Whether I am aware of it ...or not

A few weeks ago, my husband and I found a pocket of time in the late afternoon, near the ending of the day.  It was not enough time to launch into yet another project, but there were still a few minutes to make the most of the day still lingering.

We jumped in the car and drove up to the highest point near us in the waning light of day.  It was getting dark, and it was getting cold and windy, but there was something we yearned to see.

When we arrived, others had the same idea and were already out of their cars and waiting.  The sun slipped slowly through the sky, the colors intensified, and even in this small gathering, no one could speak for the awe and the glory of God before us.

And I thought, "Oh, what we would have missed."  And then, almost immediately, "Oh, what we do miss most days, because we are just not looking."  God displays His magnificence twice a day, that which only He can do.  This immense beauty in the bookends of the day, sunrise and sunset, remind us of His goodness and His glory all the way through.

His Presence permeates the skies, and my life, whether I am aware of it....or not.  He reveals Himself throughout the day.  Am I seeking Him in it?  Do I even have an inkling of the extraordinary in the ordinary all around me?  Even in what I do not see, even in what I do not understand.

It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praises to Your name,
                      O Most High;
to declare Your steadfast love
                                 in the morning,
and Your faithfulness by night.

                            Psalm 92. 1-2

We are surrounded
        by His steadfast love
        and His faithfulness,

     knowing God is in this. 

No matter what.

He reminds us
                 day by day.



Pray continually.
Live faithfully.
Love well.
Practice grace.

Thank A Saint Day

There is still a half bag of chocolate candy in the pantry, left over from last evening's parade of neighborhood children knocking at our door.  When three actually-very-polite junior highers rang the bell at almost 8.30, the streets dark and the air in the frigid 30s, Bill lightened our remaining supply with huge handfuls into their bags.

Last night was Halloween, which historically was the "hallowed eve," that is, before America saw a great opportunity to sell more candy.  The hallowed eve is the eve of the holy, the night before All Saints Day, designed to commemorate the faithful people who have gone before us, those who have blazed the trails and shown us what following Christ looks like in real life.  This morning, all masks are off.

Think about the saints in your life, their stories, their writings, their witness, their journeys, their faithfulness no matter where God placed them.   Think about those amazing -- and very real-- people who have made a mark in your own life.  I have a shelves of underlined books that have helped me immensely through the years to point me to Jesus.  I have strong memories of those unsung --mostly unknown-- spiritual heroes in my life who showed me how to walk with Jesus, who prayed for me (even before I was born), who were faithful to God in what only appeared to be insignificant times and even when they thought no one was watching.

And if they are still alive, thank the saints in your life in some way today:  a written note, a phone call, a text, even praying for them.  Today, you are the CEO:  the Chief Encouragement Officer.  As the late Oswald Chambers (one of those on my list of departed saints) stated:  God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.

But we have the opportunity to let them know today, to encourage, to honor, to show them our gratefulness for their lives and their ongoing relationship with God. "God has used you incredibly in my life."

Therefore,
    encourage one another
and build one another up,
just as you are doing.

               1 Thessalonians 5. 11