Romans 12:9-13 ~ hold Fast to what is Good

 

Romans 12:9-13

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 

Contribute to the needs of the saints 

and seek to show hospitality. 

Today I was publishing my grandmother Anita's book, she titled, "Papa" on the family Facebook group. Stephen Pinckney Richardson was Anita's father, he died in his 40s from Pneumonia. In the 1910s. And her memories of her father are dear and warm. So much of her memories are the unspoken gratitude and thankfulness he led his children to feel. She reports, again and again, she felt such a Spirit of Love and kinship with the 12 children. Anita is describing something profound we will all feel in Heaven. Communicating the Goodness of God almost wordlessly. Finding joy surrounding them.

As much as Anita loved them, they weren't her God of Love. 

Today I published, coincidentally, on Sunday, the family of 12 children, some are grown with children of their own, traveling to Church. Fisher Methodist Church in Richardson, Louisiana.  

Then with another coincidence, my cousin Tommy wrote and said the Church would close December 16. Let's pray this doesn't stay closed, His life and Joy surround their fellowship in Jesus Christ. Amen. Many days have passed since the family has gathered in Reunions.

Why does life have change, uncertainty 
Why are the Kings of Israel warriors. David is a warrior. Jesus is surrounded by intrusions of His Children having difficulties and openly challenging Him. It's a good question at Thanksgiving time.

2 Samuel 5:1-3

5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. 

And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” 

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

And this was the 4th Time David was crowned in Israel, before over merely portions. He had to wonder where was the End Zone, Finish Line, Grand Finish from God's Anointing. David's immediate behavior was for us to see, David was tired and yet danced with all his might.

We are blessed to be told to pray for Heaven on earth. Each day we see the need for this prayer. The test determines the people we will be.

My mother once said Grandmother Anita's book was about what she wanted to see. This family continued to have their midday meal together for 62 years, to feed Anita's mother, Lena. This was fellowship, service, duty and fun.  They really did the work of family. To love, to tolerate, to goad a little, to bother and to return. Grandmother Anita was seeing what they lived. Mother's comment only makes us examine what Anita was saying. To study her words to see if they are valid. The conflicts we have either cause us to find the strength of God pulling us up in strength and love, or weaken us.

Grandmother must have known this was going to be an opinion of the readers, not involved in their family life, she records the words of cousins surrounding them, immediately. She must have felt witness was required. Part of being in communion and community.

Brings us back to 62 years of fellowship. This was an adoption of bone to flesh. A unity.

Grandmother is teaching about Unity, seen at a level we don't regularly live. This is seen from a depth far from transient. And because this isn't the regular thing, there will be "The Comment." We will all live. In Jesus!

“ Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel."

Only Sincerity is going to cause this to strengthen us. Because testing will happen. Comments will be said. One of the 12 children, willfully and with intention, fell into profound alcoholism and died of this very young. We have to rely on God to help us in our fellowships and family.

1 Timothy 6

Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 

12 Fight the good fight of the faith. 

Take hold of the eternal life

 To which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 

13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, 

who in his testimony (even) before Pontius Pilate 

Keep Making the good confession, 

14 to keep the commandment unstained 

and free from reproach 

Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which He will display at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion. 

Amen.

 

Jude 1:21 

Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ

 to bring you to eternal life.

How? Biblically, socially and even in familiarity:

1 Timothy 6

2 Those who have believing masters 

must not be disrespectful 

on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

We need a world of courtesy.

How?  When we deal with haters, lack of facts or respect, gall without mercy?

1 Timothy 6 Paul and Timothy knew about this in the First Century A.D.

4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 

The Bible verses don't say you have to have great oratory skill.  

Certainly Moses did not. Paul was called to help Peter's worldwide Mission. Instead, endurance and perseverance with care and love is called for. Loyalty. Expectation of goodness. The Bible says speak of your faith, what draws you to Loving the Lord. The Bible doesn't say Pontius Pilate's tonsils rang with the effort of ringing his bells. No, instead, merely give your faith with sincerity and when this is available with Love.

Why was Pontius Pilate even worth the effort of Jesus? 

God thought Pilate and his wife were worthy of an Acts 2 Dream about Jesus, the Christ of God.  And the soldiers went back to Rome and the world was set ablaze. Herod's household held vast and millenniums noted men and women of faith within ear shot. Conversations go forth.

John 1

Jesus brings Light into the world, and though

the world is full of darkness, it has not

overcome His Light

 

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Abba, Father

Cover us this day in Your Name. The Highest of All Names and we are Blessed.

We will be still and know You are God 

The Almighty of All.

Cover us in Jesus Christ and we have a Hope and Future. We Believe 

and trust in You.

For Fisher Methodist Church in Richardson, Louisiana.

For the worldwide Church in Jesus Christ.

Cover those we Love and we Live in Love. We see glimpses of Heaven.

Cover us in Jesus and we lift our cares to You.

Cover us in Jesus and we are inspired to Live and Love more.

Cover us in Jesus and we tell the truth with mercy.

Cover us in Jesus and we brush off what would cling to us and find Joy in Pleasing You.

Cover us in Jesus and we want All to Love Jesus.

Cover us in Jesus and we Believe Father God will bring the world to salvation 

in Jesus Christ.

Cover us in Jesus and we know Tomorrow and Today are in Your Hands.

Cover us in Jesus 

and we find Joy knowing our prayers join the Saints 

covering the world in Prayers 

for more

of Your Heaven on earth.

Cover us in Jesus and we Believe the Nation Trusting in You will be Blessed.

Dwell in us, please, Father.

Dwell in those we Love.

Salvation is in Jesus Christ, we ask.

Help us to Seek You First

And we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

Cover us in Jesus and we Believe the days to come for ourselves 

and 

our children and unborn children will live

in Goodness and Steadfast Love in the New Covenant of Jesus.

Cover us in Jesus and we Believe You are the God of the Impossible.

We asked the Oceans to give moisture to the skies

and rain to pour over the thirsty and parched 

places of Your Good Creation,

Cover us in Your Word, Jesus Christ, God's Word made Manifest.

France is reporting rain.

Texas is getting rain.

We pray for those who need to be able to afford heating oil worldwide.

Thank You Lord God, Father, Almighty

in 

Jesus Christ.

Father, please heal our boy dog,

he has had an ear ache to infection for October and November.

He is throwing up on steroids. And when I told him, he would

be better off throwing up outside, he went out for 15 minutes when it started

to rain and was politely throwing up grass he'd tried to eat.

Such a smart, good boy dog. 

Please speak a word of healing for this good Pup.

We thank You, Edward and I did not get Covid from our houseguest.

in August. Thank You.

And pray this for all of us.
We ask to Live in Love, Joy and Peace 

seeking and finding Your Kingdom in Heaven and on earth 

in Jesus Christ.

Blessed be Father God for bringing us Jesus. 

Amen and Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus