The Most Important Thing

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for

“All flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

and the flower falls,

but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:13-25

Afraid

 

I'm scared.

Really? Now, after all these years, you're scared?

This darkness is the same darkness I was rescued from.

You were rescued, remember?

What if it gets my kids? 

What if I get your kids?

What if you don't hear me when I pray? 

Is that what you think, after all the answers, that's what you are afraid of?

Give me a sign. 

Oy vey, always a sign.

Ok, I'll give you a sign. What do you want it to say?

See, I heard you. 

I can do that.

Simple

 

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words 

of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 

1 Corinthians 1:17

Sinners

 

But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a 

physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 

"I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." 

For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.  

Matthew 9:13

Dandelion Tea

 

For all that ails you.

Except what only Jesus can handle.

Different Dave

 

The destruction of a life can be quiet. You can do it yourself alone in a room. You can do it without understanding or meaning to. Where you go in your heart is more important than where you take the rest of you.

I've been listening to Johnny Cash lately. He did a version of the Depeche Mode song "Personal Jesus." Do you remember it? Reach out and touch faith. 

Do do da do do. Yeah, I'm dancing around too.

Dave Gahan is the original singer. Do you remember when this happened?

(Look at all the prayers in the comments.)

In the early and mid-90's I heard he had overdosed on heroin and nearly died more than once. In 1996 he was dead for two minutes. He described it like this:

“The first thing I realised in the hospital was that I exited my body. I was floating underneath the ceiling and could observe exactly what was happening underneath me: Paramedics were running around my body and tried to save me. I screamed that I wasn’t actually lying down there but above them. I believe it was my soul screaming which had already left my body and became a witness of what happened to my body. At that point I was clinically dead, my heart wasn’t beating. These seconds seemed like hours to me. And suddenly, there was a complete, frightening darkness around me. As if someone had turned off the light.”

He came back. 

In the video above he says at about 4:55, 

"There was something there for me, God or whatever..." Heartsmile.

What do we know about life and death? We can't add another moment no matter how hard we try and, I think, we can't take one away either, not even if we try.

Do our prayers make a difference? Look at all those people in the comment section saying they prayed for him. I did too. I think even one of them could change a life. (He's still with us.) 

What are you praying for?

Do you think you can make a difference?

Do This.

 

This morning I watched a video on elegance by a lady who is a true lady, refined and beautiful, while my hair is dirty and my feet are up. What do I do today, Lord? This. And then I watched a guy talking to another guy. Their friendship makes me smile, one would jump on a grenade for the other and the other would heal the world for his friend, if he could. Maybe he can. What do I do today, Lord? This. I watched David talk about Goliath and promise to beat him. I pray for you, Dave. This. The laundry is almost done. The kitchen is clean-ish, but not the coffee pot. I hate cleaning the coffee pot. What do I do today, Lord? This. My kids have the day off school for MLK, but usually at this time they are reading and I am teaching. What do I do today, Lord? This. I smile at a friend, at you, and here. 

What do I do with my days, Lord? This.

Blessings

 

Update

 

Thank you all for your prayers!

I can't put into words how much it means to me to have all of you commenting and praying and being here. He is doing well this morning. They are taking care of the clots (there was more than one) with blood thinners. All is well.

Bless You,

Sandi

Prayer Request...

 

Guys,

My father-in-law is going into emergency surgery.

He has a blood clot in his heart and a valve problem.

Thanks for praying.

Sandi

Have we met before?

 

This story moved me.

I hope it moves you.

Or wakes you from a deep slumber.

Or makes you think, "Me, too."

Psst. 

The snake pictures will freak you out. They did me. 

Sorry about that.

Here's Susan:

Flutterbys

Boast

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men. 1 Corinthians 3:18-21a

Alone

 

Alone alone always alone each day and all the days forever. 

He really thought it. He said it to himself. He said it to others. 

But. 

He wasn't alone. 

The Lord God Creator of the universe took him by the hand. 

"This way," He said. And led him away from alone. 

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

King of Love

 

It’s a long road up Golgotha hill

It’s a long road up Golgotha hill

It’s a long road, all terror and tears

But there ain’t no stopping love

On a rugged cross, Jesus bled

On a rugged cross, Jesus bled

The sky went dark and the moon turned red

But there ain’t no stopping love

He said

(King of Love)

You can spit on me

(King of Love)

Put your crown on me

(King of Love)

Put your whip on me

(King of Love)

I’m paying it all on Calvary

And the Son went down

And the Son went down

On the killing floor

The Son went down

The Son went down

The Son went down

On the killing floor

But you can’t stop love

You can’t stop love

You can’t stop love

Sunday morning, stone rolled away

Sunday morning, stone rolled away

Sunday morning, nothing in that grave

Cause there ain’t no stopping love

No, there ain’t no stopping love

And the devil went down

The devil went down

On the killing floor

The devil went down

The devil went down

The devil went down

On the killing floor

Yeah, the devil went down

The devil went down

On the killing floor

The curse was broken

Heaven was opened

The devil went down

Forevermore

You can’t stop love

You can’t stop love

No, you can’t stop love

All of hell couldn’t stop love

Understand

 

Romans 15:21 

...but as it is written,

 "Those who have never been told of him will see,

and those who have never heard will understand.”

& 

Isaiah 52:15

...so shall he sprinkle many nations. 

Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, 

for that which has not been told them they see, 

and that which they have not heard they understand.