Category: October 2022

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Jesus Does a “Good” Job

Today, we’ll look at Jesus and the good works He did while He was on earth.

“ For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.” John 6:38 NLT

It all started with the angels’ message to the shepherds. “Peace on earth, good will to men”.

Jesus birth was the beginning of His mission. It was the entrance of God’s good will to men through the life of His Son. The long-awaited Messiah or Savior was born. Men’s lives would be radically changed, they would see and experience miracles. They would see the goodness of God first hand.

Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding. I really like this. Today our granddaughter is getting married. I can imagine Jesus coming to that wedding. He came as an invited guest but had no place of prominence. However, his mother found out that they were running low on wine. She came to Jesus and asked him to do something about it, she didn’t want to wedding host to be ridiculed for lack of preparation.

So Jesus did a good thing, He turned the water into wine. After that we know that He healed many, many people – the blind, the lame, those with fevers, the crippled, the lepers, those with defects from birth.

He healed those with mental illness and demoniacs. He brought forgiveness to the outcasts – the tax collectors and prostitutes.

“And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” Acts 10:38 NLT

For all the good He did He was hated by the religious zealots. They despised Him for His good deeds and plotted His death. Even then they couldn’t destroy Him, He rose from the dead and continued to preach the message of good will, reconciliation, from God, the Father.

The works of the Father, His good will, and the works of Jesus continue today.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NLT

This means that Jesus is working good in our lives as well. Just like those in the Bible who came to Him for healing and deliverance, those who needed a miracle, we can come to Him and find that He is willing to work things out for good for us also.

Jesus is still doing good. He is still the miracle worker!

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When Things Go Wrong…

God is good and has a plan. This is the story of Joseph’s life.

Most of us experience things that go wrong. Troubles with our family, losing a job, being falsely accused, some even face imprisonment. How do we handle the adversities of life? Do we get angry with God? Do we blame him? Or do we keep our eyes and heart focused directly on God and His goodness?

Joseph was a young man with a purpose. God had given him a dream when he was just a teenager. He shared that dream with his family and he was ridiculed, even hated by some. Here’s how his life went for the next 13 years.

His brothers sold him to slave traders. They sold him to a captain in the Egyptian army. The captain’s wife accused him of rape. He was sent to prison. While in prison he met the baker and the butler for the pharaoh. They had dreams and Joseph interpreted the dreams. The butler returned to the palace but the baker was hanged. The butler had promised to tell the pharaoh about Joseph but he forgot, for 2 years. Then he remembered…

The pharaoh brought Joseph to the palace and promoted him to second in command of all of Egypt. Joseph ruled wisely through the famine. Enter his brothers asking for food. What did Joseph do? They had sold him into slavery 13 years before.

“Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am not God! I have no right to punish you. 20 It is true that you planned to do something bad to me. But really, God was planning good things. God’s plan was to use me to save the lives of many people. And that is what happened. 21 So don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” And so Joseph said kind things to his brothers, and this made them feel better.” Genesis 50:19-21 ERV

What do we do when things go wrong? In all those years Joseph never turned his back on God and apparently, he never let his heart get bitter toward his brothers. He kept his heart pure.

God is good and His plans for us are too.

“ I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering. 12 You will turn back to me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. 13  You will worship me with all your heart, and I will be with you.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 CEV

We may not feel things are going right but God is working. His plans are for our success. He hasn’t planned for us to fail!

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God Is Good

Generally, I devote the month of November to gratitude. But this year I feel I need to start a bit early.

Gratitude. Grateful. Thankful. Thanksgiving. Humbled. Awe-struck.

All of these words express my hearts deepest thoughts. My first thoughts focus on the Father’s love and His goodness but I am also grateful and thankful for each of you who read this blog every morning.

Give God credit and praise for all the good things in your life. Express your gratitude for His goodness.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” I Chronicles 16:34 NLT

I’m asking you to make a list – a list of things you are grateful for each day from now until Thanksgiving. Keep the list in your phone notepad or in a journal, write them on a chalkboard or a pumpkin.

Yes, a pumpkin. Several years ago I saw something on a craft page. It was one of those pumpkins you buy at the craft stores and the idea was to have everyone at Thanksgiving dinner write something they were thankful for and then use the pumpkin as part of the centerpiece on the Thanksgiving table. I liked that idea but why not do a slight variation? Get the pumpkin now and each day write something you’re thankful for on it.

