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
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
BUT THE LIGHT OF GOD IS LIFE
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
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
Monday, August 1, 2011
THE DARKNESS OF GOD
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
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
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
WILL I WILL MY WILL TO GOD'S WILL?
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
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
Friday, July 15, 2011
COME TO JESUS AND LIVE!
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
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
Thursday, June 30, 2011
THE KINGDOM OF SIN
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
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
Monday, June 20, 2011
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