Now I am in Minnesota (how to find my new blog)

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).

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

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

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

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

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

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!

DO YOU NOT KNOW?

Romans 1 28:32 speaks of a world much like our world today. Paul wrote the Book of Romans while he was a prisoner in Rome, hearing of all reported to him of the goings on about him.  He could only pray and write, unable to leave the house he was kept in, while his friends and guests could come and go.

Read these words that describe our world and Paul's.  "Since they didn't bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose." And more. "They made life hell on earth with their envy, wanton killing, bickering, and cheating." And even more.  "They know perfectly well they're spitting in God's face and they don't care." Sound familiar?

Paul had been delayed over and over, yet wanting so much to get to Rome. After getting there and finding his situation impossible to leave, he wrote letters to the various churches.  And included in those letters is his letter to Rome, a masterpiece of our theology and a blessing to us all.

When Paul used the words "envy, killing, bickering, and cheating" it sounds like the news we see on TV and read in the paper.  Um hmm! Our world! Our world and our selfishness.  Mine, too.  But, thanks to God's son, Jesus Christ, who paid for that selfishness of mine and others who ever lived, we are forgiven.

Yet there are always going to be those that don't know about Jesus' offer of salvation because they haven't heard. They must be told.  And there will always be those who don't give a hoot about being saved from hell.  They will always go about running loose, disclaiming Christ's wonderful name! These are the people raising havoc in our neighborhoods, our schools, our governments, and sometimes in our homes. They will not change without the incredible gift of God, and if there is no change our world may become less and less holy as the years go by.  We need God's help in a big way.

So, my prayer today is this:
 Lord, we will do our part and do our best to pass the word to those who haven't heard. And we will trust that You will deal with those hard core people who love nothing but raising "hell." Deal with them however You must, in order to have them become willing to become your people.  And, Lord, help us to live in this wild world with confidence that You will see us through it, finding peace and joy, in spite of it. We know there is beauty here and we cherish it and thank you for it. AMEN.

I shall not hold my breath waiting, but I will wait with trust and grace. 

Your friend, Jo

PASS IT ON! PLEASE!

There's a song I like that starts like this: "It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around will warm up in its glowing.  That's how it is with God's love...".  And so, that's why I blog.  That's why I write the words that matter to me.... because willing listeners are hard to find.

The writer of Psalm 78 also wanted to pass it along.  He said, "We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation."  And Paul said it over and over, just as he said in his second letter to the church in Thessalonica, "God picked you out at the very start...He invited you into the life of the Spirit through the message (that I first delivered)."

How quickly we want to tell our friends the best joke we just heard.  Or share our political views, no matter how converse they are to their own.  Yet we are hesitant to tell about our need and our joy in the Lord. I may choose a blog to write it, because someone else will have to choose to read it.  It is then their choice.  I do not presume upon them.  It's safer.  But...safer from what?  Being called a Christian?   My, Oh My!

Generation after generation have heard abut God, through someone or at someplace.  Yet God is the least spoken of than any other subject.  We are afraid to tell others that God is called upon, believed in, trusted, obeyed, and finally, loved.  How can we help but love Him?  We are so very loved by Him! And first and foremost, like the best of fathers, He wants us to care about Him. He waits for us to care and then to share with others our caring. And to share our joy in seeing and receiving God's love for all eternity.  All this comes to us through Christ whose death cleanses us from our natural sinfulness--selfishness and idolatry of "things."  You know--me, first and I want that!  Or am I speaking only for myself?

So, my job is to pass it on.  Maybe it's your job, too.  And that's good.  We'll both receive our wages someday from God.  A smile and a hug and "I know your name!  It's Jo, isn't it?"

Yes, God.  It's.....Jo

RECIPE FOR PEACE AT OUR HOUSE

Our marriage has suffered over the years in a way that I doubt many marriages do.  Jerry, my husband, likes to understand situations, ideas, etc. so that he knows how to handle himself, for knowing what to do in these situations gives him confidence and peace. I  have a problem of frustration in repeating and repeating what I think of as rather mundane situations, that are easy to understand.  My fuse is short, and I get annoyed.  And Jerry is left bewildered as to why I'm annoyed, and he has a right to be.  Therefore, I get down on myself for being annoyed over something that has no great importance.  After resorting to prayer, finally, God led me to see something my friend told me years ago.  "Have patience.  It just takes Jerry a little longer to understand what you get in a twinkling.  But once he understands, he doesn't forget it and he knows how to use the new information."  She was so right!

And so, what happened?  Well, you guessed, I think.  That is what I'm blogging about today.

First Thessalonians 5:15 tells us, "Be careful that when you get on each others' nerves you don't snap at each other.  Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out."

My job?  To bring his attribute out.  Give it space to grow and shine.

Being  thorough is an admirable attribute.  Jerry lets no stone unturned in discovering and learning.  He works hard for understanding so that he might have an intelligent answer to any given problem.  I may not be looking for any answer myself, or the problem may not have anything to do with Jerry or with me, but just  conversation. If either of these circumstances occur, Jerry must be informed, by me, right away.   "This is not a problem for you to solve."  Or, " This is only conversation.  Just thought you might be interested." A clarification of need is imperative.  Then, he can listen, but does not need to understand it thoroughly.

If a situation does concern us, then I must pray for patience before I ever start!  And repeat the problem and its various connections to our behavior until he has a complete understanding.  I also must ask if he has further knowledge on the situation and if he does, listen carefully and agree to comply.

How I wish that I had this enlightenment earlier in our marriage.  And I ask forgiveness from Jerry and from the Lord for not learning this earlier.  But maybe God knew we were  both really tired of the situation finally, for, once again, God spoke to me through the Scripture.

Oh, Yes!  God does speak to me loudly, but from the words I read, and I am so very grateful.

Forgiven and Knowing God's plan for us, I am.....JO

GOD'S JOBS ARE FOR EVERYONE

In First Thessalonians Chapter 4, verse 2, Paul says to the church there, "We want you living in a way that will command the respect of others." And he goes on to say four things important to that life.  Each of these things tell us a story about living a life of leadership in a life with God.

The first direction was, "Be a calming influence on those around you." Now, I am not exactly what one might call a calm person.  I'm kind of effervescent, bubbling with joy that I am so loved! How can I not be when I am so blessed?  I have a life filled with Christ!  I have a family who loves me and each other! I have friends who are precious to me!  And, although I care about the whole world and its needs, my needs are few.  And when I am in trouble, God is always there.  How can I not be joyous?

But when there is trouble within the  family or among my friends, I am assured enough in God's help to assure them as well.  Perhaps, then, I can be calm....because I believe in God's help. I know He will help us in times of trouble.  But, and this is a big but, we must be satisfied with God's answer as sometimes it will be "no."  Hope for a "yes", or a "maybe", or a "later".

Learning to trust in God in spite of His answers is hard, admittedly.  But it is of great importance.

Secondly, Paul's directions said to "Mind your own business."  I sure hope I do this!  One time I did interfere, that I remember well.  A friend called me with sadness because of two things. She was unhappy with... her attitude toward her husband and also, her prayer life was off kilter.  She shared with me several incidences of both problems, and I found myself saying something like, "Maybe if you clear up the way you are treating him, your life with Him will grow as well."  Yes.  That's interference.  I admit it.  But she is still grateful and I give all the thanks to God.

Third, "Do your own job." Make sure what God has delegated to you , and do it with love and gladness.  Do it thoroughly and without complaint.

And fourth, "Be grateful! Be grateful to be periodically reminded of these things:  Be a calming influence, mind your own business, and do  your own job."  No explanation needed.  But, I try, in addition, to be grateful for two other things:  Be grateful that others have their jobs, too, and that you have been given a job to do!

Lord Jesus, Thank you for my job, that I might lead others by friendship and fellowship in the Word!  Amen.

Am I now an old friend? Jo

OPINION OR TRUTH? READ CAREFULLY

The Apostle Paul wrote letters constantly to the many churches he started across Asia. We have copies of some of them in our Bible. We call the bible the Word of God for that is how God speaks to us and over the centuries we have come to regard the Bible as The Truth.  Most Christians will agree to this.  However, not too long ago in what we call yesterday we have had many speakers of the truth, mostly interested in furthering the kingdom for God.

