Life for all of us goes up and down in years like the Stock Market.
During one Series, the crowds and the other players were tough on the Babe. Some antagonistic name-calling from the Giants bench. Babe could usually take foul languaged banter coming at him from opponents - he could dish it out, too, - This time he found these personal attacks to be too much.
After one of the games he charged into the Giant clubhouse to find an abusive player. Fortunately, tempers cooled before any fighting occurred.
Babe Ruth had a stellar career.
All people age and all people change. About the all-time great in baseball - Babe Ruth. His bat had the record of 714 home runs. “The Babe” was the-be-all- of- Baseball, but time took its toll, and his ability and popularity began to wane. The Yankees traded him to the Braves.
In one of his last games in Cincinnati, Babe Ruth began to falter. He struck out and made several misplays allowing the Cincinnati Reds to score five runs in one inning.
As “the Babe” walked toward the dugout, chin down and dejected, there rose from the stands an enormous storm of boos and catcalls.
A little boy jumped over the railing, and with tears streaming down his cheeks he ran out to the great athlete. Unashamedly, he flung his arms around “the Babe’s” legs and held on tightly. Babe Ruth scooped him up, hugged him, took his hand and the two of them walked off the field together.
The fans went quiet. And an enormous regret swept over the field. Babe Ruth left the field to the cheers of the crowd remembering Babe for all the years he had given all to Baseball.
We would all like our Blessings to Soak and Continue.
In one of his last games in Cincinnati, Babe Ruth began to falter. He struck out and made several misplays allowing the Cincinnati Reds to score five runs in one inning.
As “the Babe” walked toward the dugout, chin down and dejected, there rose from the stands an enormous storm of boos and catcalls.
A little boy jumped over the railing, and with tears streaming down his cheeks he ran out to the great athlete. Unashamedly, he flung his arms around “the Babe’s” legs and held on tightly. Babe Ruth scooped him up, hugged him, took his hand and the two of them walked off the field together.
The fans went quiet. And an enormous regret swept over the field. Babe Ruth left the field to the cheers of the crowd remembering Babe for all the years he had given all to Baseball.
1 Corinthians 2:10
These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
The 1980s News in Christianity was the extensive tests done on the gravely ill about prayer. Prayer completely proven to be effective. And then... Angels were the decor of Christmas trees and placed on car mirrors.
The interest in the 1990s was the Prayer of Jabez. We wanted to see God rain and pour down the immediate blessings of Jesus in the Scriptures.
Just as we can all relate to the story of the Babe, human nature doesn't change that much. When we read about the Prodigal Son, we discover Father God is actually talking to the human heart, soul and our lives making all the generations understand life, struggle, Jesus and hope.
Scripture is Living. Compassion and Love is eternal. Loyalty is Joy. John defined God.
God is Love.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”
Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!”
And God granted what he asked.
John 6:27-40
27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
38 For I have come down from Heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
We all wonder about Living Water and Living Bread of Life. How does Jabez figure into Jesus moved the boat immediately to the other side? What is Abba, Father telling us?
1 Timothy 3:16
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of faith:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
Jabez asked for more in his life and Jabez asked the pain of life would not be part of this Abundant Life. Jesus tells us we won't hunger and thirst.
This is a Seek God First Verse. This is also
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Jesus did ministry differently than Abraham.
Abraham traveled where God had called him and set up life in Hebron by the giant Mamre trees. Jesus did not settle down, Jesus would cross the Sea of Galilee three times in a day. Jesus was in Tyre. Jesus was in Egypt. Jesus went to Samaria. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. From the Temple to the Mount of Olives. Jesus is recorded in the Pool of Bethesda, The Villages of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. Bethlehem, Nazareth.
We live in a time we want to not have the daily disaster report. To avoid the sneers of the news. We want to find God helping us to dwell in peace and like Jabez the blessing of less pain and more Life.
Jesus is describing His Ministry as willing to go on the Journey. JRR Tolkien describes faith as a Journey. So many times when Jesus healed, He beckoned the deaf man to leave the crowd and be quiet to comprehend. Jesus sent the healed to the Priest. Go to the Pool of Siloam - Sent. Jesus called people off their regular dog path lives and asked for the journey to the wilderness. Just as Mark begins His Gospel. The wilderness can be our soul distressed.
Why call this a mystery?
Every day, we are thrown by waves and conflicting opinions. The disaster of this or that. The rude comment. The pressure to conform. To Change. We are put on this path exactly like the Prodigal Son to make our way Home to Father God who delights in us. The Mystery is avoiding the wind and the waves of everyday life.
Consider the Journey.
Many people are concerned life had been devalued of so many wonderful aspects we took for granted. But consider the Journey. The Scriptures tell us Eden was between the Tigris and Euphrates River. The Garden was removed according to the Bible by Noah's Flood. Iraq calls the wondrous Marsh Basra. During Saddam the marshes became desert fields. Last year this was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's not as beautiful as the lush paradise of the 1970s, but tourism is astonishing. The improvement from desert to marshland is stunning to the scientists and the tourists and locals. This is believed to be the Garden of Eden.
If Eden blooms again, we should do as Jesus said and not fail to pray with Hope.
In all situations. Jesus moved the boat immediately. God can do all things. However, the Exodus walked a long, long way. The Sons of Abraham lived in tents believing God. Israel exists again. The desert blooms. And Jeremiah told the captives of Babylon how long they would exile. God has a Plan.
In the Glory of Jesus, Son of God Most High - we see glimpses of Heaven.
Abba, Father God,
Bless us each day with Your Grace. Let us live to You.
Seeking You First.
And surround us each day with renewed mercies.
Open our eyes to see Your abundant daily benefits.
Blessings of Healing for Elliott
and Cindy's family and Janet.
God Bless us to Live His Plans.
We give You our Cares. Your Steadfast Love, Father, is Forever.
In Love and Joy we find Jesus own Forgiveness
and we live far more Abundantly.
We ask for blessings in Jesus Christ. Amen
Alleluia, Alleluia, even in Lent, our Father God has heard us. Amen.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment