What Now?

The United States Supreme Court overturned Proposition 8. The people of California voted twice to keep marriage between a man and a woman. However, the court decided what it thought was right. We may not agree, but I believe God is in control.

If you are like me, you are discouraged about our country of the people, for the people and by the people. In a time when it looks like our government is getting too big, some might ask, "What now? What are we supposed to do?" Keep loving God. Keep loving people. Jesus came into our world as a light in the darkness. He says to His people, "You are the light of the world." Although He ascended into Heaven, He works in each of us to love others. The only way people will come to know the truth is through God's amazing love as it flows through us.

We may not love sin, but like Jesus, we can love the sinners, whether they steal, kill, covet or are sexually immoral. I once lived outside of God's plan for my life, but His love and mercy changed my heart. I surrendered my sin nature to God and asked Him to take control of my life. It has not been a burden to me as I first thought. God is taking the mess I made of my life and turning it into a message so others will experience God's lavishing love on them.

Something wonderful happens when we turn our hearts to God. Check this out.

The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy. Zephaniah 3:17 

If you are reading this and never experienced God's love, say His name and He will answer. He loves you with an unconditional and unending love. Now is the time of your peace.

O Lord, I pray for the world we live in. Help us to trust you no matter what happens. Help us to know you are here with us and that you will never leave or forsake us. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Emotions, the good, the bad and the sad, bombard me at Christmas time. Friday before Christmas, started out with the sad. I thought of the families in Newtown, Connecticut who grieve instead of celebrate. I thought about the homeless people and the kids in the Children's Receiving Home who will spend Christmas away from their parents for one reason or another. My heart was heavy until I walked outside.

A loud bird chatter caused me to look up to the power lines above. Hundreds of birds reminded me of something Jesus said. "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:24-34 

It was as if God used the birds to let me know that He is in control. I looked down the street both ways and the birds were only over my house. 

Thank you, Father God, for sending the birds. I will trust You with all my heart and not my own understanding. Please comfort the grieving, homeless and lonely. In Jesus' name, Amen.