Tell that Fox

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you." He replied, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and on the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.' "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and kill those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

Consideration: Herod wanted to kill Jesus. The Pharisees came to warn him, and he commanded them to go and tell the fox, Herod, the words he spoke to them. His words were prophetic, especially these words: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Amen!

The Narrow Gate

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as we went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and unlocked the door; then will you stand outside knocking and saying, 'Lord, open the door for us.' He will say to you in reply, 'I do not know where you are from.' And you will say, 'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.' Then he will say to you, 'I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!' And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and west and from the north and south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

Consideration: Jesus said, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate." And, "For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." 

Do we have the strength and courage to persevere through the narrow gate? We must live life as a prayer to our Father, who sees and knows all. And if we do, He who has arisen and unlocked the door, will be there to welcome us home. Amen.

The Kingdom of God

Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches." Again he said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened." 

Consideration: Jesus describes a process of growth that with time reaches fruition. Both examples require labor to prepare; time for growth; and finally, reaching the end for which they were created. This process sums up our journey here on earth; and if we are faithful, seek out the mercy of God, and amend our lives, we shall also rise to the eternal glory in the Kingdom of God. Amen.

My Lord, My God...My Love! / Meditation

 

How sweet is your love 

How sweet is your love

How sweet is your love

Lord, How sweet is your love

How great is your mercy

How great is your mercy 

How great is your mercy 

Lord, How sweet is your love

How great is your glory

How great is your glory

How great is your glory 

Lord, How sweet is your love

How great is your wisdom

How great is your wisdom 

How great is your wisdom

Lord, How sweet is your love

Praise your greatness and power 

Praise your greatness and power

Praise your greatness and power

Lord, How sweet is your love

Lord, How sweet is your love

Lord, How sweet is your love

Lord, How sweet is your love

My Lord, My God...My Love!

Healing on the Sabbath

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are set free of your infirmity." He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured her on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, "There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day." The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?" When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him. 

Consideration: "Hypocrites! Jesus calls out the leader of the synagogue. He knew that they would chastise him for setting the woman free from her bondage. Nothing ever stopped Jesus from doing the right thing when he had the opportunity to heal someone that he chose to heal. 

Do we hesitate when we have the opportunity to help someone; or take a stand when we are ridiculed for being Christians? Lord, Jesus, we pray for the grace of courage, that we will always be faithful to your calling. Amen.

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.