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Posted on 10/31/2019 8:53:22 PM PDT by JustAmy
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She belongs to that man, Jose’
Aw, he needs a nice soapy bath.
: )
Yeah, I liked winter sports better before I turned 30. Walking to the mailbox in a stiff wind and not many degrees above zero should count as a sport.
Was nice today, around 32. The sun refuses to break through the clouds lately. No snow for a few days, so everyone likes that.
cheers
Up north (Wisconsin) where my aunt lives, there is Rib Mountain, but it’s a mere hill compared to a real mountain. They do have ski runs on it though. Not that I’d ever want to hurl myself down a ski run. I prefer horseback on fairly level ground, or even safer, my piano bench.
: )
Bible in a Year:
Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Hebrews 12:1
Soldiers fighting in a sweltering jungle many years ago encountered a frustrating problem. Without warning, a pervasive prickly vine would attach itself to the soldiers’ bodies and gear, causing them to be trapped. As they struggled to get free, even more of the plant’s tentacles entangled them. The soldiers dubbed the weed the “wait-a-minute” vine because, once entwined and unable to move forward, they were forced to shout out to other members of their team, “Hey, wait a minute, I’m stuck!”
In a similar way, it’s hard for followers of Jesus to move forward when we’re ensnared by sin. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” and “run with perseverance.” But how do we throw off the sin weighing us down?
Jesus is the only one who can free us from pervasive sin in our lives. May we learn to fix our eyes on Him, our Savior (12:2). Because the Son of God became “fully human in every way,” He knows what it’s like to be tempted—yet not sin (2:17–18; 4:15). Alone, we may be desperately entwined by our own sin, but God wants us to overcome temptation. It’s not through our own strength, but His, that we can “throw off” entangling sin and run after His righteousness (1 Corinthians 10:13).
What sin or sins have a strong hold on you? What can you do to gain freedom from the struggle you’re experiencing?
Jesus, give me Your strength to overcome the sin in my life. Help me to trust in Your power rather than my own and lead me in the right path.
LOL! :-)
Rising up to the south of Boston is Big Blue, which we consider a mountain, with ski slopes from which you can see the Boston Skyline.
It is, however, barely a molehill.
Good morning (said in passing thru) ML ((hugs))
Have a blessed day
Thank you.
Bible in a Year:
Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. Exodus 22:21
After a member of my family converted to a different religion, Christian friends urged me to “convince” her to return to Jesus. I found myself first seeking to love my family member as Christ would—including in public places where some people frowned at her “foreign-looking” clothes. Others even made rude comments. “Go home!” one man yelled at her from his truck, not knowing or apparently caring that she already is “home.”
Moses taught a much kinder way to act toward people whose dress or beliefs feel different. Teaching laws of justice and mercy, Moses instructed the children of Israel, “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt” (Exodus 23:9). The edict expresses God’s concern for all strangers, people vulnerable to bias and abuse, and it is repeated in Exodus 22:21 and Leviticus 19:33.
Therefore, when I spend time with my family member—at a restaurant, in a park, taking a walk together or sitting and talking with her on my front porch—I seek first to show her the same kindness and respect that I would want to experience. It’s one of the best ways to remind her of the sweet love of Jesus, not by shaming her for rejecting Him, but by loving her as He loves all of us—with amazing grace.
What attitudes do you hold about people who appear “different” or “foreign”? In what ways can you practice God’s edict to not mistreat a “stranger” or “sojourner” in your land?
Gracious Father, open my heart today to a stranger or foreigner in my land, helping them to encounter You.
Thank you.
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Kinda glad Monday is almost gone.
Dark and gloomy here. The sun has been hiding for a long time, over a week. Got a slushy snow mix Sunday night.More on the way Tuesday morning. Yippee.
: /
Still liking my new job. It was good to go into work today, nice people.
Hope y’all had a great day and plenty of sunshine!
Bible in a Year:
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. Mark 10:51 A mouse with a shrill voice, Reepicheep is perhaps The Chronicles of Narnia’s most valiant character. He charged into battle swinging his tiny sword. He rejected fear as he prodded on the Dawn Treader toward the Island of Darkness. The secret to Reepicheep’s courage? He was deeply connected to his longing to get to Aslan’s country. “That is my heart’s desire,” he said. Reepicheep knew what he truly wanted, and this led him toward his king.
Bartimaeus, a blind man from Jericho, sat in his normal spot jingling his cup for coins when he heard Jesus and the crowd approaching. He yelled out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47). The crowd tried to silence him, but Bartimaeus couldn’t be stopped.
“Jesus stopped,” Mark says (v. 49). In the midst of the throng, Jesus wanted to hear Bartimaeus. “What do you want?” Jesus asked (v. 51).
The answer seemed obvious; surely Jesus knew. But He seemed to believe there was power in allowing Bartimaeus to express his deep desire. “I want to see,” Bartimaeus said (v. 51). And Jesus sent Bartimaeus home seeing colors, beauty, and the faces of friends for the first time.
Not all desires are met immediately (and desires must be transformed), but what’s essential here is how Bartimaeus knew his desire and took it to Jesus. If we’ll pay attention, we’ll notice that our true desires and longings always lead us to Him.
What do you truly desire? How might this desire lead you to Jesus?
Jesus, help me to bring my desires to You. What I’m ultimately seeking can only be satisfied by what You alone can provide.
“Gloomy” seems to be the weather order of the day.
O am so glad for you that you like your new job! That is a BIG blessing. :-)
Thank you.
Sorry it’s dark and gloomy there and I hope it changes for you soon. But a bright spot is that you like your new job. I hope that continues. Makes it so much easier to go to the job when you like it!
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