Ephesians 4:15-32 ~ builds itself up in love

 

Ephesians 4:15-32

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Now this I say and testify 
in the Lord:

That you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

That is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.  

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Every day of our lives, we face conversations and decisions about what to say. If we were Jesus, we could say, "Zacchaeus, come down out of that tree, we will have pleasant conversations in the garden of your home, in the cool of the evening, where you will know to anoint Jesus' feet with oil and a kiss for His cheek. A Party like Matthew did."  And no one would ever be disappointed.

Recently, a blooming woman, at coffee, told us she and her sister had both faced cancer and had moved into together and healed. I told her how well she looked. She bloomed more. And she told us about her adventure with her pet dogs. I was glad for this woman that her cancer was past. We discussed dogs and leashes and walks. Edward added in about dog torque and halters. Paths and joys the days bring us. As we winded down, I wished her joy in her dog adventures! Got in the car and wondered if we should have closed with speaking about cancer. Did she look unhappy I didn't mention this? But other cancer patients say half of cancer is about wanting to never speak about cancer again and the willingness non-cancer people have to speak about cancer and more cancer and then cancer. Anyway, said a prayer as we drove home. I tend to pray a lot. Bet you do too.

Most People truly are doing their level best.

Most People truly are doing their level best.

Most People truly are doing their level best.

And then you have to realize, people are after a plague. And plagues are about anger with anger and anger. Remember... the airline flights are Bizarre, with violence and actually increased violence from 2021 to 2022. People who believe if we radically change every single thing about Christianity, Blessings, transit, medicine, morals, power power power power power, sex sex sex sex and sex and sex (power), and behavior, then we might all live to be a thousand years old on earth. 

Most People truly are doing their level best.

Most People truly are doing their level best.

Most People truly are doing their level best.

Yesterday I entered into a conversation about energy. Why. Because if we don't speak up, gently, we will be yelled down. And if we don't disagree, we will be forced down. See Ephesians 4.

My life experience is we own a family set of acres in Jackson County, Mississippi. My grandmother came to own this from her father (James Lawrence Wilson, who lived and owned most of Bolivar County, Mississippi {Along Hwy 1} as he was a banker, who required the loan farmer to have insurance from default, sold and benefitted to him, right before the depression. Later laws made this illegal, but was legal at the time. Grandmother inherited only Jackson Co. in 1953.) In 1955, the Jackson Co. land was selected to have an eighteen wheeler sized, in girth and height, oil pipeline running through a section of the land. The pipeline is huge and also runs through the Gulf of Mexico, Ocean to River swamp. And how many problems have we had on this gigantic pipeline? Zero. Pipeline fears are, really, about almost always, bogus. The pipeline companies have walkers, who walk the pipelines in the mountains and oceans and swamps. 

What happened next to the discussion of energy? Gaslighting. Gaslighting is taking the subject and changing it to become about agenda.  

DEFINITION:

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which the abuser attempts to sow self-doubt and confusion in their victim's mind. Typically, gaslighters are seeking to gain power and control over the other person, by distorting reality and forcing them to question their own judgment and intuition.

What happened next to the discussion of energy? 

It became this: If you were worthy, you would NOT seek to discuss energy, you would only be interested in Gun Control. The Largest Cause of Deaths in USA Children. And then a flood of Gun Control emotional anger.

I replied this: "Actually, the largest cause of deaths in the USA is abortion. Abortion isn't about just birth control. It is learning to treat each other with compassion and empathy."   And the reply was that I'm not part of a Good Lord and I'm .... terrible, rotten, and mean. It was longer running to a paragraph, but why go on. I replied this: "I disagree."

We can't let others mow us down. We have to care about them, the culture, the values and be teachers who won't mow people down. But I'm not going to let an energy topic become a gun Control topic, to become an abortion topic and let being chewed out go. 

I'm going to use this Post, this space, to teach about Life.

Let's be gentle and say this: 

This next part of the Post is about Pro Life. If you are not Pro Life and you are open to hearing about my 3.5 years of Pro Life Volunteering, then please, read on. 

The Washington Post ran an article about an 18-year-old woman who had twins because Texas changed the Abortion Law that week.  The article took every sadness and complaint about feeding twins and said, "feeding the twins," every time it would fit in the sentence. She gave up waitressing, going to teenager parties and married the father of her baby. The article pointed out that two hours after the marriage, they had to, "feed the twins." Her father-in-law gives them free room and probably some board. But you have to, "feed the twins." 

