in a world that seems to be limited to very few words . . . mainly
• insults,
• name calling,
• spiteful accusations,
• degrading statements,
• thinly veiled racist attacks —
we MUST review what this “dumbing down” of so many citizens
means . . . what does it say about me???
TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER . . . we must find the path to UNIFYING PEOPLE
• are we tired yet of the childish playground bullying techniques?
• are we ready to take a breath and refuse to fight, fight, fight???
• are we able to see that we are all people who basically want the same things:
a safe place to live, food to eat, and a way to provide the basic needs for ourselves and for others?
Unacceptable WORDS to use in discussions: hate, beat, kill, invaders, lock up, fake . . . and this is just the beginning of how to speak respectfully to one another and make progress toward being what we are . . . human beings AND we need each other to survive in this world, to identify and find the best solutions for challenges that are too big to handle by one person.
WORDS to use in discussions: please, explain, understand, opinion, my view, feel, need . . . and these could open doors to sharing perspectives that would help us all gain a better understanding of needs and potential answers of issues that impact us all.
A crust in comfort is better than a feast in fear. Aesop (c.620-560 BC)
sometimes the only way I seem to understand a hard concept
Looking at the world around me and looking at myself, being as honest and objective as I can, I have deep concerns about the message of Jesus and His life and have to ask myself some questions: does my life look anything like His? Do my words sound anything like His message? Hard questions and not easy to answer in light of the Scriptures if I take my “mask” off.
I decided to take a look at some of the things Jesus said about
Himself first to see if any of those descriptions fit me . . .gentle . . . humble . . . serving others . . . growing in “wisdom” . . . being a light to the world around me . . . I really am afraid that these are not the first words that come to mind when I try to describe myself. How would these characteristics look if I lived them out?
Next, I took a look at some of the things He did on a pretty regular basis to see if any of those things were on my “to do” list.
Do I reach out to those others considered to be “untouchable,” not acceptable by “my crowd” – or do I eat with those others view as “sinners” – or do I invite people to a meal who I know can not pay me back – or do I show special treatment to those I “approve of” because of their lifestyle choices or because they are the “right” class or color or come from the “right” place?
Hard questions that will require some time in the prayer closet listening for God to reveal His Truth to me about who I am and how I need to let Him be the Potter while I am the clay in His hands receiving His Grace each day as I grow to be conformed to the image of His Son [And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren Romans 8:28-29].
In this time, I am told I must “choose” and I am overwhelmed with the confusing messages
August 31, 2015 6:15am
While we were at Family Bible Camp in Hillsboro, Ohio, earlier this year,
I started thinking about a list of aspects of God’s nature & feelings that
I had about God from experiences in my own life . . .
times of struggle, quiet, dark, light, passages of hopelessness
resolving into hope, chapters from my two-year-old periods,
teen tantrums, & exhausting resistance to Life in general and
I thought maybe an alphabetic list would help me remember
what I need to hold onto . . .
the Truth of the prism that is God,
unfathomable but fascinating!
September 1 at 7:56am ·
Thinking about the “B” aspects of the nature of God . . .
He’s the Beginning,
the definition of Beauty, and
Bountiful in His dealings with me . . .
and SO much more!
September 3 at 6:38am ·
Thinking about the “C” aspects of the nature of God . . .
He describes Himself as Compassionate,
He proves over and over again that He Cares for His Creation, and
He is described as a Consuming fire . . .
how reassuring to begin the day thinking about the “C” aspects of Our God . . .
and that’s just the beginning . . . for today!
September 4 5:56am
How amazing that the “D” aspects of God’s nature remind me
that the One who created ALL (look at the sky in this picture) and
is sovereign over ALL (Dominion),
who is the ONLY God (Deity) . . .
Delights in me,
rejoices over me, and
will quiet me with His Love . . .
and so much more!
Note to self: remember this on those days
when life seems to be so overwhelming
Sunday—September 6, 2015 9:40am
These “E” words about the nature of God are SO revealing . . .
