May 14, 2018 Monday

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, “as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” (John 17:1-5 NKJV)

            To me John 17 is really the Lord’s Prayer while what we call the Lord’s Prayer is our prayer which taught us.  In this chapter we are given a rare glimpse of God communicating through prayer for as much as this is a prayer of God it is also a prayer for us to hear!

            This part of the prayer of our Lord is worth meditating on and discovering a deep way of praying.  But it might be helpful to look at four themes from this passage.

Glorification – To some it might seem arrogant for a human being to talk like this and that would be true!  Here we see God communicating, declaring and sharing God’s glory!  Everything God does proceeds from Who God is and so glory proceeds from glory!  Jesus reminds us of the glory He left behind out of love for humanity and looks to return to the glory of God.

Authority – Jesus has been given authority “over all flesh” and like all authority should be, it is given for a specific purpose.  Jesus has the authority to give eternal life to all the people given to Him.  This phrase is remarkable by its impact and its meaning.  Are those given to receive the ones Jesus came to bring eternal life or is there a select group given to Jesus to receive eternal life? This is a reminder authority should be given for a specific purpose and must be clearly understood.  Brevity at the expense of clarity is very costly!

Eternal Life – Many have debated what eternal life really is and on our own there really is no answer.  Jesus defines eternal life clearly and unambiguously.  “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”  Eternal life is so much more than existence but it is to grow in a relationship with God!  Life is to know God, the only true God.  Notice the way Jesus talks about Himself.

Obedience – Jesus proclaims that the task and work He was given authority to do have been finished.  Does this statement not seem prophetic for Jesus has not died on the cross where He would proclaim “It is finished”?  But God is not limited by the time God created so Jesus could proclaim obedience before the foundations of this world was laid.

            It is interesting that Jesus speaks as though talking about someone else calling for the Son to be glorified and not the “me” we would expect.  Could this be part of what we cannot conceive about who God is?  Even as we see this glimpse of who God is we are really left with few answers, just deeper questions!

            How does looking at this passage affect your view of God?  What does this passage teach you about prayer?  How does this passage affect how you will serve God?

            Was barely able to get through worship at Asbury and had to go home.  Jonathan came over and we had lunch together for Mother’s Day.  Later Bonnie made a great supper and took some over to her Mom.  So many good things on Sunday.  I fell asleep for about 2 hours in the afternoon and it didn’t seem to help much.

            Monday was worse as I am getting wearier each day.  Got up about 2:30 AM and spent time of prayer.  Went back to bed about 5:50 AM got up still feeling tired.  We wonder if the incredible weariness, weakness and brain fog could be coming off the Nuvigil so quickly.  The last time I tried I went down slowly and when I got down so low I started browning out again.

May 13, 2018 Sunday

“As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, And your bones shall flourish like grass; The hand of the LORD shall be known to His servants, And His indignation to His enemies.” (Isaiah 66:13-14 NKJV)

            Today is Mother’s Day and while for some this is a day of good memories and time to be with their mom’s for many others it can be a hard day.  It can be a day to wonder who and where their mother is.  It can be a day to wonder if their mom even cares.  It can be a day of grieving for the mom who has died.  It can even worse be a mom whom you care not enough to care about!

“As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you;”.  In the Old Testament (of all places!), in the book of Isaiah we are revealed the amazing picture of God comforting us as our Mother!  For many of us the picture of our Moms comfort is of when we are hurt, ill or left out.  The embrace of a mother can bring comfort and even healing.  And even more so the embrace of God!

            Israel (if we are honest we) has been judged and punished and God is now calling us back to His “Motherly” embrace to comfort us and renew the relationship we broke by our sin!  We who deserve anger and discomfort for our foolishness and sin discover only comfort. 

            Have you ever not gone to God because you are concerned about His anger?  Repeat over and over the passage above until you can believe it enough to crawl into God’s embrace and discover comfort!

“And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”  To those in Isaiah’s day this would have meant returning to a city but to us it means we can return to God because Jesus sacrificed Himself for us in Jerusalem!  We have been comforted TO God BY God and Jerusalem is our new place of birth which defines us and says who and Whose we really are!

“When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, And your bones shall flourish like grass”.  “REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS, AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!”  Like a friend of mine used to say “Today I feel like dancin’!”  For God has taken away your prison garb, God has not just paroled but has pardoned you!  You have been given a new birth, a new place of birth, a new life, a new family and an amazing Motherly love!  “And again I say REJOICE!!!”

            Are you too afraid to come to God?  Have you not realized God has come to you?  Are you too proud to admit you need God?  Is it more comfortable to stay in exile than to come “home”?

            When you celebrate Mother’s Day forgive the bad, remember the good and love as you have been loved by God!  For as God loves we who do not deserve let us also love, even those who do not deserve!

May 12, 2018 Saturday

“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:15-23 NKJV)

            In celebrating the faith of the Ephesians Paul takes the opportunity of reminding them of the Gospel which has impacted their life so.  Paul’s testimony is offered as a prayer which is offered for the Ephesians as they live out their faith and the Gospel of life.

            Paul reminds us our times of celebration can become times when we forget what God has done and is still doing in our lives.  Even as we celebrate all God is doing we can lose our faith by thinking the mountains top times are normal or that we made all this possible.  We can get lost in the scenery and forget the journey we are on and Who we are traveling with.

            Allow God to open your eyes and your soul to the enlightened understanding of yourself, the world around you and mostly the amazing Traveling Companion for this journey of faith.  Allow the gift of the Holy Spirit to open you to all the wonders and mysteries of not only this world but the wonder of seeing God working in it.

            Let God help you discover the flow of kingdoms and powers throughout history and discover your Traveling Companion holds every crown and power of every leader who ever was!  And by faith let God reveal to you that your Traveling Companion is greater than all the world leaders COMBINED!

            Allow the Holy Spirit to walk you through the greatest Autobiography of the greatest Life you can ever read.  In this Bible discover your Traveling Companion reveals Who He is by whom He loves – you!

            And then discover the pure joy of prostrating yourself and the feet of your Traveling Companion even as you continue to rest in His loving lap!  After 40 years of serving and loving my Lord and My Love the journey has been wondrous and wonderful but the company has been the best of all!  May you discover the joy of a life with God as your Traveling Companion.

            In every day tedious and boring or do you see each day as a time of joy to discover everything with God as your Traveling Companion?  Are you so enamored of the world’s leaders that you miss seeing the glory of the Leader of all leaders’?  Do you spend time in getting to know your Traveling Companion through prayer and reading His Autobiography?

            I pray for you the joy of the journey but even more the joy of coming to know and love your Traveling Companion!!!

            On Saturday May 12, 2018 I woke up with my CPAP mask making noise and a sense I needed to be up.  And then it began.

            Flowing through me was a prayer for all those who are being sold like animals in the name of illegal immigration.  Women are raped all along the line and forced to work as slaves to pay for their immigration or forced to work as sex slaves.

            Men are bused around to work living in fear of being turned in and watching as their families are abused and misused.  They cannot protect the family they immigrated to make safe.

            Illegal immigration is a source of power in votes, cheap labor, a steady stream of sexual slaves and the sense of goodness we claim.

            Those who immigrate legally are robbed of their dignity as they are left frustrated by illegal being accepted as legal.  They also are lumped with those who are illegal and seen as interlopers rather than the citizens they have worked to be.

            A steady stream of misery and woe is heralded as compassionate and kind.  Our unwillingness to invest the time and money has caused an incredible amount of time and money to be wasted.

            And then God led me to pray for those countries, as He has so many other times, where many of the illegal immigrants come from.  I pray God will lift up leaders who will strengthen their nations to provide hope for their people.  I pray for God’s Church to help build families and empower people by helping them to be able to provide for their families.  I pray that people will seek to rebuild their own nation rather than fleeing to the hell of illegal immigration.

            I pray for those who do nothing to help those caught in this terrible situation we have created because we sought the power of our own kindness which brings about so much suffering!

            At times I am so weary as I hear the cries of pain, suffering and degradation from so many voices in so many languages.  I get so weary hearing the voices of arrogance declaring the correctness of destroying lives and families in the name of kindness and caring.

            But then I think of the weariness and sadness of God who sees so many lives filled with fear and hatred because we either arrogantly think we know better or do not even care about these people whom God loves.

            Some may say to just let it go.  It is not my problem.  To accept that is to return to the horrific numbness of just existing and not truly living. 

            I pray this will bless the fullness of God and make my Lord Jesus smile!

I no longer know how to pray so I ask God to pray with and for me.

