Sunrise at Pleasant Hill Preserve
Picture by Richard Sawyer
The Holy Spirit inspired our blog.
Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
Brothers and sisters:
The love of Christ impels us,
once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;
therefore, all have died.
He indeed died for all,
so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;
even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know him so no longer.
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.
Emphasis mine, 2 Corinthians 5:14-17
The above quote from St. Paul to the Corinthians I have heard for eight-five years, and yet today something leaped out at me that is so obvious, that I can’t believe I didn’t see it earlier.
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
What I hadn’t seen earlier was what is the new creation?
I pray you all know the answer by now.
And,
I don’t think most Christian Churches talk enough about this new creation we are asked to be.
The new creation marks us as different from everyone else who enjoys (did you notice the small j?) living in the world.
I am watching YouTube videos of people from Europe, Australia, Japan etc. talking about their experience while visiting our country, and they are blown away.
The fear that had led them to believe America was a very unsafe place to visit and live in, was changed by the outpouring of Love from total strangers who opened their houses, and hearts to our visitors.
Their and our problem is we spend too much time listening to a lying press, their words not mine, and we are allowing the press to form our opinions.
As we think about it, Mary Magdalene had somewhat of the same problem.
Jesus, who expelled seven demons from Mary was condemned and crucified, but Mary didn’t allow the public charade to change her opinion of who Jesus really was, and on the first day when she was able, rushed to the Tomb to give Jesus a proper burial.
In fact when she met Jesus she didn’t recognize Him until He called her by her name.
How about you?
When good things happen in your life are you thanking your Father, Brother, and The Holy Spirit?
Or,
Are you saying, “That was lucky.”
If the latter is true you are missing the Joy in your life, just as Mary did until she recognized Jesus.
And,
As you grow in Love, Joy, Peace you will soon realize as I have that whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
Prayer:
If you want to grow in Love, Joy, Peace this is a result of growth in Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.
Sidebar:
Last May 2025 our grandson Gediyon on our way back from Stonehill College asked me if I would like to go and see the Blue Angels fly. I instantly said yes and last Saturday Gediyon and six other family members went to Brunswick Naval Base, now decommissioned, to watch the Blue Angels fly.
Normally it would take thirty minutes to drive from our condo to Brunswick. Saturday it took over three and a half hours.
We arrived just as the air show was starting. We were told to park behind a long building, and when we came around the building we arrived at the center point of the air show – the best seats in the house.
The day was sunny, and could have been oppressive but there were puffy clouds and a nice cool ocean breeze. I also realized that if we had arrived at 10 am we, Gail and I, couldn’t take the sun, and the longer day.
The whole group stepped up to make sure Gail and I were fine.
We talked with people in the crowds, something that amazed the Europeans when they came over, our family always does this.
Gail and I stood for most of the show. The boys did bring folding seats, but with my neck I preferred to stand. When it was time to leave we were directed to take a different route home which made the trip forty minutes instead of the three plus hours we experienced earlier.
As we were driving home I took some time to reflect on all that happened and saw the hand of God in everything that had happened and a quiet Joy and Peace took over because I knew I wasn’t alone, and I had the knowledge that God was with us throughout the day and had taken care of our every need.
I just realized how the picture , what we first wrote, and now the Sidebar all tied in beautifully.
The picture because every day is a new day to get closer to God, our first thoughts, the Joy and Peace one feels when we do experience God in our life, and a personal example of what we wrote about.
Wow!!!!
Picture:
Sunrise at Pleasant Hill Preserve
Picture by Richard Sawyer
Please keep Snapping!
And if you want the ten calling cards shown above, email me and I will send you my address, send me a STAMPED self-addressed envelope and I will send you ten cards.
The offer for the cards is sadly for American readers only. The Post office won’t accept foreign stamps.
If you want a copy of the prayers we discussed.
Send an email to: fprince101@gmail.com
Remember, if you want to submit a picture, please do not include people. We have to get permission from that person to use their photograph.
Disclaimer:
We decided to share with you that I do use Google AI for spelling, punctuation, and helping me find a Bible verse. BUT we go to the Bible to print out the verse we find. If we do use Google AI it will be noted. I believe in a while this type of disclaimer will be needed on all created works.
