope for the people in the people getting their acts together – He Himself would move out and there would be no more guidance than what had already been given. Ezekiel’s call to writing is similar to the verbal warnings that Jesus gave when He walked the earth – no signs to be given than what has already been given – like Jonah’s warnings, the people need to LISTEN. Jesus spoke of people not listening to Solomon any more – that wicked generations will essentially become more wicked… Yeah…

The glimmer of hope is real in Ezekiel’s time – but it is that but only a remnant would be saved and carried thru to the next generation and generations… Not the place but the people. There are MANY more chapters to this book – just like we have many more chapters to our lives.

May we listen and not have to take the hard road like the people of Ezekiel’s time – but take the easier path of being led and following… Listen, Obey, Heal, Hope, Help…

Amen (and to be continued…)

(and always a reminder to watch the bible project depiction of the story line…

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Ezekiel Chapter 7 – The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel: “‘The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land! The end is now upon you, and I will unleash my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will surely repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you. “‘Then you will know that I am the Lord.’

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘Disaster! Unheard-of disaster! See, it comes! The end has come! The end has come! It has roused itself against you. See, it comes! Doom has come upon you, upon you who dwell in the land. The time has come! The day is near! There is panic, not joy, on the mountains. I am about to pour out my wrath on you and spend my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you. “‘Then you will know that it is I the Lord who strikes you.

“‘See, the day! See, it comes! Doom has burst forth, the rod has budded, arrogance has blossomed! Violence has arisen, a rod to punish the wicked. None of the people will be left, none of that crowd – none of their wealth, nothing of value. The time has come! The day has arrived! Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller grieve, for my wrath is on the whole crowd. The seller will not recover the property that was sold – as long as both buyer and seller live. For the vision concerning the whole crowd will not be reversed. Because of their sins, not one of them will preserve their life.

“‘They have blown the trumpet, they have made all things ready, but no one will go into battle, for my wrath is on the whole crowd. Outside is the sword; inside are plague and famine. Those in the country will die by the sword; those in the city will be devoured by famine and plague. The fugitives who escape will flee to the mountains. Like doves of the valleys, they will all moan, each for their own sins. Every hand will go limp; every leg will be wet with urine. They will put on sackcloth and be clothed with terror. Every face will be covered with shame, and every head will be shaved.

“‘They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin. They took pride in their beautiful jewelry and used it to make their detestable idols. They made it into vile images; therefore I will make it a thing unclean for them. I will give their wealth as plunder to foreigners and as loot to the wicked of the earth, who will defile it. I will turn my face away from the people, and robbers will desecrate the place I treasure.
They will enter it and will defile it.

“‘Prepare chains! For the land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence. I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the mighty, and their sanctuaries will be desecrated. When terror comes, they will seek peace in vain. Calamity upon calamity will come, and rumor upon rumor. They will go searching for a vision from the prophet, priestly instruction in the law will cease, the counsel of the elders will come to an end. The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with despair, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. I will deal with them according to their conduct, and by their own standards I will judge them.

“‘Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”

Chapter 8 – Idolatry in the Temple
In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign Lord came on me there. I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man. From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal. He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain.

Then he said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy. And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable.”

Then he brought me to the entrance to the court. I looked, and I saw a hole in the wall. He said to me, “Son of man, now dig into the wall.” So I dug into the wall and saw a doorway there. And he said to me, “Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here.” So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the walls all kinds of crawling things and unclean animals and all the idols of Israel. In front of them stood seventy elders of Israel, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising.

He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’” Again, he said, “You will see them doing things that are even more detestable.”

Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and I saw women sitting there, mourning the god Tammuz. He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? You will see things that are even more detestable than this.”

He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.

He said to me, “Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the people of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually arouse my anger? Look at them putting the branch to their nose! Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen to them.”

Chapter 9 – Judgment on the Idolaters
Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, “Bring near those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.” And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”

As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.

Then he said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city. While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown, crying out, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?”

He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. They say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’ So I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.”

Then the man in linen with the writing kit at his side brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded.”

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Time to get back to our storyline of Ezekiel… what an interesting life and call… this time Ezekiel is EZ-ily going to look like He is on a mission, but if it were to happen these days, we may doubt this unusual behavior actually being from God – BUT IT IS – and since it IS written as so, it IS from God… GOD SENT PROPHETS IN THE DAY. here God makes it clear of His knowledge of His unusual level of punishment… Jerusalem has behaved worse than even the nations around her (defiled my sanctuary with all your vile images and detestable practices), and it is AWFUL in God’s sight. It’s pretty unthinkable what will happen, HARSH, that even God remarks at the cruelty to be demonstrated by broken people and inflicted upon them, so much that God says this level of punishment is necessary but won’t be repeated. The Lord says: I myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will inflict punishment on you in the sight of the nations.

Ezekiel was told to shave his hair, both beard and head, with a sword edge, sharp as a razor, and physically weigh portions of his hair and do special specific signs with each portion.  One third placed here and there… signature acts to represent  how the Lord ‘myself will shave you; I will not look on you with pity or spare you. A third of your people will die of the plague or perish by famine inside you; a third will fall by the sword outside your walls; and a third I will scatter to the winds and pursue with drawn sword‘.

I really can’t conclude much more than just taking all this in, understand the moment and realize how powerful God is and that He means what He means. When we live on the razor edge, God brings out His sword. The Sword of Truth is something that we have from God Himself being the Word of God. There’s nothing more sharp or piercing than the Word of God in our lives… Let us all be faithful and listen.

Amen 

There’s a really good spoken scripture on ‘BibleGateway’. I LISTENED to this chapter,  read by David Suchet, who is a famous actor with a wonderful accent, and I can understand his inflections of voice. It’s a great way to listen to the Bible.

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/suchet/nivuk/Ezek.5

God’s Razor of Judgment
“Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber’s razor to shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide up the hair. When the days of your siege come to an end, burn a third of the hair inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind. For I will pursue them with drawn sword. But take a few hairs and tuck them away in the folds of your garment. Again, take a few of these and throw them into the fire and burn them up. A fire will spread from there to all Israel.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. Yet in her wickedness she has rebelled against my laws and decrees more than the nations and countries around her. She has rejected my laws and has not followed my decrees.

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: You have been more unruly than the nations around you and have not followed my decrees or kept my laws. You have not even conformed to the standards of the nations around you.

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will inflict punishment on you in the sight of the nations. Because of all your detestable idols, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again. Therefore in your midst parents will eat their children, and children will eat their parents. I will inflict punishment on you and will scatter all your survivors to the winds. Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your vile images and detestable practices, I myself will shave you; I will not look on you with pity or spare you. A third of your people will die of the plague or perish by famine inside you; a third will fall by the sword outside your walls; and a third I will scatter to the winds and pursue with drawn sword.

“Then my anger will cease and my wrath against them will subside, and I will be avenged. And when I have spent my wrath on them, they will know that I the Lord have spoken in my zeal.

“I will make you a ruin and a reproach among the nations around you, in the sight of all who pass by. You will be a reproach and a taunt, a warning and an object of horror to the nations around you when I inflict punishment on you in anger and in wrath and with stinging rebuke. I the Lord have spoken. When I shoot at you with my deadly and destructive arrows of famine, I will shoot to destroy you. I will bring more and more famine upon you and cut off your supply of food. I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will leave you childless. Plague and bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I the Lord have spoken.”

This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1

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The Ascension to Heaven by Jesus had little pre-hype, but more than all the Height.

Remember the ASCENDING FLIGHT will have a matching descend, and JESUS WILL PUT THINGS RIGHT! 

The awe-worthy future return seemingly ready for a fight, but Jesus has the same saving Grace and JESUS will be putting day victory into night. 

Jesus IS the Light! THE LIGHT!

Jesus will be a Great Sight. We will all know His MIGHTY MIGHT!

So how can we now sit tight? By trying to be doing God’s Will, alright?

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to make our hearts RIGHT. Let us ask the Holy Spirit’s help, so that all may see the LIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT. 

SLEEP IN THE LIGHT!

It Doesn’t Have to be that Deep, 

 a test the waters conversation with God we should start to steep.

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To be with Jesus, it’s a simple Yes,

 not a PhD dissertation, nor graduation address.

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It doesn’t have to be that deep,

 although it comes from one’s deep soul, really deep.

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It can simply be a statement: ‘Yes’

 and ‘I want to learn more, I confess.’

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Jesus collects the tears we weep.

 From His mouth, our ears should steep.

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And to feel the full Mercy Blessing Bless,

 We need to believe in Jesus for FORGIVENESS.

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So let us make Jesus and His Word be the company we keep.

 To start a relationship deep, let us make that continual PEEP.

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Let us continue to believe and let us say: YES!

 And in faithfulness, KNOW He is the Lord Jesus that we confess.

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And now we can reap goodness from our deep.

AMEN – and AMEN to Keep Deep.

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Ephesians (a letter from Paul to strengthen that church community) chapter 3:14-19

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

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Psalm 1
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

If one would compare our life to that of Ezekial – I would say we are BLESSED… Ezekiel was tasked at being exposed – let us say EZ-posed – for over a year – living on the street – prophesying. and Ezekial had to symbolize the future of the Israelites who were turned away from God for years and years. And it wasn’t pretty.

Our lives could would should instead symbolize and exclaim God’s Goodness and Grace and especially His Salvation. We should symbolize and materialize His Joy – would could should –  provide justice like Jesus would for the ostracized – we could walk humbly – we should show how we love mercy – modeling Jesus with our forgiveness passed to others…  We are of His Children who should “get it” by now… We must realize and proclaim that Jesus came as our sacrificial lamb for God’s Plan.

Ezekial’s symbolism and prophecy to demonstrate? Ugh – not so pleasant… The book may be EZ Ezekial to read and understand – but the harsh symbolism of what was to come for those people, who disobeyed Him, for years is down right scary – both as the receiver and as the giver.  Ezekial – protected by God – is being asked to live it out tough – God asks Ezekial to live on the ground for over a year – and next to a big slab of clay that portrays the siege of Jerusalem. Ezekial does get to eat but he has to cook his food over dung – and live a life totally EXPOSED… Ugh…  No thanks, I would rather do my job of writing and speaking and singing of God’s Grace and Mercy, thank you! We live in a time after Jesus came and will come again. But Ezekial had to witness the rebellion and as tough as it was to be a prophet to people who didnt want to listen, EZekial is known to comply – God bless him!

390 days – a day for each year of Israel’s disobedience. plus 40 days for each year of Judah’s rebellion. God was warning and telling them what He was going to do – cut off the food supply – and woe to those who didn’t prepare and believe. 

What about us – do we prepare and believe? Are we living a life exposed? We should be EZ-posed and so obviously EXPOSED to show that we DO TRUST GOD – we DO have JOY – we DO love mercy, kindness, goodness, and live sharing all the fruits of the spirit. If we have trouble in this life, we should remember the words of Jesus who said “I have overcome the world” and keep shining His Light. 

If anything – we should model how we approach the Lord – EZ-posed with hope and thankfulness – with fear for His Almighty Power – and talk of His faithfulness. He has done GREAT things… 

Let us live exposed in His Glory. Pray for those who do not yet realize He IS a Loving and Forgiving God.

Amen

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Ezekial 4 

“Now, son of man, take a block of clay, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the people of Israel.

“Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the people of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the people of Israel.

“After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the people of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year. Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.

“Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. Weigh out twenty shekels[b] of food to eat each day and eat it at set times. Also measure out a sixth of a hin of water and drink it at set times. Eat the food as you would a loaf of barley bread; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel.” The Lord said, “In this way the people of Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them.”

Then I said, “Not so, Sovereign Lord! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No impure meat has ever entered my mouth.”

“Very well,” he said, “I will let you bake your bread over cow dung instead of human excrement.”

He then said to me: “Son of man, I am about to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of their sin.

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Psalm 126

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

A good and faithful kitty servant, ready to bite my toes.

Ever watchful as You, Lord, reminding me to wake up and write your prose.

For whom!? It is not I that knows.

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Only known by You.

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It’s not about me or my rest and my sleep.

It’s about prayers and encouragement for people out in the deep.

People in the world that You keep.

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Loved by You.

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Right now my world is full of pollen, which keeps my allergies hollerin’.

I find this the worst for my toleran’.

My sneezes and my coughs are trouble.

Add those night sweats, makes life’s annoyances double. 

How can I harvest sleep from rubble?

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But somehow I do.

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I don’t understand the system of my health.

But I know Lord that I truly have life from your wealth.

Our inner workings are so stealth. 

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Who knew?

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So I will somehow praise in my stumble. 

Because I knew eventually my praise will be double.

My thorns but Your Grace is enough over my trouble.

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You are truly True. 

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For now I will sit and watch my toes.

I will sleep when I’m not in tossing and turning throws.

And I live fine enough, everyone and I knows. 

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I do.

 .

So let the Kitty purr and stare.

Let my brokeness make me aware.

Our life in part now, to Your WHOLE, there is no compare.

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I love You.

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Thank you Lord for the toes, prose and who knows. 

You knows. 

In You Lord, life goes…

.

TRUE. 

.

Amen 

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1CORINTHIANS 13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Surely many of my memories of camp, a walk to Emmaus weekend where I was blessed to serve on team, will fade for now, resurface later – thanks for letting me share…

I know life goes fast, is OK to reflect in part – life doesn’t give us time to fully unpack everything on this side of heaven anyway, and life on the other side, in Heaven, will have us forever praising. The praise song in my head is “the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His Glory and Grace”. If we process only in part now, we still know and proclaim His Glory.  All the time… God IS good…

I like my little (and big) memories from camp. I’m liking to call them my “Camp Crumbles”, little memory pieces that remind me of the love and joy.  Sustenance and over the top sprinkles of love.

The food was rich and nourishing, tasty and plentiful (always is at camp). I took home one ziploc bag of physical “camp crumbles“- I unpacked that right away for sure – a mixture of one big piece camp coffee cake slice, one biscuit top that I really couldn’t finish then, and added one big brownie. And blessedly now I have been sprinkling them as Crumbles, from harsh transport, each morning on my oatmeal. Tidbits for taste. Sweetness for savor. Crumbles not intact but still tasty. Today is the last of it, but I ALSO received the leftover pretzels, the crumbled broken ones that I mentioned as my favorite ice cream topping and then I got to take home.  Ah, the salt and the sweet. (The pretzels have helped me with my allergies, something different than cough drops to clear my throat).

Spiritual fulfillment is tasty, clears the way, walking by faith too… Perhaps we can continue to taste these snack-size crumbles of experiences all throughout our lives to sustain us until we sit in Heaven to feast forever. Salty and sweet. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

I ALSO remember tiny bits of camp songs, the light of the morning sun, and those birds chipping too. Oh, the sound of the creek waterfall resonating God’s power, and I remember tidbits of time for the quieting of my thoughts, I will try to remember the peace, even as it slips away from me time to time. I will try to sprinkle that peace back into my life, like these Camp Crumbles onto my oatmeal.

In remembering a tidbit of the fun -but nervousness – of finding one’s nametag at the camp farmhouse dinner table, I have been thinking – perhaps this is reflective of having our place at the Lord’s table: IT IS RESERVED and PERSONALIZED and ALREADY THERE. He will find a place, yes,  calling us. Yes, camp gives much to contemplate about us and God forever.

And now, with my last day today to eat the camp crumbles back at home, with morning oatmeal nourishment, today will be the TWIX mini chocolate which is smooshed. In this, I am to remember, Lord, that as squished and smooshed our lives seem to be, YOU DO NOT CHANGE and that You are just as much here at home just as You were at camp. We may be clouded and falling asleep sometimes from knowing You better, but here You are in the finishing crumbs of life. And of those crumbs, of eating some of those pretzels just now, I looked up and saw the best sight. On top of my kitchen cabinets are three Lenox statues with the most prominent one in the front: You and me – You Jesus and me Jarius’s daughter – being awakened from sleepy death into forever faith. Ah… He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).

I’m now up and awake Lord,  thanks, and am forever praising Your WHOLE and getting to share my part..  crumbs from You are part of Your WHOLE!

Amen

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Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16 NIV

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Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? Psalm 113:1-6

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 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” – “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. Matthew 15:25-28

A devotion written for our fellow Walk to Emmaus weekend folks – and for any experience where we have taken that time to get away and have a spirit-filled experience.

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I don’t know about how much you unpacked from camp, about the experience, but I find that so much stuff has gone deep, not ready to surface until later, not all at once.

Unpacking an experience like we had on a 72hour agape-filled walk with Jesus takes a while. Much to unpack, or not. I didn’t even unpack the actual stuff except my dirty life laundry and those clothes too. The rest is still piled on my kitchen chair… Piles of love, agape items, notes and whatnot. I’ve no time to unpack and sort it yet. The rest of the emotional and spiritual stuff is still there piled too. I’ll get to some, the rest…. hmmm….

So much.

I like to think we individually want to REFLECT the experience we have had, from this thought-provoking weekend, like an ability to SHINE it to the world, and imagine us SHINING a “bounce up” of the visual, like from a calm reflection pool in the sunshine. And we do that for sure. And yet, it is not so shiny and smooth on my pond in this world sometimes. Sure the smiling continues inside and out, the songs permeate my brain as I work and walk, people listen to some that I share, but my big chunks of the weekend are still packed deep and have sunk into my pond and my soul, asking to be hydrated by that Living Water, which is seeping, soaking and flooding in, mixing with my whole being. 

It’s alright to let it soak.

We will regather soon, we will reflect and some stuff we will kick out to dry, but mostly we need to remember it is OK to go deep. Sit with it – unpack it as we can – sort it (or not) but hold it and be ready to let some of it go. Treasures are in Heaven – not to burden us here with too much “stuff”, but for now, we unpack slowly. It’s all not buried, lost, but hydrating. It will expand and fill our souls for years to come.

Let us let our experience SOAK in the Spirit… God sees ALL clearly. God will sort it all out for us, in His Time. 

Amen 

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He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psalm 5:1-3

Amen and Amen and Amen, Again and Again and Again.

Of the thousand-millions of Holy Spirit activities, BOTH witnessed and in invisible angel-army realms, over the four days in my time at Camp (for our Walk to Emmaus weekend which is for spiritual growth and church leader development), God included one ‘just special for me‘ witness – so that I would see it and say WOW – WOW What’s Our Witness? Mine is that God’s in charge and has things that knock my socks off – again. 

My whole awakening, over the course of 6weeks in December 2014 to Jan 2015, including unbelievable “God sightings” crazy coincidences, right people at right times. My dry soil seeds hydrated and burst to blooming all at once. So whom am I to not see these jaw-dropping little miracles now. I have MANY of them written up in my awakening writings (which were email format before I put them in blog format months later, now over 2000 writings in 9 years). 

And this most recent God sighting was CLASSIC GOD… I was just minutes away from giving my prepared talk for the event, including discussing my awakening in short detail – making sure to mention that I was/am like Jarius’s daughter raised from dead faith, where Jesus said “she’s simply sleeping” and woke me gently. AND THEN, as I flipped through a book I had donated to the book table, demonstrating to a new friend of the cool set up of scripture and commentary of a Michael Card book (gospel of Mark from the Biblical series), and guess what page I opened? Right to Jarius’s daughter. Boom – I needed that – no matter my nerves I put my rendition of my talk into His Hands – this was for His work not for my comfort or not. We are His Witnesses – whom are we to hide it.

It was something some would call coincidence yet we know there are NO coincidences with God. Treat or trial – thorns too – God says My GRACE is ENOUGH and then some… Some would say a God-sighting yes, and I would say “Yes, Lord, YOU ARE IN CONTROL – and You like to remind me” – cue the acknowledgement of the angel armies in hidden sight. AGAIN… Yeah…

Funny House – I appreciated the talks before mine – and my talk was number 13, one of many fun numbers in my head for God and me – so in talk 12 the pastor-presentor spoke about the example of a house for stages of grace: Prevenient Grace (before we knew it – on the doorstep of the house), Justifying Grace (Just as if I’d never sinned – like being in the door frame), and Sanctifying Grace (you are completely inside – having chosen to walk through the door)… WELL, I told our speaker that God set up my ‘house example’ of Grace like a FUNNY HOUSE, and those days of unbelievable God sightings, the strikes to my disbelief system, THE CHRISTMAS FLOOD, found me holding onto the door jam while God tipped the house and shook it until I had no choice but let my fingers go and LET GO, right into Grace-acceptance, fall right… from asleep to a ‘sanctified faith’ – yeah God, I got it now… 

Jesus sees us, comes to us, wakes us, tends to us as His sheep, and His Holy Spirit grows us up to His Children. Child-like WOWs – still growing in grace – ever approaching His throne – being nudged to live a life that God wants us to live – WITNESSING…

God’s got this – again… Amen

Amen

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Mark 5:34-43

While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Paul in 2nd Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

I was already thinking about the bag of pretzels and the cream cheese in the back of my car before I pulled out of camp (a 4-day time for me to help others in a closer walk with Jesus on a Walk to Emmaus weekend). And the cream cheese and chocolate snacks called to me more and more as I drove one friend then another friend home. The chocolate was eaten well before I left the back roads, and satisfyingly wanted as we left utopia-like situations back to the real world. Chocolate would have melted anyway, best to partake fast!

The back to reality wasn’t tough on my car or my life, but mentally tough on me for those first few hours, just not getting where I WANTED to go, especially the thought of back tracking my path driving adding an extra hour, IT WAS TOUGH until the last dropped-off friend reminded me about the truthful generous aspect of life with others in Christian living that lends itself into a saying that I on occasion hear: ‘it is about one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread‘.  Ah, yes, I had lost a bit of that bread-hunger-FOCUS in my crush of reality after a dreamy 72hour weekend filled with God in action, where my cup runneth over. I was then the beggar begetting anger until I remembered GRACE and not throwing away my peace. It was a reminder in reality to RE-know to thirst for the SPIRIT influx, be satisfied with my blessings, stop selfishness,  and return to SELFLESSNESS. “MY GRACE IS ENOUGH” God says over my thorns… YUP..  

The cream cheese and my frustration waited, I started counting my blessings instead. Especially counting blessings when I saw a car accident that I WASN’T in. Oh those fire trucks, ambulance, and the crushed car in front of me along the second highway. Reality check. Life is precarious at those fast speeds, cars too. Slowdown the harried hurry. Put the peace pursuit back in.

72 hours I had slowed down, with practically no worries, no phone, no car, no hassle, no worries… a life in agape grace… but now was time for re-entering the world… whew…

I wasn’t concerned about home, except for thinking I needed to GET THERE. My son’s concern, texted to me, was that the cat missed me, and birds had pooped on his new car,  hmmm… Not a crisis… “did I have car wash tokens?” No… So it was not like anyone was desperate for me. Yes the cat is SO HAPPY now, on my feet as I write this, and I have recouped much sleep – but then I was lacking that sleep. And I always drive drive drive but life back on the road is not the camp life that only a few hours earlier that had me so relaxed that I worried about nothing.

The CRUSH OF REALITY became me reaching for that chocolate first and pretzels next with the dream of cream cheese – but the best reach (and re-reach) was for the bread of sharing in common Jesus moments, trying to understand how I had the break but now was back in the hassle of the hustle SO QUICKLY. And as I got slightly stuck in traffic, I was reminded that God’s Timing sometimes makes us accepting long hauls. It was OK, I was OK. I calmed my soul and my gas pedal. 

First friend dropped off, then an hour later the second friend got her stuff out of the car and said, ‘oh I have all this bread, I don’t know why they gave it away to me’ – I replied “oh I’ll take it – I’ll take it to work-they eat anything” as I had taken other items myself for work, like skittles and the bagels and cream cheese to reduce the ‘burden’ of excess after camp. WELL, I paused in my pain of reality crush driving when I saw that she handed me 2 loaves of what would have been communion bread, EXTRA… the friend, a spirit-filled soul, stated that clear message: ‘hey, it’s like a beggar telling a beggar where to find bread’… Oh yeah, it’s like continually thirsty for the Lord over the world. Yeah, my spirit cup refilled like my gas tank – I grabbed the cream cheese and my thankfulness and headed home in silence, except for a praise song repopulating my head… “Jesus Jesus, can I tell You how I feel? You have given me Your Spirit, I love You so…”

We MUST see the BREAD of Life over the dread of life. We must feel the Grace over the rat race. We must sacrifice our sure desire to serve ourselves, and serve others – be the Jesus was want to be even to the point of painful gifting – and be doling out God’s grace in the world, knowing how we are OK, thorns and all, applying Grace to ourselves too. We have been preveniently loved and we will be OK.

I recounted my blessings of having the ability to drive, a full tank of gas, and the cream cheese now in my hands with gifted pretzels too… prevenient snacking fuel on the last 45 minutes home… prevenient Cream Cheese and forever THANKFULNESS for God on the journey… whew…

Keep moving… rest… let us get up and do this life journey in the real world again… and share that bread, with all the beggars out there…

Amen and Amen

I gave myself some GRACE and had pre-prepared older favorite posts to re-publish while I was away for the long weekend – a wonderful opportunity to get with the Lord and rekindle that knowledge of how much He loves us. Now I have a few new writings specifically about camp. But first – I had the processing of the time to bury Christmas the Crab back at the same camp and same path that I found him, with a friend, walking during a break.

Arriving at camp early on a Thursday, I thought what a wonderful pre-day to process the Lord’s blessings in my life and especially appreciate a day off, a weekend at camp, friends old and new, and Jesus Himself showing up to bless us and hold us and hear us. Christmas in April – April 25th, new mercies every morning, and before camp really got underway, this is when I had the opportunity to bury Christmas the Crab, who passed away last week. I knew he, yes you can check hermit crabs for he vs she, was not the same after his last molt. I buried him with love at camp where a friend and I had found him, deep in the woods, chilly October, actually found him twice since we left him the first time (oops).  Now, I have placed him back into the ground for closure, just before this NEW opportunity to be at camp, just before new people came to camp to walk their own walk with Jesus. It has been 7 years since I found him – what amazing timing. I am appreciative of the Lord tasking me with the privilege, the mini cohort to my encouragement to children young and old that INDEED, God takes care of the little creatures so much, look how intricate they are made too, so that then He must REALLY love us.

It’s not like people understand the hoopla or the importance, or even non importance, of a little crab, which is fine. It is between God and me, and a few of us. People understand big God’s moments in their lives as a Shepherd calls a sheep, and little moments too. Why would any of us understand even a fraction of the things that happen in our lives at the Hands of God? So it is OK and good and designed that way that you have your own little and big things going on with God – so don’t worry about others that don’t understand you, Jesus does. Jesus understands. 

This was just a small one little thing (although big for the crab which did not belong in the cold October air in the woods). It was a hair on the head moment of miniscule proportions and yet I could grasp in that very moment that God had and has a plan – and this means that if God pays attention to even the smallest creature, He REALLY IS watching us. 

It’s not me thinking about the crab as much as me thinking about God moving. For the life of me, I will never understand most of the things that God has done in my life, I will count my blessings because God has placed me in this time and in this place. We won’t always understand and appreciate every time and place that God places us in, but we can ask Him… Why would we understand everything? Why would we? God is God and we are NOT God.

