Joy Today

Is it easier to walk downhill in those sandals than uphill? Here comes Jesus down from the mountain. Oh my, "Multitudes are following him. *And behold, a leper with horrible sores on his skin came and worshipped Jesus, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean." And what did Jesus do? *"Then Jesus reached out His hand, touched the man with leprosy, and said, 'I am willing: be cleansed.' And IMMEDIATELY his leprosy was cleansed. * and Jesus instructed the healed man:'S we that you do not tell anyone about this; but go and show yourself to the temple priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.'" Do we need to be cleansed one way or another? Shall we follow the example of the leper: first, worship the Lord, THEN, ASK, in faith, for healing. Don't noise it around when you ARE healed, go, pray and offer gifts of thanks as the Lord leads. Here in Matthew 8:1-4, is a wonderful reminder of how we are to ...

"Walking with Jesus " we have heard teaching on how to live so as to be blessed, how to pray, the Spirit of giving, fasting, be careful about judging others, we need to ask, seek and knock, beware of false prophets and be sure our driving motive is love of the Lord. After all these teachings, Jesus says:"Whoever hears these sayings of mine, AND DOES THEM, is like the wise man who built his house upon a ROCK.*And the rain came, and the flood came and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded upon the ROCK.*But, everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does NOT do them, is like the foolish man who built his house upon the sand.* And the rains came and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon the house: and it fell, and great was its fall." And when Jesus concluded these sayings, the people were astonished at His teaching, for he taught as one who has authority, and not as the temple scribes.(Matthew 7:24-28) Wind, ...

One of the many, many things I like about you, my "walking with Jesus" friend, is your good memory. So, I believe you will remember that when we "walked" through the Gospel of Mark, in chapter 4:30-31, Jesus declares that the greatest commandment is:" You shall love the Lord your God with ALL [not part of, but all] your heart, soul, mind and strength. And the second commandment is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself." And knowing that:" ...God looks on the heart."(1 Sam 16:7) Now, after telling US to discern between true and false prophets, Jesus tells us, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. *Many will say to Me in that day,'Lord, we prophesied in Your name, cast out demons and did wonders in Your name.*And I will declare to them: 'I never knew you; depart from me you who practice lawlessness."( Matthew 7:21-23) Oh ...

Good Morning, my "Walking with Jesus friend." These days, especially, "You can't believe everything you hear." Of course, Jesus knew that, warns us, and gives us a way to discern who is true and who is false. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly, they are leavening wolves.* You shall be able to tell who they REALLY are by their fruits. Think about it THUS way:Can you pick grapes from a thorn bush? Or, can you gather figs from a whistle bush? * We know that a good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit.* A good tree can not produce evil fruit, and an corrupt tree can not produce good fruit.*Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.* I am telling you, by their fruits, you are able to discern who someone REALLY is, not so much simply by their words. As I said, Beware."(Matthew 7:15-20) So, Jesus counsels us to observe what a person produces.....

Wonderful that you could help Luke and Lydia move yesterday, my "walking with Jesus" friend. That narrow front door presented some challenges, I'm sure. Jesus speaks of the narrow way and the broad way in life. He directs:" Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those that go that way. *But the gate is narrow and the way is narrow that truly leads to Eternal life and few there are with the moral excellence, discipline and stamina to find it." There are many different ways of thinking talked about and promoted by the world. But the ONLY way of thinking that brings salvation and the promise of Eternal Life is the way of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Believe God is Holy and can not look on sin. Believe that you and I sin. Believe Jesus paid our sin-debt and reconciled us to God. Then, consistently order our lives by the counsels of God. THAT is how to "Enter at the narrow gate..."  De...

Hi, my "walking with Jesus friend." Did you see the golden sunrise? God sent glorious shafts of light high up into the heavens. What else is golden to you? Oh, yes, I remember, your grandmother's golden music box. And my mother had a golden locket. Something golden is to be treasured. Could that be why the message of Jesus in Matthew 7:12, is called:" The Golden Rule? Golden, because we are specially to treasure that message. He tells us, quite simply:" Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." You want people to be kind to you, it's simple, just be kind to others. You want folks to share, well, then you need to share...Likewise, if you do not wish to be shouted at...well then, don't you be shouting at anyone. Think of the peace and harmony there is when each person in a family, a classroom, an office, a community chooses to live by "The Golden Rule." Heavenly Father help us always simply and purposefully to choose to: "...

A bright Good Morning to you, my "walking with Jesus" friend. Did you hear what she said?  Oh my, who is SHE to judge? Maybe she did not catch what Jesus said...He cautioned against us being judgemental. Here is what he said...its really quite simple:" Judge not, that you be not judged. 'For with what judgement you judge, you shall be judged...' And why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not think about the beam that is in your own eye?  Or how will you say to your brother, let me get the. Speck out of your eye; and behold, there is a beam in your own eye. You hypocrite, first get the beam out of your own eye; THEN you will see clearly to get the speck out of your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)  Thank you, Jesus. We see clearly that we must guard our thoughts and words. Keep us from hasty judgements, Lord. Guide us, that we may speak kindness and grace, remembering that we have prayed:"May Your Kingdom come and Your will...

Thanking God on this Fathers' Day for being OUR Heavenly Father. For loving us with "am everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), for " mercies that are NEW EVERY morning" ( Lamentations 3:23) for salvation through Jesus Christ ( John 3:16)For giving us strength and peace:"The Lord will give STRENGTH to His people, the Lord will bless His people with peace."(Psalm 29:11)  Yes, God even has "crowned us with glory and honor"( Psalm 8:5) and also crowned us "with lovingkindness and tender mercies,"( Psalm 103:4)So, my "walking with Jesus" friend, let us surely say, with Psalm 92:1-2: "It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the name of the Most High. To declare His lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness every night."(Psalm 92:1-2)  Praying that God will abundantly bless your thinking, your doing and your day. Let's put our hands in the Hands of Him who stilled the waters."