Beauty in Obedience

Yesterday
Went to Hualian supermarket to buy peanut M&Ms for the Christmas show, bought Jaime a Christmas card and some character practice books, then went to the square to practice juggling the clubs I made.

We had only two at our study last night, but then we will have many on Sunday for the party. I think they decided to exchange the times, choosing Sunday over Wednesday. One had to work overtime, another had a performance. Finishing the study at 8pm, we went to Gary & Danita's for three baptisms. It was a wonderful example of obedience to the Lord and his grace being given... All of them are 45-55 years old, Jack has been a believer for a long time, but didn't obey God concerning baptism. Now we are all brothers and sisters!

A friend from UB, Ray, is saying he no longer believes. God grant him your faith, give him some way to come back to you, to know your love and your presence in his daily life.

Luke 21-24
Luke gives details no other Gospel writer has given. I really have enjoyed Luke's Gospel. These are just parts I noticed and thought were of interest and I will think about them more today: The widow's offering - 21:1-4; Jesus confers the kingdom upon them after they argue about who is the greatest and Peter will deny he knows the Lord - 22:24-32; the disciples were tired from sorrow, they must have understood Jesus would suffer greatly and themselves as well - 22:45; "But from now on, The Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God." - 22:69; Jesus is the king of the Jews, yet he is rejected and crucified which fits with the Jewish Nation's constant abuses throughout history - 23:1-3; Pilate and Herod become friends as Jesus goes between them, they both admire Jesus, or at least his miracles - 23:8-12; Pilate tries to release Jesus at least three times (both rulers found him innocent) - 23:13-25; Jesus says, "I tell the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." - 23:43; "Joseph, a member of the Council... who had not consented to their decision and action." 23:50-51; The entire section of the road to Emmaus - especially wishing I could have heard Jesus explain all the prophecies concerning himself! - 23:13-35; Jesus has open piercings, wounds, or did the wounds heal with scars? - 23:39.

Power of a Praying Husband - Her Beauty
Jaime is a beautiful woman. God says so, I say so, and she needs to believe it. God's beauty is increasingly apparent in her and that makes her even more beautiful. Proverbs 31:30, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised." I don't doubt that she will be praised for her beauty... because a woman who follows God with her whole heart will be beautiful from within due to the Spirit of God increasingly transforming her heart. Then her physical appearance will also improve, because she will have the joy of the Lord that comes from obedience and healthy living. This kind of woman is not mastered by others, but the Lord is her master, so her reliance on him is attractive (appearing as independence and not appearing as needy as others - though she still wants and desires love, appreciation, and such from others). He confidence comes from the Lord of Lords and cannot be taken away, his grace supplies her with all the courage, motivation, and discipline she needs to be a woman of God.

Prayer
God help me to bless Jaime in words and actions to be more and more beautiful in your presence. May she know you more and may our love for you increase. Give us hearts for you and for serving one another. Let us be shaped by the life of Jesus to live sacrificially each day, giving to you, each other, and our neighbors. God grant us your presence so that our feet can be beautiful, let us share your love with our next door neighbor and the one half way around the world.