Jesus tell us not to worry about the future

Do Not Worry
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)

Here again we have a message from Jesus instructing us not to worry about the future. I find this passage from the Scriptures is especially encouraging as it shows you that it is less about the big picture, and more about doing the right move as much as you can - at least that's my current interpretation of it. Jesus is basically saying that yeah, theres planning, there's money you're going to need, there's bills that are going to need to be paid, but look beyond that. Look into the now and understand that living the best life you can live this very day will take care of all the things you need.

Granted I'm sure some people will like to argue this and say that this won't yield good results and you will go poor and I ask the question, have you ever tried it? To this very day I try my best to live each day like this and it seems like a very solid way to structure your life. Rather than worrying about things and stressing out over things I find it much more valuable to live in the current moment as full and productive as you can be. This doesn't mean I don't plan and I don't think about the future, I most certainly do. I think the difference is that I don't worry about it. I understand that what happens happens and I take each day one at a time. If you spend each day worrying about tomorrow you will never get anything done.

It's okay to waste time doing something that is not part of your normal agenda. It's okay to spend an entire day helping somebody in need of help. I find that the more I try to live by this way of life the more things start to come together.

Peace and love,

Sue


"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

No One Knows the Future

The Day and Hour Unknown
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:36-51)


We all worry about the future. We spend alot of time, looking at the future, planning for the future, replanning, worrying about our plan, worring that our plan will not work, worrying that we haven't planned enough. The funny thing is that all the planning in the world will not help us. We cannot plan for the future. We cannot possibly account for all the variances that can happen in order to have a successful future plan. The reality of life is, the future is not in our hands.

Only God knows the future, and the most comforting truth I can tell you is that the future is in God's hands -- and His hands alone.

We can take comfort in two very important truths. First, the future is in God's hands, and nothing takes Him by surprise. He is sovereign, and behind the scenes He is still at work to accomplish His purposes. The Bible reminds us that "The Lord reigns forever" (Psalm 146:10). Even when the future seems dark, we can turn to God and trust the future (and our lives) into His hands.

Second, never forget that even when the future is unclear, God is with us and helps us when we know Jesus. The Apostle Paul faced great danger and uncertainty, but he could still say, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13). No matter what the future holds, we do not face it alone if we know Jesus.

What does that mean for us? It means simply that all will work out for the best because a benevolent force is in charge. It means that we should surrender to the direction of God who possesses a broader perspective. The comfort comes from the conviction that God always has the best interests of the faithful at heart.

So we must give up the idea that we are in control. Thank God for that!!

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Who do you listen to?

1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
(1 John 4:1-6)

The message in this passage from John's letter is fairly simple. Be careful who you listen to. The world does not have all the answers. It seems that the world believes that to be happy you need to have money, status, and power. Who you know is more important than who you are as a loving, caring, person. The world judges success by the size of your bank account, rather than by the size of your heart.

But as John says, we Christians are really not of the world. We believe that loving one another is the way we should live. We should share what we have with one another. Our symbol of love and success is the cross. Our model of the successful person is Jesus who died for us out of love.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies which is certainly not the way of the world. But in the long run, all the money, power, and success will not last. What will last is the loving power of God, the redeeming power of Jesus, the inspirational power of the Holy Spirit. That is where real success lies.

So, who will you listen to?

Peace and love,

Sue


"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Wisdom Is Meaningless

12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
15 What is twisted cannot be straightened;
what is lacking cannot be counted.

16 I thought to myself, "Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge." 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief.
(Ecclesiastes 1:12-18)

We all try to be in control. Control of situations, control of events, control of people, and especially control over our future. We foolishly beleive that we can do this. What we don't realize, is that we really don't have control over anything. Earthly wisdom is meaningless
We can study, and try to learn as much as we can because we think that this is the way to gain control. We think that wisdom comes from knowledge. We think that wisdom comes when we gain wealth or power.
The real wisdom comes when we realize that the only one in control is God.

Real wisdom is giving up the fight for control, and letting God be God and have faith that God knows what we need. Real wisdom is opening of self to God and knowing that we can never be in control. Real wisdom is knowing that we do not want to be in control. Real wisdom is knowing that God knows all and God knows best. THe only real wisdom is God's wisdom.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Imitating Christ's Humility

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:1-11)

Jesus is the ultimate example of humility. Jesus was God, the Creator of the universe, and He became a man. When Jesus came to earth from heaven he possessed two natures – a divine nature and a human nature. He never ceased being God but He set aside the glory He had with His Father in heaven and humbled Himself to become a man.

Jesus could have come to earth and demanded that everyone worship Him all day and night. He could have been the wealthiest man on earth with riches beyond imagination. The Bible teaches us that He came to be a servant and to do the will of God the Father. Jesus was not selfish; He focused on doing what His father sent Him to do.

Practicing humility does not mean that we view everyone else as superior, better or more talented, but that Christian love sees others as worthy of preferential or special treatment. Romans 12:10, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” We honor people because every person is special, created by God in His image. We need to guard our hearts against prejudice and jealousy towards other people, and serve one another in love just as Jesus did.

We worry too often about our “position” or “status” or getting proper recognition for things we have done. We have to remember that God’s recognition is more important than human praise, and He will lift us up in His time. Just remember Jesus loves us just as we are.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Cast the first stone vs. love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:1-11)

The Law of Moses demanded death for this guilty woman, and Jesus knew that. Adding to His dilemma, however, was the fact that Roman law did not prescribe the death penalty for adultery. Furthermore, the Romans had taken away the right of the Jews to impose capital punishment under their own religious Law. Therefore, if Jesus declared, "She is guilty; put her to death," He would have been in violation of Roman law, and could even have been accused of trying to incite the Sanhedrin to rebel against Roman authority. This would be treason; a crime punishable by death. However, if Jesus refused to condemn her to death He could be charged by these religious leaders with contradicting the Law of God.

Jesus was in a very delicate situation. It certainly appeared there was no way out! He was "damned if you do, damned if you don't." It was not the woman who was "on trial" that morning in the temple courtyard -- it was Jesus!

Our Lord's response, however, was the one thing they had not counted on. They thought they had all bases covered; every response calculated and counter-measures in place. What they didn't count on was silence. Jesus never said a word. Rather, He "stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground."

Finally, "He straightened up, and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.' Again, He stooped down, and wrote on the ground". Once again, this was a response the Jewish leaders who had conspired to entrap the Lord had not anticipated. It caught them completely unawares. Suddenly, they were "on trial" before the crowd. According to Jewish law, in any case involving capital punishment, the witnesses must begin the stoning. Jesus wisely places the force of the dilemma back on His accusers -- "Let the first stone be cast by the one who dares to presume to be above sin in the sight of God!" In other words, which one of you is not also worthy of death, if the truth were but known?
After the last accuser had drifted away, Jesus stands up, turns to the woman, and says, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" The woman answers, "No one, Lord." Jesus declares, "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." In that simple act of forgiveness, Jesus displayed the power of grace, compassion, mercy, and love. In the actions of the religious leaders the people had beheld the face of evil; in the actions of Christ they had beheld the face of God!

What does all this mean for us? It is easy to throw stones. Any fool can pick up a rock and hurl it. It takes a real follower of Christ, however, to rise above that human nature and evidence the spirit of the Lord when confronted with the faults and failings of another. Forgiveness, mercy, understanding and acceptance do not come easily, but they must come if we are to be ambassadors of grace and ministers of reconciliation. It's easy to be worldly in our dealings with one another; no effort is required. The real challenge is to be Christ-like. When you are tempted to point a finger at another and utter words of condemnation, remember the finger of our Lord as it wrote in the sand. In a way, that finger was directed directly toward you and me. Perhaps our Lord's message in the sand that day long ago was simply a list of concepts and characteristics that too frequently indict us all by our lack of observance: Compassion ... Mercy ... Forgiveness ... Acceptance ... Love ... GRACE!