I think it’s fitting to have put Christmas the crab back in the ground near where I found him. I knew that the Spirit helped us 7 years ago on this weekend walk with Jesus. He helps us everyday. We are filled anew. This chapter closes and another opens. From dust he came and to dust he will return (and us too and yeah, because we won’t last here forever).  He lived a good even if lonely life, double the average time of hermit crabs. And, I will always wonder: “Why me?” to take care of him – and I always will hear from God: “Why not? Why not you?!”

That’s a God thing to share private moments with God. Remember, most people will NOT understand how the Spirit moves between you and God, but He does, so accept the private conversations and walk. And trust – just trust – that the Spirit DOES move with each person too, in His own way, so why wouldn’t your path also be different? Unique to everyone. God says: “Why NOT you?!”…

I buried Christmas and placed a few sticks as a cross. My friend brought some flowers and I placed a whirlygig, nice colorful pinwheel nearby. My hope is someone else to smile, see the colors, and hopefully feel the Holy Spirit move. May we all feel the JOY of the Holy Spirit.

I have. And I will remember these days as blessed. Decolores little colorful Christmas the crab. Thanks Lord for all in all.

Amen 

Feel the Lightning, 03FEB2015

I wonder what people think of my journey – but I don’t worry too much because it is still between me and God of where I was and where I am…

I certainly benefited from preparing my fields for rain and I took some time to contemplate almost everything around me… sure – you could suggest I over analyze everything – but when exciting times are all around, you don’t want to miss out on ANYTHING!

…and yet I wonder if people think this journey was TOO easy – well it wasn’t – yeah sure it was a quiet journey and wasn’t filled with blockbuster movie scenes of tormented pain, tragic losses, marvelous car crashes, health hells… nope – wasn’t like that at all – and I don’t think your journey has to be the “movie of the week” material….  slow and steady wins the race – God’s time and patience – yes, that is my story…  quiet yet moving – filled with grace that was already given.  Before I took Jesus up into my heart, I was half way (well two thirds there – believing in God and the Holy Spirit – and always praising – but this last third, accepting Jesus, was a juggernaut in my disbelief system – a mountain which I have moved now – I feel I am still growing but so so there….

Sure – sometimes we think (I think) that coming to Jesus should have involved a momentous experience – me in the Dukes of Hazard car going airborne  – screaming at the top of my lungs and a miraculous appearance of a 60-foot snow drift – or tractor bed filled with soft hay – to catch us and return us safely back to earth…. and yeah,  I have certainly have heard those tales of awakening –  I was certainly held on the edge of my seat wanting to know more….

Perhaps you did or want to feel a lightning bolt – or maybe you fear feeling a lightning bolt because you don’t want to be changed… Ben Franklin supposedly felt a big lightning bolt during his kite and the key experiment – how brave – how stupid… But then, how did he utilize that info? Whom did he tell? How did he take what he learned into a movement towards the amazing age of electricity?

After we have felt a lightning bolt of faith growth,  what should we do with that lightning? that info? that feeling?  … I bet our friend Franklin did that experiment a few times again  (why wouldn’t he?) he experimented in the country and in the city – I have to think that he kept doing this experiment to have more data….

I can be assured that lighting strikes many times in your area – of course they do. But what do you do with a lightning strike to your faith? Would you make good use of it? Will lightening strike again and again if you need it to?

What if  Benjamin Franklin tied his kite string to a fence and what if he cautiously approached the key… I wonder if he wanted to know what the shock felt like. Some people probably approach the throne of God as they tantalize about the concept of Jesus but they are afraid to touch the key… perhaps they are afraid of the shock – and yet, little do they know, that they would be in for the most energizing boost of all their lives.

Have you felt lightning? I have… I was maybe 20 feet away from a strike – I was outside running between a pavilion and my car… yeah tempting fate and ended up getting too close to the lightning before I was safely in my car.  The heat was unbelievable! The flash hurt my eyes. And the sound was as loud as you could imagine God’s roar… I would not tempt that kind of fate again… well – maybe…

So I went on this unknown journey of faith – I don’t know if I was worried about being struck by lightning… Did I feel the energy in the air?  Yes most definitely!!!  Did the thunderous sound of God catch my attention? You better believe it did! Did it make my hair stand up on end? Oh yeah!!  In my faith journey I was tempted to touch the key… I got closer and closer and I then prayed for the key to touch…  and the key fit into my soul… the energy transferred… the Lord came to me in the most gentle of ways.  I will use my God lightning from here on out to serve God at to give Jesus the honor He is due.

Would you approach lighting?  Don’t let it get so bad that lightning has to kill you – don’t get so dead that lightning has to be used like a defibrillator to wake you up …… maybe you know people who need a jolt to wake up… maybe they or you just need to feel the energy and taste a little zap… you will want that zap again – trust me – you will ask for it everyday…

Would you dissipate all the gained electricity as heat – screaming? Maybe you should be an engineer and hook up the machines and capture that lightning for future use. Only a few are called by terrific heartbreaking jaw-dropping blockbuster-movie lightning strike… and only a few of those people are called to spread that lightning in the form of energy to others.

Nope, my journey was not a blockbuster movie…  there was no direct lightning strike…but yes, I did feel the electricity all around me – and I did approach the powerful energized key….  my excess energy emanates now – not as heat but now as writing and in praise… and in song…

PERHAPS (yes I know the answer to this) perhaps there are many many people who can relate to my story – a quiet story – maybe you are on your own journey to find your own key…

So many people still need to come to terms with their faith –  many people have hearts that need to crack open and yes, they need to feel the energy…

God is Good – feel His energy inside of you… long for that repeat lightning strike…

A piece written in my stages of awakening – so strong that I STILL can hear the pins being struck down….

Strike, 10 Jan 2015

If God were a bowler, he’s rolling a pretty good game right now. Not a perfect 300 score, but I think he might put in some extra frames on me, just because he can, he’s GOD for God’s sake…not a perfect score because I have successfully blocked many a shot, kept a pin or two standing (hot glued them to the lane), and maybe even fudged the score, which I knew He had actually earned….and yes, I took a couple of fallen pins and snuck them back up to standing position.

See the pins are my disbelief system, and lately God’s been rolling quite a few strikes…loud, smashing, pin-splintering strikes. A spare in there on occasion… but that awe-achieving sound of all the pins dispatched… all SMASHING with such force against the lane walls that even the people and pins in the lanes to my right and left are starting to notice.

Some of my pins were not really standing strong…I do have a tremendous belief in the Almighty Power of God… I know He is the maker, the mover and shaker, and he likes to tweak the system in this sandbox experiment He calls Earth….

And God has such a sense of humor… “God never gives you more then you can handle”, the saying goes… “well thanks God, but haven’t I had enough now?” is what many people probably say when they are in the grips of tragedies, uncertainties, and just plain bad luck. Do you believe in fate? Or is life a pop-up round of game show questions? Do we determine our own fate? I think so… God gives us freedom or does God give us just enough rope to…?…… Well, maybe for some people… but if so, then I see him loosening those ropes, cutting them from time to time, throwing an angel in there for corrective action and yes, rolling strikes in our disbelief systems all the time. Strike and collect the pins… bring you back to Godly ways. Maybe it isn’t rope that God has given me… perhaps it is elastic… let’s see how far you can go before I reel you back in… sew you down and correct your belief system….

So why have I kept some disbelief pins up? Why do I re-rack some of them intentionally or innocently? It is not my intention to taunt God. I just like to know things, I want to bring a checklist to heaven and say: “what about that healing? What about that meteor crashing into earth? What about that flood? How’s your angel count? And could you tell me all the rest of your secrets too?” Did you ever wonder what heaven looks like? The thought that it is seven or more layers…and is there a holding pen for babies who didn’t get baptized? Can you refute or prove those things my sixth grade nun teacher told me?… What is the real answer for those times I had to say “that seems like you are making that up”.?. Imperfect man trying to describe a perfect system… Yeah, I don’t buy it all… my shaken belief in man-made religions.

I accidentally, uninformed-ly, mixed up the terms religious and spiritual leader when introducing a now good friend at a women’s retreat… I get it now… and I am more and more a spiritual being too… lifting away from worldly religious trappings, not forgetting my foundations, but building on them, snapping in new spiritual Lego pieces.

Yes, your belief system has to start somewhere, you can’t learn about God in a vacuum. You need religious rigidity at times to click you in, obligate you, to surround yourself with believers and teachers. I am confident that some who disbelieve in religions still believe in God, because of their religious foundations. I felt compassion for one of my grad school advisors who stood strong against the belief in God. I think he might still be at the gates right now saying “oops”. I pray that God let’s him in anyway… a friend once told me that his religious training as a shaman included a belief that when you die, you have to wrap up loose ends and that is why you shouldn’t be cremated…that your soul is tied to your human body for as long as it takes to repent, repair… not exactly like Jacob Marley in Scrooge… but you might have some fixing up to do.  Whether that is true or not, it behooves us to make our peace with people now on earth, not wait to ask for forgiveness, not wait to repair old relationship rifts, etc… Either way I don’t want to be cremated (and I want balloons at my funeral too)… I will try to repair my rifts now. And I will let those people, who are God-sightings in my own life, know how much I appreciate them, right then and not wait. I will try to hug and kiss my parents and my kids physically or mentally each time I say goodbye just in case I or they meet an untimely death. I will try to live and love in the present.

Back to bowling… I don’t know God’s plan but I know it involves me… I don’t know why, when, where he will strike down disbelief or put up new pins for me to follow, to become pillars in my soul… I don’t know how many frames are in this game, how many more strikes I am going to see… either way, I am sure He will keep trying until He and I can faithfully record a perfect score when it’s my time to meet Him.

Note:  This piece is really telling it all…where I was – and OH – HOW I HAVE GROWN!  Wow! 30 essays in one months time after this  had put me right on track and ready to stop being embarrassed about where I was – and I needed to confess this to put it aside and allow God to work on me – and wow has He ever!  Please please please – don’t judge me for where I was – but I hope you can appreciate where I am now and where I am going…  because this has been the most amazing experience for me to know and accept Jesus…  

Lego Christianity, 18Dec2014

I have loaded up my brain and my heart with the tenants of my Christian faith for years and years. I have most if not all of pieces, probably lots of duplicates…see they are like Lego pieces, little snippets of scripture, interpretation and beliefs…also included are fluff pieces, good advice and the trappings of the commercialization of Christmas.

I carry these Lego pieces, but I didn’t snap then in yet. They are there but I didn’t have the instructions or maybe I have been purposely ignoring the instructions of how to put them together in the right order. Or maybe struggling to take them out after placing in them in the wrong order. Do you know how hard it is to undo a Lego piece?

Legos in this day and age are no longer sold as loose blocks, like when I was a kid, but instead they are puzzle kits…combining those plastic model aircraft kits of my youth with easy snap into place segments.

One of my joys of putting together those pieces is when I feel and hear the clink clink clink sound when you root around in this big batch of all the random pieces trying to find that next piece…it’s that activity of finding the right piece…a three dimensional physical “I got it” feeling. Then snap, put it into place.

I have had these Lego pieces of Christianity for awhile; just never felt my brain and my heart were in sync. Been recently pondering Christmas and Christ…I spoke in Sunday school to the kids and mentioned that “Christ is Coming” but really He came two thousand years ago and we celebrate his coming…rather than him physically coming every year. Later I was listening to a CD of an advent service from last year, which included a wonderfully moving and spirit-filled sermon of a friend,  whose spiritual messages I can relate to. In that service I heard another friend, read the interpretation of the first candle of Advent, HOPE. Paraphrasing what she said…”why is Jesus coming every year? He is coming new to so many people each year…” Oh…wish I had said THAT in Sunday school…that does make sense. Lego piece absorbed…add it to the mix.

I am too busy to attend the church service, I am in the building, mostly with the kids…but when I can, I find the contemporary music and meaning so wonderful. I have been lacking spiritual growth…except for when I prepare UMW, VBS and Sunday school curriculum…

… I had been in that spiritual growth drought for so long that when I realized that God was knocking on my brain to make it catch up with my heart, it caught me by surprise. I was preparing months ago my own Sunday school curriculum for a science-based lesson because I didn’t think there was enough science connection in the lesson about Jesus’ stories…about how his stories were used to encourage non-believers to open their hearts to the existence and good of God.

I incorporated (with a cool messy hands-on experiment) the use of a catalyst… And snap…my deliberate disbelief – questioning Jesus actually being God – maybe he was just another prophet with a good publicist – maybe it’s a great group of stories… well, all that crumbled..  my brain cracked open to the possibility that Jesus was real. It dawned on me that if Jesus was real, maybe God brought him to us to be the catalyst for change. More than just a Lego piece absorbed, more like a Lego piece and one of those green square bases to build things on…

This look for more spiritual growth lately is just like when I took biochemistry in college and had to learn it from the book, self taught, because my professor wasn’t good, I find now that I have to seek out and find my own way spiritually… another friend once said you’ve got a library card now go figure out what book you want to check out…

…I have found help… I have meditated on the scriptures presented within the 4 messages that a new friend, who also is a guest sermonist, delivered. The teachings are not cliff notes for the Bible, they are not like watching a movie to teach the Bible, but the sermons are making the Bible come alive in the context of our lives… in MY life.  One sermon on Joseph, one on the great commission… the holy spirit, one on father’s day about “I am the vine, you are the branches” and how God prunes us to bear more fruit, and one on worship:

“Worship, like salvation, is a personal decision. It is an expression of the individual’s relationship with God and it is the spiritual condition of the worshiper that determines whether God is at work. If your worship experience doesn’t change you, you should consider your approach to it. “

John 4:23-24 ”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. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

And song, “Come to the Cradle come and find peace..” – that is a big Lego piece.

Lego piece accepted.

While making copies of the CDs of these sermons and the church Christmas music for a couple of friends who also don’t get to sit in church, I was checking Facebook.  I noticed I was added to a group named “church” from a not so tech savvy friend, who likely confused making a group with a grouped friend lists…oh well…. Anyway, a friends’ son, who is a young new scholar-pastor-dad, posts “what is this???” I jokingly replied that its or mutual friend learning Facebook and playing with the Facebook-time-space continuum. Then I clicked his page to see his posts… I read how he was mourning this Christmas by reading the old prophets telling of the coming of Jesus. I didn’t read the whole post at first (which included so much recent world strife, mass murders close to home) and I messaged him to say “why mourning?”

I give thanks for this little nugget that he gave me to focus my mind on…  “What to mourn is the sin and death and injustice in our world, the very reason the world needs a Savior so badly”. I have has done small and large bursts of spiritual growth over this last year, and it is likely not a coincidence that that statement hits me just right where my thought process is today…big Lego piece accepted.

The previous night I wrote a piece called the Christmas Flood. Speaking to how Christmas is a deluge of rain good rain but too much rain, that could flood us and wash away our carefully planted spiritual seeds in our gardens, unless we prepare for the excess rain and protect ourselves… spiritual uplifting, soaking nutritive rain in the form of His message comes from God but only when we prepare for this rain…then we can let it soak in…

…It was me playing with the Legos of Christianity in my head while writing it… But I was forgetting about Advent being a mini-Lent, a time of repentance and prayer not just for ourselves but for others to give up their bad ways…for us and others to realize that we need Christ to come to save the world… we need His example… we need to absorb and portray His example…. then at Easter, realize He opens our path to heaven…but that can’t happen until He comes to each person first… so yes, Jesus is God and comes each year.

Snap, I put the right Lego piece in, the little ones and the big ones… they fit, they are in the right order now. I need to builds more on them…to wiggle them some to make sure I can fit some other new ones in. You can never be done building…

Amen

Butterfly

Lord, I am Your butterfly.

You grew me from a caterpillar. You fed me on Your gifts to nourish me. Your Word opened my ears. I began to change.  I learned.  I grew.

You allowed me to find a safe sanctuary for not resting but for actively changing thru the most amazing series of modifications, inside and out. Within a protected shell I waited. I knew I was changing, but how could I comprehend how amazing this change would be. You knew.

Then you told me to start entering this world again.  I could not remain hidden under the leaves, I had to peer out from my cocoon and stretch and find how to steady my new legs.  All my mass had been shifted and repurposed into a completely different being, and yet my soul, my heart, my mind are still intact – I knew I changed – I knew I was called to take the next step, even if I didn’t know if I was ready…

You told me to fly.

You told me to stretch my wings and feel for the right moment.  You made me capable of everything that I could never have imagined.  You made then remade me.

You made me beautiful.  You made me intricate, complex, strong thru weakness, and capable.

I now can fly.

I can open the gifts of the earthly phase of my life and fly thru the world on Your Spirit. I will be ever watching for danger as well as refuge. And in those peace-filled times I can catch a warm breeze and fly higher and longer – seemingly forever…

I do know that I cannot fly here forever, but you have a place for me eternal – then I will rest….

For now, I will fly.

I will fly and forever tell of You.

I am Your butterfly…

Butterfly, Fly…

Amen

“There are Peepers, Lord!!!!”, 26APR

[FYI – Peepers are frogs in the spring in the ponds. SO LOUD – but you have to be near the water to hear.]

I am screaming in my head while walking up the EXACT same hill where just months prior I had screamed in my head: “The stars, Lord!” – To whom can I call out? Again with no one to talk to – I can only call out to YOU, Lord! Only and appropriately only have praise for YOU – “to whom all is due”

I can hear those PEEPERS, Lord! WOW!

I can see those stars!

There are people too, Lord! I can feel them calling out Your praises tonight, even if I can’t see them.

I know they are praising – after I leave camp I will not hear them, but You can hear them, and that makes me happy.

There are REALLY LOUD peepers, Lord. I am floored at how blessed I am at this very moment – to relive an awestruck moment – to hear Your creation so loud… but Lord, why are peepers SO LOUD??? Do they need to hear each other? or perhaps do we need to hear them loud and clear so that we know that they are from You? – praising back to You?

Why are the stars SO bright, Lord? Do the stars need to shine to each other? or perhaps do we need to see them so bright so that we know they are a sign from You?

Why is the moon SO mesmerizing, Lord? Does the moon need to startle the world? or perhaps do we need to just say ‘I do not know how God does all these amazing things!’

There’s our world, Lord! Why is our world so diverse, Lord? Is the earth for us or is it for You, Lord? – dust to dust with YOU… Can we remember to look for You in our mesmerization?

Do we need to understand the world to love it? or perhaps do we just need to know that You love it? Can we take care of Your beautiful Earth, Lord? Can you help us? Can we take a moment to care? to stare? to see? to listen? Will Your future children ever get to hear praises out of the voices of peepers? I don’t know – but I pray that they will…

Do we need to understand the people in the world to love them? Or perhaps do we just need to know that You love them and we should too? Will Your future children ever get to hear praises out of the voices of people?  Will Your future children get to feel Your love? I know that answer – they WILL feel your LOVE – but of course I pray that they will know it is from You…

Can we truly ever know how much You love us?

Can I simply walk up this hill and know You are with me always? To the ends of the earth? I can Lord – I can!

Can we keep walking with you Lord? We can Lord – we can!

Can we understand that You most simply and most intricately want to show us that You love us! We can Lord – we can!

Can I hear praising peepers again?

Actually I still DO hear those PRAISING PEEPERS, Lord…. Your Spirit placed them in my head – and LORD, THEY ARE LOUD!

 Retreat writing that had to wait until I had the peace-filled time to write… Blessed…

THE STARS!!! 27OCT

Off the grid, out of the way of intrusive light pollution, “Oh, the Stars” – I screamed thru my eyes… I screamed in my head… I screamed up… I reached down and grabbed for my phone… GONE… Nope… Facebook, texts and even faith writings had to wait…

No phone, no Subaru, no glue gun…

This camping retreat was seriously roughing it for me. No collection of stuff, no props… And at that moment not even people to whom I could speak to… at that exact star-gazing moment there was nothing…. but there was EVERYTHING… because I had time to pause and I had time of prayer and I had time for praise… I had only LOVE that I could share – and it was pulled straight UP! Thru the stars shined the LIGHT and the LOVE. Thru me the LOVE went right back out.

Oh, those stars!!!… Oh the praise!!!.. To Whom did I call out?

First I instantly and naturally wanted to send my praise to my friends, I just wanted to share this marvelous observation of brilliant stars, but I had no phone to text, hmmm…. So, to Whom could I really call out – in the very moment?

There was ONE and ONLY ONE to whom I should have called praise – so I did –  I had to call out to our Lord…

Praise worthy for only ONE – God who made those very stars – God who immersed me in those stars – God who immersed me in His LOVE.

The Lord loves us in the moment, and we LOVE the moment because of Him.

“All praise and honor are Yours”

Lord, You are so precious, and You make me want to scream Your praise. You are the ONLY ONE I should and could praise. No one else makes it clearer than You Yourself that it is You who holds us in Your hands. You hold us and keep us inside Your time plan.  I know it’s just all from You opening my eyes to see You Lord renewed in my sight. Your stars, Lord, they fill the sky shinier than diamonds. Your colors, Lord, shine on earth so brightly to call out Your splendor. Your people, Lord, Your people shine Your LOVE… Thank You Lord for all these.

Thank You, Lord, for waking me to see…

To see You in all these things….

Thank You for making me sing out Your praise back to YOU.

Lord, help me to also live Your LOVE thru me and back to YOU.

YOU are THE STARS that fills my eyes, YOU are THE SPIRIT that fills my soul.

YOU Lord are LOVE.

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Isaiah 42:5-10

This is what God the Lord says – the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:  “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”

Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth…

I love watching “Survivor” on TV – it’s my “rest my brain” time of sort of nonsense TV but good stuff – and couch sitting usually but not always – so it is actually my “just use a whole other sector of my brain” moment for TV watching but especially in strategizing…

Honestly, I don’t have to strategize much in life – I do at work – sort of – well – sometimes yes – and sometimes no – but actually we are strategizing all the time in life… I think leaving it to tv shows which are edited anyway for content, is NOT better and it is really best to just piece life out in life but without fear of getting voted out. Work hard and work the work. It is not like scrambling in Survivor – it is not “running the numbers” of how many votes I have, I just live life to live and go to work and work – work with the people, and see where the work works out… and yes there is lots of God’s work at work too,  just as in the rest of life… Listen to serve and listen to know. God really does help out everywhere in life. If he created the planet the stars the animals and the plants and us – then surely He knows the right next step – surely making many steps is OK, because He is in charge.

There is one other really blessed advice I can give myself- I SURVIVED – SAVED – I didn’t survive a game or a work scenario – I didn’t survive a merger or a mayhem – I didn’t survive a storm or a situation – I SURVIVED LIFE. I didn’t survive due to my actions other than believing – I survived because Jesus rescued. With man it is impossible, with God, EVERYTHING is possible. 

We will have SURVIVED LIFE because Jesus got us and took us and NEVER NEVER will we be snatched out of His Hand… Never means Never – Saved means Saved – Hope means Hope – and Home means Home.

None of this is deserved or achieved – this is GRACE applied and Jesus applying – this is Love.

This is LOVE.

Love is allowing us to be putting the THRIVE into survive: more of Him, less of me, and devotion to God in three. Lord lead me to Thee.

Amen

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Jesus said: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one. John 10:27-30

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The Living Stone and a Chosen People -As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1Peter 2:4-10

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Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Confirming One’s Calling and Election – His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Prophecy of Scripture – So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2nd Peter 1

I remember how faithful God is – I have WOWs of witness – I have hope – I have experienced the little and the big monumental steps of watching my children GROW!!!!!!!!!!  I passed by a yellow sign in a neighborhood and took a photo- Watch Children – well – God has watched over my children and watched over me and I am THANKFUL!!!

Monday night, my son picked up his new car – WOW – an Intense blue one – WOW. And yesterday my daughter told me that she was signing her paperwork for a job offered to her – at the firm where she did a winter internship – and where she has been working each Friday during the semester when she had no classes – working remotely on her laptop doing the click click click of architect programs for a symphony hall restoration project for their water damage. The firm even delivered the laptop TO her – yeah – crazy WOW… Now, one month before she graduates she has her first “real” job.  GOD IS GOOD – HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD.

My son has been working too – over a year now – full time and dedicated and dependable and on time each day…  He will take on the car payments – and his part of the insurance…  I only co-signed to give my credit score dependability to help lower the interest rate (which is outrageous these days but we may refinance later)…  The salesman could not have been more excellent and real and focused on him as a grownup rather than a kid. The salesman and the  finance guy stayed late that evening to help finish the sale of 3 cars – they both covered someone else’s shifts because those people had called out sick.- they showed dependability – we walked out of the place (drove out) at 930 pm, from a 7pm appointment, not bad for a car pickup.

My WOW – “what’s our witness” – is God’s Dependability – God’s blessing to show me that He is in control – God’s blessing to take care of me and my children when I hit some bumps in the road, He had the traction to keep me sane. Now of course it is interesting to say that both my kids are on my medical insurance until age 26 – because we are the insurance that they get into the world OK – we ARE the insurance that God trusted His children to us – we as parents are blessed to see these milestones – and even though sometimes we get the brush-off (I certainly do) – we also get the witness of them growing and maturing…  I called to my son as he jumped in his new car: “I love you” = and instead of the grunt, I heard “I love you” back – first time in a couple years. It is not that I doubted the love and I don’t do things for my kids so that they love me or say it flippantly – it is that I do things for my kids because I know that Love exists deeply and God has blessed me to work hard to work for them – and all….  hearing the love in my ears was good but SEEING the joy in him was really the joy in my heart….

God has blessed me to know that He loves me too…  as His child…  I remember – I remember is a great song to belt out in the car – which I did just after that yellow “watch children” sign. It and “How Great is Our God” were the next songs on my youtube auto-play….  Yeah – True – how GREAT is our God!!!!

Here are the songs – and here as some of the photos…

I Remember – How Great is Our God 

Amen Amen Amen

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I Remember by Lauren Daigle https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=GLkcuRs6neE&si=TO11uAJ28YA2Uvji

How Great is Our God! by Chris Tomlin
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=oIXa7FzmXFE&si=vWS3btzuSRRQtCff

I was sad this morning when I realized Christmas the crab had passed away. And it’s hard to process this, but I know the Lord gave me both the idea and the means to process this too, by writing. He surely gave me the crab to take care of – lost in the woods in October in an area far away from native. This was 7 years ago.

The clear idea for a devotion given to me by the Holy Spirit is probably the most important devotion I could write about Christmas the crab… See, Christmas the crab died without his shell, the shell was nowhere near him even if he had plenty of shells to choose from. He made his way to his water dish vulnerable. I don’t know what he could think, IF he could think, but there was never a time he was without his shell, never. It was as if (if he thought) that he laid it all bare, exposed, open, forthcoming, free, and went to the water… and that’s how WE should be with the Lord, reaching to His water.  OPEN, FORTHCOMING, FREE.

Yes, not only does the Lord already know all, He wants us to lay it all down, leaving it all exposed, and let Him see us hungering for Him, seeking cover in Him only, seeking hope in Him only, and accepting our finality at the end of our days, hitting the finishing line with nothing left in us… We are blessed to set aside our hidden mess.

Another thing I noticed about Christmas the crab was that he was much bigger out of his shell than he was in it. He was agile in the shell and protected, just like we are in the Lord. The beauty of life is that God is watching us inside and out. The beauty of coming to Him unencumbered is that WE lose our baggage. 

Perhaps also we can work on peace with the Lord by being willing to show our pieces into His puzzle, and let us be clicked in.

Goodbye, little Christmas the crab. I will plan to bury you in the same stretch of forest where I found you at camp. 7 years… endless joy from knowing God sent me his way on His Way…

Peace

(As for details, he did not seem well at all after his last moulting to a much smaller creature, darker in color, lethargic. And I have always known Christmas to be so very active…  I thought this morning that I haven’t heard him in a little bit and checked on him. And I always was very neglectful but did change the water once a week. So I thank you so very much for over 7 years of sharing with me of interest and support and love and curiosity and marvel at the works of the Lord. )

Keep walking as if today is a new adventure, and then make it so.

Amen

I purposefully do not read through the bible quickly. It’s so much to absorb as well as savor. I AM excited that I am only down to a slice of pages – in Ezekiel now – hoping it is EZ Ezekiel. I am grateful to be reading and embedded inside knowledge that has seeped into the library of my brain – but really just grateful finding the joy already indexed in my soul. I jokingly said to a friend that God’s waiting for me to finish my scripture readings so He can start the rapture, LOL…

Now there’s debates and theories about the rapture and tribulation and how “it all goes down” (or up. LOL), and I do plan to read into more theories AFTER I read the rest of this Bible, because I know upcoming chapters in Daniel has discussions, in addition to what I already have read in the gospels from Jesus Himself. It’s like we should learn about theories, but as my friend said to me: as long as we believe in Jesus, and keep holding onto hope, let us cling to Him as Lord and Savior, then Jesus will get us through those times. Just be His. 

Ezekiel would probably shake his head at our discussions and debates about heaven because he SAW it – in part – especially the best part of the Lord and the Glory. And then He was DISTRESSED – because he had to then go tell and try to convince all the people that were not listening to the Lord, to LISTEN and OBEY. A hard sell but a have to sell…  Nothing was EZ for Ezekiel…  Nothing.

God did strengthen Ezekiel, and chapter 3 tells of the hardest part – having to endure the roughness of life and the direction of work – the Strong Hand of the Lord was on Ezekiel – but this was a tough sell – and no one was buying… But God said: stand out there as a watchman and keep trying to sell it: “But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”

I want to bring this back to our times of pre-rapture – no matter where you stand in the debates and theories – I want us to realize that we must be out there speaking and witnessing and educating. Reading and realizing and retelling. And we should not shy away from saying that the Lord’s Hand is on us now – and woe to those who run away – woe to those who turn away – woe to those who never want to know.

I don’t know about an EZ life – now or in the future – but I DO know that I want to know – I do know that I want to hear what the Lord is saying to me and all. And I do want to stick with God…

Keep reading my friends!

Amen

Ezekiel 3:9-27

The Lord said: I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.” And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.” Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the Lord rose from the place where it was standing. It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me. I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—deeply distressed.

Ezekiel’s Task as Watchman
At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.

“Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”

The hand of the Lord was on me there, and he said to me, “Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.” So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the Lord was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people. But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.

“Meet the new boss – same as the old boss…” That is such a catchy lyric from the band the Who.

Do you ever have your head spin from too many things and people drawing your attention? Thus last week for me was such a week of processing and yet keeping going, because God didn’t give me much any time to process it! He tweaked the system because He MADE the system and He puts us on track to keep rolling…  and rolling right along I did…  WHEW!

One of the thoughts I had – in the sea of processing that I could only wade into – was that no matter who is your boss on earth, God IS our Boss – whether we accept that or not.  Meet the new boss – same as the old boss! – YES – because God never changes…  FOREVER BOSS

So keep walking and dreaming. Keep rolling down the road as He tips it less inclined to roughness but inclined to looking at Him… Keep your eyes on things above!

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:10

Amen

One of the sad things that I feel people experience is that they are exiled from their knowledge of a loving God. They know a painful rejection and they know a cold distance because something or some evil blockage prevents them from remembering that God DOES love them beyond a measure. GOD IS LOVE. Punishment for a prescribed 70 years, yet preservation forever, by God’s hands, may come for exiled Babylon-residing Israelites for a couple generations, as a poem in lamentations reveals sadness yet reaching out, BUT EMOTIONAL DISTANCE comes now way too often for way too many people in our day and age who should experience and KNOW the LOVE of GOD – but either reject or revel in their distance. (We should not revel in distance, He is here.) Or they simply don’t know how to find God in the confusion of the world-cluttered views. We pray an opening of hearts, repentance, and acknowledgement – then praise – receiving recognition that we can see Him Holding us close.

If we tear up to know the Lamentations of loss, may we weep in JOY as we remember this RESCUE from the Rejection. May we measure the Love of our Lord immensely immeasurably. You, Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.

Well, He DOES love us beyond measure and He’s not angry with us beyond measure, because He Rose a Forgiveness branch of Mercy, a Vine Divine in JESUS. His anger only a moment and mercy forever…

Psalm 30 sings it out – by David years before this time – “Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning”

So may we always remember this loving and merciful.God and get through the things we’ve got to get through but don’t turn away and don’t let people or circumstances prevent us from seeing the mercy after the mud, the rainbow after the storm, the homecoming after exile. 

May we tell others too that God is love.

We are reminded by these poems of lamentations that people longed for the Lord, and we finally got to see Him come. JESUS LOVE – vine the divine…

Amen 

—

1 John 4:1-19

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

God’s Love and Ours

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us.

—

Lamentations 5 NIV

Remember, Lord, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace. Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners. We have become fatherless, our mothers are widows. We must buy the water we drink; our wood can be had only at a price. Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest. We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread. Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment. Slaves rule over us, and there is no one to free us from their hands. We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the desert. Our skin is hot as an oven feverish from hunger. Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah. Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect. Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood. The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.

Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.

You, Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.

One of the memories I have from middle school, 9th grade, was a friendly competition and serious spar between Mrs. S. in science and Mrs. H. in math. They talked about each other being tough – or warned us about each other – and surely were friends but never hesitated to make use of a good rivalry.  

In classic stories in scripture – we saw Jacob and Esau sparing with each other – a rivalry since before birth – a real legacy to hold onto with property rights and family heritage. These were life-determining struggles, not just fighting for fun like many of our known friendly sparring partners like Mrs. S. and Mrs. H. These were rivalries set up for life – with a good reconciliation in the middle mediated by God when they met many years later…  The switcheroo of family lines and fates had already been put into place however with a trickery by Jacob, and a scheming by mother Rachael too, deceiving father Isaac (remember he was the one son that Abraham was tested to potentially sacrifice, and saved by God)…  it made a difference immediately with an inheritance for Jacob over Esau – but forever God was planning to split two whole nations by their brotherly strife anyway. One quote from a genealogy of Abraham’s states “Esau took wives from neighboring nations who followed idolatry and pagan gods and was the father of the Edomites, a neighboring nation of Israel.” – Aha – that is a term I heard before – as Esau gave lineage to the Edomites. Neighboring to Israel, there were wars to be had years down the road.

Wikipedia states it this way for Abraham – that he was blessed so that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky (Gen 26:4). God would make of Ishmael a great nation because he was of the seed of Abraham. However, God told Hagar that her son would be living in conflict with his relatives” Ishmael was half brother to Issac and whereas conflicting nations would come from Issac, a whole nation of Islam would spring from the descendants of Ishmael. Wikipedia again states: “According to the Genesis account, he died at the age of 137 (Genesis 25:17). According to biblical tradition, he is the ancestor of the Arabs.Within Islam, Ishmael is regarded as a prophet and the ancestor of the Ishmaelites (Hagarenes or Adnanites) and patriarch of Qaydār (of northern Arabian lands).

My point for this devotion is that sparring tribes and peoples of today were already set in place – already sparing or living in static strife. These bubbled over then like today into wars.  The Edomites (from Esau) are mentioned in the 4th poem of Lamentations – the Israelites were bucketted with warring tribes forever – even now…  Israelites then were being carried to Babylon for some time – pre-described by God to Jeremiah – and the people had to mourn their fate but were told to praise their future – for their future generations…  Us too – we must stay strong for us and for our children and for our hope. They were to TRUST… Sparing rivalries will be here for our earthly time – no getting around it – set up in pre-prescribed ways. We best in all of this not lose our trust in God. Keep knowing (like those exiled to Babylon) that we will get out of this mess of today’s wars, someday…

Here is Lamentations 4 – much strife – but much HOPE. Edomites are mentioned at the end – for their strife with Israel (descendants of Jacob).

How the gold has lost its luster,
    the fine gold become dull!
The sacred gems are scattered
    at every street corner.

How the precious children of Zion,
    once worth their weight in gold,
are now considered as pots of clay,
    the work of a potter’s hands!

Even jackals offer their breasts
    to nurse their young,
but my people have become heartless
    like ostriches in the desert.

Because of thirst the infant’s tongue
    sticks to the roof of its mouth;
the children beg for bread,
    but no one gives it to them.

Those who once ate delicacies
    are destitute in the streets.
Those brought up in royal purple
    now lie on ash heaps.

The punishment of my people
    is greater than that of Sodom,
which was overthrown in a moment
    without a hand turned to help her.

Their princes were brighter than snow
    and whiter than milk,
their bodies more ruddy than rubies,
    their appearance like lapis lazuli.

But now they are blacker than soot;
    they are not recognized in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones;
    it has become as dry as a stick.

Those killed by the sword are better off
    than those who die of famine;
racked with hunger, they waste away
    for lack of food from the field.

With their own hands compassionate women
    have cooked their own children,
who became their food
    when my people were destroyed.

The Lord has given full vent to his wrath;
    he has poured out his fierce anger.
He kindled a fire in Zion
    that consumed her foundations.

The kings of the earth did not believe,
    nor did any of the peoples of the world,
that enemies and foes could enter
    the gates of Jerusalem.

But it happened because of the sins of her prophets
    and the iniquities of her priests,
who shed within her
    the blood of the righteous.

Now they grope through the streets
    as if they were blind.
They are so defiled with blood
    that no one dares to touch their garments.

“Go away! You are unclean!” people cry to them.
    “Away! Away! Don’t touch us!”
When they flee and wander about,
    people among the nations say,
    “They can stay here no longer.”

The Lord himself has scattered them;
    he no longer watches over them.
The priests are shown no honor,
    the elders no favor.

Moreover, our eyes failed,
    looking in vain for help;
from our towers we watched
    for a nation that could not save us.

People stalked us at every step,
    so we could not walk in our streets.
Our end was near, our days were numbered,
    for our end had come.

Our pursuers were swifter
    than eagles in the sky;
they chased us over the mountains
    and lay in wait for us in the desert.

The Lord’s anointed, our very life breath,
    was caught in their traps.
We thought that under his shadow
    we would live among the nations.

Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom,
    you who live in the land of Uz.
But to you also the cup will be passed;
    you will be drunk and stripped naked.

Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion;
    he will not prolong your exile.
But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom,
    and expose your wickedness.

For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. Lamentations 3:31-33

Oh yes, I love this passage, I am to live for hope rather than say “I told you so” to wayward folks. or maybe I am to find hope in the loss that I have by my sin and distance from God. Yes, I would rather God be a God of compassion, not a draconian dark mean convicting God. And in my recommitment to reading, the Lamentations poem in chapter 3 is a glimmer and glimpse of compassion, of mercy, of justice by jurisdiction because God ultimately God floods darkness with light. God breaks down a broken system to rebuild it and restore hope.

Lamentations also find me wondering if Jesus, the acceptor of our sins and maker of our salvation, writes what He experiences for us – the gaul and bitterness – the distance…  I know that these Lamentation poems refer to life in captivity in the exile to Babylon – but they speak of hope of the exile our sins cause us from God – and that God does not want us to linger in exile. God gives us the hope to remove our sadness and fill it with gladness: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

When we look at this poem of the destruction and then the rebuilding – we are reminded of hope – we are reminded to keep seeking His Face  – know His Love – and Accept His forgiveness thru Jesus. “You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.’ “ – and the Way to not fear is to accept His Hope over our failings. We must praise MORE than our laments were sorrowful, because we DO know this forgiveness in Jesus.

Amen

—

Lamentations 3:1-58

I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord’s wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long.
.
He has made my skin and my flesh grow old and has broken my bones.
He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.
He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead.
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He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he has weighed me down with chains. Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer.
He has barred my way with blocks of stone; he has made my paths crooked.
.
Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding, he dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help. He drew his bow and made me the target for his arrows.
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He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver. I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long. He has filled me with bitter herbs and given me gall to drink.
.
He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust. I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”
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I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
.
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
.
Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace.
.
For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land, to deny people their rights before the Most High, to deprive them of justice— would not the Lord see such things?
.
Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? Why should the living complain when punished for their sins? 

.

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say: “We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven.
.
“You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us; you have slain without pity. You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through. You have made us scum and refuse among the nations.
.
“All our enemies have opened their mouths wide against us. We have suffered terror and pitfalls, ruin and destruction.” Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.
.
My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees. What I see brings grief to my soul because of all the women of my city.
.
Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird. They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me; the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to perish.
.
I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.”  You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.”
.
You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life….

When life lays it on THICK,

There is no trick,

With GOD we STICK!

With God we STICK!

.

When life makes a rumble,

and life makes us bumble,

just get in our God’s huddle.

With God we STICK!

.

Can you hear the noise?

Can we struggle with choice?

Let’s be prayerful and poised!

With God we STICK!

.

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The rapid eclipse darkness was cool (yes it was rainy then overcast in my eclipse viewing site, oh well) but the company was even COOLER! Wow! With nearly 200 people at an event at the golf course country club bar and grill it was going to be fun in all ways…. and yummy food…

Totality zone. Totality in Treasured Time.

BEST EVER was for getting to spend an hour with an emeritus professor and his wife, awesome! Dr. P. taught me how to keep a real science notebook in chemistry class over 30 yrs ago, wow!!! I spent much time at his house revisiting over the years too. He came to my wedding… always gave me great advice… I’m SO thankful for my college days and especially for the wonderful mentors that the Lord has put in my life. And yeah awesome that my frosh roommate and friends were there to witness the eclipse too, and so cool to hear an astronomy professor’s lecture too!!! And, yeah, oh the moon sun eclipse cookies were tasty! Yum with the Sun!

(Of course it was later sunny, LOL, for a nice sunset, oh well…)

My spiritual science geek experience with the actual eclipse was that the darkness grew strangely fast, then as darkness held for a minute moment, it showed the sky to have a glow around the edges, then we saw the darkness flee, the LIGHT GREW EVEN FASTER than the dark had gotten dark… The LIGHT overcomes the dark always!

My question to the astronomy professor was about light from the earth bouncing to the moon, and he said that’s called EARTHSHINE ! THAT’S SO COOL to observe and to know this term! We all reflect this phenomena and we should be shedding light on the world here as an EARTHSHINE for God’s Love beaming through us!

As a day FILLED with things going on, a day full of activity, not just FILLED with clouds, the darkness was interesting but the LIGHT WAS more awesome.  So, my observation and faith is that darkness will creep away from our lives. Let us look to God to shine in the darkness – and then let us be His EARTHSHINE LIGHT of Love to others every day!

BLESSED in Knowing: The LIGHT SHINES in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

AMEN

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Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. Proverbs 3:13-20

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

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In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. Genesis 1:1-5

To be honest, just the thought of vacation is a treasure… but taking even one day off (I’m taking two) in my college town area is AWESOME, like I’m putting myself into “parade rest” from my normal routine. Yesterday,  after my many hour, very enjoyable, drive in brilliant sunshine 60 degrees (hey it’s not snowing), I sat on the porch of my friend’s family farmhouse and got covered in dog hair and cat hair… ah… rest… blessed rest…

The rest is stillness but not, it’s like watching the world turn but the things in it turn at a different pace. They move and so do you, but you can actually watch them instead of being full force doing your own thing with blinders on.

Arriving up to my friend’s farmhouse, in the backwoods of the hilltop, the dirt roads, the cows and barns were welcome sights. I’ve been here maybe 5 years ago (?). The maple syrup-ing sap lines were really cool. But the windmills were a SURPRISE – good thing this is desolate driving areas, they startled me! I stopped many times for pictures.  Cool… but it does change the horizon image and nothing you can do about it, you don’t ‘own your view’…

Still, not still, windmills are novelty cool in my opinion, (a difficult future waste problem, but I digress), the obvious view I had was that they must have motors keeping them running at a certain speed, ready to move more when the wind ramps up. They don’t seem efficient effective power generators, but I’m uninformed for sure. They sure do keep moving! 

That’s us too, we keep moving even at ‘parade rest’. We watch the world, we think, we dream, we appreciate everything or nothing, but it still moves. We don’t own our view but we do own our viewpoints. There is a fly just now buzzy in the sunrise window, doesn’t bother me, because there IS a sunrise. There IS a sun. There IS a me alive (and on vacation!). And there IS a God keeping all in motion. His Power Self-generated for sure, to hold us all and all in all, in His Love. That’s my view today. 

So pause and pray sunny skies, praise moving life, spring springing, and dog hair too. Praise God for the understanding that what we see is beautiful, temporary compared to forever, but beautiful in the pause to praise. Treasure today, no matter what…

Keep moving, but REST (and reset) in the Lord! Then move again. Forever He blesses us. Keep Moving into His Rest.

Amen 

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Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

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Do NOT be stressed – remember you are BLESSED.

Don’t pace the floor – kneel to pray some more.

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Don’t be fake or be coy – just live your life in open JOY.

Don’t fear a sneer – embrace a brave face.

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Do envision success – Do remember you are blessed!

Do keep pace – Do accept grace!

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Behave no more like you are you made from dirt on the floor.

Remember you are God’s dust and clay and embrace how HE makes your day!

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And for that stressing?

Don’t let the world’s impressing affect you more than God’s almighty blessings.

.

Amen

Amen

SO many times I am reminded of my life as Jairus’s Daughter – called back to life from my sleeping faith. I am really so awe-struck that Jesus came to me. This is not a boast but a nudge to say that Jesus comes to us all – we must simply open our eyes and reach for His Hand outstretched to ours.

I was 45 when Jesus finally was clear in my sight – and wow – the Lord has blessed me with awaken-ness that I pray never ceases. I pray to listen for Jesus’s voice as Shephard – may we all yearn to hear!

Awaken, Hear, Yearn, Know

Amen

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John 10:1-18 The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

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Mark 5: 38-43

They arrived at Jairus’ house, where Jesus saw the confusion and heard all the loud crying and wailing. He went in and said to them, “Why all this confusion? Why are you crying? The child is not dead—she is only sleeping!” They started making fun of him, so he put them all out, took the child’s father and mother and his three disciples, and went into the room where the child was lying. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha, koum,” which means, “Little girl, I tell you to get up!” She got up at once and started walking around. (She was twelve years old.) When this happened, they were completely amazed. But Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone, and he said, “Give her something to eat.”

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Here is a blurb from a play that I portrayed Jairus’s daughter at an Easter Sunrise service the year I awakened:

Rocking it !!! ‘My Feet are on the ROCK!!!’ – It is not just a peppy praise song – it is the truth!

We have to remember to stand on solid ground – we have to remember if we stand in His Love – we will be OK. We will still have to remember to not be shaken – and keep our eyes above the waves – and let our feet move where He needs us – and the most important is that we keep looking at HIM – TRUST!!!

Amen

My Feet are on the Rock – lyrics – by I Am They

I can see the clouds roll in
I can feel the winds, they try to shake me
I will not be moved
My feet are on the Rock

I can feel the waters rise
I can hear the howling lies that haunt me
Fear won’t hold me now
My feet are on the Rock

When I feel my hope about to break
I will cling to Your unchanging grace
Let the waters come and the Earth give way
I’ll be dancing in the rain
My feet are on the Rock

I can see the morning light
I can feel the joy on the horizon
Here my faith is found
I stand on solid ground

When I feel my hope about to break
I will cling to Your unchanging grace
Let the waters come and the Earth give way
I’ll be dancing in the rain
My feet are on the Rock

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
So stomp your feet and clap your hands
Our feet are on the Rock
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
So stomp your feet and clap your hands
Our feet are on the Rock
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
So stomp your feet and clap your hands
Our feet are on the Rock

When I feel my hope about to break
I will cling to Your unchanging grace
Let the waters come and the Earth give way
I’ll be dancing in the rain
When I feel my hope about to break
I will cling to Your unchanging grace
Let the waters come and the Earth give way
I’ll be dancing in the rain
My feet are on the Rock

My feet are on the Rock
My feet are on the Rock

Here is the YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uYiHiJTN6Y

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=w5DmTDznh3E&si=_8amYe0-an2Az2YB

This tune is new to me but classic beautiful in it’s lyrics and music – the colors to explain the love of God in His Easter gift and in awakening our cold hearts…

What I do know – is that there is “just one God and just one Man – That can give us life, that can make us grow, That can make our sins as white as snow”… Yes, Jesus!

Amen Amen – and give a listen!

…

The Coloring Song 1992 – Petra – Lyrics:

Red is the color of the blood that flowed

Down the face of Someone who loved us so

He’s the Perfect Man, He’s the Lord’s own Son

He’s the Lamb of God, He’s the only One,

That can give us life, that can make us grow,

That can make the love between us flow

Blue is the color of a heart so cold

That will not bend when the story’s told

Of the Love of God for a sinful race

Of the Blood that flowed down Jesus face

That can give us life, that can make us grow,

That can keep our hearts from growing cold

Gold is the color of the morning sun

That shines so freely on everyone

It’s the sun above that keeps us warm

It’s the Son of Love that calms the storm

That can give us life, that can make us grow,

That can turn our mornings into gold

Brown is the color of the autumn leaves

When the winter comes to the barren trees

There is birth there is death there is a plan

And there’s just one God and there’s just one Man

That can give us life, that can make us grow,

That can make our sins as white as snow

That can give us life, that can make us grow,

That can turn our mornings into gold

That can give us life, that can make us grow,

That can keep our hearts from growing cold

That can give us life, that can make us grow,

That can make the love between us flow

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=D2mAHMH-2oA&si=ysyzVDxCnbuNqd-J

 I waited until God answered.

But I didn’t wait and wallow, instead I worked while I waited… Sure I wondered. Sure I wished. But I found it best that I walked because I knew: Love has no evil in mind.

It was then I knew, I noticed. I nodded that God had me waiting on purpose. I acknowledged and I knocked on doors. I never lost hope – not that I should have, this notion was not novel or nutty. And I knew: Love has no evil in mind.

Now, I didn’t assume my expectation would be answered positively. So nice that it was. 

No, I didn’t always understand why I couldn’t dial up an instant answer. So nice it did finally come.

And I didn’t anticipate – well at least I tried not to. So nice that God delivered – I knew He would – because Love has no evil in mind.

I didn’t knock God – especially since He has never knocked me.

I waited. I worked. I wondered.

I wished. I walked. I witnessed.

Love has no evil in mind.

I finally went “Whew!” when my prayer got answered: “YES!” Great!!! and on top of all that, I felt God was answering in LOVE.

God is LOVE – that is why Love has no evil in mind.

Amen

—-

1 Corinthians 13:4-7  Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

(PS  – these last few days I had been waiting and waiting for clearing all the hoops that I was jumping to have cleared = and they did = and I am BLESSED as it was no slam dunk – it was no done deal – it wasn’t hard to apply but the waiting was needed and noticed…  I had to wait upon people and people’s acceptance but I was not idle in waiting on God because God always keeps us looking to the moment at hand – what am I supposed to do while waiting? work, wonder, witness, and praise…  I am SO glad that I waited without the wallow…  thanks God – thanks!)

Why would destruction seem so needed and so orderly, like taking this time to describe a spectator situation of destruction to come placed in this Lamentations poem as an acrostic poem, with verses beginning with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. I mean did this harsh scene need a pick-me-up of order? Or is it a warning of the order of God in clear fashion. Or is the poem simply using the alphabet so that it’s remembered step by step and letter by letter of witness, that what God builds lasts but what God scorns He dismantles (???)… I understand God’s fury here of the people because I read the reasons for it, chapter after chapter of general disobedience and lack of discipline, of ignorance and greed, of fear and futility. How God decides to act is beyond my comprehension. There is no way for me to know in whole as I only know in part. What I do know/glean from this info and these chapters is that these people are messed up – as a society and lack praise and following. Well, that is us too and we are always looking for correction – at least we should be – to the Holy Spirit correction – conviction but not condemnation. Oh yes, of course, we are to look for Jesus and His Spirit to be our salvation – and reorder the order. YES!

We await fates individually now if we don’t repent. Same but different than those times. God justified and we just wish others knew of the forgiveness given in Jesus, that’s the pillar of faith to cling to. We wish those to put their feet on the Rock, to have repentance wanted, and Jesus applied.

“The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word, which he decreed long ago.” – this is a warning for our time too – we need to be aware and awake for His second coming – and cling to what is good – Jesus is good and just and our Savior – our hope.

Oh what a friend we have in Jesus is not just a song but a truth.  Let us not Lament our lives in Him but lament the situations of the peoples we are still lost… Let us keep calling out for them to be found.

Amen and Lord, please find them for their – and Your sake. The Save and Sake of Forever is what we savor in our Savior.

Amen

---

Lamentations 2

How the Lord has covered Daughter Zion with the cloud of his anger! He has hurled down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he has not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger. Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob; in his wrath he has torn down the strongholds of Daughter Judah. He has brought her kingdom and its princes down to the ground in dishonor. In fierce anger he has cut off every horn of Israel. He has withdrawn his right hand at the approach of the enemy. He has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire that consumes everything around it.

Like an enemy he has strung his bow; his right hand is ready. Like a foe he has slain all who were pleasing to the eye; he has poured out his wrath like fire on the tent of Daughter Zion. The Lord is like an enemy; he has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for Daughter Judah. He has laid waste his dwelling like a garden; he has destroyed his place of meeting.

The Lord has made Zion forget her appointed festivals and her Sabbaths; in his fierce anger he has spurned both king and priest. The Lord has rejected his altar and abandoned his sanctuary. He has given the walls of her palaces into the hands of the enemy; they have raised a shout in the house of the Lord     as on the day of an appointed festival.

The Lord determined to tear down the wall around Daughter Zion. He stretched out a measuring line and did not withhold his hand from destroying. He made ramparts and walls lament; together they wasted away. Her gates have sunk into the ground; their bars he has broken and destroyed. Her king and her princes are exiled among the nations, the law is no more, and her prophets no longer find visions from the Lord. The elders of Daughter Zion sit on the ground in silence; they have sprinkled dust on their heads and put on sackcloth.

The young women of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground. My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city. They say to their mothers, “Where is bread and wine?” as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their lives ebb away in their mothers’ arms.

What can I say for you? With what can I compare you, Daughter Jerusalem? To what can I liken you,     that I may comfort you, Virgin Daughter Zion? Your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can heal you? The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity.

The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading. All who pass your way clap their hands at you; they scoff and shake their heads at Daughter Jerusalem: Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth?” All your enemies open their mouths wide against you; they scoff and gnash their teeth and say, “We have swallowed her up. This is the day we have waited for; we have lived to see it.”

The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word, which he decreed long ago. He has overthrown you without pity, he has let the enemy gloat over you, he has exalted the horn of your foes. The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord.

You walls of Daughter Zion, let your tears flow like a river day and night; give yourself no relief, your eyes no rest. Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at every street corner. “Look, Lord, and consider: Whom have you ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the children they have cared for? Should priest and prophet be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord?

“Young and old lie together in the dust of the streets; my young men and young women  have fallen by the sword. You have slain them in the day of your anger; you have slaughtered them without pity. “As you summon to a feast day,  so you summoned against me terrors on every side. In the day of the Lord’s anger no one escaped or survived; those I cared for and reared my enemy has destroyed.”

Faith and Hope and Love – Love is the greatest… Love…

I love these Joni Mitchell lyrics based on scripture – about Love being the greatest.

“Love suffers long – Love is kind – Love has no evil in mind… “

Yes – and as I listen to the songs (links below) – I am reminded how in part we are – we are seeing only in part and must trust the rest…

Love sees as a whole – we see as a part – this is so true in my life and in our lives – we only see in part and if we could see love as a whole then we would not experience the brokenness that we do – we sort of have to look around the corner to when we will know love fully as God loves – and trust until we get there. This trust in God gives us the opportunity to forgive – to move forward. This trust in God gives us the time to ponder the patience we lack. I do trust God – and of enduring hoping trusting faith – AND LOVE – Love must be the strongest and greatest and what we seek out to know even if we will never understand in whole until we know God in whole – of which we will always be journeying. 

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

My friend told me that I was not confident enough in myself for something I was waiting approval for – and I thought about that – it is not just that I am not confident that I will get what I need – I thought yeah, it is that I am not confident enough in God to give me what HE thinks I need…  and right now He must be thinking I need to learn patience.  And He must be finding the trust in me to keep working while I am waiting… Keep doing my part and let Him take care of the Whole. Yes Lord – I will see your greatness in this – I will see that Love has no evil in mind and therefore I should also trust and not let my mind run rampant into the bad thoughts…  I will keep trusting and know that only one day is revealed to me – trust is that I will wake up and start again – but actually trust is that I will wait upon the Lord and see His Love come to fruition in ways that I would never see. I only see in part but must love in whole.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Amen – and please do listen to the songs, and read the scripture below.

original Joni Mitchell 1982 in Wild Things albumhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faaJqFVP__Q

recreated slower version 2017 in Travelogue album

Lyrics https://jonimitchell.com/music/lyricsprint.cfm?id=252  

Love
by Joni Mitchell

Although I speak in tongues
Of men and angels
I’m just sounding brass
And tinkling cymbals without love

Love suffers long
Love is kind!
Enduring all things
Love has no evil in mind

If I had the gift of prophecy
And all the knowledge
And the faith to move the mountains
Even if I understood all of the mysteries
If I didn’t have love
I’d be nothing

Love never looks for love
Love’s not puffed up
Or envious
Or touchy
Because it rejoices in the truth
Not in iniquity
Love sees like a child sees

As a child I spoke as a child
I thought and I understood as a child
But when I became a woman
I put away childish things
And began to see through a glass darkly

Where as a child I saw it face to face
Now I only know it in part
Fractions in me
Of faith and hope and love
And of these great three
Love’s the greatest beauty
Love
Love
Love

————-

Scripture: Paul in the Letter 1 Corinthians 13 NKJV 

The Greatest Gift
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

NO FOOLIN – Sometimes we see the light but we’re still sitting in the dark. Sometimes life goes on with us questioning. Sometimes we will never know what we won’t know.

And No Foolin – there are confusing parts of scripture too – and we are left to ponder but as long as we just believe – we will understand in whole LATER – even if only in PART now. 

On Sunday, Easter Sunday, I heard a seasoned preacher scholar say that we DON’T know why Matthew records that many people were raised but we have NO OTHER INFO…  Hmmm… That scripture freaks people out…  and we don’t know anything more after – like ‘did they go back in?’????

I know that for Jesus’s Rising, the tomb was not empty having been robbed by others, but was the result of Jesus robbing His grave – robbing sin and death of its victory. And I know scripture helps us in understanding the ‘gravity’ of the grave with the real death of Him – the real separation from God to take those sins way far away – and to re-bring us back to God – to tear that curtain and no longer have us experience separation from God.  

But when I read about the people also raised from the dead, a startling piece confuses – it says they were raised when Jesus died but that they left the tombs when Jesus did…  In other words, I think that this is saying that they were still still saturday…  and then on the move sunday…  us too… the ‘moving’ required the Spirit of the Lord to move them – the life returned but the living was Jesus-driven…  (or at least the angels kept those tomb stones from rolling too early…)

I don’t know – but I do know that if I was alive in the grave, then I would probably be needing Jesus too – to tell me what to do and when to go…  I wonder if we could do that in the grave then can we do that now – not in the grave – could we await Jesus’s instructions now?!!!

I STILL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT BEING STILL! I bet those angels would hold me back too – like a horse lined up in the starting gate – just waiting for the bell, the doors to open, and the clear path ahead. But when it is time to move – Lord please move me. If you brought me back to life for forever – I can wait just one more day for this days’s moves…  Awaiting the resurrection rising – always… 

Amen

---

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs AFTER Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Matthew 27:50-53

…

Jesus Has Risen
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Matthew 28:1-10

Happy Easter – an AMAZING MIRACLE of AMAZING GRACE!

We know Easter is a miracle of Heaven and Earth.

Here is an amazing recent certain earthly miracle that I remember – The Miracle on the Hudson – January 2009. I can see it – I can hear it – I just know it…  Others might not know because it was 15 years ago in the past but we saw that news footage of the plane landing on the water and we saw the people standing on the wing – and we know the collective amazement of everyone surviving – even those who jumped into the water and were helped into a rescue boat or back onto the wing. Ah the movies and documentaries never capture that actual moment – but isn’t it also interesting to see the people now – and one documentary, 15 years later, brings my own memories flooding back all while I am still learning new things…  I can’t even imagine those people who lived in once in the water and thousands of times in their minds since. Those people are all in certain stages of a post traumatic stress – and some have recovered and some have even triumphed to even a higher level of consciousness for their life mission and journey. The psychologist on the documentary states that may remember that day and those times as “the emotion of ELEVATION” – a feel good collective LIFT to the whole country – to at least those in this northeast neck of the woods – amazing – unreal – and beautiful as a miracle. Yes, a miracle. The psychologist explained it is a ‘[warm feeling in the chest when you see acts of moral virtue – which leads to inspiration].’ We survive better because of this emotion.

Sully, the Captain, spoke of the collective emotion of the passengers and crew who say they felt they were gifted this second change of life.  Sully’s Wife spoke of the amazing change in her husband having to deal not only with that post traumatic stress but also the media crush and the constant reminders. She wonders if he is still living in the thoughts of “have I done enough with this fame and story” – she reminds him that what he has done is enough.

Ah Easter – today – a gift – let me say that the Miracle on the Hudson is less than the fraction of a fraction of a fraction in the scheme of God’s miracles but it gives us some emotional connection to the WHO is the Miracle behind the Miracles…. And EASTER – celebration – for now we have a second chance of LIFE. 

Jesus in His Day and Now –  Miracles – God’s ultimate Sacrifice Miracle. Could you imagine the recounting of the stories? How about being Mary, first hearing the voice of Jesus – or imagine being one of those people walking to Emmaus where Jesus takes that time to explain, to answer questions, to listen, to teach, to open eyes?  What about now – what about seeing a friend of loved one change in a miracle of faith when they understand the Good News in themselves – that second birth. Their new life in Jesus. 

Yes, Jesus had/has many miracles then and today, and oh what a Miracle on the first Easter Day. Could we even begin to wrap our heads around this?  I am sure that the Gospels, written various years after Jesus ascended, were accompanied by a gazillion verbal “did you hear this good news?” moments. And now? The Miracle will never be forgotten – never lose its importance – and by the Spirit, will always be our most important memory to cling to. This IS the Emotion of Elevation – with a burning in our chests of the Spirit which then inspires. And this miracle of the Holy Spirit spurs us to burn brighter – move further – love immensely and Be His.

I can say that I believe in this Miracle of Jesus’s Resurrection even if I did not see it – nor really physically understand it – or understand why God allows me to now understand the change in me. I also know that I know it not simply because someone told me but because Jesus Himself was holding me when God opened the eyes of my heart. 

Here today on Easter and always in our lives, may we remember this love, and may we long to tell the Good News that Jesus rose from the dead to beat sin and death – to give us eternal life – to fill us with His Spirit – and to forgive us – again and again – once for all and once for all that we will continue to make.  It is a Miracle of the Heart and Hope and Heaven. And yet we never saw Jesus in the flesh – in the death – and in the resurrection. However we do know that someday we will also have that feeling of the resuscitation. We will always be alive because of Him. 

When we remember our Salvation – we are in stages of shock, tears, joy, and belief over disbelief – mostly we remember the time we committed our lives to Him. We remember that elevation – that emotion – that relief and that conviction of sin overturned plus now the conviction of sin reminding us that yes, we have a Savior. May we all remember to turn to Him continually. We now live in His Grace.

There is an Empty Tomb of Jesus (SEE JOHN 20), there is a process to the unveiling of our faith in our walk from Jesus (SEE LUKE 24), and then there is the Great Commission where we ourselves go out and tell the world by the help of Jesus (SEE MATTHEW 28). Jesus gives this LIFT.

If you know the LIFT – the Emotion of Elevation by Jesus – this is called JOY…

Please feel the JOY of today, Easter, and every day. For God so Loved the World He gave His Son – and victory is WON.

AMEN AND HAPPY EASTER

—

John 20:1-23 

The Empty Tomb

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”  Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means  “Teacher”).  Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

—-

Luke 24:13-49

On the Road to Emmaus

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;  but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

—

Matthew 28:16-20 – The Great Commission

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Soak it in Saturday.

Jesus death and intent.

Intentions that we should absorb. 

Solemn 

Saturated 

Satisfied 

The Solution to Sin Separation is Salvation. 

Jesus didn’t just hang on the cross to suffer for suffering sake, He Satisfied the Scriptures.

The crowd soaked in the moment. The disciples scattered scared. The sky stumbled. 

The situation stopped. 

Soak it in Saturday. 

Amen

Good Friday, I’ve gotten into the routine of finding a new place for midday services. And this was beautiful, a retirement home for priests with a gorgeous huge 1970’s ‘modern’ sanctuary (who would think modern 1970 was 50 years ago), open not as a parish but a place of service, with daily services… It was an hour and a half service, singing, carrying the cross, incense, communion. I tried stifling my allergies cough, but that is so tough and I am so human.  My favorite song lyric was “Human Nature at the Father’s Throne” – that’s how I felt, human and flawed in a room of reverence and realness. 

I appreciated my childhood memories of the reading of the passion of Christ. Also 1970s era. I remember that all the priests came to participate. At this service, there were 12 priests or more in white and one lead senior in red robes. There were 3 singers and choir and orchestra. The back and forth conversations in the book of John 18-19 plus descriptions sung dramatically and with the echo it was extra beautiful. There was the classic crying rambunctious little one echoing louder than loud too. These were the hardest most uncomfortable pews ever. The kneeling was on the hard floor when the cross came to our section, but honestly that was a welcoming break from sitting with my ok but not perfect back. 

I took a side seat being 10 minutes late. I sat human. I felt human and flawed in awe of my knowledge of Jesus and His desire to sacrifice and save. And as I saw one priest take out a phone for video of the cross movement and unveiling, I felt OK stealing a couple snapshots. Human that I am…

One priest had a very poignant brief homily of remembering the cross as a green tree bearing the fruitfulness of Salvation… and the moment Jesus called out “I thirst” – that we are to remember that Jesus, God, thirsts for us. It was probably the best to the point homily. [it was a duplicate to the scripture gem I noticed yesterday – that Jesus said, Luke 23:31, “For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”]

Then we had communion where nobody asked our denomination… “Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the Word and I shall be healed.” I’m very grateful that Jesus IS the WORD that heals, and that He said it all, and He lived/lives it all, and died for all, and He loves all.

All in all, Beautiful Blessings, and will I return another day for the friendly anonymity and self reflection.  I found the stations of the cross in a side chapel. beautiful ‘modern’ 70s. My phone camera was out of batteries, my heart however smiled at finding myself first at the LAST station. YES, I feel the salvation now, I can’t even imagine how blessed I will feel in heaven forever. 

Two last interactions on my way out. The first was a nun in her habit, smiling and gentle, who asked me if I thought she might have parked her car on one side or the other. I didn’t know but I enjoyed our speculation. She saw other sisters and found her way. I’m looking forward to a deeper conversation with her in heaven one day. The other interactions was on my way out and a retired priest,  I surmised, headed with his rolling walker back to the adjacent apartments. We spoke so briefly about the beauty of the service, the offerings all weekend, and the fine spring weather. I wished him a happy Easter even if it hasn’t yet come, because honestly it already has…

It’s these days we (I) must soak in the sun and the situation and reflection of salvation. See, we know the rest of the story and are not stuck in Saturday. But ah, it’s a moment today before Sunday’s rise, to soak it all in.

Soak it in Saturday. 

Amen 

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Soak it in Saturday.

Jesus death and intent.

Intentions that we should absorb. 

Solemn 

Saturated 

Satisfied 

The Solution to Sin Separation is Salvation. 

Jesus didn’t just hang on the cross to suffer for suffering sake, He Satisfied the Scriptures.

The crowd soaked in the moment. The disciples scattered scared. The sky stumbled. 

The situation stopped. 

Soak it in Saturday. 

John 18-19 New King James Version

Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. ² And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. ³ Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. ⁴ Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

⁵ They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. ⁶ Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

⁷ Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”

And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁸ Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” ⁹ that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

Before the High Priest

¹² Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. ¹³ And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

¹⁵ And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. ¹⁶ But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”

He said, “I am not.”

¹⁸ Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

Jesus Questioned by the High Priest

¹⁹ The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

²⁰ Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. ²¹ Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

²² And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

²³ Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

²⁴ Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Twice More

²⁵ Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not!”

²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” ²⁷ Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

In Pilate’s Court

²⁸ Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. ²⁹ Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

³⁰ They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”

³¹ Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”

Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” ³² that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.

³³ Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

³⁴ Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”

³⁵ Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

³⁷ Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

³⁸ Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

Taking the Place of Barabbas

³⁹ “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

⁴⁰ Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

19 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. ² And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. ³ Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.

⁴ Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

Pilate’s Decision

⁵ Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

⁶ Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

⁷ The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”

⁸ Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, ⁹ and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

¹⁰ Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”

¹¹ Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

¹² From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

¹³ When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

¹⁵ But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

¹⁶ Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.

The King on a Cross

¹⁷ And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, ¹⁸ where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. ¹⁹ Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

²⁰ Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

²¹ Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ”

²² Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

²³ Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. ²⁴ They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

“They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Therefore the soldiers did these things.

Behold Your Mother

²⁵ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷ Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

It Is Finished

²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” ²⁹ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. ³⁰ So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

³¹ Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. ³² Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. ³⁵ And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. ³⁶ For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb

³⁸ After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. ³⁹ And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰ Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. ⁴¹ Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴² So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

It’s three years this summer that my Dad passed and that time was one of those windows of opportunity where people got their vaccinations and also by natural spring/summer people got more outside and covid dropped off enough to be the first time the people in my hometown went back to big events. (their lockdown was really severe and they benefited by having so few deaths in comparison to communities closer).  So, those days was a blessed break in the suffering of timing for covid.  Lest we forget the freedoms we have – we should not complain now!!

Yet in those days my dad was suffering in decline and it was his time when the Lord called him. I made it up there visiting many times, even for just a half hour on the porch. We were blessed post vaccinations to stay IN the house for a good stretch of time both my kids and me – blessed to get up there to see him in decent shape still – a hug for my daughter and handshake for my son. My Dad never lost his ability to walk until the last 2 days and never lost his ability to communicate until that last day. 

I am always imagining my Dad in heaven regathering with his buddies – this I can picture the card games and fun – and I can’t even imagine the reunion with his Mom and Dad. His Dad passed away when he was 20. I had my Dad until I was 50, how can I complain! I still feel blessed to have my Dad in Heaven away from the body but close to the heart and mind,  and yes Dad I’ll get my brakes and tires checked soon… I will get them into compliance and better than that…

I could complain about not having my Dad now, but how could I complain? I can’t. I had him and have him mentally. I had and have the best Dad. 

Now, my Dad had knee problems all the time and back problems at times, once they moved a bed into the living room for him to recoup. I have been bad enough to have a whole week flat on my back on the floor of my apartment living room when in my 20s. I’ve known those times in gotcha pain and known recovery too. My own back is about 95% now from that recent incident, I consider, I don’t fear the gotcha grab of pain and move more freely. It still has a left lower side bulge type pain but as a pinch occasionally. It’s not cured but collected back. Now will be times to start strengthening and really bring it back. I can not equate back pain to suffering for the Lord, but it’s both times you have to work through the pain. Or re-work in resting and healing before redirecting your energies. One aspect is TIME, giving up precious time from YOUR PLANS. 

I RESTED after that back thing and I was blessed that first weekend with lots of help as I got myself back into compliance – both my back and my work for God’s work. And I scrolled through my head of what I was supposed to be redirected for in the Lord’s Work – oh yeah – my writings were 4 months behind in curating and printing- ummm – oh yeah the Lord WANTS you to keep promises and I DID promise (oops) to keep these up to date. So click click click I worked and now have printed 4 chapters.

I also redirected in fixing this and whatnot for the benefit of my health. And I read for the benefit of my soul. Read the Bible chapters I’m supposed to be getting back to. One BIG move now is into the book of Lamentations – and if you need a reminder of old testament God of compliance – Jeremiah and Lamentations is it.

I can not and will not compare present day suffering to these unbelievable old testament times of Babylon exile and the terrible scenes in Jerusalem and Judah – not for me – but I do remember there are many suffering these days in pockets of places known and unknown… I will read this next bible section of Lamentations – not as a God “I told you so” – but as a lament that bad times are bad – and isn’t that a reminder to look to God for His guidance and those good times WILL come – even if not in present….  And if we suffer but a fraction, we can never suffer that pain of Jesus who took it all upon Himself…  That is my Holy Week devotion – to listen to God Father as well as my Dad’s advice – get yourself back into compliance no matter how painful…  And yes – our biggest compliance rescue is from Jesus Himself.

Our worst non-compliance is turning our backs to God. Let us keep praising Him in us and us in Him and be back to listening to His Love.

AMEN

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Lamentations 1
How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave. Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies. After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.

The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed festivals. All her gateways are desolate, her priests groan, her young women grieve, and she is in bitter anguish. Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The Lord has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe. All the splendor has departed from Daughter Zion. Her princes are like deer that find no pasture; in weakness they have fled before the pursuer. In the days of her affliction and wandering Jerusalem remembers all the treasures that were hers in days of old. When her people fell into enemy hands, there was no one to help her. Her enemies looked at her and laughed at her destruction.

Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have all seen her naked; she herself groans and turns away. Her filthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future. Her fall was astounding; there was none to comfort her. “Look, Lord, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed.” The enemy laid hands on all her treasures; she saw pagan nations  enter her sanctuary — those you had forbidden to enter your assembly.  All her people groan as they search for bread; they barter their treasures for food to keep themselves alive.“ Look, Lord, and consider, for I am despised.”

“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see. Is any suffering like my suffering that was inflicted on me, that the Lord brought on me in the day of his fierce anger? From on high he sent fire, sent it down into my bones. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate, faint all the day long. “My sins have been bound into a yoke; by his hands they were woven together. They have been hung on my neck, and the Lord has sapped my strength. He has given me into the hands of those I cannot withstand. 

“The Lord has rejected all the warriors in my midst; he has summoned an army against me to crush my young men. In his winepress the Lord has trampled Virgin Daughter Judah. “This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed.”  Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The Lord has decreed for Jacob that his neighbors become his foes; Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them. 

“The Lord is righteous, yet I rebelled against his command. Listen, all you peoples; look on my suffering. My young men and young women have gone into exile. “I called to my allies but they betrayed me. My priests and my elders perished in the city while they searched for food to keep themselves alive. “See, Lord, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is only death. “People have heard my groaning, but there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my distress; they rejoice at what you have done. May you bring the day you have announced so they may become like me. “Let all their wickedness come before you; deal with them as you have dealt with me because of all my sins. My groans are many and my heart is faint.”

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For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. Philippians 1:29

How fitting in this Holy Week that my Old Testament bible reading has brought me to Lamentations, chapter volumes of sorrowful PROCESSING the suffering reflecting the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, which God prescribed for a certain time of exile.

It’s Holy Week. Jesus 500 plus years later has entered restored Jerusalem. His donkey-ridden entrance fulfilled prophecies with people yelling Hosanna, but they believed in him as an earthly king and they expected an overthrow of this government, which is yet another oppressing foreign rule, harkening back to memories of the Babylonians, but now, an Empire in Rome invading. Now, the Hosannas don’t last and of course, the people by Friday will scorn and mock Jesus,  the crowd mob scene already known by Jesus is coming.

I’m starting this book of Lamentations this week by watching ‘The Bible Project’s’ video on YouTube which I highly recommend. It’s just enough of an explanation to get started, telling us that these chapters are poems lamenting the fall of Jerusalem. There are some acrostics too (which seems to be the theme of my month for me and friends who like to make poems starting with first letters). And the bible project video has a fitting image of stones to explain the building of history into history.

It’s at these building stones that I pause and remember the scripture of Jesus walking through the temple, and the apostle’s marveling at the building and Jesus’s marveling that it will all be fallen again, one day as Jerusalem falls again.  

Jesus sees the whole of time as well as the intricacies of the moment of the journey. Jesus, fully God, shares in seeing everything from beginning (and before the world) to the New Jerusalem rolling in (book of Revelation to apostle John).  Likewise to knowing BIG PICTURE, Jesus God knows us – knowing each hair of our heads as Jesus knows us intimately – and Jesus knows where we fit in time – just like each hair has a root and place. God sees the whole body of Christ even when we see and feel only part.

That’s how Jesus rolls into Holy Week. It’s a completion but it’s a whole new beginning. It’s pain but it’s recovery. It’s walking and then being still. It’s Alpha and Omega showing up to secure the middle.

I will pause here after learning about the beginning of lamentations to process my own. And as a pastor friend mentioned to one of my small groups over the weekend, we hope people don’t skip from Palm Sunday to Easter without processing the middle of the week. Yes. We need to see Jesus as the Alpha and Omega but also see how He is present for every little moment in between. Let us walk with Jesus this week as He walks with us.

Amen

I watched only the first minute so far, for the general gist of lamentations. 

A set of scriptures speak to the fall of Jerusalem (thanks Google for the list and Bible Gateway for the text): Matthew 23:37-24:51,Mark 13,Luke 21:5-36

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2023%3A37-24%3A51%2CMark%2013%2CLuke%2021%3A5-36&version=NIV

Yeah this is exciting and funny – and yet I am reminded that God does REAL and just go with it…. GOD DOES HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR – AND ALSO A WAY TO GET US ON OUR WAY!

A most recent blog post number is full of 52s and 25s – 52 for God and 25 for me… this is the code number for the post I got so excited about, my work faith blog, is 12525….  I think that 2525 is God inside of me whereas 5252 would be me inside God…  I know numbers are of the world but even God did math and counted and measured in addition to being immeasurable. 

I just love numbers just to love them – but I LOVE GOD BECAUSE HE LOVED ME FIRST! “You are in Me – and I am in you”

COOL FUN !!!

BLESSED LIVING!!!

AMEN

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Jesus in John 14:16-21 speaking to the disciples (and us): 

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever–the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

This phrase has helped me immensely this week. It’s an acronym repeated to me from my friend Deacon Don: P.U.S.H. =  Pray Until Something Happens.  Ah… yeah!!!!

When I got frustrated with some things this week – I PUSHED – but not pushing me but pushing the agenda (not too much but just enough and in God’s timing) – and bringing forth convincing hard evidence rather than angry steam. (taking the time to know the audience.)

I pushed my agenda yes, and I pushed my self to not collapse in frustration but to stand strong. and I P/U/S/H-ed, I Prayed Until Something Happened – and I PRAISED until I understood. Not praising idle nor idol but ideal – Pray without ceasing.

Seriously we have ALL had times to turn to God and actively ask: ‘How do I overcome this?’ – ‘How do I keep working around this?’ – ‘How do I (most importantly) not get MORE frustrated here?’ – Well, when we look for the bread of life, we often find it is God on a roll, and in motion, and so with that I kept rolling. 

GOOD outlets were(are) being still and waiting where there was no emergency yet – for wading in the water until Jesus called(calls) me – for channeling pain into productive writing – if anything, God got more work out of me in positive ways than in frustration. God PUSHED me His Way when the world pushed my wrong buttons. God paused me for looking and thinking and acting BIG PICTURE!  

Yes, at first my frustrations found the right trusted ears to release some steam and minimize explosions -not to make implosions but to make new excavations – and new understandings of where I was to wait – and work in other ways – what I was to do in that waiting – and yet still make progress. And isn’t it MORE effective to PUSH with a SMILE than fight with a back-bite.  In all, one stoppage became several new streams of encouragement and like rays from the sun, I looked and found God’s SHINE. There is too much LIGHT here to accept any work in darkness. QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT !!!

PUSH – PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS – time and time again keep praying – not praying in idle ways but in active hope – in fueling fire – and in redirecting flow.

Prayers, you know, redirect our flow.

F/L/O/W/I/N/G – For Love of Waiting I N God.

P.R.A.Y.  I.T. – Pray Righteousness Against Your Indignation TODAY.

Amen

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Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-24

Jeremiah 52 – is not just a repeat of 2nd Kings 25 – but a story of a wash into the wash of mercy. Like experiencing the Living Water of Jesus – it is an H2O of HOPE.

I love these ‘Bible Project’ videos, like for Jeremiah, as they help me like cliffnotes in reading these prophet chapters – and Babylon is destroyed yes – but what about the much much verbiage of the whole scene?! Oh there is so much good stuff to learn (and relearn) – and the video helps! The reading too – when you listen to it read, like on Bible Gateway, allows your brain to process it differently and directly – especially the parts of the description of the temple of Jerusalem and of it’s treasures taken. Especially I also remember the uniqueness of the stories of Nebuchadnezzar (for which we will learn more in the book of Daniel coming up in a few chapters) and we learn more of Jeremiah who employed a scribe in Baruch to capture the work of writing prophecy. And after prophecy there is the actual newspaper -story-like tale of how it all went down – the capture of Jerusalem and the people.

THEN –  there is one little story at the very very end which tells of prisoned king, Jehoiachin of Judah, getting a reprieve from the prison life and sitting and eating bread and living out his days in less anguish – a reprieve – oh yeah – Judah’s king – and isn’t  it amazing how it relates to the HOPE of the people held captive (those who did wrong and repented as well as those who kept God’s commands) – and of the scattered people – and of those lost in the world now – that Jesus is the true KING – Who came out of Judah many years later. Yes – in addition to the stories – it is the commentaries that help – and in addition to the life of king Jehoachin getting bread in captivity – the captive bread comes out from Judah – the LIVING BREAD – Living Hope – of Jesus – and conquers all captivity of sin and death.

God said to the israelites to wait out those years in Babylon – we can too – we can wait until He comes again.

May we all remember – ESPECIALLY AS WE ENTER HOLY WEEK NEXT WEEK – we are gifted the bread of life – Jesus – even in our broken captive world look for the bread – keep eating my friends – keep taking in Jesus

Awesome and Amen

Here is the video I recommend: 

Here are the scriptures from Jeremiah 52 and 2nd Kings 25 – I love the numbers here – 52 is special between me and God – be still and be quiet and be knowing that God’s got this – and so is the number 25 as I was born on the 25th – I love that they are number order swap twins AND you can flip one upside down and see the other number – cool….  

Also cool is going to a Biblical tool for School – via Jeremiah… blessed to read!

Jeremiah 52 NKJV – The Fall of Jerusalem Reviewed
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. He also did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. For because of the anger of the Lord this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, till He finally cast them out from His presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Now it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and encamped against it; and they built a siege wall against it all around. So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. By the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the famine had become so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. Then the city wall was broken through, and all the men of war fled and went out of the city at night by way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden, even though the Chaldeans were near the city all around. And they went by way of the plain.

But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and they overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. All his army was scattered from him. So they took the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he pronounced judgment on him. 10 Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. And he killed all the princes of Judah in Riblah. He also put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in bronze fetters, took him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

The Temple and City Plundered and Burned
Now in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month (which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned the house of the Lord and the king’s house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire. And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down all the walls of Jerusalem all around. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive some of the poor people, the rest of the people who remained in the city, the defectors who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen. But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poor of the land as vinedressers and farmers.

The bronze pillars that were in the house of the Lord, and the carts and the bronze Sea that were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried all their bronze to Babylon. They also took away the pots, the shovels, the trimmers, the bowls, the spoons, and all the bronze utensils with which the priests ministered. The basins, the firepans, the bowls, the pots, the lampstands, the spoons, and the cups, whatever was solid gold and whatever was solid silver, the captain of the guard took away. The two pillars, one Sea, the twelve bronze bulls which were under it, and the carts, which King Solomon had made for the house of the Lord—the bronze of all these articles was beyond measure. Now concerning the pillars: the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, a measuring line of twelve cubits could measure its circumference, and its thickness was four fingers; it was hollow. A capital of bronze was on it; and the height of one capital was five cubits, with a network and pomegranates all around the capital, all of bronze. The second pillar, with pomegranates was the same. There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates, all around on the network, were one hundred.

The People Taken Captive to Babylonia
The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers. He also took out of the city an [f]officer who had charge of the men of war, seven men of the king’s close associates who were found in the city, the principal scribe of the army who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the midst of the city. And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took these and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. Then the king of Babylon struck them and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive from its own land.

These are the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year, three thousand and twenty-three Jews; in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred and thirty-two persons; in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred and forty-five persons. All the persons were four thousand six hundred.

Jehoiachin Released from Prison
Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, that [g]Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison. And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 33 So [i]Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments, and he ate bread regularly before the king all the days of his life. 34 And as for his provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king of Babylon, a portion for each day until the day of his death, all the days of his life.

——
2nd Kings Chapter 25

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.

And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king’s garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him. So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man’s house burnt he with fire. And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about. Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carry away.

But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen. And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon. And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away. And the firepans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away. The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD; the brass of all these vessels was without weight. The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work.

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door: And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king’s presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city: And Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah: And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land. And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.

And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon; and it shall be well with you. But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah. And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.

And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.

The most interesting but necessary part of sharing my faith is to sometimes (often) take myself out of it – meaning taking the “it’s MY faith’ – “the faith that is MINE” out of the expression of my faith walk and “get myself out of the way” – out of God’s Way for me. Out of the Way of the Holy Spirit to work THRU me.

And what an amazing thing to do this AT WORK! Yes! To both express faith and to remember faith doesn’t stop with you – but work THRU you. Cool. And the encouragement to walk away from my fear of sharing.

My faith blog – FOR WORK – the encouragement to be more open has come from our CEO – bring your authentic self to work. And so they/we started a Multi-Faith employee resource group ERG.

Before posting on the local share-group for our Multi-Faith ERG. I sent it to our team leader – a woman in the HR department who is growing in her faith – who recently posted her own writings of the Lenten season and Ash Wednesday. She made some really good edits and pointed out where I had lost my way in the middle of the piece by trying to explain ALL of Christianity in less than a page – ah yeah… I was in the way of my own writing – EXCITED YES – but in the way of the Way. And so cohesive editing – best for the audience of TEACHING – all while getting the opportunity for REACHING – and STRENGTHENING others.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LOVE! The Holy Spirit lead – and a blessing indeed! – and simply to witness at work – the Lord allows us boldness – and to be an authentic Christian means to allow the Lord to bring us to the challenges as well as the easy streets. BUT IN LOVE!!!

We work at our witness and witness in our work – we work in our work and we witness that we have something to witness about. Wonderful.

Here is my writing (BELOW) remembering that often we do need to take ourselves out of the way to make a way… 

Thank you for letting me share!

AMEN

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Sharing about Easter.

By Faith, I would like to take a moment within our new Multi-Faith ERG site, to share about this Lenten Season, Holy Week and Easter, to write about and explain my understanding of Christian faith – of which I could say is known ‘by Faith’ – by the actual faith coming into and from us divinely rather than simply to us and stopping. In other words, we are gifted this ability to share and to encourage. I am not a pastor or scholar, but a learning soul in discipleship mode, continuing to walk, to be eager, and be willing to learn as well as share. I will not be able to explain ALL Christian beliefs, as there are thousands of denominations (a good reference is the book, “Handbook of Denominations in the United States,” by Mead and Hill), but I can speak to the understanding that Christian faith is to be truly understood and practiced as a RELATIONSHIP over only performing rites in a ritualistic religion. Where does one learn this? Christians are asked to read the Holy Bible – both Old and New Testaments – and are asked to look for individual relationships with Jesus, who is identified as “the Word”. 

A definition of ‘deity’ for Christians would certainly be that Christians follow Christ, Jesus Christ, as the word derives from Greek speaking of ‘The Christ’, or ‘the Anointed One’ as a savior from the sin that separates people from God. It is the faith in forgiveness that we share. Now certain faiths, but not all, respect and understand a divine Trinity of God the Father, God in Jesus Christ the Son, and God in an advocate in the Holy Spirit, three in one. For the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the scriptures of the Bible as the advocate who was sent by God after Jesus’s ascension after Easter on Pentecost and continually. The Holy Spirit is sent to help be inside each person, and this is called ‘to be moved by the Spirit’ and important to note is that the Holy Spirit is always pointing back to Jesus as Lord. The Trinity is said to be represented in the favorite Easter flower, the Lily, which has parts in whorls of 3’s. 

At a time approximately 2000 years ago, now celebrated in the holiday called Christmas, the word suffix ‘mas’ means ‘celebration’, Jesus came into the world as ‘God in the flesh’, referred to as Emmanuel, meaning ‘God with us’. Scripture tells us that Jesus was present from the beginning with God, and then came down to earth. Jesus walked the earth for approximately 33 years as is recorded in the New Testament, containing teachings and merciful miracles. As we are approaching Easter (31MAR2024, or 05MAY2024 for Orthodox observations), Christians experience the culmination of Lent in the pondering of Holy Week. This one-week observance starts with Palm Sunday as Jesus enters Jerusalem in both joy and sorrow as the people think that he is an earthly Jewish king rather than God, then the Last Supper, Jesus’s arrest, and Good Friday, the day of crucifixion and death. Jesus always stated that He came to do His Father’s Will, which would fulfill the prophecies resurrection on Easter Sunday, removing sin and death. Two more holidays after Easter celebrate Jesus’s ascension to Heaven as well as Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus. This moment is also referred to as, “the birth of the church,” as the event opened the opportunity to share the knowledge of Christ’s Good News of forgiveness into the world. 

‘By Faith’, a known aspect of Christianity is that Christians are ‘not of this world’ but ‘of Heaven’ and are temporarily placed into this world, thus the, “from dust you came and to dust you will return’ aspect of Ash Wednesday. Jesus came to allow covering of sins by covering all ‘with His blood’ as forgiveness. A key aspect of Christianity is to understand that with man it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. And thus his journey is of sacrifice. Easter, the resurrection of Jesus, connects to the Old Testament and the brokenness of the people from their ‘covenant’ with God, starting with Adam and Eve who experienced ‘original sin’ separation by breaking God’s commands. Continuing into Moses’s time with the Ten Commandments, the people also broke adherence, thus distancing themselves from God’s companionship. Although a system of sacrifice for the people to attend to the rift was put in place, the plan from the beginning was that God was making a ‘New Covenant’ – defined and achieved as ‘redemption’ by Jesus entering the world to be slain as the ultimate sacrificial lamb – a ransom for all sins of all people – restoring the relationship that restores God and man. The Bible states that God is Love – and we love because He first loved us, experiencing Jesus’s calling as a Shepherd, to hear and understand His Voice. When Christians say ‘Amen’ it indicates agreement, acceptance, and hope. We all know that the world has so many conflicting noisy distractions clamoring for our attention. By faith, we also know in Christianity that the world experiences brokenness, and that the evil in the world is created and fostered by the opposite of the Love of God – by a fallen angel named Satan. By faith, we know from the first readings in the book of Genesis, that Jesus as Messiah would come to crush the power of the devil, and this win over sin and death is already accomplished by the Easter miracle. Christians also know that Jesus will come again into the world, at any time, to complete the purpose of silencing the devil in all ways, and Christians are awaiting a second coming at any moment. With a second coming of Christ, a new Millennium begins on Earth and then a forever future in Heaven, with a New Jerusalem yet to come. 

In conclusion – which is always a new beginning – Christianity can be explained by sharing the best of us in this world with others, to bring God’s best to others by sharing His Love and forgiveness. ‘Love Wins’ may be a catchy phrase, but it is a scriptural quote: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” By faith – the world is to know we are Christians by our Love. 

Sending hopes of many blessings to you and your family now and throughout all the holidays this spring. 

Thank you for the opportunity to share. 

Debbie

That warning is for us too.

Jeremiah wasn’t joking when he warned that Babylon was going down. And as we know of real Babylon in this moment that took away Israelites for a 70 year captivity (sanctioned by God), we also know of Babylon’s demise. And often scholars will suggest that ALL nations eventually become corrupted into Babylon-like demise brought on by its own folly. A broken world plays like a broken record. Just skip from one era to another. 

God’s people survive however. In this era, Israel is taken by Nebuchadnezzar who himself will go into the Lord’s correction. Another one of those times the Lord says: I’m handling this! “for I will forgive the remnant I spare.” And the Lord tells His people this too, for fortifying them, comforting them and allowing them to wait upon God.

That’s us too, wait upon God. I often think we need to both listen for Jesus calling but ALSO read the transcription records that He has been dictating FOR YEARS. Just like those secretarial spiral dictation copy pads for phone messages from the days past, we are to reread the recorded records of God’s Action Plans and whom He’s messaging. (AND WE GET TO READ AHEAD IN HIS WORD TOO)

There are two BIG messages here: Babylon and Babylon-like situations (where people oppose the Lord) are going down like to rock tied to Jeremiah’s scroll message (isn’t God good at demonstrations) – AND – the Lord is setting up His people for forever forgiveness and life (isn’t God good at restorations!).

Those going down: “I set a trap for you, Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it; you were found and captured because you opposed the Lord. –  …The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up…”

Those being rescued: “their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land…”

The Lord God says: “Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? Who is like me and who can challenge me? And what shepherd can stand against me?”

No one, especially not Babylon, nor any evil in this world. 

If God is for us, who can be against us? Stick with Saving Grace. 

Amen 

—

Jeremiah 50:17-46 and 51:58-64

“Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. The first to devour them was the king of Assyria; the last to crush their bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”

Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria. But I will bring Israel back to their own pasture, and they will graze on Carmel and Bashan; their appetite will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead. In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for the sins of Judah, but none will be found, for I will forgive the remnant I spare.

“Attack the land of Merathaim and those who live in Pekod. Pursue, kill and completely destroy them,” declares the Lord. “Do everything I have commanded you. The noise of battle is in the land, the noise of great destruction! How broken and shattered is the hammer of the whole earth! How desolate is Babylon among the nations! I set a trap for you, Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it; you were found and captured because you opposed the Lord. The Lord has opened his arsenal and brought out the weapons of his wrath, for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do in the land of the Babylonians. Come against her from afar. Break open her granaries; pile her up like heaps of grain. Completely destroy her and leave her no remnant. Kill all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter! Woe to them! For their day has come, the time for them to be punished.

Listen to the fugitives and refugees from Babylon declaring in Zion how the Lord our God has taken vengeance, vengeance for his temple. “Summon archers against Babylon, all those who draw the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her for her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,” declares the Lord.

“See, I am against you, you arrogant one,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty, “for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up; I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to let them go. Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon.

“A sword against the Babylonians!” declares the Lord — “against those who live in Babylon and against her officials and wise men! A sword against her false prophets! They will become fools. A sword against her warriors! They will be filled with terror. A sword against her horses and chariots and all the foreigners in her ranks! They will become weaklings. A sword against her treasures! They will be plundered. A drought on her waters! They will dry up. For it is a land of idols, idols that will go mad with terror.

“So desert creatures and hyenas will live there, and there the owl will dwell. It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation. As I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighboring towns,” declares the Lord, “so no one will live there; no people will dwell in it.

“Look! An army is coming from the north; a great nation and many kings are being stirred up from the ends of the earth. They are armed with bows and spears; they are cruel and without mercy. They sound like the roaring sea as they ride on their horses; they come like men in battle formation to attack you, Daughter Babylon. The king of Babylon has heard reports about them, and his hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped him, pain like that of a woman in labor. Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets to a rich pastureland, I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
    

Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? Who is like me and who can challenge me? And what shepherd can stand against me?”

Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon, what he has purposed against the land of the Babylonians: The young of the flock will be dragged away; their pasture will be appalled at their fate. At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will tremble; its cry will resound among the nations.

…

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Babylon’s thick wall will be leveled and her high gates set on fire; the peoples exhaust themselves for nothing, the nations’ labor is only fuel for the flames.”

This is the message Jeremiah the prophet gave to the staff officer Seraiah son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with Zedekiah king of Judah in the fourth year of his reign. Jeremiah had written on a scroll about all the disasters that would come upon Babylon—all that had been recorded concerning Babylon. He said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud. Then say, ‘Lord, you have said you will destroy this place, so that neither people nor animals will live in it; it will be desolate forever.’ When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates. Then say, ‘So will Babylon sink to rise no more because of the disaster I will bring on her. And her people will fall.’”

The words of Jeremiah end here.

I had a weekend full of distractions.

Because when you live in a broken world (and we are in one), we become broken too – we become judgmental – and we are seeing things that distract us from seeing the attractions of the good.

Gratefully we also see lots of GOOD!

Prime example was Friday night, a beautiful concert, beautiful acoustics, and a beautiful church. – The attraction of sitting down, ahh. But the distraction of my bad (but improving) back and those harsh unforgiving shaped 1800s church pews which kept you awake in the day. ouch. – The attraction of heat at my feet, wow, the pipe placed under these pews? Cool I mean HOT, as I tested it with my foot and it burned for a second, oops. An attraction plus a distraction, just don’t get too close to the heat. – The attraction of beautiful music, a tough to absorb contemporary piece about the Little Match Girl, a sad tale from folklore writing, so the distraction of desolations and death, wow, tough. – The distractions in this hour-long event helped me through, I counted the piece numbers from my pew until we were through. I watched the distractions of an energetic singer’s hair, captivated myself with the bells and unique instruments, and heard the occasional cough of some guests, all while trying to prevent mine… and the cough drops in my pocket for these allergies distracting me from spring.  I also watched the woman in front of me on her phone reading the lyrics, and I couldn’t read them but I could see how long the song was and be thankful for short ones. Distractions were commonplace here (and some even I appreciated) – but all in all it was tough getting through.

The ATTRACTION of the last musical piece, representing HEAVEN and Salvation for the Match Girl, a beautiful song with beautiful singing – it was the freedom from the cruel world. Freedom from forgottenness by those more rich than she and freedom from the unforgiving reality of freezing to death, such harsh ignorance of human needs. And the finality of it all with a Heavenly tune consoled us in the pain of watching it all (watching the match girl’s plight) and not being able to help. Distraction.  

Oh, but the ATTRACTION of Heaven in music, especially because I closed my eyes and absorbed the goodness of it all. The high notes were higher than any darkness of the dungeon, the harmony sweeter than any sour note of sorrow, the Heaven higher than any hurts.  Heaven MUST be like that – above all – above distractions – above judgement. Above human failings and even allergies. No sour notes or stark seats – I think Heaven-focusing is glorious to appreciate living for the best attraction – amid the worst days of distraction. I think closing one’s eyes, like I did in the music, helps us in this world when wanting to be feeling Heaven – BUT opening up our eyes is BEST for us getting to Heaven and watching where Jesus steps us.

Open eyes and Open ears and Open hearts:

Jesus steps us forward by stepping up to see and help Match Girls and those like her in the crushed world. 

Jesus calls us awake by calling us to hear lonely voices and help healing tones where we can add a harmony. 

Jesus is in us, and we in Him, when we act in Him, look up with Him, and not be distracted by worldly down views. Jesus sees through the worldly view.

The ATTRACTION of Heaven is also in creating Heaven on earth. Let’s not get distracted from doing that. 

Amen 

Remember one thing of us in a broken world, DON’T let the brokenness break you. Focus on things above. 

Amen

This post was from a couple years ago – a reminder of God’s faithfulness that day, 17MAR

I Heard the Lord – Stop being afraid, for I AM with you. 

They called upon me to go to the work audit – not just any audit but the BIG audit – that had the whole building all abuzz…  whew…  I knew it was a possibility to go speak, I even kinda wanted the opportunity. 

I didn’t have extra time to prep, we’ve been preparing for weeks, years. I had 30 minutes warning, I knew the ins and outs and loose ends and such of my small part of the big puzzle, but did not know what they specifically wanted to hear, but I really COULD talk for hours on the subject at hand. Obviously the best advice for me and everyone was/is: ‘Just ONLY answer what they ask. Make it SHORT and SWEET and SAIL OUT of there.’

I felt the nerves but not the fear. I KNEW I KNEW WHAT I KNEW. So joyous and smiling, decked out in St Patty’s GREEN. I went in, of course, to be SMART, the SME, Subject Matter Expert, with a SMILE.

The St Patrick’s prayer populated my palm, it really did land in my hand, in the form of a STICKER. Yes in handing out a pack of stickers with shamrocks and secular St Pats sayings, whoda thunk there WAS one in there for me. God did. A sticker to stick to me. I needed that prayer JUST THEN…

Let’s say there’s no luck but the blessed HOPE when the Holy Spirit hits like a Mack Truck.

Jesus says No Fear, Only Faith. 

I read the St Patrick’s Prayer as I walked toward the audit, read it over again and my step slowed, as it calmed me. I walked out of my ego, while reading it, the first lines, the middle lines, the last 2 lines are what really humbling, a chance to be whatever God needs me to be at that moment. This is God’s walk that allows me to NOT trip up when I take a trip WITH Him.

Let us show Christ Himself, by walking in to SERVE. It’s better to NOT stand out as unknowing then be a standout for knowing. 

God saved me today in the God way. By taking my way out of His way.

Yay.

Amen

…

The sticker:

Christ with me, 

Christ before me, 

Christ behind me,

Christ in me, 

Christ beneath me, 

Christ above me,

Christ on my right, 

Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, 

Christ when I sit down,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye that sees me,

Christ in the ear that hears me.

…

---

Amen and here’s the whole prayer:

St Patrick’s Prayer,  5th century 

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, 

the invocation of the Trinity,

Through a belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness

Of the Creator of creation.

---

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism,

Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,

Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,

Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

---

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of cherubim,

In obedience of angels,

In service of archangels,

In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In the prayers of patriarchs,

In preachings of the apostles,

In faiths of confessors,

In innocence of virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

---

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven;

Light of the sun,

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of the wind,

Depth of the sea,

Stability of the earth,

Firmness of the rock.

---

I arise today

Through God’s strength to pilot me;

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s wisdom to guide me,

God’s eye to look before me,

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to speak for me,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to protect me,

God’s hosts to save me

From snares of the devil,

From temptations of vices,

From every one who desires me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone or in a multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,

Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom,

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.

Christ shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So that reward may come to me in abundance.

---

Christ with me, 

Christ before me, 

Christ behind me,

Christ in me, 

Christ beneath me, 

Christ above me,

Christ on my right, 

Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, 

Christ when I sit down,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye that sees me,

Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through a belief in the Threeness,

Through a confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation

---

My Condensed Story for a presentation to our ladies at the women’s group – republished for this amazing season of Easter.

My Conversation from Soda Bread to Yeast-Leavened, 10MAR2015

While preparing for Communion this evening at UMW – I remembered back to a couple of years ago when I forgot to purchase the bread – oops – well luckily I had made Irish soda bread for the snack that night (was a recipe from my non-Irish but east European-heritage mom) – luckily we still were able to break bread with Pastor. So, yesterday, preparing for today I thought – I wonder if I should make Irish soda bread?  I checked with Pastor and he said sure – if there was enough time to make it  – well I never have enough time for anything – but I have learned how to make time – so I made some bread this morning – couldn’t find the recipe – but I got one off the web that said  “on St. Patrick’s Day, save a spot on the table for Irish soda bread to remember how far the Irish have come from the days when it was the only thing on the table to today when our tables are filled with good things to eat and thoughts of the Famine years (An Gorta Mor) are long forgotten.”

Yes – we shouldn’t forget how far we have all come from our famine years – but for me that meant something different – it also means I forgot that yeast bread is traditional for communion

Yes – I remembered that I taught a Sunday school class – years prior – that used yeast as an example – used it for the living organism used to make bread and wine – and that Jesus was living and he was the one we are to remember when we break the communion bread –

The act of communion is to remember the last supper and the time just before Jesus was crucified, died and was risen – all for us – for each and every one of us…  see Jesus was sent by God to show us the way to Heaven and to show us the way to Peace here on Earth – by LOVE – the greatest commandment is LOVE

Well, I knew that – but I forgot that – and I forgot that until I was thinking about Irish soda bread… I forgot that  Sunday school lesson of using yeast bread as an example of Jesus.  and baking soda is man-made – not alive…  Irish soda bread represents man-made leavening… not God-made leavening…

Well, I also taught you a bible timeline and used yeast as an example of Jesus as a catalyst – where the addition of yeast to hydrogen peroxide and dish soap caused it to foam and overflow – and that this related to the spread of Christianity – that God sent Jesus to be the catalyst for change – to make the reaction go faster…  and now I am going to tell you that when I taught that experiment about a year or more ago – that that experiment changed me – not just the chemicals – but it actually changed me –

Yes – that experiment is how I became a Christian…  now, please believe me that I always loved God – and I even believed in the Holy Spirit – but I had a mental hang-up on whether Jesus was real – yeah I know, your president of UMW – a Sunday school teacher – person in charge of vacation bible school – I didn’t know if Jesus was really real – I didn’t know if he existed – if he was just another prophet with a good publicist…  none of this cast doubt on God – but I doubted man-made stories – how could I really trust the new testament to be real..

Well – that yeast experiment opened my brain and I said – hmm…  maybe God did send Jesus to be the catalyst of change – and I meditated on that – I prayed – I started to ask questions of my own belief system – you see – I had most everything in my head – but I didn’t’ accept it – I had it in my heart – but I didn’t allow my brain to believe it – and I was stuck – I needed help – I questioned myself – and I questioned a few trusted souls…  and one day – three months ago today – Dec 10th – I wrote a 5 page diatribe out – I only shared it with one person (now a blessed and trusted friend) – for whom I asked to be non-judgmental – someone from whom I listened to guest sermons – in the safe sanctuary of my car – sermons that touched my heart AND my head – and made me think. And he always said at the end – “Don’t let this opportunity pass you by, to be changed by the Holy Spirit” – and offered at the end of the sermons to pray with you if you had any questions and movement in your heart…. so well, I took him up on that offer – and I sent him my 5 page diatribe – carried it out of embarrassment for a week hidden in my car and then I got up the nerve and sent it as well as two other pieces, Christmas Flood (Dec 17^th) and Lego Christianity (Dec 18^th), to him – and soon he replied that it was “very honest and intense in a good way” and that we would talk soon – and guess what? – literally the NEXT morning I pulled out of my section from a completely different entrance onto the main road and guess who was right across the street at the car repair shop – outside? Yup, our cars recognized each other -there he was… God placed him there I am sure… And in our 10 minute conversation, and in one a few days later…in those conversations I was able to be so honest about how I did not question God but I questioned what man may have made up… questioned what I believed in… that started a month of continued conversations with so many people from all sides of my life… including both scholars who showed me the data and the writings of the new testament…this led me down and up the narrow path…right into Jesus.

Yeah – that started a series of God-sightings, unexplained interventions in my spiritual life – Christmas – a flood of good things – I had so much going on that i had to figure out how to process this all – and I started to write – and guess what? I haven’t stopped writing since – I have written and written – I have over 150 pages – Dec/Jan is all processing and Feb is all praise…  March is more processing and praise.

I have listened in my car to so many sermons (both from our guest sermonist and from Pastor (whose sermons do speak to me now – so differnt than before because my ears were CLOSED) and now I listen to others sermons, and of course praise songs in my car – my Subaru, that is my temple – I have read and studied the bible in it – especially when a verse of a song points me there… I listen to all the clues God places in my path. I am in a feeding frenzy – I have shared with first one person and then three and then a dozen – and now 100. I must say that my biggest vocal pep band leader-cheerleader – you name it …to reply to EVERY single one of my early essays – all 150 pages – was/is Pastor S…she has encouraged me like no other. And “K”, my pocket counselor, had been the most carefully conscious and concerned for me…truly a great friend…

and then, finally, on Jan 25th- I finally got a quiet moment to talk to Pastor – and he said “I KNEW!!”  – you cannot imagine how blown away I was…  what a joy for both of us! And that joy continues … New conversations, about faith, science, relationships,  I am, we are, so blessed with an amazing Pastor!

With an original admission that was embarrassment and questioning – I grew into a sincere seeker – and GOD IS GOOD – He is so good – he has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams ever since – the small miracles and god-sightings i have seen – I have been a part of – well, I don’t’ have time to tell you everything now – but Praise the Lord, I have been writing them!