Eternal—without beginning or end; lasting forever; always existing (opposed to temporal )
Encourage—to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence
Exist—to have actual being; be
The One who is Eternal, always existing,
created us in His image,
claims He IS Existence and
repeatedly encourages us “do not fear,”
“take courage,”
“trust in God,”
“hope in the Lord,”
“God delivers” . . .
WOW! Meditating on these “E” aspects of my Father
could take me into some very deep waters!
September 9 at 5:44am ·
Thinking about the “F” aspects of the nature of God . . .
He is Faithful,
the earth is satisfied with the Fruit of His works, and
He is to be Feared . . .
interesting– F” aspects of Our God–
Faithful,
Fruitful in His care of His creation, and
yet, we are told to Fear Him,
which I struggle with how to line up the image of a God
who IS love & loves all of His creation &
reading so many times “do not fear”
but then being told to fear.
There is an interesting treatment of the Hebrew word “fear” at http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/Summaries/Eikev/Yirah/yirah.html
Faithful . . .
Fruit that satisfies . . .
to be Feared . . .
and that’s just the beginning . . . for today!
September 11 at 5:33am
to meditate:
“to engage in thought or contemplation, reflect”
. . . looking at this sky and being overwhelmed by
the Glorious splendor of God’s majesty,
who is compassionate and Gracious,
the God of gods, the Great, the mighty and the awesome God . . .
my Father, who knows the number of hairs on my head
(Matthew 10:30, Luke 12:7).
What a way to start the day!
O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! (Psalm 8:1)
And blessed be His glorious name forever;
And may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen, and Amen. (Psalm 72:19)
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Do not fear;
you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Luke 12:7)
September 16, 2015 – 7:45am
“Holy—”to be set apart for a special purpose” . . .
that’s what the Hebrew word qadosh literally means
according to “Ancient Hebrew Word Meanings’.
You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
(Leviticus 19:2)
Could my being “set apart for a special purpose” be the reason
for the repeated instruction to “seek God” throughout Scripture–
could that “special purpose” be to focus on Him,
wholeheartedly pursue Him,
live singlemindedly with God as the center
resulting in my being holy and reflecting His nature
because of my focus on Him? I become what I focus on . . .
that’s pretty well an accepted maxim.
SO, maybe the call to holiness is really a call to God Himself . . .
the mouth speaks what the heart is full of . . .
fix your eyes on . . .
September 20 at 6:48am ·
How would I describe God? . . . awesome!
The “I” aspects of our God overwhelm my mind–they include
His self-proclaimed name “I Am” (which means being, existence),
Inspiration (the Spirit will give us the words to speak Luke 12:11-12) and
Invisible (we cannot see Him with our physical eyes but
He is always with us, watching over us, loving us) . . .
and that’s just the beginning . . . for today!
—
Deuteronomy 10:17 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.
September 25, 2015 6:02am
Jehovah (because of Who He is, I will trust & not be afraid)–
Just (perfect, faithful, without injustice is hard to find in the world I see)–
Judge (God as judge causes nations to be glad & sing for joy;
He doesn’t just judge, He guides)
this reminds me of when we teach our children to walk &
we hold their hands,
watch & “judge” how well they are doing & then
we “support” & “guide” them by making adjustments
so they can walk and go where they need to go . . .
the Truth of the prism that is God,
personal but infinite,
unfathomable but fascinating!
September 29, 2015 7am
It’s really hard to line up the “K” words about the God I serve
in a way I can understand . . .
a King over ALL who is Kind and who Knows ALL . . .
comforting to Know Him because HE is the One who says
HE will accomplish ALL according to His good pleasure, His purposes . . .
WOW!
Maybe . . . just maybe, I can relax my fear
about what I see around me because of Who HE IS–
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him
nothing came into being that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
The Light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5)
thoughts: October 20, 2018
There are so many scriptures about these aspects of God’s Nature . . .
LOVE . . . LIGHT . . . LIFE
all tied in with HIS FAITHFULNESS —
actually because of His faithfulness . . .
Love, Light, Life all exist because of
HIS NATURE, HIS very BEING, the I AM –
GOD IS
LOVE,
LIGHT,
LIFE
Love
Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You,
majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?
