03.04.2023 1st Saturday

26°F cloudy W@8mph

Morning Offering given

Village quiet

No coffee this morning… sigh

Copy work being done as I type. Lovin’ this machine I received for Christmas. Makes life easier.

The man is off to CEW (Christian Experience Weekend) I wonder how many years that’s been going. He’s done this for so long I just don’t count on him the first weekend in March of every year. It’s a good thing.

Today I am off to resale/thrift shops. Who knows what might call my name.

Matthew 5:44-48

But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: 45 That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust.46 For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this? 47 And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this? 48 Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

I figured Lent would eventually come around to this; let’s get defined.

ENEMY: 1)a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something. “the traditional enemies of his tribe” 2) hostile nation or its armed forces or citizens, especially in time of war. “the enemy shot down four helicopters”
3) a thing that harms or weakens something else.

LOVE: noun 1.an intense feeling of deep affection.”babies fill parents with feelings of love”
2.a great interest and pleasure in something.”his love for football”
verb 1.feel deep affection for (someone). “he loved his sister dearly”
2.like or enjoy very much. “I just love dancing”

Yep, just what I figured, he wants us all in, regardless of the past, regardless of everything. I used to think all it took was saying “I forgive you.” or “I’m sorry for my part in this” and then just move on to that place where one isn’t openly hostile or mean. I’ve come to find out this isn’t what he means. He wants me all in. I fail, I fail to pray to succeed at it. I fail to want to even consider doing it. I fail, period. My mind says you wouldn’t ask me this if you really knew what they had done. One problem, he really does know because I’ve done it to him and at times said oops, Jesus forgive me. Countless times he has forgiven me for the very things I fail to forgive them for. More work needs to be done by me. Nothing is impossible, it just might take longer and harder work.

Know you are prayed for.