The moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along.
If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter.
He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.
He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God.
That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
— Lots packed in there!
That’s Romans 8:26-38.
That’s a good reminder for you and me now and then.
Maybe even more often than not.
Without good direction, people lose their way;
the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.
So says Proverbs 11:14.
Who all do have among your “wise counsel” these days?
And who’s come to you for equally “wise counsel” lately?
Now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.”
You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.
You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing.
Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.”
— All that’s in our big leather book.
It’s James 4:13-15.
Hmmm.
“Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’
“Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce?”
—- Jesus said all that.
And more.
Lots more.
In Luke 14.
Picking up where we left off with Julia Cameron yesterday – – –
Now go back and look at your list. Are there clues in this list about projects you might like to begin?
I’m looking forward to hearing from you about any of this!
With gratitude to Sam Hall – –
“Here’s a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete: if you’re alive, it isn’t.” Lauren Bacall said that.
Julia Cameron quotes her in a book about discovering creativity and meaning at mid life and beyond. All I could add is that if you’re reading this, same conclusion: your mission in life is not complete.
Julia then presents five open ended sentences, which I invite you to spend some time with – – –
One. I would like to be remembered as…
Two. I wish I could leave…
Three. A person whose legacy inspires me is…
Four. As a child, I dreamed of…
Five. One way I am already leaving a legacy is…
Treat yourself and those you love to the time it takes to finish those sentences thoughtfully and prayerfully.
And I’ll see you back here tomorrow with what to do next in this process.
God bless you and keep you,
God smile on you and gift you,
God look you full in the face
and make you prosper.
— Number 6:24-26
That’s yesterday’s Scripture, this time in The Message version.
The third line leaps out at me.
What grabs your attention?
As always, I’d love to hear from you, any of today’s usual platforms, and I hope to see you back here tomorrow.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
and give you peace.
— Numbers 6:24-26
Often used as a Benediction (“dismissal with blessing”), these words in that context highlight what a friend uses as her Benediction: “The worship service is ended; now begins our service to the world.”
Either one’s not a bad start to a new work week.
In fact, let’s memorize one or even both and remind ourselves daily.
To wrap up what has clearly become an unintended three-part series, let me point you to where your donation gets the biggest bang imaginable —
— Check it out. You’ll be glad you did.
joescheets 