Love this story. You won't find it in the Bible, nor is there any reference to Jesus Christ.
Perhaps this story is to help our future brothers and sisters who still struggle with the very existence of God.
As a senior citizen, it makes me wonder about my upcoming eternal life after death, with a hopeful smile and a positive outlook.
Many thanks to the author of this video clip.
Thank the Lord for loads and loads of yummy Rota mangoes - two big trees next to my place. Plenty to share with everyone.
"Good trees have good fruit!"
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
BIBLE
Logos
John 1:1 – 4 (NLT) In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
Matthew 24:35 (NIV) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Matthew 7:24 (NLT) “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
Rhema
John 6:63 (NLT) The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
John 6:66-68 (NLT) At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
Ephesians 5:25-26 (NLT) …husbands… love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
John 1:1 – 4 (NLT) In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
1 John 1:7&9 (NLT) But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
* We don't confess our sins to people or to a person - confess our sins to "him," that's God, our Abba Father.
Ephesians 5:26 (NLT) …washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
WISDOM
From below
James 3:15-16 (NLT) For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
* Living in the world for many many years, a person's wisdom is of this world, which is only a temporary thing. Jesus said, "Believers are in the world, but not of the world."
James 3:17 (NLT) But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
* CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord every day for his wisdom, for one year. Remember, when you ask God, he will give it to you generously. Be sure to act on the wisdom you receive.
ADOPTION
Adoption is the legal process by which an individual or couple becomes the legal parent of a child, transferring parental rights and responsibilities from the child’s biological or legal parent(s). This process provides a new, loving home and family to children who cannot live with their birth parents.
Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Romans 8:15 (NLT) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:19 (NLT) Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.
Colossians 1:27 (NLT) For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
Romans 8:23 (NLT) And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
2 Corinthians 1:22 (NLT) and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.
Ephesians 1:14 (NLT) The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
WORSHIP
Leviticus 9:22-24 (NLT) … Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them. ...Then Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle, and when they came back out, they blessed the people again, and the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole community. Fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground.
1 Samuel 4:5 (NLT) When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!
2 Chronicles 20:18-19 (NLT) Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD. Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.
Hebrews 13:5 (NLT) …let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God.
Psalm 63:4 (NLT) I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
Psalm 47:1 (NLT) Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!
Psalm 98:4 (NLT) Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy
Psalm 149:3 (NLT) Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.
SORROW
Godly
2 Corinthians 7:10a (NIV)…Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…
* There is always hope in God, even in the worst times and situations.
Our monthly Saturday morning fellowship on the seashore was as good as ever. Best of all - God was with us.
One of our group got a new fishing net, and was quite eager to try it out.
So Pastor John and Bro. Kit went down into the water to give the new net a try. Although the waves were small, the current was super strong.
The plan was to secure one end to the rocks on the shore, and stretch out the net across the channel. Then chase the fish, from behind, into the net. The current was quite intense as the tide kept coming in.
Hope you enjoyed this post with all the video clips. It was a very successful trial run for the new net. They got one fish, and the net was slightly damaged. Very thankful to God - no accidents or injuries. Expecting many fish next time.
It was another beautiful day on Rota.
Always been a stranger - born in the U.S.A, as a baby went on a ship to Tokyo (1st home on earth for 3 years), then the States and abroad. Born into a military family - spent entire childhood moving from one military base to the next. During teenage years, always liked to hitch-hike.
Left home at 18, moving a thousand miles away to Florida for college. After that, went 10,000 miles to the mission field. By God's grace, have tried to go everywhere the Lord leads, regardless of the distance, time, or expense - no limits.
The States, Mexico, Canada, Taiwan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Thailand, Belgium, U.K., Netherlands, and France - all were great places to live or visit, always as a stranger.
Been listening to a song these past years. Not quite sure if it was written by Bob Dylan or the Blind Boys from Alabama. Regardless, the words of this song couldn't better express the feelings, thoughts, and faith of a stranger.
Been living in the Mariana Islands now for almost ten years. At 72 years of age, the reality is quite clear - will always be a stranger where ever. Only because of God, I'm filled with hope and anxiously wait to move to my final resting place with Jesus, forever.
Here are the lyrics of "I believe in you," either written by Bob Dylan or the Blind Boys of Alabama (especially like the Blind Boys version). You can listen to it on YouTube. Hope you enjoy it.
I believe in you - by Bob Dylan
Our pastor, Pastor John Manglona was asked to do the opening prayer and benediction for the ribbon cutting ceromony at the Rota Office on Aging this past Saturday. It was for a big solar panel project just recently completed.
Our Mayor was there, Honorable Aubry Hocog (the youngest Mayor in the history of our commonwealth, and the first ever woman mayor). Other government leaders were there, including our former U.S. Congressman Honorable Kilili Sablan, CNMI Senate President Dennis Mendiola, CNMI Senator Ronnie Calvo, and the director of the Rota Office on Aging, Ms. Valery Apatang.
But, honestly, the most important of all - our heavenly Abba Father was there with us. Thank you, Jesus!
Baby mangoes popping out all over the place.
What a welcome sight - it's already been about a week. No flowers, just these red or pinkish branches popping out everywhere, covered with tiny buds. When May rolls around, they'll all be ripe mangoes.
Hopefully, this year will be the same as last - mango jam, mango smoothies, pickled baby magoes, mangoes on frenchtoast, mangoes on cheesecake, mango pancakes, and crepes with fresh mangoes.
Renting a 2nd floor apartment which has two huge mangoe trees on the property. One of them grows right over the adjoining roof, providing a beautiful sight from the back windows.
To think this is only the top of the tree. Below the roof are loads and loads of branches covered with mangoes.
Got about a month and half before being able to enjoy all the fresh fruit from the backyard. Perhaps even in April, some Chamorro pickled baby mangoes will be possible.
The little mango buds remind me of the fruit of the Spirit, which becomes evident in a person who loves Jesus with all their heart. The kindness, patience, love, and self-control don't all kick in immediately. But, with the passing of time, and gradual steady growth, as the fruit matures, a person actually changes into a better person (from the inside out).
Self control is the slowest fruit of the Spirit to develope in my life. Not saying, "no self control", just saying, "more self control is always needed." It always helps when the Lord brings to mind, "life with zero self control."
Heavenly Abba Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen!
