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Almighty God, I am so glad for another day of life, and to be able to greet Your day with delight; knowing that I will be blessed by You, as I set aside my heart and time to commune especially with You.  Isaiah 55: 6, 7 “Seek the Lord while He may be found.  Call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God for He will abundantly pardon.” 

Times are troubled and darkness and oppression is upon many peoples and parts of the earth, as they become innocent victims of the wanton atrocities of narrowed thinking peoples against others, for their own purposes: as if they were objects upon a chess board.  2 Corinthians 4: 6 “For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Verses 8-10 “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” Almost from the beginning of the Bible, there are records of acts of violence of one group of people upon another group of people; it appears to be more widespread around the world, in these times.

The disciples and believers, that established the early Christian church, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, suffered much persecution.  All the disciples of Jesus were martyred, save John who was banished to the Isle of Patmos.  The apostles during privation and opposition, remained firm in their faith in Jesus, and did not give up bringing the good news of salvation to others; knowing that this body is mortal, and their hope was fixed upon another ‘land’. Verse 16, 17 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

Strangely whilst some people are losing their lives, because they hold to their simple uncluttered belief in Jesus Christ, others in more affluent places, have become more intellectual in their approach to loving and serving Jesus; more prone, to excuse some behaviours. Contrary to what many think, divisions had threatened to divert the early church.  2 Timothy 4: 1 “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” Even though a so called ‘feel good religious faith’ may seem more comfortable to us as Christians, the scriptures are full of teachings that uphold purity and a forsaking of ‘doing our own thing’ for simple and total obedience to the requests of God.  Verses 3,4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”  Awaken us dear God, when we get caught up in any teaching or belief position, which turns us aside from where Jesus is found; ‘to fables’.

Because You love me and desire my undivided heart and love, I testify with the psalmist in Psalm 119: 10-12 “With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes.”

This morning it is my delight to reflect on how good it is to go to sleep thinking about Your love toward me throughout the day.  Of the times I felt in need and prayed, then strength and quietness came into my mind; when perplexity and threatening disquiet was there before.  To wake after ‘the sleep of the exhausted’, my thoughts arise to my God again, and naturally I offer praises and ask that I may walk with Him, all day in His care; happy in the assurance this gives me.  Psalm 73: 23 “Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. 24 You will guide me with Your counsel……… 25 Whom have I in heaven but You?  And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.”   I will not forget to cry out in bad times, Verses 26 “My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.”  These words echo in my mind today, for I have reached out and You my God have filled my questions and needs.

Today I cannot be silent and not testify about the all-encompassing goodness, love and care of God toward me and all who believe His promises, and I resolve to, move over and give Him my heart and mind.  Psalm 86; 10-13”For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. 11 Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. 12  I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.”

No matter what wrong we have done individually, we read promises in the scriptures that give assurance, that Gods love toward us is everlasting.  I have observed and experienced that to stop there and not love Him back and comply with the written counsel for conduct and living, not only hurts ourselves, but all those around us as well.  It is only by committing and experiencing His love, and life lived His way, do we even begin to appreciate we have been missing the blessings  in store for each one of us. My thoughts are not new observations, and are found in Psalm 119: 2, 3 “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!  They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.” 

I wonder why so many of us do not heed the advice and testimonies of those who have gone before, and instead must walk in our own disaster first!  In humbling need, I sincerely seek God and to come closer, plus walk in His ways. Verses 10 – 12 “With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O lord!  Teach me Your statutes.”

Dear God,

Thank You for my most precious gift; which could only be, Jesus Christ Your one and only sinless Son!  To have Jesus as my best friend and the One whom I have asked to direct my life, is of inestimable value to my conscious mind and in my unconscious reality.  I find that to read about Jesus and to give Him my life in fervent prayer is as important to the well-being of my mind and emotions, as food is to my physical body.  Even though I know I have much progress to make in being a true reflection of Jesus, I do not lose heart, because I am in His care, and I abide in His promises to be with me and to change me to be more like Him.  John 6: 48-51 “I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which comes down from heaven, if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”  I believe that Jesus not only spilt His blood and gave up His flesh for me, but for every person who has drawn breath on the world.  I gladly accept His sacrifice, and the relationship He offers through reading and embracing the inspired words of scripture.

