josnewlife

JUST AS JESUS DID

2012-01-18T11:45:00.000-08:00

Hello, again. Today I want to tell you--someone-- about a new thought for me. In the past I've always wished our kids could pray in school when they wished and that the Pledge of Allegiance hadn't been changed to omit the words "under God." There is a sadness to it, certainly. But there is more, too, to be looked at.

A story in scripture, verse Luke 18:9, spoke clearly today to me to consider who I think I am. Jesus story about the tax man and the Pharisee clearly says, "Watch it!"
Jesus told his story to some who were "complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people." The Pharisee was haughty and proud of his rightful thinking. The tax man was deeply aware of his sinfulness and repentant. The parable shows us the importance of humility and of being truthful with ourselves.

I wonder how many times our Christian world determined we were better than others. We are not; we are all sinners, the same as those of the world. But we are saved and not by our own grace but by the grace of Christ who atoned in our place and for our sins. We know this.

This era in which we live now is not a time to be proud. We seem to have set ourselves up into a higher place, being Christian, demanding more rights from our country than our country ever designated, giving freedom of religion for all and not just for Christians. (One of my favorite cousins, a lawyer, pointed this out to me; and I believe he is right!)

We are also in an era where we must become aware that suffering (for Jesus) is upon us. Jesus took His horrendous suffering with the help of the Father. We may not encounter crucifixion as He did, but certainly we will encounter the wrath of those in this country and other countries who do not believe and seriously differ with us, perhaps to the point of hate because of what they see as self-righteousness. And as we have been making demands, perhaps there is no other word for it.

I for one want no more to make demands on those who disagree with my beliefs. Jesus loved and accepted all those who hated him. How can I do otherwise? We are in an era, perhaps, of suffering, doing without certain privileges. If we are full of grace and forgiveness we will act, somewhat, like Jesus did when He was suffering.

I must--I simply must!-- do kindness and forgiveness in under any kind of suffering, with the help of the Father--just as Jesus did! How about you?

Hopefully, Jo

IN SPITE OF... LOVE

2012-01-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I don't know what I did or didn't do yesterday, but it looks like yesterday's blog is missing! I can just imagine it floating through the blog-waves of the web tring to get back home. I usually don't like to re-do something once it's done, but maybe it didn't think it was done? Do you think?

Anyway, the gist of In Spite Of...Love is this: Luke 10:37 reads: "Jesus said, "Go and do the same." (The Message)This is the ending of the story of the Good Samaritan.

Remember the religious scholar who asked Jesus how he could get eternal life? Jesus reminded him, if you recall, that God's Law is "Love the Lord your God with all your passion, prayer, muscle and intelligence...and love your neighbor as yourself." Of course, the scholar, trying to find a loophole, asked Jesus how he defined "neighbor." And the story of the Good Samaritan was born. Afterward, Jesus asked, "Which man was the neighbor?" The scholar answered,"The man who treated the Samaritan kindly." Then, Jesus said, "Go and do the same."

This is what Jesus asks of His people today. Wow! The world is full of hate.... especially of those who are different than we are. For example: Republicans hate Democrats. At least it would appear so. And the Dems seem to hate the Reps. Hate maybe is too strong a word, but it's mystifying what word fits. The situation is bad.

Then you have other horrible problems of opposites. Enter the Muslim and Christian, the Roman Catholic and the Protestant, the rich and the poor; even women and men. The list could go on and on.

I admit that I have entered into debate a few times on these opposites, and have listened as well as argued, to no avail of being right or of growing more understanding. It has not always ended well and sometimes I've thought it better to keep my distance of this kind of trouble without harboring hate.

But, distance doesn't do it as far as Jesus is concerned. He says, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Now, that could be really hard, especially if I see someone of opposite view as my neighbor! Love my neighbor...in spite of all that exists between us. Yep, that's a difficult task.

Can't I just start by just going across the street and saying "Howdy" to my new neighbor? Her name is Mary.

Neighbor means more than that. The Samaritan stopped for a Jew. Now they were real opposites. I guess it means smiling at the Muslim woman I see at the dry-goods store. Maybe she's a knitter or a quilter. Maybe it means going with my Roman Catholic friend to her church for a festival they are having, and also commiserating with another opposite-thinking friend about the state of our government which has been so devisive lately.

I need to answer Jesus call, "Go and do the same." In spite of all our differences I can learn to be kind and treat the different with love. And I resolve to do that. And as you read this, I sincerely hope you will do the same, and maybe tell your friends about your new conviction. I'm going to.

But right now, I think I'll go across the street and say hello to Mary. Maybe she's an opposite!

Willing to obey, Jo

IN SPITE OF......GO, AND DO THE SAME

2012-01-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

SACRIFICED!

2012-01-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

My daily journal reading starts over on Jan.1 and offers me the book of Genesis. As I read Genesis 8:20 and 21 (THE MESSAGE), the words told of the landing of Noah's ark and the sacrificial animal burned at the altar in thanks to God. The following message rose up and many things popped ito my mind: "God smelled the sweet fragrance and thought to Himself, "I'll never again curse the ground because of people. I know they have this bent toward evil from an early age."" This story told from father to son over the years, way before it was in the written form, still has meaning today. Imagine the Mount Ararat and Noah.....

The sweet smell of the burnt-offering was prepared by Noah to honor God. And God was pleased. God also saw that the humans He loved would be faulted from the time he or she begins to think. Human men and women were always going to be flawed. And yet, God loved them as His next words were, "I'll never again kill every living thng.""

This story of God's displeasure and man's imperfection is over-powered by God's love for us. My imagination perked away and I wondered...when God realized that His favorite creature was flawed, did He begin thinking of a way to purify it? Did He struggle wondering how to bring humans to atonement, and in what way could they atone, but through blood? And God might have said, "I can't, I just can't kill each one! There must be a way...but what is it?"

Then there was His Son who helped to create the world, this precious Son so loved by the heavenly hosts. God wondered, Did I hear His voice? Did I hear Jesus say....? What?.....? Oh, no. No! Not that way! Oh, my Son, not that way!

And yet that is the way it was. However it came about, Jesus was punished in our place. Jesus atoned for everyone in the world. He died for our sinfulness. Jesus died for MY sinfulness. I have been redeemed. And, world, so have you.

Oh, Lord Jesus, someway, truly unknown to me it really happened. You were sacrificed for me and mine! I am always amazed at your incredible love. I praise your Holy Name and thank You, over and over and over again.

Dear Ones, please join me this year reminding each other of this most incredible gift given to you and me and the rest of the world. Let us pray that the whole world will know and accept Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Yours until the whole world does know. Jo

CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT

2011-12-22T10:05:00.000-08:00

The Bible speaks a lot about being in the Light. Christ is the Light of the world. We are to be children of that light. John 12 tells us: "Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn't destroy you. As you have the light, believe in the light. then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You'll be children of light."

The part that interested me today is: "Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn't destroy you."

Jesus said these things to the crowd that he knew by instinct would soon be against him. So, what light they had would be ignored as they would soon be caught up in the passions of the dark moment yet to come.

It is a warning to me. Do not think little of the Light I have been given. Not everyone in this world is to receive the same amount of Light. How blessed I am to be given the Light I have! And I must learn to live in this Light and keep it shining and bright. It's not to be covered up. It's not to be hidden. And it is definitely not to be ignored! It must never be considered to be "not enough!" What I have been given is always "just enough" to do whatever job I have been given. If the job needs more Light than what I have been given, God will provide. He will give me either more Light or a helper who has what is needed. My job is to trust and use what is given. And to not step out of the Light.

Lord, May your Word continue to supply my Light that I might follow you more closely. Thank you, God.

(Friends, I have had a urinary tract infection so have been flat for a few days. Keep me in your prayers that I might have my strength returned. Thanks so much!)

A friend of God and you, Jo

TROUBLE, TROUBLE, TROUBLE

2011-12-01T13:05:00.000-08:00

I love the Book of Romans! Romans 8:39 says,"There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins...none of this fazes us because............ Jesus loves us!" (Word from THE MESSAGE)

These words of Paul are worth carrying around with us either on a note to quickly retrieve from a pocket, or memorized in our heads. My pocket is safer than my head as I have "too much circling around in my head getting all mixed up in there." (almost a quote from a certain candidate for Pres.)

Yes, those words might come in handy in these interesting times. We have always found trouble as well as ease in life. But, we maybe are finding harder times, as many are suffering right now. We may have feelings of hate, or maybe someone hates us. We may have suffered from hunger or homelessness. We may have encountered bullying or backstabbing. We may suffer from darker sins. (Oh, but we must hang on to the love of Jesus!) The USA may encounter within our family systems any or all of these tragedies.

We have had good lives for the most part. We recently hear of kids not getting enough to eat or sleep because they are living in their parents' cars. Food programs at elementary schools are taking this into consideration. If we have young families, we must do what we can to alleviate these problems and help when we can.

We also hear of bullying which can cause irreparable problems. Or back-stabbing, where everyone gets hurt. Then there is always the worst sins that causes bodily harm and even death. The world is NOT a terribly safe place. It is a terribly UNSAFE place. But there is one thing that we can always do; one thing we can always count on. We can always count on Jesus.

Get out that little scrap of paper in your pocket, or find the way clear to the memorized quote of Saint Paul--None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.

We are the Kids of the Creator! We are the Chosen for His Church! We are Jesus' eyes, His hands, His heart! What can we do to ease the pain of someone? How can we feed the hungry? How can we help the homeless? How can I stop the bullying? How can I stop the back-stabbing? What can I do to keep the USA and its wonderful people from becoming the sore spot of the world? Only one thing.........

I am a friend of God.....Jesus loves me........ Jesus cares about all these others.....Lord God, May I be fit for the endeavors we may need to make for ourselves and others in the hard times to come. I cherish your love for me and will remember what you endured for me. May I be fit to serve you.

Your loving friend,

Jo

CAN YOU HEAR/SEE HIM?

2011-11-15T09:31:00.000-08:00

Many have a desire for God, to see Him, or hear Him, in various ways: In the beauty of the desert and desert sky, in the hymns sung in church, in a loved one's smile, a baby's laugh. God is all over the place and there should be no problem with His appearing or His voice as they both are all around.

However, what I wonder about is does anyone see or hear Christ in me? It's not the first thing we might ask, or tell, another person. And sometimes I think I am so stuck in my individuality that God cannot find Himself in me! I know you're not supposed to put yourself down..we are after all created by the Master so I am not junk! But I am....me! And I do know how far from the "bar" I often fall!

This morning, from 2 Corinthians 2, the reading in The Message said, "We stand in Christ's presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can." Paul, of course, is speaking to himself and others who take it upon themselves to alert the world of Jesus Christ, Savior and Messiah. Paul, filled with the Spirit of God, spoke always of the church and its duty to present God to the world.

Who we are and what we have to say is at all times to be a revealing of Who God Is.
Paul told us it was a huge responsibility, and I concur...with fear and trembling. No one is competent to take this on...... without the Spirit of God.

So, in all I do and in ways I do not yet know possible, I desire to reveal the presence of the Holy Spirit to those I meet and serve. Knowing that what makes me special is from God and the only reason I consider myself adequate for what God wants of me. I do so desire to be a revealer of Christ!! And I pray in my ordinariness that the Lord might make others wonder about what makes me tick and discover the One who is my Lord.

This I pray. I want you, too, to see Him and hear Him in everything around you, even in me...even if you never hear His name or see His face.