In my experience, the mothers who continue to go with ProLife groups receive Maternity Care and Clothing, for 2 years receive formula, infant food, clothing, goods like cribs, strollers, educational toys - anything a mother or father could want. Their clients are mostly poor, but two - income parents come in because - they are welcome to. The Clients of Pro Life are usually in great joy after the decision making process is complete. These families, these mothers are brave and have Tremendous Joy.

Pro Life sees mothers come in with grown children to lament an abortion. Pro Life offers healing for those women who are sad that abortion did occur.  Pro Life tells you up front and out there what we value. Life. Love. Forgiveness. And they will tell you all the truth. 

Abortion causes misery. The angry denial of hurt. The angry fight of, I had to. The knuckle bone of anger. The sorrow of lost love. That is so sad. And on the other hand, the Pro Life prayers, as a group, see powerful Jesus answer many, many, many, many prayers for ill in utero babies. For women being abused.  The women who want their secrets kept. For women who didn't know, he was a pimp using the pregnancy as a hostage.  Why Pro Life works, one of the main reasons, no one is going to follow the client. This is the place, this is the point of view. Freedom.  No one forces Freedom on someone. No one forces Love.

What Pro Life learns,

parents willing to give 

What Pro Life learns,

parents willing to give their donated

shirts off the back

to those asking for assistance to love

How we long for the time

an opinion

didn't cause

horror

and discussion

was amiable

The truth can be difficult. The Love is the healing balm after the Truth.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes Bless The Lord Jesus

Yes Jesus Bless Asbury

† †

Yay Jesus

Acts 2:1-4 ~ filled †

Acts 2:1-4

 

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from Heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 

3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

I was looking at Social Media today, FB, Asbury University Revival / Outpouring, looking at a Post explaining about Sheep being anointed with oil. And remembered this with delight. The site is very encouraging.

This jogged a thought on anointing and blessing.  What blessing do we find during Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Lent. 

Sheep are anointed for a very good purpose.  

There are actually great reasons to anoint sheep with oil. Here are three top reasons to put oil on your sheep:

1. Seasons of Life: FIGHTING RAMS, protection and safety

Rams may fight for the favor of the ewes by butting one another, head-on, with great force. Can cause serious injury or even death.

Shepherds would often grease the rams’ head and horns heavily to slip away from impact.

2. NOSE FLIES, environment

Nose flies buzz around a sheep’s nose. The hovering flies can cause sheep to panic and run wildly. If the fly is successful, in a few days, larvae hatch, burrow into the soft flesh of the sheep’s nasal passages. This causes irritation, inflammation and infection can lead to death. Gruesome.

Pain will cause the sheep to rub its head on the ground, thrash through underbrush and even bang its head on tree trunks attempting to get rid of the intruders.

For millenniums, shepherds would watch for the first indication of nose flies and then apply a natural repellent made of olive oil and strongly scented, medicinal essential oils.

3. SCAB DISEASE, illness and unseen dangers.

Another contagious disease  - scab. A parasitic condition caused by a mite called Psoroptes ovis that is spread from sheep to sheep through friendly head-butting and rubbing. Thwarted by being anointed with oil.

David was anointed by an unhappy Samuel. And David knew to plan his life around the anointing. 23 years of terrible situations and more than 4 coronations, putting his life back on the line, each time.  David found his life to be Psalm 23, Sufficient and with the Lord's favor. Overcoming. Strength to fight the Good Fight.

When we read John 14, 15, 16 and 17, we are reading about a dying man being persecuted, soon to die terribly, explaining to His Dear Friends, He called Family: 

 Jesus' own Joy and overcoming sorrow. 

This is a strong verbal anointing. 

Life as death looms. 

Peace as suffering will be present. 

Prophetic Knowledge, having signs, to give hope as the dark prevails until Light overcomes and Triumphs.

 John 17 is an anointing today. Jesus Prays. Today.

What did all of this do to help the Disciples?

Jesus is the Way and the Truth and LIFE

The Romans weren't selective on Capital Punishment. Not a lot of self-help philosophies for those who threatened Caesar and his Empire. The Book of Acts refers to other religious factions claiming glory in front of Herod and Rome. Not many survivors.

