Life is in the Father

Yesterday
We said goodbye to Pauline (Jamaican embassy worker), received clothes for the orphanage from Joana (she'll be going to Taiwan and then Cuba to finish her research), and we put up the Christmas tree! That last one has been waiting patiently for a while. We were going to, meant to, planned to, but finally did it yesterday. Everything but the lights and two Alaskan ornaments are from Ikea.

I also discovered more uses for the indestructible Tyvek material and will go to Staples in 798 to try to purchase the very best and plain mailing envelopes.

Luke 9-12
This is my son whom I have chosen; listen to him. This passage begins a succession of passages about welcoming God, listening to God, and those who are welcomed and listening to God. I am amazed, but it has happened before, to find such interwoven stories all starting from the voice of God speaking to Peter, John, and James. It goes something like this... Pray and God will heal, welcoming children welcomes God, rejection of Jesus is no reason to immediately condemn people to Hell, listening to Jesus brings great challenges (no earthly home, rejection of this world's model for respect and honor), shaking of dust is a warning-not instantaneous condemnation, listen and accept Jesus from earthly teachers... which leads to The Good Samaritan, Mary & Martha, The Visitor at Midnight. And reaching back again, Jesus shows the object we should be listening for, welcoming of, and wanting is the Holy Spirit. Interweaving yet again... Jesus isn't dividing his kingdom, he is drawing all believers to himself, those that hear the word of God and obey it are blessed! Open the word of God to others, allow as many as possible to come in, do not hinder them (11:52)

Jesus has a major theme: life is in the Father. Listening, welcoming, and following Jesus all draw one closer to the root of everything, God the Father. So I suppose this theme can easily be found throughout the teachings of Jesus.

Power of a Praying Husband - Submission
Submitting is something one does, not something one takes. Submitting is voluntary. I need to submit to God, Jaime needs to submit to God, then we need to serve one another in proper submission. Matthew 10:39, Romans 12:16.

Prayer
Thank you God for the many blessings that come from submitting to you. Help me to honor you first in everything.