March 9, 2017

Greetings My Friend, Awhile ago I decided to look up the definition of the word holy, it means set apart. I have mulled this over in my mind a lot since then. I have learned through the years being a Christian means we choose to be set apart because Jesus' life was set apart, that God has always been set apart at least since the fall. Right now I am in Leviticus which is a whole lot of rules and regulations and well it is hard to grasp all that is being taught. My new method underlining and circling is helping me to read each word and in the midst of these long tedious chapters I am finding some nuggets of profound information. My first sentence was "Consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes and do them; I the Lord who sanctifies you." I see that God is calling me to not be like those all around me but to be set apart. I learn that He is going to sanctify me so I look this word up to find it means "make holy and bless." I also learn I will be purified be made more perfect and I find comfort in this. I have always loved learning and growing in my learning, I used to think a college education was what I needed but it was more tests and a bias that the teacher had that did not always match up to my moral compass. With God I have entered the best schooling for me, studying God's Word, growing in His design for mankind and in my special unique job for His kingdom. I like this learning the best. I am encourager I love seeing the potential in all people so writing is one way I am able to encourage others. My unique way of encouraging is telling my story so others relate, realize they can be and do and at times I encourage myself to spur "me" on. I realize why God calls us to be set apart and I am comforted in this. It is getting easier to not be like the world because God makes me feel very special. I read further and discover God speaking again,"You shall be holy to me for the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine." Again I hear God calling us to be in the world but not of the world. God is growing a special people first to Himself and I sense He is also setting us apart so that we may reach out to bring new believers to Him. He teaches us that He wants a "royal priesthood" which says to me we are to teach the world of God's wonderful grace. As Jesus spoke to sinners we are to reach out to the sinners around us and give them the hope of Jesus. I learn that God is not calling us to be uppity ups but to have love and compassion. God did not make life easy for the Israelite's they had to obey Him, choose to follow His way of life for them. It seems hard to live like this but through the years I have learned to listen to the Holy Spirit's guidance and I am able to follow God's ways. I can not do it on my own but I can do much with the Holy Spirit's guidance. God does not expect us to do all of our holy living on our own. On my own I can see the wrong in me and I give up rather than try. With Jesus I learn to be thankful for the simple but important things in life, I have food to eat, a roof over my head and I am thankful for many things I used to take for granted. I no longer need to be like others and I am content in my own unique way. I thank God for being a friend when I felt alone and unwanted, He has shown me I am His and He will never leave me or forsake me. With Parkinson's I struggle to walk. The other day Junior and I went down to our neighbor's and I took myself up his porch steps. When it came time to leave I needed help getting down the steps. I am grateful I could be outside in the rare warm February afternoon. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet