We've only just begun to Live.
Not even a kiss for luck and we're on our way. Only God can create life so we all have a portion we can fully understand.
Pretty soon white lace and promises. I love God bends down to our real lives. We have to love God giving Jesus His birth with Mary and her Fiancé. What would we do if we had no hope God loves us in our real and difficult tiny human life stages.
Whatever year your anniversary is - typically - we start out with ideas.
We Know God would say, "Oh, I am this."
Matthew 2:1-6
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
And I'd bet everyone starting out is thrilled at the prospect of Shepherding. Lots of memories are made.
Not of Terrific Successes - more like the banana pudding where sugar was forgotten and it became a real 'think piece'. On the edibility of Southern Wallpaper in Vicksburg during the Waaaar of Noooorthern Aggggggression. Bet you couldn't tell my great-great grandmother ate her Vicksburg cat at age four and ended up ... "hideously pissed." Shelby Foote {Foote, Mississippi - proudly not born at Mount Holly born in the 'modern' hospital at Greenville, Mississippi} recorded a Southerner saying after being about to be killed by a Northern Army man,
"Why ARE you shooting at us?"
"Because you are on my land and YOU ARE SHOOTING AT ME!!!"
How can we tell everyone not to remember the Civil War. It's when our nation had prodigious communications about profound thoughts on the Lord, hideous temper and circumstance in the Nation. With disastrous murder and the call to duty and arms to prevent your loved ones from experiencing war. And we sounded like Jeff Foxworthy. Without good oral hygiene. It was an Exodus. The Pharaohs didn't want to let the people go - but the horrible murders happened to the you and the me of life - called to war.
Live, love, laugh, fight, find, grow with Jesus.
Things happen. Life happens. But if you forget eating dinner on the floor as newlyweds in front of the TV because no adult tells you not to - you've forgotten youth. It's important to remember when the car was stolen from the driveway and we all jump up and down screaming, "Did you leave the car at the Grocery Store?"
Or when your husband goes past the Living Room window in the VW Jetta going 45 mph and you have a 2 and 4-year-old. You have to go yell out the front door at your husband, "Do NOT drive through the front yard. We Have CHILDREN." And the woman in the driveway explains she just knocked him with her car into the front yard and he did a not-bang-up job missing the Giant Pecan Tree. And he says, "WHAT SHE SAID!"
Flan causes severe food poison when left on the counter after a dinner party. This one is not on me. And Memorial Weekend is broke time so you paint a room. You put your garbage can on the dryer because the Spencer dog and the children have some idea - it's a new toy bin. Again. The second kitchen wallpaper makes you wonder what you were thinking on the first wallpaper. Did you have Margaritas? We won't tell the pig story that goes on for 15 minutes.
And then forget if worrying is a sin... Is complaining? Is Complaining a Sin? Because learning to adult has a curve. Frankly. Are we there yet?
Christmas - when you realize some of the family has gone Home to Jesus, but today - you are still here. Better enjoy this.
Saints don't complain. Evah.
The Bible is real. It's living and active. It's... TODAY. Yay.
1 Corinthians 15
15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas,
then to the twelve.
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time,
most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE. HOLD THE FAITH:
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But in fact
Christ has been raised from the dead,
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But each in his own order:
Christ the first fruits,
then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him
. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him,
that
God may be all in all.
29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?
30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!
32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
What about the days when you have 'matured some' and you are pleased not to be forlorn. Life has picked up some wisdom, with the help of Jesus and you are a bit more supplied.
And Then.
No Candy Gram. No Pizza Delivery. No John Belushi.
All these things, household, rear up that are broken, you should be able to fix, that happen again and again and take 3 days. And your spouse goes out of town and has a great time. And in fixing, you wonder about the days ahead and you just feel glum and like complaining. Sure you could fixate on the good, but why? And the nine-year-old adopted Husky {MY} grand-dog fell down the stairs due to hips and is crying in Michigan. Wow. And then your face is sad and then - that's when you discover - Zombies.
Dang, you can't even say "God Bless You" because your blesser is BBBrrrrroken.
I Love St. Paul. I really do. Like Jesus, Paul says arise. He worries about Zombies.
The Light shines in the dark and the Light has not been overcome.
Zombies.
The people who see you have a bad day and they are ready with a good oil can and a match.
You know, I truly appreciate The Parable of the Talents. It used to worry me in my younger days - gasp - what if I have 3 talents and I bury them. It's Algebra - clearly. But the truth is even the Zombies have a talent. They are going to Jesus and He loves them. Even the half talent Zombies. They used to be no talent - not Jesus people. Now they have the Jesus talent. There has been a Jesus Miracle and you know this
I learned this - myself. Because some days I am the .5 talent ... non...Zombie.
What's a Zombie? A Zombie is someone with a phone attitude. A very, very interesting phone. Their phone can beat your phone any day of the week. You have something in your teeth. No. No. No. Oh. Never mind.
We need to wake up and smell the coffee why the movie world is interested in Zombies.
My last few days of broken household things that drive you up the tree - I got so angry - I made a Zombie List.
