The GOOD News:For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him. THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL.
THE whole chebang IN A NUTSHELL
"‘Love the Lordyour God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Good measure. Pressed down. Shaken together. Running over.
". . . he entered Capernaum. There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." So Jesus went with them.
Jesus the Christ
(Luke's account)
{ a "secret" . . . faith / trust }
{ a "secret" . . . relationship }
{ a "secret" . . . compassion }
Jesus was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes, and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, "Do this,' and he does."
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Wooo-hooo! (Goosebumps). Oooh!
Skillset - 02 may prove useful.
CRACK THE NUT
My Friend,
if you take my words to heart, if you set store by my commandments, turning your ear to wisdom, turning your heart to understanding, yes, if your plea is for clear perception,
if you cry out for understanding, if you look for it as though for silver, search for it as though for buried treasure, then you will understand what the fear of the Lord is, and discover the knowledge of God. For the lord himself is giver of wisdom, from his mouth issue knowledge and understanding.
A Sparkling Gem
God is able. To bless abundantly! In all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in EVERY GOOD WORK.
Awesome company.
Luke Seven Letter to Corinthians
King David's 23rd Psalm
⛲
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
The Appostle
Somethings are best marinated:
meditate
appreciate illustrate
It is remarkable, isn't it, journeying two thousand years back into lands Jesus roamed, to enter in!
One, of course, for value must needs shed one's personhood of its self, go in naked as it were, (dissolved of pontifications and pretenses), and not impose one's cultural preferences and predilections, one's prejudices and preconditions, to slip into such a time and space, which one was not nurtured in, if anything approximating authenticity is the wish or desire.
Easier said than done, we find, if ever this can be claimed to be done at all. But it is worth each and every try!
The better, regardless, to enter, isn't it, having a clear understanding of each character occupying there - as they are within their realm. And enriched being allowed into their company (if just for imaginary moments). And to experience Jesus inhabiting the space - as He is.
How they came to him! How they invited him! How they responded to him! Each of their own kind. Across status. Each their way. A spectrum of styles. How he acknowledged them. How he engaged them. How he reasoned with them. Knowledge. Wisdom. Compassion. Presence. To see Him with clearer eyes. To hear Him with clean ears. Hearts? To know Him a little better.
Compassion is a relationship between equals. True compassion is. Compassion steps out of one's self into the being of another. Compassion, selfless in its action, puts all of self into the need of another. Matchless. It takes one's breath away, doesn't it? Jesus. Hmmm. Compassion, He is. Even so, here and now, in our time and space, God is still speaking. God's love is still in its fullness and flowing. Emphatically. God's gifts are still delivering abundantly. Its signature - compassion! Isn't that awesome? Its signature - I created you. Its signature - choice. For us, becoming,being, nurturing compassion, may require de-programming, unlearning,discovering its full and ready availability to us. Oooh!
Let's let this marinate.
Time for some homemade hand-cranked ice cream.
Nicolette Sowder
"Give me the wild children with their bare feet and sparkling eyes. The restless, churning climbers. The wild ones using their outside voices, singing all the way home. Give me the wonder-filled, glorious mess makers dreaming of mountains and mud, aching to run through a field of stars."
Heal the broken heart - Free the oppressed
Love your Neighbor as Yourself
You became a Light (Learn. Un-learn. Re-learn.)
- Love your Neighbor as Yourself -
Isaiah, the Prophet
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners."
Bishop Gene Robinson
"It's funny isn't it? That you can preach a judgmental and vengeful and angry God and nobody will mind. But you start preaching a God that is too accepting, too loving, too forgiving, too merciful, too kind . . . and you are in trouble."
Desmond Tutu
"You may be surprised at the people we find in heaven. God has a soft spot for sinners. His standards are quite low.."
Dear God, grant me victory today over all that assails. Help me square up to even the greatest challenges and claim authority over them, unafraid. Amen.
A signature element of love, joy and peace is ongoing celebration (continual learning).
The Sweet of Making Progress
Ways to be successful whatever your endeavor!
1. Procrastination
2. Ego
3. Food
4. Learning
5. Discipline
6. Distraction
7. Habits
8. Behavior
9. Self-doubt
"It was not enough to come and listen to a great sermon or message every Sunday morning and be confined to those four walls and those four corners. You had to get out and do something."
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