            It was such a joy to be able to join together to celebrate Mother’s Day for Mom Perkins and for Bonnie.  Thank you my Lord that I was able to be there for that.  On this day before Mother’s Day I thank God that my Mom is doing well and celebrating Father’s Day before the face of our Father!  My heart goes out to my friend Mac Bumpus who is celebrating his first Mother’s Day in this way.  My Lord comfort him and his family with the joy of really knowing she is alive and well and celebrating the Eternal Father’s Day celebration.  Thank you again My Lord and My Love for this day which is always good because You are “with me”.

May 11, 2018 Friday

“Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. “And you are witnesses of these things. “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.” (Luke 24:44-53 NKJV)

            Words.  The Living Word Jesus Christ came into the world and fulfilled the written word of God promised generations and eons ago.  Words of God “which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” promising the Living Word of God to bring hope and to have the word of this message to be preached in the name of the Living Word to all nations.

            Words upon words are shared in many different languages and dialects to share the message of hope that the Living Word of God has come into the world to share with us God’s promise.

            The written words of the Gospel lift us and remind us that we too will one day ascend to God and then all the written words will be made complete as we come face to face with the Living Word! 

            Our ascension is made possible because Jesus descended to bring God’s light into this dark world.  Jesus cast aside His glory and position so we may have the hope of attaining it ourselves.  God reached down to pull us up!

            Even as we break the written word and belittle the Living Word the hand of God still reaches down to us so we can ascend into God’s presence through the sacrifice of Jesus!

            But we do not just receive a promised ascension at a later time for in the slow process of ascension for Jesus we are reminded we are slowly ascending to be closer to God in this world.  And may we like Jesus be able to say that as we are lifted up may many be drawn to God!  Amen, so be it!

            Are you spending time in the written word so you may know the Living Word Jesus the Christ better?  Are you living out that word so God can lift you and draw other to God?  Are you looking forward to the day you will ascend to see God face to face?

            The days seem longer and the weariness grows.  I do not know if it is coming off the Nuvigil to prepare for the sleep test or if it is just the pain.  So many want to place the blame for all of this on so many things and so many things I have done wrong.  All I know is that God promised to save me through this and that I would have a greater ministry through this.  If I cannot explain what is like to go through hours, days and weeks of weariness which covers me like a pall and makes every slight movement a pain how can I explain the peace I have.  Why cannot people see beyond the reasons to just what is and the peace which comes by accepting God’s will?  My Love Jesus saved my life and my soul almost 40 years ago and I believe that gives God the right to ask anything of me.  To God be the glory in celebration and in pain!!!  It is God’s right and so it is right.

May 10, 2018 Thursday

“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”” (Acts 1:1-11 NKJV)

            Acts is a book for the ages but we must remember that Acts was also written as a continuation of the Gospel of Luke to share faith in Jesus to someone with a gentile name by a gentile Christian named Luke.  We need to remember that Acts while being historic is also evangelistic!

            This first chapter of Acts is full of the story of Jesus.  Like episodes today Luke gives us a highlight of the Gospel as he prepares the story of the Church which came out of the story of Jesus.  Too many today the word story means myth or fiction but for many times and in many places story is how great truths are taught and people are able to them into their own lives!

            Take time to list all the episodes of the life of Jesus Luke lists for us in this passage.  As you list them try to understand why Luke chose these parts of the life and ministry of Jesus to share.  What stories of Jesus do you think are important enough to you that you add them?

            A large part of this passage is the Ascension.  The Ascension carries with it many powerful connections but let us look at three.

1.       The Ascension marks the completion of the ministry of Jesus to bring salvation to humanity and reveal God’s love for us.  As Jesus came to earth and took on human flesh now Jesus completes the journey and ascends to where He came from and to the Father – His Father!

2.      The Ascension is the sign of the promise that as Jesus rose from the dead so shall we, but also a sign we will ascend to the Father and to dwell in the presence of God.

3.      Only after the Ascension of Jesus could the Holy Spirit be set free to dwell with us and in us!  The Holy Spirit reveals to us the truth of God, the plan of God and His call upon our life!  Where Jesus because of His humanity could only minister in one place the Holy Spirit is necessary so every heart can be touched by the presence of God!

            As you look at this synopsis of the ministry of Jesus and of the Ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit does this resemble that faith you are living?  Do you look to the promise of Ascension and being with God?  Do you allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life and guide you into the fullness of God’s plan for the Church and your life?

            Thursday was a very hard day.  I had to rest most of the day.  Bonnie went to lunch with Dorothy Quarles and a friend and later went to the Farmers Market.  Rebecca and Jonathan went to a concert in Georgia and didn’t back until very late.  Bonnie and I had our devotion and later watched a show together. 

