Do Not Worry

Matthew 6:25-34 KJV; Do not worry. It's ok to plan; but do not worry about your planning.

You Are Most Precious

Luke 12:6-7; Precious is all of God's creation. Most precious are you in His sight.

How Marvelous Is His Works!

Psalm 8;  How Marvelous Is His Works!

Do Not Fear To Move Forward

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" (Matt 6:25-27 KJV)

There have been times in my life when I have been quite confrontational when it comes to injustice. Where others were shrinking back and warning me that I should too for safety's sake, I have advanced. I did indeed consider the worst case scenarios before I advanced. What is the worst thing that could happen to me? What is there to fear? Nothing, not even death. By the grace of God, I have eternal life.

When considering a new venture; whether it be a new job or investing in a project or a person or whatever challenge the day might bring; again, the same question. What have I to fear? Nothing. Life in this world is temporary. It will all pass. I have eternal life.

Jesus knowingly went forward to the cross; to his death, that we might live. He could have gone in the other direction. He could have. But, he did not. He did not shrink back from saving the world; even though much of the world would reject him. He did not pretend that everything in the world was okay. He was willing to give even his life because the world was not okay.

Do not fear. Our Father in heaven loves you. Believe this and and you will be much more able to attempt to make radical changes within yourself and in the world around you with the knowledge that God is with you and for you. The world may abandon you. You may even lose many things in this world that you now treasure. But, there is nothing to fear. By faith, you have received eternal life.

May God help us to always stand in His truth; in His Way, no matter what possible dangers may lay before us. May He help us to remember that we have nothing to fear for through God's own Son, Jesus the Christ, we have eternal life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Birds Have Nests

Birds Have Nests

"And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." (Luke 9:58 KJV)

Humankind's desire for more; for bigger and better, can sometimes be insatiable. But, what good is it if you strive to have the largest, finest homes and as you age, they become empty? What good is it to work long hours, every day of the year just to have the most and the best if in the end you leave it all behind and if you do not have time to actually live life? It seems to me that we spend a lot of time worrying about what we have and way too little time appreciating who we have. We (most of us) have family and friends. We also have Jesus. Are fancy houses better than a relationship with Jesus? Yes, we must work if we are to have a place to lay our heads. We must work to eat. (See 2 Thess 3:10-12)

Jesus did not have a fancy house. In fact, he tells us he did not even have a place to lay his head. He did not own a home of his own. His home was greater than a brick and mortar or a straw or a wooden house. His home is the entire Kingdom of God. 

"And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." 

                                                                                        (Luke 12:29-31)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Do Not Fear

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"   (Matt 6:25-27 NRSV)

There have been times in my life that I have been quite confrontational when it comes to injustice. Where others were shrinking back and warning me that I should too for safety's sake, I have advanced. I did indeed consider the worst case scenarios before I advanced. What is the worst thing that could happen to me? What is there to fear? Nothing, not even death! I have eternal life.

When considering a new venture; whether it be a new job or investing in a project or a person or whatever challenge the day might bring; again, the same question. What have I to fear? Nothing! Life in this world is temporary. It will all pass. I have eternal life.

Jesus knowingly went forward to the cross; to his death, that we might live. He could have gone in the other direction. He could have; but, he did not. He did not shrink back from saving the world; even though much of the world would reject him. He did not pretend that everything in the world was okay. He was willing to give even his life because the world was not okay.

Do not fear. Our Father in heaven loves you. Believe this and you too will have nothing to fear. You will be much more able to attempt to make radical changes within yourself and in the world around you with the knowledge that God is with you and for you. The world may abandon you. You may even lose many things in this world that you now treasure. But, there is nothing to fear. By faith, you have received eternal life.
 
May God help us to always stand in His truth; in His Way, no matter what possible dangers may lay before us. May He help us to remember that we have nothing to fear for through God's own Son, Jesus the Christ, we have eternal life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Let The Lamp Be Lit!

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light."  (Luke 11:33 NIV)

Some people do hide the light. There are varying reasons for hiding the light of man-made lamps. Some would rather that the truth about what they might be doing is not seen.