David, Gods’ anointed king, testifies about what God meant to him, Psalm 63: 1-3 “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land where there is not water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.”  Any place that does not believe in God and uphold Him, is spiritually dry and water less.  In a building dedicated to God, He has promised to be present when He is truly worshipped, and I look forward, to being instructed and mightily blessed, when I worship there today: even though we will no longer see Your glorious cloud above the sanctuary, as was the case for the Old Testament worship.

For those who come together to worship God and support one another, in a home or church building, and come with a prepared, prayerful heart, they will be blessed by God and drawn closer to Jesus and each other.  As with any fruitful, pleasurable and God blessed experience, we desire to come regularly not just to receive, but to give to God and His people, love and commitment.  Psalm 84: 1, 2 “How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of Hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord, my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

My God, fill all Your people who come to You in humility, love and worship, with Your Spirit.  I love the observation given by the psalmist in verses 3,4 “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young- even your alters, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God.  Blessed are those who dwell in Your house they will still be praising You. Selah

Thank You for hearing my praises and prayers.

 

Bless my soul and all that attends me, Oh my Father God.  I have contemplated my life and endeavours, and know that I have often gotten caught up in ‘the doing’, instead of relaxation, because I love to be active and achieve my ideas and goals.  Though life circumstances and inclination dictated against achieving great wealth, to have enough for comfortable living, has been important; and taken up considerable physical strength and focus.  I realize in the end, it is not whether we possess or achieve much that matters, but more it is our gratitude and joy in what we have, that nurtures relationships and brings enduring contentment.

Last night I watched a program that illustrated the replacement of a derelict girl’s school dormitory, with a very basic new weather tight one.  Then there were pictures of the small one roomed mud huts in which each family lived in the surrounding villages.  Over and over again, the helpers said, the girls and families were so happy and content, even though their houses were dark and they had so few possessions.  Obviously, the helpers were speaking from their perspective of coming from commodious dwelling places, with plenty in the wardrobe, pantry, shed and garage.  God blesses some people with wealth, who do not become caught up in them, or lured away from loving God and their fellow man.  But for every such person, why so many others who cannot handle much wealth, with balance and fidelity? The scriptures have much direction from God, on what really matters for His each beloved person.  1Timothy 6: 9, 10 “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 

Are, so now I see, that it is not the wealth and the possessions in themselves, that are necessarily the snare to my focus and integrity, but what and who has my heart, and total endeavour.   An all absorbing focus on money and possessions can be the problem for a poor man, as well for anyone on up to having extreme wealth.  Jesus was discussing what a man must consider, to truly follow Him, and said, Mark 8: 36, 37 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  These questions are answered by another statement from Jesus, Matthew 6: 21 “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” 

King David had known a life of little wealth and prestige, as well as the reverse, with much wealth and prestige. Except for a few falls from grace, he had maintained his balance in life and devotion to God, whilst commanding the army and ruling Israel.

Because of the perpetual pace and input into our life and minds these days, it is profitable to refocus on loving God, and give Him praise in all stages and circumstances in life, in which we find ourselves.  Psalm 40:16, 17 “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as love Your salvation say continually, ‘The Lord be magnified!”  But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks upon me.  You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.” 

Dear God, I have been lifted up by contemplating you, and have found the answer to my needs for every level and area of my body, mind and soul.  In the strength given by You, I will faithfully endeavour to always maintain a relationship with You, as the ‘treasure’ in my ‘heart’ and essential component in my daily functioning.  Psalm 42: 1, 2 “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When shall I come and appear before God?”

Amen and Amen.

 

In this part of the world, as with many other places, it is easy to know that the blessings from the Lord are abundant.  There is usually some type of fruit on the trees, in commercial and home orchards.  So like me to think of fruit trees and gardens!  Also the blessings of the Lord come to all areas of our mind and physical body; which is why Paul and others could praise God for their blessings, even while they were in hardship and prison.  To have such inner contentment,  can only change our whole attitude towards life, individuals and God Himself.  Please fill me with your praise and joy, my Father God, for then I will look for Your blessings, and the opportunity to be happy and sing songs of thankfulness. Proverbs 10: 22”The blessings of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” 

In line with the old adage, ‘all things come around’, and ‘give and double blessings will return’, so goes the message of Jesus recorded in the Bible.  Luke 6: 38 “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Verse 45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”  There have been people down through history, which were known for their selfless giving of themselves and means, and everyone loved and revered them.  They truly revealed the love and glory of Jesus Christ; which is wonderful to see and experience, especially when interacting with another, whether a relative, friend or far acquaintance.  Through the power of Jesus, I plan to become more loving considerate and selfless, in my desire, to love and help others.

Psalm 16: 8, 9 and 11 “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.”  11”You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” This Psalm is such a beautiful example of the good mental and spiritual health and happiness that comes to a life dedicated to living in contentment, peace and harmony, with an attitude of thankfulness to the Lord, God Almighty.  It is through the loving actions of Jesus, that we can travel on the ‘path of life’, enjoying His companionship, in the expectation, of a heavenly home with Jesus and countless angels.

I love you Lord, and know that you will come again soon. I remember Your promise, to assist, all who ask to know you intimately, and who endeavour to do your tasks, because they love You more than anything on this earth.  Please grow me spiritually so that I reflect You, as a true image, in Your total love.

It is good to take in and reflect on the fact, that all our actions and the way we live each day, will affect others here on earth and have individual, personal, eternal consequences.  Matthew 6: 19-21 ”Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  When we have lodging and sufficient healthy food, it is fruitful to be satisfied with Gods gifts and with our honestly earned means, and so reap peace of mind, and  general well-being of body and spirit.  Jesus Himself said, Luke 12: 15 “And He said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in abundance of things he possesses.” 

I wonder if any of us really understand the far reaching havoc that is wrought to personal relationships and upon world affairs, by allowing feelings of envy and jealousy to take hold, and ferment through.  When really analyzed, envy is based upon the  elevating of self, and most often leads to insinuating slurs toward others.  Someone who indulges their envious thoughts, will tend to belittle another, thinking to exalt themselves.,  The need to hear personal praise and be built up, has often become very important, so when another is praised, it,  ‘cuts them to the quick’.  Envy is the off spring of pride, and when entertained, does not lead to internal or outward peace, along with good will toward certain others.  Envy is often the basis of hatred, cruel deeds, revengeful plans and actions, murderous thoughts and sometimes murder or arranged killings.

Surely no one, wants to stay emotionally bound up, and reap much personal unhappiness, as well as affect others near and far, so drastically?  The Bible has much to say about envy and jealousy, with the effects thereof.  James 3: 14 – 16 “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hears, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”  Strong words indeed, obviously these problematic human attributes are not new in human relationships.

It is evident all around us in the world, the result of actions based on pride, jealousy and envy upon relationships.  It is also easy to understand, that emotionally envy leads to intense, non-peaceful thoughts , jealousy, fractured relationships and deep unhappiness.   Surely over a period of time, such intense feelings and the stress of it all, must impact the physical health of the body, significantly.  Proverbs 14: 30 “A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.  Amazingly modern s science supports such statements in the Psalms and Proverbs and has found that the bones are impacted negatively by poor mental and emotional health.  Proverbs 27: 4 “Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy?” 

The humble loving Jesus, gave such a different example, than the envious or jealous person, and spoke and wrought peace, through word and deed, based on selfless love.  How He must long for every person on earth to follow His example of loving, selfless living!  Philippians 2: 3, 4 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” 

Dear God, I pray that my natural sinful, selfish self, does not manifest itself so often, and instead more of the attributes of my loving Saviour, Jesus are manifested.  1Corinthians 13: 4 “Love suffers long, and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.” Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I can be increasingly filled with all His gifts.

