Matthew 5:43-48 Who does God love and care for? Everyone!

 Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

As people of our living God we can love those who spitefully use  us simply because He does. Love God and leave the judging to Him. Hate evil and seek the good of all that is the will of God. We love others and their families as much as we love ourselves and our own. Carla

Matthew 5:43-48

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do g ood to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (NKJV)

To be a “son of” was to be like someone or something. That you may be sons of your Father in heaven means “that you may be like the Heavenly Father who displays His love without discrimination.”

This verse, which comes from Deuteronomy 18:13, refers to completeness. In the context of 5:43–48, it seems to mean that Jesus’ followers are to be as perfect as God in the ways that they love. God does not lower the standard to accommodate our sinfulness. He gives us the power to keep His righteous standard. The NKJV Study Bible

Just as God gives the good gifts of sun and rain to all people without distinction, members of the kingdom should act with love, kindness, and generosity toward all. Jesus’ followers should reflect God’s character.

Tax collectors were some of the most hated people in Israel, due to the nature of their work and their association with the Roman government. Tax collectors generally obtained their posts from Roman authorities through a bidding system. They often made sizeable profits by levying higher taxes than Rome required. Consequently, Jews regarded Jewish tax collectors as traitors and as members of the lowest level of society. The mention of tax collectors alongside non-Jewish people (verse 47) reflects not only their poor reputation, but also the scope of Jesus’ ministry to redeem all of humanity, including the outcasts of society. Matthew, the likely author of this Gospel, was a tax collector, and Jews viewed his inclusion among Jesus’ disciples as scandalous (9:9–13).

Gentiles in the Greek text refers to non-Jews—people who were not ethnically part of Israel.

Those who demonstrate love in the manner attributed to God the Father will become perfect—complete or mature. Faithlife Study Bible

Leviticus 19:18

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Acts 7:60

Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Leviticus 19:2

“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy

Luke 6:27–28

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

“This is the categorical imperative of the Christian Faith: You shall lovingly accept the humanity entrusted to you. You shall accept yourself.” Johannes Metz

You are able to give your self—your heart and your soul—when you lovingly accept the humanity entrusted to you.
What an invitation: the gift to be at home in my own skin.
Whole and undivided.
So, yes. And Amen.

So, yes. And Amen.

I’ve always been triggered by the societal estimation that our identity is defined solely by what we do. Meaning, how we make money.

We need to change the questions.

Instead of, “What do you do, or what did you accomplish and achieve?”

Ask this, “Where, and in what ways, does your heart come alive?”

Taking to heart Frederick Buechner’s reminder, “Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need.” Sabbath Moments

Never Give Up

No matter what is going on

Never give up

Develop the heart

Too much energy in your country

Is spent developing the mind

Instead of the heart

Be compassionate

Not just to your friends

But to everyone

Be compassionate

Work for peace

In your heart and in the world

Work for peace

And I say again

Never give up

No matter what is going on around you

Never give up

Attribute to the Dalai Lama 

1 John 1:8-10 God is merciful and full of grace!

 Job 15:14

“What is man, that he could be pure?

And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?

No human is righteous in themself, only  Jesus, all man all God is. He gave His sinless life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world  that we can stand in His righteousness before our holy Father. In Holy Spirit which He gives to us we learn the meaning of life and are changed, precept by precept, to live like God intended. When we confess our sins to God He is faithful to forgive us. In Christ all things are possible. Carla

1 John 1:8-10

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (NKJV)

The second false claim is that we have no sin. The idea would be that our sin nature is completely gone. To say this is to deceive ourselves (2 Chronicles 6:36; John 9:41). The truth is God’s revelation, which says just the opposite. To have no sin is to have no need of a Savior, which would make the coming of Jesus unnecessary.

Though John uses we primarily to refer to himself and the other apostles as eyewitnesses of Christ (verse 1), here the term includes all believers who confess (acknowledge) sin. God says that we are sinners in need of forgiveness. To confess is to agree with Him, to admit that we are sinners in need of His mercy. If a believer confesses his or her specific sins to God, He will cleanse all unrighteousness from that person. Forgiveness and cleansing are guaranteed because God is faithful to His promises. Those promises are legitimate because God is just. God can maintain His perfect character and yet forgive us because of the perfect and righteous sacrifice of Jesus, His own Son (2:2).