When I was a teenager, I loved to read. But, my parents were just a little strict or maybe it was that they liked their evenings to themselves. Whatever the reason, I was to be in bed with lights out by 8 p.m.. My remedy was to move the lamp to the closet, sit on a box, and read 'till sometimes past 10 o'clock!

While some of the reasons for hiding your light may not be so good; some of those reasons may be very good. During World War II, England had "black outs." Lights were turned out or at least dimmed in order  to make it more difficult for the enemy to navigate to targets by air or sea.

Man-made lights may be dimmed and even turned off. They eventually burn out. But, the light of Christ that abides within us will never be extinguished. ..."let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt 5:16)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Partners For Life

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;
this one shall be called Woman,
    for out of Man this one was taken.”

Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. Genesis 2:18-24

 

My husband and I had been married for about ten years and were living at the Naval Station in Rota, Spain when the photo above was taken. We will celebrate forty-six years together this winter. So, we've been together for awhile. The photo reminds me of all the up and downs of married life. Living and serving in Rota was one of our periods together when we had way more ups than downs. It was a very good time, indeed. 

 

We have not always worked like partners. Marriage can be very hard work as two individuals attempt to live out their individual and mutual callings together. We have, at times, definitely worked against each other rather than with each other. But, no matter what struggles we have gone through; no matter how many times we may have thought that maybe the partnership should end; we have always gone back to the fact that it was God who joined us together. He gave us each other to help and support one another even to the end of our days on earth. 

 

Our days are getting shorter. We are both too old to spend too much time working against each other. But, it does still happen. Even while we are one in Christ, we still have different gifts; different calls and we find ourselves going in different directions. At times like that, we've found it's best to give each other a little space to grow and serve God in the direction He calls us as individuals. We give a little space even while we continue to help and support one another. 

 

Marriage can be very difficult; but, it is also a very great blessing. God has given you a partner for life in your husband or wife. May God help us to make the most of this great gift of marriage.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Irma And Decisions

Keep me safe, my God,
    for in you I take refuge.
                                   Psalm 16:1 NIV

There are a lot of decisions to make as Hurricane Irma gets closer to Florida. Shall we evacuate before we're ordered to evacuate? If we don't, there just may not be any place left to go and there also may not be any gas left to get there. What about the pets? If we don't leave now, how will my parent with alzheimer's deal with the stress of the move to a motel room two states away or a local shelter. There are a lot of things to think about. Even if you leave you still have to ensure that you have enough food, water, and other essentials when you do return because even if the storm has passed by you may not have power or water and sadly maybe not even a home.

We live in a mobile home in an area that usually gets evacuated; but, we've pretty much made the decision to stay home as long as we can. If it looks like a Cat 3 roaring by Flagler Beach and the evacuation orders come then we will most probably go stay in a shelter. We will see where the winds decide to blow and how fast they are whipping the air, land, and sea about before we make the decision. Yes, I know we're suppose to figure out what we're going to do in advance and we have stocked up on essentials. But, I just don't want to leave home. I don't want to sit in a motel room or a shelter in Georgia or South Carolina for days on end. There's stuff to be done here. Worship has not been cancelled this Sunday and I don't plan on cancelling it. If the hurricane is upon us, don't drive. Stay where you are. But, God willing, I will be there for anyone who feels the desire or need to worship and pray.

May God keep you all safe wherever Irma may travel and may Irma head out to the very deep sea very quickly.

God's Peace - Pr. J

More Precious

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matt 6:26

As awesome as it is to be among the birds of the air or the animals of the forests; yes, our brothers and sisters in Christ are even more awesome. We often take one another's uniqueness for granted. We just don't listen. We just don't see. Behold the child of God sitting next to you. Behold the children of God wherever you may be. Many are hungry. Many are cold. Many are homeless. God will take care of them and He wants to help them through you.

More precious than silver is God's whole creation. More precious than gold are God's children.

God's Peace - Pr. J.