Friday, January 31, 2020

If?



If you knew you could not fail, 
what would you attempt?




Wednesday, January 29, 2020

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."


Tuesday, January 28, 2020

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

Monday, January 20, 2020

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

Sunday, January 19, 2020

What Does God Want?



Does God want us to be happy?
Sometimes. Probably. 
But really God wants us to be holy.



Saturday, January 18, 2020

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


Tuesday, January 14, 2020

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

Monday, January 13, 2020

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Bloom




I live where dandelions bloom in January.

I hope you live where things 
bloom out of season too.