Willing To Take Up Our Cross?

Mark 8:34; Deny yourself; take up your cross; and follow Jesus.

Thankful For Your Charity

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth..." (2 Thess 1:3 KJV)

This morning as I begin my day, I am thankful to God for the multitude of faithful men and women around the world. We do not live and serve the Lord in a vacuum. We are not alone. We have a crowd of witnesses with us who are always willing to witness to the love of the Lord by loving and serving those who are in need.

Charity, it is said, begins at home. Charity, indeed, must be exercised at home. But, it cannot stop there. Charity is inspired by our faith in the one who loves the whole world enough to die for all people. Because Jesus was willing to give even his life for us; those who love him are willing to give to others.

This morning, I thank God for all whose faith in God is strong enough to give unconditionally to those who suffer without any concerns for their own self-centered needs.

May God bless us all with faith, love, and charity that the world might know our living God.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Looking For Jesus

The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

                                                                            (John 6:22-24 KJV)

What are you looking for? How hard would you look to find it?

It makes me a bit crazy when things are lost and I or someone else cannot find them. I cannot do anything else until it is found.

The crowd was looking for Jesus. They knew he hadn't left in the boat with the disciples. They had not seen him walk on the water to join the disciples in their boat. They wanted to find him. They wanted to see him. They wanted to hear him. They wanted to be healed by him. So, the whole crowd got into boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. They were trying hard to find him. They were trying hard to follow him.

How far would you go to find Jesus; to follow him? You really don't have to go far. It's not that hard to find him. He is with you and for you now and always. 

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Transformed By The Renewing Of Our Minds

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." Romans 12:2-3

Whenever I hear someone say things that promote "doing your own thing" or "whatever, so long as it makes you happy" or "don't worry about what others think.. be true to yourself," I cringe a bit inside. No, we do not have to be like or go along with the ways of the world. But, in choosing to be "different" we ought to consider our motivation in desiring to stand out in the crowd. Is it for self-gratification or for the glory of God.

Indeed, St. Paul advises us to not be conformed to the world. But, he adds that we are to think we sober judgment and live according to our faith in Christ Jesus.

May God bless each of us with renewed minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.r. J