All for God's glory...JO

GOD SAYS, LISTEN AND KNOW!

2011-11-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

I wonder if Job ever regretted all the things he said and did while being tested by the Devil. I think...yes, he must have. There was a lot of pride in and among his words to his friends, and also words which were spoken so that God would also know how he felt.

Have you ever experienced an "ah hah!"? Why on earth did I say that? What do I do now? "Do nothing..," might be the best answer. But me? I cannot let it rest as I feel when I have misused others, I need to make peace the best I can.

It's a rather long story and takes place about 2-3 years ago. We were going to church in a school which had been part of a new Church. The people who started the church were made up of folks from two other churches and a wonderful woman pastor with great vision. It was an exciting time. I loved making calls to visitors and encouraging then to return.

I was asked by the pastor to do an exciting new job and got busy learning it. Right away, I should have known something was not quite right when I was asked to help the pastor present the workings of the church to the leader's group and at the teaching session I was ignored. I never asked "why?"

Soon, there were other instances of not fitting in. Part of my new job was to visit the small groups and see how they were doing. That, too, was not received well by those I was visiting. But nothing was ever said to me, and I was truly in the dark. I was finally asked to quit. And there came a time of feeling I had failed and that others were glad I was gone.

We stayed in the church. I was hurt, sometimes angry, and decided to forget the past. On my own, I went ahead without permission and made banners, brought flowers for the altar, bought items for communion, started some Sunday morning Life Groups, and was ever present, not realizing that I was causing frustration to some and anger to others.

We finally left the church as it was way too far to drive for us oldtimers and it didn't become the church we had imagined it would become. We are happily ensconced at a church close by which has the expected church heirarchy and I do nothing without clearing it first with the powers that be.

Then, the last two days of journaling has given me a real kick in the pants!!!
Yesterday, Job spoke in chapter 34, verse 32 (from THE MESSAGE) "Teach me to see what I still don't see." and today's 1 Corinthians 8:7b, "Knowing isn't everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as "Know-it-alls who treat others as Know-nothings."

I rest my case. Little did I know why I felt like I was around enemies when in reality, perhaps they saw me as the enemy. I have prayed in my journal yesterday and today. Yesterday's was answered today. Yesterday I asked that God would reveal
those things I still didn't understand. And today He revealed so much. He revealed the reverse side of my pain and showed me how I may have caused pain to many others by being overly enthusiastic and ambitious, and certainly, prideful, even in my hurt.

Paul may have at some time or another done just what I did--in common words, "took over." I say that beause he really KNEW when writing to Corinth, "Knowing isn't everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings."

I am putting these journal entries into my blog so all will know how truly sorry I am. I have no excuse, no "Yah,but." I truly pray with hope and faith that I have learned my lesssons in pride, being overly enthusiastic, and insensitive to the feelings of others. Please forgive me.

In your service always, jo

WATCH OUT! GOD'S GIFTS HAVE A BACKSIDE!

2011-10-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

Acts 23 was part of my morning today and doggone if it didn't pop up and say "read me." Paul, who later became known as a saint, started a discource with the Jewish Council in Jerusalem and said, "Friends, I've lived with a clear conscience before God all my life, up to this very moment." They began to listen, but then they pounced on him trying to catch him in some wrong act so they could kill him.

Why were the Jews so anxious to kill Paul? I mean, he had only taken over their religion, insisted on Jesus being the Son of God and the Saviour of the World!! Plus,they were accused of being responsible for his crucifixion!

The Captain of the Roman Army also was determined to find the reason why the Jews wanted to kill Paul and that is why Paul was brought before this council. But Paul was a learned man as well as a determined man and not only did he believe in Jesus, he believed he had been chosen to take Jesus to the world!

I find it interesting that Paul, even knowing that he was notthe leader of the Jewish people, he led them. He led them in so many ways, but primarily in the growth and strength he was given for the witness of Jesus Christ. He didn't back down from this knowledge even although he was originally against Jesus' Way. After he had been shown his error, he now believed in Christ with all of his heart. He knewwhy he was born and for what or who he must die. Yes, his conscious was clear. It was clear because he expected others to find fault with what he was doing because what he was doing had been expressly directed by Jesus himself!And who would believe that?

If you remember more of Paul's story you will know that he was not always seen by others to have earned a clear conscious. He was thought to be stubborn, inflexible as to who was eligible to become a Jesus person, preachy, interfering, proud, insensitive, and determined to do things his way. Yet he was loved by many, even by most, which brought out jealousy sometimes in those around him.

How the Lord must have loved him! And how much the Lord had to forgive him, for his certainties appeared as thoughtlessness on occasion to others. Yet his conscience was clear!

And this is where my rubber met the road. I saw I had situations in my life somewhat like Paul. God gave me talents without restrictions, like Paul. But, restrictions need to be taught by others, like they were in Paul's case. But I didn't get it! I didn't recognize the back side of my gifts! I didn't see how some of the things that I requested of people, some of my efforts,and my determination might lead to resentments. Who did I think I was? Who made me the leader?

If you have the gift of hospitality, let your pastor know you will welcome the opportunity to use it if he or she pleases. If you are blessed in leadership, think the same. Be watchful for any negative thought or pattern. Then most importantly, let it go. The only blame you might accept is you haven't been aware of its backside.

It is too late for me to change those situations, too late. I can only see in retrospsect how different those times might have been. And because I can see, I can take a deep breath of gratitude for God's leadership throughout that time and beyond.

Today, I am blessed by God's energy among so many. I know I am forgiven for being hurt by the attitude of others in the past, not being aware that much of what occurred was a natural part of my learning how to love and forgive others and myself.

Praise you Lord Jesus for all you teach..and for your loving spirit always!!

Thanks for listening! jo

ARE YOU WITH ME?

2011-10-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

All my journaling thus far has been from THE MESSAGE. And I will probably continue using it in the months to come. Yesterday I ran across a passage in Acts 4, verses 25 and 26, as follows:

Why the big noise, nations?
Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth's leaders push for position,
Potentates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers,the Messiah-defiers!

They did meet long ago--Herod and Pontius Pilate met with nations and peoples, even the leaders in Israel itself. And the result? The crucifixion of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Was anyone in prayer about that meeting? The deciples?

Now, generations later, we have big noise again from Messiah-defiers. Now is the time for all good men and women to come to prayer. We must pray like we have never prayed before. Pray that God will have His way among us, and that whatever way He chooses, we will obey with faith. These are times of unsteadiness which means all the more reason for faith. I would prefer peace. No war sounds perfect. But I give my choice, my preference, up to the Lord and whatever way He leads me, I will follow. Maybe my heart will be in my throat, but I will follow.

Is anybody with me? You can find me on facebook .

Until we are all together at least in Spirit,

Jo

BELOVED OF GOD

2011-10-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

Psalm 126:1-6 in its entirety: "It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,
when God returned Zion's exiles...We laughed,
we sang. We couldn't believe our good fortune...We
were the talk of the nations--God was wonderful to us...We are one happy people...And now, God, do it again.
Bring rains to our drought-stricken lives..so those who planted
their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, so those
who went off with heavy hearts...will come home laughing with
armloads of blessing."

This psalm is a Pilgrim song. There is no author indicated. The people of God
who lived all over Judah, once a year traveled to Jerusalem to worship God at
the Temple. As the walk took several days, they found great joy in singing
together songs to the Lord God, Pilgrim Songs. Psalm 126 is just one of many.

Imagine singing our camp songs! 100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall just doesn't seem to do it for me! No, those devout Jews sang to the Lord their beloved Pilgrim Songs, just like Psalm 126.

This psalm would have been written around any of the times God's people were re-building their temple, God's home. King Cyrus of Persia was one king who granted their return, giving them funds to build with and their own gold and silver that had been confiscated. Imagine their joy at returning. Imagine the joy seeing loved ones returned! Not unlike how we feel when our fighting men and women return after the scourge of war.

Oh, Lord Jesus! Grant that the world can see the love and joy of Christians singing together and praying for one another! What a thrill it would be to be walking together on our separate roads, ready to meet one another at a crossroad. And from that crossroad we can walk arm and arm to meet our Lord God. Beloved of God, let's sing!

I'm an alto. How about you?

Fondly, jo

BREATHE ON ME!

2011-09-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

Remember the old hymn "Breathe on me breath of God"? Do you think it originates from Ezekiel 37 and those "dry bones"? Them bones, them bones just laying on that plain needing sinews, muscles, blood and finally, air. How could they be alive without air? How can we be alive without air?

Well, of course we can't. Nor can we be alive in Christ without the breath of God, the Holy Spirit.

So, I'm making this short, and I hope sweet, today. Just like old Ezekiel, I say to myself, "Lord, I need your sweet breath within me. I need it today as I sit at my computer, everyday as I do my journaling and bible reading, when the phone rings or the doorbell, when the dog asks again to go outside, or when my patience is as thin as newsprint. I need your breath. Lord, in. Jo, out. Lord, in. Jo, out." Easy as can be; easier than pie which has never been easy for me.

Still getting caught up from vacation, so need to get up-and-at-em. Hope you missed me a little; I missed you!

Breathing for Jesus, Jo

BUT THE LIGHT OF GOD IS LIFE

2011-08-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

The scripture doesn't lie. "God is light, pure light, there's not a trace of darkness in Him." 1 John 1:5

God has no darkness; it is only ourselves that bring darkness into his path. And that is why I found such great comfort in this letter from John. He stresses the truth of what he discovered in his first hand experiences hearing and seeing Jesus in action. John's claim can be tested by others who also come to know Jesus and believe in the message John delivers. There is light in the reading of the message; there is light in the truth of the message. And there is light in the joy of following the message. John discovered it and so might we as we attempt to follow John's path, sharing his life with Christ and the exceptional living to be found in the light of God.

Living in the Light there is no darkness,no dark actions,thoughts, or experiences. Living in God and God living in us there can be no darkness. It is only when we lose our way on the path that we become fearful, and oops! Did somone turn off the lights?

My constant prayer is to always live in Jesus Christ, and thus, in the Light. I pray that God will be merciful if and when I fail to follow the light showing me the better path. I pray that others might find joy in communion with the Son and the Father. And, finally, that they may know the joy that comes from His joy in us and the peace of not having to live in darkness.

May it be so, Lord. Amen

Thanks for listening.

Fondly, jo

THE DARKNESS OF GOD

2011-08-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

Based on John 3:36 "The person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn't see life. All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that."

John was truly loved by Jesus and he truly loved Jesus. Yet I suspect, as John was indeed a human, that John may have known the darkness of God at sometime during his life or he would not have understood about the darkness of God.

I call myself a Christian to the world. But, I still know that whatever I am called, I have suffered from dark days because I avoided and distrusted God right along with the worst men born.

As you, a believer in Jesus, read this you may say, "Well I don't know anything about the darkness of God." And I would say,"Oh, how blessed you are. I hope you are thanking God right now for giving you the belief and trust in Him consistently so that you do not get lost in God's darkness."

All men are given the opportunity to believe, yet many turn away avoiding God, distrusting God and the Word spoken of Him. I grieve for these people and pray for them, hoping they are few. And I wonder-- what is life like for them? Are they even aware that they are living in the Darkness of God, for in God's darkness lay his anger?

Perhaps they are successful, earning great salaries, giving to charities, raising families, certain life will always remain easy. Will they be easily tempted for more success, a larger salary, more style, more successful friends. More, and more, and more.

