Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

Words of my mouth – articulated and expressed.  This is very important!  It really helps to actually say what is happening in me.

Meditation of my heart – this is my honest devotion to God.  It is my secret place where I walk deliberately with the Lord.

This walk with God is what He planned for me.  I am highly privileged! I discover every day that Jesus is my Rock and my Redeemer.

Now registered in Hospice as and when needed.

Red blood work now weekly rather than every two weeks.  Max strength.

 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

This is God’s special word to me and Anna Ruth this morning, from Daily Light.   I think we are more dependent on God than ever.  But that is not anything to fear.  Paul points us in that direction, that is for sure – to God’s supply and not to our own poverty.

I am poor, God is rich. I am needy, God knows that!  The greatest riches in glory are ours by Christ Jesus.

So we walk by faith trusting the faithful one.

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.

Revelation 3:11, 12

One thing about physical deterioration, the hope is renewed, the firm belief that I am in the hands of God, Almighty.  Life with Christ is a journey, a blessed but often difficult reality.  The blessed thing about this journey is that it moves forward, always and surely.

John’s Spirit-inspired letter to believers who were being tested beyond belief, is ours today.  Each of us who believe have our own journey, chosen for us by the Lord of life itself, Jesus Christ.   I would not have chosen the path for me these past months, much of the year.  God, in his mercy did that.  I live in that reality today, moving forward in faith!

I was never promised that my future would be easy, but the promise that drives me forward is the reality that I am the Lord’s and He is mine!  So there it is, faith in the faithful one!!

“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20

What a promise!  What a Promiser!  I am meeting new challenges, particularly physical.  At 90 I am still cogent! A least that is what I am convinced of.  I love the Lord with all my heart and want Him to carry me all my days – for I am in his hand.

I see that a week has passed since I last posted anything at all.  Reason – physical health took a little nose-dive.  I fell on the kitchen floor and broke a bone at the base of my thumb – line fracture – that set me on the sidelines.  Sorry that I was silent on that.  I have a second, new cast, that will be with me for a month at least.   No pain, just bothersome.  This getting older has its challenges.

Do pray that I will get through this stage and pray that Anna Ruth will not grow weary of looking after me.  She is one marvelous lady, that is for sure.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:15, 17

The key here, I think, is the use of the word, love.  John pulls out all stops when he shares this advice with us – more than advice, certainly but at least that. It centers on love, what we truly love, what is love-worthy, and so on.  It is not the kind of conversation that we might have as we eat our supper tonight.  It is awesome.

We need to realize that what we love and how much we love controls how deeply we love God and all that stands for in our lives.

John reminds us that all “other loves” than our love for the Lord, passes away.  For a moment they seemed meaningful and probably were for then.  But that love is flighty and ephemeral.

The love that really matters is the love of God, ours to experience because God opened the way for us to see into his heart because of the love of Jesus.

John spares no words.  Whoever does the will of God lives forever.  We should not waste our time trying to turn human love into divine love!  That does not work, at all.  Let’s grab that divine love with our whole hearts.

In this picture, Anna Ruth is on left, down a bit, then Twila, Von and Jordan, all concentrating on finishing the wonderful Christmas gift we got from Paul and Tammy,  a huge collage of our family pictures.  It was delightful fun putting together.   Thanks for all who made this a super fun event in our dining room.  Especially Paul, Tammy, Evan and Elizabeth who gave us this very special and unique gift.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

 Luke 22:42 – 44

Something stirs deep within me as I read and ponder these words.  I am naturally drawn to the Jesus who is eating with sinners or feeding the multitude.  I do not find it easy to see Him struggling mightly, so much so that sweat from his brow was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  This is agony beyond my comprehension.  He was staring at needing to submit to his Father in humble submission that silenced heaven, I should think.  This was so painful for him that he sweat blood!  That is something I find it difficult to feel.

I am humbled when I think about that.  Why was he going through this terrible wrenching fathomless pain?  I know to a certain degree but fail to feel it deeply.  Is it true that Jesus was suffering this horrid death so that my sins and yours can be forgiven?

Thank you, Lord, for paying that price!  I live in its victory this morning and every day of my life!