Love the Lord Your God

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ — Matthew 22:37-38 

Jesus commands us to Love God with all we have.

This is the first commandment.

The second is similar to this one.

Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.

This is hard to do.

I'm naturally very self-centered.

But trusting God's commands is about allowing Him to transform me from the inside out.

As I fall more in love with Him.

Seek First His Kingdom

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. — Matthew 6:33 

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We are so blessed.

Our Father God gives us all good things.

And He asks us to seek first His kingdom.

The kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And the righteousness of Jesus.

And all these things will be given to us by God as well.

Anyone Who Wants to Be First Must Best the Servant of All

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” — Mark 9:35

Jesus tells us that whoever wants to be first must be last.

The person who wants to be first must be the servant of all.

Jesus gives us the example of serving others.

He was a servant leader.

After calling the twelve disciples, He gave them instructions about how to live.

We can read those instructions in the Bible.

The Holy Spirit works to convict us when we go astray.

Seek First His Kingdom

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. — Matthew 6:33

The world is full of distractions.

But God asks us to seek first His kingdom.

Jesus is the way to righteousness.

He showers us with blessings as we grow in Him.

Last night we saw the opening of No Time to Die.

It wasn't our favorite, but Abby and I really liked it.

Kirk, not so much.

But he looked great next to Daniel Craig.

Seek First His Kingdom

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. — Matthew 6:33

Today we found out that one of our friends was diagnosed with skin cancer.

She had to have a section removed from her nose.

And another part of skin from her forehead was used to replace it.

My coworker has a friend who is going through her fifth chemo treatment and is now very sick.

It's hard to see other people suffer.

Life isn't fair.

But God holds us in the palm of His hand.

When we seek His kingdom, He adds all His blessings to us.

Love the Lord

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ — Matthew 22:37-39

Mission San Luis Ray

I often take turns choosing which part of me will love God at this moment.

Either my heart or my soul or my mind.

But not all at once.

It's too hard to devote my complete self to Him all the time.

The booklet that pastor Jerry uses, "My Heart, Christ's Home," talks about opening each room of our hearts to Jesus.

But there are some dark closets that are easier left closed to Him.

And some areas of my life I prefer to keep to myself.

Just so I don't have to work on cleaning them out or turning them over to Him.

Help me, Lord, to open all parts of my life to you.

Purge the sin from the dark corners of my soul.

Let your light flow through me.

Servant of All

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” — Mark 9:35

Jesus tells us that whoever would be first among us must be the servant of everyone.

It is hard to be a servant in today's world.

But I appreciate those around me who are.

Today I got my second shingles shot.

My arm is sore.

Tomorrow I'll find out if I have any side effects.

Last time (after the first shot) it was a fever.

Many of my older friends have gotten their covid vaccines.

When they lower the age a bit, Kirk and I will be able to get one, too.

Praise God for all of the healthcare workers who make these vaccines possible for us.

God Will Come Down from Heaven

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. — 1 Thessalonians 4:16 

Yesterday was rainy and cold in the morning.

Today is the same.

Abby and I went over to the YMCA to swim and ran to the outdoor check-in desk, getting quite wet.

When we got to the pool, the sun came out!

The water was warmer than usual, and felt really good after the cool air.

While we swam, it drizzled a bit and then the sun came out again.

Very refreshing swim.

God himself will come down from heaven in the last day.

We don't know when that will be.

So we live our lives each day for Him.

With His guidance and help, we can overcome setbacks and obstacles.

He leads us through the dark times and into the sun.

I Pray With Joy

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. — Philippians 1:3-5

I thank God every day for my friends and family.

In all my prayers for you, I pray with joy.

I am thankful for our friendship.

And for my Christian friends who partner with me in helping me follow God's Word.

I thank God for those who mentor me and my family.

Who direct us in the ways God calls us to go.

Here we are with friend ringing in the new year of 2020 at Yani's.

We are blessed.

 

The Purpose of His Will

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. — Ephesians 1:11-12

In Christ, we were chosen.

God has worked out everything according to His will and plan.

He works out everything to conform with the purpose of His will.

God does this in order that we might live for the praise of His glory.

We put our hope in Christ.

He is the author and perfecter of our faith.

This is June Lake, one of God's creations.

I am one of His creations, too.

And I am grateful.