We may admit to having a sin nature while still denying any personal sin and therefore any need for confession. The Greek verb translated we have not sinned indicates a denial in the past that continues to the present. Unlike verse 8, which speaks of the guilt of sin or a sinful nature, this verse is about the denial of any particular sins. To make this denial is to call God a liar because God’s word emphasizes the penetrating nature of sin (Romans 7:14–24). Denying that sin is in us indicates that God’s word is not in us. In other words, a person who denies committing sinful acts does not have the Word of God changing his or her life. The NKJV Study Bible

Every person should admit to themselves and God that they are sinful. John’s opponents apparently claimed that they did not sin and therefore did not need to be cleansed.

For John, the position of his opponents is the ultimate form of self-deception, since it prevents a person from accepting the truth of their sinful nature (1 John 2:10–14). By contrast, true believers are defined in terms of their admission of sinfulness and need for Christ’s sacrifice (verse 9).

Confession of sin opens a person to the work of God within them, relinquishing the power of sin over their life through the power of Jesus (2:1). John is not suggesting that the act of confession is required for salvation. God does the saving work; people cannot save themselves (2:12; John 3:16–17). Instead, confession opens a person to the work of the Holy Spirit, leading to the removal of sinful behaviors and desires (1 John 3:24).

Confessing sin to God is the opposite of declaring a lack of sin (verse 8). When sins are declared, God’s work has the opportunity to replace sin in the life of a Christian. He refers  to God, who will forgive us through the atoning death of Jesus (1 John 1:7).

God is true to the agreement He made with His people, which established the true cost of sin (Deuteronomy 7:9; Jeremiah 31:31–34). God demonstrates this attribute by carrying out His promise of bringing people into relationship with Him through Christ’s sacrificial death  (Isaiah 53:10–12). When people admit that they are sinful, God honors His word by both forgiving them and giving them the power to overcome sin.

When someone claims to have not sinned, they also are, in essence, rejecting God’s statements about sinfulness and denying the need for Jesus’ sacrifice. John reminds his audience of Jesus’ saving work and exhorts them to love one another—which will show that they are true believers in Jesus. By contrast, those with hateful dispositions are clearly not followers of Jesus. Faithlife Study Bible

Psalm 32:5

I acknowledged my sin to You,

And my iniquity I have not hidden.

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”

And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Proverbs 28:13

He who covers his sins will not prosper,

But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

James 3:2

For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 

1 John 5:10

He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 

Some years ago, on a visit to a friend's house in Paso Robles, hanging on a wall with very remarkable art, I see a hand drawn crayon picture of a dragon (drawn “in the hand” of a young child). The dragon is pink and purple and lavender.
I really liked the dragon, and mentioned it to my host.
“My daughter did that drawing when she was very young,” the friend told me. “And her teacher was not pleased, and told her that she did it all wrong. Everyone knows that ‘dragons are not That Color!’”
“It hangs there today,” the mother tells me, “as a reminder to my daughter, to be one of a kind.”

One of a kind. Yes. Remember Mother Teresa’s reminder to a roomful of lepers, of how much God loved each one of them. She told them that they are “a gift to the rest of us.”
Interrupting her, an old leper raises his hand, and she calls on him. “Could you repeat that again?” he asks. “It did me good. So, would you mind; just saying it again.”
Yes please. Just say it again.
We easily forget, don't we... the cathartic power of grace?

And on the days when public opinion pesters, I keep this Parker Palmer quote close by. "It is a strange gift, this birthright gift of self. Discovering vocation does not mean scrambling toward some prize just beyond my reach but accepting the treasure of true self I already possess. Vocation does not come from a voice ‘out there’ calling me to become something I am not. It comes from a voice ‘in here’ calling me to be the person I was born to be, fulfill the original selfhood given me at birth by God."
And in my heart, I know that vocation is not just my job, or calling, but the mark I leave, and the place I take, in this world, by being “purple dragon” Terry.

