Papaver orientale by Kurt Stüber
Good morning, beloved of God,
How did you begin your morning? As I am sitting here, contemplating what the Lord has for me this morning, I am remembering the retreat in more detail..and more of what the Lord is teaching me. He keeps bringing me back to Luke 9.
23 And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [[g]disown himself, [h]forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, [i]refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [[j]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].
Michael Easley said every morning he prays Lord help me deny myself, my rights. And that clicked for me. Of course, Lord, we’ve been working through this before..nice how I pick things up work on them for a while and then drop them. (I’m sure you never do that…then I remember that my God knows I am dust, it’s a good thing…)
Papaver rhoeas, (en) Corn Poppy by tanja niggendijker from apeldoorn, the netherlands
And being thankful…because…(join me?)
9 God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Did you read that quick? Don’t rob yourself. Read it again. God is what?
- Faithful,
- reliable,
- trustworthy,
- true to every promise AND
- He can be depended on.
Dearly beloved, by Him you were called in companionship and participation with Jesus! Can’t you just see His beautiful hand beckoning you to come? Die to your rights, beloved, follow me. Surrender it all.
Papaver somniferum – with rain drops by Takkk
10 But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgments.
I believe this has everything to do with dying to self. Cease striving with your own rights. Pick up your cross and follow Jesus. Follow His example. Well, of course, by the name of our Lord Jesus..right?
Be in perfect harmony…listen to this harmony…
Now each voice can’t go off and do what it wants. She can’t belt out the Battle Hymn of the Republic! She has to sing with the other voices. Her part of the song… It works beautifully. We would, as the church, do well to take note.
And good heavens, just look at what Christ endured before and during the Cross from His beloved disciples..if you want to see the antithesis of united. If any had reason to shun or walk away, it would have been Jesus. He did not. He brought them together to give them their mission. Let Jesus always be our example of love and forgiveness. Always…
pink flower with deep purple cross through its centre by Angie from Sawara, Chiba-ken, Japan
Die to your rights, give thanks and as always…pray on, beloved. Pray on…
Leave A Reply