abundant-life

Rest in Jesus, Who Calms the Storms, the Lamb Slain, Revelation 13, Mark 4, Isaiah 53

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A tiny poem:

Whatever you do, don’t worship the beast, not even a little, not even in jest.

Don’t let the devil nip at you, don’t let him disturb you in your rest. (IN JESUS).

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And that’s true, isn’t it? We tend to joke around. We have a tendency to jest about ourselves as being bad. We both forget God’s mercies and we think “I’m not worthy” – Well, God says you ARE WORTHY to be saved – that is why Jesus is the Lamb Slain from the Creation of the World. Let us not let the evil one confuse us. We are worthy because of Jesus.

If we stand strong in our faith and demonstrate faithfulness – then perhaps others will see HOW important faith is – for them to take it seriously too. SO don’t play with fire, don’t jest with the joker, and don’t give the devil anything to latch on to. Jesus wants us 100% reliant upon Him, and not fear evil – even unto death. 

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” That’s what Jesus said as he calmed the storms… 

Isaiah foretold that we would have trouble in this world. “This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.” – because the Lamb was slain from the creation of the world BEFORE it all went down. And Jesus Came so we will rise up again. Just like waves of the water. Don’t let the Devil rock your boat in between. Rest with Jesus. Rest IN Jesus. Rest because of Jesus.

Remember the Isaiah 53 scripture: “he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.“

Amen

Rest in Jesus, our Lamb. Keep living LIFE in His Peace.

Amen

Mark 4:35-41 NIV Jesus Calms the Storm
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

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Revelation 13 NIV The Beast out of the Sea

The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

Whoever has ears, let them hear. “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.” This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.

Smile and Collect God Direct

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How do celebrities make money by just being celebrities? Showing up, smiling, talking maybe, collecting the checks. Nice life huh? The only expense is for security people.

Snoop Dogg and other famous celebrities are making 50 million at the Olympics. Snoop Dogg is earning $500,000 per day plus expenses. Wow, and I’m sure there are others thinking of the TV scenes – getting paid separately for their ideas FOR TV-play of Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart. Anyone paying someone to look out of place might seem cruel – but not at $500,000 per day. Wow. That is laughing all the way to the bank. Even Steven Spielberg getting $20 million a movie has to produce a film himself and hire people to make his money, but Snoop Dogg? He is the celebrity of the moment (only NBC) now to Smile and Smile and Smile all the way to the bank…

I woke up with a novel idea mishmoshed into my head (novel to me) and it came as soon as it could organically synthesize in the most creative brain time that God gives. So – it is not from me but me in the right place – collecting the credit for ideas but God provided. It’s for work, and a Saturday 4 AM wake up is fine for an idea that is this helpful to me. It’s a gift from God to be helped, and we know all good things are from God. And maybe this idea won’t pan out, but the inspiration that He provided and can provide – giving something without asking, in a healing way for me, is like just showing up and collecting the paycheck. So imagine the blessing when we DO ask for help and then when we DO ask “what can I do for You today, Lord?”

Now, this also mean that we can ask when we DO need help, an idea, a way forward, out of a jam or just a fresh start. We can simply ask God for help and He can bring something normal or something novel, from the left field or the right field or His field, in inspiration to bring hope. Yes, and this builds a reliance upon Him. His ways are above our ways. “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

My catch phrase these days is “creativity over cynicism”… and I believe that God provides that as a healing distraction until I can move forward.

As inspired writer Isaiah says, knowing that the Lord provides: “Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters” – He means come to Abundant Life… Smile and Collect God DIRECT!

Jesus Joy will always employ … 

Amen 

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Isaiah 55

New King James Version

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.”