And God said, “No” I asked God to take away my pride. He said, “No, that is not for me to take away but for you to give up.” I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. He said, “No, her spirit is whole, her body is temporary.” I asked God to grant me […]
“And God Said No.” a Poem by Claudia Weisz
Jesus said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
Can you hear Him saying that to you?
He is right now. Not someday, but right now, at this moment, His grace is sufficient.
Maybe we’ve thought something had to change before His grace would be enough.
Maybe we’ve thought, “His grace was sufficient once, His grace may be sufficient again, but not now, not with what I am going through.” Despite that feeling, God’s word stands.
“My grace is sufficient for you.”
His grace is sufficient for li’l ol’ me and you! How absurd to think that it could ever be any different! As if a little fish could swim in the ocean and fear that they might drink it dry!
Is your thorn, your issues, worse than Paul’s or worse than many others who have known the triumph of Jesus? Of course not. This sufficient grace is for you.
I’m so glad God didn’t say, “My grace is sufficient only for Paul the Apostle.” God made it broad enough to include everyone. You can be the “you” in this verse. God’s grace is sufficient for you!
AMEN
Credit to: My Grace Is Sufficient for You: A Study on 2 Corinthians 12: Day 7 • Devotional http://bible.com/r/8aq
GOD’S WORD
Romans 5:1-5 ESV
[1] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.5.1-5.ESV
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV
[9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.12.9-10.ESV
If you’re trying to figure out who you are from the outside … if you’re trying hard to be something … to become some image … even if that something is “being a good Christian” — you’re watering the fruit.
You see we could skip all of this and I could tell you how to show strength, courage, integrity, love, kindness, on and on — and you could put on the act for a while. But that’s like tying fruit to your branches. If it’s not who you are — it’s not gonna work.
Source-
The Manhood Talks | Foundation & Identity: Day 18 • Devotional http://bible.com/r/9lj Day 18 | Ephesians 3 | You are Loved
This devotional is also an audio experience. Here are a few notes I took personally.
TeDese Ross shared today talking about faith and identity: what you believe and who you are.
Identity is who you are, and that is all about how God sees you.
You can worry about reputation and self-image later. First get a firm grasp on your identity — who you are in Christ.
A little analogy will help.
Let’s say you have a fruit tree. Your favorite fruit: mangos, pomegranate, tangelo — whatever.
Now, how do you know what kind of tree it is? Well, you know it by it’s fruit. Mango tree makes mangos. That’s like your reputation — how others see you.
But what really makes it a mango tree? It didn’t start being a mango tree by making mangos. It started — when a seed — dug in some roots. It’s the roots that make it grow and pull in the nutrients that make that fruit possible.
It’s not about the surface — it’s what’s underneath.
So today, I want to talk about roots.
Let’s open up Ephesians 3. This is a good one.
In chapter 2, we were saved by grace. We didn’t earn it, we can’t brag about it. God just loves us. And that grace does something. It tears down the barriers between us. Because if we don’t earn it then none of us can claim we’re better. We’re all sinners — forgiven. Nothing to boast about.
Chapter 2 says that Jesus brought us together. He tore down the “dividing wall of hostility” between us and made us one.
That wall of hostility was the natural byproduct of religion gone wrong.
It’s the holier-than-thou arrogance of self-righteous religion, and it’s the you-can’t-judge-me pride of godless unbelief. But,
when we, come to the cross, Jesus tears it all down. And He makes peace between us.
Paul talks about that more here in chapter 3 — especially the first half. When he says that Gentiles are heirs together with Israel — members of one body -—that’s what he’s talking about.
We’ll focus in on that unity tomorrow. For today, I want to skip ahead to the end of chapter 3, as Paul kneels before God the Father and prays for us. Listen to this in verse 16:
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:16-19).
That prayer is phenomenal. That one is everything. To know the love of Christ. So let’s break it down.
Notice that he prays for God’s strength in our inner being. Working from the inside. And that Jesus will dwell in our hearts — that He would live in us. And that happens — through faith. Faith opens the door to let Him in.
Then He prays that we would be rooted and established in love. Roots. Where do you dig your roots?
Picture a huge tree stretching wide and growing strong. I love a good tree. But the real secret is the roots. The roots dig down to find nutrients and water. Roots dig deep and establish the tree firmly to withstand storm and quake.
