“If God can use a crooked stick to amaze the Egyptian magicians, 
If God can convict Peter with a rooster, 
If God can make a donkey have a conversation, 
…If God crushed the walls of Jericho with the sound of a horn, 
THEN WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE for anyone who is His child?”

I didn’t write that. I have no idea who did. When I tried to Google it, I found anything and everything but what I was looking for. Stupid internet.

But whoever wrote these words definitely spoke into my heart 8 years ago when I first posted them on social media, and they still speak just as loud to me today.

Of course, the answer is that nothing is impossible for God. What seems impossible to you and me, according to a pastor I once heard, is not even remotely difficult for God.

It’s something to hang on to when everything else in your life seems to be falling apart. Trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness, even if it’s with faith the size of a mustard seed. That’s all it takes.

Tonight, Chris Brooks spoke from Philippians 4:1-9 about attacking anxiety.

I can vouch that at some point just about every single person will deal with anxiety to some degree. I’m not saying that you can always pray it away. Sometimes you need medication and professional counseling.

I do know that God has promised us a peace that passes all understanding. God has told us that His perfect love casts out all fear.

Much anxiety comes from imagining the worst case scenario and envisioning a world without God in it. Anxiety says that it is all up to me and that it must absolutely happen now.

There’s a reason that Jesus is known as the Prince of Peace. He can still speak peace to the storms that rage in our lives.

This is for entertainment purposes only.

I mean, really. Who would ever eat two dinners?

The real holiday comes on February 15, which as we all know is 50% Off Chocolate Day.

That’s what I’m really looking forward to.

“As long as you notice, and have to count, the steps, you are not yet dancing, but only learning to dance. A good shoe is a shoe you don’t notice. Good reading becomes possible when you need not consciously think about eyes, or light, or print, or spelling. The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God” (C S Lewis).

One of my regular activities is doing the graphics at The Church at Avenue South. That means that I press a button to advance the lyrics of the worship songs, cue the appropriate videos, and display all other assorted slides relating to announcements, the sermon, and just about anything else.

If I do my job well, no one knows I’m back there. That’s my goal. To remain anonymous by not screwing up. Most Sundays I do quite well, with only the occasional minor mishap (like being a split second late on a slide).

But I got to thinking. The best church service (according to one Mr C. S. Lewis) wouldn’t be one where we talked about how great the music was or how inspiring the sermon was. If anything, this service would inspire us to love and reverence and speak more highly about God.

If it doesn’t inspire us to greater obedience, it hasn’t been worship. If it doesn’t motivate us to draw closer to the heart of God, it might as well have been a great motivational speech instead of a sermon. If we aren’t transformed from hearers only into doers and followers, then it was a waste of time.

But the beauty of it all is that God invites us to know Him and to find community through His people. You don’t have to be perfect people with perfect lives to encounter God. You just have to have a hunger and a desire for God. That’s all.

“Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will deserve to receive greater. Value the least gifts no less than the greatest and simple graces as especial favors. If you remember the dignity of the Giver, no gift will seem small or mean, for nothing can be valueless that is given by the most high God” (Thomas a Kempis).

I’d say that sometimes in hindsight, it’s those small or mean gifts that end up meaning the most. It’s those graces that we so often take for granted that mean the most when they’re gone.

If you find nothing to be thankful for, the fault lies in you and not in the day. There’s always, always something for which to give thanks, even if it’s waking up this morning or breathing in the next lungful of air.

As I’ve said before, never take anything or anyone in your life for granted, because sometimes what you take for granted gets taken away.

Give thanks early and often for as many days as you get on this earth.

That’s all.

In case you’ve been in suspense wondering where I am in my Doctor Who quest, fret not. I’ve finally made it to Peter Capaldi, the 12th doctor.

So far, I’m liking his incarnation. Truthfully, it’s a bit early to say for certain because I’m not even a full episode into the Capaldi era.

But I do like Clara Oswald. She reminds me a bit of Zoe from the Classic era with maybe a little Ace McShane thrown in.

This also means that I’m inching ever closer to the end of the quest. It will be a little bit sad when I come to the latest episode, but it also will mean the beginning of a new quest. Like maybe the Sarah Jane Adventures?

Who knows? But when I do know, rest assured that you will be among the very first to know as I keep you updated.

Yeah, after I all but predicted all the weather wackiness, all we got was rain. Not even a whole lot of rain. Just a moderate amount.

Not that I’m complaining.

I’d rather not have tornado sirens going off while I’m at work. I’d prefer not to drive through a monsoon if I can help it. I could live without straight line winds. Rain I can handle.

So far, the temperature has dropped from 75 to 48. As far as I can tell, it will continue to fall until it levels out at about 25. I think that covers at least 3 out of the 4 seasons at least.

I also acknowledge that I am no meteorologist. I suppose I’ll stick to my day job for now.

Or more accurately, let the crazy Tennessee weather continue.

A week ago, it was Arctic-level weather, hovering around the 20s. Today it’s been up to 70. Tomorrow, the high is 75 and the low will be 27.

I imagine there will be a few tornado sirens going off in the general Middle Tennessee region. Hopefully, far away from me. And hopefully with no actual tornados.

Here in Tennessee, you’re in luck. If you don’t like the current weather, you can rest assured that it will change. You can experience all four seasons in one week. Sometimes in 24 hours. At least it’s never boring around here.

Right now, I’m listening to a monsoon outside. I’m immensely grateful not to be driving in it. Nothing’s more stressful for me than driving in heavy rain at night (except maybe driving at night in heavy rain on two-lane roads with no shoulders).

Tomorrow I’ll be keeping an eye out on the weather app all day. It should be fun times ahead.

Every day it seems that I’m reminded just how precious and fleeing this life is. Every day I see that nothing beyond today is guaranteed.

The old saying goes that every day is a gift– that’s why it’s called the present.

Cherish the people you love. That means spending more time with them than on your smart phone or on your electronic device. That means picking up the phone and actually calling them like in the olden days. That means physically going to see them in person and having face-to-face conversations.

Oh, and one more thing. Every chance you get, be sure to say the words “I love you.” Don’t assume that people know. Don’t imply it or infer it. Say the actual words.

In the end above any amount of money or fame or possessions or prestige, what will matter are those you love and those who love you back.

I read something amazing about Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe. Specifically, it was about how Marilyn Monroe was an advocate for Ella Fitzgerald at a time when it would have been much easier to simply look the other way.

Here’s the story:

During the ‘50s, one of the most popular venues was Mocambo in Hollywood. Frank Sinatra made his Los Angeles debut at Mocambo in 1943, and it was frequented by the likes of Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Lana Turner.

Fitzgerald was not allowed to play at Mocambo because of her race. Then, one of her biggest fans made a telephone call that quite possibly changed the path of her career for good. Here, she tells the story of how Marilyn Monroe changed her life:

“I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt … she personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night. She told him – and it was true, due to Marilyn’s superstar status – that the press would go wild.

“The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night. The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman – a little ahead of her times. And she didn’t know it.”

I firmly believe that every single one of us could use an advocate like that. Someone who will stand up for us and fight for us. Someone who will see us when others look past us and ignore us. Someone who will come to our aid.

In 1 John 2:1, we read “You are my little children, so I am writing these things to help you avoid sin. If, however, any believer does sin, we have a high-powered defense lawyer—Jesus the Anointed, the righteous—arguing on our behalf before the Father”

Did you catch that? We have an advocate in Jesus. We have a Great High Priest who never ceases to intercede on our behalf. If God in Jesus is for us, who can possibly ever be against us?

Remember that the next time you feel invisible or defeated or lost. Jesus is on your side.