It seems like a very long time since I have seen you. I know it has been, certainly. But it has only been a very short time since I have thought about you. And I have been worried, too. Not about you or your care as I know Richard is right there by your side. And that makes my heart happy! I've been hoping you did not think I had forgotten you. That would be a resounding, "NO!"
Except for missing good friends, I rather like living in MN so far. The days, for the most part, have been sunny and bright and still let you wear a sweater or light jacket. I'm not sweating all of the time like I did in AZ. But comparing the two states just doesn't figure. We are here now for the time and it is good.
Before we left for Minnesota we were somewhat worried about leaving a home that was so close by so many places we always seemed to need, like the doctor and the dentist. The grocery stores were close by and the mall. Whatever we needed we rarely drove very far. Now, we are thrilled and surprised to say: We are close to everything we need! Except for a Costco which is about 20 minutes from our house. Not too bad for a couple of oldies who aren't thrilled to drive very far anymore.
Today our granddaughter, Jenna, came for a peanut-butter sandwich with us and fixed our blog situation. Our son, Mitch, had attempted it from his computer, but it was not as successful as Jenna's attempt. She's a smart one alright. Looking for a job right now in design.
There is no news regarding our daughter, Peg, who is looking for a home on one of the many lakes not too far from Stillwater. Her price and theirs are not necessarily in agreement. She has a sleeping spot in our den, temporarily.
Now I've given you the run-down on the family around us. I want to spend a few words telling you about the ups and downs that occur in this MN life, even with tongue in cheek. I'm not different from other people, I just talk about it more!! And I have an "outlet" many others don't have...God!
As you may guess, as much as one might love her children, it isn't always easy to share the same space night and day. Our daughter is as loving as she can be. And I love her as well. But you know the story about the two cooks who cannot cook the broth without spoiling it? Well. You guessed it. Broth isn't easy with two cooks around the kitchen.
So this led me to thinking, which led me to praying, and that led God to lead me to the woman who touched Jesus' garment in order to get healed from a bleeding disorder. She quickly touched his robe as he was walking along and she was well in that very moment. He felt his energy decrease and knew someone had touched him, turning just then to find her beside him.
He then said to her "Daughter, you took a risk in trusting me, and now you're whole. Live well; live blessed"
I hope someday Jesus can say this same thing to me. Yesterday I needed healing...in my spirit. But today I see that I need to renegotiate my trust level concerning those around me as I can get in a gray fog when I lose my trust that I am loved. Imagine that! When the Word that I study and love so much clearly tells me that God loves us so much that He died for us! Died for me! And you!
I'm no different than the woman who took a risk and trusted Jesus. I take risks every day with those around me,. Do I trust or don't I? Well, do I love? Or don't I? Oh, I definitely love. Then I must trust as trust is part of loving. Right?
Thus, I must choose to trust daily. Trust I am loved because I first loved. Give my love to someone else again today. The more that love is given away, the more blessed my day becomes! And my trust level rises higher and higher.
I promise I will write again soon. Look for me in a few days. Same time; same station.
http://josMNlife.blogspot.com
I love you Dot! Richard, too! And all the rest of you.
MNJo surrounded by love and trust says goodbye and remember:
Love well, live blessed!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
A VISIBLE PARABLE
Do you remember reading what the first plan of worship was that God gave the Israelite people? It was a parable of sorts. They were given instructions to build a portable temple, so when they followed Moses through the wilderness they would set up the tent and all could come to worship. Hebrews 9:6-10 tells us, "the Holy Spirit shows us a visible parable: as long as the large tent stands, people can't just walk in on God!"
God was a private God. He had strict rules about how often a priest could enter the Holy of Holies, which was the most internal place within the tent, and only the High Priest could enter the place where God resided but once in a life-time. There the priest would offer a blood sacrifice for his own sins and for the sins of the people.
That was then. This is now.
Today we still have a visible parable in the Cross. Its three parts stand for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the three-in-one. But, I have a thought that the cross itself is a true Holy Place, as it is the place where Jesus died.
If you have studied about Jesus and the faith He offers, you probably are aware that Jesus offered Himself as the unblemished, perfect sacrifice for the sins of the people, not unlike the perfect animals the priests offered so long ago in the wilderness in the portable temple. God the Father sent Jesus for that very purpose, that He was to die to pay for the sinfulness of the world.
The Father isn't unlike our own parent who may have stood up for us when we got caught with our hand in the cookie jar. Someone who loved us may have forgiven the mischief we created, and stood in our place when we were caught.
Today is my 80th birthday. And I have had 80 years of defending myself when I have needed it, but early on, when I was but a child, my parents often stood by my side when I misbehaved. And I knew punishment, too. It was hard, but no punishment was ever as hard as that which Jesus accepted.
He died for my sins....and yours. He didn't apologize for me. He just went the full mile and died. It was the punishment I deserved! Not what He deserved!
But He did it all and freed me..... and you.. from all those dead end efforts to make ourselves respectable so that we can live all out for God.
When I see the Cross--any cross--I see the Christ and His death for me. The sins I cannot erase and those I hope to change are obliterated by His blood. I cannot rid myself of sin by myself. Only my Lord can do it. And He has already done it!
Remember Him and the Cross He bore for me and you!
Jo...
God was a private God. He had strict rules about how often a priest could enter the Holy of Holies, which was the most internal place within the tent, and only the High Priest could enter the place where God resided but once in a life-time. There the priest would offer a blood sacrifice for his own sins and for the sins of the people.
That was then. This is now.
Today we still have a visible parable in the Cross. Its three parts stand for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the three-in-one. But, I have a thought that the cross itself is a true Holy Place, as it is the place where Jesus died.
If you have studied about Jesus and the faith He offers, you probably are aware that Jesus offered Himself as the unblemished, perfect sacrifice for the sins of the people, not unlike the perfect animals the priests offered so long ago in the wilderness in the portable temple. God the Father sent Jesus for that very purpose, that He was to die to pay for the sinfulness of the world.
The Father isn't unlike our own parent who may have stood up for us when we got caught with our hand in the cookie jar. Someone who loved us may have forgiven the mischief we created, and stood in our place when we were caught.
Today is my 80th birthday. And I have had 80 years of defending myself when I have needed it, but early on, when I was but a child, my parents often stood by my side when I misbehaved. And I knew punishment, too. It was hard, but no punishment was ever as hard as that which Jesus accepted.
He died for my sins....and yours. He didn't apologize for me. He just went the full mile and died. It was the punishment I deserved! Not what He deserved!
But He did it all and freed me..... and you.. from all those dead end efforts to make ourselves respectable so that we can live all out for God.
When I see the Cross--any cross--I see the Christ and His death for me. The sins I cannot erase and those I hope to change are obliterated by His blood. I cannot rid myself of sin by myself. Only my Lord can do it. And He has already done it!
Remember Him and the Cross He bore for me and you!
Jo...
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
WEAR THOSE WEDDING GARMENTS!
Good morning! And how are you doing today? I hope well. As for me, I'm doing great..so far.
And as my computer is so far not occupied, I have decided to write about yesterday's journaling exercise.
It was kind of a scary one regarding clothes that must be worn at a King's wedding. It could be an ordinary wedding, I suppose, but let's imagine being invited to one whose someone special belongs within the top 1% of the folks out there.. You know, someone whose name might be in WHO'S WHO.
At any rate, this person who is giving the wedding celebration is a big shot. And according to a passage in Matthew 22:11-14, he is most distressed because one man is not wearing the clothes given to him for this celebration. Is the man arrogant? Or doesn't he want to join in on the festivities?
This is the passage from Matt. 22:11-14: "When the king entered and looked over the scene, he spotted a man who wasn't properly dressed. He said to him, "Friend, how dare you come in here looking like that?" The man was speechless. Then the King told his servants, "Get him out of here- fast! Tie him up and ship him to hell. And make sure he doesn't get back in." (Then Jesus said,) "That's what I mean when I say, "Many are called but few are chosen."
Remember that verse? It has always bothered me. I wondered what kind of clothes am I to wear? And for what occasion? So I checked the LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE for clarification and found the wedding clothes stands for the righteousness needed to enter God's Kingdom. This doesn't mean we must be perfect as you and I might see perfection. It does mean the total acceptance in God's eyes of that which Christ gives to every believer. Christ provides the garment of righteousness for each of us and we must choose to wear it. We'll be all dressed up in God's righteousness and ready to live with the King!
I want to be there. I want to be dressed in this wonderful righteousness! I want to be part of the "few that are chosen"! But, how can I be sure that I'll be chosen? How can I be sure that I am "wearing" the garment of righteousness that Christ has provided?
Well, one garment I wear quite often just has to go. It has to go to the dump! Or maybe I should burn it! I don't want anyone else having to wear it. It's the garment of self, self deprecation or self-satisfaction. An old habit, I get into self, that ugly little garment which keeps on getting out of the closet. And even worse, I let that cheap, soiled rag rule over the lovely righteousness I so desperately want to wear. Why can't I just kick it back into a dark corner?
I am not going to tell myself anymore that I am not good enough for this, or that I am too good for that. I am only good enough when Christ is within me and around me. Any radical thinking about myself will prove self-righteousness, so I will cloak myself in the righteousness of God.
I need you, always, Lord!
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! Jo
And as my computer is so far not occupied, I have decided to write about yesterday's journaling exercise.
It was kind of a scary one regarding clothes that must be worn at a King's wedding. It could be an ordinary wedding, I suppose, but let's imagine being invited to one whose someone special belongs within the top 1% of the folks out there.. You know, someone whose name might be in WHO'S WHO.
At any rate, this person who is giving the wedding celebration is a big shot. And according to a passage in Matthew 22:11-14, he is most distressed because one man is not wearing the clothes given to him for this celebration. Is the man arrogant? Or doesn't he want to join in on the festivities?
This is the passage from Matt. 22:11-14: "When the king entered and looked over the scene, he spotted a man who wasn't properly dressed. He said to him, "Friend, how dare you come in here looking like that?" The man was speechless. Then the King told his servants, "Get him out of here- fast! Tie him up and ship him to hell. And make sure he doesn't get back in." (Then Jesus said,) "That's what I mean when I say, "Many are called but few are chosen."
Remember that verse? It has always bothered me. I wondered what kind of clothes am I to wear? And for what occasion? So I checked the LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE for clarification and found the wedding clothes stands for the righteousness needed to enter God's Kingdom. This doesn't mean we must be perfect as you and I might see perfection. It does mean the total acceptance in God's eyes of that which Christ gives to every believer. Christ provides the garment of righteousness for each of us and we must choose to wear it. We'll be all dressed up in God's righteousness and ready to live with the King!
I want to be there. I want to be dressed in this wonderful righteousness! I want to be part of the "few that are chosen"! But, how can I be sure that I'll be chosen? How can I be sure that I am "wearing" the garment of righteousness that Christ has provided?
Well, one garment I wear quite often just has to go. It has to go to the dump! Or maybe I should burn it! I don't want anyone else having to wear it. It's the garment of self, self deprecation or self-satisfaction. An old habit, I get into self, that ugly little garment which keeps on getting out of the closet. And even worse, I let that cheap, soiled rag rule over the lovely righteousness I so desperately want to wear. Why can't I just kick it back into a dark corner?
I am not going to tell myself anymore that I am not good enough for this, or that I am too good for that. I am only good enough when Christ is within me and around me. Any radical thinking about myself will prove self-righteousness, so I will cloak myself in the righteousness of God.
I need you, always, Lord!
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! Jo
Saturday, November 16, 2013
WHEN I FACE GOD...
Dear Ones,
Having gone back to journaling this morning, I ran head first into the Apostle Paul in his second letter to Corinth. He said, "It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment."
I wasn't quite ready to face that statement remembering that my faith walk was teetering on the brink of despair just day before yesterday. Yet, I persevered and kept reading to find Paul saying, "That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this but I hope you realize how much and how deeply we care. We're not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we're on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are." (The Message)
I read this and gave a whoop! My craziness took over, I'm afraid. Then I read on, "If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do."
There! You have it! Now you know me. I am a bit crazy, but I do love Christ and He has shown me ways that I can show that love to those around me. So I blog. And secondly, this scripture passage just might be a perfect introduction to a new Small Group that will be formed very soon and will begin meeting at our little house the week after Thanksgiving.
In this passage, I find hope. In this passage there is hope and part of my hope is that each one in our new small group will want to adopt it as their own. And for those that may read this blog, I hope you may want to adopt this passage as your own, too.
I must remember that we...the few people I know and myself...are small stuff...not comparable to St. Paul and his messages, but in our love for Christ, Christ's love for each of us and for the world, we are BIG. Yes, big. Each one of us is a big deal to God. We are His hope, His hope for each other and for ourselves.
I really must pray at this point....Lord Jesus, I pray that each person who reads this and those who plan to enter our home in two weeks will want to have a heart for You, Lord Jesus. And that we will continue to have love for each other and all those we are yet to meet. AMEN
Crazy for you and those I meet...Your Jo
Having gone back to journaling this morning, I ran head first into the Apostle Paul in his second letter to Corinth. He said, "It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment."
I wasn't quite ready to face that statement remembering that my faith walk was teetering on the brink of despair just day before yesterday. Yet, I persevered and kept reading to find Paul saying, "That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this but I hope you realize how much and how deeply we care. We're not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we're on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are." (The Message)
I read this and gave a whoop! My craziness took over, I'm afraid. Then I read on, "If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do."
There! You have it! Now you know me. I am a bit crazy, but I do love Christ and He has shown me ways that I can show that love to those around me. So I blog. And secondly, this scripture passage just might be a perfect introduction to a new Small Group that will be formed very soon and will begin meeting at our little house the week after Thanksgiving.
In this passage, I find hope. In this passage there is hope and part of my hope is that each one in our new small group will want to adopt it as their own. And for those that may read this blog, I hope you may want to adopt this passage as your own, too.
I must remember that we...the few people I know and myself...are small stuff...not comparable to St. Paul and his messages, but in our love for Christ, Christ's love for each of us and for the world, we are BIG. Yes, big. Each one of us is a big deal to God. We are His hope, His hope for each other and for ourselves.
I really must pray at this point....Lord Jesus, I pray that each person who reads this and those who plan to enter our home in two weeks will want to have a heart for You, Lord Jesus. And that we will continue to have love for each other and all those we are yet to meet. AMEN
Crazy for you and those I meet...Your Jo
Thursday, November 14, 2013
BEGINNING AGAIN WITH THE HELP OF GOD
It has been a long time since I have written a blog. I apologize. My heart hasn't been in it, my mind hasn't been able to find the right words, my health has been poor, and my will not strong enough. It isn't just my blogging that has suffered; it is my faith. Who reads these things, anyway? They aren't entertaining! There's nothing new in them to relate. They are just blurbs of one's hope and a means of sharing that hope with others who may or may not be interested.
But I read a bit of Paul's first letter to Corinth today and although Paul's faith was a soaring, fruitful, throbbing, contagious faith in comparison to my own, his words hit home. "Because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let his grace go to waste.......I spoke God's truth and you entrusted your lives to God."
Imagine it! How Corinth must have leaped forward in faith believing Jesus was the Messiah who died for our sins, coming to life again after death as we know it happened on that long ago Sunday. There is no room for laxness, for a puny representation of God and His goodness, generosity, and grace. No room for half-hearted thoughts of Him, half-hearted prayers. No room! No! No! No!
So, I find my way back to my bible, my journaling, my blog. I find room again in my heart. I figure out the problem in finding my blog again. I sit down and begin to write. "My cup runneth over".... in gladness.
This blog will find its way to its cloud, its very own cloud up in its big computer sky. And maybe someday it will be read by someone who feels he or she is alone. Or someone who is afraid to die. Or someone who has scoffed at the idea of God and God's Son who is the Savior of the world. Someone who may be afraid to live in a world so filled with hatred, hopelessness, and happenstance, finding it near impossible that God may have a plan for him or her which is filled with happiness when God is allowed to guide them through the tough stuff.
You're right. I'm not Paul, or even someone chosen to show you God's goodness. I'm an ordinary person, a grandmother to be exact, and what do I know anyway? Well, I know that I have been miserable away from my Lord. I miss studying Him! I miss talking about Him, even if it's through a silly blog! I miss His company. I really miss His company.
I find Him right away, in the pages of Paul's first letter to Corinth, within Paul's words. "Because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let His grace go to waste....I speak God's truth." And I do, too, in my very best way, speak God's truth!
So, I shall begin again to pledge myself to carry out my simple work and I am trusting God to give me the energy to do it. Someone somewhere needs to know Him and if I can help that to happen--even in a small blog--I will thank God for it!
Lord Jesus, I am Yours....Jo
Hello to all my old friends, esp. Dot and Dick
But I read a bit of Paul's first letter to Corinth today and although Paul's faith was a soaring, fruitful, throbbing, contagious faith in comparison to my own, his words hit home. "Because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let his grace go to waste.......I spoke God's truth and you entrusted your lives to God."
Imagine it! How Corinth must have leaped forward in faith believing Jesus was the Messiah who died for our sins, coming to life again after death as we know it happened on that long ago Sunday. There is no room for laxness, for a puny representation of God and His goodness, generosity, and grace. No room for half-hearted thoughts of Him, half-hearted prayers. No room! No! No! No!
So, I find my way back to my bible, my journaling, my blog. I find room again in my heart. I figure out the problem in finding my blog again. I sit down and begin to write. "My cup runneth over".... in gladness.
This blog will find its way to its cloud, its very own cloud up in its big computer sky. And maybe someday it will be read by someone who feels he or she is alone. Or someone who is afraid to die. Or someone who has scoffed at the idea of God and God's Son who is the Savior of the world. Someone who may be afraid to live in a world so filled with hatred, hopelessness, and happenstance, finding it near impossible that God may have a plan for him or her which is filled with happiness when God is allowed to guide them through the tough stuff.
You're right. I'm not Paul, or even someone chosen to show you God's goodness. I'm an ordinary person, a grandmother to be exact, and what do I know anyway? Well, I know that I have been miserable away from my Lord. I miss studying Him! I miss talking about Him, even if it's through a silly blog! I miss His company. I really miss His company.
I find Him right away, in the pages of Paul's first letter to Corinth, within Paul's words. "Because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let His grace go to waste....I speak God's truth." And I do, too, in my very best way, speak God's truth!
So, I shall begin again to pledge myself to carry out my simple work and I am trusting God to give me the energy to do it. Someone somewhere needs to know Him and if I can help that to happen--even in a small blog--I will thank God for it!
Lord Jesus, I am Yours....Jo
Hello to all my old friends, esp. Dot and Dick
Friday, October 11, 2013
NOT A FAIRY TALE
Dear Dot and friends,
I want to tell you--just in case you have not heard it--about a true tale. This tale is unbelievable to many, incomprehensible to most, and scoffed at by some. Yet it is true and has been recorded over the years by the people to which it was introduced thousands of years go and entrusted to those who choose to believe it today. Those who long ago wrote it down believed it most sincerely and followed its instructions for a peaceful, happy life. This book is called the Bible.
Over the years scholars have listed the prophets who had originally heard from our great God we call Father and told the people at the time of a wonderful happening--the birth of a Son named Jesus the Christ who was born to save the world from their sinful ways by carrying that sin to His death on a Cross. A strange story? Yes, but the men who prophesied this birth and death are numerous. Here is a list found in a LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE put out by Zondervan:
1. The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2
2. The Messiah was to be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14
3. Messiah was to be rejected by his own people. Isaiah 53:1, 3 and Ps. 118:22
4. Messiah was to be betrayed by one of his own
followers. Psalm 41:9
5. Messiah was to die by crucifixion Psalm 222:14, 16, 17
6. Messiah was to die for a sacrifice for sin. Isaiah 53:5,6,8,10,11,12
7. Messiah was to be raised from the dead. Psalm 16:10
8. Messiah is now at God's right hand. Psalm 110:1
Even with all of this early prophecy, Jesus Christ seems unbelievable to some. Yes, isn't this the way most of us think about Jesus? " Unbelievable!" "It may be "good news" to some, but not me!" "I don't need Jesus to save me! I'm not a sinner!" "Prove it! Then I'll believe it!"
How can anyone prove Jesus is real, has been real, and will be real until the end of the days and he comes again? No one can. We have to find him for ourselves. He came; He died; He will come again. And when He does, I want to be with Him.
I need Him. Why? Because I'm a sinner. It is built within me and all the rest of the world that we are in a fight for our souls because we want to be our own bosses for ourselves. We don't want this Father to be in charge of us! Like two year olds, we say, "I can do it myself!"
But we can't. The hardest thing in the world for me is to contain my anger. If I don't keep God right in front of my nose...AT ALL TIMES..I lose my temper because I feel I am being slighted in some way. Nobody cares, really, because they fight similar battles.
Well, my battle is being led by a Master. I'm being led by God in the Spirit of Jesus Christ within me.....when I let Him be in charge. I'm not very good at letting Him rule, but I'm getting better. And I will keep trying.
Sorry about the preaching today. I needed it for myself and wasn't thinking too much of what you might need. I'll try to be more thoughtful toward you next time. You are very dear to me.
In the meantime, please say a prayer for those who do believe that we might succeed in showing the world who Jesus really is!
Loving you forever,
Jo, from Minnesota
I want to tell you--just in case you have not heard it--about a true tale. This tale is unbelievable to many, incomprehensible to most, and scoffed at by some. Yet it is true and has been recorded over the years by the people to which it was introduced thousands of years go and entrusted to those who choose to believe it today. Those who long ago wrote it down believed it most sincerely and followed its instructions for a peaceful, happy life. This book is called the Bible.
Over the years scholars have listed the prophets who had originally heard from our great God we call Father and told the people at the time of a wonderful happening--the birth of a Son named Jesus the Christ who was born to save the world from their sinful ways by carrying that sin to His death on a Cross. A strange story? Yes, but the men who prophesied this birth and death are numerous. Here is a list found in a LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE put out by Zondervan:
1. The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2
2. The Messiah was to be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14
3. Messiah was to be rejected by his own people. Isaiah 53:1, 3 and Ps. 118:22
4. Messiah was to be betrayed by one of his own
followers. Psalm 41:9
5. Messiah was to die by crucifixion Psalm 222:14, 16, 17
6. Messiah was to die for a sacrifice for sin. Isaiah 53:5,6,8,10,11,12
7. Messiah was to be raised from the dead. Psalm 16:10
8. Messiah is now at God's right hand. Psalm 110:1
Even with all of this early prophecy, Jesus Christ seems unbelievable to some. Yes, isn't this the way most of us think about Jesus? " Unbelievable!" "It may be "good news" to some, but not me!" "I don't need Jesus to save me! I'm not a sinner!" "Prove it! Then I'll believe it!"
