Joy Today

Today, Macedonia is the eastern-most province of modern Greece. In Paul's day, my "walking with Jesus" friend, it was a thriving Roman city, bustling with trade. Paul and Silas took ship from Troas to the coast. Then travelled inland about 20 miles to Phillipi. There were too few Jewish men to form a synagogue there, but they heard about a group of women who met on the Sabbath by the river, so, they went there to preach about Jesus. Acts 16:14-15, records: "One of the women was Lydia, a merchant of purple cloth from Thyatira, a city in Asia Minor. She was already a worshipper of God and, as she listened, God opened her heart and she accepted the message of the Risen Lord Jesus. And she and her whole household were baptised. She asked Paul and SILAS to be her houseguests saying, 'If you can truly see that I am faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.' " Oh wow! What a wonderful invitation! When you and I ARE doing what the Lord asks us to do, we o...

By teamwork, Paul, Barnabus, John Mark and Zikas, delivered the letters to all the churches, finally reaching Antioch, where they all stayed for a while. Then John Mark and Barsabas returned to Jerusalem, while Paul and Zikas headed for Derbe and, yes, Lystra, (even though they had been stoned there previously) my "walking with Jesus' friend. Their trust in the Lord gave them Overcomer's courage, and their love and concern for the Believers there led them back. After preaching tin Lystra, they gave thanks for peace and safety, and travelled on to Troas, on the coast. Where do you want us to. Go now? they prayed. [The Word of God tells us that it is wise and wonderful to ask the Lord to show us His plans...instead of just pushing ahead with our own agenda. God knows what is ahead and where what we can do is needed.] "Then a vision came to Paul in the night. It was a man of Macedonia saying, 'Come here and help US.' Believing that the vision was instruction fro...

Who is a trust-worthy messenger? Are YOU? MY "walking with Jesus" friend? The church leaders at Jerusalem chose steady Believers, whose lives showed the Love of God and the power of the Resurrection, men filled with the Holy Spirit, as trust-worthy messengers. A letter was sent by them to each church..."Let the Peace of God rule in your hearts, in unity of the Spirit, with thanksgiving"(Colossians 3:15) Joy and harmony prevailed among the churches. Many Jews AND Gentiles came to faith in Jesus Christ when they saw the unity and peace among the brethren. WE are called by God in Scripture to stay close to the Lord and in harmony with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Are WE being careful to "walk" in that precious calling? Lord God, creator of Heaven and Earth, discipline our hearts and minds with Your Grace. Lead us to: "Keep the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking lies. Depart from evil. Do good. Seek Peace and pursue it. "(Psalm 34:1...

When you are NEW to something, are you glad when things are made nice and clear? Yes, of course, my "walking with Jesus" friend. Well, James stood up in the meeting. Let us be reminded of the words of the prophet Amos(8th century BC)"Thus says the Lord, I will return and renew the broken contract with David, so that Gentiles too will find Me, says the Lord."(Amos 9:12). Yes, said James, the Lord revealed His plan long ago. So, the church leaders in Jerusalem agreed that Gentiles are welcome in the faith. And God does not require them to observe the Jewish laws. To keep everything clear and "on the same page" in believing, they decided that a letter of agreement and advice should be sent to each church. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we counsel you to keep in the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Keep the Sabbath. Live a virtuous life. Do not worship idols, or eat meat offered to idols, or the unbled meat of a...

We did it, my "walking with Jesus" friend! We made it through chapter 14 in the BIBLE book of Acts! Now, in chapter 15:1-21, Paul and Barnabus went up to Jerusalem to met with the church leaders. With great excitement, they told of the miracles and wonders through which God brought many Gentiles, non-Jewish people, into faith in Jesus Christ. But some Jewish Believers objected and said that Gentile believers needed to be told they had to obey the Jewish laws of Moses. Paul disagreed. Listen, he told them, God changed their hearts, just as God changed our hearts through the Risen Christ. And, God poured out the Holy Spirit on the new Gentile Believers, just as He poured out His Spirit on Jewish Believers. So, by that action, God Himself has blessed the Gentile believers, without requiring them to follow the laws of Moses. And, we remember that Our Lord Jesus said:" I am the Light of the WORLD/ Light for everyone. He who follows Me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall h...