Today we have bloggers; some who want to spread the truth, but also have the truth mixed with opinion.  I am not going to be able to tell you if my opinions are also the absolute truth, but I can say that what I say is the truth as I know it.  If I interpret something from the scripture, it is my knowledge of that scripture as God has met me with it and it is the truth as I know it.  It may not be someone else's truth, but it is mine; and I pass it along to you out of love and in order to encourage.

When I have not gotten God's messages to me in a correct  way, He does the correcting and probably through a situation that I would rather not have to encounter!  A good friend of mine, wiser by far than I am, once said, "Everything that happens to me seems to be a teaching lesson.  Sometimes I wish God would not teach me so much and so often!" Her name is Dorie and Dorie has had a hard, but lovely, life. She has been a friend to many, and has loved her Lord with all her heart.  She learned her lessons well, in spite of, or perhaps because, of the life she was asked to lead.

I treasure my lessons as well.  But loving the lesson takes a little while before it can be appreciated.  Only a backward glance lets one see the goodness in the lesson, but is rare that one forgets that goodness.

But I wander a bit in my thinking....I ask that when you read these words of mine that you sift through the letters and the spaces and understand that what I am sharing is my life in God as He has presented it to me.  He will present it in a different way to you, understandably.  And you will present your life to another in a different way than I have, only to be received in the ears or eyes of that person as that person needs.  Letting another person filter one's message is imperative.  God will determine what the words will mean for that person when He is called upon.

So, be sure to call upon the Lord God when you read this kind of message.  He will see that what you read is what He wants you to know.  Just as I listen to His call to write what He calls me to write He will call you to read what he wants you to know and he will even sort it out for you, if you ask.

Yes, He will.  And that is the truth as I know it!

Growing in Him everyday, I am still.........Jo

GOD'S IN CHARGE! NOT YOU!

All my life I have used anger to handle frustration.  Shame on me, I know, I know!  I hate my anger, yet it is all I have ever known. I grew up with it!  And I was ashamed.  I tested angry when I took various tests.  And I was ashamed.  My frustration with others is very un-like Jesus' anger at the temple money-changers. There needs to be a change in how I handle frustration.  I need to make a new habit.  And I don't seem to be very good at it.

Now, I know that God's in charge of circumstances.  I know His plan for me includes good things.  It's not God I get angry at; it's people! Yet, other  people can't always be thinking about how their actions might be troubling for me. Some actions are so thoughtless I let myself get frustrated. And there I am, whining and carrying on like a child unable to have her way.

Pete's sake, I'm going to be 80 this year!  It's time I grew up.  My kid's know better.  My husband is a champion of stability.  Why can't I handle a little frustration?  Or... why can't I keep from being frustrated altogether?

If only things that happen in life would be more fair, nicer, more just, or thoughtful. Of course, I may add to those circumstances myself, as I think about it. How good am I at handing circumstances off to others?  I don't even know the answer to that. No, the answer to my problem, is within me.

I suppose there will be a 'next time' to my anger problem.  I hope not. Yet, I'm sure there will be a next time to my getting frustrated with someone else. So, what can I do to remember that God's in charge.  God's in charge of frustrating people even if they don't know it!  And He must be in charge of me. And how can I make sure I let God be in charge? By letting Him into the frustrating circumstances, and being assured that God has allowed it all  to be set up in just this way.   For me.  Because He loves me and wants me to learn to trust Him in spite of the circumstances.   There is no reason here for anger.

I still need you, God, desperately, in spite of my age.  Please help me to remember this...You Are In Charge.......even in frustrating circumstances... so I must and will learn.  Help me to remember this.
And this...You Are In Charge of ALL Circumstances.  And all will be well. 

Thank you, God.

Your almost 80 year old child, Jo

A PROMISE IS A PROMISE!

We've been quite busy in the last week or so, as we put our house on the market, bought a smaller one and still are preparing to take a trip or two for graduations and weddings. So, my blogging routine has been sorely disturbed.  But today, I promised myself, that I would blog this particular message.  So, yesterday's message in my journal was based on Matthew   23:22  "A promise is a promise.  God is present, watching and holding you to account, regardless."

Jesus was scolding the Pharisees for dictating to the people when and how a promise became acceptable and true... by swearing on the scriptures, shaking hands  or raising your hand to God.  In one of these ways, you could identify an honorable promise.  This is rather like kids.  If they crossed their fingers they didn't have to keep the promise or  they would swear something was true even if it wasn't.  Just like kids.... poppy-cock!  A promise is a promise and God will hold you to it.

We utter a promise when we marry.  We accept a promise to pay a debt.  We promise in court to tell the truth.  We even promise that we will do what we have said we would do. And for the most part, I think most people do tell the truth as they know it to be.  Sometimes what we tell is our opinion only and then it becomes true as far as we are able to ascertain. It would be nice if we could swear in court, " I promise to tell the truth as I understand it to be." But, no takers, so far.

Everyday I make promises to myself.  Today, I will definitely exercise.  Tomorrow I will definitely iron clothes.  I will get at my Bible journaling right after breakfast.

I need to make more promises for myself...and keep them.  But, I admit, I fear I will not keep for one reason or another any promise I have made for myself.  Myself doesn't have to get mad at me for a  broken promise.  Other people might.  Oh, shame for shame.  Woe is me.  I guess I need to pray.....

Lord, right now, this moment, I admit this hesitancy to make promises...much needed ones...to myself.  I am now so aware that a broken promise to myself is like broken promise made to you.  I freely admit to you that I hesitate to make a promise I may find an excuse not to keep, or  forget about, or decide it to be unimportant after all. Forgive my hesitancy and my mistrust and help me see the importance for determination and willingness to  promise myself and you when a promise is needed.  Amen.

Lord, I am so glad that I am in your care!!

Your...Jo

WAITING AND WANTING

There is a passage in Matthew that  tells of a situation when faith failed to rescue a child that suffered from demonic seizures.  Now, Jesus had just returned from an extraordinary experience at the top of a mountain where God had arranged for Him to be visited by the spirits of Moses and Elijah.  Peter, James and John had witnessed this great event, also. But the remaining disciples who had  tried their best and yet could not help the helpless child, were devastated at their failure as they waited at the foot of the mountain for Jesus.  Only Jesus could help this little  one.

Jesus told them later that they had lacked faith, that with the smallest amount of faith one can move mountains.

This begs the question, Did the disciples who had waited at the foot of the mountain have no faith?  And for those of us who are here today, and call ourselves followers of Christ, do we not have faith, either?

What does having faith look like?  What does it feel like? Do I have faith that God is who He says He is? I believe I do. Do I believe I have enough faith to heal the sick?  I don't think so. I haven't seen any true healings in the past in which I was given trusted participation.  Does one need exceptional faith for healing?  Or for helping another to see God and believe in God? Does absolute faith feel or look different than ordinary faith?

Does one need to wait upon Jesus' presence as the disciples did at the bottom of the hill?  Do you have to first believe that Jesus is already present?  If you need to receive special power, will God let you know when you have received it? 

I have many questions about faith and faith's ability to heal and help and hold the knowledge of God out to the un-faithful.  How does  one receive this faith?  Doesn't one still have to wait upon the Lord in order to receive it?  Or is believing God's power is in you already all there is to it?

I need some answers, God!  I am still learning, Lord! Yet, I ask your forgiveness for my doubtful attitude.

If any of you out there can lend me some light on this subject, I would greatly appreciate it!

Your friend, Jo

MY BASENESS; YOUR BEAUTY

If you don't like confessions, you may not want to read this blog, for I have a confession to make. Yes, my God wants my world of readers, no matter how small or large, to know how I really think lots of times.

We were in church on Sunday singing away, happy to be there greeting friends and worshiping with them. In the midst of one of the songs as we stood clapping, I smiled and thought how much others could see  and know that I loved Jesus.  There I was, thinking I was worshiping Jesus when in reality I was worshiping myself!  Oh, lame person that I am!

So, I bowed my head without a song on my lips and told Jesus how sorry I was.  And even today, I am sorry that I have so much ego that I lost sight of what church is all about.

Today, when reading my assignments for journaling, I came across a couple of verses that spoke to my sorrow, Ps.139:4 and Matt. 16:19.  They read, "You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence."  and "Now, I'm going to tell you who you are, really are!" ( David spoke the first line and Jesus the second to His disciples.)


How  base I am!  How full of human traits!  God has been working a long time to change me  into a person full of Him, and yet I cannot quit myself of the me, me, me that continues to plague me.  Yet, I am what I am, and Jesus knows what I am and has forgiven.  Yet, I wish for all of us still on this earth that we might have less of us and more of Him and have it start with me.

What a blessing to have a Lord that loves me just as I am!  What a blessing to have His forgiveness and His love and beauty!

(You know?  It's hard to write about Jesus Christ without exclamation points!)

Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Jo

ALL WE HAVE.....

The huge crowd had followed Jesus and His Disciples most of the day, and now they were hungry!  And they were tired as they had listened to Jesus' preaching all afternoon, and the sun had been hot.  It was a long distance to a town, yet no one wanted to leave the Teacher.

The Disciples cried out in concern,  "All we have are fives loaves of bread and two fish! What shall we do?"  And Jesus said, "Feed them!"   And they did.

"All we have...."  The Disciples could not see how these thousands of villagers could possible be fed with the little bit of food that was found. No one had come prepared to feed themselves, let alone so many more.  But Jesus said, "Feed them!"  And they did.

God takes all we have from each one of us and uses it. If given willingly, He can use those gifts for His miracles.  Miracles still happen; yes, they do and maybe on this very day!  I have no doubt of this.  I believe that each one of us can be part of a miracle  if we give all we have  in skill or capability for God's use.

We may never see the miracles God does.  We may never be able to prove there was a miracle.!  Yet, by faith, we can believe that a miracle has occurred or will occur and be thankful.

God, of course, can do a miracle without us.  Naturally, I believe that.  Don't you?  But, I think it's possible that God does miracles so those of us on this earth will believe in Him.  So, a couple of fish and five loaves of bread became enough food to feed thousands. Yet those fish and loaves are still talked about to this day!  So, just maybe, they are still making miracles!  Just maybe those loaves and fish are changing lives even at this moment!

So, what does it take to make a miracle?  Sometimes it takes all we have.  Sometimes it takes all we are willing to sacrifice. These things partnering with our Father who polishes the process by His Spirit, can make the hoped for miracle.

Yes, miracles still happen.  But, we new disciples must give "all we have."

And believe!

New Disciple, Jo

JESUS, THROUGH THICK AND THIN

Christians in the United States have more freedom as Christians than any other country in the world.  Certainly we have enemies. I guess Christians will always have enemies, but on the whole those who are not Christian tolerate us, even if they find us laughable.  They say, How can anyone believe in that old fairytale? Non-believers make gestures as if they are hanging on a cross, or make the sign of the cross across their chests, or piously bow their heads and fold their hands. Hurtful?  Yes.  But a Christian perseveres and prays that God will forgive "for they know not what they do."

Jesus probably knew in His heart that the day would come when His disciples would struggle with hate and violence.  And that is why he warned them.  Matthew 10:38,39 quotes Jesus saying, "If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me.  If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself.  But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me."

Peter, if you remember, for all his certainty for his loyalty, denied the Lord three times before morning on the night Jesus was betrayed.  How can we be assured we will not betray Him, too?

This quote of Jesus' may just be a safety net for us in these latter years. The latter days follow the Kingdom days and it is unknown to us when these days will occur.  For all we know we may be about there right now or very soon. We are told in the Revelation of John that Christians will be sorely threatened.  Satan will take control for awhile.  We will be asked to mark ourselves with a tattoo of sorts in order to buy bread and other necessities, and those that do not have the mark of Satan will be killed.  Yet, Jesus said,  "If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me." Oh, I so much want to go all the way with Jesus!

How can we ever know how we each would react under circumstances of hateful violence against God's people? We do not; we can only pray that should it come in our lifetime, our foreheads will be clear and unmarked and we will be so filled with the Spirit of our Lord Christ that His Spirit would be visible to all we meet!  Forgetting the consequences, we would be free of fear, knowing that we are God's now and always, and ready to meet with Him...no matter what!

Lord, I want to love and obey you, through thick and thin.  And I desire for your Spirit to be     visible  in me...always.  Amen     

Reader, do you feel this way, too?

Yours in peace or otherwise.......Jo

THIS IS KINGDOM COME!

"No one throws cold water on a friendly bonfire.  This is Kingdome Come!" Jesus threw out these words at his questioners when they asked him why His disciples didn't fast. We are glad when we see Jesus still able to speak up to his aggressors in this way, and we find His words in Matthew 9:15.  Those outsiders sure did pick on him as they tried every advantage to ridicule Jesus.  But Jesus knew His time would come and was coming soon. The time for fasting would be soon about them, but at this time.....this time was a time of rejoicing, celebrating and praise.

This is Kingdom Come.  This, the word itself, tells us that this time, this set of circumstances, this feeling of peace in this very moment, THIS is Kingdom Come.

This...moment as I seek God and read His scripture.
This...moment when I bow to my Savior, Master and relinquish the right to myself.
This....expression of words that comes to my mind and heart.
This...peace, this time, this Life in God, this certainty that Your life is in me.
This...love I have for you, for your people, and even for those who do not believe.
This...all this and more I savor and enjoy.  Each moment with you, each prayer, each thought,       each Word, each person I see that carries your Spirit or needs your touch.

This is Kingdom Come.

Will I be different today because your Kingdom is Here? 

I hope so.  Love, Jo

MAY THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW HIM

The last few days after the Boston bombing, it appears to have had me dumb-struck.  As I felt numbed in horror, God kept hammering away at my senses and I began to write things down.  The day of the bombing, I read and wrote about Sam. 7:47, "The whole earth will know that there's an extraordinary God in Israel.  And everyone here will learn that God doesn't save by means of sword or spear.  The battle belongs to God!"

How often before and since this particular moment in time have we hoped that the whole earth would know there is an extraordinary God, a God of LOVE.  Not a God of hate nor vengeance, but a God of Love.  How could God not be loving when He gave His Son to die for our sinful natures?  And in turn He asks us to be loving, and not hateful, to one another.  But the battle does belong to God, and we, the people who have been harmed by hate and violence,  must just carry out His orders to love others, forgive ourselves and others, and repent for our own sin--a tall order when we have been hurt so badly.

There is one thing which gives me great joy.  Whether or not we are aware of it, God is at work.  Every moment of every day, God is working, and those who look for Him, or even look for the miracles He works, will certainly see Him. If they cannot see Him, more's the pity, because there are no coincidences.  There are only instances of God.

Lord, I pray, and will continue to pray all my life, that the world I see today in pain and sorrow because of the tragic bombing in Boston would reach out toward you, God, for comfort and healing.  Even those persons who cannot see you, perhaps they can question why this tragedy happened and find you are there in the midst of their poverty and pain.

Many people are praying for the persons involved who have been touched by death of a loved one or one terribly wounded.  And there are prayers for the witnesses, the helpers, and even for the perpetrators of this evil. Oh, how all of us need you, Lord, for your healing, your help, and your guidance. We even pray for your mystery and our trust in it.  May each one receive an answer to their prayer, Lord.  And to the hundreds of questions?  May they all lead to you and the answer be in you.

We thank you , Lord, for your mercy--once again!  And may this sadness and anger lead to a new beginning with you and hundreds of people, or thousands or ten-thousands. Yes, may the whole world know there is an extraordinary God in Israel- and beyond- available to the multitudes who, whether they know it or not are in preparation for the Heavenly Places and to be with You, forever.

Amen..............from Jo

WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO MINISTER:?

God's Word tells us, "We aren't making outrageous claims here.  We're sticking to the limits of what God has set for us.  But there can be no question that those limits reach to and include you." These words were written by Paul in his second letter to the Church in Corinth, Chapter 10, verses 13,14.

Paul assured the church of Corinth that he had a right to minister to them, either in person or by letter.  After all, Paul was personally selected for this work by the hand of God.  Jesus spoke to him on the road to Damascus and Paul was changed into Jesus' Apostle to the world.  And the world was changed, forever.