It starts early, doesn’t it?
Don't be different.
What will people think?
What makes you think you have an opinion?
Do you really feel that way?
That person is strange, isn't he?
This I do know: Just like purple dragons, labels never help. They limit us and tempt us to compare ourselves to others with similar labels. Which exacerbates the temptation to play to public opinion. But here's the deal: Playing to public opinion I too easily sacrifice; my emotions, my feelings, my passion, my gifts, my heart, and my humanity. Because there will always be some voice telling me that whoever I am today, is not enough.

True, living into this authentic—purple dragon—self is neither easy, nor managed by a checklist. But this much is certain: living into our authentic self begins with a whole heart.
I read this once, “she was reclaiming herself, alive in her own skin.” Yes, that’s it. At home in our own skin… Unabashed in a skin (a self) that feels, values, honors, esteems, loves, fears, desires, hopes for, believes in, and commits to. With nothing to earn or prove, because life isn’t a race or contest or beauty pageant.
At home in my skin, I have a self to give.
I can dance, and savor life.
I can choose to be an anchor and a listening ear.
I can be a hand to hold, and a hug to keep the heart alive.

“This is the categorical imperative of the Christian Faith: You shall lovingly accept the humanity entrusted to you. You shall accept yourself.” Johannes Metz

Sabbath Moments

Galatians 6:7-10 God is not Mocked What We Sow We Reap

The phrase “all people” echoes “all nations” (Galatians  3:8). Just as God’s blessing through Abraham reaches all nations, the good works of the Galatians reach all people. The believers in Galatia do not merely represent a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham; they are an extension of God’s mission to the world. Their good works show the goodness and kindness of God. Faithlife Study Bible

Our faith in Jesus Christ, who is the embodiment of our triune Godhead, changes us. The fruit of the Spirit grows and matures us as we follow His guidance. In the agape love of the Father we are a peaceful, gentle, humble people and our character is given to good works to help others. We are the children of God and He loves the world that He created. Carla

Galatians 6:7-10

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (NKJV)

The principle of sowing and reaping was known to everyone in a largely agricultural society. It is a vain attempt to “mock” God for a Christian to think that if he sows to his flesh he can escape the harvest of destruction and judgment that comes upon those who participate in sin (5:19–21; Hosea 8:7). Corruption is a term used for a field in which the produce is too rotten to harvest. Some interpret corruption to imply eternal destruction, either through losing salvation or through never having been truly saved at all. Others understand a tragic loss of rewards for the carnal believer ( 1 Corinthians 3:12–15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelations 22:12). 

He who sows to the Spirit will … reap everlasting life does not mean that eternal life is earned by works. Rather, Paul is saying that everlasting life is the glorious end of those who follow the guidance of the Spirit (Romans 6:22). 

Paul speaks of doing good. The apostle has argued at length that such works cannot justify (2:16) or sanctify (3:3) anyone. However, good works are, in fact, an important fruit of the life of faith (5:5) that God has planned for each believer (Ephesians 2:8–10). In 5:19–23, the apostle describes the attitudes and actions of those controlled by the “flesh” versus those controlled by the Spirit. In verses 7–9, Paul shows the impact of those two contradictory ways over the length of a Christian’s life (Revelations 22:12). Therefore indicates that this verse speaks of an important application of the spiritual sowing and reaping process (verses 7–9). Christians are not only to serve one another in love they also should do good to non-Christians. The NKJV Study Bible

Paul uses an agricultural metaphor to encourage the Galatians to live by the Spirit. A person cannot engage in works of the flesh (5:19) and expect to experience God’s life.

Eternal life is not limited to life after death but begins in the present, as the believer is transformed by God’s Spirit (5:22–23; Romans 8:2, 10–11).

Although believers cannot justify themselves by their actions, good works reflect the love of God and have a central place in the lives of His people (Ephesians 2:10). Paul urges the Galatians to bless everyone through their good works. While believers should do good to all people, they should particularly assist those who belong to the community of believers. Faithlife Study Bible

Job 4:8

Even as I have seen,

Those who plow iniquity

And sow trouble reap the same.

