In an interview with Lex Fridman, Elon Musk said this:
At about two minutes in, he says he is not a religious man, but he got down on his knees and prayed before the SpaceX launch in 2020. A man who can do anything paused for a prayer. To me that is more than everything, even going to a faraway rock in the sky like Mars or the moon. This was good to hear, a hopeful way to start this New Year. Words fail me.
Peace like a river,
A wall of water.
You can't outrun it.
It piles up at the feet of a sinful man.
"You can't touch me," he tells it.
But in his heart he hopes it will,
that it will reach him too and
take him with it
to the promised land.
I think it will.
Peace is my Word for 2022
It's going to be great.
War was my Word for 2021, though I didn't tell anyone.
I think we've had a People war this year, not a Weapons war.
Old ways falling, new ways replacing them, people changing,
that sort of thing. Now it's time for peace.
I can't even imagine what it will be like.
Do you think we've been in a war? Do you think it's over?
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
Luke 2:28-32
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold,
I bring you good news of great joy that will be
for all the people. For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11
Her friend was talkative and friendly to strangers.
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Talk."
She slinked in the shadows, searching for survivors.
She found them one by one, in hovels, holes in the ground,
and on youtube. They were like her
and she prayed for them without making a sound.
Her friend called into the night, "Hello, you over there!"
And people turned.
She made a big impact in the world. Lives were changed.
People were seen. Stories were told. She knew others.
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Speak."
Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
John 18:4-7
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
from John 11:32-37
Jesus was greatly troubled. I feel like this is the first time I've noticed that. He loved Lazarus. He was greatly troubled.
These weren't simple tears, he was weeping too.
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:43-44
Lazarus was in the grave four days, but when it was time, he came out.
Unbind him. Let him go. This refers to the grave clothes,
but I think it also means someone can be bound in sin
for a long, long time, but one day come out.
'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la
La. La. La. La.
"Everyone should have their own little world that will protect them from the big world."
Erich Maria Remarque
He: Everyone is afraid to die.
She: Not me.
This is a short conversation I had with a co-worker more than 25 years ago. I don't know if he believed me. He probably thought I was crazy. Or delusional.
A conversation that I've never had with anyone, except you, here:
Other he: Do we just stop existing? Do we go to Hell?
She: Can't you feel that?
Other he: What?
She: The love of God reaching for us.
Other he: Even me?
She: Yes, you too.
Other he: No. I don't feel anything.
She: It feels great.
Do you fear death? Do you know God? Can you feel Him reaching for you?
Happy Hannukah to my friends who celebrate.
To those who don't, Happy Hannukah anyway.
My husband's Grandmother had a corn Christmas ornament like this for many years. We don't know where she got it. In 2014 when she passed, it became ours. Sometime later it crumbled into dust when a heavier ornament fell on it. Of course, we set out to replace it. Thank God for the Internet! We found one and a bit of history along with it. This ornament came from Estonia and was from the era of the Soviet Union. They typically hung on trees for New Year's, as Christmas wasn't a popular holiday...was greatly discouraged...under Communism. The corn and similar ornaments celebrated a plentiful harvest. Our new corn ornament arrived wrapped in newspaper with Cyrillic writing. Our oldest son translated it, a typical sale paper advertising produce. We kept it, of course, to wrap the ornament in each year. The cob is too fragile for the tree. We place it on the mantel instead. I am wondering what the story is behind this frail little thing.
Who owned it originally? What was their story?
What is yours?
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
2 Samuel 22:20
If you could erase parts of the past, would you?
A cruelty spoken to a friend. I'm sorry.
A terrifying thing.
A thought. Too many thoughts. Most are a waste of time.
Fear. It is the mindkiller, you know.
Not doing something great. Coulda.
Doing something great. I am not sure I was supposed to do it.
Dread of things that didn't happen.
I would, all of it.
I wonder how it would change me.
I know a man who looks for hidden you and sets you free.
I know a man who says to the blind like me, "This way."
But why? Who are you? Why did you come here?
He whispers the word Messiah. But what does that really mean? He says he will have to tell me later because I can't see fully yet. He says come walk with me a while in the sunlight. I go. You know why? It's just better in the light. But even 31 years on, I don't think I understand yet. Redemption. I am redeemed and I don't know why.
His life ended with forgiveness. To everyone who turned him in he gave a nod and a whisper.
"I don't blame you," he said.
She stared at him like they'd just met. For too long she'd believed him.
"We have to kill them before they kill us," and he ordered in the tanks.
She had no idea what she was doing. Killing, they were actually talking about killing.
"When did I lose you?" He wanted to know.
She had to think about it. One day he was the man in white, the next he was suspect. Then he was guilty.
"It didn't make sense," was all she could say. "They were weaker than us, but we chased after them like they were stronger."
Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand
Workin' in the dark against your fellow man
But as sure as God made black and white
What's done in the dark will be brought to the light
You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later God'll cut you down
Sooner or later God'll cut you down
Go tell that long tongued liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut you down
That morning he didn't expect to be pleading for his life by noon. He stirred his coffee, disregarded was she'd said, and made his plans. He didn't plan to be on that stage, but when every camera and light was on him something brought him down. He confessed.
The words wouldn't stop. He was on his knees with his head down, face to face with what he had done. Conviction is a gift. It's not like the guilt he had managed to ignore. Guilt won't change you. Conviction lifts you up and puts you where you were supposed to be.
They called for his head then. Of course they did. No one calls for their own head. No one blames themselves.
The hope of forgiveness was all he had, so he gave it to his friends and he gave to his enemies. What happened to him after that? If you have ever been forgiven you know.
If you've served, God bless you. If you are serving, God keep you.
She worked harder. A voice assured her it would make her strong. She didn't want to be strong. She wanted that giant rock out of her way and then she wanted to go home and be loved. That's what mattered to her, being needed and wanted. She was broken by the screaming world around her. All their lies stood in the path of the boulder she was pushing up a hill. Evil sings a song. The lyrics say you should waste your time doing whatever doesn't matter.
Ahead of her on the bridge, a man crouched over the rail, about to jump. He was seconds from it, his pain reaching up to pluck him from safety. God heard her screaming. Take him off the bridge. Take him home. Let him see You. Why? I need some light. I need hope, too. The man stepped from the ledge and headed home, shocked that he wasn't invisible. Someone saw me on the bridge. Have you ever been seen like that?
There is Someone who made all life and you along with it. Can you hear Him? A still, quiet whisper. This is what matters.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
You worship what you do not know;
we worship what we know,
for salvation is from the Jews.
John 4:22
...a great multitude that no one could number,
from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages...
Revelation 7:9
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4-5
The darkness is not undefeatable. Did you know that?
His gentle voice, smaller than mine, His whisper.
I can grab this by the throat and send it away. Did you know that?
Rahab is hiding in the cave with her bundle of cohorts. Villains, all. But the Redeemer digs from the outside to get to them.
"Guys," she says, "this Way. Over here. I see a light."
Come with me to joy. Come with me.
Rahab wins.
Do you ever feel a tug in your heart that says pray here, now, silently, look. Then you look and you see someone whose heart is outside their body, their gaze dead and alone, their shoulders slumped. Or maybe, their eyes are bright and full of life, their picture on the cover of a magazine, but still, pray. Here. Now.
I prayed for a young woman. Her eyes were bold and fearless. She was telling a story of how Christians hurt her. My people, me, all of us. Oh, my God. Now she doesn't need You and we are monsters. Pray. Here. Now. So I did and then later I saw her again. Her eyes had softened. Maybe healed is the right word. She was talking about them again, my people who had hurt her, and it seemed like she had seen a sliver of love and that made the past better. It made me feel better anyway.
I saw a rock star yesterday having the time of his life on stage. He's grandpa-aged now, but can still kick his leg high in the air while spinning a mike stand. Oh, my God. And that is different than how I used to say it. I am different. The Lord bless you and keep you and give you peace.
When I was thirteen I was somewhere touristy, a place with trains, I think. There was a disheveled man there, maybe 80, maybe 70. He could have been younger or older. I was thirteen so almost everyone was older. As I stared out the window of the train I heard in my heart, pray. So I did that for years. Even when I needed prayer myself. Even when I was in darkness and couldn't see, I remembered that. I prayed for that man and I never knew who he was. That's like now, here. I don't know you, but I am praying for you.
They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.
Isaiah 65:23-24
I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me;
I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.
I said, “Here I am, here I am,”
to a nation that was not called by my name.
Isaiah 65:1
