Another blog? So soon? What is God doing? Has He got me on a treadmill of learning? I sure hope so. Now this blog is open to all your arguments and if there are any who agree--whoopee!
In my reading this a.m. I came across Col.1:26b,27 stated from THE MESSAGE, "God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery is just this: Christ is in you, therefore you can look foreward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple."
Now, perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems to me the Word is saying because Jesus Christ died on a cross for all, then each of us-every single one-has Christ in us even at birth. He would not be fully formed satisfying Himself, for the bud of God waits for an awakening of the person in which He resides. This person opens up his heart or closes it to the Spirit whose holiness and beauty of truth awaits to be nurtured and accepted.
I always wondered when reading my old edition of the Bible what it meant by the sin which could not be forgiven was to "thwart the Holy Spirit." It helps me to understand what it means. The Holy Spirit within you --already there waiting--must be encouraged to flourish and grow.
This might be a very unscholarly rendition of God's incredible plan, but there you are. I love God's patience with me. Hope you have patience, too,when reading this.
Still learning,
A child of God...jo
Friday, June 15, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
OBVIOUSLY...GOD
I love my family! We are extraordinarily real, and real extraordinary. We fuss and cry. We are joyful and laugh. We are forgiving and usually forgetting. And often we forget those things we should not forget. We are real people, imperfect. We are what I call perfectly imperfect. We will win no prizes, yet each of us is a prize to the rest of us.
Not all of us have come to the point of choosing to follow Jesus Christ. This is not a tragedy. It is just a normal family situation, which proves our being real. Each of us is acceptable just as we are to the all. But that doesn't mean we are sat-is-fied! Sometimes we just want to say...."Can't you see the obvious? God is on our side; He's our leader!" (I found this scripture in 2 Chronicles 13:12 and couldn't stop myself. I ran to write this.)
Look at the sunsets! Created by God. The flowers growing on a hillside!...Again, God. The birth of a baby, and its conception! God.
I know, I know. Wars! Death! Sickness! Drugs! Evil! Hypocrisy! Jealousy! Etcetera, etcetera...Some would say if there is a God, why are these things in our world? Well, I don't have any answers, and I haven't heard all of the questions. But, I have....Well, I have a knower. Yes, a knower. And I know it in my knower that God is obvious to any one looking for God. So, if they haven't found Him, well, they just must not have looked with an open heart.
To get back to the scripture in 2 Chronicles 13:12...Abijah was king of Judah which had split with Israel. Israel's king was a guy called Jeroboam who didn't believe in God, so he had set up a bunch of "worship" places and had frauds appearing as holy men to lead the people. Now, it's more than likely, that Abijah felt really bad to see Israel separated from Judah,the kingdom under Davidic rule, one who worshiped the true God. And feeling sad for the kingdom not being as it had been intended, he had no choice but to go to war with Israel. Abijah appealed to God and God helped him to win over Jeroboam, but Jeroboam did not turn to God. However, there was peace in Abijah's Judah for a while.
It makes me sad, too, and even disappointed when my loved ones don't appreciate God and turn to Him in praise and thanksgiving. Like many families in the world, we pray and hope and hope and pray. We must not give up hope and must keep our faith that God will intervene, but face it, we may never live to see that reconciliation with God. Let's hope we never have a family "war", but live in peace and love, if only to show we know the way Christ wants us to live, even although we may often want to say, "Can't you see the obvious? God is on our side. He is our obvious leader."
And our hope, and our all. Anyway, here's to families everywhere..perfectly imperfect!
Imperfectly and Obviously, I remain....Jo
Not all of us have come to the point of choosing to follow Jesus Christ. This is not a tragedy. It is just a normal family situation, which proves our being real. Each of us is acceptable just as we are to the all. But that doesn't mean we are sat-is-fied! Sometimes we just want to say...."Can't you see the obvious? God is on our side; He's our leader!" (I found this scripture in 2 Chronicles 13:12 and couldn't stop myself. I ran to write this.)
Look at the sunsets! Created by God. The flowers growing on a hillside!...Again, God. The birth of a baby, and its conception! God.
I know, I know. Wars! Death! Sickness! Drugs! Evil! Hypocrisy! Jealousy! Etcetera, etcetera...Some would say if there is a God, why are these things in our world? Well, I don't have any answers, and I haven't heard all of the questions. But, I have....Well, I have a knower. Yes, a knower. And I know it in my knower that God is obvious to any one looking for God. So, if they haven't found Him, well, they just must not have looked with an open heart.
To get back to the scripture in 2 Chronicles 13:12...Abijah was king of Judah which had split with Israel. Israel's king was a guy called Jeroboam who didn't believe in God, so he had set up a bunch of "worship" places and had frauds appearing as holy men to lead the people. Now, it's more than likely, that Abijah felt really bad to see Israel separated from Judah,the kingdom under Davidic rule, one who worshiped the true God. And feeling sad for the kingdom not being as it had been intended, he had no choice but to go to war with Israel. Abijah appealed to God and God helped him to win over Jeroboam, but Jeroboam did not turn to God. However, there was peace in Abijah's Judah for a while.
It makes me sad, too, and even disappointed when my loved ones don't appreciate God and turn to Him in praise and thanksgiving. Like many families in the world, we pray and hope and hope and pray. We must not give up hope and must keep our faith that God will intervene, but face it, we may never live to see that reconciliation with God. Let's hope we never have a family "war", but live in peace and love, if only to show we know the way Christ wants us to live, even although we may often want to say, "Can't you see the obvious? God is on our side. He is our obvious leader."
And our hope, and our all. Anyway, here's to families everywhere..perfectly imperfect!
Imperfectly and Obviously, I remain....Jo
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
MAKE GOD A HABIT
We are told in Phillipians 2:5 that "Jesus had equal status with God, but he didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantage of that status no matter what." And this got me to thinking.......
Jesus was a living active man, totally human. But He was still God! He had all the rights to the advantages God has and used them to care for the world. Now, we who have received Jesus as Lord, have also received the Holy Spirit who lives within us as we are God's temple here on earth. Therefore, we, too, have the advantage of God in us and His power available to us. God, therefore, has been given to his people.
God in me! No, that does not mean that I have equal status with God! I do not! Of that, you can be sure! Nor do you, I am quite sure. And I am very glad that we do not! Our humaness clings to us in many ways, some ways we would so much rather they did not! But, God is in us and that in itself is HUGE!
Who, then do we serve? God, of course! What a dumb question! Yet, I remember that time after time my own will has leaped forward and asserted itself, and I am charged to remind myself that I will only serve God! What is one to do having a strong willful individuality? Repent, repent, repent. Yes, go to God!
Now, I am going to try something else... If my desire is to serve God ONLY, what better way to do that is to not get out of contact with God. Can I do that?
This, being my choice and one I am glad to make, has been revealed that I must get into a stronger habit of seeking God habitually, continually, and thoughtfully. Good choices then should become habit, because God is the source of the habit. My behavior should become more one with God. The trick is..and the truth is- habit. Make God a habit, a really good habit. Good choices make good action and good action is what we want the world to see when we are His! Bad choices mean bad actions and this we don't want the world to see! So, I want to make God a really good habit!
Lord Jesus, I believe in this theory. May your power make it truth, for your Glory. AMEN...This is Jo speaking.
Jesus was a living active man, totally human. But He was still God! He had all the rights to the advantages God has and used them to care for the world. Now, we who have received Jesus as Lord, have also received the Holy Spirit who lives within us as we are God's temple here on earth. Therefore, we, too, have the advantage of God in us and His power available to us. God, therefore, has been given to his people.
God in me! No, that does not mean that I have equal status with God! I do not! Of that, you can be sure! Nor do you, I am quite sure. And I am very glad that we do not! Our humaness clings to us in many ways, some ways we would so much rather they did not! But, God is in us and that in itself is HUGE!
Who, then do we serve? God, of course! What a dumb question! Yet, I remember that time after time my own will has leaped forward and asserted itself, and I am charged to remind myself that I will only serve God! What is one to do having a strong willful individuality? Repent, repent, repent. Yes, go to God!
Now, I am going to try something else... If my desire is to serve God ONLY, what better way to do that is to not get out of contact with God. Can I do that?
This, being my choice and one I am glad to make, has been revealed that I must get into a stronger habit of seeking God habitually, continually, and thoughtfully. Good choices then should become habit, because God is the source of the habit. My behavior should become more one with God. The trick is..and the truth is- habit. Make God a habit, a really good habit. Good choices make good action and good action is what we want the world to see when we are His! Bad choices mean bad actions and this we don't want the world to see! So, I want to make God a really good habit!
Lord Jesus, I believe in this theory. May your power make it truth, for your Glory. AMEN...This is Jo speaking.
Friday, June 1, 2012
TOO LATE SMART!
I need to write about Proverbs 20:18 today. It took up two pages in my journal so it must be important to me. It goes like this: "Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get." Of course, you say.
Well, let me tell you.............
Some years ago we belonged to a church where we were all new to one another. Hardly anyone knew anyone else, with just a few exceptions. And I made a huge mistake!
I was asked by the pastor if I would be responsible for the workings of small groups in the church. The emphasis of this church was to be the small groups. I wasn't certain of what the job entailed, but began to study other churches with this devise, read a few books and got clarification from the pastor. With this information and a prayer, I began to work. I visited each small group, praising each team, thanking them for their efforts, encouraging them, and began to feel somewhat prepared. I also let them know I would try to be there for them and if they ran into any snags, I would do my best to help.
It was a disaster! No one really wanted me to attend their group. No one wanted my input if they hit a snag. No one complained to me, or gave me any hints that I was off-base, but..... they surely did to the pastor about me.
Today, after reading Proverbs 20:18, I can see where I went wrong. I sailed in as if I was an expert! If I had only begun by a discussion with each group leader as to how they could utilize my help if they desired, explained my role as an attendant for the pastor, and explained what I thought was expected of me for their group. If I had then sorted out what they thought my job should be or not be and come to an agreement, I would have Formed OUR Purpose! Not my purpose, but OURS!
Forming our purpose could have been done by a phone calll to each leader. By letting them each know what the pastor and I expected of my job, they could have had input into what they thought and expected. Therefore, it would have been OUR purpose and not mine.
God doesn't promise us success, but I felt sad and disappointed, never-the-less. No, God used this situation for His purpose, and I hang my hat on that! And with this message, today I pass along what I learned the hard way. Prov.20:18 could be used by many, for today and always.
Instead of being a co-worker, I must have seemed like a governmental spy! My apologies to all those affected by my ignorance.
My husband, Jerry, had a wise father and Ed used to say, "You get too soon old and too late smart!" Oh, dear!
Older and a bit smarter....Jo
Well, let me tell you.............
Some years ago we belonged to a church where we were all new to one another. Hardly anyone knew anyone else, with just a few exceptions. And I made a huge mistake!
I was asked by the pastor if I would be responsible for the workings of small groups in the church. The emphasis of this church was to be the small groups. I wasn't certain of what the job entailed, but began to study other churches with this devise, read a few books and got clarification from the pastor. With this information and a prayer, I began to work. I visited each small group, praising each team, thanking them for their efforts, encouraging them, and began to feel somewhat prepared. I also let them know I would try to be there for them and if they ran into any snags, I would do my best to help.
It was a disaster! No one really wanted me to attend their group. No one wanted my input if they hit a snag. No one complained to me, or gave me any hints that I was off-base, but..... they surely did to the pastor about me.
Today, after reading Proverbs 20:18, I can see where I went wrong. I sailed in as if I was an expert! If I had only begun by a discussion with each group leader as to how they could utilize my help if they desired, explained my role as an attendant for the pastor, and explained what I thought was expected of me for their group. If I had then sorted out what they thought my job should be or not be and come to an agreement, I would have Formed OUR Purpose! Not my purpose, but OURS!
Forming our purpose could have been done by a phone calll to each leader. By letting them each know what the pastor and I expected of my job, they could have had input into what they thought and expected. Therefore, it would have been OUR purpose and not mine.
God doesn't promise us success, but I felt sad and disappointed, never-the-less. No, God used this situation for His purpose, and I hang my hat on that! And with this message, today I pass along what I learned the hard way. Prov.20:18 could be used by many, for today and always.
Instead of being a co-worker, I must have seemed like a governmental spy! My apologies to all those affected by my ignorance.
My husband, Jerry, had a wise father and Ed used to say, "You get too soon old and too late smart!" Oh, dear!
Older and a bit smarter....Jo
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