Proverbs 3:27

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

When it is in the power of your hand to do so.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

2 Corinthians 9:6

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

It seems that the nagging question, “But what if this—the life we chose, or the life we are living—is the wrong life?
Have I done bone-headed things with my life? To be sure.
Have I miscalculated and misused talent or opportunity? Assuredly.
Have I wrestled with depression and the weight of life gone awry? Yes, I have.
Does it benefit me to wish that I were elsewhere and otherwise? I don't think so.
What I know for certain is that starting down that path of determining “right or wrong” life, assures the fact that we will avoid (and definitely miss) this life.

This week, let us hear the invitation—embrace the freedom to be awake and invested, in this life, in this moment... the very one we are living today.
As Dewitt Jones puts it, “To not only be the best in the world, but to be the best for the world.”
I love this. Not only is this the life to live...
In doing so, you bring your whole heart.
In doing so, you make a difference.
Thank you, to every one of you, for the difference you make. “This little light of mine…”

So… “Let us not darken the joy of resurrection,” Thomas Merton reminds us, “by remaining in captivity and darkness, but let us live as free men and women who have been called out of the darkness and into the light.” Sabbath Moments

Luke 6:36-38 Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound!

  “Humanity is not lost; it is buried beneath fear, greed, and noise. But every time you choose compassion over indifference, empathy over apathy, you bring us one step closer to remembering who we are. The world does not need more wealth or weapons—it needs people willing to be brave enough to care.” Cleo Wade

Everyone born into this world has the spark of the Creator. God is kind and merciful  and wants no one to live without Him. The agape love of God covers a multitude of the sins of humanity. He cares for all of us. Carla

Luke 6:36-38

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”  (NKJV)

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful, God’s character and actions are the ethical standards for His followers. Leviticus 19:2; Deuteronomy 10:17–18; Matthew 5:48; 1 Peter 1:15.

As in the preceding section, Jesus is calling for righteous behavior and emphasizing love, forgiveness, and generosity.

In response to God’s forgiveness of them, Jesus’ followers should offer forgiveness to those who have wronged them. As with His teaching in Luke 6:27–36, Jesus calls His followers to imitate God by displaying sacrificial love. Good measure—pressed down, shaken, overflowing—they will pour out into your lap  describes the abundance that is given to the generous. Faithlife Study Bible

Judge not … Condemn not … Forgive: The idea here is not that one should ignore sin or refuse to discuss its consequences rather, one should be gracious and quick to forgive.

Good measure is an illustration that comes from the marketplace where grain was poured out, shaken down, and then filled to overflowing so the buyer received the full amount purchased. Such is the full measure that will be returned to one who has been generous. The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 7:1–5

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you…

Matthew 6:14

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

Matthew 5:48–6:1

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“We live like ill-taught piano students. We are so afraid of the flub that will get us in dutch, we don't hear the music, we only play the right notes.” Thank you, Robert Capon.

We give up our ability to be generous, to be big-hearted, to forgive, and to change.
We give up our ability to make a difference—to let our light shine.

“Never allow a person to tell you No
who doesn't have the power to say Yes.”
Thank you, Eleanor Roosevelt.

There have been times this year when I have been pushed, or pulled, toward fatigue, without being conscious of it. In those places, I know that I felt empty, in a place where it is easy to believe the whole world is colored by gloom.

And this I know: When we are given over to fear, we cannot rest, or absorb, or create, or take delight

So where do we find this reservoir that gives us the courage, and strength, and spirit to move forward? I am certain of this; overcoming obstacles is not the goal. As if we must “defeat” someone or something.

It is about being at home in your skin and living from your heart.
It’s about shining a light from the candle in our spirit. “This little light of mine…”
It’s about knowing that each day we are able to continue to weave the tapestry of our lives... with a purity of spirit and intention. And that my friends, makes a difference in our world, where fear and discouragement and pessimism are real.

And if we wonder if we “are enough”?
Mother Teresa once told a roomful of lepers how much God loved them. She told them that they are “a gift to the rest of us.”
Interrupting her, an old leper raises his hand, and she calls on him. “Could you repeat that again?” he asks. “It did me good. So, would you mind; just saying it again.”
Yes please. Just say it again.
We easily forget, don't we... the cathartic power of grace?
The power to shine the light on shame and fear and paranoia.
To invite us to bear the beams of love.
To invite us to weave the tapestry from our heart
Here’s the deal: Today, let us remember who we are. And let that light spill. Sabbath Moments