Sufferings

     Jesus was just like you and me when He was on earth.  He was human.  He hungered, he knew pain, denial, temptation, and all the infirmities we know today.  Yet, He was God's Son.  The point is that though Jesus went to prepare a place for us, He also knows our sufferings because He felt them.

His humanness as follows:  

     Matthew 1:25 "And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and He called His name Jesus."   Here we find that Jesus was born a human baby, and I am sure He caused Mary as much pain in birth as any other baby being born.  

     Luke 2:40  tells us that "...the child grew..." and again as a boy in verse 52, "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."

     When Jesus, as a small boy, stayed behind in Jerusalem, without His parents knowledge, He caused His parents to become anxious.  You see, they thought He had gone missing and had to go looking for Him and, when found, His mother asked, "...why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing."  (Luke 2:48b) Just like children today, Jesus did not stay close to His parents that day.  It wasn't intentional, but often children do things which cause their parents to become anxious unintentionally. 

     When we recognize Jesus as our Savior and receive the Holy Spirit, we are asked to acknowledge Him through baptism.  Jesus, Himself, acknowledged His Father through baptism.  Luke 3:21, "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."   

     After this Jesus went into the wilderness.  During His time here, He was tempted just as we are tempted by the devil every day.  Matthew 4:1 "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil."

     Next we find in Matthew 4:2 that Jesus "was afterward an hungered."  Again in Matthew 21:18 "...He hungered."  This occurred after the cleansing of the temple which we also read about in Matthew 21:12-13.  "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves.  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."  This tells me that Jesus had righteous indignation over what was going on in His Father's house just as we  have indignation over what we find going on around us.   

     Again we find the human side of Jesus in Mark 44:38, "And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow..."  Jesus needed sleep and rest just as we do.  Mark 6:31, And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while..."

     Before we even come to the part about the pain and suffering Jesus went through on the cross where He died to redeem us from our sin we are told in Mark 9:12 that Jesus will suffer. "...and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought."

     Just before Jesus' arrest He went through a time of agony in Gethsemane.  He "...began to be very heavy; and saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch."  (Mark 14) Jesus knew his fate.  He was deeply troubled and He needed His disciples with Him to watch and pray with Him.  In Luke 22 we find the depth of Jesus' agony.  "And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."  There are so many times we become depressed and sorrowful unto death.  We need others to console us.  Jesus knows our need for He had this same need.  Our consolation is that we know Jesus is there to walk us through the pain of suffering.  We often beg God to take our cup of suffering away just as Jesus did, "saying, Father, if thou be willing remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." 

     Let's not forget that Jesus was abandoned.  Peter is the only one I found mentioned who  "followed afar off."  But, in the end, Peter denied Jesus three times.  Luke 22:61, "And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.  And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." 

     Now, we get to the crucifixion.  Jesus knew pain and humiliation.   The Message describes a vivid account in Mark 15.  They "...put a crown plaited from a thorn bush on His head.  Then they began their mockery: 'Bravo, King of the Jews!'  They banged on His head with a club, spit on Him, and knelt down in mock worship.  After they had had their fun, they took off the purple cape and put His own clothes back on Him.  Then they marched out to nail Him to the cross."

    To add to Jesus' injury, just before His death, God briefly looked away as all of our sin was heaped onto Jesus for God knows no sin.  Jesus knew loneliness as He cried out "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" 

     Finally, we know that to have nails literally driven through our human hands, there has to be a remaining scar.  Thomas said in John 21, "...except I shall me in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe."   Jesus answered Thomas's unbelief.  "After eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither they hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing."

     Through the reading of His Word we come to realize that Jesus knew and knows all that we go through in life.  Romans 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

     So where is God in our suffering?  Read the 23rd Psalm. He leads be beside still waters, walks through the valley of the shadow of death with me,  and protects me from evil.  He restores my soul.   

       

    

      

    

 

Denying Jesus

We often wonder, or at least I do, if I will have the courage when needed to really stand up for Jesus.  Peter thought he would never deny Jesus, but he did.  If Peter failed, I fear my weakness is so much weaker.  Lord, I pray to never deny you.  

Denying Jesus

     "Deny me once, 

Deny me twice, 

Deny me thrice," 

was Peter's woe as the Son of Man was led away just moments ago. 

"No! Never," 

he proclaimed before the Lord was captured and chained.

"Deny me once, 

Deny me twice, 

Deny me thrice," 

resounded in Peter's ear as the One he held most dear

was dragged through the streets, bloodied from head to feet. 

"Deny me once, 

Deny me twice,

Deny me thrice."
comes a warning from heaven's paradise.

Listen closely to the Savior's sigh, for He hears our own weak cry;
a denial as reach for toward heaven's aisle.

"No! Never,"

a guilty claim, regarding His existence and His name.

                              Mary Crisp Jameson

     Titus 1:16  : "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

Abortion

There's a lot going on in our world today.  Division on issues is here and always has been.  Minds are closed to what is good for our country and its prosperity.  One of the worst divisions I see today is the idea of abortion.  I believe that a child in the womb is a living, breathing precious soul.  And, I must say,  I would be hard pressed to elect any official to represent our great nation who advocates abortion.  If we, the citizens, would drop to our knees in prayer and consider what the Word of God says I believe we would be humbled and once again be blessed.  America could be great again. 

2 Chronicles  "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins and will heal their land. "

But let me get back to the abortion issue.  Children are literally a "gift from God."  In Jeremiah 1:5  God said, "Before I formed you in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet to the nations."   Every child is created by God and created for a purpose.  When an innocent child is killed by abortion, God's creation and His purpose for that child is destroyed.  I am positive, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God is not pleased.

Now take a look at Mark 9:36-37, "And He took the child, and set him in the midst of them: and when He had taken Him in His arms, he said unto them.  Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but Him that sent me. 

To put aside our own selfish desires, accept responsibility for a child whom our acts help to create,  and to embrace that child finds us also embracing Christ. 

Based on God's Word, I would not be able to vote for an abortion advocate, would you?   If in doubt,  visit an abortion center and ask to actually see how that precious child is ripped out of the womb limb by precious limb with it head crushed and its brains spilling forth.

Tangles and Knots

     I think most everyone would like a touch of wisdom.  However, true wisdom comes from knowing God and His Word.  Jesus was constantly "expounding all things to his disciples" through His stories.  As The Message put it, "When He was alone with His disciples, he went over everything sorting out the tangles, untying the knots." 

     In life, we all need to put some effort into "sorting out the tangles and untying the knots" to get to the real truth.  It is a sorrowful life if our eyes are always open but we don't see  a thing, or if our ears are open and we don't understand a word, or if we constantly turn away from the truth because it is not what we want to hear, and it is not being said by someone we want it said by or in the way we want it said.

     We need to listen by seeing because, too often, we hear the words but don't see the follow-up in action and deed.   Our hearts and minds need to be open for truth and, I believe, this starts with love for ourselves, for others, and for our country.   Lets all pray for one another, from the least to the greatest, in every nation and in every color.    

1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." 

      

Privileged

     I am "white privileged" and proud of it.  In fact, anyone, black, red, yellow, or white, can be privileged.  Privileged means having special rights, advantages, or immunity. This means that anyone, regardless of the color of their skin, can be privileged.  Privileged does not necessarily mean having money but rather having special rights to do something desirable, like seeking God through all my trials and letting His desires become my desires.   

     What makes me privileged, by my definition, is that I have special rights and access to God.  He is with me every step I take.  I have advantages because I am covered by his amazing death on the cross for my sins.  I am immunized from my own human weakness and sin.  By his stripes I have salvation because I believe in His name.   We are all created equal in His sight, so lets all choose to be privileged in and through Christ Jesus who died for us.  

     John 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Mouth Issues

     The new year always finds me resolving to do better with reinforcing healthy eating and controlling my weight.  There is much to be said about gluttony and how much I put into my mouth.  However, it is just not excessive eating which defines gluttony.  When I consider what enters my mouth, I also have to consider what Jesus told Peter in Matthew 15:17-20a  "Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man..." 
     May the new year also find me resolving to control what comes out of my mouth and my heart. 

The Wall

     Our President wants to build a wall, and I believe he should.  Our land needs a barrier of protection in whatever form it takes so the people who really love this country can enter according to the laws of the land, and the people, who already are citizens, can live in peace and without fear of change from what we hold dear. 
     That being said, I also need to build a barrier to keep the "enemy" away.  I need to insure only those who love me can enter my space.  My barrier should consist of steel armor to protect me fully from the enemy. 
     I am told to put on a belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness.  My shoes should be the peace which comes from the Good News so that I will be prepared.  I should, in addition, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil and his deceit.  My helmet will be Salvation, and my sword the Spirit - the very Word of God.  My real protection and barrier comes from "taking a knee" by praying at all times and on every occasion. 

Ephesians 6:10 "A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."

#2018 vs. 2019

     As 2019 rolls in, I have to ask, "What did I do in 2018?"
1.  I vacationed with my church group in Israel.  This was a once in a lifetime experience.  I can't believe I was actually able to walk where Jesus walked.  However, I did not have to journey to Israel to walk with Jesus.  He walks  with me everywhere I am - every day.
2.  I lost weight, but then I gained it back.  It seems my weight likes to walk with me too.
3.  I completed a Bible Study class and actually did not miss an assignment.  This took determination.
4.  I continued reading through the Bible.  This was and is rewarding.  I can never stop learning and getting to know my God.  To be able to study God's Word is a true blessing.
5.  I refinished my grandmother's dresser/washstand which is about 100 years old.  I rate this with pride as an accomplishment. 
6.  I enjoyed a trip to Branson with my brother and his wife.  This was a quality few days with family.
7.  I kept in touch and met for visits with my sisters.  I just can't get enough of family.
8.  I watched a lot of Hallmark movies; some new and some repeats.  This took care of a few boring moments, but then it also created boredom.
9.  I ended the year with two sets of family.  Although busy, I will cherish the moments.
     So what do I propose to accomplish in 2019?  I hope to, daily, whip up my own 3-cup recipe as follows: 
                1 cup of kindness
                1 cup of forgiveness
                1 cup of love
        Mix these together until well-blended and share with all whom I come in contact. 
     I end this with Paul's closing letter in 2 Corinthians, "...Be joyful.  Grow to maturity.  Encourage each other.  Live in harmony and peace.  Then the God of love and peace will be with you."  Happy New Year!