2 CORINTHIANS ~ Chapter 9/Thursday Bible Study

The early Church was constantly being persecuted; they were in poor straits (desperate need of basic comforts); the Believers depended upon each other to survive – housing, food, clothing, jobs., ect.

In Paul’s 2 Corinthian messages to the Believers, he gives praiseworthy encouragement while explaining the benefits and opportunities tied to generous giving. In last week’s message, Paul made it clear that givers were not to give beyond their means (ex: do not impoverish themselves for the sake of giving comfort to others) – but, he also encourages the givers to give what they comfortably can in regards to helping their fellow members.

Today’s study, highlights a connection between giving … and receiving … Elohim’s abundant blessings. The message today, also highlights that giving is to be done as a Christlike act of grace: Elohim does not intend our giving to be done as a legalistic obligation; rather it should be an instinctive giving, motivated by a willing and cheerful heart.

In this letter to the Corinthian Believers, Paul quotes from Psalm 112 to make the point that Elohim is always meeting the needs of the downtrodden.

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2 CORINTHIANS ~ Chapter 9

Christian Giving, a Joy to the Giver

"It may seem a waste of time for me to write to you about the offering for the Christian Brethren. I know about your readiness, and I proudly told about you to the Macedonians, saying that Greece (Achaia) has been prepared since last year, and most of them were stirred by your zeal. I have, nevertheless, sent the brethren, so that our confidences in you may not prove to be misplaced, and so that you may be ready, even as I said you were. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we shall be put to shame – and you, too, of course – for having been so confident. That is why I thought it necessary to ask these brethren to go to you ahead of me, and to take up beforehand this offering that you had promised, and thus it would be a willing gift and not a begrudged obligation. (vv. 1-5)

Let me add this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, but he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Let each one give as he has purposed in his heart; not with reluctance nor under compulsion (pressure, coercion, duress, force), for *Elohim loves a cheerful (optimistic, positive, happy, smiling) giver. In return, God is able to give you every blessing in rich measure, so that you may always have all you need in every week, and so that you may have abundantly for every good work. So Scripture says, “Elohim scatters abroad and gives to the poor; His righteousness lasts forever.” (vv.6-9)

God Honors a Faithful **Stewardship

And Elohim, Who supplies the sower with seed and with bread to eat, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and He will increase the fruits of your righteous acts! You will be enriched in every way, toward greater generosity, too, and so through us men will thank Elohim for it. This service (help, assistance, benefit, advantage, good turn), then, is not limited to supplying the wants of fellow-saints, but it also overflows in a tide of thanksgiving to Elohim. In the way that you stand the test of this service – by your obedience, by your acceptance of the Gospel of Christ, and by the liberality of your contribution in behalf of them and of all others – just so are you giving honor to Elohim. Then they in turn will long for you and pray for you, on account of the ***surpassing (outshining, transcending) ****grace (kindness, favor, mercy, compassion) that Elohim has given you. Now, thanks be to Elohim for this free gift, more precious than words can tell!" (vv. 10-15)

*Elohim (from the Hebrew word, el-o-heem) = the Supreme God. Exceedingly great and mighty

**Stewardship = is the act of making wise use of resources; recognizing that everything we have, and everything we are is a gift from Elohim – and being grateful and generous with those gifts.

 

**2 CORINTHIANS 8:

https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/04/2-corinthians-chapter-8thursday-bible.html

HOPE

This is MY Blog – I do not apologize for anything I post on MY Blog.

If you are offended … move on.

My hope is that roe vs wade will be overturned and never revived again: I do not apologize.

I had a hair trim appointment this afternoon, in Castle Rock; I drove the long route. Two things happened during that country drive: my shoes were pinching my feet so bad, I eventually removed them and drove in stocking feet – and I heard on the radio; that roe vs wade stands a good chance of being booted out of the Supreme Court’s realm: and there is a very high expectation that the obamanite reign of lunacy is about to end with Primary and National Election Voter’s Returns.

US Supreme Court Set To Overturn roe vs wade:

(https://www.reuters.com/world/us/leaked-us-supreme-court-decision-suggests-majority-set-overturn-roe-v-wade-2022-05-03/)

Roe vs Wade HAS never been a Law - NEVER; it's always been considered a 'right'. NOT A LAW.

Crazy nancy, and dementia boy joe, are blaming President Trump for the overturn of roe vs wade … obviously they have not been paying attention to The People – this has been a loooooong time coming; and The People have loooooooong said they want that people’s choice taken out of the Supreme Court’s hands: roe vs wade has never been a Law, it has always been a choice. And a disastrous one, at that.

Not content to murder babies in the womb, that spawn of Hell barak hussain obama, encouraged babies born alive to be left to die – without the comfort of human touch: just left on a table to be ignored, starved, dehydrated, and abandoned. Horrific death in womb abortions … and horrific deaths outside the womb.

