‘But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭20-21‬ HCSB)

‘After they were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ HCSB)

Good morning, God’s Child.
Back in Joseph’s day, there was no Prozac. We don’t know his words or his arguments with his Maker. The language of his actions, his constant flowing and reflowing in response to an Angel’s concern is all we have to see into Joe’s psyche. He would have wanted concrete answers. Instead, he was given a mystery. He was to be placed on center stage in the drama of all mankind. His role never led to any kind of keeping-up-with-the-Jones’s normalcy. Instead, every splashing movement of his obedience became dire in the way that even the river waters reflect light … the way the play of the sun and shadows on a creek bank would offer up the anticipation of God Almighty’s glory and majesty. The way a bee delights in honey, and a tiny baby prefers its momma’s breast milk; the way a branch grows out from union with its tree trunk – the intimacy of a husband to his wife: Joseph’s obedience in the mystery is a most persuasive teacher of desire for Yahweh drawing us ever closer to His heart. As only God would have it, Joseph’s obedience in the mystery somehow became yours and mine as well.

Wake up.
Answer “yes” to the drama of your mystery.
Go.

http://www.lewis3sunz.com
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‘And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior’ (Luke 1:46-47 HCSB)

Hello,
The world’s harshness opens us up to The Most High’s very own tough and demanding love, doesn’t it, DearHeart? Every single glimpse, every encounter we have of Mary’s journey – she is surely in a state of pure shock. Yet, to have never been shocked would have held her away from the throngs of God Almighty’s very own wild and undomesticated beauty. In Mary, from her first calling through to her grave, we see a world of suffering absorbed into the churning grief of God’s own heart. To experience the cross, especially from Mary’s eyes, is certainly to be shocked by the depths and the mystery of God’s own wild compassion. Compassion without limits.
And, then … just thinking this through with you … to flip it again … I have to marvel – sold out, breathtaking marvel, at God-creating a ferocious and wild world … then wholly sharing in its own suffering.
Jesus.
Just give me Jesus.

Wake up.
Marvel in your suffering.
God’s goodness reigns.
Go.

http://www.lewis3sunz.com
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‘Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man! ” (‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭5‬ HCSB)

Hello, BelovedOne –
The holly of a Christmas season is a reminder of my King. Blood red berries ooze out from leaves deep and green. The berries, the color of the blood of the Life-Force that keeps us healed and dangerous and life-giving to others… His blood, forever covering scars on the inside where they belong and beating steady-on a careful warmth for others on the outside where it belongs.
Not the other way around.

Wake up.
Leave the warmth of your touch.
Go.

http://www.lewis3sunz.com
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December 5, 2014 Christmas bells

‘I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning — more than watchmen for the morning.’ (‭Psalms‬ ‭130‬:‭6‬ HCSB)

Hello, DearHeart!
On the second bookshelf, on the back wall a collection of various sizes and shapes of bells waited like watchmen. Growing up, more than once, I remember Nancy and I thinking of her mother’s collection, “no, we probably shouldn’t” … but, how could we just walk-on by and leave them sitting there lonely and unrung?
Porcelain.
Wooden.
Brass.
Glass.
All beckoning those of us with bell-ringing intentions glowing from our hearts. Oddly, at least to me, they had a sort of ethereal charm. They drew me in … each with a clapper and sound of its very own that leapt up and painted the walls of the entire room and covered every picture frame and cushion, and the charmed ring trickled through our hair and down our necks and backs and through our fingers. And, we would stop and let the end of the sound wander out, up the chimney and up into to sky. Then, we would try another.
This season bells sing.
Let each charm strike your heart to be repainted in the glory of The King. He knows your way, even without words His presence guides you. Hear a bell sound and return to Christ, your Center.
By that sound, be led to rest and repair from being hurt by people who claim to love you.
Be repaired from those whose-
words hurt you,
voice tone hurt you,
mannerisms hurt you,
bad habits hurt you.
Let the ring hang as a truth … so you know the choices you and I make minute by minute, especially with the loves with whom we have been entrusted, determine our earthly comfort level. I believe that. Kindness wins both ways. For the giver and for the receiver.
Nothing good comes from hatefulness. Hate tortures the hated, but even more so, the hater. And, it can and will manifest itself in many ways:
Brokenness.
Emptiness.
Loneliness.
Strife.
Pain.
Unrest.
Some people refuse to battle their demons, don’t they?
And, those demons take root. They stick around and haunt in the most evil ways.
But, the bell rings, and signals the arrival of a Savior.

Wake up.
Find a bell.
Move into His presence.
Go.

http://www.lewis3sunz.com
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‘Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction; don’t neglect your mother’s teaching; for they are a graceful wreath on your head, and beads for your neck.’ (‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭8-9‬ CEB)

Hello, AngelHeart,
I love how our family traditions and the symbols of Christmas point to Christ. For the past few months, the Holy Spirit has
applauded each time I’ve stopped to question “how does this ____ reflect toward my Savior?” So, I’m
sharing my thoughts for a day or two or thirty – how the Christ-symbols raise my “A-HA, yes, yes, yes” eyebrows … at least what it means to me.
Mom and I had a flower shop. During the holidays, wreaths were our biggest seller – why? They remind us of a never-ending eternity.
Eternity’s Decoration, the usual evergreen color portrays life, even in the middle of winter. The different colors and materials of wreaths show year round perpetual love.
It also brings a bit of wilderness in – a reminder that it’s only by steering through life’s wild-dangers that we step out of our low-key mundane days of mediocrity and dullness. Face to face with the oncoming attacks we gain trust in the One and Only. Compassion grows there in the fight in light of a promised eternity.

Wake up.
With fresh eyes, see wreaths.
Go.

http://www.lewis3sunz.com
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‘Even a sparrow finds a home, and a swallow, a nest for herself where she places her young — near Your altars, Lord of Hosts, my King and my God.’ (Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭3‬ HCSB)

Mornin’, BeautifulOne-
Human diversity is odd. Especially in our families. And, even more so is the **unity** that comes from God’s design in spite of the differences. What kind of Creator thinks this stuff up?! It somehow reminds me of the Trinity … mutual interaction – a mirror of giving of ‘Himselves’ to others. So different, yet-even more so, the same.
Then, too, that same ‘diversity-unity’ marriage, carries out into the plains where native birds nest and wildlife scramble. Even there the exchange of love and sharing this space characterizes God’s innermost being. Perhaps that is what the Trinity teaches us the best-the house rules of how to exist together in spite of our odd make up.
On a cold, winter, Monday morning like this, it kinda makes you want to step out the back door and in reckless gusto, howl to the heavens with the coyotes, doesn’t it?

Wake up.
Notice points of unity.
Howl-on.
Go.

http://www.lewis3sunz.com
Follow me on Twitter @lewis3sunz