FOCUS!!!

How many times have we heard that
throughout our lives?

Another way of saying that might be, “Watch!”, “Look!”, or “Pay attention!”.

In Romans Chapter 1, Paul castigates those among us who, through their own choice, aren’t doing just that.

He says,

“ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and
wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

 since what may be known about God is plain to them,
because God has made it plain to them. 

 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–
his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

(Rom. 1:18-21)

How often we miss being taught of the wonder of God, because we’re not paying attention

to “What may be seen”; ie, to what is right in front of us.

The other day I looked at my side “lawn” ,

saw a tangle of weeds and clover, and sighed.
 

It had to be cut…yuck!

Then an idea hit me, and I began to look a little closer…

 

(part two this evening…leaving to babysit for a few hours)

 

 PART Le Deuxieme :

I started to look at the clover, and grabbed my camera to get a couple shots before I shredded it.

What I began to see was nothing less than remarkable:

The attention to detail in each plant was amazing!  Tiny veins which carry sap,
water and nutrients to and fro, miniscule ciliate “hairs” which are just right
to protect the plant from tiny predators, to trap moisture, and perform other functions; all perfectly
laid out by an astonishing architect…no detail left unattended.
And the wonder only increased the closer the inspection was pursued.

I started to notice other things…other plants, and insects around them.

 

 

As before, the closer I looked,

the more amazing became the evidence of

an infinitely attentive designer;

no detail was un-marvelous, for

want of a better word.

There was food for the insects, pollination

for the plants, sunlight, soil and water, and the structures

to use them; all this done with

unparalleled grace, beauty and style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’d almost missed the day’s lessons in God’s infinite mind, and His care for all His creation,

(remember, we’re told that we’ve been given all this so that we may know God’s nature..ie,

having given us minds, He provided for that, too),

simply by my inattention.

“  The heavens (ie, God’s created things) declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.  There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.  ” Psalm 19:1-3

How much grace, peace, knowledge and wisdom we miss by our undirected focus…..

“Consider (  focus on/ think about ) the ravens:( and other “animals”)  They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? ”Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you,oh you of little faith? ” Luke 12:24-28

Let us go out;  into God’s classroom, my friends, and ..

stop, look, and listen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I look at my youngest Granchildren these days, and am both amazed by

the marvel of them…..learning, learning,learning…at an unbelievable rate;

and also saddened at my own gaps in fulfilling that same marvelous potential.

The world is wide open  to them; anything is still possible,
as it was for all of us at that age.

That same world, however, conspires to chip away at the joy and confidence
God puts in all of  us; specifically to deter God’s plan for us.

If I sound bitter or morose, that’s not my intent; rather, I am lamenting
the loss of what could have been, yet praising God, who, in His plan,
 has made it possible to recover more than that which has been lost.

We are reassured in Romans,

 “..what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.”
(Rom. 8:18)

If we are saddened by the scars, failures and losses of this life

we can look with excitement to our unending future in Christ;

“But–to use the words of Scripture–we speak of things which eye has not seen nor ear heard,
and which have never entered the heart of man: all that God has in readiness for them that love Him.”
(1 Cor 2:9)

If you are hurting friends, rejoice..it’s God’s pleasure to more than fulfill
all the potential, desire, and hope we’ve ever had.

We are blessed, friends

We are blessed

 

 

 

 

        

 

 

   ERIN GAE BRAGH!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 this verse has been on my mind lately;
just thought I’d share it..

If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all,
how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 
  

Who is to condemn?

Christ Jesus is the one who died;”more than that, who was raised”
who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.  

…Who ( OR WHAT ) shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  

…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

 For I am sure that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present nor things to come,
nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom. 8:31b-38, in part

I came across a touching story , not directly a “God story”,
but nonetheless evidence of Godly compassion, and thought I’d share it.

Here’s the link:

Team Purposely Misses Free Throws

Leaving for Mexico in the am; see you in a week!

 

 

 

 

            

             ‘Give us grace, O Lord, to work while it is day,

             fulfilling diligently and patiently whatever duty Thou appointest us;

             doing small things in the day of small things,

             and great labours if thou summon us to any…’

                                        Christina Rossetti

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                            My aunt died last week. 

Now, I hadn’t seen her much the last several years,
but remembered her smile well from childhood.

What struck me, as I listened to sincere testimonial to her, was that
she had “sailed her vessel” well, right to the end of her life.

She had survived a near-fatal childhood illness, which
left her with heart problems the rest of her life, 
but she married and raised a family, sometimes under difficult circumstances,

yet all remembered her giving nature, her smile and her constant love and care;

all , as far as anyone could remember, without complaining.

I (once again) asked myself..

“Am I doing what I can to ‘sail my vessel’ well?”

The largest reason I mention the work that Rachel does is admiration; she’s a prod in my side that
there is much I can do…I need but start.

Too often, we see only the obstacles in the way of what we’d really “like to do”. The advantage of youth sometimes is the belief that “all things ARE possible.”

It doesn’t mean doing huge projects, either..to the person at work who’s feeling really down
(or the downcast person you notice on the street), a kind word or smile can be
life-changing. We can bring God’s love to others in so many ways RIGHT WHERE WE ARE.

I’d say that a corollary to “Bloom where you’re planted” is

“Sail where you’re launched”.

much love and joyful sailing

jim

                    “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

                                                                              which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph. 2:10

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    

 

             I admit it…I’m about to cheat.
I was getting ready to start posting again 
( I even have photos and at least a couple of poetic offerings)
when I got the following update from Rachel, in Ghana
I felt that what I had planned needed to wait…… 
so I copied most of what she wrote in order to share it with others,
and I’ve added a few of her recent pics.

 

 

What a summer!

 

I have not gone, nor am I dead

I’ve not been here for weeks.

So many things now fill my head

I fear I’ll soon spring leaks.

 

I’ve been to missions near


and far

(Mexico)

And seen friends new and old.

I’ve been by plane

I’ve been by car

in places hot and cold.

 

Even when I’ve been near home

I’m oft too tired to stand

My life is full with work and fun

with children prime

and grand.

Oh, fear not friends for what’s become

of Jimmish as of late.

He’s running strong, by God’s good grace

but fullish is his plate.

 

“We don’t (now) see (God’s world) clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright!
We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 
 But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation:

Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.

 And the best of the three is love.”

1 Cor 13:12,13 The Message 

Love richly, friends

Jim