I'm guessing each achievement would seem somewhat satisfying, but not complete. Each disappointment a tragic downer. Each real tragedy earth-shaking and filled with fear. Joy may come but escape after the first moments, unrecognized. There would be a lack of wonder over a butterfly or no breathlessness over a sunset. A kiss would be to satisfy a need and the moment of love expressed unnoticed. The lack of God would mean the vaguest hope unrecognizable. The lack of God is what brings the darkness of God.

This way, the dark way, is not the Way of God. So much is missing. Having been in the darkness myself because of my lack of trust, I will not venture there again as Jesus is my right hand--and my left. He is all I am. I barely recognize myself these days and happily so. If I venture off the path I've chosen, the way is too dark with never-ending misery.

If anyone you know ventures there, remind them of the Darkness of God and how God does not desires that for us. He desires us to be The Light of the World! Being in the Light who is the Christ, I cannot help but be the Light He desires.

Happily, jo

WILL I WILL MY WILL TO GOD'S WILL?

2011-07-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

THe answer? Aftermany years of fighting God, the answer is without doubt--YES!

In reading the Book of James this morning, verse 6 told me, "It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud, but God gives grace to the wlling humble"."

Oh, boy!I guess humans haven't changed much since the era of James. I don't really know if this James was Jesus' brother--I'd like to think so--the head of the new Christian congregation in Jerusalem at the time, or some other James. Whoever he was, he is in the New Testament and the one who puts the heat on about my tongue and what I say. And I think he's right about the tongue and the great harm it can do. So, I pray that my words here today will in no way dishonor God.

It is my opinion that the words about God hating the proud are also true. The words above from verse 6 are somewhat like we might say, "Pride goeth before a fall."
That is probably a proverb, and proverbs in James' day might have hung on a kitchen wall as we might hang the same words. So we're not different from the people discussed in James' writing. "Truth" is good whatever the date. We will always need reminders that having too much pride brings TROUBLE. And having too much pride comes from our willful natures.

Babies are born with strong wills. It's good that they are because their cries are the only way we adults can tell that they are hungry or wet or sleepy. So, friends, in spite of the difficulty and the temptation to stay the way I was born, in order to become the person God wanted me to be, I had to accede my will to God. God was gracious enough to me to teach me about humility. I had to learn not to be so hung up on myself, consider others first, and ask God to direct me to His perfect will. In return, God, I believe, helped me to think like Jesus would, so I could have more assurance in what I was to do. All this learning came over a period of time (and is still "in progress.") When I begin to think my importance is bigger than someone else's, or bigger than God's honor, I'm back into PRIDE. And pride is all the wrong things: arrogance, selfishness, unfriendliness, and not loving at all!

So, I hope you join me in a prayer--for me and if you like, for you.

Lord Jesus, I ask your help in my thinking, in my desires, in my actions, and especially in my heart. I want to have a willing, humble spirit which is willing to love by forgetting about myself, by serving others and thinking of them before myself, to be a friendly helper, with kindness and goodness and to always remember that my will has been turned over to you to become yours, your perfect will. AMEN

So may it ever be! Jo

COME TO JESUS AND LIVE!

2011-07-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

How do I dare use this song's beautiful title for the simple writing I'm about to do? I'm using it because it says exactly what I need to say. Hebrews 12:22b-24 says the same thing as this lovely song. Let me repeat Hebrews for you: "You've come to Mt.Zion, the city where the living God resides. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by throngs of festive angels and Christian citizens. It is the city where God is Judge, with judgments that make us just. You've come to Jesus...".

It occurred to me that when the Israelites were going through the wilderness and encountered God, through Moses at Mt. Sinai, they were afraid to hear God speak. They were terrified. Today, we can go to Jesus without fear and see God as judge who teaches us to be just. God also teaches us that we have, through Jesus, a new covenant with Him, one of grace, mercy, and purest love. The idea of a Jerusalem (a place of many names) where we will find "throngs of festive angels" and other people such as me who have gone to Jesus who are singing together, praising God together, ministering to one another, and celebrating our One-ness with each other and with our Lord Jesus.

I hope you have found your special Jerusalem!

Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus, and Live!

Your ever hopeful friend, jo

THE KINGDOM OF SIN

2011-06-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

Doing my daily journaling, one of my reading requirements was the Book of Amos. If you don't already know, Amos was a prophet/shepherd and what he had to say was not always taken well. Discrimination was alive and well in his day. Sound familiar?

But discrimination is not Amos' main theme. No, Amos was the ear that God spoke to and the mouth that revealed to the Israelites just how disgusted God was with them at that time. God so much wanted His people to straighten out, be less proud, be less tempted toward man-made gods and follow His teachings. Sound familiar?

Where is the Kingdom of Sin, by the way? I've never heard of it. Is it a place? No, it is a natural attitude for a human being. We are born with a screeching voice that says, "Me! Me! Me! Me First!" And that's our natural sin. And we are full of it! I wonder, did God ever get tired of it? Oh, yes, He did!

Long about A.D.33, God must have been fed up. God kept urging people to change their ways and stop sinning. Our "Me first" attitude must have worn Him down. Yet God never stopped loving us, in fact, he allowed something to prove His love for us for all time and at the same time allowed Him a way to forgive us for our "Me first" sinfulness. He had this very special Son who was born with a purpose. He was born as a human, but perfect in every way. He didn't sin in any way! None!

That son was called Jesus and He became our Savior, because God asked Jesus to die on a cross in our place!! That's how the Romans killed criminals in those days. Jesus,admitting to being the real son of God, wasn't liked at all by the leading Jews and they talked Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor at that time, into using Jesus as an example for those who speak out against religious leaders, and in Jesus case, claimed to be the Son of God. So, Pilate treated Jesus as a criminal to appease the Jewish leaders. And Jesus was crucified.

This would maybe have been uneventful, but after 3 days, Jesus rose from the grave! Now that's an event! What a strange, wonderful, unbelievable, miraculous, Godly thing to do! The greatest gift the world has ever known, given to you and me!

What a forgiving God! My. how he loves us! All nations! He loves all nations! All of us living in the Kingdom of Sin can be redeemed. Choose Jesus and we live in the Kingdom of the Son! Sins forgiven and forgotten--that's me! I chose. (I hope you did, too.)

Thank you, Lord! Love, Jo

2011-06-20T11:27:00.001-07:00

FIRST, PRAY!

2011-06-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

It was a long time ago when I learned about "first." To give you an idea about how long ago it was, I was folding the diapers of Peggy and Lynn and watching a TV daytime serial. I don't remember the name of the serial, but it's been gone for a very long time. It was over 50 years ago as both girls are now past 50 years old.

Anyway, I wasn't the happiest camper in those days; money was tight and no one would hire a mother with two children. My husband, Jerry,a dentist just out of the Navy, was headed back to school so could no longer keep working. We were flat broke, with no money to live on and no money for school. School was very important as he had just been accepted, one of two students, to the Minnesota University's Orthodontic Program. Now what do we do?

While folding those diapers--remember cloth diapers?--my doorbell rang. A smiling woman stood there, someone I didn't know. I had no concern; we hadn't heard of stranger-danger in those days and I was a bit lonely. I invited her in.

I can't remember anything outstanding about her opening comments; I only remember what we finally spoke about. She asked me, "Do you ever talk to God about your fears?"

"No, I guess I don't really know how. How do you go about starting to pray?"

"Well," she said, "First,you must ask God. Asking God of something is part of praying. So now, first, you pray and ask God to teach you to pray. He will, you know, He really will. Whatever you want or need the first thing you always do is--pray."

I never forgot this. Sometimes I momentarily have to be reminded of the importance of First, Pray!, but it always comes back to me as the perfect solution.

My relationship with God has been pretty good over the years, with bad moments, of course, and also great moments. Recently, however, I have noted how my prayer life as flattened out. I know God is there. I know He wants me to pray, and I do pray for other people when asked. I like to pray and have been somewhat disappointed that I haven't been as excited about prayer as I used to be. God and I have a comfortable arrangement, but the excitement is missing. Sort of like marriage once and awhile. We can forget to keep the fire glowing, and it's a shame because it's so easy to do. Special thoughtfulness doesn't cost a dime, and it pays off so nicely. But back to my prayer life-----.

I took that stranger's advice, and I prayed, "God, please show me how to pray. And how to have a closeness to you." And God did show me, both things. Over the years, I have been very grateful to that "angel" in disguise who came to my door and said, "First, Pray!"

Now, this morning, I went to God once again. I admitted I had been convicted. I knew God had been waiting for me for a long time to come to Him with my heart as well as my words. My service to God may just be in small services, but it always will be to pray.

There are so many things to pray for: God wants everyone saved--so pray.
God wants us to live humbly in contemplation--so pray. He wants rulers and governments to rule well and do so without selfish concerns--so pray. God wants Satan to be thwarted again and again--so pray. God wants our churches to be alive with Him--so pray. God wants us well and healing--so pray. God wadnts men and women to become available to serve the world--so pray. God wants churches to be jump-started with compassion and love--so pray. God wants the church's ministers and leaders to witness holiness and purity--so pray. First, pray!

God wants me to pray. I'm part of the problem. So, I must pray, for I cannot throw a single stone at anyone else. Lord, forgive me for my stubborn blindness and irrational disability by not listening for your call.

And God, I shall try to remember, always, to FIRST, PRAY!

Your servant, jo

2011-04-13T11:37:00.001-07:00

GOD COMMANDS

2011-04-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

From my journal written yesterday, I dare use for myself a comparison with Saul. King just before King David, and David's father-in-law, Saul was not quite the king that God wanted for his people. Saul had a propensity of taking things into his own hands. He wasn't stubborn, exactly, he just moved too quickly without too much thinking. Many times over he made foolish, costly mistakes.

Samuel, prophet plus at the time, told Saul, "That was a fool thing to do," when Saul sacrificed the burnt offering to God before the priest was there in order to war against the Philistines right then! The war would not wait, nor would Saul, so he did the sacrifice himself. With this act, Saul destroyed the foundation between himself and God.

In many other instances, Saul hemmed and hawed concerning God's way or his own way. The throwing of the Urim and the Thummim by a priest was the way the Israelites determined God's will. According to the throw, if it came up the Urim, they were to go east and if it was the Thummim, west, for example.

Today, we don't use a Urim or a Thummim. I wish we did as it would be so much easier to determine what it is that God wants of us. We pray for God's leading and watch for God's approval--or disapproval--having faith that God wll show us. Sometimes he pops a door open, for our assurance. Sometimes He slams a door shut. Some folks have more certainty about God's will than others do. Most of us move by faith that God will intercede if our decision is going against Him, unless (and this is a big unless)God's motive is to teach us to wait longer.

God is very big on waiting, and God is very big on commands. When God tells us to "wait," it is a one word command. It is not just an idea. It is a sentence all by itself and the subject of that sentence is the noun YOU! The you, of course, is silent, but always in a command the subject is the word "you," silent or not. And I know that God means me! God's talking to me! And I'm to wait!

So, besides the grammar lesson (sorry to rant, I'm an English major) we need to remember that in many instances when we do not hear or understand what God commands, God may be commanding, "Wait!" Also something to remember-----a command is usually given with force, determination, and power. Our God is powerful and means business.

