Christ and I love you. Christ and I love all people.
To say hello in Irish Gaelic, one says, “Jesus be with you.” The next person says, “Jesus and Mary be with you.” And if a third walks up, they say, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph be with you.” This inspired my opening couple of lines. I seek to be aware of or share these lines when communicating with people so as to assist me with focusing on listening, learning, discovering, loving, and building each other up in conversation.
This is useful these days with so much dizzying division. I submit though that reducing this fear and division is something that each of us has the opportunity and responsibility to do by reaching and talking to all others. These positive reaches ripple incredibly far, inspire others, follow the Will of our Creator, and we enter into joy more. It is up to us, not them, to dissolve division. I love Romans 12:16 “Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friends with the poor. Do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied.” The following are good too: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “.. encourage & strengthen each other..” 1 Corinthians 10:24 “ …. look for other’s advantage ….” Ephesians 4:29 “…. let your words be for the improvement of others, and do good to your listeners, ….”
I’ve been both Democrat and Republican and spent a lot of time holding signs at polling stations where I love wandering to the other side and yakking with those of other stripes. We can converse. We can undo fear. We can build each other up. Open up, take a breath, and launch in!
I think the Cliff Notes of the Old Testament are that when people and their governments align with God and follow God’s Will, when they go OnVine with God, they rise. When they get too full of themselves, forget God, don’t know they need God, don’t rely on God, and think they can do whatever they want, they fall. People through the ages have learned this over and over.
We must love and recruit all people to Christ as they are all cherished and wanted and sought and Loved by their Creator, the Greatest Lover, Jesus, God, and Holy Spirit. Yes, we must share our understanding of God’s Will so they learn how to love God back. We must love the person while helping God better the choices and actions. We are directed to do both at once.
In all events, let’s seek to be ever opening and mutually build each other up and keep on talking and keep breaking down fear and isolation. All are loved. All are wanted. Do you like God? God likes you! Explore the greatest joy! I pray for you and all today to be ever opening and to flourish a little bit and more than we could ask or imagine OnVine yoking around in a childlike manner with our Creator and to foster flourishing in others.
Matthew 11:28-30 'Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.”
Matthew 18:3 “Then he said, 'I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Ecclesiasticus 39:12-15 “Listen to me, devout children, and blossom like the rose that grows on the bank of a watercourse. Give off a sweet smell like incense, flower like the lily, spread your fragrance abroad, sing a song of praise blessing the Lord for all his works. Declare the greatness of his name, proclaim his praise with song and with lyre …..”
Ephesians 3:20 “Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine;”