Yes, my "walking with Jesus" friend, we are "walking" our way through the book of Acts. Now, in Acts 14:24-28, fasten your sandals well, there's A LOT of walking to do. "Paul and Barnabus travelled through Pisidia to Pamphylia, preached again in Perga, and then went on to Attalia. [ all these are places in what is now southern Turkey. They walked about 1,000 miles. How far would WE walk to share the love of God in Christ? They were " on fire" for the Lord, determined to spread the Good News, and diligent about reaching as many Jews and Gentiles as possible!] Attalia is on the coast, and from there they took ship to sail back to Antioch[rhymes with clock] in Syria, which is where this first missionary journey had begun." When did all this happen? In 47-49AD. The Believers in Antioch in Syria had committed them to God for the journey, and now Paul and Barnabus reported to them about the new Believers, new churches, and miracles of their journ...

Sunday Morning, my " walking with Jesus" friend, and we are invited: " O come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord, our God, our Maker, for He is our Mighty God, and we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.. *Enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, Be thankful to Him and bless His Name, for the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures to all generations...*Worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth, for our Father in Heaven seeks those who will truly worship Him," said Jesus. <Yes, we are instructed to > "...worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness."(Psalm 95:6-7, Psalm 100:4-5, John 4:24, and Psalm 29:2b)Let us rejoice in the Lord, my friend. To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If yo...

Good Morning, my "walking with Jesus" friend. Please, have you ever asked: to whom does the earth belong? Psalm 24, has the answer to that and other questions. Let's go there! "The earth IS the LORD's, and the fulness thereof, the world and they who dwell thereon; For HE has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods. < so then, we may ask > Who shall go up to the Hill of the Lord? Or, who shall stand in His Holy place? <The answer from the Word of the Lord is > He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to idols, nor sworn deceitfully. He is the person who SHALL <ITS. A PROMISE > receive the blessing of the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." ( Psalm 24:1-5) Yes, there are. Answers from the Lord in His Word. May we always be reading His Word, studying to find His answers to our questions, and finding His directions by which rightly to govern our choices. To respond to this...

men revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for you will be numbered with the prophets that God has also sent."( Matthew 5:12-13) "Be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord."(Psalm 31:24) YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA 94043 USA

Travelling on to Icomium and Antioch in Syria, Paul and Barnabus taught the believers to seek and to stay in the Love of God, to faithfully care for one another, to grow in their faith and to bring others into knowledge of the person and POWER of the Risen Savior. So there was much joy among the believers. As the churches grew, Paul appointed elders in every chuch, fasting and praying over them, and reminding them that it nay be through much tribulation that they come into the Kingdom of God. Jesus taught His disciples:" Blessed are you when To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA 94043 USA

Yes, of course Paul kept going, preaching and teaching. He had been called by God, so he experienced the enabling of the Lord. Leaving Lystra, he and Barnabus travelled to Derbe. After preaching there, and turning many Gentiles to Christ, they did something that seems amazing to us: they quietly went back, briefly, to Lystra, to encourage the Believers! Who do WE care about SO much that we risk our own safety ( or convenience) to check on them and encourage their faith? Jesus counselled His dis iples: "A NEW commandment I give you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you love one another. By THIS shall all men KNOW that YOU are my disciples, if you have love, one for another." (John 13:34-35) To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such em...

Did the actions of the stirred up, life-threatening mob in Lystra, deter Paul from continuing to spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Would it have deterred you/me, my "walking with Jesus" friend? We find an answer in a quote from the apostle Paul's letter to the Romans 8:35-39. "Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or poverty, or danger, or the sword?...No. IN ALL these things we are MORE than conquerors through Christ who loves us. For I am persuaded that neither life nor death, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Can WE give the same VICTORIOUS answer to our challenging circumstances? Keep in the Word of God, in prayer, in fellowship and worship and YOUR firm answer will certainly be, "YES!...

