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Jesus tilled fertile ground for His vineyard

With blood and sweat seeping out His pores

Bought seeds at a redeeming price

Planted and nourished them

With love and spiritual food

Out sprouted a fresh full harvest of fruit

The vineyard He created, attended, and preserved

From the seeds He bought at a redeeming price

Fully sprouted and pruned by His Father the Gardener

Now have hearts and a nature like His

Producing and germinating seeds of His likeness

Through the cultivating power of His Spirit

And the Pruning of His Gardener  

Smiles with love at His many vineyards

Reading:

Isaiah 5:1

I will sing about the one I love, a song about my loved one’s vineyard: The one I love had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

Go swimming in the pool that gives life dive in, climb those steps.

And stand on the high board. Take a moment and look up to the Lord.

 Jump three times then dive in. Try not to be too poised and swan dive.

Just dive in, it’s going to be a sensation, the splash of your life.

Come on! Come On! There are 3 Persons waiting for you.

Stop wasting time. There are others waiting in line.

Jump, Jump, Jump, your no chump, I am encouraging you to dive.

Swim in the sea of forgiveness, cleansed of your iniquity, dive in.

The water is refreshing and regenerating, all you need to do.

 Is take a deep breath and dive in. Dive in the water of life.

After you have immersed yourself in His compassionate fervent love.

 Bounce up, wipe the water from your eyes, and watch the ripple effect.

John the Baptist said, “I Baptize with water, the one coming,” and has come.

 He will Baptize you with the Holy Spirit, the living water, come on, dive in.

Reading:  

Zechariah 14:8-9

And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter. And the Lord will be King over all the earth; in that day, the lord will be the only one and His name the only one.   

                          

Jesus repeats himself in John 10:7-16 (NKJV) to the Pharisees saying  to them, “I am the door of the sheep. All whoever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and would go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come, except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly (salvation, healing, nourishment, and plenty more). Jesus goes on to say, I am the Good Shepherd the good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep. But a hireling he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. However, Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd and I know my sheep and am known by my own. As the Father knows me even so, I know the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep. Jesus further explain that not just the sheep He has, but other sheep, He has which are not of this fold, them also, He says that He must bring, and they will hear His voice and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Jesus goes on to say, “My Father loves me because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This command, I have received from my Father.” Beloveds, Jesus is deeply passionate, sincere, and straight forward of who He is as the Great Shepherd. The Shepherd and Doorkeeper who is fully devoted to those under His care. There is no greater love.

Take me deeper than the center of the earth.

Take me higher than the heavens above.

Standing and singing on the clouds, Holy, Holy, Holy.

Who was and is to come.

Take me where I can see you sitting on Your throne.

Spirit to Spirit, crying tears of happiness, fire in my bones.

Jesus, I scream, You are real not a dream.

Inhaling and exhaling each breath you have given me.

In the pleasure of Your love, as I drink Your water of life.

Living by the bread of Your Words.

Listening to the song, I surrender all to You.

All I want is You.

Reading: Revelation 4:8

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come.

Be children of the light, shining lights of the world

Be shining lights, flames of fire

Flaming torches passed on from the beholder Jesus

Pass the flaming torch of His shining light

The light that shines through the darkness

The darkness of this complex and chaotic world

Keep passing the flame on from generation to generation  

From nation to nation, uniting as one

Shining lights of love, mercy, and grace

So the world can see His face

Be the light not hidden under a basket

But placed on a stand

Be searing fires of flaming lights

Branded by the Cross of His sacrificial love

Born of the Spirit, water, and blood

Sharing His Spirit, mind, heart and hands

spreading wildly across the lands

Be burning flames spreading through the forest

The forest of discord and despair

 Reaching out crying Jesus saves

He loves you, and He cares

 Jesus is who the Father sent

 If you are a sinner, all you have to do is repent

 And you too can be a source of His flaming light

 Flames of fire, children of the light

Not children lost in darkness and in peril

But burning flames of lights doing want is right

Lights that shine like flaming fire, overcoming the world

The late John Kennedy made the statement in the 60’s “There is a light at the end of the tunnel” during the war of Vietnam. The statement has a metaphoric meaning for hope dating back to 1879 or 1880’s and is referring to long periods of adversity is coming to an end as indicated by signs (Wordorigins.org).