How can anyone prove Jesus is real, has been real, and will be real until the end of the days and he comes again? No one can. We have to find him for ourselves. He came; He died; He will come again. And when He does, I want to be with Him.
I need Him. Why? Because I'm a sinner. It is built within me and all the rest of the world that we are in a fight for our souls because we want to be our own bosses for ourselves. We don't want this Father to be in charge of us! Like two year olds, we say, "I can do it myself!"
But we can't. The hardest thing in the world for me is to contain my anger. If I don't keep God right in front of my nose...AT ALL TIMES..I lose my temper because I feel I am being slighted in some way. Nobody cares, really, because they fight similar battles.
Well, my battle is being led by a Master. I'm being led by God in the Spirit of Jesus Christ within me.....when I let Him be in charge. I'm not very good at letting Him rule, but I'm getting better. And I will keep trying.
Sorry about the preaching today. I needed it for myself and wasn't thinking too much of what you might need. I'll try to be more thoughtful toward you next time. You are very dear to me.
In the meantime, please say a prayer for those who do believe that we might succeed in showing the world who Jesus really is!
Loving you forever,
Jo, from Minnesota
Thursday, October 10, 2013
LIVE EXPECTING GOD AMONG YOU
Dear Dot, and blogging friends,
Today has been a horrendous day. Our daughter, Peggy, expecting the final touches of buying a lake property, found her desired home to be a trailer! Her bank doesn't give mortgages for manufactured houses or double-wide trailers. It is so disappointing for her and, as her parents, we are very sad for her situation. It was against the law for the real estate agent selling the property to not be clear about what was being sold. Long faces here, for sure. Tempers, too. A sad development for everyone connected. It is so very hard to see one of your loved ones disappointed. I hope and pray God has something even better for her.
But that's how things go sometimes. Just when you think things are going really well, we get snapped back into the real world. Peg is a strong woman and will see it through, I know, but she has been taxed to the limit of endurance.
When I was doing my journaling today, I was reminded by Joseph of Arimathea that one must live in "alert expectation of the Kingdom of God." Because Joseph did just that, his heart was opened by Jesus on the cross and was the first to be by Jesus side when Jesus was taken down from the cross.
I couldn't help but think of what it would be like to live in expectation of God's Kingdom. Or for that matter, what would it be like to live in expectation of God's Presence?
He's told us over and over, "I will be with you always, even to the end of the age." If so, why don't we expect Him? Why don't we look for Him? Why don't we watch for Him? Are we just plain dumb? Or stupid? Why don't I ask for Him right now?
Lord Jesus, I ask you to be with me as I write this so that my words may carry the truth and the weight of your own words, especially those said on the cross. "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
And we don't know, do we? No, we don't know what we do. And we often do the same things over and over. Maybe we don't actually crucify Jesus as was done so long ago, but we do crucify Him in His Spirit when we show unkindness to one another. And we do show unkindness, sometimes, to one another.
I ask for forgiveness to the world at large and to my God for those times I have not held my tongue and hurt someone. It is often someone whom I truly love. My heart grieves for this act of crucifixion. I need God. And I need to be totally in expectation of His Presence.
I'm not Joseph of Arimathea, but I assure you that I need God, always. I need to be on alert to expect Him and His Presence....And I 'll bet you do, too.
Josmnlife, signing off. Love you, all.
Today has been a horrendous day. Our daughter, Peggy, expecting the final touches of buying a lake property, found her desired home to be a trailer! Her bank doesn't give mortgages for manufactured houses or double-wide trailers. It is so disappointing for her and, as her parents, we are very sad for her situation. It was against the law for the real estate agent selling the property to not be clear about what was being sold. Long faces here, for sure. Tempers, too. A sad development for everyone connected. It is so very hard to see one of your loved ones disappointed. I hope and pray God has something even better for her.
But that's how things go sometimes. Just when you think things are going really well, we get snapped back into the real world. Peg is a strong woman and will see it through, I know, but she has been taxed to the limit of endurance.
When I was doing my journaling today, I was reminded by Joseph of Arimathea that one must live in "alert expectation of the Kingdom of God." Because Joseph did just that, his heart was opened by Jesus on the cross and was the first to be by Jesus side when Jesus was taken down from the cross.
I couldn't help but think of what it would be like to live in expectation of God's Kingdom. Or for that matter, what would it be like to live in expectation of God's Presence?
He's told us over and over, "I will be with you always, even to the end of the age." If so, why don't we expect Him? Why don't we look for Him? Why don't we watch for Him? Are we just plain dumb? Or stupid? Why don't I ask for Him right now?
Lord Jesus, I ask you to be with me as I write this so that my words may carry the truth and the weight of your own words, especially those said on the cross. "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
And we don't know, do we? No, we don't know what we do. And we often do the same things over and over. Maybe we don't actually crucify Jesus as was done so long ago, but we do crucify Him in His Spirit when we show unkindness to one another. And we do show unkindness, sometimes, to one another.
I ask for forgiveness to the world at large and to my God for those times I have not held my tongue and hurt someone. It is often someone whom I truly love. My heart grieves for this act of crucifixion. I need God. And I need to be totally in expectation of His Presence.