And Paul wants us rooted and established in love. God’s love.
This devotional is directed specifically toward men but applicable to all.
As mentioned in the beginning, if you’re trying to figure out who you are from the outside … if you’re trying hard to be something … to become some image … even if that something is “being a good Christian” — you’re watering the fruit.
We could skip all of this, and I could tell you how to show strength, courage, integrity, love, kindness, on and on — and you could put on the act for a while. But that’s like tying fruit to your branches.
If it’s not who you are — it’s not gonna work.
If you want to make good fruit — don’t worry about the fruit. Dig in your roots. And if you want the fruit of your life to be love — then dig your roots into the love of Christ. When your roots are getting fed, the fruit comes naturally.
Water the root — not the fruit.
And then Paul prays — that we would have power “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
The love of Jesus is beyond all measure. Think of the largest ocean. Picture the Pacific and Atlantic together.
My love — and your love — is about the size of your heart. About the same size as your fist. But Jesus’ love … His love for you … is greater than all the oceans deep.
Check out this quote from Christian rapper Bizzle.
And God loves you no matter what you struggle with
—Bizzle
At least struggle though, don’t just give up and quit
Forget how you were born
We were all born in sin
But Christ died for your sin
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=qk_tsiM3k7U&feature=shared
This is where you find your identity.
You are God’s child — chosen and adopted — forgiven, redeemed, restored, and worth dying for. You are loved. You are so loved.
And that defines you. That is where you find your identity.
So Paul goes on to pray that we would…
“…know this love that surpasses knowledge…” (Ephesians 3:19A).
I love that phrase. Our knowledge can’t even contain the love of Jesus. But we can know it by experience. The word for knowledge there is like conocer in Spanish. It’s heart knowledge not head knowledge. And he prays that we…
“…may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19B).
Now that is a pretty amazing prayer. And it’s my prayer for you. I mean that. I pray that you would know just how much you are loved. How much we are loved. And I pray that you would dig your roots deep, and know who you are in Him.
For Thought & Discussion:
Question 1: What do you think it means to be “rooted and established in love”?
Question 2: How do you dig in your roots there?
All verses above are are quoted from the NIV.
Bizzle music:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=J1pRjA4elUk&feature=shared
God’s Word
Ephesians 3:1-21 ESV
[1] For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— [2] assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, [3] how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. [4] When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, [5] which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
[6] This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. [7] Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. [8] To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, [9] and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, [10] so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
[11] This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, [12] in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
[13] So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
[14] For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, [16] that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
[20] Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.3.1-21.ESV
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV
In the book of John Chapter 21, verses 3,6, and 12 specifically remind me of my dad.
I was looking at those 3 verses, and The Holy Spirit reminded me of a few things that convey a truth from our Heavenly Father while also reminiscent of my earthly father.
John 21:3,6,12.
After Christ died, Peter spoke up, and he said,
V. 3 “I go fishing.” That is something Peter, me, and my dad had in common, but for Peter, it was not just something that he enjoyed like me and my dad. It was how he used to make a living. It was what he knew, and he felt like that was all he had left to go to after His master died. He thought, ‘the ministry was over,’ but it had only just begun.
Just after this, Christ appeared to Peter and his fishing buddies. While they were busy fishing, they had no luck and weren’t catching a thing. However, Christ calls out to them from the shore,
V. 6 “Cast your nets on the other side, change things up, boys!” Great things happen when we, too, do things at Christ ‘s command.
Their nets ended up being full to the point of overflowing. Like my dad’s life, full and overflowing.
Then Christ shares a meal, breaks bread, and fish with them over a camp fire.
Jesus said,
V. 12 “Come have some breakfast!”
Dad not only never missed a meal, he made those meals an intimate experience, sharing more than just bread alone.
He also enjoyed pizza.
But seriously, he always shared what God offered, the body and blood of Jesus, the spiritual feast for our souls. Every meal was an opportunity of communion for the community.
There is a rock song called “Big House” by the Classic Christian Rock band Audio Adrenaline. The band describes lots of food at the banquet in Heaven.
Recently, dad came home from a funeral.
He said,
“Ya know, they shouldn’t call them funerals or even a celebration of life they should call them REUNIONS.”
