Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

The dear and gentle mother, Sarah, wife and mother of two. What a couple, family, I should say.  They prepared and shared a supper that they made with us here at our place.

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Romans 8:15, 16

I was 16.  The Lord found me in distress and led me to accept Him as my life and all and I have never been the same since.  I am now a month short of 91 years old, still as excited by the Lord’s love and mercy as I ever was. I had no idea what my decision to follow Jesus would entail.  Even now I know so little, but what I do know melts my spirit.  I have shared my life with many others through the years and am astounded by the way we all just stand there, overwhelmed by the saving grace of Jesus, a grace that is as bright today as it ever was!  We saved ones did not only become sons and daughters of the Lord when we cried “Abba Father!” but live in the glow of that acceptance until today.

One thing is as clear as the morning light – the Spirit of God declares to our spirits that we are “God’s children.”   This is not me testifying, but the Spirit of God!  He declares that we are the children of God.

My mind turns often these days to the fact that I am just like hundreds and thousands of believers, no matter our culture or station on earth, we are now, through the blessed work of Jesus, God’s children.

What is better than that!

Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard;  he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.  For you, God, tested us;  you refined us like silver.

Psalm 66:8 – 10

The Psalmist wrote this thousands of years ago – yet it sounds like news of the day!  The ways of God never change.  If I recall correctly, I had mixed feelings when I fled to Jesus when I was but 16 years old, a High School senior.  It was like a huge, new almost bewildering door that opened before me.  That door was the way into the heart of God.  It was a door blessed beyond measure.  I entered it without thinking lofty thoughts, just that I needed help, now.

Now, I am living a long life, a gift of God.  I find that I am still learning.  One of the things is that the discipline in the school of grace is as real today as on October 10, 1944 when I rushed to Jesus for salvation and hope.

The door is open to all, even readers of my thoughts, my testimony.  It is as true as anything can be that the Lord found me and that He has mercifully preserved my soul through those many years.  Not that the battle is over for me, but I know that Jesus looks after my soul and will eventually receive me to himself, for eternity!

Praise God!

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Jane loves to keep the place well-flowered and neat!  This year, because of our age, she is helping me more than usual.  I have learned so much from her.  Here she is in her “work clothes.”  What a gift we have in the love of our daughter!

 Some reflections approaching my 91^st birthday.

My spirit is responding to the love of God in Christ.  The bed-rock is the love of God, not that we loved Him, that is the consequence, but that He loves me!  Is there a greater thought that a human being could possible think?  I see everything tied up in that bundle of faith – that God loves me and so much more.  The truth is, all hinges on Gods’ love for me.  I know that intellectually, but I am beginning to understand it on a very practical level.

I have been blessed by many things of the spirit, but nothing compares with this!  God loves me!  Is there a greater thought, a more consequential belief?  I think not.  This morning I am, again overwhelmed with God’s love for me.  Take away all arguments – one remains, God loves me!

Other thoughts of the day.

I find myself murmuring a bit about my physical condition, wanting to just take a pill or something to put everything right, as I see it, of course.  Of course, I know intellectually that things happen to a person in later life, like 91 years old!  Of course I know all that.  My challenge is to live in it!  Not living wishing as if it were not so.

I do believe that my love for God is stronger than ever.  I also believe that my challenges continue to press me.

My sister, Twila, is 105, Dwight 98, Arnold 96, Duane 94, Roma 88 and Dorothea 85.  Give or take a year or so.  I did not look up the dates.  The truth is, our family is getting older and older.  We have not had a death for several years but that is coming unless our Lord descends before that!  We all know that we need some guidance in how to accept the limitations of old age.  And, on the other hand, to rejoice in the love with which He embraces us in, I say in, our older age.

Looking at my blood and some other physical things, I am aware of the weaknesses of older age.

Walking at my side is Anna Ruth, over a year older that I am, with few old-age challenges.  In fact she is now swimming, on this Monday morning, at Landis Homes with her friends.  She is a huge part of my life!  Thank you, Lord, for the love of this dear woman, Anna Ruth, my wife of almost 70 years!

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

Ephesians 2:8 – 10

I was raised as child number 9 in a family of 11 children. How I was raised is a mystery to me.  But I remember trying, at times, to really do what my mother wanted me to around the house.  I felt good when I did something that she liked.  That pleased me.

But as I read this teaching of Paul, I am made aware of my determination to please, not God, but my mother.  My father was off at work so Mom did this kind of thing.

I became acutely aware of this when the Lord touched me and when I began to follow Him as a disciple. I wanted to please Him like I pleased my mother!  The Lord showed me clearly that I must cast every burden on Him, not on anyone else.

And I am still learning!  Lord, I rest in your loving hands, without any demands except those of love. 

Jane planted some flowers in our garden this year, a welcome deed for me, that is for sure.  This is the blossoms of a plant just now blooming.  The flowers are tiny but when enlarged like this they are outstanding, I think.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

I Thessalonians 5:4 – 6

“Children of light.” This is our new position in Jesus Christ, as new-born children.  We were children of darkness, now children of light.  That is a huge difference.  Praise God for receiving us as lost sinners – into his arms of salvation and love.

I have two life modes – awake and asleep.  If I am living in Christ, both are important.  When I am awake, I am with Jesus who is directing my steps.  When I am asleep, I am with Jesus because He is with me!  So whether I am awake or sleeping, I have God’s blessing.

I think the color balance all that is as nearly perfect as you can get.  But the insect moved!