Why Did Jesus Christ Tell Us To Store Up Treasures In Heaven?

Matthew 18 AMP: Rank in the Kingdom 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Jesus called a little child and set him before them, 3 and said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 18:15-17 AMP: 15 Now they were also bringing their babies to Him, so that He would touch and bless them, and when the disciples noticed it, they began reprimanding them. 16 But Jesus called them to Himself, saying [to the apostles], “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God [with faith and humility] like a child will not enter it at all.”

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This is really deep and gets to the heart of what we want our personal eternity to be like after our souls leave these flesh bodies. We are in the host body system ruled by Satan right now where our souls have been captured lured down from heaven. That is why we must be born again when we accept Jesus Christ who bought our souls back from Satan paid in full. Jesus Christ aka Emmanuel, which means God with us, came to earth to set the captives free. We are the captives. (emphasis mine)

How can we store up treasures in heaven?

[source: GotQuestions.org]

ANSWER

Jesus told us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). He linked this command to the desire of our hearts: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21; see also verses 10–20).

The Bible mentions rewards that await the believer who serves the Lord faithfully in this world (Matthew 10:41). A “great” reward is promised to those who are persecuted for Jesus’ sake. Various crowns are mentioned (in 2 Timothy 4:8, e.g.). Jesus says that He will bring rewards with Him when He returns (Revelation 22:12).

We are to treasure the Lord Jesus most of all. When Jesus is our treasure, we will commit our resources—our money, our time, our talents—to His work in this world. Our motivation for what we do is important (1 Corinthians 10:31). Paul encourages servants that God has an eternal reward for those who are motivated to serve Christ: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23–24).

When we live sacrificially for Jesus’ sake or serve Him by serving the body of Christ, we store up treasure in heaven. Even seemingly small acts of service do not go unnoticed by God. “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward” (Matthew 10:42).

Some with more visible gifts (see 1 Corinthians 12) such as teaching, singing, or playing a musical instrument might be tempted to use their gift for their own glory. Those who use their talents or spiritual gifts coveting the praise of men rather than seeking God’s glory receive their “payment” in full here and now. The applause of men was the extent of the Pharisees’ reward (Matthew 6:16). Why should we work for worldly plaudits, however, when we can have so much more in heaven?

The Lord will be faithful to reward us for the service we give Him (Hebrews 6:10). Our ministries may differ, but the Lord we serve is the same. “The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor” (1 Corinthians 3:8).

The rich young man loved his money more than God in Matthew 19:16–30, a fact that Jesus incisively pointed out. The issue wasn’t that the young man was rich but that he “treasured” his riches and did not “treasure” what he could have in Christ. Jesus told the man to sell his possessions and give to the poor, “and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (verse 21). The young man left Jesus sad, because he was very rich. He chose this world’s treasure and so did not lay up treasure in heaven. He was unwilling to make Jesus his treasure. The young man was very religious, but Jesus exposed his heart of greed.

We are warned not to lose our full reward by following after false teachers (2 John 1:8). This is why it is so important to be in God’s Word daily (2 Timothy 2:15). That way we can recognize false teaching when we hear it.

The treasures that await the child of God will far outweigh any trouble, inconvenience, or persecution we may face (Romans 8:18). We can serve the Lord wholeheartedly, knowing that God is the One keeping score, and His reward will be abundantly gracious. “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

How Do Demons Respond To Jesus Christ? Believing In Jesus Christ Doesn't Make Anyone A Christian. Even Demons Believe In Jesus Christ And Demons Panic at the Mention of the Name of Jesus Christ.

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How do demons respond to jesus

What Demons Know

[source: HopeAndPassion.org]

There is an appointed time and place of God’s unbelievable judgment. Demons know this. Though they continue to wage war against God, they are fully aware of their own coming demise. Demons also know of the current power of Jesus Christ to command their comings and goings, for they acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Demonic powers recognize the God-Man and His dominion. They react to His Kingship now to the degree God ordains in this age, and they will finally be demolished to the absolute degree at God’s appointed time.