One day I know I may have to face my dad’s own death. As grieved as I will be I whole heartedly belive, as my dad did, that death is swolled up in victory, it is not the end of life it is just the beginning of our eternal life in Heaven with our Father.
On that day, I will say with confidence,
“Till we meet again, dad.”
Big House video by Audio Adrenaline:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=omoOLhDdTPA&feature=shared
Words to Big House:
I don’t know where you lay your head
Or where you call your home
I don’t know where you eat your meals
Or where you talk on the phone
I don’t know if you got a cook
A butler or a maid
I don’t know if you got a yard
With a hammock in the shade
I don’t know if you got some shelter
Say a place to hide
I don’t know if you live with friends
In whom you can confide
I don’t know if you got a family
Say a mom or dad
I don’t know if you feel love at all
But I bet you wish you had
Come and go with me
To my Father’s house
Come and go with me
To my Father’s house
It’s a big big house
With lots and lots a room
A big big table
With lots and lots of food
A big big yard
Where we can play football
A big big house
Its my Father’s house
🎶 Ibidibidee bop bop bow whew! yeah! 🎶
All I know is a big ole house
With rooms for everyone
All I know is lots a land
Where we can play and run
All I know is you need love
And I’ve got a family
All I know is your all alone
So why not come with me?
Come and go with me
To my Father’s house
Come and go with me
To my Father’s house
It’s a big big house
With lots and lots a room
A big big table
With lots and lots of food
A big big yard
Where we can play football
A big big house
Its my Father’s house
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Kelly Nickels / Mick Cripps / Philip Lewis / Steve Riley / Tracii Gunns
Big House lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Universal Music Publishing Group
GOD’S WORD
(The bigger picture)
John 20:1-10, 19-31 NASB1995
[1] Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene *came early to the tomb, while it *was still dark, and *saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. [2] So she *ran and *came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and *said to them,
“They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
[3] So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. [4] The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; [5] and stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. [6] And so Simon Peter also *came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he *saw the linen wrappings lying there, [7] and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.
[8] So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. [9] For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. [10] So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
[19] So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
[20] And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [21] So Jesus said to them again,
“Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
[22] And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
[24] But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples were saying to him,
“We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
[26] After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said,
“Peace be with you.”
[27] Then He *said to Thomas,
“Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
[28] Thomas answered and said to Him,
“My Lord and my God!”
[29] Jesus *said to him,
“Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
[30] Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; [31] but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.20.1-31.NASB1995
John 21:1-19, 24-25 NASB1995
[1] After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way.
[2] Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. [3] Simon Peter *said to them,
“I am going fishing.”
They *said to him,
“We will also come with you.”
They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. [4] But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. [5] So Jesus *said to them,
“Children, you do not have any fish, do you?”
They answered Him,
“No.”
[6] And He said to them,
“Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.”
So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. [7] Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter,
“It is the Lord.”
So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. [8] But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
[9] So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. [10] Jesus *said to them,
“Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.”
[11] Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. [12] Jesus *said to them,
“Come and have breakfast.”
None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. [13] Jesus *came and *took the bread and *gave it to them, and the fish likewise. [14] This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.
[15] So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
He *said to Him,
“Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He *said to him,
“Tend My lambs.”
[16] He *said to him again a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
He *said to Him,
“Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He *said to him,
“Shepherd My sheep.”
[17] He *said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him,
“Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus *said to him,
“Tend My sheep. [18] Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”
[19] Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him,
“Follow Me!”
[24] This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. [25] And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they *were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself *would not contain the books that *would be written.
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.21.2-25.NASB1995
He Gets Us: Who Did Jesus Say He Was? | Plan 5: Day 8 • Devotional http://bible.com/r/9Gl
He is the path forward.
Everyone wants to be good at life. It takes skill to choose the right path and to walk it consistently. Ultimately, the path you choose determines where you end up. You can walk down a career path or a path of healing or the path of life… Or, truth be told, it’s just as easy to stand in the path of a tornado.
Jesus knew we would choose our path. When he said goodbye to his students a few hours before he was arrested, he said, “I’m going away, but you know the way to where I’m going.” And they looked at him like deer in headlights—if we don’t know where you’re going, how can we know the way?
Like on cue, Jesus answered, “Follow me—I am the way.” Literally, he said, “I am the path.”
The path where? Certainly Jesus is the way to forgiveness, peace, direction, real life, victory, and the list could go on. But is this what he meant?
