The Two Cups of God Study continued

For thus says the LORD God of Israel to me: "Take this wine cup of fury from My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it.  "And they will drink and stagger and go mad because of the sword that I will send among them."  Then I took the cup from the LORD’S hand, and made all the nations drink, to whom the LORD had sent me: (Jeremiah 25:15-17 NKJV)

            One of the purposes of God’s people is to share the warning that other people will drink of the Cup of God’s Wrath if they don’t turn from their sin and seek God’s forgiveness.  This is the back side of the Great Commission, to warn the lost that they are in sin and must drink of God’s wrath unless they turn to Him.

            So we must share the wine cup of fury so if they will hear they will not have to drink of the Cup of God’s Wrath.

            Some will enjoy the message because they want vengeance or because at least it isn’t happening to them.  I remember a friend in an area I served who said about his pastor, “I don’t mind that my pastor thinks I am going to hell, I just wish he didn’t enjoy it so much.”

            We shouldn’t be happy about presenting this cup.  For one thing it is dangerous.  Many who offered this cup perished for lifting it up.  Better to kill the messenger than bear the message. But there is also a danger of not offering this cup either because we don’t believe a loving God would do this or because you do not want people to find hope in Jesus.  (Look at the Book of Jonah for a sad tale!)

            But we also shouldn’t be happy to see them get theirs.  We should realize that if they get theirs we cannot be far behind in getting ours!  As we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”!

Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup. (Psalms 11:6 NKJV)

            I remember when Ted Bundy was put to death.  Many church people gathered outside the prison to celebrate his destruction.  I wonder how many will not be in heaven to see the celebration of his redemption?

            Ted Bundy started with pornography and by that was led to sexual deviancy and from that on to murder.  For years many lived in fear of this unknown person who killed young women and destroyed families.

            Between his arrest and death Ted Bundy professed to receive the grace of Jesus Christ.  He even shared his testimony about the dangers of pornography and about the grace and redemption he had found by faith in Jesus Christ.  I cannot know in this life for sure but a deep dark part of me prays it is so.  FOR THEN THERE IS HOPE FOR ME!

            Ted Bundy’s physical death paid for the physical suffering he caused so many, but his spiritual death and suffering was paid for by Jesus.  Some are angry about this since they feel it isn’t fair.  But I don’t believe that Ted Bundy escaped all spiritual suffering.  I believe that the burning wind of judgment brought tears of regret that some he killed may have gone to hell because they were cut off from mercy by his crimes.

            We all face judgment and our own and theirs is terrible enough so we shouldn’t wish worse on others!  Do not wish on others what you do not want to receive for yourself.  Somewhere I believe Jesus taught us something about this.

September 27, 2017 Wednesday

            Went to bed early and rested okay.  Got up during the night for a couple of hours and then went back to bed for awhile.  I slept about 4 hours yesterday during the day as well.  Weariness is becoming overwhelming to me and affects the clarity of my mind.

            Not wearing sunglasses today to see how my eyes do.  The headaches are still bad and pain continues though not as constant. 

            Bonnie read the devotional and prayed for us.  She is taking Mom to the doctor to check on her heart.  Rebecca has a doctor’s appointment.  I am slowly able to get some things done but each time I am left weaker.

            Lately I have been very concerned at the decline in myself on about every level.  I feel I am losing my mind and that my body is breaking down.  My skin is breaking down even with the sunscreen.  My breathing gets harder at times and I also seem to not be as balanced as I used to. 

            My Love guide me in what to do to bring honor and glory to You and to not burden my family too much.  Help me My Love to trust in You to as You promised, “see me through this.”

September 26, 2017 Tuesday

            More and more my days seem to get mixed up and mixed together.  Trying to remember yesterday gets confusing.  Each day get mixed up with the other.

            The only thing I can say for sure is this is the first day in over a week that neither eye hurt.  Thank You My Love for healing and blessing me.