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Jesus forgives our failings

Jesus Reinstates Peter
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" (John 21:15-19)

In this discourse, Jesus forgives Peter. You would not expect Jesus to even consider Peter for the important job of looking after the flock. But Jesus could see his heart and knew he was the man for the job. Why? Peter grew through his mistake. Peter reformed himself after his mistake. Peter knew what it was to be human, and Peter grew to accept himself and his humanity and move on from his sinfulness. Three times Peter had denied Jesus by a fire on Holy Thursday evening but now three times by a different fire on this Easter day Jesus asks Peter to look after the sheep. Jesus forgave Peter and had confidence in him to make him "the Rock" of his church.

Despite our sinfulness Jesus forgives us and has confidence in us. In the second letter to Timothy we read, “We may be unfaithful, but he is always faithful, for he cannot deny his own self” (2 Tim 2:13). Jesus does not lock us in by mistakes of the past or present. We are given room to outgrow the mistakes of the past. Paul wrote, “for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here.”

If we find it difficult to accept ourselves with our faults and failings, then its no wonder we find it difficult to believe that God can forgive our faults and failings. What happened to Peter can happen to us also if we have the faith to accept God’s love and acceptance of us. Jesus forgives us and accepts us after we have denied him, after we have disbelieved, after we have given up, after we have sinned. It takes an act of faith to believe in God, and it takes an act of faith to believe that God forgives us and accepts us and our repentance after sin. Sometimes faith is the courage to accept acceptance, the courage to accept God’s forgiveness and acceptance of ourselves. Peter recovered his faith after his despair, he was able to say “Yes Lord, you know that I love you”.

So let us not allow the past to overcome us. Instead let us be like Peter and repent and reform ourselves and allow the Lord to put us to work for him again.

Peace and love,

Sue


"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

God's love removes all fear

"1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17" 'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.'[c]
22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him:
" 'I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
27because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.' (Acts 2:1-28)

When we let God take over our life we will start to live a life of love just as the disciples in the upper room did when they received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. If our heart is always open to love everyone then we keep our heart and life open for God to live in us. We can't do the one without the other automatically happening. God is the Creator of love. God showed us perfect love by coming to die for us. God and love are bundled up in one package. If we have one, we will have the other.

Then, if we let God and love rule our lives, we have no reason to fear. We have no reason to fear judgment and we have no reason to fear anyone else. It doesn't matter what anyone might do, we are safely tucked in the arms of God and we know that whatever happens, we will one day be in Heaven. These bodies we have are just temporary bodies. We will have new ones in Heaven. This earth, as it is now, is only temporary. There is nothing on this earth worth hanging on to and worrying over. It will all be burned up and wiped away in the end and a new earth will be in it's place. The minute fear and worry hits, the first thing a person needs to do is start praying. If someone is causing us to worry, that's the time to pray for help to see them the way God sees them and to love them as God loves them.

If we say we love God and then retaliate or seek revenge against someone, we are a liar. That's not just my words. The Bible says it. We can't hate another or strike out at another if we love God. When we love someone, we don't want to do anything that would hurt them. When we hate someone, we are hating someone that God dearly loves, and we are disappointing God with our actions. Notice the Bible also points out that if we can't love someone we can see, how can we love someone we can't see? So if we cannot show love to those we around us that we can see, then we don't have the kind of love that can love Someone we cannot see. Love and God come in one package. We can't have one and not have the other.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

No one can separate us from God

"31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, either the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord". (Romans 8:31-39)

This passage encourages and comforts us pointing out that no matter what situations we face, none of them can separate us from the love that God has towards us. Also, no one, including people and evil spirits, can take us away from the love of God. This is very important for us to know and believe, especially when things seem to be difficult or impossible for us to manage, when the way ahead appears to be totally dark, when we do not know which way to turn or to whom to turn to. We need to remember at such times that even though God has allowed us to face such situations, His love for us has not changed a bit. He has permitted such things to happen to us because He knows that we should be able to bear them with the help of His grace. If we love God, God will cause all these things to work together for our good. Trust in God's love and know that no matter what is happening to you, you do not face these things alone. God is always with us.

Peace and love,

Sue


"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Jesus is our Living Hope

"3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls". (1Peter 1:3-9)

The Christian life can be a glorious, hopeful existence even though the individual may face war, famine, illness, and other perils common to human existence. We do not, necessarily, hope for God to bless us with earthly riches, nor do we expect Him to redeem His promises to us with earthly blessing. Our hope rests in the promise of an everlasting life near to God when Christ comes again. When under persecution, being put to death for their beliefs, Jesus' early followers died, gladly, a horrible and painful death which they could have avoided by denying their Saviour. They did so because they had seen and heard the Christ. They had seen His miracles which proved Him to be what He claimed Himself to be, the Son of God. To them Jesus was the center of their hope. Time has not changed anything. Jesus is, today, the center of our hope, both in this life and forever after: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Blessed are you

The Beatitudes
1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12)


The message of Jesus was one of humility, charity, and brotherly love. He taught transformation of the inner person. Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, virtues in life which will ultimately lead to reward. Love becomes the motivation for the Christian. All of the Beatitudes have an eschatological meaning, that is, they promise us salvation, not in this world, but in the next. The Beatitudes initiate one of the main themes of Matthew's Gospel, that the Kingdom so long awaited in the Old Testament is not of this world, but of the next, the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus describes those who are truly fortunate, the lucky ones of their day. But it is not emperors, conquerors, priests, and the wealthy who enjoy this favor. Rather, it is the common people, those whom earthly success has largely passed by: the poor, the meek, the persecuted, the peacemakers. How can this be? Because though they may have been denied worldly success, what cannot be taken away from them is their potential to live rightly by one another. It is all too easy for those who enjoy the pleasures of this world to try to float above such obligations.

Jesus goes on to say that so long as ordinary people stand for the right things and do not retreat in their rightness before those who seem to have more power, what’s right will prevail. It’s their kingdom — a kingdom organized not from the top down, but from the bottom up. In the Beatitudes, Jesus offers a description of the community of goodwill his teaching will build in this world.

While the Beatitudes of Jesus provide a way of life that promises salvation, they also provide peace in the midst of our trials and tribulations on this earth. The message contained within the Beatitudes can give us hope that the trials we face today will not last forever. There is a better life waiting for us if we don't lose faith in the God who loves us. The Kingdom of Heaven is ours.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Judging Others

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye".(Matthew 7:1-5)

We know that judging others is wrong, but we do it anyway. However, we do not wish to be judged ourselves. We want to be accepted for who we are, yet, we cannot seem to accept others as they are. We want others to change, but we do not look at the things in our lives that need to be changed. We judge people by a single act, not realizing that there is so much more to the person than that they may do or say in one instance. If that is done to us we feel that it is unfair. So, how do we stop judging others?

Be aware.
If you find yourself being judgmental, stop yourself. This takes a greater awareness than we usually have, so the first step (and an important one) is to observe your thoughts, trying to notice when you’re being judgmental. This can be a difficult step. Remind yourself to observe.
Once you’re more aware, you can then stop yourself when you feel yourself being judgmental.

Understand.
Instead of judging someone for what he’s done or how he looks, try instead to understand the person. Put yourself in their shoes. Try to imagine their background. If possible, talk to them. Find out their story. Everyone has one. If not, try to imagine the circumstances that might have led to the person acting or looking like they do.

Accept.
Once you begin to understand, or at least think you kind of understand, try to accept. Accept that person for who he is, without trying to change him. Accept that he will act the way he does, without wanting him to change. The world is what it is, and as much as you try, you can only change a little bit of it. It will continue to be as it is long after you’re gone. Accept that, because otherwise, you’re in for a world of frustration.

Love.
Once you’ve accepted someone for who he is, try to love him, even if you don’t know him or even if you’ve hated him in the past. Love him as a brother, or love her as a sister, no matter who they are.

What good will loving someone do? Your love will likely only be limited. But it could have an affect on two people: yourself, and possibly on the person you’ve found love for. Loving others will serve to make yourself happier. Trust me on this one. Loving others can change the lives of others, if you choose to express that love and take action on it. I can’t guarantee what will happen, but it can be life-changing.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Jesus provides a great example to us

"12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them". (John 13:12-17)

As we have so often been taught, washing another's feet is an act of humility when we perform it as Christ instructs us. While it indeed should be done with a humble attitude, after a more intensive study of Christ's instructions concerning it, we will find a deeper and more meaningful reason why it is so vital that we do it with a correct understanding. This deeper meaning will help us realize how important Christ's example is to us today.

