Prospect point night view of the Niagara Falls, in winter. by Paolo Costa Baldi
Good morning, beloved,
As I sit here this morning, the dogs are busy (we have my parents’ dogs) sleeping and our dog, Starburst has claimed a pillow. She is quite proud of her accomplishment. Oh, wait. No glasses on me. She is at my feet. Nope, I’m wrong. She is still at the bottom of the feeding chain. Cold, hard floor. Sammy has one pillow. Lucy has the other. Sometimes, my brain just needs to watch dogs to remember there are normal things in life. Are you with me? I love watching my kids play for the same reason. I am “digging” my garden for the same…I love getting dirt under my nails as Joshua and I plant stevia and mint plants. Watching the little sprouts come up inside our house under the growth lights, there are normal things in life! I like this! Watching Ella color pictures, watching Luke dance around at an exciting part to our book we are listening, laughing with Noah, snuggling with Danny…cooking and gardening with Joshua the normal life things…I love doing these things. Praise flows easily. 🙂
What flashes through my mind now is the Passion of the Christ movie, why you may ask? Well, because what made that movie easier to behold for me were the pauses when the characters were remembering past, sweet events. Mary, remembering when Jesus fell as a toddler…remembering as He made a table…as she does that I will do this about my weekend. I am grateful for the pause God gave us. The breath. How about you? When you are in the midst of joy, do you thank Him? Or is He put to the way back of your mind to be brought forward when pain is in the forefront? The gifts of life are both joy and suffering. Trust me. 🙂
Now, yesterday I brought to your attention a book, Half the Sky…and I gently nudge you again…please, please go get this book. It’s not a gentle read. No, you can’t be the same after you read it. Yet, you won’t want to be. Bookstores, kindles, nooks, libraries…you choose. Nicholas D. Kristof is coming to Willow Creek this weekend if you are in the area, can you come and hear him? We would love to have you join us.
As I told you yesterday, Isaiah 58..:) Some of the most magnificent promises in Scripture… (Actually, here’s a link to Bill’s message lower right side take some time and listen!) Pay close attention to “when you, then shall you” statements…I’ll highlight them for you.
7Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry a”nd bring the homeless poor into your house—when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?
8Then (1)shall your light break forth like the morning, and (2) your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; (3) your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you [conducting you to peace and prosperity], and (4)the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then (5)you shall call, and the Lord will answer; (6)you shall cry, and He will say, Here I am. If you take away from your midst yokes of oppression [wherever you find them], the finger pointed in scorn [toward the oppressed or the godly], and every form of false, harsh, unjust, and wicked speaking,
10And if you pour out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then (7)shall your light rise in darkness, and (8) your obscurity and gloom become like the noonday.
11And the (9)Lord shall guide you continually and (10) satisfy you in drought and in dry places and (11) make strong your bones. And (12) you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.
12And (13) your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and (14) you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
I probably counted wrong but check that out! Give to the poor and then…look at the blessings! Don’t ignore the poor, take away the yokes of oppression, pour out sustenance to hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted and look at the results! I’m telling you, beloved, God is in our midst. He means for us to listen up and hear and respond to the needs.
Pray on. Pray on. 🙂
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