AN UNVARYING CONTINUOUS CHOICE

AN UNVARYING CONTINUOUS CHOICE

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

2Timothy 2:1-2 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

2Timothy 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

1Peter [ESV] 5:6-11 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

  As usual I read Main News and Midlands sections of the Omaha World-Herald with my breakfast. (Today’s coffee with Italian bread toasted with American peanut butter slathered with English orange marmalade.) I took note of the info that USA government presently has 1,000,000 overall individuals on its terrorist watch list. Turning the pages I read other news of risk, threat, and actual criminal activity . . . some of the latter category not so far away.

  I’m not worried about possible or present threatening situation, at least not now.

  How did this come about?

·         It began with my calm discerning Dad. Mom worried. Thus I saw the comparison and choose to hear and observe Dad as opposed to Mom. While Mom worried about a lack of the next bag of groceries, Dad identified possibility or potential of problems, but then discerned what could be done to prevent or resolve, and asap implemented. Dad often emphasized “Concern is healthy. Worry is not for it distracts from clear thinking toward options and solutions. Sometimes his solution was to do nothing. Surprisingly, predicted problem didn’t result, or was resolved naturally, or simply negated. Dad also emphasized the value of being confronted by problems.

·         Yes, Mom worried for the whole family, neighborhood, nation, and world. Observing what she put herself through and at times others that loved her I decided I didn’t want to adopt her manner.

·         Then at age 14 while grinding corn at Eden Mill dear Ann walked across the gravel truck lot into my heart and soon thereafter into my life for 60+ wonderful years. Ann was not a worrier. She looked at problems as life challenges, adventures, and learning experiences.

  The outcome of the above described observations and resultant personal decision against living in anxiety left me being sometime calm, sometime worrying; the angst phases affecting me physically.

  The next step forward involved a momentary one-time encounter with a man named Desmond McNellis. Observing my Bible and companion books that I studied, taught, and preached from, he smiled and said “You know what to do.” The brief passing meet was transitory, leaving me with starting point of Yes, I do know.

  Ann already held God’s peace in her heart and practiced 1Peter 5:7. I began to and continued this journey all the way to this morning breakfast table, now at keyboard sharing my life with you, and this-side-of-heaven still facing daily the choice of to worry or live life trusting the Word, or not?

EBB4

To aid in Romans 12:1-3 transition I was encouraged by an elder to print out, have on my person, read and ponder list of applicable verses. I encourage you to practice the same way as needed.  [ESV]:

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous     

to be moved.

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 13:11-13 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

Matthew 6:21-34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.  "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 7:11-12 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have

tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Rom 5:3-6 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

1Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Ephesians 4:30-32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Philippians 2:3-9 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.