Tag: gratitude

God Knows and Cares

I am grateful for your detailed attention!

“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Luke 12:6-7

Me: Good afternoon, Father!

Abba: Good afternoon, Jon!

Me: The idea of the surveillance state with enough cameras and data centers to store everything about everyone is of great concern. But having You know every detail is a great comfort, for Your very nature is love and no injustice ever proceeds from you!

Abba: Yes, and I should have proven my forgiveness to you:

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Romans 8

Me: I am always awed at Your forgiveness and such great cost to Yourself!

Yet on the government surveillance front, there is this, which I seem to continually struggle with:


1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Romans 13

History is littered with tyrannical regimes which favored one group over others, even to carrying out genocide. It seems AI powered identification of everyone is risky business. I believe it is against the spirit of the fourth amendment to the Constitution for unreasonable searches. What could be more intrusive than monitoring everywhere you go and every thing you buy and everyone you associate with?

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Revelation 13

This passage in Revelation speaks of a “beast” who is numbered (counted?) as a man with authority to prevent the commerce that is necessary to daily life unless he receives the worship that is due only to You. So, to me, it seems the building of the surveillance state is laying the groundwork for man carrying out the purposes of Satan.

Abba: Verse 14 says, “And he deceives”. That means, as is his usual restraint (from Me) his plans must be accepted by the ones implementing them. This usually happens because they think there is something in it for their own purposes.

Me: We see many signs of injustice already. I am thinking of tax money being used to subsidize abortion providers under the heading of “health care”. The courts used to attack those who provide energy to run transportation and the economy, because the existing laws don’t agree with the plaintiff’s position. On and on it goes.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Birkenau Auschwitz Concentration Camp

How do we properly address these things? I no longer have any confidence in elections to improve things. Surely, not over the long term (if there is a long term).

Abba: These are valid concerns. I would not deny that they are. However, considering these things, read Romans 8 in its entirety and take it to heart.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8

To the end, the hairs on your head will not cease to be numbered by Me.

Me: Thank You Father for that comforting perspective! I love You! Your will be done!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

The Unseen

I am grateful for the unseen, that things eternal are spiritual and out of the perception of human eye, but will not always be so. [2 Corinthians 4:18, 1 Corinthians 13:12]

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

Me: Good morning, Father!

Abba: Good morning, Jon!

Have you considered why you have a sense of gratitude about the obscurity of the unseen? Do not think that it originates within you. I tell you plainly that it is My heart to hide the mysteries of glory from the eye of natural man.

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Genesis 6:5

Nor was that wickedness eliminated by the flood.

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

John 8:44

You only need to look at daily news items to see his activity in the hearts of men.

But I AM your redeemer. Consider John’s description of Jesus:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:1-5

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14

Have you observed a lack of discernment? I AM sure that you have!

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6

The spiritual realm above is safe from the machinations of corrupt man, but open before those who are in Jesus; to those who love Me, who are a new creation.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

John 16:12-15

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Me: Thank You, Father! I love You!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

Exclusive Predestination?

I am grateful for the immeasurable love of God!

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 8

Seems there are endless arguments over Bible passages that contain the word “predestined”. I know some denominations take the idea of predestination to mean, “We are included, but perhaps not you.” The idea can be carried so far as to eliminate evangelistic outreach. Even further, that since predestined by an omnipotent God, that the actions of life are irrelevant; essentially erasing personal accountability. (Don’t hear what I am not saying. Not all Calvinist groups are this extreme.) This idea derives from the perspective that the foreknowledge of God is absolute and therefore immutable.

In the Romans 8 passage above, the idea of predestination is surrounded by divine balance. First, it is addressing the heart. Do you love God? As a result, do you want what He wants? What about evidence? Are you becoming conformed to the likeness of Jesus?

While we are here in this passage, lets talk about the foreknowledge of God (verse 29). The omniscience of God extends to continual observation of every created particle in the universe. God is Spirit (John 4:24, among many others). He sees the immaterial, from gravity to energy and attitudes and our very thoughts.

Further, God is eternal. Eternal existence is also a hard concept. I believe that time is created by God regulate the physical universe. Breathe in. Breathe out. Heart, keep beating for some variable number of seconds. Earth rotate and fall around the sun as prescribed by said gravity. Cesium, decay with a half-life of 30 years. God is regulated only by His nature and His word. What He says, is. He is not regulated by His creation, including time. The word “foreknew” in is used because human language doesn’t have a notion of observation that transcends time. Our own perception is limited to the sphere of our focus in the moment we are in. God is not limited. “Predestined” is also framed in our own limitations in the same way as “foreknew”.