Waiting has not been near big enough in my history, although God seems to be working on waiting with me these days. Yes, He does like us to wait for He tells us that even Saul knew, the hard way, that it would have been better for him to wait.

Waiting is very hard. When I was a kid, I waited for summer, for Christmas, for my birthday, and for the next time I could buy some penny candy. Today, I wait for the results of some maddening test taken to determine what is going on with my---whatever. There always seems to be something.

Finally, one day, I'll wait for God to take me home to be with Him. In the meantime, how can I make you smile, God?

I thank and praise you, Lord, for this reader right now reading this.

Until later, Jo

ANYTHING GOES!

2011-03-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

Using THE MESSAGE again this a.m. for my journaling, I ran across 1 Corinthians 10:23which reminds me, "Anything goes. Because of God's immense generosity and grace, we don't have to disect and scrutinize every action to see if it will pass muster."

Our daughter, Lynn, and son-in-love, Gary Bolmgren, from Richfield,MN are with us right now for a visit and we had just been talking about how important it is to not carry old burdens around, but to trust that God has dealt with them. We are to let old mistakes go and not continue to be bothered by them.

That having been said, I got into THE MESSAGE to do my journaling for the day. Because of the scripture and the earlier discussion, I felt I had to share this very important discovery about God which I knew about, but until I could link it to a very old unsatisfying action of mine, I had never really seen it.

This is the story: Many years ago, when I was a new Christian, I wanted to serve and obey God in whatever way I was asked. I began by being responsible for people to be in the baby nursery, toddlers and twos, and the three year olds. It involved lots of calling and assigning of willing mothers and dads, but was a great pleasure for me.

The lovely woman who helped us in the nursery had immigrated from the Black Forest area in Germany with her family, and was wonderful with our crib babies. The church sponsored them and was very lucky to have her serve there.

However, there was a problem that grew into a real costly situation for the church. Permeating in the warm nursery was the unmistable strong smell of body odor and the young families with babies refused to come. As the nursery volunteer arranger, I, frankly, didn't quite know how to handle it.

I spoke to the pastor and to the Sunday School Superintendent and we collectively weren't sure what to do, either. So, I volunteered to speak with this otherwise very lovely woman and arrange for a visit to her home.

The morning of this visit, I woke to a blizzard type snow-fall, but wanting to be obedient to the Lord, I headed out for this new development of homes quite distant from my home and the church. On the way, I slid and slid, barely moving through the wind-driven snow. "An old Minnesotan like me can handle this," I spoke aloud, trying to puff up my nearly absent confidence.

"Oops!" and away the car slid nearly hitting, barely missing a big tanker truck, heading the same direction as I, toward the new people in their new homes in the new settlement waiting for the new oil for their new furnaces.

"What am I doing out in this?" I thought to myself. But suddenly I was on the right road, in the right neighborhood, and there was the house, at last.

We gave each other a hug in meeting. She had made a strudel and it was delicious. We had a nice conversation. She had no "other" friends and told me I was the first to come and see her new home. Then, I remembered why I was there, and understood: In her cold home they were using very little heating fuel. Other country's bathing habits are far different than our own. The heat in the nursery made the poor woman sweat!! And now what was I to do? It was hard to admit why I had come, but I supposed that I must.

I had brought some little necessities with me for her. I didn't open the bag, but I began to speak to her about the situation in church. Her face was a blank, the smile having disappeared. But, I explained the best I could and told her I would help her any way she would ask. I told her that we loved her work and needed her in the nursery.

She didn't answer me, but sat in silence, staring straight ahead.

Soon, I thought it best to say goodbye, leave the small bag of necessities, and go.

I cried on the way home and many times after that throughout the years. Had God tried to stop me with the blizzard and the near accident? Should I have stayed home?
Maybe God hadn't requested me to go to her. What if it wasn't His will?

She and her family left the church.

For many years I worried about this lovely lady. Eventually, I looked up their unusual name in the phone book and called. I left a message asking her to forgive me for not being a better friend. She didn't call me back, but that's OK.

Then, yesterday, I read the scripture from 1 Cor.10, and something fell into place, just like those little metal balls that roll around and around and eventually fall into the correct slot. I can now believe that I did what God asked. I just didn't have a clue beforehand how God was going to use it! I also wonder, was the blizzard God saying, "Go back!" Or was the blizzard that tricky Satan who's always trying to trick us into thinking, "It's God talking!" Was it God's will and Satan's trick? Maybe. Maybe not.

At any rate, with God, "Anything goes! Because of God's immense generosity and grace, we don't have to disect and scrutinize every action to see if it will pass muster." I passed muster but, I'll not know for sure who did what until Paradise!

If any of you out there in internet land have a grief that's hard to let go of--I hope this reassures you. With our God, anything goes as long as His grace and generosity hold out. And that will be for forever.

Until the next time! jo

BELIEVE ME?

2011-03-10T09:46:00.002-08:00

Hello, again!

In Galatians 1:11-12, Paul is emphatic! He's saying,"Believe me!" because the church in Galatia was listening and believing a "gospel" other than the truth, and Paul was indignant. He told them, "I didn't receive this news through the traditions, and I wasn't taught it in some school. I got it straight from God, received the message directly from Jesus Christ." (The Message) So, believe me!

It got me to wondering--are my words to the great outside believed? Are they worth believing? I, personally, followed no traditions. I wasn't taught these beliefs in school. I rarely went to Sunday School as a child to my regret. I wasn't churched as a youngster. I had three children before I came to know the truth about Jesus, that He died so the world would have a way to be reconciled to God. I have no scars like Jesus does to prove I know the truth. I have nothing to make anyone listen to anything I say.

Nothing but a changed heart, and along with it a passion. Here I am, the one who was faithless in believing that Jesus had power for me, for my life. I clung to my own belief--myself--for a long time. And repeatedly found myself in a streak of losses toward my goal of "being a good person." Then, Jesus beat me at my own game! I came to realize I wasn't ever going to be good in my own right, and that's one reason why Jesus came to this earth, why He died on the cross. Then, I tripped on my own pride so badly one day that I realized I needed Him, and His goodness.

So here we are, Jesus and me! He's the good guy; I'm His shadow, and sometimes His hands and feet, and I hope, His mouth.

And that's when I came to another truth--Because he's in my heart, and I in His, I could, at last, be considered good. Everything He has is for my use, even His goodness! And that's the truth! I hope you believe me!!

See you soon! jo

BELIEVE ME!

2011-03-10T09:46:00.001-08:00

THE CREAK OF A RUSTY GATE

2011-02-28T09:44:00.000-08:00

The Creak of a Rusty Gate

Based on 1Corinthian 13:1 "If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate."

You want to know what love looks like? Not a juicy novel, not a TV show, but ordinary people who know God through the love of Jesus Christ.

Without love, my life is a bit scary. You see, I'm losing my ability to communicate well. I can't seem to remember nouns. I'm afraid I sound like a slow, creaky, rusty gate! It's been going on for some time now, and I suppose it has something to do with my age. When I become tongue-tied, I must just stop talking and think quietly for a few minutes. Sometimes the word comes to me. Sometimes it takes a communicatee to guess what word I'm missing. It's embarassing, yes. But most people are wonderfully understanding---and that's what love looks like.

My grandparents often lived with us when I was a girl. I remember once when my grandmother cussed (yes, cussed!) at my mother. Mom had just waxed the foyer floor and as mom was helping grandma into her bedroom for a nap, grandma slipped and fell. As mom was picking her up (Oh, so carefully!), Grandma began to call her names with language I had never heard in our house! I yelled at grandma, "Don't talk to my mother that way!" And my mom yelled back, "Don't talk to your grandmother that way!" I stomped out of the house, mad as beans.

What I did wasn't love for the one who needed it--my grandmother. What my mother did and always did was--love. She loved the cranky old woman with a love that had been born over many years of giving--and taking--love.

People aren't perfect. Nope, and we'll never be. But Jesus in us shows the world in which each of us lives what love looks like.

I pray that everyone I meet will see love in me. My relationship with Jesus, again not perfect, helps me to see HIS perfect love in others, maybe in you.

So I want to thank you for showing the world--and me, included-- what love looks like. And ask you to forgive my concern about the loss of words. Who gives a rip about words when they've got people around to love and by whom they can be loved.
(Did you catch that last phrase? Never end a sentence with a preposition, but "Who cares?")

Let's see,what comes next?

"What's the word? Oh, yes!---"
Goodbye!for now. jo

PREPARE FOR A HALLELUJAH

2011-02-23T08:42:00.000-08:00

PREPARE FOR A HALLELUJAH

Hey! I'm just an ordinary Christian, trying to listen to God and be and do what I think He expects of me. I don't often think about being prepared for doing and being, but I've had some recent thoughts on preparing, plus I really like the Hallelujah time. (I sign in sign-language for "Hallelujah" having been taught by my friend Becky. I really do like that. Of course, I can only assume that God likes it, too, or I wouldn't do it.)

I've come to wonder, however, if the hallelujah time isn't maybe when God Himself can say Hallelujah! because his earthling creatures really, finally "get" Him.

For instance, remember the bunch of guys Moses sent to scout out Canaan for the Israelites? The Bible was very clear about who went. God even had Moses rename one of the guys and that guy became Joshua and Joshua, in time, became very important to God.

Now God was very specific in telling these brave fellows what they were to do. They were to first present themselves to God and the congregation, then go to Canaan, observe, take note of what they heard, try and check out the veggies and fruit, bring back whatever samples they could, safely return, present themselves again, and report all that they saw and heard.

I'll bet there were a few Hallelujahs around the campfire that night! Well, not entirely. Some were afraid to go to Canaan in spite of God's command. Why? Because they saw giants!

Giants in that day were real. Not the fe, fi, fo, fum kind of giant, but really big, tall guys like Goliath who came later on in the Old Testament, the one David killed with a slingshot stone. Those giants. The ones big enough to make you swallow hard.

Well, did the chosen Israelites all go with Joshua to Canaan? or not? You know how it ends. Of course they go, at least some of them. And they do meet giants, but God has everything under control and it's all in His hands. All this story is really about is .... reluctance! and lack of trust! The desire to have every thing His people do done perfectly and be a hit! But, does God have a different idea of what is perfect than I do? You can bet on it!

Now, God doesn't have "perfect" in His vocabulary except for Jesus, His Son. For us, it's more like these words, "obeyed" and "disobeyed". Actually, I'm pretty sure God doesn't even measure our worth. He is only interested in revealing His worth, and hoping the people he created, (you know, us....the ones He loves)has noticed His very great worth and want desperately to be obedient, and love Him, and praise Him, and raise our hands and say "Hallelujah".

So, I present myself: Here I am , Lord. Do with me what you wish. I accept your instructions. Then, I go. And I work the work as best I can, not thinking of its outcome, only doing it with gratitude that God set it before me. It may be a small thing or not. It doesn't matter. I'm in His presence.

Then, I return and thank Him for using me in His service. I praise Him for renewing my spirit with His. And I wait to serve Him another day.

So, let's all be presented before Him, go where He asks us to go, watch, listen, and gather, return to Him and report. Love Him and be glad and sing Hallelujah (with or without the hand signing.) We have a worthy God!!! And we are well loved. That's all that matters.

Fondly, jo (raising her hands to sign Hallelujah!)

A LETTER TO JAMES

2010-12-15T10:27:00.000-08:00

Dear James (A Later Disciple of Jesus)--

Here I am again getting into the Word that you provided so long ago to the churches--the NEW churches of Jesus Christ--and once again it brings me to tears. But, this time they are tears of joy. May I tell you why?

