Mark 10:14-16 I am resting in the arms of Jesus.

God’s love covers a multitude of sin…yours and mine!

No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:13–17)

God cares deeply about children they are the most vulnerable. Whoever abuses them would be better off not being born. When we lift up the Son of God in reverence and gratitude others will be drawn to His agape love for His creation. In trusting God as a child we are protected from the evil that seeks to destroy us. Carla

Mark 10:14-16 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

hell (Gk. gehenna) (9:43, 45; Matt. 5:22, 29, 30; Luke 12:5; James 3:6) Strong’s #1067: The word hell in this passage translates the word gehenna, which is an allusion to the “Valley of the Son of Hinnom” (Josh. 18:16). In this valley, the Israelites had gone so far as to offer their children as burnt sacrifices to Molech. Josiah defiled this site in order to prevent the repetition of such abominations (see 2 Kin. 23:10), and then a fire was kept burning there to consume the carrion and refuse that were collected around Jerusalem. The final punishment of the wicked is described in the OT by allusions to this valley (Is. 66:24). By using the word gehenna, Jesus was recalling the same place and that kind of punishment for  sin.

Children exhibit sincerity, eagerness, a trusting attitude, and total dependence on their parents. Thus childlikeness is a fitting comparison for the qualities a disciple should have. The NKJV Study Bible.

Jesus does not identify a specific childlike trait that is necessary to enter God’s kingdom. His similar teaching in 9:35–36 seems to encourage humility (compare v. 23); Jesus could also have in mind that belief in God requires the kind of trust a child has in a parent. Faithlife Study Bible

Matthew 18:3–4 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

Mark 9:36 then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 

Luke 18:17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature

“Sanctuary is wherever I find safe space to regain my bearings,
reclaim my soul,
heal my wounds,
and return to the world as a wounded healer.
It’s not merely about finding shelter from the storm: it’s about spiritual survival. Today, seeking sanctuary is no more optional for me than church attendance was as a child.” Thank you, Parker Palmer.

This I know. Regaining and reclaiming are not easy when my mind is elsewhere and otherwise. When my energy (my umph, my focus) is spent on fret and disquiet—giving the better part of my attention (energy and time) to non-essential matters. Easily elevated to anxiety or fear (and yes, sometimes to the level of urgent consternation.)
"Martha, Martha!” Jesus said (I’m guessing with empathy and concern) in Luke’s Gospel, “You worry and fuss about a lot of things.” As in, Martha, if you’re not careful, this’ll eat you alive.

With worry, we lose heart. And as a preacher, it’s tempting to now deliver a sermon about worry.

I prefer this story: when worry and anxiety happened to Jesus' friends, (“because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat,” The Gospel of Mark), Jesus—mercifully—didn’t preach or lecture or lead a prayer or offer a gadget. The story says, immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowds away. “Come with me by yourselves,” Jesus told them, “To a quiet place and get some rest.”

Ahhh, regaining my bearings and reclaiming my soul.

So. It's not about creating a life absent of stress.
It's about being present, even in the hectic and the crazy.
In other words, it is in the rest, the refueling, the “be-ing,” the sanctuary to refocus on essential matters, which allows us to let go, to be present, even in the busy, the noise, the demands, the lists. “Sabbath Moments”

Hebrews 4:12-16 We are resting in the arms of Jesus!

Jesus, the word of God made flesh! Do not fear.  In Him we can come boldly to the throne of grace knowing that He intercedes for us. Through Him the world can be saved.

Hebrews 4:12-16 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Our Compassionate High Priest 

In Jesus Christ we have access to our Father and the power of Holy Spirit to accomplish all that in ourselves we cannot. All honor and glory to our triune Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Carla

The gospel was preached is the translation of a single Greek word meaning “the good news was announced.” The good news of God’s rest (verse 1) had been proclaimed to the Israelites. The generation led by Moses had failed to enter their rest, which was the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 12:9), because of their lack of faith. In the same way, the gospel of Christ that had been proclaimed to the author’s audience was calling them into God’s rest, but their unbelief would hinder them from entering into it.

God rested: The theme of rest has its beginning in God’s own rest after creation. The fact that Genesis makes no mention of the evening of the seventh day of creation provides a basis for some Jewish commentators to conclude that the rest of God lasts throughout all of history.

