It's never been about the messenger

He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord—just as Isaiah the prophet said.”

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.  So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”

 “I baptize withwater,” John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don’t know Him. He is the One coming after me,whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.” John 1:23-27

It's never been about the messenger. It has always been about the message. 

The Message is a word in flesh

The Message is grace and truth.

The Message is the hope of eternity and the joy of ransomed sinners. 

Lord, teach me to step to the wings so that your glory has room to breathe. I don't want to take the air out of the room!

Rest

In dreams of midnight's meadow

In the mist of morning's dance

There is a man of sorrows

A friend above my circumstance

see peace among the lilies

see love like sparrow's nest

with time enough to cherish

in Brother Jesus' rest

Anne Lamott Help, Thanks, Wow Notes.

Prayer is private.  A communication of one heart to God. A cry from deep within for Life and Love with capital "L"s.  

We are making contact with Someone unseen much larger than anything we could ever imagine. 

Prayer begins in honest conversation.

Prayer is us reaching out to be heard. 

Like Sunflowers we turn toward light.

When the Oppressors Appear Judges 6:1-2

The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. 

When the oppressors appear, we tend to go into hiding. Whether the oppressor is an office enemy, a disease, a financial disaster. This is not the time to fold up our faith.  It is not the time to give way to fear.  This is a time to be courageous in our approach. Trust the God of comebacks and counters. He is ready to act but we must come out of our caves.

Day 3 of cold

I am so sick of this bug! I took Monday off and then came on in yesterday and today. Very little creativity or energy. Last night VBS was canceled due to a death in the church family. I stayed home to recouperate. Darlene seems to be doing better with her pinched nerve. 

So the main reason I'm on here is just to write something, anything. That is all. 

Friday is for Music:

This week Sufjan Stevens. Best album or the decade on any planet.

Great weekend... Busy Week

Still painting and unpacking.

We had a missions night last night as Charlie share about his tript to Nicarugua. 

Preached on Gideon

Mike Upshaw came to work with us on sound.

I have a busy busy day today. Trying to finish the Sarah Farley podcast on social media and we have a shoot this evening for the cooperative program promo video.