Best Friends

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights

James 1:17 (NIV)

Today I am writing in honor of 2 wonderful pets – Corki & Solis.  How blessed we were to have such great dogs for 14 years a piece.  What gifts to us.

Corki & Solis grew up together.  Corki came first and then Solis as a tiny pup whose legs and tail kept growing until he surpassed Corki who had the stub legs and just a nub of a tail.  Solis’ tail could knock dishes off a coffee table.  He was so friendly and cheerful and so genuinely happy to see you that his whole hind end would wiggle and waggle.

And then there was Corki, smart and in charge, the Little Commander, bossy, cranky, jealous, curling his lips if Solis got more attention.  He liked it quiet. If there was ever too much noise, Corki would just give you a dirty look and leave the room.

They had such fun together play fighting and wrestling in the back yard.  They loved to run and chase up the hill, Corki, the pursuer, nipping the heels as a good corgi should and Solis, the pursued, bobbing and weaving to avoid the little guy.

Lord, thank you for the wonderful gift you gave us in the friendship of Corki and Solis. What joy they brought us.  It is so sad when we lose them. We will miss them.

           

Solis - April 15, 1997 - March 22, 2011

Corki  - May 16, 1996 - March 12, 2010

       

                                                                       

                                                                   

Friends & Family

So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. 

That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

Heb 2:11 (NLT)

It's amazing to think about the close personal relationship God desires to have with us.  He is not a distant relative, but a close personal family member and friend.  

I no longer call you slaves,

because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves.

Now you are my friends, 

since I have told you everything the Father told me.

John 15:15 (NLT)

It gave Jesus great joy to communicate with his disciples as friends telling them everything he had heard from the father.  And now he desires that same relationship with us, a relationship of open communication. It is not just a one way conversation, but a sharing of our lives as we would with a close friend or  family member.

We need not be afraid of drawing close and sharing our lives with him. It gives him great joy.

And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

1 John 1:3-4 (NLT)

The Vine

Vineyard of Contessa de Carneros, Napa Valley, California

Another metaphor for Jesus is that of the vine.  In this analogy we are the branches and derive our sustenance from the vine.  In the analogy of the bread we are called upon to come, to take and to eat.  In the metaphor of the vine, the idea is that of remaining, abiding, resting.   As we abide the sap or life blood of the vine flows into us.

Contessa de Carneros Chardonnay Grapes

All that we derive from the vine is not for ourselves alone but also for those around us.  In our connection to the flourishing, life giving plant we produce fruit, sweet, tasty and nourishing.*   It is an effortless process.  Our own anxious striving and straining produces nothing.  As we abide we produce.

Let us make this a day of rest as we lean heavily in dependence upon our Vine acknowledging that in our own strength we can accomplish nothing.

 I am the vine, 

you are the branches.

The one who abides in me produces much fruit,

for apart from me you can do nothing.  

John 15:4-5 (ISV)

*Fruit speaks of all good works and products of love: The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.)

Gal 5:22-23 (NLT)

Bread of Life

 I am the bread of life.

John 6:48 (NIV)

As bread nourishes our bodies and gives us energy to live, so feeding on Jesus, the bread of life, nourishes our souls and spirits giving us a God kind of life.  Physical life will end, but the life that Jesus gives will last forever.  

Feeding on Jesus was a hard teaching for the disciples to accept.  Some even left him because they did not understand what he was talking about (John 6:66).  These are words that we cannot grasp fully with our minds, but words of life none the less.  As we, in simple faith, accept him as our source of life and nourishment we will be filled.

Just as we like to plan our meals and think about what we are going to have for breakfast, lunch or dinner, we can think about ways we can enjoy feasting upon him.  Some simple things we can do through out the day are; simply turning our thoughts toward him, thanking him for the good things in our lives, enjoying his creation and talking with him as we walk along the way.  We can spend some time nourishing our minds with his truth by reading and meditating on his life giving words. All of these things feed us.