If only we human beings knew of God’s power and judgment! And, of course, I mean “knew” in the sense of acting upon the information. I fear the people of God live far too timidly in this dark world and experience far too little victory and hope. Jesus Christ is Lord over the domain of darkness and self-destruction. Let’s recognize Him as such and take Him at His Word.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all explain the account of Jesus Christ casting a legion of demons out of a man in the first century A.D. While Matthew tells us of two demon-possessed men, Mark and Luke focus on only one of the demoniacs at the scene. The demons had such horrid effects on this human life that no other people could come near the man. He was violent, self-destructive, out of his right mind, and living among the tombs of the dead due to the influence of Satan’s minions. Matthew tells us of both the demon-possessed men that they were “so fierce that no one could pass that way” (Matthew 8:28, ESV). Mark explains the horror: “He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones” (Mark 5:3-6, ESV). The physician, Luke, informs us that the demoniac wore no clothes while living among tombs instead of in a house. We have, therefore, a terrible and comprehensive description of Satan’s influence on this person. The demons wrought devastation in this life – and the effects were obvious to all.

And yet, despite all the damage the demons could do, they yielded to the awesome power of Jesus Christ. Even though no human could get near these demons inhabiting a man, when Jesus Christ came close, they met Him and cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8:29b, ESV) Notice three things about the demons’ knowledge:

1) They recognize and name Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and

2) They realize there is a specific, future time of their punishment; and

3) They admit that Jesus Christ has the power to torment them.

Though Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), even His demons must acknowledge the Truth of God in Jesus Christ. Satan makes it his business to slander and lie by twisting the truth and withholding it from us, but Jesus Christ stands as the Truth of God in Person. Lies cannot stand up to Jesus Christ, who is the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). Though they rebel against His way, the demons realize their rebellion is, in fact, against the very real God of the universe.

The demons function in futility. They work hard to torment and enslave, knowing all the while the final doom they face. As Matthew recorded, they know the time is coming. Luke says, “And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss” (Luke 8:31, ESV). Satan and his disgusting servants are aware of the material of the book of Revelation, as well they should be; for hell itself was originally prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41)

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while … And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10, ESV)

The demons’ awareness does not stop them. Jesus Christ made clear that “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10, ESV). The devil will battle to the bitter end. Knowing his fate is sealed, it appears his goal is to take as many people with him as he can.

We notice that although the demonic forces torment willing humans, demons recognize that Jesus Christ has the power to torment them eternally. For every bit of destruction Satan has brought upon mankind, he will be repaid. His cohorts know this. Justice will be served by the holy God who sees everything and rights all wrongs.

My prayer is that we would act on the knowledge we have. Demons know much, but they have no saving faith. In a discussion about faith and works, James tells us that true faith will result in action. He brings to our attention demons – who believe in the sense of knowing – but are not saved from damnation. He says to the church, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder!” Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? (James 2:19-20, ESV)

James here expresses a vital truth. At the very least, we need to know what demons know about God’s power and judgment. However, we must also ACT on our knowledge, for that is true belief. Angels and demons are who they are from now into eternity; humans alone are the objects of God’s wonderful salvation. In fact, when Peter tells us of this good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, he adds that they are “things into which angels long to look” (I Peter 1:12b, ESV). In other words, angels do not know of the glorious experience of being loved despite sin — to the point of Jesus Christ paying the price for their lives. Only a redeemed human can know the depth of that love. Angles and demons remain who they are – with their end already determined, glorious and damnable, respectively. People, on the other hand, must decide to act on the truth we have been given. We must believe to the point of a changed life.

If we as Christians acted out our belief in 1) Jesus as the Son of God, and 2) His power to bring about His specific, future time of punishment; the world would be different. I would worship Him more intensely and prayerfully witness to unsaved people with increased fervency.

Knowing the fear demons had of Jesus’ power, I should act more boldly in the spiritual realm. Putting on the full armor of God, I should stand firm. (Ephesians 6:13) Waging war against demonic strongholds on a regular basis, I should actively access divine power and begin destroying the work of the enemy in my life. (II Corinthians 10:3-4) After all, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (I John 3:8b, ESV). Obviously, even the demons know that!

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Demons Panic at the Mention of the Name of Jesus Christ

written by Michael Benson Ajayi

[source: Grave Vine Family Daily Devotional]

Luke 10:17 - "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."

Isa 29:6 NIV " the Lord Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire."

A person's name is a summary of his or her character. Whenever a name is mentioned, a demand is made on the power inherent in that name. Therefore, whenever the name of Jesus Christ was mentioned by the disciples it was as though Jesus Christ was present in their midst in the fullness of His almighty power. Demons had no option but to obey.

The scriptures describes the potency in the name of Jesus Christ in 2: Phil 2:9-12 “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus Christ every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father“ Jesus Christ is the embodiment of the word of God. The same way a man can send a message to a subordinate by recording a video of himself, likewise the all-powerful God formed a body in the womb of a virgin filling it with His word and mindset and sent Him as an indestructible witness to humanity. Jesus was sent to show us the will of the father and confirmed it through signs and wonders.

It was the power in the name of Jesus Christ and the disciples' faith that made the demons subject unto the disciples The sons of Sceva learnt this lesson the hard way when they attempted to invoke the name of Christ like a magician would without divine authorization and faith in Christ ( Acts 19:13-17), the result was quite disastrous as they had no license to use the name. It is the faith we have in Jesus Christ as our lord and saviour that activates the power behind the name. The bible describes what happens when the name of Jesus Christ is mentioned in Isaiah 29:6 the name brings with it ..." thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire." Faith is like the password to God’s miracle working power. Faith opens the door to unlimited possibilities. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrew 11.6). Most persons out of desperation seek a church membership instead of faith in Christ.This exposes them to fear, demonic manipulation and bondage.

Without doubt the mystical art of exorcism has been practiced by men throughout history mainly by appeasement in which case another host was provided before the demon left it’s primary host. Demons are like terrorists and Jesus Christ never negotiates with terrorists. He simply removes them from their victims and that’s what he expects His followers to do: only Jesus Christ and those who have received His life are successful at casting out demons. To doubt the existence of demons amounts to doubting God’s existence. Demons are mentioned in over eighty references in the new testament. We are engaged in a daily battle with these forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). The name of Jesus Christ is not a magic formula neither is it a charm. It is the summation of God’s power and His authority in the universe and through faith in his name victory is assured in our battle against Satan and his demons" (Acts 3:16). Satan responds in obedience to the born again child of God who has a clear understanding of his or her rights and privileges as he would respond to Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 10:4 NIV, The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. As you receive Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour and read this now, every demonic stronghold in operation in your life is hereby demolished now in Jesus name. AMEN.

The god Of This Age, This World, Satan, Has Blinded Those Who Do Not Believe, Lest The Light Of The Gospel Of The Glory Of Christ, Who Is The Image Of The Lord God Almighty, Should Shine On Them.

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Paul’s Apostolic Ministry

The Light of Christ’s Gospel

2 Corinthians 4

[source: Biblegateway.com]

Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy [from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings], we do not get discouraged nor lose our motivation. 2 But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is [in some sense] hidden [behind a veil], it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing; 4 among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory and majesty of God [clearly revealed] in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. 8 We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; 9 hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed; 10 always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly [experiencing the threat of] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced in our mortal body [which is subject to death]. 12 So physical death is [actively] at work in us, but [spiritual] life [is actively at work] in you.

13 Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had, who wrote in Scripture, “I believed, therefore I spoke.” We also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us [along] with you in His presence. 15 For all [these] things are for your sake, so that as [God’s remarkable, undeserved] grace reaches to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of [our great] God.

16 Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! 18 So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.

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2 Corinthians 4 Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary (concise)

[source: Christianity.com]

Chapter Contents

The apostles laboured with much diligence, sincerity, and faithfulness. (1-7) Their sufferings for the gospel were great, yet with rich supports. (8-12) Prospects of eternal glory keep believers from fainting under troubles. (13-18)

Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4:1-7

The best of men would faint, if they did not receive mercy from God. And that mercy which has helped us out, and helped us on, hitherto, we may rely upon to help us even to the end. The apostles had no base and wicked designs, covered with fair and specious pretences. They did not try to make their ministry serve a turn. Sincerity or uprightness will keep the favourable opinion of wise and good men. Christ by his gospel makes a glorious discovery to the minds of men. But the design of the devil is, to keep men in ignorance; and when he cannot keep the light of the gospel of Christ out of the world, he spares no pains to keep men from the gospel, or to set them against it. The rejection of the gospel is here traced to the wilful blindness and wickedness of the human heart. Self was not the matter or the end of the apostles' preaching; they preached Christ as Jesus, the Saviour and Deliverer, who saves to the uttermost all that come to God through him. Ministers are servants to the souls of men; they must avoid becoming servants to the humours or the lusts of men. It is pleasant to behold the sun in the firmament; but it is more pleasant and profitable for the gospel to shine in the heart. As light was the beginning of the first creation; so, in the new creation, the light of the Spirit is his first work upon the soul. The treasure of gospel light and grace is put into earthen vessels. The ministers of the gospel are subject to the same passions and weaknesses as other men. God could have sent angels to make known the glorious doctrine of the gospel, or could have sent the most admired sons of men to teach the nations, but he chose humbler, weaker vessels, that his power might be more glorified in upholding them, and in the blessed change wrought by their ministry.

Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4:8-12

The apostles were great sufferers, yet they met with wonderful support. Believers may be forsaken of their friends, as well as persecuted by enemies; but their God will never leave them nor forsake them. There may be fears within, as well as fightings without; yet we are not destroyed. The apostle speaks of their sufferings as a counterpart of the sufferings of Christ, that people might see the power of Christ's resurrection, and of grace in and from the living Jesus. In comparison with them, other Christians were, even at that time, in prosperous circumstances.

Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

The grace of faith is an effectual remedy against fainting in times of trouble. They knew that Christ was raised, and that his resurrection was an earnest and assurance of theirs. The hope of this resurrection will encourage in a suffering day, and set us above the fear of death. Also, their sufferings were for the advantage of the church, and to God's glory. The sufferings of Christ's ministers, as well as their preaching and conversation, are for the good of the church and the glory of God. The prospect of eternal life and happiness was their support and comfort. What sense was ready to pronounce heavy and long, grievous and tedious, faith perceived to be light and short, and but for a moment. The weight of all temporal afflictions was lightness itself, while the glory to come was a substance, weighty, and lasting beyond description. If the apostle could call his heavy and long-continued trials light, and but for a moment, what must our trifling difficulties be! Faith enables to make this right judgment of things. There are unseen things, as well as things that are seen. And there is this vast difference between them; unseen things are eternal, seen things but temporal, or temporary only. Let us then look off from the things which are seen; let us cease to seek for worldly advantages, or to fear present distresses. Let us give diligence to make our future happiness sure.

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HUMOR: Zen Words of Wisdom...😄

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Zen Words of Wisdom...

Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated?

Drink tea and nourish life. With the first sip... joy. With the second... satisfaction. With the third... peace. With the fourth... a danish.

Wherever you go, there you are. Your luggage is another story.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Forget this and attaining Enlightenment will be the least of your problems.

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A student goes to the Zen Master:
"Master, what happens when you die?"
Master: "I do not know."
Student: "But you are a Zen Master!"
Master "Yes, but I am not a dead Zen Master."

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Hyakujo, the Chinese Zen master, used to labor with his pupils even at the age of eighty, trimming the gardens, cleaning the grounds, and pruning the trees.

The pupils felt sorry to see the old teacher working so hard, but they knew he would not listen to their advice to stop, so they hid away his tools.

That day the master did not eat. The next day he did not eat, nor the next. "He may be angry because we have hidden his tools," the pupils surmised. "We had better put them back."

The day they did, the teacher worked and ate the same as before. In the evening he instructed them: "No work, no food."

Hope You're Enjoying Your Weekend. Sending Some Humor Your Way To Tickle Your Funny Bone. Love You! 😊

Helium is a chemical element with symbol He and atomic number 2.

Laughter Came from Every Brick, A Poem ♥

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Laughter Came from Every Brick

from Love Poems from God, by Daniel Ladinsky

Just these two words He spoke

changed my life,

“Enjoy Me.”

What a burden I thought I was to carry -

a crucifix, as did He.

Love once said to me, “I know a song,

would you like to hear it?”

And laughter came from every brick in the street

and from every pore in the sky.

After a night of prayer,
He changed my life when

He sang,

“Enjoy Me.”

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Tips to help you put more laughter in your life:

* Figure out what makes you laugh and do it (or read it or watch it) more often.

* Surround yourself with funny people — be with them every chance you get.

* Develop your own sense of humor but never at anyone else’s expense.

Celebrating the Gift of Laughter :)

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Celebrating the Gift of Laughter

[source: CBMidwest]

"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." [Proverbs 15:13]

Recent research has demonstrated what our grandmothers always knew: LAUGHTER is GOOD MEDICINE. Humor and laughter make a significant contribution to both our physical and mental health. Learning to adopt a lighter attitude and see the funny side of everyday situations gives us the resilience we need to cope on the tough days.

Let us pause and recall that the God of joy and laughter is always abiding with us and filling us with life, with hope, with creativity and with a thirst for union with Him. We are God’s people, alive in the Spirit and called to continually celebrate His presence in our lives. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"There is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven, a time to laugh, a time to dance, a time to embrace." [Ecclesiastes 3:1,4,5]

Humor is both God’s gift and a life-saving medicine.

"There’s nothing like a good laugh. It tickles our very souls. Laughter is an activity of the heart. We scrunch our souls with negativity and a lack of enthusiasm, but laughter smoothes them out. Laughter makes a noise so others can hear our feelings.” [Tickle Your Soul, Anne Bryan Smollin]

Reflection

An aspect of a child-like spirit is joyful glee. Jesus invites us to enjoy life, to nurture our sense of humor. Our faith, and especially our prayer life is enriched through this God given gift. One of the reasons I love being around children and teenagers is that they find delight in so much of life. They find delight and wonder in so many things, and notice that which we adults often times either take for granted or simply do not see. Children then usually react without the inhibitions that we adults place upon ourselves. This reaction often takes form in laughter, joyous, bubbly laughter. The humor of life is fresh and easily accessed in the childlike spirit.

Meditation

Laughter cleanses us from discouragement, anger, apathy, and grief, making room for new feelings and thoughts. Laughter frees us from self-consciousness, anxiety, and stress. Laughter helps heal our physical ailments – it massages internal organs and strengthens the life force flowing through us. Laughter teaches us to take our troubles lightly, releasing our spirits from the weight of the world and of ourselves. Laughter unites what has been separate, connecting us to one another and to our true selves. Laughter calls forth our desire to live. Laughter, then, is a source of miracles. Surely, it’s one of the places where we can meet our God. [“Glad Day,” Joan Larkin]

Intercessions

That our hearts may always be filled with joy and thanksgiving, we pray…

For those who see no joy in life, we pray…

For those who are able to lift up our spirits, we pray…

That we realize the importance of taking care of our mental and physical health through the gift of laughter, we pray…

Let us pray:

Loving Father,

Lord of clowns and smiling saints,

we rejoice that You are a God of laughter and tears.

Blessed are You, for You have rooted within us

the gifts of humor, lightheartedness and mirth.

With jokes and comedy, You cause our hearts to sing

as laughter flows out of us.

We are grateful that Your Son, Jesus, the Master,

daily invites us to be Fools for Your sake,

to embrace the madness

of Your prophets, holy people and saints.

We delight in that Holy Madness

which becomes medicine to heal the chaos of the cosmos

since it calls each of us

from the hum-drumness of daily life

into joy, adventure,

and most of all, into FREEDOM.

With circus bands and organ grinders,

with fools, clowns, court jesters and comedians,

with high spirited angels and saints,

we too join in the fun and foolishness of life,

so that Your holy laughter

may ring out to the edges of the universe.

Blessed are You, O Lord, our God,

Who invites us to be filled with holy laughter.
♥ AMEN ♥

Buddhist Zen Cartoons To Make You LAUGH! I Just Laughed So Hard, I Cried! Enjoy :D

 

Zen Humor To Help Lighten The Mood Around Here! 😉🤓😄

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God's Favorite Sound Is LAUGHTER!

Q: What do you call a schizophrenic Buddhist?

A: Someone who is at two with the universe.

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A Buddhist nun, an atheist and a Catholic Priest are on the Titanic when the ship hits an iceberg. So they all run out on deck to get into a lifeboat.

"Women and children first!" yells the Buddhist.

"Screw the women and children!" yells the atheist.

The Catholic Priest yells,"Do you think we really have that much time?".

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So the Zen master steps up to the hot dog cart and says: "Make me one with everything."

The hot dog vendor fixes a hot dog and hands it to the Zen master, who pays with a $20 bill.

The hot dog vendor puts the bill in the cash drawer and closes the drawer.

"Where's my change?" asks the Zen master.

The hot dog vendor responds: "Change must come from within."

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Q: What is the name of the best Zen teacher?

A: M.T. Ness

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Disciple: Oh wise and all knowing one, show me the place of perfect peace.
Master: If I show it to you it will no longer be peaceful.

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Q. Have you heard of the cow who attained liberation?

A. It was dyslexic and kept on repeating OOOOMMM !

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A new monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to help the other monks in copying the old texts by hand. He notices, however, that they are copying copies, not the original books. So, the new monk goes to the head monk to ask him about this. He points out that if there were an error in the first copy, that error would be continued in all of the other copies.

The head monk says "We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son." So, he goes down into the cellar with one of the copies to check it against the original.

Hours later, nobody has seen him. So, one of the monks goes downstairs to look for him. He hears a sobbing coming from the back of the cellar, and finds the old monk leaning over one of the original books and crying. He asks what's wrong. "The word is 'celebrate'," says the old monk.

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Q. What happens when a Buddhist becomes totally absorbed with the computer he is working with?
A. He enters Nerdvana.

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Three monks decided to practise meditation together. they sat by the side of a lake and closed their eyes in concentration. Then suddenly, the first one stood up and said, "I forgot my mat." He steeped miraculously onto the water in front of him and walked across the lake to their hut on the other side.

When he returned, the second monk stood up and said, "I forgot to put my other underwear to dry." He too walked calmly across the water and returned the same way. The third monk watched the first two carefully in what he decided must be the test of his own abilities. "Is your learning so superior to mine? I too can match any feat you two can perform," he declared loudly and rushed to the water's edge to walk across it. He promptly fell into the deep water.

Undeterred, the wet monk climbed out of the water and tried again, only to sink into the water. Yet again he climbed out and yet again he tried, each time sinking into the water. This went on for some time as the other two monks watched.

After a while, the second monk turned to the first and said, "Do you think we should tell him where the stones are?"

**********************************************************

Four monks were meditating in a monastery. All of a sudden the prayer flag on the roof started flapping.

The younger monk came out of his meditation and said: "Flag is flapping"

A more experienced monk said: "Wind is flapping"

A third monk who had been there for more than 20 years said: "Mind is flapping."

The fourth monk who was the eldest said: "Mouths are flapping!"

Philosophical Humor: Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road? LOL! :) Thank God We're Not Clones. This Shows Us 'Individual' Perspectives On Life. ❤

I added the cartoon above to this message.

Independent, Objective, Critical, Free THINKERS of the World UNITE!

I would like to point out that I find it amusing to hear people calling Trump supporters a cult. Especially coming from Covidians. For those of you who don't know, a cult does not allow a person to think or act outside their parameters. That describes the NWO Commie funded Progressive globalist Democrat and Republican depopulation agenda psychopaths. They are responsible for banning books, banning movies, tearing down statues, rewriting history, censoring information, having their political oppositions bank accounts, business contracts, jobs and social media accounts terminated. Why? Because we don't think like them and we share information they don't want the public to know. No one is allowed to even question their psychopath ideology or they'll be destroyed. They want to send people who don't think like them to reeducation camps. THAT IS WHAT A CULT DOES. A cult forces you to submit to them or suffer the dire consequences if you don't.

KEY PHRASE IS 👉 FORCES YOU TO THINK AND ACT LIKE THEM.👈

.....AND you must like them, speak only positively about them or else get destroyed.

Sharing information is not a cult. Defending your freedoms is not a cult. Trump is NOT forcing people to follow him. Trump is NOT forcing people to believe him. A person has THE FREEDOM to listen and do their own research. Then THE FREEDOM to accept or reject what they heard or read. Pay attention to who is calling Trump supporters a cult. MAGA American Patriots only want to defend ALL OF OUR FREEDOMS regardless of race, creed, or sexual orientation. This is no longer about Democrat and Republican choices. This is about staying free and alive. AND FURTHERMORE, I would like to remind everyone that those of you who hate Trump called Trump suporters anti-vaxxers even after Trump encouraged the public to get the covid vaccine. If we were A TRUMP CULT then wouldn't it make sense for Trump supporters to be the first to get the covid vaccine and FORCE OTHERS to get the covid vaccine? INSTEAD, we did the complete opposite and warn all of you NOT TO GET the covid vaccine for your own good.

And now many of us MAGA American Patriots are waking up to Israel fleecing Americans by controlling our government at the federal, state, and local level. We are not happy about Trump putting Israel's needs above America's needs. Israel can't survive without American financial support and weapons support and yet Trump seeks to serve Israel above all else. Trump is still supporting Ukraine when we thought he was going to end that war on day one. Ukraine has become another US welfare state like Illuminati Israel. And now Trump is bailing out Argentina to help bail out our US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's good friend Rob Citrone billionaire hedge fund manager who invested heavily in the defunct Argentina junk bond market and equity market. For those of you who don't know, Scott Bessent who President Trump appointed, CHOSE TO BE U.S. Treasury Secretary, "Forbes described Bessent as having been a "protégé" of George Soros."

According to Newsweek 12/12/2024: Bessent's relationship with Soros began in the early 1980s when he joined Soros Fund Management after graduating from Yale University. Known for his sharp analytical skills and strategic thinking, Bessent quickly advanced, becoming an influential part of Soros's team in London.

Bessent's role expanded further when he became chief investment officer (CIO) of Soros Fund Management in 2011, overseeing billions in assets and leading the firm's investment strategy. He served as CIO until 2015 when he departed to launch his own hedge fund, Key Square Capital Management, with $2 billion in backing from Soros.

But Trump's not only helping to bail out the billionaire hedge fund managers who are losing their asses in Argentina's sinking economy, Trump is bailing out the President of Argentina who caused Argentina economy to implode with his policies. But wait our anger at President Trump doesn't stop there, Trump announced he is also bailing out Argentina farmers and has agreed TO IMPORT BEEF to America from Argentina farmers.

WHAT HAPPENED TO AMERICA FIRST? American Patriots are not loyal to President Trump. We are loyal to the best interest of America and Americans. Now I hear Steve Bannon saying Trump is going to win a third term? If Trump continues on this path of screwing America hard after selling us a bunch of lies, Trump's legacy is toast. I mean it already is now that we see him aligned with the deep state globalist we all thought he was fighting for us. (emphasis mine)

Totalitarianism is a political system and a form of government that prohibits opposition political parties, disregards and outlaws the political claims of individual and group opposition to the state, and controls the public sphere and the private sphere of society. (source: wikipedia gave the best definition)

Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

[source: Space and Motion]

Plato: For the greater good.

Machiavelli: So that its subjects will view it with admiration, as a chicken which has the daring and courage to boldly cross the road, but also with fear, for whom among them has the strength to contend with such a paragon of avian virtue? In such a manner is the princely chicken's dominion maintained.

Jacques Derrida: Any number of contending discourses may be discovered within the act of the chicken crossing the road, and each interpretation is equally valid as the authorial intent can never be discerned, because structuralism is DEAD, DAMMIT, DEAD!

Timothy Leary: Because that's the only kind of trip the Establishment would let it take.

Douglas Adams: Forty-two.

Nietzsche: Because if you gaze too long across the Road, the Road gazes also across you.

Oliver North: National Security was at stake.

B.F. Skinner: Because the external influences which had pervaded its sensorium from birth had caused it to develop in such a fashion that it would tend to cross roads, even while believing these actions to be of its own free will.

Carl Jung: The confluence of events in the cultural gestalt necessitated that individual chickens cross roads at this historical juncture, and therefore synchronicitously brought such occurrences into being.

Jean-Paul Sartre: In order to act in good faith and be true to itself, the chicken found it necessary to cross the road.

Ludwig Wittgenstein: The possibility of "crossing" was encoded into the objects "chicken" and "road", and circumstances came into being which caused the actualization of this potential occurrence.

Albert Einstein: Whether the chicken crossed the road or the road crossed the chicken depends upon your frame of reference.

Aristotle: To actualize its potential.

Buddha: If you ask this question, you deny your own chicken- nature.

Salvador Dali: The Fish.

Darwin: It was the logical next step after coming down from the trees.

Emily Dickinson: Because it could not stop for death.

Epicurus: For fun.

Ralph Waldo Emerson: It didn't cross the road; it transcended it.

Johann von Goethe: The eternal hen-principle made it do it.

Ernest Hemingway: To die. In the rain.

Werner Heisenberg: We are not sure which side of the road the chicken was on, but it was moving very fast.

David Hume: Out of custom and habit.

Jack Nicholson: 'Cause it (censored) wanted to. That's the (censored) reason.

Pyrrho the Skeptic: What road?

Henry David Thoreau: To live deliberately ... and suck all the marrow out of life.

Mark Twain: The news of its crossing has been greatly exaggerated.

Zeno of Elea: To prove it could never reach the other side.

Wordsworth: To wander lonely as a cloud.

Blake: To see heaven in a wild fowl.

Dr Johnson: Sir, had you known the Chicken for as long as I have, you would not so readily enquire, but feel rather the Need to resist such a public Display of your own lamentable and incorrigible Ignorance.

Oscar Wilde: Why, indeed? One's social engagements whilst in town ought never expose one to such barbarous inconvenience - although, perhaps, if one must cross a road, one may do far worse than to cross it as the chicken in question.

Kafka: Hardly the most urgent enquiry to make of a low-grade insurance clerk who woke up that morning as a hen.

Swift: It is, of course, inevitable that such a loathsome, filth-ridden and degraded creature as Man should assume to question the actions of one in all respects his superior.

Macbeth: To have turned back were as tedious as to go o'er.

Freud: An die andere Seite zu kommen. (Much laughter)

Hamlet: That is not the question.

Donne: It crosseth for thee.

🚨👇 RELATED TO MY POINT AT THE TOP OF THIS POST 👇🚨

 

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