Colossians 1:19
For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him
One of the main reasons we all have our doubts, understood by Jesus Christ on the Cross, is life not going our way in difficult circumstances. Like the older brother of the Prodigal Son. Life is not pleasing enough, delight in life is waned and God can't possibly be pleased to dwell in us. We feel angry, bored, frustrated beyond endurance and generally not a shining example of Jesus. Just like... the Disciples who did the work God gave them and changed the world. Doing what God asked of them. Probably not always graciously. Paul, "The Apostle Paul" had to help Eutychus survive Paul's long, drawn out boring teaching when Eutychus fell asleep. The Scriptures are real, alive and gracious, filled with God's Mercy.
We see glimpses of Heaven!
We receive Comfort
and then we
Comfort others.
Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was taken from this life,
so that he did not experience death: "He could not be found,
because God had taken him away."
For before he was taken,
he was commended as one who pleased God.
I grew up with two amazingly interested Grandmothers. My parents were only children. And I was an only child for 8 years. My parents' young photographs were so identical, my grandmothers had to study the photo to decide if the photo was my mother or my father. My brother was born when I was 8 and he began to speak in interesting, full sentences when I was 11 years old. One Grandmother taught Bible Study for 42 years in the Methodist Church, Kessler United Methodist Church. And she expected us to be pleased with her because she was our grandmother and diligently applied, "the comment" of truth and necessity and opinion - almost always. A very wonderful woman who could be ramrod straight. Anita Lucille Richardson Willard of Richardson, Louisiana, a suburb of Franklinton in Washington Parrish. B. 1898.
Hebrews 13:16
And do not forget to do good and to share with others,
for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
My paternal grandmother told me when I was in college, when she read the Scripture, she could understand and hear what God was telling her mind. She fully expected me to believe her. She married an Episcopal Priest in 1973, Rev. Wm Tate Young. She was 66 years old. And she expected to be believed matter-of-factly, that day because she believed, very strongly, in our beautiful souls and loving goodness abilities. 3 of her 4 great-grandchildren are named for Grandmother Bit. Augusta Elliott Wilson Anderson Young of Bolivar County, Mississippi.
1 Chronicles 29:17
I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.
All these things have I given willingly
and with honest intent.
And now I have seen with joy
how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
If you had to picture God the Almighty, Creator of All Things, you would expect His Son as a Teacher who is fully informed and able to command a classroom. Like Anita could do. However, Jesus drew in an entire Town of Capernaum the first Sermon He gave. But we see glimpses of God in all of His Creation. And Grandmother Bit could be counted on for the Truth, the Expectation of Higher Action and Living, drunkenness (unlike Jesus) and God's own Love.
We are drawn to friends who Love us. Jesus had conflict because He didn't wallow in giving Comfort. Jesus spoke the Truth and expected Love, Truth, Way and Life to set us Free. Jesus' own view of Life is Joy.
2 Peter 1:17
He received honor and glory from God the Father
when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying,
"This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased."
Jesus kept on choosing the Disciples beyond Good Friday. Jesus expected to see John's Gospel Chapter 21, when Jesus cooked fish for breakfast while the Disciples had left hiding in their room, to go back to fishing. Something they knew how to do. Most of them. They were doing their best. In front of God of the Universe. Jesus tells us He is Steadfast Love. We can be diligent and not give up. Even on the days we simply fish for fish.
Am I now trying to win human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
The Disciples were doing what Job did when he grieved. Simply looking for companionship. Doing what they knew to do. Fellowship. Fishing by making a living to feed their wives and families. God knew He would provide the God given Glory. God Glory comes from God who is willing to give us the Kingdom of Heaven and provide the breakfast, on the beach.
Genesis 33:10
"No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes,
accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God,
now that you have received me favorably."
Going physically to Church builds strong communities and puts our faith and our families by
example, to put strong roots down, bringing goodness and mercy into our lives. Not allowing faith to be scrubbed out by the busy roads of life upon seedling faith.
Jesus did not appear remotely to the Disciples,
Jesus took the time of the Almighty to take Himself to them!
Way, Truth, Life!
Abba, Father,
This Verse is for us
When we ask You to dwell in us
and we seek You first.
Galatians 1:15
But when God, who set me apart from birth and
called me by His Grace, was pleased
All of God's Righteousness and Abundant Willingness
is appreciated. We have prayed over all things, we didn't even know about
in Trusting God's Will.
Giving God our Best Portion First,
The People we Love
Praying God to fill them with His Comfort,
Filled in His Mercy
and Love.
We have cast all our cares on Father God, Who cares for us.
We have lifted up all the various worries for this life,
our Nation, the Agenda of Authority, The Church and Her Victory in Jesus Christ.
We have lifted up to Jesus the Nation.
We have lifted up Schools
We have lifted up Employment. Jobs. Health. Vaccinations.
In our Father God's Willingness.
We have believed God and Trusted Him.
We will seek God first.
For Elliott, Healing.
For all the people we pray for.
We pray for Peace, God's Help for Love to flourish and establish,
peace and to finish well.
In Jesus' Highest Name,
Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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