September 25, 2017 Monday

            After going to Church I am often very weary on Monday.  Bonnie and I had our devotion and prayer time.  The hymn for today is Near to the Heart of God.  This hymn is so beautiful;

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,

Sent from the heart of God,

Hold us who wait before Thee

Near to the heart of God.

            To me this is where I think of sitting in God’s lap.  For the nearest we can be to someone’s heart is to sit in their lap and rest in them.

            As Bonnie and I talked it seems as though so many people are mad and caught up in blaming others.  It is so sad to see not just the nation but the Church in America fracturing.  In the West Islam is growing and stepping into the vacuum left by the fracturing of Christianity.  More and more people fall under the reign of Islam.  I fear for the women and children who as always suffer the most. 

The Two Cups of God Study continued

You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also—drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the LORD’S right hand will be turned against you, And utter shame will be on your glory. (Habakkuk 2:16 NKJV)

            We were meant for GLORY!  We were meant to walk with God and to share in His love and life.  We were created to lift up and to make the world, each other, and please God through our shared love and our worship of God.

            But we settled for our own glory and that led to our own shame.  Is there anything more shameful than to see someone taking all the credit for a win or a success?  Their self promotion deflates us and in the end themselves. 

            But one who lifts up others in their celebration lifts us all up and makes us all feel stronger and better about ourselves.  That is why we like to wear shirts or hats from winning teams.  They make us feel stronger and better as though we are a part of their victory.  How much more so when they include the fans as a reason for their victory!

            God wanted us to join together with Him in service and in love so that God would be lifted up and all of us would be drawn up with Him!  (John 12:32)

            Again we see that the cup is in the hand of God.  But this time it is in the Lord’s Right hand which we now understand is Jesus!  Jesus who offers those who have faith in Him offers Holy Communion, but to those who do not come to Jesus He brings shame and exposure.

You have shown Your people hard things; You have made us drink the wine of confusion. (Psalms 60:3 NKJV)

            The ways of God seem so hard to us when they really are very easy.  The way is easy; walking in it is what is hard.  The way of God is so simple we seek to make it harder just as Eve did in the Garden.  God’s call to not eat the Fruit became a call to no eat or to even touch it.

            All of us find ways to make the path harder, usually for others.  We find something we don’t have trouble with and make that the BIG sin.  Jesus summed it up very simply that our sin is our failure to love God and to love each other.  (Matthew 22:36-40)  If we will just do that than religion and its terrible troubles melts into a relationship with God.

            So we confuse ourselves with so many religions that we can no longer tell them apart.  We even seek to make Christianity a religion when by its meaning, to become like Christ, states its purpose is relationship not religion!

            Here we see that our confusion can come from God!  Notice this confusion is for God’s own people.  If we will not follow God’s plan and teaching from the written Word we also will not follow the Living Word Jesus Christ.  So God lets us drink the wine of confusion to call us back to the Living Word by drawing us to the written Word to end our confusion.

September 24, 2017 Sunday

            I awoke feeling better but my left eye continues to hurt badly.  It has hurt for the last few days and I have had to wear sunglasses most of the time.  Even when I am in the house with the shades drawn my eye hurts.  Used a tissue to cover the eye and that helped but then I noticed that my vision didn’t decrease with only the right eye.  That means the left eye has into the lazy mode and quit working again.

            We went to Asbury and stayed for Sunday school.  Rev Dennie Humphries and his wife were there and it was good to see them.  A good service and a good class.

            Bonnie and Rebecca went to a movie and it gave us a chance to rest.  Jonathan dropped by and we got a chance to visit. 

            I was hungry today and was able to eat well.  But other than that I just rested as I am still tired, weak and hurting.

September 24 Philippians 1:21-30 Best of both worlds

By your life or death bring honor to God!

                             Old Testament Jonah 3:10-4:11

10Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. Jonah 4 Jonah’s Anger and God’s Kindness 1But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. 3Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” 4Then the LORD said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 5So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. 6And the LORD God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. 7But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. 8And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!” 10But the LORD said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. 11And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”

Jonah 3:10-4:11 NKJV

21For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. Striving and Suffering for Christ 27Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

                                      Philippians 1:21-30 NKJV

The story of Jonah usually stops with the whale or correctly the great fish.  We miss the real story.

Jonah hated the people of Nineveh who had killed so many of his people.  JONAH DID NOT WANT THEM FORGIVEN!  So much so that he got angry at God for forgiving them!  So the angry Jonah sulked!

Paul in Philippians gives us such a different picture as he is willing to invest and even give his life so others may know the grace of Jesus Christ.  Paul was willing to give up his own salvation that those who had persecuted him, the Jews, could come to Jesus!

Compare the two pictures as Jonah sulks on a hill waiting for God to destroy Nineveh and then because his shade plant dies. --- Then Paul who says, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,” One who suffers because God offers grace and one who suffers so grace can be extended even to his enemies!  Which are you? 

I had not been a Christian long when all was getting ready for Ted Bundy to be executed.  Bundy had called a pastor who led him to grace in Jesus.  After that Bundy shared his testimony and the danger of pornography.  Ted Bundy believed that he deserved to be executed for what he had done and grieved for those who may not have able to come to Jesus because of what he had done.

When Ted Bundy was executed many congregations came in buses to celebrate his execution and sang and shouted “burn Bundy burn!”  As a new Christian I was ashamed!   With an ungracious spirit I wondered who would be in heaven!

As God’s people forgiven by grace we MUST offer grace to those who need it as much as we did.  DO NOT believe Ted Bundy needed grace more than you do or that Saul who became Paul was worse than you!  We all need grace which is God’s “unmerited” gift!

Forgive as you have been forgiven!  Offer forgiveness as it was offered to you!  As God has loved you love those who He cares for and longs for!

September 23, 2017 Saturday

            The heat from the dehydrator made it very hard ti sleep last night.  I feel so weak and hurt so much.  I am down to praying and then watching cheesy movies so I don’t have to think very much.  My mind is getting more and more scattered whether by what I am going through, the meds or just the pain and weariness. 

            Bonnie went to Asbury to help with the baked goods for Fall Festival.  They really are doing well getting ready.

            The ServPro guy came by and thought everything was better and removed the equipment.  Glad that went well. 

September 22, 2017 Friday

            Even with fans running and the heat from the dehumidifier I was able to sleep well.  Bonnie and I had our devotion and prayer time before going for a walk.  While walking the ServPro man returned and said all was well.  They are stretched thin because of the hurricanes that hit Texas and Florida.

            As the day goes on I get wearier and weaker.  Every day I start out at the best I will be and then decline.  But My Love is there each day and each moment and the worse it gets and the worst I am My Love is more and more to me.  Thank You My Love and My Lord!!!

September 21, 2017 Thursday

            I awoke better rested but still down from the water crisis.  I fear one day it will be the stove or something more dangerous that will endanger house or even lives.  This has taught me that I must concentrate on one task at a time.  To try to work on more than one at a time stresses my mind clarity too much.

            Bonnie and I had our devotion and time of prayer which is so important for us.  We literally are living not even day by day but moment by moment.  Before I had to leave the pastoral ministry I preached a message about God breathing life into us and now we depend on God with each breath we take.

            ServPro came and set up a dehumidifier and some fans to draw out the moisture and humidity.  The technician is very nice and is trying to do as little damage as possible.

The Cup of God’s Wrath

Awake, awake! Stand up, O Jerusalem, You who have drunk at the hand of the LORD The cup of His fury; You have drunk the dregs of the cup of trembling, And drained it out. (Isaiah 51:17 NKJV)

            Throughout the Old and the New Testaments we are told about the Cup of God’s Wrath or fury.  God cries out to Jerusalem that since they have drunk from the cup of God’s fury they should awake!  This terrible cup that we must drink because of our lack of faith and trust opens us to fear and despair should awaken us.  This cup of trembling which we have drained is to call us back to God.

            We fear judgment as a child fears punishment because we believe they are the very same thing.  But judgment, like a test at school is an attempt by God to show us as a person and a nation what we need to do to not fail at life.  When God judges us as a person or a nation it is to show us our need for forgiveness and for His grace.

            Many will dispute this by showing the Great White Throne Judgment or the judgment we receive when we die.  But there are many smaller judgments in our lives and in our nations that give us opportunities to repent and to push away the Cup of God’s Wrath.  Our childish fear of judgment often keeps us from partaking of these opportunities to find mercy and forgiveness.

Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. (Genesis 19:24 NKJV)

            I believe it was Billy Graham who said, “If God doesn’t judge America He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.”  Notice that God rains the brimstone and fire FROM God out of the heavens.  This is not a natural event of meteors, but a judgment from God by God.

            It is terrible to think of a cluster of small cities destroyed because of their evil.  It is more terrible to imagine how evil they must be looking at the places God hasn’t destroyed.  It is even more terrible to imagine that this could happen to us.

            God didn’t want the evil to spread to others and to other places.  Sodom and Gomorrah stand as evidence that you can go too far and a warning to each of us that there are consequences.  We can pretend it is a proverb, or a fairy tale.  But in our hearts most of us know if it didn’t happen there it has happened somewhere.  It is a sign post, a warning from God to come back from the edge of destruction.

            It also is a reminder of Gods promise after the Flood to not destroy the world by flood and His promise to destroy by fire.

For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, And the wine is red; It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth Drain and drink down. (Psalms 75:8 NKJV)

            This Cup is filled with a wine as red as blood!  The blood of all the lives we have destroyed.  Our sin is always against God, but our sin destroys others.  Our putting others down to look better destroys their spirit, our sexual sins destroy the souls of others, and our economic sins kill bodies and weaken minds. 

            WE ALL DESERVE TO DRINK THIS CUP OF GOD’S WRATH DOWN!  We should drain it and realize the pain and suffering we have caused by our selfishness and our lust.

            The cup is mixed with all the varied sins we have lived out and is filled with the bitterness of the end results of those sins.  We drink the dregs of the lives we have harmed or destroyed through our sin!

            The most disturbing part to me is that the cup is in God’s hand.  We usually think of God’s hand as protective and comforting, but like a Father God’s hand also brings punishment meant to awaken us and lead us to living better.

September 20, 2017 Wednesday

            I am getting so much better rest on my new mattress.  Was always a little leery of the memory foam mattresses but now I see why they are so popular.  Even if I lay there for awhile I do not get sore!

            Day started out well as I got some wash done, cleaned my sleep-apnea equipment and started a roast in the crock pot.  But all was undone when I went to finish cleaning the equipment and realized I had left the water on!  Over and over I put down towels to dry it up and used the fan to help.  But to no avail!  We have had to call Servmaster to come and clean it up.

            Jonathan got off early and came by to visit and for supper. He caught me in the midst of “bailing” and helped.  When Bonnie and Rebecca got back they helped.

            It is another sign that I am slipping.  My mind is less and less effective and my memory is going quickly.  As with all things I am never sure what is the disease, the meds or just being at home and sitting so much.

            The pain continues but the weariness has lessened.  The weariness had grown to become like a pall over me and at times it was hard to get up and move. 

            God continues to provide for us as Bonnie says we have enough in the account to pay for Servmaster to come and clean up.  We might have been able to do it ourselves but we do want to make sure it is done right.  Thanks My Love for Your provision.

September 19, 2017 Tuesday

            Slept well but found it hard to get up and my left eye was hurting so bad I put on my sunglasses even though I was inside.

            Bonnie and I had our devotion but talked and shared our prayer.  We shared about so many good things we see in the congregations we have served.  God still works and is so much more faithful than I am.  Also about the pain, suffering and those who seem to be Christians while not believing or acting like God followers.  In a book by Don Richardson he called them pseudo-Christians.  Please My Love don’t let me judge but so many do such terrible things and teach such untruth in the name of Jesus, supposedly. 

September 18, 2017 Monday

            Woke still beat up and worn out and not sure whether I slept well or not.  Bonnie and I had our devotion and then I returned to bed.  Stomach not happy so going to wait to eat for awhile. 

            Rested most of the day because of serious weariness.  The last time I felt this weary was when for three days we fought a fire desperately to keep our ship from sinking.

            Was able to eat supper and felt some better.  But my feet hurt so bad it was late before I could sleep.  The grace of God continues to see me through even the worst of days.

Here is the beginning of a new study.  This study is different as I developed it to have a sort of background for my Theology and for my teaching.  Hope it is a blessing to you!

The Two Cups of God

By Ronald Ramsey

May 2007

(Revised September 2017)

Foreword

            In Scripture there are two cups that stand out to me.  They come together in the study of the Crucifixion of Jesus and the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus offered one of the cups to us and drank the other that we might not have to.  I will look at the two Cups and then see how they are related to Jesus, and how they are related to us. 

            This study is to help me understand even more how God’s grace flows in my life and in the lives of all who come to Him.  When Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane He asked for THIS Cup to pass from Him.  A little before this Jesus had offered the Cup of His blood to His disciples and through them to us. 

            What do these Cups have in common?  Which do we drink from?  Do we have to drink from one or the other?  These questions come to my mind and I will try to answer them. 

            Which Cup do I drink from?  Which Cup is mine?  Some of these questions I am almost afraid to find the answers to. 

            I will seek to find the answers from scripture itself.  If God wants us to find the answer it will be there for us.  May our Lord lead us into all truth and may the truth indeed set us free.

            With the idea that it might be best to end on a good note we will look at the Cup of God’s Wrath first.

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32 NKJV)

September 17 Romans 14:1-12 Brotherly Love     15^th Sunday after Pentecost    Serve one another as God has blessed you!                  Psalter reading Psalm 103:8-13

8The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

                             Psalm 103:8-13 NKJV

1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. Tongues Must Be Interpreted 6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 7Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.   Romans 14:1-12 NKJV

In Greek Philo is the word for a family or brotherly love. We try so hard to love our family and those close to us but we often seem to fail.  We can give up and stop trying.

The truth is we cannot love others, ourselves or even God as we should without God’s power and help.  In the Psalms we see the extent of God’s mercy and love.  Notice each description is an attitude or action.  For love is not how we feel but how we act.

We can see this in the Romans passage.  The Gifts from God are how we love each other through God!  Through “edification and exhortation and comfort” we love others and guide them to either come to Jesus or to grow through His love and power.

DO NOT get bound up in emotions and feelings and destroy your relationship with God and others.  But work out love and you will find your feelings and emotions changing!

September 16, 2017 Saturday

            Awoke after sleeping but still so weary after the pain I felt all night.  The pain in my foot has settled to just being an annoyance to me.

            Bonnie and I had our devotion and a time of prayer centering on our children.  We pray My Love that You will help them know Your love for them.  I couldn’t receive love until You showed Your love for me on the banks of the Mississippi River.

            When I had been a Christian for just a short time I trusted in God for salvation but I did not have God’s love.  One day a group of us went to the Mississippi River very early for a time with the Lord.  I sat at the river side weeping because I so wanted to experience God’s love.  I begged God that somehow I would know He loved me.  As the sun began to rise I noticed a fog bank coming down the river.  Then I saw a fog bank coming up the river and they met in front of me and curled in.  Immediately I know God had just given me a hug!  I have never doubted God’s love since!

            Over the years people told me that fog doesn’t go downstream.  I don’t know about that but I do know what happened and that since than My Lord has been also My Love.  I have failed Him so many times and in so many ways.  Even as He has changed so much there is still so much to be changed and still My Love overwhelms me and has allowed me to experience and receive the love of others.

           

You washed my feet My Love

I washed others feet in love

As my feet scream pain My Love

I offer it as a gift for You of love

May I wash Your feet My Love

As I offer my sacrifice of love                                    9/16/17

            We went to the 5@5 at First Jefferson City and it was so good to see so many of our friends.  So many memories of such good times.  My Love You were so gracious to allow our pastoral ministry to end there and in such a good way!  Rev Lloyd Jones was so gracious to welcome us to come and First is blessed to have him and his wife.

September 15, 2017 Friday

            The new mattress allowed me to sleep better and deeper.  Thanks to Bonnie and You My Love!  I get so weary from the almost constant pain.

            One of the amazing things has been how comfortable God has helped me to be having to leave the pastoral ministry.  My Love has let me know that my pastoral ministry is completed at this time but also that He has given me a new ministry.  So sitting in the pews and listening and learning is natural and normal now.  My Love has given me such a peace about all of this.  A knowledge that I have a new ministry and a new calling.  Thank You My Love for trusting in me to allow me to go through all this!

            Jonathan came by for supper and we enjoyed a good time.  I pray My Love that you will bring comfort to all our family as they also must go through this.  Especially Rebecca and Bonnie.

            The pain in my foot increased today where it happened at least every hour.  Even as I slept I could feel it.  But later it got weaker each time.

September 14, 2017 Thursday

            Rested okay but awoke many times.  Bonnie and I had our devotion.  Started Matthew listening to the NIV Bible read by David Suchet.  What an amazing voice!

            The new mattresses came today and mine fit but Bonnies was too big.  They will cut it to fit.  What a wonderful company!

            A long day as I worked a little and my hands got very weak.  For a couple of days I have had a pain in my foot that feels like something, like a bone, is coming out of my foot!  The pain is terrible and it happens several times a day.

            But I remember the terrible time when I had ITP and all of the day I had terrible pain that left me beyond screaming.  The Lord removed it by “the Stripes on Christ’s back” My Love I praise You and thank You!  May I glorify You by my life.

September 13, 2017 Wednesday

            Did not rest well but feel some better and I have been able to do some.  Got some cards ready to go and Bonnie and I had our devotion.  Went through some and got more boxes out (yaah). 

            So many people and circumstances are on my heart and as I pray it seems more come to my heart.  God is guiding me to pray for so many and for so many needs.  I still have my Prayer Cards for Muslims, Chinese and Pilippino’s. 

            As always I pray for the “Shepherd’s” who serve God’s flock that they would lead their flock to the Good Shepherd.  And every day I pray for those who are enslaved.  Those who are enslaved by their addictions, habits and fear, those who are enslaved by others and sold or used worse than animals and those who are addicted to power and money and use others. 

            There are times I want to ask God to destroy those who sell people like property and use girls and boys as objects of sex and source of power.  But then My Lord and My Love reminds me that I am called to love even the worst and to pray for God to break their heart and power but not to take their lives. 

            Being called to pray is a harder burden than I thought.  For God lays on you all the burdens of some many hearts.  God shares the pain and suffering of those He calls you to pray for and the deep evil of those who needed to receive God’s grace.

            And so God comforts me:

“Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden”

September 12, 2017 Tuesday

            Today is a better day and I rested well.  The pain and weariness is a little better but still rough at times.  Bonnie and I had our devotion and this Hymn doesn’t speak to me but for me!

Blessèd Savior, Thee I love, 

All my other joys above; 

All my hopes in Thee abide, 

Thou my Hope, and naught betide; 

Ever let my glory be, 

Only, only, only Thee.

