Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

Anna Ruth and Twila prepare three large chickens as the center piece of our Tanksgiving meal tomorrow.  Anna Ruth bought rotisserie chicken this year.  Mmm.  Taste it alfeady!

Tomorrow, on Thanksgiving Day,  we are reminded to thank God, our Maker and Redeemer, for his love, his tenderness, his truth and his grace. 

Here is one of my favorite Thanksgiving passages.  It fits me good! The best way to stay fresh and green in advancing age!

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Psalm 91:12 – 15

Lisa brought home with her from Italy an olive wood lemon squezzer.  I am determined to copy it, more or less, with maple!  Here it is being glued.  I will let you know if I am at all successful.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5: 1, 2

At times I am overwhelmed at the humility and grace that shape the attitudes of those who follow Jesus.  There is no cajoling, demanding, just a loving invitation to love Jesus, enjoy that love and share it will all, beginning with those closest to us, family, friends and so on.

I note that all is based on our walk in the way of love.   If the love of God is in us, it will express itself in the same way that we observe in Jesus himself.  It is not superficial love, but a love that changes us entirely, it was the love that drove Jesus to die for us so that we might be cleansed.

At the heart of it all is Jesus’ obedience to his Father, a love that gives and gives, as an offering to God, a sacrificial offering, costing us everything but gaining everything!

Thanksgiving Day is upon us.  May we thank God for Jesus who did it all for us.

Is it disrespectful to believe that God is pleased with our lives and words of thanksgiving?   Paul calls it a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God who receives it with his loving heart.  I need to take that to heart, in a big way.

Yesterday I took our neighbor, Ari Beiler, to help out relatives who are preparing for the marriage of one of their children.  The temporary enclosed “porch” will serve them quite well.  When taking pictures of Amish life I try to respect their desire not be be photographed.  So, just imagine people moving about carrying food for the big meal, all orderly and with a ritualized approach that they have enjoyed year after year.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20, 21

Paul loved the church in Ephesus.  In his adult ministry he spent more time with that group of believers – Jews, Gentiles and all sorts – than with any other group.  He lived among them for at least two years, according to my calculation.  His love for them was undeniable.  He wished the very best for them.

The very best is to allow Jesus, now in one’s life, to stretch and expand, always deepening fellowship with Jesus and with his diverse but loving body.    That is our calling and our sacred privilege.

We cannot do this but Jesus in us can!  He is able, not me, but I must let him work!  He will give us love, joy, peace, and all the blessings of life with the Lord.

Then, who gets the glory?  Jesus Christ, of course.  He is the enabler, only He can do this.

So, in heartfelt thanks we sing with all saints to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

The song goes on, generation after generation, for ever and ever.

My wife, Anna Ruth, and I have been so blessed by the Lord Jesus that our hearts burst with praise.  All glory to HIM!  We pray that we all who love Jesus will pour out our voices in loving song, our thanks for this unspeakable gift – Christ in us.

For some reason, this year our maple’s leaves were a bit subdued.  But lovely, never the less.  Now for the raking!  A Fall ritual.

Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Ephesians 6:23, 24

The emotion that binds me, or any of us believers, to Jesus is love. Of course, we want to obey Jesus.  We want to imitate Him in every way.  We want to magnify Him in our lives.  We could go on in that vein, a good one.  But the Apostle Paul takes to a different level, the level of love!

As we walk with Jesus and he with us, we meet opportunity but also difficulties.  The Spirit of God helps us to understand that the central emotion that binds us to Jesus is love, his love for us and our love for him.  That mutual love takes us through anything – soaring thanksgiving or truly difficult trials. Both.  The love-bond is essential.  We cling to one another as true lovers and walk together as one!

Life has, as we say, its ups and downs.  Who can deny that?  However, nothing should shake our love for Jesus. That is the most enduring emotion of all.  Through that emotion all the other blessings flow.  Our love for God and his love for us is truly “undying love.”  I bow in amazement and thanksgiving!  I value this love-bond above all others.

A sure sign of Fall is the appearance of Anna Ruth’s pecan pies,  Here is a beauty, ready for the family gathering next week.  Even though she is 90 years old, Anna Ruth creates like she did at thirty!

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1, 2

WALK IN THE WAY OF LOVE! I often pass over some passage without thinking much about what the Word is really saying, the flow of nice words seems to calm my spirit.  But that is missing the point.  The Scriptures speak to the heart.

This is what I hear, “Walk in the way of love.”  Walk means going forward on our journey while the phrase, “in the way of love” is much harder than that to fully comprehend.  Let’s think about it.

I consider some alternatives.  Walk in a hurry.  Walk to get what you are after.  Walk to improve your condition.  Walk to leave where you are to get on with life. None of these thoughts are even close to what the Word is really saying.

Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  Can I do this – love as Christ loved me?  How much was that?  So much so that he gave himself up for me so that I can be “fragrant” offerings to God.  It is not my giving myself to God but Christ offering me to God!  On what basis? That he gave himself as a sacrifice to God and in turn offers me as that sacrifice.  My mind baulks at this, but my heart bows in grateful praise.

May I, as Paul urges, “Follow God’s example.”