I have been crazy busy – which I also agree that I like – but whew… sometimes whew…
And I don’t necessarily see where to trim activities – I would like to “pause time” and take a few days to catch myself up – and catch my breath – however I would not trade the activity that I have for forced inactivity – like when my shoulder surgery slowed me down – I am not intending that…
We have time MANagement – and by that I mean that MAN puts the MAN in MANagement (us – people – the world) – we have expectations and scrambles and yes surely good reasons for what activities vs when we take the time for inactivity or non-activities…
However – if we could tap more into the time which GOD meant – GODmeant vs MANagement – well, I bet life would be different. And with what GODmeant, we may feel better the better way and not feel guilty for the guilt way of man. The angst of the devil of doubt would be put down by the Lord’s leading. The love of the Lord would flow unhindered back to Him and to all around us.
The Lord’s Leading – we could would should tap into that more…
Well – time to go – have more to write – to do – to everything – right? I didn’t even have time yesterday to finish yesterday’s devotion.
But I do have to praise the encouragement I got from the Lord and from people yesterday – to “just do your best” – just do your best… And with that – I will keep moving!
Amen – to looking into time GOD meant…
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7 NKJV
A blessing to hear the rain in the morning (Wednesday) – the Fall of Autumn is starting to sink in – Falling rain – the rain we need – God delivers – we need to remember to thank Him… There are times of drought and times of plenty – and warm and cold – and blessings in all seasons… Certainly we are to enjoy EACH season – And yet I especially love outside seasons when I am not too hot or too cold.
Oh, cold… the sound of the rain was interrupted by the truck sound and the tires stopped right in front of my house, yes, my automatic oil delivery. So grateful… it’s going to get cold soon. So grateful for automatic heat and the fuel for it.
On Tuesday, before it got cooler, I walked a bit in the park with work friends, well drove most of it. Oh so beautiful – the landscape and taking the time to look at it. It was perfect for being outside. The earth temperatures change with the seasons like automatically.
I thought again of this AUTOMATIC LOVE of God – and His automatic presence never to fail, when looking at the automatic conveniences in the work restroom (these were working) of motion-sensing hand soap pumps or paper towel dispensers – but what when they aren’t working – there is no way to open them and get what you need. Oh the days of a simple stack of paper towels… or adding water to the bottom of a soap pump… the old ways still worked, but we have some modern conviencinces on earth that don’t always work… But GOD? Our God? GOD IS ALWAYS WORKING because He was never not working.
The Lord delivers blessings in so many ways – we barely can see – and we are to walk by faith not by sight – and just know that the Lord delivers AUTOMATICALLY His Love – His guidance – His protection and strength – and His Plan. He doesn’t withhold if we ask – we are to ask and He will automatically listen because He already hears us before we speak – He already was automatically present before the universe even started… Therefore you are My witnesses,” Says the Lord, “that I am God. Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?” is how God spoke to Isaiah. Before the day – God already was God and God was already…
GOD AT WORK – AT THE READY – AND ON THE GO… GO WITH GOD – HE IS ALREADY THERE…
AMEN AMEN AMEN
—
Scripture is the anchor of learning these things – the scripture like the Lord automatically fills in the need when we read. God is the God of guidance and HE, the Lord, Delivers!
Isaiah 43:10-13 NKJV
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses,” Says the Lord, “that I am God. Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?”
I can’t complain, no need for any fit, instead I praise as I quietly sit. I praise that in all of life, I get to take THIS moment to SIT.
Yes, today I’ve got many things to do, which is GOOD, busy too, that’s because of You.
I breathe, I consider, I eat, I work, I even shop,
In life things to do often feel hectic and non-stop.
But I praise, I praise in this pause all right – yes I praise that all in all I AM all right.
I praise that I woke up this morning, TRUE, and WHEW!
And that I got home safe last night, when the closed accident road must have given someone on it a sad fright.
I did extra miles and minutes in the car, but I’m alright, I am alright.
.
And that cat, Lord, last weekend, I caught it wow, WOW!!!! WOW is a fact.
It is now vet-checked, healthy, delivered and safe now – he’s on his new home of a farm. (Fifth or sixth time for that cat was the charm.) I was so thankful when he was strongly held in my arms. Even better is YOUR GRIP, LORD, OF US in YOUR ARM.
What a story to tell, of your patience instilled, and not just in dramatc fashion, but in mundane stuff as well.
And my old fridge now that keeps going out of whack, well again it’s revived, IT CAME BACK. (and wow the same model is on sale, I will thank You again when I get a new one, that’s a blessed fact!)
.
And in my life Lord, my life, my life I take a moment to remember YOUR many rescues from my life strife.
You’ve picked me up many times, so many times I can’t count. I thank You Lord for Your Way Truth and Life and following by faith not by sight. Let me walk again by faith today and let me DELIGHT.
Let me find the people You bring me to – Let me TRY to be a best reflection of You.
Wow whew and pfew! I’m glad we got a moment to review.
SO – here is the sermon I was blessed to give – a teaching sermon and different than others that I have given except to say that GOD NEVER CHANGES – and is always LOVE! So blessed to share!!!
We LOVE this cooler crisp weather (at night) and the reminder to come together and appreciate life and the blessings of the Lord. We don’t need to be like the TV show “Little House on the Prairie” and stockpile like they did – we have such modern conveniences – even never stop in winter (like I like to go for a polar plunge) – but still this fall weather preps us to “stock up” with the harvest – and to count our blessings….
Yesterday (Saturday) many from our church came out to be in community and were blessed to sit outside in this great weather at our local festival – and to greet the community with love and openness – have discussion with others – and I know that it is so encouraging to so many that “church people exist” – that we offer hope and that we work together as God’s Hands and Feet and Hugs. We don’t sell anything – just nice to give stuff away – we had a display of gifts like free books and trinkets – free cookies (yum) – and free activities (like creating rocks with encouraging messages) – we had dialogue about our efforts in serving the community – and we were offering prayers for encouragement and for healing and for the benefit of all – in community.
We have the prayer box from yesterday – many touching stories – like a little 5 year old in the hospital, this whole family started to tell us of his newly diagnosed ailment – leukemia – and we were able to share some books and prayers on the spot with them –– and this grandpa and all aunts and uncles and grandparents were so steadfast in support and prayer for this little boy. Please do pray for him. And please pray for all our prayer box intentions.
Another memory was a little boy – they all appreciated the gifts and really wanted the interactions – James – he kept coming around to chat with us at the table because he wanted to tell us things about his choices – and about his items he had gotten that day. He wanted the dialogue.
And another was a little boy who asked me – when I said we would pray for people – he asked me if we were Christian – I said yes – and said he was another faith – and I said to the effect “We pray for everyone because God loves everyone.” It was a microcosm of life there at the park…
Honestly, we are in community EVERYDAY! I love that song “They will know we are Christians by our love – by our love – they will know we are Christians by our love.”
In Community, we are called to be together in working together – that is not just us in the park or at an event – or even just here together – our community is out there all around us. And we do have the opportunity to get outside the building and be the community out there – so today I want to focus on this aspect of community – part of our sermon series on “Grow Community” – in that GOD CALLS US TO BE A COMMUNITY OF FORGIVENESS – OF RECONCILIATION.
We remember (as has we have been touching upon so many aspects of the early church) that community was key to the early church survival and THRIVING – and it is our opportunity now – to learn – to work together – I was thinking the other day about the sharing of resources after covid started – there is a church by the hospital that had an outside cupboard to share things like toilet paper and food… and it is so good for sharing to sustain community – I spoke few weeks ago about the people who brought what they had, their land, their supplies and lived in community. So, it is natural for Jesus to talk in our first scripture reading from the gospel of Matthew that reminds us of the complexity of living together – it was complex then and we are taught like in early Christianity a compelling need for FORGIVENESS and RECONCILIATION…
Yes, these scriptures are for us now: From the book of Matthew – remember that Matthew a former tax collector or called a publican and he was considered a traitor to the Jewish people of his own, by working and exhorting money from the Jews by the Romans. Well, now Matthew was writing to explain the new identity of Christians – of Jews who were likely cast out of the traditional Jewish communities – and were outsiders there – but came together and found a home in Jesus’s teachings and in the sharing of the early church. Matthew writes what Jesus says – the red-letter bibles show almost all red for this chapter – chapter 18:15-18, 19-20. Dealing With Sin in the Church
Jesus spoke: “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” [and interesting Jesus is talking that Matthew would have picked up on that phrase – “even a tax collector” – Matthew’s book of identity really is for us too.]
Jesus continued: “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Now – I decided to look this up – that scholars do help in these interesting phrases Jesus gives us – and approaching this statement – Jesus surely is telling us that we are remembered for the love we share here on earth – it is not feathers in our caps but fulfilling the commandment to love one another – and a scholar I did read that we are to use our discretion for what we know are obligatory – are bound – and other things that are loosed are more up to the church together to know this is appropriate or not… The point is that we work together in communication and in trust and in demonstrating AGAPE love to those whom we re-gather into the church – into life – into reconciliation.
I will point out that immediately before these passages in the gospel of Matthew is the lost sheep passage – “go after the one” – the 99 are fine together – but go after the one to be reconciled… it is after the “welcome the children” scriptures too….
Jesus IS With us – Jesus already is going for the lost – we are to go too… and we are to ask the Lord to be with us when we do go for those – it is so important to listen (two ears) over talking (one mouth) – when reconciling. Jesus wants to go with us – and us with Him… already on earth and already on Heaven is that the Kingdom of Heaven already knows about this person or about us – Psalm 139 we can’t hide anything from God – therefore Jesus knows!!!!
Jesus continues: verses 19-20: “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
And that is the part of reconciliation that helps us keep together with Jesus – Jesus is here with us – and we are to invite Him into a sticky situation like dealing with sin – to use HIS GUIDANCE over our anger and angst – to turn the other cheek might be to take that breather to consult with the Lord…. Jesus wants us to be gathered in His name – for His cause – for the Whole of the community of the Kingdom of Heaven…
And situations get sticky, don’t they? Sin and brokenness ever present in our world: v21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
WOW – seventy-seven times – or other translations say seventy times seven – that is weird there that the math doesn’t match – but yeah either way – it is a lot!!!!!!!!! Peter is going back to that “reconcile the one sheep” notion – but thinking seven is a huge level of forgiveness – surely it is more than enough – and Jesus says NOT ENOUGH – FORGIVE MORE – even forgive until it hurts is exactly what Jesus does – and He teaches the hard stuff… FORGIVENESS is tough!!!!!!!!!!!! (Tougher than tough math!!!!!!)
SO – the church – the scriptures – the Lord gives us these instructions – now we look at Forgiveness for the Offender – as Paul writes to the Corinthians – because there were early churches which had gone astray in some of their membership issues: And that is not a surprise for us – that we are wayward…. This is from Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians chapter 2:5-11
If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
So – we want RECONCILIATION in community – and WHY? We want others to understand the ABUNDANT LIFE – like these excerpts from OLD TESTAMENT PROPHET ISAIAH – CHAPTER 55 – WE WANT OTHERS TO KNOW THIS LOVE AND FORGIVENESS AND ABUNDANCE – “…let your soul delight itself in ABUNDANCE. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you” – and – “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”
[It really is all about forgiveness]
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.“
Now – I can bring some props in – I know there are some who love my props – and these are simple to bring – some books
*Prop 1 – book 1 Charles Stanley – “Surviving in an Angry World” – [good passages on forgiveness and how to conduct oneself] – This is a good book that I read cover to cover in like a few hours one night in my own unsettledness many years ago now – it reminded me that anger happens, is a normal response, but it is tough out there in the world – but the secret that I flagged here – FORGIVENESS…. And these 2 passages (excerpts) “Let me assure you that I do not believe an angry person can be turned into a peaceful one solely through the help of another human being, Removing anger from the human heart is a spiritual process that must involve God’s direct intervention.”
*And another section of the book “Surviving in an Angry World” by Charles Stanley: “A Quiet Spirit and Measured Response” – The author speaking: “I went into a business meeting one time, and as soon as I sat down, a man came into the room and launched a scathing verbal attack against me. His tirade lasted almost fifteen minutes, but I did not say a word or try to stop him. After taking their cue from me, no one else in the room tried to stop him either. – “When the meeting ended, a pastor friend said, “Charles I have never seen such a totally unmovable face or expression in my life. You never budged. You didn’t reveal anything about how you were feeling – and you stayed that way for fifteen minutes!” – I knew there was no point in trying to defend myself. The other men at the table knew me, and they knew the truth about the accusations he was making. That man was succeeding only in destroying himself and his reputation, the longer he ranted at me.”
It continues: “I got a small notecard and wrote on it, ‘PAUSE BEFORE SPEAKING’. Then I tucked the card among my notes – I knew that I would need to listen closely and think carefully before I responded to any question. This card served as a mental reminder to me even though I didn’t look at it once…. ‘pause before speaking’ is good in any conflict…”
The author states this advice: “When you pause, pray silently that God will give you wisdom about what to say and when to say it. Ask Him to guard your tone and keep any sarcasm or cynicism out of your voice.“
*[I explained these FROG stickers – F.R.O.G. for “Faithfully Relying On God” – an acronym from a friend]
*Another prop – another book – “Talk to Me Nicely – by Minda Hart – about the seven trust languages in the workplace” – read the TRUST languages – which you could add scripture to for sure: SENSITIVITY, TRANSPARENCY, SECURITY, DEMONSTRATION, FEEDBACK, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, FOLLOW-THROUGH. In the text, one example she gave of trust is in the training – and a time she got little – at age 15 she was hired as the cart retriever at a grocery store and there was minimal training obviously… but then she was called into the work of people who were not there – either cashier bagger or deli or decorating cakes! No training! She said it was not right with no training… but for us, do we have training in life? YES – the Lord has given us training for living – love God, love each other, forgive… definite training on forgiveness and reconciliation! God has given us the HOLY SPIRIT to help in these situations – and the Lord has given us action in His Word.
From Minda Hart’s “Talk to Me Nice – the Seven Trust Languages in the Workplace”
*Even and especially our Jesus Calling book passage said yesterday: Oct 4th – about Going with God and about working through HIM!!! Passage is: “Though the Holy Spirit is infinite, He deigns to be your Helper. He is always ready to offer assistance; all you need to do is ask. When the path before you looks easy and straightforward, you may be tempted to go it alone instead of relying on Me [God]. This is when you are in the greatest danger of stumbling. Ask My Spirit to help you as you go each step of the way. Never neglect this glorious Source of strength within you.”
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young for October 4th – about Holy Spirit Help!
*And my last prop – cat food – the box here is empty because the cat is caught!!!!!!!!! I know that talking about getting a cat is so different than people but in my excitement how could I now tell you of how I wanted to use TRUST to catch the cat instead of a TRAP… [so funny how I prayed that ‘Lord this would make a great ending to the sermon if I actually caught the cat.’ – but the Lord is good regardless and I would still tell of TRUST…. And so for this cat I felt that TRUST was best – and we know that TRUST is key in community !!!
*And so I CAUGHT THAT CAT LAST NIGHT – OH I PRAYED AND PRAISED THE LORD – I am so relieved and thrilled!!! [told story of trust – and how the cat escaped my cage first time last week – and rebuilding trust… told that even though I was busy and tired – this was the right window of opportunity!!!! ]
*** SO – TO CLOSE THIS SERMON – I will read parts of a devotion poem I wrote a couple weeks ago:
TRUST not Trap, Even when Catching a Cat
I’m trying to catch a cat – I’m not sure that my proposed set trap – Might or might not work for THIS cat – Particularity Peculiarity is THIS and each cat (like people) as unique (imagine THAT!)
Instead I will retry to develop a TRUST – YES A TRUST IS A MUST – In life and even in strife – Whether we are talking about a cat or anyone in fact
TRUST NOT TRAP – Forgiveness over a bad rap – Love for all insight – and to keep a cat from flight
Lure is nothing compared to LOVE – Faithfulness will land gently into the situation like a DOVE
Hope is in me, when trepidation might make the cat flee – There are benefits, oh cat can you see, of the new life for you, at a farm, filled even more of roaming free
So, patience and perseverance, transparency and security
Thinking outside the box and never in the trap
How to woo this cat and everyone in fact –
IS for us to instill TRUST, not lay a trap, YES IT IS EXACTLY THAT.
Pray me LOVE – Love – not luck… – This cat will get caught – Love is never for naught
LOVE WINS – For people too – fishing in Love nets men from lostness again and agains…
Not lure – but LIFE for sure – The Lord will see us through, – Believing that – OH we know how TRUE
Amen
The Lord shows and tells us to forgive and to have reconciliation IN COMMUNITY – and of course because He wants us to live with Him forever, He reconciles us… and just like we will have communion and remember Jesus in His forgiveness and mercy and love, we are to remember that He is always here to teach, to give us help, to encourage us to reconcile and love…
Let us pray. ‘PLEASE PRAY WITH ME: Lord – You have taught us – and you have held us together – help us continue to be the community you call us to be. You teach us how a community will thrive and grow when there is LOVE, FORGIVENESS, RECONCILIATION AND trust in You Lord….., and in Your Plan, Process, and Your Way. Thank You Lord for the instruction and the LOVE. AMEN’
[PS – the cat already is at the farm destination that he was being sent to – he got to the vet already and checked out clean – he will live his best life at the farm with the areas to roam and the other outside cats – he will get to be social too… I was just the catcher and deliverer – and now I will let the Lord handle the rest – He always does best….]
This WAS the night and this WAS the way – with LOVE and TRUST, I caught the kitty tonight – the outdoor kitty at my friend’s house I promised her I would help with – WHEW!!!
All praise and honor to the Lord, I caught the stray cat at my friend’s house! I really felt it was trust that would catch him not a trap… I even pet him tonight. He wanted to be social and then I scooped him up with my hands, as I did have gloves on, and I put him in the cage and reinforced the cage a lot and got it closed and I used leftover vacation bible school carabiner clips to secure the door and all the edges…
He is in my laundry room in the big cage, on a blanket on plastic bags, has water, he ate. I will drive him up to the vet hospital tomorrow early morning as the woman who’s taking him to her farm is a vet technician, and she will get him all his shots. Whew!!!
I said to the Lord, it would be a great way to finish my sermon for tomorrow – about TRUST – wow yeah! and it is true – the cat had to trust me – I had to trust in patience – I had to apply love and we all did – my other friend who helped me out too – and of course the woman who will take the cat.
LOVE LOVE LOVE
TRUST TRUST TRUST
All praise and honor to the Lord – especially because the weather is getting colder and even today I said to my friend that we might need to get a professional trapper – well, all praise and honor to the Lord who is more than a professional trust-worthy Lord – He is ALMIGHTY!!!
Trial by fire? Maybe faith by forced situation? Have you ever been tested? Wondered why God was pulling us out onto the water to walk but we feel like we are likely to sink – and may we realize that and feel that God wasn’t testing us but supporting us by the SAVE. And even if the trial was by “bad luck” or by people or persons who either had good intentions but couldn’t follow through – or had bad intentions or even someone (often) that is not focused on your needs but you just happen to be in the way while they served their own needs? Well, that is the quagmire of a broken world… And sometimes we get quicksand sinking into being bothered by the brokenness or we get broken when we look and rely on worldly wants. God reminds us to put on that armor of God and keep marching through life. This includes us getting stuck in the devil’s doubt about simple things too. Reject the devil’s doubt with GOD’S GOOD CLOUT. Remember God is ALWAYS with us – and God is not being silent but is ever present. Reach to Him.
Don’t be stuck – “Be Holy – because God is Holy“… “The Word of the Lord endures forever” !!!!
Under God’s Training and Tutelage – imagine being NOT STUCK. Imagine best in living life in the TRUTH regardless of circumstances. Know that we can TRUST in GOD – rely on God – KNOW God – and KNOW He intends ultimate good for us – even if our faith is being tested by fire. Often we say “it’s life” for life strife – and we learn (sometimes the hard way) that GOD and GOD alone is Whom we can depend upon.
We can depend upon God’s Ways. God endures when life strife fires up and then fades. It will all be OK we often say – even if we are in the middle of the fire… We have to wait upon God to get us back to good.
God’s Ways does bring us true friends too – they are such God-given gifts – those who you really appreciate and know have your backs and also give from their hearts – those folks… The smiles – the spirit-led encouragement – the hands and feet and hugs of God. These are gifts of community. Absorb appreciating angels on earth – and be one if you can… Even a trial in one part of your life does not have to corrupt the knowledge that “all in all”, God has you covered. Shake off the dust of disturbing debris.
We are reminded in trials to trust God – Whom will never fade – never go away. So sometimes we realize our trials are not with the people but the evil that put them into their tough positions – and the world and all its silver and gold $$$dollar signs of wealth corrupts – or at least distracts folks for a time… That wealth [or beauty or worldly] pursuit will disappear just as the world [or wealth or beauty] does when we are left only with us and God at the end of our time on earth. Always we should choose God Who is incorruptible and ever existing versus anything earthly that we put our trust in. TRUST in GOD. God IS – because God LIVES and GOD doesn’t GO away – does not remove His new covenant of love by Jesus’s life from us. TRUST IN GOD, ONLY AND REALLY…
Peter wrote about finding and praising Jesus even if we have not seen Him in person, we have experienced Him in Faith. Peter wrote (after having been thru the faith fire multiple times): “you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”
One of the toughest positions we are put in while living on this earth is distractedly looking away from God and instead looking to others for our justification and worth – God says stop doing that – STOP – because HE LOVES US – God IS LOVE – and when we look elsewhere before looking to Him, we become slaves to the earthly worldliness of others and of the expectations of ourselves… Peter reminds: rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ – as obedient children, not conforming… Not conforming to life in ignorance because we DO KNOW that God loves us. And any of our folly, former life and present life trappings, we are to know that Jesus has suffered and died just to bring us back to the fold – and our NEW LIFE in Jesus is what brings us to Heaven unblemished, saved, and forever His. No one can snatch us out of His Hand – so we are to live as the Saved people we are.
Peter reminds us to conduct ourselves in Godly fashion – not being aimless or worldly-focused. Peter reminds us to know we were redeemed by Jesus – precious blood of Jesus as the lamb without blemish. We were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold.
Why do we see ourselves in trials and then out of trials? “So that your faith and hope are in God.” – YES.
And why do we work FOR the Lord? Because by having souls that have been purified by Jesus, we are to be: “obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…“
YES LORD – may we take the time today to stop the stressings and remember the blessings – and praise YOU LORD – and TRUST IN YOU – ONLY AND REALLY.
Thank You Lord God, Praise You Jesus and Your Spirit IN us.
Amen
—-
1 Peter 1 New King James Version
Greeting to the Elect Pilgrims
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
A Heavenly Inheritance
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
Living Before God Our Father
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
The Enduring Word
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.”
Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
Psalm 103 – New King James Version – Praise for the Lord’s Mercies – A Psalm of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 20 – New King James Version
The Assurance of God’s Saving Work To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion; May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah
May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright.
I have two terms continuously around me these last few weeks – TRUST and Wellness.
Trust is a topic from a book I am reading about trust in the workplace – interesting timing on that – but really I want to talk about WELLNESS – as in being well (wellbeing) and the promotion of being well – physically and certainty mentally and spiritually. I want to change the word and add a hyphen and talk about spiritual WELL-NESS – in a different way – a good WAY – like a water well – and the WELL being a deep well that you draw upon – to draw not just water but to draw spiritually from a flow – to draw emotionally from a healing – to absorb and then to share from as a gift – yes a WELL-NESS of life-giving peace from the Lord – from a deep WELL.
My family has a well an old farmhouse – it is a small conduit but 100 feet deep – and the pump is newly installed and they put it way down at the bottom. The water is “clean” from the filtering of the earth and rocks – comes from the natural waterbed – and hopefully not contaminated. The world and new homes and construction interruptions and even dumping zones, back before regulations and protections were in place, may contaminate the well. There are also natural sulfur deposits and well, the well water tastes of sulfur. I don’t drink it but I trust it enough to wash my hands with. These waters (like many wells which flow in different ways around the world) are needed and yet we are wary of them. Well-ness of wells held in a spiritual way would also have the flow coming from an influx – and this well would be inside our hearts souls spirit – and we are refilled by the Lord.
WELL-NESS is drawing upon a deep well that can only be filled by the Lord. WELL-NESS is keeping an opening in your soul unblocked and ready for re-FILL. WELL-NESS is trying to not be jeopardized by letting the world clog the flow – because if anything we should ask that we become conduits to flow the LOVE from the Well. We ask for a good scrubbing of our clogs of life and re-open the pipes. Jesus said to Nicodemus: “whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” John 3:21 NIV
It would really be too easy to interrupt the flow if the flow came from man and circumstances. Our well-ness pursuit ALSO won’t work too well (too good) when we think we ourselves have to pour the water INTO the well ourselves. We can’t. Our WELL-NESS will fill with God’s merciful flow – not by magic but by majesty – HIS MAJESTY.
John the Baptist said of this flow: “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven” (John 3:27) and John said of Jesus: “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:31-36)
May we trust in the deep well-ness of God’s flow and make ourselves available to receive it – to share it – to come back for more – to be thankful – and to TRUST in His Truth. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-31)
Jesus said: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. (John 7:37-39 NIV)
Sometimes I wake up with a song in my head and this is definitely it this morning: You’re Gonna Be OK. Jenn and Brian Johnson for Bethel music.
I kept the window open last night, and this morning with the chill, my blanket is wonderfully warm. And an early morning wake up reminds me that things will be okay. I can hear the swirl of the leaves, and know the cycle of them returning to the soil, next spring will be new leaves, but right now this is the season we are in, autumn, harvest, thankfulness, and its not winter yet so it’s the reminder to prepare, and it’s going to be OK.
Not everything is sunshine and roses in life and there is much strife, no doubt all the headlines are going to make us doubt things are OK, but in the song lyrics: Going to… Plus: “You are a fighter” – “You’re stronger than you know” – I find the reminder that we are to depend upon the Lord – to wait on Him – to find His OK in knowing that He is working. We are strong because He is STRONG. We are worthy because He is WORTHY. We will wait because He is working.
There is an urgency for living well these days. Even though we don’t need a stockpile of supplies anymore for winter coming, like they did in the pioneer days, or if you were a squirrel, we can prep ourselves for the eventual OK of God’s forever OK and take respite in that. And be thankful for one more day. And take the urgency to tell others, “You’re Gonna Be OK” – because we believe it – because we believe in the Lord – because the Lord has us. “While you have the light, believe in the Light.”
“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
Jesus Predicts His Death on the Cross
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
I appreciate waking up early (I really appreciate just going to bed early too – it is like a joy to say the day is done – I am “eligible” for bed – whew… (Sleep is also better than the best TV show or movie – more needed than eating or showering when we are THAT exhausted. It is an ultimate “Give it to God, so I will rest in His presence under His watch of everything.” If we didn’t rest, we would wear out so fast. God invented a system to make sure we knew He was watching us so we could rest. TRUST GOD with the world and rest. Trust for night – and trust in the morning arriving – but TRUST in the LORD MORE.
It is unusual to think that we sleep different times than others sleep – or that they sleep differently than us – we are a round world and there is a rotation of night – it seems that there are sleeping people all over the world – and that is true – and awake people – awake at different times – how interesting our circadian rhythm is set up to help us know our mornings from night. And what about nocturnal animals – they have night as their morning. Does it all make sense?
One thing I do know – is that before I awake, and after I go to sleep – and at every waking hour of the day – God is awake, alive, present, and watching. GOD IS !!!!
We have these busy days to keep us mentally sharp – but what about the quiet of the morning or of the evening or maybe the moment we sneak away in the middle of the day? God is with us. There is never aloneness from God. AND, there is always an opportunity to be alone with God even in a crowd. If we want to be quiet in our own minds, perhaps we are to listen more intently and rest more deeply – both. We are to rest in Him always – keep working but in mental rest that He is in control.
Instead of listening to the outside world – let us feel the rest with our inside hearts – and protect our hearts with God’s wisdom and our being with His armor. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
Perhaps like a newborn baby, we are to recognize warmth, nourishment, and comfort – all these things in our relationship with God. Care and correction and carrying by Jesus Lord, walking with us – lifting us – providing us light. Perhaps as full grown people, we are to also remember that God is much older in an infinite way – we are but young in His years and much better off listening to Him. Don’t try to go it alone – in acts or duty – in figuring out schedules or whatnot – listen to Him and wait on Him – be His and be His helper – His loving into the world. Believing that through our trust of Him, He will get us not only through the day, we will walk even closer to the Way.
In David’s time they waited for Jesus to come. They trusted – we can trust too. We know He, Jesus, came. We know He is here with us in our hearts – in Spirit we are moved and we follow by faith. We can trust. We can now trust in all of the Word and in God’s Plan. He WILL make things right at His time.
We can trust Him and ask Him to help. Psalm 5 (KJV) is a scripture which is also a beautiful promising song: “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.” v1-3
Psalm 5 continues about Trust in verse 11-12: “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”
David would write Psalm 130 also about Trust – and awaiting the Lord – but knowing He is here – before the morning even comes. Verses 4-6 “But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning – Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.”
Especially I was itching to get up home to my family. Have not been since July, time flies…
Thinking about how God goes ahead of us, He sanctions travel, what a great way to see, do, experience life, ESPECIALLY a chance to clear the mind to hear Him better. And in doing so, listening to that magnetic pull of my soul, when we listen and obey and follow, He puts us where we should be.
EXACTLY how I felt as soon as I crossed the state border. I stopped stressing about my home/work stuff and refocused to present moment. Going up home 2 nights to see my family. Especially feeling relief in this season of thanks, of harvest, and before it gets cold.
When I got out of the car at a farmstand. almost home, oh the quiet of the countryside struck me. Wow quiet that absorbed the dissipation of clutter in my head. It’s also always a good opportunity to see my mostly 80 plus yrs old family, and it continues my mission to help clean up the family farmhouse. We worked 6 hours Sunday and I filled my car completely with recycling and donations.
Treasure is in time spent for sure as my mom and I like projects, she loves to work, and treasure is in memories remembered, including seeing my grandpa’s lunchbox, my grandma’s old old hat, our old kids games, all the Thanksgiving cards from 1960 on… Also my mom’s and aunt’s baby dresses, nearly 90yrs old, with cute bonnets. Treasure in trinkets for the memories.
This new corner to clean up is a room upstairs is a time capsule. I say it is better to clean up than clean out, the good stuff gets put up like a museum for now, while other is donated. One set of papers from traveling was the 1964 World’s Fair, I brought it downstairs for my aunt to see. She appreciates the help and the visit. She also can’t understand how time flies… they all loved traveling then, now travel in memories.
We will keep looking for treasures, not monetary but of memories. Donation is awaiting much of this stuff.
That my devotion for today… giving out is better than garbaging…
Donation over hoarding. Gifting over grabbing. Treasure memories over trinkets. And listening to the Lord’s leading…
Treasure the listening most of all.
Amen
Matthew 6:19-34
Treasures in Heaven
Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Do Not Worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry,saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
In this fall season, and beautiful blue skies and warm and yet crisp temperatures, we start to become very thankful and I know we always should could would be thankful, but in the harvest season it feels more imperative…
As I rethink the past few months, the summer and the situations of this year, and even scenarios of past years (which my pollyanna brain removes from my angst), I again revisit times when God rescued me, when I questioned the struggles and why they seemed very rough but I knew in my soul there was a bigger purpose in the pain… Because of past success on God’s part, I trusted God to get me through, and He did, He surely did and now my memories are cherished of His going before me. The trials to me were real even if to others the testing could be considered trivial… Everything is relative. Our easy is someone else’s trial and vice versa.
So in harvest season, the colors are vibrant and the foods of hearty stock. A pumpkin or dried corn or apples will preserve for months. There are flowers which will withstand cold and dryness compared to fragile spring. The dried corn stalks are even repurposable. The harvest season is filled with lasting value.
So does God alsp get to harvest in this season too? What about us making a bouquet of thankfulness for Him and His gifts? Surely God wants to and will harvest a “Hallelujah!” from each of us after His blessings of rescues, of guidance, and of rest. And hallelujahs for the harvest of present day. And hallelujah for the preparations of what life brings around the corner.
A Hallelujah from me. A Hallelujah from you. These feelings are gifts to God’s ears, TRUE!
And I am reminded for us in any saving grace, merciful moments this season that it’s not a gloat of victory which should fuel our praise, but a humbled glory-gained good motivation and momentum for going forward, accepting an honored ability to keep keepin’ on. Believing this Light shone for us will stay lit, we must “make hay while the sun shines”.
God is true and there’s nothing else He can be. We must believe in His follow through and also know in each season of our lives that God goes ahead of us. Our next hallelujah is always already in the plan. Yes!!!
Amen
There is a touching song which helps summarize that the best thing we can give back to God: our appreciation, our love and our Hallelujahs. Brandon Lake: “Gratitude”
Interesting mix of activities this week – from work to a garden volunteering to a baseball game last night with a work crowd to a scientific conference in the morning yesterday in the city – and did I drive instead of take the train? yeah all three times – just that comfort of having my car – even if the traffic was less than desired… but I waited and steamed quietly and we got there. Last night getting home was just construction and that is to be expected on these roads and later after rush hour is when they close lanes (seeming too early) – but then comes the stadium crowd… Well, patience…
Sitting in the conference was awesome and also at many points I had to issue patience to myself because the topic was of less interest. But the topics that interested me were spot on to me saying “yes, I took this time to learn, to look at new equipment, to understand a little more and to be able to ask questions in my own pace with the presenters after the talks. And the lunch? phenomenal… and the “ahhh…” perfect for my “I need to treat myself” mentality at the moment… The parking? OH – I didn’t make a plan but got there and they did valet parking for the event – OH – and I gladly jumped out of the car and got my validated sticker from the conference… I felt both slightly guilty to take the guilty pleasure but also that this is what they were doing as their job so I could do my job better – I gladly found the cash I had for a tip and just kept moving in a busy day…
And what WAS my job yesterday? to learn or to treat myself – no, I am pretty sure my job yesterday is what my job today is – to BE ENGAGED – to be into the conversations and people whom I met. To see what the Lord needed me to do even if it was to sit quiet and reply to an email. I think it was to NOT be bored but to be on board…
The person next to me seemed totally not engaged in the talks – I am not sure that I could/would do that but yeah I understand that the topic may not have been of interest… in the old days we would have a secret crossword puzzle in our notes – but now people just get on their phones. I remembered that it is not for me to judge – we observe for sure – but judging that person for that – probably not good lest we get judged too for snooping… but anyway…
The ONE great interaction, in my mindset that I had, was to encourage a speaker after his talk on Alzheimer’s disease research which also hits home for him as his dad has it…. which you could also speculate that this young energetic smart gentleman might also develop it… ah yeah… motivation into research research research… I was in a prayerful mood for him – and the science was interesting too. I was a bit surprised that he was seemingly more excited to have me talk to him after that talk than him having talked. I think that is the state of our nature – be open to what the situation needs – and be the encourager if called upon… And be encouraged if the other person wants to encourage you. The secret to learning is to learn what the learned people value – and that is someone interested in what interests you and how you are interested in it.
I think the secret to living life is to let life live in you.
The baseball game – also – I missed some plays because I was not engaged – but I scanned the field for the mascot and saw him a couple times – I appreciated the amazing weather and simply that we had gotten there thru the traffic and the busy-ness of the week… I was able to chat with a few folks who were family members of our work folks and that family atmosphere is so good for a workplace – we with each other can be engaged – and be engaging….
Well, my devotion here is that the Lord keeps us moving – TO BE ENGAGED – to find His people and to be His people – devoted to His causes. The Lord asks us not to ask “what is in it for me?” – but “what is it in me which needs to shine here? teach here? accept here? roll off my back here…” – and that is the Lord and His energy and His connectedness – and His Engagement… We are all His children – even when we are stuck in traffic (that is a great place to be engaged in staying safe)… And so even more let us be engaged in being His where we already have safety – then venture out to be engaged with others….
Be of His Service.
Amen
Psalm 25:12-14
Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.
It’s funny the word play, I just realized this latest version of our “Watch for God” bracelet from Vacation Bible School is actually shaped like a watch. Did somebody figure out this wordplay ahead of time? Did the Lord know how the english language would have its own unique twists and turns that are startling when they line up with some truths before anybody spoke an earthly word?
I will MARVEL at this notion tossed my way, for my Friday mental word Word play.
Oh a poem is now flowin’, yes let’s get goin’.
Today’s watch for God comes in the normal and the odd.
Know God roams and RULES the timing dial, in every trivial thing and in every trial.
A Watch for God is sublime, because He is always on time.
A watch of what seems life’s weird quirky-ing is a Watch for God truly WORKING !!!
Even evil’s doings has a known place in God’s space.
He will make it alright, that’s because God is Supreme in any Spiritual Fight.
But it takes time, God’s Time.
So hunker down or spring around.
Be at the ready, God’s path is fast and steady.
God’s Way is forever here to stay.
So slow down for the marvel in our wait, and watch for God to spring solutions out of the gate.
He will put things right, and we WILL be part of this fight.
Bring your best all the time, God strength in our branches of His Vine.
And that’s where I’ll leave this Friday rhyme, WATCH FOR GOD ALL THE TIME.
Even I, and especially I, marvel at the variety of activities my life can participate in… Yesterday was volunteering with work, past weekend was camping, there’s regular work etc, Friday a workshop and baseball game, and the weekend is hopefully a trip up to see my family… I marvel at the moments… I had to get online groceries for my busy schedule, but hey used a great coupon! Mostly I have to just sit here and be thankful. A moment in the moment of thankfulness.
“If You Give a Moose a Muffin” is a famous children’s book where the moose asks for more and more, and it goes hilariously awry… I gave a mouse a tomato at the garden yesterday, and nothing went awry, we both took in the moment, mouse munching and me marveling. “If you give a ME a MOMENT, I will MARVEL” – that could be the story of my life. I marvel… God is mindful to fill my mind… I best marvel back.
The corn stocks were more than twice as tall as me at the garden – the grandmother of one of my coworkers is amazing and a dreamer and creative influence on this place that over 40 years ago they started as a reclamation of city blocks into gardens – playgrounds – education spots – life-giving locales. The heritage is so very interesting and the ingenuity and insight of the locals is a knowledge base that is lost and lost – like which plants were used to treat ear aches and infections, which were used as food, toothbrushes, industry, and beauty.
I revisited the garden bed that I “weeded” last year – meaning I took out tons of broken glass as it is next to the fence and the invading outside street world – it was teaming with produce this year. I munched on a mini tomato… At lunch, I munched on plantains that were freshly pressed and fried – oh yum – and the stew and the dessert… and I gave a mini tomato to a mini mouse on the compost bin – as if I was giving back the moment to many mice whom I neglected… Did this mouse notice – no of course not – that is something that we have to marvel at – that life exists and moves on and who notices? Often no one but us and the Lord… that’s okay… The Lord knows…
Wisdom is a gift of the Holy Spirit God to marvel and move and motivate and you name it – if you give a mouse a tomato – like “if you give a me a marvel” – like “give a creative a canvas” – it is amazing and yet wow when “you give God a garden” – He will bloom it… And that is where we live – in the garden of God’s gift – if we only take a moment to marvel in it…
Thank you Holy Spirit for my marvel… for this garden… and the munching of life…
MMMM….. Marvel….
Amen
Psalm 8 NKJV
The Glory of the Lord in Creation To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David.
O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen – even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!
In our season of fall TV viewing, there’s probably nothing more compelling than this show on Netflix about Charlie Sheen, well in small doses when one is ready to watch the train wreck rehashed and explained by the train back on his current track. Let us pray that he stays sober in all ways. It’s unbelievable that Charlie Sheen is still alive. It’s pure brokenness in the world of drugs, and money and wild lifestyles fueling addictions to self. In a ME world, it gets bad fast…
And yet Charlie Sheen is still alive, coherent to talk, and as compelling as he was to many but this next generation now wouldn’t know him and the train wrecks of today are on other media streams or already deceased. Drugs are the worst – and I pray no one starts because it proves bad again and again. All this big scale brokenness reminds us of brokenness even bigger at the level of pure evil in the world. The devil is in the disasters, but we are still able to see the warnings coming and stop and shelter and survive. We surely see life examples of devastation so that we try to steer clear.
And yet, they said that people were paying money to see the train wreck in Charlie Sheen. And surely others paid much more of the price to try to rescue him over and over… So, who are the helpers? The Netflix documentary mentioned his father, Martin Sheen who suffered immensely through these episodes of his son (although not interviewed for this series, the record as plenty of intervention attempts). His ex-wives are interviewed as they are surprised too that he is still alive. Even the former drug dealer to Charlie was recruited to help step Charlie down in intervention that “thought outside the box” and mixed lower and lower doses of crack until Charlie was able to step back up onto the sidewalk… It’s a story of rebuilding the tracks back or at least putting the train car upright. And there are victims of time, like his children, who will never regain a normalcy that rarely existed. If you wish for someone else’s life for yourself, DON’T. Take the cards handed to us and make our best plays. Our known is usually better than the unknown.
Intervention by invention, those helping Charlie Sheen were also helping themselves in rescuing someone they love. Charlie’s one quieter non-media brother interviewed stated over and over again about the love that was given. LOVE came first, in the middle, and will be the lasting force forever.
Intervention because of LOVE began at the time of creation, when God created the heavens and earth and separated darkness by instilling LIGHT and direction and motivation and sharing the LOVE. Genesis sounds like poetry of creation – so clearly over and over again intervention by invention and pre-prepared rescue was already planned as the Way. Intervention by invention is what got Adam and Eve back on track, Jacob and sons back to building nations, Moses back on the mountain, David back to praising God, and each and every person (past, present and future) to be rescued by Jesus. Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life – and Light of the World to overcome all darkness. God Wins.
Intervention by invention at conception and for perception and surely by perspiration. It is hard work to block out darkness, but time and time again, day after day, it is done and shown and lived and all for the love of shining the way.
Let us pray all trains get back on track, all people get the pulling up they need, and that the people themselves WANT to pick up their mat and roll it up and keep walking forward as Jesus commands – and “sin no more” for the sake of the whole story of saving. We do love to watch the dawning of a new day – and today is that day for so many – we pray. We pray for all who are lost to see they are found, pray for all who are wayward to want forgiveness and reconciliation and to be taken back into the fold of the Lord as children wanting for their Father God. And we pray that we remember that the LOVE is given by God so we will love until it hurts. Intervention is by Invention.
God is LOVE – and no matter which earthly train gets wrecked, we won’t ever get off HIS track from His LOVE.
Amen
—
The History of Creation – Genesis 1:1-19 NKJV
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.
Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the third day.
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day. …
I’m glad the BIG spider just stayed on the rocks, I was ready to NOT move, so I only moved my legs up and we were both OK. Spider and I both chilled out…
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The campfire was really nice and so was the whole weekend of being in the mountains and just relaxing. Trips are so worth it, especially camping. I rode up with one church friend, we stayed with another church friend, and we cooked and talked and walked and prayed thankfulness at each meal… Cozy cabin with electricity and an indoor composting toilet and an outhouse were just fine for the weekend… No shower but knowing one at home eventually allowed us to be fine in the grime, camping is just that…. Just be fine, just exist… Just BE. The world will move forward but for a moment you can just rest in the experience of outside.
And oh the leaves were just starting to change at that elevation, the chill and thrill of autumn triggers in us this time to be thankful… We enter the opportunity to see the summer transition into fall… So beautiful. We are to cling to what is good in life: Friendships and Fall and Fires, Fun and Faith…
“Cling to what is good” as a scripture is so true for us clinging to lasting love over fading falseness. Roll the fakeness of worldliness off your back – even the leaves fall from trees and are recycled into the earth. Stay true to faith and God’s Love. Cling to Jesus, He IS True… and remember Jesus is also moving in our lives, so let us keep moving too – Get up and Go if the Lord tells you so!
“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing,Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV
And on our last camping day, Sunday, we found the church service nearby that was such a treat spiritually and socially and the sweetest people and oh the strongest strength of the sermon message was so inspirational. MOVING. (and they even had a delicious lunch for everyone out of crockpots)… And yes, seriously a really MOVING message because it was about us NOT STAYING STUCK. To get out of our ruts of life, to stop our excuses of “I can’t” or “they told me I couldn’t” and instead we are to, like the man on the mat at the pool of Bethesda, be listening to Jesus and His prompting in the Holy Spirit as they say: “YOU CAN” !!!!
The pastor himself had experienced a “Get up and go” message from Jesus – not just because he was an interim pastor all over the country for about a year and a half at each location while each church did a permanent pastor search – but because he had a miraculous healing of an ailment (an aneurysm in his brain which dissolved after serious prayer by a congregation at the time) which then he didn’t believe for 2 years and “stayed stuck” chasing this doctors appointment and that – MRIs and CAT scans – but it was gone. BELIEVE IT.
And that was the take home message – if Jesus has made us SAVED people – believe it and walk in the Light. The stressing on the question by Jesus: “DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WELL?” If Jesus heals – don’t live sick. Yes, if Jesus has shown us the way – don’t lose HOPE. Live the life now in front of you.
And also don’t go on sinning – lest a worse thing comes upon us. The scripture recounts Jesus’s teaching – of moving forward from past sins from past aches from past STUCKNESS – as well as an urge to live well. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
Yes, may we be moving forward and get out of “STUCK” – and get going. This hit home with me as I personally have had many a situation where I felt stuck but it wasn’t my wiggling out of it – it was Jesus showing me the Way one lighted tile at a time to step onto.
I found that my friend and I sitting immediately next to each other in church was also whom I was sitting with at that beach church sermon of “FEAR NOT” – and the urging to not let irrational fear stop us in our tracks – and keep moving – FOR GOD GOES WITH US. That was a crucial message for me this summer – and here again (at a different church in a new season), God found the right message for each of us – for all of us that day – CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD.
Get up and walk – Jesus is leading the Way.
AMEN!
JOHN 5 NKJV:1-15 A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ” Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Romans 12 NKJV Living Sacrifices to God – Serve With Spiritual Gifts – Behave Like a Christian
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;If he is thirsty, give him a drink;For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I had a friend once who stated that as long as he didn’t do anything that he interpreted would go against the Ten Commandments then he thought he was “in the clear” living his life OK. I’m not opening this writing about what’s OK or not OK in living and sinning, but my musings are in how it is INTERESTING of how we justify (or don’t) things we do (or don’t). We are full of opinions on what people do or don’t, aren’t we, but when it comes to ourselves, do we evaluate ourselves? Well, sure. I do hope we mostly delve into the deepest connections we have to God.
I pray we are to muse and think about our relationship to God and His people, and how HE views us as His children. How much He loves us and wants us to know Him. Yet often we use circumstances and scriptures for interpretation of how WE are viewed by others (or not), and we sometimes use scriptures to excuse our actions too. Scriptural musings to muse over the use, misuse, excuse and obtuse parts of life.
Scriptures, like the Ten Commandments, are so important, and so is the view of how we all uphold and how we all fall short of perfection. Did God know this about humans? That seems an obvious question to us in our individual lives, like: “does God still love me?” We question and question. “Does God know our failings? Does God care?” We hopefully answer and answer the questions and questions with all the GOD IS LOVE Scriptures. God loves us. We then hopefully try to live our best and humble ourselves for Jesus does cover the rest. God knew we would need saving. We therefore best believe in Jesus and ask forgiveness for all we are and aren’t. Then live believing this truth of our lives being saved. Live saved. Live with humility and humbleness and thankfulness and giving grace to others as given to us.
And Jesus? Jesus reiterates these heart-healing, mind-soothing, soul-securing words in His Word: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” John 10:28-30 NKJV
I want to close this thought about how we use scripture in that we are to read and know and find ourselves in the Bible lessons, and evaluate the love poured our for us. Some may be of opinions of us, but God? God only has Love! If He judges anything about us, He judges that He wants to pour out love to us…
Ahhhhh… I’m in the sunshine outside, cooling breeze, maybe 70 degrees, sun at my back, crisp mountain air, not many people around… and appreciative of God’s respite for me, up away for the weekend…
You can say I needed it but honestly, I just say I am thankful to have it… and I could tell in the last few days or few weeks that I needed/need more Jesus scripture meat in my daily diet. More sunshine, more moments of rest, more Daily Bread…. I have been lacking a daily connection to a scripture story and this was a good opportunity to dig back into some good gospel news… I’ve been fishing for focus. Jesus is my need.
And it didn’t take long as I opened my summer reading book and my eyes feasted on one of my favorite passages of scripture… I had to stop reading my book and write about this scripture… it means so very much!!!
Jesus said to Peter: “Go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them [tax collectors] for Me and you.”
Ohhhhh…. I love this passage for so many reasons. And especially today, because it reminds me that Jesus fully God has already 1) accomplished all for our living, 2) succeeded in His living, 3) planned things ahead, 4) humbled Himself to jump through the artificial earthly hoops, 5) paid the tax for our life in this foreign land on earth, 6) hooked us in like the fish and reeled us in using such a creative story that actually happened, 7) taught us how to reason through an absurdity, 8) caught more flies with honey than vinegar…
Let’s read the full passage from Matthew 17:24-27, Peter and His Master Pay Their Taxes
When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”
He said, “Yes.”
And when he [Simon Peter] had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”
Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”
Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
Ohhhh… I live this, love this… how would anyone but God in Jesus have known not only that Peter could just plunk a fish out of the sea but that the fish would have a coin? or vice versa, how would Jesus know that a fish would have a coin would be so attracted to Peter’s fishing line? (You could marvel at obscurity or absurdity or Marvel at God’s Majesty)… How many times does Jesus say “DON’T WORRY! I’VE GOT THIS” – HOW MANY TIMES DO WE SAY “GIVE IT TO GOD?”
YES YES YES…
I will return to my crisp mountain air and go make a smore… fuzzy crocs, a moment to breathe, and the realization that Jesus blesses me blesses us with hunger for Him and His Word, His Way, and a fishomatic coin dispenser to cover any incidentals in life.
Trust Jesus, Heaven has been fighting hard for us…
With the Lord Father God with the Lord Son Jesus AND the Holy Spirit, we have a triune God of the Holy Trinity. Not only is that not worshipped in many other religions, the word triune is not even in my cell phone dictionary… TRI-UNE is three equal and forever and omnipotent and majestic God in One. God IS – and God IS all these and all this and all them and all HIM.
Wow.
The Holy Spirit is Whom we call upon to give us a fresh filling of faith, of Jesus inside us to strengthen and get us serving again. The Holy Spirit points back to Jesus as the Way the Truth the Life. The Holy Spirit bring God into our lives – actually let me rephrase that the Holy Spirit shows US where how and that GOD never left us. Holy Spirit reminds us we are His Children and LOVED.
SO – let us think of those times when we were anxious and distraught and feeling “not caught” up in God’s grace or in His Comfort – those scared moments – moments of unreal or unrational or irrational fear… like us not being able to take a breath… And then the moment that the Lord gave us either a Holy Spirit kick or a Holy Spirit calm… A moment to either get direction forward or at least rest in a moment of OK… and let us keep being OK…
I have to say that in my life I have had HOLY SPIRIT CHILLS THRILLS SPILLS – AND RE-FILLING OF MY CUP… And that we all have that need to have our cups refilled…
Holy Spirit – please help…
Amen
(PS – going to be starting a new journey of a week by week reading of sections of this book on THANK YOU HOLY SPIRIT… I know that the Spirit knows I need it!)….
I saw a red “OOS” notice tag, a new one sitting on the bench in case a machine went “Out of Service”, and it struck me differently this time – it was but a glimpse of not glory but truth, hard truth, in gluing oneself to Jesus’s message of SERVICE of SERVING. “Out of service” could be not NOT working but instead working for the Lord from an aspect of service – “out of” is being of “service” – YES!!!
Maybe “OOS” is like saying: don’t let the humans use me, but surely God can and is.
Because even if (especially if) we are not working in a human ‘take charge’ way, like ‘take charge of my time’ or ‘I’m going to be a bull in a china shop’ or even ‘I’m going to be sneaky’, we should always and instead BE HUMBLE to listen to God, to be OF SERVICE with the Lord, to the Lord’s leading, for the Lord’s purpose which is much bigger in scope than our small task of the moment.
Being OF service is loving God out of our service to Him. Letting Him use our devotion as an example.
Being OF SERVICE, working “out of service” to Him to His mission, is exactly what I was thinking about then viewing the tag, and that by our service to others, we are serving not ourselves but the Lord’s bigger plan and His momentum can carry us. We do need to serve Him, out of a service mindset, to take directions… and service for the Lord’s cause, even if sometimes we are set up as an example by Him to show not our success but our humility and humbleness to listen and love, still accomplishes His Will.
We can function out of service and LOVE, working with God.
Amazingly, a devotion today from the “Daily Dose”, that I read occasionally, was in this same mindset, a revelation of God’s will in our lives means to let Him be strong through our weaknesses.
The author states: “Our God is so amazing, as everything is almost the opposite of what the world teaches in order to be a success! For instance, God tells us that He who is last and serves others will be first! Mark 9:35″
YES! WOW: reading below: “He does not allow us to fully accomplish His perfect will without relying on His guidance and His power.” YES – He is the vine, we are the branches and without Him we can accomplish nothing… “He does not allow us to fully accomplish His perfect will without relying on His guidance and His power.”
Yes humbly we must be of service and listen. Humbly yes…
Here is a short poem:
Humbly Lord, we say Yes.
Our efforts should not be a guess,
Listening to You is never an excess.
Being obedient to You brings success.
Success in showing Love despite every trespass.
Humbly yes Lord, yes.
Yes.
Amen
—-
And please read the Daily Dose devotion from Bob Bennett- https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?u=5a7bbf443189708255b21f430&id=a5ef685dfd
The Daily Dose
God is Strong 9/16/2025
Good Morning – does the thought of being weak anger you?
2 Corinthians 13:19 “For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.”
“God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;” 1 Corinthians 1:27 Our God is so amazing, as everything is almost the opposite of what the world teaches in order to be a success! For instance, God tells us that He who is last and serves others will be first! Mark 9:35 This was certainly not anything I was taught in any coaching or business training courses I participated in during younger years. Actually, just the opposite until I began to correlate the teaching with the Word of God. I began to understand that while God has individually gifted us all with the certain talents for whatever He has purposed us to accomplish in this world, He does not allow us to fully accomplish His perfect will without relying on His guidance and His power.
God also tells us that He is the vine and we are the branches and that whoever abides in Him, will bear much fruit. But He also tells us that apart from Him, we can do nothing! John 15:5 So if being successful in this life is so dependent on God, then what is our part? God has made our part actually very simple. We are to simply seek after Him each day, “as a deer pants for the water.” Psalm 42:1 We are to humble ourselves, pray, hear from heaven, repent and turn from our sin. 2 Chronicles 7:14 Then “deny yourself, take up our cross and follow Jesus”. Mark 8:34 Once we have heard from God, we are to simply be obedient and ready for every good work Titus 3:1 , while trusting in God’s faithfulness and that He will go before us and never leave or forsake us!
Lord, thank you for loving us so much and making us strong in You. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!
Have another powerful and prosperous day of trusting the Lord’s strength and power as you sacrificially serve and love others in the workplace and at home. “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us!” Hebrews 12:1
Bob Bennett
Real Men Ministries
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” — Philippians 2:3
The Jesus Calling book said: don’t let your striving become a new form of “works” – meaning don’t neglect simply praising Jesus for doing enough and being enough ALREADY. And it means don’t set up for yourself artificial hoops to jump like “if I only do this then God will love me” – well God DOES love you and loves us all – and we do not have to distinguish ourselves TO God because He already knows us – knew us before we were born. Psalm 139 – He’s got us…
Summer – summer is fleeting – and summer was never enough and will never be enough for me but I hope I did enough IN summer for summer enjoyment – and yet the seasons change whether we are ready or not… I am glad that I did as much summer as I did…
And I am super glad that just this weekend I finished putting all my writings together in word processing documents. It was six months that I hadn’t collated, printed, oops – well, now I have – and how exciting that I had a great coupon for forty percent off printing… the procrastinating payoff… The processing into print… The praise on paper…
I can’t believe time goes so fast… and it makes me remember that the strife of one day will barely be remembered six months later… and a new season will be upon us soon.
I’m glad that I made my backlog of writings into PDF and print, I needed to… I know it’s very human of me, and I don’t want to consider it “works” to achieve – only to “catch up” on my processing and praise. And there is something so spiritual for me to evaluate that I did organize something the Lord gave me to do. Yes, as an expressive, I write to encourage others, but the fact that I do write encourages me too – it resets me to remember that my time with the Lord is precious and crucial. It also reminds me again and again that Jesus is Enough… “I would rather have Jesus than silver and gold” the great classic hymn sings…
I have said it many times that at my funeral (no rush) that all that needs to be displayed is my writing… I know the plans for today, after the day, but how could I have known this day 6 months ago, 6 years ago, 50 years ago? I am not sure that we should want to know the future… I didn’t then, but I write now to say: “God did” then and God does now. God says “I am enough for you” – true… And I write now to say that I am grateful that I have tried to stay grateful even in trials…
I enjoyed this summer but I definitely had some trials (many others have trials that are worse than ours, we shouldn’t complain half as much as we do, but we do, we are human)… and so my July and August writings, I think, are some of my strongest. I had to put real confidence in God (again). I had to lean in to the Lord’s leading. I had to faith focus and keep my mouth shut from complaining. When Jesus says “turn the other cheek”, sometimes maybe He means for you mumble to yourself only… or turn the other cheek so you don’t have as much pain when you’re being told to bite your tongue… All in all, even if I say this summer was enough, because the Lord got me through it, it was really JESUS who was enough to get me through. It was enough, He was enough and more..
Enough energy. Enough empathy and enthusiasm and encouragement and even enough excitement. Enough…
I’m glad that summer days were my praise… Each bite of summer, faster and faster melted away. With each moment of life, may we praise more and more… we will never have enough praise, that’s for sure…Someday when we get to Heaven, we will know Enough of Enough… Jesus IS Enough… We will see Him face to face.
Thanks Lord…
Really thanks is never enough thanks. My prayer is to give You more praise…
Very blessed to share the sermon today – about Community – and including Communion… Jesus together with us – that is how the church will continue to grow… scriptures from the early church of Acts 4, 5, 6…
This week was the 24th anniversary of September 11th… seems like yesterday – and so does my daughter being 6weeks old – crying and ready to be fed while I fussed around getting my water and the tv buttons, the phone… and click – tv – wait – what? Sept 11th – this was 9am and I saw the 2nd plane hit the second building and stuck deer in the headlights at the tv – and wow…
After watching many September 11th video replays, I also have a memory of people saying, weeks and months later that “I miss us as a community being September 12th people”…
Yes I even saw that on facebook a lot over the years – a saying “I miss us being sept 12th” – meaning we were collective as a community – by good and by bad circumstances – and I could say that after covid hit too – wow the sharing in my community – I remember giving some fabric to a lady in a facebook group – left it on my car and she walked up to get it – people shared…
Yes these were the days we remembered community, September 12th 13th 14th… etc… for the next few weeks and months we looked to each other for comfort, for understanding (which there was and yet so little understanding in a devastating tragedy like that), and we also looked at the people helping and we became helpers too, in processing and in donations. In prayers for sure…
My baby girl, 6 week was still crying even though I was mesmerized by the tv – so hungry – probably needed a diaper change – well – my baby kept me going that day – I had to feed her she was the immediate person to love in front of me – she was my mission in life at that moment – my community and I was hers – I had to keep living for her – keep going… And surely those days after we held our family more dear, we were more somber and polite, and we rallied around folks – and we were those “September 12th people” – and we built and rebuilt community – yes community – just as we are talking here today about growing God’s community – with purpose and knowledge…
And just as the rubble removed from the crash sites, if you have been there – wow – beautiful – and the phoenix rose and rises from the ashes just like the beautiful Oculus metro station, if you’ve seen it, it’s gorgeous. Yes, just as new buildings rose, just as the water pool installations were placed for memorial and a place of reflection the people returned – and returned to be community. People who don’t know each other still gather as community.
There is a favorite Mister Roger’s saying that his mother always said: “In the middle of a tragedy, look for the helpers” – and oh yeah, September eleventh, then the 12th, that brought community – I know somebody who lived on long island as a specialized surgeon. And yet, they were sent to ground zero to try to help with recovery, but there was nothing they could do. They couldn’t apply their specialized skill set to that situation. However, they could bring us a first hand account of the situation to us – to her community. Then I remember stories that there were chefs, celebrity chefs, who brought their whole restaurant crew and food supply and cooking and continually served the first responders and the workers for months. There were musical celebrities who put together concerts for fundraising. And surely my favorite Bruce Springsteen song called the rising detailed the flight and plight of first responders, firemen rising up the stairs while everybody else was getting out, and then surely rising up to Heaven as those towers fell.
The firefighters did not hesitate, because that was what they did FOR community and in community.
When we look at the scriptures this morning, these scriptures make us very happy to hear about this community of the first early church – we can strive to this model group. At least we should strive to ask God how to live. We also LOVE hearing about it because surely they came together as a JOY – and a MISSION – and surely as a relief to – safety in numbers – but we love it because we know that God WANTS community – He never raised us to live alone – He asks us to share and to publicly communally worship Him…
And we like to see that the early church had skillsets to share – everyone different and decided not to neglect their strengths. We see that the wise chose new people to serve – this makes us happy for the widows were taken care of – and for each person in the early church. We are to know that they as community were celebrating victory, victory in Jesus. “Oh, glorious victory that overcomes the world” and HOPE – yes hope because Jesus wasn’t in the tomb, He was risen. This is the ultimate “Have Faith” – because memories were kept in community to share with the next generation and the next, memories that so many of them, they say up to 500 saw the risen Jesus – so they COULD witness – and they could speak to the fulfilled prophesies…. And they could witness, witness in community from people who were there, teaching like Jesus talk to His disciples on that walk to Emmaus – and to those gathered at the sea of Galilee for breakfast – after He arose.
This early community was in the immediate days in the book of Acts, just after Jesus ascended and the angels said: “He’s not here and you will see Him come back just as you saw Him go up”… They waited then for the Holy Spirit and The Spirit was crucial, and they lived together and worshiped in spirit and truth best they could. The disciples went about building community from scratch as well as rebuilding their community. First the replaced the 12th apostle with Matthius instead of Judas. This was in the time after the Lord brought the apostles the Holy Spirit – after Jesus was taken to Heaven. And because of the Apostles, the church grew… So the community kept growing in faith, strength, supplies and mission… [emphasis] The Believers Share Their Possessions
Acts 4:32-37 All the believers were one in heart and mind.No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need…. Joseph – called “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Was it perfect? We like to think so – especially with that All the believers were one in heart and mind. Well, surely some were so human like us – but working WITH the Holy Spirit – they accomplished so much including staying as a community… but honestly don’t think it perfect – but PERFECTING…. As there is a very interesting story in Acts chapter 5 about two who deceived the apostles and lied about the money they were contributing – so surely the early church learned lessons of honestly from that situation – community will do that… And yet our favorite part of the new community is how the Lord BLESSED this community – and also in the Apostles Acts – working with the Holy Spirit, they healed many – performed many signs and wonders among the people…. more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. ————- WOW that is AMAZING!!!!! And yeah – PERFECTING… getting better…
And we learn that the community grew and so did the roles for many of the followers… Like I said, things weren’t always perfect but the Lord thru the Holy Spirit found ways to “perfect” the situation – that is one of my favorite verses – “The Lord will PERFECT that which concerns me”… either He will perfect me – or He will perfect the situation – which might take a while but we do believe…
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Let’s listen to this part of the story from Acts 6:1-7:
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hel-len-istic Jews among them complained against the Heb-raic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them— and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
YES – then like now – there is a need for a plan to further and grow the church – to spread the Word – the good news – and this is not a decision in a vacuum = they had to pray on the choices… Surely this is part of the reason to find folks to serve so others could spend their time teaching and surely in prayer – to discern the direction they should go – the Lord must be consulted and surely He was and Is consulted for the church to have grown…
(I did a big presentation of the early bible and how we got here – big bag of info… because people cared and were filled with the Holy Spirit) – this is the church as a body together too…
And here is the best advice I ever heard about churches – the buildings – that we must remain a bible-based church and share the Word first —- I know this from a friend who said to look at the churches that grow – it is the Word – brought by the Holy Spirit Whom we pray to fill our house of worship…
And in the church, we share and to bring together, and like the early church it is important to not neglect the duties of prayer… I love the phrase I have heard – preaching teaching and reaching – with reaching being an action item… So they appointed others like deacons who understood everything that had been going on… and they prayed on it…
And yes – among those who were chosen included Stephen – so strong and the first Martyr… the book of acts is a great teaching lesson for those of the day and for us now.
IMPORTANT TO GOD’S Plan – AS THEY WITNESSED, THEY WERE STRENGTHENED
And we must know that that to build community and be dependent upon community also means we are to be dependent upon the Lord even more.
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So – what a marvelous opportunity they took -and that we have of the early church as an example – and everybody working together and that was a tremendous scripture about feeding the widows and making sure they had people stationed at every job… because the social structure and the financial support in those times is very different from now. Growing community is taking care of your own and they take care of you, yes, AND growing community also means taking care of others not in your own flock – that extending out the generosity also means extending out the Word – and the good news of Jesus… For collectively together we are the body of Christ.
Growing community spiritually, as well as growing the flock, fishing for men, making sure that the hungry are fed and to especially feed everybody on hope.
And hope is in the community that we grow today. We find ourselves very blessed to be able to help share that hope. We share hope in all our sharing, little church big impact. Little works into a lot.
Now we will be sharing communion, and we have this communion bread, nutritious, and full of nooks and crannies, we could say bread is the staple of the meal in community . Actually Jesus born in Bethlehem, they said was “house of bread”….
In making this rise of bread – we have the rise of the yeast processing which takes time – makes the air pockets.
I love talking about Jesus being the yeast, the living Word. Sharing in community of Jesus and sharing His Word is the HOPE that people are hungering for. We in community are doing the communion of the sharing, and we must know that we’re not just sharing a little bit of bread, but a LOT of Jesus.
I often tell this story of a women’s gathering at my old church, and I remembered last minute that we were supposed to do communion because the pastor was visiting and all I had was some Irish soda bread and he said that was fine. Then like 2 YEARS later, especially because it was just after when the Lord got my head on the straight, we had the pastor speaking again at our meeting, and I thought to myself of the contrast between irish soda bread and the yeast-risen bread – so I made the Irish soda bread again and also brought a yeast risen loaf I bought.
Well soda bread is just that – risen by soda – man made or harvested levening reagent – and although it is tasty – it doesn’t get the pockets that a yeast-risen bread will get. Yes soda bread is faster to make – but the yeast-risen bread takes time… And that connects to our community and our communion – we may put in our man-made efforts – but wow when we put in Jesus and His teachings and His HOPE – and His LOVE – we will grow with a Living Church and a Living Spirit…
And so we will share this beautifully risen bread today and think of our table and bread set by Jesus – for us to remember HIM…
And so Friends – Jesus himself invites us to his table, but the apostle Paul advises us to examine ourselves before we come unthinking to the Lord’s table. So let us pray:
Gracious and loving Lord, as we prepare to come to your table, we come remembering in humility the boundless love that brought us here. And we confess how often we have failed to reflect the love that was shown to us – failed in our actions, in our words, even in our thoughts…
We have both done things we ought not to have done and we have left undone those things we ought to have done.
We ask forgiveness through the intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself on our behalf. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us, so that we might offer the worship, service and praise that brings honor to you. Have mercy on us and forgive us for the sake of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ – Amen. Friends, hear and believe the good news of the gospel. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
AHHHHH – COMMUNITY… This is the joyful feast of the people of God! People will come from east and west and from north and south to sit at table in the kingdom of God. At this, our Lord’s table, all who trust him are invited to share the feast he has prepared for us. Any baptized believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is welcome to receive this sacrament, regardless of denomination or church background.
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So let us break bread as community…..
(While breaking bread) – The Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed, took bread and when he
had given thanks, he broke it, gave it to his disciples and said, Take and eat; this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.
(While lifting the cup). In the same way, after supper our Savior took the cup, saying “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins; all of you, drink of it, in remembrance of me.” As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death and resurrection until he comes.
(call for helper for communion) +++++++++++ After serving communion:
Prayer: Gracious God, we thank you for this meal shared in the Spirit with your Son Jesus, who makes us new and strong, who brings eternal life. May we who have received this bread and this cup live in the unity of your Holy Spirit, that we may be the expression of your love to all the world. Send us out in peace and grant us the strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Benediction PRAYER at end… We are to display the strength that he gives us, especially share the information with our community and outside our community. What are the challenges we will face? Nothing compared to the Lord – remember The Lord is bigger… and take these words of Isaiah 40 28-31 with us: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
After watching many September 11th video replays, I thought of my memory of people saying, weeks and months later that “I miss us as a community being September 12th people”… yes, the day after when we were picking up the pieces and each other…
Yes, September 12th 13th 14th… 2001… etc… for the next few weeks and months we looked to each other for comfort, for understanding (which there was and is little in a devastating tragedy like that), and we also looked at the people helping and we became helpers too, in processing and donations. Surely we held our family more dear, we were more somber and polite, and we rallied around and we built and rebuilt community just as the rubble removed from the crash sites, the phoenix rose from the ashes just like the beautiful Oculus metro station, if you’ve been there, it’s gorgeous rising, just as new buildings rose, just as the water pool installations were placed for memorial and a place of reflection. People who don’t know each other gather as community. And those who did know each other came to churches – and rallied each other – comforted – and asked God “why?” – and stayed in community for a while… solace in sincerity in community…
One of my favorite Mister Rogers’ sayings is that his mother always said: “in the middle of a tragedy, look for the helpers” – and oh yeah, Sept 12th, that brought community – I know somebody who lived on Long Island as a specialized surgeon and yet as any medical professional, they were sent to ground zero to try to help with recovery, but there was nothing they could do. They couldn’t apply their specialized skill set to that situation. However, they could bring us a first hand account of the situation. Then there were chefs, celebrity chefs, who brought their whole restaurant crews and food supply and cooking and continually served the first responders and the workers for months. There were musical celebrities who put together concerts for fundraising. And surely my favorite Bruce Springsteen song called “The Rising” detailed the flight and plight of first responders, firemen rising up the stairs. While everybody else was getting out, and then surely rising up to Heaven as those towers fell. Jesus reached and they rose.
The firefighters did not hesitate, because that was what they did in community. And still live in community and for community.
And that could be our reminder every September to re-start and re-join community.
We do need each other – when Mister Rogers says “look for the helpers” – that could be us – we could be the helpers too. We are to keep the Lord’s commandments and step into this life as His Hands and Feet – and abide in doing what He calls us to do – and listen for the Holy Spirit: “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” 1st John 3:24
So – COMMUNITY – may we continue in community today – and remember that we are not alone here on earth – even if we belong to our heavenly home – we are to be His community here on earth. THE SPIRIT WILL GUIDE US!
Amen
These are the lyrics of part of the song “The Rising”:
Can’t see nothing in front of me Can’t see nothing coming up behind Make my way through this darkness I can’t feel nothing but this chain that binds me Lost track of how far I’ve gone How far I’ve gone, how high I’ve climbed On my back’s a sixty pound stone On my shoulder, a half-mile line [Chorus] Come on up for the rising Come on up, lay your hands in mine Come on up for the rising Come on up for the rising tonight
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1st John 3:10-24 NKJV
The Imperative of Love In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.
Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
The Outworking of Love By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
I filled my Sept 11th day today (24 years later) with work – but not without bracketing my day with memories of that 9-11 morning and of how I dealt with it and how we all did. There was aftermath of the impact and we all deal with the aftermath of the trauma – but at different levels – my memories are vivid – my visits to the reflection pools in NYC years ago were and are heart touching – and my visits to serene displays of distinct pieces of steel, which I have seen in at least three separate memorials, have been all personal to me. Serene from the Serious trauma and drama of the day and time.
There is something so personal about processing – and about the grief you give up and that which you don’t. It seems that it is appropriate to take some grief around life with you and then again there are times when you are supposed to leave all your grief behind – it is healthier that way – and keep walking forward.
Before work and on my way to the highway, I rode to the small local fire company which holds a small piece of steel. On the glass tower memorial, I found solace and hope in a few red ladybugs walking around – the simple reminder that life continues and that these joybugs were and are on the move in our lives. Maybe I was supposed to see them for myself – or perhaps because I got the unique position to explain about these lady bugs and the memorial and the time I was with my preemie daughter at home that morning – yes explain it all to dozens today – including a work meeting filled with most people not from the greater NYC area as close as we are here… I got to explain that the Lord was helping me focus on my baby in front of me and that we all move forward. The only other mention of 9-11 during the day that I heard was a local radio DJ speaking and playing music in solace – “Imagine” by John Lennon – and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland… I know others remembered, including one veteran in an American flag tie, but mostly this day I felt I had to process in my own thoughts…
I wonder – and I think I know the answer to this – I wonder of the processing of the two disciples whom Jesus walked with, after He rose Easter morning – but they did not know Him – and these disciples, on this walk to Emmaus, would have been processing the events of the three days, and needing to talk it out with someone who was there (each other) while also explaining it to someone they thought “wasn’t” (Jesus in hidden sight). Then Jesus surely processed too – all knowing – He was helping in processing the revelation of all the scriptures fulfilled from the beginning to the present – revealing how the Messiah fulfilled prophecy and eventually revealing His Holy self while breaking bread – fulfilling the whole reveal revelation to their eyes in their hearts and minds and oh the oh… can you even imagine the “OH!” or maybe they were silent… All we know is that they listened. And knew: “did not our hearts burn?”…
So – if we have the remembrance of 9-11 – with the vividness – there would only be a fraction of understanding how the walk to Emmaus disciples would have been processing in vividness. Was their “lady bug” that day so visible? Their bug in their ear was no bug – it was Jesus Himself – and their memories of trauma of the death on the cross surely was replaced with the joy of understanding and seeing and knowing and loving and healing and feeling.
We have half the story now with the earthly brokenness here – especially we see this with the tragedies in our broken world – but one day we will see the Lord face to face – and know our tears were collected by God. Jesus revealed with word and love – the disciples absorbed the love and continued to reveal the word.
Now that is processing that we need – and may we find our hope in His Word – Jesus is Alive – and may we keep looking for Him (and those ladybugs)… And may we tell others of our HOPE – (and tell them of the ladybugs too)…
Life continues because Jesus IS
Life moves forward because Jesus lives.
Life is – because Jesus IS.
Keep living – keep loving – even on and especially on 9-11.
Amen
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Luke 24 NKJV
He Is Risen Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”
And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
The Road to Emmaus Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?”
So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain 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.”
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
The Disciples’ Eyes Opened Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.
The Scriptures Opened Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
The Ascension And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
My friend was taken from this world too soon – 2 years ago now. Today would be her birthday.
But the solace I have is that she now has the ability to be hugging Jesus with full restored strength forever… Here is a birthday and new day poem for her…
Hug Jesus
Give Him Squeezes
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Love on Him
Hold Him
Know Him
Touch Him
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Remember the pain that is gone.
Go with the gain that is His Throne.
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Be the best you could ever be.
Because the Lord Jesus is forever with thee.
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Hold to Him – you are both in Glory.
We will tell everyone that – for not that IS your Story.
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Thank You Jesus for the bless
And for our friends – and for us and for all the rest.
I had to wait – I really did – and it was frustrating but then again a teachable moment to myself that not everything should I expect to do or have done instantly…. yes, FINALLY the opportunity came to shred documents way back to 1967 – yes I said 1967 – finally came after I and others sorted, plus moved them around – plastic storage bins in a garage – in many trusted family and friends hands – safe but still a burden of excess – cancelled checks and tax returns – credit card info and offers – such sensitive stuff like ssn’s and whatnot. Shred shred shred so that we don’t dread dread dread…
This was stuff that DIDN’T need to go to Vegas when my friend moved – she is now SLAYING Vegas (which is actually the name of a new book! available on Amazon!) – so for my friend there was no need to do SHREDDING in Vegas – she now is over there helping her family and grandkids and “PERFECTING Vegas”… Leave the shredding behind… Shredding Vegas before it gets there – that IS perfecting Vegas – not just the paper but the past – shred the past and leave it behind and walk forward into your new life – live in the present – in the moment – and with and for the new people God gives you.
And the shredding paper boxes? It took a while but then in a whoosh of a moment it was done – those five last boxes to the local state representative’s sponsored free shredding event. Had done one giant shred run earlier in the summer but then had to pause because of a cancelled shred event by rain – and wait until the fall events started. I thought to pay for it but that seemed nonsensical and pricey when a free shred event was surely around the corner – and it was – I just had to WAIT!
And it came. And now it is done… and we all survived waiting! Yes we will and can survive waiting…
Isn’t that us in life too – we have to wait – we have to wait – we have to wait upon the Lord…
Psalm 138 states a truth from David: “The Lord will Perfect That Which Concerns Me.” – and David writes that our salvation comes from the Lord’s Right Hand. TRUE!
I had written a devotion at the beginning of the summer which really speaks to me now as the things that were taking place were resolving every so slowly in my mind but ever so efficiently and totally in the Lord’s Hands – resolved to an even better outcome… Yeah, The Lord’s Ways are above our ways… and David’s Psalm 138 (and I) are not just talking about shredding or packing or moving stuff – we are talking about LIFE STUFF – that the Lord is perfecting – and HAS perfected because with accepting His cloak of forgiveness we are seen purified in God’s Grace and Mercy. And others too are cloaked in forgiveness by the Lord… We have to forgive as we are forgiven. Yes, with His RIGHT HAND – JESUS – we are saved.
Below is the devotion that oh is so very true now (and always was) for our material things and mental things – yes I had a whole big list of “that concerns me” from this summer and I had to wait it out and I watched the Lord resolve it EVEN BETTER than I could have imagined – even better and that takes time – that is not a “snap your fingers” kind of God but a “walk with me and FEAR NOT” TRUTH of God.
(And without giving details, the FEAR NOT command (perfectly timed as placed on my ears from a summer sermon) by the Lord has really really come true for me this summer – oh the relief and oh the comfort and oh the joy for watching the Lord complete the situation and get it moving again – wow!)
And perfecting “that which concerns me” is oh so comforting for my/our forevers too.
From Summer July to September (even from 1967 and before and beyond) and forever – The Lord will Perfect that which concerns me! Shredding and Perfecting – and LOVING the whole way.
Amen
Previous devotion at the beginning of the summer:
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THE Lord will perfect that which concerns me.
The LORD will perfect that which concerns me.
The Lord WILL perfect that which concerns me.
The Lord will PERFECT that which concerns me.
The Lord will perfect THAT which concerns me.
The Lord will perfect that WHICH concerns me.
The Lord will perfect that which CONCERNS me.
The Lord will perfect that which concerns ME.
We (I) have a lot that concerns us – but the Lord – He is MORE than all that – MORE than a lot – MORE than us and MORE than our concerns. We can take strengthening in His regard for us – Our hope is in that He knows us and pays attention to us and lifts us up.
If there is anything we are not good at, we can rely upon Him to find our answers, our helpers, our path. His Mercy is the amazing gift of giving grace to the imperfections, and He answers our concerns just as He catches all our tears.
If there are items we are concerned about, and people and things, He gives us unworldly advice not to ignore things around us but to look at them like He does, with grace and mercy and forgiveness.
If there is anything we don’t know, we can ask. If there is anything we need, we can ask. And when (not if) we fall short, He provides the ability for us to recover.
Lord, You give us of Your Glory – let us know that You will perfect THAT which concerns me – by either perfecting me, or perfecting THAT, or perfecting the concern and bringing that concern into place where it belongs in the universe.
Without You, Lord, we would be nothing. So, WITH YOU LORD? We have everything we need.
AMEN
Psalm 138 NKJV The Lord’s Goodness to the Faithful – A Psalm of David.
I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.
All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, When they hear the words of Your mouth. Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, For great is the glory of the Lord. Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
I prayed “Lord Willing” – HE WAS !!! I got there for my mini-vacation with so many activities including the down-time (which is never enough)…
I prayed Vegas, you could say that I “slayed Vegas” in knowing now what works and doesn’t work for me, and there are many aspects that I will stay in Vegas-mode, in my heart… but yes, I was so grateful to get home too, to my family, to have beautiful coolness mornings, summer bugs, and a refreshing rainstorm the other night that was just truly northeast late summer weather… Today here will be 80s and I plan to do errands then get to the beach to refresh my ‘ahhhhh’, yes – relaxation – home but also remembering home is where your heart is – and it should always be with the Lord…
I have so many things to be thankful for this week, YOU HAVE NO IDEA… honestly, I have no idea too, I could never wrap my head around this all, and our lives here, because the Lord gives us SO MANY things beyond our comprehension. Including and especially HOPE.
“Slaying Vegas” is a new book! Many wrote chapters in the new book about making the best and truly all the women who wrote chapters have been “slaying life” – “slaying Vegas” – meaning living with gusto, giving it all they got, making the Vegas landscape a better place, and inspiring women and all along the way… It is empowering to see women empowered. “Slaying Vegas” is available on Amazon… There is my promotional plug support!!!
I also want to shout out another Vegas transplant – one that brought sunshine into my heart and palate – HANDEL’S ICE CREAM!!!! Yes – this is a company from Ohio – and there are some franchises out east – but now I found that they found them in Las Vegas – oh the joy of the 4 scoop sampler for less than $7… Took the desert of Las Vegas and made it into the dessert of the day… Oh – the blue cookie monster ice cream – there was none lost none wasted for the 4 year old ate it all and even the whole cone… yum and fun…
And yeah – that is what half my vacation was – even though evenings were for Vegas thrills, – the mornings were also blessed – being with a 4yr old, and an 18-month yr old and sitting on the floor and playing blocks – and chicken nuggets and making a cheese quesadilla for the little girl, just like I made 20 years ago for my oldest… Yes, time with kids reminded me how long ago I had mine – and oh it reminded me of the kids back home who are now both over 21 – both driving – both adulting – and how time flies… We raise kids and then we raise adults… And we should take time to BE with the kids when they are little – because it makes THEIR childhood more idyllic to have love – and yes get ice cream and yes play in the dirt and then a hose in the backyard (and THANK GOD I can still get down to sit on the floor at their level)… And our trip to the McD’s playground inside and our trip to get a haircut for the 4 year old – amazing – (that is what pleases a grandma all the world around: a haircut!) – and seeing joy in making a connection with the hairdresser (from Ohio too like the ice cream). And yes our other trip to Dairy Queen near the Hoover Dam in Boulder City – with chocolate dipped vanilla ice cream – yum (all while keeping the kids in the car – remember those days?) – and our trip to see the blue caboose of the old time railroad from our car windows (not getting out of the blessed Air Conditioning at 116F)… and playing in a dirt pile at the construction corner – and seeing the kitties – and vacation is being a kid as an adult (with your own money now and ability to buy ice cream) and seeing the blessed newness in their eyes and in your heart. Being on vacation means changing your mindset too. And accepting a new season of life for temporary. And making memories that last longer than the photos. Yeah – that is what vacation can be… Memories…
And my 7-11 trips were a blessing – walking 2 blocks in the cooler mornings while seeing the mountains were a highlight too – because I built a nice rapport with the cashier and told her all about the neon and the show to see Donny Osmond – and the Hoover Dam – and the everything… I also needed someone to share with and she was it… God provided…
This is the “staying Vegas” part of my story – because it is hard to transplant oneself into a dry arid environment like the Las Vegas desert without bringing the need to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t and what you bring home in your heart and what you leave behind and what “staying Vegas” even means… To “stay” means what? Sure, we can have that concept of slaying vegas, but STAYING? well – it means ADAPTING… Vegas is truly a place where you have to adapt – adapt to desert living – adapt to new places – adapt to new people but they are likely transplants themselves – adapt to new roads and ice cream places too – and a 7-11 big gulp of lemonade instead of my convenience store – yes adapt to everything – but all in all, know that God is here too… And that is what I asked myself the first day – where will God reveal Himself to me here – and in the majesty of the mountains I saw His Handiwork – and in the curiosity of a child I saw His Joy – and in the ice cream I saw the Father of God who pleased – and in the Grandma? “Mimi” – well, I saw the Love of God…
YES – Grandmas who will move their whole lives cross country to LOVE on their grandchildren are GOD’S LOVE – all and all… This is LOVING VEGAS to a whole new level. LOVE that is a sacrificial LOVE is what love is all about.
So – I saw God on this trip – and God was and IS: LOVE.
What an amazing way to travel… I am home in after a four and a half hour overnight flight on Holy Spirit airlines from Vegas to east coast, then train home in the wee hours of the morning – oh seeing the real Statue of Liberty and the Las Vegas one in less than 5 hours timespan was awesome – and oh the sunrise… Flying had was an amazing sight of our take off over the beautiful lights of Las Vegas then dark over the mountains.
When I left, the Big Dipper was over my shoulder and flew with me, and my cup also was truly FILLED by my visit with my friend and everyone… It was not just the Big Dipper star constellation held my full cup – the LORD held my cup… The stars shined bright above… So should we. The Lord fills my cup – and as the Grateful Dead sang in Ripple: “Let it be known, there is a fountain that was not made by the hands of man”… and as David wrote in Psalm 23 – “my cup overfloweth”…
Blessed to watch a lightning storm below as well as the stars above at the same time, so humbling. YES! Flying over the middle part of the country I saw big storms – they rumbled and scared below surely – but we were flying above – the captain ascended – that is how we need to live life too – flying above the storms and knowing that the Heavens don’t leave us…. It’s so important to listen for the nudging of the Holy Spirit. I am with you – the Lord says…
Before taking off – a great view of two planes – like a “Holy” Spirit airlines – their tails showed me “Howdy” “Spirit” – yes it is blessed to have the Holy Spirit and also fun to keep the “Howdy Spirit” alive – greeting those around us with a JOY that only the Lord can give us. We certainly can have a howdy spirit – open for where the Lord takes us to see who we can see – and we, I, live because of the Holy Spirit moving us reminding us that Jesus lives inside of us, and we live with the strength of the Lord, we can rise above the storms… and because of the Holy Spirit, we can accept humbling storms too and still praise – for the Lord’s ways are above our ways.
Thank You Lord for all we have and all we can do – because of You
May we always take YOUR VIEW – a Holy Spirit Howdy Spirit TRUE!
Amen
Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
That’s how we need to live on this planet in this world – knowing it is not our home and that God WILL lead us into the promise land of HOME… just hopefully less wandering on each of our parts than those descendants of Jacob pulling out of the desert with Moses..
Heaven Home – Heaven is our home… a “landing” from a dizzying array of living in/on the heights of life and being pulled out of the lowest valley of lows… It’s no shoe click “There’s no place like home”, like Dorothy says – and Dorothy would agree that this ain’t Kansas anymore, it’s the Las Vegas spectacular that it is! (and the Sphere has that show, but next time…)
Vegas IS a spectacular place!!!
Best next to last day of vacation. Topping off Vegas better than you could ever imagine was seeing and hearing Donny Osmond TOP it all off! Plus the High Roller ferris wheel ride UP over atop Vegas fun fun views; then dinner at a fabulous outdoor bistro with an adorable couple from England next to us; then casino fun with the $20 a friend sent me; and oh the show…
BLESSED as the DONNY show was unbelievable and a MUST SEE, the whole 60 years of his career highlighted, the dance moves gave me chills as they synced with the cartoons. Plus “Puppy Love” was co-sung with his grandson actually, dressed up as his 14-yr old self, and AI enhanced…
There is no AI that could generate the God-Given talent throughout that whole Osmond family for generations and their strength and courageous dedication to work. There were montages with his brothers and a whole sixty year in review, video and singing rap decade to decade… a montage tribute to Marie and many to his brothers…
And him singing the Joseph Dreamcoat song was the dream come true – my dreamed fulfilled of attending the show scripture and song – as Donny played Joseph (saving the children of Jacob, rescue from famine) in a musical for two-thousand shows… then played the King Pharaoh Elvis recently.
Plus PURPLE everwhere… Best show best $80 cheapseats anywhere ! Got a pre-signed copy of his new album CD plus free tshirt. Oh unbelievably Donny Osmond Tops Vegas with being the best performer in my generation…
WOW!!!
This was a fun way to celebrate the joy of living…
And the people I talked to at the end of the show, as I gathered extra purple confetti, suggested I do a photo with me throwing it up in the air… fun to live a confetti life… Yet I would always remember to put life in God’s hands – He has been a far better planner than me… and MAY WE SEE the LORD to always be our JOY above anything else in this world.
And as my friend held a gift shop FROG, we remember the F.R.O.G. acronym: Faithfully Relying On God!
WOW
And AMEN!!!
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Here are the lyrics from a most powerful emotion show moment as Donny was performing one song from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat –
We may have driven past the “Alien Museum” in Bolder City, NV, on our way to the Hoover Dam but this cast of these characters within my travels here to Vegas are NOT alien to me, they are especially good to see!!! Yes, extended church family, that moved west, including my transplanted friend’s growing kiddos, and the cats are very familiar to me too. Every time I get in bed, Miss Kitty stares me down, her face literally six inches from my face, thinking that I’m going to give her some food… haha… Miss Kitty and Peanut are both big loved kitties and I fed them back home before my friend moved, often when she was traveling or in knee replacement surgery etc… they surely know my familiar face too… and they know that familiar pop-top food can sound.
That’s the thing about being in a new area, is if you have familiar faces, you can find familiarity! You know how to interact, know expectations, appropriate or not, and one can simply “make do”. You got people and they got you.
However when you’re alone in a new situation, you may not feel that comfort… and sometimes you WANT to be in a new situation where you can start fresh…
Remember, in all these places and all these faces and in everything, the Lord is ALREADY HERE, was already THERE, will always BE. Familiarity in FAITH should be our Familiar Face. It’s our relationship with the Lord that is good to cultivate – seeds of faith in all places and spaces to grow.
I certainly did cultivate my prayer requests while dangling ready to zipline! So my best advice is to praise first! “Lord, You got this!” (And He did)… we have a direct zip line to His ears! Actually He knows our requests ahead of time.