Journaling this morning I wrote about this verse in the Holy Bible: James 5:15. From THE MESSAGE, it says "Believing prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven--healed inside and out."

What I actually wrote must have come from my darkest parts and made a huge exclamation because instead of the word forgiven, I wrote the word forgotten. In my long life, I wonder, could I have not believed forgiveness would come to a little girl who had resisted repentance and would not say she was sorry? Perhaps I am reading too much into this childhood episode and a mere slip of the tongue while writing in my journal.

Forgotten? That's not who God is! He does not rate us as to when or how we might have sinned; he cares about whether we have repented and if we are willing to be HIs totally. That means meforgetting the sin and remembering God's forgiving Spirit. That's who God is, and more.

I ask, James the Disciple, that you ask the Lord Jesus to take my heart and purify it from the hand of Satan who seems to joyfully yank the chain wrapped around my heart. Yes. I believe His hand is right now lifting up that chain, this very moment, and I can breathe in the truth. Yes, Lord Jesus, I have not been forgotten because of my stubborn, willful nature. I know I have been forgiven.

The "chains are gone. I've been set free. O God, my Savior has ransomed me!"

Praise God Forevermore! And thank you, Brother James and my dear,sweet Lord!

Jo (And thanks also for the use of the music, "My Chains Are Gone."

I AM A PERVERT!

2010-10-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

I expect I owe anyone possibly reading this an explanation of the horrendous title of my expose'. This is not about sexual perversion. Depending upon your point of view it may be about something worse.

In my daily journaling of the Scriptures,I happened upon Mark, chapter 3, somewhere around the 29th and 30th verses. (The Message does not fully identify the verses. It's my best guess.) It reads: "There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven. But if you persist in your slanders against God's Holy Spirit, you are repudiating the very one who forgives." Following that (to prove my point)it says, "...sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives."

Perversity is a noun which comes from the adjective "perverse", which means "turning away from what is right or good; to be corrupt." Therefore, by this examination of words, I am a pervert. I don't like being a "pervert". I don't even like being "corrupt". But I have corrupted the beautiful gift given to all of us by Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How? Well, that's the crux of it.

I must not have totally accepted healing, for I often suffer from the insane thought that I am, for the most part, either to blame, therefore ashamed, or blaming someone else for--whatever. I fight like crazy (and some think I really am!) to not blame or shame, but when I don't fight it off with a stupendous battle, I get stuck in what I call "limbo". When I finally recognize what I'm doing to myself,and or another, I go to the Lord, repent, and pray that I will again receive or give this most gracious gift--forgiveness.

What happens in the brain and heart before I recognize what I am doing? My thinking has become corrupt; I have allowed my thoughts to become perverted. They need to be sorted out. Did I do something wrong, unkind, or stupid? Yes. I did. What can I do about it? I can talk to whomever I have hurt, intended or unintended. I can turn the other cheek, or everything could backfire and we would all be worse off, for "limbo" can take a long time sometimes to go away. I can and must ask forgiveness, both of God and the person involved, believing "I AM FORGIVEN."

Too often there is people damage which I then fight through by going to them and asking forgiveness. I must ask forgiveness of God and any other involved, and BELIEVE I AM FORGIVEN. God will forgive when I repent--always. Others may or may not forgive, but their forgiveness is not crucial; only our meaningful asking for it is crucial. I must never--again-- question the great privilege God has given me through his death on the cross--forgiveness.

If I don't ask for forgiveness or believe I am not forgiven, guess what? You're right..I'll be in "limbo", which I call another form of hell.

So, do as I say and not as I've done--accept your imperfection with a prayer and the imperfection of others with a turn of the cheek and a prayer and take, blessedly, what Jesus died for: absolute forgiveness, absolutely now.

Are we still friends? Do you forgive my tendency for "limbo"? I'll forgive you!

Ever, Jo. (Once a Pervert)

IS GOD ON THE MOVE?

2010-10-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

Journaling is important to me. I journal 6 days a week; but Sunday? uh uh. What I learn or take from Sunday is important to me, too. A good sermon gets me to thinking and thinking gets me to learning and learning gets me to improving my journaling. Someday I hope my children's children's children and onward get something out of all these words.

Now as to the recent journaling I want to talk about here. Zechariah 2:13 caught my attention. From The Message it says, "Quiet, everyone! Shh! Silence before God. Something's afoot in His holy house. He is on the move!"

Well, you know Zechariah and his visions. He had a good many. But in his third vision he could see many godless nations had connected to Zechariah's own God. Yet, God was again choosing Jerusalem, reclaiming Judah's inheritance in the Holy Land. Zechariah warned the people to be silent before God.

Seems interesting, right? Would that God spoke to us, even if we were to be quiet, saying, "Hey! I'm working in your churches right now. I'm bringing the Holy Spirit into your lives big time. Wake up and see! Listen! Don't shrug me off! I am on the move!

Now let's play "what if." What if all this fear that's rolling around between the Muslim people and the Christian people is a wake-up call from God meant for us believers? What if we may be facing a kind of war ahead between Christians and unbelievers, not necessarily Muslims, but all unbelievers of Jesus Christ being the Son of God? What would be our instant thought? How would we react? What would be expected of us? How many of us as Christians are mature enough to not fall back to a safer life? Would I be able to stay steadfast in my faith? Would you?

The whole world would be at risk. Life as we know it would be changed. The churches might be...gone. We wouldn't be sure who was and who wasn't a Christian. There would be persecution.

Someday there really will be persecution. Everything that Jesus went through from humiliation to death will be waiting for us! Would our faith be able to carry us through....anything?

I can't answer for you and as for myself....well, I don't know that I can answer that either. I can only hope that I would latch on to Jesus' hand and not let go. In fact, I'm asking Him, right now, to take both my hands, my eyes, my ears, and my mind most of all that I may see clearly, hear rightly, and love Him completely and mature to completion in the hands of the Holy Spirit. If I don't, I may never get to say, "Lord, forgive them...for they know not what they do."

What time is it , Lord? Are you on the move? I pray for more and more of your Holy Spirit to guide me through this possible new era of the Church. Wake up, Church---Here we go!!!

With hope, jo

Stand and Be Heard

2010-08-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

While reading a bit of God's word this morning, I came across a message given by God to Ezekiel in Chapter eleven. There was a lot of mayhem going on in Judah in that day, especially in the city of Jerusalem and God must have needed someone to talk to that he trusted would listen. Ezekiel was his man. So, God showed Ezekiel about twenty-five men standing around at the gate of the city. Verse 2 of chapter 11 in THE MESSAGE reads as follows: "God said, "Son of man, these are the men who draw up blueprints for sin, who think up new programs for evil in this city..." And verse 4 says, "Oppose them, Son of man. Preach against them."

Well, I am not Ezekiel, or even a kissing cousin to this great prophet, but I do have a propensity to want to speak to others of things about which I feel deeply. In other words, I do have the characteristic of a prophet without the skill, wisdom, or audience. ( I have no idea if anyone ever reads this blog, but I guess that's going to have to be up to God! Is not my job, man.) Still, Verse 4, although spoken to Ezekiel, just may be a call to me to get off my duff and do something.

Our world is full of the kind of leaders that Ezekiel saw at Jerusalem's gate--leaders who seek to gain money and power for themselves, who promise one thing and intend another. Some encourage the innocent to participate in their scams or even be part of their scams, finally bringing total disaster to the innocent and power to themselves. We see it daily in the news, some "blueprint for sin" that is being brought about. We cannot trust those who promised us truth and service for our good, and then are deaf and blind to the needs of those counting on them--the people!

Disception rules. And we become desolate and feel alone. We can't always discern which leader is being honest and which is not. Being human, leaders sometimes get caught up in their own wants, not realizing they are sacrificing the one thing we voters, we the public, expect from them--honesty. If they tell us they are all for us--they better be. Nothing less than "all" is honest.

No man is perfect. And neither is the public--you and me. Our leaders will be imperfect; they will fail us. But, it should not go by unnoticed. If it does go unnoticed, it might be tried on us again! No, that won't do. We wouldn't let our kids get by with being dishonest and we must not let our leaders play the game either. They may be forgiven, but, by gum, they should at least hear from us. Dishonesty plays a terrible game. A great spiral begins, spinning down to distrust, and finally to un-love, which hurts the family, the neighborhood, the city, and the nation.

So send a letter, make a phone call, write an Email, don't waste your anger. Use it! Inform the leader who has disappointed you how y0u feel and why you feel it. Like God said to Ezekiel, "Oppose them, (sons and daughters) of man. Preach against them!"

And, pray like mad! For with the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth we have to tell, we can make a difference in our world. Don't wait until it is too late!!

Fondly, jo

ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST?

2010-08-16T10:02:00.000-07:00

To be truly honest, I should let you know right off that I'm "for." Just what I'm not against will be clear soon. That is, again to be honest, I try to always be "for." Sometimes, well, sometimes it's questionable whether I really am "for" because I have a lot of human traits yet which only indicates that God isn't finished with me yet.

And that's what, or rather Who, I'm "for." God. And His Son, who is part of God. Or who is God, whichever way you like to say it. I'm open on that point. But the older I get, the less I am open. Now, don't get me wrong--I'm open to a lot of things, but not about God, or God's teachings. Let me say that I would call myself a gentle believer. I won't fight anyone over my opinions, because whose to say that I am right? But, for me, what I've come to trust and where I've come to grow is not so much what I believe about God, but God Himself, both as a father, and as a son, and now, as a spirit.

Having said all this, I came to an important conclusion after reading John 12 the other day. The Message, and I quote Jesus' words, "First, they wouldn't believe, then they couldn't--again, just as Isiah said: "Their eyes are blinded; their hearts are hardened, so that they wouldn't see with their eyes and perceive with their hearts. And turn to me, God, so I could heal them......" " Jesus continued, "That's all I have to say. What the father told me, I tell you."

I felt like Jesus was speaking directly to me because it occurred to me that I am one of "the people" to whom both Isiah, and Jesus, were speaking--those who have stubborn hearts.

That's you and me and our children and grandchildren and all others to follow. We may not still be totally stubborn, having believed Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised into Heaven to be with the Father, but we can't entirely say that we are not stubborn. Think a bit. Yesterdays may have shown some stubborness. Uh huh! But Jesus forgave all that. How about today? Or tomorrow? Yep. If you're anything like me, you'll probably have a bit of stubborness here and there. Some of us will have more than others and it usually shows up about the time we realize God wants one thing--and we want another. It is an innate human trait. From the time we were babies, we wanted what we wanted and we wanted it NOW!

So what will it take for us to stop stubborn refusals to listen for God's voice as instruction, watch with open eyes for His needs, His work in the world, His grace, peace, and mercy. Can we admit we may be wrong in our views about whether God exists?Could Jesus really rise from the grave? No? Can God do anything? And what about all the tragedies in the world. Why didn't God stop them if God can do anything?

I don't have any great answers, but I trust God does know what He's doing and that He does have a plan. And who am I to expect to have an answer! Even the angels, even Job didn't have an answer. God is God and God's plans will only be understood in retrospect.

So who is "for" God and the hope that God always brings? We can live in stubborn denial, or we can live in hope. Denial leads to despair. Hope leads to fulfillment, peace, and fellowship with Christ the Lord.

