God's Reflections: Luke 15

 God's Reflections: Luke 15 by ric gustafson

Jesus was a storyteller. From Luke 15 comes a parable we all know. Some people call it the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Some people call it the Parable of the Loving Father. In Luke 15, Jesus tells us three parables. This parable is the last one. 

This third parable is about a wayward boy. It is also about a father who loves him. The son wants his share of his fathers estate. He goes to a faraway country. He spends it all on wild living. After a while, the son comes to his senses. He decides to go home feeling unworthy. 

When the son comes home, his father is waiting for him. He welcomes him home. Jesus tells us this is how God the Father feels about us. No matter how far we run away from God, he welcomes us home.

Why?. Because he loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' God Reflections' by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: Psalm 37

 God Reflections: Psalm 37 by ric gustafson

Psalm 37 says delight yourself in the Lord. What is the desire of your heart?. God promises that he will give us the desires of your heart. Our hearts can change. But it must be a change from an earthly desire to a heavenly desire. When our desire is for God's Kingdom, God will act. Delight and Desire work hand in hand. 

Spend time reading God's Word. When our desires change, God will draw us closer to him. Jesus says to us, trust in me and believe. Why?. Because Jesus loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' God Reflections' by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Solomon 2026 page 4

 Solomon 2026 page 4 by ric gustafson

Solomon sat down on his father's right. His brother Adonijah sat on his father's left. Seating in the seat of honor next to Solomon was Shobi Naamah's father. Solomon watched Naamah as she waited to be seated. This foreign princess had captured his imagination.

Solomon looked at Shobi. " I trust your trip was uneventful".

" Luckily, we were able to scare off any bandits".

" How long will you and your daughter be staying?".

King David looked at Shobi. " We have a few more meetings scheduled for tomorrow I believe".

" Yes King". Shobi smiled at his daughter. " Naamah was hoping we could stay a couple more days and enjoy Jerusalem".

" Yes". Naamah grinned. " I'm hoping for a tour of the city and some time in your marketplace".

King David smiled. " Done".

research help: The Heart of a King' by Jill Eileen Smith

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

John and Caroline page 6

 John and Caroline page 6 by ric gustafson

Ethel Skakel Kennedy was born on April 11 1928. Her parents were Ann and George Skakel. Ethel was the 6th of 7 children. Ethel's father was a self made man. His company called Great Lakes Carbon was a high tech manufacturer of graphite and carbon. The family lived in Chicago.

Ethel was an avid sports enthusiast. She attended the all girls Greenwich Academy in Connecticut. She also attended two schools in New York.

In 1945, Ethel was introduced to Robert Kennedy. Ethel's friend Jean Kennedy introduced them. Jean was Robert Kennedy's sister. 

Ethel Skakel and Robert Kennedy married on June 17 1950. In 1957, Ethel bought an estate in McLean Virginia. It was called Hickory Hill. They needed a lot of room. Ethel and Bobby Kennedy had 11 children.

research help: ' The Kennedy Heirs' by J Randy Taraborrelli

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: Luke 7

 God Reflections: Luke 7 by ric gustafson

Jesus loves people. In Luke 7, Jesus is at a dinner at the home of a Pharisee. His name was Simon. During the dinner, a woman crashed the party. She was described as a woman of questionable reputation. Tradition is that the woman was Mary Magdalene. 

She comes in carrying an alabaster jar of costly ointment. She is weeping. She falls at Jesus's feet. She begins washing them with her tears. She dries them with her hair. She pours the costly oil on his feet. Simon has horror on his face.

Jesus knows what Simon is thinking. He tells a parable about two men whose debts were forgiven. Mary knew she had been forgiven by Jesus. Simon did not. She thanked Jesus with her love. Simon had no clue. 

Why have we been forgiven much?. Jesus went to the cross to make that happen. Because of what Jesus did for us, we should have immense love in our hearts.

Jesus loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' God Reflections' by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

World Prayer: Angola

 World Prayer: Angola by ric gustafson

The Republic of Angola is in Africa. It is a large coastal state on the South Atlantic Coast. The capital is Luanda. The majority of the country is Bantu. The official language is Portuguese. 

The country has some of the world's richest natural resources. There is also widespread poverty. Natural resources include oil reserves, diamonds and minerals. 

There was a coup in 1975. The MPLA gained control of the government. The UNITA movement waged a civil war against the MPLA. The country was laid to waste. There was a peace deal in 1990. Parliamentary elections were held in 2008.

The Christian population is 94 percent. 

Please pray for the consolidation of peace. The growth of Christianity. The end of war. Unity of the Gospel. That there will be a growth of Christian leadership.

Please pray for the country of Angola.

research help: ' Operation World' by Jason Mandryk

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: John 15

 God Reflections: John 15 by ric gustafson

Jesus explains in this chapter of John that he is the Vine. He explains that we are branches of that Vine. We see images of mature grapevines and branches filled with ripe grapes. One day, those grapes will be the source of fine wine. As long as the branch is connected to the Vine, we will thrive and bear fruit. 

The fruit of the Spirit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness and self control. To be spiritually productive in this life, we need to stay connected to Jesus. When we stay connected with Jesus, good results will happen. That is Jesus's promise to us. He loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' God Reflections' by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric