Walk in It

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors” (Luke 2:14 NRSV)

One verse. This is the angels’ proclamation to the shepherds and to us. We have peace because we have God’s favor. We walk in that peace. Nothing can disrupt our peace for long. And we have it because of the birth of Jesus! Celebrate in a new way! Celebrate with a new zeal! Merry Christmas to you all! 

Listen

“For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power” (1 Cor. 4:20 NRSV)

I think we miss the awesomeness of this season, we get confused on what it all about. But the birth is so much more. The kingdom is so much more. My pastor said so long ago that, “We will be surprised with who we see in Heaven.” So many people are playing a game. And the reality is to stop playing is so much better.  Our words will tell on us.  Just let this sit with you. enough for now.

Go For It

Joshua 18:3NIV

“So Joshua said to the Israelites: How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers has given you?”

Go back and read 1-3, and then 19:47.  God has promised and has set it up for us to move. We must trust him and go when he says go. It doesn’t matter how rough it looks, how hard it appears, God has it. Too often we miss blessings because we are afraid to take God at his word. 

The tribe of Dan were afraid to take the land that God had promised and took one they could conquer. But taking the land and killing the people and renaming the land did not make up for what they didn’t do.

God says it, go for it, in the way that he shows you. No more missing what God has for you. enough for now.

Walk Whole

Is 53:4-5. 

“Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are 

The verbs give us hope. Surely Jesus has endured our infirmities - pain in our body, and carried our dis eases - the sufferings of our mind. He was wounded for our violations of laws, commands, sins. And was crushed for our iniquities- those are the injustices, the violations of rights, duties, sins. 

He took our punishment, and that allows us to live forgiven, to live whole. Whatever was in pieces, has been made whole by Jesus. Isaiah prophesied the ‘already’. Walk in your wholeness. Treasure what has already been done in order that you live full. enough for now.

What do You Stand On?

Matthew 16:15&16 NRSV

“13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Go back and read through verse 19. Bottom line, Peter recognized Jesus’ messianic identity, and was given the keys to the kingdom. To proclaim the good news. That place where this happened is so significant because it was against the backdrop of pagan worship starting with Pan. 

The rock still stands, the church still stands, the church still has power, the church still has authority. When you know who Jesus is there is power. You are the church. Walk in your power and authority. enough for now.

One More Night

Exodus 8:8–11 (NRSV) “Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said, “Pray to the Lord to take away the frogs from me and my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” Moses said to Pharaoh, “Kindly tell me when I am to pray for you and for your officials and for your people, that the frogs may be removed from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “As you say! So that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God, the frogs shall leave you and your houses and your officials and your people; they shall be left only in the Nile.” 

This is about the plague of frogs. Go back and read it. Pharaoh had the opportunity to help his people be rid of the frogs. Moses asked him when, and he chose to stay one more night with the frogs. 

What are the frogs in our life? Those issues that plague us? And we look for help everywhere but God. Yet, he gives us an opportunity to be rid of them. 

Yes, sometimes we are still in but not alone. Sometimes he walks us through, sometimes he removes us from the frogs. But whatever he does it is for our best- when we accept it. Sometimes we can’t trust God with it because we don’t trust him. Let’s be real. But when we give him those issues - we can watch and wait knowing that he has us. Whatever it is. Don’t wait! We don’t have tomorrow- we have right now.  We don’t want to spend one more night with our frogs. enough for now.

Hang in There

Hebrews 12:1-3 NRSV

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.”

This is just a reminder that because of the heroes and sheroes of the faith we can drop any weight that hinders us, hang in there, focus on Jesus. Faith is our key that unlocks how we do what we do. We can trust what God is doing in our lives. enough for now.

Great

Lamentations 3:20-24 NRSV

“My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 

There is so much happening around us, but God moves us in the midst. We do not despair - Great! We do not give up - Great! We stay prayed up - Great is his faithfulness!  We continue to watch what God is doing in our lives. He is our keeper, our healer, our guide, our hope, in spite of it all. enough for now.

Let it Go

Matthew 7:12 NRSV

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” 

In “The Lion King” Rafiki hit Simba on his head. Simba said ‘ow’ and Rafiki answered what difference does it make? It’s in the past. 

