Hope you are pressing on with your hopes set on things ahead, things above! The past is gone and can't be relived. And in Christ He's made us new, the old is passed away! But we can choose what we will do today...how we will behave and react, including to those who may have hurt us or misunderstand us or persecute us. The Lord knows the beginning from the end. We don't do we sisters. But we do have right now...this moment...today. And we can chose what we are going to do with our life and actions in it.
We know this world is not our home don't we sisters. The things of this world...the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life is of this world...not what we partake of. We who are Christ's are to have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts.
These things would belong in those categories wouldn't they...entertainment, sports, music, movies, TV and such are all fleshly lusts and pride of life and such aren't they. Also wanting to 'look good' and dressed up and adorned we can see is prideful and fleshly indeed. We know we have been crucified to this world. We are alive in Christ and we know He is holy and pure and not of this world. We now live to please Him. We deny ourselves...fight to daily. And God knows our hearts and gives us power as we keep fighting on not giving up!
It's true isn't it that there are the living dead...those that are alive physically but dead spiritually. Like this...
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
1 Timothy 5:6
And the one Jesus told us about how those who follow Him ought to let the dead bury their dead.
I was thinking of all the people living in pleasure now in this life. And our cultures are certainly extremely well off and so many comforts and such. We saints know we have been promised hardness and suffering and our riches are in heaven. We don't try to make this our home and lay up treasures here.
I was thinking of all these...
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Luke 12:19-21
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Mark 10:21-23
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Luke 16:19-26
Certainly much to ponder in those and see the truth and how so many choose the riches and fame and pleasures in this life...not willing to suffer with Christ and His people and think about eternity and their souls and God's glory...but it will be too late one day. But we can be here to shine our light and share that precious truth of the gospel with the lost and those who are seeking. And we hope they repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance as we also strive to do.
Pretty sunset tonight...
Glory to God!
This verse says a lot about the peace we can have and why.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
Well that's it from me. I've had another busy day working with pears and other bits and pieces. It's all good works that we can be thankful to do. It's such a basic necessity...having food to eat so it's something very worthwhile. But obviously we also must live by all of God's Word so how important is that to be making sure we are looking to see what His Word is and says. We have it...the written word...and so we are without excuse.
Hold fast sister saints! I hope your works you do as godly women in the callings you each have go well for you. And even if sometimes things 'seem' to be going 'wrong' we know there's a purpose for those who love God and it's for good. And our great reward is to come...not here. We know don't we how very many mercies the Lord has bestowed upon us in not consuming us. That is enough really to be greatly humbled and rejoice in! The people of the world may look for pleasures but we think on Christ and all the riches in Him and the hope and that is more than enough to be joyous about! Amen sisters?!
Love in Christ,
Sister Michaela
Find the gospel explained here.