Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Psalm 37:23, 24

This was in the Daily Light this morning.  I was impressed by the words; The Lord upholds him with his hand.  A marvelous truth indeed!  At times I find words of encouragement are welcome and helpful, but I am surprised when the Lord offers, not only his word, but his hand!  Is this not true?  The Lord takes me by the hand, personal guidance!  Thank you, Lord, grasp my outstretched hand and walk with me, and may I walk with you, this the most meaningful fellowship of all!

At times I might feel like I have no strength at all.   That is a wonderful thing, for then the hand of the Lord grasps me anew and on we go in life, squeezing hands!

Glenn does an amazing job of preparing food. Here he is making sure all of us have hamburgers on this happy July 4th.  We love Glenn’s cooking.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.”

Matthew 10:24-39

Jesus gets specific.  He speaks the obvious – a disciple is not above his teacher.  How true because once the disciple equals or excels his or her teacher.  I am a teacher in the usual sense of the word.  I always aimed to teach in such a way that I will, at some point, not be necessary for my student has become my teacher.

If I understand Jesus correctly, he assumes that we will be his students all our lives, always needing a teacher. In worldly terms, the student eventually becomes the teacher.  In spiritual terms that is not applicable because we will never be equal to or above our great teacher, Jesus Christ.

Nor, in spiritual terns, will the servant ever replace his or her master or teacher. At first I realized that I was trained to help my students get on without me.  That is not true at all in my relationship with Jesus.

Woe is me if I think I can get smart enough not to need Jesus!  Jesus said we should be like Him, but we should never compete with Him as master of our lives.  Amen!

This plant has been ours for some time now, not sure when we got it.  I am amazed by the dazzling colors and the exuberant life of this flower.  These blooms last a long, long time at our place.  The scheen in the red area is striking but welcoming.

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Colossians 3:9 – 11

The “new self” does not lie. Rather, your new self, reborn of God’s Spirit and alive in Him, is being renewed in knowledge and in the image of its Creator.

What does “renewed in knowledge” mean?  I suppose “knowledge” is what we learn or know.  We who are in Christ learn to live as a “new self.”  Therefore, we have new knowledge that only the born again ones have, it is knowledge like that of its creator.  How does our Creator see us?  Certainly as equally loved by God, he being the common factor.

A striking new knowledge, Paul writes, is that in Christ we are all one, no matter what our background, race, language or whatever. Our cultures try to isolate ourselves from all others.  Our new self has none of that but embraces all those whom God loves and saves.  All!  Now, soul, is there anything more radical than that?

I am a learner on this journey, as are you.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:8-9

I recall as a new believer, at age 16, I was somewhat aware of the sin question.  I had other problems to take to Jesus.  But as I sought to live with the Lord on a daily basis I found that even though I am saved and love Jesus dearly, yet I was and am a sinner, seeking, at times, my own way.

The door opened for me gradually, I must say.  At some point I realized that though saved by the blood of Jesus I am still a sinner, at least not perfect in my walk and thoughts of God.  I further found, praise God, that there is an answer to the problem.  It is simply confessing that I am a sinner but that I must be saved, no matter what.  I can not save myself, that is the work of God.  My role is to repent and to rely completely on God.  He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins as we plead for forgiveness.

This has been the most dramatic and life-changing thing I ever experienced, and still do.  God is merciful to me, a sinner, and is with me as I live, cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  This is my prayer!  As simple, but as life changing as that!

This has been the most dramatic and life-changing thing I ever experienced, and still do.  God is merciful to me, a sinner, and is with me as I live, cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  This is my prayer!  As simple, but as life changing as that!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9 – 10

Paul does not tell us in this letter what his trials were when he wrote this letter to the brothers and sisters in Corinth.  He pled to the Lord to help him face the many obstacles that try to prevent him from following Jesus Christ.  These trials had something to do with what he was learning about God’s mercy and grace in Corinth.

Paul wrote that he himself was presented with many daunting challenges as he walked with the church in Corinth. One thing is certain, Paul felt weak and helpless.  Now what?  That is exactly what God wants to teach him, that we present to God not our strengths but our weakness.  Of that we have plenty!  And that is what every person in the group of believers is just like that.

It looks hopeless.  But, as we ponder the gracious ways of God we realize that we want to be strong but the Lord wants to teach us weakness.  He does that by allowing insults, hardships, persecutions and in difficulties!  The very things we try to avoid are the way to hope!

It is clear, says Paul, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”  Can it be?  It definitely is!

These wee flowers are in our garden.  I think Jane planted them.  In any case they are so luxurious I had to take a few shots of them, without knowing what they are.  In any case the beauty is impressive.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:6

Today, praise God, I turn 91!  That is venerable, certainly.  Dear Anna Ruth is a year older!  I mark my day with a word from the Lord, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

My days of “doing” are in the past, so to speak.  That is according to the ministry that I had through these many years in many situations.  I have time to reflect now and I walk with God in seeing my life in context.  Times change, ministry changes but Jesus’ walk with me does not change, no matter what year or decade!

My walk with God should be full of grace, not hardness and judgement.  I am a sinner, being saved by grace, I have no right to judge others according to my standard.  I must apply the salt, spiritual sweetening, to the wounds of others.  As I am being healed so others walk likewise with God.

The word of the Lord rings in my ears, are you responding with grace or with anger and judgement?  Do you answer people with grace or harshness?  Ouch.  Lord, teach me to respond like you do!

So God’s birthday gift to me today is this lovely word of grace and encouragement.

I snapped this wee flower in our garden.  Any idea of what it is?