If?

If you knew you could not fail, 

what would you attempt?

C.S. Lewis

"When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind."

Son of David

...“Have mercy on me, 

O Lord, 

Son of David; 

my daughter is 

severely oppressed 

by a demon.” 

But he did not 

answer her a word. 

And his disciples 

came and begged 

him, saying, 

“Send her away, 

for she is crying 

out 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.” 

And he answered, 

“It is not right to 

take the children’s 

bread 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, 

“O woman, 

great is your faith! 

Be it done for you 

as you desire.” And 

her daughter was 

healed instantly.

Matthew 15:22b-28

A Song from Long Ago

Awe

Who Are You?

I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call 
the righteous, but sinners. from Matthew 9:13 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, 
and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. 
No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,

my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon him,

and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

He will not quarrel or cry aloud,

nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;

a bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

until he brings justice to victory;

and in his name the Gentiles will hope.

Matthew 12:15-21/Isaiah 42

What Does God Want?

Does God want us to be happy?

Sometimes. Probably. 

But really God wants us to be holy.

First

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" Matthew 10:5-7

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 

Matthew 11:2-6

Presence

What is the presence of God like?

Like fire that doesn't burn.

Like rain when the whole world is dry.

Like light from the sun, except you can't see the sun. 

It is behind a cloud, but the light is still shining. 

How is it doing that?

Like a smile deep in your heart when you know you were heard, truly heard.

He is not really like anything else.

There you are with questions. 

The place is dark. You are dark. 

You are sitting in a shadow. Why is life so hopeless? You realize in that moment that you are wrong. You are delighted, relieved, overjoyed (or even just regular joy at that point), that life is not as you thought. It is better. It is good. He is there, with you, real. Jesus is real.

Enough. Filled. Full. 

Have you ever been full? Have you ever had enough? He loves you and He wants you to know.

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13

The Future

What is coming? Peace is coming.

Bloom

I live where dandelions bloom in January.

I hope you live where things 

bloom out of season too.