Family Time and Love

A burly man with a long whiskered beard, frizzy hair, fishing pole in hand. Brimmed cap, one piece pull over tee, an intimidating sight to see. Tattoos branded his shoulders, arms, and his fingers too, like a scroll with a message read. Rugged gray-haired man; fishing pole in hand; on the seashore sand, an awesome view.

A young boy with his dad walking the rocky shore. Sees the man, and makes a dash, to the burly man with excitement in his voice. Hey mister, those are coolest tattoos, I never seen anything like them before; and your fishing pole is very old, I wish there was one more for me. His dad rushes over to apologize. The man just grinned; you have a really cool kid dad. 

It's alright, it's so great to see a father at the shore with his son. It's a shame, this is a place to share a day of peace, joy, and love; it's for everyone. You don't need a ticket; you don't need to spend a dime; the only thing you spend here is the greatest gift in life...family time. 

When he said it, the pole bent down fast; the boy's eyes opened wide; excitement on his face. The man handed dad the pole, dad this is your role, help him reel it in, the joy of fishing. The boy and dad had so much fun, bringing in the big one. Turning back to say thank you to the man, but he had gone away; no footprints in the sand to see the way.

It's alright, it's so great to see a father at the shore with his son. It's a shame, this is a place to share a day of peace, joy, and love; it's for everyone. You don't need a ticket; you don't need to spend a dime; the only thing you spend here is the greatest gift in life...family time.

Placed upon a stone on the shore was a hand carved reel, a pole with a branded tattoo the "Rock of Ages"; A brimmed cap with a "White Dove" and the words...Peace, Joy, and Love. You don't need a ticket; you don't need to spend a dime; the only thing you spend here is the greatest gift in life...family time...and Love!

Love the Lord, your God

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

Consideration:  "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Imagine if we loved as these two commandments describe! Amen.

Bear Fruit

Jesus told them this parable: "There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, 'For three years now I have come and search of fruit on this fig tree but have none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?' He said to him in reply, 'Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down."

Consideration: This passage speaks of a loving God who is very patient with his children, even though we are not producing fruit. We are given the time to be cultivated and nurtured so that one day we will bear fruit. God loves us! We are given a limited amount of time to turn our sinful lives around and produce fruit for the Kingdom of God. Be not afraid, God is waiting for us to say yes...He will do the rest.

The Present Time

Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain-and so it does; and when you know that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to hot-and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? "Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

​Consideration: Life is difficult; we all have eyes to see that there are many problems around us. In the space that we find our place in this world to live among our fellow man, we should make every effort to coexist with them in peace for the good of all. If issues arise, we should make every effort to settle our differences without conflict as best we can. Jesus tells us to interpret the present time that we live in. Let us pray for the grace of understanding that we will use our best judgement for the good of all. Amen.

Blazing

Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

Consideration: Jesus has set the earth on fire; and it is truly blazing! Just to mention the name of Jesus in the world today causes much conflict and division. Christianity is under assault from many directions; but we who are Christians must be firm in our faith; never backing down of proclaiming Jesus as our Lord, and Savior. Amen.

"The Lord"

 

A long time my friend, a very long time

The end of the road in a blink of an eye

How it all ends, I'm praying with hope

Hold on to wonder and reason for it all

 

The times you were alone, I was with you; when you lost your way, guided you through; took your hand, to carry on; I will always be; and you with me! 

 

Never lose hope, keep pushing through 

Know my eyes are always fixed on you

The power from on high is your lifeline   

Take hold of my hand, place it in mine 

 

The times you were alone, I guided you home; picked you up when you fell and cried out please; wiped your tears; calmed your fears; yes...it was me!

 

And in the end, we will meet again; you will see the reason for it all; your guiding light through your fight, to find your way back home; I love you so, your friend...the Lord!

Be Prepared

Jesus said to his disciples: "Be sure of this; if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all of his property. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servants master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his masters will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more."

Consideration: Jesus speaks a parable that tells us to be prepared, faithful, and obedient. Those who are complacent and do not do the will of their master are told that they will suffer punishment for their foolish behavior and actions. Let us pray for the grace of wisdom; to know the will of the Lord and to be prepared always for his return. Amen.