When he said, “I am the way,” he didn’t mean he was “a way” to God, one way among many ways. Instead, he clearly said, I am the one and only way. “No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
Some people may frown at the thought of there being one door… one shepherd… one true light… one way, one truth, one life… but Jesus Himself established that he was the one, exclusive way.
This exclusivity is the way much of our universe operates.
Gravity is reality on earth. If you choose not to believe it and step off a thousand foot cliff, the truth of gravity won’t change.
There’s no tolerance in the chemistry lab. Water is composed of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen.
The skilled conductor won’t allow an orchestra member to play anything other than the assigned notes.
A mathematics equation is either right or wrong.
On the athletic field, teams must play the game by the rules.
If you put diesel fuel in a gasoline-powered automobile you will soon need a new car.
While we might see Jesus’ claim to be the only way to the Father as restrictive, his followers through the centuries have found following Jesus to be the way of life, hope, and love.
Everyone needs a new beginning with God. Here it is. Take the path that leads to him, and to the truth, and to life itself.
And then keep going—it’s a great life to walk with God and an even better life to come.
God’s Word
John 14:4-7 ESV
[4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.14.4-7.ESV
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5NoI1st1Xo/?igsh=aDF5OTQ0NnZwejFy
Philippians 2:8-11 ESV
[8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [
9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
[10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
[11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
https://bible.com/bible/59/php.2.8-11.ESV
Little Zoo Boy David Rough draft. This is a spin off from The Park, Zoo BoyZ, and Kideaters Vs. Zoo BoyZ.
This short story is about A Little Zoo Boy Named David. Not David from The Park or Zoo Island; not even that David’s son but his Grandson, David the third, grandson of the little Zoo Boy David who had been to The Park, and Zoo Island, now telling his Grandson all about his adventures there, with a few embellishments of course.
Little Zoo Boy David Rough draft
“Pop Pop tell me about Zoo island and… the amnimals! Peeeas!”
David Senior’s heart melted. He made no attempt to correct how his Grandson pronounced animals, ‘Amnimals. ‘
“Ok… you poke the fire, keep it lit so no wild animals come our way while camping out in these woods.”
“Pop pop those amnimals from Zoo Island aren’t in deEzwoods just still on that island. Frozen I think, like a popsicle, haha, a pop pop sicle, But doz amnimals aren’t in DEZwoods. Are they, Pop Pop Popsicle?”
Little Davey almost sang the question to his grandfather, however, the Pop Pop also heard a hint of fear in the child’s voice.
“No, no Davey. Those animals were collected. Some of them, especially the real bad ones, are all contained.”
His Grandson’s eyes were the size of saucers. The child got a hold of his grandfather’s big hand and spoke softly,
“Bu… but Billy in my preschool class has a Cat Dog.”
The Grandfather wanted his Grandson to have a healthy fear but didn’t want him up all night in fear that those Kideaters would get to them. So, David Senior made eye contact with his son, David the second, who winked with a nod of approval. The old man decided to tell of the funny, silly, most harmless creatures, the monkey’s. Time and time again the Grandson begged for information of his Pop Pop’s 2 friends, not just the creatures, but also the humans that met up with them.
As he went to begin the kid interrupted him again,
“Pop Pop you were like the little boy David who fought Goliath the giant!”
The old man’s face went flush for a bit. He was honored to be compared with a man of God when that man too was just a boy. Pop Pop David confirmed,
“Yes, but it was really the God of all power that beat that Giant. The little boy David just showed up and stood his ground.”
“No Pop Pop he slung a rock, with a sling shot. Can I get a slingshot? That boy only used one stone, juuuust ONE ROCK! Then cut off the head…”
His Pop Pop interrupted…. “OK, OK now listen, sure the boy did what God laid on his heart but if it weren’t for God…”
His grandson interrupted, “and the little boy!”
“Yes ok and the little boy… now wait, ya want the Bible story or my biblical account of what I went through?”
The boy thought for a bit. “I heard the Bible story already.”
“You heard my stories too.”
The boy looked down and thought some more.
“OK Pop Pop I listen. You tell the stories.”
The Pop Pop adjusted then began,
“So, I’ll tell you about the monkeys.”
The boy impulsively blurted out, “And your buddys, John, Ronnie, and Jeremy! ”
“YES, yes, OK! They were there too. Now you gonna listen?”
