Do Not Worry

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

Flowers Fade And So Shall We

Psalm 103:15-18; Death to this world is inevitable; but, so is eternal life in Jesus Christ.

The Word Shall Stand Forever

The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

                                                                                    (Isa 40:6-8 KJV)

Like all things material, our flesh will wither and fade away. But, the word of God will never fade away. No matter what or who might work to extinguish the word it will never happen. No one, nothing can destroy the word of God.

Take comfort in the fact that although there have been societies that have previously tried to stamp out the word of God it has not happened. For years the Soviet Union tried to eliminate Christian but it did not happen. Thousands of clergy were rounded up and sent to prison or executed. Christians were  ordered not to teach their own children about Jesus. Yet, Christianity persevered. The word of God continue to be heard and taught and passed down to the following generations. 

Persecution of Christians continues this day in many countries. But, take comfort in the fact that the word belongs to God and he will never let it fade away. The word will always be there for you and for your children and your children's children. Teach them so that they too might know the comfort of the eternal promises that the word brings.  

God's Peace - Pr. J.

How Majestic Is Your Name

O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?

Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8 NRSV

I Cannot Come

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.'"                                                                                                                   (Luke 14:15-23 NIV)

We all have excuses. Everyone, it seems, wants to be present at the great banquet table in the Kingdom of God after they enter through the gateway of death. But, not so many realize that the banquet table of the Kingdom is prepared just about every Sunday (sometimes more; sometimes less). This feast of Jesus Christ is for you. He invites you. The one who died for you and has prepared a place for you welcomes you. Yet, what is the response? Is it "I cannot come?" What better things do you have to do this Sunday?

The Kingdom of God is at hand. The table has been prepared for you. You have been invited. "Come, for everything is now ready."

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

The Lord Provides!

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!" (Luke 12:27-28)

The Lord provides! He finds many ways and many people to do this. Sometimes, it is through grandparents. Sometimes, it is through others. But, for those of us with even a little faith, He does provide.

It has always kind of amazed me that often those with very little feel abundantly blessed and those with an abundance sometimes feel and act like they live in poverty. They do not recognize the gifts that God has already given them. They do not treasure what they already have.

Jesus reminds us that God clothes even the grass of the feel with beautiful flowers; He will also clothe us - we who have such little faith. Trust in the Lord and give thanks for all that He has done!

God's Peace - Pr. J

His Word Does Not Change; It Endures Forever

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,

“All people are like grass,
    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

And this is the word that was preached to you.

                                         (1 Peter 1:23-25 NIV)

The word of the Lord endures forever. It doesn't change to suit the whims of the people. It is the same yesterday and today and it will remain tomorrow.

Over the ages various interpretations of scripture have been used to suit the desires of those who would misuse God's word to validate their sins. It is no secret that people have used and still use scripture, taken way out of context, to validate their own personal desires and agendas.

I would remind those who tell me that times have changed that even though the times may change the word of the Lord has not changed. His word endures forever. Hold fast to that word that you might live life more fully in this world and eternally in the Kingdom of God. Living according to the world's standards is not becoming to one who has been born again through the living and enduring word of God, who is Jesus the Christ. It is not becoming nor is it wise or safe. Jesus came to reconcile us to God and to one another in His Kingdom. Let us rejoice in our salvation and not preach another gospel.

Our glory may fade even as the flowers of the field will fade. But, the glory of the Lord will never fade. It will endure forever.

Remember the word that was preached to you. May God grant us the discernment to live according to His word and His will for us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Be Not Afraid!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:8-11 NIV)

Fear not! Don't be afraid! We read an awful lot in scripture that we are not to fear. We are not to be anxious about anything. Angels showing up and bringing you a message of peace actually would probably cause a little anxiety just in the fact that angels have shown themselves to you.

Yet, in the midst of anxious times, we can have peace. The angels proclaimed to the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2: 14) This peace that God brings is kind of amazing. As we grow in the LORD, we will find that we do know a sense of peace no matter what kind of chaos is around us. It may still be troubling, but we can be at peace knowing that God has a good plan for it all.