I'm not Joseph of Arimathea, but I assure you that I need God, always. I need to be on alert to expect Him and His Presence....And I 'll bet you do, too.
Josmnlife, signing off. Love you, all.
Monday, September 30, 2013
HOW TO STAY IN THE ARMS OF GOD
Dear Dot:
Today has been a testimonial day. Not mine, but a testimony from our daughter, Peggy, who has learned and continues to practice a remarkable thing. As old as I am, I have not learned what she has learned through hard work, failures, and much, much practice. She has learned to hear herself think and adjust what she is thinking by plain effort. And she can do that because she wills it, and she wills it because it keeps her in the arms of God. And in the arms of God is right where she desires to be.
It is a huge privilege to have her with us at this time. I want to learn what she has learned. I want to be able to put myself in the arms of God.
First, it is only fair to tell you that Peg was at one time married and has three children by that marriage. Today, she has a great relationship with each of the three and is a good friend to and with her ex-husband and his new wife. She went to school and became a Registered Nurse when she was in her 40's and now works in a Trauma Center in a prominent MN hospital where she has seen many lives find hope and some only despair. She has counseled many of those who have been burdened with drugs or alcohol, and has become what I would call a woman of great beauty, both physically and spiritually.
Back to today, early afternoon----I read Luke 13:23b. "Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life--to God--is vigorous and requires your total attention." That doesn't sound very hard, does it? Ha! I wrote a bit about what I needed to do to put my mind on my life with God in my journal.
I really needed to do this, because a lot of old tapes are getting played back here in MN, and I'm not doing a very good job listening to them. I find myself judging myself, and sometimes Jerry. So, I took this Luke passage seriously. I corralled both Peg and Jerry and read my questioning heart to them and said, "Is this what I should be doing to be solid in life with God?" And I listed some things I thought might help me, like 1)Don't blame others; 2)Ask God to help me sort out what is happening, 3)Say the Lord's prayer 4)Rest in a quiet corner 5)Seek God immediately. And then I asked, "Will these things help me connect right away to God?"
Peg said of course they would help, but the bigger thing is to make certain I am willing to find out what God tells me Himself as He is the great teacher. And what He might tell me is the important thing to accept. And as important, that He is the judge...not me. Every time I decide I am in the wrong or someone else is in the wrong, I am judging. And that's God's job, and Only God's.
Therefore, it's not so important who's wrong, as being wrong doesn't make us BAD, but what we are thinking is the important factor. By figuring out what we are thinking, it helps us to discover what it is that we need to turn over to God. Is it Judging? Is it Ego? Is it Fear? And has Anger accompanied the problem?
So, here I am...trying now to get these thoughts on paper and even more so, in my BRAIN and in my HEART!
I am very thankful that my daughter has become grown-up in God and is willing to help me grow up, too. I want to grow up in God and have the peace of God so engrained in my heart that the world can see Him through my eyes and my life.
Please pray for me, as I will pray for you.
Everlasting friend, now from MN, Jo
Today has been a testimonial day. Not mine, but a testimony from our daughter, Peggy, who has learned and continues to practice a remarkable thing. As old as I am, I have not learned what she has learned through hard work, failures, and much, much practice. She has learned to hear herself think and adjust what she is thinking by plain effort. And she can do that because she wills it, and she wills it because it keeps her in the arms of God. And in the arms of God is right where she desires to be.
It is a huge privilege to have her with us at this time. I want to learn what she has learned. I want to be able to put myself in the arms of God.
First, it is only fair to tell you that Peg was at one time married and has three children by that marriage. Today, she has a great relationship with each of the three and is a good friend to and with her ex-husband and his new wife. She went to school and became a Registered Nurse when she was in her 40's and now works in a Trauma Center in a prominent MN hospital where she has seen many lives find hope and some only despair. She has counseled many of those who have been burdened with drugs or alcohol, and has become what I would call a woman of great beauty, both physically and spiritually.
Back to today, early afternoon----I read Luke 13:23b. "Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life--to God--is vigorous and requires your total attention." That doesn't sound very hard, does it? Ha! I wrote a bit about what I needed to do to put my mind on my life with God in my journal.
I really needed to do this, because a lot of old tapes are getting played back here in MN, and I'm not doing a very good job listening to them. I find myself judging myself, and sometimes Jerry. So, I took this Luke passage seriously. I corralled both Peg and Jerry and read my questioning heart to them and said, "Is this what I should be doing to be solid in life with God?" And I listed some things I thought might help me, like 1)Don't blame others; 2)Ask God to help me sort out what is happening, 3)Say the Lord's prayer 4)Rest in a quiet corner 5)Seek God immediately. And then I asked, "Will these things help me connect right away to God?"
Peg said of course they would help, but the bigger thing is to make certain I am willing to find out what God tells me Himself as He is the great teacher. And what He might tell me is the important thing to accept. And as important, that He is the judge...not me. Every time I decide I am in the wrong or someone else is in the wrong, I am judging. And that's God's job, and Only God's.
Therefore, it's not so important who's wrong, as being wrong doesn't make us BAD, but what we are thinking is the important factor. By figuring out what we are thinking, it helps us to discover what it is that we need to turn over to God. Is it Judging? Is it Ego? Is it Fear? And has Anger accompanied the problem?
So, here I am...trying now to get these thoughts on paper and even more so, in my BRAIN and in my HEART!
I am very thankful that my daughter has become grown-up in God and is willing to help me grow up, too. I want to grow up in God and have the peace of God so engrained in my heart that the world can see Him through my eyes and my life.
Please pray for me, as I will pray for you.
