My Heart's Response

Thank you Father for the GOOD gift of your Son Jesus Christ.

My heart's response to you is this: I will follow you.

Thank you too for the gift of song.

Mark 10: 18
John 8: 12

Open Reflection

My Child, I want you to answer the call...

Red Bird, Red Bird what do you see?
I see My Rabonnai smiling; shining down on me.

Rabonnai, Rabonnai what do you see?
I see My Crossing Guard looking up at me?

Jeremiah 1: 11-12

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree." Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it."

My Favorite Part

From John Chapter 6

For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. . . .Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

A Herald of Christ the King

A Herald of the King knows this:

Whenever there is a parade, there are always peddlers of wares or "goods" (incl. false religion) and hecklers trying to distract the people of God from worshipping the King -- especially while they are waiting to receive him.

Beware of the wolves.

Matthew 7: 15

Jesus Christ - Be glorified!

Thank you Holy Spirit for teaching me about the supremacy of Christ; for testifying to Christ alone; and for showing me an example of true humility. You are gracious to us (the body of believers) to extend knowledge beyond measure.

O' Jesus Christ - Be glorified!

Now hear my prayer of many days gone past.

Psalm 86

1 Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all day long.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my cry of supplication.
7 In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me.

8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14 O God, the insolent rise up against me; a band of ruffians seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant; save the child of your serving girl.
17 Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Reflection on Reflections

We are made in his image

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1: 27

Therefore, each one of us has the capacity to become like Christ.

For freedom Christ has set us free
-------
By his death on a cross the veil has been torn

And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3: 18

Do I want to look more like Jesus?

Then I must look to Him.

No more dwelling on the things of this world.

He is my maker. I am the clay.

He is my Father. I am his child.

To set the mind on the flesh is death,

but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8: 6

Do I want peace? Then I must look to Him.

Do I want to know joy? Then I must look to Him.

Do I want to be self-controlled? Then I must look to him.

Etc. Etc.

We are made in his image. We are his children. Therefore, let us reflect our Heavenly Father.

Even common thoughts on human development can help point the way. A child reflects the one holding them in their hands. It is true. In looking at a parent who smiles, a son or daughter will respond with a smile.

iCommit to Begin Anew: I will turn my head towards him, look up, and boldly gaze into the eyes of God; the one who holds me (& you) in his hands.

It’s a very intimate place to be. Full of love and grace . . . and mercy!

“Hear” are some words from a great song I like to sing. Please follow the link to Jami Smith.com for more.

Wash Over Me

Jami Smith and Janet Hubbell

© 2002 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music/ASCAP

Only You - The Lord who is God - can take this heart

Only You can take this mind

Only You can take this life

And make it look like Jesus

Crucify the Flesh

Romans 6: 6

We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be

enslaved to sin.

• Crucified with Him!
• Made to be an example.
• Our flesh 'hung out to dry'.

When others shouted, “Crucify, crucify him!” Jesus did not save himself. Nor did he defend himself. Instead Jesus chose to write the gospel story of redemption through His blood shed for the remission of sin.

That is Love defined; and not retribution through violent acts of lashing-out, human bloodshed, or even slashing.

Jesus, while on the cross, did not curse them. He was simultaneously blameless (innocent of charge) and blame-less (no pointing of the finger and yes, forgiving). He blessed them. He prayed for them. “Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23: 34).

And like a lamb going to slaughter, he willingly laid down his life for you and me.

It may seem upside down in the mind’s eye, but in his dying Jesus Christ showed us how to live. Examine these scriptures: Luke 6: 27 – 38. We are called to avoid sin and we are called to sacrificial living; that is, to Love actively by the laying down of our lives.

Therefore, let us choose to crucify the flesh and live redeemed.

On a personal note:

I smile. One Resurrection Sunday a parishioner angrily said that the white draping on the cross looked like the pastor family’s dirty laundry. At the time these words stabbed. However, knowing more of the love of Jesus and his FORGIVENESS this day, I am better able to forgive . . . and now rejoice.

There is a peace that comes with full understanding that it is my dirty laundry hanging there on the tree!

It’s right where it needs to be . . . and I’m right where God wants me to be.

How Beautiful it is to see

Christ’s Blood Shed for Thee!