The Bible speaks a lot about being in the Light. Christ is the Light of the world. We are to be children of that light. John 12 tells us: "Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn't destroy you. As you have the light, believe in the light. then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You'll be children of light."
The part that interested me today is: "Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn't destroy you."
Jesus said these things to the crowd that he knew by instinct would soon be against him. So, what light they had would be ignored as they would soon be caught up in the passions of the dark moment yet to come.
It is a warning to me. Do not think little of the Light I have been given. Not everyone in this world is to receive the same amount of Light. How blessed I am to be given the Light I have! And I must learn to live in this Light and keep it shining and bright. It's not to be covered up. It's not to be hidden. And it is definitely not to be ignored! It must never be considered to be "not enough!" What I have been given is always "just enough" to do whatever job I have been given. If the job needs more Light than what I have been given, God will provide. He will give me either more Light or a helper who has what is needed. My job is to trust and use what is given. And to not step out of the Light.
Lord, May your Word continue to supply my Light that I might follow you more closely. Thank you, God.
(Friends, I have had a urinary tract infection so have been flat for a few days. Keep me in your prayers that I might have my strength returned. Thanks so much!)
A friend of God and you, Jo
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
TROUBLE, TROUBLE, TROUBLE
I love the Book of Romans! Romans 8:39 says,"There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins...none of this fazes us because............ Jesus loves us!" (Word from THE MESSAGE)
These words of Paul are worth carrying around with us either on a note to quickly retrieve from a pocket, or memorized in our heads. My pocket is safer than my head as I have "too much circling around in my head getting all mixed up in there." (almost a quote from a certain candidate for Pres.)
Yes, those words might come in handy in these interesting times. We have always found trouble as well as ease in life. But, we maybe are finding harder times, as many are suffering right now. We may have feelings of hate, or maybe someone hates us. We may have suffered from hunger or homelessness. We may have encountered bullying or backstabbing. We may suffer from darker sins. (Oh, but we must hang on to the love of Jesus!) The USA may encounter within our family systems any or all of these tragedies.
We have had good lives for the most part. We recently hear of kids not getting enough to eat or sleep because they are living in their parents' cars. Food programs at elementary schools are taking this into consideration. If we have young families, we must do what we can to alleviate these problems and help when we can.
We also hear of bullying which can cause irreparable problems. Or back-stabbing, where everyone gets hurt. Then there is always the worst sins that causes bodily harm and even death. The world is NOT a terribly safe place. It is a terribly UNSAFE place. But there is one thing that we can always do; one thing we can always count on. We can always count on Jesus.
Get out that little scrap of paper in your pocket, or find the way clear to the memorized quote of Saint Paul--None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.
We are the Kids of the Creator! We are the Chosen for His Church! We are Jesus' eyes, His hands, His heart! What can we do to ease the pain of someone? How can we feed the hungry? How can we help the homeless? How can I stop the bullying? How can I stop the back-stabbing? What can I do to keep the USA and its wonderful people from becoming the sore spot of the world? Only one thing.........
I am a friend of God.....Jesus loves me........ Jesus cares about all these others.....Lord God, May I be fit for the endeavors we may need to make for ourselves and others in the hard times to come. I cherish your love for me and will remember what you endured for me. May I be fit to serve you.
Your loving friend,
Jo
These words of Paul are worth carrying around with us either on a note to quickly retrieve from a pocket, or memorized in our heads. My pocket is safer than my head as I have "too much circling around in my head getting all mixed up in there." (almost a quote from a certain candidate for Pres.)
Yes, those words might come in handy in these interesting times. We have always found trouble as well as ease in life. But, we maybe are finding harder times, as many are suffering right now. We may have feelings of hate, or maybe someone hates us. We may have suffered from hunger or homelessness. We may have encountered bullying or backstabbing. We may suffer from darker sins. (Oh, but we must hang on to the love of Jesus!) The USA may encounter within our family systems any or all of these tragedies.
We have had good lives for the most part. We recently hear of kids not getting enough to eat or sleep because they are living in their parents' cars. Food programs at elementary schools are taking this into consideration. If we have young families, we must do what we can to alleviate these problems and help when we can.
We also hear of bullying which can cause irreparable problems. Or back-stabbing, where everyone gets hurt. Then there is always the worst sins that causes bodily harm and even death. The world is NOT a terribly safe place. It is a terribly UNSAFE place. But there is one thing that we can always do; one thing we can always count on. We can always count on Jesus.
Get out that little scrap of paper in your pocket, or find the way clear to the memorized quote of Saint Paul--None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.
We are the Kids of the Creator! We are the Chosen for His Church! We are Jesus' eyes, His hands, His heart! What can we do to ease the pain of someone? How can we feed the hungry? How can we help the homeless? How can I stop the bullying? How can I stop the back-stabbing? What can I do to keep the USA and its wonderful people from becoming the sore spot of the world? Only one thing.........
I am a friend of God.....Jesus loves me........ Jesus cares about all these others.....Lord God, May I be fit for the endeavors we may need to make for ourselves and others in the hard times to come. I cherish your love for me and will remember what you endured for me. May I be fit to serve you.
Your loving friend,
Jo
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