No wonder the Disciples hid during Good Friday and Easter until Jesus is known to be Victorious, as He told the Disciples.

The Romans decimated within their military legions. If the Tribune thought there was disobedience or mutiny, they lined up and killed every tenth soldier. This would continue until the problem was solved. More than 1 in 10 soldiers would die. It could go as high as 1 in 3 soldiers. Romans were historically enthusiastic about crucifixion in large numbers.

The Disciples escaped the Roman crucifixion, forcefully probable only because the prayers of Jesus in John 17 reached the ears of our Father in Heaven.  In the same way Daniel had God's help during enslavement to survive and prosper. An intervention of the Lord, miraculously.

Acts 2 is described as flames of fire. There is no doubt, on the Road to Emmaus, the men describe this situation with Jesus of Nazareth as being something everyone in Judea knew about. These men knew, as Lazarus lived from being dead, Jesus was in Terrible Trouble with Herod, the Temple Guards, The Sanhedrin, and the Roman Empire. These Disciples had known they were living through the fire.

The Anointing gives Hope, Encouragement, Strength

and Resilience

Moses was to understand about living through the fire. And like the anointed Sheep, the Gift of God's Protection is in His anointing.

The Blessing of Abraham continues:

Genesis 27 

So he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. 

28 May God give to you the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth— an abundance of grain and new wine. 

29 May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. 

May those who curse you be cursed, 

and those who bless you be blessed.”

Abba, Father,

We pray our prayers are effective

in Your Mercy.

We ask for more of Your Favor on the Believing

Prayers

And the Joy of the Lord is our

Strength in our prayers to help

Your good Creation.

Anoint us with Your Joy

and Strength

and we overcome

Blessing Mississippi's Lower River Valley

and Nashville's Covenant Church and School.

Helping Ukraine.

Blessing Your Good Creation.

We ask in the Highest Name of Jesus

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

John 12:14-16 ~ And Jesus found

The Coast of Tyre

John 12:14-16

†

14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

behold, your king is coming,

sitting on a donkey's colt!”

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, 

but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.

The Video is similar to Jesus finding a donkey.

Not a long-time pet.

The Possibilities within the Scripture. Are what God is telling us!

Very much so, people are relating their tender hearts to their pets during the Pandemic recovery. And other people enjoy observing this to see tenderness in communications has not moved very far away.

Proverbs tells us a good man is good to the animals. Allowing an ox to graze during harvesting.

The donkey video relates what my brother's family found on their 6 acres in New Mexico. They adopted one donkey from a rescue and found the donkey was miserable. Returning two weeks later to find what they could do to make the donkey happier, they discovered an ancient donkey, who adopted their donkey during their time at the Donkey Rescue. When my brother returned with the bff ancient donkey, suddenly they discovered Donkey Love and Bliss. And their original donkey was seedling pregnant, bringing Donkeys to 3 in number. They were overjoyed, having discovered the wonders of donkeys, even when the first donkey was mourning. And the children loved when the donkeys snuck into the house.

The Scripture of John 12 says Jesus found a young donkey and suddenly the donkey has borrowed. or burrowed, the fame of Donkeys in the Bible. Donkeys are never considered unclean, as some of the more rules oriented books of the ancient Talmud feel about dogs. One could safely adore a donkey for utilitarian purposes. "We, of course, need the Donkey."  My father-in-law, Buddy, fell in love with Judy's, his wife's, cocker spaniel mix. Bijou looked like a Cocker Spaniel Benji Dog. Buddy didn't admit this, he had a Labrador for hunting and affection. But on some days, one could find Buddy, during his retirement years, cooing and sitting on the floor, feeding and being with beautiful Bijou. 

In fact, my father-in-law, who had a seat on Wall Street, felt good deeds were best done in private. Utter privacy. So, no one would consider a brave man too soft or compliant. And Buddy cared for his literally 100-year-old grandmother, moving her a few blocks from his home, his four children, wife, several businesses, his mother, a great aunt and later any member of his family who needed his care. Their live-in maid was, actually, Buddy's Nanny, Mary. You can bet, no one on their neighborhood street, knew this. Mary and Buddy eventually had some altercation tiff. Mary decided to move to West Texas and be with her family. All were astonished. And one day the phone rang and a relative of Mary's said Mary was in the hospital with cancer. Buddy flew out, paid the hospital bill, discovered no one had visited Mary, took her back to Dallas and, later, paid for her burial and funeral, he arranged.  Buddy's mother loved parties and made literal bathtub gin. In their younger days, his flapper parents were always at a party. Mary found Buddy was hugging his mother's clothes goodnight every evening. And the die was cast and set.

