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Luke 12:35-48
37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.
47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating.
Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
The miracles we have forgotten: Moses wrote Psalm 90 and lived to be 120 years old. Joshua 110 years old. Psalm 90 tells us Before Christ's Ministry, the life span could hardly hope for 70 years of age, verse 10. Even Moses tells us in these last Psalm 90 verses, all people hope for the sheer joy of happiness.
John 11
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
Psalm 90
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes,
establish the work of our hands!
John 11
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
44 The man who had died came out,
his hands
and feet bound with linen strips,
and his face wrapped with a cloth.
Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
It's hard to find the balance.
We say too much.
We are pushed aside.
We are thrust out of the inner group.
We are suckered in.
We are used.
We ask respect.
Why not stay home.
We are in circumstance wildly beyond expectation.
We are in endurance.
Told to be bold. Told to hush.
Why not quit when no one is pleased?
Because.
Usually Someone is pleased. When you want to please God.
The goal is not applause. God is pleased more completely.
The goal is not applause. God is pleased more completely.
Pleasing God is putting the steam in your soul to go forth.
Usually when someone will speak up to put you down - you did something.
Something worthwhile. Even Winston Churchill said so.
Scripture can be difficult. Life can be difficult.
Narrow path. When you please the ones who love you. God and then the people who invest time in you. It's the wide highway that applauds.
Who would tell you when they got cussed out twice today? Who would you tell that you cussed pretty badly later in the day. Who do you tell when your chair was almost kicked out from underneath you. Who would say something when you are called fat and slapped on the rear in public.
People leave when someone is asked an imbalanced question. Because of illness. Or they pretend not to know. I know someone who avoided a leukemia patient for a year. And when confronted said they didn't know. Why. She would probably die and the explanation wasn't needed.
Some people will take the sunglasses your son gave you because they wanted a piece of something special.
There really are people like - that - even when there is mortal illness in your family. We know what competing in adult sports and games is really like to a young adult. Few people comment on the outrageous aspects of their lives. And they don't know that you know. Or that you cared. And when they do find out you cared, sometimes they cry.
Some days are difficult. Really difficult.
Usually when someone will speak up to put you down - you did something.
Something worthwhile. Even Winston Churchill said so.
Scripture can be difficult. Life can be difficult.
Narrow path. When you please the ones who love you. God and then the people who invest time in you. It's the wide highway that applauds.
Who would tell you when they got cussed out twice today? Who would you tell that you cussed pretty badly later in the day. Who do you tell when your chair was almost kicked out from underneath you. Who would say something when you are called fat and slapped on the rear in public.
People leave when someone is asked an imbalanced question. Because of illness. Or they pretend not to know. I know someone who avoided a leukemia patient for a year. And when confronted said they didn't know. Why. She would probably die and the explanation wasn't needed.
Some people will take the sunglasses your son gave you because they wanted a piece of something special.
There really are people like - that - even when there is mortal illness in your family. We know what competing in adult sports and games is really like to a young adult. Few people comment on the outrageous aspects of their lives. And they don't know that you know. Or that you cared. And when they do find out you cared, sometimes they cry.
Some days are difficult. Really difficult.
When your word is doubted and really basically - you speak the truth at all times.
BLESSED
Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home.
We are Loved
Cherished
Believed
Strong
Children of God.
That is what is important.
And in life, the just and the unjust get rained on and sunny days. We get to decide we are living a life worthwhile. We can focus on the stain on our shirt or on the immeasurable grace Jesus gives us daily. God will listen. Love. And Care. Always.
Pray for my family, please. Newly apart. Yet Hopeful.
Pray for my family, please. Newly apart. Yet Hopeful.
And want more of Jesus
and His Love
and our new understanding of His Holiness.
God of Love.
God of Encouragement.
Jesus Christ.
Psalm 139
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Abba, Father
Your wrath is covered when we believe in Jesus.
Psalm 139 is the perfect reminder in all of Psalm 139.
Jesus helps us daily to find the path of Love and Encouragement.
Abba,
You have Blessed this Nation and believing Nations
with an Open Always Prayer Life
being who we are and believing You make us better and more loving.
We can look at Psalm 139
and remember the generations of people and families
doing all they can for their children in complex life
needing Jesus as Savior.
Your Word
gives us Hope
Love
Faith
Encouragement
We can ask for Your Holy Spirit to know
all of us
every cell
every molecule
Just as water is a wonder
You have created us as Wonders of Your Creation
and as Your Holy Spirit
knows every thought, every molecule
every cell
the hairs on our head
we have been filled with the
Light of Jesus Christ
and only the better
for Jesus to be the Light within us.
Our Prayer this year,
The Light of Heaven,
The Light of the world, God's Good Creation
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
The Light of Nations
The Light of Mankind
will be
the Light filling this complex time
with more
of Your Love, Encouragement
Guidance, Mercy
Grace upon Grace.
We ask simply God
for Your Love
and Your Mercy
Your forbearance with this time.
Knowing Spring follows Christmas
Summer brings warmth
Autumn tells the Glory of God
and Christmas renews us in Hope
New Years is Jesus giving us pause to
remember
Jesus Christ makes ALL things New.
As we are asked to remind God
to bless us with more Heaven on earth,
His Good Will be done.
Dwell in me,
Dwell in those I love,
Help us to Seek You first,
and we will finish well in Jesus Christ!
To You, our Father, be the Glory
Our God is an Awesome God! Amen
and Alleluia
in Jesus Christ and His Glory!
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