I have now set up my new blog. You can continue to hear from me at http://josmnlife.blogspot.com/.
I will tell you there about my life and thoughts from Minnesota.
(Minnesota Jo was taken).
Friday, August 30, 2013
Sunday, June 9, 2013
GOODBYE IS A HARD WORD TO SAY
I'm going to have to say goodbye for a while as we are moving. Three of our four children live in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota and we are heading back home.
The movers come the first part of July to pack and then load, but I am getting a head start on the packing. (Movers are really expensive!) We close on the house here in AZ on July 9, and with our eldest daughter, Peg, we will head out right from there for the Northland.
We must also make a quick trip to Ohio before all this as a beautiful granddaughter, Bayley, is getting married to a handsome and very special young man, Evan. We will rush right back to AZ to be here in time for the closing.
So everything has to be done before we leave for Ohio. Packing for Ohio means also packing for our car trip home. And before packing for Ohio, we have to be packed for the movers coming. (And are also sending by mail some summer clothes to carry us until we have a home and our clothes are delivered by the moving van.) Everything will be gone, except what we will put in the car. Movers will keep in storage what we have left from sales, etc. for placement in a house when we get one.
From the get-go this has been a time to trust in God and each other. I have no doubts that we will have a fine trip, see a gorgeous wedding outside in a green field of Ohio, have a couple of decent flights, and head into MN with our heads up and our eyes clear, praising God every turn of the wheel, and every home that we look at.
This is why I will not be blogging for a while. Just toooooooooo busy! but I'll be wondering about you, wondering who you are, what you look like, what your primary concern is for today..and the tomorrows that will come.
Until we get our computer connected again, I imagine it will be some time. So, I'll say...goodbye!
God willing, I'll be back and next time I'm going to call myself...MinnesotaJo.
Until then, God be with you! He is, you know. Jo
The movers come the first part of July to pack and then load, but I am getting a head start on the packing. (Movers are really expensive!) We close on the house here in AZ on July 9, and with our eldest daughter, Peg, we will head out right from there for the Northland.
We must also make a quick trip to Ohio before all this as a beautiful granddaughter, Bayley, is getting married to a handsome and very special young man, Evan. We will rush right back to AZ to be here in time for the closing.
So everything has to be done before we leave for Ohio. Packing for Ohio means also packing for our car trip home. And before packing for Ohio, we have to be packed for the movers coming. (And are also sending by mail some summer clothes to carry us until we have a home and our clothes are delivered by the moving van.) Everything will be gone, except what we will put in the car. Movers will keep in storage what we have left from sales, etc. for placement in a house when we get one.
From the get-go this has been a time to trust in God and each other. I have no doubts that we will have a fine trip, see a gorgeous wedding outside in a green field of Ohio, have a couple of decent flights, and head into MN with our heads up and our eyes clear, praising God every turn of the wheel, and every home that we look at.
This is why I will not be blogging for a while. Just toooooooooo busy! but I'll be wondering about you, wondering who you are, what you look like, what your primary concern is for today..and the tomorrows that will come.
Until we get our computer connected again, I imagine it will be some time. So, I'll say...goodbye!
God willing, I'll be back and next time I'm going to call myself...MinnesotaJo.
Until then, God be with you! He is, you know. Jo
Friday, June 7, 2013
PAUL AND HIS COUSIN, MANY TIMES REMOVED
Eph. 3:8-10 reads, "And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ." Of course, this relates to the Apostle Paul, but it also relates to me and the countless others who speak or write of Jesus. I am in the best of company, and grateful for it.
Just one page in my Bible, THE MESSAGE, page 2126, is filled with dates, telling me that I have written in my journal on those dates about the passages dated. Imagine! Just one page of Paul's writing, but miles and miles of wisdom shared with me and millions of others over the years.
My simple blog is a poor imitation of all the writing already done in the Word of God, that early writing which tells all God wishes us to know concerning Jesus and His extraordinary wisdom and hours. I write because I stumble with the spoken word. I save my smile, my arms, legs, and my voice to personal visits when called upon.
I am amazed that God's wisdom and love is available to me. I am amazed that God allows me to believe in Him so strongly that I am compelled to write, to give back in some way the wisdom and love God gives to me. Therefore, I blog.
My blog is the best that I can do. I send it out with a prayer that a hungry one will find his or her spiritual "meal" complete in the words of Scripture and my simple explanation of them. I welcome them to the company of believers. So, goes God in His work.
Mystifying, isn't it? God plants and teaches. Then, God uses and completes His use. And we obey in thanksgiving. A better job could not possibly be needed or wanted. So, read up and be ready, guided by God, inspired by His Spirit, we sit together at the computer and pour out our souls! Did He not say He was with us? Yes, He is indeed.
Thanks be to God! AMEN
As Always, Cousin Jo
Just one page in my Bible, THE MESSAGE, page 2126, is filled with dates, telling me that I have written in my journal on those dates about the passages dated. Imagine! Just one page of Paul's writing, but miles and miles of wisdom shared with me and millions of others over the years.
My simple blog is a poor imitation of all the writing already done in the Word of God, that early writing which tells all God wishes us to know concerning Jesus and His extraordinary wisdom and hours. I write because I stumble with the spoken word. I save my smile, my arms, legs, and my voice to personal visits when called upon.
I am amazed that God's wisdom and love is available to me. I am amazed that God allows me to believe in Him so strongly that I am compelled to write, to give back in some way the wisdom and love God gives to me. Therefore, I blog.
My blog is the best that I can do. I send it out with a prayer that a hungry one will find his or her spiritual "meal" complete in the words of Scripture and my simple explanation of them. I welcome them to the company of believers. So, goes God in His work.
Mystifying, isn't it? God plants and teaches. Then, God uses and completes His use. And we obey in thanksgiving. A better job could not possibly be needed or wanted. So, read up and be ready, guided by God, inspired by His Spirit, we sit together at the computer and pour out our souls! Did He not say He was with us? Yes, He is indeed.
Thanks be to God! AMEN
As Always, Cousin Jo
Thursday, June 6, 2013
DOESN'T THIS BEAT ALL!
Yesterday, I journaled Ephesians 1:7 and 8, "Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah Jesus, His blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people--free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either...Abundantly free."
How perfectly phrased! Give thanks to Paul. How perfectly planned! Give thanks to the Lord God. How perfectly accomplished! Give thanks to the Lord Jesus.
Yes, Paul's phrases totally and completely explain what Jesus has done for us. And planned by our own Sovereign Lord. Yet, the true Hero is our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, who willingly gave His Life that we might be redeemed of our sins. He died for us, you and me! He died that we might live and not only live, but Live in Him and He in us in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Nothing, not anything anywhere, has been given to anyone that is as great and significant as this. Nothing in this world has ever been achieved to equal this incredible act, this unselfish, pre-destined act which fulfilled the world's most necessary loving sacrifice. Nothing anywhere has occurred that is as fine and good as this.
THIS BEATS ALL!
Lord Jesus, You are the greatest hero of the entire world, of the entire universe, and the adjoining Heavens beyond what is known. Thanks Be To God! Amen.
I love my hero. Jo
How perfectly phrased! Give thanks to Paul. How perfectly planned! Give thanks to the Lord God. How perfectly accomplished! Give thanks to the Lord Jesus.
Yes, Paul's phrases totally and completely explain what Jesus has done for us. And planned by our own Sovereign Lord. Yet, the true Hero is our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, who willingly gave His Life that we might be redeemed of our sins. He died for us, you and me! He died that we might live and not only live, but Live in Him and He in us in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Nothing, not anything anywhere, has been given to anyone that is as great and significant as this. Nothing in this world has ever been achieved to equal this incredible act, this unselfish, pre-destined act which fulfilled the world's most necessary loving sacrifice. Nothing anywhere has occurred that is as fine and good as this.
THIS BEATS ALL!
Lord Jesus, You are the greatest hero of the entire world, of the entire universe, and the adjoining Heavens beyond what is known. Thanks Be To God! Amen.
I love my hero. Jo
Friday, May 24, 2013
PASSIONATE PATIENCE
What on earth is passionate patience? I know what patience is. And I know what passion is. but how do you define passionate patience?
This is the wrong day for riddles. I've just got too much going on. And nothing seems to be moving towards advancement. It seems I am stalled in all my activities, in one way or another. Is it going to be "one of those days"?
First, my tooth. At my age, the teeth begin to lose their strength. Yet their purpose is most important to continued life. I'm turning 80 this year and want to feel good. But, I had an important tooth which had been crowned nicely become loose. "Get it out right away", my dentist said," before you swallow it." So, it was removed. Now, what was to replace it? An implant? Just the thing. But the hole left by the root of the tooth was too close to my sinus cavity for an implant, so they said, "We must rebuild the bony area in order to implant a tooth. Now this will be a process and overall it will take about 4 months."
We're moving, you know. Bought a small house; sold the bigger house. Still, we'll need a small house in the north. But can't look for that yet, because we first must close on the sold house. This all seemed a normal thing to do when we started out. It seemed perfectly clear. God even spoke to Jerry and told him how we should do it. But, God didn't say to do it slowly, one thing at a time. So, we've put ourselves in a situation of "too much going on."
So, we have tooth payments, travel payments, wedding expenses, moving expenses, improvement expenses because the new, small house is quite old, expenses on the sold house to please the new owner and we're trying to do it all at once.! Plus, I can't seem to even give away my clothes hanging in the closet which I don't want to move to any house.
But, and that's a big B, even if I feel stymied, am I really? While journaling this morning, I came across Romans 5:3 and 4, which reads in part: "Troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next." And a bit later it says, "In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling short-changed."
Ah, that's the word. That's exactly the right word. That's how I felt today! Notice I say felt? Writing all of this out in a scream to you, seems to have quieted my soul somewhat. So, although I felt short-changed, am I really? No, I don't think so. God will not short-change me. All He asks of me is to trust and be patient. Hmm. Loving God could mean passion. Having trust could mean patience. So, Loving God and trusting Him completely must mean passionate patience.
Now, passionate patience doesn't come without believing in it and recognizing that without it you and I might be in a fix. I don't operate very well without confidence in God and without God's confidence in me, which I have to trust. So, my feelings are not important. All is going along, maybe not perfectly and quickly, but going forward. All is in readiness for God's Way. My feelings are not important; it is His timing and His perfection that is important. And on this I must live. I must.
I have a strong desire to believe all will come to pass in God's time--passionate patience.
Well, there you go.....Jo
This is the wrong day for riddles. I've just got too much going on. And nothing seems to be moving towards advancement. It seems I am stalled in all my activities, in one way or another. Is it going to be "one of those days"?
First, my tooth. At my age, the teeth begin to lose their strength. Yet their purpose is most important to continued life. I'm turning 80 this year and want to feel good. But, I had an important tooth which had been crowned nicely become loose. "Get it out right away", my dentist said," before you swallow it." So, it was removed. Now, what was to replace it? An implant? Just the thing. But the hole left by the root of the tooth was too close to my sinus cavity for an implant, so they said, "We must rebuild the bony area in order to implant a tooth. Now this will be a process and overall it will take about 4 months."
We're moving, you know. Bought a small house; sold the bigger house. Still, we'll need a small house in the north. But can't look for that yet, because we first must close on the sold house. This all seemed a normal thing to do when we started out. It seemed perfectly clear. God even spoke to Jerry and told him how we should do it. But, God didn't say to do it slowly, one thing at a time. So, we've put ourselves in a situation of "too much going on."
So, we have tooth payments, travel payments, wedding expenses, moving expenses, improvement expenses because the new, small house is quite old, expenses on the sold house to please the new owner and we're trying to do it all at once.! Plus, I can't seem to even give away my clothes hanging in the closet which I don't want to move to any house.
But, and that's a big B, even if I feel stymied, am I really? While journaling this morning, I came across Romans 5:3 and 4, which reads in part: "Troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next." And a bit later it says, "In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling short-changed."
