Concerned without being Consumed

So much going on.  Find one, pick one. Can you?  You can't and you may miss what is really happening.  My thoughts are with Baltimore and everything that the real deal means.  And with Nepal and so many who have lost their lives. And with the rescued women of Boka Haram. And with the over 2000 young people missing in Detroit. And with concerns for my family. And with my own concerns.  

You see?  You can have a lot going on and still miss that one thing that you should have been focused on.  I suggest strongly to shift your focus. We must shift our focus to what God is doing.  Oh yeah God is doing something; and when we can focus on what God is doing first in our lives, then we can better see our way to the concerns that are ours.  We can be concerned without being consumed.  And then, we can pray and stand.  enough for now.

Hold On

So much has been happening.  Too often we mistake what is happening for something not wanted or bad.  Usually what happens strengthens us for our journey. Yes it does - but we cannot give up.  There will be hurdles- to be overcome. There will be trials- to share the testimonies. There will be life. 

You are not alone. You never were, you will never be.  Hold on.  Help is on the way. enough for now.

I Am WIth You

I am with you.  I am with you.  How many times have you felt all alone?  I am with you.  How many times have you called out, didn't hear; reached out, no one reached back?  I am with you.  True - friends may not be there when you need them. Family may not understand that you need them.  You may not know what you need.  But Jesus! His promise is true- I am with you. 

Let that permeate your every being.  I am with you.  You are never alone.  You can hope because of His promise.  You can . . . you can make it . . . you can take it . . . you can get through it . . . you can get over it . . . because He is with you.  Stay with all day.  Then stay with it all night.  Then stay with it tomorrow and all you tomorrows.  I am with you.  I love it!!!! enough for now.

Recognize the Presence

Let this be a time of walking in contemplation, of listening.  Don't miss this time of your recognizing restoral. Two of the disciples missed who Jesus was as they walked toward the village of Emmaus. They were discussing all that had happened. All that had happened.  All that had happened.  They were so stuck in the past, although the immediate past, that they missed what was happening in the present. Jesus was with them in their present. As Jesus talked with them they still missed His presence.  It was not until they invited Jesus to stay with them that they got it.  At the table - when Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave the bread to them- then they recognized Him, then He was gone.

Sometimes we get so caught up on what has happened to us, with us, around us that we miss what God is doing right now in our present. You cannot recognize what God is doing unless you invite Him in.  Don't get stuck in your past, recognize the awesomeness of The Presence. enough for now.

Celebrate Resurrection

Blessing of recognition on this Resurrection day. Recognize that the love of God and the obedience of Jesus makes it possible to know the freedom we have. We know the message of the cross collectively, but what does it mean to you individually? Celebrate!