Everlasting friend, now from MN, Jo
Thursday, September 26, 2013
PRACTICE ACCEPTANCE...DEAR DOT:
Good morning! Had to write you today, even though I don't expect to be writing here every day. It is a beautiful day in Minnesota with a light breeze and sunshine, with a high of 76 expected and a low of 58. We had a nice walk earlier with Max prancing beside us. We can't quite get a mile and 1/2 in without repeating some of the paths around our units, but a walk is a walk and Max doesn't care how long it takes. However, he's glad to get home and have his breakfast, as Jerry and I are, too. Life is pretty good here.
But, there have been some things about living in our little abode that have been a bit hard to accept and have been, I admit, rather stifling. We get a ton of traffic noise from the highway just going past our development, for one thing, and our upstairs neighbor who is a nice young woman just now going through a divorce, is practicing tap dancing, or some such, I think. So, I am having to practice acceptance, instead of becoming assertive.
Now, I know there are occasions when being assertive is important, but I don't think this is one of them. First, we bought this place sight unseen, so we cannot complain that the road noise comes into our open windows. Secondly, we could close our windows, but choose not to. And, to whom would I become assertive?
As far as the young divorcee is concerned, whatever she is practicing up there, she has every right to do so. It is not hurting me in any way, not even my ears. I can be assertive in prayer for her, but not for myself. But I am convinced that assertiveness is just about me and not about God, in this case.
I learned something about acceptance vs assertiveness from the Book of Luke, Chapter 9, Verse 48. Jesus is speaking and says, "Whoever accepts me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great
by accepting , not asserting. Your spirit, not your size makes the difference." (THE MESSAGE)
Well, I'm not looking to become great; I just want to get rid of some of the "self" I seem to carry around. And want a more loving spirit that will think first about others and not just about me, me, me.
Jesus did become great even when He wasn't looking for greatness because He accepted the role God selected for Him. He went forward to totally accept His death on the Cross without a fight. He didn't assert Himself in any way because it was not in Him to do so. HIs spirit was filled with love for God and love for the world. And that includes me!!
If I am to follow Jesus, I need to be on the same path as Jesus and remember it's not about me! Jesus didn't look for approval and neither should I. Situations that I run into, I hope, shall not find me so assertive and protective of myself. I pray I will show the love and acceptance that Jesus put within me for all occasions, tough or more tough. Difficulties come and go, but love is bound to stay forever.
If you are willing, say a prayer for me to do a better job of accepting difficulties. OK?
Dot, you are very close to my heart. You are such a good friend, and so is Richard. Bless you both!
Stay well, now, my friends, and thanks for letting me pour out my heart onto you today.
God is good....all the time. All the time...God is good.
Love from MN........Jo
But, there have been some things about living in our little abode that have been a bit hard to accept and have been, I admit, rather stifling. We get a ton of traffic noise from the highway just going past our development, for one thing, and our upstairs neighbor who is a nice young woman just now going through a divorce, is practicing tap dancing, or some such, I think. So, I am having to practice acceptance, instead of becoming assertive.
Now, I know there are occasions when being assertive is important, but I don't think this is one of them. First, we bought this place sight unseen, so we cannot complain that the road noise comes into our open windows. Secondly, we could close our windows, but choose not to. And, to whom would I become assertive?
As far as the young divorcee is concerned, whatever she is practicing up there, she has every right to do so. It is not hurting me in any way, not even my ears. I can be assertive in prayer for her, but not for myself. But I am convinced that assertiveness is just about me and not about God, in this case.
I learned something about acceptance vs assertiveness from the Book of Luke, Chapter 9, Verse 48. Jesus is speaking and says, "Whoever accepts me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great
by accepting , not asserting. Your spirit, not your size makes the difference." (THE MESSAGE)
Well, I'm not looking to become great; I just want to get rid of some of the "self" I seem to carry around. And want a more loving spirit that will think first about others and not just about me, me, me.
Jesus did become great even when He wasn't looking for greatness because He accepted the role God selected for Him. He went forward to totally accept His death on the Cross without a fight. He didn't assert Himself in any way because it was not in Him to do so. HIs spirit was filled with love for God and love for the world. And that includes me!!
If I am to follow Jesus, I need to be on the same path as Jesus and remember it's not about me! Jesus didn't look for approval and neither should I. Situations that I run into, I hope, shall not find me so assertive and protective of myself. I pray I will show the love and acceptance that Jesus put within me for all occasions, tough or more tough. Difficulties come and go, but love is bound to stay forever.
If you are willing, say a prayer for me to do a better job of accepting difficulties. OK?
Dot, you are very close to my heart. You are such a good friend, and so is Richard. Bless you both!
Stay well, now, my friends, and thanks for letting me pour out my heart onto you today.
God is good....all the time. All the time...God is good.
Love from MN........Jo
Friday, August 30, 2013
Dear Dot
Yes, this is a new heading of an old girl's blog. Times have changed.
Places have changed. And Jo is a-changing, too. Let me first explain
why I will now show a salutation on my blog which I have never done
before.....
Dear Dot:
Now, for those of you who do not know Dot, and I regret that you do not know her, I wanted to continue a special friendship with the lady that you may come to know as Dot. Dot had a terrible stroke some years back. She couldn't speak. She still can't walk without help. But Dot has a fighting spirit and is learning all sorts of new things. She does puzzles. She does some printing of numbers and letters. And she loves to be read to. We have read all kinds of things from fairy tales (and she has a great collection) to some stories about people who have found themselves in difficult situations and triumphed. The last time we read, Dot followed with her eyes as I read the pages. Dot is a true lady, was a fine pianist, and is a real friend. My blog will be written to her, that she will believe I will never forget her and that she and her husband, Dick, are forever friends.