Yes, over 150 pages for this story. I would be glad to send the whole packet to anyone. I am not embarrassed now to tell my story…I have been empowered to tell it- I have been put here for a reason – and I don’t know why this was God’s timing – – I am 45 years old… God said now is your time to shine, so let’s fix this, let’s throw so many God sightings your way that you have no choice but to believe, and no choice but to tell your story, which is really God’s story, not mine.

When God put a mountain right in front of me and told me it was time to climb – well I had no choice to go anywhere else – I had to start climbing – I had to accept that this is where God was taking me -from skeptical cynic to sincere seeker in just over 50 days…I got to 99.44% pure, like ivory soap.

Then, I FINALLY GOT IT – and Feb 1, – Superbowl Sunday – after I had lunch with the women’s retreat planning women – which was immediately after I was blessed to hear from a wonderful friend part of their story of becoming a Christian. So, after lunch (where we saw an American Bald Eagle in flight), “K” offered for me to come for a cup of hot cocoa and decompression at her house…  But I got lost and found my car near the 911 reflection garden – never been – that’s where I stopped and I went to hold the trade center steel beams – I held them and prayed for the 3000 lost, prayed they were found – and prayed for the evil doers in the world- I then went from 99.44% believer in Jesus to 100%. There were coins filling the inside of the beans and I flipped over a plastic gold coin that had John 3:16 on it – God so loved the world that he sent his only son – on superbowl Sunday – a scripture always tied to athletic events because of the signs people hold up – and for the first time ever – I KNEW I believed it – 100% . I was filled with warmth – I really believed it… first time ever…I became Christian 100%.

So – back to the soda bread story – I realized that I WAS the soda bread – leavened by man-made means and not risen to the level that GOD wanted me to be – I was not there – I am SO there now –

See I am half Irish but my other side is from a place I’m going to journey home to in only 2 weeks, over to Europe.  My mother’s maiden name is xxxxxx which means CROSS… this speaks to me that I am not complete without Jesus… BOTH  sides I need  to be myself.. I need the cross of Jesus to make me whole.

I am so humbled to have God work on me and send the Holy Spirit to me. I am now the yeast bread…leavened by Jesus as the yeast…created by God’s will…filled with the Holy Spirit…And ready to share wherever and whenever God’s good news.
I ask that we have communion with both breads…Have two pieces….yeast for those accepting, and soda bread for those who were like me, a few short month ago, pray that they become sincere seekers…Please pray for them to find their way.

I am in Pentecost – I am in thanksgiving – Christmas – a new year – Valentines – St. Patrick’s – lent – Easter and most definitely in Pentecost – the Holy Spirit is coming strong and sure – and blowing me to places unknown – and sending his energy and fire through me and into whomever I can see – I can talk to – and I can inspire – and yet – this is not any of my doing – I just let it happen – and all this is due to GOD… and if anyone is getting any ripple effect from this it is because they are just witnessing my witness, and then they themselves are allowing God’s Holy Spirit to work in them. It is not my doing….and I take no credit.

Praise God and may Jesus receive the honor He is due!!!

Amen

I used to be superstitious a little about Friday the 13th, full moons (except I truly once was in an emergency room once on a crazy full moon night), and just the phrase “Beware the Ides of March” – for March 15th – because the phrase itself I could say in deep foreboding tones…  funny or fun or fundamentally wrong? Back luck is not a thing but certainly feels like a thing. Good luck is thought to a thing if you think of it as blessings. but luck is no luck at all – and the Ides of March only pertains to you if you are Greek, named Caesar, and have pre-meditating friends – yeah I fail at that in all 3 categories…

There is ONE thing that DOES pertain to the Ides of March – it is the birthday of our dear friend Miss Bonnie – crafter, glitter gem and Jesus lover extraordinaire. I remember distinctly when she was so proud to be bewared because she was born on the ides of March. Yeah she beware her bewonderful scarriness. Glitter everywhere…

I must say I miss her greatly, but am so glad she didn’t have to live through covid fear times… just no AC with her uncontrolled asthma was bad enough…

So a memory of sweetness… She loved the Lord and often wore a Jesus Reese’s peanut butter cup orange shirt… She visited elderly just as much as the kiddos… She KNEW Jesus was the Way through – through to Heaven – and Heaven she went to – sleeping from a diabetic coma but now dancing with Jesus. 

Amen. Love you my Miss Bonnie!

Here is my glitter devotion: https://debbieupper.blog/2022/09/02/glitter-and-gods-glue/

Be at PEACE 

Peace 

Ease

A-OK

Calm

Enveloped

…

Be HIS 

Hopeful

In

Salvation 

…

BE STILL 

Best

Effort

Sit

Tight

In

Long

Love

…

LOVE

Life

Of

Valuing

Everyone

…

Amen

For with God all things are possible – specifically salvation YES – and life – and even finding interesting ways to correct my oops-es! And I am guessing that me seeing the elephant (an actual image) in the room (over and over) was probably a sign that I completely missed the meaning of something small and yet BIG – yeah – yeah I did. Yeah – elephants AND camels are big.  So – I had just finished my sermon writing for that Sunday – printed, closed the laptop, and turned around to see this cute elephant figurine in my house – well cute because I have an elephant theme going this day – I thought – and even later I saw an elephant photo on a store wall – hmmm…  WELL, my elephant in the room was that I wrote the scripture of Mark 10:25 as an elephant not a camel – oops… It is easier for a camel [not elephant] to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Yeah.

Where did I learn this? That I had mis-spoke and even mis-posted? Not in the sermon or parishioners, but later in a car with me recounting my sermon scripture to my wienermobile-travelling friends who certainly knew best on this one. Oh how we laughed – because the reason I have such a wienermobile connection with my friend is that I messed up previously and gave her a candy dish that I was so excited to give her and it was a peanut not a hot dog – OH! my brain switched the peanutmobile and wienermobile, oops… maybe someday we can ride in the peanutmobile for me, LOL. My mistake made a better more fun history of our hot diggity doggedness of friendship. Well, my switch of an elephant for a camel was just my brain being, you guessed it, HUMAN!

This connection with others, others who know their scriptures, is one of those great opportunities for iron to sharpen iron as I was simply wrong, and I (we) do need correction and polishing – and it is no big deal and the elephant in the room for me is that probably I was too distracted by worldly things anyway. Now, here is some folklore not in the bible: some say that the “eye of the needle” is a passageway or gate to Jerusalem and camels had to be unloaded to enter – thus a rich man would have to unload his wealth too… Hmmm… yet there are just as many credible sources that say the opposite – that there is no proof of a gate or passageway like that…  Oh well – I guess we will have to ask the Lord when we see Him…

Three of the four gospels carry this story – and in Luke, Jesus says: “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches…” TRUTH – it is not just a warning against riches – it is a warning about trusting any money over trusting HIM. We get focused upon the money aspects of that story but really it is all about TRUST – it is if we TRUST the Lord with directing our days – pointing the Way – and having His say. 

One more BIG elephant in the room is me needing to get back to my Jeremiah scriptures – and in one chapter I find 2 BIG elephants – one is that Babylon is going to fall – such strong language by the Lord’s prophesy to Jeremiah in chapter 50 – and the OTHER BIG blessed elephant, in the room of my scripture immersion, is that the Lord is sending a Savior – verse 34 “Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name.”  It would have been such a comfort to those in Jeremiah’s time that the Lord had this under control. And it should be for us today too. Where are we in believing that too? I pray we all do see the Lord’s control and gifts and promises. 

May we not see the elephant in the room but instead focus on the Lord in our view – Let Him lead us – Salvation is His to give. May we ever be faithful enough to TRUST. Trust is the key to this scripture – trust not in riches nor your own understanding – trust in the Lord.

With the Lord it IS Possible.

Amen

Amen

—

Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

—

Mark 10:21-27 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

—

Matthew 19:21-26 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

—-

Jeremiah 50:1-34 A Message About Babylon
This is the word the Lord spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians: “Announce and proclaim among the nations, lift up a banner and proclaim it; keep nothing back, but say, ‘Babylon will be captured; Bel will be put to shame, Marduk filled with terror. Her images will be put to shame and her idols filled with terror.’  A nation from the north will attack her and lay waste her land. No one will live in it; both people and animals will flee away. “In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the Lord their God. They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.  “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place. Whoever found them devoured them; their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they sinned against the Lord, their verdant pasture, the Lord, the hope of their ancestors.’

“Flee out of Babylon; leave the land of the Babylonians, and be like the goats that lead the flock. For I will stir up and bring against Babylon an alliance of great nations from the land of the north. They will take up their positions against her, and from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed.  So Babylonia will be plundered; all who plunder her will have their fill,” declares the Lord. “Because you rejoice and are glad, you who pillage my inheritance, because you frolic like a heifer threshing grain and neigh like stallions, your mother will be greatly ashamed; she who gave you birth will be disgraced. She will be the least of the nations— a wilderness, a dry land, a desert. Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited but will be completely desolate. All who pass Babylon will be appalled; they will scoff because of all her wounds.

“Take up your positions around Babylon, all you who draw the bow. Shoot at her! Spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord. Shout against her on every side! She surrenders, her towers fall, her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the Lord, take vengeance on her; do to her as she has done to others. Cut off from Babylon the sower, and the reaper with his sickle at harvest. Because of the sword of the oppressor let everyone return to their own people, let everyone flee to their own land.

“Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. The first to devour them was the king of Assyria; the last to crush their bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.” Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria. But I will bring Israel back to their own pasture, and they will graze on Carmel and Bashan; their appetite will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead. In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for the sins of Judah, but none will be found, for I will forgive the remnant I spare. “Attack the land of Merathaim and those who live in Pekod. Pursue, kill and completely destroy them,” declares the Lord. “Do everything I have commanded you. The noise of battle is in the land, the noise of great destruction! How broken and shattered is the hammer of the whole earth! How desolate is Babylon among the nations!  I set a trap for you, Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it; you were found and captured because you opposed the Lord. The Lord has opened his arsenal and brought out the weapons of his wrath, for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do in the land of the Babylonians. Come against her from afar. Break open her granaries; pile her up like heaps of grain. Completely destroy her and leave her no remnant. Kill all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter! Woe to them! For their day has come, the time for them to be punished. Listen to the fugitives and refugees from Babylon declaring in Zion how the Lord our God has taken vengeance, vengeance for his temple.

“Summon archers against Babylon, all those who draw the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her for her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,” declares the Lord.  “See, I am against you, you arrogant one,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
“for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up; I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to let them go.  Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon. 

A Poem for my Prayerful Pal who loves “P”

P

A Pause

A Parking Car

A Prayer

A Pursuit

A Pointing out: PBTG Praise Be to God

A Pause against panic

A Point

A Post

A Perhaps

A Petition

A Prompting

A Powerful Push

An aPPropriating

A Plan

A Pastoring

A Proposing

A Purpose

A Plea.

I don’t know how the Lord did it, but ONCE AGAIN, He processed me through a day FULL with many OVERLAPPING activities that I didn’t know how it would all fall in place. Well, they did. He did. And I even had extra time. Weird. Wonder. Weird. Wow. Not that strange a set of circumstance, sure, so even less a problem for the Lord to lead. But I couldn’t see it. (He could.)

There’s a song with the lyrics that essentially says ‘I am lost exactly where I should be’. Yup. It actually says: “maybe aimless, maybe lost, right where I need to be”… Yup…

May I always have days that He pieces together, even if it’s just in the timing… May I start with Him first. 

If I’m lost – may I look for the Lord.

If I’m confused – how about I ask the Lord. 

If I just don’t know – let me pray to remember that the Lord knows. 

If I boast, let me boast in the Lord. 

The Lord is wise.

The Lord is strong. 

The Lord is rich.

The Lord is kind.

The Lord is just. 

The Lord has righteousness. 

I don’t have own any of these attributes except to understand (and may I always understand) that being lost in the moment brings the hope and hammering out of life, which comes from the Lord. 

The Lord IS.

We delight in His Insight. 

Amen

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

We love the scripture encouragement from Jeremiah 29 – where God states: He knows the plans for us – keep us and give us hope and a future. REALLY, I could and should READ this everyday!  And especially because He is talking about knowing where we are supposed to be: today, tomorrow, and ALWAYS.   

I’m reading about the RAPTURE in David Jeremiah’s book “The Great Disappearance” AND isn’t his last name cool “coincidence” because I am also in the Book of Jeremiah. It is fitting as I ponder that we are technically exiled here on Earth – not yet in God’s full Kingdom come – but that we WILL be – we will return to be with Him as Jesus returns to be with us totally in forever. Yes, due to our blessed REDEMPTION in Jesus. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

So – I sat down into a wonderful situation – a welcoming of friends at a dinner – and I saw their amazing welcoming faces, great view from my end of the table – it was SO INVITING that I had to take a photo of these friends.  I knew as I thought about it later, that God was setting me up for the best. Not just for the best dinner and it was really good, not just because it had been paid for and it had, but because it reminded me that He has plans for me. Plans that are refreshing and rapturous to be back with Him.

I will tell you that I recognized just in that dinner and in the faces of friends, that it was how I thought I would sit down at HIS TABLE in Heaven – welcomed, paid for, well-fed. Yes, just in one dinner I could tell you that we are all blessed to be the guest of the Lord – oh just at that moment how God was rescuing me from the worry of the world, the worry of work, the worry of wanting. Just like I knew at dinner that the Lord gives me (us) people to take care of me in friendship, He gives us foster-ing care when we find ourselves in failing places too.  Yes, we are to be led to see that we have been in this place before, realizing that the Lord sets us up again and again for great RECOVERY.

SO – dinner and a show? Will it be rapturous for us in these times of the Lord – I am sure it will be – so then since we are refreshed with this look at our futures – let us get back to inviting the others to dinner and speaking how the Lord is making a place setting appealing for them. We know that God doesn’t want anyone to be left behind – keep preaching, teaching and reaching

Listen to our Jesus’s speech (one of 3 main scriptures starting the David Jeremiah book): Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3

AMEN

Jeremiah 29:1-14 NIV 

This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. (This was after King Jehoiachin[a] and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said: 

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

—

(from the book: 2 more scripture references)

1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”  – “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?” – The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Well, Whom am I to whine – I can read and write just fine.

But Jeremiah is SO LONG – I am whining and that is WRONG.

And truly I am excited to finish soon – like the number of chapters is making me swoon.

I see in just a few verses, that I should not be spouting out my terses.

Jeremiah dies in the end, for that I can not make any amend.

And what is the last chapter number when my reading will be through? Ah, it’s 52.

Hush, quiet, calm down and think of our reading mission. Yes Lord, my bad – I will shut up and listen.

Ok – more chapters today and into next week – and now Lord, I approach them not mighty but meek.

Jeremiah, what do you have to say? OH – that God always gets HIS WAY!

Amen

So many things I think of where I could be snide. 

But instead God says ‘just let it ride…’

.

I often wish I had a snappy comeback. 

But it’s just better to shut my yak trak.

.

Stay calm, remember you’ve been around the block. 

Take a step back and take stock.

.

Quiet strength is from relying upon our ROCK. 

Jesus calls us to give an apt reply – just listen for His Knock.

.

Minding your P’s and Q’s is quite fine,

But listening to the Lord? Now that’s Divine!!!

Amen

Had the most wonderful faith conversation with a new friend. It was purposefully placed by our Lord for sure. What would be goosebump-raising in coolness was that next level up of open faith conversation, agreement of His timing and opportunity. We had discussions of plans for listening to the Lord’s tapping on our shoulders. Others tell me of appreciation of my openness, which shines naturally they say, but I know it has taken me years of Armor of God building to fortify my base confidence and wiggle my life open. (*The wise woman builds her house*). We can appreciate that when work is traditionally hush hush to the openness, that this is a new era of opportunity, one with one conversations. Our kitchen tables and our work tables are the Lord’s Table when we remember Him!

Same awesome God, new era. This is our era other strengthening each other, of shining His Light, even if in small fractured ways. It’s still Light. And pockets of opportunities, like this lunchroom hour of openness is one of these places of refuge that the proverbs speaks about. When God shows powerful enough to open the opportunities, fear the unspoken over the spoken. Take the opportunity and listen more than speak.  Smile the willingness to want to learn. Appreciate God’s Placement and Protection. 

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death. Pvb14

I used the example of a diamond more beautiful when cut, the light hits facets in all ways. Our brokenness too seeps light out in healing,  from HIS source, and what doesn’t speak out of our mouths can still be felt in our souls via prayer. In other words, if you don’t normally put a basket over a light (your light of HolySpirit), then surely the fractured light beeming in all directions out of one’s brokenness (but still glued together) is too confusing and complicated for the devil to try to knock it all down. Let us be on the pivot plan to beam away from the blockages. Let us keep shining and light-shifting to minimize devil-sifting. 

Ah, is it that the Lord needs us to reflect Him like a mirror, a fractured mirror that shows much flaws from the devil-sifting? (Because we all have then) OR is it our Living God lives inside of us in order to SHINE OUT of the holes, WORK OUT of our hands and feet, and therefore one never sees nor focuses on the fractures, that are ever humanly present, but on the Light. That’s it, we see and feel our brokenness, but have the ability to shine anyway. So we need to devise and develop our plans of how we share this Light from the Lord, and watch His set up the opportunities. Yes.

– those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.  – mercy and truth belong to those who devise good. Pvb 14:22b NIV, NKJV

AMEN !

—

Some more good from Proverbs 14:1, 6-8, 26-27 NKJV

The wise woman builds her house,

But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

…

A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, but knowledge is easy to him who understands.

…

Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

…

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

…

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge.

…

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.

THERE’S A PROCESS,

God has a Process.

.

We have participation in the process.

We have a plan because of the process.

And we have a pursuit because of the process to make the process work to plan.

On occasion you have to prod through the process.

Pause at the plateaus.

Peer at the pinnacles.

God has a Process.

.

Sometimes there’s phlegmatic purging,

Sometimes there’s pinpoint problem solving,

Often there’s purposeful petitioning.

Proof in the pudding.

Playfulness in the patterns

It’s a Prayerful Process. 

.

Sometimes you push in the process. 

Sometimes you pull and sometimes you do nothing at all but be PATIENT. 

Yes you must be patient in the process but you MUST participate.

Participate in the process. 

Pursue God’s process.

.

Plan to work with HIS PLAN.

Process! 

AMEN.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God!

It was the fresh memory of my neighbor’s chimney fire the previous week which sparked my actions without second guessing to help my troop leader with the smoldering ashes from the fireplace, it wasn’t a big thing to do, but it had to be dealt with. We leave the place better than we came. Plus it was a great use of leftover lemonade anyway. A double plus was the best “cartoon character” of the weekend: the Smokey the Bear massive sign, which I passed 6 times during this camping trip. It was invaluable to remind me and teach new campers that you don’t leave things to chance. “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires” !!! Yup!

And plus plus plus, the girls were watching, they learn by watching. So even though I thought we could go hiking one more time, I found myself digging through a trash bag of plastic spoons, uneaten French Fries, plates, and the occasional lump of blackened coal/wood, cooled down in a soup of lemonade. Yeah, the ashes thought to be cool were not. No, not a problem to dive in, cleanest trash I think I ever picked through (and you know I love trash picking). There was thinking time, since we were safely outside, so I had grabbed old reuse of reuse big aluminum trays from my car, the type from sterno use and we dumped the trash into those to douse with lemonade (the girls said ‘where did she get the tray?’, ‘she’s science debbie, that’s why she has them’… funny…well at least they didn’t call me trash picking debbie…  But there’s treasure in that trash! 

Teaching moments!  Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Realizing a teaching moment, I paused holding a carbon ash chunk at the end to explain that wood burns back to carbon chunks. In other situations, diamonds also come from carbon, carbon that is stressed, pressured, compressed and made of the same molecules just realigned. The scouts looked at me weird, but that’s normal, and I’m serious, there’s diamonds in the rough of every moment we have on earth. The teaching moments alone, me and our troop leader saying we aren’t worried about trash sifting, we aren’t worried about getting dirty (especially knowing that at home the shower, the washing machine is awaiting), and that we aren’t afraid to look at a situation for its advantages over disadvantages. (Just wash your hands later!)

That’s looking for DIAMOND DAYS, diamond moments, in the rough, awaiting to be dug into. Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust. Burnt charcoal-ed in life, even the worst days in our lives can be found looking for the support of the treasure of the Lord. Even completely taken down here on earth we are renewed in.Heaven to meet our Savior Jesus who covers us white as snow… 

Our Lord God realigns our dust into wonderfully made creations, then we become dust again. God makes us His Valentines. We celebrate and remember that He loves every piece of our dust, even if we are humanly crumbled on earth.

Time is short, on earth, at camp, in life, so let us make the best of every diamond moment. 

Smiling in the coal is life’s goal. Dig for those Diamond Day moments everyday!

Amen 

—

Psalm 139 Of David

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit. Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn,  if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand when I awake, I am still with you.

If only you, God, would slay the wicked!  Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

—-

Genesis 3:17-19 (The fallout from the fall.)

To Adam God said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ – “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Eventually, after a Saturday 3am wake up at scout camp, I got more sleep. Yeah, I had been captive on the mat, awake 3am to 5, asleep until 630, and in a few minutes from then, sunrise, and then I would be free to move. 

Oh, minor captivity on the mat, quiet in the lodge, in comparison to the version of how prophet Jeremiah was in captivity and how he said the Israelites would be captive in Babylon’s hands for 70 years. Minor comparison and of course I couldn’t complain, I was under the warm covers. 

Then I was UP!!! The sunrise was behind the clouds, but it was there somewhere! The lake beautiful, the peace breathtaking and crisp. Boots not needed, lake was that close. Another fresh day…. Even in life’s troubles we are to appreciate fresh days. And the ability to see the sunrise, even if you don’t see that sun, it is believing that God has this all under control. He does.

Oh yes, Jeremiah, the prophet of the old testament, instructed the people of his time to believe in what they could not see – that the Lord was speaking to reassure them as well as warn them. 

Specifically, Jeremiah had to prepare the king of Judah, Zedekiah, that even though it was ominous, he would still be a revered master to his people. However, the people turned their backs again against God’s instruction (to free the slaves every 7 years), and God then caused/allowed the overtaking from the enemies.

There were one set of peoples, however, whom we are told obeyed God by obeying their forefathers who followed God’s command, and this Jeremiah tested, but they would not drink wine and they vowed they must always live in tents. God said: “you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.” The Rekabites were an example of God’s people who LISTENED. They were nomadic but they were CAPTIVE to God. And God promised their line of people would always serve Him, an honor privilege and blessing to be captive to God, Lord Almighty, maker of all.

SO, let us all captivate ourselves to God, feel His wishes and know His Wisdom. And let’s be captive to serve Him, for His ultimate blessing to us is to be our Master.

God knows best.

Amen

—

Jeremiah chapter 34 – While Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army and all the kingdoms and peoples in the empire he ruled were fighting against Jerusalem and all its surrounding towns, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Go to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down. You will not escape from his grasp but will surely be captured and given into his hands. You will see the king of Babylon with your own eyes, and he will speak with you face to face. And you will go to Babylon.

“‘Yet hear the Lord’s promise to you, Zedekiah king of Judah. This is what the Lord says concerning you: You will not die by the sword; you will die peacefully. As people made a funeral fire in honor of your predecessors, the kings who ruled before you, so they will make a fire in your honor and lament, “Alas, master!” I myself make this promise, declares the Lord.’”

Then Jeremiah the prophet told all this to Zedekiah king of Judah, in Jerusalem, while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that were still holding out—Lachish and Azekah. These were the only fortified cities left in Judah.

Freedom for Slaves – The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom for the slaves. Everyone was to free their Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Hebrew in bondage. So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free. But afterward they changed their minds and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again.

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I said, ‘Every seventh year each of you must free any fellow Hebrews who have sold themselves to you. After they have served you six years, you must let them go free.’ Your ancestors, however, did not listen to me or pay attention to me. Recently you repented and did what is right in my sight: Each of you proclaimed freedom to your own people. You even made a covenant before me in the house that bears my Name.  But now you have turned around and profaned my name; each of you has taken back the male and female slaves you had set free to go where they wished. You have forced them to become your slaves again.

“Therefore this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth. Those who have violated my covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and then walked between its pieces. The leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests and all the people of the land who walked between the pieces of the calf, I will deliver into the hands of their enemies who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.

“I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials into the hands of their enemies who want to kill them, to the army of the king of Babylon, which has withdrawn from you. I am going to give the order, declares the Lord, and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, take it and burn it down. And I will lay waste the towns of Judah so no one can live there.”

The Rekabites – chapter 35 – This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “Go to the Rekabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.”

So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons—the whole family of the Rekabites. I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God. It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the Rekabites and said to them, “Drink some wine.”

But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.’ We have obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab commanded us.  But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded this land, we said, ‘Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian and Aramean armies.’ So we have remained in Jerusalem.”

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the Lord. ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me. The descendants of Jehonadab son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’

“Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.’”

Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jehonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.’ Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.’”

HAHA – so much extra time – and both teams get their hands on the ball – and I am not just talking about tonight’s Super Bowl. The 52 (my God-reminder number saying to be quiet) on the ref’s uniform reminds me that this game is not decided yet – stop predicting the next move – (and especially the grid that I am NOT winning). Stop predicting and just watch the game.

WELL – life is like that too isn’t it – don’t presume to understand each play in the game – except know that there IS One who IS in charge of it all – and it is NOT a game to Him. And there IS ONE Way – One Whom is driving us down the field.

Day to day play but we hold our breath when the game is on the line. Let’s look at our Coach – let’s let Him make the call – and then Trust Him when He hands us the ball.

We know that He will never let us fall.

Amen

I KNEW I was at camp when I walked in the door and saw that loudspeaker karaoke music machine. 

I TASTED camp when I got to the beloved cheeseballs (which we nearly polished off in one night). (And the container I absconded with – for great storage of random things.)

I felt the IMPORTANCE of camp when driving, listening to two 10 year olds in the backseat squeal in delight at the 20 common things they learned about each other. A short 45 minutes of a drive is a dream of being away but not too far. These campgrounds are remote but yet 10 minutes from civilization, awesome. 

I bowed my heart TO THE LORD with an internal tearing up when I sat for a photo this evening with camp moms and with our camp girl who recently lost her mom, our friend, who mom-ed us all to know how important this was to continue camp and be there for each other. THIS WAS MY CAMP MOMENT. 

Camp life, wouldn’t trade it for anything. We ARE family. Love our photo memories too.

Our fearless leader is not without fears or concerns, but the moments of camp are a blessing beyond description – loving the time away – the joy of being together – the appreciation that others “just don’t get it” but WE DO – that moment when you can’t even remember there was a global pandemic, couple years back (we only missed one year in our over 10 years camping) – and the blessings of realization now that we take these very moments of THANKFULNESS. 

