Pass it on

Last week's blog was long. ...not this week's. ...a quick report on our weather here in the West. All other sections of our country are being hit hard with weather.  Not far from where I live fires are raging.  On Wednesday of this week a fellow was weed eating on the floor of our valley;  a spark flew out from his machine, hit the bone dry grass and instantly ignited. Life paused as helicopters scooped water from our lakes, two planes dropped red chemicals and firetrucks rushed to the scene.  In a couple of hours the fire was contained and life in Bear Valley resumed.

...which provides a perfect seque to the Song of the Week:

                           PASS IT ON

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And all of those around can warm up to its glowing.
That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it
You spread His love to everyone; you want to PASS IT ON.

What a wondrous thing is spring when all the trees are budding.
The birds begin to sing; the flowers start their blooming.
That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it
You want to sing; it's fresh like spring; You want to PASS IT ON.

I want for you, my friend, this happiness that I've found
You can depend on him; it matters not where you're bound.
I'll shout it from the mountain top (Oh, yeah);  I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me; I want to PASS IT ON!

Let the Lord light your fire and don't let anybody put it out.

...and I had a ball and so did an assortment of music lovers Friday night at the Mulligan Room. This is a second and fourth Friday night date with my keyboard for the summer. Yippee

Love,  Jo

Everybody needs a Daddy

The stars were still shining above me when I stirred awake at 4 A.M. this morning. The temperature had dropped into the 50's.  It was warm under my comforter and electric blanket. Hunkering down,  I reached for my cell phone beside my bed, punched in the audio to the Book of Hebrews and settled into the nurturing embrace of my Heavenly Father. Before putting my feet on the cold deck floor I lay there thinking. By now the sun was up and so were the birds. I thought about Cassius Clay's televised memorial service that I watched last week.  His wife carefully chose those she knew would laud him. ...and they did. ...on and on and on.  Just like Cassius' (Muhammad Ali's) boastful claims, all agreed that he was "the greatest". ...and he was a great fighter. ...no doubt about it.  Cassius was a Muslim. Muslims don't believe that Allah is a god of love. They are told that murdering "infidels" (That's us!) pleases Allah.The Truth that  "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but will have everlasting life" is suppressed by fear.  His Truth, however is "marching on!" Muslims around the world are coming to Him. Jesus is showing up in their dreams;  the Light of the Gospel is being broadcast into heretofore dark places; missionaries are reporting that many Muslims are coming to Christ in their assigned countries. I am in touch this very morning with a couple who are in the thick of the battle for Muslim souls in Indonesia where one quarter of the world's Muslims live. The cutthroat evil one is going after Christians in America. He hates it that we support these sacrificing missionaries around the world.  It is no surprise that He is using a pagan belief to wake up Christians. Satan means the Orlando slaughter for evil; God means it for good. Only a Christian who knows biblical history (such as Joseph's) can understand that. The Church, as we have known it faces persecution. Muslims around the world drop to their knees five times a day, facing toward Mecca in prayer to a god they can never please.  We are called to "pray without ceasing" to our God Who is pleased with us already because we have received His Son as the sacrifice for our sin. "It is finished!" He sees us as "right in His eyes" because of the righteousness of Christ, imputed to us.

The media is a powerful influence in blinding the undiscerning regarding suppressed Truth that has led to a downright lie. "Professing to be wise, they became fools...therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. They exchanged the Truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rathet than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions, for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and turned in their desire towards one another: men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. and just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper".  Romans 1:22-28.  There's more. I suggest that you read it. Homosexuality is now not only tolerated, but is celebrated. The family, as we have known it, with a providing/protective male dad and therefore,  a secure, nurturing female mother is no longer the "norm"....and we are required to embrace a "new normal".

Still not ready to crawl out from under the warmth of my covers I got to thinking about the Roman emperors who insisted upon being worshiped as the only true god.  It was the true Christians who believed that Jesus was/is God-in-the-flesh that were sacrificed to the lions, torn from limb to limb between racing horses and burned alive. ...and worse. The homosexual rulers didn't mind a bit if Jesus was called a "prophet". ...but "IMMANUEL"?  GOD WITH US?  Unthinkable! Inexcusable Should not that historical fact bring us to our knees as we watch the unfolding of satan's ploys to discredit true Christians? There really is "nothing new under the sun",  is there?

My earthly father was not equipped to tell me about Jesus. He could not give me what he did not have.  I was taught by his example, however to work.  Dad was a hard-working farmer. He ran a government agent off our land  (calling him an "educated jackass")  who told him not to plant wheat in order to qualify for monies from the government called "subsidies". My Irish dad's ranting words: "I'll give this country fifty years before it goes under!" are embedded in my soul. He missed the timing a couple of decades but he had the principle right. My earthly father came to know his Heavenly Father when he was seventy-five years old. 

We in the Body of Christ are given the God-honoring assignment of serving Him because He first served us...not out of fear, but out of love. "Perfect love casts out fear." Oh, dear Father, may Your love through us help others to push out the lies  that are packed into the confused minds of people all around us. 

O.K. Enough. Shall we "set our minds on things above where Christ dwells at the right hand of God the Father?" Let's do,  "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God lest anyone should boast."

                                           FREELY, FREELY

God forgave my sin in Jesus' Name; I've been born again in Jesus' Name.
And in Jesus' Name I come to you to share His love as He told me to.

All power is given in Jesus' Name; in earth and heaven in Jesus' Name.
And in Jesus' Name I come to you to share His power as He told me to.

He said, "FREELY, FREELY, YOU HAVE RECEIVED.
FREELY, FREELY GIVE.
GO IN MY NAME AND BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE,
OTHERS WILL KNOW THAT I LIVE!"

Love, Jo

In the good ol' summertime

..a quick check-in....no more brain blips since the one over a week ago.  I listened to the warning and have cut out activities I don't like and some people who bug me. Sleeping on my deck bed brings me closer to my Father. Water aerobics five mornings a week loosens up everything that tightened up over the winter. Playing my keyboard outside at the Golf Shop two Friday nights a months quiets me and the Bear Valley people who come to hear and sing the old familiars. ...Gospel and all. Listening to Sabara teach the Book of Matthew yesterday here in my home flew me to the moon. Listening to God's best and most humble teachers lifts me into the Heavenlies. Punching the audio button on my phone to scripture shakes me outta fretting and sets my mind on things above. Many of you have called, texted and Emailed.  ...back atcha: ...I pray for you and desperately love you.

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the Rock that shadows a dry, thirsty land
He hideth my life in the depths of His love, and covers me there with His Hand.
And covers me there with His Hand. 

Love,  Jo

SWEET TRUST

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)  is often  labeled a "mini-stroke".  It is more accurately characterized  as a warning one should take seriously.   O.K., I'm" taking it seriously" but I am not paranoid.

How does a TIA feel? ....WEIRD.  All of a sudden my tongue (which has never behaved itself very well anyway) felt thick and kind of crookedy.  I was conversing with friends (one of which is a fireman)  and couldn't quite track with the conversation. My fireman friend said, "Jo, there is something going on here." (Firemen know these things.)   He and his dear wife drove me home, made sure I went to bed and called my daughter.  Dee took me to my doctor as soon as he was back in his office. Sure 'nuff:  a TIA. Could it happen again? Sure. Anything can happen at my age. ...or any age. Many younger people have TIA's, strokes and heart attacks. 

Summers up here on this mountain are glorious and I am going to take advantage of every minute of the season: water aerobics in the community pool every morning; having fun with music;  sleeping on my deck; reading some great books; receiving guests from here and there; cutting out some stressful activities and people ... in other words, listening very carefully to the Holy Spirit.  I am pretty confident that you can more than survive without my blog for awhile. I'll be back.  Call, Email, text or come....or do all four.

 I've been studying along with Kay Arthur in the Book of Jeremiah. Conclusion: God does not allow any leaders to mock Him or His Word; neither does He allow any world power to abandon the Jews. Dear Father, give courage to the many true Christians who are fighting the good fight with Your mighty weapons.  We, Your children, will trust You. 

                                      'TIS SO SWEET....

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus; just to take Him at His Word.

Just to rest upon His promise; just to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend.

And I know that Thou art with me; Will be with me to the end.

JESUS, JESUS, HOW I TRUST HIM! HOW I'VE PROVED HIM O'ER AND O'ER.

JESUS, JESUS, PRECIOUS JESUS. OH, FOR GRACE TO TRUST HIM MORE!

Love,  Jo