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

I have now set up my new blog.  You can continue to hear from me at http://josmnlife.blogspot.com/.

I will tell you there about my life and thoughts from Minnesota.

(Minnesota Jo was taken).

GOODBYE IS A HARD WORD TO SAY

I'm going to have to say goodbye for a while as we are moving.  Three of our four children live in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota and we are heading back home.

The movers come the first part of July to pack and then load, but I am getting a head start on the packing.  (Movers are really expensive!)  We close on the house here in AZ on July 9, and with our eldest daughter, Peg, we will head out right from there for the Northland.

We must also make a quick trip to Ohio before all this as a beautiful granddaughter, Bayley, is getting married to a handsome and very special young man, Evan. We will rush right back to AZ to be here in time for the closing. 

So everything has to be done before we leave for Ohio.  Packing for Ohio means also packing for our car trip home.  And before packing for Ohio, we have to be packed for the movers coming. (And are also sending by mail some summer clothes to carry us until we have a home and our clothes are delivered by the moving van.) Everything will be gone, except what we will put in the car.  Movers will keep in storage what we have left from sales, etc. for placement in a house when we get one.

From the get-go this has been a time to trust  in God and each other. I have no doubts that we will have a fine trip, see a gorgeous wedding outside in a green field of Ohio, have a couple of decent flights, and head into MN with our heads up and our eyes clear, praising God every turn of the wheel, and every home that we look at.

This is why I will not be blogging for a while.  Just toooooooooo busy!  but I'll be wondering about you, wondering who you are, what you look like, what your primary concern is for today..and the tomorrows that will come.

Until we get our computer connected again, I imagine it will be some time.  So, I'll say...goodbye!

God willing, I'll be back and next time I'm going to call myself...MinnesotaJo.

Until then, God be with you!  He is, you know.  Jo

PAUL AND HIS COUSIN, MANY TIMES REMOVED

Eph. 3:8-10 reads, "And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ." Of course, this relates to the Apostle Paul, but it also relates to me and the countless others who speak or write of Jesus. I am in the best of company, and grateful for it.

Just one page in my Bible, THE MESSAGE, page 2126, is filled with dates, telling me that I have written in my journal on those dates about the passages dated. Imagine! Just one page of Paul's writing, but miles and miles of wisdom shared with me and millions of others over the years.

My simple blog is a poor imitation of all the writing already done in the Word of God, that early writing which tells all  God wishes us to know concerning Jesus and His extraordinary wisdom and hours.  I write because I stumble with the spoken word.  I save my smile, my arms, legs, and my voice to personal visits when called upon.

I am amazed that God's wisdom and love is available to me.  I am amazed that God allows me to believe in Him so strongly that I am compelled to write, to give back in some way the wisdom and love God gives to me. Therefore, I blog.

My blog is the best that I can do.  I send it out with a prayer that a hungry one will find his or her spiritual "meal" complete in the words of Scripture and my simple explanation of them. I welcome them to the company of believers.  So, goes God in His work.

Mystifying, isn't it?  God plants and teaches.  Then, God uses and completes His use.  And we obey in thanksgiving.  A better job could not possibly be needed or wanted.  So, read up and be ready, guided by God, inspired by His Spirit, we sit together at the computer and  pour out our souls!  Did He not say He was with us?  Yes, He is indeed.

Thanks be to God!  AMEN

As Always, Cousin Jo

DOESN'T THIS BEAT ALL!

Yesterday, I journaled Ephesians 1:7 and 8, "Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah Jesus, His blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people--free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds.  And not just barely free, either...Abundantly free."

How perfectly phrased!  Give thanks to Paul. How perfectly planned!  Give thanks to the Lord God.  How perfectly accomplished!  Give thanks to the Lord Jesus.

Yes, Paul's phrases totally and completely explain what Jesus has done for us.   And planned by our own Sovereign Lord.  Yet, the true Hero is our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, who willingly gave His Life that we might be redeemed of our sins.  He died for us, you and me! He died that we might live and not only live, but Live in Him and He in us in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Nothing, not anything anywhere, has been given to anyone that is as great and significant as this.  Nothing in this world has ever been achieved to equal this incredible act, this unselfish, pre-destined act which fulfilled the world's most necessary loving sacrifice.  Nothing anywhere has occurred that is as fine and good as this.

THIS BEATS ALL!

Lord Jesus, You are the greatest hero of the entire world, of the entire universe, and the adjoining Heavens beyond what is known.  Thanks Be To God!  Amen.

I love my hero.  Jo

PASSIONATE PATIENCE

 What on earth is passionate patience?  I know what patience is.  And I know what passion is.  but how do you define passionate patience?

This is the wrong day for riddles.  I've just got too much going on.  And nothing seems to be moving towards advancement.  It seems I am stalled in all my activities, in one way or another.  Is it going to be "one of those days"?