At first, it may also seem strange that, while the other three gospel writers focus on the bread and wine that Christ instituted that same evening—and make no mention of foot washing—John does just the opposite. We must remember that John, as the last of the gospel writers, fills in some of Jesus' acts and statements that the others left out of their gospels. The answer could be as simple as that John felt that the foot washing ceremony needed to be included in the New Testament canon. On the other hand, John probably recognized the direct connection between foot washing and the awesome work of Christ in His life, death, and afterlife.

The foot washing ceremony, recorded in John 13:1-17, allows us a window into the character of Jesus. When we apply the lessons of this unique and instructive ritual in our lives, it gives us a better understanding of why some people struggle to find happiness yet never fully achieve it, and why others lives are running over with joy. The ability to be of service to another is a great gift.

Peace and love,

Sue


"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Jesus is always with us.

"16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20)


Who else, but Jesus, can sat that they will be with you until the end of the age and really mean it?
Jesus continues to dwell in his Church of fragile humans. Where, then, can we encounter him? Where can we find him? He is right around the corner; he is right beside me and right beside you. He hides himself in the poor, the despised, the little ones, the sick, in those who seek advice, in those deprived of freedom. He is in the ugly, in the outcast. He said: "I was hungry and you gave me food" (Mt. 25:35). He is present in every community that puts his teachings into practice. He is present even in a very small community such as the family or a group of friends or companions at work. In fact, two or three persons are enough, when united in his name (Mt. 18:20). When we pray, united in this way, he is present. Moreover, it is his presence that makes our petition pleasing to God. His presence assists and helps those who proclaim him to the people. He is present for us, who are called to give witness to him. He is present in those who were chosen to be his ministers. Finally, as you know, he is everywhere on earth. What more could we ask for? We must learn to discover Jesus where he is. We must permit him to address his divine words to us. Let us allow him to give us his powerful help.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Is Jesus looking for you?

"3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:3-7)


We have heard this parable many times and we think that we know what it means. Do you really believe that a good shepherd will leave 99 sheep to search for one? In reality that sounds pretty stupid. Because if he goes to find one sheep, the 99 sheep will scatter because they have no leader. The will be eaten by wolves with no one to protect them. It is not sound business sense to go after one. The good shepherd in this case will cut his losses and pay closer attention to the 99 so he won't lose any more.

Jesus wasn't just talking about any good shepherd. Jesus was talking about himself. Jesus is not happy if even one of his flock (us) gets lost. Because Jesus loves each one of us, he will look for his lost sheep until he can bring them back into the fold. Jesus does not cut his losses, and concentrate his efforts on the 99 who did not get away. He will look for us and call to us until he finds us. He will not stop, he will not let one of his sheep stay lost. When he hears us cry out, he will come to get us, where we are. We don't even have to go to him, he will come to us because of his great love for us. And he celebrates that his lost sheep was found.

Are you lost? Call out to Jesus and he will come and care for you.
Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

How do we see God?

Who is God?
"I am the Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the end," says the Lord God. "I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come--the Almighty One."
(Revelation 1:8)

Does God love us?
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16-17).

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10).

Why does God love us?
26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth,] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good”. (Genesis 1:26-31)

God is the father/mother of creation. God is our eternal parent. God loves us because God chose to create us. We are God’s children. Just as good parents, we want our children to have all that we can give them. God wants to give us all that is good. Just as we want our children to know who we are, so God wants us to know who God is. We want to communicate our love for our children; God also wants to communicate God’s love for us. God desires a relationship with us, as does any good parent wants to have a relationship with their children.

The problem:
We are able to see our parents in the flesh. We do not see God in the flesh. Even though Jesus became one of us to display in the flesh God’s love for us, we do not see Jesus in the flesh today.

The solution:
What we know today of God, we know through faith. We trust in God’s goodness because we can see the beauty of God’s creation. We can also see the beauty of God in each other. We are all creations of God and God wants us to know how much God loves us. To feel the warmth of God’s love, we must open ourselves (just a little) so that God can take hold of our hearts and help us understand the depth of God’s love. God will help us if only we ask.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Jesus called us his friends.

