Rev 22:1-5 Tree of Life

Rev 22:1-5 NIV

In the beginning humankind had access to the tree of life. The book of Genesis tells us that rather than eat from this tree of life, they ate of the tree which would guarantee their deaths; the tree that God told them not to eat from. As a consequence they were kicked out of the garden in which it grew so that they would no longer have the opportunity to eat the fruit from the tree of life. (Gen 3:22-24)

Those first people made an awful decision when they chose to listen to the serpent rather than God. The world has not changed much. We long for eternal life; yet, our sinful natures continue to steer us toward the very things that will bring us death. We often listen to the world rather than God.

In this last chapter and book of the Holy Scriptures we once again see the tree of life. All who believe; all whose names are written in the book of life are granted access to this fruit which will heal the nations. Thanks be to God for life in His eternal presence; for His eternal peace.

God's Peace be with you all. Pr. J

2 Corinthians 9 Sow Many Seed

2 Corinthians 9 NIV
For the last few years, I've attempted to plant a garden. I sow very few seeds as my garden is very small. Someone in my household does not want a garden infringing on the space that belongs to the driveway. In the fall, I reap almost nothing. In order to reap a harvest we must sow generously.

Likewise the church on earth is like a garden. In order to reap a good harvest. In order for the church to grow, we must plant many seeds. We must scatter the seeds everywhere we go. We are to scatter our gifts to the poor and he who supplies the seed will increase our store of seed and enlarge the harvest so that we can be even more generous.

So that we can be even more generous.... Get that? The harvest is not for ourselves, no matter what the prosperity preachers preach. It's not about new cars and fancy homes. The harvest is so that we can be generous in assisting those in need. The harvest is so to help us plant even more seeds so that the church might continue to grow.

St. Paul encourages the people to give generously to the offering with cheerful hearts. In this way we supply the needs of the Lord's people as well as bring about many expressions of thanks to God.

"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." (vs 12-13)

Sow many seeds, that the harvest might be abundant and glory given to God. Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 20:11-18 Jesus Speaks To You

John 20:11-18 NIV
I ran into one of our local law enforcement officials the other day. I have known him for about 16 years. For some reason, I thought he was someone else I have known, just as long, in the law enforcement community. That same day, I received a call from a family member who I haven't heard from in awhile. At first, I thought she was one of my parishioners with a similar name. It took a few seconds to figure out who she really was.

It has been a very busy wseek. No, it has been a very busy and hectic summer. I was tired and had my mind other things; things that I was actually suppose to be doing at the time. When this happens, I sometimes forget names of people and I am just a bit slower in "connecting all the dots." It doesn't mean I can't connect them; just that I am a bit slower at times. Times of grief; whether it is my grief or someone else' grief can be particularly strong impetus toward my having a poor memory.

Mary was grieving when she met Jesus in the garden. She did not know what had happened to her beloved Jesus. His body was not in the tomb. Where could he be? Who could have taken his body? She was grieving and anxious when she turned and talked to the man in the garden. She did not recognize her beloved Jesus. She did not know him until he spoke to her, calling her by name.

Sometimes, grief or anxiety will cause us all kinds of problems with daily living. We may be so focused on what we are going through; we fail to realize the reality of what others are going through. We may fail to see Jesus living in and through others. We may fail to see the hand of God using our grief and/or anxiety for the good of us or others. Be assured that God can and will use all things for the good of all people. According to Paul's letter to the Romans:8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Jesus call you. He calls you by name. Answer him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 18:1-14 Father's Will

John 18:1-14 NIV
After he had finished praying, Jesus was arrested. His friend, his follower, his betrayer was at hand. He told the cohort who came to arrest him that he was the one that they were looking for. Yet, they were reluctant to arrest him. He had to remind them that they had come to arrest him before they actually did. Whether they knew it or not, they do not appear to impressed with having to do the Father's will. Somehow, it seemed a bit distasteful to them.

We are often called to do things that we might find distasteful. We do not always understand why God would allow or not allow something to happen. We don't quite get where He's going and leading all of the time. He sometimes calls us to do things which we would rather not do based on our own traditions, personal desires, or sense of right and wrong. But, Jesus had to die for the world (it was His Father's will) and in order to do that, someone had to arrest him. The lot fell to this detachment of soldiers. It was their job. It was their duty; however, distasteful they found it, to take their part in the death of the one who would die for their (our) sins.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 15:1-8 Branches Don't Bear Fruit Alone

John 15:1-8 NIV
My gardens have been a mess this summer. Very little time to care for them. My flower garden and raspberry bushes look especially unkempt. This is my fault. Much to my husband's chagrin, I have allowed a family of raccoons to eat, play and rest there. But, I do live in the woods and I figure they live there, too. No one hardly ever sees the garden beside me and I do enjoy watching the baby raccoons as much as I enjoy the flowers and raspberries. Consequently, I have had a lot of broken flower stems and broken raspberry branches to gather and burn. No, hollyhocks this year; they stand alone and when one is trampled it dies. But, there have been a lot of raspberries. It is as though they have been pruned; yet, not destroyed. After all; the branches of the raspberry bush do not stand alone. They are connected to one another.

Lately, I've been noticing that there seem to be a lot of another kind of branches not connected to the vine or at least they appear not to be. Maybe, I am mistaken. But, it does appear that many who claim to be members of the true vine, who is Jesus the Christ, don't actually appear to be connected to him or to the other branches via the vine. Consequently, they appear to bear little or no fruit. Jesus said, "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (vs 4)

When we are connected to the vine, we are connected to that vine with other branches. Together, we bear much fruit. Alone we can do nothing. Or do you suppose the gardener, our Father, has cut off every branch besides our self? That would be a strange looking vine with only one branch and not very fruitful, at that.

Every branch needs the vine. Remain connected. Remain in the word that you might bear much fruit, showing that you are his disciple to our Father's glory.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 4:21-34 How Does Your Garden Grow

How does your garden grow? With light... It needs sunlight.

It has been a very long, cold winter here in the U.P.. Most days we've seen below 0 (F) temperatures and there have been very few days that have been above freezing. We have spent a lot of time indoors staying warm so we have not had the benefit of much sunlight. Many of us are feeling the result of that. Each day we grow in some direction; but, without the benefit of the light of the sun or Son in which direction are we growing?

Do not hide the light which is needed for fruitful growth. Rather, let the light of Christ shine on and in and through you, so that the Body of Christ, here in this place, might grow like the mustard seed "when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” (Mark 4:32 NIV)

Do not hide the light under a bowl or a bed; but, let it shine! And, may the light of Christ shine upon you and all of your neighbors.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 61 - The Garden Grows

"For as the soil makes the sprout come up
    and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness   
   and praise spring up before all nations." (Isa 61:11 NIV)

We had a very late spring this year. Planting came late. Yet, it has not stopped the gardens from sprouting. They have become quite lush just in the few weeks since the seeds were planted. If the soil is good and the seed is planted, there will be a harvest as the plants come to full growth.

And... in the fullness of time righteousness and praise as sprung up before all the nations. Of course, there are those who reject His righteousness and refuse to praise or refuse to see any cause for praise; just as in my garden there were a few seeds which just refused to sprout. I don't know if the soil was not worked enough in those areas or if the seed was just plain bad.

But, the garden grows and righteousness springs forth as we give thanks and praise for the harvest through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 51 - Corner of Eden

Sunrise over Silver River, Huron Bay, Aura, MI

"Listen to me..." (Isa 51:1,4 NIV) The LORD reminds us to listen to Him and we will be comforted. By listening we will know joy and gladness. We will know justice when we listen and hear His instruction.

The LORD promises us blessings, if we but listen to Him. Listen to His promises; listen to His direction and we will know the way that we should go. We will be comforted no matter what befalls us. The LORD will provide a place of comfort and peace where we can and will recognize His awesome presence. It will be as if the Garden of Eden is restored.

I think that I have finally been settled down to the place where I will die (of course, I thought that about Jacksonville, NC at one point, too - who can tell what God wills for us). Every now and then I think, maybe I have been here too long. For most of my adult life, I have averaged a move every two years, so at times it seems strange not to be moving. But, this place would definitely be hard to leave. Our home is quite small and we have looked at larger places across the bay. But, the looking doesn't last long. God has found the perfect place for me. Not too far out, but far enough. It's definitely not crowed here and the people in the community are really great. Wildlife and lots of trees surround me and sunrise over the bay is most generally awesome. Our own little corner of Eden right here on earth...  There is rarely a day, after work, that the drive on the winding road home does not inspire me to thank God for this place of peace.  It doesn't matter what season it is. Winter, spring, summer, or fall; it is all good and brings joy and gladness; peace to my heart and soul. It is a place of rest.

Listen to Him... The LORD knows what is good for you and even what you desire. He will provide.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 37 - The Kingdom Thrives

Hezekiah finally figures out that he needs to turn to the LORD. He humbles himself and prays for help. The LORD answers. He will deliver Israel from the hands of Sennacherib and within three years their land will once again be fruitful. 

The LORD blesses the people. He blesses the land. The promise of the LORD through the prophet Isaiah is this:

"“This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah:

“This year you will eat what grows by itself,
and the second year what springs from that.
But in the third year sow and reap,
plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah
will take root below and bear fruit above.
For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant,
and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this."  (Isa 37:30-32 NIV)

 

Have you ever had to learn the same lessons twice or thrice or even more times? Over and over again, God's people turn to other gods; things start going really bad and a portion will have enough sense to humble themselves and repent. They are blessed. And, then... they start worshipping themselves or the work of their hands, again. Since, they are doing so well they leave off from trusting in God for all things, above all things. And, once again they are brought to their knees in humility and repentance.

 

It is awful that we should desert our God who loves us so quickly. But, He does not desert us. Over and over again, He provides a way back on the Way for each and all of us. 

 

I think of it this way: Adam walked with God in the garden. How awesome is that! But, Adam chose another way. He chose to do what God asked him not to do. He lost the opportunity and privilege of walking with God. We often do what we ought not. But, through Jesus Christ, we are delivered from sin. All of humankind is invited to walk with with God, to talk with (not just to, but with) God. That is the greatest blessing of all. In fact, it is the good news. You are invited to live in His presence, to walk in His way, in His Kingdom for all eternity (beginning even now). We have been reconciled to God and with one another, in His Kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our LORD. 

 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Song of Songs 8 - Seek My Beloved

We have come to the conclusion of Solomon's Song of Songs. It is a very good morning! It is finished! I am very relieved to not to have to try to figure out what this love poem has to do with Christ and the Church for another day. It is indeed a beautiful love poem. But, even reading Matthew Henry's Commentary and The Lutheran Study Bible (Concordia Publishing House) notes and study guides on it each morning, it has been very difficult for me to read it as anything but a love poem between a man and a woman or love-struck teens. I hope that you have done better at that than I have.

I would remind you as we prepare to move on to Isaiah tomorrow, that the LORD is our love, our spouse. We have been united with Him in union unlike any union other that can transpire on earth. He wants to hear your voice and all who love Him desire to hear His and to be with Him, always. When one is in love, it simply will not do to stay anywhere but beside our beloved. Our hearts will constantly yearn to walk beside our beloved in that most beautiful garden.

Today, will be a beautiful day! I will seek my beloved in all whom I encounter. I will be visiting shut-ins...

God's Peace - Pr. J

Job 26 - Outer Fringes

Job is being just a bit facetious.  He rebukes Bildad - you think you're wise?  LOL!!  His words are a reminder that we are nothing in comparison to God.  In fact, even the things we know (or think we know) about God are nothing in comparison to whom God actually is.  As Job put it, these things "are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?” (vs 14 NIV)

Those things that we do know about God are pretty great.  Just think, there are even more marvelous things about Him that we can't even begin to comprehend!

I have to share a little of my flight back from Austin, TX today, with you. First off, that is why this blog is so late.  Flights were booked back to back and there was no time for connecting to wifi anywhere.  Then, when I did get home, we went to a fund-raiser supper for our new roof and furnace at the Aura Lutheran Church.  I enjoyed being in Texas.  It has been very dry (until last night).  The landscape is definitely unique - rough - but - beautiful in its own way.  It was also a sad time, as I was there for the funeral of our friend and brother in Christ, Pat Whelan.  On the flight home today, though, I tried to make time fly, by watching the landscapes below.  I kept looking for that green stuff on the surface of the earth.  But, about all that I saw was brown, patchwork pieces in various shades of brown.  The view began to change the closer we got to Green Bay and then as we crossed the line between Wisconsin and Upper Michigan it was like crossing into another world.  Beneath us, there appeared a magnificent flower garden.  So far below, the fall leaves appeared as a vast and vibrant garden, as far as the eye could see.  The multitude of sunlit lakes and rivers were of various shades of blue as the wispy clouds cast shadows over them.  It was absolutely amazing!  I have never been on a color tour like that!  And all that... is but the outer fringes of His work, just a faint whisper of His glory!

God's Peace - Pr. J