Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

Anna Ruth and I enjoyed this hutch since the death of Anna Lois her sister in law.   It filled a nice spot in our dining room.  Now, time for downsizing.  Twila knows this family in Northern Pa so they graciously came in their Dodge Ram to take it to their place.  Dad, Mom and three boys did the job on Saturday.  We are happy that the hutch has a nice place to stay!!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

Ephesians 1:3, 4

Can it be?  God blesses us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  As I read this I see clearly that God takes the initiative.  That is perhaps the greatest spiritual blessing we enjoy.  These blessings are not earned but are freely given to all who believe.

I note that the Holy Spirit, through Paul, reminds us that the greatest blessings we receive as his saved ones are spiritual, not temporal.  I confess that I often cry out for healing, for health, for that sort of blessing.  That is in the package, I am sure, but the greatest is that God gives us spiritual blessings.

Blessings indeed, like being adopted into God’s family through Christ Jesus.  That is huge, huge!  I must admit I take that for granted too much of the time.  I was in an earthly family, with all that means, and am transferred into God’s family, made possible by Jesus’ atoning work.  I do not, for a moment, forget that I am in an earthly family with all its obligations and privileges, but my spiritual life is, as stated, in the heavenlies.

Further, as to blessings, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.  I see that my redemption is the work of Christ, entirely.  I simply own and embrace it.  This theme, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, is the groundwork for all grace.  I live in that truth.  Because of that we are lavished by God’s marvelous grace.

Lord, open my eyes and my heart to these quite unbelievable blessings, given through Jesus.  Thank you, Lord, amen.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

I Corinthians 4:16

Dear reader,

I suppose we all need to get ready for some physical uncertainties as we grow older.  For me, some I know, some hide under the surface.  When I was about 50 I realized that my skin, especially around my head, experienced squema cell cancer, no doubt a personal weakness, but probably aggravated by two decades of African sun.  Fortunately, I was directed to a dear man, Dr Roeschel, who treated me all these years.  Anyway, I had a flare up a few months ago.  I fled to him yesterday.  He treated me, in a preliminary way, gave me pills to take and instructions to return in a week to see what is next.  That was yesterday so I am in the first day of that week.

What do I make of all this?  I know that I am growing older which probably means that I am losing some of my inhibitors.  It also means that I must keep an eye on things that I never thought much about.

I hesitate, in a way, to share my feelings, but it does help!  I am not losing heart, not by any means, because I live in the hand of Jesus Christ.  But I felt moved to share my feelings.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

2  Corinthians 4:8 – 9

How about us?  Are we pressed on every side?  I assume this means that we are bombarded with questions with few answers, just pressure.   Pressures come to all who follow Jesus who knows the pathos of the Cross.

Am I perplexed?  This, also, is not foreign to the followers of Jesus.   Paul writes that being perplexed is to be expected, but the solution is not in being able to give a satisfactory reason as to why we feel perplexed.  We might be perplexed but not in despair.  Not fully understanding is common to us all.

Am I persecuted?  All believers will experience that.  Being persecuted has a marvelous side, if we stand firm we are not abandoned.

Am I struck down?  Knocked over, so to speak, for a moment?  Maybe, but not destroyed, in fact, renewed.

Our brother Paul, who experienced life in Christ with all its challenges, encourages us to press on, believing just like he did.

Anna Ruth spent her Saturday morning and some of the afternoon producing one of our favorite cookies, or snacks, whoopie pies!  Here they are cooling, waiting for the white filling,  Mmm.

For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles.

2  Corinthians 4:17

I find myself distressed by a feeling of anxiety these days.  It has to do with growing older, one would say.  My life has been fairly free of feeling that way.  It seems as though I could always depend on my capacity to overcome problems and move on.  It does not work quite like that at this age.  I need to get used to the fact that I will have affliction as I add years, but I must realize that they are temporary and light.  There something else in the picture – eternal glory.

So, even if I have to accept weaknesses as I surely must, they point me to what Paul calls, “eternal glory.”  So, as I try to come to grips with this issue, I am aware of afflictions on one hand, and eternal glory on the other, both powerful, but not equal.

I like to be strong, needing no assistance!  Then troubles come, but they do not compare with an eternal blory that far outweighs our troubles.   Thank you, Lord, for the grace to look to you when troubles come.

Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles.

2  Corinthians 4:16-17

I am reminded this morning of the meaning of these words of the Apostle Paul that he shared with the Corinthian believers.  I feel like Paul, my “outer self is wasting away.”  I have been troubled with skin cancers for almost fifty years now.  Sometimes all is ok,  but then, as like now, there is a flare up on top of my scalp, the place of my attention for years.  My dear doctor, Dr. Roschel, has been my dermatologist for all these years.  He is doing his best.

Next week I have an appointment with him.  This is unexpected since he booked me for November appointment.   I assumed all would be well until then.  No chance, I had a flare up, as is the case with me now and again.  So I am eager for him to do something next week to get me through this.

With this in the background, I have been struggling to get things into context.  I love God and I know my life is in his hand, my days numbered.  Yet I would like to conquer this skin cancer.  Therefore my dilemma.  That is why this morning I am meditating on Paul’s advice to the Corinthians, Though our outer self is wasting away…I am reminded that what is bothering me is really my “outer self.”  Now comes the second surprise, “our inner self is being renewed day by day.”  I dislike the former and embrace the latter!  But I see that they are closely attached, outer wasting, inner renewing.

May we hear the voice of the Lord as aches and pains perplex us.  For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles.…

We do enjoy preparing chicken breast peaces on our BBQ.  Tasty and nice.

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 1:3 – 5

Jesus is alive.  As the Acts of the Apostles opens, one astounding fact is announced, “He is alive.”  Not was alive or will be alive.  He is not an illusion, now gone, but alive, a living presence among us and all his followers is the world.

The Apostles found this very, very hard to believe.  Is this Jesus who appeared to them alive?  Is he son of Mary and Joseph? Is He really Jesus, their friend of several years?  Yes.

For forty days, in his resurrected body, he insisted that he is not dead, but alive!  What could be more dramatic? Not only did Jesus appear among his disciples and others during those 40 days, he had a message for them, “The Kingdom of God” is here!  I am alive. The Kingdom of God is now here!

This is such a compelling and unexpected reality that Jesus, knowing how hard it is for us to believe, promised to baptize us with the Holy Spirit.  Without that baptism it is hardly possible to believe.  That promised Holy Spirit was poured out with amazing effects at Pentecost.

As I write this, I stand in awe.  In my own experience it is no easier for me to welcome Jesus into my life than for those who lived two thousand years ago.  It is still an amazing thing – that we human beings can be baptized with the Holy Spirit, sent by God Almighty.  Is this not what makes us different from all who do not experience that in life?

I need to recapture this astounding reality. It changes everything.  Praise God!

Anna Ruth and Jane are looking over the items that were in the china closet now empty and waiting to be picked up by friends.  The blue pitcher and vase are handmade gifts of Eastern Mennonite High School in recognition of life story.  I treasure all these things!  But time marches on and change comes, without our consent!