15"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name".(John 15:15-16)

The friendship that Christians have with Jesus is absolutely amazing, especially when we realize that we can have a personal, intimate relationship with the Son of God, who is responsible for creating and upholding the universe. It's overwhelming to grasp the truth of what it means is to be a friend of Jesus Christ.
Real friendship looks at the heart, not just the "packaging." Genuine friendship loves for love's sake, not just for what it can get in return. True friendship is both challenging and exciting. It risks, it overlooks faults, and it loves unconditionally, but it also involves being truthful, even though it may hurt. Genuine friendship, also called "agape" love, comes from Jesus. Jesus calls us his friends and he laid down his life for us.

Peace, love, and friendship,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

The Message of God's Love

3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing". (John 9:3-7)

God never gets distracted from his plan. His plan from the beginning of time has been to have a personal relationship with people, so God's work always centers on that. Jesus knew that his purpose on earth was to do God's work, and he did that every day with all his energy. He found fulfillment in doing that. Jesus wants the message of God's love and care to be spread throughout the earth, and he set a good example for that himself. He knows that we cannot do his work on our own, that is why God's strength is so important. God's strength will help us to do the work he has for us in sharing his message.
The things we say and do can show others about God and how much he loves us. The longer we walk with God, the more ways he will show us how to be a part of his work. Just remember that we don't have to do his work through our own strength. God is the one who will give us the ability to do his work, and God will provide the help we need.

"6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus". (Philippians 1:6)

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

How do we sacrifice?

"12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other". (John 15:12-17)

There is a socially acceptable level of giving to those in need and that is what many people live by. They give the leftovers of their time and money, or they give only when it is convenient. But Jesus said that isn't good enough.His example of giving is the standard. He left the glory of heaven to come to earth and become a servant to the very people who would one day kill him. That is real sacrifice.
Jesus sacrifice is not about money, it is really about love. I guess that we have to ask ourselves what do we sacrifice. I am sure that all parents will say that they sacrifice for their children. We sacrifice for our friends in need. That is all good and should continue. However, is that the extent of our sacrifice? Jesus said that it was not enough to be good to those who love you; you must be good to those who are not good to you. That is not easy to do. But as Christians, we are called to love our enemies. Love is an outward sign of Christianity. "They will know we are Christians by our love". Love and sacrifice go together. What are we willing to do for those we love, even if they do not love us in return? Something to think about.

Peace and love,

Sue


"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Finding Courage in Prayer

39"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." 41He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground". (Luke 22:39-44)

Courage isn't always easy because it is not always popular. Courage is not so much about not being afraid, it involves tha wisdom to know the difference between right and wrong and then acting upon that wisdom by doing what is right even if you are standing alone. No one likes to feel alone. The thing is, you really are not alone. The Holy Spirit lives within you. He will give you the wisdom to make the right decisions. He will give you the courage to follow through on them. Jesus courageously faced his own death, but he was not alone. He prayed that he would have the courage to die. Now hopefully we will not have to pray to die as Jesus did, but we may need the courage to die to those problems that keep us prisoner such as addictions, anger, or sorrow.
We pray to have the strength to face these deaths with courage, knowing that God is there with us. If we pray for courage, God will help us through our troubled times and our own deaths.

Peace and love,

Sue
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

What does it mean to worship?

21Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:21-24)

Worship is described as a response to who God is. So when you understand in your heart who God is, how much he loves you, and what his plan is for the future, your response to that becomes your worship. Worship is personal, so you can certainly do it alone; you don't have to wait until Sunday morning rolls around to worship God. But worshiping with other people is important too, because it is an encouragement to others. It binds you together with other believers as sisters and brothers in God's family.
Jesus spent private time in prayer and conversation with his father, but his ministry was one of bringing people together in community.
Both elements are important. Just as you love to have a private conversation with a dear friend or loved one, so should be your private time with God. But also, isn't it great to have a party, to celebrate something within your community of friends and loved ones. Worshiping God in community should be a celebration. It should be a gathering of people who come together to celebrate God's love and goodness; to thank God for all he has given us. It should be a gathering of people who share their love for God. Gather together this week not because you are supposed to, but because you want to share your love for God with others.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