Changing the world is the hope of each and every person who loves Christ and is trying to be obedient to the call to go into the world and testify to the Message of God's Son, who was crucified for our sake, was  resurrected after 3 days, and now is at the right hand of the Father. This message must again change the world, the world in our day.

This is why I blog.  I blog in the hope that someone out there someday will call upon Christ.  I pray each sentence will be like a cannon blast to the heart of one who has turned away from Him.  Maybe he or she has been hurt by a church whose people have not all grown up yet. 

That could be most any church, for the church at large is filled with unholy people who are struggling to be holy, and not understanding that holiness belongs to God!  And we are only to follow Him the best we can, in the hope of finding holiness somewhere along the way, touching upon it at odd moments.  People in the church need forgiveness as well as needing to learn to forgive.  The church is also the place for people who think they are holy. For someone will come along and show them that they, too, need repentance before they find forgiveness.  Yes, the church is full of the people who need to be there. And many of us are meeting Jesus head-on!

So, Lord Jesus, I pray for all those who have turned to you for your loving kindness, direction for their lives, for your healing power in their lives, for those who are lost and don't know why, and for forgiveness for those who have yet to accept the forgiveness for which you died. 

For myself, I pray for your guidance for my words, knowing you are all I will ever need.

I am still......Your Jo

PRAISES FOR THE BLESSED GOD!

"Cornucopias of praise,, praises springing from the city like grass from the earth...blessed God, Israel's God, the one and only wonder-working God!  Blessed always his blazing glory!"
 (Ps. 72:16,18, THE MESSAGE)

What a wonder this would be, especially in these days.  Imagine the city--any city--all cities--expressing love for God by praising!  Think!  Praise after praise springing up from the concrete and blacktop like the earth's grass, green and thick.  The city whose sidewalks are stained and whose neighborhoods harbor gangs and trouble, this city is praising God!  There it is!  Praise for God's blazing glory!

If it were  only so! On any stated moment all battles would be forgotten, all traffic stopped, men, women and children halted in their work, their play and raised shouts of praise toward God Himself.  Yes...They would see God's blazing Glory.  Yes...What a wonder that would be!

Imagine, too, God's tears...maybe on His cheek.  Would He raise His mighty hands in forgiveness and welcome?  What a moment that would be!  Could it ever be?  Do you think it might be something like the day that Christ died on the Cross?  God received profound Love  from His Son that day. But  praises from his newest children might bring Him a little Love, as well. We can hope.  Yes. God might shed a tear of gratitude that His Glory and Love was seen and received by His newest children.

Yes!  Praise for the blessed God!

Lord God, May we see that day come when all cities will praise You in grand unison and we would see and know forever your "blazing Glory!"

Happy waiting,  Jo

MUCH GIVEN; MUCH EXPECTED?

The Apostle Paul was concerned with the people of Jerusalem who were dying of hunger and wanted the new Christians of Europe to dig into their  pockets to help feed them. 2 Cor. 8:15 written by Paul, saying, "Nothing left over to the one with the most; nothing lacking to the one with the least." This reminded the church of an earlier reading from Exodus 16:18 which says: "Every one had just enough.  Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough."

Paul used these nearly same expressions to encourage the Corinthian Church to share their plenty with the hungry of Jerusalem.

Do either of these sound just a little familiar?

The United States has a president that many dislike. (I read Facebook!) Disliked or not, our president is familiar with the Bible and seems to have some trust in what it says. President Obama has been actively seeking a raise in taxes to help to alleviate the discrepancies made in our economy primarily by the cost of wars over so many years without taxes being raised to pay for them.

Somehow, the tax burden we're being asked to bear doesn't seem so ludicrous when it's compared to the Biblical interpretation of feeding the hungry.  Goodness knows, there are a lot of new subscribers to the many food banks we have going at least in our city.  Homeless and near homeless, sick of mind and sick at heart, jobless and job-not-so-great.  All of this and perhaps more in the future as our population grows and grows, surely this tells us we need to look around over our shoulders, under our feet, and behind us, in fact everywhere and take it in.  People are  in need.  Some, perhaps, are in want--yes, I agree.  But most just need, need, need.  This is our world today.  People, most people have real need.

How can we not respond?  I for one like the President's plan.  What would it take?  Would it just take extra, our fun funds that we so carefully save for a vacation? Or some of what we have saved for retirement?  I don't know.  Is it worth a sacrifice to get our country back to a normal economy?  I hope so.

Who knows how this will all turn out?  I don't.  But I hope there is a way to try. And God's way surely must be a good way!  After all, it is His world and He did found this country!

Just sayin',

Jo

ONE MAN DIED FOR EVERYONE!

"One man died for everyone.  That puts everyone in the same boat.  He included everyone in His death so that everyone could also be included in His life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own."  This statement, made in the book of 2 Corinthians,  is truth personified.  I, as a person perfectly imperfect, know of its truth.  Christ died for all men and for each person, individually.  Therefore, each person is qualified to be included in knowing and  carrying the life of Christ within him or herself; the resurrection of Christ after His burial personifying the new life available to us.  AND this new life carries the Spirit of our Lord.  We, then, live in the very Life of Jesus Christ and He in us. Simply put, God in us.

Sound like magic?  a trick of some sort?  mysterious? a great, big, fat lie? No, there is no lie or magic. Hard as it is to fathom, this Word is the absolute Truth as only God can perceive it. (Truth from God deserves a capital T, otherwise truth can wear a small t.) God is the only one who can perceive this Truth and the only one who can help us to find Truth.  God's Truth is to be respected, loved, worn in our hearts and minds, and fought for.  His Truth is everything!

For this reason, those who have accepted this Truth, have been asked to be a speaker for this Truth, a witness by their actions of this Truth, and a person who carries the Lord within his or her heart. And why not?  This man died  for me. He died that I might live. He died that the whole world might not die in self and vanities.

The world is like a finishing school for the next life.  It is a costly school, but perhaps by serving God here we will be better adapted to the next world when we die. (These are my thoughts; the Word of God does NOT suggest this!) The next world.....?  I dream of a life as shown in the Book of Revelation, but I expect we each shall know it some day in one way or the other.  I hope to see God in the next life, and I hope He will be glad to see me.

Don't forget that One Man who died for each of us!  He is pertinent to all that is good.

Keep smiling!  God is watching! Jo

LIGHT UP THE DARKNESS

Why should anyone believe me about Christ living in His people?  Who am  I?  I'm nobody.  No credentials, no certificate of learning, certainly nothing that will qualify me as an expert in God and Godliness.  I am not even an expert at typing on this...........................computer.

I am not Paul, or Peter.  I am a whistler in the wind trying to get the wind to carry this message to someone out there who will believe the little bit I have to say.  I hope someone will give God a trial period, at least.  I pray someone will connect to something that is said, or seen, or experienced in some way.  I pray that experience will reveal the One who died on a cross so that someone may be filled with Christ's Spirit. Would that He who lives within  might become the Person who really lives and loves and serves His Father, but has the face of you or me, pursing the lips to whistle in the wind as we try and catch the attention of someone out there somewhere in the world.

These thoughts are my hopes , but mostly, my prayer.  Oh, how I pray that it will be--someone somewhere praying for Christ to come into his or her life.  This requires a great amount of trust, trust that the Father is saying, "Come  here, my daughter.  You are precious to me.  I place my Spirit in you, that you may reveal me to others.  Thank you for being One with me and with my Son.  All you are will reveal me to others.  Believe it!  Trust it!  You are mine. It is my work you are doing.  I need you to be in the world to testify about my world. When you see me someday I will know you well, just as you will know me."

So trust is the secret word. Trust that I am a Child of God.  Trust that I appear before others in love, caring for them when there is a need, and therefore revealing His Presence to them.  If they do not see His Presence, it is because they do not bother to consider what they see as Truth. Continue to pray that Christ will be revealed, and that person will acknowledge Him.

Let there be light, O Lord!

If others only look at me, they might miss the brightness!  Jo

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE LIVING SPIRIT

Paul must have loved the church in Corinth a whole lot!  His second letter is quite filled with good greetings and commendations to them.  He tells them, "Your very lives are a letter anyone can read by just looking at you.  Christ Himself wrote it--not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled in stone, but carved into human lives!"