The argument that foreknowledge and predestination only applies to certain ones is inexplicable to me. Our Father knows us all (Psalm 139). I defy you to read that Psalm and remain unmoved if you know God in the slightest!

As we talked about this subject today, my wife reminded me that when God answered Moses, when he asked what he should say to the Israelites about His identity, God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites that “I AM has sent me to you,” I find it amusing that Moses was cheeky enough to ask God for His ID. In so doing, though, we have Him clearly establishing His eternal, self-existent nature.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1

Do you see yourself “holy and without blame before Him in love”? If we are “in Christ”, this is true in your spirit, which is now indwelt by Him who has eternally been holy and without blame. Our Father currently sees that truth in our spirit. More, He sees us being progressively transformed as His Word is allowed to work in us (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18). He sees our ultimate blamelessness. For now, let us offer praise that we are accepted in the Beloved!

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Titus 2

Titus 2:11 tells us that salvation has appeared to all men. Does that mean, as some teach, that all will be saved? That a loving God would never send anyone to hell? I have heard those who declare they couldn’t serve a deity who would allow his children to go to hell for eternity. But God has extended the invitation to all. Acceptance of the invitation is voluntary. Jesus talked about those who decline in the parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14). Note that declining the invitation is not without serious consequence. This fact will not be a mystery to anyone with a wayward child.

6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

Acts 15

Here we see the Jewish religious leaders arguing to apply the same burden on Gentile believers that they applied to a convert to Judaism: keep the law. But God (do you love that phrase as much as I do?), had already made clear His acceptance of those who come to Him in faith. Remember, we started this walk through the Scripture examining the idea of evidence of salvation. There is no stronger attestation than the presence of the Holy Spirit. This passage is one more example that God is “no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34).

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3

God’s will is the salvation of all. He is not going to force any. But He is willing to wait until we come to our senses. The question is, whether we accept His Gift while we are still breathing. The dead have lost the opportunity.

Newbee

I am grateful for God’s awesome creation in all its myriad parts!

This morning, we fetched the two NUCs we ordered from Bell Farm in Runnells Iowa and did our best to get them installed in their new home. As this is the first time for us to have them we are truly newbees.

Don’t worry! Bee Happy!

Wholehearted

Journal, Sunday 2-1-2026

I am grateful to have the new pegboards for the shop constructed and up!

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

— Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Me: Good morning, Father!

Abba: Good morning, Jon!

Me: This made me think of the adjective wholehearted. When I look at the definition, I find:

1. completely and sincerely, determined or enthusiastic
2. marked by complete earnest commitment; free from all reserve or hesitation.

That said, the verse in Deuteronomy 6 indicates that is not all; more than heart is concerned. I have envisioned the heart to contain the soul (reason/mind, emotions, will, conscience, self-awareness, faith/unbelief, etc.). Does this passage in Deuteronomy 6 negate that concept? I have based my thinking about this matter on many passages.

“who has also placed his seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee”

2 Corinthians 1:22

— And as other examples:

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.

Psalm 139:23

And

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Abba: I want you to think about this passage in Romans 1, and how the soul affects the heart and how the heart affects the body. And, how some make a habit out of serving the body and its senses. As you know, that gets to be an accelerating vicious circle going to no good end.

Therefore, God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason, God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. Likewise, men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, maliciousness. Gossips, slanderers, hateful to God, insolent, arrogant, boastful; inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, foolish, untrustworthy, heartless, unmerciful; who having known the righteous judgment of God, that those doing such things are worthy of death, not only are practicing them, but are also approving of those practicing them.

— Romans 1:24-32

Surely, you recognize this in action in your day, as it was in Paul’s.

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.

Luke 6:45

The exhortation to love Me with all your heart and all your soul, and all your strength is not saying the soul is not contained in the heart. It emphasizes wholeheartedness, as you have already observed. Not everyone considers the soul a part of the heart simply because they have not considered it. By pointing out details, the text aims to get you to consider the trouble with holding back in any area of your relationship with Me.

David saw it:

Bless the Lord, O my soul! And all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.

— Psalm 103:1

So, “wholehearted” is a good word. An unreserved heart set on Me results in an unfettered soul and directs the body to good and powerful actions.

Me: Thank You, Father! I love You!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

Graphic depicting some aspects related to the mind, heart, and spirit.

Focus

Journal Entry – January 25, 2026

I am grateful for great direction from the Word!

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

— Philippians 4:8-9

Me: Good morning, Father!

Abba: Good morning, Jon!

Me: All the things in the darkness in this world do not fit in this list

Abba: Yes, and many are cooperating to bring your attention to bear on them.