So, with this crew, we went to the Hoover Dam, 45 minutes outside Vegas, big, open roads and some winding ones on the mountain. For me, this place is brand new and the mountains are so interesting, plus the red rocks, and how dry it is and how HOT, 116 degrees. My friend’s daughter was our driver, as she has grown to love and thrive in Las Vegas ever since college. However, she didn’t like the winding roads. But I, on the other hand, it felt a little like my hometown in the very steep winding hills and even though the scenery was very different, the “HOLD ON” for the drive feeling was the same and I felt OK, actually I would have enjoyed that driving challenge, but that’s just me. The heights and cool overlooks, I don’t mind, but others do. Perhaps I’m just accustomed to OVER trust… So after the amazing trip to the dam, we made the necessary amazing trip IN FAMILIARITY and let the kids play in a McDonald’s Playhouse with happy meals… mmm… my cheap hamburger and orange drink were reminiscent to familiarity, but I think forty years ago of course they tasted much better… 59 cents is now 3.29, oh well, it was the priceless protein I needed…
Another familiar thing was the Dairy Queen ice cream with the chocolate coating. Oh so good… familiar and good. I have been craving that. Familiar food…
And FAMILIARITY is key with our Lord. We are to know “God’s got this” and had it before and will continue to hold us, just like that zipline: TRUST and pray in that order. Familiar Faith-ness is facing issues that we’re sure God has gotten us through before. Familiar Faith should always be our approach – APPRECIATING HIM.
TRUST and PRAISE from our ears are surely the familiarity God wants from us IN dazzling heights and in lows. Praise God always – He is the FAMILIAR in all situations.
AMEN
(zipline photos coming later)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139
I started pre-writing while awaiting my gate and flight. I was and did trust both the process and the safety of this cheapo flight, no free food either, and knew I was ok, got a snack bag from my daughter, awww… packed in brown bag just like my mom would for them for trips when they were little. Cute…
My kids are old enough to be fine at home and I am young enough to be “allowed” to go by my kids – so when I asked/informed for possibly traveling, my youngest said: “It’s your life.”…. OK! UP up and away!!!
Now, I’ve arrived, yes it is HOT here in Las Vegas, the “dry heat”… the A/C is too much like everywhere… they surely have to trust in A/C, was 101F when I landed 8pm.
TRUST…
I left home the book I am reading for a work bookclub, about TRUST, but the CONCEPT OF TRUST is contained in my mind and of course I had to take a photo of a billboard I saw while on the train about a business where “TRUST IS EARNED”. We need that…
I trust the railway, they trust us enough now to not come around (or don’t have staff) to check our tickets. I trusted the resolution to a crazy line getting off the 2 trains for the Airport entrance to the airframe, so many scanning phone tickets. The resolution was PATIENCE and TRUST and then a staff member invited paper ticket people to step aside and collected them and we walked through the bigger gate swiftly. I saw a gentleman help an elderly lady. Yes, I still trust in the goodness of people.
I trust in my phone, but paper this day was better, paper ticket, paper boarding pass…
Flight was fine. Funny how my old kindle could log onto Netflix but not download anything on airport wifi nor my mobile hotspot. I rarely use it, but thought it would be good for killing time with a movie. The paper crossword I hoped for was not available in random newspapers left around the terminal probably because practically no one reads newspapers and they clean up random things so fast… but I did get a free old one on parts at the nearby shop, where I also got protein in the form of an “adult lunchable’ because you know cheapo airlines don’t give out anything, except for purchase, so no one buys and the airline stewards have little to do during flights. I was in a middle seat, nice people, 3rd row immediately behind 1.5 wide seats, which could have been had for $100 more. Nah, I would survive… and then the steward offered an empty row to the lady to my right. Then offered the nice gentleman to my right to move back to sit with his wife, after the seatbelt sign allowed. The flight only 25%-30% full, yeah… I then sat myself in the windows and saw the sights of mountains and rivers and snow tops and then LIGHTS. 5 hours… I worked hard on that crossword. I appreciated the steward who asked the neighboring folks to not play their phones without earphones (wow I was surprised how annoyed I was at the random electronic garbage, glad they stopped). And I read my book and what did I find downloaded on my kindle from 2018? A book about time management, haha, I trust the Lord was laughing… TRUST…
I liked arriving and seeing the “Vegas Strip” by car, all skyscrapers now, I saw the Sphere, saw a billboard for Donny (i already trust that show is going to be fun). And I praise the Lord for safe travels and hope in hugging my friend, whom I had helped pack to get here, knowing the Lord helped her get to THIS season of life. And what blessings for these grandkids to have their grandma…
In life, surely we can TRUST the Lord. His trust He surely earned im miracles I’ve seen, and in blessings realized. Mostly I TRUST in HiS Love. Trust in His Plan. We know we can TRUST Him in death, so we need to TRUST Him in life… keep going… TRUST in His time management for living and life and especially vacation…
Amen… Today will be another day trusting in the Lord!
TRUST!
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Proverbs 3:5-12 NKJV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Ha – I am pre-writing these as I will be on vacation – well at least I hope I will be – and today is Labor Day so those who work hard are off and many folks – who work even harder – are NOT off and have to serve in services… Really we don’t need a federal holiday to relax, we might need a snowstorm burying us to force us to slow down – but I am not going to go there when there is such little summertime left… the snow can wait and wait… I want summer – I want more summer…
VACATION – that is the feeling I am hoping – pre-typing this – and funny to me is that I am planning to take practically no luggage – only a toothbrush, toothpaste, cell phone and charger, credit cards, jacket, book, swimsuit and oh yeah, a few clothes – it is only 3 days away and if needed I can do laundry staying at my friend’s house. Oh yeah – I will take one dress because we have tickets to see DONNY OSMOND! (I have no purple socks but still have my Marie doll)…
Yes my friends, I am going to Vegas! (should already be there by the time you read this) woohoo – and what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas right? maybe not and I will fill in everyone what my adventures are – but we are 3 hours behind east coast time – that is why I am writing ahead of time – because what I am bringing to Vegas what then should stay there – for me to even leave on the plane – no, not my clothes but I am planning on leaving behind burdens of ugh – and my whining – and my flippant ways – and my whatever. So THAT is what I hope stays away from Vegas – the baggage from life, plus the baggage that we whine about but could drop – and that ungratefulness we hold on to but should change. We need to change more frowns up side down and just get back to JOY.
What I hope “happens in Vegas” is not a big philosophical retreat – but just a chance to hug my friend – get a change of scenery – and gain a moment of “vacation mindset” in a warm climate before it snows… And what surely will happen in Vegas is my friend and I will acknowledge that even thru a rocky road, God got us to the destination for this season of life.
What I am also doing (remember that I am pre-writing this) is riding a cheap flight on an airline that just declared bankruptcy – hehe – yeah I guess barebones Spirit airline is running on fumes… But I will persevere – my wallet and my nerves have been stretched too thin this summer – and so I will enjoy what I can enjoy and instead of winning it big at the slot machines, I will win it big in knowing I was taking a few days to take care of my mind – before it also is bankrupt.
Bankruptcy and no baggage is how we should arrive in Heaven – that is how we should run out of steam at the end of our lives and let the Lord flag us home being carried in His arms. Give it away or leave it for someone else – and take the time to be with our family and friends. I am not at the end of my life (at least I hope) – but the most important message I can send in a message about no baggage and no frills excesses, is that what doesn’t happen to us here on earth is that there is no hope… WE HAVE HOPE – ALWAYS… We have HOPE in Jesus ALWAYS…
OK – so up up and away – Lord willing and He usually is!
Remember folks – pack your HOPE and leave that in vegas too – and bring some more HOPE home – God gives that away for free.
Ah – Joshua the story speaks to the people working the Lord’s intentions – the Lord is powerful – we work for Him (whether we know it or not)… I pray to be knowing it – and knowing Him – and working not in our element but in our (my)chemistry with the others around us. What a blessing to have friends to share with – yes…
I know that I myself am called to be an encourager – that is good for us to know and can grow in that – but also see that when placed in a position to help, hug, hollar, who knows – that is my job to do… And love people – and “People who need people” – we can clearly see people whom the Lord uses to further His plan – sharing His love – being the difference in someone’s life….
At the funeral that I just attended yesterday, so many spoke about the “captain charisma” joyfulness of our friend’s son – really someone who changed other’s lives. And yes it is so sad – as this young man passed away suddenly at just 35 years – apparently God knew the timing… The first to give the eulogy was a friend who told of how Justin came into his life at the right time and when he was struggling and this new friendship brotherhood brought life and wit and adversity like a brother (quoting proverbs 17:17) for good – and brought purpose into his life/scene everyday. This gentleman spoke so emotionally eloquently about their relationship. Others spoke of the amazing glue that this “captain charisma” was holding each group together where he was. We were in sorrow but in joy to know this young man. We pray for the family as they all struggle with this loss. “Unfailing Love” and “Amazing Grace” – oh the holy spirit goosebumps I had to hear strum the guitar and to sing… Ah – my church family I am so grateful…
Also yesterday I heard of a church friend who passed in her 60s, with early dementia – ah so sad – she was such joy… She especially was joy for her grandkids… JOY is in our sharing with her life and sorrow in her passing as we loved her in our women’s retreat group – and my connection with her started years ago when we stepped into then our new church and she toured us and introduced us around… with her also being one of the first people I was able to share my awakening with, 10 years ago now.
And wonderfully yesterday I gathered with women whom I shared the table with at a “Walk to Emmaus” weekend many years ago – and we caught up for our 44th (yes 44th!) visit (either in person or virtually) – missed our other table mate and send hugs and love and prayers her way… It is SO good how God gives us family… We love even though we don’t always see each other…
It is SO good to have brothers and sisters in Christ – who understand us or at least try to understand and help and correct and support….
So – God works through humans for good – and even “brothers for adversity” scripture comes after the Proverbs 17:17 part of “A friend loves at all times”...
And in Joshua? Well even though I have not read this book on Joshua (yet) from author Steven Lennox – I know from the sense of a leader instilled in Joshua by God, chapter 1 – the FEAR NOT passage – that we are to work WITH God – for God – by God – and not be afraid or discouraged – because God goes with us – and especially we are to go meet the people we are to meet – and to be that glue and that joy and that friend and that family and that
Let us all be courageously the glue of the Love of the Lord and spread it not thin but thick – because God makes endless opportunities to love… and we work for Him… Courageously!!!
Amen
Joshua 1:6-9 God says: “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. … Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
It’s not that I have read this book yet – Joshua by Stephen Lennox – but I have listened to bible teachings he gave and have zoned in on the main titles – and this one is something we might forget about: “God Fights for His People” – and I am not just talking about old testament israel – I mean and God means and this author means that every day and in every way, God has fought and will fight for His people – including and especially from us being overwhelmed by the evil in the world – and over-focused on ourselves. We best know God by knowing life is not “all about me” – but knowing that we are part of a bigger picture.
God will fight through the clouds to shine the Light. God will fight the darkness to illuminate the way. God already did the victory and now He is not doing a victory dance but instead God is doing a street sweeper approach to pick up all the pieces of our lives that block our path back to Him. God in Jesus lays down His life and picks up our lives to save them.
God as street sweeper – bet that isn’t a chapter title anywhere…
God as street sweeper sounds to me as God as a power that makes it happen AND will stick around for the clean up work after – well, God does – God did, God does, God WILL.
I know that we often could think of the phrase “God Fights for His People” in a personal nature – me – God is for ME. And He is – but collectively God is for God’s people – special and special – meaning there is no one that He doesn’t fight for – that His Spirit Street Sweeper turns slow enough to hope for everyone to repentance. Everyone ON the bandwagon and everyone UNDER the wagon too.
If there is something so important to say about us and God (God and us) during a tough time in our lives, it is that we have to raise our heads enough to WATCH for God. Joshua is amazing in His obedience and His progress for God’s people – now our next Joshua – Jesus *same root name as Joshua* did the biggest save – won the biggest fight – and stay tuned and stay tight – Jesus is not yet DONE with THIS fight..
God fights for His People – in Joshua – and by Jesus -and in our lives – this is true… Just keep a watch on God…
God Keeps His Promises – yes that is a truth that I can appreciate – and one that is a section title in the new book I ordered from Amazon about JOSHUA – by Stephen Lennox – the sermonist who delivered the very meaningful sermon to my ears and life fears at the time – “FEAR NOT” Dr Lennox said – which God said – which Joshua heard – which the author of the book of Genesis heard – which we are all to hear – which I hear.
God is FOR us – and God keeps His Promises – I mean we realize that He kept and keeps our biggest one of Grace and Mercy with Jesus saving our souls – so why wouldn’t He keep all the other little and big promises too – like Jeremiah’s there is a plan for you – and all those promises of taking care of us that Jesus used even the birds to demonstrate and the flowers who are splendidly dressed so why should we worry what we wear let alone eat – and eat we do of His Bread of Life…
So, if God is for us – well, why would we worry – but we can WORK and put our negative energies into something creative or at least not destructive…
Last Thursday I went late to drop off some boxes that my work folks had created and decorated from a project to celebrate kids in the Foster system. I stepped late into the unknown BIG building and prayed that I would be OK dropping them off and clearing out just that much more of a section in my packed car. Especially to get these kids these treats… We want to connect the blessings we have with the well wishes for them and thank the people who do the amazing tasks of taking care of these children. God is FOR us and for sure God is FOR these children and there are many agencies who look after children.
The security guard hit the wrong button on the elevator and I found myself on the 4th floor not 5th – and in a school open welcoming space with not one soul – and I wondered if this was the right place and if I should just leave the boxes – I decided to start to write a note – and luckily blessedly three people came by just then and redirected me (and used their badges) to the next floor up. Whew – and there was a person still there – and the boxes were delivered – whew.
I found that TRUST and that security was beneficial and comforting – then again seemed TOO trustworthy for my actions even though I know there were cameras everywhere….
But isn’t that true of God too – He trusts us – He certainly sees us like better than those cameras – and He can reach out to us too – and send help. I wonder if we all could just remember that He watches us all the time and try our best…
I wonder…
I hope…
I pray…
God keeps His Promises – one of them is to WATCH us!
… immediately the boat was at the land where they were going…
If there’s one thing to be said about TRUST, it’s that TRUST IN JESUS is the beginning and end of getting through life. If we trust in Jesus, and in Jesus alone, OVER the things of the world, over the anxiety of the day, then we will get to where we are going more quickly. We will find that peace in Jesus more assuredly, and more assuring, more efficiently and more efficiently than to deal alone ourselves with our strife and fear over the messes and missteps (ours and others). TRUST JESUS.
When Jesus’s disciples took Him into their boat struggling in the storm, they IMMEDIATELY got to where they were going. Now that’s a miracle I can sing about,,, stake my hope into,,, and know. We are to see the SAVE over the sink.
There’s an amazing chorus of the modern day praise song “Hard Fought Hallelujah”, by Brandon Lake, which acknowledges that we (I) will (and should) bring a BIG Hallelujah for Jesus helping us – from our fighting hard to have faith – and for seeing Jesus fighting hard to secure our faith. If there’s one thing about struggles, it’s that you HAVE to put your trust in something somewhere someONE – let that ONE be Jesus. TRUST JESUS.
An important lyric: “And I’ll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sail, story-to-tell hallelujah, oh oh oh oh.. “
Can you (we/I) imagine that praise when our storms subside? When the rocky storm comes with a Jesus image walking on and over the water? Can we see Jesus now? Look for the LIGHT? Trust?
Another eye-opening lyric: “Yeah, the struggle keeps me honest – And it breaks down the walls of my pride”
The lyrics speak to me – of struggles – any struggles – keeping us honest – well yes, honest that we should not be prideful and think or act like we are going it alone in life or we can handle it alone. Yes the sink that makes one think… We need Jesus and the hard-fought battles include accepting His Help over anything else. Hope in only Him.
I hope we TRUST in the ONE and ONLY trustworthy save. BELIEVE IN THE ONLY TRUTH. I hope we have a great story to tell from His guidance, support, and save. (I know I will, again and again)… And so YES, imagine the saving stories we can tell today, then imagine they are nothing like what we WILL tell someday, when we see our SAVIOR face to FACE.
Keep TRUSTING my friends.
Keep moving.
Keep singing praises!
Amen
—
John 6:16-24 NKJV
Jesus Walks on the Sea
…He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
—
Video – Brandon Lake – “Hard Fought Hallelujah”
“Hard Fought Hallelujah” Lyrics
Yeah, I don’t always feel it
Yeah, but that’s when I need it the most
So, I’ma keep on singing
‘Til my soul catches up with my song
.
There’s times when my hands go up freely
And times that it costs, oh-oh
There’s days when a praise comes out easy
Days when it takes all the strength I got
.
I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt
Been-through-hell hallelujah (ooh, ooh)
And I’ll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sail
Story-to-tell hallelujah, oh
.
‘Cause God, You’ve been patient
God, You’ve been gracious
Faithful, whatever I’m feeling or facing
.
So I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, it-is-well hallelujah, whoa-oh
Hallelujah (ooh, ooh), hallelujah
.
I’ve wrestled with the darkness
But I’m tryin’ to reach for the light
Yeah, the struggle keeps me honest
And it breaks down the walls of my pride
‘Cause faith isn’t proven like gold
‘Til it’s been through the fire, eh-eh
My head, heart, and hands are feeling heavy
But that’s when I lift them just a little higher
.
I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt
Been-through-hell hallelujah (ooh, ooh)
I’ll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sail
Story-to-tell hallelujah, whoa-oh
God, You’ve been patient
God, You’ve been gracious
Faithful, whatever I’m feeling or facing
I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, it-is-well hallelujah, oh
I got a window of opportunity so I took it – went to the beach – took myself as I had promised myself – to ONLY take myself and my mind – and I took the extra 20 minutes to pick up and bring garlic crabs too – yum…
Yes, I went to the beach last weekend for a little bit – I went where I go to be alone – with the moderate number of people (and yes still life guards) but this time I, most people, didn’t go in the water (which was wonderfully warm) because of the storms pulling out… But no matter – I didn’t go to swim – I went to not sink but to think…. and I brought my crabbing (mentality) for processing and crabs (garlic, $10 from the local crab company) for palate pleasing – and I crabbed it out for a whole hour of slow slow eating – breaking apart shell by shell, claw by claw, making a mess but that was OK – I was outside – and my mental mess was breaking apart too – dwelling and sifted like the sand I was looking at – because our taste is our waste in a worldly embrace – and yet with each bite (mental and mouth of crabbing), I heard the waves wash my head clearer and clearer – and I tried to refocus and release and re-peace. I re-peaced – again…
I talked to a local when I saw what looked like a barge stuck and so close to the shore – never saw that before. He said it was a sand digger and then the pipe was re-sanding the shore – what? Well that makes sense – why not drill the ocean for all the sand that is already there – and cover up the decay and make it new for a new year and a new day…
This time I was too focused on my crabbing (food and mentally) and didn’t read a book – until later – wish I had sooner but the crabs were calling – and the book I read – about Peter and Jesus – spoke about the THINK when you sink – of when Peter sunk after walking on water – losing focus – consumes by real fear – and Jesus seemed to let him sink because He needed Peter to THINK – and REALIZE that Jesus is the only Way to ultimately save the day. We ARE amazing but Jesus IS GOD, and we need God. Jesus re-pulled Peter out (again and again) and restocked his sifted sand with fresh. Us too…
And as the sun drew short in the sky, I packed up and travelled to my other church beach – this time just to the ice cream place and then wandered over to where I saw people – that is what I have to do sometimes is find the people whom the Lord puts in front of me without knowing WHY not to necessarily talk to but to be part of His people. HE DOES – and I am knowing He will again. These people were songwriters sharing at the picnic area for “the Hub” which I have frequented so much. I sat on the side chapel steps and listened without seeing – ate my ice cream – and I sat – and thought – and appreciated – my sand being replenished. I heard the one songwriter say that he tears up singing the particular song he wrote because it first reminded him of a tough time – and now it tears him up because it reminds him of the SAVE – how the Lord saved him from a bad scene – and from being stuck in that scene. I understand this – the Lord had saved me multiple times from my self and from sinking. Jesus saves us and wants us to remember that SAVE did and will repeat.
Remember the save not the sink…
Remember when God got you through… !!!
Remember the replacement sand…
Remember to wash your crabbing away…
Remember to ice cream again at another (or the only ‘Days’)
Remember the save and repeat the re-remembering.
And say He, Jesus Lord God, will win my day.
Again – thank You Lord for the day – today – and in advance in Your way – tomorrow.
Tomorrow is another day… SO let us just focus on TODAY.
Amen
(and if we begin again any days where the crabbing threatens to mentally re-overtake, Iet us sing this new song to my soul – “Fear is not my Future” – Brandon Lake – give it a listen… Beautiful Lord – YOU ARE my future… Amen https://youtu.be/Bj_9ikvCx6o?si=ZG8EjjUyiiDiKk03)
The devil laughing at your fear, he dwells and he digs, laughing oh so grand.
Then Jesus tells you to TAKE A STAND, actually to take HIS HAND.
It’s a situation (forgiveness or fortitude) that only Jesus and you can understand.
.
And THAT’S when you GET UP.
Because Jesus refills your REFILLABLE cup.
And Jesus would have you stand up,
Because none of us live without His backup.
It ain’t no fluke, ain’t even luck.
It’s Jesus who comes alongside when we feel stuck, even like hit by a mack truck.
Jesus gives FAITH, LOVE and LIFE, He gives enough, even when the going gets tough.
Jesus calls on us to FACE FEAR and yes, LOOK UP. Jesus IS enough.
.
And at that moment then the sand will shift,
Waves will wash it smooth, the past will sink and drift
After high tide comes low tide,
And after the scare, soon falls our sifted false pride.
.
Jesus knows our sink.
Jesus appreciates when it makes us think.
REACH TO JESUS TO FIND PLACE.
REACH AND FEEL GOD’S GRACE EMBRACE.
.
Then, Jesus restores our knowledge of place,
To keep living under His unchanging GRACE.
So if it is fear or pain or whatever that you do face,
Put it aside, pause and feel God’s embrace.
.
Know God’s Grace Embrace
Amen
—
Micah 4:1-5 NKJV
The Lord’s Reign in Zion Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, And rebuke strong nations afar off; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.
But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one shall make them afraid; For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. For all people walk each in the name of his god, But we will walk in the name of the Lord our God Forever and ever.
He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
Of all things that God IS – including God being BIGGER than anything – God being LOVE is the biggest hardest thing to wrap our heads around. I mean how does God know all these things about life and the universe and brokenness and God remains LOVE and LOVING to enemies too – How does Jesus’s Blood stretch that far and not get thin – or dried up from unuse by those who turn their hearts away from God – HOW??? BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE AND JUST IS.
GOD IS.
GOD KNOWS AND GOD LOVES ANYWAY.
We say in life, “it is what it is” but with God it just stops at the word and action and existence of “IS” = GOD IS. IS.
So for us to deny God does not make Him go away. For us to cling to Him does not make Him closer to us than to anyone else. He IS and therefore God IS omnipotent and ever-present and WITH us and LOVE to all. This is the tough thing to wrap our heads around.
We say in faith, “God is running towards us when we turn towards Him.” Yet the truth is that He is here always – here/there always – not here never and not there never. He IS. God knows. We grow in knowing Him more.
The Psalmist states: “He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile. Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, And teach out of Your law, That You may give him rest from the days of adversity…”
And what of our “enemies”? I think that we have to learn from the Old Testament to know true enemies to God are those who should have known Him and His ways and yet they ignore these truths, are ignorant of humility.
And what about people who “bug us”, I think some people are more likely to just be more greedy than evil, broken than evil, hopeless than evil, and stuck in a deep pit of sometimes their own doing, and that is because the bible says that THEY are not evil but the evil afflicts them. Yes, there are real evil forces that exist and in our day to day life, paranoia may inflicts us often more over the real physical harm or emotional harm. We can say that we are seeing the negativity but that doesn’t mean we have to “FEEL” the negativity or dwell on it – just keep walking forward. And say “Satan get behind me”. Say “Jesus, wash this whole situation clean.” and “Jesus, rescue me.”
My favorite image in my head of Jesus which I sketched is surely is of Him rescuing me from sinking in the depths of despair. And yet you probably would think it funny that my other image of Him – which I have seen nowhere (and should have an artist commissioned to paint) is a thought of Jesus with a piece of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of His Foot, and that toilet paper represents the evil that is TRYING to capture, embarrass, hassle, soil, and sting. And yet – when Jesus walks on water – what happens to the toilet paper – it is washed away. Why does Jesus pull us out onto the water with Him – to show that HE IS IN CONTROL – and that He can carry us – and that He can be our focus and not the world behind us or under us or even in front of us – FOCUS ON JESUS – get YOUR STRENGTH AND PLAN AND PATH FROM HIM.
Evil exists – but Let God do the talking – and let God do the walking – and God do the Loving too. And thank the Lord for His Graces of when he has forgiven us too. Our pride is ignorance, sifted sand evil that He also has and will overcome in us by mercy love and grace.
Amen
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. – Especially how God Knows and God Loves (Anyway)… AMEN AMEN
———-
Psalm 94 NKJV God the Refuge of the Righteous
O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs— O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth! Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishment to the proud. Lord, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked triumph?
They utter speech, and speak insolent things; All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves. They break in pieces Your people, O Lord, And afflict Your heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless. Yet they say, “The Lord does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand.”
Understand, you senseless among the people; And you fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.
Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, And teach out of Your law, That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not cast off His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance. But judgment will return to righteousness, And all the upright in heart will follow it.
Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? Unless the Lord had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence. If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with You? They gather together against the life of the righteous, And condemn innocent blood. But the Lord has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge. He has brought on them their own iniquity, And shall cut them off in their own wickedness; The Lord our God shall cut them off.
———
Psalm 34 NKJV The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
I love my new artwork (which I bought the yellow “ADAPT” logo this past summer) because it is a constant reminder to adapt and bring your own adapters to life – like to play your 45 record on a turntable for other records – but play on still…. just change the speed… It was also an answer to a clue this summer on a crossword on that same vacation…
I have tried to ADAPT – and sometimes “DUCK” during life… Mostly I have remembered to KEEP GOING!!!
I am not ready to let summer go – and will get back to the beach again – but these cooler temperatures surely make us long for the fall. Even now I am gearing IN – like cleaning the house with the coolness of the day – THINKING ABOUT but not yet cleaning the yard with the coolness too. (Really it is the mosquitos that are so annoying in this season.)
AND THEN in the Fall, there is the exciting build up of the new season(s) of Survivor – yeah CBS’s Survivor – my junk TV viewing is also life affirming – that is a game but the emotions are real – mostly – because in life we DON’T outwit outplay outlast – we OUT-ADAPT – we adapt and keep going even if we change the speed. Actually, we look for God to morph the view of the scene from the front row to being on stage to being from above. Always look ABOVE to see how God sees. God sees the world – to LOVE it…
AND after this season 49 is season 50 of Survivor – I remember 25 years ago – the season ONE – yeah that was a wild ride. Yeah, Survivor – because we are all studying how to get through life. We are survivors – and yes we traipse through tough days – and yes we have to get through life arrays… ALWAYS…
ADAPT!!!
We are to look to the Lord for the different seasons of life – and honestly, to quote the Lord through Solomon’s processing – there are different seasons of life – and probably that is the next song to play on your vinyl 45, or 33 and a third, not the 78, or on an 8-track or in film, or on a cassette car or walkman or boombox or CD or DVD or ipod nano or to stream on your computer, laptop, phone, watch, bluetooth earbuds: “Turn Turn Turn” by the Byrds: https://youtu.be/W4ga_M5Zdn4?si=m7pDECS837rh31Bn
(Yes if you imagine how playing music back RECORDED has changed in the past 50 years, imagine how LIVE life has changes too.)
ADAPT – whatever season you are in, God is already there.
ADAPT to finding Him – Watch for God.
Amen
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV Everything Has Its Time
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me – A prayer to the God of my life.
Yes, recently I took a picture of this sign while walking, “Use the Crosswalk” because it struck me in a new way. So, it’s a long story of why we can’t go up those stairs without a crosswalk on the side, but we have to continue in the parking lot to get to the stairs with the crosswalk to safely cross the road… But on this day (and I took the photo) the words struck me differently: we have to walk the way of the cross. YES! CROSS – WALK. Sacrificial… Using our Cross way of a Walk, means we have to just be as close to Jesus as we can be… A Cross walk becomes His Cross Way… Yes, our walk with our crosses is to bear the sacrifice and the strife of unknown and trade it for known closeness with the Lord.
FEAR NOT! I need a bracelet of that…
When I walked into a situation recently, which is now revolving and RESOLVING by God’s Hand surely, I knew that the Lord was my resource and my help. I knew I had to ask for help from God and was just about to ask help from people, it was an unusual spot that I was in. Only the Lord could unjam the jam as uniquely as He did.. He has gone before us. He has helped us out of jams in the past, and He will now and He will in the future.
When I walked out of the situation later, and past that sign behind me, I knew that the Lord had solved this from a whole other angle that I never saw coming. “Peace beyond understanding”… When the Lord puts together a plan, it’s not a house of cards that’s ready to fall. His plan is stronger and higher level complexity more than we could ever comprehend, but dealt to us one card at a time as He wants us to play in – HE WANTS US IN – even when WE can’t see all the cards. He wants us to keep playing without irrational fear and He wants us to get our courage in gear. Courage that HE is working on our problems and goes before us.
Psalm 42 sums up the situation and solution:
HOPE IN THE LORD… YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amen
Yearning for God in the Midst of Distresses To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar. Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life.
I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Situations become opportunities for you to focus on the Lord’s maneuvering you out of a situation or at least showing you (hopefully) what the silver linings are. Simple to say, tough to be in.
Situations mean you have to not blow your top, but STEAM ahead, channeling the energy like a locomotive engine AND PULL a whole load too, not just the little engine that could, but the engine that DID, and trusted in God the whole way. Yes, there’s lots of venting and lost heat, because we are human and inefficient as are certain engines. Let us pray that we don’t warp witness and reduce our trust in how the Lord will get us where we need to be. He will…
A sermon recently reminded me of this too – more on that below. It reminded me to remember that our witness is faith in God’s plan. FAITH “Forwarding All Issues To Heaven” is an appropriate acrostic, which I found on a friend’s garden plaque.
Other people learn from our patience. Others will want to know why we put our trust in the Lord and HOW. Hope is an action verb. Keep Hope. Walk by faith and not by sight. Demonstrate Jesus Grace and remember to ask God to re-apply it to yourself too, like sunscreen sunblock sin-screen after a burst of bubbling over. Turn the other cheek.
Let us pray for knowledge of maybe knowing who is watching our actions and at least that people, especially children, and potential children of God, are learning from us. Our bad steam can either make it sopping wet waste or our good steam might cook up their faith more.
Our own faith is tested by the evil one who asks to sift us like sand, like with Peter. Perhaps a way to get Satan behind us is to build our tracks where Jesus has created for us a narrow gate and sure path. We pray to stay on track. Then full face and full faith steam ahead.
Our situations, it might cause us to warp our witness. So let us stay cool and collected and even sit in one of those little push cars on the track and let Jesus pump the energy into our momentum. Hot and bothered is normal, redirect it to NEW witness that if God got me through before, He will again.
He will.
Let us find inspiration and information in the Lord, and even if our understanding is not yet possible, know God’s got this.
I am inspired to know and to connect situational processing to this gifted Holy Spirit scripture section of Jacob in Genesis 31 as a Bible lesson from a recent sermon about old testament Jacob having to wait out years and years of working for someone, Laban, who kept setting up new hoops to jump, new demands. Jacob asked for Rachel as his wife, it was 20 years before he could get back home. Pastor Joe in the online sermon link talked about NOT blowing your top, so that non-believers might have an opportunity to see faith and believe. Because Jacob had to jump through hoops for father-in-law Laban to get wife Rachel, and it rook over 20 years to leave that area to go back home. Jacob eventually blew off steam at Laban, and perhaps then Laban perceived Jacob not trusting God. Seeing our trust may help people like Laban who are lost worshipping false idols.
So that’s so fitting here. In situations, we like Jacob might have to accept the need to put in time, even jumping hoops of others expectations, to show we trust that God’s got a plan, for sure, in all this…
So, witness that life is fragile and short but beautiful, is it not?
You’ve Got to Give ALL God’s Got.
.
There’s times to watch and times to run,
There’s many days under this sun.
So go out and LIVE!
Head warnings yet from your depths of being, yet STILL GIVE.
You’ve GOT to Give All God’s Got.
.
See, we have a life mission everyday, let’s pray to play.
God wants us to serve, and NOT swerve.
Put your hand to the plow, Get back on the field now.
Don’t look back, keep looking ahead and don’t worry about evil’s attack.
Work the soil where you stand, Jesus is calling us to be grand.
Play nice, don’t lash out. Our witness of HIS STRENGTH in our struggle is what it’s about.
You’ve Got to Give All God’s Got.
.
And why not??? !!!!
Find silver linings in God’s strengthening spot.
You’ve Got to Give All GOD’S Got.
And TRUST the TRUTH that GOD’S GOT A LOT!!!
AMEN
JAMES 1 NKJV
Greeting to the Twelve Tribes 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.
Doers—Not Hearers Only Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Whew… the wind blew… my schedule too… the Lord saw and pushed me through. Yesterday was participation in the CROSSING of the PARTED seas of logistics, even if the rain chased then poured all the way, and I felt soaked in schedules, The Way, meaning Jesus, saw me through and sees us through life.
The wind kicked up, I had driven faster than the storms that kicked up last night, Sunday. I got to the fair just in time at closing to pick up my exhibits and I knew when my door shut and my stuff was safe in the car that ONCE AGAIN the Lord did it! Lord-fantastic to my logistics. I give Him credit for safe passage to and from, this way and that… It was a good weekend and good is from God. Good God so much because I feel blessed not burdened, only burden is HOW? How to get it all or not all in.. and the Lord showed me that He was in charge and amazing with getting me (us) where I think I was supposed to be. If a schedule is tight, He loosens the struggle of it by us consulting Him, STEP BY STEP. We best consult Him in everything, and see silverlinings too of NOT being places, because He moves mountains of our schedules for HIS PLAN. I’m just grateful to be in it. He got me from here to there and a thousand places in between over the course of these past few days. In a COURAGE course of His Logistics, I often state (sometimes just to myself) “Lord-willing and usually He IS!” to my crazy logistics of activities.
And just because my fair stuff was in the car didn’t mean I was… and off I went, still chugging along with stuff to do, people to see, and endless Lord’s moving to marvel at. Second step was helping my friend load her car and in classic timing, closed that trunk too as the rain poured in. I knew it was coming as I had just driven 5 hours up and back north. And I drove south through and past the rain that was surely going to hit the fair just at clean up. It did, but we did it.
“Baptism by rain” I said as we got a little soaked, not bad. The stuff was safe. And she gave me a dry towel!!! We were then off to her adult son’s immersion baptism and the skies did open like a deluge. So into the building we SQUISHED (good thing I had crocs and a towel and umbrella and thought nothing of drying my feet in church!).
Most amazing, yet again, amazing to watch the movement of the Lord in these lives of His children (adults and teens), getting adult immersion baptism, seeing faith grown and growing. What a blessing to hear testimonies and to experience the crowd thirsty for the joy of the Lord realized! And we sang praises. (The immersion tube is behind the stage, interesting viewpoint of construction).
“Baptism by Reign” – that’s a good term for letting the Lord reign in our lives, clearing our agenda, installing His, and us praising Him for that. Lord, rein in our lives, rain into our thirst for You. And show us the path for us when we think the rain turns too dry. Soaked schedules are splendid when for YOU.
Simplicity and JOY, FAITH LIKE A CHILD, DEPENDING on the Lord, they were the themes of the day, as was in my sermon for the morning, published late (for me) but in line with the logistic time of the day. Published then couch collapsed, whew, the day was thru!
Matthew 18:1-5 NIV – The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Mark 10:13-16 NIV – The Little Children and Jesus
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
SERMON
I am appreciative that we are in the Stories of Love section of our sermon series about LOVE – Love is God and God is Love – and we get to talk about how love transforms us as people and guides us as followers, sometimes herds us as wayward sheep – or cats – hard to herd cats – and how LOVE chases after us – like the one lost sheep – and how Love renews us.
Love protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres – YES!
Today we think of FAITH LIKE A CHILD – how Jesus shows us LOVE – shows us HOW to love. And asks us to come to Him like children – (and I will tell you the conclusion of this sermon at the very beginning – Jesus love requires that we love Him – love one another – and we are to follow His example.)
**And in speaking about how God is Love – God requires us to be reborn as His Children – to more fully understand His Love – and when we are HIS CHILDREN we will call Him OUR FATHER – even “ABBA” crying out to Him – He is able to fully apply His Plan and His ways and we are to know that His ways are beyond our understanding – He is God and we are not – but He wants to give us all He’s God Got!.
We have heard of the wonderful passages this morning of being children called to Jesus visiting in a house – likely Peter’s house some scholars say – and Jesus wanting those children to come to Him freely – wanting us to come – and well – for good reason…
I would think that Jesus humanly was weary from the long roads – walking all the time – and seeing people who didn’t understand Him as Savior, let alone God, and so this was a breath of fresh air for Jesus = the children who just wanted to come and be present.
Our gospel of Wisdom from disciple John, who himself was but an older child of perhaps 14 – in his teenage formative years when Jesus walked the earth, gives us great lessons. John tells us that Jesus does want us to be born as CHILDREN of God – in the first chapter speaks of Jesus – the true Light – who gives light to every man coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
TO be born of God is truly the blessings of being of the realization that we are called into that joy of childhood – not to be un-informed or reckless – but into a JOY of childhood to know that God is our Father and we can come to Him with our needs and our hopes – and we come to Him to follow His Ways… Some of us come willingly and some hesitantly and it is a sacrifice to give up our own ways and our own agendas.
We come to God to guide us and to be raised up on spiritual milk – hopefully getting to eat solid food too – of spirituality – and may we know that when we come, we are going to be nurtured – God does not hold back – He shares and shares and shares. And yet, in this analogy of children and babies – the one thing God does NOT want us to be – weaned – not weaned from His advice, His plan, His narrow path. God does not want us to be separated from Him and think we can do this life thing on our own. Walking yes – but not crawling. God does not want us looking for other gods, even finding worth in other people – God does not wanting us to go for other sustenance, other fields to graze in. God wants us as HIS CHILDREN – what does love require? To worship ONE and ONLY ONE GOD.
God comes after us as sheep – or lost children – and rejoices in us. God WANTS and God KNOWS that He is our best bet in life – which is no bet at all – God wants us to know that His beckoning is our blessing.
…
Jesus called to those little children – in the scripture reading – and pointed to them as an example and said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
Mark’s chapter reminds us that older people were trying to get time with Jesus – with demands and with hopes – and maybe even with an agenda – and yet the little children probably just wanted to come and give hugs and give love and get love.
GIVE LOVE AND GET LOVE – no agenda – how much more we could have JOY with going to Jesus with no agenda or at least putting our agenda last – go with PRAISE – then with petitions for others – then for ourselves. JOY is found in serving Jesus Others Yourself.
And those children – children can sense the blessings of someone who cares – and if you have been blessed with being in children’s ministry, or children’s daycare – you would appreciate that the pure “pick me up” of love – that is the best… Jesus in this case made sure that He demonstrated that LOVE requires patience – it requires pause – a lack of judgement and LOVE – LOVE IS taking the moment to LOVE the little children and God-forbid don’t ever lead them astray.
…
Just this summer, I loved my VBS helping – a little girl and her sister were calling out to me in the parking lot from their mom’s car on the way in – and they then gave me a hug – middle of the week – picked up my spirits ENOURMOUSLY… Jesus lets the little children have the sweet spirits and we appreciate that… and I had to NOT rush into the building – NOT take on the agenda – and ALLOW that love overflow – and give it back – no agenda…
I love having my mom here for the weekend and a joy for me is to see her stop and interact and have conversations with the little children – just like yesterday we met a couple with 2 small children – and the mom needed to talk about the life with kids. My mom loves people – as you can imagine – and as I can also attest that the children have the most interesting things to say and they LOVE it when you take the time to listen to them… what do THEY want to say !!!
The gospel of Mark says “people were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them” – no handout there but a hand-up of blessing – of connecting to the Almighty aspect of Almighty God – the parents there were acknowledging that God is of love asking for a blessing. And Although just then we saw the other disciples, who became indignant, being realistically real with their agenda – common surely for them to be often realistically real because they had the eyes of their hearts shaded and blocked – the disciples rebuked not just the children but the parents of the children as well – and yet JESUS FOUND A WAY – JESUS is the direct connection to God because He is also GOD – and just as the curtain tore – there is no barrier between us and God. Jesus IS the Way.
** Jesus was then and now truly standing up for love: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Let us dig deeper into what that means – to receive like a child – receive not just gifts of toys and candy and all that sticky stuff like at the fair we enjoyed this weekend – cotton candy and snow cones – but to receive LOVE – and REAL nourishment. For us to receive like a child is to be dependent upon God – not have any cash flow – to not have even the height to order at the takeout windows even – to be a child might mean to not understand when too much is too much – Children especially babies are TOTALLY dependent upon others – especially their parents – their loved ones… They can come to their father God – for everything and for love.
Do we come as a child, to Jesus, hungry? Well, yes – I remember my son being born 21 years ago now and within the first half hour he had already drank 4 ounces of formula in the nursery – the nurse told me LATER she thought he just looked so hungry, and wow did he drink!!! It was OK with me – because I was in the middle of an emergency C-section – and I did nurse him later – but for this second child (whom I called my auto-pilot baby) I allowed a bottle at night of formula – because he just seemed so hungry – thus my wawa convenience store bill nowadays, LOL, that he is almost 21! Still HUNGRY!!!!!!
Is the Kingdom of God for those who are HUNGRY? Like growing children? Well – yes! There is said to be the biggest heavenly banquet waiting for us – And our hunger nowadays is truly the hunger that food won’t satisfy – that the Lord will and does satisfy… What about thirst like for the woman at the well – Jesus said – Drink from the Living Water and you will never thirst again…
Do we come as a child, to Jesus, scared? Or sometimes disappointed?
Surely our hope in the Lord recognizes that stuff around us is stuff – the world and looking to the world for motivation and sustenance is broken – one could say the optimist in us would be depressed but rather we should approach God with realization that we don’t know everything – we don’t know how and why the world’s brokenness will play out – and honestly just click on our seatbelts and ask “Jesus to take the wheel”…
Do we come as a child, to Jesus, joyfully? JOY – isn’t that the best emotion and God-given satiation of our souls? The JOY – not necessarily happiness but JOY of understanding faith.
Do we come as a child, to Jesus, needing guidance? – do we come because we need HIM – realize He is our Way – our truth – our life – our light AND life…
And Do we come as a child to Jesus to FOLLOW Him, (yes that is the conclusion of this series of learnings from how we are to approach Jesus – to follow Him) To LEARN from Him, and give it all we have – even if it hurts? We learn from Jesus to see past the hurt…
I have a story of little 4-year-old “B”, cutest little girl, this was many years ago now – wow!
4-yr old B, I got to witness Jesus in her… a little 3 year old boy, who truly truly didn’t know any better, really was not socialized much in a group setting like school, yanked her hair so hard it pulled out a big clump. I was there – this was a VBS closing middle of the week – they were up front and we were going to get started… OH UGH – to hear the scream, see the clump of hair in the hand, and to see the crew comfort the girl. It was SO painful. B cried so much…. [honestly I think I can still hear her painful cries 10 years later]
I called Mom, and her Grandma who had brought her emailed later to say B cried on and off the rest of the day… The little girl said she didn’t want to go back to VBS because she didn’t want to get hurt again, but she wanted to be with her friends and it was breaking her heart not to be with them. So, her family urged her to come back to VBS, and told her we would put in extra help, which we did.
Grandma replied by email to essentially say: “I don’t blame that or really anyone for what happened – at the age of these little ones anything can happen. B has never really been hurt by another child, B loves making and having friends so that maybe why she is so upset over this and she also told us that when he pulled her hair – it broke her heart… I have always taught the kids not to be quitters, so I will bring her in the morning”
And Grandma made sure that her hair was tied back in a ponytail. SO proactive.
I replied: please tell her how happy her crew leaders and I would be to see her come back…
And yes, Praise God, she came back the next day with the biggest smile on her face. Praise Praise Praise.
For the bible lesson in VBS that day, we talked about that God has the power to heal… “He heals the broken hearted and bandages their wounds”. The next day we were to teach that God has the power to forgive. B showed the world that aspect of God by showing up.
I was told from her crew leaders that at the beginning of that next day she sat down next to this little hair-pulling boy, and said directly to him “DON’T pull my hair” and then she gave him the biggest hug…. if that’s not showing Jesus LOVE and how Jesus IS forgiving LOVE, I don’t know what is… She was being Jesus at four years old… She knew it from her family – and she KNEW it from the strong Holy Spirit inside of her – to demonstrate LOVE – even in the pain. I saw Jesus in her – and I saw how Jesus smiled to be with friends.
