Emmys....

Did you watch The Emmy's last night?It's always fun to see shows you like win awards.

It validates my hours in front of the tube.

Not to mention, looking at gorgeous guys in never a waste of time... even when it's Sheldon.

I was also reminded that there are shows that I am not interested in.
I am sure they are great shows-
I am just not their target audience.

I was also reminded that Ashton Kutcher really, really needs to cut his hair and shave.

The face below should not be covered up.

What does this have to do with God?
It's a reminder that you and I are constantly & unconditionally THE target audience of God.

God, Thank You for Your consistent watching of me-regardless of awards I win or lose.

In His Dust,
DCC

Noise...

"Jesus isn't going to try and speak over the noise in our lives;

He doesn't always whisper, but He never competes." ~Bob Goff

God speaks in many ways.
Sometimes loud like thunder... Sometimes gentle like a whisper...

Hearing God can be hard not because He is not speaking clearly,

but because of our own noise.
Our lives are loud. Most of us operate at a near frantic pace all day long.

But the facts are....our lives aren't changing- they aren't going to suddenly be still or silent...

The noise, demands, and distractions of our lives are real.
Ironically, these are the places we really need to hear from God.

Don’t think you have to wait for a retreat or a literal silent moment, to hear God.
He is speaking to you in the middle of everything you are doing.

Including right now. Yes, right now as you read these words.

God, Thank You for your patience with us.

In His Dust,

DCC

Psalm 46:10...

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
God is within her, she will not fall God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts his voice, the earth melts.

He says, Be still, and know that I am God;

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." ~Psalm 46

One of my all time favorite verses- "Be still and know that I Am God." In the midst of difficulties we face in life, no matter what they look like; Earthquakes, car wrecks, fires, floods, unexpected funerals, ear infections, falling towers, flat tires, sick children, stubbed toes, etc.
The command to be still does not come from a lack of troubles. It comes from a steady trust and recognition of God's Presence among us.

So if your world is crumbling around you, God says, stand still — not because you understand or accept what is happening. Be still because of what you know about God.

God, Thank You for being with us wherever we are suffering.

In His Dust,
DCC

Fire...

In Central Texas more than 25,000 acres and at least 476 homes have been destroyed.

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will calm you with his love." ~Zephaniah 3:17

"When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze." ~Isaiah 43:2 "Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I Am your God." ~Isaiah 41:10

Be strong and of good courage; for The Lord
your God, He is the One who goes with you.
He will not leave you nor forsake you." ~Deuteronomy 31:6

There might not be literal fire in your life right now.
It might be a mental, emotional or spiritual fire-
Whatever it looks like to you, make no mistake-

He is with you in it.

Do not trust your eyes- trust His Heart.

God, Thank You for being with us in the fires of our lives.

In His Dust,
DCC

Geese...

I was reminded this morning by one of my favorite people, Dave Meaden, the lesson of the geese.

"When one is too tired and cannot continue another one will always drop out and care for the tired one.
This is the stuff sermons are made of. No rights reserved" -Dave 3:16

Here are a couple of things you might need to know about geese...
and people for that matter.

As each goose flaps its wings, an "uplift" is created for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Geese and people for that matter, who are going in the same direction, get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling off of the momentum of each another.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing." ~1 Thessalonians 5:11

When a goose falls out of formation, it instantly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone.

It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

How's your honkin'? Is it encouraging or just loud? We must be quality honkers people!

God, Thank You for creating us to fly alongside each other and most of all for flying with us.

In His Dust,

DCC

The Help...

I couldn't get this song out of my head all weekend....accept the version I was singing was

Come on Irene.
Was it just me?

Between the 24 hour coverage of Irene, aka Eileen, and people complaining about how flipping hot it is, including myself....

I escaped all of it, along with everyone else in America, to go see "The Help."

I had not read the book and did not know the story.

Among many thoughts, the main one was-

If God wanted to, He could and fairly should,

treat each and every one of us as hired help.

But He doesn't.

In His Eyes,

We are not His puppets-

We are not His hired help-

We are not His indentured servants-

Not even close.

"I no longer call you servants. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." ~John 15:5

A friend of God's?

Yes, You are!

Yes, I am!

I loved thinking of Him- looking at each one of us- and reminding us...

God- Thank You for Your Friendship. For freedom and forgiveness that come from The Same Hand.

In His Dust,
DCC

Customer Service...

I've spent the week stewing on my displeasure with

"customer service."

I am pretty sure this is who I waited on hold for 40 minutes to talk to.

"My dear brothers, take note of this:
Everyone should be quick to listen,

slow to speak and slow to become angry." ~James 1:19

Since I follow The Rabbi, known as The Prince of Peace,
Why am I covered in the dust of rage, anger and despicable language.

I need to get dustier from my Rabbi when it comes to handling frustration.

He is righteous.

He is fair.
He does not sin in His anger.

"Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools." Ecclesiastes 7:9

God, Thank You for patiently removing things from my lap.



In His Dust,

DCC