God has things under control

Do Not Worry
22Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well". (Luke 12:22-31)

Jesus knew that people can easily get caught up in worrying about having enough of the essential elements of life; food, clothing, and shelter.
If you are worrying about things, you won't have very much energy to think about God. I think the point Jesus was making is that worry does not change anything. He pointed out that God takes care of all creation. Plants and animals don't have to think about their needs because God supplies food for them and makes them grow. He will take care of you as well because he loves you more than anything else in his creation.
So, don't waste your time worrying about stuff. Don't worry about a future that may not happen. Spend that time and energy trusting in God and growing your faith in God's caring and concern for you. If you Let God be the focus of your life you won't have time to worry. Don't forget that God has things under control.

Peace and love,

Sue


"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered

26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God."
38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.(Luke 1:26-38)

Even though we recognize Mary as the mother of Jesus, the mother of God, I think we forget how brave she was to take on the magnitude of God's will.
It could not have been easy for her, given the times in which she lived.
She trusted in God unconditionally. She truly was a servant of the Lord.
It was absolutely correct for Mary to have trusted in God, because throughout her trials, especially the birth of Jesus and his death on the cross, God remained with her. She allowed God to be her strength and her comforter. She said "yes" to God and God did not disappoint her.
It is good for us to remember that when we say "yes" to God, the road we travel is not without its share of heartbreak, or sorrow. However, when we walk the road of God's will, God is there to be our strength, our comforter, our savior. We may travel the more difficult road, but our rewards for doing this far outweigh any bad things that may happen along the way.
We must trust God as Mary did, and say "I am the Lord's servant".

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Jesus is our compassonate shepherd

36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Matthew 9:36-38)

It is sometimes difficult for us to appreciate the depth of Jesus' emotions. We experience hurt and pain when others suffer. So did Jesus. But for him, compassion went so much deeper. The Greek word used for compassion in the scriptures, describes powerful feelings from deep within one's inner being. What was it that aroused such feelings in Jesus? Basically it was the tragic spiritual condition of his people. He looked at the crowds following him, he compared them to harassed, helpless sheep without a shepherd. The compassion felt by Jesus lead him to action. He ministered to the people both physically and spiritually.

Doesn't this sound a bit like our generation. In these troubled times, it appears that a great many of us are spiritually bankrupt. Doesn't it seem that we are a bunch of lost sheep looking for a shepherd.
It is time that we slow down our fast paced lives, quiet ourselves and and listen for the voice of our shepherd. Jesus is our shepherd, we just need to learn to recognize his voice calling out to us. He is always there.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Why do you worry? Why are you afraid?

Jesus asks us two questions: “Why do you worry? . . . Why are you afraid?” (Lk. 12:26 ; Mk. 8:26a)
The answer to the first question of Jesus seems almost trite — “Why do you
worry?” We want to say, “Do you KNOW what’s going on here?!!!” Yet in our hearts we know the truth that Jesus is trying to teach: for all our worry, we can’t add one minute to our lifespan — in fact modern medicine tells us just the opposite: our worry in fact may actually take years of our lifespan. But how do we cope with the temptation to worry? The answer to coping with worry is the answer to Jesus' second question:
We look at Jesus’ second question here: “Why are you afraid?” and we recognize truth: We worry because we’re afraid! We don’t have to be afraid, because Jesus is with us! If Jesus is in our boat, we can survive any storm. That too seems trite, but we can deepen our faith in Jesus’ saving presence by practicing that faith – turning over our worries to Jesus because we believe that he cares, and he can direct everything for our good. We can actually work on deepening our faith in the presence of Jesus with us, even if he’s asleep in the boat.
 Jesus keeps asking us: “Why do you worry? Why are you afraid?” because he wants two-way communication with us.
 Our worries are like cell phones we carry around but never use. I challenge you today: Every time you start worrying, “turn it over” and make the call to Jesus!
 Every time you start stressing over a hectic schedule, a wedding coming up in the family, an obligation you can’t meet, a sense of failure or inadequacy, “turn it over” and make the call to Jesus, who keeps asking: Why do you worry? Why are you afraid?
 As we learn to do this, with all the big and little worries that fill our days, we’ll be building communication towers that can link Sunday to Sunday, pulling Sunday faith into Monday worries and Tuesday fears, pulling worship into daily life.
c. We can also develop and deepen our love for Jesus, for as the First
Letter of John reminds us, “Perfect love casts out fear.” The more our love for God grows, the easier it will be to entrust whatever worries us to God. Reading Scripture — even for five minutes a day — can help here. Try spending a month with Isaiah 43 or John 15, or some of the gospel passages. I can almost guarantee that your love for and trust in God and Jesus will deepen.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

We have nothing to fear, God is with us.