May 9, 2018 Wednesday

“My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever! All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the LORD’S, And He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth Shall eat and worship; All those who go down to the dust Shall bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep himself alive. A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this.” (Psalm 22:25-31 NKJV)

            Praise begets praise!  Psalm 22 is the clearest explanation of the suffering of Jesus in the crucifixion and it is also the clearest explanation of the results of the crucifixion in our world and in our lives. 

            This part of Psalm 22 reveals to us some of the results of the suffering of Jesus and their impact upon us and the world.  We are told that the suffering of Jesus will cause people around the world to remember God and turn back!

            The Jews kept the message of the true God to themselves and only in a few instances over time did the message reach beyond their borders.  Because of their refusal to share the message beyond their borders many were left without the knowledge of God.

            But God had put “Eternity in Their Heart” which is a book which shows how the Good News continues in the stories and beliefs of people around the world.  Sharing the hope of Jesus living out God’s love and mercy is made easy by connecting with the piece of eternity God has left in their heart.

            As eternity is revealed they will join those across the world in praising the God who has come to them and revealed His love!  Hearts will be changed and those who lived in poverty will be enriched by the Good News and be nourished by God.  Even death will be conquered as God offers new life to we “who go down to the dust”!  

            All the Jesus has done for us will change our lives so much that we will pass on the message which will continue on to generations beyond our lives and experiences!  Generation after generation will praise the righteousness of God even as we celebrate and are thankful for God’s grace!

            If you have received this wondrous love of God and the amazing grace we can receive through Jesus should you be sharing that with all those who are in such dire seed?  Are you passing this on to your children and grandchildren?  Do you pray for those who need God’s grace, especially your enemies?  Do you have eternity in your heart?

            Sometimes it is hard to remember what the day before was like.  I half way joke that there are three stages to my mind now.

1.       There goes my chicken!

2.       Where is my chicken?

3.       Do I have a chicken?

Yesterday seems sort of a number 3 day.  I know part of this is because of going to see Dr Byrd yesterday. 

            I do know Bonnie and I had our devotion and time of prayer and that I read some of my Bible reading.  I do remember God took me on a tour of places to pray for.  God keeps me active in my disability and pain.  THANKS TO SUCH A KIND AND LOVING GOD!           

May 8, 2018 Tuesday

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.” (1John 5:1-6 NKJV)

            Over the years it has amazed me that the world understands the power of the Bible, prayer and the Ten Commandments more than Christians.  Every possible attempt is made to make sure children are not exposed to God in any possible way!

            Yet at the same time Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and just about any other religion is not only accepted but even required in some schools.  The books and teachings of just about all other beliefs are available to just about all ages.

            The saddest thing is there is little need to do this because few “church goers” make use of these ways to experience the Life and Love of the Eternal and Glorious God!  Because we do not know God we are easily confused by the Truth of God.

            Many see the commandments as God’s attempt to spoil our fun and make us look different from others we know.  We fear God’s commandments make us seem weird and will make us unacceptable to others and we will become outcasts.

            In dairy country you learn farmer’s put up fences to limit the “freedom” of their cattle.  They do this because they so value their cattle they do not want them to be killed in the road, eat noxious weeds or get stolen by a thief who will sell them to be slaughtered.

            What we see as confining is really protecting!   By the Ten Commandments God tries to protect us from ourselves and even from others.  We would have a better chance of understanding this if we spent time reading the Bible and in prayer.

            It has always amazed me that the God who created everything from nothing desires to spend time with me and for me to spend time with Him.  No one has ever or could ever pay me a higher compliment!

            The world fears God because only God can change a person and give them a real life!  God is the only One who can reveal the emptiness of the beliefs and lives behind the bright lights and glitz the world offers.

            Do you read the Bible, pray and seek guidance from God’s commandments?  Do the bright lights of the world distract you from God?  Are you safe in the fence of God’s teachings and commandments?

            Tuesday was a TERRIBLE day which left me drained.  We had our devotional and prayer time then headed to see Dr LeeAnn Byrd in Jefferson City.  I have learned how to make short trips without throwing up but for the first time in a long time Bonnie had to stop for me to throw up. Dr Byrd checked me over and did some more blood tests and scheduled a physical for bonnie and I.  Spent the afternoon in bed so I was able to come out and spend time with Jonathan when he came for supper.