Worship the Lord God Almighty who made Heaven and earth, who gives you rain for your crops, food to eat, children to love and a peaceful land. Oh, my "walking with Jesus" friend, how greatly Paul and Barnabus pleaded with the people not to see them as gods in human form, but to turn from foolish idols to the living God who sent Jesus Christ, His Son. The Son lived to show us how God wants us to live, in love, kindness, service and PEACE. God is holy. He can not look on sin, but He wants us near Him, so Jesus died to pay for your sin and mine. Turn away from sin. Believe in Jesus. Be forgiven. Walk with Jesus in how you live your lives, and be blessed, they told the people. Some believed, but news of their preaching spread and some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and turned the crowds into a murderous mob that dragged Paul outside the city, stoned him and left him for dead. BUT, as the Believers stood around him, Paul rose up, and was cared for by the Believers. (Acts 14...

Good Morning, my "walking with Jesus" friend. Yes, in Lystra, Paul and Barnabus were enabled to heal a man lame from birth. While THEY were praising God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the healing, on the other hand, can YOU guess what was happening? Well, in their local dialect, the people started shouting:' These men are gods in human bodies.' Barnabus they called the Greek god " Juniper," and, because Paul waz the main speaker, they called him the Greek god " Mercury." The local priest of the Temple of Jupiter, located on the outskirts of the city, brought them carloads of flowers and prepared to sacrifice oxen to them at the city gates in the presence of the crowd." Oh my goodness! What would YOU do if you were Paul or Barnabus? Well, "When they realized what was happening, they ripped at their clothing in dismay and ran out among the crowd shouting:' Stop! What are you thinking? Can't you see, we are just men, like...

Now, the preaching of Paul and Barnabus was powerful in Icomium, my "walking with Jesus" friend. BUT, "The multitude of the city was divided: some agreed with the Jews who held to their beliefs, and some believed the apostles. Some got so stirred up that they prevailed upon their rulers to let them stone the apostles. [ THAT is A LOT of very strong feeling over a disagreement about what is true!] Anyway, Paul and Barnabus got wind of the plot to drag them out of the city and stone them, so, they secretly fled, and travelled on to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lyconia. In Lystra, they came upon a man crippled in his feet. He had never been able to walk. The man heard Paul speak. Looking steadfastly at the man, Paul perceived that he had the faith to be healed. In a loud voice, Paul commanded the man: 'Stand up on your feet.' Immediately the man leaped up and walked."( Acts 14:5-10) wow! What do you think?We remember, Jesus had told His disciples:" Truly, ...

We need a prayer from the Psalms today, my "walking with Jesus" friend. On the 17th, let's go to Psalm 17:5-8. " O Lord God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, Hold up my goings in Your paths. Do not let my footsteps slip. I had 've called upon You, because You will hear me, O God, incline Your ear to what I have to say. Show Your marvellous lovingkindness, O You who saves by Your right hand those who trust in You, from any who rise up against them. Keep me as the Apple of the eye. Hide me under the shadow of Your wings." We lift our prayer in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen. To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View...

From success in Pamphos, Paul and Barnabus travelled back to Icomium on the mainland. Well, my " walking with Jesus" friend, they were well received in the synagogue there, AT FIRST. But, the Jews who rejected the message of Jesus, stirred up distrust among the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabus, saying all kinds of false evil things against them. (Jesus had told His followers that sometimes men would speak against them when they proclaimed the Gospel. When men's deeds are evil, they get upset if you shine the light of the Lord, Jesus told them.) So, Paul and Barnabus just pushed on, "And the Lord strengthened and proved the message about Jesus by giving them power to do great miracles."(Acts 14:1-4) "Lord, You will show me the path of life, in Your Presence is Fulness of JOY, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore "(Psalm 16:11) Let's seek His will, dwell in His Presence and be blessed with Joy that rises above all circumstances, my fr...