By merely entering the Promised Land, the Israelites had not entered God’s rest, for David (years after Joshua had led the Israelites into the land) had warned his generation to not harden their hearts, so that they could enter God’s rest (3:7–11). Like David, the author of Hebrews called the present generation to respond to God today (3:13), which is the day of repentance.The Greek word for rest in this verse is different from the word used in verses 1, 3, 5, 10, 11; 3:11, 18. This word means “Sabbath rest” and is found only here in the New Testament. Jews commonly taught that the Sabbath foreshadowed the world to come, and they spoke of “a day which shall be all Sabbath.”

Rest … from his works may refer to the rest believers will enter in when they finish their work for God’s kingdom on this earth (Revelation 14:13).

Us, including  himself as well as his readers, the author exhorts believers to be diligent, a phrase meaning “make every effort.” to enter that rest: The rest is not automatic. Determined diligence is required. The danger is that believers today, like the Israelites of the past, will not stand, but fall in disobedience.

The word of God is the measuring stick Christ will use at the judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10). God’s message is alive and active, penetrating the innermost parts of a person. It distinguishes what is natural and what is spiritual, as well as the thoughts (reflections) and intents (insights) of a person. The word of God exposes the natural and spiritual motivations of a believer’s heart (verses 7; 3:8, 10, 12, 15; 8:10; 10:16, 22; 13:9). 

Naked and open suggests complete exposure and defenselessness before God. All believers must give account to the all-seeing, all-knowing God (Romans 14:10–12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Then refers back to the subject of the High Priesthood of Christ (2:17–3:6). We have indicates possession. In the Old Testament the high priest of Israel passed through the courts and veils into the Most Holy Place. Our High Priest has passed through the heavens to the very presence of God, where He sits at God’s right hand (1:3).

Sympathize means “to suffer with” and expresses the feeling of one who has entered into suffering. In all points tempted means Jesus experienced every degree of temptation (2:18).

Come is the same Greek word translated draw near in 10:22. This command strongly contrasts with God’s command at Mt. Sinai: “Do not go up to the mountain or touch its base (Exodus 19:12). Because of Christ’s priestly work, believers can approach God’s presence. The writer of Hebrews is expressing the openness of God’s call in Christ, “Come” (Revelation 22:17). Boldly is the same word that is rendered confidence in 3:6 (10:19) and means “plainness of speech,” “fearlessness,” or “courage.” Believers should courageously approach God in prayer because His is a throne of grace, and our High Priest sits at His right hand interceding for us. The NKJV Study Bible.

Rabbi Albert Lewis tells the story of a man seeking employment on a farm; he hands a letter of recommendation to his new employer that reads simply, “He sleeps in a storm.” The farmer is uncertain what to make of the note, but desperate for help, he hires the fellow. Several weeks pass, and suddenly, in the middle of the night, a powerful storm rips through the valley. Awakened by swirling rain and howling wind, the farmer leaps out of bed. He calls for his new hired hand, but the man is sleeping soundly. And so, the farmer dashes off to the barn, where he sees to his amazement that all of the animals are secure with plenty of feed. He then runs to the field, only to discover that the bales of wheat have been bound and wrapped in tarps. And when he runs to the silo, he finds latched doors and dry grain. Only then does he understand the note, “He sleeps in a storm.”

The rabbi concludes, “If we tend to the things that are important in life, if we are right with those we love and behave in line with our faith, our lives will not be cursed with the aching throb of unfulfilled business. Our words will always be sincere, our embraces will be tight. We will never wallow in the agony of ‘I could have, I should have.’ We can sleep in a storm.” “Sabbath Moments”

We were made out of God’s love. We were made to love others as He does.

Everything in the life of believers is to love others as we are loved by God.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Jesus is the light of the world many refuse to see His truth and prefer to live in darkness. 

Our reputation is how we want people to see us. Our character reveals who we really are. Character matters. There is no one righteous. But we choose who we serve and through faith Holy Spirit manifest His fruits in our lives to use for our good and the good of those lives we touch.

Everything will be revealed in His light. Only in God’s mercy are we not destroyed and only in His grace do we  have the chance to accept His righteousness. There is no person righteous, no, not one. The grace of God is unmerited and undeserved it is the gift of our loving God.

We choose who we will serve. 

Every person has two sides…the fallen nature that entered in with the sin of Adam and Eve and the other that is created in God’s  image. The spark of God is in every person born but  we choose who we believe.

