God's Dwelling Place

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. — Revelation 21:2

Happy June!

We are praising God for Kirk's new cardiologist who got tests completed for his afib so quickly.

Thursday he had his labwork completed.

And Tuesday he's scheduled for his angiograph.

When mom had one, they went in through her groin.

Now they go in through the wrist. Amazing.

He's been talking to lots of friends who have had stents.

That may not be his outcome, but we are praying for the best.

And grateful that he is in good hands.

There Will Be No More Death

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” — Revelation 21:2-4 

What a beautiful picture of heaven.

No more death or mourning.

No more crying or pain.

The old order of things will have passed away.

And God's Holy city will be the new Jerusalem.

God's dwelling place will be among the people.

God will be with us and will be our God.

He will wipe every tear from our. eyes.

What a wonderful, loving Father!

Anna Gave Thanks to God

Coming up to them at that very moment, she  [Anna] gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. — Luke 2:38

When Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to the temple, Anna was there waiting.

She came up to the couple with their newborn and gave thanks to God.

Then she told everyone who would listen about the Messiah.

She knew that Jesus would bring redemption to Jerusalem.

And to us, too.

The salvation of the world was upon Him.

The Son of Man Will Be Delivered Over to the Chief Priests

Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. — Matthew 20:17-18

During this time of Lent, we remember that Jesus knew about His death beforehand.

He explained it to His disciples.

Then He told them that he would be condemned to death.

He would be handed over to the Gentiles.

They will flog Him, mock Him, and crucify Him,

Treating Him as a common criminal.

So that I can live with Him forever one day.

Here's Kirk's brother with his retirement gifts.

The army decanter and glasses arrived just before dinner.

And the redbreast came earlier today.

Perfect timing!

Festival of the Passover

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. — Luke 2:41-42

Each year Jesus and His family celebrated Passover.

Their tradition was to go to Jerusalem annually for the celebration.

When Jesus was twelve, they went up to Jerusalem, just as they had done for years.

Our family has traditions, too.

We worship together weekly.

And on Christmas Eve, we have potato soup.

Usually we go to the Christmas eve worship service together and have soup afterward.

Kirk's mom, Rita, started the tradition.

His Dad, Gary, continued it after she died.

And we continued it again this year with a smaller group of people, due to covid.

After the soup, we watched the service together on LiveStream.

A fitting way to bring in the Christmas season.

Righteous and Devout

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. — Luke 2:25-26

Simeon believed the Lord.

He watched and waited for years to see Jesus.

He was righteous and devout.

I wish I could say the same.

He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would get to see the Lord's Messiah before he died.

Jesus Is Born

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem. — Matthew 2:1

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea.

King Herod was the ruler at that time.

Magi from the east came to Jerusalem looking for Jesus.

They wanted to find him so they could worship Him.

They knew He was God's son.

Praise the Lord!

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord— in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the Lord! — Psalm 116:18-19 

 

I don't always manage to fulfill my vows,

Whether to the Lord or to anyone else.

But God always keeps His. 

In the presence of all His people,

In the courts of the house of the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

 

God Is Faithful

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people … I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.” — Zechariah 8:7

We are God's people.

He loves and cares for us.

Last week we celebrated the ninth anniversary of Kirk's mom's death.

Here she is with us in 2009 after going through chemo and losing her hair.

I can relate.

We love and miss both of our moms.

God has saved us and has called our moms home to be with him.

He calls us his people.

He is faithful and righteous.

Going Up To Jerusalem

Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. — Matthew 20:17-18

Over the weekend I made oatmeal banana bread.

Our pastor gave a wonderful "parson to person" talk where he explained that sheltering in place gives new meaning to the time of Lent.

Jesus was delivered up in my place.

He took my place on the cross that I deserved.

And he died for my sins.

The third day he rose again from the dead.

And one day we will be with him in paradise.

God Surrounds Me with His Love

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore. — Psalm 125:2

God surrounds me with his love.

Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so God surrounds me now and forever.

Even when I don't feel him or acknowledge him, God is with me.

Last week I got my mini tattoos so they can line me up precisely for my radiation treatment.

On the morning of August 28 I go in for my first visit and the radiation itself begins on the afternoon of August 29. I will find out the time on the 28th.

Monday my brother Steve began his new job with Cubic.

Sunday he joined us for worship.

What a blessing to praise God together as a family with Kirk, Abby, and Steve.

Thanking God for his ability to surround each of us with his unfailing love.