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It’s been a long while since I’ve written a blog, but I think post-surgery (follow up shoulder scar tissue removal) I’m gifted to have this resting phase for my body which allows my brain to also take the time to “just be”.  To “be still” for me also means I have to keep walking. And that is to keep walking with Jesus.

At first I thought I would write this morning about physical pain about how pain is instructive for my shoulder physical therapy, but no – besides I probably already wrote about that… And today a friend posted on Facebook: “Don’t let distractions keep you from looking for God”….  So I know the best thing to write about today, and all days, is walking with Jesus – because He’s walking with us.

Keep Walking, 06OCT

Jesus is with us thru our pain, and thru our joys…. He’s walking with us everyday, when we don’t even know it. He’s here to light fires for God in our hearts. God’s FIRE WORKS (see writing at https://debbieupper.wordpress.com/2017/06/03/fireworks-26may-406/ ). Jesus is here to bring PEACE. We are called to be disciples of His life giving life.

I’m blessed. I will soon be able to go on a retreat, which is called a “Walk to Emmaus”. This wonderful opportunity, that my new pastor made available to me, and it reminds me that it is all about the walk… It’s NOT a new walk, but a NEW OUTLOOK while walking…  Right now we try to walk with Jesus, try to keep walking even when we are mired in life, therefore we should look for Him now – in the present. When we see how he helps us in our walk then we should share about Him… Our destination on earth while walking with Jesus is anywhere we are called to share the Good News, our destination in eternity will be our eternal life back home with God our Father. Jesus will light our way.

While we are on here on earth, our walk is intended to be slow but sure… walking on the path that is “narrow but sure”… Are we listening, looking, experiencing Him? Are we quiet? Can we hear the Lord?… Jesus came to earth, He listened to His Father and did what He was told to do – He came to be with us, walking with each of us until we can see Him for real – hear Him for real. He gave us the Holy Spirit, as “another” to help us walk… “If you love me, keep my commandments. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another comforter, to be with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; but you know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14

The key phrase that called out to me in the retreat booklet is that we are all distracted by life’s trouble, whether it’s our angst about us or even about the church, it distracts us from being in the present with Jesus. I have no expectations going into this retreat except I’m ready to be there, be used by God, be present, meet and be with my fellow travelers… I love people… I love God and HIS people are HIS children… (And yeah I’m excited for the rustling trees, the sound of the water creek, and that great retreat oatmeal too)…. See this walk for me is a gift to allow me to be in the present… Isn’t that a gift everyday?… Jesus is just as present in our stress as our joys…  and guess what? Jesus was known to have retreated himself as well… How could He not?  He wanted and needed to listen to HIS father… We too need to listen. We need to remove the fray and focus on the day.

I delight in seeing how each of us can we see Jesus EVERYDAY, walk with Him, then use this knowledge of Him to make a difference… “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.   And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”. Micah 6:8…

We need retreat – to focus on the present. Knowing that knowledge of Him for everyone is the goal, God’s Word wants to be spread… Jesus is God’s Word made flesh… God’s LOVE is for all – if only everyone knew… Peace resulting from LOVE. “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” How can we all put aside all the distractions that block our vision from seeing Jesus? Maybe we don’t but we try, maybe we just try to see Jesus thru life’s issues and walk anyway… and we walk with Jesus’s spirit each day… Jesus is never farther than an internal hand grab away… Grab the Lord and be pulled out of sinking in the water. Appreciate the rescue of the Savior. “but you know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you”.

God provides a Savior in the risen Christ… Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 6:6-7 When we believe we then are called to be disciples… Do we walk for ourselves or walk alone? We walk together – we work with all the skills we are given – to spread the GOOD NEWS. We believe … Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:29…and therefore we now walk with the Spirit of Christ.

Psalm 46 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble… He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ “

Amen

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Here is the Walk to Emmaus scripture:

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cle′opas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, 29 but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

36 As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. 37 But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.