Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

I do not know what the name is of this beauty.  It was in Jane’s garden.  I was struck by its brilliance, frizzled edges, bold yellow color and a compounded beauty that stays in the mind.

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.

I John 5:3

I have a little secret, if you love Jesus and you are saved by his blood you will be eager to obey God’s commands.  Not that we will keep them perfectly, but our hearts draw us to turn an eager ear to God to hear what he has to say about walking with Him and we look to Jesus to give us the power and wisdom to obey.  Simple as that!

In my own experience, I have proved many times the truth of John’s word.  I flew to Jesus to have my sins forgiven; I have a new appetite that desires what the “old man” despised.  The enemy of our souls, Satan, never encourages us to follow Jesus, never.  He is against this more than anything else.  The secret to life in Christ is to recognize that we are new creatures, with newly created, obedient hearts.  We have turned our backs to the voice of Satan.

If we see obedience like this, it is a hug blessing.  We walk with God in purity and faith.

Not the most beautiful or graceful, but bursting to catch the sun.  We love our busch, at the swing.  It is a vibrant, hardy, most beautiful blossoming  vine.  As I recall it is a trumpet vine.

We had the great joy of being neighbors to Jane and Glenn as they hosted their family from Boston and Snow Hill.  Here is the bunch.  Not a bad looking bunch, don’t you think?  Isaac has arms around Jonathan and his left around Eric.  Emily and Jane beside them make a good match. Emily finished High School and plans to enter college in September.  She is interested in health.  In the front row are the twins, Jack and Ben.  A most wonderful time for all.

Adults include Heather, Glenn, Anna Ruth and Sara.

Health

Eight or so months ago I went through a difficult patch.  Huge things were happening in my body and mind.  Things seemed so confused and I could not gain the kind of control that I am accustomed to.  I was 90!

Anna Ruth took major responsibility of running the house and that sort of thing.  Praise the Lord for her love!  She pulled us through.  I had two car accidents in December, so we decided, that is enough.  Anna Ruth grew up driving.  She is an excellent driver.

I think the major issue that I was dealing with had to do with my blood.  After tests, etc, we decided to concentrate on elevating my red blood cell count.  They incrementally increased my dosage, by injection.  It took a while to push up the red cell figures.  I think I am on the maximum dosage now and the blood people see good news.  I do feel well.  The only issue I have is balance.  At least that is what I think.  Maybe that is symptomatic of another issue?  We shall see.   I do feel well but have cut way back on heavy lifting!

Spiritual life

That is the physical side.  In my spirit, I see no change unless it is to concentrate more on eternal things, and to go lighter on the temporal issues.  I know that followers of Jesus think about a lot of things, and I am not against that.  What tugs at my soul at this stage of my pilgrimage, however, is dealing with issues that are at hand, in light of my salvation and blessing of Jesus.

I think that a recent visit of about 7 people from Tanzania, one a former student of mine, in the late 50’s, now a retired banker, all helped me to set my sails to be a bit more efficient.  I need to catch the breeze of the Spirit of the Lord, more and more.  I will be inspired by History but will not be controlled by it.  I am discovering the mystery and beauty of the “now.”

The structures that undergirded my spiritual walk with God are weakening as other, more “spiritual” ones, grow in influence.   Some things that were important in the past, seem less demanding now as I deal with reality as a person who is looking to Jesus for guidance, even in this area.  He is good at that.  Jesus has many things that he could try to emphasize, but what mattered to him most was how to save me!

Contentment

I am a contented old man.  That is for sure.  And my faith has not only held but is stronger now than ever.  At least that is what my heart and soul tell me.  This does not mean that I am uninterested in what is happening in our world, but I am at rest knowing that nothing happening to me is strange to Jesus, my guide and brother.

On July 6, I will be 91 years old.  Anna Ruth is a year and three months older than I.  God has given us one another.  Anna Ruth is more important to me now than ever.  So, we push on, hand in hand, knowing that what we will meet in the future will not be new or daunting to Jesus.

We had the great joy of having grandchildren from Boston and Maryland here for a few days.  They loved the fish ponds and explored its frogs, fish and all that such ponds attract.  We loved to be with these dear youngsters.  God bless us all.

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,  but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

 1 Peter 1:18-19

What is precious?  The natural man holds many things as worth fighting for, we say.  But what is the most precious?  Certainly not money, or fame, nor accomplishments, nor family nor nation.  These things are important as far as they go but Peter goes much higher than that.  He delights in our position in Christ Jesus now!

All things fade into the background when we realize that we, as believers, are redeemed from all striving and emptiness and liberated from ancestral feelings, all things earthly, by the precious blood of Jesus, a lamb without blemish or defect. Jesus is the pastoral lamb, perfect in all ways and one with his Father.  His spilled blood is our life blood.  He is raised from the dead.  We, his followers, have a similar story.  Saved by grace!

We love our lilies.  Inherited them all, I do believe.  But every year they bloom with delight and brighten our lives. This beauty is just outside our kitchen window.  Breathtaking, indeed.

We are amazed by the vitality of our hydrangea plant.  It is blooming this Spring with real vigor.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

First. The “now” is after the work of Jesus Christ who died for us, set us free and to makes us secure in God.

Secondly, the promise is that we are not condemned, nor will we be condemned for in Christ we are safe and secure now and ever.  Our challenge is to stay in him.

Thirdly, this promise is for those who are in Christ Jesus, not followers of Christ only, but in Christ.  That is the safest place imaginable.

This letter, whose prelude we are examining, is the outpouring of Paul on the believers in the great city of Rome at the time of Christ. All Roman citizens had the full protection of the Empire on their side.  It is against this backdrop that we see the hand of God.

The believers in Christ did not even think of worldly citizenship – their intention was to lift us believers into a new category, not citizens of this world by birth or by earning.  Believers were simply but profoundly saved.  They are blessed beyond thought as they entered this new kingdom in which earthly citizenship meant absolutely nothing as far as God’s Kingdom is concerned.

What has changed?  In this regard, nothing!