First, my tooth. At my age, the teeth begin to lose their strength.  Yet their purpose is most important to continued life. I'm turning 80 this year and want to feel good.  But, I had an important tooth which had been crowned nicely become loose. "Get it out right away", my dentist said," before you swallow it." So, it was removed.  Now, what was to replace it?  An implant?  Just the thing.  But the hole left by the root of the tooth was too close to my sinus cavity for an implant, so they said, "We must rebuild the bony area in order to implant a tooth. Now this will be a process and overall it will take about 4 months."

We're moving,  you know. Bought a small house; sold the bigger house.  Still, we'll need a small house in the north.  But can't look for that yet, because we first must close on the sold house. This all seemed a normal thing to do when we started out.  It seemed perfectly clear.  God even spoke to Jerry and told him how we should do it. But, God didn't say to do it slowly, one thing at a time. So, we've put ourselves in a situation of "too much going on."

So, we have tooth payments, travel payments, wedding expenses, moving expenses, improvement expenses because the new, small house is quite old, expenses on the sold house to please the new owner and we're trying to do it all at once.! Plus, I can't seem to even give away my clothes hanging in the closet which I don't want to move to any house.

But, and that's a big B, even if I feel stymied, am I really?  While journaling this morning, I came across Romans 5:3 and 4, which reads in part:  "Troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next."  And a bit later it says, "In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling short-changed."

Ah, that's the word.  That's exactly the right word.  That's how I felt today!  Notice I say felt? Writing all of this out in a scream to you, seems to have quieted my soul somewhat.  So, although I felt short-changed, am I really?  No, I don't think so.  God will not short-change me.  All He asks of me is to trust and be patient.  Hmm.  Loving God could mean passion.  Having trust could mean patience.  So, Loving God and trusting Him completely must mean passionate patience.

Now, passionate patience doesn't come without believing in it and recognizing that without it you and I might be in a fix. I don't operate very well without confidence in God and without God's confidence  in me, which I have to trust.  So, my feelings are not important.  All is going along, maybe not perfectly and quickly, but  going forward.  All is in readiness for God's Way.  My feelings are not important; it is His timing and His perfection that is important.  And on this I must live.  I must.

I have a strong desire to believe all will come to pass in God's time--passionate patience.

Well, there you go.....Jo

HEAVEN CAN HOLD US ALL

Romans 3:25-26---God  sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear the world of sin.  Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public, to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured."  This clarifies to me exactly what Jesus did for us and why He wants us as His own.  What father wouldn't want his children to be  clean  in body and in spirit?  And even when they fall in the mud and wallow in it, the father would still  hug them and clean them up.

That's our God.

He cleared our way to be holy, by accepting Jesus gift of cleanness in the sight of God.

Yet, God made us to have a choice of holiness or not.  Just as the child who stays in the mud, God wants us to get out of it RIGHT NOW! No pussy-footing around.  He loves us, but He wants us to listen to Him and obey.  And He wants it now! So, be thankful that your brother, Jesus, took the punishment for all of us.

Yet, I didn't say it would be easy.  But it's that God has something better for us and that makes it worth the effort of belonging to God.  He asks us to be obedient. For myself, I don't always see that what I'm doing would be better not done. In purer words, I don't always see that what I'm doing is a sin.  But, God keeps after me and finally I see that what I'm doing is hurting someone else and myself.  Then, I try to out it from my life, sometimes more successful than other times.

But, the main point I want to make is, "I am His!" And if sometimes He makes it a little tough, it's worth every moment of the peace and joy and acceptance I receive every day.  I am His!

Yes, he is worth the exclamation points.  We are His!!!!!!

Lord Jesus, grant that each one of us who knows you might turn the heart of at least one other, that he ,too, might come into your loving care.  I am only one, but I can pray that many might have "touched a heart" of one who still "wanders into the mud" without a loving Father. Amen.

Heaven can hold us all!  Jo

CORRECTION MAY 20, Please note.

Adding to post Monday, May 20, Please note:

I stand corrected:  Paul did notwrite  Romans in Rome.  I fell asleep at the switch and the (not funny) crash came.    Please forgive.  No one really knows where he was when written, but some professionals believe Ephesus.   SORRY!

DO YOU NOT KNOW?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your friend, Jo

PASS IT ON! PLEASE!

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

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

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

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

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

Yes, God.  It's.....Jo

RECIPE FOR PEACE AT OUR HOUSE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GOD'S JOBS ARE FOR EVERYONE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Am I now an old friend? Jo

OPINION OR TRUTH? READ CAREFULLY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GOD'S IN CHARGE! NOT YOU!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you, God.

Your almost 80 year old child, Jo

A PROMISE IS A PROMISE!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your...Jo

WAITING AND WANTING

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your friend, Jo

MY BASENESS; YOUR BEAUTY

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

Love, Jo

ALL WE HAVE.....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And believe!

New Disciple, Jo

JESUS, THROUGH THICK AND THIN

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reader, do you feel this way, too?

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

THIS IS KINGDOM COME!

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

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

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

This is Kingdom Come.

Will I be different today because your Kingdom is Here? 

I hope so.  Love, Jo

MAY THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW HIM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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