After Birth {Abortions} – Why Should The Baby Live? (https://jme.bmj.com/content/39/5/261)

The moralless demonrats have shoved infanticide down American throats for 49 years: wholesale murder of innocent babies (the unrepentant hallmark cause of the demonrats) is a blight and a shame on America. I’m glad it’s about to come to a screeching halt.

So sick and tired of the political BS

The obamanite demonrats are the biggest treat to America - and to the world, at large.

Always hopeful that reality will once again reign.

The obama-biden coup is so bad, that even the kool-aid drinking demonrats want nothing more to do with any of it.

We, The People, can only hope that sanity will rule the Day, again.

Trump-backed Candidates That Won Tuesday’s Primaries: (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/04/trump-backed-candidates-that-won-ohio-indiana-primaries-00029645)

As I was parking the Highlander at home, again, the talking head on the radio was predicting rain tonight at midnight … and through Saturday. I decided to change my shirt, switch my shoes out, and plant those tomato plants I bought weeks ago.

But before I did any of that, I threw those feet-pinching shoes in the garbage. They were the right size, and they fit – but the buckle design was torture on the feet; I couldn’t in all good conscience pass them onto a thrift store.

Cute shoes ... but they were HELL on my feet; into the garbage they went as soon as I got home.

Got the tomatoes planted this afternoon, just in time; lots of rain forecasted into Saturday P.M.

'Early Girl', 'Roma', and 'Tumbler' cherry tomatoes.

I had just gotten back inside the house and kicked my shoes off, when I was invited to join friends out Coal Creek Road. So, I tied my shoes back on, and spent an enjoyable 3 hours enjoying the peaceful quiet of country life, good friends, easy convo … and agreed to spend Mother’s Day with them. They are good friends. They do not want me to be alone on a family day. I am truly blessed.

When we hugged and said our goodbyes, I was sent home with a bouquet of lilacs. I like lilacs, and always had at least one lilac planted (2 in Cathlamet; 1 white & 1 purple) at every house we bought, and lived in, after we left Cathlamet in 1993. But I do not think I will have a lilac planted here.

Being gifted with the bouquet was a thoughtful and loving thing 😊 And I cut it down quite a bit when I got home, so that the scent does not overwhelm my asthmatic lungs.

Small arrangement, but very pungent; the house smells lovely.

The hope is that I can keep it around until it fades 😉

GLITTER IS MY SIGNATURE COLOR

I got a text around 8:30 AM, that my new glasses were waiting for me to pick them up. I hurried up and got ready to go collect them 😊

I dressed accordingly – the new eyewear was glitzy with glitter … so was my makeup, and clothing. If I had glitter hairspray, I would have used that too.

My inner flamingo was coming out in full force, this morning 😉

Eyeshadow of choice, today - 'gentle' for browline & 'likeable' for eyelid; it is very glittery.

Blue ‘liner’ to match my jeans; also packed with glitter.

Peachy - white tube – lip gloss; glittery.

Gold studs on my gold-threaded top; I sparkled from head to toe, today 😊

Rubyhorse – ‘Sparkle’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53xIJbzo-QA)

I’m a big bottom-big boobed woman … with a very short torso; so, it looks like I have no waist at all: people stare. When I was younger (and thinner) that didn’t matter: tanks tops and short shorts gave the illusion of an hour-glass shape with definition – people could see that I did, in fact, have a waist. Sort of. But at 65, baring my midriff would be ridiculous, and pointless: my sliding-south-boobs would hide my waist 😉

What people can see now, is my face. Thankfully, that is holding up; for now, even if my teeth are crooked. Bob loved all of me, as imperfect as I am: and Bob was an very handsome man 😊

I decided with the dawning of 2022, that I was going to make having fun the main focus of my life: I’m 65 and looking at the downslope of life, and I am going to pack that short amount of time with fun, fun, and more fun. I’m not going to be doing outlandish stunts … but I am going to give more freedom to my bohemian side.

Colorful, boho style clothing (I’m old enough to afford cruising trendy Thrift Shops, and young enough at heart, to get a kick out of wearing it again), glittery makeup, and glitzy eyewear is a start. And even though people tell me I look younger than I am, I’m smart enough to know that I am loooong past 20. Or 40. Or 50: I will not get swept away by recklessness to the point of ridiculousness as some widows do.

But, I do intend to have fun!

Bohemian Style After 60

(https://sixtyandme.com/is-it-ok-to-embrace-bohemian-clothing-after-60/)

Walking out the door ...

I had a wait in the car for a bit when I got downtown (refused to wear a mask inside) … and there was a wait in the optometrist’s office (while the Contact’s order was scrapped, and $$$ refunded me – they kept half).

I played a game of Woodoku.

I hadn’t had anything to eat before I left home, and I was hungry; so, I asked my SIL if she’d like to join me for lunch, on Commerce. Merry has done so much for me these past 3¼ years. I wanted to let her know I appreciated her.

