Hebrews 2
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.
9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,
“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.
17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect,
so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God,
to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Written By: Kevin Wallevand
Gertrude Larson is a In Fergus Falls, MN Nurse. across the ripples of Lake Alice, sits a cozy house with hearts on the window that is home to one of Otter Tail County's veteran nurses. She is a 104 years old.
"My civil war grandmother lived to be 103, I have outlived her by a year. I am so glad," Larson laughed.
At 104 years old, Larson is back at her trusty Singer sewing machine she bought in 1939, sewing masks for nursing home staff and residents. She is making masks.
"I have always like to work — I like to do something," she said.
Once a nurse, always a nurse. After leaving the family farm near Kathryn, N.D., Larson graduated from what was then Fargo's St. Luke's nursing school in 1938.
Larson was around during the 1918-1919 flu pandemic. On a farm near Nome, N.D. She remembers her mother isolating all the kids on the farm, away from everyone else. Decades later, with more than a century behind her, the longtime nurse — who is still as sharp as a tack — wants to help in some way.
Larson still climbs the stairs to her sewing room upstairs and works in the light-soaked room adorned with an immigrant trunk from Norway. She says with the mask project she is simply is doing what her ancestors did: Taking care.
Giving footprints of care ...
Psalm 23
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
We have been assured we are ruining our planet.
People have wonders, ideas, fears and sometimes idealogities. You'd have to Believe God is ahead of this. It's not the Policy of God to make people afraid.
If you'd summarize the Scriptures to one paragraph... what would you pick?
The Prodigal Son.
The world has just let us know, the earth is resilient. Are we? Are you?
Gertrude Larson has seen:
World War I
Spanish Flu
The rise of dictatorship
The Nuclear Age
World War II
The end of empires: decolonization
The Cold War
Korean War
Vietnam
Polio
The Great Depression of 1929–39
1950s: U.S. Army–McCarthy Hearings
The Cuban Missile Crisis
The OPEC Oil Price Shock of 1973
Black Monday 1987
The Asian Crisis of 1997
Information and communications technology
The Financial Crisis of 2008
911
Middle East Wars
And this isn't naming the cultural events shaping our times. These were the 'disasters'.
Life has gone on. By the Good Will of God.
For one purpose: God's. Mankind is fortunate to be Blessed in the Efforts of God.
When mankind offers us to worry endlessly about each other, or events, ideology of today, it's fairly silly. Mankind moves on to another conflict and another opportunity to be the Prodigal on the High Ways of God. The continual efforts are what we see in the life of Gertrude Larson, at a 104 years, she blesses others. Confident the problems of today are given care and life goes forth.
Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We make our own footprints to live meaningful lives of Joy.
Psalm 23
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Abba,
Today we pray with Matthew Henry.
Matthew Henry ~
"Psalm 91:1-8 He that by faith chooses God for his protector, shall find all in him that he needs or can desire.
And those who have found the comfort of making the Lord their refuge, cannot but desire that others may do so. The spiritual life is protected by Divine grace from the temptations of Satan, which are as the snares of the fowler, and from the contagion of sin, which is a noisome pestilence.
Great security is promised to believers in the midst of danger.
Wisdom shall keep them from being afraid without cause, and faith shall keep them from being unduly afraid.
Whatever is done, our heavenly Father's will is done; and we have no reason to fear.
God's people shall see, not only God's promises fulfilled, but his threatenings. Then let sinners come unto the Lord upon his mercy-seat, through the Redeemer's name; and encourage others to trust in Him also."
Abba of Heaven, help us to please You. To seek You first and find Heaven today upon the earth, even in our own efforts. Seeking You to enable, guide, encourage and Bless us to Live with Love, Peace and Joy.
We pray for God's Good Creation. We pray for this Nation. We pray for the virus to end and Recovery to be Joyous. We pray for the Leaders of this Nation, President Donald Trump, Vice-President Mike Pence and Governor Abbott and all the 50 Governors. We thank You for the resilience of our fathers and their Faith.
In Jesus Christ! Amen!
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †