If Jesus Is Enough

"And you are complete in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority."   ... Colossians 2:10

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I've been wondering lately about the miserable, unfulfilled, cranky Christians I know.

What's up with that?

If Jesus is truly enough, shouldn't there be a rhythm of peace, contentment inside even when the outside goes all wonky? If He's our most important 'possession' why do we fear losing others?

If Jesus is enough, what's there to compete over with friends, neighbors, relatives when already we have the Best Thing In Life?

If Jesus is enough, how can we be lonely? Who on this planet provides more amazing companionship than Him? (Who, indeed?)

If Jesus truly satisfies us, why buy or eat or crave a bunch of stuff? Why look to a new job or vacation or recognition/appreciation/value if only Jesus can satisfy those kinds of longings, anyway?

If Jesus isn't condemning us about the way we look, why condemn ourselves when we stare into the mirror? Why not, instead, ask for help to change what we can and accept what we can't?

There's more, but you get the point.

What I've found? Only friendship with Jesus is enough to pry these things out of my hands:

Speaking negatively about people.
Not showing mercy to those who are blowing-it.
Not forgiving others who hurt me.
Gripping sadness or worry instead of joy.

And ok, Jesus doesn't stop loving me when I do those things (no way!) Yet those choices (and they are choices)
make things uncomfortable. Not as good as. Darker.

And I hate it--hate it--when that happens.

So because only Jesus is enough, I will choose to cast away my so-called rights to stay upset and whine and worry. And I'll crave to stay sensitive to the times I mess up so that I can immediately repent--and restore the invigorating conversations.

Nothing is worth ruining this minute-by-minute companionship with the Friend who sticks closer than a brother and who gives me light to see a brand new way. Nothing.


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Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!"   ... Psalm 34:8

"And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.'"   ... Zechariah 7:8-10

"Today we are as close to God as we truly want to be."  ... copied

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The new Roman Meal bread coupon is here. Use your back button to get two.

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A passionate love for Jesus changes everything.

And I'm Off To The 1930's ...

 

"For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish."  Jeremiah 31:25

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Oh wow... If you're feeling discouraged today, listen to this song and it will fix you right up! Incredible.


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And if you're needing a vacation from this modern world, how about taking a trip with me back to the 1930's? I think that's where I'll hang-out today.

1930's fashion

1930's decorating ideas

1930's magazine covers

1930's and 40's magazine articles

1930's and 40's radio shows

1930's music

... not that this world has ever (since Early Garden of Eden) been without its many sins and faults. Uh, no. Not even in the 1930's, 40's and 50's which people like to label as The Good Old Days. I've done some digging online and found they had their share of sin as well. Er hem.

But sometimes it's just pleasant to visit a world of one's own when times spin all wildly or when you simply prefer something different, something which already happened so it cannot change further. Often it's those out-of-our-control changes which entice us to escape to lands of normalcy, familiarity or of imagination where you know nothing will have moved since your last visit.

And thank-goodness, the ultimate place for that is right beside the God who never changes, the One who remains the same in His constant love and concern for us. I'm certain I'll find Him there waiting on my 1930's trip today, too.  


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"I the Lord do not change... "   ... Malachi 3:6

"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you."   ... Psalm 63:3

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A passionate love for Jesus changes everything.

So What's Your Latest Adventure?

Adventure: An unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity.

......  especially the exploration of unknown territory.

**** So a couple weeks ago, Tracy left a comment saying that Tom and I led such adventurous lives. Of course, we chuckled over that. Homebodies R Us? Adventurous? Yet, weeks later, I'm thinking Tracy may be right.  All Christians, (I believe, anyway), enter a great adventure whenever we choose to follow God's specific, custom-made plans. I mean, have you noticed He takes us to places we'd probably not have gone ourselves? That He pulls us out of boats we'd cowered inside and nudges out on hire wires when we'd have preferred sinking into a recliner? After Tracy's comment, I recalled some of my own God-nudged adventures: Getting married. I'd not planned on doing that for at least another ten years (oh, the plans of mice and men...). Learning to become a wife, to keep a home, to cook, to create a thing from nothing. Researching ways to live comfortably without much money. And still learning, still traveling where God leads us as a couple. Having a daughter. At one time I'd planned to never do that (oh, what I'd have missed!). Becoming a good mother and being humbled over and over. Moving across the nation to New York state at 34 when I'd never even traveled farther east than Idaho. Creating a whole other life here, not knowing a soul when I arrived, learning my way around. Falling in love with Jesus at 35, viewing the world in a sparkling new way and allowing Him to create a real me from the phony, faulty one I'd built. Allowing Him to change my mind about, well, nearly everything. Becoming a teacher of adults at church, passing along newly-learned truths to others. Discovering an unfamiliar boldness which had me teaching, counseling others almost daily in a myriad of ways. Becoming the mom of a teenager who then turned into an adult--you parents know the wild adventure just in that. :) Starting this blog--an 8-year ongoing adventure, indeed! Sometimes sharing bits of my life I'd rather keep under wraps. Renting a one-bedroom apartment for 6 months. Purchasing a 4-acre farm and living there 3 challenging, lesson-stuffed, but rewarding years. Acclimating ourselves to country life (which is not simpler!). Experiencing with Tom the loss of his job, then watching God miraculously care for us the next 20 months of unemployment. Downsizing, then actually buying a house while neither of us held an outside job. (Can you say 'miracle'?)  Only some of my adventures, those. My latest? Morphing into a real-life prepper.  Researching online ways to prepare for any emergency and using sales plus coupons to stock-up on groceries and disaster supplies. Preparing now, calmly, rationally, knowing someday it will be too late to prepare. Remaining in faith, trust, but not fear. What I've seen? When God is behind even small tasks, they come packed with possible excitement. Parts of any God-designed adventure are beyond our innate ability so that without reliance upon Him we'll, well, fail.  For the glory to truly belong to God, He must actually be involved in the doing of a thing. God is not the author of boredom or uselessness. He's the author, the creator, of this world, this life, which is still incredible--as long as He's in charge of the living of it. ************ "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We will always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 **** A passionate love for Jesus changes everything.