Jesus said and says: “I LOVE you, I don’t judge you”, and “go and sin no more”. This little girl said to the boy: “I forgive you” with her smile, “I love you” with her hug, and “go and sin no more” with her realistic words of teaching. Did she forget? I don’t know…. But that day she forgave…. just like Jesus said, “They don’t know what they do, Father forgive them… “
And that’s what Love requires: Not judge, Forgive, Love… And show it to the little children….
Grandma emailed again after VBS: “[Thank you Debbie, I am so truly happy that she forgave him. Thank you for writing about B and what happened to show how Jesus works amongst us. B is very outgoing child and loves everyone around her and she sees the good in everyone, children or adults, even in the baddest of people she still sees the good them. She actually can turn a frown upside down in a matter of seconds with her pure sweet innocence.]”
Yes, we can Come to Jesus – and do the best we can to follow.
Let us remember that LOVE comes from God – way above – Heavenly Agape Love.
May Jesus continue to shine through each of us and shine to and through our children this way – today and always!!!
AMEN
Please pray with me – Lord, Your Ways are above our ways – please help us see thru the fog of our lives and the rough spots and keep engaging with You in love that WILL shine thru. Thank you Lord for these stories of LOVE shown – and may we always keep loving – and know Your Love, Lord. AMEN
We had a wonderful sharing event at work – about funerals and traditions of faith – yes – work – because we have a faith group who connect and talk and learn and we love doing that… it’s a bold move by work to step into the one truly rarely public but surely spoken about – FAITH!
I don’t run the group but I am in charge of setting up these coffee chats = fresh faith fridays … This one was blessed – with about a dozen people – from all over the country – from fresh perspectives – with fresh ears to hear…
I shared about a family’s celebration of life (outside) and how we had cake half way thru it! Her favorites lemon, orange… plus apple pie… others shared about the sadness of the finality of death. Some of us shared the sadness of our pets passing. One woman shared that she could not go to funerals normally but for her mother’s, she did get up the courage, energy, ability, to go. The crucial conversation was that we are not to judge other’s perceived obligations or abilities to attend loved one’s funerals, or even that when they don’t attend, it might represent even strongest of love and therefore sadness. Others shared the notion that “to dust we return”, understanding and that if you are involved in putting a shovel of soil onto the casket, which I did for a friend’s child’s service, you acknowledge that part of your grief process is also this acceptance… Gone is gone – but never forgotten.
These balloons pictured contain great sentiment about LOVE – that we will always love and miss our loved ones and cherish our memories. These balloons also contained ashes and well, the balloons labored a bit from the weight but then took off – way way way up high… I am sure to dust they would return at some point to the earth, even out to sea, but for that moment they were UP.
Then perhaps we would or should think of the dust of our start – and yet getting UP to the Heavens and the future of our lives in the non-flesh… the blessings of knowing Jesus is an UPtick of life, UPside of death, and UP that won’t come down.
To dust we may return – but we return UP = UP to the Lord – UP to Him to UP-end the battle of sin and death and we are to gratefully give UP to His Will to help us gracefully. God UPstarts the UPset by saving our souls…
Perhaps we are to use the dust around us best, and ask the Lord to direct our dust, then let it go…. UP…
(And DON’T be dissuaded folks when we draw closer to end times = look UP…)
My neighbor is attending a funeral for her late uncle, who was a big time sports fan, and they asked everyone to come in the gear of his favorite team, our local team. She asked if I had any related jewelry, I only have a T-shirt for wearing at local work or other rallies, after a previous superbowl victory, I am a fair weather fan – not being born and bred here…
Her uncle sounds like a deep devoted fan – and surely he is now cheering in Heaven! Why shouldn’t we CHEER in Heaven – especially the big realization of salvation for the sake of us individually and for the world. Jesus Saves – Heaven raves… Hope Hope Hope Hooray!!!
I suggested perhaps she bring and hold up a football mainstay – ever since the 1980s and football on TV – the classic sign that was and is held up at many games: “John 3:16″…
I think is it funny and fitting a the same time…
Yes, since the 1980’s folks have been doing that – thanks to one earthly man and the Lord’s Holy Spirit push… The earthly man, I learned, was named Rollen Stewart. Well, wikipedia explains a checkered life… But the tradition of John 3:16 at games was born – and honestly the Word of God never changes…
SO – let us John 3:16 give hope today and all days – let us get IN this game…
Share the Word!!! SHARE THE HOPE OF JESUS!
John 3 – New King James Version
The New Birth
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
My arm bracelet collection is giving me extra reminders today to Watch for God, He is Alpha and Omega, we (I) “can do all things through Christ.”
We are to walk in internal Joy, not sadness nor sourness. We don’t have to approach life flippantly and ignore problems, but we can step carefully through the day, looking for His Light. God knows the plan today. Let us pray and praise. We are with Him and He with us!
If we (I) don’t understand the sometimes rocky road of life, the darkness of unknown, we (I) still need to walk forward, grasping for the hand of Jesus more and more. “There’s got to be a plan, There’s got to be a plan…” repeated over and over just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz’s “follow the …” over and over… We can’t always see around the bend, or always see the blessings of the trials of the present, but know that there is an “Ah ha!” moment at some point… know there is a plan, know that the Lord walks KNOWINGLY with us. Know that we both CAN do things and we are TO do things thru Christ… Be Jesus and see what and where we are placed…
Fear not!
I appreciated the daily devotion today from Sarah Young, That God gave us the ability to know HIM, not understanding the world, but learn and lean into Him. Show our trust in Him! Fear not! Amen!
The entry:Jesus Calling: August 13 by Sarah Young of the scriptures:
“Learn to enjoy life more. Relax, remembering that I am God with you. I crafted you with enormous capacity to know Me and enjoy My Presence. When My people wear sour faces and walk through their lives with resigned rigidity, I am displeased. When you walk through a day with childlike delight, savoring every blessing, you proclaim your trust in Me, your ever-present Shepherd. The more you focus on My Presence with you, the more fully you can enjoy life. Glorify Me through your pleasure in Me. Thus you proclaim My Presence to the watching world.“
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” Matthew 1:23 ESV
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:10-11 ESV
A Summer Solace Poem for SoothingYou can say the weather is wacky, but it’s not.
It is summer hot and summer is going to give it all it’s got.
July – we all know it flew by.
August is now – we have to “do summer” – we have to try.
I hope to have many times at the beach or at the park.
And oh the wonderful cool warm nights when it is late getting dark.
Because the best way to enjoy summer, I feel.
is to live life – to absorb the riches of summer and to handle what the Lord will deal.
.
In the life we know.
We must go with the flow.
And praising God will be our go.
As praising God must be our overflow.
.
Summer you see,
will disappear like June, May, April, and July? gee…
Behold today and this summer in its way.
Follow God’s plan and at night just call it a day.
For forever we will be thankful we took today like today.
Amen
—
Ecclesiastes from wise Solomon who still knew that we are not to God’s level and are so very human… chapters 11-12 NKJV
The Value of Diligence Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days. Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.
If the clouds are full of rain, They empty themselves upon the earth; And if a tree falls to the south or the north, In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie. He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.
As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything. In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.
Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun; But if a man lives many years And rejoices in them all, Yet let him remember the days of darkness, For they will be many. All that is coming is vanity.
Seek God in Early Life Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity.
Seek God in Early Life Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”: While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low. Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.
Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.”
The Whole Duty of Man And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
Lord, may we surrender our hesitating will to pick up your Holy and Heavenly Way. Trade skepticism for salvation by being ALL IN with You Lord. May we walk and acknowledge that we won’t always understand our path, our surroundings, nor our circumstances, but know that You, Lord, find us ‘peace beyond understanding’. Let us live in that knowledge and PRAISE YOU. We praise Peace before us and a Path of fulfillment of our lives, walking with You.
Lord, may we open our ears and hearts to listen for You today. You are calling upon our lives, You desire that we stop trying to build without You, and accept Your rebuilding of our dust into Your image and especially with Your Heart. You have spoken to these our hearts urging: “whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” With the Holy Spirit to guide us, Lord, let us surrender into Your Save. Let us build trust in You, and follow faithfully. Our faith can only be in You – the one faith, one Person, one purpose, One acceptance of You, Lord, Your saving grace. May we faithfully pursue Your Peace.
You are Worthy.
Amen
—-
Mark 8:34-38 NKJV
Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
—
Paul to the Phillipians 4:4-9 NKJV
Philippians 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
A Friday Night decompression… well a whole week decompression.
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It was quite the week and then again it was OK – it was a variety of emotions and actions, it was construction and decompression and everything in between – but it was mostly blessed – in direction and in thoughtfulness – and the down parts, well I don’t have to dwell in them – I just keep moving – like we all should. It was blessed more than it was stressed. And the theme that kept me going was “Fear Not” from Joshua scripture – and the thought-gifting and thought-pulling movie that I watch in bits and pieces all week was so worth the pensiveness – “Forrest Gump” – really an excellent multitude of moments to distract and to digest – and this rewatch after years, well it is full of fun funnies and full of thoughtful tragedies and full of God – this moving movie is full of ” ’cause right then, God showed up”… and it is included on Disney Plus right now… a good way to start and stop movies and fast forward and rewind..
This week I wanted and needed the unwind more that then rewind…
“God showed up” is a line that Forrest (Tom Hanks in amazing character) uses in his narrative of his life when describing the emotional rollercoaster of Lieutenant Dan’s life and situation, who was crippled losing both legs during Vietnam and then found himself confronting God, again and again – in snarky-ness and anger – in disbelief and sorrow – well, Lt. Dan finally makes his peace with God – as Forrest realizes without any conversation – and they go from empty nets on the shrimping boat to the fullest of lives. This life – this unbelievable story (it IS a movie after all) – is carried with fascinating narration all throughout (really you have to see this movie if you haven’t)… (and the references of the 60s and 70s and 80s are so precious to me in my generational understanding… MCMXCIV is 1994 – that is thirty years ago? Wow, feels like less and feels like more…)
“God showed up” is what Forrest uses to describe the scene when a Hurricane comes in to Alabama and destroys all the shrimping boats except for theirs, because they were not docked but out INSIDE the punishing storm… “God showed up” – and they held on for dear life – well Forrest did – but Lieutenant Dan up in the crows nest challenged the situation, challenged the storm and the universe and his fate and challenged over coming to grips with awaiting his destiny which he was sure was supposed to end in Vietnam being killed and had to live out his life in a wheelchair… “God showed up” and now living IS the challenge by God again to see how HE got him (them) (us) thru…
“God showed up” – Forrest believed that Lt Dan made his peace with God, and that is where we should take note too. How do we make peace with God and all the storms and everything that is thrown at us… How do we know ‘God never was absent’ in our lives. How do we accept challenges to build our dependence upon Him. Oh how I love the scene with Lt Dan walking on titanium steel legs, from the space shuttle materials he states. Lt Dan walked again (earthly) and so will we in Heaven no matter what our lives infirmities will throw at us.
“God showed up” – and the movie story continued – with more characters and with the same return to Forrest’s first love – Jenny. And all future direction for Forrest.
I won’t spoil the rest of the movie but you probably already saw it. It is worth a rewatch and rewatch – yes fun product placements and jokes you have to be of a certain age to understand – like that bumper sticker and the tshirt design interactions – and everything…
And the scenes singing of Gospel music – and of Jesus are precious – “I’ve Got a New Home” – we going to sing of the Victory – “Jesus on the Mainline”!!! Glory Hallelujah singers – and then the whole soundtrack of 30 plus songs is DIVINE listening of secular music of the time – well, I am off track now but I decided to buy a CD used for $4…
But really – as a decompression or as a mental break that makes you think too – I highly highly recommend the movie Forrest Gump… I recommend remembering and restarting and reverence of real life.
Sometimes we have to have those moments of pause and at the same time accept that life is “like a box of chocolates” – “you never know what you’re going to get” – but TRUST ME – you can be certain – GOD SHOWS UP IN EACH BITE…
Well, I won’t really know until it rains, but I restored a little sanity to my situation in the laundry room. The sag saga situation continued for many years, like the sagging of the ceiling board with the heavy water soaked in (this year after last year’s drought). And the siding separated and the foam fizzled and me, well I pushed off the problem but now it became paramount before we potentially could get paralyzed by plummeting by the power panel. Now that would have been bigger problems! “The sky is falling” is nothing compared to worse. Sounds funny but true.
So I found the people who took on the job with unknowns after 3 repair people balked, one place relentlessly pursued with their pricey price. And these folks – well it was a sign from God, that I perceived at least – a perhaps at least – this phone number placement in peculiar timing, on a poster board by a parking lot, peculiar and pertinent when my friend mentioned she needed painting. I took the photo, she placed the phone call and the people painted. The participation of placement allowed me to tap into them as a possibility of personal property repair folks too, for my sagging laundry room ceiling and broken AC removal, and replacing siding (it matched so well). Yes, I finally took the plunge and paid for the patching. I hope the rain rolls instead of seeps. I hope the siding slides the sheets of soaking snow and sprinkles. I hope it is fixed, but at least it is new and not sagging, and we maybe we start again. Won’t know until it rains and no, I am not dragging a hose up there to find out…
Rain, Restore and Repeat.
That’s life. You don’t know how water seeps in everywhere, let alone when it is going to rain or be a drought, and this is the truth about life too. You don’t know the future damage or bliss, but you can be prepared to tackle that then. It is a good time to “push off” the worry. We don’t know what’s going to go bad around the corner, so don’t worry about it now and just deal with it then. So just cover yourself now and keep moving… Rain restore and repeat. If you did it once, you can do it again. And that goes for repairs, for packing and unpacking (keep praying for my friend who moved, please), for cleaning (and yes I have lots of cleaning now from construction dust), for life… Restore and Repeat. Rolling with it all the way…
My friend completed her move across the country but not the unpacking – she is awaiting more things to fall into place but for now she has a place and a mission with her grandkids. I took the opportunity to mark up the month of June writings with green highlights for each devotion that pertained to her and her moving – it was a process for sure but even though new things popped up, the old ones have moved on – and each day is fresh with the Lord’s mercies new each morning. The writings of June show that life moved forward but God was there each step of the way. And now, I know she is in a new place with new rest and new mission. She can do the restore and repeat situation again if she has to – she can and we all can. Just look at the Lord’s help – know them previously and know He will be there every day moving forward, every moving box, every rain drop, every tear drop. “Put one foot in front of the other”. The Lord knows not just rain, restore and repeat – the Lord KNOWS REIGN – and He will be there – in being sovereign, reigning, restoring and repeating.
Some day “the earth will dissolve as snow” – well not really – the scripture doesn’t say that song lyric – scripture says “the earth will pass away” – “disappear” – the “sky is falling” is not true – the earth will roll away but we won’t be on it then – and so honestly can we worry about that now? NO. Just get on the Jesus Train and keep chugging along. Just know that the Lord will REMAIN and His Word endures for ever. So in the meantime, just restore and repeat. and “get up and do it again” until Matthew 24’s prophesy by Jesus goes down. Not the sky but the save.
Restore and Repeat.
Really.
Amen
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Matthew 24 NKJV
Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
The Great Tribulation “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.
“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
The Coming of the Son of Man “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
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.
No One Knows the Day or Hour “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
I’m very busy this morning, but I did pause to read Jesus Calling today… SPOT ON!
EXACTLY!!!
Don’t try to solve the mysteries – just WORSHIP the LORD, as Lord God AND Master!
Lord, help us to not sweat what we don’t understand – just go with You – and go with Grace.
Amen!!!
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Jesus Calling, 07AUG From Sarah Young’s writing about Jesus talking directly to us!
“Understanding will never bring you Peace. That’s why I have instructed you to trust in Me, not in your understanding. Human beings have a voracious appetite for trying to figure things out, in order to gain a sense of mastery over their lives. But the world presents you with an endless series of problems. As soon as you master one set, another pops up to challenge you. The relief you had anticipated is short-lived. Soon your mind is gearing up again; searching for understanding (mastery), instead of seeking Me (your Master).
“The wisest of all men, Solomon, could never think his way through to Peace. His vast understanding resulted in feelings of futility, rather than in fulfillment. Finally, he lost his way and succumbed to the will of his wives by worshiping idols.
“My Peace is not an elusive goal, hidden at the center of some complicated maze. Actually, you are always enveloped in Peace, which is inherent in My Presence.
“As you look to Me, you gain awareness of this precious Peace.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 English Standard Version
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Romans 5:1 English Standard Version
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 English Standard Version
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
“Fear not”, is the catchphrase of my moments, ever since I listened to an Ocean Grove sermon on Joshua chapter 1. In the moments after that Sunday service, I was able to share the short 30 second version of the “rescue” of Jesus to me sinking in fear that occurred a few times in my life now – I did not share the causes (especially because they are not relevant now, THANK GOD) but shared the RESCUE reality, the feeling of that recovery, that realization that Jesus is ALWAYS with us.
Most importantly, I try to revisit the saving feeling NOT the sinking feeling. I also remember to describe the rescue not the reasons for the sinking because that is like dredging up old stuff that especially I don’t need to dredge up for myself nor make gossip for those times in my life that I have now moved on from. Share Jesus rescue experiences, not the causes, at least not in a 30 second meet and greet. In other times, sure – when it is pertinent. Jesus saves are ALWAYS pertinent.
“FEAR NOT” as in Joshua, Joshua 1, the is Lord telling Joshua (taking the lead after Moses to cross the wandering people into the promised land by way of the overflowed Jordan River) to pay attention and do what he is asked and to not waiver, and “FEAR NOT, I am always with you”…. TRUE, God is always with us – and directing us – oh if only we understand and try to step out NOT in irrational fear but in DRAWING NEAR… Like the Godspell lyrics: “Day by day – Oh Dear Lord -Three things I pray – To see thee more clearly – Love thee more dearly – Follow thee more nearly – Day by day”…
When I experienced irrational fear – those couple times over the past 10 years – it is this image of what I drew that I have immortalized in photo and in heart – it is simply stick figures but my mind fleshes out the emotions and the rescue and the realization of Jesus reaching for me and me reaching to Him – drawn as stick figures – it reinforces that “He saved me then – He will save me again” feeling… And the background information is so important to me as it would be in any people’s struggles – their triumph by way of God. And yet it is not the pain but the power of God which is to be remembered more.
Yes in life, one has to keep a good grip on Jesus’s hand… having stress is between you and Him, He helps the resolution but also He helps how we handle stress to move forward…. if Jesus says “give it to Me”, He REALLY means it! If a particular stress re-occurs and continues to re-occur – if that stressor does not go away – well, we especially need to keep listening to Jesus’s help.
It is crucial that I re-live Jesus’s saving moment more than I relive the sinking stress that caused me to reach to Him… Remember the saving feeling.. I pray to not lose grip of His Hand… His save is the physical moment of “You were running a good race, who cut into you to stop you from obeying the truth”. The truth is that we are still in the race… The truth is Jesus.
THANK YOU LORD AGAIN for the save… AMEN
So, to follow up on the sermon from that Sunday, I started listening to the morning bible hours on recordings, Joshua chapters explained. It is so wonderful to have a direct connection to the people who inspire us and also encourage them that their teachings hit a right nerve… Dr Lennox speaks in plain enough sharing of the deep meanings and makes this chapter accessible to us learning. Here is day 3 Wednesday the 30th as a video link, starts at the section of the teaching at minute 18:
AMEN…
FROM the rescue: Here is the writing I wrote 10 years ago just after I drew that sketch:
Yesterday after stressing about a really bad situation on and off for a couple of weeks, I was stressing awful… Yikes, my stress was thru the roof that very instant!!!! But WOW, how Jesus calmed it….I won’t tell you what those stressors were, but this was my text message to a friend immediately after my heart was released from that pain….. The stressor didn’t go away, but giving it to God made all the difference…
“Wow, I was just feeling so stressed this morning and it caused a real physical heart heaviness feeling, but it’s now GONE due to a refocus on Jesus…. stress pen chewing, gum, and I ate my lunch early, no help, stressing my heart SO heavy…. And so a friend came into my office, she is a good Christian friend and I was able to explain to her this tremendous stress feeling (and what caused it)… And then I explained that often when I was feeling under a storm I would ask Jesus to come back into my boat… when I (like Peter) reached my hand up, out of the water while sinking, that I could re-focus…. So while telling her this, I actually motioned up, reaching for Jesus with my hand and grabbing HIS… And I am not kidding, my heart felt such instant relief!!!!! It was amazing, instant relief, the heaviness gone!!!!! WOW!!!!! Good God!!!! Thank you Jesus for this peace!!!”
I told another friend about this amazing release feeling and she said “Welcome back into the boat!”
PEACE
Joshua 3 NIV – Crossing the Jordan
Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.
And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”
Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”
So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
Joshua 1:1-11 NIV Joshua Installed as Leader After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”
Sight unseen is not a “now you see it, now you don’t” scheme, there is no magic trick.
“Sight unseen” covers what is known so that you don’t see it. It was in your sight, but actually unseen and with amazement. We, like Jehoshaphat, can keep moving, knowing God already knows what is around the corner…
What I’m talking about in BIG picture is sin, what I’m writing about is Jesus’s covering of our sin with His blood. Not disappeared except for the consequences. What I am knowing we praise is God’s Wins in our earthly battles too.
“This is how we fight our battles” is a song about God surrounding us with His Power, His resolution to our battles, earthly and spiritually. Favorite lyrics: “It may look like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by You.” And all our human battles are small scale to God’s vast mercy. So if He covers us in mercy, He covers us then in Grace as well. We are covered and Sight Unseen accepted even before we sin. Psalm 139 tells us Gid knows everything about us. We can never say that we have never been accepted for being ourselves when we repent and listen. The Lord goes before us. “You will not need to fight in this battle.”
The Lord truly forgave not by forgetting, but by cloaking and covering with His blood. A pouring out of LOVE. Like a cleansing from view, not accepting what was done, but doing something to accept the doer.
Our SALVATION is to celebrate about, is to salivate about, WITH THIRST. His Grace and Mercy to Hunger for, Hope in, Accept and Appreciate.
If the Lord already won the ultimate battle, then today’s battles in our lives can ALSO be given TO the Lord. He already knows them. Let us see His Victory over our stress.
Surrounded.
Sight UNseen.
Simply Saved UNSIMPLY.
Amen
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“Surrounded” by Michael W Smith
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“Defender” – Francesca Battistelli and Steffany Gretzinger
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2nd Chronicles 20 NKJV
Jehoshaphat Victory by God’s Win – “You will not need to fight in this battle.“
Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir Defeated
It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord.
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high.
So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:
“Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.”
Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the Lord; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.
The End of Jehoshaphat’s Reign
So Jehoshaphat was king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Nevertheless the [h]high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.
After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted very wickedly. And he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion Geber. But Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your works.” Then the ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
A weekend NOT so busy – and that is super blessed to have the time to find the time… Saturday, I had hoped it would work out for me to go to my favorite summer local it seems, and it did!!!! I got to Ocean Grove for the evening… ahhhh…. last minute I brought a friend who has never been, my goal is to let everyone know about Ocean Grove… so many activities so many blessings!!! We even chatted with a resident of one of the tents – who was really enjoying the atmosphere. We too loved the atmosphere – it is an oasis from reality into real-nicety…
And “cultured” – we felt cultured, with an amazing concert of Handel’s Messiah – from the 1700s just as pertinent today – the scriptures amazing and I had to google the lyrics to follow along – and the singing superb – both professional and community – and we also were both in awe and in relaxed state – even a dog was next to me – stretching and enjoying himself… The concert melted into our minds like we melted into the comfy seats like the ice cream melted in our mouths. It was good to take the time to know that we took the time…
And the praise! Yeah – and I always am amazed that people also remember that we stand during the Hallelujah Chorus – just like the King of England stood in the 1700s, we stand now… And the text reminds us that we are blessed because Jesus stood in our place to be a ransom for our sins… Hallelujah!!!
HANDEL MESSIAH Text taken from the Scriptures by Charles Jennens (1700–1773) PART 1 Sinfony (orchestra) Accompagnato (tenor) Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God: Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplish’d, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of Him that crieth in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:1–3) Aria (tenor) Ev’ry valley shall be exalted, and ev’ry mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain. (Isaiah 40:4) Chorus And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. And all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:5) Accompagnato (bass-baritone) Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: Yet once a little while, and I will shake the heav’ns and the earth, the sea, and the dry land, all nations I’ll shake; and the desire of all nations shall come. The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple; even the messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in, behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts. (Haggai 2:6–7, Malachi 3:1) Aria (countertenor) But who may abide the day of His coming, and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire. (Malachi 3:2) Chorus And He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:3) Recitative (countertenor) Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel, “God with us.” (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23) Aria (countertenor) and Chorus O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion get Thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem lift up thy voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah: Behold your God! Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. (Isaiah 40:9, 40:1) Accompagnato (bass-baritone) For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isaiah 60:2–3) Aria (bass-baritone) The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. And they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2) Chorus For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called: Wonderful Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace! (Isaiah 9:6) Pifa (orchestra) Recitative (soprano) There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (Luke 2:8) Accompagnato (soprano) And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. (Luke 2:9) Recitative (soprano) And the angel said unto them: Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10–11) Accompagnato (soprano) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heav’nly host, praising God, and saying: (Luke 2:13) Chorus “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14) Aria (soprano) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King com’th unto thee. He is the righteous Saviour, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen. (Zechariah 9:9–10) Recitative (countertenor) Then shall the eyes of the blind be open’d, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing. (Isaiah 35:5–6) Aria (countertenor and soprano) He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: and He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him all ye that are heavy laden, and He will give you rest. Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him; for He is meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Isaiah 40:11, Matthew 11:28–9) Chorus His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. (Matthew 11:30) INTERMISSION PART 2 Chorus Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) Aria (countertenor) He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: He hid not His face from shame and spitting. (Isaiah 53:3, John 1:6) Chorus Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. (Isaiah 53:4–5) Chorus And with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) Chorus All we, like sheep, have gone astray, we have turned ev’ry one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) Accompagnato (tenor) All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn; they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying: (Psalm 22:7) Chorus He trusted in God that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, if He delight in Him. (Psalm 22:8) Accompagnato (tenor) Thy rebuke hath broken His heart; He is full of heaviness; He looked for some to have pity on him, but there was no man, neither found He any to comfort Him. (Psalm 69:20) Aria (tenor) Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow. (Lamentations 1:12) Accompagnato (soprano) He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of Thy people was He stricken. (Isaiah 53:8) Aria (soprano) But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10) Chorus Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts: He is the King of Glory. (Psalm 24:7–10) Recitative (tenor) Unto which of the angels said He at any time: “Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee?” (Hebrews 1:5) Chorus Let all the angels of God worship Him. (Hebrews 1:6) Aria (countertenor) Thou art gone up on high; Thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men; yea, even from Thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them. (Psalm 68:18) Chorus The Lord gave the word; great was the company of the preachers. (Psalm 68:11) Aria (soprano) How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. (Romans 10:15) Chorus Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world. (Romans 10:18) Aria (bass-baritone) Why do the nations so furiously rage together, and why do the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His anointed. (Psalm 2:1–2) Chorus Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us. (Psalm 2:3) Recitative (tenor) He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn, the Lord shall have them in derision. (Psalm 2:4) Aria (tenor) Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. (Psalm 2:9) Chorus Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The Kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah! (Revelation 19:6, 11:5, 19:16) PART 3 Aria (soprano) I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And tho’ worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that sleep. (Job 19, 25–26, I Corinthians 15:20) Chorus Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (I Corinthians 15:21–22) Accompagnato (bass-baritone) Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be chang’d, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (I Corinthians 15:51–52) Aria (bass-baritone) The trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be rais’d incorruptible, and we shall be chang’d. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality. (I Corinthians 15:52–54) Recitative (countertenor) Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written; Death is swallow’d up in victory. (I Corinthians 15:54) Duet (countertenor and tenor) O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. (I Corinthians 15:55–56) Chorus But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:57) Aria (soprano) If God be for us, who can be against us? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us. (Romans 8:31, 8:33–34) Chorus Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing, and honour, glory, and pow’r be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:9, 12–13) Chorus Amen.
Another great post by an author and encourager that my friend suggested – Graham Cooke. This one is about letting God express His Divinity through Your Willingness.
“Partnership with God isn’t about your performance – it’s about His presence working through your willingness.”
Ah willingness – I understand that – and I of all people struggle with the complete willingness but I try – I really try… One of the willingness that God asks for is for us to “take the high road” – for us to find peace with our enemies – and that ever-present request to help our enemies find peace with us… Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 NIV
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits. Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established… When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16 – NKJV v2, 3, 7
In other words – work on loving your enemies and getting them to not hate you – and PARTNER with God rather than run away from all the things He is asking us to do…
It is a partnership – a collaboration – and also knowing God is God Who is in ultimate Control… God has the POWER to Love because He IS Love… God is looking for our willingness to Love too.
Amen…
Graham Cooke writes (Facebook post):
“You’re not working FOR God – you’re working WITH Him in the most beautiful collaboration imaginable. He doesn’t give you assignments and leave you to figure them out alone. He partners with you in every step.
“The Father doesn’t look at your limitations and wish you were more capable. He delights in bringing His unlimited resources to your human experience, creating something neither of you could accomplish alone.
“Partnership with God means you bring your humanity – your questions, your personality, your unique perspective – and He brings His divinity – His wisdom, His power, His perfect love.
“The beautiful reality: You don’t have to have all the answers before God works with you. You don’t have to be perfect before He partners with you. He loves collaborating with ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
“When you face decisions, challenges, or opportunities, remember: You’re not in this alone trying to make God proud. You’re in this together, learning His ways and discovering what becomes possible when human and divine partner.
“Kingdom Routine for today: Before every situation, acknowledge His partnership: “God, we’re in this together. I bring my humanity, You bring Your divinity. Show me how we can approach this as partners. What do You want to create through our collaboration?
“Partnership with God isn’t about your performance – it’s about His presence working through your willingness.”
If I didn’t write, it would be a fight – between my will and God’s mighty might.
I could say in fact, this is mental processing with tact, not necessarily any Holy Spiritual act.
Yet to EXPRESS keeps me mentally better – I surely confess – praise (and questioning) pulls me away from the worldly mess, oh so much we have to process.
And so I WILL PRAISE!!!! And as for the Lord’s Will, I have previously, I DO now, and in future I will have to: AMAZE.
If seeing darkness, LOOK for the LIGHT. More powerful than evil is God’s Fight making things Right!
It might be not now, but instead of saying Holy Cow (!), say WOW, Lord God, no one is Holier than Thou!
Yes, forever the bumps and terrible circumstances, all tears will be wiped away. Please remember that for now, LIVE with a future vision throughout today.
So be patient in the mix – of strife and pain so ugly you could spit. Be awaiting not an earthly but a HEAVENLY FIX.
And choose to see the LONG VIEW!!! God did, God has, and God WILL get us through!!!
Amen for me and for you!!!
BE AWARE, GOD WILL ANSWER OUR PRAYER.
Amen!
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Psalm 30 NKJV
The Blessedness of Answered Prayer. A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David.
I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.” Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled.
I cried out to You, O Lord; And to the Lord I made supplication: “What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!”
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
I highly recommend this Facebook post encouragement, suggested by a friend pastor, of how to deal with TOUGH PEOPLE. UGH….
I do not know the author Graham Cooke, but I do trust my friend’s suggestion. And I find the post fiercely spiritually spot on: “Tough people aren’t your enemy – they’re your classroom where God develops His character in you and teaches you how to love like He does.”
Oh yeah, the best way to bring mental peace into your life is to find and express JESUS PEACEMAKER out FROM your life. Our GROWING is Jesus’s GLOWING.
A friend once told me that if we haven’t learned how to deal with a certain type of person in our life, we are doomed to repeat that person over and over in different people. I have found this to be true. The toughest people to deal with are the toughest people who tick you off and yet you are forced to deal with them. Or you could simply say there are a lot of tough people out there who tick you off!!! But God has a purpose in us to try to see how He sees. If you ever think you want God’s status, don’t, remember how tough that must be!!! God loves everyone, including those who hate Him, hate people, and breed hate.
God IS rather than God reacts. God IS LOVE!!!
Lord, “Help me respond from love, not react from hurt.” – Let me resonate with Your LOVE!
Okay, here’s the post that really resonates!
FROM GRAHAM COOKE, AUTHOR, “Tough people aren’t your enemy – they’re your classroom where God develops His character in you and teaches you how to love like He does.
“The Father doesn’t remove difficult people from your life to make things easier. He uses them to reveal what’s already inside you and develop what He wants to build in you – patience, grace, wisdom, and supernatural love.
“You can’t control how people treat you, but you get to choose who you become in response to them. Every challenging interaction is an opportunity to practice responding from your new nature instead of reacting from old patterns.
“The beautiful reality: When you respond to difficult people with God’s heart instead of human defensiveness, you discover strength, peace, and love that you didn’t know you had access to. Their behavior becomes the very thing that reveals God’s power in you.
“Tough people often expose areas where God wants to do deeper work. Instead of avoiding them or trying to change them, ask God what He wants to develop in you through the relationship.
“Kingdom Routine for today: Before engaging with a challenging person, pray: “God, how do You see this person? What aspect of Your character do You want to develop in me through this interaction? Help me respond from love, not react from hurt.”
“Difficult people don’t disqualify you from God’s purposes – they qualify you to demonstrate His love in ways others can’t.”
I am reminded by the passing of a friend’s son of my cousin who had passed suddenly and unexpectedly a number of years ago. Too young. Too much to live for. Too much pain for the families. (please pray for my friend’s family – so tough… thanks)
This friend’s son was amazing, having survived an extremely rare condition and surgery as a youth. There was no warning as far as we know for this – the doctors probably told him simply to live his life and enjoy – and that is what he did for years.
There is that common repeated statement/question of: “how would you live today as if it is your last?” but I challenge with a better statement: live today – and love today – as if tomorrow was your last day – and then get up tomorrow and do that again. In other words, don’t worry about today – but do count your days and ask the Lord to number your days so that you feel that urgency of living and living well and loving well and “not putting off until tomorrow what you can do today” – but also NOT WORRYING ABOUT TOMORROW… Listen to God the whole way and the whole day…
Jesus said (recorded in the book of Matthew) about us NOT WORRYING: “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
And the wisdom of the Proverbs 3 reminds us to live humble – He blesses the home of the just. Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.
Peter would write in his letter – for spreading wisdom – Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Let us be wise for today – aware for tomorrow – and wishful not for we have what we need today – we have the LORD – let us live in the moment of being His… And follow His lead…
Amen
Proverbs 3 – New King James Version Guidance for the Young My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.
My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion; So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake. Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.
Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.
I went to bed exhausted from a busy but blessed day – and went to bed hearing about a tsunami warning for Hawaii and Japan but was unable to do anything so I just went to bed and left it in God’s Hands, where it started and always was. Love loves people, we can love and we can not always (can’t ever) change the world that is impacting us physically or emotionally or mentally – but we have the GREATEST of powers to put INTO the world – the power of Love…
Love is what drives us. Love is God and God is Love and therefore without LOVE we would be nothing, we could do nothing if we were nothing. Therefore WITH LOVE and God never leaves or even changes like shifting shadows, we HAVE God’s Love and we are forever going to be SOMETHING.
Love was in the air and “in the cards” yesterday with my eldest’s birthday – and as like I am always amazed that my mom sends presents well in advance, but she has had lots of time to grown in love and in preparation… So, I was blown away amazed that my youngest gave my oldest a birthday present AND a card… The timing I had prayed on – that last week my cat passed and that I prayed it would not be so very close for birthday timing. It wasn’t… Lord had mercy on timing…
Without love we wouldn’t be able to see thru the tragedies unto the deeper understanding of love beyond brokenness. So these gifts and cards my youngest gave their older sibling marked a turning point of love being uncovered and acted upon. The big photos were made into a poster and given youngest to oldest and the small photo prints were given oldest to youngest… cool…
Back to that tsunami – seems to have settled down – and let me state that connection of things that come and go in waves – that good things come and go like a birthday – but we won’t be in birthday mode always – and back to busy – that bad things too like tsunamis and other bad things come in waves – but we don’t have to dwell there either – they will come and go – life comes and goes… BUT LOVE? Love stays – and Love is all the things of God…
Life washes away – it really does – but Love stays – and love lasts beyond the physical… “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.”
Really we have barely scratched the surface of Love – “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.”
And someday we will be standing face to face with our Lord. That is when we will understand fully what came before us and what is after and all the love that kept it all together. “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.”
So, we will remember that without Love we would be nothing – so let us live LOVE as something – today and always…
Give the Love that has been gifted to us. Don’t try to hold onto the rest – not even and especially not time…
Amen
—————
1st Corinthians 14 NIV
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 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.
A conversation I had last night reminds us that we are in ministry not for ourselves but for those who don’t yet know Jesus – we discussed what I saw time and time again this summer at VBS – the kids don’t know the difference between Christmas and Easter…
VBS – I do it because it is fun, yes, but I help because it matters – it really matters…
VBS, what an amazing time to share God’s Word with both young and old… The conversation I had was also about how the kids who come to VBS are usually the kids who don’t get to church much because their parents don’t get there and because it is hard to bridge that gap between rowdy kids and solemn worshipping people (or at least people who just like order and quiet). At the beach boardwalk church this past Sunday – they had a summer area just for the kids. and at the Great Tabernacle church, they had a whole other building that housed kids that started service 15 minutes earlier…
Yes – if we don’t raise kids in the Word, how on earth will the Word be heard?
I was thrilled that a VBS volunteer, in 2 of my VBS experiences this summer, each brought their neighbor’s kids. What a tremendous way to foster love and this is also loving your neighbor! The kids loved it and experienced the AGAPE love of God thru the many volunteers!
The Word is IN IT to SHARE!
What is IN the Word?
Jesus.
What is OF the Word?
Jesus.
What IS the Word?
Jesus.
Jesus and His Gift and His Love and His Hope and His Message and His Mission.
Get IN the Word and get the Word IN and get the Word OUT!
I knew it was the best opportunity to ‘escape’ to Ocean Grove, NJ.
I wanted to know that I allowed myself ‘a decompression day’ from everything – which still allowed me to be connected (my new cellphone works great) and be in the super duper frame of mind to look for the presence of the Lord. AND THE BEACH TOO… plus excited that my friend joined me, she has moved so it’s good to see her when I can, this was her first visit here so I connected her with this gem of Ocean Grove, ‘God’s Square Mile’…
Driving 7am, started my day with catching up with one of the recordings of an online sermon from a great church – the pastor had a message about Joshua 1, Faith and Obedience… “Don’t just listen to God, DO WHAT HE SAYS”… and then after a great moment sitting on the beach at 8am (with a great parking spot) writing my morning blog, and attending half of a boardwalk church 9am service with a guest missionary sharing on college campus ministry, I made it up to the great Auditorium with revival vibes, met my friend for 1030am service, and guess what? the scripture was for the sermon? Joshua 1… WOW, it’s like God chased me to have me hear these messages and scriptures and connect with the people also who needed to hear… If there’s nothing else in my life, and there is, I know that the Lord makes me a connector of people…
I nestled into what I figured would likely be a different take on Joshua 1, “FEAR NOT”, but fear not I was thrilled with the amazing message, structured in his own way, he was a natural speaker and leader and had the funny story at the beginning to engage the group… (about the hallmark movies, and I immediately sent his sermon link YouTube version to a couple friends who are hallmark movie junkies)…
FEAR NOT! I highly recommend his sermon, it touched my life and my friend’s life and I will tell you the punchline of not the joke but the message: “the opposite of fear is not courage, but FAITH…” the sermonist spoke about irrational fear, how that is evil and overtakes us, whereas the Lord gives us natural, healthy fear, that keeps us safe, but we have to be weary of that catastrophic irrational fear…
I had to go up to the sermonist after and share my photo of my stick figure of when Jesus pulled me out of the water from some irrational fear… Yeah – and he was able to chat with my friend as well – very nice opportunity to chat…
Well, also ran into old friends of mine and someone I consider a new acquaintance friend of mine – she runs the bookstore Hub and we chatted about blogs last time after I wrote one on her wifi (and my phone was broken but I got to log onto my laptop inside and outside her store at the beginning of vacation at the beginning of July) – and this time (end of July) she recognized me and we chatted again – it is good to meet Godly people – she wrote a children’s book about the spiritual history of Ocean Grove – using Genesis 1:1 as the Founders did – and this was founders day week – and camp meeting week… It is – life is – the world is – our faith is – all started by God – because IN the beginning was God.
Ah – the little cottages there and the ice cream and porch of that place and then the beach – ah… Love Ocean Grove… When I buy the beach tag I consider it a church donation – it is so good to be immersed in the Lord’s blessings there. And the Ocean was low tide and warm enough to take a dip – no real swimming for me that day but book reading – and reading about Peter from “A Fragile Stone” – my beach book – authored by Michael Card the singer – a great read as a book and a great ‘read’ on Peter – how Jesus worked with Peter and also called him friend… Peter like us fragile and yet strengthened by the Lord and His mission for us.
Ah – time to roll home but not before I took a moment to charge my phone, computer (no I didn’t ever get to work on it – that is OK) and recharge some more faith via singing at the pavilion at 4pm before driving home, the songs I all new – both contemporary and classic and wow it was like the Lord knew to keep me in Praise mode… He did – He does…
Well, enjoy the day and get out there and FEAR NOT – no irrational fear – just day by day, hour by hour, live the life He leads us on..
Oh – the best reinforcement of this all came from my new acquaintance friend at the bookstore – who decided to get thru the roadblock of her blogs and social media and everything marketing by hiring an outside doer company and stay in her creative mode and let them do the marketing – she said she had prayed to the Lord about all her questions of life and direction (“especially at her age” she said – retired a few times from previous paths” – and THE LORD essentially said to her: “You’ve been seeking answers, NOW SEEK ME”…
YUP – Seek the Lord first – and let HIM lead…
YUP…
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!
Ocean Grove sermon: “FEAR NOT” starts at the 40minute mark in the link – YES REALLY WORTH LISTENING TO!!!
Joshua 1:1-11 NIV
Joshua Installed as Leader
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”
With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early… Isaiah 26:9
Go to the beach, I will flee…
An early morning, YES PEACE for me…
No tolls, no frills, no hassle, no bills,
Not worrying, resting life skills and be still.
Just me.
And the Sea.
And God of course, blessings to hear, feel and see.
At the Sea…
Thank You, Lord.
Thank You for blessing me.
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You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
Christmas in July faded as fast as my green glow stick. I appreciate that there’s no prep, just action in the moment *haha work liked my Christmas tree, so did the kids when I brought it to church. And then it (xmas in july and vbs) is done… (except for cleaning out my car…)
And vacation bible school was such a tremendous week of sharing and joy in Jesus. I’ve said it was my fourth vbs, this month, 3 whole weeks plus a one-day. I’m not slated to work any more but I will help deliver supplies to a friend’s… My next recovery and relaxation goal is to get to the beach!!!
Having not been a vbs director this year, it’s nice instead to direct myself, direct me being honestly me… and let the Lord populate the ideas and energy. He’s got plans, let’s be in them. I could not have known that my cat would pass away either this July, it was like with my dad passing 4 yrs ago and seeing “oh, this is how it is going to go” in life… in other words, we live in the moment, we proceed process and pray for purpose. I find service to the Lord is the best processing…
And the Lord wants us to keep sharing HIS LOVE. HIS STORY. HIS ENERGY. HIS DRIVE.
In Imagination Station, science (and crafts) we did the overflow of foam experiment yesterday. Yeast represents Jesus in making the Word of God spread, and that warm feeling from the exothermic reaction of hydrogen peroxide and the yeast enzyme catalyst, it’s just fun and warming. The love of God is warming to our hearts. We also did the glowing goo experiment on people’s hands like the northern lights, and as I explained, like us being the light as well as the salt… the kids did not really.I like the goo experiment that much, this generation needs a little bit more of a wow, and yet God is all HIS Power is the biggest WOW.
I want to talk about the Holy Spirit and how He brings us the strength and power and knowledge in order to share about Jesus. The Holy Spirit is SO present in VBS. It’s even more jumping than the three year olds could jump all over the front of the church last night at the dance party. It’s great to have this excitement and honestly, regular people don’t go to the front, just the kids… the Holy Spirit jumps into our lives constantly consistently and cleverly.
I often wonder about the amount of information that we can impart in Vacation Bible School. The stories are there for teaching, the logistics might differ, yet as a BEGINNING, VBS simply is setting the ATMOSPHERE of LOVE, and that’s the conclusion too, because if we want to know God in Whole, we are to know and SHOW God completely as LOVE…
Live LOVE…
Thank you, Lord, for a great month of vacation bible school…
Merry Christmas in July! and we just had Easter yesterday – and Good Friday and summer VBS fun!!!
A blessed week we have been having and celebrating = and all that good stuff!!!
I know that the blessing comes to all, and imagine the blessings to one little sheep – one little child – by the extravagant outpouring of LOVE to them. Imagine it to us!!!
I feel like that sheep too – exhausted but blessed – and one more night tonight.
Last night we enjoyed learning about Jesus and His Sacrifice of our sins – we watched a beautiful portrayal of Jesus going to the cross – and we got light sticks for shining HIS Light… (and the actor portraying Him was beaming ear to ear with a smile that could not be beat)
Jesus loves the little children so much! Jesus got us out of a sticky situation of sin and we made SLIME for the sticky situation in Imagination Station – and watched a demo of a sin snowball styrofoam dissolving in acetone nail polish remover – and we also made our own Northern Lights in water with a touch of hydrogen peroxide and glitter and highlighter markers that oozed out awesome colors.
