I’d like that. I’d like to go somewhere via ship. I could also handle a journey by train. I don’t mind traveling by car, but sometimes I get a bit weary of the work commute.

This year, you might not get to do any sailing on any ships, but you can make it your aim to do something you’ve never done before. Try new foods. Go to new places. Knock some stuff off your bucket list. Maybe branch out into a new career. Who knows?

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late, or in my case too early, to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit. Start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you’ve never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start over again” (F. Scott Fitzgerald).

“Jesus said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to tell you.’

‘Oh? Tell me.’

‘Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?’

Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.’

‘That’s right,’ said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, ‘Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.'” (Luke 7:40-50).

In this story, Jesus asked a question that struck me as I read it: Do you see this woman?

I’m sure Simon had seen this woman before. He knew enough about her to be able to question Jesus’ judgment on letting her near Him. He knew enough about her to know her reputation and her past.

But the question Jesus asked is closer to “Do you see her the way I see her? Do you only see her sin? Do you only see her past?”

I wonder if we don’t really see people. We see their actions that may or may not offend us. We see their sins. We might see a different skin color or culture.

But do we really see people the way Jesus sees them?

And how did Jesus see this woman?

He saw a woman looking for a way out of her life. He saw someone who was ashamed of her past and who didn’t like who she’d become. He saw that she looked at Him and saw a way out. The only way out.

I wonder what we communicate about Jesus to people the way we look at them. If we only see them for their failures, do we preach a gospel of works and moralism? If we only see them for their past, do we tell them that Jesus came to judge and condemn and not to save the lost?

I believe Jesus loved her as she was in the moment– not as she should be– and His love led Him to see a repentant heart and to forgive her of her sins and declare her salvation.

I need to remember the way Jesus looked at me once. He saw me at my worst and loved me best. He saw me at my lowest and loved me as if I had never sinned. He saw me the way He sees each of His sons and daughters, the ones we often condemn and discount.

Perhaps the prayer for you and me is that we see other people the way Jesus sees them and love them that way.

I wonder who was first person to think up the idea of coffee. I wonder if anybody really knows. I imagine that coffee goes back several centuries– probably many millennia. I can’t imagine what people did in the mornings before coffee existed. Did they just automatically wake up refreshed and alert? Weird.

I know that I’m quite dependent on coffee. It’s not so much that I’m addicted to the caffeine, although that’s very likely the case. It’s more like part of my morning ritual to know that I’m a fully functional adult about to participate in another day of adulting.

For me, I’m graduating away from so much creamer and sugar in my coffee. With a good brew of Fresh Market coffee, I don’t need any. The same goes for Starbucks Vanilla Blonde Roast. Folger’s on the other hand needs a little help before I can drink it.

So my thanks goes out to that very first individual who thought up the idea of smashing the coffee bean and mixing it with hot water. You deserve a holiday. I think I’ll drink to that — with my next coffee.

“As a citizen of Christ’s kingdom, I must fight the right battles, those first of all within my own heart, and then live in such a way that I point the world to the King. I wonder if some of the battles we’ve taken up in the last year are accomplishing this goal. Does the way we’re bickering and lashing out point others to our true home? Would those around us have reason to accuse us on grounds other than our allegiance to the King of Kings?” (Cindy Matson).

I posted earlier about not being a facemask Pharisee. I do believe in wearing a mask when in crowded public spaces, especially when you’re unable to social distance. I also believe that no one has the right to judge the character of someone they’ve never met based solely on wearing or non-wearing of a mask.

That said, I think it’s important to pick and choose our battles. What really and truly matters eternally? What will make the biggest impact in showing others the true glory and beauty of Jesus and drawing them to Him? What is a conviction and what is a personal preference?

I think that perhaps we need to do a little less pontificating and more praying. Those people that get on your nerves and aggravate you to the nth degree? Pray for them. Those people who voted differently than you and love to talk about how right they are and how wrong you are? Pray for them. Argue less, pray more, and all will be well — or at least you will have a more secure peace of mind.

Basically, pray for people whether you like them or not, agree with them or not, know them or not. I think that about covers it.

“Cultivate the greatest confidence that, though you cannot see into your heart, God is working there by His Holy Spirit. Let the heart wait at times in perfect silence and quiet; in its hidden depths God will work. Be sure of this, and just wait on Him. Give your whole heart, with its secret workings, into God’s hands continually. He wants the heart, and takes it” (Andrew Murray).

