LOVE WELL; LIVE BLESSED..... DEAR DOT:

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!

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...