Well, Merry Christmas in July! July 25th. No the calendar is not messed up – it is a movie reference and celebrated in pockets… And well, honestly we need to remind these kids what happened on Christmas and what happened on Easter. You would be surprised, I always am, that the kids mix up naming those holidays – they really do. We have a LOT to teach – and Jesus has a LOT to share – and VBS is one of the most fun ways to do that…
HOPE – if you need HOPE – TRUST JESUS!!!! Yeah – hope in our future is brightened to know that Jesus is already with these children and the ones to come – and with us too…
If we know in His Victory – we KNOW LIFE – we KNOW HOPE – share that GOOD NEWS!
Under Authority – Jesus was – and the Centurion was – that is what the Centurion could see and know and have faith for. The Centurion, we learned in VBS day 3, TRUE NORTH, was a Roman Officer who commanded at least 100 men and he marched them respectfully right towards Jesus – not to hassle the Jewish people but to talk to Him. The Centurion asked the healer in Jesus to have mercy on his servant at home – not even go there because the Centurion felt Jesus was more worthy than he could host – but “just say the word, and he will be healed” – This Centurion knew to TRUST JESUS.
The “under authority” part of this encounter is what we often miss – the Centurion picked out the one thing that Jesus knew was NOT on the minds of the regular people around Him – that He was doing His Father’s Business – and we need to also be about Our Father’s Business – which was also parallel in the lesson in humbling one’s self to accept that Jesus is God and we need Him. Jesus said to the Centurion that He had not seen such faith in Israel and yet this Gentile will be one day found in the Kingdom of Heaven too. We as Gentiles or as Jews will be healed one day – completely – in the Kingdom of Heaven – healed from sin and wrongfulness and health as well. We (and the people in Jesus’s earth time) focus SO MUCH on physical health we neglect knowing that our emotional health and our TRUST will be re-established by Jesus too – Our Spirits are also to be better “under authority”…
“Under Authority” would serve us well in dealing with day to day life on earth – here and now… Our “emotional quotient EQ” or maturity is studied by business and social colleagues alike. If we could only be “under authority” more in Faith – and trust – and believe what the Good Lord has been trying to tell us all along – like in Jeremiah 29:11 He KNOWS the Plans He has for us – to prosper us and give us a future… If only we could BELIEVE this Plan – we would be able to follow it better.
Have Faith… The Centurion did – “But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I ALSO am a man under authority,” – Jesus HAS the authority of God over sin and darkness – and Jesus is UNDER authority to BE GOD – to do His Father’s business – and to LOVE and HEAL… And sacrifice until we all get there.
At work (and at VBS) yesterday, I tried really hard to watch the plan the Lord had that day – it was a busy day but a real opportunity to trust in Him – because things that would be obvious to Him – in how we should act and know – are not always obvious to us… We have to WATCH and WAIT for maneuvers (which is the wrong word – “man”euvers is best with “GOD”euvers – WATCH FOR GOD) – and I watched what the Lord display roads to take out in front of me at work about my future – and I appreciated His Show of Power and a Plan… (and for the science Imagination Station, we used mighty wires which when bent would bend back under hot water!)
Jeremiah 29:11 tells us we have God to trust – and what about the rest of Jeremiah 29? Verse 12 says we are to call on God – come to God – PRAY to God. SEEK… Ah that is a big part of the plan – SEEKING HIM… TRUSTING HIM in Faith when we can’t see the results we want. and then Verse 14 – God says HE WILL BE FOUND… Jeremiah spoke both of the israelites captive in Babylon for the prescribed 70 years – but also us – captive in a broken world here on earth – captive to the sin and craze of the evil one influencing here and there and everywhere – captive to our “me me me” attitude too. Jeremiah as a prophet can tell us what we SHOULD KNOW – that Jesus will bring us back to Himself – to GOD…
AMEN AMEN – Stick with God – He is UNDER AUTHORITY to LOVE – and will use HIS Power over our powerlessness.
Amen
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Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant (Matthew 8:5-13 NKJV) Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I ALSO am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
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Jeremiah 29:12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 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.”
It was probably the most important conversation of the night, as it will be all week. As the littlest cutie in my Imagination Station science and craft session blurted out in wondered questioning: “Jesus is Alive??? He died and is alive?” – “YES” I was able to affirm, avow, acknowledge and AMEN to… And my Holy Spirit jumped as excited as his.
And then he asked: “How?” I simply said “Jesus is God” and the littlest ones repeated amazed “Jesus is God?!!!!” YES !!!!
Amazing opportunity to affirm what we know, Jesus is always with us, Jesus is alive, and “When we feel alone, we can TRUST JESUS!!!”A blessing to know and teach.
The truth is that Jesus knows the praises that come from our lips as much as the concerns. And our Bible lesson was on how to live and know we are not alone like the one sheep left away from the 99.The fluffy sheep wool, and fluffy pretend snow was fun in our circle time.
More fun? REAL SNOW!! I brought out some of the ten bags I saved 6 months ago in my freezer. The amazement unreal! The joy real. Cool cold!!! We made fluffy photo frames too. “Jesus loves me, this I SNOW! (Know)…
Interestingly, my cat who passed away was named SNOWY… Interesting…
Earlier that day, and throughout the evening I explained, when asked by friends in the know, about the circumstances that led up to my cat Snowy’s rapid decline. The group knew she had passed but not the kids. I was surely able to praise the Lord for the Lord’s timing the night before, I had finished vbs and could rush home. We prepared the cat and ourselves for the next night, when we took care of burying the cat, and I said to my family, from dust she came and to dust she will return, but we always carry her with us in our memories and love.
With my cats passing, it’s strange to not have to look out for her each time you open the door. She was an escape artist. I’m slowly finding her items and tossing or saving. Will donate much after it’s washed. No, we are not getting another pet so soon. No need to do anything but take it day by day.
At work, I only told one person and in that conversation, I was super careful in choosing my words as they are someone who lost a child a number of years ago. I remember that timing too. The Lord is to be praised even we don’t understand. And surely one day we will see the Lord face to face for knowledge and comfort. We all best take day by day to process and pray and praise. Loss comes when it does, whether we are prepared or not.
At VBS, we could talk briefly about loss, aloneness, and avow that Jesus is already with us. I often look at this craft I have from last Easter: “there is no gloom in the tomb – Jesus is risen today”…
Yes, Jesus is alive and walks with us. Jesus comes for us. Psalm 139 reminds us we can never flee from His Presence.
The VBS day one for TRUE NORTH was set to play!!! And we had so much fun!!! We wondered about the scene – nervous and excited – and we HAD to TRUST JESUS… The arm motion is to pull on a rope… and don’t worry, Jesus always has us held tight.
The homemade compass experiment was kinda iffy if it was going to direct us to magnetic north, but we got through it and we talked about what John the Baptist talked about, Following Jesus, our True North, our Lord. We used magnets and we tested what might stick or not – trust me that I am going to stick to Jesus!!!
I will have more photos later, but the most important image in my mind of the night was the sweet listening of the children to their teacher and the teacher to the children in the video story time – the wonder of interaction… When we wonder, we can TRUST JESUS…
It was a wonder to me – still is – the timing of the evening – I was exhausted on my drive home (early – left at 330pm) – early enough that I thought about stopping home to see my kitty who was close to death – but knowing both that my daughter was going home early – and knowing I had to finish prep for VBS – I instead pulled into a parking lot and took a 30 minute super power nap – needed it… It allowed me the energy I wanted for VBS – and we had a blessed fun time. I did both my teaching sessions back to back and had snack – took lots of photos – and even shared with the littlest kids who were back on their way to the nursery. And then I got the call – that my daughter who had just got home was watching the cat and then just then the cat passed – oh the tears – oh the processing – oh the wonder of God’s Timing – was so perfectly timed with getting my vbs in and yet zip home then to comfort and process too… When we wonder – we can TRUST JESUS – oh the timing Lord… we had to call my youngest – devastated but this is a process too…. We loved our kitty so very much – we really were blessed by her these many years – and did not see this coming – the short 2 months of her decline. She was young but we had much time… A wonder of the Lord giving us someone to love and to love us… When we wonder – we can trust Jesus…
Amen – and let’s do VBS again – day 2 on tap – going to bring in my SNOW!!!!
My first summer job, maybe I was thirteen I don’t know, it was a strange one… Strange but not hard but not one I would choose again for that age. My neighbors paid me while they went to work, just to be in their house certain days to just be present with their mom who was pretty much bedridden and non-communicative. She honestly was barely breathing, and I don’t know if maybe she came to on occasion, I don’t know if she ate, but not when I was there. It was eerie to sit in the house and no one had a cell phone for activity those days, did have the landline and they would call once or twice or so. It was just waiting… waiting…
This is what I feel like, in a small part, now, waiting on my cat to pass away at some point because she has gone down hill so much. Waiting… But are we doing enough? Are we doing too much? What are we waiting for?
Our cat is not waiting to be held, she hated that. Not waiting on food – scoffs at it after a little uptick which is now gone. Waiting? Or is the Lord waiting? Maybe the Lord is waiting for us to come to terms – or at least acknowledge that we do – and/or is the Lord taking His time for His natural course of things – likely – and we wait…
I’m sure we often are waiting for the LORD as if we’re waiting for Him to act, as if He isn’t. And yet, He IS active, all the time. The Lord is involved in everything. Whether you believe He started the process or He tweaks the system all the time, here on earth and in the heavens, it’s still waiting on our part. I know He is involved in minute details – at least tasked His angels to minister – and I know that the angels ministering to my cat have been very active over these years. The angels surely are not waiting around – neither should we be…
I don’t remember how long that summer I was working – weeks? couple or more? I remember being bored but I also remember worrying if she was still breathing, and I would spy closer, check movement, never touched her. It was just plain eerie. Maybe I watched a little TV, maybe I did puzzles or crosswords… I just remember watching the clock. I don’t know why I couldn’t just come in once an hour, instead I sat in a strange house and waited.
Today there is much to do without sitting – there is internet, streaming, and oh yeah cleaning the house – I even went outside and mowed the grass over a course of an afternoon – lots of breaks. I even did a crossword puzzle – big one at moderate skill level – almost finished it!
What I do know – is that waiting is an opportunity. Life is a puzzle but we are NOT required to figure it all out. Just keep playing along…
Jeremiah lamented words of sorrow of the times but acknowledged the goodness of God. Maybe in life we are just waiting until we recognize even trials as good.
We are waiting to recognize God’s Plan.
God is waiting for us to see that too…
AMEN
From Jeremiah’s Lamentations 3 NIV: 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”.
Two Scriptures: In John 13:1-17 NKJV – Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet to demonstrate love in the Immediate and in the Forever and in John 15:9-17, Jesus talks about our LOVE and JOY being perfected in Him – that is both Immediate and Forever…
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
John 15:9-17 NKJV – Love and Joy Perfected “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. – These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.
SERMON:
Recently I was on a trip. Settling down by the window of the 3rd floor room, I cracked open my laptop to start working. I looked out just at the right time, apparently, saw that my car was right below 3 floors down – and I saw what I am sure the Lord wanted me to see just at that moment – three older people slowly going past the car – I could not hear the conversation but imagined what it was – I saw one woman stopped a foot from the back of my car – called out to the others and pointed directly and purposefully at my magnet on my hatch – in the middle – I could imagine their conversation – she was pointing out my bumper sticker type magnet: “Jesus is Coming, Everybody Look Busy.”
Yes, I like that magnet for the multiple reasons – it always makes me chuckle but the first best truth of having it is true, Jesus IS coming back. I am blessed to state that – which others may not know. The next reason is because it makes people laugh – humor in our lives helps – and yet that magnet statement makes us ponder: do we need to “look busy” as if the teacher is watching – or do we have to BE BUSY in God’s business? Or simply “be” because God already did His business of salvation – it is up to us to try to accept it. And the magnet saying most simply states that we need to be living our lives in SHOWING THE LOVE OF JESUS TO OTHERS. We need to both be aware of the time drawing short (number our days, Lord) and be busy showing the LOVE that Jesus taught us to show. We need to be working in this world even if we are short for this world. And the world’s days? Growing shorter and shorter by the moment. Jesus really IS coming back No One Knows the Day or Hour – Jesus said: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. …… Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. [This was from the book of Matthew – who is a gospel of identity, teaching about how to live as a new Christian then and now. And the scriptures we heard this morning about the feet-washing servant of Jesus and of Keeping Jesus in us to share and know the JOY of serving Him – those were passages from John – John is the gospel of Wisdom – [I highly recommend these 4 accounts of the gospel with the actual scripture then commentary by author Michael Card (the singer)] – John had the wisdom to impart from 90 plus years of living as a Christian and those 3 crucial years of living WITH CHRIST…]
Showing Love is SO important – it will point others to Jesus. ALL LOVE from God to us is sent THROUGH us – from us to others – is to be kindled by knowing Jesus. Jesus said IN the book of Matthew: “the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” – know that even in the worst of times, we must endure, we must accept what our second scripture reading stated: but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit… We are called to listen to Jesus to catch as many fish on the side of the boat that Jesus is telling us to fish on – Jesus did not put us on autopilot – we pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit – still listen to His direction – and still be the fishers of men. There are people who are lost and we must help them know that they are found – found by the love of Jesus. This change shows.
THE LOVE OF JESUS AFFECTS US IMMEDIATELY AND FOR FOREVER – ACCEPTING HIM INTO OUR LIVES MAKES US BE CHANGED OURSELVES, NOT SURFACE BUT DEEP LOVE. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” PEOPLE WILL WANT TO TAP INTO THAT SHOW OF LOVE! We have to take it out to them and show it.
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We are to remember that we WILL be in troubled times and hear of troubled times. Jesus said: you will “hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are “the beginning of sorrows.” …. “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
JESUS IS WARNING US – NOT (just) FOR THE TRAGEDY BUT WARNING US TO NOT GIVE UP ON LOVING – URGING US TO CONTINUE TO SHOW LOVE. Jesus is talking about TO head warnings about the end – but don’t grow cold in love – keep loving. both because Jesus commanded it – and because why wouldn’t we? We show love because Jesus showed us love first!
We heard the first read scriptures of Jesus SHOWING LOVE to Peter and to the disciples by the foot washing – it was needed and also symbolic: both Jesus SHOWING how He serves and how we are to serve each other even in the worst of jobs – to be the servant that people don’t expect – and to tap into that LOVE of JESUS in order to do these things. Most importantly Jesus wants to BE THAT LOVE INSIDE OF US – for us to accept it. Like Peter we MUST accept it – not just the washing but the whole humbling of ourselves to be low in our spirit and full of His.. Jesus tells us and enables us to be the LOVE that people don’t expect to get. TO go against the grain – go against the world of ignorance and apathy – Live out the command to love – (like my previous sermon t-shirt – “go against the flow”) Jesus has great reason in telling us – because He commands that we accept His Love in order to be most fruitful: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
HOW? How can we keep going – how can we be effective in LOVE?
Be AWARE – BEAR and SHARE – that is a great rhyme – bear and share the fruit of the spirit that God gives us – remember back to my last sermon – we created a tree with a vine wrapping it – the Vine being Jesus – there is nothing we can do without Jesus – we don’t just learn from Him – we have to be His Hands and Feet for He is the true vine – and then remember the FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT coming off of the branches. Remember from Galatians 5 the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering (Also Called Patience), Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control.
Remember Jesus speaking in John 15 NKJV – “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. – HERE IS A PARALLEL TO THE VERSE WE HEARD TODAY: You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
WE MUST ACCEPT THAT JESUS IS THAT VINE GIVING US THE ABILITY TO BEAR FRUIT… AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS INSIDE FRUIT? SEEDS – THAT IF WE DO NOT USE THE FRUIT THAT GOD GAVE US – IT WILL ROT – AND NO SEEDS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED – AND WE ALL KNOW THAT GOD WANTS US PLANTING SEEDS – SEEDS OF KINDNESS AND LOVE.
Ah – Vacation Bible School – I LOVE VBS – love it – I am in the middle of 3 BACK TO BACK weeks of VBS – it is not as much work as you could imagine – I used to run the whole thing for 120 kids for 7 years after being the preschool games leader for my then 3 year old and up – SO just helping in just one aspect or station at a time is much more simple – I LOVE JUST SHOWING UP AND SEEING HOW JESUS uses us – AND the VBS’s these days like what I have done this summer are usually 25 kids or less. Sad but true – but even a small crop of harvest is good in the eyes of the Lord.
[Show VBS slide of the scriptures and no-sew blanket creation as a mission project] Here in this slide is what blessing of scripture points that we got to share in the first VBS in the first week of July “God gives us HOPE”, “God gives us WISDOM”, “God gives us SPECIAL ABILITIES”, “God Gives us WISDOM”, “God gives us a FAMILY”.
We learned about the perseverance of Joseph and the LOVE and Forgiveness and showing of LOVE he had even when his brothers and many others did him wrong. Joseph persevered to keep worshiping the One True God – we appreciated these bible points – words to live by – and children as young as 3 were helping in mission work – we made a no-sew blanket to share with the many homeless of the area – and then the kids went to the food pantry and packed bags of food.
This story of Joseph and forgiveness was so moving and has parallels to Jesus everywhere – and if you remember that Joseph, son of Jacob Israel had the connection thru his mom to the youngest brother, Benjamin, and Benjamin was used as a test for the genuineness of his other older brothers – did they remain evil or had they matured in the many years – and yes they changed – they grew to have compassion and when Benjamin was “framed” for stealing – they laid down their lives to save his as a substitute – so that Jacob their dad would not suffer again – the scripture that we read this morning about Jesus: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” is an ultimate showing love – Jesus laying down His life – Jesus allows us and shows us THAT forever LOVE and He gives us Forever Life – if we accept it. He also gives US IMMEDIATE LIFE.
An IMMEDIATE LIFE to SHOW LOVE is ours thru Jesus when we ask for that filling of His Holy Spirit – less of us more of Him – that is us laying down our lives (meaning our plan or our wants and our selfishness attitudes) and picking up and adopting His – all because He wants to instill it in us. No matter who we are or what we have done or how fragile we think we might be or how thick skulled sometimes – Jesus wants to shine in us – and wants us to shine the LIGHT that He put in us.
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I have a great book “Fragile Stone” by Michael Card – which is my beach book for this summer – about Peter being the ROCK on which the church was started but Peter was SO human – so fragile – so rash – so NOT strong in the times of trouble until Jesus really thrived in HIM – it took a while and even took Jesus reinstituting Him three times – during that beach breakfast after Jesus’s Resurrection – telling Peter that He needed to “feed my sheep”.
Peter like us may have gone from “wash me here and wash me there” rash and “oh no, Lord, don’t leave me out!” – to returning to being rash in cutting off the ear of the soldier in defending Jesus – to becoming fragile again in denying Jesus “NO, I didn’t know Him” three times after Jesus was arrested and the rooster crowed
When Jesus said ““If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” – Jesus is also saying:If you don’t humbly accept me the master to be your servant then you can’t ever live. Jesus asks for our repentance yes and crucially also asks us to be humble enough to take His Way over thinking we could do this ourselves (Jesus said He HAD to wash – HE HAD TO SHOW LOVE)… Peter HAD to accept it – and so do we… THIS IS A “SHOW LOVE” MOMENT for each of us – to humbly ACCEPT – AND KNOW WE ARE AS FRAGILE AS the fragile stone that Peter was – BUT IS NOW THE ROCK ON WHICH JESUS BUILT HIS CHURCH. In the days we read about Peter in Acts – Peter would be strengthened by Jesus – by the Holy Spirit in him.
IF WE DON’T ACCEPT JESUS THEN WE ARE IN A STICKY SITUATION – AND THIS SOUNDS LIKE A VBS EXPERIMENT TO ME – MAKING SLIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WON’T MAKE SLIME TODAY BUT WE COULD WITH BORAX – AND GET STICKY – INSTEAD LET ME SHARE A COOL EXPERIMENT OF JESUS SHOWING LOVE – OF NAIL POLISH REMOVER (ACETONE) AND STRYOFOAM…
VBS experiment: THE ACETONE DISSOLVES THE STYROFOAM LIKE– Jesus wants to make us clean
DO Next VBS EXPERIMENT – water and cards that say “Others”, “ME”, and a heart with arrow – and without the water in the jar we see the arrow of love point to us – like we want the love from others to us. And then add LIVING WATER of Jesus – and the image of the heart and arrow reverses and we see our love towards others BECAUSE of JESUS.
Immediately before this experiment – I was helping out at crafts – wearing my “Be Kind” t-shirt and teaching of Jesus love – not judging – tell the story of the dog and the man – and the clean up – grumble grumble yet we are called to SHOW LOVE when no one is watching – only the Lord. (see the post previous)… Remember that sermon we talked about of MLK JR about dimming the headlights – someone has to have sense to reduce the hate… SO YES, the pouring of Jesus into us and into a situation – SHOW LOVE.
My next VBS SLIDE: SHOW LOVE – yes we can show love by giving gifts and food and care – but wow imagine giving JESUS GIVING HIMSELF? and I want to wrap up my sermon with this image from VBS – Jesus gave of HIMSELF by dying and rising – but LOOK AT THE MACRO VIEW OF THE ultimate giving of Jesus – HE SHARED HIS OWN SELF IN THE WORD – JESUS IS THE BIBLE – JESUS IS THE SCRIPTURE AND THE FULFILLMENT OF THAT – WOW – Imaging us now sharing HIS WORD and the GOOD NEWS. We share it by the love that we show ourselves – I always remember what my friend said to me – “you are the only bible most people will open up and read’ – because people read our actions… YES! Show to Love to point to Jesus.
This image is the first time little camper (maybe 7yrs?), opened the new dollar store bible from a treat bag at the end of VBS – on Monday he said he would ask at home if they had a bible – (and Grandma on Friday said he did ask) – that bible was at the home and not at this vacation home for the week. Well, on Friday, I saw His immense JOY – the JESUS JOY JUMPING INSIDE OF HIM – and asked my friend to quick grab the photo – imagine the gift of people getting to know Jesus immensely themselves – sharing the Good News with others… a JOY of Jesus SHOWING HIS LOVE by helping us learn about HIM.
Jesus reminds us to keep working on showing the Love – and to attribute it to Him – maybe that bumper magnet should say: “Jesus is Coming – Everyone SHOW my LOVE”
— LEAD CLOSING PRAYER – Lord, Keep Showing us the WAY – Help us to KEEP SHOWING THE LOVE by letting YOUR LOVE shine – and let us see a glimpse of the seeds we spread – but either way Lord, keep us SHOWING LOVE – Lord Help us to SHINE and live Your LIGHT by LOVING… AMEN
Persevere (written for a friend the Lord and I hold dear… well many, far and near…)
.
Sometimes there are sorrows no one borrows.
Issues beyond tissues.
Hurt with lots of dirt.
Sometimes there are moments fraught with haunting haught
and bad hunches in bunches.
Sometimes just not enough time to put down rhyme.
But persevere.
PERSEVERE.
To God, draw near.
In Jesus, let Him steer.
Get that the Holy Spirit wants to put you in gear.
And never look in your rear view mirror.
PERSEVERE.
.
Amen
.
James 1 NKJV
Greeting to the Twelve Tribes
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.
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
My VBS prep last night allowed me to look out the nice window where we have the entrance to the church’s fellowship hall. And the gentleman with a very pretty and fluffy dog walked by and I watched the dog do his business on the grass next to the door. Oh. Then they walked off and I thought he doesn’t have a bag, how could he leave it? Oh a thousand thoughts in my head, but I’m standing there, wearing a “BE KIND” t-shirt, having been thinking of Jesus all week, and how He asks us to act, to not judge, apply love and forgiveness, SHOW MERCY… hmmm… but dog stuff???
The VBS day before, I appreciated the science experiment that was demonstrated about how Jesus changes everything for us. It was a story about the Good Samaritan, and normally we are like the other people in the story, who walked by the man who had been robbed and beaten and left for dead, thinking “I’m not getting involved”… yeah… however the Good Samaritan did all the good stuff for the man, his normal enemy even culturally. The science lesson reminded us that we do our good stuff by the power of Jesus- by the LOVE of Jesus.
He had three cards that said “me”, “others”, and an arrow with a heart. When he said the 3 cards in order, it’s said the arrow and the heart went to love directly to “me”, others was on the outs… and then he put a giant empty glass pitcher in front of just the heart and arrow card and like the act of Jesus being poured into the situation, Jesus as the Living Water, the now water-filled pitcher made a change. Really awesome to see the bending of the light and now the heart and the arrow pointed towards the “others” card instead of towards “me”. Because of the love of Jesus, we can show the love to others.
But dog piles you know what?
Yeah, I found my extra paper and plastic bags and I went to go clean up the dog pile. It was trash night, so it was very easy and I put it in the trash. I never got my hands dirty and yet still thought about how this was truly needing and using Jesus for forgiveness of a confusing situation, when I probably could not give it from myself, at least had a tougher time giving forgiveness than even doing the clean up. NOT forgiving is a lot worse than any dog pile times a thousand.
Five minutes went by, maybe ten, and I’m back looking out that window. And the gentleman came back with plastic bags. Wow!!! HE CAME BACK, even in a pouring rain storm. So he WASN’T terrible after all, he WASN’T neglectful. I ran out to explain that I had cleaned it because of the children at camp. I didn’t want them to step in it. And he said that he was looking for both piles the dog had left, it wasn’t even his dog, it was his son’s dog, he was helping and I said, this pile was very soft and he started telling me about the gastro issues the dog was having and I had such compassion. I am SO glad that the Lord showed me, compassion was the right way in the first place…
It is because of JESUS that we LOVE over judging.
It is because of JESUS that we are LOVED greater than we are judged.
Maybe continue to “BE KIND”. SHOW LOVE TO OTHERS.
Amen
The Parable of the Good Samaritan – LUKE 10:25-37
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
It’s good I have my photos and notes, reality of the present is creeping in and the past is the past quickly going by. My memories are strong, and so were Joseph’s on day 4 VBS (at the beach church on vacation), teaching from Genesis 40’s, when his family came down to Egypt, in the famine, to beg food. Joseph recognized his brothers who were once jealous of his favorite son status, the fancy coat from their dad Jacob, also named Israel by God, and jealous mad that he told them someday they would bow down to him. Joseph’s brothers threw him (after that dream interpretation) into a pit and then sold him off as a slave to travelers, who eventually took him to Egypt. (The brothers told their dad an animal had killed him). When the brothers came down to Egypt, some 20 plus years later during the famine, they didn’t recognize grown-up Joseph who was now second in command only to Pharaoh.
VBS on day 4’s, usually and this time beautifully, we learned about FORGIVENESS. “God gives us forgiveness” was our scripture. For Joseph, it was tough, but he granted forgiveness to his brothers, after seeing a repentance in his brothers. There is a great story about a cup hidden to look like Benjamin stole it, being framed for the theft, and his brothers came to his defense and offered their lives for his – so Jesus like… And Joseph’s sacrifice of his easily understandable potential vengeance, to be forgiving of his brothers, that is also so Jesus-like. Likewise, especially when we look at the New Testament teachings, Jesus asks for our repentance, our sorrow and our soul, and also to be humble enough to take His Way over thinking we could do this ourselves (that’s a connection to Peter, Jesus said He HAD to wash Peter’s feet)… Peter HAD to accept it – and so do we… Jesus saves – Jesus gives forgiveness.
VBS friday day 5 – well well the family was all back together – Jacob came down and the israelites prospered for 400 years – fittingly I went into day 6 vbs for me (day 2 for my other friend’s church) to getting out of Egypt with Moses, and day 7 and day 8 (for me) in yet another friend’s church talking about God showing Moses a burning bush to get his attention to tell him to lead the people and later a story about Joshua leading the people forth into the Promised Land. Yes – full circle seemingly convoluted circle but full circle of the people being led into prosperity over famine (south to Egypt), strife, and being slaves – such a consistent story from the bible. And oh on day 5 vbs, we learned that this big big family of Joseph GREW – overtime – over 400 years before we get to Moses. Wow they expanded and the many tribes thrived and then, as I experienced in days 6 7 8 of my vbs at 2 other friend’s churches, God led them all OUT of Egypt to preserve this line that were His people. Talk about persevering!!!
(oh yeah on day 5 Egypt vbs we had an ICE CREAM PARTY for our big family!!!!!)
My favorite part of VBS week, I said jokingly, were the snacks, LOL, and they were good.. but of course my new family with these folks is a favorite memory, and yet that is not the whole truth – my FAVORITE part was/is God putting me where I was supposed to be – and my JOY jumped even more when I gave each child a bible story book (365 days stories from Genesis to Revelation) and a simple dollar store bible – this was the first bible most of these kids received. A sweet little one said he asked his grandma where their bible was (it was at there regular house not this vacation house), and immediately he opened up his new bible (dollar store KJV) and started reading – wow – that sight was the hydration for my soul that will stay with me – the children meeting Jesus in their own special way. I explained that the book of bible stories for children was an even more adapted version for them – that is where I bookmarked the Joseph stories.
For we are all children of God through our faith in Jesus Christ, the scripture for day 5, meant we should love our brothers and sisters. I felt the love – and we love the children for sure.
For vacation days 4 and 5, we went to climb that lighthouse I had seen days earlier. We ate lunch in all the quaint village houses of town – awesome place. and then I even bought my “vacation treat” – an artwork of a 45 record adapter, yellow, on a round canvas that states ADAPT!!! that is totally biblical! and personal! and not about adapting your truth but adapting to truth and adapting your approach to live adaptively (in all things) and ALSO using the tools, like an adapter for records, to make things work at their speed. Go with God’s Speed for you.
Well, I thank God for His placement and slow down speed for me that week of vacation. I finished day 5, all packed, but had to chat with the vet at the emergency room for my cat (who is now improving greatly) and took that call after getting my 3rd lobster roll of the week – yum. I was exhausted of course and pulled over at a rest stop on the expressway – 40 minute subaru-nap so needed – and then as I pulled out I saw the car accident aftermath – rolled over – airbags deployed and even the washer fluid was dangling out – and I am not sure anyone could have survived that – one car – I don’t know – but I know that the Lord reminded/reminds me to “number my days” – appreciate life – go at HIS Speed which is often SLOW DOWN – and also that listening to Him and to my body – and taking that extra 20 minutes of nap could have saved my life too… I thank the Lord for His ways over mine – and I accept the forgiveness for which He worked so dearly for – and will keep going…
I have VBS days 1-7 done – and days 8 thru 19 left – in my VBS in July month…
Well – the middle of VBS is usually and truly when people feel most tired before that boost of the end of the week kicks in – it was truly blessed to be in a great set of teachings during VBS Egypt at the shore – “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God”. My wisdom told me that this was a GREAT way to spend the week and God was right!
And here is where I need to mention the teen helpers – wow amazing – and wisdom beyond their years with taking care of the little children. Three helpers total, two per day, and we got to meet Joseph again, like on monday, the 20-something sweetest young man dressd as an AMAZING Joseph – this time we met him in the palace and he was SO glad to see us – telling us that the one true God was giving him wisdom to help pharaoh – not just interpret the dream but then prep their supplies for the famine ahead – store away extra grain each year. Joseph helped us see what one-fifth of grain looked like by having the kids pretend to be bags of grain and then picking some to be set aside for the famine years. It was listening to God and saving the day. He gathered so much he didn’t even have to count it after a while. Joseph credited God and so should we – when He gives us the ideas and places us where we need to be.
For vacation day – we played it low key in the afternoon – first visiting the close by revival Camp Meeting grounds – where it was quiet but I felt the Spirit of old revival – so cool the gingerbread decorations – and I love the big late 1800s early 1900s revival tabernacle. “We will go into His Tabernacles. We will worship at His footstools… Come before His presence with singing. Come forth into singing o forest and every tree thereof.” (from Psalm 132)
From there we went to the fish market for fresh crab cakes and swam in the pool and then cooked them up for dinner – quick and easy – (AND MY NEW PHONE ARRIVED!) – and then we were off to the Bay and a whole group of special needs adults went on the rowing machines and then out onto the water with guide rowers in each boat. I rode the boat circling the bay over and I had to take a photo of this buoy that said “SLOW – NO WAKE” to tell the boats to be calm – which I appreciated because I forgot to leave my purse in the car and although I was not afraid of falling in – I was afraid to lose my stuff!.
All good – and I told the kids the next day that I was thinking of the amazing stained glass that we had looked at that morning – of Jesus standing in the boat and telling the wind and waves to calm down. YES – I was asking Jesus to calm my wind and waves too. I was not just in a boat – but I was in a boatload of thought – with my new phone half charged and I was awaiting a report on the cat – chatting with the vet – and so I needed some calming of Jesus to know what to do and say and also to keep going on my way. And how to calm the kids and to be the thinker. (I am grateful for all the good care and advice and how the cat seems to be improving so much just in a day or two now)…
Well – If you need wisdom (or a calmer boat ride) – ask God… I was grateful for the day – and especially for the Lord.
At VBS we had a great time with our family kids – nine total – wow NINE – in my group this day – loved it – of course there were many helpers all the time – the new ones I was able to catch up early in 10 minutes time on the whole story of Joseph (which is also one boy’s name) and on the activities – and that is when you really feel sanctioned and blessed by God to be equipped -to have the skills and the stories – to teach the kids one on one – as well as a group listening. This older boy really really enjoyed the obstacle course. I loved the VBS snacks – honey on a date-fruity nutty textured cracker. Everyone dug into the bible story time and marketplace activities. We learned that Joseph was using his skills to interpret the dreams of the Cupholder and the Baker in prison (and the bible does not sugar coat the words for what happened to the baker wow! And at our closing we also were surprised at the things God was doing – we had the most fun activity at closing by using the sponge animals in the small capsules that expanded in water – what a surprise – and I taught that Joseph must have prayed and prayed while in prison for God to rescue him – for Pharaoh to learn and let him go. When we pray, God hears, and God can and will intervene to help us with the situation and/or help us deal with the situation. God does surprise us with such good things. (and I was so happy to use the stickers that I brought as good gifts all week)
AND VACATION day 2 – after VBS we had outside lunch at the bay from a new-to-me place – great lobster rolls again for lunch and not too crowded and then off to the beach to meet another sister of my friend – free beach – great temp and splurged (because this IS vacation) on close parking $5 (LOL so cheap) for the 4 hours we stayed. I think as a beach, it is one of my new favorites for easy enjoyment. It has the long stretch of gradual water no sudden drop off – so we could wade out past the breakers to the rolling waves part – so nice since the waves scare me! but this was good and we sat and chatted and rested – we watched a big castle and big whole get completely dissolved with the higher and higher tide that invaded our chairs too! (one of my favorite new things to do was to put my chair right in the water waves and let the waves come – so nice! We then washed off with their new water spigot rinse stations on the boardwalk and went to the Farmers Market with live music – a small nice event – and it reminded me of the devotion that I pre-wrote about music – using music to get connected with people for spreading the messages of God – really we do connect with the music!!!
After the farmers market, the storms started popping up! oh the clouds so cool… I think thunderstorms always remind us that God means business and is not afraid to put us thru tough things and we find His protection – either physically or spiritually. The storm passed and we saw the sunset.
When we are in a storm – we can pray for God to help us get past it – and He does… He does…
Sunday was a fitting time to get a sticker that said “You are enough” – I thought You Lord are enough! Thanks for blessing me!
Well – what a wonderful day one at VBS – EGYPT – and the whole day down here at the shore – my first vacation bible week is here both working at VBS and resting with friends at the beach.
VBS “Egypt” about Joseph’s travails from Prison to Purpose, day one on Monday. “GOD GIVES US HOPE” – My friend and I walked into the VBS not knowing all to expect but we were pleasantly surprised at the ways the Lord had been there setting up and putting things in place – and came with a wealth of supplies. Well, the people were super awesome and very giving – and the decorations were adorable and well laid out. I helped at first putting up the registration tent – whew hot to start the day. And then settled in to be the “Family Leader” – we became family Rosetta, and we ALL (teen helpers and multiple other staff) travelled together from station to station. We could not have had better kids – wow – awesome. Opening celebration was fun with music, family time where I led discussions and showed a tiny beach ball for the inflated HOPE and deflated despair emotions. We as a family also learned our first scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to good (thumbs up) and not disaster (thumbs down), plans to give you a future and hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (this has been a repeating scripture every day for me and a few friends like for a couple weeks – so good!) – I knew this coming into VBS – with a car full of VBS-adaptable supplies and stickers for my family crew of kids – and adapted to just assess and immerse myself into the calling. “Feed my sheep” as an “encourager” is called to do.
Then our “family” travelled to hear the story of Joseph – amazing actors so giving and sweet as Joseph and the prison guard so perfect (and picked last minute, wow). We learned that Joseph was in prison because he didn’t “want to be the boyfriend of a woman already married”. And Joseph showed us a basket with lights – and when we had HOPE the lights shined – and when we had something bad it was as if the basket would cover the lights – but the lights still shined through the holes in the basket – that is us – we are to shine too! We did a cheer for Joseph – “Let’s go Joseph!” then clapped our hands in the classic cheer – clap clap, clap clap clap. Then we were off to the marketplace and visited making a jeweled collar.
Then yummy Egypt snacks to try – dates and grapes and the sugar cookies – yum and served by the sweetest people. Then back to the marketplace to the hieroglyphics leader (my friend whose sister has the house down here) – where we stamped our names in the symbols – cool!. Then outside to games! There the kids wrapped each other in toilet paper as mummies – fun! It was challenging but they did! Then they had “shepherd races” going from mat to mat with canes. Wow these kids were worn out!
Back at family time, we reviewed our stories of the day – and one girl remembered that i promised to read Joseph’s story again – and I did – from a colorful bible that was found in a closet at my old church – given to a friend, Miss Bonnie, who loved children (of all ages) and taught them. This story of Joseph and us having hope is good fitting as I know Bonnie is in Heaven with Jesus and we have that HOPE too. Heaven as our plan and HOPE. Well, as exhausted as the children were at the closing celebration singing, I know that VBS day 1 was an amazing success. Please continue to pray for the children to hear the messages, take them to heart, and enjoy. And for the leaders and volunteers to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
After VBS, we drove the 2 blocks down to the beach front and had LOBSTER ROLLS – yum – while sitting on the boardwalk in the shade – then hit the dollar store (dangerous and fun) and then got our swimsuits on and travelled the short distance to the beach for a couple hours before the rain came. It was still warm and tropical and the water was certainly warm enough – but rough. Today we will plan more beach just after vbs (keep us away from that dollar store lol). Then walk around (weather permitting) a local farmers market and beach town nearby. BLESSED.
I didn’t have my phone (broken) but I remembered that I still have connections – and really even though I would take everything – we/I needed/need nothing but our self (myself) and God and HOPE (and a swimsuit for the beach). BLESSED!
(please continue to pray for my cat back home – not eating – barely drinking – thanks. Through modern technology computer phone call last night and then this morning, my daughter sent an encouraging photo of the cat at the bathroom faucet drinking – yay! Oh my God gives us HOPE !!!!)
I’m on vacation – doing VBS at the beach-close church and then beach in the afternoon. Using a 7 topic piece of advice from John Wesley for a week’s worth of devotions that I will pre-release on my blog page – free up my mornings for jumping right into VBS… Have a great week!
Seven of John Wesley’s Practices Can Change Hearts Today – an article by Roger Ross: Tactics that John Wesley used to get the Word of God out… The author of this blog reminds us to use these tactics ourselves! Seven practices emerged as characteristic of the early Methodist movement.
NUMBER 7 – Use Mass Communication to Get the Word Out
“In Wesley’s day, the mass communication tool was the printing press. Wesley wrote numerous sermons, treatises, tracts, and books that were distributed to a wide audience to fuel the movement. Thousands of people who never heard him speak came to know Christ and grow in Christ through his writings. Of course, today the Internet and social media enable anyone with web access to have a personal platform previously unimaginable.”
(AMEN – I am a media Christian – meaning that the media – social and spiritual were crucial to get me the data that my head needed to understand and be moved to change – to learn – to know how God was moving in my life – to reach me. And therefore the use of media today – like printing in John Wesley’s time – is SO crucial. GOD WANTS TO BE KNOW – WE ARE HIS HANDS AND FEET – showing love in action and dropping hints of His Love – like sharing books – like giving away the little cards that have bible verses on them – stickers – encouraging words painted on rocks – etc. These can be priceless God-sightings to the viewer at the right time!!! The Word does not go out without doing some encouragement before returning… and to get people to come to the Word, just like any event, you’ve got to make it available to them, invite them, get the word and the Word out!!! AMEN – Keep sharing my friends!!!)
I’m on vacation – doing VBS at the beach-close church and then beach in the afternoon. Using a 7 topic piece of advice from John Wesley for a week’s worth of devotions that I will pre-release on my blog page – free up my mornings for jumping right into VBS… Have a great week!
Seven of John Wesley’s Practices Can Change Hearts Today – an article by Roger Ross: Tactics that John Wesley used to get the Word of God out… The author of this blog reminds us to use these tactics ourselves! Seven practices emerged as characteristic of the early Methodist movement.
NUMBER 6 – Give the Ministry to the Laity
“A team member who rides the bench and a Christian who sits in a pew share an eerie similarity — they both watch other people play. Christianity was never designed to be a spectator sport. As the early Methodist movement grew rapidly, Wesley soon took his mother’s advice and allowed laypersons, both men and women, to oversee classes (small groups) and preach in the society meetings (large groups). When he released the energies of the laity, the ministry multiplied even faster.”
(AMEN – YES – We are the church!!! And we are all able to share the Word – and absorb it ourselves – go directly to the Word – the curtain is torn – nothing to keep us from Jesus directly. Then we can share – be educated in the Word – as Peter suggests in his letter. And SHARE SHARE SHARE – connect with others in your own experiences. Connect with them in theirs! AMEN)
I’m on vacation – doing VBS at the beach-close church and then beach in the afternoon. For a week’s worth of devotions that I will pre-release on my blog page – free up my mornings for jumping right into VBS… Have a great week!
Seven of John Wesley’s Practices Can Change Hearts Today – an article by Roger Ross: Tactics that John Wesley used to get the Word of God out… The author of this blog reminds us to use these tactics ourselves! Seven practices emerged as characteristic of the early Methodist movement.
NUMBER 5 – Everyone in a Small Group for Spiritual Growth
“As Wesley began outdoor preaching in various sites around England, he soon noticed a troubling pattern. Without intentional support and encouragement, people who had moving, even ecstatic experiences of God while he was preaching would soon fall away from their newly awakened state. To provide responsible spiritual care, Wesley would only preach in venues where spiritually awakened people could be placed in small groups or “classes.” His goal was not to see people have a single encounter with God but to have them experience real, lasting life change through faith in Christ. Such transformation of heart and life happens best when people do life together with a handful of others who become a spiritual family.”
I’m on vacation – doing VBS at the beach-close church and then beach in the afternoon. For a week’s worth of devotions that I will pre-release on my blog page – free up my mornings for jumping right into VBS… Have a great week!
Seven of John Wesley’s Practices Can Change Hearts Today – an article by Roger Ross: Tactics that John Wesley used to get the Word of God out… The author of this blog reminds us to use these tactics ourselves! Seven practices emerged as characteristic of the early Methodist movement.
NUMBER 4 – Use the Music of the Culture
“Gregorian chants in Latin and heavy German music were standard fare in church services in Wesley’s day. Although the words were meaningful, the music was a complete disconnect with the common people. It didn’t speak their heart language. In his travels, Wesley found that pre-Christian people connected most easily with the gospel when it came through their native culture. He encouraged his brother Charles to put gospel words to the popular tunes of the day, and it caught people’s hearts. Speaking in terms people could understand was part one of cracking the cultural code; music that touched the modern day soul was part two.”
(AMEN – OH HOW WE NEED TO SING A SONG THAT RINGS IN OUR HEARTS – AND IN OTHERS!)
(I have to chime in that the VBS music speaking to the kids is important – Hey Hey Hey – that is a phrase in the set of these videos for the VBS session Egypt. It connects and instead of a CD – there are youtube links. Other music connects with others. And the instruments and the mixing boards and the microphone checks and the whole genre and industry of music is something to tap into for faith. God will have us all sing with perfect pitch one day – but for now – we should just sing His praises in whatever voice we have – He hears – “He makes all beautiful in His time” Ecclesiastes 3:11)
I’m going to be on vacation – doing VBS at the beach-close church and then beach in the afternoon. For a week’s worth of devotions that I will pre-release on my blog page – free up my mornings for jumping right into VBS… Have a great week!
Seven of John Wesley’s Practices Can Change Hearts Today – an article by Roger Ross: Tactics that John Wesley used to get the Word of God out… The author of this blog reminds us to use these tactics ourselves! Seven practices emerged as characteristic of the early Methodist movement.
