Jeremiah 31:27-34
“Behold, the days are coming, Declares The Lord
When I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, declares the Lord.
In those days they shall no longer say:
“ ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the children's teeth are set on edge.’
But everyone shall die for his own iniquity.
Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set
on edge. ’ ”
“Behold, the days are coming, Declares The Lord
When I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the Covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband,
Declares The Lord.
Hear O Israel
The Lord, your God
is One
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,
Declares The Lord:
I will put My Law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My People.
And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying,
‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,
Declares The Lord.
For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Lent is when we remember we are the Easter People. The Children of God's New Covenant in Jesus Christ's Own Love.
The Scriptures repeat and tell us again and again. To remind us, we do know this.
Romans 1:20-21
So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Lent is when we remember we have put aside the Covenant.
When people call one another to catch up and know each other, if we know each other well, then we share our situations in life. And there are sour grapes. If we love one another, it's not our teeth on edge, but our tears, for the mist life throws at us.
It's a season of sour grapes.
No one has passed through uneffected.
For the last 2 days, I have prayed and stayed in a prayer life with the Lord. We got a text and a phone call about someone who has been in our hearts for decades, has gone on to their Loving Reward with our Father. A life profoundly well lived, an Episcopal Priest's wife of 6 decades. A heart to admire. And one who has seen sour, sad harvests of life, we all will see.
On one hand, Heaven has more Joy to receive Margaret.
And on the other, there were days when she felt sorrow for the people around her, their hardships. And being a Child of God, felt the sorrow we inflict upon one another. The Unofficial Mayor of our small-town life, decades ago. A joy filled laugh, a reason to be proud of one another, a reason to praise someone behind their back. More reason to gather and laugh with one another.
In the art, below
Margaret has seen her first husband die and a child arrive. A very famous mother. A talented pair of parents well known in Charleston. Making her very talented in sewing and known in the American National Flower Arranging Shows, gardening, making supreme hospitality. Speaking encouragement and sincerity to all. We could guess some sermons she typed were her inspiration as well. Someone who could bolster others and receive evening calls to help 2 blocks down in the County, nice, old folk's home, to aid in giving dinner and conversation. Taking over the county fair in blue ribbons.
Running 2 Churches with her husband and 2 Choirs. Wallpapering the Manse and the 2 Parish Meeting Halls. Recruiting good works. Making a Church of 50 people, every Sunday a 50 person, 2 hour donut and coffee meal table. Jesus having such a good time every Sunday. Margaret, finding early one Sunday morning, in the Church attic, photos from 1890 to 1910, realizing the Church has a few more people, but the corsets are gone, and the joy is much bigger. Realizing none of the socials had 50 people… every Sunday.
Dressing with the Church Choir, seeing all the white cassocks pulled on and realizing the sun in the window was reflecting on us all. Profound beauty.
Heavenly Banquets, will be much more beautiful. Everyone will have had a different seat at the table, God has brought us.
The young priest's wife, bringing Abundant Life. The Manse never filled out so beautifully. Being given plants to make an Eden. The porch filled with people to watch the parades.
The middle years, to see what needs to be repaired and becoming well instructed in hard Construction. The house, the Church, The Parish Hall, all becoming honed back to safety and glory. Being more tired from the diligent effort. Seeing people you love and work with suffer the economy, the drugs, the grown kids, the leaking roof, the medical hardships. Having children begin to have adult lives and new situations that no one said, yay, let's plan THAT. Seeing economics and opportunity split up the family, countywide, long based clans, spread across the continent.
The years we wonder if we dreamed correctly for all the people we love.
Wondering who is going to take care of the dog. Feeling alone and calling long distance to be heard. Wanting to go on vacations. Health scares. People embittered instead of in joy. Old folks homes saying, not you, unpaid volunteer. Losing the best neighbors. Not getting a replacement. Missing friends now departed.
Not having the accolades because one isn't the smiling soul all the time.
Even grumbling. And being overlooked.
Living Bruce Springsteen, “My Hometown.”
And
having renewal
when no one expected this.
Margaret lived the county's 36% unemployment of being a manufacturing plant in the 70s till now. The Republican county of Sylvania TV invention became, basically, socialist. And very unhappy. And then hoped manufacturing would return and voted another way when the spending and the message and the Military WH were unbelievably outrageous. Hope. Hope returns.
And finding a reason to have Gratitude again.