Lest Satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.

— 2 Corinthians 2:11

This last passage tells you not to be ignorant of the darkness, but do not focus on it and give it more power than it is due.

But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.

— Matthew 10:33–36

Understand this: as the darkness progresses, it is all the more important for you to be strong there in the depths of your heart and mind and soul by focusing on things in the light as Philippians four says. You are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16). You cannot long maintain effectiveness unless you are filled with light by what you are occupied with. You need to be light so that those who will can see how to leave the darkness. There is a balance, but remember lessons from physics: the power is in the light and darkness is absent power. Knowing the things that are of Me will maintain your ability to be light, and it is surely needed.

Although the Jesus’ words captured in Matthew 10:33-36 speak specifically of one’s immediate family members, family members make up a community, and communities make up a state, and states make up a nation and nations make up the world. Those of the household of faith will one day be in alignment with Jesus’ prayer for unity (John 17:6-18). That day has not arrived yet and many are set against Jesus’ disciples. Even within the “household of faith” one is set against another. Do not be surprised. Jesus did not want you to be unaware.

Me: Thank You Father! I love you!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

John 1

I cannot read the first chapter of the Gospel according to John without finding myself riveted, not only to the content, majestic as it is, but I am also taken in by its cadence, grandeur, and mystery. I feel I am peering into the very heart of Almighty God. It surges with the pulse of all He has determined to do among us and for us. He coaxes us back from teetering at the precipice of the dark abyss. He does not stop there. No, His intention is to bring us into the glorious light that powerfully streams from Himself. (1 John 1:5) All His desire is to bring us into the Kingdom of the Son.`

He knows full well we are incapable of making such a transformation on our own. He has given us an invitation, complete with new authority, increasing understanding, and even committed His own Spirit to us, to act as internal guide and revealer of hidden truth. He clearly marks the path. (2 John 1:16)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

John 1:1-18

More?

I am grateful to have my wife’s library shelves moved back where they can be used! It has been thirteen years since we had space to do that. Time flies!

Me: Good morning, Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit: Good morning, Jon!

Me: Last Saturday (22nd), You gave me a diagram that is useful to explain, among other things, the difference between salvation and sanctification. Would you lead me to more supporting scripture verses to go with that diagram?

Holy Spirit: I assume you mean in addition to the ones I gave you at the time?

Me: Yes. I have a sense there is much more.

Holy Spirit: Let’s start with Ephesians chapters five and six. They have much to say about walking: in love, in light, in wisdom, in the Word, in obedience, in the whole armor of God, and in faith by grace. Concerning the endpoints on the diagram, see Colossians 1:13.

This translation from darkness to light is a past event for the spirit of the believer. It is also an ongoing journey of growth and change (sanctification).

Me: Thank You Holy Spirit! I love You!

Holy Spirit: You are welcome! I love you!

Graphic depicting some aspects related to the mind, heart, and spirit.

Sing with Gratitude More Often

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16

Me: Good morning, Jesus!

Jesus: Good morning, Jon!

Me: I am grateful that your word brings wisdom! I pray that You will help me to more deeply let it “dwell in me richly”.

Jesus: One way is for you to follow the instructions of this verse and sing more often.

Me: I am grateful that You always give me spiritual songs if I only turn my heart to You and open my mouth and lift my voice to You. I don’t know why I tend to skip that blessing.

Jesus:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2

Those songs will be transforming. This is wisdom.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:2

Me: Thank You Jesus! I love You!

Jesus: You are welcome! I love you! I tell you the truth of the way to walk in Me to abundant life.

Light and Darkness

I am grateful for sight! What a marvelous gift!

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of life light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Matthew 6:22-23

And He said, “Go, and tell this people:
‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
 “Make the heart of this people dull,
And their ears heavy,
And shut their eyes;
Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And return and be healed.”

Then I said, “Lord, how long?”

And He answered:
“Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant,
The houses are without a man,
The land is utterly desolate,
The Lord has removed men far away,
And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land”

Isaiah 6:9-12

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:4-5

Me: Good morning, Holy Spirt!

Holy Spirt: Good morning, Jon!

Me: I wrote “life” instead of “light” when writing down Matthew 6:22.

Holy Spirit: As you see from John 1:4, there is a sense in which they are equivalent.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [a]was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

Genesis 1:1-5

And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

John 1:5-9

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

John 3:19-21

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

John 8:12

 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.  He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

John 14:19-21

 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

Me: Thank You Holy Spirit for leading me though these scriptures! I love You!

Holy Spirit: You are welcome! I love you!

Mahaska Morning