We hold on to too much that does us no good but only to take up space in our head. And when we hold on tight enough and long enough it pierces our heart with bitterness. We must leave the past in the past. To continue looking back is wasted time. We must be in the present moment in order to move forward.

We leave the past- not stuffing it - but by releasing it through lamenting.  Then we can truly let go and move on with what we have learned. We can let go and forgive because we have been forgiven. We can forgive ourselves also because we have been forgiven. If God has forgiven us- as God has forgiven us, it is done. Whatever it is- it’s in the past. Walk in the present moment with God and watch what he does. enough for now.

Get To Work

Nehemiah 6:9 NRSV 

“But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

This is Nehemiah’s prayer to continue the work of rebuilding the Jerusalem wall. He moved through opposition, distractions, but he stayed on course. Go back and read Nehemiah 1-7. Some of the most studied prayers are in the Hebrew Bible. 

Today we must recognize the places where we are in disrepair. The places where we must be rebuilt. And we start with a prayer, “Oh God strengthen our hands.” Give us what we need - to hear, to follow, and then to rest in your peace. Blessings builders, as we work together to pray for ourselves, and for one another. enough for now.

Into His Presence

Psalm 95:1-3

“O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”

So very much has happened this week. And we pause today for 9/11. It’s been hectic. We all need a break. We need a refuge. We need to feel God’s peace. You know how sometimes babies sing themselves to sleep? We sing ourselves into God’s presence, we hum a tune to quiet our heart and our mind in order to be in that place with God. 

We humble ourselves in awe of our mighty God, knowing that he can, he does, he will. We pause so that we can unwind the crazy and be rewound with God’s love, his protection, his mercy. 

Take time right now and thank him- look around and thank for what you see! Thank him that you do see! Thank him that you can respond to his love for you! Thank yourself into the peace of his presence! enough for now.

Now, The Land Needs You

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NRSV

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

You all know the 14th verse, which is the complete of the sentence. As God’s people, we have a responsibility to humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and repent. When we do that - God forgives us and the land is healed. 

Can you see our responsibility of saving the land through our obedience to God? It’s like the lame man whose friends let him down though the roof. Jesus saw their faith, forgave them and healed the man. 

We can do this - and if believers everywhere did this look at what could happen. But we will do what we will do. Let’s do it! We are his people. We will humble ourselves as we know that God  is so awesome that we cant do anything but be be humbled by his love for us. We will seek God in every instance. We will pray without ceasing. And we will continue to turn from wrong to right. enough for now.

Keep On

Mark 4:3-9 NRSV

“Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” And he said, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” 

Verses 13-29 Jesus explains this parable. The thing is that while at one time we were seeds, we are now sowers. We sow the gospel message through our actions, by our love. We can’t determine who will get it. Even then the fields were so full of thorns and rocks that the yield was small, still they showed.    

Satan will snatch some, the gospel will not take root with some, some will hang around those who choke them out, still there will be those who grow strong and flourish. 

We don’t know who, but we keep sowing. We sow because we know what God has done for us. That is our testimony. enough for now.

Listen

Ez.19-20 NRSV

“I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may follow my statutes and keep my ordinances and obey them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”

As I was reading this I noticed the clocks on my tablet and my phone and I heard an old O’Jays’ song, “Listen to the clock on the wall.” Now, this has nothing to do with that song. But time is moving, winding down, ending. Seasons are passing. 

This passage is God’s promise to Israel. It is our promise - we return to God by releasing any and all idols from our heart. These are those that have turned our hearts cold- to stone. He gives us a new spirit. 

Now - yes we are saved by his grace, but there are places in our heart that we must release. 

Unforgiveness turns to bitterness and becomes our own idol- we hold on to it like it’s a precious gem. That bitterness affects us is so many ways- mentally, physically- spiritually. Stone. 

Lack of trusting God affects us is so many ways as we think we have a better plan than he does for our lives. The crazy part is he gave us our life and he knows what he has for us. It usually does not move the way we think, but it always a more excellent way. Stone. 

Since that is the only two he gave me, let us give them to God - let us release them and be healed. enough for now.

Get Understanding

Mark 4:21-25 NRSV

“He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”

Things are not always as they seem. These wisdom sayings help us to understand the parables. At times, even the disciples misunderstood Jesus. While it is there - it must be revealed. It is revealed when we seek him. The more we seek wisdom in understanding Jesus and the kingdom, the more we receive. Those who have no interest in understanding will find the selves further away from him. So, get understanding. enough for now.

Believe

Mark 11:23-24 NRSV

“Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

This. Let this permeate your mind and your spirit. This. We believe that God has us in any and all things. And when we pray -we pray believing. 

Don’t Worry Yourself

Psalm 37:1-7 NRSV

“Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. 

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, 

and the justice of your cause like the noonday. 

Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; 

do not fret over those who prosper in their way, 

over those who carry out evil devices.”

This is about relationship with God. We worry too much about too much. We are not to fret. David gives us a great plan for our vertical connection: Trust in the Lord. Delight in the Lord. Commit to the Lord. Be still. 

This sets us up for success in anything because it strengthens our  vertical connection - our relationship with God. When the vertical connection is strong, then the horizontal connection with others will be. Too often we strengthen the wrong connection. 

This week - trust in the Lord, delight in the Lord, commit to the Lord, and be still. As Jamaica says it, “don’t worry yourself Mon.” enough for now.

Stand Up, Not Down

1 Samuel 17:26c

(RSV): “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

This is the story of David and Goliath. Go back and read it. This was the passion that David had toward Goliath. Before we can fight, we must have that drive. The Israelites army felt defeated and had given up. But one boy, with one slingshot did what others could not do. He knew who he was fighting, that Goliath was not bigger than God. And he knew how to fight, in the way that worked for him- no armor, no battle weapon - but a slingshot with five smooth stones. 

We have to know why we fight, who we fight, and how we fight. Our why is because nothing is larger than God. Our who is the Goliath tries us against and agin in different ways. Oh he’s defeated but he knows that we don’t realized that, and so he taunts. Our how is by listening to Holy Spirit and not making a move without him. enough for now.

You Can’t Go Back

Numbers 14:4

“And they said to one another, “Let us choose a captain, and go back to Egypt.”

This about the Israelites that wanted to go back into captivity. They couldn’t face the issues they were up against and would rather go back into captivity. Go back and read it when you can. But today just three things to consider when you want to give up and remain captive: 1. You can’t stay where you are. 2. You can’t go back. 3. You must go forward. Many times that going forward is to get still and listen. To be be still and know- that he is God. Know that God has your back. enough for now.

Hold On

Galatians 6:7, 9NRSV

“Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.”

Paul was  talking to the church. This verse has three aphoristic statements. An aphoristic statement is a general truth. You know, like if you go outside when it rains you will get wet. Cause you know you can’t run between the rain drops.  

Anyway, these three are independently true and collectively true. So there is nothing more I can add but I would encourage each of us this week to take time in God’s truth, which sometimes is not our truth. Hold on to the three statements. 

 And hold on to verse 9  “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” Hold on, be strong, don’t give up, don’t give in. enough for now.

Pray for Me

Ex. 17:10-11

“So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat upon it, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”

This was a holy war. You can go back and look at the principles of a holy war in Deu. 20:1-20. We see two fights going on here, the physical fight by Joshua, and the spiritual fight by Moses. Both were needed. In this fight we fight both are needed. Sometimes we are physically engaged, sometimes spiritually engaged for another. At all times we are in prayer. 

Moses had family around him as they held up his arms. We must take care who we have around us. In a war armies fight to win. We don’t fight for the victory, we fight from the victory already won by Jesus on the cross.  I hear Hezekiah Walker, “You pray for me, I’ll pray for you, I love you, I need you to survive.” enough for now

Let it Go

Acts 5:1-11

This is the story of Ananias and Sapphira who lied about the money they received from the sale of property pledged. The main thing here is not that they lied about the money but that they lied to Holy Spirit. They could have not pledged the land, but they did.

