All Things Work Together For Good...

Acts 21:3b-5a,10,11

We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo.  Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them for seven days.  Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem, but when our time was up we left and continued on our way... (Now at Caesarea)  After we had been there a number of days a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.  Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the gentiles.’”

This is something that has puzzled me for a long time.

The Holy Spirit told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.  When he refused to obey He sent Agabus to make the warning stronger.  But still Paul decided that what he wanted to do was the correct thing and went to Jerusalem anyway.  He was not there four days when everything he had been warned about happened.

It is true that he was fearless.  But was he wise?  Did he sin?  Was he too proud in wanting to share with the fathers in Jerusalem all that he had accomplished?

Why didn’t he obey?  What could have been accomplished if he had made his way to Spain?  Might Spain have been the center of the Christian world instead of Rome? 

Romans 8:28 - For we know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”

When Paul disregarded the Lord’s warnings he was not walking in the Lord’s will, yet he was soundly grounded in his purpose of making Christ known throughout the world.

Being arrested and taken to Rome certainly led to that achievement, yet maybe not in the way the Lord would have chosen.

This is one of the greatest “What ifs” in history!  What if Paul had stayed away?  What would our world look like now if he had been obedient?

God never stopped loving him.  He continued to help him.  God continued to work miracles through him.   He did not curse him or turn his back on him.

And, as it is said, “God is no respecter of persons.”  What he did for Paul he will do also for each of his beloved children.

We are all disobedient.  What seems like a small infraction to any of us may have major Spiritual implications.  But God never turns his back on us either.  He will turn our worst mistakes into what glorifies him.  He is our Father and he wants our best, always!

We have the confidence of Paul’s example; even when our egos get in the way and screw up the plans the Lord has for us,  he will still love us just as much!  He will never turn away from us!   He will see that all of our mistakes, somehow, lead to good!

TUESDAY WORD BYTES Mmmm, Mmmmm, Mmmm!

I LOVE words!  I think language is the best part of being a human.  There's nothing as good as taking a new word and rolling it around the inside of my mouth and feeling how it tastes.

Todays word;
Agerasia (A-jer-a-sia)
Appearing youthful despite having lived a long life.

"You haven't aged a bit!"
"She hides her age well!"

 Upon searching through several dictionary websites, I cannot find any further origin or etymology.

But examples shouldn't be hard to find!

Who remembers Dick Clark?  He started hosting the TV show American Bandstand  when he was a very young man.  He looked like a teenage, himself.  And for years...and years...and years...and years(!) he never seemed to change!  He just got older on the inside and kept looking like a teenager on the outside.

Classic English literature brings us the tale of Dorian Gray, who had a painting of himself in his attic that aged while he remained youthful.

I was married when I was 18, but I looked like I was 14.  That was pretty cool!  But now I'm just a middle aged momma and I've caught up with myself.  No more agerasia for me!

See?  Pretty much, just his hair changed!

What's your favorite word this week?

Grow Your Blog!

Husband and myself at
our daughter's wedding.

Hi Everyone!

Let me introduce myself!

My name Judy. (Not Judith)

I'm eternal.

Willie and Samson

Holly, Shamrock and Ivy

Ivy, Samson , Bob and the hen

I live on a farm in the forest on the edge of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

My blog, "Christ in me", is precisely about that; Christ in me.
I've been a practicing Christian for more than 3/4 of my life,
growing
stretching
deepening
learning more and more about who I am in Christ,
what my role in His kingdom on Earth is,
how to be a faithful servant.

I started journalling during my quiet time, (Ask me what a quiet time is.) about a year and a half ago.
And my blog has been a place to share the things Jesus shares with me.

I am also a professional artist working in several disciplines;

knitting

crochet

Spinning yarn               

acrylic painting

oil painting
pottery

I'm also a singer songwriter.

But none of this is what my blog is about.  Yet, it may be.

If you like my concept, I welcome you to come along.

Read, ponder, question, relate!

Be blessed!

Stand In The Light With Eyes Wide Open

Matthew 6: 28 - 34 (33 being the verse targeted)

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Ephesians 5:11 - 17 ( 15, 16 being the verses targeted)

11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,

    rise from the dead,

    and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

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And this is what the Lord said to me;

Don’t worry about your daily needs.  I know what you need.  I love you.  I’ll take care of you!  There is no need to go rushing round, striving for the things I’ve already provided.  The pagans hunt with blind eyes for who they can crawl over to get a little bit higher than they were.  And it never ends.