What would you give to have someone say that about you?  I suppose that is what Christians dream of everywhere.  And  hoping God's Spirit is doing His work in each of us that we might have Jesus and His ways carved right into our souls.  Oh, to be marked in this way by the Spirit of God!

Lord Jesus, grant that my spirit greets, cherishes, and is gracious to your Holy Spirit, that my life might be a testimony for the world to see and know your Life, your Spirit, and your World! Yours is the Government of the Living Spirit, a government of your people and for your people.

I am pledged to you forever.

Jo

POUR ON THE LOVE!

Today you get a twofer!  Both Jerry, my husband (as you know), and I wrote about similar things in our journals, and we both thought it might be worth sharing with the world!  2 Corinthians 2:7,8 reads in THE MESSAGE, "Now is the time to forgive this man and help him back on his feet.  If all you do is pour on the guilt, you could very well drown him in it. My counsel now is to pour on the love."

Several years ago a similar incident occurred in our old church.  An unhappy wife encouraged a good friend's husband and the two ended up together with the other two people bereft. Those who knew both couples were scandalized.  How could a thing like this happen?  Now what do we do?

The guilty man was in a small group which customarily prayed for each other and held each other accountable. All good friends, they hurt for each person involved and prayed to know what best to do.  After their soul searching, they forgave their group member and held him close.  Their group never stopped praying for all involved in the situation and for one another.

This was hard for us, my husband and I,  but we came to learn that not forgiving two didn't help the two who had been hurt by their mates.  Paul, in the above verse, is right.  Hard as it may be, we must forgive the two who have fallen, even while we also must give love and understanding to those who remain the hurt spouses.

Only God's love can combat the pain to people who have been hurt by lack of faithfulness in marriage.  We can only try.  Sometimes our "help" only magnifies their pain.

Today, Jerry read 2 Cor.:17 which says:  "We are not peddlers of God's word like so many imposters; but in Christ we speak as  persons of sincerity sent from God and standing in his presence." Jerry felt that Paul is beseeching us to interact with others by coming from a position of love and sincerity.  Our purpose is to build up the Body of Christ in which we are placed with Paul's kind of absolute love and sincerity.

Jerry and I are each grateful to God for this teaching and other things we learn every day.  We pray that incidents of hurt will happen rarely, but in this world we do find these incidents.  We both, together and separately, pray that God will direct us in all instances to His kind of love which includes forgiveness and that love will be wrapped in sincerity and understanding, and not rebuke.

This world is a glass house.  Who would dare throw a stone?

With sincerity and love,  Jo

GROWING GREEN IN ANTICIPATION

The Psalms are a great gift to humanity, aren't they?   This morning, Psalm 52:8 touched me. "I'm an olive tree, growing green in God's house.  I trusted in the generous mercy of God then and now."

David was a young man, green as can be when he wrote this psalm;  I am no longer young but there's still a bit of green left in me and I don't think one is ever too old to grow a bit.

God's mercy endures forever.  Nothing can kill it or stop it from existing in Him and nothing stops Him from having mercy for us.  I am for ever grateful.  I need His mercy and His generosity in giving this mercy to me.

Should I become cowardly and fear what may lay before me in this future move north, not knowing the future ins and outs of this move? God will not be pleased with me if I do not trust in Him.  He has taught me over the years to not be fearful of the unknown because no matter what comes along God has planned it.  He is in charge.  I am not!  His generosity will prevail! I will not suffer loss, but gain from the good God has in mind for me. The final outcome may not come right away, but the final outcome will be for the good.  His mercy is absolute and hope follows me from day to day.

What will the future bring?  There is no answer today.  But God is generous in His mercy and I am growing green in anticipation of whatever it is God has I store for me!

This I trust.  This is my psalm.

Jo

WE SHALL TRUST, HOPE, AND LOVE

THE MESSAGE tells us in 1 Cor. 13:13,  "We have three things to do before (completeness in Christ); trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly; and the best of the three is love."

Trust, hope and love!  That's all we need; we need these three things before our completeness.  Sounds simple, but put it into a  reality situation and what do we get?  WORK! But work with a heart trusting God, hoping for ourselves, and loving Him and each other completely.

As I have earlier blogged, Jerry and I are moving north to our home base of the Twin Cities in MN.  God revealed this to Jerry earlier this year and we put the house up for sale. We are certain this plan is God's plan for us.   Our income will decrease when Jerry turns 81 this summer and we need to sell our house here before we dare to look for another up there. When it sells and where we will live is a mighty big question mark.  It will all happen when it happens.

But we must have trust.  Nothing is a guarantee, but God showed Jerry this is the right time to return to Minnesota!  Therefore, that in itself is a reason to trust.  We can trust what we are certain of:  God and His infinite wisdom, and Jerry's ability to know when God speaks to him.

Hope follows this trust and comes because of His love.  The Father loves His children.  We are part of God's family.  We don't have the answers of when, how, or especially how much all the changes will take, but we do have hope that it will all fall together as God planned.  And the love God has always shown us, even in the most difficult of times, inspires us to keep on hoping and trusting  and  especially, to keep on loving.

We'll keep you posted on the ifs, ands, and buts about His Plans for us, just as we find out about them ourselves.

Praise Be to God who loves us and guides us home!

Always Loved, (even with the north wind a blowing! ) Jo

GOD'S WORK IS DONE THROUGH YOU AND ME

Do any of you consider the Books of Judges as your favorites?  I don't.  I dutifully read them and hope I find a kernel of truth to help me in my everyday life. As today was my first day of this year to read the Judges, I thought it desirable to read its introduction.  And that's where I found a truly helpful  gem in a group of words.  And here they are...."God, it turns out, does not require good people in order to do good work.  He can and does work with us in whatever moral and spiritual condition he finds us.  God, we are learning, does some of his best work using the most unlikely people.  If God found a way to significantly include these leaders (judges) in what we know is on its way to becoming a glorious conclusion, he can certainly use us along with our sometimes impossible friends and neighbors."

I like these words and thoughts.  God can do anything through and with anybody! (Got an amen?)

 I began reading Judges 1and 2, and saw that the generations after Moses slowly began to disintegrate into disorder and disobedience.  Judges 2:10 told me "another generation grew up that didn't know anything of God or the work he had done in Israel."  And the people began to serve the Baal gods and deserted God, the God of their parents who had led them out of Egypt.  They were helpless before their enemies because God's "anger was hot against Israel."

I've said this before in other blogs, I believe; the times we live in are not so different than the Old Testament days.  Yet, there are a few today who are believers of that same God who chose the Judges .  Now, these days, He has also shown us the Beauty of His Son, Jesus the Christ.  He showed us the One who suffered and died on the cross just as the Old Testament prophets said He would do. And those few who love Him are to use that love for Him to try and change the world full of disbelief into a world of people who believe.

Yep.  We of the impossible and the imperfect are to love the world just as Jesus did.  You see, Jesus through the Holy Spirit lives in us.  It is His perfection, not ours, that is to do this work. His perfection is to be seen in us...through the Holy Spirit's work in us.  My hands will do the touching, my feet will do the walking, and my mouth will do the talking.  But God will be doing the changing of hearts and minds.

I plan to just be there, being me.  Even trying to be the best me I can be won't make me good enough to change a heart full of old  pain and disbelief.  So, God will be there, too, guiding me, but mostly filling that other person with questions or feelings of some kind that turn  into interest, and perhaps, finally belief.  And perhaps, also, Christ will smile, and the Holy Spirit will sigh, and God will know all about this newest good news.

I hope this is God's  plan.  And I hope that here it is appropriate to repeat the earlier lesson from the Introduction to the Judges in The Message: "God does some of His best work using the most unlikely people."

Until the whole world knows and loves Him,

Jo

CIRCUS? NO, JUST GOD'S WAY!

There are two things on my blog agenda today and 1 Cor. 6 and 7 brought them to my mind. Verse 7 says:  "And we must not turn our religion into a circus as they did." Here Paul is reminding the church in Corinth that the early Israelites caused quite a stir by partying things up and making a golden calf when Moses was late in coming down the mountain with the Rules of Ten.

