I have friends in Australia that are experiencing heat waves and the southern part of the country has uncontrolled wild fires.  People, animals and homes are at risk with many being evacuated. Sounds like some of the same things that happened up here in America this summer.  They are in my thoughts and prayers.

Interesting winter, here, many are experiencing record snow and moisture.  We have had heavy fog in our neck of the woods the past couple days, and accidents have occurred because of it – and people not driving safe.  Yesterday the sun burned through and the fog is lifting a bit as I write, but I don’t expect to see sunshine today.

Had a roast last night, from Ken’s cow.  We have it cut for two people, but we don’t eat like we used to, so we always have lots of left overs.  That is fine with us, makes meals easier.  Added carrots and potatoes from our garden, so it is pretty much home grown meals.  Found a recipe for apple pie that includes dried cranberries and walnuts – I have heard of people putting raisins in their apple pies but haven’t done it.  Thought I would give this a try.

Just took it out of the oven, I those 40 minutes went faster than I expected.  Time flies when I write, usually between devotions and writing I spend two to three hours here at the computer.  While I haven’t written as much lately, when I do write these e-mails it usually is around 1000 to 1500 words – I know if you read them you are aware they get long.

I figured out the other day if I was able to do that each day of the year – and I do come ‘close,’ I will write between 365,000 and 550,000 words a year – and that is just on these daily e-mails, doesn’t include my other writings......but I do enjoy writing, just wished I was able to express myself better. 

Ephesians 5:1-2 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

² And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Job 19:19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

How do we do that, ‘walk in love?’  How do we deal with the family member who has turned against us, or the friend, who we trusted, betrayed us?

While not even close to the degree that Job was betrayed, I have felt that betrayal.  It impacts a person deep inside, it causes us to distrust others and if we are not careful we become bitter.

How do we walk in love in this world where everywhere we turn there are things that anger us?  Violence, accusations, killings, stealing, laws that go against the Word of God and the very core of our beliefs, gangs and governments bent on violence and murder, reports of which all clog the airways and internet – we are surrounded by those that would not only do harm to our brethren but are doing all they can to obliterate them and our God.

How can God possibly ask this of us in this day with all those that attack Him and us?  How do we keep our anger at bay and our desire for retribution from overcoming our emotions?

How do we walk ‘in love?’ 

We can’t on our own.  It comes from our love of God.  It comes from the understanding of who He is and what He represents.  He loved us even when we were unlovable, even when we did not accept Him and His Son.  He loved us so much that He gave His Son for us.

We often feel we have been abused and mistreated – and I am not making slight of that, many of us are or have been and some much worse than most of us will ever experience.  But everything we are going through Christ Himself also went through and more.  We feel defeated and rejected by friends, betrayed and pounced upon, how does God feel who has received that treatment since Adam sinned?

How does He feel about the rejection of His Son by the very nation He promised to give Him to? 

1 John 4:11-13 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

¹² No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

¹³ Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

Yet, God still loves man.  He still desires to have man come to Him, worship Him and accept Him as his God.  He wants us to understand that great love and in doing so show that love to others.

That does not come easily, it is often foreign to our personality, yet, it still must be done.  We cannot show God’s love on our own.  It has to come from a right relationship with Him and a desire to be obedient to Him.

It takes a lot to love some people, especially when they act so hatefully, but it is still expected.

Fortunately, we do not have to somehow find the strength within ourselves to accomplish that, we have Christ in our hearts and the Holy Spirit to guide us – to help us reach out to others, even those that have betrayed us – in love, as God reaches out to them.

1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

When we are striving to serve God to the best of our abilities, He is there to make us stronger and more effective.  He understands how difficult it is for us and will help us break through the barriers of anger and even hate and learn to love as He commands.

My prayer today is to really learn to love others, to be prepared to show God’s love to everyone.  To be open to the Holy Spirit as I go about my activities; not for my sake, but that the Kingdom of God will be Glorified.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again