And new blessings. Repeat the paragraphs above, now in different orders. And again repeat. Then .... Miracles. Of feet crippled by Construction disasters, making people cry when described. And Margaret, after 10 years, being told by many doctors to cope and adjust to perpetual brokenness and pain feet, and realizing, HEALED. ONLY GOD! Back to normal shoes of any kind, pain free from Jesus Christ! Hearts that quit pumping on several occasions. Including Father Bill, at age 92, to fully recovery, from his heart failure after his months, on his deathbed.
Being asked to be a National Flower Show Judge. Having people remember and renew their admiration to a good heart, great soul and life very well lived. Even when her every other sentence started out with the word, “Bill,” stays, thinks, does. And the loss of this profound love in his late 90s. Traveling to be with old friends, going, traveling and then dementia. Being with her beloved sons. Being cared for.
Heaven, the New Testament tells us, will know of our life deeds.
And because this is 'Written,' as Jesus said so often,
we know
our seats at the Banquet of the Lamb, will say this:
Beloved, Endearing, Loyal, Hardworking, Optimistic, Joy Bringer, Precious in Love, Beautiful in Soul, bewildered, grieving, shocked, hurt, overlooked, defeated, crushed, betrayed, used, victimized, sorrowful, Surprised, Grateful, Enduring, Loyal, wobbly. Hopeful, Growing, Glowing, Thinking, Helpful, Comforter, pushed aside, envied, too young, too old, naive, Wise, Brilliant, Child of God, Correct, incorrect. Stubborn, Determined, stubborn. Learned a thing or two, not abused, not wounded, Recovering. Strengthened. Believer. New Covenant Faithful, Friend of Jesus Christ, Daughter of God, Comforting Others, Praying for Others, Opportunities presented to you just for looking for your Blessings Daily. God's Promises For You.
And because we have all known sour grapes and we sincerely live and see the truth. We are Children of the New Covenant. Knowing in our hearts, believing and speaking Jesus' Salvation. Loving one another as the seats change, and we endure and believe. Coming into His Kingdom as His Beloved.
Knowing in the Lord, Jesus His exact nature:
All seats at the Banquet are Loved and Held Dear. Loving one another and waiting for the New Covenant in God's Plan. Walking in faith.
Abba, Father,
How are such mighty works done by His Hands?
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said,
“With man it is impossible, but not with God.
For all things
are possible
with God.”
In the Name of Jesus Christ,
our Savior,
Your Only Son,
Recently, Edward and I picked up a germ,
For good health for us both.
We pray for more honesty
and courage
facing our challenges.
We pray for those needs
we have daily.
Thanking You,
Your Gate is always open
and Your Heart to our
Prayers is Open.
We pray
for
worldwide Peace.
We pray
for
worldwide trade
to reflect
Peace.
We pray
For Freedom.
We saw lost for the last 4 years.
Freedom grows again
as
a Light to the world.
We pray
evil
departs
and is gone
for
ALL
our lives.
In Jesus, we ask Your Blessing of Goodness
for
ALL.
We pray for the safety
of the children
at all ages.
Healthcare
is Care.
Educators
and Educations
Safe and Loving
in Health
and Soul
for
our children
of
ALL ages.
We pray for
those who
Govern
to Govern
with Love in their Hearts
and not control, power or greed.
Malice
to
be
stopped.
We pray over
Housing
for our
Nation
will be for
Families
and Home Ownership.
Not lost
in old age.
We pray
for the
good growth
of Science
and Technology
and Health
to be
Philanthropic
and not control.
We thank You
for revealing
Good is Good
and evil grows in evil.
Let the Righteous
Prevail.
Help us
in our
human need
not
to allow
self-pity
guide us
in harm
false words
cruelty
as a crutch.
To become
Lights
and not darkness.
We pray
for the weather
to be more stable
as we stabilize
Safety for all children
Care for one another
The Promotion of Goodness
the turning away from evil
The ability to provide for families
and their needs.
For Hope
within the Culture.
And kindness and Love
Good Health
to
dwell
in us
asking for You
to dwell in those we love.
Father,
Dwell in us
Dwell in those we love.
Help us each day to grow in Your Holy Spirit.
To have Your Blessings.
In Jesus Christ, we will
please You
and finish well.
Let the Light
of Jesus Christ
shine more brightly.
The Love.
The Light.
The Peace.
For
ALL.
And in Jesus
This Hope.
Faith and Love
- we will rise up
Believing Jesus.
Amen
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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