When Jesus returns those who choose Him by faith will live with Him eternally.

In heaven we will be fully known. There will be no pride nor shame. God sees us as we are and He loves us anyway. By the salvation of Jesus and our faith in Him we are able to stand before our holy God.  His love covers a multitude of sins…mine and yours. Carla

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mass with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Isaiah 25:1 I will lift You up that all may know Your glory!

All honor, all glory belongs to You alone God.

Isaiah 25:1  Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

We exalt Your holy name, Jesus. In and through His sacrifice we find You. In and through Holy Spirit we are changed into Your character. In Your gift of salvation Father we live and abide. Carla

Wonderful things refers to the wonders only God can do. Faithfulness and truth may be rephrased as “absolute truth.” The NKJV Study Bible

A hymn of praise to Yahweh, presumably placed as a response to the apocalyptic judgment of chapter 24. The poem seems to be a reaction to the reign of Yahweh foretold in 24:23. Faithlife Study Bible

Before we lose hope, though, we can remember God’s sacrifice. Jesus’ work of redeeming us has reversed our fate. The threat is gone—and that changes everything. Our lives are infused with the incredible purpose of His costly death. We have a renewed sense of hope because of His resurrection.

The cross puts everything in perspective. It is the new focus of our gaze. From His sacrifice to the time when redemption is complete, we are meant to live intentional lives that reflect His purpose. Keeping our eyes on Him helps us to stay on the path. Barry, J. D., & Kruyswijk, R. (2012). Connect the Testaments

This I know in my spirit; in the world we live in, detachment—emotional, spiritual, personal—is quite seductive. Not because I don’t want to be connected or invested. But because there is a part of me that is afraid, or reluctant—don’t want to be hurt or disheartened—about something.

And there is a part of me doesn’t know what to give or invest. “After all, what can I do?”

Well, let us begin here. I carry this encouragement in my heart, “Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” (Thank you Iain Thomas)

So, here’s the deal; I don’t want my heart to go away. I want to speak from that place. Speaking to hope and respiration and peace, without the weight of any perceived role or expectation. I choose to honor…

My Heart. Empathy. Listening. Seeing pain (and not just the “other”), and honoring dignity and inclusion and safety and hope. Saying “no” to greed, malice and meanness. Saying, “Yes, there are umbrellas to hold.”

My Tears. Redeeming life’s heaviness, they can be a healing (and cleansing) for craziness.

My Laughter. I choose to be grounded in wonder and awe and grateful gladness. “Sabbath Moments”

“In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him" (Ecclesiastes 7:14).

This perspective on God's sovereignty can influence our reactions to our circumstances. This verse emphasizes that God is in control of all our days: the good ("prosperity"), the hard ("adversity"), and the unknown (what "man may not find out," or what "no one can discover" [NET]). 

Let's look at three ways we can respond to this truth and face every situation with confident assurance in the Lord.

1. Rejoice in the good.

The Hebrew word for "prosperity" in Ecclesiastes 7:14 can also mean "goodness" or "pleasantness." While it may seem natural to be joyful in such circumstances, sometimes we can be tempted to suppress our joy out of guilt (feeling like we don't deserve it) or caution (fearing that our blessings may disappear). But the Teacher's words assure us that God wants us to be joyful. When we recognize every good gift is from Him (James 1:17), our joy becomes worship because our hearts are directed toward Him.

2. Reflect in the hard.

The word "adversity" in Ecclesiastes 7:14 evokes times when it can be challenging to look beyond our circumstances. Yet this verse encourages us to consider God's involvement, reminding us that He is in control despite our difficulties. In fact, He is at work within the hardship. We can "count it all joy" when we face trials because they are not the end (James 1:2).

3. Remember in the unknown.

The Teacher concluded Ecclesiastes 7:14 with a statement that no human can know the future "that will be after him." But God can. And He does. In fact, nothing "will be after" God because He is eternal and infinite! In Ecclesiastes 7:1-8, we see that every human life is framed by birth and death, but God has no beginning, no end, and no limits (Psalm 90:2). We must remember He is sovereign over our days of prosperity and adversity as well as the days yet to come.