It’s easier to be truthful than to lie. The lie kills us, little by little. And lying to Holy Spirit destroys. We want to live a life not divided within ourselves with lies that destroy. Go back and read. It was too long for me to place here. And let’s start right now- releasing any lie that we have believed, and lie we have told. Let Holy Spirit show you the lie, and then the truth. The truth is always stronger. enough for now.

Wait

Acts 1:4-5

“And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 

This was just before Pentecost. Go back and read Acts 2. Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promise. We have received the promise and what we can do each day is wait on Holy Spirit to receive guidance, and power to witness through our actions. We wait to get direction. We wait for clarity. We wait, and watch what God is doing. Blessings on Pentecost! enough for now.

Be Filled

John 4:13-14 NRSV

“Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.””

Go back and read verses 7-30. There are some things we do over and over because we must, in order to live. We drink water, we eat, and as my son, Marq, will say, “it’s what and how we eat.” But today I say that where we get our nourishment. 

There is something about going to God and receiving. Not going to God to receive something in particular, but to receive what he has for us at that moment. And yes, we go over and over again- to go deeper and more profound in what he shows us, in how he grows us. He fills a thirst that society cannot quench. 

And from that our actions show that we have been filled. Oh we don’t do it for that- but we do it because he offers a new filling over and over again, which rejuvenates, restores, resurrects, transforming us more and more into who we really are in him. enough for now.

Growing

Proverbs 27:17 (NRSV)

“Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.” 

Another proverb. I suggest that you find one that you can hold on to and go with it. I think we have lived in this proverb since a child. Our parents, aunts, uncles, neighbors were always giving tidbits of wisdom for life. Quite a bit I held on to and passed on. And you- you are learning and growing and will pass on. 

Yes, there are times that you have shared with me what you have learned - that’s what it about. It’s sharpening one another. 

Momma and Daddy used to say: “Leap from our shoulders.” We did, and our children have.

Yesterday a friend shared something: “The things I have not done are the things I have not tried to do.”

And one more from Doc to me long ago: “Don’t let anybody out you you.”

We strengthen one another. enough for now

Be Your Best Self

Proverbs 27:19 NRSV

“Just as water reflects the face, so one human heart reflects another.”

There is an exact corresponding between the inner self and the outer self. If you have integrity inside, you will have integrity outside. Unfortunately many people try to show a false self not realizing that the true self will come through to others. And so they end up only fooling themselves.

Two thoughts:

One should learn how to read people in order to learn who to trust. There is a saying, “when someone tells you who they through their actions, believe them.” 

And 

One should always be in touch with self through God in order to be the best self that God has intended. That’s being more contemplative. enough for now.

Hang On

Matthew 15:21-28 NRSV 

“Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.”

Look at the way this woman held on to what she needed from Jesus. Her daughter was tormented, and she knew she couldn’t help her. Although she was Canaanite, she went to Jesus. Although the Jewish people called them dogs,she went to Jesus. 

This woman did not let anything stop her from getting help for her daughter. That’s love. To know when to get to someone outside of you to get the help you need. Jesus saw her great faith and her daughter was healed. The key is faith. We must have that faith that does not stop us when others try to derail us. Faith in what God will do. 

Happy Mother’s Day! enough for now.

Go Fishing

Luke 5:4 NRSV

“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.””

This was Simon’s call into ministry. It is our call to further advance the kingdom. We are to go deeper, try more. We advance the kingdom by our walk much more than our talk. Our actions point others to what we know about the awesomeness of God. 

Let him show you- even if it’s a smile, a hug, a conversation, we move as he shows us. We don’t know who needs something that simple. Let go fishing - shall we?  enough for now.

Let Him In

Rev. 3:20-21 NRSV

“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

My Aunt Nona and a few other aunts had a wall calendar with Jesus knocking on the door. It always stayed with me. You see. He wants to be invited into our hearts. Yes, we have accepted him, but he wants us to spend time with him. Oh, the marvelous moments we have when we do just that. Let me just leave that with you. Open the door and let him eat with with. Relationship happens when you eat with someone. Enjoy that fellowship. enough for now.

He’s Not There

Matthew 28:5-7 NRSV

“But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.”

What a joyful day! The angel gave two instructions to the women at the empty tomb, come and see, and go and tell. We too are to come and see that Jesus is not in the tomb. He’s not dead! 