(I even ate someone’s abandoned cheeseballs, yum, as I too sat down to paint a seashell with moms and older girls.) People look at me funny when I say I’m going to camp, aren’t I good for helping, but who wouldn’t want to be here?!?!

I even now appreciate this 3am totally awake moment – not sure why but God always has a hand in this – 4hrs sleep is sufficient for you(!)… and I sit writing only to hear and see a young 10 year old come downstairs, give me a thumbs up “all good”, and go directly to her mom for an inhaler puff, which her mom had right at hand, only seconds after being awoken. Back upstairs and all good. Camp life brings the awareness of life that continues even with the bumps and bruises of life. Just keep going, thumbs up!

Another girl here has Cerebral Palsy and I learn by watching her. (I love when God tells me to be patient, watch, pray, and learn). I learned while crafting, of what things are tough for her, like using both hands to twist a rubber band when one hand holds her steady upright at the table. We worked through it, plenty of time at camp, let the kids learn. And I learned that this girl DIDN’T take to complaining. So when so many of us take to complaining normally about everything, that’s us taking a crutch of life, but she doesn’t. That’s the moment that got me realizing to being more humble of so many things I take for granted. Be aware and keep living. I’m so glad God finds time for this in my schedule. I know camp is special and set aside. 

What’s the connection to a Bible lesson? At 3am, now 4am? Jeremiah- Jeremiah was instructed by the Lord to live a life that said “God’s got this” – just live – ups and downs – captivity or free – just live and do as God instructs and lays out ahead of you. 

Here Jeremiah (chapter 32) buys a field, land for future use well beyond his years. It’s a land the people of God will come back to, and it’s a reprocessed repromise that things will be OK someday. His purpose and purchase is to go ahead, be the prep-man and messenger, secure the future no matter how long (and in this case God tells them ‘how long’). Assurance and achievement- hmmm, sounds like Jesus doesn’t it, in miniature, prepare the way, tell others about it, be making the space available and welcoming when it’s time for exiles to go home…. yeah, cool… I’ll take that 4am Revelation…

 Let us consider this field of TODAY, and prepare it and today’s peoples, even ourselves, for a future time. Live in the moment and expect long time good things. Campfires are kindled and rekindled, and so is our future. Ask Jeremiah, the Lord HAS a Plan. Accept the thumbs up for that!

Jeremiah Buys a Field – chapter 32 NIV

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah.

Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy as you do? You say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape the Babylonians but will certainly be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes. He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will remain until I deal with him, declares the Lord. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.’”

Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right and duty to buy it.’

“Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’

“I knew that this was the word of the Lord; so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver. I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the silver on the scales. I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy— and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.

“In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions: ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time. For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.’

“After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord: “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve. You performed signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours. You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. You gave them this land you had sworn to give their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey. They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law; they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster on them.

“See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city. Because of the sword, famine and plague, the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you said has happened, as you now see. And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign Lord, say to me, ‘Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed.’”

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Therefore this is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will capture it. The Babylonians who are attacking this city will come in and set it on fire; they will burn it down, along with the houses where the people aroused my anger by burning incense on the roofs to Baal and by pouring out drink offerings to other gods.

“The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but arouse my anger with what their hands have made, declares the Lord. From the day it was built until now, this city has so aroused my anger and wrath that I must remove it from my sight. The people of Israel and Judah have provoked me by all the evil they have done—they, their kings and officials, their priests and prophets, the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline. They set up their vile images in the house that bears my Name and defiled it. They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molek, though I never commanded—nor did it enter my mind—that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.

“You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague it will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon’; but this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

“This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.’  Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.”

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;

though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

What are we to do when we do things we don’t know -and even if we do know – TRUST THE LORD.

What are we to do when we go somewhere we don’t know -and even if we do know – FOLLOW THE LORD.

What are we to do when we learn things we don’t know -and even if we do know – APPRECIATE THE LORD. we learn things to protect us and warn us as well as delight us and motivate us.

What are we to do when we try and fail at things we don’t know -and even if we do know – LOOK UP TO THE LORD FOR GUIDANCE.

What are we to do when we try and succeed at things we don’t know -and even if we do know – LOOK UP TO PRAISE THE LORD.

What are we to do always? REST IN THE LORD!

But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.

AMEN

—

Psalm 37 NKJV – of David

Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.

For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.

A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken. But the Lord upholds the righteous. The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.

The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.

Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever.

The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.

The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.

Wait on the Lord, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.  I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.

Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.

Could Should Would. I could live for myself, but I should live for the purposes of the One Who would give me life. Could,  should, would. I would live for the Lord because I should. 

I would choose to garden, but I am not the best Gardener of my life. I should till the soil when spring has sprung, but I should also rest when it rests. I could listen better for clues of all this. I would choose to rest.

Lord, give me purpose, give me rest, give me life. I could walk these steps even if I didn’t lay the stones. I should trust the steps because I do trust the Mason, Map Maker, Mover, Motivator.  I would like to know the path, but realize He is in control.

I will take a time to listen in this life to live. It’s living life for things for now and sometimes things never, but it is ALWAYS listening for the benefit of our and others’ FOREVER. 

AMEN 

Amen 

Blessed to share this sermon Sunday: Jesus walking to where He needed to be – recalled by John chapter 4:5-14

So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”  (His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”… story continues in John 4

So there’s this story in the Bible of Jesus going to a well, a particular well at a particular time – as Jesus knows this particular woman will be at the well going to draw up yet ANOTHER  bucket of water – again and again.  And they start a very witty conversation (especially since she realizes He is VERY bold in asking something out of the norm – asking her for water as a Samaritan woman. (Jesus often talks to us and get us thinking too, doesn’t He?)…  WELL, Jesus asks the woman questions and He is leading her to learn something (Jesus does that, lead us) – Jesus will explain to her that someday we all, the whole world, will worship in Spirit and in Truth. He is leading her in this conversation to learn that people will be blessed to drink in SPIRITUAL LIVING WATER. She, knowing history of Jacob – their great fore-father – and knowing prophecy, could recount that she was expecting a Messiah coming. She has her eyes opened in during this witty and all-knowing conversation, she is led to understand that He Himself is the Messiah – this Living Water is Jesus… and He is right in front of her! And He knows she will spread the Word. 

Jesus says to her (and us): “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.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Jesus wants us to go to Him first, with questions, anger, frustration, sadness, and especially love. He loves for us to praise God our Father. He even teaches us to pray, giving us the words too – all we need.

Have you even been thinking (internally) about “Why am I here?” – like in this circumstance, this moment I did not choose? I prayed for an answer, especially I thought I have been down this road before – Well, one of these times – I went directly to the Lord – with like: “can I have a scripture, a sparkle of hope or an answer of obviousness – anything like a CLUE!” And we can’t always get an easy clue, can we? – and often we get something that makes us ponder even more rather than the quick fix of a pat answer. So we have to realize that God DOUS have a good reason even if we can’t comprehend what’s good about it in human terms.

“Why am I here? What’s in it for me?” – or “why am I stuck here?” – well it’s not about you is it? That’s what God could say to us – the Spirit reminds us – but seriously Lord – either way Lord – please give me a clue…  The vision I got was fuzzy, colors or static like a TV signal that needed to focus and like someone sharpening a camera lens – then I was finally getting a clearer picture – a well – the Samaritan woman’s well. Hmmmm… surely the well itself. But why?

Once out of the situation, I kept thinking about “Why the well?” (And yes I was happy to be out of the circumstance). WELL! Well, WELL – I went to read the scriptures in John 4 about the well – I was sure it was not just about the woman (although it could have been) – it was about the Samaritan’s well but it was Jacob’s Well – which drew lots of people – not just water. It was like I focused on that imagery of “drawing” – cranking – doing something to pull in the needed source – And the people who had to draw the water from the very deep – and the people had to KEEP drawing water over and over again – a daily chore – as Jesus pointed out – they will be thirsty again – and will keep coming to find some water from a well. 

SO  – it is not that I was thinking about being the Samaritan woman – although that’s volumes of lessons there –  but I was thinking that when we draw from Jesus – we are replenished – and replenished enough that we can offer it to others – and that sometimes (even in the circumstance I was in, mentioned above) that others will come back to you – keep coming to you – keep trying to draw from your water source – not that they couldn’t draw it themselves but they may have not brought a ladle let alone a bucket or anything to keep hold onto that water. And do we have to keep giving them water – perhaps we can help teach them “WHO” is our source and hope they can start drawing from this strength too.  Of course, there will be many in life that never make the connection – Jesus is waiting waiting waiting by their well – they never see Him.

SO, imagine they ask for some of your water – or at least look at you wondering “where do they get their water? their energy? their source of strength? (and sometimes they wonder – how can I source some of that? even if they don’t know that your source is not human water but living water).   Let us hope they say – how can I draw on that kind of water too!?!

Now, you can’t pour from an empty cup – but are we ourselves getting our water from the right source? And handing out water (or other stuff which we will might run out of)…  If we are getting Living Water from Jesus – then who are we to not keep it flowing it thru us? Maybe we simply need to appreciate that is why we are called to help – why God has us sitting in that situation – in that chair – can we focus on water flowing thru us that still hydrates us and alleviates thirst – and then pour from a full cup – from a fulfilling cup – a water that Jesus would say needs no ladle to get. 

And that spring? – that becomes a fountain in us? Jesus put it there to be like a geyser of springing into everlasting life…

Let me get back to that woman at the well scene – and there is another older tale in Genesis about God’s angel coming to Hagar (servant of Sarah and Abram/Abraham, future mother of Ishmael (older brother to Isaac) and after the Hagar is comforted  she calls the well :”The place where God has seen me” – God sees each of us – doesn’t He. He does!

I started thinking about a silly connection of Jesus picking her  – that Samaritan woman or any person – but exactly her – the song – a Broadway hit – “One, singular sensation – every move that she makes…”    it’s the lyric from a Chorus Line- where they are all auditioning for a part in a Broadway musical- all vying for the perfect moment to sparkle and connect and the director is looking for that special someone,  exact for the part.   (And this was something glamorous portrayed, but in reality, it took long work to get the ground work of skillset plus that spark…) Yet it was not that she had to work or any of us have to work to be chosen by Jesus = because He already chose each of us to be us, from before time.

It is NOT that the Samaritan woman at the well was at all-knowing or trying or anything. She encounters Jesus on an ordinary day that she doesn’t realize is NOT ordinary. She is picked out, probably from beginning of time, to be her normal self, then have this encounter with our Almighty Lord. She is at the middle of the hot day, when “normal” people don’t normally go, so MANY scholars and sermonists point that out, she alone at noon was avoiding a possible gossiping crowd in the morning, etc etc… yeah we get that… Yet Jesus judged her perfect for this moment and not just for who she was, but whom she would tell, what would happen next, and everything in between. One – ONE just like the Chorus Line – but also another song lyric: “A cog in something turning” as favorite singer Joni Mitchell would write as a lyric for “Woodstock” – this woman – and us – we are all cogs in something turning…

And Jesus told this woman of so much – it is said to be the longest conversation in the Bible – and Jesus was creating and drawing Living Water out of her stagnant life – so she was ‘drawn’ to say: “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” – “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 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. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”   The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”  Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

Wow WOW – He says what she needed to hear – so that she believed Him. Jesus does say: “My sheep know My voice.”

Then she ran to tell the others – she said what they needed to hear – Her fountain of new life overflowed. Jesus also sends us our, TRUSTING in Him.

God has a Process – let us go to Him first… reach to Him as the first option…

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So my neighbor’s wood stove chimney was on fire (they are OK and the house is OK). This was earlier in the week… I use it as an example that There is a process in firefighting, protocols and always communication – to the stations and fire fighters also lined up as backup… 

SO that night, I saw fire trucks go by, maybe 930-10pm. My neighbors are about 7 doors down, great people, missionaries actually, it was their chimney from their woodstove, it was over doing it with heat.. too hot. I walked down to them, stood with them, watched the fire company be very methodical. Five in their uniforms with spike tools in hand waiting at the front door for instructions. No one moved without instructions. House was fine but the chimney became compromised. Yes, after a few holes in the garage wall and the upstairs bedroom wall, then it all seemed “done”, it all seemed OK and I went home. Now sitting in bed, now midnight and wide awake, I saw another few fire trucks come back, hmmm. The Fire Marshall had still been there doing paperwork and he saw the chimney flare up again, it had a blockage so severe that apparently it flared back up… So then more holes, a chain down the chimney when they could get the ladder truck up on the neighbor’s driveway… A process.

At this point, the neighbors were in the house with the fire marshall and invited me in as well to the back addition, because the new firefighters were just working on the chimney – well in another space. But looking into that room, it was a great image: 4 firefighters arm to shoulder backing up the situation. When the guy pulled the stove pipe out from the wall, which was cool by this time, he had back up as well as curious onlookers). They were there to back each other’s back. And there’s a protocol.

Later, the dreaded words, yeah they were going to have to pour down water… Fire boss said family should head out, so I brought the neighbors over to my house, 130pm, fed them pizza. Fire Marshall cleared house for them to return at 230am…  all was ok, house too… except moderate water damage in the garage. Don’t worry, insurance will pay – there is a process.

What if the people tried water first? Well they say you could build up so much steam and pressure that the chimney to break open. And you would be on the ladder ON the chimney, not good… Best to call in the professionals. Well, let us switch this back to scene of the woman and the well – and for us living our lives – we DO want to go to Jesus first, Living Water!  Well yes!  He would call in the professionals and the angels, even might prevent our mental fires with mental reminders of us cleaning out our systems on a regular basis (chimneys and us) with His help. And so importantly, Jesus would want us to TRUST Him. And Jesus would also tell us there is a process. And if something were to go wrong, Jesus also has our back. Forgiveness comes for our forever.  Jesus has a process – and Jesus has our back…

Please pray with me – Lord – Jesus, You are Lord – You are the process – the alpha and omega beginning and end and all the small steps in between. Teach us, show us, and even clear our fuzzy brains with your visions –  if only we go to You Lord Jesus first and get our Living Water from you – worship You God – and depend upon You – You will lead us thru this life and to HOME. There is a process… Jesus You are the process and the processing and the answer too.

Amen

I was watching (and listening) to the inspiration of the musical Jonah, Sight and Sound.  And the people who throw Jonah overboard and see the waves calmed, say “I’d be a fool not to worship a God this powerful.” Amen to that! 

Can you imagine the absolute contrast between a near shipwreck and boom! an instant cleared situation and calm water?  What if we would experience that kind of power then forget to rely on God again.  It happens. It happened to David when He was saved from the lion or Goliath, then he wavered at times. it happens to us.

And yet, how awesome is God to forgive and keep showing us miracles of His POWER, and mercies of His choosing. 

Imagine the power of God taking care of us so big. If we experience God’s little things, Imagine how elaborate big things are too. If we trust God’s got us in an afterlife, then can we trust His council for everyday things? I hope so.

Jonah overboard journey was a big step for His faith physically, being prepared to die and sacrificing his own life for the sake of others, yet knowing full well his disobedience brought God to severe extreme all while still being in control. Jumping overboard to jump on board with God’s Plan. It’s miniature to Jesus sacrificing His Life, Jesus knew what He was accomplishing yet He was of human nature to cry, question, suffer. Gratefully Jesus was Divine nature to put the plan together with God. You have to recognize that level of trust. 

What about the people of Nineveh? They were staring death in the face and realized it – that in itself is amazing that they didn’t disregard Jonah’s prophesy. They had to jump on board with God – by jumping away from their disobedience and disregard. God said “all aboard” – and thankfully they took Him up on His offer.

Well, let’s all try some more trust for God’s I’m control. Let’s try to walk by faith and not by sight, and still keep our eyes on moving at God speed… if God is on board with a plan, why shouldn’t I be…

Life should be knowing that God knows every hair on our heads, then handing Him the comb.

A poem:

God parted the Red Sea, 

He will help me! 

God caught a jumping Jonah with a whale, 

I imagine He can catch me with the wind’s gale,

Especially since I will put up my God windsail.

.

Jonah went the wrong way, 

Let us instead ask God to steer our day.

Move me Lord, move my fear to Hooray!

At least I try to watch my steps as You plan my day.

Amen

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%201-4&version=NIV;NKJV

I keep digging further into the old testament and the small passages reflect God’s whole plan. It’s not getting lost in the Word, but getting found through the Word, God HAS a Plan and we are living in the midst of it.

In Jeremiah 30, God told him to write down His Plan, prophesy of Jeremiah, into a book. Jeremiah 31 continues, and Jeremiah realizes God’s plan is reassurance, even gives Him pleasant sleep. There are hard days in the present for Jeremiah’s fellow men, but easier days ahead … Jeremiah had to write it, believe it, live it. 

Jeremiah is writing about a NEW COVENANT (that’s Messiah Jesus), and God says: “I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

We hear these familiar terms: Lord of Hosts; Everlasting Love; Lovingkindnesses; sing with gladness; their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all; heir souls shall be like a well-watered garden, And they shall sorrow no more; For I will turn their mourning to joy; There is hope in your future, says the Lord.

And although I wonder why so many years this has to pass of wandering, wondering, and exile, for the israelites, I think God was reminding that He was in this for the Long Haul.  I am also reminded that it is a long time people have been living on earth and they needed and needed a renewed hope and a renewed reminder. God doesn’t change but we have to re-realize of His faithfulness. FAITHFULNESS EVERY MORNING. Thus we feel blessed with Good sleep – not just for our bodies but for the reassurance that God is in control and we can get some rest.

God also reminds every new generation and multiple times that we are saved by Jesus. We accept saving grace when we look to our Messiah to cover our sins, and those of the past. Compliance for the past people was in certain obedience,  and with us now, in A NEW COVENANT, we simply need to believe and walk with Jesus always (sometimes/always He will carry us too)… Let us keep walking all of these days…  and sleeping in all of these nights…

Amen

—

Jeremiah 31 NKJV

The Remnant of Israel Saved – “At the same time,” says the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.” Thus says the Lord: “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness— Israel, when I went to give him rest.”

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice. You shall yet plant vines on the mountains of Samaria; The planters shall plant and eat them as ordinary food. For there shall be a day When the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.’ ”

For thus says the Lord: “Sing with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O Lord, save Your people, The remnant of Israel!’ Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child And the one who labors with child, together; A great throng shall return there. They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.

“Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, And declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’ For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, Streaming to the goodness of the Lord – For wheat and new wine and oil, For the young of the flock and the herd; Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, And they shall sorrow no more at all.

“Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together; For I will turn their mourning to joy, Will comfort them, And make them rejoice rather than sorrow. I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.”

Mercy on Ephraim – Thus says the Lord: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.”  Thus says the Lord: “Refrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, And they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the Lord, That your children shall come back to their own border.  “I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained bull; Restore me, and I will return, For You are the Lord my God. Surely, after my turning, I repented; And after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’ Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord.

“Set up signposts, Make landmarks; Set your heart toward the highway, the way in which you went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel, turn back to these your cities. How long will you gad about, 0 you backsliding daughter? For the Lord has created a new thing in the earth – A woman shall encompass a man.”

Future Prosperity of Judah – Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “They shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I bring back their captivity: ‘The Lord bless you, O home of justice, and mountain of holiness!’ And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all its cities together, farmers and those going out with flocks. For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”

After this I awoke and looked around, and my sleep was sweet to me.

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the Lord. In those days they shall say no more: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.

A New Covenant

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (The Lord of hosts is His name): “If those ordinances depart from before Me, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel shall also cease From being a nation before Me forever.”

Thus says the Lord: “If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, says the Lord. “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that the city shall be built for the Lord from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. The surveyor’s line shall again extend straight forward over the hill Gareb; then it shall turn toward Goath. And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the Lord. It shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore forever.”

I took a moment to stop at the cemetery of my friend, a fellow girl scout mom. I wondered between the snow melting and the rain now pausing, in 4 days time, was the plot OK???… Well, of course it was fine, but I rearranged the wind-fallen flower piles anyway and made them look nicer. I thought at the very least the children who might visit their mom’s grave may have a better view, even if it’s the worst view. And even if they don’t come for a while, others will see devotion, just like I saw other places of graves of beloved mothers with dozens of angel statues, artwork,  holiday decoration and flags, even Christmas trees. Devotion. So, perhaps it’s just the mom in me to “mom the situation”, clean up what is not my mess, and appreciate simply that I was putting the work in for my friend’s sake, and for mine too I will confess. I just liked it better. I just humanly needed to feel that earthly feel of ‘doing something’, when I knew already that God had already done everything, the Heavenly EVERYTHING. 

“Beloved Mother” – the ribbon loose but the sentiment true. I anchored it with rocks. This mother was beloved as a mother by her children – and she was beloved that she mothered those children, admired and beloved by those she knew. She maybe sometimes put the smother of mother on thick – but that’s who she was – SO thick in mothering – to all she knew. Me too. I have clothes and food still from last year. She would mom me with snacks for our car trips. She mom-med thicker than the peanut butter she would bring. So thick is what many mothers do, to help us be covered in mothering long after they are gone. 

Mud – I carried out the work then later saw the mud – the smother of mothering now the smother of mudddddd-ering … mud… felt good (even looked good I thought for a photo,  the contrast of my pink fuzzy crocs as if happily dipped in mud). – Well… 

We have to remember, mud will wash off, don’t be afraid of mud. Life is muddy, don’t be afraid of life. Carry on the work and wash off the mud later – simply switch shoes and keep marching. Mud makes the moms, it’s very beautiful to mom.

Keep mom-ing Moms. Keep dad-ing Dads. Keep traipsing through mud to mudder through life. Will the kids see it? The mom-ing by moms? Does that matter? Maybe, but just know it’s God’s way to make headway into life’s fray. “My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 30:14

Keep mom-ing moms. Mud and all.

Amen 

Always a joy to revisit my awakening story – this is an “elevator speech” version – long elevator – but in brief – written to a new friend pastor.

I know that God has given me a gift for writing. I never asked for it, but I would NOT now trade it for anything. 9 yrs ago I tried to beg God to not “make me write” – but He didn’t let up – I always knew He made me an encourager in general,  plus my sanguine ENFP personality, and has been refocusing me for working in His Way… I take little credit except for APPRECIATING the Lord in everything. Yeah!

In my blessing of an awakening 9 yrs ago, which to my human view felt like a 0 to 60 speed ramp up, I actually now know this came from His never-ending pursuit of me, of us, for not just our sake but for serving others… Like Jarius’ daughter, Jesus just said “she’s not dead in her faith, she’s just sleeping.”… Jesus held me in the MOST gentle of wake ups all the while God was like rolling STRIKES against the bowling pins of my disbelief system that I tried to keep resetting up. Smash! GOD IS IN CHARGE! He made me realize I was on His Plan at His Dime. He took my head and I actually had to write write write, 2am 5am etc through my whole awakening. Oh, how I was SO embarrassed and confused about this writing, hid my first 20 writings in a box in my car, I thought I was going nuts… God’s plan not mine… but now I know in true Holy Spirit fashion, that He lined up the people to help me open up, He laid His ground work for me to see it was Him, like a Bread Crumb trail. And yet, not led by anyone who noticed my “lukewarm-ness”, so that I could see it was God and God alone who called my number, and my head, and never let go… I was 50:50 on Jesus, even as a lifelong Catholic then Methodist, Sunday School teacher, VBS leader, UMW leader… was maybe Jesus a prophet with a publicist? How did I REALLY know He was God’s son? So, it was over the course of 2 months that God knocked my socks off and got my head on straight, and got me educating myself.  Feb 1st is coming soon, my 100% with Jesus day 2015. It brings me to tears to think of “what if” – but God had me, never letting go…

So, for the writing,  after opening up to 2 friend pastors, then more trusted people, I started emailing my writings as more general blog-like. After 50 writings in 2 months I was 100% with Jesus. After 200 writings I was like: “Lord, can I please stop now?” NOPE… I said, what am I gonna do with all these writings? They will just sit here like my unfinished sewing machine pile. And that’s when I also was Holy Spirit led to put them into a blog post page where I’m over two thousand writings now. A daily devotion safekeeping, until I figure out what else to do with them (yes, I need to publish many people tell me). Right now I am writing my way through the Old Testament. I don’t need to write for anything but the Lord. I don’t need the income or the fame. Yet I’m so curious why I write but I know all will be revealed someday… I’m just trying to go with the flow. Eventually I could imagine myself doing public speaking of women’s groups et cetera – but it is not about me but about God using me – using us – to be encouragers – encouragers of the Word.

I’m at debbieupper.blog  because I am not a debbie-downer at all…

That’s my long-winded elevator speech of my awakening and my writing. I kissed the blarney stone twice, but it’s not all blarney. I’m a scientist and blessed that I’ve expanded into science blogs too. And I recently signed on as communications lead for a work multi-faith group. I just simply hope it helps people. I know it has helped me find God in everything… I’m even sharing sermons on occasion as a “pinch-hitter” while we are inbetween pastors at our community church. 

We are all so different but we are also together in God’s plan for His Purposes..

I’m understanding that His Net is woven, strand by strand, strengthened and restructured. And some of us are on the fill in the tiny threads section that captures Thinker-ers like me, one at a time.

It FIGures that God would select a people to Himself. ‘You shall be My people, And I will be your God.’ ” – And yet He promises Jesus’s saving Grace to both Jew and Gentile. We are all His. God sets aside a nation, the Jews, and this is throughout history and scripture.  It’s not about playing favorites, it’s about prophesy fulfillment. There is a plan and a process for recovering what and who are lost and scattered. (And trust me, reading their challenges in the old testament, knowing their challenges today, God’s Purpose is precisely His, for Whom can hold onto, control, use all the challenges of life but God). Our best plan is to take on the challenges day by day, hour by hour – WITH God to guide us.

And then there are those who like to DISAGREE with God, not go with His Plan – like in Jeremiah’s time those who refused to comply with God’s Placement of the Israelites, tribes of Jacob, up in Babylon for a spell. God called these rotten rulers and spoiled separatists as rotten FIGS!

FIGures, that God uses the items in people’s knowledge of all around His/their world. Remembering the FIG tree that shriveled when Jesus used it as an example of Israel’s lack of bearing fruit, of understanding that He was the Messiah, whom they should have been looking for, that should have been in season and in sync with His first coming. FIGures they (most of them) weren’t in sync or in season or in step. Jesus told them so. Later they (and we) would understand.  And we understand that God does till His soil to bring better fruit – Jesus in Luke 13 speaks of fertilizing the fig tree just giving it another chance to change.

God also told Jeremiah, in the days of Babylon captivity, of the fate of the false prophets and non-obliging holdouts: “he shall not have anyone to dwell among this people, nor shall he see the good that I will do for My people”,… And God says: “In the latter days you will consider it.” (Yes, we consider your prophecy Jeremiah and Jesus’s Word. We get to read and ponder over it. We get to live the acceptance and hopefully less of the strife.)

We have yet to see more and more good that God is planning for His people. This may be in Heaven for some of us before it all is corrected on earth. There is a long plan shortly coming. In the meantime, let us all stay captive to God’s Word, plan, intentions, and Grace. If God chooses us for His Plan, let’s FIGure out how to comply. (And bloom too!)

