John 11:11-16
Jesus said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”
12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”
13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Anxiety. Reopening. Unemployment. Restaurants. Mortgage. Politics. Bills. Safety.
Almost every day since Covid-19, we have dealt with finding a good life internally, in times of crisis. And after having written 4,400 Posts, sometimes I have to pause, think of what I wrote last and remember to apply the Balm of Gilead, Jesus.
The Largest Portion of Hope, Expectation, Overcoming and Joy is learning how to hear what God is saying and believe. To be refreshed in God is necessary.
We were in the park today to have exercise and sunlight, exercise our dogs.
Two 12 year old boys went past. Pushing bicycles and were speaking of another boy, we will call "Fordie" and the tone was harsh. Fordie's not athletic, one boy said, about 12 years old. The other boy points out Fordie is indeed athletic. No, Fordie's 'not', Fordie told me. And behold, the spoken of harshly boy, 'Fordie' is on the tennis courts. Age 12 - we remember. Fordie is playing tennis. He's about 30% larger than the two friends and playing tennis well with an even larger boy. The snide bicyclers yell and yell the boy's name, "Fordie"! Fordie is in the middle of a game of rather intense concentration. And Fordie says, "Who are you?" Snide 1 replies jumping up and down, "I'm your friend, we live in the same neighborhood, we have class together!" Fordie is clearly uninterested in replying. And never does. He's with someone who looks like he is 12 going on 14. The two smaller boys keep waving. No reply.
We journey on. Edward is throwing his disc. And an 18-year- old on a bicycle, screams at - just - the right moment, "DON'T MISS." Edward misses and has a loud comment. The Screamer Bicycler couldn't care less. It wasn't even all that fun.
If we don't look at our anxieties, we learn nothing.
We have thoughts to circle, but if we don't put in the complete thought, then our anxieties just roll on.
How can we yell large insults at our culture without a solution?
Anxiety has a heyday. Anxiety loves to hear the same problem just continuing to be told.
We aren't just asked to start out each day, we are asked to apply God to our difficulties and grow.
I pondered the 5 boys we saw and realized life unfolds around us for a purpose. Prayer. Recently a long time friend told me prayer is the opportunity to do nothing, yet feel better. Oh, sad.
The importance of ideas, attitudes, belief Life has meaning. Primary.
And as Michelangelo said, "God has the ability to change Destiny." Prayer is powerful. CS Lewis said Prayer is necessary and changes the Prayer. Ok. Yes. And God changes our hearts, minds, soul - in the language is an ongoing conversation called Prayer. 12 Open Gates 24/7. All Seasons.
Guilt. One of the main reasons to avoid ~ anything!
We just fail every day. We fail to have good conversations. We primarily let ourselves down. And if - "we let ourselves down" - then everyone else just doesn't truly know us. Our goals for ourselves weren't met. What will we do with this frustration?!?
Frustration.
16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples,
“Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Epic.
Perhaps one of the most defining moments of mankind dwelling with God as the Temple inside him, trying to live His Kingdom.
Years of ministry. The widow of Nain's son. The Centurion with unbelievable faith. Jairus' daughter. Bartimaeus (literally "Son of Timaeus") recovers his eyesight, was very blind, and asks to follow Jesus. This is the conversation of the twelve "Chosen". This is the Exodus when the people who walked across the dry Red Sea refused to fight for the Promised Land.
We live these moments. Probably daily.
Guilt. Why so many turn away from Father God. And to read "The Bible"? Gasp.
Completing the thought:
John 11
7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day?
If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”
12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”
13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples,
“Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
It's tough work to read The Word of God.
10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples,
“Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
The frustration with reading about Jesus. He gives us advice on being holy no one can abide. It's not DOABLE. And it's so amazingly - Guilt Laden. Na. The Scriptures are Real. Real people looking at Jesus, living with him, loving him and worried about their own hides. Thomas is inside Thomas, did he even hear Jesus tell about Light (again)? Or was it unfathomable things bear down in difficult times?
If we don't really sort out how huge was the Chosen Disciple Thomas' "real" faith walk.
Now, we can say we are there yet.
The Peace that Passes All Understanding. Hey, isn't the Holy Spirit a flame in The Book of Acts?
This is an important thought about the Peace Passing Understanding.
In faith, we believe Jesus has all things under His feet. In fact, a large part of guilt is abolished, destroyed, overcome, released and healed when we fully take the idea of Jesus at His Word. Jesus fulfills ever dot and ever iota in Scripture. Let's restate this: Jesus is ALL. Jesus takes away the wrath of GOD. Jesus is for you. Jesus is the One who wants to put you into Life Forever. When we read the wrath of God - we believe it's justifiable. And frankly, that's just scary. We have to believe Jesus takes away the wrath but doesn't whitewash us. Truth and mercy make us new.
Now back to The Peace that Passes Understanding.
Do you believe God 'has this'? Thomas is journeying through Life. He is on his own Prodigal Son path to God's Kingdom exactly as John the Beloved Disciple. Life is a bear hunt. We are going to go 'through it'. Jesus isn't going to teach us anything to carry us on a pillow. God, Himself parted the Red Sea and the Children of Israel passed through it without getting their feet wet. This Almighty God could have surely flown them to the Promised Land that day. Lack of peace is part of His Plan.
The Peace that Passes Understanding - is - real.
And is a Gift of the Holy Spirit - when God applies the Peace that Passes Understanding. Holiness is not wafting around on a pillow feeling good. Holiness is learning to enjoy God. We love God because He first Loves us. We are the Prodigal Sons for a superb reason, Jesus said in this life you will have trouble.
Try to apply goodness and mercy to your own inner fretfulness.
Generally we aren't wimpy, whiny or woo. Usually anxiety has a cause and is a reason to ponder, wonder, think, think, think and Pray. The other trouble is to be in love with your comfort. Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit is Comfort. Helper. God asks us to continue the journey. To love God. And Amazingly we are blessed to know He wants us to love you, yourself. Second. Second to God. God gave the Exodus to the Children of Israel because Father God wanted His Children to enjoy the framework of good living. And third, God says place the Children of God next to your own heart. Let Father God comfort you and then comfort others.
To Love Jesus is to joyfully find He even loves the sparrows.
Abba, Father God.
'Potatoe', Potato. Tomatoe, Tomato.
“It is no use walking anywhere to preach, unless our walking is our preaching.” St. Francis of Assisi.
If we love King James Version, The Message, NIV, English Standard Version, well,
Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.
Sometimes we even pray like Thomas. And God will hear us.
Blessed to be told to seek Him First and All His Righteousness, Our Father God delights to give us The Kingdom.
Blessed to awaken to see the Kingdom of Heaven glimpsed each day. Blessed to look for His Mercies Renew.
Blessed to fully know to have trouble in life is not abandonment, our God is with us and has told us Life is trouble.
Our God told us 'work' is believing God. You are the Father with reasonable expectations and Glorious Love.
Blessed to pray for the whole world and believe He rejoices to save the world in Jesus Christ.
Joining with You, our God in the Larger Vision.
We ask Your Abundant and Flowing Blessings upon us. Keep us safe from disasters, quieten storms and keep the Oceans safe.
Help us to seek You first and Your Kingdom.
To Live Love, Joy and Peace. Uphold those we Love. We Trust You.
We ask for the virus to end and Joy in Recovery.
We pray for Your Word to be Spoken. Your help for a vaccine.
God Himself Bless, Sustain, Comfort, Guide
President Donald Trump,
Vice President Pence,
Governor Abbott and these 50 United States Governors.
The Administration Coronavirus Response Team, Dr. Deborah Birx, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Robert Redfield
May God Graciously Bless The United States of America, we seek and ask.
Jesus Christ Live in us. Amen!
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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