But you are mine.  You are my pet, the one I long to lavish love on!  All things are good when you are walking in my light.  It’s only when you stand with eyes closed in fear that you can’t see how abundantly I provide for you.

You can know my will.  You do know my will.  I am so proud of you for how far you’ve come!  Stand in my light with eyes wide open and see what I will do for you!  And I love you even more that!

Snow

The forecast came out a couple of days ago.  There might be light snow on Wednesday evening, into Thursday morning.

Butterflies started gently lifting in my belly.

Yesterday the forecast suggested 1 to 3 inches, but most likely less than 1 in most areas.

Still, I kept my hopes up.

Today, when I visited FB, maps were marking where I live for 3 to 5 inches.

This morning when I woke up the sky was light with sunshine trying to force its way through the silver cloud cover.  As the day progressed the silver turned to muffled grey and the clouds pressed down, closer to the earth.

Around 2:00 I began to earnestly gaze out of the window, keeping very still, to see if I would see the first flakes.  Not yet.

At 2:58 I was lying on my bed, spending time with my Lord, when I saw the fist flake drift into view.  And my heart got that electric jolt that comes from quick joy!

Now it’s falling fast and furious.  There won’t be much.  The news says it will be all over by 8:00.

But, here’s the thing, it can snow for days and days.  It can accumulate 3 feet!  But that moment when it stops for good, brings a little sigh of sadness to my soul.

TUESDAY WORD BYTES Mmmm, Mmmmm, Mmmm!

I LOVE words!  I think language is the best part of being a human.  There's nothing as good as taking a new word and rolling it around the inside of my mouth and feeling how it tastes.

This weeks word:
Acnestis (Ak-nes-tis)
The root is greek; "a" (a negative prefix) and kne^stos (a word meaning scratched)

That part of an animals back that it cannot reach itself in order to scratch, usually right between it's shoulder blades.


Did you ever see a movie of a bear rubbing its back up and down a tree?
On a horse its the very base of its tail.  That's why it rubs it up against the fence post.
And that's why doorways have square corners!  So you can rub back and forth against it when there's nobody around to scratch your back for you!

Why Wasn't The Cross Enough?

Isaiah 52:14New International Version (NIV)

Just as there were many who were appalled at him[a] his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being

and his form marred beyond human likeness—

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First, let me state that I am not a Kabbalist.  My husband gave me a book called, “Great Jewish Stories” which has a section in it of stories from the Kabbalah.  As a daughter of Abraham, grafted in and watered with the blood of Jesus, I recognize that wisdom can be found in the rich history of oral Jewish tradition.

So, this is my telling of, 

Faces Changed by Sin

When Adam and Eve sinned, they were cast out of the Garden of Eden.  The Lord said to them, “The fear of you and the dread of you will be upon every beast of the earth.”  The same creatures who had come to Adam, in trust, to receive their names now fled from them in fear.  Why?  Because their appearance was changed.  

When they walked in the garden with the Lord, His glory shone all over them!  They were the very image of God.  After they were cast out, they no longer reflected God’s glory.  Their faces reflected fearful hearts filled with sin.

Sin changes the features of a face.

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Why wasn’t the cross enough?  Why wasn’t death enough of a payment for the sins of humanity? 

Why did Jesus have to be beaten and flogged so very viciously?

Over the years I know I have asked those questions.  I’ve heard many others ask them too.

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Jesus is the 2nd Adam.  

When you want to know what your sin looks like, look at Jesus after he was beaten.

It’s one thing to think of Jesus dying for the sins of the whole world.  He did!  But, rather, think if you can, of each individual person… every single one, from the beginning of time until this very moment.  The sins of each one, you, me, your parent, my spouse, Osama Bin Ladin, Hitler, Julius Caesar…..

If the sin of one person, Adam, was enough to frighten away the animals that had once trusted him, how much more would the sin of every individual in the history of mankind make Jesus, the final sacrifice, unrecognizable?

His appearance was marred.  He was made unrecognizable, by my sin.