Let us FIGure out how to be mindful to God.

Amen 

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Jeremiah 29:15-30:24 NKJV

Because you have said, “The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon”— therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, concerning all the people who dwell in this city, and concerning your brethren who have not gone out with you into captivity— thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten, they are so bad. And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence; and I will deliver them to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth—to be a curse, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,  because they have not heeded My words, says the Lord, which I sent to them by My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; neither would you heed, says the Lord.  Therefore hear the word of the Lord, all you of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie to you in My name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall slay them before your eyes. And because of them a curse shall be taken up by all the captivity of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, “The Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire”; because they have done disgraceful things in Israel, have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken lying words in My name, which I have not commanded them. Indeed I know, and am a witness, says the Lord.

You shall also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: You have sent letters in your name to all the people who are at Jerusalem, to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, “The Lord has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, so that there should be officers in the house of the Lord over every man who is demented and considers himself a prophet, that you should put him in prison and in the stocks. Now therefore, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who makes himself a prophet to you? For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, ‘This captivity is long; build houses and dwell in them, and plant gardens and eat their fruit.’ ”

Now Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet. Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: Send to all those in captivity, saying, Thus says the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I have not sent him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie— therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his family: he shall not have anyone to dwell among this people, nor shall he see the good that I will do for My people, says the Lord, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord.

Restoration of Israel and Judah

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, “Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you. For behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ says the Lord. ‘And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’ ”

Now these are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah. “For thus says the Lord: ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see, Whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, And all faces turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

‘For it shall come to pass in that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘That I will break his yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds; Foreigners shall no more enslave them.  But they shall serve the Lord their God, And David their king, Whom I will raise up for them.

‘Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,’ says the Lord, ‘Nor be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, and no one shall make him afraid. For I am with you,’ says the Lord, ‘to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.’

“For thus says the Lord: ‘Your affliction is incurable, Your wound is severe. There is no one to plead your cause, That you may be bound up; You have no healing medicines. All your lovers have forgotten you; They do not seek you; For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, With the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquities, Because your sins have increased. Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, Because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you.

‘Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; And all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; Those who plunder you shall become plunder, And all who prey upon you I will make a prey. For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” ’ “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; The city shall be built upon its own mound, And the palace shall remain according to its own plan. Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as before, And their congregation shall be established before Me; And I will punish all who oppress them. Their nobles shall be from among them, And their governor shall come from their midst; Then I will cause him to draw near, And he shall approach Me; For who is this who pledged his heart to approach Me?’ says the Lord. ‘You shall be My people, And I will be your God.’ ”

Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord Goes forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind; It will fall violently on the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord will not return until He has done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart.

In the latter days you will consider it.

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Jesus also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ” Luke 13:6-9

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Jesus laments over Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ” Matthew 23:37-39

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Jesus Curses a Fig Tree – Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. Matthew 21:18-19

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The Parable of the Fig Tree – “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:32-35

Sometimes we are surprised we make it through the day. What about 70 years? That was the prescribed time the Israelites were to be taken to Babylon, in captivity, but to still live full lives there. To NOT listen to fake prophecies that all will be fixed in a mere two years. Well, God wanted the people to know that He was WITH the people and even in captivity He promised to be KNOWN to be in charge. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE.

God always is clear: Life here on earth is not Heaven. God knows that there still will be worldly work, wrath, woes. But there is plain decent living too. So just LIVE. 

If the Lord takes time to remove a people then restore them to Jerusalem again and again (and again), with His Word being TRUE, then we MUST believe in Jesus speaking the TRUTH which is also a prayer that “the Lord’s Will be done ” EVERYDAY.  Jesus instructed in the Lord’s Prayer to petition: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10).  And Jesus warned about false prophets and false prophecy. Sounds like Jeremiah’s time too. God said DON’T listen to the hype.

Sounds familiar, DON’T listen to the HYPE about LIFE – LIVE LIFE – LOVE it. 

Pray on our trials here too. It was to be 70 years in exile before Restoration of Jerusalem, God told the people to make the best of it. Let’s do these SAME SANE things now,  KEEP LIVING LIFE, knowing God will bring us back to Him (and Jesus comes back to us). Don’t stop living – Jeremiah wrote of God’s command and the reassurances, Jeremiah also spoke publicly and demonstrated physically that God would handle the time and the false prophets too who were rushing the process, dictating the fight. God sent Jeremiah to warn. God uses even the evil for His Purposes. Well we should know by now that God handles His battles in His Own Timeliness… 

So let us read COMFORT in Jeremiah 29 for them and us… (and Jeremiah 27-28 for some clear God swiftness to knock out falsehood in a fake prophecy from Hananiah.)

Remember that when the going gets tough, God is tougher!! Look for God: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Amen (and read of His Plan, it sounds pre-preparing for us too)

Amen (and wait for “the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent.” – be it Jeremiah then and Jesus now)

Amen to God’s Known Future for us (with HIM!)

…

Jeremiah 29:5-14 – “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:5-14)

Jeremiah 27 NKJV – Symbol of the Bonds and Yokes

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, “Thus says the Lord to me: ‘Make for yourselves bonds and yokes, and put them on your neck, and send them to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the Ammonites, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon, by the hand of the messengers who come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. And command them to say to their masters, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel—thus you shall say to your masters: ‘I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me. And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant; and the beasts of the field I have also given him to serve him. So all nations shall serve him and his son and his son’s son, until the time of his land comes; and then many nations and great kings shall make him serve them. And it shall be, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and which will not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation I will punish,’ says the Lord, ‘with the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand. Therefore do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers, who speak to you, saying, “You shall not serve the king of Babylon.” For they prophesy a lie to you, to remove you far from your land; and I will drive you out, and you will perish. But the nations that bring their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let them remain in their own land,’ says the Lord, ‘and they shall till it and dwell in it.’ ” ’ ”

I also spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live! Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the Lord has spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? Therefore do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they prophesy a lie to you; for I have not sent them,” says the Lord, “yet they prophesy a lie in My name, that I may drive you out, and that you may perish, you and the prophets who prophesy to you.”

Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, “Behold, the vessels of the Lord’s house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon”; for they prophesy a lie to you. Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon, and live! Why should this city be laid waste? But if they are prophets, and if the word of the Lord is with them, let them now make intercession to the Lord of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the Lord, in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, do not go to Babylon.’

“For thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars, concerning the Sea, concerning the carts, and concerning the remainder of the vessels that remain in this city, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem— yes, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem: ‘They shall be carried to Babylon, and there they shall be until the day that I visit them,’ says the Lord. ‘Then I will bring them up and restore them to this place.’ ”

Jeremiah 28 NKJV – Hananiah’s Falsehood and Doom

And it happened in the same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’ ”

Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people who stood in the house of the Lord, and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! The Lord do so; the Lord perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the Lord’s house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place.  Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms—of war and disaster and pestilence. As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent.”

Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck and broke it. And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.’ ” And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

Now the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Go and tell Hananiah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron.” For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the field also.” ’ ”

Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Hear now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie. Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the Lord.’ ”

So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

A friend of a friend recently handed me some of the light bulbs from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City (gathered in 2022). I guess certain people get to take the bulbs off and keep them because they don’t reuse them anymore… That does sound wasteful and yet I get it because they they probably need to make it VERY easy on themselves every year to light up the beautiful tree. 

It’s cool to go see it but there are so many activities at Christmas that I don’t really need to go see the tree. There are big trees here too. My friend who recently passed wanted to go see it before Christmas, asked if I was going, but I wasn’t. I am now GLAD that I DIDN’T take her. What? Would I wished to have taken her? Nah, I am thankful for not being a part of weakening her any more than she was. It was like a God thing that stopped me one trip short of guilt. The tree is cool, don’t get me wrong, but God is COOLer. God is All in All. God is in control.

This is all hindsight conjecture of course, and even if we had gone, I’m trusting God in His wisdom would have helped… But anyway I’m glad we didn’t go. I’m also glad that my friend had an “ordinary” day that day she passed, and before that a real and regular Christmas with her family that was distanced 3 weeks prior from her passing.

I am glad that she held her faith to the world like a light in the dark. See, we didn’t need to see Christmas lights as much as her and us being witness Lights! 

The bulbs are cool, but the only thing I can think to do with them is somehow to bring them to her gravestone…  I know of all things, God wants us to carry on, to shine the Light while we make do, to be faithful and true. 

I know God is the best Light. Through us, His Light shines TRUE.

Amen 

(For my friend who recently passed – but for all our loved ones gone too soon.)

It’s like multiple stages of grief in a whirlwind. For a friend’s passing, I got the stage of denial for maybe 45 minutes tops, that’s it. Reality came quickly in God’s Way. Comforting others came paramount immediately. Memories came even quicker in a processing way.

For the services, it came in an easy Hard way – on an easy Hard day. In an unfathomable way, we knew we would get to this day. But in a way, nothing could prepare us for the day. So our focus shifts from our grief to helping others with theirs. That is God’s way to make easy a hard day. Help in every which way. Help others get through their day.

The service and the logistics and sharing of the meal, (even getting the tire out of the rut of the driveway), well it was all fairly easy that day, in a very tough way. People shared a slice of God’s ultimate grace, I must say. We found ease even if it was from a hard way, on a hard day.

It was hardly an easy day, but a hard easy day. Easy in that we were taken care of. And we also took care of each other. That came easy. That’s the easy part of hard: Love, grace, mercy. 

It was easily one of the hardest days. I saw my friend’s family and that was hardest, to know only a fraction of their grief, all stages, and easy to see why they grieved. They loved her, daughter, sister, wife, mother. Loved her with an easy love, even in a hard situation. She loved them hard, that was easy for her. She lived a hard life with the seemingly gift of just enough ease over pain, and trust me she had hard pain. Her hard days ended with much pain, now eased away.

Love is easy. Love is hard. Life is easy. Life is hard. What makes hard life easy? Or easy life hard? Hard to answer that, but easy to see that our lives are gifted an ease to hardness. How else would this complicated brain, emotions, coping mechanism and complicated body survive and even thrive. If forming, growing and living life in us is not complicated enough, then nothing is. If putting the infinite spirit into a complex system, requiring us to nurture and care for each other, was and is “so easily” done by God, then NOTHING is hard for God. Nothing will be either. God doesn’t hold us together with skin or glue, but with LOVE. Hard love easily given. God is love, nothing hard nothing easy, just Love. 

Our bodies will give way, pass away.

But God’s Love will be our stay.

Let us pray for all of us today.

Love is an easy gift, even if made perfect in a hard way.

Lord, let us today, Love Your Way.

Amen 

—

“Is any thing too hard for the Lord? ” Genesis 18:14

‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them—the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts. You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.’  Jeremiah 32:17-19

“For with God, nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37

(One of many processing writings for my friend’s passing and her services)

At the calling hours, I could only see the back of the casket, from my church pew, and yet I could see the front of the faces of the people passing by it. The one gentleman who once shared his midnight Easter meal with me and my friend, after the 10pm-midnight Orthodox service, on the first occasion I visited this Orthodox traditional church with my friend, who was so ill for years but still so faithful, well. . . Well his face of pain spoke volumes of bitter frustration of grasping the cruelty of loosing a life so young and heartbreak of her life which should have continued to be been vibrant. Pain.

Hugs. I could see directly across my aisle to a massive supportive hug given by a young girl scout to her fellow scout, youngest daughter of my friend. Ah, both a young 10yrs old, but the strong support for each other in such young hearts is God-given and parent-taught. We ARE on this journey together… There is joy in the journey, sorrow but strength in the support, hugs in the hope, compassion in the tears shed for each other. We carry each other’s burdens. 

The hug brought this observation from our girl scout troop leader, “It Broke My Heart and Healed It at the Same Time”…

Amen to that. 

Amen to all…

—

Paul’s letter to the Galatians (6:2-10)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.

Be Generous and Do Good

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

(One of many processing writings for my friend’s passing and her services)

I was confused because I could not find on the web any reason why there might be a tradition, and I’m saying ‘might‘, that you have to have new shoes worn in the casket for the friend, who is being buried today. Trust me I didn’t see her shoes, I focused on her face, her hands. I don’t know if anyone cares about these shoes. I don’t even think she needs shoes. But they did prepare her so nice. She did look absolutely beautiful and happy, with the smile on her face like I would want to remember her, as they laid her body to rest. And trust me, after her standing on neuropathy feet for a long time, she would be happy to rest. (and where did the people who brought flowers put them? all on top of her shoes anyway.)

Good shoes is what we need today for an all day event, her mass as well as interment, as well as meal after. Good shoes but also probably boots, as the snow is not going anywhere, except into slush. Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if they had plywood down for the family to walk on, but like one year for my aunt’s outdoor funeral upstate in 15 degrees winter, you need good shoes. 

Good shoes because we are camping girl scout moms honoring one of our own. Good camp shoes which are not new but have been through the trenches. Good shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, muddy, stuck, because camping, like life in the world is temporary. 

Yeah, wear Good Shoes for walking this world.

Maybe that’s the reason for new shoes (or even no shoes) in a casket. Cause you don’t need any of those old shoes in Heaven. Because you’ve already been through those trenches and there are NO trenches in Heaven. There are no potholes or tricky indoor carpets to trip you either. It’s got to be a smooth sailing stride… Ah… Heaven. 

Heaven. Whose coming with me? I’m in no rush but can’t wait to get there, especially to hug my friend in renewed robustness, healed and whole. She took Jesus’s Hand, and we all do have our tickets punched for His Full-Service ride to Heaven. We just want to be ready to accept His forgiveness for earthly mud on our shoes. He does. 

But really, with no slight to tradition, do we need shoes? NAH… Jesus provides all the clean garments we need, and besides, Jesus’s FACE is focusing on looking at your FACE (and seeing you looking at Him): FACE TO FACE. 

Amen

—

1st Corinthians 3:16,17 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? … For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

—

If I speak in the tongues a of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see FACE to FACE. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

—

Genesis 32:23-32

After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

I was SO relieved when I put on this inexpensive tennis elbow brace around my right arm – wow!  I had forgotten how much they help – I have been ignoring my tennis elbow to the point of pain and ugh – well – time to appreciate the relief aspect of the brace – not medicine which can help too but the simple strap which stops the constant pull of muscles attached near the elbow and instead moves the anchor point down an inch – a redirect – ah relief…

This is perfect (well at least appropriate) to represent when we are NOT to make some decisions or make the call – when we SHOULD take the opportunity for someone else to be in charge – and for us to not take a back seat but to take the hay wagon ride behind the vehicle – not back seat kibitz about driving but “enjoy the ride”… 

This is what I am TRYING to remind myself about my role as child of God –  being an empty vessel for Holy Spirit filling. Yes, enjoy the ride and not be in charge even if I am charged up!  Of course pay attention on any “Hey!”-ride, still try not to fall off the back of the wagon when it hits the bumps of life. So just know when it is not my turn to drive even if it is my road. Know when It is not my opinion to make the call when it is the Lord’s Call. 

How will I try to NOT anticipate but instead participate? Well, keep my ears open and reserve my mouth for praise and purposeful smiles. Keep my eyes on the Lord and my seatbelt on. Look for soul searching but not stressing. Keep moving the focal point of the burdens of life on Jesus’s shoulders and not mine.

And not on my tennis elbow either – give that ball to Jesus to Serve!

Amen

(A praise poem based upon “falling well” but NOT falling over.  A simple slip NOT on ice, but the wet puddle spots inside, oops… more embarrassing than anything. And I praise the saving stretch I got from the Lord – and the “watch what you boast” warning too! Just thank the Lord and keep moving.)

Stretch, don’t Kvetch

It wasn’t just the race,

  it was that I was setting the aggressive pace.

It wasn’t just about my need,

  but I was putting in my need for speed.

I doubt that I could last,

  if my future competes with my past.

I’m pretty sure my energy steps would run out of gas.

.

It’s not just a slow down, 

  but “I know better” now.

One slip and I could take a trip,

  worse yet my knee would dip.

But the catch, ah yes the catch, yes,

  The SAVE is what I will address. 

The Lord saved my life from becoming a mess.

.

So don’t ignore mini MIRACLES anymore.

Every time you DON’T crash onto the floor.

Every save, every brave.

Each time your health doesn’t cave.

Getting older means what?

That GOD helps keep you out of trouble’s rut.

Watch the ice or you will fall on your butt!

.

Exercise. Or dust can compromise. 

Stretch. And don’t kvetch!

Praise all the more! For strength in our core!

.

Accept help, before you yelp.

Skip the trial, of your denial. 

Weigh the consequences, not the nonsenses.

.

Then close the door, and purposefully prayerfully kneel your face to the floor. 

Be thankful to God even more.

.

Lord, I praise Your gifting. I praise all Your lifting. 

I will bend my ways and preserve my days.

Thank You for saving in all Your Ways.

Amen

.

Amen 

---

James 1:1-20 – NKJV

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

Profiting from Trials – My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The Perspective of Rich and Poor – Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

Loving God Under Trials – Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Qualities Needed in Trials – So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

I was thinking about a friend’s positive outlook being so helpful in his many many years of illness, ailments, hospital stays, multiple transplants, etc. Some folks I know also experience sadness working havoc on their motivation, maybe more than their illness does. So I asked my devoted-faith friend: “Do you have any words of advice for looking up, for faith, when health (or life) is stressed?”

Here are excerpts of his response: 

“Hmmm, tough one! I’ve been through so much in my life it’s become a defense. My mantra is there is good in everything bad, but you have to look for it. I see life as a book of experiences and thank God for all of them, good or bad.

“Sadness… I like the comparison of a horse walking in a pasture in the exact same circle wearing a deep path. You have to get out of that circle of ruminating. I get mad at my self when depression sets in and make my self stop thinking in a negative poor me way. 

“Health issues are an experience, I want experiences so that I can relate to others in a knowledgeable way. I also look at the positive my troubles are for the doctors that are treating me. Maybe they will learn something to help some else. 

“An Alcoholic’s saying is ‘poor me, pour me another drink’. That’s the horse walking in circles… 

“We are responsible for our happiness, bottom line.

“Praying is my answer. Kick the negative out! It serves nothing. Do it enough and it become a habit….a new path for that horse to follow.”

…

Amen to all this! Thank you friend. Thank You Lord!

Special as my friend brought me a bottle of wine a week ago, one week before she passed away. I hadn’t even cleaned the table from that day, the unopened bottle is still there. Maybe now I will gather friends and we will open it to toast her and celebrate her friendship to us.

My friend passed peacefully in her sleep after a long illness. Well, she wanted (last month) to write me a Christmas card and she thought how horrible she was for not getting them out before Christmas. (Well, I never felt guilty about not getting them out before Christmas, and she was more busy than me!). Well, she certainly shouldn’t have felt guilty, and so sitting at her house around New Years, I was telling her it was fine, and she wrote it out to me on the spot (and I ended up ALSO getting SO many gifts of goodies, smiles and laughter)… Special as she wanted to gift the card and everything to me. Special as she and her generous spirit were a true gift to me. Her daughter texted just now about how much she loved me. Oh, I felt it!

Spiritual Solace to me is that she is whole, healthy, healed and held by Jesus. Spiritual and simple solace is seeing how amazing her family has grown up, how she raised them, how independent they are, and knowing people will be there for them. Spiritual Solace is knowing, feeling that she is SMILING in Heaven, I feel she is waving at me, I can hear her voice as easily as I can click on videos of her. Thank You Jesus for that.

Spiritual Solace is very often sacred. But I must say that a simple solace to me, and a SILLY one too, as we should not cling to tangible things here on earth, but it has brought me extra peace in WONDER, because the Christmas card she gave me sparkled in my eyes not only because of my favorite color blue, plus the sparkles, it is because the similarities were really evident to a card had I bought, then never mailed myself because I just loved it – they go together as a pair… Blue sparkles, a tree, a beautiful scene in each. Was going to mail it but thought, I’ll hold onto it a bit more. I appreciate it because it reflects that we were like sisters – different but with the same Light inside – the same sparkles. I also appreciated my card was taller and hers shorter, just like us. It also has a STAR. A star brings us towards Jesus. A silly solace here but it truly soothes my soul. 

Spiritual stars draw us to Him. My friend was a STAR and she always pointed me to Jesus too.

A simple Spiritual wake up SHOCK was when I went to her house, just as I heard the news, I just went immediately when I heard that she had passed. It was that I really felt like it wasn’t real (it was), I wanted to see her, but no. That suddenness meant processing via seeing her husband’s tears held back. The Spiritual shocking sight was that her purse was simply sitting silent, next to the door, ready to go but the go-er was gone. Was the purse going or coming? Was it set like “whew, I’m home – or hey, I’m ready to go.”  That image remains in my brain: the purse so simply hers but no longer needed. We are go-ers but God is the Know-er. Some things, well all things, we WON’T take with us. All we will need is that feeling that we are HOME.

There’s a Spiritual Solace here: we don’t need anything but Jesus. Jesus saving us with forgiveness and love and mercy and us believing in the forgiveness and love, then loving others. My friend believed in Jesus, oh yes, oh such faith. My friend knew love in the pain. Jesus shined through all that pain.

You may think each day to put your purse or your keys or your phone in a certain spot. You may start charging your phone, prep your mind and motions for the next day. But God decides your ultimate fate and faithful fateful timing to be here then gone. We don’t decide much more in decisions than picking out special sparkles on a card. We certainly are gifted the ability to pick friends. I’m SO glad she picked me as her friend. 

Her card says: “A wonder of Christmas surrounds us, may your spirit be renewed with special joy at the miracle of His birth.” and my card says: “Wishing you that cozy Christmas feeling of knowing that you are loved – because you are.” – which I wish I had mailed to her – well, now she knows…

Thank you Jesus, she is HOME.

JESUS SAID: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:2-3 NKJV

AMEN AMEN AMEN

I told my friend to “enjoy the snow day” (of course I am planning to – by going to work early which is surely why God woke me up at 4am instead of 5am to write- He ALWAYS stays ahead of the weather)….

Anyway, I was thinking about my email answer to her email conversation about conversations and people (or us) bringing bad things back up. After thinking myself, I emailed back: “I’m thinking if you find yourself in that circumstance again, you don’t have to answer or explain yourself. If God knows, and He does, you are under minimal obligation to explain things to others in an uncomfortable situation or in a way that just drags on and doesn’t resolve that scenario with that person. Like it prolongs the stuff that already went under the bridge, dregs it back up. You are under no obligation to raise back up what God put to rest. No need to reopen situations except with God, for God to resolve.  I mean even Jesus was silent at times, or used the weather to explain things…”

Ah the Weather – it changes and so does our conversation style….

So best advice? Sometimes it’s good to SWITCH to talking about the weather, let some storm clouds of life blow away…  it is better to believe in the next sunny day and put our minds there… Oh use the distractions of fluffy fun flakes to silently say: “no thanks – not interested in that conversation today!”…

And then I told her to enjoy the snow day – which is a great way to let everything else slide – down the hill – in an innertube of life… bouncing all the way… 

WHEEEEEEEEE………………………………….

amen

Then I will give you rain in due season… Leviticus 26:4

… he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. Psalm 147:18

It’s time to get back to Jeremiah’s visions. 

My grandma used to ask: “did you dream about hotdogs?” When we woke up at her house for sleepovers. She was curious about how we slept, and just about us. She really loved us. 

To be honest, I dream about so many things, it is wild, and almost never hotdogs.  I really have to hold back the recount of dreams from invading my day, but then again they dissipate quicker than steam (except a few ironed in wrinkles of weird memories). And I have to keep the day from invading this space each morning for dreaming about the Lord. It’s not a dream. I actually know this reality WITH the Lord us the most precious cherished time.  That’s why there seems to be this time of reading and writing. It’s not ambitious as a new friend said, not an achievement either, it’s just the way the Lord has me start my day. (I highly recommend it,  hold back the day with the Way)…

Let’s get back to Jeremiah, as I read and write through this old testament. Jeremiah had a vision, a placement of figs by God to check the signal to Jeremiah’s head. I’m not going to debate visions and dreams, I think Jeremiah was awake for this. “What do you see, Jeremiah?” FIGS!

FIGure out the meaning – not so hard – these figs were good and bad – we could imagine that they would understand that – didn’t take a monkey from Indiana Jones to taste the figs and know they were poison – these figs were simply just good and bad. FIGure out the meaning – God was using good figs to represent those who listened and although they were taken into captivity, they kept a heart gifted by God to know Him. Whole Hearted Believers. Whole-making God. That should be us too – we are but travelers in this world but the worldliness of it should not keep us from focus on God – the worldliness means that we are technically exiles here – out of the Garden – but of God’s choosing – and we can listen and eventually be returned to a better state. There are good things here on earth – good pockets of people and places and good reasons to put down our roots and be planted and not plucked up… make the best of everything…

And the bad Figs – FIGures that it is the people not listening – not “fruitful” – not FIGuring out the Way of God, what He requests.

I don’t know how you start your day – but I FIGure if you are reading this and reading scripture that you FIGured out God is the ONE who gives good – so let us listen to Him.

Hold back the Day and carve out time for Him – He knows the Way.

Amen 

---

Jeremiah 24:1-10 NKJV

The Sign of Two Baskets of Figs

The Lord showed me, and there were two baskets of figs set before the temple of the Lord, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten, they were so bad. Then the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

And I said, “Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad.”

Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans. For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.

‘And as the bad figs which cannot be eaten, they are so bad’—surely thus says the Lord—‘so will I give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, his princes, the residue of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt. I will deliver them to trouble into all the kingdoms of the earth, for their harm, to be a reproach and a byword, a taunt and a curse, in all places where I shall drive them. And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence among them, till they are consumed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.’ ”

I don’t actually have a snow day, I have a work from home laptop and any day that I can catch up with work stuff at home is productive, couple meetings too. I could even go in, but nah… No more little ones to go sledding, but sipping tea (even while working) is a dream day, yay! It’s only 2 to 3 inches of snow and the Subaru powered thru it superbly, as expected, last night with road already covered, so it’s not really a real snow day.

But what if it were? What if it were a REAL SNOW DAY? What then if we adopted a SNOW DAY mentality? And what if we just didn’t worry about work or things?? What if we adopted a Saturday day-off mentality, except did less chores… What would we be best to do then? Ahhh… SPEND MORE TIME WITH GOD.

The Lord is not a task master as much as He IS a Master Tasker. He gets His things done. He sends the snow to help the ground sleep. He revs up the sun to steam us into summer. He turns the days, the earth, the seasons. Behold the sundial clocks still study His Creation, and measuring time which is not even important except for knowing His Ways better. If I had MORE time, I would want to STUDY GOD MORE. 

Let us go get that tea, and sit happily with scripture and in scripture. Let us absorb God’s Grace, and absorb His Word for helping the world, that is where we apply our knowledge and encouragement. Heading the Word for the world, not the world for the sake of the race. His Hope is not a bad slippery slope – once you know Him a little you will want to know Him MORE.

Amen

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Jeremiah 29:11-14 records: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”