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