So, if anyone else is reading this today, just know that I'm writing to her first- to keep my promise- but you are welcome to read whatever "stuff" I need to say to Dot.
Well, Dot, we arrived here safely if not somewhat exhausted. The house was in pretty good shape with minor changes to be made. But one big change happened immediately. Our eldest daughter, Peggy, if you remember,is a Trauma Nurse. Now, she hurt her back sometime ago and still suffers.She had an old house which she had done lots of work on and because her job put her on a temporary schedule called perdium, she decided to sell her house so she wouldn't have such high expenses every month. She did just that, but found she wasn't able to get another job except in hospital work...and she would be right back where she was before. So, rather than have her be a vagabond (her own word), she stays with us in a trundle-type bed in our second bed-room/office.
She is looking for another job, but so far no takers. We love having her here, and she is a great help in getting our health needs sorted out properly and in keeping appointments with our new docs.
New Docs! That took some effort, but think all is going to be good for us. The new dentist to replace my tooth? I haven't seen him yet. but he is close by.
I'm sad to say that I haven't been as faithful in my Bible Study as I was but so many things keep coming up...like taking our tests for new driver's licenses! Yuck! That's tomorrow morning!
But I did have a special message a couple of days ago, but couldn't get into the blog yet. Our son, Mitch, got me in just tonight. ( He is a dear!) I'll give you a bit of my journaling.
In First John 4:18, John says to us, "There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fear of life- fear of death, fear of judgment- shows one is not yet fully formed in love." The Word goes on to say: "We, though, are going to love- love and be loved. First we were loved; now we love. God loved us first."
This really hit home. So many of my problems with people have been rooted in fear. I can see it so easily now. Fear of not being understood, fear of being inadequate, fear of being wrong. REALLY! Then Sunday, at a new church, the young minister said, "There is not room for fear! Stand up and stand tall!" That's what I'm going to do.
You, too, Dot! Stand as tall as you can! And in no time you're going to be walking without help! And I hope and pray for you daily that this will be so. And that you will come to love my Lord so that someday we will be in HIS house together.
I am praying for you and me that God will help us to recognize fear and go immediately to Him where He will help us to stand tall.
Reaching up there and on my tippy-toes! Love you Dot, and all others who may have peeked in!
Number One Blog from MN! Jo
Dear Dot:
Now, for those of you who do not know Dot, and I regret that you do not know her, I wanted to continue a special friendship with the lady that you may come to know as Dot. Dot had a terrible stroke some years back. She couldn't speak. She still can't walk without help. But Dot has a fighting spirit and is learning all sorts of new things. She does puzzles. She does some printing of numbers and letters. And she loves to be read to. We have read all kinds of things from fairy tales (and she has a great collection) to some stories about people who have found themselves in difficult situations and triumphed. The last time we read, Dot followed with her eyes as I read the pages. Dot is a true lady, was a fine pianist, and is a real friend. My blog will be written to her, that she will believe I will never forget her and that she and her husband, Dick, are forever friends.
So, if anyone else is reading this today, just know that I'm writing to her first- to keep my promise- but you are welcome to read whatever "stuff" I need to say to Dot.
Well, Dot, we arrived here safely if not somewhat exhausted. The house was in pretty good shape with minor changes to be made. But one big change happened immediately. Our eldest daughter, Peggy, if you remember,is a Trauma Nurse. Now, she hurt her back sometime ago and still suffers.She had an old house which she had done lots of work on and because her job put her on a temporary schedule called perdium, she decided to sell her house so she wouldn't have such high expenses every month. She did just that, but found she wasn't able to get another job except in hospital work...and she would be right back where she was before. So, rather than have her be a vagabond (her own word), she stays with us in a trundle-type bed in our second bed-room/office.
She is looking for another job, but so far no takers. We love having her here, and she is a great help in getting our health needs sorted out properly and in keeping appointments with our new docs.
New Docs! That took some effort, but think all is going to be good for us. The new dentist to replace my tooth? I haven't seen him yet. but he is close by.
I'm sad to say that I haven't been as faithful in my Bible Study as I was but so many things keep coming up...like taking our tests for new driver's licenses! Yuck! That's tomorrow morning!
But I did have a special message a couple of days ago, but couldn't get into the blog yet. Our son, Mitch, got me in just tonight. ( He is a dear!) I'll give you a bit of my journaling.
In First John 4:18, John says to us, "There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fear of life- fear of death, fear of judgment- shows one is not yet fully formed in love." The Word goes on to say: "We, though, are going to love- love and be loved. First we were loved; now we love. God loved us first."
This really hit home. So many of my problems with people have been rooted in fear. I can see it so easily now. Fear of not being understood, fear of being inadequate, fear of being wrong. REALLY! Then Sunday, at a new church, the young minister said, "There is not room for fear! Stand up and stand tall!" That's what I'm going to do.
You, too, Dot! Stand as tall as you can! And in no time you're going to be walking without help! And I hope and pray for you daily that this will be so. And that you will come to love my Lord so that someday we will be in HIS house together.
I am praying for you and me that God will help us to recognize fear and go immediately to Him where He will help us to stand tall.
Reaching up there and on my tippy-toes! Love you Dot, and all others who may have peeked in!
Number One Blog from MN! Jo
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
A new blog for a new state from a substitute blogger
Hi this is Jo's son Mitch writing. I have often read Mom's blogs at 'Josnewlife' and always marveled at her insights and ideas. Well, she's back with a new blog! You can still read all the old blog entries at Josnewlife, but now her new posts will be coming from ....... da daaaaa!
Minnesota Jo!
You heard it first here, folks. Enjoy! --MJ
Minnesota Jo!
You heard it first here, folks. Enjoy! --MJ
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