I welcome you to add your two cents to this commentary. And I truly hope, and pray, that there are lots of you out there who are "for" God, and if not---Peace be with you. But you should know, I pray God will bless you to pieces and that you will know it!!

Always His, jo

THE PROPHECY OF NAHUM

2010-08-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

I think that I have mentioned before that I journal every day except Sunday. That's the way I learn, listen, see, experience at many levels the Word of God. I usually read from THE MESSAGE as the word pictures from today's language seems to stick with me more, and it also makes the words and ways of Jesus easier for me to understand.

Having said that, I want to share with you a few phrases that hit home while I was reading today. It hasn't to do with particular people (this is not about politics!)but it does seem to fit with our times, today's times, the major problem and situation--the war in Afghanistan. So, the following is a quote from THE MESSAGE, Introduction to Nahum.

"The stage of history is large. Larger-than-life figures appear on this stage from time to time, swaggering about, brandishing weapons and money, terrorizing and bullying. These figures are not, as they suppose themselves to be, at the center of the stage--not, in fact, anywhere near the center. But they make a lot of noise and are able to call attention to themselves. They often manage to get a significant number of people watching and even admiring: big nations, huge armies, important people. At any given moment a few superpower nations and their rulers dominate the daily news. Every century a few of these names are left carved on its park benches, marking rather futile, and in retrospect pitiable, attempts at immortality.

"The danger is that the noise of these pretenders to power will distract us from what is going on quietly at the center of the stage in the person and action of God. God's characteristic way of working is in quietness and through prayer. If we are conditioned to respond to noise and size, we will miss God's word and action.... Don't admire or be intimidated by this enemy. They are going to be judged by the very same standards applied to us."

Of course, Nineveh/Assyria was the world's central concern in the time of the prophet Nahum. But, Israel's sins needed to be addressed as well. In Jesus time, it was the Romans, but the Jews missed the mark even more. Not so different today. Nahum gives us all something to think about. "A good skunk smells his own hole first." (quote from Grandpa Eaton circa 1940's)

So, I'm going to do a lot of praying. No one in today's conflict is perfect. Praying for the truth through education on all sides of our current conflict just may get us to someday live together peaceably. What God's will is in this we do not know. I only know that He's the One in charge.

Until next time, jo

GOOD , OLD HEZEKIAH!

2010-07-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

Poor old Hezekiah! Sick as a dog. Even sicker. Deathly sick. He prayed to God and God gave him a reassuring sign. But the sign, instead of making Hezekiah grateful, made him arrogant, which, of course, made God angry. Stupid, stupid, stupid Hezekiah. It's really stupid to make God angry, right?

Hezekiah loved God. He was a great King, Judah's king. He was a picture of a man on the way to death who loved God and prayed for healing. No mistake so far. God answers his prayer. Hezzie gets well. Hezzie, dumb and dumber, says something like, "God so loves me. He must be very pleased with me to grant me healing! So watch out, folks! The great Hezekiah is back!" Arrogance has a way of assuming we deserve the most for our least.

God has such a generous spirit. Why would He not grant a request to someone who asks? Then, wouldn't it be more holy to be humbled by God's consent to our request? Or would we be more like Hezzie and have assumptions of our worthiness? "I have been faithful to God. Yes. God will say "Yes." "

If I thought to receive a "yes" only because I deserved it, I would receive nothing. There is no room for arrogance, no place to entertain thoughts of what I deserve for God isn't measuring my worth. God is only interested in revealing His worth.

Indeed, God is worthy, always. Let me count the ways....

God is generous.... and nothing I can do would make me worthy of His generosity. Lord, I am grateful for all You are. jo

ON THAT GREAT DAY

2010-07-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

Micah can really teach us about love. He knew the secret of love, the secret that we keep hoping to find in our daily labors. Since I was about 14 years old, I prayed to be a better person. Now an elder, I think I needed to learn how to love myself and others with forgiveness.

Well, Micah, what do you have to say about this? Micah 4:6 and 7 reads, "On that great day," God says,"I will round up all the hurt and homeless, everyone I have bruised or banished. I will transform the battered into a company of the elite. I will make a strong nation out of the long lost, a showcase exhibit of God's rule in action, as I rule from Mt.Zion, from here to eternity."

Micah, what does that say about love? Or forgiveness for that matter? Please explain.

God loves all the world. John 3:16 tells us He loved all the world. It 's hard for us to understand how we, then, are to follow that pattern. God's love includes those who are criminals and how can we love them? Take another look at Micah.

Micah was quite surprised when God told him he had to marry a prostitute. He did; she thought he was a wuss, she had affairs,she was all bad. Yet, Micah took her back, forgave her and loved her unconditionally. He loved her with a blind love, because God told him to! Her response? She loved him in return and it became one of the greatest love stories of all time.

Forgiveness. Isn't that a command of Jesus? True love absolutely must carry forgiveness. And how is that working for the American Christian? for the American Way? What is it the Statue of Liberty says? "Give me your tired, your lonely, your yearning to be free." It's something like that. And what does it take to follow? Forgiveness and Hospitality. One is commanded of us, the other a gift of the Holy spirit. Both describe the American Way.

A blind love, full of forgiveness, is what we need to come to agreement on the thorny issue of immigration. We hesitate to give blind love proper recognition as we see the inconvenience and hardship of the kind of love that demands forgiveness. And we count the cost!! Oh, don't forget the cost! Well, MY God is happiest when I don't pinch the pennies when I am serving Him. And this forgiveness, love, and acceptance might just be God's plan. Do I want to thwart it? NO, not me.

I am far too aware of Jesus' cost to forgive me and love me. He didn't count the cost for me. How about you? I sincerely hope and pray that this is God's plan to take our nation and mix it up once again with others to make a REAL melting pot. Who could resist? Problems? Yes. Solutions? Always, with the help of God.

I'd vote for this new nation. The United States of America of ours and ours. It will be a strong nation after a little chaos, but one that is under God's rule. One that lasts from now to Eternity. Can you see yourself taking this risk? Micah did. Forgiveness--don't forget--is the key. Blind love the gift of God for us and the gift we have to find in us to give to others.

Thanks for listening. jej

IS IT PLAN YET, LORD?

2010-07-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

Micah, an interesting prophet who came to know a lot about forgiving love, was commanded to marry a prostitute. What a great guy! He did marry her; she ran away, had affairs, treated him as a wuss; and finally, yes, finally! became a good wife.

Micah 4:6-7 of the Message reads, "On that great day," God says, "I will round up all the hurt and homeless, everyone I have bruised or banished. I will transform the battered into a company of the elite. I will make a strong nation out of the long lost, a showcase exhibit of God's rule in action, as I rule from Mt. Zion, from here to eternity.""

Aside from the title to a great movie in my day,From Here to Eternity, Micah speaks the Word of God to God's people in a different era and yet these words could (or maybe should?)have a strong relationship to today's world. Could it be?

God loves all the world--that's a given. Although it's hard for us to understand as we choose carefully who we love and trust, God's love includes those who trespass on other nations making it hard for "good" citizens and other lovers of their country. God loves everyone, even the most base of individuals. He loves us even knowing our most hideous parts. A blind love we call it, but we say, "Why?" Impossible! Stupid! So, we refuse to give blind love proper recognition, a chance to work. We hesitate to consider its usefulness. We see inconvenience, hardship, trouble, confusion, injustice, and cost, cost, cost.

Yet, isn't forgiveness a command of Jesus? True love, like with Micah, had to carry forgiveness. And how is that working for the American Christian? It's not!! The United States proudly says, "Give me your tired, your broken, your people longing to be free--." The Statue of Liberty awaits them all while we build stronger walls, and stronger rules, and stronger wills against those folks, many of whom are of the Christian faith themselves. Many Jews escaped the ghettos and prison camps by crossing tough, dangerous borders just before WWII. Many good people of all faiths have in the past crossed tough, dangerous borders to freedom over and over again.

What if God has a plan? In Micah, God insists He has a plan to round up all the hurt and homeless and transform them and all who value God into a strong nation under God's rule that will last from now to eternity. What will you then do then, Christian, if this is God's plan? Where will you stand?

I thank you, God, for your forgiving love, for your love for me had to have an addendum of forgiveness. As long as I live, as long as there is a breath in my body, I will try to love with forgiveness, Jesus, just as you had to do for me.

Thanks for listening! jej

WE ARE THE HOUSE! AMEN!

2010-07-06T16:28:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 3:6 in THE MESSAGE tells us that God is the Master Builder and He builds 'houses'. Now the houses are you and me, each of us designed exactly as the Master Builder desires. Everyone in the world is a house built by God. Now the Son is to be in charge of each house. He's the Director or Headmaster. We are to think of Him as Master, the One who can help us through life on this earth as long as each 'house' exists and He's the One who will meet us when we go to His House, the Big One in the Heavenly Places.

As Christ is the Big Boss, each house must remember that it's very existence is to be handled by Christ. We don't run the operation, yet our Director of Operations has grace enough to listen to our ideas, and our requests. Christ doesn't promise, but He gives us either what we desire or something better, something so much better for us in the long run that we can trust His decisions. Sometimes we grumble when we don't get our way (we don't like the neighborhood, or our kitchen's too small)and we can't understand why His ideas are superior to our own. Then, we're reminded that He is the Big Boss and we are to be gracious and accept the Master's plan. All in all, we find an incredible joy from being gracious and trusting.

The size and shape of our 'house' really doesn't matter; sometimes the smallest 'house' can be the friendliest by far. Our Director, however, does like a clean 'house.' None of this messy, untidy, dirty 'house' for Him. Nope. We need to keep that broom and dustpan handy and use it frequently especially when we feel rebellious and stubborn. All 'houses' do go through untidy periods now and then and it's Oh, so easy to give in to the voice of contrariness.

The best thing that we 'houses' can do is keep a good line open to our Director of Operations. He works hard and has an incredible, heroic history in working for our good. He deserves our best, our best work and our total confidence and gratitude. So let's give him a great big 'Thankyou.'

PRAISE YOU, JESUS!!!

WE ARE THE HOUSE! AMEN

2010-07-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

THE MESSAGE tells me in Hebrews 3 that God is a or rather the House Builder and each 'house' is built according to the Builder's design, yet the Son is in charge of what is built, so let's call him 'Master'or 'Director'--Christ as Son is in charge of the'house'. That makes us the 'house'.

Goodbye, Brenda. You're Quite a Gal!

2010-04-18T16:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at 6 pm AZ time, my niece by love and marriage died of cancer. Her name was Brenda; she was in her 40's with a loving husband, Scott, and two great kids, Allie and Noah. We had prayed for her persistently, along with many others, to be healed. We could get reports on her health on CaringBridge, a wonderful thing, by the way. She was so brave. Brenda was short on inches high, but long, very long, on loving.

I don't think the many people that prayed for her prayed in vain. Although we prayed for a miracle hoping that she might receive complete healing, we are not disappointed. The miracle was in her beautiful attitude. Consistently, she thought of her kids and Scott. The miracle was also in Scott, Allie and Noah, and all the rest of her family and friends. We all got so much closer to God through Brenda, even though she herself went through all kinds of hell. That hellish cancer just finally raped her body, but not her spirit.

She's home now, greeting those who loved her all these years,and possibly lent their prayers to God for her right along with those who had to watch her die. It wasn't pretty, but usually death from this world isn't. I think she's right up there with all the soldier-heroes and policeman-heroes and firemen-heroes that we all read about in the newspapers. There isn't going to be much in the newspaper; she wouldn't have cared, anyway. Her only need is to know her kids are going to be OK and Scott. We'll probably see some hero-stuff from them as they put their lives together again. Scott called her "Dolly" maybe because she was like a lovable doll. He already misses her, just as Allie and Noah do.

Some people just don't stay around long enough for us to get tired of them. Brenda was like that; you didn't get tired of her. She smiled a lot, even laughed out loud sometimes to the point of hysteria! She was fun. And she was full of goodness, kind of like we all hope to be.

The world isn't the same when people we love die. Memories are nice, but they're not always what they're cracked up to be. Brenda? You could touch her; she would touch right back. You could know her down deep. She didn't hide or hold back what she felt.

I think Satan must have brewed-up Cancer. It's like him, I think. He can't touch us; God won't let him. But He sure can scare up a horror that touches us. What else can you call cancer but the devil's work? If the devil can't get us one way, he gets us another. But, God will make up for it in Heaven, don't you think? Life isn't fair, I know, I know! But surely, all those prayers will bring Brenda some special kind of Eternal Peace. That's where I'm putting my hope now.

Thanks for listening. Pray for Scott, Allie, and Noah why don't you? jo

TIME MARCHES ON

2010-04-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

The world has a way of popping us on the side of the head every once and awhile waking us up real good. It's like finding yourself on a fast track to the wrong station. "Hey! I didn't want to go there! Yes, I know that's where it's heading, but wait! Wait! W-a-a-ait! Too late. Here we are. In the NOW. Right where I didn't want to be."

Another way of looking at a fast track to the wrong station is--2 Cor.7:11-- "Isn't it wonderful all the ways in which the distress has goaded you closer to God?"

Yep. Time marches on. Today is a new day and it always will be so. Yesterday with all its good and bad has gone and a new day has arrived. The time is ripe for change and it says, "NOW!" Now is the time. God works in the NOW and has charge of the future, so what's the point of being distressed? Yesterday has passed by and been forgiven and forgotten. It has no hold on me, unless I let it. There are those beautiful memories that will never be forgotten, nor should be. But paste them in an album, and get on with the joy of today.

Enter into the NOW with confidence, humor, hope, and a touch of responsibility. Praise God and be thankful that you have been given a NOW!

If you find yourself in this kind of situation I hope you will pray this prayer:

Lord Jesus, I give you thanks for all the new beginnings you have given me. Help me to give thanks, too, for the NOW right now in my life. I pray I will yet have many, many NOWs still to come and that I will always have the insight and desire to look for you in them. Amen

Peace be with you and yours. Looking forward to seeing you in the hereafter.

Fondly, jo

GOD IS HERE!

2010-03-31T10:31:00.000-07:00

I've been re-discovering the psalms lately, and they have been giving me a powerful punch. Psalm 52:6 reads, "Now it's time that my people know who I Am, what I'm made of--yes, that I have something to say. HERE I AM!"

Yep, now is the time! Not tomorrow after I have given this thought a thorough examination, but NOW! The Lord tells me the time is right for His people to know with all certainty what God is made of and that He has something to say.

So, listen up everyone! If you've heard His voice before, listen hard to hear it again. If you're like me and "hear" Him through the written Word, dust off that sacred book and listen to your heart determining what God wants of you and me.

But know this: HE IS HERE! He is all around us. Can you see the work that He is doing? That's His kindness, His healing Power, His words of comfort, His guidance and forgiveness. He's everywhere, and has been right along. Yet His time is NOW. It is a new thing. So, do you have a voice? Use it. Say for God, our God, lest someone might not know, HE IS HERE! He says to all, "HERE I AM! HERE I AM! CAN YOU HEAR ME? DO YOU SEE ME? LOOK AROUND YOU. I AM HERE!"

I hope you get it; I did. And all I could do is immediately pray:

Heavenly Father, I do not want to miss you. I am watching and listening and also sharing your words so that someone else might know YOU ARE HERE!! Amen.

HELLO, AGAIN!

2010-03-31T10:21:00.000-07:00

Hello, friends.

I'm glad to be back after a rather long "vacation". I have excuses. Many things began to interfere with my time at the computer. Illness took away the majority of my time, but I'm glad to say things are back to normal. A new diet, a few more Doctor visits, but basically, things are normal, whatever that means.

My first attempt at a new start with blogging will follow this short note. It's called "God Is Here!" And I hope you'll want to read it. Fondly, jo

God's Holy Home

2009-09-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have enjoyed a revised study by Beth Moore, A WOMAN'S HEART-GOD'S DWELLING PLACE. I was somewhat annoyed at first when I realized we were being asked to draw the Tabernacle. Of course, not wanting to be a slacker, I did draw the Tabernacle. Then, in my separate, personal Bible reading today I read a passage from Ezekiel, chapter 43, verses 10 and 11, which I repeat here:

"Son of Man, tell the people of Israel all about the Temple so they'll be dismayed by their wayward lives. Get them to go over the layout. That will bring them up short. Show them the whole plan of the Temple, its ins and outs, the proportions, the regulations, and the laws. Draw a picture so they can see the design and meaning and live by its design and intent."(italics mine; excerpt from The Message.)

Imagine my surprise! Every piece of wood over-laid with gold, the placement of each article and drape carry significant meaning, directing readers to that which our lives must become. And, in addition, we receive an incredible insight on the nature of our Holy God and God's respect for order, beauty and ultimately, holiness.

In my years as a Christian, I had never before been so aware of God's strict but determined intentions for all things to become Holy and that beauty and order come from holiness. Each measurement of the Temple, each article used by the priests for the people has at their main purpose, holiness.

Such should be my life and my heart, God's Holy Home--a love for God and God's Son, a love for God's plans so intentional, so orderly, so beautiful that I, too, might become holy. Now, I know I'll never be holy completely in this life, but to exude holiness and love in part to all creatures would be my ultimate hope.

May it be so, Lord! Oh, let it be so! Amen.

Real Life, Eternal Life

2009-08-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

John 12:25 says, "Anyone who holds onto life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal."

Life is a fragile thing, reminding me of a small bird that hit our window. Holding it in the palm of my hand, I felt its soft warmth. It was probably stunned and so my holding it was unique. No one was at home for me to share it so I couldn't say, "Look what I have been given. Isn't it precious? and pure?" I almost wanted to put it in a cage with a little swing in order to keep it.

Then, the bird in my palm began to wiggle a bit. Its tiny wings stretched out wide. It hopped, tickling my hand. It seemed to be listening. Did it hear a call? It chirped, perhaps in answer. Again it stretched and flapped its wings just a bit. Does it want to fly away?

I knew I was being tested. Did I want it to fly to live its life or..........My fingers wanted to close in on the small thing, hold it tight, keep it for myself. But I lifted my hand, raised it up and stretched it out to the sky. The tiny life fluttered its wings and....flew.

I hold my life too close sometimes, too, to protect myself, to keep myself from harm. But, I hope I remember that little bird and say, "Let it go, let it be free to fly, to encounter life among new places and to pass love along to others." That is real life, eternally. Signed by jo

Who's that Knocking at My Door?

2009-08-11T10:51:00.000-07:00

Jesus on the night he was betrayed gave some final instructions to his disciples hoping they might be strengthened in the faith that He was who He said He was, the Son of God.

He told them, "Make sure you get this right: Receiving someone I send is the same as receiving me; just as receiving me is the same as receiving the One who sent me."

It is easier for me to understand that by receiving Jesus we also receive God who sent him. It is a little harder for me to understand that by receiving one of our own we shall also receive Jesus.

Is there someone standing at my door right now? Did Jesus send him? This person is not clean. He is poor, he lacks social grace. I'm afraid of him.

Or, perhaps he is rich, but a braggart. He speaks rudely of others whose skin is a different
color. Did Jesus send him? Whether someone is loud or incoherent, abusive or afraid, Jesus does send him.

As I think it through I realize that I was sent to a group of younger women having a Bible Study. They received me, welcomed me. They say, in return, they received more of Jesus.

Now it is my turn. I pray I will recognize and welcome those who may be sent to me. I want to find more of Jesus. Lord may it be so. Amen

signed by jo

FATHER KNOWS BEST

2009-07-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

Words of Isaiah the prophet ring true today: "For the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think......So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do." (Is.55:9,11)

Old Testament stuff, maybe, but I've made enough mistakes to know that this stuff is true. I don't care to count the many times I thought I knew better than God, had all the information I needed, and if God saw things my way there would be victory.

My, oh my! I am so-o-o sl-o-ow to learn. I have often been confused why God allowed some act or did something else beyond my understanding. Then when time has elapsed I can look back and see how the work God did had become fruitful. And I have to admit, I do not think like God, either. But I can see God's goodness in a situation long after it has passed.

My own words witness my need to trust God; the Father knows best. I also need to pray that God will bring to my mind the reminder that it's not my job to be in control. The Father's in control and He knows best. My Dad's smarter than your dad! Na,ne,na,ne.na.na! Who's your Daddy?

A Suffering of Pride

2009-07-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Sometime ago I prayed that I might have more of God and His Spirit. Today, 1 Peter 2:19,20 spoke loud and clear. "Put up with it for God's sake when you're badly treated for no good reason. There's no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you're treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God."

As old as I am I have many times been treated unfairly in churches, believe it or not. Sometimes I have left that church and found another only to be discouraged again. After examining my own actions and finding no real error, it has often been hard to continue on serving that church. As I grew older, I became more forgiving, but not after rather a lot of prayer. I am not perfect and am bound to make mistakes. Many mistakes have taught me, but there have been quite a few that left me speechless with wounded pride and wondering what on earth I had done to warrant punishment.

I guess it takes a lot of stings to warn one away from bees. And it probably takes many more stings to love them, especially when you're working toward getting all that honey! And that's what the above verse taught me today.

Being ill-treated? Serve anyway.

Who do you follow? The Lord Jesus. And he suffered from ill-treatment over and over. But He didn't stop serving His Father.

I prayed for more of the Spirit and more of the Son. And I'm getting it! Thank you, Lord, for showing me that I can accept unfair treatment and serve happily. I don't have to think twice if asked, "Who's your Daddy?" The Lord God Almighty!!! Signed, jo

Heaven--My True Home

2009-07-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

In Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 13, the writer is talking about people of faith who "accepted the fact that they were transients in this world...making it plain that they were looking for their true home...heaven country."

I like the title "people of faith." Practicing it a bit, I say, "I am a person of faith, my name is not important, my work not labeled, my living space temporary. I am a person of faith whose home, my true home, is yet to come in the heavenly places." I like the sound of that.

That is not to say that I do not enjoy thoroughly my "transient" life--married to a wonderful man for almost 55 years, had four very special kids of whom I am very proud, ten grand-children and one newly-born great-granddaughter, Scarlet Cordelia Jensen. This is very satisfying. Now, not all of my family are finished, either in number, in status, or in God. But their lives, their transient lives, have only just begun. There is time before they begin to hunger for their own true homes.

I hunger for the heavenly places and God even while I enjoy my temporary status, my place upon this earth. But I thank God for calling me to be a person of faith and all that it entails. And my prayer is that God will grant me more time to be useful to his purpose, whatever that may be, in my last years here on earth.

How about you?

PRAYING THE SCRIPTURES FOR DANIEL B.

2009-07-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

This scripture is from Hosea 14:8 and I am substituting my precious Dan B.'s name instead of Israel and Ephraim. From the Message and asking the Lord to hear my prayer:

"I, God, will make a fresh start with Daniel B.
He'll burst into bloom like a crocus in the spring.
Dan will put down deep oak tree roots,
and become a forest of oaks!
Dan will become splendid-like a giant sequoia,
his fragrance like a grove of cedars!
Those who live near Dan will be blessed by him,
be blessed and prosper like golden grain.
Everyone will be talking about Dan and his family,
spreading their fame as the vintage children of God.

Daniel B. is finished with gods that are no-gods.
From now on, I AM the one who answers and satisfies him.
I AM like a luxuriant fruit tree.
Everything you need is to be found in Me.

May It Be So!

2009-07-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

Jude is a small package in our "big book," a bit of beauty which contains a very real and important gift. In verses 20 and 21 it says, "Dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!" Wow!

I read those words now, and I realize their wealth, a very real and and important gift to the world. But, I don't remember those words when I feel attacked. Now, what kind of nut thinks any kind of criticism is an attack? My kind, I'm afraid. But, taking it one step at a time, I may just find myself one day on the winning side of this battle.

These verses tell us to build ourselves up in the Lord through His presence. Pray to and with the Holy Spirit, with the Spirit's language if you have it. Whether we speak in English or in Martian, God understands a Oneness with the Spirit.

Stay in the center of God's love. Oh, I get dangerous outside of God's love, because the old devil knows my weaknesses and pushes and pushes those buttons! And when I least expect it! Old tricky Nicky, he's always alert to my old stuff. So, how can we know that we're in the center of God's love? Well, when I sense joy, honesty and fruitfulness, and yes, even purity, I know God is very present. Then, too, I want to stretch out my arms toward others and give them the mercy that I know only Jesus can give.

Life is so real and unending when we claim the things of God! And God, may it be so in my life. Signed, jo

Labor Fervently in Prayer

2009-06-27T09:19:00.000-07:00

On June eighteenth, I journaled in my personal journal on Col.4:12b, "...always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." (THE MESSAGE)

On June twenty-fifth, my husband, Jerry, and I learned that a precious grandson was abusing drugs. It is a re-occurance and a final straw for the family. I am struck by the need of prayer for him, for his family, for those who have already stuck by him in prayer and given many other kinds of support.

What to do? Is this a matter for tough love? Throw out your beloved son into the street? He has no job, no means of purchase either for food or drugs. Will he resort to criminal activities? Where is God in all of this? This happens to a beloved Christian family who trusts in God for all things.

God is everywhere therefore God must be there, with this young man, and with his family. They may not see God or even feel God's presence, but God is there. And God cares. Patience and faith are there, too, and a love beyond measure.

How can the Body of Christ help? We are called to one thing--we are called to prayer. Indeed, Col.4:12b tells us what to pray for: "...always laboring fervently for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."

However long it takes, whatever form it takes, we will always pray with blood, sweat and tears, yes, fervently! that our grandson will one day "stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." And that goes for the countless numbers of others with dependence on drugs and alcohol.

Thanks be to God for that "one day," that future day when God's purpose is revealed. Those of you who may read this--may I have your support in this prayer?

A New Day--A New Life

2009-06-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

We're off! We're just about to leave for the airport on our way to MN! For basically one purpose, to hold in our arms this new life! Part of my new life, and new life for the whole family. Yep! Miss Scarlet Cordelia Jensen has come to stay! Her mom and dad are swell, hilariously happy with her. Her Grandmother Peggy is ecstatic and much relieved after a long time a comin' for Miss Jensen. What a blessing new life is! WE ALL THANK OUR MAKER FOR NEW LIFE!! I hope you see this message and share in our joy!!

Oneness With My Lord

2009-06-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

Oneness W/God

Ephesians 4:6 tells us in THE MESSAGE that we must have Oneness with Christ, and this Oneness comes from our gift of the Holy Spirit.

I didn't understand too much about the Holy Spirit except that some people could speak in tongues. Figuring that having tongues proved you had the Holy Spirit within you, well, I wanted to speak in tongues. I know, I know, you're thinking that's the wrong motivation for wanting any part of God. I do know that--now. But, I didn't know that--then. Having that gift wouldn't really have been from the Holy Spirit, except by the sin of manipulation, and that didn't occur to me at the time.

Now, I see! And I hope I didn't abuse or thwart the Holy Spirit ! I just want more of God in every way, however and whatever God wants me to have . I trust today that the moment I accepted Christ the Holy Spirit was there. The reason I didn't recognize His Spirit is because my own spirit had not been willing to LEARN. Yep! I hated criticism, just hated being told I don't know something or know it well enough, or anything close to what I thought was rejection in my small mind. So there you have it. True Confessions. Tell me, how could the Holy Spirit have gotten through THAT kind of barrier?

Now, my heart sings knowing it has been plowed with a great big field for the Holy Spirit to work His work! I'm trusting that I am forgiven and that The Holy Spirit is not only there but He has been welcomed! And I'm learning more every day in this new life. May His harvest be a Oneness with my Lord--for all the world to wonder--now how did THAT happen? Signed, jo

Surprise! I Think I've Got It!

2009-05-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

In Romans 6, verse 22 Paul tells us, "You don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, you have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you. What a Surprise!!"

From the MESSAGE, I took this verse for my very own. You see, I recently noticed that my sharing yet another incident of my life, in a group where everyone is encouraged to share, very likely has become an irritant. Last week I kept right on blissfully ignoring the leader who needed me to STOP! It's a good thing I'm embarassed, or I might have done it again this week. This woman is my leader and by not being obedient to her, I sinned against God. I must do something about this, right now.

I prayed for clarity, generosity, and the ability to listen to God at the moment of temptation. I trust God to deliver me from this love of my own world and words, and I told God how I desire to "discover the delight of listening to God." I desire this even more than my desire to be heard. The one is so worthy and the other? Really boring.

As God is a God of many, many chances, I figure I've got a good shot at this desire of being a better listener, to God and to others, when the temptation to speak --again--comes along.
Signed--jo

The Knock-out Punch

2009-05-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

The past used to bother me. I would wring my hands and have a pity party, but it was not smart.

Romans 4:3 tells us that "Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and THAT was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own."

I'm not proud to say that in the past I would get excited by how I personally served the Lord. No, I'm not special and I don't really believed I thought I was then, but I always exalted in, "He chose ME!" Well, whoop-de-doo! If I hadn't been there the next fellow in line, the next warm body, would have stepped up and handled things beautifully for God. Boy, I have had a too-big-of-a-head far too often. It may be a rush knowing you're in charge, the center of it all, yet one can so easily crash with humiliation. And why not" If you were God don't you think you'd want to take the starch out of someone so full of themselves? I certainly would. And I did crash. Often.

I try to remember now the best thing I can do is recognize the way I lean towards pride, then be grateful for any punch that knocks me down, trying also to remember, it doesn't hurt so much when I laugh!

I wish I'd leaerned this a long time ago. I was hungry for attention, for the spot-light. How boring! God may need to test me on this and Oh, I hope I can get it straight next time. But if not, and I have too much pride, I really hope for a swift K.O. I sure thank Him for loving me so much!! Signed--jo

DO I KNOW YOU?

2009-05-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

Well, not being computer-savvy, it's taken me a while to find my own blog, to say nothing of the folks that have been trying to get to it to see what craziness I am into now. I admit my reasons for writing a blog are probably not because I'm wise, but because I have this great need to share the thoughts I have, regardless of wisdom or lack of it.

So here are my thoughts for today, instigated by the parable Jesus told his disciples about the 10 virgins, 5 of whom were not ready for the bridegroom. (Why 10 virgins? That I don't know as I never heard of that custom, even in Jesus day.) At any rate, 5 of 10 virgins had not thought to bring enough oil for their lanterns, had gone shopping for more oil, so they were not waiting for the bridegroom when he came. When they appeared before him, he said, "Do I know you?"

Now the disciples were not really into the fact that Jesus was going to die and leave them. Nor did they really get it that He would rise again. And they certainly had not thought about Jesus coming again at the Great Judgment, and it was that point that Jesus was trying to get across, that no one would know the time for Jesus' returning. The disciples' inability to understand is rather like my not getting the internet! They hadn't yet received the Holy Spirit, trying to work it all out mentally without their soon-to-be BFF and they were simply--lost. So, Jesus said keep close to me, stay in touch with me, keep up the relationship with me, then there will be no reason for me to say, "I don't think I know you!"

That goes for me, too. I want to stay close to Jesus, stay in constant touch with Him, and keep up the relationship with Him, with the help of the Holy Spirit, that BFF we all have access to.

So, Jesus is preparing a place for His own, and I don't want him to someday say, "Do I know you?" I want Him to welcome me with open arms and say, "I thought you'd never get here, Jo, my friend!"

Truth, Inside-Out

2009-05-06T16:25:00.000-07:00

When I read the Bible about King David in 2 Samuel, I wonder how such an incredible man of God could murder a man, Uriah, in order to have his wife, Bathsheba. God put lots of trouble in his path after this, but God stilll forgave David.

I can't remember any murders in my life, but I sure made lots of mistakes. I think the biggest mistake I made was in worrying about them. Born as a second child during the depression, I imagine my parents would have just as well waited a few years before having me. It's possible that I sensed that I was a hardship or maybe I was just ornery as a kid, but I grew up thinking, "I really should be perfect!"

I was always defensive and felt victimized, hating to be criticized, hating to not be the best, and as I grew to womanhood spent far too much time worrying about mistakes and imperfections. Too bad I wasn't a better learner, as I think I made the mistakes over and over because I worried so much I didn't have time or room in my heart to accept who I was.

Now, at this old age, I discover I am loved in spite of everything dumb I have ever done. And I think I am giving valuable time and effort in recognizing that I still have some neat things to learn.

David's Psalm #51 reveals David's heart, especially in verses 5 & 6 (taken from The Message) "I've been out of step with you (God) for a long time, in the wrong since before I was bsorn. What you're after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a newe, true life." I think it reveals my heart, too.

So I'm telling the truth from the inside-out and I'm ready to learn. I am not a victim, except in the way that I victimized myself by not making room for my God, my Father who loves me, to teach me. I am not an inconvenience. I was planned. Maybe not by my very special parents, but by God. And by jingle, I'm going to set my heart toward God and learn to love as I have been loved every day since before I was born.

That's all for now! signed, Jo

Jo's New Life--Blog Now or Blog Never

2009-04-25T16:59:00.000-07:00

I guess it's --Blog Now!

My name is Jo Johnson. I am 75 years old according to the calendar. Inside my head, I'm 45. I've been married to Jerry for 54 years and have known him for 59. Yep, we met when I was 15. He was only 17. And it's been a good life for me. But long about when I was 40-ish, I became a Christian. As I wasn't raised in knowing about church, I didn't know much about being a Christian, so my life has been a long learning process. I don't have a date for becoming a Christian and I don't have strong ideas about what a Christian is, but I have strong ideas about God and His Son. He is way up at the top of my list of Good Things to have.

Not being the right type to be a pastor, and not having much success as a writer, but having a real need to express myself, especially about the One who loves me, I think blogging might be just the right thing. So, this is my first attempt at a blog. And I'll leave it up to God if it will be read by anybody.

So until tomorrow or until God says, "Speak!" signed Jo