When I showed her my new glasses, she didn’t bat an eye – but she did laugh with me when I said, “they look very elton john, don’t they? I can’t stand his music, but I do like these glasses. They are almost as outrageous as his always were.” That is the type of person I want in my tribe 😊

Timely message; leaving Country Folks Deli.

The eyeglasses case is pink.

I swear – I’ve never had so much pink in my life, in my entire life!

If Bob is looking down on me, I’m sure he is as shocked as I am at how suddenly my tomboy lifestyle has been turned on its ear; and morphed into a pink haze of femininity.

I’m getting used to it now, but for a while there I was kinda getting freaked out wondering who the heck this New Me is.

My life is going 'pink' at turbo speed.

And I’m also thinking, that if Bob is paying any attention at all to what I am doing down here on Earth, he is howling with laughter as I wear my new glasses … after all, Bob had a hand in my choosing them 😉

These new glasses aren’t as colorful as the ones Bob inadvertently {chose} for me about 5 years ago; just before we bought this house. He pointed them out to me as a joke, but they spoke to my gypsy soul – and came home with me.

I still burst out in laughter every time I think of that moment, and the total look of shock when Bob realized I was actually going to buy them and wear them 😊

Bob inadvertently started the whole 'bling thing'; LOL

I can’t wait to show them off to my Lexington friends, Friday morning!

I can already hear the hoots of laughter 😉

Pink Floyd – ‘Shine On, You Crazy Dimond’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWGE9Gi0bB0)

NATIONAL WIDOW WEDNESDAY/USA ~2022

Today is National Widow Wednesday-USA.

I make that distinction, because some people confuse today with International Widow Day … which is in June.

I also make that distinction because I do not want to be classified with widowhood that is a direct result of terrorist activity: Bob was not a brainwashed religious nutcase, and I am not a widow because of religious fervor gone seriously wrong. Our life together was not altered by a religious call to arms. I do not want to be bundled together with craziness brought about by crazies.

I admit that all widows have hard time of it; but I will not be acknowledging International Widow observances.

I am, however, acknowledging America’s National Widow Wednesday – this is something I can get behind, and support (and not only because I happen to be a widow, myself) because I like the background of this observance: https://whatsyourgrief.com/national-widows-day/

My acknowledgment will not be in a depressed mood – my husband, Bob, is in a permanent happy place now … and though I, myself, am not in a permanently Happy Place: I am not crying 24/7 like I was in the early days, months, and years of my widowhood. I still have moments where memories are triggered and tears fill my eyes; but I chose joy. I chose to honor Bob by doing what he told me to do … I chose to live fully in the joy of the moment. When tears threaten to whisk me into a blue mood, I remember Bob’s zest for life, and I chose joy over despair that the love of my life is no longer available to me.

It is true that I am a Widow: 3¼ years a widow. How is that possible – and how have I managed to manage every second of those 1,218 days and nights that Bob was not physically part of?

By the faithfulness of Elohim, and His grace.

By the loving embrace of friendship.

By the outpouring of love that sheltered my battered spirit and broken heart like a comforting cocoon; until my fledgling wings sprouted and strengthened enough to help hope take flight.

By learning to live in the moment – yesterday is gone … and tomorrow is not promised: only today, this moment in my life, matters.

It took me roughly two years into widowhood to function as an adult Solo Lobo instead of an angry brat. It took another twelve months for my foggy brain to reconstitute. And three months into 2022, it is surprising to me how widowhood does not overshadow my life in the moment.

I’ve come a long way from where I was in the grieving process.

And I like that people who are in my life now are not cautious about saying Bob’s Name, and/or talking about him 😊Those conversations with people who knew Bob, and share their memories of him with me, bring more joy into my life. We do not sit around talking constantly about Bob … but when we do bring him into the conversation, it is a sweet time of remembrance. And it warms my heart to know that Bob was loved by so many people, besides myself.

So, today; on this day of widowhood observance, I chose to ride the waves and go with the flow 😉

I want to age like sea glass.

Widowhood is previously unknown frailty.

Widowhood is living in a constant state of missingness – of being alone in a crowd of people. It’s looking back even while looking/moving forward.

I want to welcome, and ride the crest of the person widowhood is shaping: the person Bob, and Yeshua, always knew I was capable of being. I was always compassionate and empathetic … but today, I listen to people in ways I couldn’t before. When Bob was physically with me, I never experienced loneliness; loneliness was always a foreign thing to me – and I couldn’t relate to the depth’s others felt it. After Bob graduated to a higher level of living beyond the clouds, that foreign thing became a very real, very present experience: my listening ability has been altered by life’s tempests.

Widowhood is becoming a New Person in an unfamiliar New Life.

Widowhood is murky shadowiness – even when the sun is at its brightest.

I want all the garbage life throws at me, to become something beautiful in the staggering, heaving, relentlessly agitating waves of life.

Widowhood is rebirth.

I want to age like sea glass.

Sea Glass:

(https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/where-does-sea-glass-come-from)

Widowhood is life changing.

That is what I will be acknowledging of today’s National Widow Wednesday.