Today I begin by pondering the power and greatness of God Almighty, for His ways are past finding out, by the finite mind of mankind.  Psalm 40: 5 “Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which you have done and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them.  They are more than can be numbered.”  It is a wonder of the Gods instruction, that Job knew about and named star constellations in the heavens, thousands of years ago; whilst he gave testament about the greatness of God the Creator.  Job 9:9 “He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades………….”  Verse 10 “He does great things past finding out, yes, wonders without number.”  The Holy Spirit is never seen by human eyes, but His interventions are known by us; and He was the Father of Jesus, by ways unknown to us.  Verses 11, 12 “If He goes by me, I do not see Him; if He moves past, I do not perceive Him. If He takes away, who can hinder Him?  Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’”  Many writers in the Scriptures have formed a close loving relationship with their God, and have written very often about the deficits of the fallible human mind to understand fully all things pertaining to God and creation.  Romans 11: 33 – 35 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past find out! 34 ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has become His counselor?  35 Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?’”

Every parent who really cares about their children, and themselves live on the right side of the law, plan for their own children to stay out of trouble with the judiciary and live happy fulfilling lives. Every Christen parent wants their children, to also stay in a close and loving relationship with God and His Son Jesus.  King David, was anointed by God to be king of Israel, also wanted no less for his children, and spoke to his son Solomon along these lines, when he was about to be crowned king in his stead. 1 Chronicles 28: 9”As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts.  If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” 

Because King David had followed God’s instruction’s, and subdued the hostile nations around Israel, he was not given the task of building a permanent temple for worship, in Jerusalem.  Verse 6 “Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts, for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father.’”  However God had given David the plans for the temple and he had collected and donated much of the building materials.  Solomon was a young man not schooled in how to build the magnificent, huge temple; and the task must have loomed as a large almost incomprehensible project; all of which his father understood,   Verse 20 “And David said to his son Solomon, ‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God–my God–will be with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.” 

The precious words of encouragement delivered by Solomon’s father, had originated out of his long personal experiences with his God; and are for us all, this very day.  All we need to do is to say yes to God, and place our God given life and plans, in the care of Jesus, and He will direct our path, and sustain us along the way.  Solomon, in Proverbs often refers to God, being wisdom, and about the enduring ‘fruits’ that come from following the way of God Almighty.  Proverbs 10, 11 “Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.” Verse 32 “Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways.”

I have accepted You, Jesus again this day, and rejoice in the knowledge that you never forsake me, and will always direct my path and sustain me, because I have asked.  Amen

We can only imagine how, work places, families, friendships and relationships world-wide, would be, if we all followed the command of God, to love each other?  Many Bible writers encouraged their fellow believers to love others. To quote from Paul, in Romans 12: 19, 20 “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.  Therefore ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’”

If we all followed the command of God, to love our fellow man and walk blamelessly before God, we would not need law enforcement, and world conditions would be as, originally in the Garden of Eden.  Here’s harmlessness portrayed and what an attractive thought!  Romans 13: 8, 9 “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.  For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not murder,’  ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’”  After all, we have nothing that matters, to lose, by loving others.  Verse 10”Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law. Ideally God wants us all, to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves, because He is love and willingly loves us all, though we deserve not His total and continuing love.  I guess put another way, how dare we treat badly any of His creation.  Each person who has ever lived, is precious in the sight of the Lord, and Jesus gave all in His life and death, to save every one; eternally.

It is never good to put things off and procrastinate.  This is especially so, when it comes to actively and freely spreading the love God has given to us, and in turn reap blessings for our own well-being, and that of others.  Verses 11, 12 “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.   The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

Jesus never withheld healing or aid from any needy person, despite the disease or situation being because of their own sin and wrong doing.  He did not turn a ‘blind eye’ either, and in loving concern for their soul, asked them to ‘go sin no more’.  It was His loving care, not censure, that broke their defiant hearts, and then they wanted to forsake any godless way, and follow His example of right doing.  Romans 15: 1, 2 “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbour for his good, leading to edification.”  When we sincerely love Jesus, we do not expect to have it easy all the time, and just live for ourselves; for He has bought the freedom of each person; at a price.  Paul reminded his congregation of believers, Verse 3 “For even Christ did not please Himself; but it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.’” (quoted from Ps. 69:9).  But apart from that, when we claim to be a follower of Jesus, we are strengthened to do Christs works of self-denial.  Verse 5, 7 “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.”  7 “Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the Glory of God.”

