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Saturday April 20, 2024
Motivational Reads / Daily Devotions from Biblegateway.com -
Daily Verse
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 MSG The Message
51-57 But 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!
Read
full chapter
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!
Thought Movers, Touching to the Soul
coming from YouTube.com / Facebook, Local Worship, or other public
venues.
Mandisa ft. TobyMac, Kirk Franklin - Bleed The Same
(Official Lyric Video)
TobyMac - The Elements (Audio)
Brooke Ligertwood - Honey in the Rock (Lyrics)