The point is sometimes things happen in our lives that might cause us a little anxiety; but, we should know that God is with us and in that knowledge we can know peace no matter what is going on in our lives. Can you imagine a pregnant young woman and the man she was engaged to traveling cross country to sign up to pay taxes? When they get to their destination there is no place for them to stay so they stay in a barn where the baby is born. Can you imagine sitting in a field with the guys watching the sheep settle in for the night and you have this heavenly host singing in the heavens? I'm thinking it was probably, at least, a little unsettling. Yet, the shepherds listen to the angel and go and see this baby that is to bring peace to the world.

Anxiety and peace - sometimes you can have them almost simultaneously. Being anxious about something is human nature; yet, in the midst of unsettling times, we can know that God is with us and we can His peace that surpasses all understanding. Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Born Again Through The Word Of God

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:23-25 NIV

Whenever I read these scripture verses, I imagine a hay field that has not been mown for many years. Wildflowers mingle among the swaying blades of mature; yet, dying hay. Come winter, it will all die. The snow will bury the entire field, grass and flowers alike. So it will be for all that has been born of perishable seed

But, for those who are born again, through the living Word, they will rise again. Death has no victory over all who abide in the Word, who is Jesus the Christ.

May God grant that you abide in His Word and His Word abide in you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hidden Treasure Revealed

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.  Matt 13:44-46 NIV

Last night, my husband and I had a very nice, quiet dinner at a little place called "Hidden Treasure." It is located under the bridge on the intra-coastal waterway off of Moody Blvd in Flagler Beach. One can eat indoors or out. The fish fry was good and so was the service. We will most definitely go back, again. It is, indeed, a little hidden treasure.

On Sunday afternoon, we had dinner at Christ Lutheran Church, Bunnell, FL. That meal was better than good. It was great! As wonderful as the food was, the company was even better. We had invited the Baruch HaShem congregation, that meets for worship in our facilities on Saturdays, to join us for dinner. Wow! Just wow! The treasure was not hidden as we gathered with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The entire conversation was about Jesus! Imagine that? Christians sharing their love of the Lord for over an hour! There was no talk about the economy or presidential elections or football. It was all about Jesus! There was only rejoicing in what he has done for us. They have found the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price and truly want the world to know about this Kingdom of God given for all through the blood of Jesus.

There is no greater treasure than the love of God through Jesus the Christ; for through him we have received life in the presence of God, in His Kingdom forever. The knowledge of that treasure is not to be hidden. Share that treasure with those you love. Share it with the stranger and all whom you encounter.

Rejoice and share the Good News of the Kingdom. It's not suppose to be a great secret hidden from the world; but, revealed to the world for the salvation of all of God's children.

God's Peace - Pr. J

It Is God Who Makes The Flowers Bloom

"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." Matt 6:27-29 NIV

The flowers do not labor or spin and when it comes to growing a flower garden; neither do I do much work. My life has been so full of other things that I do not spend a lot of time gardening. I enjoy seeing the flowers grow and come to full bloom. But, other than planting the seeds and a little watering when it is needed, I do not do much. I leave the scattered seeds in God's hands. Most often, they grow to beautiful flowers most haphazardly positioned. Sometimes, they don't.

It is the same with planting the seeds for the Kingdom.  "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how." (Mark 4:26-27) All we can do is plant the seed and maybe do a little fertilizing and watering.

Do not worry about whether the work of your hands will flower and bloom. All that we can do is scatter the seeds and trust God to provide the growth. Whether it will grow or not or how it will grow is up to the Spirit of Christ.

St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians (1 Cor 3:6-7) "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

Even as St. Paul and the many saints before us planted many seeds and watered them, may the abiding Christ scatter many seeds through us as we trust Him to provide the growth for all in His Kingdom.

God's Peace - Pr. J