Jesus is coming, the day of the Lord will come, and Christians must be mindful of  what the holy prophets’ have predicted and the commandments of our Lord and savior through the apostles have said (2 Peter 3:1-18) for there are many who do not believe this is so. Therefore they go about their sinful ways scoffing at and chanting “Where is the promise of his coming?” They are deliberately overlooking the fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

As I reflect back in my journal on August 8, 2002, a time I spent with God, I wrote “Oh my precious loving Father, I adore you. I praise your holy name. I your humble servant love you and desire your presence.” Then, I read Joel chapter 2: 28-32, “The day of the Lord.” And I said to the Father, I will give warnings of that day in the sky and on the earth, there will be bloodshed fire, and clouds of smoke. The sun will be darkened, and the moon will turn red as blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

However, our Father is patient and desiring that no one should perish but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9). There is a light at the end of the tunnel that light is Jesus. Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). The light that Jesus gives is eternal (John 10:10).  Light is symbolizing blessings and life (Genesis 1:4; Psalm 4:6-7;56:13;Isaiah 9:2; John 1:4-5, ESV). Christians have the light of Jesus and will not have to walk through a tunnel of darkness (evil) or hopelessness searching for the light at the end of the tunnel. Jesus is our hope and unfailing love (Psalm33:20-22), He is alive, He is the light that shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:4-5). May we be mindful of the Light.

In those days there was no king (leader). Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.

One of the lessons given in Judges was that when following one’s own belief regarding what is wrong or right or following the surrounding culture’s belief will always lead to societal or personal corruption and decay when those beliefs do not align with God’s Words” (Judges 21:25, ESV). In reflecting upon this lesson my thought was that following Jesus would align a believer with God’s words because Jesus is the Word (John 1:1-5; 9, 12-13, 16-18).

It is written that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.  In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. Jesus is the true light. Your Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105).

 Jesus gave to all who did receive him, who believed in his name,  the right to become children of God,  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from His fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side He has revealed Him.

As Jesus said in John17:3-5 “This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent Jesus Christ. I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do.  Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with that glory I had with you before the world existed.” My thought, follow Jesus He is the Living Word that aligns with God.

In Ecclesiastes 4:1, King Solomon said he saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: He saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no comforter. He said power was on the side of their oppressors and that the oppressed had no comforter. Oppression remains whether it be from those who rule over people, anxiety, fear, broken hearts or people feel their lives are meaningless.

    Jesus told His disciples that they were not to rule (lord) over people like those in high positions (Matthew 20:25). Jesus said “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light, and He cares for you (Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Peter 5:7). Moreover, Apostle Paul further encourages believers not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present one’s requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard their hearts and their minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). And God says “do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

What an assurance and comfort in knowing that Jesus cares for us and had the Father send us the Comforter (John 14:26).  Our Father will forever be our Sustainer and Comforter, this is a comforting thought.

I am aware that Your Spirit dwells in me, whether I am asleep or awake.  

I am aware you gave me eyes to see and ears to hear.

I am aware You gave me a heart of love and faithfulness.

I am aware that my steps are ordained by You.

I am aware of Your divine love for me and Your people.

I am aware that there are many who are in dire need of Jesus’ redeeming love.

I am aware that the harvest is great, and more workers are needed.

I am aware I am to bear my brother and sister’s burdens.

I am aware You are calling and gathering Your faithful people, Your servants.

I am aware wherever I am, You my Triune God is with me.

I am aware that one day Jesus will return, and the New Kingdom will come.

I am aware that Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.

After reading the introduction to Amos and Spurgeon’s thoughts on Amos, my thoughts were that in the Old Testament it was the LORD says, in the New Testament it is Jesus said. God instructed his people to listen to His Son (Mark 9:7). Like Father like Son as the saying goes. Jesus said, “The Son can do nothing by Himself he can do only what he sees the Father doing.  And He speaks the things that the Father has taught Him. As sons and daughters we are to do what Jesus did through the power of the Holy Spirit for the Father instructed His people to listen, and to follow Jesus, in doing what is pleasing to Him. Jesus as God’s Son is faithful over God’s house and His people is His house (Hebrews 3:6).

However, like expressed in Amos some of the Lord’s people have gotten out of the way of fellowship and communion with the Father. He wanted the people to come nearer to Him. The people of God are to walk in communion with Him recognizing that they are a diverse group of people (Spurgeon, CSB). A group of people walking together in a union of concern, enjoyment, and love for each other. One might imply that this generation of people have gone astray from their pure and sincere devotion to Christ, as it is written in Revelation 2:4 some have forsaken the love they had. This ought not to be now for Christ is living in His believers. Therefore, they as the people of God can remain hopeful and confident to the end by the revealing of their faith as real, that keeps them from being blown away (going astray) by the winds of persecution, temptation, or false teaching. The teachings of Jesus and His example of leadership is what we are to follow as explained in the first paragraph. God is saying listen to my Son, He does what I taught Him, and what He has seen me do.

The book of Amos is telling God’s people to be prepared to meet your God, and repent be reconciled (5:14-15), it was the final call to repentance where the people were to seek good and not evil so that they may live and hate evil and love good, putting justice firmly in place in the gate… The commentary in my kindle NIV Bible explains verse 15 as not just being an encouragement to be good, but it is a command for reforming the legal and social system in getting rid of corruption, false accusations, and bribery. My thought is how can this reform happen? The LORD says, by listening to my Son, He does what I taught Him, and what He has seen Me do.