His grandson nodded yes. His tiny head shook like it was about to roll off; and so, the grandfather relayed what happened to him and his friends when he was just a young boy.
“Now, I wasn’t with our leader and my friends when they encountered the monkeys, but I know those monkeys sure did like picking the nose of each and every person they landed on.”
He looked down as his grandson, seeing if he was listening. He was listening alright, with his full attention. Before he continued, the old man looked over at his son, who was smiling ear to ear. He heard these tales, too.
“Major Hightower was leading my friends off of Zoo Island after we encountered so many beasts and burdens. We heard the choppers coming closer and closer and as they strove to get closer the monkeys dropped down from the trees. They usually use the tree line like a highway far above the ground but in this case they dropped down and used the boys and our leader as a pathway above the island’s floor.
As strange as that was it got even stranger when they realized the monkeys could talk. They brought some of them back to the mainland and scientists studied them to learn more about them before making their presence known to the public.
Someday, they may let people own them as pets, but since that day, years ago, when they were brought into civilization, the zoologist and veterinarian have used extreme caution.”
The Grandson couldn’t contain himself and blurted out, “Didn’t you go to rescue the camouflaged octopus?”
His Pop Pop answered, “Yeah, but that’s another story for another time.”
The attempt to put the child to sleep had the opposite effect, he was now wired.
“Now you gotta get to sleep or no more stories tomorrow!”
The boy agreed, “O.k. Pop Pop.”
The old weathered man scooped up the child and carried him to their tent, laying him down on his sleeping bag. He kissed his forehead and gently told him,
“Sleep now. You’ll need your strength tomorrow.”
Upon his return to the campfire his son said,
“So that is the way it happened, huh dad?”
The Father smiled and answered, “Yep. That is exactly how it happened.”
Then he pulled something out from a black bag. Something he had taken from Zoo Island and kept an extreme secret until now. His son’s eyes lit up. He smirked as he spoke,
“It’s a stuffy! Gee dad, ya shouldn’t have.”
David Senior smirked too as he replied, “Smart alec, it’s for Davey, and it’s not just any fluffy. It’s a replica stuffed monkey and that’s not all, it is from Zoo Island.”
He saw his son’s face turn back into the little boy he once was, long before his Grandson was born. David Sr. Explained,
“ Now look and listen, be careful with this. It may have musk on it that larger predators are attracted to.”
His son enquired, “But… we are safe here. Right dad?”
The old man nodded in hopeful agreement, and yet David Senior‘s face showed genuine concern. He wasn’t completely convinced that some of the kideaters from Zoo Island didn’t escape.
The End
Audio Book coming soon.
Links to other books in the series:
The Park (written version)— a short story about 3 boys who sneak into an abandoned amusement park and discover that it has a mind of its own. (1st story in the Zoo BoyZ series). Link: https://tombeetlebailey.wordpress.com/2017/06/28/the-park-editing/
The Park Audio Book Link: https://tombeetlebailey.wordpress.com/2020/09/15/the-park-audio-book/
Audio of The Park also on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnjQOVtw61egg8h059EcGnKs-u0KcWEew
Zoo BoyZ – sequel to The Park. This book takes you to ZOO Island, a remote, abandoned place where four coming of age boys uncover many things they wish they would have left well enough alone. (Full book in draft form only right now). Zoo BoyZ written rough draft version on my blog: https://tombeetlebailey.wordpress.com/2021/05/09/zoo-boyz-ch1-unedited-paper-plans-purpose/
Zoo Boyz Audio Book playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnjQOVtw61ejO7xabZyR475_opYg6HMHM
Kideaters Vs. Zoo BoyZ (After The Park & Zoo BoyZ, this is the 3rd book in the Zoo BoyZ series). Synopsis: In this 3rd part of the series the four coming of age boys are called back to Zoo Island for a mission. If they fail they break the terms of their parole (probation). If they succeed they will learn that the worst animal of all may possibly be mankind. For written rough draft version go to: https://tombeetlebailey.wordpress.com/?page_id=16843
For Audio version go to: https://tombeetlebailey.wordpress.com/2022/12/09/preface-ch-1-audio-to-kid-eaters-vs-zoo-boyz/
Links to Playlist of Kideaters Vs. Zoo BoyZ all Chapters in order on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnjQOVtw61ehDwmvIA7gUbIry9-NdGsCC
Index of other stories: https://tombeetlebailey.wordpress.com/index-of-books-and-stories/
Complete YouTube playlist of audio to other stories I’ve written and read: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnjQOVtw61eiFv27rv2rhA3-8U8EyDXya
‘The Five “One Things”’
The talk highlighted five significant occurrences of the expression ‘one thing’ in the Bible (see references Psalm 27:4; Mark 10:21; Luke 10:42; John 9:25; Philippians 3:13 below).
