I think that says it all for me.

“How easily we forget that the church was founded by disciples who betrayed their master. None was willing to stand by Jesus as the religious and political authorities condemned him to death. At his moment of greatest need, the disciples fled in the darkness. The boldest of the lot, Peter, was the very one who cursed and denied him three times before the cock crew. It was for traitors that Jesus died” (Philip Yancey, Soul Survivor).

It seems to be quite trendy in this day and age to cancel people. When someone famous says or does anything inappropriate or un-PC, the tendency is to write that person off.

It doesn’t matter whether the offending statement or tweet or post was from last night or from 20 years ago, that person is automatically and forevermore a bigot, a homophobe, a misogynist, or just a bad human being.

We are now living in the cancel culture, but that is not the Christ culture that Jesus calls His followers to live out.

Before you write someone else off, remember how many times you yourself have needed grace. Remember how many times you deserved to be written off and cancelled for your poor choices and dumb mistakes. Remember how often when you were tempted to give up on yourself, God didn’t.

We’re called not to karma but to grace. Karma says that you get what you deserve. Grace says that Jesus got what you deserve and He gives you what He alone deserves.

Remember that Jesus forgave His enemies and betrayers. Not only that, He forgave them while they were in the very middle of murdering Him.

That’s the kind of grace and mercy that transforms criminals into Christians, betrayers into believers, and deniers into disciples. That’s the kind of grace you and I need, as well as the kind we need to show.

“We must believe that the Lord can do anything if he wants to. Yet in the garden of Gethsemane, the Lord prayed, ‘Not my will, but your will be done.’ Even though Jesus knew he had to drink the cup of suffering, he nevertheless prayed to be spared. And then the angel strengthened him. Likewise, if we pray earnestly, it may be that an angel will quietly strengthen us so that we may bear whatever is laid on us. And, as is so often the case, the Lord may even provide more than what we need, beyond our expectation. If we pray with unceasing, childlike faith, and if it is God’s will, the Lord will let us see his glory revealed in deed and miracle. ‘If you are willing, you can do it’ is the prayer of all those who fear him. And in his great wisdom, the Lord will say, ‘I am willing’” (Johann Christoph Blumhardt, The God Who Heals).

The question is not can God answer my prayer, but do I believe God can answer my prayer?

I have to confess that much of the time, I don’t think He can. Or I don’t think He will.

I either doubt God’s sovereign greatness or his supreme goodness.

But He can.

The beauty of prayer is that it’s not the size of my faith but the source of my faith that gets prayers answered. Even a mustard seed amount of faith in a great God can accomplish great and mighty things, because it’s the great God who does them, not me.

The most powerful prayer in all the world is, “Not my will but yours.”

Ok, so 2020 has thrown a few people for a loop, including me. No one saw the pandemic coming. No one saw all the racial unrest reaching a breaking point. Also, did anyone have murder hornets and bears with nunchuck skills down for 2020? No? Me neither.

In the midst of all the insanity, I realized that today is the 10th anniversary of this little blog posts that I’ve been creating. Honestly, it took Facebook memories to show me that it’s been 10 years.

Right now, time is meaningless. I have pretty much no idea what day or month it is right now unless I have some sort of calendar or phone handy. I also have little to no concept of time passing.

Thankfully, I have Timehop and those Facebook memories. So many ideas for blog posts come from those helpful little reminders.

I say it all the time, but I’ll say it again. I’d write these things even if the only two readers were me and dear ol’ Mom. Even if it were just me writing to myself, it’d be worth it.

I’m grateful for every single person who reads these. I find out all the time about people who are readers of my posts who I never would have guessed would have picked out my silly little blogsite.

Also, I’m still not a fan of the word blog. It sounds like something you do privately that you don’t discuss in mixed company or in proper conversations. Kinda like politics and religion.

Still, I hope to keep it going for at least another 10 years (or until I get an actual life). Thanks again for reading these! You are all awesome!

“God, of thy goodness, give me Thyself;
for Thou art enough for me,
and I can ask for nothing less
that can be full honor to Thee.
And if I ask anything that is less,
ever Shall I be in want,
for only in Thee have I all” (Julian of Norwich)

At first it seems like an odd prayer for a pandemic. Shouldn’t we be praying for healing and peace and cures for the virus?

But the prayer is perfect for the current mood of panic.

We acknowledge yet again that our deepest and greatest need isn’t for peace from strife or cures for COVID-19 or healing for the racial unrest.

Our biggest need is for God Himself. Only God is sufficient. Only God is enough.

Yes, you do have a choice. As I am still learning, no one can MAKE you feel anything. Your response is still your choice.

So what will you choose today?

Will you choose to be bitter and envious?

Will you choose to be angry over every perceived affront and aggravation against you or others?

Will you choose to harbor unforgiveness in your heart?

Or will you choose to be grateful for this one life you get to live here on earth?

Will you choose to be thankful for all the small daily gifts from God?

Will you choose to be excited for the mission God has placed you in?

Will you choose to be happy that one day all the hardships will be over and you will see with your own eyes Jesus fulfilling every last one of His promises?

“So remember: fear the Eternal and serve Him sincerely and faithfully. Put away from you any gods your ancestors served across the Euphrates River or in Egypt, and serve only Him. ¹⁵ If you decide that you’re not willing to serve Him, then today is the day for you to choose whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors bowed to in the land beyond the great River, or the gods of the Amorites whose country you possess. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Eternal” (Joshua 24:14-15, The Voice).

I don’t always fall asleep right away. Sometimes I toss and turn. Some nights it seems like I engage in a self-defeating battle of willing myself to fall asleep only to wind up frustrated and agitated and wide awake.

Some nights I grab a good CD or go to Amazon Music (or Pandora) and pick a good artist and let the music send me to sleep.

There’s something therapeutic about good music. Especially when it’s of the classic rock variety, although old-school jazz works just as well.

Last night, my musical choice was Journey. Listening to the songs stirred up vivid memories of childhood and youth and what feelings I had back then. Plus, there’s just something special about Steve Perry’s voice to send you to a happy place in your mind.

I remember back in high school I used to fall asleep while listening to a cassette copy of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. One of these nights, I just might revisit that classic album.

Or maybe I could just be disciplined and go to bed at a decent hour like normal folk.

I need to repeat this to myself in the mirror at least once a day for the next ten years or so. But maybe not before I’ve had my first coffee.

“The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances” (Elisabeth Elliott).

Ain’t it the truth?

If all I pray is to be moved whenever my circumstances get tough, all I do is take the same old me to a new location and the circumstances repeat themselves.

It’s not my circumstances that need to change as much as it is me that needs to change. Or maybe it’s a changed me who changes my circumstances.

Sometimes, it’s my attitude that needs transforming. Sometimes, it’s a lesson that I can only learn in the midst of discomfort and difficulties, not in comfort and convenience.

The secret is that if Christ is in me, anywhere I am is my ministry and my mission field and my calling.

I’m 99% sure I quoted this before, but someone out there would love to have one of your bad days.

That’s a good reminder when you’re tempted to throw an epic pity-party or a self-sorrowing soiree. People do really have it much worse than you.

That’s not to discount your own pain. I would never be one to minimize your hurt.

But one of the best ways to help the healing process is to remember and focus on the good in your life. All those good things that you and I routinely take for granted are things that many people out there are praying for right now.

What would happen if God one day took away all those things — and all the people– in your life that you take for granted? What (or who) would be left?

I’m not saying God is capricious like that. I’m saying is that it’s good to give thanks and not to take anything for granted.

That’s all.

Oh, and it’s good to let those people in your life know you’re thankful for them.

The end.