Exodus 15:11
Light
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
Life
It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer;
and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24
October 4, 2015
Majestic . . . mighty . . . merciful–
those words bring images to mind–
Majesty–glorious splendor sounds like something that is
visually overwhelming & there have been times
I felt overwhelmed by God’s creation
Mighty–great & awesome,
God of Gods
makes me think of a Warrior King, bigger &
stronger than anyone else
but who is also
Merciful–gracious, abundant in lovingkindness
with the softness and caring demeanor of an angel
AND we are admonished to
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36
My God . . .
Majestic (overwhelming beauty personified) . . .
Mighty (protector & provider) . . .
Merciful (lover)
and each day, may I seek GOD and meditate on HIS nature and remember . . .
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)
#1—sanctify (set apart) the Messiah as the ruler in your heart . . .
make God the deciding factor, the umpire, in every choice you make in your life, in every thought you hold in your heart
#2—always be ready to make a defense . . .
to be ready means to have considered what & why so you can give an answer because you have thought about it, like answering why you do something the way you do – a position of defense (response) not offense
#3—to everyone who asks . . .
this is not an admonition to go correct another or to “instruct” another but rather an encouragement to have considered why you have hope for the future to share with anyone who asks you about it
#4—to give an account . . .
to tell a story – to share your experiences, your pain, your insights, your steps in getting to where you are and, in truth, we tend to want to share our story about things that impact us (a diet that works, a plan that works, a happy event, a tragedy, etc.)
#5—for the hope that is in you . . .
HOPE is what you are to account for (note: it does not say “doctrine”).
HOPE is the end result of walking the path you have walked in the knowledge that God somehow worked in your Life and that you can trust Him to do whatever is needed to work out His plan in your life in the future (it’s all about Who, not how)
#6—with gentleness . . .
a story told from a humble heart, one who knows Who God is and who he/she is (a child of God), will reveal the Truth gained in gentleness based in compassion for the hearer – it’s possible struggles are still to come for the one who is asking or painful experiences have hindered the flowering of the heart of the one asking (healing occurs under the growth lamp of HOPE in God)
#7—reverence . . .
when the hearer sees HOPE in the Love of God and sees HOPE in the Power of God, he/she will feel reverence for God – stand in awe of, have a deep respect for
—the assurance of His Faithfulness and His awesome Love for each of us supports every step in our path and this is the basis for our HOPE . . .
Oh, the depth of the riches
both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God!
How unsearchable
are His judgments and
unfathomable His ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him
that it might be paid back to him again?
For from Him and
through Him and
to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
(Romans 11:33-36)
. . . truly unfathomable HOPE!
my thoughts this morning to start this day . . . HOPE in God . . . “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” . . . (1Timothy 4:10)
My heart continues to explore itself, sometimes reluctantly, sometimes thirstily, sometimes with a longing that seems to come from beyond me that wants to lead me beyond me . . .
My “travels” have taken me through many beliefs and drawn me to accept that ALL is orchestrated by a largely unrecognized force desiring to reveal TRUTH to my innermost parts – to prepare my caterpillar perception for the realization of its butterfly reality . . . an inconceivable beauty far exceeding my ability to imagine and the true essence of FREE displayed within its color and being . . .
REAL . . . it is vital in this time of loud voices yelling “fake news” when they don’t agree with what it says and “alternative facts” as a way to justify their version of “real” that I understand REAL – anyone can create their own reality show on a daily basis complete with drama and drawing others into their plots, but I can choose not to live in someone 
else’s “reality show” and can choose to look to GOD, the only source of REAL without question . . . not an easy choice, but one I need to prayerfully consider . . . every day.
So, how do I avoid creating my own reality show and allow the path to teach me, to open the eyes of my heart, to draw me to a level of “real” that stretches me while planting seeds of Truth within my heart?
Sitting in a place of thankfulness is, perhaps, a good place to start. To be thankful on the path while not being thankful for everything that has brought me to this place and time (which quantum mechanics tell me do not exist except as “markers” I need, so will they disappear as my need for them decreases).
Next, perhaps, is the acceptance of a Higher Power, a force outside myself yet inside of my very being while being my very being which directs my path so my heart is gradually opened to “real” without demanding to understand.
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Jeanne
Jeanne H Barnett's Blog 