I think I needed this. I imagine you did, too. Sometimes at some point, each of us will need reminding that God hasn’t quit on us. He’s not done.

Even though it doesn’t seem like it or feel like it, He’s working. He’s not like us in that He never tires and never has to rest and never stops working on us at any point. Not until He finishes what He started in us so very long ago.

Who you are is not who you were. Though it may not seem like change day by day, when you get enough time and perspective, you will look back and see the transformation and you will be the most amazed person of anybody at how much God has truly changed you.

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Today, we witnessed the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States. It comes at a time when there has been unprecedented strife and division in the country with unity seeming like a pipe-dream.

I confess that I didn’t vote for Mr. Biden. I also confess before you now that I’ll be praying like never before for him and Kamala Harris. I believe that Jesus calls His followers to honor their leaders and to pray for them, whether it was 45 or now 46. It doesn’t matter whether I agree with their policies and platforms. I’m still commanded by Almighty God to acknowledge that all power and authority ultimately comes from Him.

I still firmly believe that God’s people owe no allegiance to any political party. I’ve said before that the Church of God is not called to speak with a political voice but with a prophetic voice. We’re called to love people, no matter who they voted for or what labels they put on themselves. As my church always says, we’re to share the whole gospel with anyone anywhere at any time.

The mission of the Church is still the same. We’re still called to make the invisible grace of Jesus visible to those around us every day (to borrow from Paul David Tripp). We put our hope now and forever not in a President and a flag but in a King and a Kingdom.

I found this prayer guide in an email from the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee and thought it would be helpful in praying for the new President and Vice-President.

1. Acknowledge to God that He has placed them in these positions of authority. Daniel 2:21 says that God changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings.
   
   
2. Ask God to protect President Biden and his wife, as well as Vice President Harris and her husband, from the forces of evil that may desire to do them harm.
   
   
3. Appeal to God that He will provide His wisdom to President Biden and Vice President Harris so they will see what God desires and be influenced by those around them who will give them the right counsel.
   
   
4. Ask God to empower them to make decisions that will protect our nation at all times, leading us to be able to live tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.
   
   
5. Appeal to God earnestly that President Biden and Vice President Harris and all of their administration will find ways to work with both houses of Congress, bringing resolution to the most pressing needs facing America today.

I’ve included the link of the original post so you can read more of it if you want:

https://mailchi.mp/sbc.net/how-to-pray-for-president-joe-biden-vice-president-kamala-harris-and-the-members-of-congress?e=c22bb65304

“But God is the God of the waves and the billows, and they are still His when they come over us; and again and again we have proved that the overwhelming thing does not overwhelm. Once more by His interposition deliverance came. We were cast down, but not destroyed” (Amy Carmichael).

I heard once that sometimes God sees His child in a storm and calms the storm, but other times, He will calm His child in the midst of the storm. The very same voice that bid the wind and waves be still still speaks.

To those who have ears, may they hear and listen and understand.

So, how’s everyone doing on their 2021 resolutions? How long did yours last?

Well, I’m making a new one. This is my redo. My do-over.

It helps if you’re familiar with The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis (which I highly recommend to read or listen to, no matter what age you are).

The gist of it is to have the bravery to start over if you don’t like where you are in your current story, no matter how far into the story you are. Have the courage to start over and make a new beginning. Do now what you wish you would have done 20 years ago. And trust that God knows what He’s doing with your story.

As you can see, she’s grown a bit in almost 4 years of life. I like to think she’s gotten prettier, too.

These days, I think she’s into hibernating. She takes as many naps as possible, and she likes to be covered up as much as possible. I think she has chosen wisely.

She still loves her belly rubs in the morning. Actually, she loves them any time she can get them, but especially right after I wake up in the mornings.

She’s still in the process of transforming into quite the lap cat. She’d stay on my lap for days if I let her. She likes to take over my spot whenever I get up for any reason.

Now if I could only get her to get up in the morning and drive to my work and do my job, then I could stay home and sleep all day. That sounds reasonable enough, I think.

I remind you what someone once told me — God doesn’t choose you for your abilities as much as your availability. I also remind you of what you’ve heard before — God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the call.

When God calls you to something, He enables you to fulfill your purpose. He won’t lead you somewhere only to leave you high and dry. He will do as He promised for you, to you, and through you.

Just ask Jacob, Peter, David Noah, Jonah, Paul Gideon, Miriam, Martha, Thomas, Sara, Elijah, Moses, Zaccheus, Abraham, or Lazarus. They’ll tell you.

So again, what’s your excuse?