God wisely weaves the joyful days and the difficult ones into His plans and His purposes. We can trust Him with the past, present, and future because He knows the best way to accomplish the ultimate good for His children: for us to know Christ and grow in His likeness (Romans 8:28-29). “First5”

Philippians 4:4-7 Joy in the Lord keeps us protected.

Joy in the Lord, in the gift of salvation, is our strength in a world that is hell bent on destroying our faith. There have been many times in my life that I have found peace only in knowing that God wants the best for me and for those that I love. 

Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I strive daily to hear Him and to be His hands and feet in a world system that is decaying. We see in part what He sees in whole. I trust God’s plan. Carla

In the midst of difficulties, in the midst of all situations, Christians are to rejoice. The joy of Christians is not based on agreeable circumstances, instead it is based on their relationship to God. Christians will face trouble in this world, but they should rejoice in the trials they face because they know God is using those situations to improve their character (James 1:2–4). 

This noun for gentleness identifies a person who manifests a calmness and fairness of spirit. A person who is gentle is willing to sacrifice his or her own personal rights to show consideration to others.

The Lord’s return could occur at any moment. Paul uses that fact to motivate the Philippians to honor God with their lives. Paul exhorts the Philippians to pray about their circumstances instead of worrying over them. Be anxious for nothing, although the same word in 2:20 describes Timothy’s concern for the Philippians, here Paul uses the word to refer to worry. He prohibits the Philippians from worrying about their own problems. Instead they are to commit their problems to God in prayer, trusting that He will provide deliverance. 

Paul’s choice of a military term, will guard, implies that the mind is in a battle zone and needs to be “protected by a military guard.” Since the purpose of such a guard in a wartime situation is either to prevent a hostile invasion or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from escaping, the peace of God operates in the same way: to protect the mind from external corrupting influences and to keep the mind focused on God’s truth. The NKJV Study Bible

Sometimes our work for God requires severe actions. In these times—ones that we can’t possibly prepare for—we need to rely on the Spirit and its work to empower us. Barry, J. D., & Kruyswijk, R. (2012).

The motif of maintaining joy in the midst of suffering is common in Paul’s writings (Colossians 1:24; 2:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 8:2). 

Gentleness refers to showing consideration for one another. By displaying gentleness toward all people—believers and unbelievers alike—Christians reveal the gospel’s power to transform and reconcile. 

Paul again references the Day of Christ as motivation to live in a godly manner. 

The early Christians lived with a sense of urgency because they believed the Lord’s return was imminent (Matthew 24:36–44; 2 Peter 3:1–13). Paul probably was aware of hardships facing the Philippians (Philippians 1:29). Paul wants the believers to acknowledge their dependence on God and His provision. 

The Greek word used here, eirēnē, conveys a range of meanings, including well-being, prosperity, freedom from anxiety, safety from harm, and deliverance from enemies. Paul envisions God’s peace as a soldier who protects the hearts and minds of believers from anxiety, fear, and doubt. Faithlife Study Bible

Each day on this journey, I’ve been finding time to remember Howard Thurman’s invite, “There must be always remaining in every life, some place for the singing of angels, some place for that which in itself is breathlessly beautiful.”

And my friend Charlie sent me this from the Center for Action and Contemplation. “There is a sense of God’s incarnate presence in creation that shimmers forth to reveal the holiness of all things. Notice how your senses come alive when you walk out in the world aware of its sacramental nature. What do your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and skin each reveal to you about how God is alive in the world around you?” Sabbath Moments

The gospel transforms our approach to our current reality and our unknown future:

Instead of contending with God, we surrender to God through faith in Christ, trusting that He works for our good (Romans 8:28).

Instead of thinking, I know best, we acknowledge that He knows best and will always provide for us in Christ (Matthew 6:25-34).

Instead of trying to predict what's coming, we allow the Author of our story to keep writing and perfecting our faith as we keep looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

We can't know every detail of "what will be" (Ecclesiastes 6:12), but we can know and proclaim what Jesus has already done for us.There are many mysteries of God that we understand only in part, but we find hope in the assurance that we "have life and have it abundantly" in Christ (John 10:10). 

He knows the future, and because we know Him, we can trust where He's going with our stories.  However, striving to know God through relationship with Jesus leads to peace that "surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). God has always desired an intimate relationship with humanity. His love remains steadfast despite our sin. He has made a way for reconciliation through Jesus' death and resurrection, and when we draw near to Him, we can truly know His heart and reflect His love to others. First5