Doll Bed

For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. – 2 Corinthians 1:20

 

I am grateful for the promises of God, for they are a mighty defense against the weapons of the enemy and my assurance that those he has formed against me will not prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)

 

Lord, thank you for filling Your Word with so many magnificent promises! May they be constantly in my thoughts and more and more on my lips.

 

I had thought about possibly showing the process of building this oak doll bed for my granddaughter, if there is any interest.

The project was inspired by the demise of her old one when her younger brother decided it would be fun to get in.  I’m sure it probably seemed like a good idea at the time.

 

Training

Park at center of Gwinn, MI

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  –  James 1:2-4

 

I would tend to think of “testing of my faith” being perilously close to “struggling with doubt”.

However, the Spirit – who is sent to guide us into all the truth –
prompts me to think of it more this way: If I have no trials, how would I know that I have faith that holds steadfast under strain?  I would become spiritually flaccid without any opportunity to exercise my belief in Him.  As for endurance, when one first starts to exercise, he is very limited as to what he can do.  After much practice, though, staying power vastly improves.  “Trials” are testing experiences that are more than we have tackled before.  As our physical muscles were designed to improve with increased training, so our spiritual muscles with increasing trials.

Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Sign in Park

Covered Footbridge over Escanaba River, Gwinn MI

All of 1 Peter 1 is an incredibly rich tapestry of the Life prepared for us: conceived and planned by the Father, purchased in blood by Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, stretching across history, predicted by prophets, and announced by first-century preachers; concerning grace, peace, fullness, mercy, hope, protection, salvation, eternal life, joy, praise, honor, love, glory, revelation, belief, faith, angels, and mysteries.

I am grateful for the grace that enables us to enter in to this magnificent journey with God, and to stay the course, if we are willing.

Bridge

In or Not?

I am grateful for being a new creature! I thank you for opening the way to beholding this promise more clearly.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

 

As I meditated on this verse, I became mindful of all the (many) times since “accepting” Christ as Savior, that I have engaged in bad behavior.  I was reminded that at no time does the Lord override my free choice.  I have to recognize that “in” is not a state that is permanently imposed upon me, it is an invitation.  He has done His part.  Will I come in?  Will I stay?

“Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; (Luke 21:34)

 

The price for my freedom has been paid.  Choosing to stay free requires vigilance.

IMG_0254
Gwinn MI Clock Tower

What is to Come

Though the world would otherwise be a (very) scary place, I am grateful for this promise; not just that in You, Lord, I can get by. I can actually have peace! I am grateful that the courage that I am encouraged to “take” is by faith in You and not something in me that I have to somehow live up to.

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Escanaba River, Gwinn MI

Gratitude Journal, 12/28/2017

I am grateful for this week off from work to rest my mind from the urgencies of the office, the opportunity to more clearly fix my attention on things above and to cultivate a keener perspective on the proper place of temporal pursuits.

 

At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

 

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” [Matthew 11:25-30]

Subsidized Vandalism …

… of the pristine Iowa horizon.

This is a hand-held time exposure, so not the best quality photo.  All those red lights on the horizon are a warning-blink from part of a new wind farm being installed between me and the next mile over.  There are close to a hundred of them.  I’m already missing my unadulterated view.  Yesterday’s blog photo was before this blight on God’s landscape.  I freely admit that I am struggling to find a good face to put on this project.  If these machines pulled their own weight in the economy, I suppose I would find some solace in that. As it is, I have to reconcile myself to the fact that I am paying taxes that are going to blight in my own neck of the cornfield.

I have to return my focus on things above and remember that at the day of the Lord, this too will pass (2 Peter 3:10).

Listen Up!

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days. Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand. Proverbs 19:20-21

Who doesn’t want to be wise? And, I like this plan better than any of my own:

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

So, what’s the problem? It is not about a lack of competent instruction, or the good will of God. Maybe, as the proverb above starts out, the trouble is listening and accepting. Maybe there is a need to walk in faith toward that hopeful future.

Softening Dew

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17

 

Me:

Good morning Father!

 

ABBA:

Good morning Jon!

 

Me:

It feels like a fall morning, here on the third of September; spectacular, with fog laying in the low spots and the air heavy and cool, dampening the sounds of my footfalls. You demonstrate Your glory in the beading dew on every blade of grass, glistening even in the muted light before sunrise. The ferns of the asparagus plants in the garden were bending down under the weight of the water they collected out of the air. The wetness seems all the more striking after this summer’s drought.

 

ABBA:

I Am glad you like it. Keep your heart attuned to Me, and I will refresh you. “The way you should go”, is is along with Me. Walk consciously in My presence and I will continue to lead you in the Way. I will redeem everything you present to Me from within your heart; gently, as the dew softens the dry blades of grass. My Spirit is not coming to you as the pelting rain, but silently as breath, carried as a mysterious vapor to everything exposed, no matter how dry it was before .

 

Me:

Thank You Father! I love You!

 

ABBA:

You are welcome! I love you!

Steadfast of Mind

 

The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock. – Isaiah 26:3-4

Me:
Good morning Father!

ABBA:
Good morning Jon!

Me:
It is not easy being steadfast in mind.

ABBA:
I spoke to you about that yesterday by My Holy Spirit.

Me:
You said to be mindful of what I focus my attention on.

ABBA:
I did. I Am able to see all. I see the beginning and the ending, for I Am the Alpha and the Omega; the First and the Last (Revelation 22:13). I Am unconstrained by time, for time is of the physical realm and I Am Spirit (John 4:24). I do not look only on the outward appearance, but upon even the thoughts and intents of the heart (Psalm 44:21).

You do not see as I see. I designed your mind to be able to focus. I am mindful that you are but dust (Genesis 2:7, Psalm 103:14). I Am not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Instead, I bring order out of chaos (Genesis 1:2).

I intend You to seek Me for today (Hebrews 3:15). I gave a picture of this when I provided manna for the Israelites. I satisfied their hunger in the wilderness. They were instructed to gather what they needed for the day, plus some extra the day before the Sabbath, when they were to simply rest in Me. If they tried to store it up, the manna would spoil (Exodus 16).

Jesus told you not to worry about tomorrow, for each day has enough trouble of it’s own (Matthew 6:34). That does not mean you should not plan, only that you should not worry. Worry is focused on trouble. Proper planning focuses on achievement (Luke 14:28).

Me:
Thank You Father! Help me keep my eyes on Jesus my Example and my Savior (Hebrews 12:2) and to set my mind on things above (Colossians 3:1-2). Let my ears be attentive to Your Word and my hands ready to do your calling from the heart! I love You!

ABBA:

You are welcome! Those are prayers that I Am willing to help with, obviously, for I have told you to do these things for your own benefit; because I love you!