Each one speaks about our priorities.
I have great empathy with Martha. Jesus said to her, ‘You are worried and upset about many things’ (v.41). There are so many things in life, but Jesus says, ‘only *one thing* is needed’ (v.42). It was Mary who had her priorities right.
Taken from:
The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Classic Version, 2024: Day 96 • Devotional
Luke 10:38-42 ESV
[38] Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. [40] But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” [41] But the Lord answered her,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, [42] but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.10.38-42.ESV
AMEN
He Gets Us: Who Did Jesus Say He Was? | Plan 5: Day 5 • Devotional
http://bible.com/r/9Gl
He’s about real life.
What does it take to live a great life?
Some say it takes money. A lot of it.
Some say it takes looking good. The younger, the fitter, the better.
Some say it’s having a sense of purpose—achieving your goals leads to a great life.
Or being comfortable in your own skin, or satisfied in your vocation. That’s real living.
Truth is, you can’t make a good life for yourself. Ask anyone who has the money… or the looks… or the prestige… or reputation. Ask them if they’re happy, if they’ve found the secret.
Sadly, the news is riddled with people we thought had it all, who gave it up in a heartbeat.
Jesus didn’t want his students to give up. And so on the night before he died, he gave them another picture of who he was. He said, “I am the true vine” and told them I came so you can live the most vibrant and fruitful life possible.
Life to the fullest–life full of fruit… In his short life, Jesus knew exactly what it was like. His personal purpose statement was, “I came to give life with joy and abundance.”
And he did. People loved to be with him and did whatever they could to be near him. They walked for miles just to hear what he had to say. They invited him to their parties. They laughed with him. Wherever Jesus went, he was all there. Sometimes fun. Sometimes compassionate. Always personal.
Jesus called people by name. He listened to their stories. He answered their questions. He visited their sick relatives and helped their sick friends. He fished with fishermen and ate lunch with the depressed. He talked and felt and worked right alongside people.
When he said, “I am the true vine,” he described life in all its fullness. Picture the wine being poured in the glass and whoa, whoa, it’s overflowing! He’s the true vine—not an artificial one. “You are the branches,” he added. Branches draw life off the vine and grow the fruit.
What does it mean to really live? We make it complicated, but it’s really not. It’s being attached to Jesus and drawing our life from his. Little by little, our life begins to look like his amazing life.
How does this happen? Jesus described the process in one word: abide.
See the similarity to the word, “abode”? Abiding is making yourself at home in Jesus. It’s not a once in a while relationship—he’s now where you live.
He is the vinekeeper, coaxing the best out of the branches. He is the root of life, feeding health and abundance into the branches. People look at the fruit from our lives and ask, “who runs this vineyard?”
Growing fruit is what leads to the most satisfying life. It’s what makes life overflow.
Sure you can try to grow fruit on your own, but aren’t you tired of it not working?
Instead, Jesus invites, be at home with me. Be comfortable with him. Be free to be your real self. Get to know his heart and his ways. Rest in him, find your nourishment at his table. Cling to him for all that’s good and beautiful. And grow.
And what will happen? An amazing life. He promised.
Personal note: My purpose is to bear fruit. He is The Vine I am a branch, and through me, The Vine will produce the fruit of The Spirit.
God’s Word
John 15:1-5 ESV
[1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [3] Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.15.1-5.ESV
Song by Classic Christian Rock band Petra, “Without Him We Can Do Nothing”
Galatians 5:22-26 GNT
[22] But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires. [25] The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives. [26] We must not be proud or irritate one another or be jealous of one another.
https://bible.com/bible/68/gal.5.22-26.GNT
John Cooper from the band Skillet:
5 Things That Happened After Jesus The Christ Died:
The Complete True Story of Holy Week:
AMEN
tombeetlebailey 