1 John 4
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Let's discuss Cruelty. Morally.
Let's talk about more jobs available than workers.
Most of the situations I get in are - changeable. I put my seed in the ground with full intentions of goodness. And usually get a result. And that waves a flag, if your garden looks very good. Ahab and Naboth's vineyard.
If evil really wants to get to you - evil will announce, "I plan to harm someone and do it like this" as a joke. Or a blurt. Or someone you care for and took years to help them get work, respect, inclusion then decides they will make a stink to Heaven to cause isolation or sorrow. Evil tends to act like we are all racist or cruel and work together. God does say evil is deceived.
I think we live a MYTH.
Elton John sang "The Bitch is Back." The Myth is -The Bitch wins. And I think this should be a mantra in life. The Truth is - steadfastness calls for - forgiveness and durability - this is success.
I've seen rude, very successful people find time makes clarity. I had a great-aunt who ran off to Italy around World War II beginning - married a divorced (gasp) Italian Count, got married in New York City and grandly wrote her family leaving glorious letters for the next century. And a minor, blunt, rude apology for being unable to ever find time for family or ever invite them to anything (including the wedding). She was childless and writing different people from her nursing home bed in old age. No one had endured. Not the home in Bermuda - not the husband from unknown circumstances.
What's changeable: Follow the Fun. Fun. Friends in crisis. College friends. Long lost neighbor friends. Health. Status. Finances.
What is durable: The Gifts of God ~ Family. Marriage. Children. Home. Dreams for children. Church. Employment. Love. Kindness. Mercy. Joy. Peace.
We would love to be Jesus in the Boat. Make the windshear working so hard as to bring down Commercial Jet Planes and the waves to swamp a small boat - ruin all expectation of a future - perish - CEASE!!!
So what are you going to do.
Your choice is social wobble iffy stock market appeal - or - do what you think is best. In life, of course, there are no win situations. So many times in life, we row the boat. For children, for pets, for spouse and for friend. The Gifts of God are going to fill in to be the Narrow Gate where life really has it's most and heart-appealing meaning.
Doing Real Life and Not Whining. Making the Decision.
The Decision maker has the choices that are going to hurt. And make consequences.
We live in the Oil Area of Texas. The last few years saw major cut-backs in industry. No one talked about being the one to have the ending conversation. It hurts.
I spent years not firing people. I had Edward decide to let go a 14-year employee who did not show up for 2 months. Hated to. I have fired someone - from our wedding party 32 years ago - in the financial area after finding they cheat old people routinely. I let go a Pediatrician in Dallas who always wanted a hug and acted badly if not hugged. I didn't know him. Good call, he wasn't generally known to be a hugger. I let go of a yard man who wouldn't assist in selling a home. Disliked doing that.
Today, I let go an employee who wouldn't do the work for two years. At first it was real trauma, then an unseen trauma, then something from a blurt - tattled on themselves. It was for smirk. It was for repeat unfinished work. It was for having another trauma and - refusing this: dinner, offered more work and more opportunity - instead leaving work unfinished.
I'd prefer to take care of people. I have done baby presents, gifts, Mother's Day Gifts, Easter Gifts, Christmases. Help out. 32 years married. 12 years as Legal Guardian of the Person and Estate. 35 Years in the Episcopal Church. 6 years Catholic Church. 17 years Anglican. Half a year Methodist. 18 years in present home. Mother for 30 years. Husband with severe illness - 8 years and looking back - then some. 1 year nursing premature infant with stillborn apnea on a medical monitor. 40 years of Bible Study. 7 years Church Service. 10 years Youth Ministry.
And I find 1 John 4 accurate. Worthy. Trustworthy.
People will surprise you with goodness. People will let you down. The people who Profess in their hearts and lives for Jesus Christ will go the extra mile. Or go more. And more. But usually when you know the heart of those who Love Jesus - you have goodness.
Make decisions affecting others - as a Christian - can be a challenge. But doing your best. With Jesus. Gives us the satisfaction of Joy, of Being Loved. Riding the waves with Honesty. Going to sleep at the end of the day - God promised to fill every iota. We can't do 3,000 pages of Scripture. We can do what we can do. God will do the God work.
Abba, Father,
Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power and might be to our God forever and ever.
Father we pray to cover us and the people we love in Jesus Christ.
Lift up the Nation and pray we Trust in God.
To see more Heaven on earth
for all of us, for the people You give us and Your Beloved around Your world.
We are praying for a good rain with move on and rain again.
In Jesus Christ, Amen
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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