"31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord".(Romans 8:31-39)

If God is at the center of our lives, we have nothing to fear from the outside world. We must know in our hearts that God is always with us and that God loves us unconditionally. However, we need to have faith in God's love in order to move forward on our Christian walk. We must be able to moment by moment surrender our wills and our lives to God and love one another as He loves us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are reminded that we are deeply loved and totally accepted in that love and that we will never be left alone or abandoned. Jesus tells us that we are significant. Love was the main message of Jesus. He loves us unconditionally, just as we are, with no strings attached to that love. God’s love is personal. He knows each of us personally and calls us to join in friendship with him personally. God never gives up on us or abandons us, but continually calls us to a loving relationship with Him.
If we recognize that God is always with us, we have no need to fear.

Peace and love,

Sue


"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

Jesus did not leave us alone

15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (John 14:15-21)

If Jesus had stayed on earth, his physical presence would have limited the spread of the gospel, for physically he could be in only one place at a time. After his ascension, he would be spiritually present everywhere through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent so God would be with and within his followers after Jesus returned to heaven. His Spirit would comfort them, guide them to know his truth, remind them of Jesus' words, give them the right words to say, and fill them with power.
Jesus instructed his disciples to witness to people of all nations about him. But they were told to wait first for the Holy Spirit. God had important work for them to do for Him, but they had to wait until they were given the strength and wisdom by the power of his Spirit.
The Spirit marks the beginning of the Christian experience. We cannot belong to Christ without his Spirit; we cannot be united to Christ without his Spirit; we cannot be adopted as his children without his Spirit; we cannot be in the body of Christ except by baptism in the Spirit. The Spirit is the power of our new lives. He begins a lifelong process of change as we become more like Christ. When we receive Christ by faith, we begin a personal relationship with God. The Holy Spirit works in us to help us become more like Christ.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)

With Jesus everyone has a new beginning

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:1-11)

Jesus did not focus His message on sin. He took people where they were at, not emphasizing their past mistakes. With Jesus, everyone had a new beginning. His approach was to teach love, love of God, and love of neighbor and everyone was a neighbor. His emphasis was on the need to care and to be concerned for God, for others and for all of God’s creation. It was a positive message about love and relationship.

Jesus spoke in very down to earth parables about life, His values and His vision of what our life could be. He preached a message of hope and freedom and salvation. He gathered thousands of people into a new community, a community in which there would be no vestige of the complex structure of laws and prohibitions and rituals that had so burdened their lives. Setting people free was part of His main goal. Bringing people back to His Father's family was part of His gift to us.
Jesus realized this life He was sharing was fragile and easily shattered, so He gave His apostles the authority to reconcile those who had drifted or damaged their friendship with God. He also gave His disciples a food, which would nourish the divine life within them. He promised His followers that when they accepted His friendship, He and His Father would come and live within them.
The gift of God's living within us is the basis for the natural growth of the divine life received in baptism, except in many cases the relationship is not nourished. The intimacy with God was the source of Jesus' own strength in His humanity. It flowed from the rich prayer life that He nourished constantly. This is the secret to intimacy with God. We must maintain constancy in prayer, because it develops within the soul a communion and a sharing of thoughts and feelings between the soul and God.
On earth, Jesus tried to help people understand that God knows our weakness and our efforts. He understands our struggling, our pain, and our determination to do better. As long as we are sensitive to the pain and loneliness of others, and reach out to heal, our own sins, as many as they may be, will be forgiven. This is the Good News!

Share the good news with someone you love.

Peace and Love,

Sue

"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)