‘Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”’ (John 20:29 ESV)
Oh, what a difference a few days can make. Do you see Him? Do you believe?
(Thanks for sharing Dani, @danigayle1 your 5 minute art is solid, crazy-talent amazing💞)
‘In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you! ” (John 20:19 HCSB)
Do you have storm experiences that remain etched on your heart? One of my dearest friends is laying her dad’s body to rest today. Their family has weathered their share of storms (physically, spiritually, emotionally, and very literally as we have shared bleachers through every possible kind of Oklahoma weather!). As I was reading this morning, my thoughts kept beating back to this verse, it so reminds me of her dad who nurtured so deep a foundation.
‘A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.’ (Luke 6:45 NLT)
DearOne,
Have you ever floated on a inner tube on a warm summer day? Just lazily soaking up the sun, letting your fingers ease through the water? It’s my favorite way to let a thought,
a worry,
a care,
a grin … drift in … nod at its presence,
and choose to keep it or let it go.
Your mind is simply a tool for your heart to use. Like an artist, you choose the brushes and the colors – for you are ultimately the sole creator of your own feelings. When an odd, disheartening issue enters – realize that these are simply items your mind is working through. Pause, be present and pay close attention. Separate yourself as if you’re a bystander watching the dissolve or the embrace.
Wake up. Separate from thoughts. Go.
Follow me on Twitter @lewis3sunz
‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)
Ya’ll, life gets tough. It may look like lollipops and rainbows from the outside, but inside, well – reality gets brutal.
Anymore, I fight this sense of hate.
I hate our broken healthcare system,
hate Alzheimer’s,
hate being helpless,
hate Humana,
hate bedsores,
hate chronic pain,
hate crying all the way home,
hate it that I hate it,
hate being hated on,
hate feeling guilty when I’m home because I’m not at the hospital or nursing home and feeling guilty when I’m at the health care place cause I’m not home being a mom,
hate leaving work because I’m taking leave – again.
Hate having this pity party. Hate watching my people deal with this strange emotional tsunami.
But, what I hate most is this stupid, peace-stealing fear – waking at 3AM wondering if he is
in pain,
or cold,
or looking for us,
or scared,
or trying to get up by himself,
or falling off his bed,
or calling for us,
or wondering with relentless rounds of questions – “where is this place?”, “how did we get here?”, “did a car hit us?”, “what will we have to do next?”
I’m worn.
Sunday, I got to steal an hour with my mom. She and dad are living, breathing reminders of what it is to pour their lives out for others, full of joy, full of life even if it is at a tad-notch slower pace, even through their own raw season of loss; they keep overflowing with being a blessing to others in spite of life’s imperfections.
They remind me to love, at all costs. Simply love. That’s all.
I am recharged and ready to take on the next day’s demons. Thanks for the refuel, mom – for modeling how to “trust my Maker, seek Him, follow hard.”
-thanks for the kick in the seat to get back out there and to stay in the fight.
I. am. blessed.
Your will, Lord.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Nothing else.
Wake up.
Get back out there.
Follow hard.
Go.
Follow me on Twitter @lewis3sunz
‘The man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed. He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn’t fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit.’ (Jeremiah 17:7-8 HCSB)
‘In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple.’ (Isaiah 6:1 HCSB)
Good morning, SeeingOne.
You have been called to fill a need. Today, you are an answer. And, you are not just any answer, you are God’s answer. You have been selected for this day to bring your Creator in with you, to fill the space with His GLORY. It is your move now, to honor the Source of Life with your presence, that through you, when invited in, The Maker of the Stars will wrap the air with His presence-colorfully and heavily beaded with feathered Fancy Dance regalia. I so long for you and me to bring His ancient presence in, to sing Him into our spaces, enunciating each syllable as we join the nodding of heads, the resonance of believers, that they too feel what we feel … urgency in the camaraderie to share Him with souls who follow us.
Wake up. Call on His presence. Go.
Follow me on Twitter @lewis3sunz
‘“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.’ (Matthew 6:6 MSG)
lewis3sunz 