Once again beside the cross, 

All my gain I count but loss; 

Earthly pleasures fade away, 

Clouds they are that hide my day; 

Hence, vain shadows! let me see 

Jesus, crucified for me.

 Blessèd Savior, Thine am I, 

Thine to live, and Thine to die; 

Height or depth, or creature power, 

Ne’er shall hide my Savior more; 

Ever shall my glory be, 

Only, only, only Thee.

Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. – John 21:17

From a devotional by Robert J. Morgan, Near to the Heart of God: Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns (p. 260). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

            Sent off cards to some friends and am trying to minister as I am able.  I pray God will make them a blessing.  Talk to Rev Lloyd Jones and made sure sending cards to those at First wouldn’t bother him.  He is so gracious!  I am glad that First is in such good care.  They are still part of my heart!

            Trying to continue to get stuff thrown away or put up still and especially since our new mattress come tomorrow.

            God is still blessing us and with all the storms, earthquakes, fires, wars and rumors of war we still feel safe in God’s heart and lap.  If all is taken away or lost, if even our lives are lost we know that is gain for us and we can still say blessed be the name of the Lord!

September 11, 2017 Monday

            I awoke to being weary and my eyes still hurting.  The devastation of Irma as the storm rolled over Florida was terrible but better than they feared.  This morning Irma went from a Category 4 hurricane to a tropical storm.  There is still the aftermath in Texas and Louisiana after the previous hurricane and the horrific wildfires out west.  There is also the storm and earthquake in Mexico.

            All this destruction besides the nuclear fears that North Korea will bomb others, tensions with Russia, China being belligerent and Muslim attacks across most of the world.  We still await the peaceful Muslims to step up.

SEPTEMBER 11 

Once it was the blessing, now it is the Lord; 

Once it was the feeling, now it is His Word; 

Once His gift I wanted, now, the Giver own; 

Once I sought for healing, now Himself alone.

 Once ’twas painful trying, now ’tis perfect trust; 

Once a half salvation, now the uttermost; 

Once ’twas ceaseless holding, now He holds me fast; 

Once ’twas constant drifting, now my anchor’s cast.

 Once ’twas busy planning, now ’tis trustful prayer; 

Once ’twas anxious caring, now He has the care; 

Once ’twas what I wanted, now what Jesus says; 

Once ’twas constant asking, now ’tis ceaseless praise.

 All in all forever, Jesus will I sing; 

Everything in Jesus, and Jesus everything.

When they had lifted up their eyes,

they saw no one but Jesus only. – Matthew 17:8

From a devotion by Robert J. Morgan, Near to the Heart of God: Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns (p. 259). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

            In this hymn which was our devotion for today we are able to face all the above and the grief from September 11^th knowing that if all seems lost IT IS NOT TRUE!  For in our pain, in our loss and in our grief we can know that we have Jesus Christ and we have everything!

            Even as Muslims around the world cheer on the storms and destruction believing Allah has done this, we know that God is blessing in the midst of destruction and even pray that their hearts will be changed!   To the glory of God, My Lord and My Love!!!

Session 13

The Apostles Creed Study

1.      and the life everlasting.  Amen

“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22 NKJV)

“3  And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."” (Revelation 21:3-4 NKJV)

            When God created us we were meant to be a forever people.  That is so hard to imagine.  Without the fall Adam and Eve would be here in perfect health to tell us about the creation.  We would be walking with God every day and visiting with Him face to face! 

            Our children’s, children’s children would be with us and our family history would be all together alive and well.

            But with the fall all die and all is corrupted.  Yet even in the face of our fall and the death that comes from our fall (which we usually blame God for) God not only offers to redeem us from our death but also to comfort us in the midst of our grief and loss.

            And then there is amen.  Amen means so be it which means I accept God’s will in my life

What does the word life mean? Is there a difference between existence and life?

Why does the Creed say “the life everlasting”?

.

Define everlasting.

In how you live out your faith do you live as amen or so be it with God?