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

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.