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
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
GOOD , OLD HEZEKIAH!
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
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
Friday, July 9, 2010
ON THAT GREAT DAY
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
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?
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
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
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
WE ARE THE HOUSE! AMEN!
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!!!
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
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'.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Goodbye, Brenda. You're Quite a Gal!
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
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
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