Lord, thank you for the bread that you daily put upon our plates.  Help us to feast on you until we are full.

 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, 

so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.

John 6:57 (NIV)

Listen to Fill My Cup Lord at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4l2yY2r95g

Firm Foundation

“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.

Isaiah 28:16 (NLT)

Christ is our rock and only firm foundation.  Everything else in life is shaky.  As we have seen in the horrible devastation in Japan, in an instant our lives can be shattered. When our world shakes and trouble comes, let us remember our Rock and put our feet on that firm foundation that will never crumble or fall.  Our house may shake, but the foundation will never fail.  

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.Psalm 61:2 (NIV) 

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, Scottsdale, AZ

Listen to On Christ the Solid Rock at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQgD_Wg9DG4

Joyful Waiting

Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 (NET)

Jesus promises his presence always.  The answers to specific needs in our lives are not such a sure thing.  He doesn’t promise us answers the way we may expect or according to our will or way of seeing.  He promises to be with us, but for the answers we must wait and trust that his way is the best and it will come in time.  Casting our cares on him and leaving them there, we can walk on in peace not fretting about how it will all turn out.  He promises to be with us, to never leave or forsake us in the midst of all of our life experiences.  That is the essence of our joy.

I rest in you ,Lord, joyfully waiting upon you and trusting that the answer will come in your time and your way.

 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalms 27:14 (NIV)

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

Psalms 62:5 (NLT)

Lighter Than Air

It is intriguing to watch the hot air balloons rising up over the desert as we look out from our apartment.  It makes me wonder what it would be like calmly floating up above the earth being carried by the breezes. 

I think, "That's the way I'd like my life to be."  Floating serenely above the landscape of my life I'd see my problems and concerns from a different  perspective. Down here at ground level things look so big, but from the vantage point of that hot air balloon floating through the vast sky the things on earth would seem quite small.  

As we cast our cares upon the Lord our spirits are lightened so that we can rise above our difficulties. When we magnify the Lord our earthly problems are minimized and we will find ourselves sailing along enjoying the view and the fresh, cool breezes.  The vastness of the heavens and the unseen supply keeps us rising enabling us to face our difficulties with new strength.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matt 11:28-30 (NLT)

Listen to Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO4uIyz_d90

Light

In him was life, and that life brought light to everyone. 

 And the light shines on in the darkness,

 and the darkness has never put it out.

John 1:4-5 (ISV)

Jesus, you are the Light of the world. Your life is constantly shining brightly upon us.  Apart from you, we would be in darkness.

There would be no living thing on the earth without light. Light nourishes, gives warmth, illuminates and heals. Darkness has no power over light. Strike a match in a dark room and the darkness instantly scatters.

Lord, thank you for shining your light into our darkness. Give us light receptors that we might see you.  Illumine our souls that every dark corner would be exposed to your cleansing and healing light.  Shine your light upon our path so that we will not stumble. Let us walk in the sunlight of your love.

I have come into the world as a light,

so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

John 12:46 (NIV)

I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,

 but will have the light of life.

John 18:12 (NIV)

Revealed

No one has ever seen God.

 God's only Son,

the one who is closest to the Father's heart,

has made him known.

John 1:18 (GW)

God is far above our capacity to know.  It's something like expecting an ant to understand the life of a human.  It is completely impossible. And so God had a plan. God had a wonderful plan.  He decided to come and invade our world and take on our form so that we could get a firsthand look at him. 

Jesus came from the heart of God.  From eternity he had a close intimate loving relationship with the Father.  He came to reveal that love to us.  As we look at Jesus life we see the qualities of our Father displayed in human form.  And as we listen to his teaching we gain more insight into the Father’s loving nature. 

As we look this month into the life of Jesus may our lives be transformed as we grow in knowledge of our Father’s love.

And this is my prayer:

that your love may abound more and more

 in knowledge and depth of insight. 

Phil 1:9 (NIV)