Category Archives: Gospel of John

Gospel of John, Passion Week

Waiting

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Saturday early afternoon; Resurrection Sunday is hours away.

How special will it be this year? Sunrise service. Breakfast. Sunday School. Music and preaching. Lunch. Family. Friends. Relaxing. What else?

What does HE want for us? 

Just some pondering(s) in a quiet house as I wait. 

John 20:11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb
weeping, and as she wept she stooped down 
and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two 
angels in white sitting, one at the head 
and the other at the feet, where the body
of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her,
“Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to 
them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, 
and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 
14 Now when she had said this, she turned
around and saw Jesus standing there, and 
did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus 
said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? 
Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing 
Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir,
if You have carried Him away, tell me where
You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” 
(which is to say, Teacher). 
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, 
for I have not yet ascended to My Father; 
but go to My brethren and say to them, 
‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, 
and to My God and your God.’” 
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples
that she had seen the Lord, and that He 
had spoken these things to her.  source 
UNTIL THEN ~ ~ ~ KATHIE 
THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS ENOUGH

No sin goes unpunished.
Either we bear it or JESUS does for us;
and we get to choose who does the bearing.

1 Timothy, 2 Peter, Gospel of John, Guests, Psalms

My Two Cents

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From time to time I read Sean of the South. Today was one of those times.

Here’s a link to his January 4, 2017 post. It’s entitled: Ladies and Girls.

As I read his post Scripture came to mind.

1 Timothy 6:10  (NKJV) 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, . . .  source 

If you read his post and if you think like me you probably know where I am going with this and if not, may I share? :)

Actually, you really do need to read his post. Here’s a link. Go read it and meet me back here. Please.  Click. 

Okay. Got all that? Yeah. Me too.  So let me add my two cents. :)

MONEY!

Nothing creates a money-making environment like dissatisfaction.  Similar to Sean‘s description, every Ad we see tells us we are in serious need of this or that – but Wait! THIS product will fix that!  Sound familiar? Yeah. To me too. Ever bought into that? Yeah. Me too.

By and large advertisers main aim is to convince us that we are incomplete, unfulfilled, lacking, not enough, deprived and entitled – for a price that is – to their product.
It is estimated in 2017 U.S. advertisers will spend 209.69 Billion dollars to convince us we are not enough and do not have enough.
209.69 BILLION DOLLARS! source
And just think, if they SPEND that much to get us to spend our money on their products — just how much are we buying?!
Will the product even work? And for how long?

Now for the good news!
There is a Fix for all our ailments, our inadequacies, our not enough(s) and even our too much(es). No. Really there is!
Now put your money away! Your money won’t buy this Fix and I have yet to see an infomercial featuring this everlasting Fix. Yes. I did say everlasting. Interested?

This everlasting Fix actually is a Person, not a product. 
How many of you know that?
How many of you have made His acquaintance?
How many of you are beyond just acquainted with Him?
My understanding is it is His desire to make all humanity whole and satisfied. And it’s a gift! 
Yes. Really!

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.  source

I mean what could be more satisfying, more for making content a soul than that? How about this?

John 10:10  (NKJV) 10 . . . I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  source 

And this?

2 Peter 3:8 But don’t forget this one thing, loved ones, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some consider slowness. Rather, He is being patient toward you—not wanting anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance.  source 

So here’s the bottom line.
The product maker/product handler wants our money.
The King of the Universe wants our trust.
Which one do you think will really make us whole and satisfied for the longest time?

Salt and Light,
Kathie

Matthew 5:13-16
Gospel of John, Gospel of Matthew, Guests, Philippians

An Elm Tree

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Writing has been sparse but not my thoughts of you all.

All too often, Christians seek to “grow spiritually” without realizing that the call of the spiritual life is first and foremost to abide in our union with Christ.  Day 6 Closer Than Close by Dave Hickman

I dare say many of us would describe ourselves as Christians striving to grow to be more like Jesus. It’s exhausting! And often disappointing and frustrating — at least it has been for me. But I’m learning! :)

It was not meant to be this way. We did not learn that from Jesus.  Matthew 11:29-30 (KJV) 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.   See?

We have an elm tree; given to us by a dear friend a few years ago – just a little thing.  Today it is well on its way and it is absolutely lovely. Here see for yourself. 

In all these years though I have not seen that tree striving and worrying and wondering what else can I do to grow; what else can I do to be like other Elm trees. Nope. Not once.  
The tree just received.
She received sunshine and rain and a little fertilizer from time to time when we remembered to give it to her. We’ve pruned her a couple of times and as I said she is lovely.  And what did she do to be so lovely? 

Just BE. Just Receive. 

I know we are not elm trees. Elm trees do not get to choose their nutrients or their gardeners.  We Do! 

We began our life in Jesus by choosing Him. That is when He offered us Eternal Life purchased for us by His very own Blood we said yes. We chose Him.  Now the abiding part and the growing part and the trying to be close to Him part that gets us all bent out of shape the wrong way. 

John 15:5  (KJV) 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  source 

So what is abiding anyway? I have an answer for me and I am so satisfied with it that I am here to share it with you.

Abiding is simply continuing to choose Jesus! 

Okay. I hear ya. What about Paul and his striving for the mark? I thought of that too. What if?

Philippians 3: 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  source  

What if that mark, that goal, that pressing on; that lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me IS ABIDING IN CHRIST?

What if what Paul is saying is I have not attained the place of perfectly choosing Jesus each time but that is my goal to choose Him, to choose His Way with every choice I make? To keep on keeping on choosing Jesus every day, moment by moment if need be, especially when all kinds of junk is going on around me; and on those days I mess up, I put those things behind me and I start again fresh — choosing Jesus? 

Could this be what it means to abide in Christ?  Simply continuing to choose Jesus!

And then another question arises. How do I know I am choosing Jesus?

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  source 

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. source

So there is some doing in our abiding – but if the choosing Jesus is first the abiding yoke is easy and the burden is light. 

I am satisfied with this!  :)

Salt and Light,
Kathie

Matthew 5:13-16

Assurance - Promise, Gospel of John

Troubled?

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Does death ever trouble you? I mean that last breath of earthly oxygen? I mean you have not died before, right?  Do you know with certainty what to expect when you die? 

The passages we are sharing today are found in John 14 and it begins this way:

“Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. SOURCE

So what were they troubled about? Perhaps many things but particularly separation from JESUS.  At this setting, they were in the Upper Room. They had finished their last Passover meal with JESUS, He had washed their feet and He was continuing to prepare them for His imminent death.

And He tells them to let not their hearts be troubled. And the way to do that was and is TRUST. Trust the FATHER. Trust JESUS. Trust the HOLY SPIRIT. Trust the ONE GOD of the Bible. 

Heaven. 

How do you know there is a Heaven? I mean do you really know there is a heaven – we have not been there yet?  Do such questions ever sneak into your thoughts? Even just briefly? 

This is how I send them packing! 

2 In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may also be.  SOURCE 

Simple! JESUS said so. What more do I need? 

Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. This makes my soul smile! 

Salt and Light,
Kathie

Matthew 5:13-16