Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... January - December, 2023

The Mayor; Luvie; JustAmy

[The Mayor]

Our Daily Bread

Monday,
January 9, 2023

The Right Jesus

Read: 2 Corinthians 11:1–4, 12–15

If someone . . . preaches a [false] Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, . . . you [wrongly] put up with it. 2 Corinthians 11:4

The buzz in the room faded to a comfortable silence as the book club leader summarized the novel the group would discuss. My friend Joan listened closely but didn’t recognize the plot. Finally, she realized she had read a nonfiction book with a similar title to the work of fiction the others had read. Although she enjoyed reading the “wrong” book, she couldn’t join her friends as they discussed the “right” book.

The apostle Paul didn’t want the Corinthian believers in Jesus to believe in a “wrong” Jesus. He pointed out that false teachers had infiltrated the church and presented a different “Jesus” to them, and they had swallowed the lies (2 Corinthians 11:3–4). 

Paul denounced the heresy of these phony teachers. In his first letter to the church, however, he’d reviewed the truth about the Jesus of Scripture. This Jesus was the Messiah who “died for our sins . . . was raised on the third day . . . and then [appeared] to the Twelve,” and finally to Paul himself (1 Corinthians 15:3–8). This Jesus had come to earth through a virgin named Mary and was named Immanuel (God with us) to affirm His divine nature (Matthew 1:20–23).

Does this sound like the Jesus you know? Understanding and accepting the truth written in the Bible about Him assures us that we’re on the spiritual path that leads to heaven. — Jennifer Benson Schuldt

How do you know that you believe the truth about Jesus? What might you need to investigate to make sure you understand what the Bible says about Him?

Dear God, help me to walk in the light of Your truth.

For further study, read In Pursuit of Jesus: Who He Is and Why It Matters.

Bible in a year: Genesis 23–24; Matthew 7

[luvie]

Bravo for you having sunshine! Maybe you and Moose can get outdoors for a bit before it gets too chilly again!

[luvie]

Peaches: "Happy Mellow Monday!"

[left that other site]

Happy Mellow Monday.

What is this "Mellow" of which you speak? I am not Familiar with that word.

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[luvie]

LOL! Maybe one day........

[TheConservativeParty]

Bad news.....Diamond of Diamond and Silk, died today. 😥
There is not much info about it yet but I found stories about her being ill with covid.

She was so wonderful.

[luvie]

I just heard about that a bit ago. Very sad. She was a lovely passionate lady who had America’s best interests at heart! 😢

[TheConservativeParty]

They were so funny together.
😐

[luvie]

They were and they were excellent advocates for President Trump. I wonder what Silk will do now.

[TheConservativeParty]

Poor thing will probably need to heal her heart for a long time.
Would be difficult to do commentary on current events without her partner.
They were perfect together.
😕

[luvie]

I feel so bad for her....and for the whole family. It leaves such a huge hole when a member passes.

[TheConservativeParty]

I don’t even know their relationship. It seemed like Silk was her aunt but probably not. They might be closer in age than I thought. Maybe they are sisters or cousins?

[luvie]

I don’t think I ever knew whether they were sisters or not. They seemed about the same age to me.

[left that other site]

Oh No. I love those ladies.

[The Mayor]

Our Daily Bread

Tuesday,
January 10, 2023

The God Who Redeems

Read: Isaiah 43:1–7

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. Isaiah 43:1

As part of a sermon illustration, I walked toward the beautiful painting an artist had been creating on the platform and made a dark streak across the middle of it. The congregation gasped in horror. The artist simply stood by and watched as I defaced what she’d created. Then, selecting a new brush, she lovingly transformed the ruined painting into an exquisite work of art.

Her restorative work reminds me of the work God can perform in our lives when we’ve made a mess of them. The prophet Isaiah rebuked the people of Israel for their spiritual blindness and deafness (Isaiah 42:18–19), but then he proclaimed the hope of God’s deliverance and redemption: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you” (43:1). He can do the same for us. Even after we’ve sinned, if we confess our sins and turn to God, He forgives and restores us (vv. 5–7; see 1 John 1:9). We can’t bring beauty out of the mess, but Jesus can. The good news of the gospel is that He has redeemed us by His blood. The book of Revelation assures us that in the end, Christ will dry our tears, redeem our past, and make all things new (Revelation 21:4–5).

We have a limited vision of our story. But God who knows us “by name” (Isaiah 43:1) will make our lives more beautiful than we could ever imagine. If you’ve been redeemed by faith in Jesus, your story, like the painting, has a glorious ending. — Glenn Packiam

How have you messed up? What has God provided for your restoration and redemption?

Dear Jesus, thank You for never giving up on me. I surrender to You and ask that You please redeem what I’ve ruined.

Bible in a year: Genesis 25–26; Matthew 8:1–17

[luvie]

Grateful For FRiends
Happy GratiTuesday!

[left that other site]

Happy Gratituesday!

I Am So Grateful For My Dear FRiends...Whom I Try Not To Push Around...too much...

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[luvie]

Sometimes it’s hard for a herder. LOL!

[left that other site]

A gal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do!

[The Mayor]

Me too!