I'm Thankful for...

Thanksgiving is around the corner, and I thought I would post a word or two about the things I am thankful for. I read the story of Jesus' healing the 10 lepers in Luke 17 where only one of the 10 returns to thank Jesus for the healing. Why was that? Well probably for the same reason that we don't express gratitude for the blessings we receive.

First for loving parents; I don't think anyone had any better ones. They raised me in the admonition of the Lord and they did not spare the rod when it was needed.

Second for my wife; She is a loving helpmate in all of life. I do not know where I would be without her. Thank you Martha.

Third for my kids; They turned out pretty good in spite of my failures. I am very proud of them. Thank you Christy and Cory for just being you.

 There are more but those will suffice for now, I am sure I don't say thank you enough, like many others I take things for granted. For the future my goal will be to not allow an opportunity to pass without expressing my gratitude, it is the least I can do.

What about you?

Appropriate Response

Genesis 17:1 I am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless.

As I began to prepare a lesson for Sunday, These words greeted me. "I am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless". There are several things that jump out at me when I read this verse.

First God is strong and in fact he is the only God. The Hebrew word here is El Shaddai and it conveys the idea that God is more powerful than any other entity.

Second, 'walk before me' implies the idea that we are always in the presence of God. Our lives should reflect that presence in a way that others can see that we are followers of Jesus. When we come to Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and so we are always in His presence. The amplified version says walk habitually. It should come naturally. Too often, I am afraid, we fail to give God the respect he deserves as we go about life as if He doesn't exist.

Third, What does it mean to be blameless? It cannot mean moral perfection because the bible tells us that all have sinned. None of us are perfect in that sense. The word is translated elsewhere as perfect, mature, or with integrity. It is the same idea that Jesus expressed in the Sermon on the Mount when he says "You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect". I think we can only accomplish that as we allow the spirit to lead us . We must make walking with God a habit, something we do because we are continually in his presence.

Notice Abram's response in verse 3, Abram fell on his face in worship. How often do we really fall on our faces in worship of a Holy God. For me I know it is seldom, what about you?

Eclipse

Supermoon in eclipse

Sunday night was the last of 4 blood moon eclipses in a row. Scientists call this sequence of 4 eclipses a tetrad.

Another view

The dark line that appears on the moon is from a power line that I could not see in the camera viewfinder. There isn't a line on the moon even though pictures never lie. It was dark for about an hour and then;

The shadow starts to move on

Thanks for watching

Dragonfly revisited

A few weeks ago I posted a picture of a dragonfly here and we have him captured again so thought I would post a couple of newer pictures

He or she is quite an interesting bug.

Grasshopper in the Cana Lilies

A local grasshopper blending with the plant

Another view

And Then Some

 

Clarence told me that if I ever wanted to, I could hi-jack his blog and write something, so here we go.  Let me tell you about my “AND THEN SOME” wristband. 

This past summer one of the messages at church was from Matthew 5:38-48.  Here’s a short excerpt from that passage:

  . . . . and if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven . . . .

The focus of the message that morning was that as Christ followers, we should be willing to do what was required of us “AND THEN SOME”.  How very true that God wants us to act beyond the expected and let Him shine through us as we go the extra mile for someone else.  

A few weeks ago after the church service, we all received wristbands with “Matt 5:41 AND THEN SOME” printed on them.  It was to be a reminder to us, as a church family, to be known as someone (and as a church) who would go that extra mile.  As I was walking out of the church I saw that mine had some red on the top edge and spilling over round the “S” of SOME.  Hmmmm, it’s marred already I thought.  I commented to someone walking beside me that my wristband must have gotten too close to a red one, or somebody bled on it or something, and we laughed about its unique marking. 

On the drive home, as I continued to ponder the marking, I suddenly realized that the red wasn’t a mar at all, but a unique reminder to me that when I was completely, totally, devastatingly lost in my sin with no possible way of escape, Jesus did “AND THEN SOME” and shed his blood for me.  Wow. 

But that’s not the end of my pondering, because that wasn’t the end of what Jesus did.  He died for me, then God let man take Jesus body from the cross and put him in a dark, dirty, damp tomb where he stayed for three days . . . “AND THEN SOME”thing happened, Jesus rose from the grave into life everlasting.  Wow again!!!  

To my amazement there’s yet another AND THEN SOME. Jesus not only rose from the grave, but He wants me to live with Him for eternity. Imagine that!!!   Even though He saw my dirty sin (think pig rolling in mud here) He was willing to die for me, He rose again and conquered death, then to top things off He offers to clean me up and take me with Him.  This is almost unbelievable isn’t it?

But wait, there’s more to come.  I have a home waiting for me in Heaven, and while I am still here on earth that home is being prepared for me, He keeps adding to it, He has made it just right for me AND THEN SOME. 

If you are reading this account, I want you to know that the “AND THEN SOME” things Jesus did weren’t just for me, He has done all this for you too.  If you don’t know Him as your Savior accept Him now and let Him clean you up.  If He is already your Savior, remember all that He has done for you and determine to let Him reach out to others through you by telling them about Jesus and living an “AND THEN SOME” life so that they can see Jesus in you, and maybe when they ask why you would do “AND THEN SOME” you’ll have the opportunity to tell them about the “AND THEN SOME”s that Jesus did.

Dragonfly

A dragonfly in the back yard

Double click the picture for a larger image. The detail in the wings and legs is great.