Exactly! Several friends had already given me a birthday party.. Cake, ice cream, candles, the Whole deal...why not "celebrate" health and wellness on my actual birthday?🎉 ☺ YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA 94043 USA

Thank you, Bill. Dr. Stoddard said:" We got it all." The wound is about the size of 3 quarters in a row. It required six inside stitches and twelve outside stitches. The numbed the area, so I was awake the whole time, but no pain then or now. It will probably not leave a visible scar...Dr. Stoddard is a plastic surgeon, skilled at hiding the incision along skin folds, I have been told. Everything went smoothly and my friend Linda who drove me up and I had an enjoyable time of visiting during the 160 mile round trip. I feel relieved to have had it taken care of. Thank you very much for your birthday gifts and call and concern. It was super special to come home to the fresh flowers you sent. God bless you. Love, Mom YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Go...

The governor SAW that the power of God had blinded the evil sorcerer, so he listened intently to Paul, Barnabus and John Mark. We praise God, my "walking with Jesus" friend, for the power of God seen in many, many ways, but seen especially at work remaking a life that was lost or broken, remaking life into wholeness, peace, orderliness and productivity. So, the power of God and the preaching of Paul converted the governor of Pamphos. And some Jews believed when they preached Christ in the synagogue, but even though some did not believe, the Greeks and other Gentiles begged them to stay, and just about the whole town turned out to hear the Word of the Lord, forgiveness of sins and salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The message was given with power, confirming the accuracy of the Holy Spirit's 'instructions about travelling to Cyprus and preaching at Pamphos! Altogether, there was great joy among the people for the knowledge of God had come ...

The flowers are so exciting. They brighten my living room, as you saw, and "greet" me when I enter the room. The flowers stay fresh and fragrant very nicely and are a delight for my friends who come. The fruit is a SUPER treat. I am very found of blueberries for breakfast and before bed. And the cherries are plump and juicy, a rare treat for me. Having a perfect avocado with my scrambled eggs was delightful. Thank you, again, so very much, for your thoughtful and generous remembrance of my 86th birthday. It's amazing that it has been six years since your wonderful visit here. Are you planning any travel for this summer?Would enjoy hearing what you are doing. Meantime, my good friend Linda will drive me to Pocatello for the procedure tomorrow morning. Great thanks for your prayers. Good insulation and an efficient AC unit and the good servicing of the AC in my car, plus staying in during the heat of the day, combine to keep me cool. Thank you for your concern. Love, Mom YO...

A 75 mile boat trip, brought Paul, Barnabus and JohnMark from Seleucia to Salamis, on the northeast Shore of the island of Cyprus, my "walking with Jesus" friend. In the Jewish synagogue they preached the Word of God. Then they travelled the 150 miles, to Pamphos (pam-fos) on the south end of the island, preaching in the towns and villages as they went. In Pamphos, they encountered a Jewish sorcerer, a fake prophet. He had "attached" himself to the local governor, Setgius Paulus, "a man of considerable insight and understanding. The governor invited Paul and Barnabus to visit him, for He wanted to bear their message from God. But, the sorcerer, Elymas ( in Greek) interfered and urged the governor to ignore Paul and Barnabus, trying to keep him from coming to trust in God. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, glared at Elymas. 'You are a son of the devil...and now, God has laid His hand of punishment upon you, and you will be stricken with blindness for a wh...

MMS Received YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA 94043 USA

A map will serve us well now, my "walking with Jesus" friend. The Holy Spirit directed that Paul and Barnabus depart from Antioch(rhymes with clock) in Syria, go to the port of Seleucia and sail across to the island of Cyprus for the purpose of preaching the Gospel to the Jews and Gentiles on that island. They landed at Salamis, the port city on the north east end of Cyprus, and preached the word of God to the Jews in their synagogue. (Acts 13:4-5) On the accompanying map, let me invite you to find Jerusalem(lower left) and Antioch in Syria, then Seleucia on the coast and across to the island of Cyprus. Enjoy the sail across the bright blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Feel the island breeze and the excitement of bringing the Word of God to a new territory, a new community. To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email not...

Would delight to know if you are teaching summer school, planning to go to the cool shore in Maine or on some other summer travel adventure...Thank you so very much for the birthday blessings. Love, Mom YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA 94043 USA