And in exchange, I have become the Apple of God’s eye!  He delights in me!  There is nothing that I can do that will make Him not love me, not make me the most important part of His day!  

Because Jesus was so brutally scarred, I am beautiful!

And so is each one who puts their faith in His sacrifice.

Don’t be saddened by what your sin has done.  

Be filled with gratitude that a way was made!

If it wouldn’t have been worth it, He wouldn’t have done it.

Be filled with the JOY made available by the greatest sacrifice of all!

                                      

TUESDAY WORD BYTES Mmmm, Mmmmm, Mmmm!

I LOVE words!  I think language is the best part of being a human.  There's nothing as good as taking a new word and rolling it around the inside of my mouth and feeling how it tastes.

This will be a regular feature on my blog: sharing new (to me) words, their meanings and origins

Every Tuesday I'll post a new word.   Some are archaic. Some are seldom used.  Some will be from different cultures and therefore not familiar to many American speaking people.

So... Let the fun begin!

First word!

Accismus (Ak-sis-mus) with the accent on the 2nd syllable.
It comes from the Greek word; akkizesthai, "to feign ignorance." 

Accismus is a certain way of lying.
False humility, spoken forth, as in "Oh!  You really shouldn't have!"
Or "I really don't deserve this!" When all along the person not only knows they deserve it but is expecting it.

One example that is given is when the crown of the Roman Empire is presented to Julius Caesar, who very much wants it, but refuses it the first 2 times it is offered and finally accepts it after the 3rd offering.

Accismus; that moment after the movie star recovers from the shock that he did NOT win the Oscar.

What's YOUR word of the week?

The Invitation

The Invitation

Matthew 22:11-14

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Why was the man thrown out? Was it because he had the wrong clothes on?  Or because he hadn’t been invited?

Why did the King call him “friend” yet tie him up and toss him out?

I think it was because he was speechless.  He didn’t have a ready reply.  Why didn’t he lie?  Maybe he didn’t know the right words.  Maybe he was unprepared because he didn’t anticipate the question.

Was he shocked?  Did he know he’d been caught?

Was this a person so self deluded that he was shocked at being rejected?  I know many, many people who would fall into that category.  When they stand before the throne of the Father will they feel as if they have been found out, or will they be shocked at being rejected?

So, the parable isn’t about the wedding feast or wearing the right clothes.  It’s about the ready and simplest of responses.  If the man had said, “Because I was invited.” would he still have been thrown out?

We are, each of us, individually invited.  And the only acceptable response is, “Thank you!  I will come!”  The King provides the wedding clothes.  We don’t bring them with us.

I know the answer.  it will be because I am invited.  My invitation came in an Easter card.  And all that is required of me it to know that.

(310 words)

I Want To Be Ready!

I Want To Be Ready!

Mark 6:8 - These were his (Jesus) words to them;  “Take nothing with you for the journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.  Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.”

2 Timothy 4:2 - Preach the Word.  Be prepared in season and out of season.  Correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.

What does it mean to be prepared?  Is it having everything on your list ticked off and safely stowed?  Sometimes. Is it knowing where you’re going, how long you’ll be there and when you’ll return?  Sometimes.

In Mark 6:8 You tell the disciples to be ready by seemingly telling them not to be ready.  All they were to take were a staff and the clothes on their backs.  It doesn’t say so, but I’d bet they weren’t given months of time to prepare.  How did the prepare?  What did they prepare?  They prepared their hearts and minds.  They focused in on trusting Jesus.  They ere told to walk off and have no fear for what they would eat or where they would sleep.  They were given a mission.

When they returned they were overjoyed!  They were fit, not starving, not exhausted.  In fact, they were energized!

So, what does it mean to be prepared?  In 2 Timothy 4:2 Paul tells Timothy (and us) to;

“Preach the Word.  Be prepared in season and out of season.  Correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.”

Be ready to do God’s work at any moment.  Sometimes we know when we’re being called to preach and other times those “divine appointments” are seemingly dropped in our laps!  Am I ready?  I think I’m more ready now than I’ve even been before.  But am I truly ready?  Yes!!  Because I know that if I’m called to go, or to speak, at the drop of a hat, my Lord will sustain me!  I don’t have to worry about what I’ll eat or where I’ll sleep.  If I’m being obedient then all is good and I am safe in the arms of my Jesus.