1 Timothy 3:14-4:5
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
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.
4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
Keeping Spiritually Nourished.
Why the Ascension in Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 1? We know where Jesus went. We don't have to think He lives in Fiji and doesn't call. And we don't have to think Jesus went with Titus to Crete to see the Dispersion. The Ascension is feeding our souls with the idea this is for God's Purpose. This literally is a higher calling.
John 1 begins with the wonder of God. Everything Jesus does in the Father's plan.
We are well to be kept Spiritually Nourished.
Not depleted. Not to poke at every little thing. God of mercy over sacrifice. To keep what is important. To love well. Seeing and living in the bigger picture. And choosing when to be Brave to speak up.
We don't need smoke and mirrors to find all out. We try to live this Spiritual Nourishment with Joy:
Philippians 4
4 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
I have found when we are trusting in the Lord, we can do all things. In choppy water event times, it becomes pretty easy to be tossed about. Jesus told us Days will come. And voilà.
And the top of the charts for concern is what the Children of Israel felt going forth for 40 years in the desert - "Is the Manna coming tomorrow and how do I feel about Manna?" Is there a Biblical answer to this Biblical series of days? Yes. When Adam and Eve had themselves thrown out of Eden, the Scriptures tell us they 'joined the others." God prepared for them a place to go. Even after Eden was not open to them. How bad was the Exodus Desert? A cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. There was enough comfort the Children of Israel could leave Jericho, the oasis of Jericho.
Imagine being Jacob. Leaving Israel for dire hunger and need. Leaving the Promised Land. Jacob probably wondered all the way to Egypt if stealing a blessing from Esau was a good idea. God prepared such a place for Jacob, he realistically and with love blessed his sons.
The Lord provides a way out of the temptation to be coldhearted.
The mystery of godliness.
Adam knows he belongs to God. Jacob knows he belonged to God. David, living in a ditch with his family kidnapped, knew he belonged with God. Paul wrote he didn't know when he would be with his friends again, he would see how it would go with him. The circumstance of life, we have found collectively, can have wide variations.
Critics loath the Bible. Loathe the rules, loathe anything seen as unkind and hypocritical. Like wars and killing. No one argues Ukraine shouldn't defend themselves. No one is going to urge their Ukraine children to marry in with the Russians anytime soon. Very similar to the Bible. For good reason. Jesus fought bad opinions every day. Unpleasant parts of life are present.
Jacob stole his blessing and ran off to live with his uncle Laban. Laban taught Jacob what it was to be robbed by someone you love. Jacob neglected to love the people God gave him, Rachel died suddenly. More time with the group of people, Jacob declared, not the goal. Reuben, and a few of the sons, had some blow back for being 'not the goal people." Bilhah, might have been trying to have the last ha.
It's very possible, as we tell the Lord, in the vast USA prayer life we have more meaningful goals.
How will stay with our goal to remain close to the Lord?
1. Sincerity. Who we are and where we are.
We see so many harsh things in the Bible. In dealing with harsh circumstance, we are invited to be part of the Lord upholding the Universe with His Word. God is not shocked when we feel life has shocked us. Millenniums of life has occurred in front of the Lord. The Lord invites Aaron into the Holy of Holies and understands the price upon this. God cleans up when we stay with Him and His Word.
Romans 12:9
Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
Fight the Good Fight
Abraham argued with God to save people from His wrath. David let God know Uzzah should be alive. Mary and Martha spoke with Jesus about their hearts. Nicodemus wanted only to explore Jesus. But in the true search for Goodness, Nicodemus found Jesus to be real and Messiah.
2. Love the Lord God Almighty with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength.
3. By seeing your Blessings, He provides.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
4. Love the Lord by reading His Word and fighting the good fight to know His nature. His Promises. His Determination and Will.
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Numbers 23:19
Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Titus 1:2
Hebrews 6:18
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us
5. Salvation is a gift of God. We cannot earn God's Salvation. We do not save people. We do what we can for Jesus to be presented in our lives. Jesus and His Father save the world in Jesus Christ.
Jesus told us all have fallen. For several decades, there has been a debate if we can look at a verse of God's Word and understand God. Jesus tells us God's Word is so important and so very all encompassing Jesus fills every iota and dot. When we are distressed, a song praising God can find the right words to soothe us. A verse can change life back to Joy. Always be impressed with God's Word. All He did was say, "Let there be Light." And there is.
The work of mankind is to Believe the One He has sent. Jesus Christ.
Matthew 12:17-19
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory
John 15:17
This is My command to you:
Love one another.
We know James' journey to Believe Jesus. James believed his own journey would benefit others who journey. Not all, who wander or wonder, are lost.
James 1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Abba, Father,
We Give Thanks today, for Scott's Brother, Pieter.
He visited so many orphans and widows, the State of New Jersey
recognized his life and named a Group Home after him.
Love in All Aspects.
Dwell in us to know every aspect,
season and flavor of our being.
Dwell in those we Love and pray for.
And in Your Goodness
Help us each day to Seek You First
in Jesus Christ we will finish well.
In Your Mercy and Sustaining Love
we will walk the Path and Journey You have given us.
The Direction of Your Love
makes our weakness
the Strength of Jesus the Lord.
The Scriptures are real.
Life has Trouble. In Jesus Christ we overcome.
Daily with Jesus.
Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits,
even the God of our salvation. Selah.
Bless this Vastly Praying to Jesus Christ Nation,
The United States of America.
Bless us with Your Love and Help.
Bless Ukraine
dwelling peacefully beside their neighbor.
Proverbs 14:22
Do not those who contrive evil go astray?
But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.
Let us plan goodness
and find loving devotion
and faithfulness.
Bless those in new circumstances.
Bless those in ill health determined to find beauty and good work.
Bless those finding these days harassing and not the normal.
Bless families to share time and Love.
In Jesus, we make our prayer
and say Alleluia for His Answers.
Amen.
Roads of Heaven
We pray for God's Good Creation
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Jesus, God of Encouragement.
Jesus, Hope and Future.
Jesus the Lord
saves the world
Amen.
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