“How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! 6 The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. 7 Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me.” Psalm 116:5-7 NLT

I don’t think there was anyone better at giving praise to the Lord than King David. He started writing psalms and giving praise when he was a young man and he praised God until his death. He was a man committed to praise.

It’s so easy to be overcome by stress and worry. It’s so easy to look at the problems instead of the Problem Solver. Let’s make a concerted effort to establish an attitude of praise.

“ He accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. It is not important what nation they come from. 36 God has spoken to the people of Israel. He sent them the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ, the Lord of all people.” Acts 10:35-37 ERV

Let’s start this first day of gratitude by thanking God for the Good News, the gospel of peace, that we have because of Jesus.

Yes, God is good!

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What Should I Wear?

I used to stand in my closet picking an outfit for the day. My work attire was business suits and heels, and for a little variety there would be a flowing skirt and tailored blouse. Those days are long past.

I still want to look nice and some days deciding what to wear is more difficult than others.

“That’s too tight, or too short, or oops is has a spot.”

I have fun wearing my “Scripture” t-shirts but I can’t fill my closet with them. Yes, deciding what to wear can be a challenge.

Did you know that the Bible has something to say about our wardrobe? I know what you’re thinking, “Kristi, the Bible doesn’t give fashion advice”. Oh, but it does.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. 26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.” Proverbs 31:25-26 NLT

“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy” Psalm 30:11 NLT

God wants us to look nice, He wants us to have a fitting attire so He clothes us in strength and dignity, with a splash of joy.

“ But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:20-24 NLT

If I read this correctly, we should be cleaning out our closets, getting rid of some stuff. Things like deception, anger, bitterness, and jealousy. We should replace them with new thoughts and attitudes, clothed in the Father’s nature which is righteous and holy.

“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.” Galatians 3:26-27 NLT

Not everyone will look the same. This wardrobe is versatile. It can be dressy and classic or casual and relaxed. However, it will always glorify the Father and point those around us to Him.

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17 NLT

Now, go get dressed and have an amazing day!

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In the Will

Several years ago, we updated our Family Trust. I guess it’s something that people our age do. We desire to leave an inheritance for our children and grandchildren.

In our case, there seems to be more sentimental value than financial but all the same we wanted these things written down.

It amazes me that God, the Father, has done the same.

“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” Romans 8:15-17 NLT

God the Father, has made us his children, He has adopted us. If that isn’t amazing enough He has given us an inheritance and made us heirs – it’s His will! He gives us the same inheritance He has given Jesus. We share in the Father’s glory but like Jesus we share in the earthly suffering. Not a suffering like some think but the suffering that Jesus experienced was separation from His heavenly home, ridicule of His peers and denying His fleshly desires to live a life that was honoring to the Father.

We are called to do the same. The Apostle Paul said it this way, “For me to live is Christ”. Our lives should be a living example of the Christ-likeness.

Here is another reference that Paul made: “Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. 4 But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” Titus 3:3-7 NLT

God gave us a new life, He gave us an inheritance, an inheritance of His grace.

God isn’t looking for us to fail. He has equipped us with all we need to live a new life, no longer full of envy and hatred, no longer slaves to sinful lusts.

“ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” Ephesians 1:11 NLT

By His grace, amazing grace, we have been saved. Our lives are God’s masterpiece. He planned for us to do good things. He has given us an inheritance, it’s His written will, it’s called the Bible and it’s for all the world to read!

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Call to Battle

I was reading about King David this morning. The account in II Samuel 21 is long past his days of youth when he defeated Goliath but here he is leading the Israelites in battle against the Philistines again.

David had grown weary in the fight and the Philistines knew it. A warrior had come to destroy him but King David’s aide defended him and destroyed the enemy. The Israelites were victorious, and the Philistines were once defeated once again.

Do you feel like King David? Have you grown weary in the battle?

I don’t know why Christians think that we won’t have troubles or battles. We do and we will. But our battles aren’t against flesh and blood, they are against the spiritual evil and darkness that has so much influence in our world.

“We live in this world, but we don’t act like its people 4 or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God’s power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments 5 and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people’s thoughts and make them obey Christ.” II Corinthians 10:3-5 CEV

We fight against thoughts and arguments that take hold of people’s thinking, leading them away from obedience to Christ. The weapons we used are given to us by God and don’t conform to man’s way of thinking.

“Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. 11  Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks. 12 We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. 13 So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.

14  Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God’s justice protect you like armor. 15  Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. 16 Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17  Let God’s saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God’s message that comes from the Spirit.

18 Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God’s people.” Ephesians 5:10-18 CEV

Young David said he battled Goliath not with sword and spear but with the name of the Lord. Joshua went to battle in the power of the Lord. We also go to battle in the same way.

“ So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.” vs 13

Each piece of armor listed in the verses above, truth, the gospel of peace, salvation, righteousness, faith, sword of the Spirit, are all found in God’s word. He gives them freely to each of us to use.

When we grow weary, like David did, we pray for strength and the Lord will provide that too. The armor that God gives us prepares us for battle and assures us ultimate victory!

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Ready, Willing, & Able

When I was a girl, I had a wonderful example of those who were “ready, willing and able”.

My parents had an open-door policy at our home. Not only did we have company for meals on Sundays but there were times throughout the week that there would be extra chairs at the table.

I remember go fishing with Dad and we always stopped to get worms at one little store. One day he saw a man who you could tell the man was hungry. Dad bought him a loaf of bread, some lunch meat and peanut butter. We didn’t have much more than that ourselves but Dad was ready, willing and able to take care of someone else’s needs.

God, our heavenly Father, is able!

Able means He has the ability to do or complete the task set before Him. He is able to work on our behalf and He is always looking for ways to show us His goodness.

He is a loving Father and He won’t force us to take the benefits He has for us. But if we will allow Him to work in our lives, we will see His ability working on our behalf.

The prodigal son came to his senses in a pig pen. He knew if he went home and asked to be one of the household servants his father would provide for him. What he didn’t realize was the depth of the father’s love.

His father welcomed him with open arms. He didn’t make him a servant but restored him to his rightful place as a son.

“Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you. 20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:19-21 ERV

When we know God’s love, His power can work within to bring Him glory. Our heavenly Father wants us to know His love and our place of sonship.

“18 Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.” Hebrews 2:18 AMP

He is able to help us immediately when we are being tempted because He was also tempted and suffered.

“God is strong and can (is able to) keep you from falling. He can bring you before his glory without any wrong in you and give you great joy. 25 He is the only God, the one who saves us. To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all time past, now, and forever. Amen.” Jude 24-25 CEV

God is able to keep us! He is able to save us!

“But Jesus will never die, and so he will be a priest forever! 25 He is forever able to save the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25 CEV

Our Father is ready, willing and able to show Himself strong on our behalf.

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Point of View

Yesterday morning I rose about my normal time and as I sat here in my chair I was lamenting, a bit, our departure from the mountain.

We had gotten enough unpacked and put in place that we were able to rest well but there was, and is, still much to do to feel settled. Dave and I were having coffee and talking about the day’s activities – quite a list – and we both mentioned what we thought was being done on the mountain.

It was then Dave said, “Kris, grab your camera. You don’t want to miss this sunrise!” He was right.

From where I was sitting, I would have missed it. I had the wrong point of view.

Isn’t that the way things are in life? We can be looking at things from one perspective but if we were just willing to get up and move, we’d get a different angle with a wonderous outlook.

Reminds me of a story. (Luke 7:36-50)

Jesus was invited to dinner at the home of a religious leader named Simon. A woman who had not been invited came in also. She went to where Jesus was seated and began washing His feet with her tears and wiping them with her hair. Then she poured expensive perfume on them and kissed them.

Simon was outraged. This was a woman of low repute. She was causing a scene. How dare she interrupt his time with Jesus and why didn’t Jesus stop her, didn’t he realize what kind of a woman she was?

Without Simon saying anything out loud, Jesus knew his thoughts and addressed them. He told Simon a story about two people who had been forgiven a debt, one owed a great deal and the other a small amount.

Jesus asked Simon this question, “who do you think was the most grateful?”. Simon answered I suppose the one who was forgiven the most. Jesus told Simon he was correct. And then He went on to vindicate the woman.

He pointed out to Simon that Simon had neglected to show Him the common courtesy due a guest. Simon hadn’t offered to have a servant wash His feet upon arrival, but this woman had washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, which was her crowning glory. Simon hadn’t greeted him with the customary kiss, but this woman kissed His feet.

Simon saw a harlot of low reputation, someone with no value. Jesus saw a woman who needed to be forgiven.

From Simon’s perspective, he didn’t need forgiveness. He was a good man. From Jesus’ viewpoint He saw a man and a woman who both needed forgiveness. One was grateful and loving, the other was stubborn and callous.

“So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.” Luke 7:47 CEV

Enjoying the beauty of a sunrise is nice but viewing people from a heart of love is better. I hope that I will always see things from God’s point of view.

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Heading Home

Yesterday was that day. We left the mountain at 9 a.m. and we’re back in the Valley shortly after 1 p.m. It felt strange to say we were heading home. To us, we’re always home.

This last year, since we have been fulltime RV living, home has always been with us. Our earthly home that is. When we left the mountain it was 37* and when we arrived in the valley it was 91*. For the last several weeks, we had been wearing long sleeves and jackets, running the heater at night and sleeping under blankets.

Yesterday, we were using fans (the a/c for a little bit), wearing short sleeves, and sweating as we set up. But we were always home.

I remember when my Mom was in her final year of life she talked about heaven alot. At one point we had a long discussion. She recalled everything she had read in the Bible; no more tears, no sickness, no pain. Streets of gold, pearl gates. Seeing Jesus, being in the presence of God the Father.

She would be home.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:1-3 NLT

“There is more than enough room in my Father’s home”. Amazing!

For all the millions of people who have accepted Christ as their Savior through the ages, there is enough room.

The Father has a purpose and a plan for each one of us in this life on earth but this really isn’t home.

“By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.” Hebrews 11:9-10 MSG

Abraham’s purpose was to believe God’s promise and be the father of a nation of people who would honor God. But in all of that he was still looking for the eternal city, his heavenly home.

The Apostle Paul says we are ambassadors for God. An ambassador is someone who leaves their home country and travels, with a mission, to another land. Once their work is through, they come home.

“ For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” II Corinthians 5:19-20 NLT

May we always live with our sense of purpose and look forward to heading home!

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Clean Up

Yesterday Dave and I spent a good portion of the morning helping our managers wash golf carts and vehicles. Some of the campgrounds are closing this week and it’s important that everything is clean and ready to be put away for winter.

Oh, my goodness. With all the rain we’ve had this summer there was a lot of caked on mud. The guys used the power washer and we ladies handle the soap and scrub brushes. Good team work and we were done.

But you can’t wash away that much dirt without some of it spraying back on you. Dave and I headed home and we had to laugh when we looked at each other. We were dirty and needed showers. Good thing I had already planned to one last load of laundry today, because our clothes were filthy.

Made me think of how we must have looked to the Father. Grubby, muddy, dirty, covered by sin. Even the least sinner among us still needs to be cleansed. And that’s exactly what Jesus did for us.

“The Son shines with the shining-greatness of the Father. The Son is as God is in every way. It is the Son Who holds up the whole world by the power of His Word. The Son gave His own life so we could be clean from all sin. After He had done that, He sat down on the right side of God in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3 NLV

Clean from all sin. Not just the ones we committed last week or last year, not just the ones we will commit today or tomorrow but all sin. That is the difference between the sacrifice of the sinless, spotless Lamb of God, Jesus, and all those lambs who were offered as sacrifice at the Tabernacle and the Temple.

“Our sins are washed away and we are made clean because Christ gave His own body as a gift to God. He did this once for all time. All Jewish religious leaders stand every day killing animals and giving gifts on the altar. They give the same gifts over and over again. These gifts cannot take away sins. 12 But Christ gave Himself once for sins and that is good forever. After that He sat down at the right side of God.” Hebrews 10:10-12 NLV

The blood of lambs couldn’t remove sin, they could only symbolically cover it. But the blood of Jesus removed the stain of sin from our lives and has left us completely cleansed.

Praise God. Christ did all of this as an act of love.

“Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word   27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.” Ephesians 5:25-27 NLT

Those vehicles that we scrubbed yesterday still had stains and spots.

The cleansing that we receive from Jesus leaves us completely clean! Thank you Lord for the clean-up.

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