When are Zombies hungry. At weakness. Outside they look orderly. But inside - the Zombie shows. They are looking for people of - divorce. Of the child is ill. Of the elderly. They are looking for a social score to prop up their Zombie hungry ego. And the elbows out Zombies think they are unique. They aren't even Historically unique.
Paul has zombies - Paul calls them, "Beasts of Ephesus".
*** Is a Zombie a Millennial? NO. Zombies happen as we have dissatisfaction in our lives. It's a hopelessness. Not a Virus of age.
Paul has done something from Hebrews 5
14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have
their powers of discernment trained by
constant practice
to distinguish good from evil.
God tells us and Daniel tells us there is a war out there. A war to make you doubt yourself. Break you down. Make you blah and regular rut without Blessing Seeking. The It will accuse you of false personality traits. It will belittle you. It is called "The Mission Field". Or. Real Life.
Paul is giving us a solid Tool of God.
when you discern evil - rude - harm - cold - chill in the apparent conversation
you have identified the Dark.
God does not treat you like this.
God would enfold you in the Robe of his son returned Home.
when you trust in Jesus, walk in His Path,
His angels remind you - "You are Loved of Father God, do not despair. Let it roll."
God is Your Father - Creator of All Things.
God is not riding on your good works.
God our Father can't wait to Gift His Children internally with
Love Joy Peace Steadfastness Gentleness
Faithfulness Self-Control to remember
who you are in Christ Jesus.
Beloved.
A believer of God is a Friend of God.
A Zombie has not represented Christ. And Jesus is the only Judge of the Righteous Believer of God Himself.
Winston Churchill said this with a Glint in His Eye, Pilgrim.
"If you have those who would detract from you, be proud. You have stood for something."
The Divorced have stood for Love Yourself. The child who is ill is being Shepherded. The Elderly have served. Each has earned human compassion. Not attitude. Not dodgy lack of respect and chilly self-indulgence. Not a lack of responsiveness. Zombies love to travel in groups. Zombies do not like to be confronted by the Light of reveal, especially two by two. Zombies do not like be conformed to kindness. Have you ever walked up to a counter where the elderly 'are not being served?" Zombies look like Buffy the Vampire Slayer has come into the room when someone points out in a louder voice to do the work.
Zombies do not require a wooden stake. Zombies require a parenting Shepherd. We live in a country where 85% pray and Believe. Zombies can become Children of His Most High very quickly just with the correct re-direction.
Will it happen again? Yes. Life has Jesus sweeping up right and left. And unfortunately, I know I have asked Jesus Christ to sweep up after me. The goal is to try to not ask Jesus to be our waiter. To address each other as if we are both Children of God.
Why is there is so much angst? Seasons. We seem to have come past Zombie season. And then they bloom. And when the numbers rise of Zombies - we are worried about being less effective for God's Work. Run down out of the race - not helping us accomplish His Good Will. Not that sounds Mighty Fine - but the truth is - when we are effective for God - we are secure. We are Loved internally. We are protected. We are directed. We are smiling. We have Peace. We are assured. We might not be so effective with gaping Zombie wounds. Sarcasm - to tear the flesh off someone.
When we are on the Plan and Path of God - we have His Strength to continue. With all good hope. We don't want to stop. And Logically - God is going to help us.
Zombie List. Bad Idea? If we never have rain, we can't enjoy the sunshine or the flowers. Realism.
We would be remiss to not think about violence and Zombies. About not overreacting to do our part in the harmony and balance of Abiding in God's Vineyard. Realising the Truth on jumping on a Zombie bandwagon. Paul is talking about Zombies. He really is. We know we have this social problem in our culture. the Word of God assures us Love covers a multitude of sins.
Frankly, I'm not good at this. I'd like to be better. Being an only child for 8 years and having a sibling just beginning to talk when I was 10 years old. I like Thor's Hammer at the will of a wish. Maybe God is going to get better with this in me. We all have our flaws - some Zombie up. I Thor up... Vocabulary does that for you. And God bless us all with some humor. And the next breeze of Hope and a good strong wave with a solid adventure.
Reading Scripture helps us know God's Love. Every Bible verse is written for you. Jesus Christ is all mankind's Light. John 1!
Father God, our Abba,
We have a prayer for You to fulfill this week. Lifting our Expectation in Blessing to You - Today.
We were dead in our transgressions and sins, in which we used to live when we followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.
Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Because of Your great love for us, our Father God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ
even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace we have been saved.
And Our God raised us up with Christ
and seated us with You in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
In the coming ages, You might show the incomparable riches of Your grace,
expressed in Your kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace of Jesus Christ we have been saved, through faith
—and this is not from ourselves,
This is the gift of God —
not by works, so that no one can boast. Only Jesus Christ as God for us.
We are God’s handiwork,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which You prepared in advance for us to do.
Covered and sealed we pray Your Name Jesus on the people
and upon ourselves
Lifting up our loved ones.
The Grace of Jesus cover our nation and all believers in all ages and places.
We pray asking in the Name of Jesus.
Amen.
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