Mark 1:14-20
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Then they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.
The time of Fulfillment, God's Word Active and Living
Yes, we are more than a few days from New Year's Day. And we are all considering and wondering at this 2022 year as being new or more of the same. Tonight at dinner, we talked about we know 6 people who are now passed away very suddenly. Heart. Stress. During BBQ. Ages 35, 58, 58, 62, 59 and 65.
Stressful times for many.
But we have the opportunity to pull up Hope and Faith and ask Love to increase. Jesus said to us to pray, and He said, "Go for more Heaven on earth." This is something we can all put out both hands and ask for His Blessing.
We have the opportunity to see in others something honorable. To remember the people we loved and their positive influences on us. To praise the people who surround us and
Philippians 4
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 right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think on these things.
9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me,
or seen in me, put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you.
Glory, eyes seeing what kings and prophets had longed to see: The lame walk, the deaf hear, the blind see. While the Pharisees went on to more indignation, more anger, hostility and fear.
One thing we never saw the Disciples do in the middle of all the tension: die of stress. Instead, we know in our reasoning and heart, the Disciples had found peace passing understanding. Looking to see the good in Jesus. Seeing the people look to Jesus. Seeing the Good News of Jesus lived.
And as we have a new, clean slate. We remember the positive aspects we have been surrounded with in the people around us. We are strengthened remembering their strengths and goodness. My Grandmother Bit lived a life of Love. And she expected us to carry His Banner. His Banner over me is Love. My Grandmother Anita expected us to overcome our fears and doubts doing what small things in front of us would be Pleasing to the Lord. My Grandmother was filled with Joy in knowing how easy it was to please the Lord our Father. She considered His Pleasure and Love our greatest Blessings. Just living the life He had given us. Doing for each other, even if it was cleaning dishes from a meal.
My mother expected us all up and at the Day with an idea something interesting was going to be done or something interesting was going to be created. Or some knowledge was going to broaden life. And she knew unique parts of life, that as I just repeated something she taught me would stop lunch table conversations and people would want to know more. Mother had a knack for something of interest.
My mother would flat, dab kill me to publish this photo.
Part of her "Give us this day" was lookingggggg Gooood.
Back in 2015, we went down to Padre Island. Mother was 82 and not so very chipper, happy one morning, realizing a day at the Beach at 82 years of age, wasn't as much - a day at the beach - as back in the day. I was so annoyed, I beeped down the road to have a brief respite. Edward calls this, "And the Disciples .... were called to Antioch." And as I stomped, I passed what Padre Island does at night, they have rental golf carts. I was surprised I was opening the rental door and getting the cart for an hour and a half. I drove pedal to the metal back to the place, at about 10 mph, and sat on the wheezing horn until someone inside would notice.
Both ladies jumped in and off we roared. Mother's big thing was shopping. For rocks, china, seashells or observing seagulls. Pretty soon, Mother had us shopping in high gear. Except, Mother wanted to shop by sight. Across the Highway, Anne Laurel, Go. We learned something. Crossing Padre Island's main highway at 11 a.m. If we all scream really loudly, at the top of our lungs, the cars tend to move back a little faster. So in a few minutes, we were screaming our way down the highway to rent that cart for one whole day. Back to shopping. Oh oh Go There. Scream It Like You Mean It.
Before the end of the day, a photo explanation is provided. We had waved at everyone on the Island that day. And Scream It Like You Mean It had become "You honk, we all wave back." We zigzagged the main Highway all day long. Mother's friend suggested if Mother had been Amish in a golf cart, there would be more waving and fewer honkers.
Rather like the summers in Pennsylvania, we picked the miniscule, yet perfect lowbush, Wild Blueberries. Mother had a ritual. We had to get out of the car, run electric hedge clippers and jump up and down and yell, "Snakie, Snakie," This worked, we never ran into snakes. Turns out we could have omitted the hedge clippers, and the yelling. The snakes fled from the jumping up and down for at least four minutes.
My brother John has this talent. He has the dry, true wit of my Daddy. And he has the exploration and zest for life of my mother. No one else has a brother who knows a place in New Mexico. It's an Antique Store, and it's in the desert of New Mexico. When you get to the back of the 'antique store', you find multiple, deep pits of rattlesnakes. For $10, you can play the original movie, "True Grit" and bash the rattlesnakes with water balloons. I kid you not. My brother bought old wooden rack boxes for glass Coca-Cola bottles. Then he went back and bought 3 more. He had an idea to make this entirely waterproof and grow herbs in this, off the back porch.
John has a metal statue of Tyrannosaurus Rex with a working vegetable Garden and huge amount of Cana Lilies. He defended, as the attorney, for the Dallas Police and credits them for being very fine human beings. And he has quite a few Elk and diving stories.
My mother-in-law Judy vacations really well. Everyone has the time to do what they think is important. Everything about Judy is gracious. Fun. It's always fun to be with Judy. Even today in assisted living, it's fun to take her to dinner, sit in her place and visit or watch TV. And she sits up regally. I would slouch far more if I didn't know this elegant lady. She also has a complete zen enjoyment of a meal. Every bite is savored. Our sons know well, a bite, the fork goes down, chewing is well considered. The mean isn't devoured. The time is savored. Like the time spent together. My laughing and smiling, mother-in-law isn't hungry between meals. She has been sure to have liquids, a meal, a time to reflect on the flavors, have coffee after the meal, and she is emotionally satisfied with her eating to be fulfilled.
My neighbor, Doris, was in her eighties. She would rise early, be cutely attired, and her next project would commence. She had 3 mature Pecan trees and every year she shelled them all each morning. Doris had a roller, she rolled over the lawn and then emptied the roller. Doris had every Pecan shelled. And the rest she didn't freeze, she made a fortune selling. I learned how to crack Pecans in my hands from Doris. Ladders didn't scare her, she never met a chipped wall. Doris made sure everything was immaculate. Even when the painter had to come and re texture her walls as she had painted them so many times, they were smooth. Neat and enjoyed. Doris made everything surrounding her like this.
I got an "A" in Calculus at Texas A & M because my friend Maggie loved to explain the beauty of Logic. The fit of Mathematics. And when I explained this to another friend, as Accounting was bothering me, we arranged a study hall for the long-term practical in Accounting. The Branches of the Tree of Heaven, make a great place to sit. And in the conversation, more enriching life is found sharing the blessings of life others have, then we all share the blessings together. I passed Accounting because of praising others about blessings others have in their thinking. Sharing Blesssings Observed, Became Multiple Blessings!
I dreamed of my Aunt Clarice seeing the Gates of Heaven. The dream turned out to be very real. I woke up the phone rang and I said to my mother, I know Clarice died. How? Well... Clarice died at the age of 94. She had had Terrible Hip Arthritis. She was yelling over and over that, "Heaven is REAL!! Everything in the Bible IS TRUE!" Clarice told me she would pray for my hips not to be so hurt. I said my hips are fine. That was before the year of Sciatica. She was right 1996 to 2018. Clarice and I are not related by blood, but by marriage. To my Great Uncle Walton Richardson. Clairice and Walton did well in Cotton Gins. She helped three sisters run a clothing boutique, they all lived on 4 corners of Franklinton, LA. And any relative needing help got more than just a talk or a check, they experienced Clarice and her love for people and the Lord.
My father-in-law Buddy was wonderful. He gave to people. And he didn't like this to be talked about outside the 'inner circle. Buddy felt giving was private and the men he enjoyed made jokes of things he didn't enjoy being joked over. He gave to hunting guide's children in need and delighted in their enjoyment. And went back with an entire Suburban of goods. He took care of his 100-year-old grandmother until the end. And he was a busy man. He adored his grandmother. He bought a house for the friend on Padre Island, who had become a loyal American after surviving World War II in Germany as a child. He was a great friend to my father-in-law and was the way the house on Padre Island remained in working condition. They loved fishing and always had a Mexican Navy story to tell. He gave so much to Israel, we have a bronze Lion saying thank you, with his name and saying he was a Prince of Israel. My mother-in-law gave it to us because he never displayed the foot long Bronze Statue. My father-in-law was a telephone Pastor. He called his own brother every day, rain shine or cancer. He phoned and took care of his widowed Aunt Nix. If something was broken, he arranged it to be fixed. His grandmother Doll insisted Buddy go to Confirmation, and Buddy accepted Jesus in truth. Doll was insistent Buddy find out if Jesus was Real. Buddy decided He was. Buddy heard from the Lord to get Bob's leg looked at again and because Buddy heard, Bob's leg was saved. Buddy called his sister-in-law daily when she was a widow. And Buddy and Edward talked on the phone 2 hours a day, several times a week because they just enjoyed each other so much.
Abba, Father,
When Jesus encountered trouble in this life,
He believed and spoke of the Kingdom of God at hand.
Repent of what is wrong, Believe in the Word of God.
Believe in the Truth of the Gospels.
Dwell in us, Father.
Help us to seek You first.
And we will finish well in Jesus Christ.
Jesus does each day as His calls upon Him,
and along the day planned He calls to those surrounding Him
to Hope, to Love, to have Faith
Remembering the Joy of Jesus
Light of the world
Lamb to God and Son
Messiah Discovered in His Grace and Days.
Jesus walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then He called them.
The Disciples left their everyday
by Following Jesus.
May the Lord
Bless us
and
Keep us
Causing His Face to Shine upon us.
And be gracious to us.
May the Lord Lift His Countenance
and Smile Upon us.
Give us Peace
Surround us and Bless us in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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