***Music, and/or daily scripture, verses, motivational shares pulled from public domains, and made available for public consumption from public domains such as YouTube and/or BibleGateway, unless otherwise called out work of other Copywrites, Creators, Influences, Artists, or Authors. ***

Saturday April 20, 2024

Motivational Reads / Daily Devotions from Biblegateway.com - Daily Verse

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 MSG The Message

^51-57But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I’ll probably never fully understand. We’re not all going to die—but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it’s over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we’ll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true:

Death swallowed by triumphant Life!
Who got the last word, oh, Death?
Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?

It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!

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Thinking Out Loud – Journal Thoughts/Prayers / Mind Maze Overflow

I used to think I had to always be busy, always getting things done and always making sure I responded, stepped up, or was just present no matter what the cause or moment had in store. And for the most part that was true. But as I learned over the years, being present to one-self, being present fully aligned spiritually truly is what matters most.

There is no greater feeling than gifting those who really need and appreciate it. Nor spiritually leading one into the arms of Jesus.

But what I have found this past year or so when those who have always been a huge part of my spirit have been taken. Be it darkness prevailed, and they really should have never been, or their time has come. Each and every one of us have our own demons in our closets and each and every one of us are battling something.

Not just those who openly, and emotionally release and are deemed struggling with disorders or depression or anything that can have a label on it. But even Jesus a time or few had to put Satan back in his place when the temptations and misfortune came his way during his deeper desire to grow forward and know who and what God truly wanted for him.

Oh, I can be my own worse critic and if I am not careful it spills out of me, and I start seeing others’ faults or broken pieces.

Not for nothing, I still find it hard to separate those who truly have nothing living in the slums and just need love from those who purposely have it all and continue to take unnecessarily acting like they are meek and needy. I guess over time in this journey I have been blessed, I put my faith too much in humans, when it should have always been face down with Jesus.

Thus, beating the crap out of my own self when I faltered and fell believing in the wrong things or helping the wrong people.

But its not about me, even though April and May are changed forever as I cannot help but think about this will be the first year myself and two siblings will not come together for the annual celebrations of birthdays, catching up and just loving on who we were and where we are today. Losing my big brother a month after his birthday last year has left an impact.

I am not sure if you can relate in bonds that even if you only get to come together once a year its like you have never left.

What an appropriate time to be reminded that death comes to us all. Not one but two of my co-workers lost their parents this past week. And not one but two shining stars that shined brightly working for God’s kingdom were called home this week.

Trying to make light of the losses that are truly the cycle of this heavenly and earthly realm my mind shoots back to that old Goldie Hawn comedy Death becomes her.

Funny movie but not funny reality. Every second we are allowed back up someone else is not going to speak or see their beloved family, friends, pets or have another opportunity to just fight forward and share the gospel of all that is and can be good.

As I struggle with my own inner being at times knowing even where I step up and step in is changing as the time I am given and especially where I thrived spiritually is changing at the control of other generations and let’s be truthful, others own agenda’s.

Maybe for the better, maybe for just a time to be still or maybe the time of new callings.

No matter what comes my way; I so have to dive deeper into what Jesus needs from and for me.

We all do right!

I have been beyond blessed over time despite the many hurdles or even true face planting because of others, because of choices, or just because of going a million miles an hour trying to get it done and suddenly out of know where you are just lying on the ground being still for a moment to see if any pain will let you know you really messed up.

Yeah, without a doubt last week, running to the mailbox in-between meetings spin around going to rush back in and next thing I know I am on the ground hoping nothing is broken.

What happened?

Happened so quickly I think I just wiped out not paying attention to the sand by the mailbox and well I have never been graceful. Thus, one of the many reasons I am not really allowed up on ladders any longer or for that matter my house has not been repainted since 2019/2020.

Beyond thankful, truly only my pride was shattered as someone was driving by.

But the school of hard knocks knowing when I take on a recent study book with our Creative Arts / Worship team “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry ~by John Mark Comer” Trust me, I think it was written for me less the working for a church or being credentialed or an educated theologian.

Then I think how the month of June schedules to serve came out and although I have over time shifted from serving the church pretty much all week long to all weekends long to Wednesdays, Thursday, and Sundays. I actually have the entire month of Sundays off come June. Serving is no big deal but in context thinking about all we try to cram into one day with a full-time job, full time responsibilities of still having family at home being the sole provider, with fur babies, day-to-day and spending my Saturdays and weekends I am not serving with my elderly mama. Well at first of course I felt like well that suck. But then I think about all the things I never really get done like help organize the mess in my garage that belongs to others in my dwelling. Why not because I am a control freak. Because clutter brings the wrong things in. And trust me I don’t want anything extra.

Not to mention also how nice it would be to get going on my yard this year even though I am behind the timeline.

There is a time and place for everything. Even in how we respond to choices that change our normal. Hopefully, none of us spend too much time chasing the why’s!

Prayerfully and knowingly, I am a child of the most-high God, faithfully and deeply in love with Jesus. For all he has done so I could live. For all that is written even if I was not there to see it for myself. I want to be like Him; to be able to give without question, to see past all that is deep into the souls of what humanity was created for.

Breaking and hurting for all the hate in this world and the suffering and tragedy of innocence.

As I am reminded when those who I am blessed with and by just being in their presence. I can only hope I leave that effect on those I am given in this journey to connect.

This imperfect speck of a human perfectly placed right where God says I need to be. Knowing that it all matters.

Each and every one of us created the reminder and image of Christ almighty.

You don’t believe me watch the Loui Giglio conference where he talks on Laminin.

I pray not only for all suffering, all our brothers and sisters in this universe going through it. Thanks for all the blessings we share and hope for all the unknown that no matter what we remember how much we are loved and how deeply our love counts for others even when they are gone.

Thank you, Jesus, for all those beautiful souls talented and gifted that feed my own soul. Be with us and if we have to face plant to hear you speaking. May we know you are there to help us back up.

Loving the unlovable and feeding the lost and lonely may you Jesus in spirit and in truth shine brighter than ever before.

And for all the broken missing pieces that are leaving such an impact on this world Jesus. May we all see just what you see in beauty and hope never losing sight of you. A love beyond all space and time; you are my sweet soul, King!

Guide me on this day of up and running!