Friday, May 1, 2015

RJD: May 2015- Consider Jesus’ Prayer



Blog Entry: 4/30/2004 John 17
This is one of Jesus’ prayers that we hear a lot about.( I intended to read through the New Testament that year. I progressed through the Gospels and into the book of Acts.) Life got in the way. I went back to work and had to shorten my devotional time. These are my thoughts on John 17.

Jesus prays for Himself:
            Jesus tells the Father to restore His glory to Himself. He reminds the Father He was granted authority over all so they may come to know God, the One True God and Jesus Christ whom God had sent. The Son tells the Father He has brought glory on earth by doing the work God gave. Jesus asked to be returned to His original glory in heaven.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples
            Jesus revealed God to those given to Him from the world. These disciples have obeyed the Father’s word. Jesus tells the Father the disciples now know everything God gave Jesus comes from the heavenly Father. The followers accepted the words given to them. They believed Jesus came from God. He prays for the ones God gave Him out of the world. Also, He asks the Father to protect these twelve men. They are all saved except the one doomed to destruction, so the scriptures would be fulfilled. He again asks God to protect them from the evil one, and to set them apart by the truth.

Jesus Prays for All Believers
            Jesus prays for unity among those who come to know Him, that He and the Father are one. He pleads they come into complete unity in order for the world to know God sent them and has loved them as the Father loved the Son.
            Jesus expresses the desire for believers to be with Him and to see His glory, the glory from before the creation of the world. He commits to making God known to believers.
Update:
This is an earlier journal entry. I felt the need to edit and change a few things. I know; I cheated. Please forgive me. 


Linked to:enthusiasticallydawn.com

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Come Learn of Jillian’s Journey

This is Jillian. Don't you love the hat?




Today, I invite you to come with me to find out about a little girl in our church. Her name is Jillian. I caught up with her mother, Rheanna, recently and asked questions about her daughter and what was going on in Jillian’s life.

QS: Hello, Rheanna, can you tell us a little about your daughter Jillian?
            Sure, be glad to. She is a trooper.

QS: How old is she?
            She is 10 years old. She will be 11 on May 4, 2015.

QS: What does she like to do?
               She likes to ride her bike! She enjoys crafts and jewelry making. She loves to play on her I-Pad and loves to play the game Minecraft.

QS: What’s her favorite subject in school?
                Jillian really enjoys spelling at school but she says she doesn’t have a “favorite” subject.

QS: She recently underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, what was her diagnosis?
               On Valentine’s Day this year, Jillian had a five hour surgery to remove an 11 centimeter tumor from her left cerebellum. On February 24th we found out the doctors diagnosed her with Glioblastoma Multiforme, also known as “GBM”.

QS: What can you tell us about this cancer?
This specific cancer is very rare in kids. In fact, she is one of only 3% of children to be diagnosed with this type of cancer. Her GBM tumor was a grade 4 which is the highest grade—meaning the most malignant. This type of cancer usually affects adults over the age of 50. It is also more common in males vs. females.

QS: How is Jillian doing?
               Our whole family is watching our angel being a very strong fighter, fighting this beast day by day. So far in this journey, Jillian has the upper hand! She remains strong and is handling treatment very well. In fact, her doctors at Riley are very proud on how well she is doing.
One of her uncles spoke of how well Jillian is doing by scores.

QS: Your family has been selling tee-shirts to help your daughter and your family. Could you tell us about them?
            Sure, be glad to. Our family is selling “Jillian’s Journey” tee shirts as a fundraiser.

QS: Why did you choose the beautiful color?
               The color of the shirts comes from Jillian’s favorite color which is blue.

QS: Can you tell us about the design?
            Jillian loves butterflies! So, her Aunt Melissa designed the graphics to include the butterfly along with the cancer ribbon. She also included inspiring words around the butterfly that we use to fight this fight. As Jillian says, “I’m going to kick GBM’s butt.”
This is the shirt Jillian's Aunt designed.



Thank you, Rheanna, for sharing about your Jillian’s Journey through this fight. It was so nice to see her in the role of an acolyte the other Sunday.


If any of you readers want to find out more about Jillian and her journey. Jillian’s Journey is on Facebook at :Jillian's Journey

Readers: Please keep this little girl and her family in your prayers.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Make Your Calling Sure


“But if anyone does not have them, he is near-sighted and blind,
 and has forgotten he has been cleansed from past sins.
 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.
 For if you do these things, you will never fail.”
Peter 1:9-10 (NIV)

               Peter has been speaking of the method of building ourselves up as we prepare to stand against false teachers and against persecution. All the qualities he spoke of keep us close to God. When we do not have them our vision gets distorted. Little things trip us up. We gradually become less like Jesus and more like the world. We need to strive to possess and exercise those qualities He gives to verify that we are called by, live for and work for God.
               We went down to spend some time with our son the other weekend. I took my laptop because when we were down there the time before that I watched our son get onto the motel’s free Wi-Fi. I thought I’d try it. I didn’t have any trouble. I had a nice time doing it. The day after we returned home, I got online and kept hearing a chirping. I noticed I couldn’t move my cursor. I looked at my mouse; the light was not on. I realized my mouse had died. My thoughts were not very encouraging—the cost of a new mouse; finding the time to go across town; at a time when I needed to watch my money.
               The second day we were home Hubby asked me to check my email to see if we had anything from Son. I had to confess that I thought my mouse had died. I didn’t get upset or angry about it. It really didn’t stew about it. My thoughts were the type of silent prayer thoughts.
               The next morning I went to a prayer group and didn’t feel led to ask for guidance from God. I headed out to the other end of town, combining this errand with a trip to get new glasses. I found a great display of electronic mice (?). They ranged in price from the very affordable to right at $100.

               My new mouse is wireless. I had the choice of colors. I found one in TEAL. I am a happy girl. But I wonder what I would have found if I had gotten all upset and angry. I told a friend the day before that the old mouse had to be about eight years old. I shouldn’t complain.

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...