Ah, that's the word. That's exactly the right word. That's how I felt today! Notice I say felt? Writing all of this out in a scream to you, seems to have quieted my soul somewhat. So, although I felt short-changed, am I really? No, I don't think so. God will not short-change me. All He asks of me is to trust and be patient. Hmm. Loving God could mean passion. Having trust could mean patience. So, Loving God and trusting Him completely must mean passionate patience.
Now, passionate patience doesn't come without believing in it and recognizing that without it you and I might be in a fix. I don't operate very well without confidence in God and without God's confidence in me, which I have to trust. So, my feelings are not important. All is going along, maybe not perfectly and quickly, but going forward. All is in readiness for God's Way. My feelings are not important; it is His timing and His perfection that is important. And on this I must live. I must.
I have a strong desire to believe all will come to pass in God's time--passionate patience.
Well, there you go.....Jo
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
HEAVEN CAN HOLD US ALL
Romans 3:25-26---God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear the world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public, to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured." This clarifies to me exactly what Jesus did for us and why He wants us as His own. What father wouldn't want his children to be clean in body and in spirit? And even when they fall in the mud and wallow in it, the father would still hug them and clean them up.
That's our God.
He cleared our way to be holy, by accepting Jesus gift of cleanness in the sight of God.
Yet, God made us to have a choice of holiness or not. Just as the child who stays in the mud, God wants us to get out of it RIGHT NOW! No pussy-footing around. He loves us, but He wants us to listen to Him and obey. And He wants it now! So, be thankful that your brother, Jesus, took the punishment for all of us.
Yet, I didn't say it would be easy. But it's that God has something better for us and that makes it worth the effort of belonging to God. He asks us to be obedient. For myself, I don't always see that what I'm doing would be better not done. In purer words, I don't always see that what I'm doing is a sin. But, God keeps after me and finally I see that what I'm doing is hurting someone else and myself. Then, I try to out it from my life, sometimes more successful than other times.
But, the main point I want to make is, "I am His!" And if sometimes He makes it a little tough, it's worth every moment of the peace and joy and acceptance I receive every day. I am His!
Yes, he is worth the exclamation points. We are His!!!!!!
Lord Jesus, grant that each one of us who knows you might turn the heart of at least one other, that he ,too, might come into your loving care. I am only one, but I can pray that many might have "touched a heart" of one who still "wanders into the mud" without a loving Father. Amen.
Heaven can hold us all! Jo
That's our God.
He cleared our way to be holy, by accepting Jesus gift of cleanness in the sight of God.
Yet, God made us to have a choice of holiness or not. Just as the child who stays in the mud, God wants us to get out of it RIGHT NOW! No pussy-footing around. He loves us, but He wants us to listen to Him and obey. And He wants it now! So, be thankful that your brother, Jesus, took the punishment for all of us.
Yet, I didn't say it would be easy. But it's that God has something better for us and that makes it worth the effort of belonging to God. He asks us to be obedient. For myself, I don't always see that what I'm doing would be better not done. In purer words, I don't always see that what I'm doing is a sin. But, God keeps after me and finally I see that what I'm doing is hurting someone else and myself. Then, I try to out it from my life, sometimes more successful than other times.
But, the main point I want to make is, "I am His!" And if sometimes He makes it a little tough, it's worth every moment of the peace and joy and acceptance I receive every day. I am His!
Yes, he is worth the exclamation points. We are His!!!!!!
Lord Jesus, grant that each one of us who knows you might turn the heart of at least one other, that he ,too, might come into your loving care. I am only one, but I can pray that many might have "touched a heart" of one who still "wanders into the mud" without a loving Father. Amen.
Heaven can hold us all! Jo
Monday, May 20, 2013
CORRECTION MAY 20, Please note.
Adding to post Monday, May 20, Please note:
I stand corrected: Paul did notwrite Romans in Rome. I fell asleep at the switch and the (not funny) crash came. Please forgive. No one really knows where he was when written, but some professionals believe Ephesus. SORRY!
I stand corrected: Paul did notwrite Romans in Rome. I fell asleep at the switch and the (not funny) crash came. Please forgive. No one really knows where he was when written, but some professionals believe Ephesus. SORRY!
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