I am so grateful Jesus, for Your moment by moment, love and care, and ask that You have my heart and mind, again today.  Fill me, with Your love and grace, and the ability to truly reveal these gifts to others with whom I interact with each day.

Amazing, we are half way through 2017.  I give thanks to God, for the blessing of life, and provision for all that is necessary.  Most importantly, I give thanks for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ and my salvation that comes through His total atoning sacrifice, for everyone who has ever lived.  It is such a sad thing, that we often stray from loving Jesus absolutely, when He loves each person, no matter what they have done and who they are.

Moses was given much to say from God, to the wayward Israelite people, and to all people who have lived since.  Deuteronomy 6:4 – 6 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”  So important were these instructions, that Jesus repeated Verses 4 and 5, when asked, which was first commandment; and added the words”……This is the first commandment.” Mark 12: 30, followed by a further commandment, Verse 31 “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”  There is no other commandment greater than these.”  Because God is love, and the source of all love, within us, nothing can be more important that loving Him, with all my being, and then passing that love on to every family member, others that come into my life, or across my pathway.

When we really love someone, our heart is affected, and we know the feelings we have for them is carried in our heart; as something very precious.  And so it is to be for us, with God, Deuteronomy 6: 6, 7”And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”  The love Moses is teaching the Israelite’s about, is not a ‘puppy love’, a half-hearted affair, or tired, almost forgotten love, this is as fresh and whole hearted as when first experienced. Kept alive through reading the scriptures and interacting with God; as well as talking with others about the deep love God has for each person and I/you have for Him.

1 John 2: 1, 2 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”   There is no point deluding ourselves, we cannot have a living, daily love experience with God, and keep engaging in known premeditated sins; including rebellion against how God has told us to live.  Such behaviour does not work with human relationships, and cannot with our Omniscient, Heavenly Father.  It is good that the scriptures tell us we can know God, Verses 3, 4 “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him.”

Dear Father, thank You for loving me, and leading me further through Jesus, in knowing you more and more, each day that I dedicate my life to walk obediently in Your statutes.

I am so grateful to God for my life, and for the pleasure of growing roses, fruit trees, vegetables and some very fragrant shrubs, and other living ‘bits and pieces’.  Of course as an older retired person, it is all too much for me, but I am learning to enjoy God’s creation and the continuing health benefits from gardening, midst the neglect.

In heaven all flowers, fruit, plants and trees will be untouched by decay, and I expect to be enthralled by the beautiful scene.  All sickness and death well be done away with, 1 Corinthians 15: 54 – 57 “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ 55 ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Deep enjoyment comes, from the anticipation of the second coming of Jesus, and going to and arriving in His heavenly home, with new completely made-over bodies.  The thought of seeing God and Jesus in heaven, with sinless bodies, that will never die, is worth considering deeply.  To daily contemplate upon what Jesus has done for all mankind, along with the prospect of being able to thank Him and humbly bow before Him, sing praises and give Him glory, with the vast throng of redeemed doing likewise;  would keep us true, in all situations, good and bad, while life lasts.  1 Peter 4: 7, 8 “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.  And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’”  Verse 10 “As each one has received a gift, minister to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  Most Bible authors focused on similar themes; giving spiritual support, education and warning.   

To believe the Holy Bible, means we will take the words of Jesus, as they are written, and form expectations and beliefs, that are solidly set on the principle of ‘thus says the Lord’.  Revelation 16: 15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief.  Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

Even though some will be less than pleased, everyone who has ever lived will see the second coming of Jesus.    Though to some this may seem impossible, by the power of God the Creator, the Scriptures tell us how this is so.  The already dead are not passed over, 1 Thessalonians 4: 15 – 17”For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”  What about the wicked in their graves and the alive wicked?   In the recorded words of Jesus, John 5: 28 “Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves, will hear His voice.”   “’and come forth– those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

I pray that I will stay true and focused upon Jesus during my whole life upon earth.   I ask God that I will be willing to share with others about salvation, through the blessing of knowing Jesus.