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Lord have mercy on us today.  Help us to see you and know you.  Help us to see the snares of this world before we step in them.
- dr joe 
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Food for Thought...

I believe our nation is headed for very hard, even disastrous times.  I do not believe politics will fix our economy - it's too far gone - too much debt to ever pay back.  We depend completely on our fragile technological infrastructure for food, water, shelter, transportation, and entertainment.  Any number of events could cause a sudden  collapse of our system e.g., electric grid collapse from terrorism, natural event like solar flare, simple breakdown from lack of modernization, or Israel attacks Iran and the price of oil skyrockets, or China stops buying our treasury bonds.  I am feeling called to prepare for such disaster by working to be less dependent and more self-sufficient.  If you have interest in or questions about this line of thinking, please e-mail me by replying to this e-mail.  Below are some of my favorite links:



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   Isaiah 26: 7-8  

7 The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.
8 Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

 

At times the path of the righteous doesn't seem smooth and it isn't easy to do God's will, but we are never alone when we face tough times. God is there to help us through difficulties, to comfort us, and to lead us. God does this by giving us a purpose and giving us provisions as we travel. God provides us with relationships of family, friends, and mentors. God gives us wisdom to make decisions and faith to trust him. Don't despair; stay on God's path.

Verse and commentary above is copied from the Life Application Study Bible Reading Plan on YouVersion.  Check it out at: http://www.youversion.com/ .  

  Any Dr JOE comments will be in BLUE :0)  

 

                 John 16:16-33 

 

16 Jesus went on to say, "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."

17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" 18 They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

25 "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

29 Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."

31 "Do you now believe?" Jesus replied. 32 "A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." 

 

These teachings are critical to our Faith.  Jesus clearly refers to His coming from God the Father.  He clearly states His divinity.  He also refers to the resurrection.  This act of rising from the dead is the only thing that could transform grieving, confused disciples into joyous evangelists willing to die for their conviction that Jesus is Lord.  They saw Him alive after they saw Him die.  They then remembered that He said He would do just that, and it all made sense.  Let Jesus make sense of your life!

  

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