And we are to go and tell it. We tell the good news we share it by our love. We worship a risen Savior!  We. Celebrate our life because of Jesus’ life. Walk in it. Share it. Live free, love one another. Happy Resurrection Day!

enough for now.

The Father’s Business

Luke 4:18&19

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

We are clear that Jesus has been on his fathers business from age twelve and this statement years later sealed what he was to do. His father’s business took him to the cross. 

When you get a chance read his last words from the cross as that is where we are today. 

1. “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

2. “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

3.”Dear woman, here is your son . . .”Here is your mother” (John 19:27).

4. “Eloi, Eloi lama sabachthani?”  “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34, Matt. 27:46).

5. “I’m thirsty” (John 19:28).

6. “It is finished” (John 19:30).

7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

He finished his father’s work on earth. We stay right there on this day. We have work to do. Let’s use this day to be thankful for the work. enough for now.

Praise Him

Luke 19:38-40 NRSV

“Blessed is the king 

who comes in the name of the Lord! 

Peace in heaven, 

and glory in the highest heaven!” 

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

Go back and read verse 37. When we come in contact with Jesus there must be a response, either real or counterfeit.  Our authentic praise takes us higher in him, with him. And why wouldn’t we want that type of praise? We know too much about what he has done for us, with us, through us. In the words of FG Sampson “I don’t need no rocks talking for me.”  We praise him- authentically. 

On this Palm Sunday thank him for his many blessings to you. Thank him for it all. Now praise him because he is who he is. He is God all by himself. enough for now.

This

Micah 6:8 (NRSV)

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

This. Not going to say a word. Let’s walk with this all week- do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God. Let’s make a consecrated effort to do this.enough for now.

Your Story

Joshua 4:4-7

(NRSV):Then Joshua summoned the twelve men from the Israelites, whom he had appointed, one from each tribe. Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, one for each of the tribes of the Israelites, so that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.” 

We are to have commemorate major events in our lives. We should also remember them as life changing events where God’s hand was in it. Sometimes those events are where he kept us from peril, or how he allowed us to get rid of the idols in our lives. There is always a story, and a story behind the story. We have to tell our story, because God has been too good to us not to tell our story.  

So when they ask us, ‘what do these stones mean?’ You know- or ‘why do you have this? ‘ or ‘what does this mean?’ You can share what God has done for you, with you, and in you. Don’t miss the significance of telling your story. enough for now

Hold On

Psalm 37:5

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” I start here. Hold on to this. Sometimes we just need to know this. Now, let’s back up to verses 1-6:

Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, 

and the justice of your cause like the noonday.”

Hold these all week. Stop on “commit your way to the Lord; trust him, and he will act.” Hold on and watch him work. Hold on, it’s already done. Hold on God’s got you. Hold on and thank him. enough for now.

Listen

1 Samuel 3:10 (NRSV): “Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 

 

Young Samuel answered who he thought was calling him-Eli. Eli was not calling him but Eli pointed the way to who was calling him. Too often we answer too many voices, which will cause confusion. We must be clear that we answer the one voice as he calls us. Out of that we move, we get direction. It’s not difficult- “speak Lord.” Listen and be amazed, listen and be at peace. Listen and respond. enough for now.

In It

1 Corinthians 9:24b nrsv

“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.” 

We must be clear that each one runs our race in our way. We can’t look to the right or left to see what another is doing. While we are intertwined, our race is our race. We run with the certainty that Jesus has already paved the way with Holy Spirit guiding, and God cheering us on.

Our winning is assured but we must stay in the race. Sometimes we run, sometimes we walk, sometimes we pause for direction, sometimes we rest, but at all times we stay in this race.  

We are never left alone on our journey, our race, but we must at all times ask for directions. Holy Spirit as our Paraclete guides us. Oh please be encouraged, when it appears that we have taken a wrong path through misinformation, or not listening, we can get back on the path, get back in the race.  As My daughter-in-love says to us struggling in working out.- “We got this y’all !” Hear Holy Spirit saying “You got this!” 

We are the ‘one’ to run it, we are the ‘one’ to win it. And when we hear “Well done!” My my, then we can rest knowing that we were in it and won it. enough for now.

Make a Change

Blessings on Ash Wednesday

Today marks the beginning of Lent. For these 40 days let us look inward to examine where we are and what we need to release. Let us look upward to examine our connection with God and how to walk stronger. 

Let us look outward and how we can love another. Take at least two hours a week for solitude and prayer. Don’t talk to God- let him talk to you. And then thank him. Thank him for your very life. Thank him that he loves us the way he does. Blessings.enough for now

God is Able

“Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 24-25 NRSV)

This is a powerful blessing. You see, when we understand that it is God who keeps us, then we won’t use so much energy trying to do what God does. It is God who keeps us, who presents us, who watches over and holds us. 

What can we do with that? Be still and watch what he is doing. God continues to make a way, continues to keep us in spite of crazy around us. 

Ash Wednesday starts the Lenten season. Let us consider what we can do to give back to God. We can fast from something, or take on something. One suggestion is solitude and prayer for two hours a week. Use any spiritual discipline. Maybe it is to release something. Maybe it is to take on something. It is to strengthen our walk. enough for now.

Loving It

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Miicah 6:8 NRSV)

One verse from a prophet that gives us what we need. When I was young, my pastor, Rev. Herring would quote this verse often- in the same voice, with the same cadence, of course it was KJV then. 

God brought me back to this same word, same meaning, easy to understand - do justice, love kindness, walk humbly.  Walking with God humbles us. It sets us up to hear from him, to follow him, to trust him. And out of that true humility we are true, fair with one another. We don’t just love kindness,  but we are kind from within. That’s a different place. 

When the enemy or our own woundedness tries to trip us up with lies -they can’t stick. We know who we walk with, and that gives us clarity on who we are. Yes, we are not perfect, we can’t be. But we can be his, who loves him and is kept by him through dangers seen and unseen. 

 

He loves us. Love him back. Love him back by walking with him, loving others through loving him, showing justice and kindness to others- and to self. Don’t judge yourself so harshly that you can’t see what God is doing with you. He’s doing a great thing- because he love you!  enough for now

Hold On

Psalm 1:1-2

(NRSV): “Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.”

Hold on, be happy, be blessed. Excerpts from my devotion this morning:

“No evil can befall you if I am with you. "All that He blesses is our good." Every time of being laid aside is a time of retreat into the quiet place with Me. Never fear but in that place you shall find restoration and power and joy and healing. 

Plan both of your retreat days now and then—days when you live apart with Me, and arise rested and refreshed—physically, mentally, and spiritually, to carry on the work I have given to you. I will never give you a load greater than you can bear. 

Love, Joy, Peace—welcome these. Let no personal feelings, no thoughts of self banish these. Singly, they are miracle-producing in a life, but together, they can command all that is needed on the physical, mental, and spiritual planes. It is in these wonder-realm attributes all success lies. 

You have to see your inner lives are all they should be, and then the work is accomplished. Not in rushing and striving on the material plane, but on the battlefield of the Soul are these things won.”

Be blessed, know that God is, that God has you. enough for now.

Say NO to Unbelief

Matthew 13:58

“And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.”

This has been a wonder to me. Because of the unbelief of the people. I used to think that Jesus couldn’t do because of their unbelief. No, no, Jesús wouldn’t do. That’s the difference. He wouldn’t do. Let’s pause right there. Unbelief shuts down our miracles. Let us not be those who miss the miracles because of our unbelief. Let’s move from negativity to positivity. That shifts the atmosphere. Let’s not do evil for evil (as my mother used to say). Let’s walk in our belief, in our faith, watching what God is doing. enough for now.

Step Up

Matthew 9:37-38 (NRSV):  “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Go back and read 35-38. Jesus sent the disciples to do what he did, heal the sick, ease the broken-hearted, restore the demonized, proclaim the gospel. And yet, there is need for more. Everyone has something to do as laborer. We must work while we can, while it is time. We work in our assignment, we pray for others to work in theirs. We work or pray. We work and pray. This is the season to step up and move as he has assigned. This is the season as there is much to be done. As long as we do our part, then we take our place in advancing the kingdom. We are what is prayed for. it’s that season.