NUMBER 3 – SPEAK PLAIN TRUTH
“In Wesley’s day, the Church of England didn’t connect with the real lives of everyday people. Ironically, the ministry of Jesus was just the opposite. When Jesus spoke, “the common people heard him gladly.” Wesley longed to bridge the gap between real faith and real people. Although he was a highly educated Oxford fellow and deeply steeped in the Christian tradition, he refused to parade his scholarship. He chose to speak plain truth for plain people. He intentionally shaped his language so common people could gladly hear the gospel and respond.”
(AMEN – OH HOW WE NEED TO HEAR WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR WHEN WE NEED TO HEAR IT! And the Lord knows how to speak the right way at the right time – through His Word and through His people – and the messages delivered in new contexts will help reinforce the Word – it is not how the Word changes, it is how we hear the Word. The bible has SO MANY stories that relate to today – so if we read our scriptures we can apply them to real life – and if we want to share scriptures, let us make them accessible, not just in every language but in everyDAY language – letting the people see how they relate because they do. AMEN!)
I’m on vacation – doing VBS at the beach-close church and then beach in the afternoon. For a week’s worth of devotions that I will pre-release on my blog page – free up my mornings for jumping right into VBS… Have a great week!
Seven of John Wesley’s Practices Can Change Hearts Today – an article by Roger Ross: Tactics that John Wesley used to get the Word of God out… The author of this blog reminds us to use these tactics ourselves! Seven practices emerged as characteristic of the early Methodist movement.
NUMBER 2 – Go Where the People Are
“When the love of Jesus Christ gripped Wesley’s heart, he knew he couldn’t keep it to himself. There had to be some way to reach the vast masses of people who would never darken a church door. Initially, Wesley was convinced the gospel could only be preached in the stained-glass setting of a church building. But with so few people attending church services, he was forced to consider other options. Reluctantly, Wesley began preaching in the open air. He would find a high spot on the edge of a city and speak to whoever would listen. Crowds of three, five, even ten thousand people would gather. Many of them were touched by the spirit of God and awakened to their spiritual state. A revival in England was born largely because Wesley was willing to take the gospel where the people were.”
AMEN – I can’t imagine this not to never be a choice we have to make – we should ALWAYS get out to the people because more and more our thoughts of revival are to be out with the people and not people at our door… I imagine the multitudes who need God and God wants them – and when I would go to church with 20 people and then later step into a busy store like Panera, and there would be double that in one store across this state this country this world – well, God can’t afford to have us JUST in a church – we HAVE to be out into the world. Fitting for VBS – I am a willing volunteer but there are fewer and fewer VBS events and kids – we have to make the convenience amenable to the people potentially who come – not just convenient to us… We have to make the welcoming open and not “hey they don’t go to our church” which is exactly what I heard 10-15 years ago. Well, no, but how would you welcome a new person to church if you didn’t welcome their kids. Well, God knows right well that the welcoming of HIS KID, Jesus, was not convenient nor expected to those who didn’t know Jesus was coming TO earth – and we similarly don’t remember that Jesus is coming back. We need to be out to meet the people like He did – that does not change our truth or His Way – but modifies our logistics and our tactics – modifies our sense of going with the world’s flow instead of His flow and glow. We need to follow Jesus – and Jesus is walking EVERYWHERE!!!
You know – not really ready for vacation but had to get ready and I had the car packed in waves of unorganized mess with 3 times as much as I need – but well, I plan to get some time to organize this week – a week of vacation… Ahhhhh….
And so – not knowing but then knowing – whether it would work out that I could go to my new favorite beach place, Ocean Grove, for the 1030 church service before travelling onwards for vacation, well it worked out!!! Blessed Assurance that God is in charge – and He is. (FYI Blessed Assurance was written by Fanny Crosby while vacationing here in Ocean Grove).
I had Blessed Assurance last night and then this morning – well the outside cat that I am feeding for a friend turned up after going missing for a couple days – he gave 2 small meows when i arrived at 630am = whew! and he had eaten the food – so that is a relief. Blessed Assurance that he will be OK this week with another friend feeding him. – and then BLESSED ASSURANCE at home I saw that my own cat – who has not been eating well – had used the litter box – TMI sorry but this is blessed PROGRESS ! Let us pray for an increase in eating… one day at a time.
Blessed Assurance – rest assured divine. With all that – for sure I felt the freedom to leave the house and start my adventure with the beach and then vbs etc. (especially when i got the perfect parking spot – here with 0 time left before the church service – wow!)
And oh yeah – still don’t have my phone – well – there is WIFI and a table here at the bookstore – and the nicest host who also is writing a blog – and with the wifi at the picnic table next to the building, in the shade, I can check in with the world and my family… You know that feeling of unease not being reachable and yet they are ok even if they are not reachable by me. Well that melted away at the church service… Yeah!!! OCEAN GROVE IS WHERE I FELT (AND FEEL) THE PEACE – OH HOW BLESSED THIS BLESSED ASSURANCE!!!!
AND THAT BLESSED ASSURANCE IS THAT “JESUS IS MINE” – IS THAT IN OUR UNEASE, WE ONLY NEED TO REMEMBER THAT HE IS ALL WE NEED – HE IS ENOUGH. (I appreciated that someone this morning gave me a sticker that said “you are enough” AMEN !
And wow the sermon spot on – oh the music amazing – oh the vibrations of the organ music – I am going back at 230 for the Sunday organ recital concert. and so spot on the preaching – the sermon by guest Pastor Vito Aiuto (link below) spoke of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 3, as he urged them (even in his own distress) for them to keep going – and “DON’T LOSE HEART” – yes – we have so much but really in the worst of times, and Paul was in them, we still can pray for others and be at peace with this blessed assurance of Him giving us salvation – and we can live and be OK ultimately.
The sermon (and the whole service) is really worth the listen – and when he mentioned JOSEPH? Joseph being taken to Egypt against his will but in God’s plan? WOW – that is what my VBS is this week – I had to run up to him after the sermon and say thank you and God bless! cool… and wow the music so spot on – the hymns and Him.
BLESSED ASSURANCE!!!
God’s Got this!!! AMEN!!! Let’s get this vacation started!
I’m going to be on vacation – doing VBS at the beach-close church and then beach in the afternoon. I will pack my swimsuit, towel, prayers and patience – because apparently the Lord has picked NOT my thoughts of the situation (again) – but picked HIS path for me this week – in which that He will make a way for His Way… So my job is to SHOW UP – and then I am going to help with one of the groups of kids – station to station – packing that extra dose of patience (for myself) is key… and before I pack my patience – I need to pump up my prayers – Lord, show me the way to help these children see YOUR WAY – make me an instrument of your peace, prayer, purpose, poise, power, and patience.
For a week’s worth of devotions that I will pre-release on my blog page – free up my mornings for jumping right into VBS… Have a great week!
Seven practices emerged as characteristic of the early Methodist movement.
NUMBER 1: Be Devoted to Prayer – “Wesley rediscovered what the church of his day had forgotten: prayer releases the power of God. He called prayer “the grand means of drawing near to God” and found believing, persistent prayer to be the necessary first step to see God move. He modeled this conviction by devoting at least two hours a day to personal prayer and made fervent prayer a hallmark of the movement.”
“As a priest in the Church of England, John Wesley was distraught by the powerlessness of the church to reach the vast majority of British people. God’s spirit created such a holy discontent in Wesley’s heart that he abandoned conventional modes of ministry and experimented with several innovative approaches. To everyone’s surprise, spiritual revival broke out in England and beyond. If you’re like me, you may wonder, “If God could do that then, why not now?”
(AMEN – Prayer makes all the difference because you really do release the situation to God to handle! AMEN)
A microcosm of not understanding this world is playing out in that I can not understand what is going on with my cat, the vet can not either, and she drinks a little but really does not eat and is going in wrong places and has lost 4 pounds recently – tough to know – and she can’t tell us. Not that any ill person could tell you either – but this is a tough thing to comprehend…
We are reminded in this microcosm of the macrocosm of the world which is tough to comprehend.
We are adjusting medicines etc. for the cat – but this cat may not make it much longer – or we could be completely surprised! What I do know is that this cat knows still us and wanting to go outside – and well, we just make the cat comfortable. What else could I do… We did put good money into recent treatments – but then to follow up with much more pricey ones? hmmm… all i want right now if for my cat to eat… hmmm…. Well, time will tell – and hopefully the cat does too – but mostly in the unknown, I know to rely on the known – that is the Lord…
A previous post seems so relevant here in the microcosm of the cat and the macrocosm of the worldly issues – so many – the hardships remind us to count our blessings that the Lord is our home – and this is not our home…
We pray for Peace in a world of not understanding.
Blessings come thru raindrops. Step out into the rain.
“Maybe our blessings come thru raindrops” – this a good fitting lyric from a spiritual song by Laura Story to remind us that “this is not our home” – that trials of life will remind us that we are ONLY VISITORS here on earth… we are apostles to our faith, we are saints in transition, traveling demonstrations of our devotion… We belong to the heavens… Therefore, thru it all, we should remember trials in life are inevitable. We are to have HOPE and FAITH that we can survive the trials. We will surely have tears along the way, and we can count on that ultimate healing from the Lord…
Just like we can choose JOY (or not), we can choose to step thru the raindrops or sing in the rain while life moves on… Life moves fast – life moves even if we don’t…
So today, how much better are we for knowing the Lord has a home for us when we “finish the race”. We are blessed. Our blessings come thru raindrops.
Think how when we step into the world, that we are to know our JOY in the Lord – we are to take our energy from His comfort.
It’s not worth worrying about future trials of life, don’t ignore them but just deal with them in the present, and choose JOY whenever possible… Rather than complaining about things not under our control – we can TRY to deal, move on…
Have I figured this all out? NO!!! Not even the Apostle Paul felt like he had achieved this state of being OK with the directive… But he did look to the future by being present in his situation and knowing NOT to have his mind set on: “earthly things.But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control...” Philippians 3
THE RAINDROPS of life are ushering us into the future… God gave us this future so that today we can choose to step out in faith…
Amen
——–
“Blessings” by Laura Story
We pray for blessings We pray for peace Comfort for family, protection while we sleep We pray for healing, for prosperity We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering All the while, You hear each spoken need Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops What if Your healing comes through tears What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom Your voice to hear We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love As if every promise from Your Word is not enough All the while, You hear each desperate plea And long that we’d have faith to believe
When friends betray us When darkness seems to win We know that pain reminds this heart That this is not our home
What if my greatest disappointments Or the aching of this life Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy What if trials of this life The rain, the storms, the hardest nights Are your mercies in disguise
Paul writes in Philippians 4:
The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. … And the God of peace will be with you….
… I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Paul in Philippians 3:
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
One exhausted mom!!! A 3 hour tour, 3 hour tour… No not shipwrecked but I purposely drove here, beautiful weather.
A three hour college tour with my youngest gave true understanding of the dynamics and dimensions of the student life and culture of cultured care, really not coddled but pretty close to that in this college-equivalent to adventure camp. I just hope that they get to class and not just the thousand activities that are available, really crazy fun is available for these 18 to 20 somethings. WOW.
What seemed impossible a year ago in furthering education is now probable as well as profitable and palatable. I could imagine the experience, but like all things, we are not yet AT the future – and it’s not my future, it’s the next generations go-to future. College is for “helping”, in all ways towards maturity, including especially making the move to mom not making all the decisions anymore. Let us all pray for good decisions. The ability to let the next folks choose is a great opportunity for their growth and us to keep our mouths shut when we can, yet guide… We did raise kids, now “we are raising adults”, I now say.
Honestly here I don’t think there is a bad decision to be made, crazy volumes of career choices in this mix. This place is trade-school in a college setting. So this is the practical application of knowledge so needed by the trades. This level of college structure with deep folds of possibilities would be buzzing like a beehive, I imagine, with SO MANY students. I would not wonder that some students would be overwhelmed. And yet, you don’t want to prevent anyone who is energized by the possibilities to not get that opportunity to buzz in the swarm.
Whew, the three hour tour really was so complete. Mary, our tour guide was SO accommodating and encouraging. Her career path interesting and a good example to these incoming students – whether this year or next (we are planning for 2026 possibly). There were nooks and crannies completely unexplored in the 3 hour tour. Just like life – there is always more in our future – and keep exploring!!!
Faith in the Future! “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.” Jeremiah 29:11
Keep the faith and see the future!
(and get plenty of rest, you are going to need it)
When my mom asked my youngest over the phone yesterday, “Are you excited?”, about visiting a college (which will be today), as if this was a joy ride, my analytical thinking kid replied thoughtfully, “Not necessarily excited.” – “It’s Like a Business Trip.” Yeah, I understand that, evaluating where to put your life your money your future your energies. Yes, even though I may often approach life things as jumping for joy, embracing lifestyle whimsy with adventure, sometimes I decide things to NOT place my energy in. And yes OTHERS live life from the evaluation process, the method of monitoring without the immediate “jump in the pool” response. Yes, that’s what this trip feels like – with some few adventures thrown in. Mom may be like: “look at this and this and this!!!!!!!” (There are not enough exclamation points for me), others use the dot dot dot … “…” the toned down approach to certain things in life. And yet there are things that make them joyful too.
We are all unique! And we are unique in our own situations uniquely.
And what about switching gears? I recently told a friend that I’m able to “turn on a dime” for the unknown of my role at a new vacation bible school being flexible – and promptly saw a dime on the cement floor of a garage. A dime is small, and to turn on it (I have no idea where the reference started), you would have to show flexibility and maybe you also expect others to – even for the small amount (or big amount) of the dime. Most people probably would leave the dimes behind anyway, step over them rather than change. and they might be too small to trip us up – but maybe they would. Either way, our personalities and circumstances affect our ability to accommodate each little and small change in life. We justify things in order to keep sane, we want to plan, and yet it’s not a bad thing to know that we don’t know.
Like EVEN IF we don’t know how God will turn our lives “on a dime” – we have to remember how He loves us, He holds us, He navigates the rough spots because He ALREADY patched the biggest breach of sin and death separating us from Him. We are IN by the love of Jesus and His sacrifice. So now on the rest of life, He does “fill in” work for our sanity to show us the way to go over the potholes, but remember He’s already figured our lives all out… He approaches today: “like a business trip” – God’s got God Business to do AND He already all figured it out. AND its like a JOYride too. We can look at minutia and enjoy it, after knowing the macro-view of Him being in charge.
In John 14 recording, Jesus told His disciples, and us, a number of details so that we would understand that God has a plan, even down to using evil for ultimate good (see John 14). And we must BELIEVE the hope in His plan, seeing on God’s MACRO-view if we can, but also KNOWING God knows the minutia down to God knowing every hair on our heads. That in trouble we can rely upon the Holy Spirit to even give us the words to say (Luke 12). AND whom should we fear in life? No one but God Himself, He Who decides what ultimately happens to us. And God takes our situations VERY SERIOUSLY. God values us immensely!!!
It’s Like a Business Trip for God, and yes a joyride too as He delights in us, His children. May we continue to keep moving down the road of life…
Jobs to do, Joy to be had. Life and Love are always in God’s Sight.
Amen
—
Luke 12:4-12, Jesus speaks to the disciples (and us):
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
—-
John 14:22-31
Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
And There is “Shut your trap, the Lord is doing something here!” sense…
YEAH!
And that’s what we need, to TRUST the Lord in enough to watch Him work, trust that He IS working, and follow HIS Plan, not ours.
Work the situation, Work the scene, Work the problems, work the solutions. But there is no “work the spirit” – because it is the Spirit to work us.
And the Lord will work from His whole OTHER set of logistics, not ours. Let me call them LORDistics, not just logistics.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
Last night at the Vacation Bible School meeting, the scripture on the notepad matched the scripture on my bracelet, which is one given out at my friend’s funeral last year: “I can do ALL things through CHRIST, Who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13. Scriptures like that, which show up ALL THE TIME, include scriptures like “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Rom 12:12. In other words, the LORD is working His LORDistics over your logistics.
A LOG-istic that my friend is dealing with is the repair to her house which had a tree LOG crush part of the roof – hey no big deal right? well it JUST went on the market – and well and well… But the friend had just moved out – the room was empty – no one was hurt – there are insurance claims and adjusters doing their thing – there are logistics to the LOGistics – and there are MUCH bigger plans that the Lord has for the situation where she is now – helping with her grandkids and well and well and well –
Well, I will choose to see the LORD-istic in this all – and that is what we should be looking at all the time – the LORD-istic OVER the logistic – and the LOG-istic too. There is a Process, There must be prayer, patience, petition, persistence, and perseverance.
And I can’t help but think about the scriptures of Joseph and His dream coat, and the years of tough life and then in Egypt (a Vacation Bible School theme I am helping with next week), as Joseph is able to rescue his brothers, all of Jacob’s sons, and his father Jacob, and the Egyptians, well…. that was a LORDistic for sure. Joseph would say: what was meant for evil, the Lord meant for good!!! Genesis 50:20
May we wait on the “LORDistic”, accept the logistic, be the optimistic, and be Spiritualistic. THAT is the hope in the Abundant Life, the Lord promises, TRUST HIM!!!!!
AMEN
Isaiah 55 NKJV An Invitation to Abundant Life “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David. Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people. Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, And nations who do not know you shall run to you, Because of the Lord your God, And the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you.”
Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
“For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
We (I) have a lot that concerns us – but the Lord – He is MORE than all that – MORE than a lot – MORE than us and MORE than our concerns.
We can take strengthening in His regard for us – Our hope is in that He knows us and pays attention to us and lifts us up.
His Mercy is the amazing gift of giving grace to the imperfections, and He answers our concerns just as He catches all our tears.
If there is anything we are not good at, we can rely upon Him to find our answers, our helpers, our path.
If there are items we are concerned about, and people and things, He gives us unworldly advice not to ignore things around us but to look at them like He does, with grace and mercy and forgiveness.
If there is anything we don’t know, we can ask. If there is anything we need, we can ask. And when (not if) we fall short, He provides the ability for us to recover.
Lord, You give us of Your Glory – let us know that You will perfect THAT which concerns me – by either perfecting me, or perfecting THAT, or perfecting the concern and bringing that concern into place where it belongs in the universe.
Without You, Lord, we would be nothing. So, WITH YOU LORD? We have everything we need.
AMEN
Psalm 138 NKJV
All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord,
When they hear the words of Your mouth.
Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
For great is the glory of the Lord.
Though the Lord is on high,
Yet He regards the lowly;
But the proud He knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
I was so surprised – I had no idea there was newsreal film footage of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan as well as Polly Thomson, Helen’s assistant after Anne’s death. They had a lot of correspondence and travelled. Famous and sought-after… But yes it was an AMAZING story – one we should remember as both what can be achieved with love and to remember we count our blessings for.
There is a YouTube channel of these videos, including one that is the only known (or last known) of Anne speaking in the 1930s about helping and teaching Helen, blind and deaf since an illness at age 19 months. I remember the stark scenes from “The Miracle Worker” movie – of teaching this wayward child. You would never know that from the newsreels of elderly Helen – all smiles – working so hard – doing so much. It took teaching – it took intervention – it took perseverance – and mostly it took LOVE.
The great nugget of information that the one video stated, was that Helen (as we see in the 1954 news film) started and ended the day with scripture. One of her quotes was essentially: I am not blind as much as the world is blind. And as the video quoted Psalm 19 – isn’t that the truth? We must not be blind to the HOPE of the Lord. “With the Bible.” – in the transcript: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmaments show us his handy work. Day unto day affirm his speech, and night unto night show his knowledge. There is no speech, no language where their voice is not heard.”
The movies on that YouTube channel spoke of people Helen was indebted to, Louis Braille, Alexander Graham Bell, and countless others who brought innovations and schools. Imagine everyone who works hard and serves. It is us knowing – without the seeing – the work of their hands and feet and everything else to serve the Lord by loving His people. And God accomplishes SO MUCH in LOVE. This knowledge is also from HIM – not from us.
Encouragement – to keep going – keep trying – and to praise the Lord for the accomplishments that He allows us to see and feel.
Amen
Psalm 19 NIV
For the director of music. A psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
I do many things – cleaning my house enough is NOT one of them… I don’t make the time, I don’t think I have the time, I don’t take the time… I need time for lots of things…
And so today when I found the one of my plushy Jesus dolls toppled over, hanging on a binder by his feet, well that’s just fitting… and on top of it that i’m having issues with my cat protesting, so I HAVE to clean, and add to that, that I know I will be away and busy in all of July, I better clean now….
Yes, it Holy Spirit convicts me to see the omissions of my cleanings in addition to the commissioning sins of not stopping to scrub.
Our lives and our houses certainly need good scrubs on occasion, so I have been and WILL scrub today…
Blessedly, Jesus is our “FALL GUY”. He takes the hit, He redeems our value out of our trashed existence or prideful ignorance. He took our sinful ways and got them OUT OF HIS WAY, to present us clean: “He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight…”
So I will pick up this little plush doll, and vacuum hand scrub and be thankful I HAVE stuff to clean… I will scrub dutifully my thoughts of grief, grudges and grumpiness, taking time for clarity, cleansing and calming cues from Jesus.
May we devote extra time to devotion. I pray us to “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” – to “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”.
And when I/we fall short, I will appreciate Jesus the “FALL GUY ”…
Amen
—
Colossians 1 NKJV
Greeting
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Their Faith in Christ
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
Preeminence of Christ
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Reconciled in Christ
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Sacrificial Service for Christ
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’
“So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
—
I had the snippet of a dream where Jesus was holding up plastic bag and explaining this verse printed on it, that He wrote it to remind God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit truly do intend to LOVE us forever.
AND THE BLESSING MUST COME, BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE AND HE WANTS US TO KNOW HIS BLESSINGS.
I’ll take that as a dream anytime… I’ll appreciate that as a reality too… The Blessing!!!
May we all remember that we are children of God Himself!!
“From your mouth to God’s ear” was what the fellow bagel-shop customer laughingly blurted out when I had just ASSURED that it was NOT supposed to rain that night. WELL, I WAS WRONG. That was 2 weeks ago now, and the rain did stop raining eventually and then the temperature shot up, I can’t even imagine the winter gear so necessary such a short time ago. God’s ability to put together our seasons of the year and of life are unimaginable. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
I am thankful for the cool weather in hindsight because I was in the last stages and days of helping my friend move, filling pods, sorting paper, cleaning, clearing, and closing a chapter. Whew… only thing left now is to catch a cat, but that’s another story… So the photo we received yesterday was worth it all, the JOY of grandma and grandkids together. How blessed they all are!
The temperatures moderated and now I’m definitely in summer mode. Inside and outside merge for me, I love it. Now it’s going to be beach weather. And I’m gearing up for a decent long vacation. And I hope it doesn’t rain TOO MUCH… but let’s let the Lord lead His plan, we just prepare for it.
Well, I also was wrong last night and the rain caught me off guard, I had left the mower out to finish the grass. I quickly called home and my youngest got it into the shed, whew… I should have prepared for rain. This is where we must prepare for God’s Plan over ours. Yes, I left it, was doing errands after a meeting and there are never enough hours in the day for me. Busy blessed busy… Someday I likely won’t be able to have such freedom of movement, so I’m maximizing my motion now. I did appreciate sitting at the members meeting for a historical society last night, one more opportunity to be busy in a small way. I appreciate that we sat but those people 200 years ago worked!!! We work – but not in a back-breaking way they did… Well, anyway – it was a good finish to my day. Saw the fireflies and thought a perfect night weatherwise (until it rained).
My evenings can’t even comprehend how I got through the day. Isn’t that true for you?
So in the morning, I try to remember to stop and write, write a praise for these Godly days. The Lord has blessed us being the Lord of our lives if we only could listen more for His Will. It’s like the Lord has to melt our hearts and also the wax in our ears of our hearts, we then have to listen, not just hear. The wax protects our ears but we have the ability to close our ears too much to His Will. “Walk by faith, not by sight”. And listen by faith too. And rest in Him. And work FOR His Will in us and others.
God’s ears – He must have wax-like waterproofing in His ears too – can you even imagine? God is God and needs no human protection to our tears – but oh the rivers overflowing in tears must keep his ears busy… and our complaints? Yikes… And yet His heart is FOR US. GOD LOVES US!!! God does not have clogged ears to our prayers, not clogged with wax. God is working on a whole other level that we can’t perceive nor understand. We must just trust.
Faith is for understanding deeply within THAT GOD IS READY TO GUIDE US. If we get from morning to night, then how amazing we get from night to morning. God’s Way is to start fresh with us, fresh hearts, fresh starts. Let us remember to praise what we do see, and double praise what we don’t.
Let us melt the earth wax and heart blockages, and trust, and PRAISE.
Amen
—
Isaiah 55 NKJV
An Invitation to Abundant Life
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you -The sure mercies of David. Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people. Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you shall run to you, Because of the Lord your God, And the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you.”
Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
“For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
My neighbor passed away. She was ninety-one years and had been full of life until her slow decline… Three years ago I think, she had broken her hip twice and her house flooded and I don’t know how many other things. And that’s when her family decided to pull her out and put her in an assisted living facility which she absolutely loved. Three meals a day and bingo and manicures and physical therapy and socialization!!! She never looked back. She lived life in the present and seemed to let the past stay in the past… Yes, even when she left her house, most of her stuff was left behind which did get donated, except I kept her green towel and she gave me some statues and a big bowl. And of course lots of laughter and great memories. She was the first neighbor we met years ago now.
She also was Jewish and although I didn’t see her practicing holidays much, we talked about God all the time being in charge. I did come across a Jewish scripture book when I cleaned out her house. Her house is gone and the new house replaced it and a new family… and that’s the way life goes… We are here but for a moment. What is remembered is our wonderful fun loving tribes of folks and I’m so grateful I got to be in her tribe and that of my neighbors.
Now, being of the Jewish faith, Jesus, fully man and fully God, was also from a tribe – the tribe of Judah, Jesus called “The Lion of Judah”. The tribes of God – they are pillars of regular people being chosen to do big things for God – including be fruitful and multiply the children of God. The 12 tribes and then Jesus took 12 disciples. 12 is a good number!
The tribes (from Abraham then Issac then Jacob) were set into the world by the 12 children of Jacob – from 4 mothers – children including Joseph and his dreamcoat (for which my first VBS this year is about) – and then Moses coming from that tribe to pull them out of Egypt some 400 years later (for which my second VBS is about) – imagine that 400 years is a long time – and imagine that God has known all these things for from before forever ago and way past forever from now – it is unbelievable but God knows His Plan. And He knows the plans for us too – so enjoy the people you enjoy – make peace with your neighbors and you will be blessed – take time to be in the moment – and enjoy life…
And may your own tribe thrive!!!
Amen
—
Genesis 22:14-18 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
But God thinks we are the most important sheep of all.
God will bless us all.
.
Watching the world go by?
Understand it all? Don’t even try!
Wars, famine, earthquake, temperatures that fry?
Jesus says don’t be troubled, you and I, keep living, TRY.
God knows this all, God created this earth and sky.
.
Jesus says the beginnings of sorrows is today’s tomorrow’s.
Don’t grow cold. Be lovingly BOLD!
Skip the hate, tell others of God’s Love so overcomingly great!
Don’t be lured by deception, Jesus knew these times from inception.
Trust Jesus, not the World.
That’s the message on our flags to unfurl.
Write it on every sign, say it in rhyme.
Live the attitude of “GOD LOVES YOU”, there is nothing else, nothing better to say or do.
TRUE!
.
Trust Jesus to get us through.
God will reign today.
Know that is TRUE.
Amen
——–
Matthew 24:6-13
New King James Version
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
It was great to be home, with my family, even just for a couple days, but you know you have to get what you get when you get it. . . And I always take the opportunity when the kids are ok, for me to travel… and with the storms I never lost power, so house was OK so I could go… and? And, now I’m very happy to be home home, in my own bed. Isn’t it funny how we can have a feeling of home in many different ways?
My friend’s house, who’ve I’ve been helping move, had a tree fall through the front, yikes, wow, one day after she left… and it was like she rolled out of town and the temperatures started to roll on up!! I’m so grateful she got the bulk of the moving done when the temperature was still cool.
I stepped into my friend’s house to see the damage and grab something. She’s gone, yet it still feels like her home, but she’s finding a new home and she will love it with her grandkids. And even if the damage to the house is bad, it is not tragic. This is repairable. That house will be a home again to a new family. I appreciate she left the scripture picture on the fridge. God’s with us. He is.
Jesus IS.
For the house, the damage could have been much worse. No one got hurt and the tree debris was removed so quickly. And the realtor had just stepped away from that area when the tree went. This was God’s timing, she said, that she was DELAYED earlier in the day. Kept her out of this trouble. And we all can appreciate God’s timing even if we can’t understand it…
God’s timing will come in His Timing. God Himself will always be with us.
What makes a home a home? They say home is where the heart is. OUR HEARTS SHOULD BE FILLED WITH JESUS AND THEREFORE OUR HOME WITH JESUS AND HIS WITH US.
Jesus said He had no place to lay His head, and even though we do rest ours, the rest of our time will be Home in Heaven. The cost of discipleship is remembering not to cling too tightly to this earth… Yes, make our homes homey, but best make our hearts heavenly and keep moving to where He needs us.
He will always be with us. Matthew 29
And someday we will say to our Father, it’s GOOD to be HOME…
Amen
—
Matthew 28:16-20 NKJV
The Great Commission
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
—
MATTHEW 8:18-27
The Cost of Discipleship
And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Wind and Wave Obey Jesus
Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
When a friend asks me to plan to do the particular station for a 2-day weekend VBS in July, a station that she picked for me, she asked me to include an experiment. How could I respond? “Let me ask the Holy Spirit to get me the idea!!!” Yeah!!! I know that the Lord always provides!!!
And you may think social media has flaws, but SPIRIT MEDIA as in HOLY SPIRIT MEDIA is FILLED with ideas. Click click click… and within 5 minutes, it was settled in my mind… in Holy Spirit time!
Here’s the life lesson for the Gospel lesson experiment that is in the book for VBS “ROAR” – about the journey for Moses and the people out of Egypt. We will have the kids talk about sin, and rocks represent sin, a bucket too heavy to lift… but if we ask God for forgiveness and we give our sins, represented by these rocks and leave them at the foot of the cross, Jesus takes care of our sins. Jesus raised is a miracle taking our sins away as far as the east is from the west – which means they don’t meet – our sins gone. Jesus said in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
And then with a quick Google for a video suggestion of a science experiment for Easter, the Acetone and Styrofoam appeared faster than Styrofoam disappears in acetone (ok it dissolves, but you get the picture…) YEAH!
Oh I can’t wait to try this!!! $3 acetone I can’t wait to test the demo!!! And for the kids, I’m thinking about the dissolvable starch packing peanuts and water…
God is Good and FULL of ideas!!! Love it!!!
AMEN!!!
Psalm 103 of David, NKJV
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion.
The BLUE macaron from the patisserie, maybe living like Paris-erie, was DELICIOUS – and so was the hot cocoa and whipped cream – and so was the pastry I had – and the air conditioning was great – and and and… Yeah – being on a one day vacation is living it up!!! And sitting in the Hudson Yards after riding up to “The Edge” – this was like a perfect local experience (except for the construction that IS NYC – bang bang bang – and the sirens of the moment)… The most important aspect of this trip was seeing my friend for a day out!
So I didn’t really mind that my blue Marie Antoinette macaron was smushed by the time I ate it sitting on the train on the way home, reminiscing of the great day. It was a vacation day and it’s hard to complain when you have had a great day. So I accepted the blessings and thanked the Lord!
Yes. I went to see my friend from grad school in NYC. We have been great friends for over 30 years now! WOW!!! He met me at the train station. Haven’t see him since way before covid. It was sunny and hot, and then it rained wickedly like 3 times, felt like Florida weather on and off and on and off. But it could rain on you anywhere – might as well just be anywhere vacationing anyway…
I HIGHLY recommend visiting “The EDGE”. I love the sights from up above, it’s like the best view, taller than Empire State building, perfect to see TOPS of the Chrysler building and Vanderbilt towers, then in a distance Lady Liberty, the bridges, the rivers, the Highline, and awesome to step OUTSIDE!!! WOW!!!! Yes, it is safe!!! Scary at first to step on the clear glass over the city, but I did it!!! whew!!! So then wow after we were outside for a while, we then watched the storm roll in from NJ to the west. And the security staff pulled us inside. There are windows for every direction. And amazing that there is no sway even at 100 stories up.
So we sat and chatted more – watching the storm roll in then roll out!!! We saw beautiful sites all around! Then we went down to the patisserie, yum, then walked the Highline to the Little Island where we held safe under the support structures until the next storm passed. great views walking the little island and even ducked into the free “Forest show”, beautiful light show run as an incentive to a car show. Dinner in Chelsea Market. Then to get back up to the train station, we hopped on a bus for the few blocks as the rain started again then back on the train.
The train where I got to sit and reminisce while relaxing – I know where the electricity plugs are for recharging my phone – and eat that smashed macaron for recharging my sugar – the Marie Antoinette macron. BLUE. “Let them eat cake” – is the phrase reportedly said by Marie Antoinette – queen of France as she disregarded the plight of the peasants – but this is a made up story they say – written many years before. “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche”, is still used for frivolous disregard for the starving people – or just being frivolous as someone else’s expense. So I could think that being on vacation (even for one day) while others are suffering in the world is a dilema – like I could say “Let them eat smashed macarons!” for enjoying a day of frivolity – and this is a dilemma of our world – we enjoy even while others are suffering – we are in a broken world – this is true. (And we pray for the societies and families who are suffering in terrible wars these day – terrible! Marie Antoinette’s time also saw the dilemma of great opulence while others were at war and suffering – we are always in this tough spot of living in an unjust and unequal balance of brokenness)… May we pray the Lord’s mercy on us all especially when we forget to count our blessings and our savior and salvation…
Taking a day break is not a bad thing – for we all need to take a breather sometimes – and therefore we should praise the Lord (at all situations) and especially that we can do this vacation thing – this day off thing – that we have freedom etc… And that we have relative safety – even in a thunderstorm – compared to the unknown volatile parts of the world. We should be saying “Let us PRAISE what we have!” – not complain about what we lack. We really should count our blessings and make the most of life while we have it – and then remember and help those who are in worse straights – the best we can do is to pray for them!
And especially praise – for in the Lord, we have everything we need…
Have a great day everyone and eat the macarons and enjoy – smooshed smashed whole or otherwise!
AMEN
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Psalm 16 NKJV – A Michtam of David.
The Hope of the Faithful, and the Messiah’s Victory
Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”
Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips.
O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.
I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Opportunity doesn’t just knock, OPPORTUNITY KNOWS…
I had the opportunity to accompany my youngest on a drive on an errand, a quaint and quiet town for a cloudy Tuesday – that was quite fine, not too hot and not too cold, not raining at that moment.
And instead of stressing about using up too much vacation time, I instead realized THIS was the type of opportunity that I should be looking for, in the present. Yes, I would have enjoyment in vacation, so why not a mini one now… I switched my mindset and called myself of work for a half-day… yeah… I realized instead of saving up for theoretical vacation that I would like with my youngest, that this actually fits part of that bill. And it’s nice to have an opportunity to talk, sightseeing, and just be.
And walking, I took notice of the mulberry tree, squish, purple mess, I also wanted to eat one but I didn’t.. it’s a memory from growing up. I have lots of memories, good stuff, but that I don’t need to repeat, it’s time for NEW ones. You know, it’s still not too late to have memories and make NEW memories, just like the flowers and trees come alive again, so can we. I look forward to more adventure opportunities with both my kids. And yes, as a napkin pack stated in a gift shop, they have to be patient with me because I’m from the nineteen hundreds!!! LOL!!!
Walking, we also saw a 911 memorial with some of the steel from the World Trade Centers, remembering that my youngest wasn’t even born yet and gets to understand this in a new way. There is much to teach in the new generations.
This morning, I heard about a woman my same age who passed away, a celebrity chef. I also heard of a local woman who passed away who left a son the same age as my youngest. You know tomorrow is never promised here on earth, only in heaven. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Ps90:12
So, yes… Let us get into new memories… Opportunity Knocks and Opportunity KNOWS!!!
Get traveling now!!! Be with the ones that you want to be with!!!
It was a good father’s day of remembering special years, having cheers, switching gears, and yes a few tears. I remember my Dad as awesome – and also remember folks whose dads are gone – and those who are not gone but gone from people’s lives – it is a mixed emotion type of day. And we all need processing for whatever state we take Father’s day. I hope we all processed how much our Heavenly Father God loves us. God is LOVE – and my friend whom I have been helping handed me a pin that said “GOD IS LOVE” … Amen… That processing will take the rest of our years and then forever… God is love and therefore love is God.
God always provides the LOVE – so don’t worry about that – Jesus said DON’T WORRY about anything – and if Jesus was saying it – He was showing it too.
Cleaning out my friend’s house “has been a process” for sure – literally and emotionally. The pods drove off yesterday, the process was intense but spread over the course of a month. We both would say that 8 months ago it was seemingly unimaginable, but it was real and really happened. And the stuff behind will be donated and some trashed – but the bulk is recoverable to someone. In other words, it is good stuff – and some junk too… But that is all our lives and our stuff – good and some a bit of junk.
Here is the junk of the day: the junk is the mindset of “I can’t do this” or “I can’t help” – none of that is true – that is pure junk thoughts – because WITH God everything is possible. And he demonstrates it too!
On Father’s Day – after my sermon – I spent a couple hours back at the paper pile – but sitting outside – cat outside – and working either at the back of the subaru or later in her driveway finishing off a whole wheelbarrow full of paper. We figured this was from 8 people’s important junk paper barrage that we get in life. One paper that struck my attention this morning was one of my own – “The Moments that Matter” – yup – these moments even if mundane or whatever do matter – because it is the place to help and to plug in – and as the woman across from me separating paper said: “It’s like the modern day equivalent of sitting on the porch and taking the ends off the beans.” – EXACTLY…
We came across not just paper that needed shredding – SSN’s everywhere – but then inside her Dad’s wallet – her brother’s irish cap – her mom’s hat – her many memories held onto with trinkets and treasures. And in this seemingly endless packing – it was done… the kitchen table pretty much empty – the pods full, the car full, the process made it to progress. My friend would say: “look at all the angels that God has sent me”.
What would my Dad have done in this occasion – on this day – with friends and strangers he didn’t know – yes my Dad was a helper – both my parents always had lots of projects helping – my Dad especially was the organizer for many but the hands-on worker too – from putting together paper directories for the service clubs – to making the coffee for workers coming to help at the camp rebuild cabins getting it ready for summer – all this volunteer work on the evening and weekends – and yeah some “volunteer” at his work too – setting up internal potlucks and raffles to help colleagues with cancer treatment and living expenses…
Yeah – and separating paper – not a hard job and remembering that it is a sitting down job to take a break from the standing up hauling loads job – that’s what my Dad did too… He was also the treasurer to many organizations. And one special time, I was too little to remember, he would drive up to an hour each way in the evening to go help flood victims each night – cleaning out their houses – people he didn’t even know.
Of course, he got to know them – being personable too – he helped a neighbor of a friend he knew thru his service club and we would go visit them years later – he would bring us to see them – both households. The neighbor was a glassblower – immigrant family – old timers – nearly 80 in the 1970’s then – but in his hayday he made beautiful artwork – and then when my mom was talking in the kitchen with his wife, the wife would sneak a piece to my mom to give her – and say “don’t tell my husband’ – but the husband knew and told my dad it was OK to let my mom take them… We still have them – and even I have a glass-made crystal clear candy cane uniquely made by him for that christmas… Treasures – but of memories over items – the items will last – for a time – the memories will be treasures forever.
That is special remembering my Dad – that He would have helped too…
That is special knowing the Lord – that He has made us His Hands and Feet – He helps and He has us help too – to share that love – to be of service – to make a difference – and to shed a few tears in between.
And to be present.
That is the moment that matters most – being present (presence) IS the present (gift) for the present (now).
God always provides the LOVE – so don’t worry about that – Jesus said DON’T WORRY about anything – and if Jesus was saying it – He was showing it too – a moment that MATTERS.
Amen
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Matthew 6:25-34 New King James Version Do Not Worry “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
“Love That Bears All Things” (Galatians 5:22-26; 1 Corinthians 13:7, Psalm 1, John 15)
NOTE: edited to add photos from the actual service!!! Thankful for my church family!
The first of the Show Love series – “Love in Action” – and we will cover the spectrum of love but wow we could never comprehend or describe the whole gamut of love – AGAPE love – a LOVE so huge without measure – that God gives us… We (our 4 sharers) will talk about Love in Action over the next few weeks starting today with “Love That Bears All Things” (Galatians 5:22-26; 1 Corinthians 13:7) – then talk about “Loving God” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Matthew 22:34-40) – “Loving Your Neighbor” (Luke 10:25-37) – “Loving Your Enemy” (Matthew 5:43-48, Romans 12:17-21) – “Radical Hospitality” (Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 13:2) and “The Love of Jesus” (John 13:1-17, John 15:9-17).
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TODAY IS FATHER’S DAY – HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!!!
HOW WONDERFUL TO CELEBRATE OUR EARTHLY FATHERS – and our Heavenly One
AND as scripture reminds us to weep with those who weep, we send condolences to those who have lost their dads, and also those whose relationships are strained – we are in a broken world when we know of so many with strained relationships… We ask the Lord’s mercy and healing to all these situations – if not now then in heaven…
Today – we also remember our Heavenly Father – God – who IS LOVE – and we celebrate through the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and The Holy Spirit to talk about SHOWING LOVE.
We cannot do these things I listed in the upcoming scripture series about SHOWING LOVE without God HIMSELF – and how can we show this Love to a higher level unless we start with an understanding of how Love TO US has been shown to us – and what a fitting way to start here on Father’s Day – Our Heavenly Father Who gave us life by giving us His Love – being His Love and spreading that to us…
LOVEbears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
HOW MUCH DO OUR FATHERS EMPOWER US – TO LIVE OUR LIVES AS INDEPENDENT GROWING CHILDREN – AND YET TO KEEP TRACK OF US – LIKE AS OUR PARENT I KNOW HE WILL REDUCE HIS WORRY ABOUT US BY PROVIDING FOR US…
I think of my Dad, gone few years ago now – can’t believe it but I know He is in Heaven OK – I believe that He is playing cards with the guys – I am content that he is taken care of… In the last of my dad’s weeks – his communication was limited but his mind was still there – and his love never wavered – I visited as often as I could since it is 5 plus hours away – and on one of the last times I saw him, he said “how long will it take you?” And he looked distantly at the clock – he knew that clock… He looked at that clock and the worry on his face told me everything. Granted the roads are so much better now than when he drove up and down – but that stretch thru the mountains was what worried him – I can still hear him say “drive it in the daylight” – he cared and cares. He wanted to make sure I would be OK – I was.
My Grandpa ALSO – as a dad – always asked how my brakes were on my car. Always checking in.
[Also I was wearing a t-shirt that said ‘GO against the flow” with a little white fish in the background of colorful letters as a gift from my friend moving and me packing her Dad’s items – things I found that reminded us of how much she loved him – because he loved her first – and that is what Jesus tells us – that He loved us before we were even born – love by Jesus is long – longsuffering and patient…. and our path should be AGAINST the flow of the world – don’t go with the world – go with JESUS – He will bring you to places He needs you to be…]
Love bears all things – love bears the worry of a father for his children – how much more our Heavenly Father bears that love – bears concern and yes provides for us in all ways.
I am blessed to talk about the ways that God Shows us Love – so that we may show it to others – You know that saying: “He EQUIPS the called – not He calls the equipped” – meaning we can go to God with nothing and He will provide. He provides our skillsets our personalities our energy our demeaner.
We should remember to rely upon God for the gifts – and the Holy Spirit reminder to use those gifts. Here is that great scripture – but wait – I HAVE PROPS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
——– Bring out the binder clip Words of the Fruits of the Spirit ————–
Galatians 5:22-26 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (also called patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
—- speak about JOY – Jesus Others Yourself – that is the order of whom we should think about
—- speak about long-suffering – our earthly troubles nothing compared to God’s Longsuffering
—- speak about self-control – about a tube of toothpaste that is things we can not control always – but should – you can’t get it back in the tube. My friend teaching Sunday school said she would get out $100 cash and tell her Sunday school kids she would give it to them if they could figure out how to get all the toothpaste back into the tube (after squirting out all the toothpaste) that something like saying hurtful things – you can never take those back and can’t get the toothpaste back in the tube…
The next line in the scripture reminds us to “stay in line with God” – “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” We are to experience Love in getting us through the rough stuff and to get to the forgiveness and to reduce our neediness – and increase our willingness to “let it go” – don’t sweat the small stuff… This is both in us getting what we are blessed with and NOT getting what we really would be destined for if we didn’t have this love of Jesus – this is LOVE giving us Grace and Mercy.
Thank God we have all this – and we have MORE!!!
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Read again 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.1 Corinthians 13:7-13 NKJV
YES – love that can bear these things from us – is the love that we can bear for each other – and I want to do a visual demonstration for our tree of life comes from Jesus’s sacrifice from the beginning – and we are to gain these attributes of love from His love.
We have go to make a tree – grow our tree to bear all these fruits –
How are we going to keep this tree up??? The bible has the advice of course:
Psalm 1 NKJV of David – to talk about devotion to God – it also talks about the ungodly – but I am certain here that we are in church to become more devoted – to question and to at least pause and think of the benefits of sticking close to God – to gain the fruits of the spirit.
The Way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,And in His law he meditates day and night.3 HE SHALL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER, THAT BRINGS FORTH ITS FRUIT IN ITS SEASON, WHOSE LEAF ALSO SHALL NOT WITHER; AND WHATEVER HE DOES SHALL PROSPER.
4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
——- VISUAL DEMONSTRATION – with help from the audience – put the words in color bursts onto pieces of the material to symbolize wood – how are we going to make this stand up – how do we get all these pieces together – (someone yells – we need a tree) – and YES – bring in the the cross made from sticks and the trunk the strong cardboard material – and then have the volunteers help wrap the tree cross with the green vines – representing a LIVING JESUS – and then move the fruit of the spirit words on carabiner clips to the mockup of a tree – that these are fruits to bear… and we can’t do it without Jesus – we need HIM – structurally, living, giving, forgiving, whole…
Conclude with the scripture from John 15 – Jesus will be that support for our bearing of fruits – bearing the good stuff and the bad stuff. Jesus gives us the growth potential – Jesus the True Vine – and Jesus tells us that God will prune away the unproductive ness of us… Jesus tells us about Himself – that we can not do anything without Him.
Our efforts and our fruit are resulting from God pruning our branches for HIS Fruit –
Read John 15 NKJV – The True Vine
15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. AMEN – and conclude with prayer…
Buried, Risen, only to be buried again???, that’s what my Jesus plush doll looks like, buried under a pile of my own paperwork, which I know is important but I couldn’t tell you what was in it. And gee I hope I paid the bills!
Each of these plush Jesus dolls from the Hallmark store have a slightly unique look, so I think the doll has a “trying to be non judgmental” but with an all-knowing smile, even a smirk at our humanness. Because we all know that Jesus sees right through us.
Don’t worry, I’ll get through this paperwork sorted, it is nothing more than 3 inches. I’ve actually been filtering instead through somebody else’s paperwork recently for helping my friend move. She has made TREMENDOUS STRIDES and will skip town with the moving pods early next week. It’s kind of addicting helping people and projects, the project fits my personality and mental quick processing mind to match my fingers. After helping at least 4 different friends at different times clean out their backlog of paper, I pretty much know what I’m looking for (sort, shred, save, stash away for another look). I even understand history and vintage things up to 100 years. I’m fair in saving and trashing the uncleanable. And you do have to look at everything.
Shred to the right, recycle the folders to the left. Take out the binder clips but leave paperclips. Be thankful for free shredding drives. I’ve done this numerous times – I pull up a chair and just decompress my day while my mind filters the paper…
And the same is true with cleaning out my family farmstead, up north (we are not cleaning it out but cleaning it up, honestly it can become a museum in my opinion). That cleaning has no quick time frame, like my friend’s who is moving. But up home those folks are not getting any younger in their 80’s… At my farmstead, my most treasured treasures are the people who still remember the stuff. This makes for a more delicate sort but also a chance to reminisce.
We are on God’s time frame, so we are to remember the people who won’t always be around. In all occasions it is good to remove the excess 25 to 125 years of paper and shred and recycle… and it’s even more important to remember the memories. But if there’s too much stuff and everything is important then nothing is important… so we must weed out the clutter and rescue the memories.
It’s especially important to LOOK – to underearth the treasures, this can range from a Dad’s dogtags to a child’s artwork, you don’t have to keep everything – there are treasures for someone else – that is valuable in the universe of sharing. And in cleaning we can go through our own memories and appreciate the past that doesn’t have to follow us in paperwork. (and remember things that USED to be important even stressful and don’t even ring a bell now)… Time heals all wounds… And so we might want to save items that can be token not necessarily big, knowing the experience is treasured. Of course the love is forever.
They say there are only two certain things in life: death and taxes. But don’t forget the LOVE… there is certainty that there is LOVE because God is LOVE and God LOVES us. This can be squishy plush LOVE or tough LOVE towards us, it is always AGAPE love over the top and more than we deserve or could understand. And our LOVE of mercy and grace will bring us closer to Jesus. We need to bring JESUS into our lives and rise Him up in our piles that need to be shed. And by raising our eyes to focus on Him we raise up His values and our hope. Find Him in all things.
He rose once, we don’t need to bury Him again!
Let us be more like Jesus in Love and in looking above!
Shed the pack, don’t pack the shed.
Don’t ever pack away love, unpack it and take it forth.
Amen
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John 15 NKJV
The True Vine
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Love and Joy Perfected
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.
The World’s Hatred
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
The Coming Rejection
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
My friend who is moving has worked her last day at her office! I wouldn’t say she is retiring but moving to different work because the work she’s gonna go do over there – far from here – is to help raise her grandkids. She is so talented she also could work anywhere…
I don’t know about my retirement but think that when one retires, you can think of the ALL things you could do!!! Or when you retire, think of the things you DON’T need to do… and give up unpleasant things to do. I think I just need a vacation personally, give my brain a chance to think… but wow if I was retired, THINK of the THINKING you could do! OR NOT!
AND THEN I THOUGHT RETIREMENT COULD BE LIKE RETREDDING… When you retread a tire, it is not retired, just given new life with the same core. Then new veneers of rubber help keep the truck running on the road.
When you retire as a person, like my friend is, you’ve go to keep moving!
Some push the pedal to the medal and speed forward, some put their pedal pushers on and kick back.
Yesterday I was at a home improvement store getting rocks for painting, not for vacation bible school or a school class, but for my work friend for a nice activity of writing encouraging messages.
Dr Randy came up the aisle and help load these heavy bags, eight in total. just chit-chat, but seemingly of a retired age. I surmised that he was keeping busy. Then when he asked me what school the rocks were for, he started to tell me that he was a professor and taught college courses at 2 local prestigious universities. Then I said why are you here? And he said I gotta pay the ex-wife, and we both laughed… he’s got a full marine pension… this man certainly can keep busy. And i’m sure he is a blessing because works hard, plus he is hassling in a good way and advising all the younger workers…
It’s good when we keep our retreated retired wheels on the road.
What about fishing? Is everybody says “gone fishing” when on vacation or retired. Well when you decide to keep working for the Lord in His fishing of men, you can work your whole life AND in retirement to RETHREAD and reweave and reinforce the nets. You can still keep going…
And on your retredded tires, you probably have lots of work for the Lord, He puts more gas in the tank, your tank, our tanks….
I had to get a photo – of this minivan with a magnet saying “Do you follow Jesus this closely?” – cute – but a good question…
There was another road construction stretch yesterday – and wow that road was smooth and fabulous – they were still painting and I thought to take a photo of the template set down before the arrow was painted – so interesting to use a dotted line template before filling it in. This is how I pre-wrote letters for my kids – especially of their names when they were starting to learn how to write (they both are well educated now and marvelous in being smart – my daughter just got her first review and a glowing review it was! plus a raise! yeah! my son is interested in pursuing higher education more too – and I keep learning!)
As for a scripture for following Jesus – I think the dotted lines are appropriate – because we know the direction but how that arrow is filled in will be so unique to us and to how the Lord must make it brighter and brighter for us to really understand. This arrow was faint but I saw it – the next one will be painted and clear – the next level would likely be an overhead sign, and then there is the all out “flashing lights” for direction you can’t miss and/or traffic light addition that could be used for regulation. All in All – the direction is to THAT direction.
We need direction and we also need that forgiveness when we go the wrong way – sometimes we don’t see the arrow that is faint – sometimes we are asleep at the wheel – sometimes we are purposefully plotters of plodders into muck and mud or a disastrous wrong turn. In scripture story, King David took some disastrous wrong turns and paid the price in both sorrow and being pursued by enemies. David went down the wrong path, but he did then look for the light – the flashing light of LIFE in Jesus. Psalm 25 prays to be forgiven, delivered, and set on the right path again. We should all pray this… Keep my soul, and deliver me… Show me… Teach me… Lead me…
If only we could follow as closely as a car magnet – or have our dotted lines and lives filled in by our glorious painter for clearer direction. If only we keep on the road that is newly paved for us. If only we recognize our only way to Jesus is to ask forgiveness and for His Loving Kindness – Mercy for the sins we do, Grace for the acts we can not repair but do repent for. We must turn to prayer for everything in between…
To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth…
Amen
Psalm 25 NKJV
A Plea for Deliverance and Forgiveness – A Psalm of David.
To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.
Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. For Your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses! Look on my affliction and my pain, And forgive all my sins. Consider my enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred. Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.
Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
It may be early, but it’s summer and early morning we (the cat and I) can go outside. My peas and strawberry plants are reaching fruition in fruiting and the birds are chirping, the cat is happier outside. It is not too buggy yet, I wrapped up with an old sheet for a blanket for protection anyway. Life is good within the small slice of the 6am morning before time marches on.
The cardinal chirping was clear, there are distinct calls for each bird, was it warning or song? (Many think the cardinals are visits from our family members – well they would be warning us too as well as encouraging us to keep moving forward and be fruitful. Truly the warnings and encouragements of life are to keep moving forward always anyway…)
There are dangers in the world, for birds yes, and for us too. The best warning is to guard against the drain of our fruitfulness, for stresses and unknowns come but we are to stay solid upon the Rock of the Lord’s support and the fertile ground of His enrichment. We need to always grow and grow in all ways – especially in Patience and in Piety. There are times that things work out and other times we have “what ifs?”… and yet each morning is reset as new, there is a time to just pause and pray. This is the time to stop racing thoughts, just work, praise, pray, play, and participate in life. There is a season for everything, like Ecclesiastes 3 recounts – and we are to ask the Lord to help us “number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” – which to me means to strike when the iron is hot, and change directions when it is not!
Proverbs 19:20-121 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.
After my fruitful container garden (may not look pretty but it is pretty secured against the groundhog and rabbits) is harvested from strawberries and peas – the early season is done, in a couple of weeks, maybe the tomatoes will be planted, got to still buy those, and maybe my sitting outside will be different again. Life and seasons change quickly. But pray the sun still rises and mornings still come with new mercies and more and different fruitfulness.
These garden fruits take time to develop and within us, if we picture fruitfulness – we can gain it – by wisdom – and ask for the Lord to lay HIS Fruit upon us for His usefulness of our work for HIM (and ourselves). The fruits of the Spirit (Romans 12) are: JOY, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. These are all to be applied and accepted with LOVE. That is the harvest of the Lord in us.
Amen
Solomon laments not always understanding life and surely observes life in Ecclesiastes 3 – but especially he knows that God is in charge – and knows there is a time for everything:
Ecclesiastes 3 NIV A Time for Everything There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.
And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”
I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Purpose – if we say we are driven by purpose – let us put ourselves in the proper seat – the passenger – because God’s Purpose prevails and therefore it is best to let Him Drive – because He is the owner of not just the car but the roads and the houses and the hills and the cows on the hills and the stuff made from the stuff on the hills.
How a West Side story CD figures into His Plan is mind-blowing if only to know that He likes to shake you up sometimes and remind you of HIS PLANS – not yours…
We must PLAN to follow HIM – plan to look for HIS PURPOSE…
I am busy – that is not a curse but a blessing. I am OK – being busy is a blessing that keeps on blessing. I am a sharer of time and resources, a connector of people and concepts, a sanguine personality Hippocrates would say of the small section of human population, I am a “Campaigner” aka the 16personalities website based upon the Myers Briggs psychology tests, otherwise known as an ENFP. The source material says the Campaigner is a personality type with “the Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Prospecting traits. These people tend to embrace big ideas and actions that reflect their sense of hope and goodwill toward others. Their vibrant energy can flow in many directions.”
Yup – that’s me – I was raised this way and made this way – it does get tiring but I’ve never been so blessed to see a role for my life… And yeah – to sing God’s praises too that He keeps me in this life.
I’ve written blogs for work and here – and connect my many experiences – purpose-driven means you never run out of experiences. (I am longing for the vacation experience too, LOL). Well yesterday there was a connection I made from a work blog talking about the Foster Kids that we are helping with decorating birthday boxes – and this person saw at work about our help for foster kids in homes – providing them a birthday box of items to celebrate them – we get to color the items and write inspirational messages – we get to help kids we don’t even know… I was amazed when this person I newly connected with at another site (another state) told me about a child in the Foster system and the struggles of more kids than homes available to give them homes. I also read that a Campaigner personality person is more likely to be the person who adopts kids. Well, I thought – well I am not planning to adopt any little kids but I’ve always been appreciative to be with these big kids who are “work kids” – I could be like the Grandma to them – which I have taken on as a mentality for years – be bright – be brief and be gone is the toastmaster’s motto for giving speeches. Well, grandmothers hang in the picture longer.
Grandmothers – I was cleaning out from my friend’s yard sale all the paper accumulation from being a mom of 3 – all the elementary attendance awards etc – kids artwork – papers for report cards – volumes and volumes – and I loved seeing the cards that said – “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!” – I was thinking of that little girl in the foster care system – how much her life is different right now. And I know that my friend needs to get to her daughter (grown up) and grandkids as she moves cross country. HOW MANY WONDERFUL GRANDMOTHERS EXIST THAT HELP THEIR GRANDKIDS!!!! There is purpose in my friend’s moving – purpose in her kids lives and to so many whom she doesn’t even know yet.
THAT’S ALL OF US – YOU TOO – PURPOSE – THE LORD’S PURPOSE – SO KEEP GOING!!!
And then in the pile of stuff – after I had just been thinking of the Tony Awards and wouldn’t it have been nice to have some good old time Broadway ballads like West Side Story on the show – nearly less than an hour later from that thought – in that box of paperwork – was a new unwrapped CD of West Side Story – original cast – I mean what are the chances – in a 30yr old box of papers… What are the odds… There is no odd that could encompass that randomness of not random… I think the angels in the realm of this world like to throw in a reminder here and there that WE ARE NOT IN CHARGE – that GOD IS IN CHARGE – HIS PURPOSE will prevail.
We are to step one day at a time – and encounter the people He needs us to be with.
Lord – today let us keep walking in step with you and do the random things that remind us that YOU ARE IN CHARGE – let us look for purpose of plan and planning – prodding and plotting – poise and performance – and playful purpose too…
Purpose – God’s Got it for us!!!
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
The Lord has been so good to me and even especially to tell me that I am OK – I have the ability to count my blessings, which after salvation is probably the best gift He has given me personally in my soul gratefulness, allowing me to then do everything else in my life…
This is a poem I wrote a while ago in November – “I put away my stressings, to count my blessings”. Funny how I remember writing it but don’t – must be some Holy Spirit inspiration. Now I re-release it for my hardworking friend who is moving her whole life’s worth of stuff across the country – I send this writing back out as a re-release with New HOLY SPIRIT power…
In the yard sale and packing and sorting – we worked HARD over the weekend – and made lots of progress – physically and mentally. Our bodies HURT – hers worse – but made marked remarkable progress. Yes there is more to do but it CAN be done – that is the best thing to know: IT CAN BE DONE… thanks for prayers…
And to work though mental blockages of “this is too hard” – my friend put it in gear when she needed too – the moving momentum of Jesus’s Will within her – and we put the pedal to the metal and “got it done” – THIS was the PENTOCOST of life in movement… She will be sharing with her grandkids all about Jesus, in their language – the language of little kids – and she will inspire others immensely…
Here is the poem I wrote before – so fitting today for many – including myself – “I Saw Today, I Was OK” – editted somewhat from before.
Let us count our blessings – know we are OK.
THANK YOU LORD – our souls know we are OK. I am OK.
Amen
A Poem: I Saw Today, I Was OK
I saw today my neighbor with a repaired broken hip,
No one likes hospitals but seeing her BIG BIG smile was well worth my trip…
I Saw Today, I Was OK.
I put away my stressings, to count my blessings.
.
I felt cold today from frozen toes,
But the cat begged and then was SO con-tent outside, so you know how that goes…
I Saw Today, I Was OK.
I put away my stressings, to count my blessings.
.
I walked today slowly politely behind a man with a crutch.
He had just one leg, a loss I can’t even dream as having such.
I Saw Today, I Was OK.
I put away my stressings, to count my blessings.
.
I held today cash to pay some bills.
I can make plans. I can even plan some frills and thrills.
I Saw Today, I Was OK.
I put away my stressings, to count my blessings.
.
I heard today recorded 911 calls from a school shooting, a voice crying.
A brave 10 year old begging help for the dying.
I Saw Today, in vast comparison, I Was OK, my own children were OK.
I put away my stressings, to count my blessings.
.
I consulted the Lord today.
There is so much UGH in life’s fray.
There’s cruddy stuff on the airways.
Friends turned foes these strifeful days.
We must rise above the crud TODAY. We must choose LOVE today.
.
I consulted the Lord today.
A broken world can not heal in any human way.
So there ARE prayers,
There ARE HOPEFUL prayers.
Why don’t we pray for others today.
Accept our own blessings and say: “I am OK.”
.
When I have called upon the Lord, He gave me peace, He showed me love.
He gave me action or inaction with pondering. He sheltered my day.
He responded to my past jams with His amazing plans. I must believe Him now, He told me He will resolve all my troubles, our troubles, in HIS WAY.
.
I Saw Today, I Was OK.
I put away my stressings, to count my blessings.
.
Let us wait on the Lord and pray.
Amen
—
Psalm 116
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”
The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.”
What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.
Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord— in your midst, Jerusalem.
You have made known to me the ways of life;You will make me full of joy in Your presence.
I enjoyed the randomness of Saturday. I try walking by faith not by sight, Saturday makes that easier especially when you put all your whims into God’s Wind – the Holy Spirit to take one anywhere – even just around the corner. We are to walk by faith and insight… which of course isn’t possible for us to know everything that God has going on. Which of course events are not random anyway… because every day is a great day to listen for God and His Direction. And today is celebrating Pentecost. God gives us the power of the Holy Spirit to just do His Will – and to move in His Power – and even to rest in His rest.
I enjoyed enjoying the whole day Saturday, EVEN if EXHAUSTING, by helping my friend with her moving estate sale… Sunday is another busy day with the sale after church and wrapping up stuff as she gets ready to move, prayers appreciated. Honestly these are prayers answered because it’s really happening and progress has been palatable and God given. I appreciate that we don’t live because of a God whim but a God WIN and a God WIND blowing the stress and stuff away. All good things come from God, and this coming together is all good, ALL GOD.
In faith I enjoyed helping, as well as talking to people. The people at the sale included our first customer, a woman from West Africa originally who told me she was so happy as a child and all she had was one pair of flip flops and now as an older adult here in America, she marvels at her own addiction to shoes and why we are such consumers. However her amazing fashion sneakers, name brand, she got at a yard sale for a dollar. I would have to say that as Americans we are consumers but by looking at the piles of things we have, we’re more like those people who have way too much on their plates and they just keep moving it around.
Then there were the metal scrapper guys who were like the best guys in the world SO HELPFUL. They filled up their truck, but also they were moving stuff and helping with other customers to just enjoy chatting in a rainy morning situation when you had a great garage to work in. And wow we had some big storms and big winds but that garage stood still.
I enjoyed my multiple trips to donate items. It’s unique when you roll your car up and they give you a whole big bucket to fill. It is unique when you look at the volume of stuff we have and we could get it for practically free if we just didn’t mind it was used.
OK back to the sale and more interesting people. I found myself putting on a costume space helmet and waving at cars. As it was lunch time by then, and I impromptu made a delivery of an old fashioned push lawn mower, the guy was tickled pink, and even game me a ten dollar tip… with the cash in hand plus I had a twenty, I had the awesome randomness of driving right by the market. Oh! A power outage at a stretch of road made the novelty of pitch black at the market with the exception of everybody’s cell phone flashlights, everybody was orderly, pleasant, KIND even. Funny situation but every one still wanted their food – and had to be more patient with the situation. Everybody seemed to be doing fine. Everybody got their donuts and their barbecue… and hardly even had to wait in line. It was cash only but plenty of people had it. (They said power came back on within two hours.)
Back to the sale and enjoying lunch. More people and personalities – more rain and randomness – more God motivation.
So yes I enjoyed enjoyed the whole day, but wow my back – too much lifting and not enough resting – but that because it is my own fault for not resting… But I was having fun wearing myself out and well, ibuprofen and rest and the Lord brought it back to OK – and to start a fresh day – I am PRAISING that my legs and my back feel so much better and ready to start the day. I also know other people who need prayer so let us pause and pray: Lord, bless, teach, and sustain us another not-random day.
In my recovery, fueled by God, rest and ibuprofen, I can see the devotion right away. One could say that my recovery was IN reconciliation PHYSICALLY. First achy then OK. So how much more could we long for in reconciliation SPIRITUALLY? Broken then WHOLE. In Jesus we are WHOLE. And what will we do between now and when we are back with the Lord spiritually because our then physical situation has finally failed us in death? Well – we will WALK BY FAITH – not by sight… and rest by faith too.
Yeah…
In faith walking by faith each day is in an easy hard way – and man, it is a HARD walk to walk like you think Jesus would walk you and approach interactive situations all the time… It is IMPOSSIBLE for Man but only with God is it possible to keep walking…
We need Jesus to be more like Jesus. That is where the Holy Spirit is here to help!!! Pentecost – the wind of the Lord is the Win of the Lord. Jesus came, Jesus left and Jesus sent an advocate to accomplish His Will in our Work. And His Work is to LOVE. Know we are loved and then love God and love others because God loves them.
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ –that scripture is a command and a wish and a hope and a life to live. To be an ambassador FOR Christ is to meet the people where they are, and remind them of the hope that comes from Christ – and GIFTS INCLUDING the self-control, the faithfulness, the gentleness, the JOY, and all those other things that come when the Lord puts His fruit onto YOUR branch of HIS VINE… We can’t do anything without Jesus – can’t do anything AS an ambassador for Christ unless we let Him have His Will… For we walk by faith, not by sight.
I am just now listening to this very energetic and sweet sounding bird outside my window. It is so nice to be able to sleep with the windows open. I think these birds chirp by faith. We should too. We need to sing of Him – LIVE BY FAITH AND INSIGHT!!!
Amen
2 Corinthians 5 NKJV Assurance of the Resurrection For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
The Judgment Seat of Christ Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
Be Reconciled to God For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Acts 2 NKJV Coming of the Holy Spirit When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The Crowd’s Response And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
Peter’s Sermon But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. For David says concerning Him:
‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
A Vital Church Grows And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
I don’t know how I got started watching but a youtube news reel from the Sept 11th attacks was a REAL reel to me, since I was there in that point of time and remember the events in my perspective. And then I started looking at the map because I have never been to the flight 93 memorial area in the middle of nowhere but somewhere – it is south of Pittsburgh – and actually near a place I went year after year, for camping – and it is not far from Fallingwater the Frank Llyod Wright house.
Well, the park service has a wonderful webpage and after the video, I went and read each passenger on that Flight 93 and what they did – and importantly who they called back home before they decided to attack and fight back “Let’s Roll”… https://www.nps.gov/flni/learn/historyculture/crew-and-passengers.htm
Here are some quotes from the page: “When terrorists took over their plane, Gronlund called her sister to express her love, give her the combination to her safe, and say good-bye.”
and from a flight attendant talking about the passengers (forced in the back who voted to attack the cockpit): “During the hijacking of Flight 93, Lyles phoned her husband, reaching their answering machine. She told him, “I hope to be able to see your face again, baby. I love you. Good-bye.” In a second call five minutes before the crash, the couple spoke and prayed together. Her husband recalls that she told him, “Tell the boys I love them. We’re getting ready to do it now. It’s happening!” “
They were trading their lives for others – they knew that the planes had already hit the trade center towers – they heard on those phone calls. They had to act.
The video interview I watched was with the 2 first fighter pilots (who had no missiles on their planes but scrambled up to the air as immediate as you can imagine) – this interview was 20 years later – and they said they were not armed but willing (and had discussed it) that one would ram the front of the plane and the other would ram the rear. https://youtu.be/3H1JHVI7kCo?si=0kPvv-IDG5YV01cj
The other video was about how the secret service had to delicately tell the president of the situation while in front of school children learning to read – and how he and the press core knew all this (and reacted themselves) and then knew they had to keep their cool for a moment around all these school children – the interesting how they were determined to be calm and collected – and then such interesting photos of the war rooms (for both president and separately the press) set up in childhood classrooms… So interesting to watch 20 plus years later. They had to stay calm and decide how to act. https://youtu.be/ripNNLiSFUY?si=QpSwBFlBh92vb8C4
One could be mesmerized all day by these experiences.
This past week was D-day – honestly we forget even if we did study this over and over – but if you experienced it yourself then you would remember… That memory and that history gets written down and shared. Imagine how much gets lost…. Surreal…
Imagine now how much is saved in the bible – details – down to numbers of soldiers and the songs of prayers and praise around the battles – and around every day activities… This is the workings of the Lord – who traded His life on earth for so many that day – FOR EVERYONE – and traded His whole life for the Word made flesh – the Word from the beginning to the continuing… Imagine too that Jesus decided to trade one life for another – all while keeping us calm and making sure we, as little children, understood and were not jostled into life’s troubles… We may see the troubled reels and reals of life now, but we don’t have to worry about the long term battle – Jesus already won…
Interesting to know our Lord – and it know His Love. A Blessing to know it for REAL and for FOREVER.
Amen
—
1st John 3
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
More on Love and Hatred For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
one more entry from a passenger, whose bible survived
On September 11, Donald Arthur and his wife Jean Hoadley Peterson were traveling to Yosemite National Park in California for a vacation with Jean’s brother and parents. When they arrived at the Newark airport early that morning, they were offered the opportunity to take Flight 93 instead of their scheduled, later flight. Don was the retired President of Continental Electric Company in New Jersey. Volunteerism, driven by deep faith, filled him and his wife’s retirement years. Don worked with men struggling with drug and alcohol dependency. They mentored and supported many in their church and community of Spring Lake, New Jersey. Don grew up in South Orange, New Jersey, had an electrical engineering degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and earned an MBA from Rutgers University. When the Petersons married in 1984, each had three children from a previous marriage. Don’s personal Bible was recovered at the Flight 93 crash site, complete with a handwritten list of men for whom he was praying.
Give up – tired, wondering, frustrated – but Give Anyways.
Give in – don’t try to win, keep the peace, move forward – Give in but Give Anyways.
Give out – broken but ok, survive for another day, give it all away – give it anyway – Give Anyways.
Give until it hurts, Give Anyways…
.
Give it a chance, Get everything
Give hope, Get everything
Give glory, Get everything
Give until it hurts, Give Anyways…
.
Give generously, Get the idea
Give thoughtfully Get the IDEA
Give idealistically, Give the IDEAL
Give until it hurts, Give Anyways…
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GIVE UNCONDITIONALLY, GIVE JESUS
GIVE WISDOM, GIVE JESUS
GIVE EVERYTHING, GIVE JESUS
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GIVE JESUS, GIVE PEACE
GIVE JESUS, GIVE LOVE
GIVE JESUS, BE JESUS
.
AMEN
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God’s Love and Ours 1st JOHN 4:7-21 NIV 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. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
If we had summer all the time, we would NOT appreciate it.
I am sitting outside, just ate a strawberry from my garden, awaiting the peas. This is an early summer morning, no mosquitoes yet, cat is content in her tent, birds are chirping, God is good.
Just ate a strawberry from the container garden but some in the garden are left, the birds left me some. God takes care of those birds, and surely us. Yes, looking forward to the peas soon and I am reminiscing to remember how quickly things go from flower to fruit. How quickly spring sprung when it did. How quickly it will soon get hot and then how quickly it might fade in the fall. But right now, this is a moment to enjoy.
Last night too, went to our local baseball game, free tickets (with food) for a work perk, not mine but my daughter’s! Cool… I was thankfully there as invited yet third wheel for the “youngsters”, but nice chit chat about architecture stuff, tiles ceilings etc, over summer picnic fare of hamburgers and hotdogs and watermelon, included. Interestingly, her firm was the one that originally worked on that ball park… It is so interesting to partake of something that you are not involved with, but yet you can reap then benefits… I sat later right behind home plate for the last inning, cool…
Isn’t that us and time and summer and God’s blessings. We are partakers watching from behind third base or right nearly in the dugout. We witness the world and yet the Lord wants us to be a part of it. He gets us up each morning to “Play Life!” Even if it is no game…
I watched the little kids at the ballpark and remembered 20 years ago, when my little ones wouldn’t sit still… how far we’ve come in just twenty years. I can’t even remember to appreciate what the fullness of time will be like for us…
If there are nine innings in baseball, some boring some exciting, then life moves the same. This inning is summer, soak it in…
Lord, teach us to number our days and stretch the hours too.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.
Amen
Psalm 90 NIV
A prayer of Moses the man of God.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting YOU ARE GOD.
You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death – they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered.
We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.
It is a joy of math, yes math… I’m a forever nerd of course, loved math club in high school and the awesome topics in a club format was a no pressure tickling of the mind, fun from fractions to fractals… Get your pens and pencils out… Protractors and straight edges. That was 40 years ago now, wow. I just used basic math, just now, to figure out how long ago from my age. Basic math of figures, different than the basic math of figuring out life.
Can we figure out life? (And I’m not talking about the number 42 from the hitch-hikers guide to the universe, nerds)… Life tells us things but Jesus says “Don’t worry” – even about the math…
But math is something you do, you need, you figure out with teaching tools AND RULES. So when my youngest started to get serious interested in furthering education, I started grinning ear to ear, heart string to apron string. It’s not about cutting an apron string but myself being strung along on this adventure to further education to jump into life – to have a future. But oh I have to take this ONE DAY AT A TIME, I’M REMINDED BY THE LORD, take life one day at a time. AND it is NOT my college experience but theirs. (and they have to take it one day at a time too!)
SO, before I can jump in delight on any upcoming trip(s) to visit the place(s) or rush to buy my college mom sweatshirt, first we must do math! Oh, there’s a math placement test. OH MATH!!!!
My youngest asked for my help to brush up on learning. I’ve never been SO HAPPY to be a mom-nerd, nerd-mom in my life. It’s like I can’t help you in teaching you how to cook but I CAN discuss fractions and show the old school basic division AND all the tricks of the trade to simplify fractions and do algebraic equations. But the basic truths I’ve applied mathematically, that I would have learned from years and years of nerd-time, like flipping a fraction when dividing became not good enough of an answer to “WHY” not just “HOW”. Hmmm, a high school grad’s question from something they never absorbed but was rote memorization for me, that is tough to teach. And 40yrs later I can’t remember half the why’s (thank God for Google), and only a part of the hows.
Do we feel like we have been relearning the how? In math and life? We all are. Sometimes one just has rules to KNOW and apply. Sometimes we just live life in the basic figuring out of being blessed without understanding all aspects of God’s complex plan.
Figuring out life is more than basic math, it is complex, we don’t always know the HOW. BUT WE DO KNOW THE WHO!!!
THE WHO IS GOD!!!!
Not “WHO is God?” but “God is WHO”. God Himself, who is a mathematician too (of course He is looking at how complex and rule-following patterns are like swirls in a sunflower), God is in charge and will take care of us – not to worry. Need to figure out life? Just rely on God – LOVE is the answer – the solution for the problems. Love was there from before time – and before math.
Math done for real life is everything from money to cutting an pizza. It comes down to figuring out money often as one of the life skills we apply. We do need to pay the rent and put food on the table, yet we worry obsessively over things and not the basics.
Jesus said don’t worry about the basic math of life, just live it.
Jesus said JUST LOVE – don’t hate – Just live – don’t die – be still and still be.
Jesus says “Don’t worry” – even about the math of life…
I urge the reading of Matthew 6:19-34 NIV – where JESUS KNOWS THE MATH AND MEANING OF TREASURES OF LIFE OF LOVE – JESUS KNOWS THE HOW AND WHY AND ‘DON’T WORRIES’ OF IT ALL.
We number our days – and count on HIM…
Amen
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“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom”. Psalm 90:12
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Matthew 6 – Jesus teaches:
Treasures in Heaven “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Do Not Worry “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I wrote a meeting reminder on my hand… I told my coworker that I was looking forward to July – the month of VBS – and he was saying how relieved HE WAS that I was not RUNNING a VBS anymore – haha – was it THAT bad? So much that others picked up on the volume of work that stressed THEM out? geez…. I don’t think that it was bad, busy yes, never bad to get focus from the Lord and zone IN…
Well, I know that I had SO MUCH to do during those years – but well YEAH and it was fun too – busy but fun and now I remember it both so far gone in my past and so recently….
And well it was a good chapter in my life – that who knows if someday I will reopen full leader as it was fulfilling – but yeah each year it took much of my summer away – but I don’t regret any moment of it – however this volume of “free time” now is nice too. It is hard sometimes to NOT be in charge but good too, most important is to recharge and do what the Lord needs us (me) to do…
And this year? I told my co-worker, I am not RUNNING any of them but I am HELPING in 3 and a half VBS… yeah well… not running but LOVING VBS… The first one I don’t know yet specifically what I am doing, will have to plug in when asked, second one I think I am doing games in the evening, and third one I know I am doing science and crafts, that’s half planned. and the “half” VBS is just one day with a weekend VBS, I’m looking forward to seeing my friends in Lord’s house over there. It’s never old if new kids are coming.
So yeah, I think it will be a GREAT month – Lord willing – and He often is… Helping but not running and not trying to interfere too much with the running but trying to be an “emeritis” VBS leader almost consultant as well as just seeing where the Lord needs me. One thing for certain – I need the Lord still to direct me, we need guidance and need to be willing to plug in wherever, and these children need the Lord in new ways. Children need the guidance to His Way.
Thank God for God.
In VBS most importantly, I ask you to pray, and God will do all the rest! Please PRAY for the children, parents, volunteers, and leaders. During covid, many VBS was at rest for not knowing what the future held… I recently reopened a closet that I filled and closed and walked away from 6 years ago – but stockpiling essentials and it contains photo displays, tape, chalk, markers, papertowel rolls (LOL), and other VBS “stuff” – which is good stuff. VBS starts with “stuff” and morphs into SOMETHING with the SPIRIT which guides us…
In my old emails, trying to help a new leader but not overwhelm her, I found the old flyers that I put together, the bible buddies and themes drift away from our memories but the scriptures are TRUTHS that never go out of season.And so for VBS this year please pray for leaders of this generation that they want to hear – listening to God to go in a direction, and pray focus right now on getting the kids and getting the volunteers signed up. The supplies are second and the decorations can come third, after you have rolled out your signups, electronic or email or phone call or church outdoor signs… it’s actually true, the more volunteers, the more kids then people can make decorations later. First we pray for the Lord’s blessings in bringing the flock.
Anyways, attached is from my old l training handouts – and that closet – good memory lane – into service – into fun – and into summer (and out of the hot sun)…
Thank you for letting me share – and please do pray for all the leaders and volunteers this year and all the student campers – MAY GOD BLESS THEM ALL.
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.
To have an audience with a 3-year-old is a TREAT, talk to them and then you are going to learn something.
I was resting from many hours of yard work and drove down to my friend’s house to dig up a blueberry bush, gifted from her imminent move. I dug it (there are already blueberries on it!) then resting some more, a car pulls up in the driveway. A man came to look at ladders for sale (this house has a HUGE garage and this upcoming weekend is a garage sale worthy of calling it a garage sale!). Well, right behind him comes not one but two then three cutest little girls, cute cute cute. I am glad that my pausing begat watching this parade of spunky little cute girls. Each child is precious in God’s eyes and ours too.
The dad went into the garage with my friend and the girls asked “do you live here?” – “No, I’m a friend from church”, I replied. I explained that I was the helper that day and clicked into Sunday school teacher mode when they said: “we go to church too”, conversing especially with the 3 yr old and 4 yr old who were intensely interested in the cat. I appreciated the time to watch the wonderful wondering of their minds.
The two youngest had been touching everything all over the patio, stones and trinkets, and intrigued by the pond frogs, and well, using the top of the statue of Mary, her head, to steady themselves while traipsing the balance beam of the garden edging.
Of the youngest, 3 yrs old, I asked: “do you know who that statue is? It’s Mary. Do you know who Mary was the mom to? gave birth to? in the Christmas story?”
A quick, no pause answer came from her mouth (and surely the Holy Spirit): “GOD?” … yes, she said “God” with a 3yr old’s inquiring and reassuring comfort… Yes, pleased as praise, I confirmed “Yes, God…” I can still hear the resonance of that wonderful sound of God’s name from the young babe but old soul.
There was no time for a philosophical conversation about the Holy Trinity, Jesus being God and man, simply she gave an answer to satisfy: “God”… and I thanked the Lord for the girls’ church leaders and teachers, their parents, for all who teach 3 yr olds who then can encourage us with faith. God knows and loves us well before we are born – and we are but to unearth the rich jewels of the Fruit of HIS Labor, like the blueberries to come – they are fruits to be harvested when ready – like the spirit-led thoughts that come out of our souls.
God Loves Little Children, these little children are tomorrow’s teachers, leaders, parents, and forever children of God. Knowing God is first, knowing about God is next, and knowing the stories will confirm their knowledge base. This is where I remind you that summer is upon us and vacation bible school is a GREAT way to teach little ones, and reinforce the Bible messages in yourself. There is nothing greater than to help raise up a child of God – in each of us.
God blesses these little children, and us too.
May we all know how God searches us for His Knowledge, then speak it from the mouth of a 3 year old…
Amen
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Psalm 139 NIV For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. 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.
A prayer for a sunny Sunday (for giving at church this glorious sunny morning after a week or more of rain)
Thank you, Lord, for giving us pause and we pray You know we are taking a moment to PRAISE. We ask for focus and the Holy Spirit to come – we ask to wash the cares of the world away at this moment. Just like you washed all the pollen of annoyance away with these Spring rains… We thank You Lord for growth possibilities even in the mud of the situation of our lives in a broken world.
May we appreciate, Lord, a RESTORATION of us as Your children, our foundness as lost sheep, and Your willingness to give us everything radically , including salvation through our relationship with You Jesus, so that we will grow in your love and be matured. May we know that You are Our Father in a caring and yet firm certain and devoted Way. And may we know that you take care of us in our worldly needs and most especially in our heavenly ones. May we see you guiding us, lifting us up. May we accept Your guiding hand in the Holy Spirit. May we especially realize that You want us to be heirs of God, co-heirs with Christ, and rule with You in Glory.
No matter our present circumstances, rain or sunshine, may we have less earthly complaining and whine – instead turning to You Lord, in appreciation of You as Divine.
Amen
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Romans 8:14-18
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the GLORY that will be revealed in us.
I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you. For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:12-13
My Playlist of God songs including “Rescue” – and “This is how I fight my battles”, this was my ‘go-to’ yesterday morning. I woke in (TMI) hot flashes and anxiety, for no good reason, maybe a few frivolous reasons, but not ‘good’ ones. I went from powerless (but got myself going – I mean on a Friday it is easier to say ‘Hey this is Friday’) to feeling more and more empowered throughout the day, with the Lord’s raising. Yes, I was raising from bed, slowly a gaining of better and better momentum, the trickling in of small special moments of appreciation and happiness that streamed into my morning. Appreciative messages, people offering answers to work prayers, good stuff for a Friday. Then when my old boss texted to see if I wanted to go to lunch to a brand new place, a Jewish delicatessen, with 2 OG original gang coworkers, I leapt at the opportunity.
It was surely the Lord Who lifted me up, like the Josh Groban’s version of the song sings, “You Lift Me Up!” to walk on stormy seas. And His people carried me forward. That’s a Lord of Love.
I specifically wrote a devotion about Psalm 56 that down-feeling morning, because I knew ‘if God is for you, who can be against you‘, even in one’s own doldrums or health whatever, hormonal swings and such, good reasons or ‘no good reasons’. And I even told my coworkers and the owner of that new Jewish delicatessen about Psalm 56 helping me as a pick-me-up scripture, and we both said thank God for everything.
In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise – in God I trust and am not afraid. Ps56:10
I certainly reached for God today – HE WAS THERE.
The Lord comforts and lifts, helps and holds. He does not disappoint!
And writing this, I enjoyed decompression in a moment, outside in the car, door open, with a simple rain sprinkle and cool breeze in the evening after going for ice cream with a friend. No I did not need the ice cream but I certainly just tasted for the sweetness of the day… And the friend and the ice cream were great joy. I can say the Lord delivered ‘my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.’… YES…
(And a bonus, I got to hold a pudgy cutest soft squishy baby at the ice cream place, Now that IS JOY!!!!! JOY!!! The ice cream, so good, was still so temporary but the JOY is forever!!!)
Amen Lord – Thanks… my tears of gratitude collection is filling up.
Thank God For You are For US.
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This Psalm 57 verses 9 t0 11 is like the Nine One One call request of rescue to the Lord – and then the THANK YOU!!!!
I will PRAISE you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 57:9-11
We should repeat this phraseology – God is for ME – and God is for US – with the emphasis of GOD.
God is FOR us – God IS for us – God is for US – GOD is for us…
With God, how can we not be alright – even better than alright – even if it takes endless rough spots to get through. And some people’s rough spots are tougher than others and some people are more strong – but the weakness that leads to depending upon God is the best weakness of all. For GOD IS OUR STRENGTH – and GOD is for us.
David – the king and the shepherd – he went through tough times and whether we relate and whether people have actually tormented us – the prayer can be the same – “Be merciful to me, O God…” David realized that with God and in God that he would be OK – even unto torment and death. I pray we are not there but for those times that we fear – we ALSO can cry out to the Lord – for the times we wonder – for the times we hurt… God collects our tears – God plans our steps – God doesn’t change and always carries us.
For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?
If we are still here today, God has a purpose for us. We can keep going – God is FOR us. Survive, Thrive, Be Alive.
Amen
Psalm 56 NKJV – Prayer for Relief from Tormentors To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.
Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me. My enemies would hound me all day, For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?
All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather together, They hide, they mark my steps, When they lie in wait for my life. Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God!
You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. In God (I will praise His word), In the Lord (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You, For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?
In my recent travels to Canada, the probably only frowning face I encountered was at the orthodox church where I went to purchase candles to light in memory of my friend. Yes there was sadness in reverence of the mini service going on for remembrance of people who have passed away, but the frown on the one lady behind the counter became that classic grumpy frumpy face known universal, saying: “10 dollars minimum” to tap my debit card. So no, not upset of me being unknowing of customs like covering my head in the building for the service, but of customers covering the service fees for the banking transactions (trust me I was thrilled that I saw the tap machine like at every restaurant and gift shop). We are fighting an economic war more than anything in earthly life, aren’t we – universally.
Yeah, which war are we fighting, being disgruntled with – Spiritual? or with Sanctions for earthly living? I quickly grabbed more candles to bring myself to 10 dollars minimum, and donned the scarf borrowed from the very sweet lady who was blessed to see me visiting. See it is better to humble ourselves and keep fighting the spiritual war with prayers and praise and the power of Jesus. The war we wage against evil is continuous in all our heavenly and earthly realms. We must keep praying to fight that war by LOVING, by watching, by being in the right place to be the nice person and the friendly face of forgiveness and grace.
So, no I was not put off by that grumpy face – which you know as well – that is the price of customer service often – the customer always thinks they are right and they aren’t. It was OK. We must be aware of our customs and that since we are covered by grace from above we are covered by grace to each other.
Covered and covered. I got the candles and the LIGHT for them. I was covered in grace with my nice scarf borrowed and covered in humility for being able to enter the beautiful sanctuary as a foreigner and covered in hope with the LOVE of Jesus which we all shared. And with extra candles I added extra prayers.
And oh the lilacs – not native to this area but still smelling sweet – are like us – here for a short time – not native to this earth but of heaven – and still smelling sweet by the covering of Christ – “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.” 2nd Cor 2:14-17
Let us keep fighting God’s War in prayer and praise and BELIEVING!
Loved my travel – to CANADA!!!! The most amazing difference IS: everyone in Canada is SO FRIENDLY – takes a while to get used to!
The traffic although thick was courteous and nothing like my rush hour back home here – whew – I never saw anyone cut anyone off in traffic there! The people AND the traffic so considerate – and that matches the scriptures of compassion – Colossians 3:12 – “Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
And the spiritual connections I saw, biggest one I felt, was that I was just in the right space for the right conversations and had a good time too – enjoying just travelling and sight seeing and especially meeting people. So True! the people so kind were also so diverse – I stood in line with a couple and their sweet spunky little daughter and we chatted how the people are so nice and not to believe the media hype about the static between the countries – just get out there and travel…
The quote from Mark Twain so appropriate here – about travel – “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” Mark Twain wrote: “It liberates the vandal to travel — you never saw a bigoted, opinionated, stubborn, narrow-minded, self-conceited, almighty mean man in your life but he had stuck in one place since he was born and thought God made the world and dyspepsia and bile for his especial comfort and satisfaction.”
It is good to travel!! to LOVE – to meet up with God’s People…. “Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” They are patient with us and we can be with all….
What a surprise! I was searching for some needed green space in a concrete sprawl of an area – and found this beautiful recaptured nook of an arboretum on the campus of a local college/university and it surely provides the students and the public needed green space. I saw it on the map and looked interesting enough, drove, opened the door and the five people 3 steps away from my car looked gathered and the woman organizer said: “Here for the tree planting?” ah…. sure – yeah – why not, I thought – and grabbed my hat and sunscreen and up we climbed this beautiful slope. Everything is in miniature in my opinion for the greenspaces here – back home we have big expanses – but I don’t think I ever stumbled upon tree planting!
They provided the gloves, shovels, and plants and were taught how to dig the right hole and tamper the soil down after planting. They were student educators and this education was exactly up my alley for learning. I loved it….
A Surprise Planting of Myself in the Present…
and the views? unparalleled of the city below… and the students? Never shoveled or held worms… (and wow great worms – even the educators could show the students the worm poop in a compost conversation) And the educators? Tickled pink that I just “happened upon them” that we were all there to be there… I planted 3 trees. I didn’t expound upon plant science knowledge, it was nice to just appreciate what I knew and keep it to myself, but later with the educators I explained how I found them on the map, and my background for putting your foot in the door for experiences for college and university and life…
And then I got to be the substitute grandma-like person to entertain a baby – me in my red hat must have caught his attention – and the sun shining on his face caught mine, so mom and I maneuvered the stroller back into the shade. And he seemed to enjoy the whole experience. He was 10 months old – and mom and dad enjoyed planting plants and having a day out…
That was a quick 1 hour and a half “wow” to that moment – I could have turned many directions and even just sat in my car for an hour waiting (was waiting for my travelling companion to have a get together at breakfast with friends) but this was the turn I took and so appreciated it…
I know the best devotion we can give the Lord is praise – and love – and thankfulness just to be present in the moment that He could come up with “last minute” – when we are just not rushing here and there… I knew later I was rushed on the way home – but here I was able to check my time at the same time as relaxing and realizing my blessings… A BLESSED Planting of Myself in the Present as well as planting trees.
Realize blessings and thank the Lord – THANKS LORD!
It’s Memorial Day and although it’s universal for wars to happen, it’s also universal for wanting peace enough to fight for it. It is good for us to remember a sacrifice from those committed to serve without questioning, to fight forward to advance a cause, and to retreat when cutting losses.
We often feel it makes no sense the wars we often fight, but it makes perfect sense the wars fought for peace. Wars happen. It’s a strange situation of human brokenness to fight, and yet the Lord has warriors fighting on the deepest levels, the highest grounds, the lowest lows. The war in Heaven for us is the peace-making power the Lord employs, strange but sacred, tested but true.
What are we to do? Work in the peace already garnered. Work for the peace and work at the peace for wars already won. Be the peacemakers in life, negate the strife with LOVE.
And remember those who have been fighting for us all to have a better life, especially those who’ve passed away. This is why we celebrate Memorial Day – in humble thankfulness. They fought under command. They fought for love of country and of man and prayerfully they were reaching out to God for guidance. They sacrificed so we could live, so we could keep loving.
Wars will cease one day. Let us not wait for then to begin to love our enemies. We love under command too. Don’t let love grow cold. Don’t let love be forgotten as the greatest power.
Amen
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Matthew 24 NIV excepts
Jesus says: “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…
… Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
The TOUGHEST thing about being a Christian is putting in a GOOD effort to be more LIKE Christ – it’s that forgiveness piece which is SO TOUGH.
And if we are to forgive our enemies, let alone those who just tick us off, that means we should try EVEN HARDER to overcome evil with GOOD. Go the extra mile… Don’t confront just to win… Bring the stress level down by forgiveness… Diffuse and make a difference as a peace-keeper. Don’t only just be ignoring evil to bring it to an even score, but add an extra level of GOOD in goodness, ADD GOOD EVEN MORE!
ROMANS 12 IS SUCH GOOD ADVICE FOR US TO KEEP LIVING AND IMPROVING. IT’S A LIFE CHANGER, FOR SURE AND FOR GOOD.
It’s like trying NOT to be annoyed, it’s like trying to NOT think so worldly, even if everyone else is, it’s counting blessings and NOT be jealous, it’s giving of yourself more and more until all you can give is Jesus’s level of giving. It’s TOUGH, and that is the blessing to have Jesus when we struggle to be Jesus. Yeah, let us do our best and let the Lord take care of the rest.
“Vengeance is mine” says the Lord… and so is forgiveness…
Romans 12 also advises about the spiritual gifts that the Lord gives us, and that we all are to WORK TOGETHER and not be jealous or getting out of our lane, but do what the Lord has called us to do. If having “gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, LET US USE THEM.”
THE MORE WE USE OUR GIFTS THE LESS THE LAST TIME WE WILL HAVE TO GRIPE. .
I NEED TO HEAR THIS EVERYDAY. Please read ROMANS 12 as a Life Changer FOR GOOD.
Amen
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Romans 12 NKJV – Living Sacrifices to God
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Serve God with Spiritual Gifts
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Behave Like a Christian
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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Proverbs 25:21-22 is a wisdom piece for the ages, life advice from King Solomon to be kind even to your enemies: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you.”
I can feel the news cycles slowing down about the new Pope – which was the flurry of news activity that I also appreciated. He won’t slow down and the crowds won’t slow down but the news will. Now, we perhaps will see there are people listening more to the messages that may be shared openly to the world about the mission of the Catholic church and especially about the Love of God. These messages are surely going to bring passages from the bible and stories from the bible out into the public to hear then again or maybe for the first time. The Bible is very Viable – it is a living Word of God – and when we share it, we are sharing Jesus directly. It helps others see how Jesus lived and to urge them (and ourselves) to be more Jesus-like in action and especially trust in God.
I appreciated the recent homily of new Pope Leo – his homily at his inauguration, where he talked about Peter being reinstated by Jesus after his denials. Pope Leo’s speaks of a missionary church – offering Christ’s Love… LOVE IS GOD and GOD IS LOVE – and this is the crux of the cross – the most important meaning for Jesus is to LOVE and to bring the ability for Love to come to all – all who are sinners and make them saints by the blood of Jesus. And because this love is sacrificial, then we can offer God’s Love because we are loved.
Pope Leo specifically spoke of Peter and how he was blessed by Jesus to have the reinstating-like triple questions after his three denials of Jesus on the night before He was betrayed. But that this ALSO was a reminder of purpose – to keep LOVING and feeding the sheep of God’s children. In the imploring of how to live his life in service – of how to love – how to love LIKE Jesus using the LOVE that God sends out. AND WE LIKE PETER – that we also can not love like God without ACCEPTING the love of God to USE IT. Let us pray to change our lives to make us into the disciples He wants us to be.
If there is anything that we can do to make our lives more missionary – it is to share LOVE. To show the bible to be viable, we need to live LOVE scriptures – Jesus LOVE is MORE – and we can use His love to feed His sheep…
LOVE MORE!
Amen and please read the snippet below about Jesus and Peter from Pope Leo.
Here is the 11 minute video and below is a link to the transcript – and excerpts for the transcript.
Pope Leo states (excerpts):
“Love and unity: These are the two dimensions of the mission entrusted to Peter by Jesus. We see this in today’s Gospel, which takes us to the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus began the mission he received from the Father: to be a “fisher” of humanity in order to draw it up from the waters of evil and death. Walking along the shore, he had called Peter and the other first disciples to be, like him, “fishers of men.”
“Now, after the Resurrection, it is up to them to carry on this mission, to cast their nets again and again, to bring the hope of the Gospel into the “waters” of the world, to sail the seas of life so that all may experience God’s embrace. How can Peter carry out this task? The Gospel tells us that it is possible only because his own life was touched by the infinite and unconditional love of God, even in the hour of his failure and denial. For this reason, when Jesus addresses Peter, the Gospel uses the Greek verb agapáo, which refers to the love that God has for us, to the offering of himself without reserve and without calculation. Whereas the verb used in Peter’s response describes the love of friendship that we have for one another.
“Consequently, when Jesus asks Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:16), he is referring to the love of the Father. It is as if Jesus said to him, “Only if you have known and experienced this love of God, which never fails, will you be able to feed my lambs. Only in the love of God the Father will you be able to love your brothers and sisters with that same ‘more,’ that is, by offering your love your life for your brothers and sisters. Peter is thus entrusted with the task of “loving more” and giving his life for the flock.”
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“We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ! Come closer to him! Welcome his word that enlightens and consoles! Listen to his offer of love and become his one family: In the one Christ, we are one.” —– “Brothers and sisters, this is the hour for love! The heart of the Gospel is the love of God that makes us brothers and sisters. With my predecessor Leo XIII, we can ask ourselves today: If this criterion “were to prevail in the world, would not every conflict cease and peace return?” (Rerum Novarum, 21).
“With the light and the strength of the Holy Spirit, let us build a Church founded on God’s love, a sign of unity, a missionary Church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made “restless” by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity. Together, as one people, as brothers and sisters, let us walk towards God and love one another.”
I am remembering a friend today – for VBS awaits us in a couple months. My friend Miss Bonnie is now passed away but as a “saint-becoming” she is remembered, not because she was perfect as she was not, but because she was perfecting – and ultimately Jesus perfects us with His Love and covering of all our sins. We will shine because of Jesus… SO here is a piece I wrote of a glittery cross from VBS at church 10 years ago… It is a cross that I now have in my house and will bring back to VBS this year – bringing Miss Bonnie’s memory alive again “in spirit”…
as for the writing? this was PURE PROCESSING 10 years ago – wow – and worth reading to feel the passion of the passionate faith God was putting into me…
Freaky Cross, Passionate PEACE, 13 JULY 2015
Well that was kind of freaky… I was at church 10 o’clock at night, dropping off stuff for Vacation Bible School and I look up at in the window and a glittery cross is twisting and shining sparkly, moving with the air conditioner?… from the other side of the room?… I took a photo and video… Freaky… a freaky cross comfort…
I am usually not freaked out alone in the building, but tonight when I heard those normal creaks, I just had to tell myself it’s nothing… When I went upstairs to the choir loft to drop off my stuff, I immediately noticed the giant wood cross I draped in white fabric across the room with the outside lights shining on it… Ah comfort.
Then I noticed the old heavy brass cross that we ignore in the choir loft too much, I move it around like it’s looking for a home… Ah comfort.
As I went back down the stairs, I looked to the wall, there used to be a cloth cross tapestry there, it’s moved but that image on the wall is imprinted in my brain… Ah comfort.
I didn’t look for any of these crosses, they just were the first things to catch my eye… To absorb my fear I was able to spy a VBS phrase: “God had the power to comfort… Hold on”.
Freaky or not, I’ll keep looking for God, HE will comfort me always…
Freaky or not, I’ll keep noticing crosses when I am not looking for them, Jesus saves me, Jesus makes me sane…
It’s not that I will forget that God saved me, it’s just that God wants me to notice the cross over and over again, He is always retraining my eye on the only comfort, hope, joy and peace I need… I do thankfully have one of those strong memories that remembers the good and fades out the bad… Reminding me all the good in my life came from God.
God decided I needed daily reminders to look to Jesus’ loving arms hung on the cross… Everyday anew He wants me to feel like I could hold Jesus outstretched in my loving arms, strongly lifting Him off the cross and then His stiff body melts in my arms as He is resurrected into LIFE… His body dark becoming glittering and glowing… Then He hugs me tight and holds me up as my body goes limp, enabling Him to polish me, as my soul goes from tarnished twinkling to sparkly bright with His bold light emanating thru me as HE lifts me ever closer to Heaven…
His passion unmatched. God’s love never-ending, never tarnished, never dull.
God is moving the passion of Christ’s LOVE inside me, stirring my soul, setting sparkles in my heart that will catch HIS light and emanate out.
The Holy Spirit is blowing me gently, turning me to catch the light. Christ is shining thru me and He turns my soul passionate. His sparkling cross wills me into passionate PEACE.
A story of Moses must be the best reminder to listen to God and stop wondering about wandering – but listen to the Lord’s Plan over our own.
This was the therapeutic writing #704 when I had to close down my old VBS only to have a great sermon lesson about Moses and then stepping into a new VBS about: MOSES, yeah cool…
VBS CEO Moses, Give up your Staff, it’s His Staff Anyway, 02JUL2019
A MAJOR processing devotion to how God changed my role – how He is using me NOW, and about me leaving my old role as the VBS CEO, as I let it go…
Over and over I’m being reminded that I am handing my VBS staff over to be the Lord’s staff, which they already were and are… just like some kids and volunteers (including me) are going over to an Africa VBS theme experience at a friend’s church next week – the perfect tag line for all of us is: “When life changes, God is good”
I had a $2 African photo box sitting unused ever since springtime. How fitting that now the few VBS core volunteers, who had fought for a “Roar” theme over “Power Lab” theme, are all now going to be able to go serve in a ROAR VBS! Yeah, hilarious Lord…
They are changing locations for their children’s ministry focus. I got to help coordinate to get them to a personal “Promise land” VBS theme of the year. You parted the seas and I pointed my staff in that direction. Actually Your staff, Lord, Your staff not mine.
“When life is unfair, God is good”…
“When life is scary, God is good”…
“When life changes, God is good”…
“When life is sad, God is good”…
“When life is good, God is good”…
How blessed… I am calmly watching my team dissipate into the future as if I was a retiring CEO. I had to close my company, lay them off and lay myself off too…
I feel to be the retired CEO of this VBS, I was the transition leader for just until You, Lord, made way and I settled the loose ends, finished my cleaning and moved ahead… I moved on because You assured me Lord that everybody will be OK. I am OK.
But Moses, I’m in tears now realizing that GOD HIMSELF made me realize that I am just like Moses….. that’s why a recent Moses sermon really touched me… It really did – Moses had to give up control of his walking stick staff to God’s needs for it… Moses had to move his/His people – I too move to where the Lord is calling me. Like Moses at the end, I will stop and rest and know God loves me and see everyone move on…
So don’t worry about me, He found me a place to rest. I’m uber blessed to rest, learn, SING. I know God pulled me to where I am… Oh, my shock is that I get to feel His peace in where I am today. Peace.
Now I am watching HIS people go into their future – to serve HIM!
It is a shockingly accurate description in scripture of how God knows EVERY hair on our heads – He knows how to shock me too – I wrote this title: “VBS CEO Moses, give up your staff” – and then GASPED at the wordplay of the word STAFF – I give up my VBS people staff – Moses gives up his staff to be HIS staff, the physical stick – and that’s the crux of the sermon I just heard – WOW. Yes, scripture that “sticks with you” is meant for you to find how it pertains to your own situation… oh…. amazing…
I myself have future opportunities galore, I’m first going to be sewing dresses for Africa, another skill that the Lord gifted me – I have a serger, a sewing machine, a skill to share, and yet another gifted decompression opportunity while I remain busy as a bee… Perfect Lord…
It is summer – and it is VBS season. This has given me direction and hope. I don’t want it to go fast at all – I want to savor the summer. I want to spend a lot of decompression time AT THE BEACH. I put my feet in the sand just the other day – and took in the shade reading – taking Sunday afternoon to decompress and relax. I think I need to pre-rest for the pre-busy summer. The theme of summer is SUMMER and the re-focus into summer that has invigorated me, is not just a little bit of vacation but a lot of Vacation Bible School, yeah!
VBS is a great way for us to listen to Jesus where He tells us where to catch His fish… Just like Jesus told the disciple fishermen where to put their nets for the greatest fish collection, we need to see VBS as a great opportunity to bless the children who need to hear about Jesus, we don’t want these children to be sheep without a Shepherd. In John 21, Jesus said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the LARGE number of fish.
VBS serves these fish and helps them both keep swimming in growth and to be caught up in the blessings of Jesus.
If you remember 5-6 years ago, it was a tumultuous challenge and change for us, for me, having to do with planning VBS. My boat was tipped over – I felt shipwrecked but rescued by Jesus (which coincidentally was the last VBS I had done the year prior). Yup, that following year was the year I had to cancel VBS. And without dwelling on the LONG backstory, I have to state that it WAS a shame in continual processing – and then move on. I have to state that instead of running the event, I ran the closure and the cleaning out of a whole choir loft of supplies – and the moving forward of me and others to another VBS that summer. I moved forward in many ways. And I moved forward in NOT leaving a church but expanding my church families – I love ALL my church families and I think that this was purposeful for me as an encourager to find the people where they were and are.
Remember. we really have to go where we are led and I felt led. We are told to put our hands to the plow and keep looking forward, not back. So YES, the Lord filled me and still fills me with mission and purpose and logistics and you name it – and got me through it all – it was a process that summer that still hurts and yet still invigorates my faith as I saw where I was rescued by Jesus. It also reminds that what was once so routine showed to become temporary and finite and done… Move forward the Lord said – and He showed me… Move forward, and remember it was and is always NOT about me. It is about serving the Lord.
So, as I mentioned, I found blessing in helping another VBS that summer, and after covid, I found many many other places to help. It really is now my time to ask you for your help, for you to come to my VBS events or to go to help at ANY VBS ANYWHERE near you. God’s children are everywhere, so why not us?!!! God needs us to “feed His sheep”… And myself? I am both going to serve, such a blessing, in a new VBS never run, as well as a renewed VBS at my original VBS church – not as the leader but as a helper – back again with my friends and with new friends. MOST IMPORTANTLY, at VBS, WE GET TO HANG OUT WITH OUR FRIEND JESUS.
AND the benefit of moving forward from that time, is that I must know that God moved at least something into good – and that was to be now connected with MANY VBS’s MANY churches, working with those friends from other churches. So, personally this year, Lord-willing and Lord-helping, I’m volunteering with THREE maybe FOUR VBS events with my friends’ churches. How will I do this? One day at a time. The first one will be in a week that I am taking as actual vacation and do VBS in the morning and relax in the afternoon (at the beach woohoo). Then the other 2 are evening VBS’s. I pray for fruitfulness, I pray to see the Lord working. I pray the children and teens and volunteers to be enriched in faith.
First I’m going into Egypt with Joseph’s journey, into the sand as that one will be at a beach church with my vacationing there too with sandy, singing, swimming, sweet sisters! Then if I have time, that weekend I’m helping with one day of ROAR, where Moses pulls out God’s people FROM Egypt – with a passover and a parting of the red sea! Wow what timing!!! Then the next Sunday is Australia! Starting with Moses again and into learning about Jesus. Then 1 week later walking with Jesus as our TRUE NORTH in an Alaska wilderness theme… Isn’t that crazy? I’ll be ALL OVER THE WORLD in many continents and contexts in just 3 weeks time span, Lord Willing, with ONE Subaru driving… Driving under and with ONE direction: Jesus… Jesus said to Peter and to us: “FOLLOW ME” – that is what we are to do, follow Jesus, taking it ONE DAY AT A TIME.
Jesus Lord… You said: “FEED MY LAMBS’ – to Peter and to us (see John 21). I just heard this Gospel reading in the inaugural mass of the Pope, and yes, I appreciate this – Peter was told that his life will be charged and challenged to FOLLOW JESUS. How did Peter do this? ONE DAY AT A TIME.
How can we serve the Lord and live our lives? Serve Jesus serving VBS, the Word and the World, ONE DAY AT A TIME!
VBS is the best part of summer – and the year!
Join us! Wherever you are!
Amen
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John 21
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus Reinstates Peter When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
I am remembering favorite times that God used me for His mission without my thinking it was in “my plan” – well God always knows best!
Here is a post where I was upset that the posters I had put IN FRONT of the church were taken down and then put in the back (which is where our entrance is) – well I wanted the cars to see them but oh well – and I stopped being upset because God found a way to show me that my labors were not lost and really I got to view that a different purpose was found… yeah – we serve because God has a plan… even if we don’t always understand.
GOD’S CHILDREN – July 2017
So I have to tell you how God lets me witness touching moments… I see so many, God tickles me into joy with opening my eyes to see Him in live action… Yesterday a little boy, maybe four years, comes out with his grandma after Vacation Bible School… He says “mom-mom, mom-mom” and pulls her over to the sign that had I made with each of the Bible scripture lessons and Bible Buddies and found them placed in the back garden – which was fine – so that perhaps parent or grandparent would glean the Bible messages while waiting in line to check in. Originally I was going to put the sign somewhere else but that doesn’t matter now, God must have had other plans for that sign, I realize over and over again life is NOT my plan but His plan…
“Mom-mom, mom-mom”, this cute little boy continues… “This is Sal and this is Radar, and….” … He tells her all about the VBS Bible Buddies which help our children understand the scripture messages. He was trying so hard to make sure his mom-mom was focusing on the pictures, understanding what he wanted to teach his mom-mom all about.
See, we are not JUST teaching our children the Bible messages, they are teaching US!!! Children are a living Bible…. God has empowered these sponges to soak up Bible teachings and spread the WORD. How sweet and touching to listen to those innocent words of a child? The grandmas and grandpas LOVE to listen… the children LOVE to share the LOVE… perhaps they don’t yet know this love comes directly from God, but surely we know by now that God has instilled His Spirit into every child… Jesus in their hearts – He gets to play as a child, and He would grow with us if we feed HIM…
I pray, that we all remember our own Child of God beginnings and haven’t lost the appreciation of those touching small and large God-sighting moments. God is using us to reach others, using our lives to teach… Wants us out there sharing the love… He loves us, we are HIS children, forever…
Thank you Lord for letting me witness You in action… Thank you for your children.
THIS is a memory from 2019 when I had to cancel our VBS and was gratefully accepted (along with many of our campers and volunteers) into a neighboring church’s VBS – I went NOT as a director but instead a “spare” special assistant to watch over my friend’s daughter who was recovering from her surgery – wow – this was 6 years ago now – wow – amazing…
This blog is a day in that new vbs where I stepped away from my “job” watching and chased down a disgruntled 7 year old… This story is about accepting that you are not always going to be doing “YOUR” plan – but participate in God’s plan… YEAH! and sometimes you don’t say anything right but at least have eyes and fast legs!
Where Do I Fit? a One Sheep VBS Moment, 20JUL2019 Ah, my friend caught a precious VBS moment in a photo…
VBS is not just about fun, it is having faith that God needs you to be present where He places you.
Where do I fit?
The most important scanning of a new situation is to see where you plug in and where you can make a difference and to discern why God put you there that day.
I was NEW there – not the leader like I was in my old church – but I did NOT feel that weird in a new Vacation Bible School church because I figured I could be helpful, somewhere… I did wonder how I could contribute, I wondered how God would use me and I made myself available for His plan. That morning I saw random needs: I folded t-shirts and I placed nametags on people who didn’t think they needed them – they did… A former or ’emeritus’ VBS director ALWAYS scans the scene…
In the opening session for one particular day, middle of the week, God made it SO clear of His answer to my question of “why am I here?” The answer came in one sheep – I noticed seven-year old Jayson pouting on the floor, 2 rows back from the well-behaved 16 five-year olds that I was assigned to…. I saw him not participating, disgruntled, ANGRY at Grandma and the world…. No, I never met him – but knew what an angry 7year old’s “HMMPFFF!!!!” was all about…
The five-year olds were fine with 6 leaders present, so I was able to break away and down I sat, on the ground in the sanctuary… Eye to eye… Really it didn’t matter what I said to Jayson. I just tried to listen. And then… in a flash Jayson took off!!! Running down the side!!! I ran!!! Yes I ran!!!…. I yelled “Catch him!” but three adults were totally oblivious, they did not… I caught him just at the back door – and I was thankful!!!…
WHEW!
“God, this is why I am here today”… “Thank you Lord that You enabled me to be aware, to run, to catch, to be present…”
That afternoon and the next day I stood guard watching him in the pews, he was much better, doing the singing, he was OK for his Grandma. I even saw him chatting with a friend.
See, that’s what working for God is all about – it is about being present, aware, asking the Lord: “where do I fit?” – It is NOT “what’s in this for me?” – We are to ask: “What’s my role – where can I be the servant?”…
Running AT camp is where God used me this year – I was NOT running a camp (as the leader) but running AT camp… “Where do I fit, Lord?” EXACTLY where You placed me.
There’s no better week than VBS week… NONE…
Thank You Lord for VBS sheep! I am one of them – thank You for catching me too…
Knowing God Through Relationship – God as a Shepherd – Psalm 23 and John 10
Have you caught the media frenzy about the new pope, Pope Leo? WOW! Hard not to catch the news – I think it is like the FEEL-GOOD STORY for this month, before the next news cycle – but it IS exciting to see the excitement – don’t you think?
We love a local kid hits the big time story – even if we are not really local to Chicago – well most of us – and I had to even be reminded that there were 2 baseball teams in Chicago – yeah I knew that but sure wasn’t on the forefront of my news every day – and whether or not you have figured out that the pope is a Chicago white Sox fan over the Chicago Cubs – what IS clear is that people have a thirst for info !!! and as he becomes a pope for the people, the people find connections – and this brings them the sense of guidance. PEOPLE NEED AND FEEL GUIDANCE IS A WANT.
Why do I bring this up when we, as a community church, don’t follow the pope as an organization? Well, we can see that folks revere the office of the pope – many religious leaders – see the willingness of him and of all people of the church to serve. I bring it up because you may see there truly are people searching, searching for a shepherd- truly searching not just for a pope to give just an agenda, but for a person of faith to be a shepherd to lead. It’s a normal thing and I am intrigued and blessed to have this good news of faith displayed.
And this is where I want to speak about Jesus as our Good Shepherd – God with Jesus and the Holy Spirit – as a triune God – knew that “SHEPHERDING” WAS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED!
I have to mention another aspect of Jesus being here on earth – He was accessible – He was with the people as He is now with us – but also in the flesh – and He had disciples including brothers who may have been so surprised AFTER Jesus rose – after they realized He was the Messiah – brother James especially in his chapter of scripture is so touching in his devotion – and giving us insight – as the other disciples did…
And yes – going back to my news media frenzy last week – Insight was key for the Pope has 2 brothers still in the US, Chicago and Florida – they really look like him – and thank God they provided that immediate media frenzy need for information – good or bad the responsiveness helped and wow did we get to that white sox over the cubs controversy answer quickly – (scary that we learned all this stuff huh? Over real issues of the day ) but that accessibility to fulfill an insatiable appetite is SO VERY HUMAN of us -and amplified by media – and amplified by our worldliness – which is ANOTHER reason why Jesus needs us to know to be a sheep to Him as shepherd and watch out for becoming a media wolf trapped in the worldliness of the world – we need to be shepherded to look to things above…
So seriously, the shepherding that Jesus took on (and takes on) was so necessary and so fitting too. We want to know the best of God’s plan and will listen for Jesus’s voice – and gratefully we can listen with our souls to the Word – which is Jesus – Jesus is the Word made flesh… John is the gospel of wisdom, written by a seasoned John who likely told these stories for years and was urged to write it down – John would know more fully when 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.”
Jesus fully God, fully human and accessible to us through the holy spirit, His Word resonates to tell us that no one – no one can pluck us out of His hand… We pray and seek Jesus, knowing Him, reach for Him, and be shepherded by Him.
Because you know there are evil forces around – no sugar coating the wolf that comes after the sheep – the evil one in the devil is on the prowl – and yet we can speak the name of Jesus and tell the devil to stand down – that is the relationship that Jesus wants us to have with Him – with God – to know how to stay safe – Jesus tells us – also from the gospel of John that Jesus Shepherd is also the Gatekeeper. Jesus gatekeeper “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.”
Jesus – such a GOOD Shepherd – and the Chosen one – not a chance that Jesus would turn away from His work. John 10:11-18 again records this amazing passage by Jesus: “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.”
Ah yes – not the hired hand – Jesus is true and forever – and being God, He will never change. You can’t fall out of God’s LOVE because God IS LOVE – that is key to our relationship because it is about God’s plan – never to be snatched out of Jesus’s hand. Here is more from Jesus:
“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. “
AH – sheep from other pens – that is Jesus speaking of the Gentiles in addition to the Jews – that is Jesus speaking about us – in addition to the people of the time – Jesus for all generations is unchanged and still the 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.”
Ah – so Jesus wasn’t forced or “voluntold” – Jesus chose this path – Jesus chose to save – Jesus chose us – Jesus chose to serve God – and to be the LOVE.
How could we ask for anything else??? ———-
Our often favorite Psalm is psalm 23 – it is a tremendous reading to recite if you are able to – or us the colors to help you remember this comfort – it is a key “go-to” it in times of trouble and in reflection – I can imagine David writing it from processing so much that God had done in his life. Here is the beginning: 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.
Yes – we shouldn’t want – and we should be grateful and see what we have FROM the Lord – we are shepherded – and provided for:
As I went to find the psalm to paste into my writing and came across a very succinct description of how encompassing these short phrases are – this is from “bibleinfo” webpage:
”The restored soul is then led on to another stage in God’s plan for his life – ‘He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.’ That is, God leads us into work, into service for Him. Rest in the green pastures and refreshment by the still waters are to fit us FOR work. – In the gospel plan, works do not precede but FOLLOW rest. The restoration of the soul comes first, then the works of righteousness. We are not saved by our works BUT WORK because we are saved. We are not justified by works, but FOR works.”
YES – I appreciate this – that our relationship with God is being shepherded to be MOVED. Not just kept inside a gate but moved through life.
Here is an important part of life: the next part of Psalm 23: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…
HMMM… I question – have I walked thru the valley of the shadow of death? Don’t think we have to have a near death experience – so what does that mean to us? David experienced it – We could take that to mean that we have been in awful situations – near death – or that we know those who were near death – or especially that we have seen the shadow of death with life but we are walking past it with salvations.
I have been watching a Netflix documentary of the “Blitz” in London – the WW2 stretch where they were bombed – unbelievable the horrors of war and the scariness of them – this but a fraction of the fear and the devastation seen in war – in any attack – the people in the streets of London went out during the day on their normal business but at night they pulled black out curtains to block the light from showing where population was – and at night they would take their families down into “the tubes” the underground train stations – they packed in for safety. And yeah the bombings were devastating – I is amazing to see the colorized film reels – brings it more to life – These are situations where these people surely felt they were walking thru the valley of the shadow of death – needed Jesus, need peace…
And there is footage of Winston Churchill in the reels – and I remember a quotation from Winston Churchill: “If you are walking thru hell – keep walking” sounds like Psalm 23 doesn’t it – and great advice for us – to KEEP WALKING!!!
———————
Evil exists. Evil makes the conflict bigger. War is awful – we can’t even imagine.
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
Yes – a rod and staff are shepherding tools – God’s ability to keep us moving in the RIGHT direction – the Holy Spirit shepherding we experience. The table – surely a heavenly banquet. And going after us – we are shepherded if we go astray: one sheep. Even was reading this for my upcoming prep for vacation bible school this summer – Jesus will leave the 99 and go after the one sheep. —
I want to talk about a very personal time that I was shepherded – still am – by Jesus and this going after the one sheep story is so fitting – Jesus really does go find us – really loves us – really leaves the salvation up to HIM not to us wandering sheep….
I know that I was shepherded by Jesus when my dad was sick and then passing – going downhill and then just a few weeks left became a few days and even a few hours – – and I have told at least some of you previously in a sermon that I write a daily devotion – this was a whole month specifically on dealing with my dad’s death – already was prewriting in my head – I have a chapter which will eventually become a book – I feel it would help others – and it was and is extremely healing to write – and I was and am shepherded – and clearly in journaling – which I implore all of you to try – I also found comfort in that my dad was shepherded too… the one sheep …
So – I have a friend who is like an editor and voracious reader and child of God – and she is 92 now – and I gave her this chapter about my dad – and one of the writings included Psalm 23 which we have talked about for shepherding – and the copy from my dad’s prayer card from his funeral – And we checked this card over greatly because the misspellings of my maiden name – people put an N in it… well – we were good – and surprised even… the N is a running joke in my family… OK – no N – good to go…
Well, Sue – never saying “been there done that” with scripture – she took a moment to actually read the Psalm 23 to herself. And WOW – she showed me and said: “Debbie, there’s an extra ‘N’ !!!” WOW – I was shocked – did we miss it in our name? No. then how and why??? “… thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over…” Psalm 23 OH – THERE WAS THE N – AN EXTRA “N” IN ANNOINTEST – WOW
I LAUGHED SO LOUD – it was both laugh and tears because it may not mean anything to you – certainly was just a typo to sue – but to me – oh the lord found the UNIQUE littlest of shepherding – the funniest thing – to let me know he was still listening and watching and shepherding and encouraging… and being there… Shepherding is SO UNIQUE to us!!!
HOW CAN WE NOT BE THRILLED AT THE LORD SHEPHERDING US – AND PRAISE HIM ! 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. Psalm 23
AMEN
PRAYER: LORD THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR SHEPHERD – FOR US TO REALIZE IT – MAY WE GROW IN RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU TO WANT TO BE SHEPHERDED TO HAVE DIRECTION – TO HAVE SECURITY – TO HAVE A FUTURE AND TO HAVE A HOPE TODAY – AND EVERY DAY – Lord – thank YOU for YOU. AMEN
I turned over to allow myself the luxury of more sleep, the cat woke me up like normal 545, and I think that when the cat sees my eyes moving in rapid motion for dreaming is when she comes in for the prodding (head motion to bite me gently as her communication device) to wake back up. I turned over so she couldn’t see my eyes. And yes I got two extra hours of sleep.
I spend a lot of time trying to interpret this cat. But the truth is she probably spends more time trying to interpret me. And she gets her big naps in when we leave for the day, otherwise she feels like she’s on duty to watch us. I thought it was hard to walk around the house to not wake up babies – well the cat is just the same.
So rest – and then a plethora of activities today planned around the house and outside – I am grateful for the reminders, especially on Saturday, to rest physically and rest emotionally and rest spiritually. Then spring into action or at least slide slowly into the day. I do have lots today, good stuff, but it’s best to STRATEGIZE first with the Lord. Sometimes I am in the crisis mode: “how am I going to get it all done (and not wake the cat)”, and sometimes in the questioning mode: “what on earth should I be doing, Lord?”, and sometimes in the mode of “forgive me Lord, I am just going to sit here and do nothing (except watch out for that cat)”
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. I went for a deep dive on Psalm 23, which I’m going to include in my sermon prep for tomorrow, Sunday. I found a great website reminder for the scripture – that God gives us the rest first – then we proceed in life’s rest of life… We are to rest in Him then let Him work through us. YES! The quote from BibleINFO website said in short: The restored soul is led into righteousness, and then work – we are not saved by our works but our work is done because we are saved…
When we read about spiritual gifts – we have to realize that our joy is FROM Him, our strength is FROM Him, our generous nature is FROM Him. We are not to be goodie two shoes but good for His work from His prodding from His rest. Then we can do “all things through Christ” – and that is what my bracelet says – the great scripture reminder from the letter to the Phillipians 4:13. The bracelet sat next to my bed and when I woke (after those extra 2 hours) I saw it clearly.
Now I want to feel it clearly – both the strength through Christ and the REST – and rest in His Plan – and for His Way – and start my day.
Keep Moving – and Keep going THROUGH CHRIST.
Amen
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. Psalm 23
Please pray for a gentleman named Joe, a friend of a friend. Joe is having eye surgery today (Friday) after an accident. More surgery is ahead as there is a possibility of regaining his sight in the eye. Prayers appreciated! Lord, please heal him!!! Holy Spirit Help!
“When we need help, trust Jesus.” – on day 5 of VBS “True North” brings us to the scriptures where Jesus asks for the advocate to help when He ascends, God sends the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is fully God, God’s Holy Help for us, always pointing back to Jesus as savior, as model, as teacher, as the Word. All 3 in our heads as one might be the swirling spin of winds and flames coming afresh. That was the disciples too – that first day – they asked “what does this mean?” – they wondered too – they needed Holy Spirit Help – We need Holy Spirit Help. We both work with the Lord and in the Lord. We need the Lord and the Lord, the Holy Spirit, God wants us to build upon the Kingdom by teaching about Jesus’s Good News. If you are in the swirl, keep trusting Jesus!
It’s interesting that we “end the week” for Vacation Bible School talking about the Holy Spirit, because that’s actually how we start: it is the Holy Spirit that gets us moving, whether thinking – whether praying – whether wondering – whether in action. We pray for Holy Spirit Help and Jesus and the Spirit and God reach into our wondering. We talk about the Holy Spirit on day 5 because we know Jesus as a timeline and His coming and fulfilment of scripture as He already was and He already is and He will come again. That is a wonder but TRUST Jesus, we have Him to Help.
When we Wonder, TRUST Jesus.
When we feel alone, TRUST Jesus.
When we feel powerless, TRUST Jesus.
When we need HOPE, TRUST Jesus.
When we need help, TRUST Jesus.
I appreciated this pre-preparing of VBS scriptures for my understanding and our walk – for our day to day living, we NEED Jesus – and He never leaves us alone – we can rely upon the HOLY SPIRIT HELP to bring us back around to the wondering and the TRUSTING. Now we can keep walking IN the wonder – not alone – with His Power – in Hope – and with HOLY SPIRIT HELP.
We have HOLY SPIRIT HELP to LOVE, LIVE, and keep moving!!!
Amen (and Lord – please help those who still need to see You working in their every day lives)
—-
Matthew 28:16-20 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.”
Acts 2:1-12 The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
I revisit yesterday in my day 3 vbs prep scriptures, the Centurion who believes in Jesus and asks for healing for His Servant without Jesus physically travelling, we marvel at the HOPE, the faith in the centurion, a gentile, knowing God-power and knowing the lack of his worthiness and yet that Jesus is the Way. That’s an attitude for us as we see day 4 scriptures for VBS (yes, for each kit of Group, Day 4 is Jesus’s death and resurrection). Our attitude EVERYDAY should be of HOPE.
HOPE in Jesus and asking Him for His Power – it’s a fulfillment of the HOPE of the world – Jesus under direction from God, not shying away, fulfillment of the scriptures, and the Way of our forever forgiveness too. Jesus accomplishes all this, and we are blessed to share this HOPE, the LIGHT, the JOY with the world, especially at VBS. We need not shy away from this amazing opportunity to share Jesus in the Way!
Jesus is the HOPE, then, now, and to come.
The Bible lesson we know, the prophecy may be new to many, that Jesus fulfilled his coming (see the Isaiah 41 scripture quoted in Matthew 12), and that Jesus will come again. We are not done yet! More Jesus Joy is in our Faith Future! This is what VBS brings to the next generation and reinforces for us.
Jesus is our JOY in this Journey! SING PRAISE!!!
Amen
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God’s Chosen Servant – Matthew 12:15-21
[After healing a man,] A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.”
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Isaiah 42:1-13 NIV
The Servant of the Lord “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
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.”
Song of Praise to the Lord Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops. Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands. The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” – that’s what Jesus said to his disciples who were afraid, not knowing Jesus was approaching them or what was happening with a ghostly-like figure walking on water. They probably felt powerless in the unknown or not sure even what was going on – I mean Jesus was walking across the water, who would be ready to understand that! WOW!
And even in “normal” situations – we often don’t know how to deal with them best – let alone get ourselves out of a strange situation. And we find ourselves not knowing that Jesus is coming with an answer or even coming AS the answer.
Vacation bible school prep – day three of “TRUE NORTH” – finds us finding Jesus telling us to not be afraid, and to know He is here, there, EVERYWHERE! We need to find courage and know God’s support is constant – He can move mountains and He can help in many ways. In the Bible lesson, Jesus is being approached by an officer of Roman soldiers, a Centurion, in Capernaum about a sick servant, and Jesus demonstrated His healing power expanded to anywhere. The centurion asked for healing and showed faith in Jesus’s power to heal. The Centurion also saw what so many didn’t see – that Jesus had a calling and a power authority to answer to – namely His Father – and to stay true to His Direction of mercy – and to His Mission. The Centurion said “for I myself am a man under authority” – meaning that a calling is like a command – and asking Jesus to be Jesus works wonders in the asking – that is faith – always remaining in contact with God. It was a faith focused understanding – and Jesus was AMAZED at his faith when He knew so many could have seen this LIGHT – but these others were stuck in the darkness – and would be forever.
The Centurion, and hopefully we, know Jesus has POWER – at least the Centurion knew that Jesus held power and had the ear of the powerful One in God Almighty. Power that was not used for magic or wealth – but for an elusive issue of health… Power over life and death means power over and for health.
This is an earth shattering issue – not knowing the power the Lord has and not tapping into it. The power is not for moving mountains for fun – but moving the mountains of stress away – moving the mountains of issues – moving the mountains of doubt. And moving us back to peace. Jesus’s POWER is all about PEACE…
Let us keep focusing on faith – it is our way to power our days – and heal our way.
Amen
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The Faith of the Centurion
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. Matthew 8:5-13
You are not forever lost, your found is just hidden down deep.
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Reach out to Jesus, He knows, He searches, He sees.
A path to follow is in your life, wherever He leads.
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So hold tight, don’t worry little lamb,
See the Light, and just follow God’s glorious plan.
Amen
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I’m happy to have taken lunchtime out in the great weather, with VBS scriptures open as my refocus for the shortest respite. There are GREAT volumes of the Word, which guides us, and TINY nuggets too. Even in a great forested garden, I’m not lost here in thought, but grateful for my mentality to be FOUND.
Mental health surely starts with knowing we are not alone. We can pray and know God hears.
VBS day 2’s saying from True North is “When we feel alone – TRUST JESUS”. Yes, blessed to find VBS PREP time in the scriptures. The Word brings us hope and help. Jesus stated that He knows the little ones are never left alone, like wandering sheep are found. And Jesus stated that we are not to worry, God provides to us all we need, now and forever. Look at the birds – and know God provides – so don’t worry! I know in these scriptures that we are gifted VBS prep time, we know what to do, now just need to embrace it and do it! Remember our blessings!
My Aunt would have be 87 this week, she loved activity, she would love being outside. She loved us as family. She was fun. I wonder, in her death, 4 years ago now, if she was a believer in Jesus, but I don’t know. I do know she wouldn’t have been one to dismiss faith, maybe just it was never brought up, as she wasn’t brought up in it. But she shared holidays and saw others, got messages on cards. She had reverence, I remember, for faith-folks, like the ministers at my grandmother’s or my aunts’ funerals. She had a sweetness of not telling us (kids grown but still kids) about her worrying, and we didn’t even know how sick she was, I doubt she even knew. And when she passed away she was gone so quick… She seemed to have suffered a long time but still was joyful and fun. If she worried she only told a few. I do miss her. I remember our conversation of the last zoom call from her locked down intensive care unit under many precautions (both covid and other) – and that she was chipper to hear me – she seemed to have an internal lack of worry or at least compartmentalization. She passed the next evening. In pandemic lockdowns I wasn’t able to get to the funeral, yet facilitated a zoom for it. But I don’t think I will ever have complete closure until I see her again – I pray to Jesus to see her again in whole health and in joy. That’s where I also place my trust for Jesus to take care of her.
My hope is that she is at best rest. And my faith knows Jesus’s reminder that God would never let us perish alone. I hope in faith for her faith and have hope in Jesus the Rock. I trust Jesus that He showed up to her at the time she needed Him most.
If we are to trust in Jesus, then let us drop our worry, and keep walking. God’s got us. God’s got the lost, the asleep, the rest. I believe that. I trust in Jesus.
Amen
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Matthew 18:12-14 NIV
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
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Do Not Worry
Matthew 13:25-34 Jesus said: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I was grateful to have a good ride home south from home north. And I took the back way skipped the major highway most of this trip just because. I stopped for my favorite travelling ice cream at a farm dairy and looked over my VBS booklet. It’s good to let your mind wander in wonderful views. It mimics a vacation mindset – and honestly I feel like a need a big vacation – and yet small vacation doses are suitable for now. We restart our days knowing our identity. We need to know where we stand – often it is in our walking with the Lord that we find this the best. A fulfilling faith focus.
My friend just did 5 days hiking on the El Camino. It is something I know I would enjoy – a trip to find myself deeper in faith – And yet I wonder if I could just drive it, like I drive these most beautiful winding roads in the northeast… Hmmm… Could I take a tour of just plan sitting – that would be a faith find too…. Well, no matter where we are, we best take the time to decompress… then fill up with the good stuff!!!
When is the right time? Well, in this season it is now PREP time for Vacation Bible School – and my first day reading the day one scripture for my second VBS – TRUE NORTH – and the TRUE part comes with Jesus being TRUE – TRULY GOD – TRULY HUMAN – TRULY OURS…
And the first day story is of John the Baptist – of Jesus’s identity revealed – of God’s Promise fulfilment – and of the appreciation and recognition of IDENTY in a TRUE NORTH faith-compass pointing moment to when God came down as the Dove and said “This is my beloved Son” – TRUE STORY – Matthew 3 – read it all below.
John knew his identity and that of the deliverer in the Messiah – but not yet knowing the visual of his cousin to walk in – (even if we know that the Holy Spirit in John knew Jesus when John was in his mother’s womb) – and John could tell the people: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”
Jesus knew His identity and was likely aching to be the moment when the world would start to know – not because of a “Look at me” moment – but because He knew the world would be saved thru Him – and therefore He wanted to teach the Way – the Truth – the TRUENESS. Jesus wanted and wants us to repent and to be more forgiving and be more understanding and to understand our place.
I will start to “dive in” to Vacation Bible School work – and this is a GOOD PLACE – because this is IDENTITY and the drive and true calling to be working with Jesus for Jesus for the kids and their families – and to know the WAY…
May we all find our fulfilling faith focus in HIS WAY – Our Faith Walk is just beginning – new each day…
Amen
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John the Baptist Prepares the Way – Matthew 3 NIV In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
The Baptism of Jesus Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Debbie Upper 