Jerry and I attend a contemporary service. We both really like it, as we enjoy the singing and clapping, and praising by raising our hands.  Many others feel it is too casual and doesn't give God the serenity, dignity, and beauty that can be found in a more formal setting.  That may be true, but my heart needs to give to God that which is within me.  And for me, a casual setting frees me to give all that I am.  I pray it is not thought  of as a  circus.  I pray that God sees it as a time of self-lessness and of sharing the joy that is within us with Him and each other.

Secondly, and probably much more important, Verse 6 tells us, "We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way." Now, here is where it  becomes a confession.  The verse is a warning to not want my own way.  And, you see, I have told God that I trust His way--all the way!  But, I see now( as you have undoubtedly guessed), I want God's Way to be what I want!  In other words, I want my own way!  All this concerning the sale of our house and the purchase of the new.  The first must happen before the other can happen.

But, God, as you are Holy, Mysterious, and Powerful, as well as Wonderful, you are to always be trusted.  I ask your forgiveness, and know that You expect me to be steadfast in my trust and faith in You.

I am content.  I will trust in You.  Thank you, God.

I hope you will pray this with me, friend.  Jo

GOD ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

"We need to be sensitive to the fact that we're not all at the same level of understanding."  So says
1 Cor. 8:7, Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth.

Not too long ago, in a Small Group meeting, when I just happened to be leading, one of my good friends spoke up with a question that had long bothered her:  "Why did God make poor people?"  She went on to explain how hard it was to see others standing in line to receive food from a food bank. 

Well, in my great experience and knowledge, I went straight from my wisdom and explained.  "God let some be poorer and some richer so that the person who believed in Him would share what they had out of the love God had given to those who love Him." 

It didn't help.  She was stuck in her bewilderment.  God's reasoning wasn't clear to her and she was afraid God was being unfair.

So, that proves the  verse from 1 Corinthians.  Certainly, I don't have a tinker's darn about why God does anything!  Who am I to speculate?  All I know is that I love this woman; she is a good friend.  And I can have sympathy for anyone struggling with the whys and why nots of God. God is  One who must be accepted as He is, and as He does. ("Their's not to wonder why; their's just to do or die"  from Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade.) And, I think, He wants us to be that accepting to one another, with forgiveness and love.

I'm very glad God has given me this woman as a friend.  And that He has given me a great love for her.  She loves God, yet she does not totally "get" Him.  Sound familiar?

That is not too different from me.  It's really difficult to totally "get" God.  He is beyond total understanding from us small fry.  I'm amazed that we are just a little lower than the angels according to Psalm 8.  Sometimes I think we should be measured more like skunks!  Untouchable and stinky!

But God is so generous with us as we plod along under His care.  Gracious and generous to all whether we are wealthy or poor.  Anyone can be rich in His love.  All we have to do is ask.

I asked, and I am...rich in His love for Him....and I hope  for others.

Love to you, and you, and you.  Jo

A GROWING TIME AHEAD

Psalm 69 is a psalm of David.  In verse 6, David says: "Don't let those who look to you in hope be discouraged by what happens to me, Dear Lord!  God of the Armies!"  David was often in a lot of trouble and he worried that the mess he was in at that time would be a deterrent to those around him in becoming One with God.

Now, Jerry and I have our house for sale in the hope of moving back to MN. People here think we are crazy to move back north to the cold winters.  Maybe so, but three of our kids' families live there and I miss them.  Just as importantly, our financial situation has changed somewhat and we hope to live in a smaller home.

With less income, we are going to be watching carefully our out-go and one place we have to watch is in our giving.  Strange, isn't it? Perhaps it has been too easy to give a donation instead of our time. Time changes all things and God will lead us in this, too, as He has in so many ways already.

We do not want to be a deterrent in any way to others who may want to become One with God.  Because I believe change to be a "growing time," I also believe this change will be a time of growing and learning for ourselves and, hopefully, for others. We have grown and learned from our past and pray our maturity in God will see us through any difficulties.

You may think we are crazy, but there is more to life than staying away from the cold winters and mosquitoes. We are up for this,  mostly because of our love of God and our love for our children.  This change does not change our hunger to be with our youngest in Ohio, but MN is a bit closer to OH than AZ!

Just know this, my friends,  our sojourn here has been fruitful for us with new friends and experiences galore.  And each friend and memory will be carried with us to and through eternity.

BUT, as yet, the house has not been sold, although 92 people were here on Sunday's open house.
God is Good.  All in good time.  Besides, blogs can be sent from MN, too.  Nevertheless, we can use your prayers that the house sells soon.

Your friend in the atmospheric cloud,

Jo

IS CHRIST VISIBLE OR REAL IN ME?

Gal.:19, Paul in writing to the church in Galatia, says, "Do you know how I feel right now, and will feel until Christ's life becomes visible in your lives?" Imagine how those Galatians felt when they read that!  Sort of like how I feel when I read it today.  Sad.  Empty.  Hurt, even. 

It hurts to know that my life nearing its end,  has so little of Christ that shows. Still full of me, which is chapter 2 of yesterday's blog. but it led me to some thoughts I decided to share.

Paul grieved for his friends unable to express Christ's unerring love and mercy.  And I wonder if Christ grieves for me or for Himself because He can't live His life in me more fully.

How can I learn to think and act with the self-lessness and love of Christ until I can believe it is really Christ Himself doing the acts of love?  Is it just a matter of believing? Am I making this too important to me or is it truly important to God?

This is what I'm thinking: Belief is everything!  In gratitude to Christ, I want to spend more time with Him and include Him in the everyday things that I do, believing that is where He wants to be.  How can I not have Him with me if He lives in me.  He helps me clean the patio furniture and pick up lemons in the orchard. Maybe He's even with me when I play Words With Friends on my IPad with my sister, Shirley, or daughter, Jean.

Now I'm not trying to be silly here.  He either is in me or He isn't. I'm just not usually aware of Him, but perhaps I should be. I shall try to be.

I am a breathing, thinking, and living person who carries the Spirit of Christ within.  Therefore, Christ is with me in all that I do.  How many of these words has He insisted upon in this blog?  Quite a few, I think!

 I want to spend the rest of my life living in the person-hood of Jesus.  I will have my name.  I will be a woman with graying hair. I will sometimes forget His presence and become doubtful, but I will turn and acknowledge His presence once again.

And I will love the Lord with all my heart, because He is my heart.

Your friend, Jesus Christ, alias Jo

THE WHITE FUNERAL

Last Christmas Jerry and I were given bibles which have a blank page after every page of scripture, purposefully to write notes about the written word opposite.  When a year or so is over, it is hoped that we would return those bibles to Isaac and Alaya, our grandchildren.  Our son and his beautiful wife honor us with this gift and we hope our words and thoughts, dutifully written, will be helpful to those two young Christians.

This morning I was trying to explain to Alaya (I'm writing in her bible, Jerry in Isaac's) what a "white funeral" was, something I was also journaling. So, I basically told her it was a funeral to "bury" self, after going through the act of killing self within me.

I also told her that it was a heck of a hard job!  I've killed snakes which were pests under our shed.  I've killed mosquitoes and flies, the nasties! I've "killed" relationships that weren't good for me.  I've killed time and various good things I later grieved.  But, "self" resists my fatal blows over and over.
But, I am reminded each time I see "self" crop up its ugly head, Wait just a minute here!  I had a white funeral, and you're supposed to be dead, so what are you doing coming alive again!

Being self absorbed is quite awful, to be simply said.  Even when I'm trying to be other-absorbed, I find myself saying, "Good job, Jo."  Such is the life of a human being.  Or am I the only one who has this problem?

I try to remember to be Christ-absorbed, but much of what I do is for Christ and that brings the old ball right back into the hands of "self"!  I, that is my "self", is suppposed to be dead!  And it is Christ who lives in my body, not me!  Not me.  Not me.  Not me.  No sir, not me.

Oh, Lord, forgive me.  I seem to be stuck with me.  Well, I did have a white funeral.  Nobody was there but me. I'm trying to stay dead, but until I actually am dead, I imagine that self will pop up from the grave every once and awhile.  Such is life as a human.

Lord Jesus, have pity on your servant, your body which used to be mine.  There may be some who laugh at my predicament, but only you know the real grief I feel when my "self" shows so often to the world around me and takes the place I so seriously and lovingly offer to you.

Once again, take my body and my mind and my spirit as your own.

Lovingly, Jo

KEEPING COMPANY WITH GOD

Jesus speaks to His disciples in Mark  13:31 saying, "Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out." So, He also speaks to me.  And in Deuteronomy  4:29, "If you seek God, your God, you'll be able to find him if you're serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul." Then fnally, Psalm 36:10 tells me, "Keep on loving your friends; do your work in welcoming hearts." 

What do these three verses mean for me?  So glad you asked..

The words and commands of Mark, Deuteronomy and Psalms have touched my heart today with the promise of God's words never wearing out; they will always be good.  They either command or encourage, no matter where I choose to read. 

II wish more people enjoyed reading the Bible.  Even those in the church seem to think it is an effort.  And the world at large has determined it is of no value.  It seems they have forgotten the importance of this book.  It's value only increases as it is read and reread. It is how I keep company with God.

 Keeping company with God helps me to walk steadily with Him and not get overly excited when my humanness shows and God's righteousness disappears.  That happens regularly for me.  I have to remind myself over and over... God is in me...let Him be visible!

It is a BIG task.  Probably it is not bigger for me than for others, but big enough to make my head spin.  But I don't want my head to be spinning out of  control.  Enough is enough!  Grab onto Christ's hand, young lady!  Yes, I talk to myself as I would a child!  Because letting your head spin is childish, right?

So, what do I do? I get right back to the Bible, head re-attached and re-read God's command for the future, which starts right now.  "Keep on loving your friends; do your work in welcoming hearts."  I can do that; no problem!

So, as the world becomes more humanistic and unstable and the world's people more self-invested, I hope to stick out like the sun on a cloudy day by being close to my Lord, His directions and purposes.
And I "Thank you, Lord" for your words and your love that will last forever!

 Grant that the rest of my life and my simple words will be pleasing to you.

Jo

NEW LIGHT; NEW TRUTH

Let's start off with the bible verse that burst through the fog of my brain this morning.  1 Cor.13:12 begins with the words,  "We don't yet see things clearly."  Well, in my case, you can say that again!

I love how it refers to a "weather change and the sun shines bright." And I can only add, it sure does!

In my experience having read through the bible so many times in so many years now, I may think I've squeezed everything there is to learn out of a single verse.  But, that is a big mistake!  God's light keeps right on shining and revealing and I keep right on learning.

Part of my personality is, unfortunately, to take affront with myself if I fail at any particular job. I carelessly "boast"  I've been fired in several volunteer church jobs. Actually, I have no pride at all in this situation as it has cost me quite a lot of heartache.   Now, I am very careful not to "wave at the crowd too early!"  Yet, it was about this particular series of incidents that caused me to have a small revelation not too long ago.  And it connects to the bible verse for today, for truth happens when the light reveals it!

Jerry and I read MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST, by Oswald Chambers every night just before we retire.  This particular night we read about the Determination to Serve. It reads "Paul's idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others.  And whether he received praise or blame made no difference"....Paul's service was given because of "love for his Lord."

So, whether you are blamed or honored you have still served Jesus.  And, also, what you learn from a blame experience will help you in the future and perhaps serve others with a lesson, as well.  The text for that day went on to say, "No matter how badly others treat (you), they could never treat (you) as badly as Christ was treated (for you). Therefore, serve, others for His sake!"

This makes all my "failures" worthwhile and I rejoice in the new lessons yet to learn.  All things are successes when learned through the light of Truth.

AMEN, I say. 
Your friend, Jo

THE PRODIGAL PARENTS

As we grow older, Jerry and I are aware of how much we miss our family in the North.  We've lived in the warmer climate for about 17 years now, going back north at Christmastime and once each summer.  But we miss our kids, our grandkids and now our little Great-grandgirl, Scarlet.  We are missing out on so much and our bones still ache in whatever climate we live.  So this new decision caused us to ask a real estate lady who knows this area well to come in and give us the news.  "What is our property worth?" we asked her.  It came up short of our hopes, so ...now what?

Do we forget about leaving? Will we be able to afford a nice, cozy place in which to spend our eighties? What does this mean to our plans?  Our disappointment was showing and becoming fear.

Well, God speaks to me through His word, so I got my bible open to the pages assigned for Feb. 25.  Mark 4:40 spoke of the disciples in the midst of a terrible storm on Lake Galilee, worried and afraid while Jesus slept in the bow of the boat.  They awakened him  and he reprimanded them, saying,  "Why are you such  cowards?  Don't you have any faith at all?"

They were afraid, too, just as I was feeling. I'm afraid our house here won't sell quickly and for what we think we will need to buy another in the north.  And I hear in my mind, "Don't you have any faith at all?"

Yes, I do!  I have faith in Christ Jesus. I have faith in the will of God. The power of the Father and the Son is enough for me.  But I don't have too much faith in myself. And it occurred to me...that's where I was looking, thinking, and imagining...within myself.

If this move is the will of God, the power of God is in place.  And we won't need to worry ourselves about it at all.  All we need to do is accept whatever He prepares for us and call those in the north and here in the desert and get the balls rolling, wherever and however those balls take us. God knows better how to play this "game" than we do, I'm thinking.

So, whatever we get for this house will be enough to find us another. So do we have faith?  Yes, we do.  Enough to move mountains.  But I don't think we'll have to move any mountains, do you?

Whatever God sayeth, we'll say, "Thus sayeth the Lord!"  And thank you, God, for faith in You.

I'll keep you posted!  Jo

PAUL---GOD'S MAN

One of the most interesting stories in the book of Acts is the tragic ship-wreck Paul experienced on his way to Rome.  Acts 27:30 tells us: " Some of the sailors tried to jump ship...Paul saw through their guise."

The ship met up with a horrendous wind and torrential rain.  The men aboard feared for their lives and many attempted to escape. But Paul met with them and warned them that they must stay with the ship or all would perish.  He explained that an angel had visited him assuring that all would be saved, but the ship would go down. Without any further information they trusted Paul.

To me, that fact is the most incredible of all.  Yes, they all were saved, each finding his own way to the shores of a small island.  Yes, the ship went down.  And yes, they trusted Paul, an aging man who spoke of angels, and a God who walked the earth, and was under arrest and being sent to Rome as a prisoner.  How is it they would trust a man like that?

Was Paul's countenance so holy that they trusted him enough to not jump ship? Wouldn't they just think he was.....different, even strange?

Were Paul's words so compelling and confident that they were like orders from a heavenly officer?

Or were his earlier warnings about weather and ships proven to be true, so why not listen to this new warning and trust it?

It may have been all of those things and along with them, knowing that the end may be coming, so why not give yourself one... more.... chance.  A long shot, maybe, but who's to know?  Or, just maybe, one or two might have said, "I'll take my chances and obey him.  I believe this man is a man of God."

Oh, to be a "man of God"!  Paul gave up his fame in the Jewish community.  He gave up his homeland.  He had to fight for recognition among the solid leaders of the new Christian community in Jerusalem and all of Judah.  Most of his career he was under arrest or being sought by authorities.  He had no family. Yes, his sacrifices were many.

But, he had been favored by God to turn from his own way, to doing things God'sWay. Many, many times in Paul's missionary travels he was turned from one direction to God's direction.

All of  Paul's directions from God, either a solid "yes"  or a firm "no", were  obeyed.  And not only Paul obeyed, but those who traveled with him, also, were obedient to God.  Thus, obedience and being available at all costs, was what made Paul.. God's Man.

So, my lesson for today, friends, is Listen and Obey!  And that will take some doing for my habits are strong.  But I must try, and even when I fail, I must begin again. I want to be a Woman of God.  So, I must.... Listen!  and Obey! That's my order for myself today! 

Wish me God's speed, I appeal to you!

Jo

I WANT TO PRAISE THE LORD!

David, before he became king of Judah, found himself separated from his home, his king, his friends, and everyone he had ever loved.  In reading Psalm 22 this morning, I remembered this same feeling many times in my own life. Of course, I was not really alone.  But the feeling, always the feeling, could put me in a state of despair.

As I read on in the psalm, I came to verses 25 and 26:  "Here is this great gathering for worship.  I have discovered this praise-life.  And I'll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers.  Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him.  Live it up, from head to toe.  Don't ever quit!"

David consoles himself, invigorates those around him, and makes a promise.  What promise does he make?  And to whom?

At the beginning of the Psalm, David had pleaded with God, "Why did you dump me miles from nowhere."  Kind of an exaggeration, isn't it?  But when we feel depressed we feel not only separated from love, but lonely. The feelings become exaggerated. And if we have an opportunity to say , I feel lonely, to someone, somehow it seems so much better,  But it doesn't stay better, sadly.

What  had David really lost?  How can he find that which is lost?  How does he  begin to find, once again, his true nature?  And, does he imagine what he says here.....?  "Here is this great gathering for worship.  I have discovered this praise-life."

When I have been depressed, I need God. I know I need God, but at times, I can hardly call upon Him.  Do I feel unworthy?  Ashamed?  Maybe so.  But I am learning something very basic.  God hasn't left.  I'm the one who has left.  David was the one who had left. But, by the time he had come to the end of the psalm, David had found himself in the presence of God and had made a promise to Him.

He says, "Here is",,,not was, not will be.  God is here. God is always here. God is wherever you are and are calling Him because He is.  He is there.  He is real.  He is power and glory and all that we need now or will ever need.  Here.  He is here.

David, in the psalm, is in a gathering, a great gathering.  He has discovered a praise-life. How this came about, whether from imagination or vision or reality, no one knows. Only David and God.  But his promise is  real..... In verses 22 and 23, we read, "Shout hallelujah, give glory to God, and adore Him." David promised.  I promise.  How about you?

Let's do it, for as long as we live!! Praise you, Lord Jesus!!

Jo

A LESSON FOR FESTUS AND ME

 Why, yes, I was reading Acts 25 this morning.  How did you guess?

Festus and I share some of the same problems.  No, I had nothing to do with Paul being sent to Rome.  Festus and I have a similar problem  in this...When you are unsure of what to do....go to the Lord!

Here is Festus,  wondering how to treat Paul when all the stories told to him by the Jerusalem Jews were fabricated!  And now Festus is holding Paul as a captive who has asked to be heard by Ceasar himself..in Rome.  (What a shame that Festus was not a believer in the Jewish God. ) Of course, to complicate things, Paul believes the Jewish God is the same god as the one who is the father of this Jesus!( Our own Heavenly Father) And how can a heavenly being be the father of a human person?

Now, Festus had heard about a teacher-healer who was crucified.  These Jerusalem Jews hated the people who believed this man was the promised Messiah and especially because so many were saying this Jesus, if that is his name, was risen from the dead.  Good grief!  What people will believe!  But this Paul, can he possible believe this?

Of course, when Paul came before the governor, Festus and his guests began to believe.  But, how to save him from Jerusalem and now Rome? If only Festus truly believed, for he and he only could have found a way to keep Paul from eventual destruction. But he didn't know he could take it to  a higher power than Ceasar in Rome.

This is still the same in our world.  Even those of us who love the Lord and pray to the Father, even we, may forget to go to the Father when we are unsure of what to do.  It is too bad, isn't it, that we forget we can find help from the heavenly realm? We are pumped up with our own importance.  Of course, I can figure out a solution to this mess.  But maybe, just maybe, I may be wrong.

God is our provider. He will know what is best.  He will always know what is the best way to work our way out of a tight place.  Only He knows.

Remember the TV show FATHER KNOWS BEST?  Well, maybe not all father's know best, but this Father does know best! Help me, someone, to always remember this...Father God knows best!

Now, I wish for you a very good day.  And love from

Jo

BELIEFS WHICH CAN BECOME IDOLS

What does it matter what one believes?  Well, ask God what He thinks about that!

Recently I attended a bible study at a prominent Lutheran Church whose pastor  is a fine preacher and teacher.  Becoming very impressed on the teachings during the six weeks, I decided to pass  along some high points to those of you out there. 

It also occurred to me this morning while I was journaling Lev. 26:1, "Don't make idols for yourselves," that what we believe in, if not in God, would be classified as an idol.  So, here is a list of beliefs the world in particular and some of us, too, find prominent.

So here goes: Materialism...She is crazy about things.  She rarely uses the word, enough. She often wants what everyone else has.  She believes in an idol.

Second: Individualism...She serves herself, focusing on herself.  Everything is about her. She believes in an idol.

Third:  Heathenism...She is addicted to thrills, danger, or excitement.  Pursuing pleasure is her game. She believes in an idol.

Fourth: Pragmatism...It seems right to her, whatever works.  The world says it's OK, so it must be. She believes in an idol.

Fifth: Naturalism...God doesn't exist or matter. No God, so she doesn't have to be accountable. She believes in an idol.

Sixth: Humanism...She is her own god..  She has made herself the center of the universe.  And she, too, believes in an idol.

Seventh: Theism... God made her for His purposes. Col.1:16 "For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible..everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him."  She believes in the One, True God.

Well, there you have it.  I must admit that I have moments when I find myself fitting into each of these catagories.  It shames me to say so, but I must be truthful.  However thinking about them as being idols snaps me back into the arms of Jesus, pronto!

So, I've decided that it really does matter what we believe.  And the pastor said that being sincere is not enough.  The 10 commandments will not change.  The proverbs will not change, nor will any other words that we long to press into our minds and actions.  Where we can see and say, It is written...needs to be a heart message and absolute truths.  We center our belief system on Him!

So when I find myself eyeing the ring of my beautiful granddaughter, newly engaged, I just stay happy for her..  And I will not envy that ring and wish that I had one just like it, for I do not want to idolize material of any kind.

God has given me much to be thankful for...and I intend to stay that way...forever thankful!

How about you, Friends?  jo

KNOCK KNOCK, ANYBODY THERE?

Just home from the last INCREDIBLE bible study done by our pastor for, I think,  six weeks on Monday mornings.  I'm still flying high, yet wondering, why didn't I have this info when I was 25?  Anyway, it was great.  And it reminded me of today's journaling........

 In Acts 18, Paul's efforts with the Jews, wherever he traveled,was really tough.  They loved to argue with Paul and contradict each point he tried to make whenever and wherever he spoke.  Paul never gave up, and although at times discouraged, he kept at it; he persevered.

It is hard to continue to tell people about Jesus when there is no one who wants to listen.  But Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, touched uncounted hearts and lives during his time of ministry.  Telling many, perhaps only a few listened, and fewer still caught  on.  Then, those that caught on began to tell many, and a few of them caught on and the company of Christians grew and grew.  One person seems like nothing, but the power of God through one can become enough to fill a meeting place.  But, and a big but, WE MUST TRUST that this is so.  God will be at work without fail!

The same holds true for a single blogger.  One blog may ignite no one. But it goes up into the never-never land of computer "cloud" and stays, and is always there, always available.  ( At least that's what they tell me!) So, maybe, one blog may ignite many people given enough time.  At least, that is my hope.  At least, that is my prayer and I MUST TRUST  that this is so.  God will be at work without fail!

You see, I like people.  No, I really love people. And I know the truth and wear that truth wherever  I go.  I'm not anybody special, but I am someone who has met the Master and been convinced that He and no one else is THE TRUTH.

I started blogging for my grandchildren, and now, for my great-grandchildren.  But, and this is the truth, I got so enthused for telling others about Jesus and His Word that I only hoped they would read it, and if they didn't?  Well, I hoped someone out there would come to know the Master who didn't know Him before.  Or at least come to know Him better than they did before.  Or at least have the blessing to tell someone else about this Man and God who sacrificed Himself so that we do not have to be sacrificed for our sins.  I am nurtured, blessed, made peaceful, ignited, and so certain of His love that I am near bursting with the fire of it!  How I pray that you feel this rapturous love as well!  I can hardly bear to carry this lovely love without a way to share it.

That's why I blog!

Forever At His Feet, I am just.....Jo