Why people find Donkeys to be something to hold on to. 

Like David did for his donkey. They feel safe and filled with JOY! Smart Donkeys!

What is Jesus telling us about Himself?



Zechariah 9:9-10   written in 587 B.C.

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your King is coming to you;

righteous and having salvation is He,

humble and mounted on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 I will cut off
 the chariot from Ephraim

and the war horse from Jerusalem;

and the battle bow 
shall be cut off

And He shall speak Peace to the nations

His rule shall be from sea to sea

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

People ask Bible questions about Jesus and dogs. Did Jesus talk about dogs? 

Yes, and Jesus spoke of wanting to be the comfort of his flock.

Let Your Words of Life be the Light guiding us to be the Children of God.

In Jesus, we know You long to hold us and we to be held to You.

 Amen and Amen.

A place of love, shelter and care. 

Matthew 10:29 

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? 

And one of them shall not fall on the ground 

apart from the will of your Father.

Jesus left Judea, went to Tyre, all knew Him and He went into a house to take shelter and teach. A woman came, from yet another country, and begged Jesus to heal her daughter from a demon. Jesus evidently knew something was not what Jews would consider Kosher going on. Jesus'  Words sound as if He knew something in her life was not as it should be. Something she wasn't saying.

Mark 7

24 And from there He arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 

And He entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 

26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 

27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 

28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 

29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

We are all familiar with Mark 7 and the Canaanite woman's humble request.  The reference is that dogs are part of life. And are fed from the table. The comfort of a dog being at our feet. Our willingness to not store food for later use, but sharing of life sustenance. 

 In this time of entitlement for hurt feelings and wayward outspokenness, Jesus is saying He is willing. Jesus is there for those with loyalty, devotion and some humility. 

Dogs love beyond measure. 

One of our Springer Spaniel dogs loved, adored and followed our toddlers. One day, the child picked up a bat and let the old dog feel the bat as hard as he could. Human beings would be wary, to finished with the relationship. The old dog was pretty badly injured and I was ashamed the child had done this. 

We diligently explained and prayed and rubbed the dog's back.  We kept praying and hoping this Spencer dog's incredible love, loyalty and kindness would be repayed to Spencer by the Lord, with healing for his injured back. The Vet had not given a lot of hope. We would just rub his back and pray. That Spencer dog fully recovered. Boy Doggie. Lamb. Our Spencer always smiled. He was the smilingest dog ever. Spencer was just a dog who always felt Blessed. The Lord Jesus Christ was good to Spencer beyond his circumstances. And our small boy was given the comfort of forgiveness, on many of God's levels. A good soul.

Spencer in Heaven!

Luke 1:77-79

Giving knowledge of salvation to His people

in the forgiveness of their sins

78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,

whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

79 Giving light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet 
into the way of peace.

Abba, Father

Bless us to stay close beside Jesus.

To be like the Ten Talents Parable,

to trust the Lord's Goodness

and Mercy every day.

We ask the Lord's Pinions to cover us!

Dwell in us, Father

and with Your Help

What Jesus finds

will be loving!

Let all of Creation

Pray with us now!

Revelation 5:13
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"

We thank You, Father,
God’s covenant with Noah included both people and animals in Genesis 9:9-11. 

The fourth commandment, as recorded in Deuteronomy 5:12-15 

includes a Sabbath rest for animals as well as people. 

Psalm 148:5-6

Let everything He has made give praise to Him. 

For He issues His command, and they came into being; 

He established them forever and forever. 

His orders will never be revoked.

Bless those we Love to be near Jesus the Lord God Almighty, 

the Son and Christ of God.

Bless this Nation to Trust in You and have Your Favor.

Help Mississippi

and Covenant Church and School in Nashville heal.

We ask in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Bless the Nations of the world, coming to Your Brightness.

Bless the Children of God, by His Will, to ask You 

for more Heaven upon this earth.

And we are blessed indeed, indeed, indeed. 

Amen Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YAY JESUS