Not Surprised...

God is never surprised.....He is never rattled.....

He is not shocked...not even a little bit. Hard to fathom for me....I am constantly surprised...all day....aren't you?

Where is our confidence in Him?

"The Lord is near" - Philippians 4:5

God is very, very close to you at all times.
His Very Presence is in and around you every second of every day.
He is constantly and continuously watching over you, protecting you, and guarding you.
Not only you...but those you love....God has not left the room....
Nor has He turned His ear from you.
He is as close as the very breath you just took.

God Thank You for being in control.

In His Dust,
DCC

Ash Wednesday...

Well, here we are...the first day of Lent.

This is the day I walk through HEB and want to tell people,

"There is something on your head"....and then I remember.

Then I forget and see someone in the workout room...and say,

"There is something on your head"...and then I remember.

Then I forget and see someone in Target and say,

"There is something on your head"....and then I remember.

Then I forget and go to Paesano's ...and see someone and want to say something....

but I remember...

Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent.
Lent is the 40 days before Easter.
During Ash Wednesday services, the minister will lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers. God, May we remember for the next 40 days....that it is from YOU we came...and it is to YOU we shall return. When we see the foreheads today...let them be a visual reminder that YOU Love us! That YOU stopped at nothing to get us back!

In His Dust,

DCC

Sustenance...

Apparently not all offices salute the Presidents by sleeping in.

I passed many people eating in their cars on my way to work today.

Apple chomping lady....Crunchy toast guy...

which lead me to reflect on my choice of breakfast....which may or may not have been, a piece of Angel Food Cake and a Diet Coke.

Fine, it was full of fluff...but I bet I was happier than apple girl and toast guy.
Not to mention, I bet we are all three the same amount of hungry right now.

"Surely God is my help; The Lord is The One Who sustains me." ~Psalm 54:4

So, what is it that sustains you as you start your day?

I can tell you what started President Washington's days....
this is a direct quote from his actual morning prayer journal:

"Give me grace to hear Thee calling on me in Thy Word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of the soul in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me, Gracious God, the good work for which thou has sent it.
Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God & guide this day and for ever for His sake, who lay down in the Grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."

Whether you are enjoying a day off...or sitting in class....or bringing home the bacon at an office....may we all follow the lead of the Father of our country....who undoubtedly knew WHO the True Father of our country was.

God, Thank You Father, for sustaining us, as only You can.

In His Dust,

DCC

Triple Date...

"We love because He first loved us" ~1 John 4:19

The things you go through for love....
You get slicked up and smell good....
You get lectured about opening doors and pulling out chairs for the ladies...

You take the long walk carrying tulips and chocolate...
You are nervously aware that there are actual parents at the end of the journey
and they are going to look at you funny.You wait patiently while wondering if they are coming or not...
Your tummy does flip flops as you realize you have never done this before....
and you are standing there all alone....
(but you're quickly reminded, you are not.)You giggle along with parents who are trying to be funny.
You hold our breath and pray they aren't really staying with you in the car.

Suddenly your nerves convert to giggles and singing...
everything you were worried about it is gone....
You are enjoying the ride...Last night I was reminded that life is easier than I make it.
things are simpler than I make them.

No matter what age, we all stand at many proverbial doors worried about the other side...
We all walk up many long sidewalks worried about how we will be perceived with our gifts...

"Trust me enough to face problems as they come, rather than anticipate them.

Come to Me and relax in My Peace. I will transform your fear into confident trust."
-Jesus Calling

God, Thank You for Loving us first...and never leaving us alone at the door.

In His Dust,

DCC

Whitney...

In college, we knew she wanted to dance with somebody.

We wondered along with her.... How will we know? We watched The Bodyguard and fell in love with Kevin and her voice.

We sat in awe as she belted out the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.

We giggled with her on Saturday Night Live.We watched her with BOBBY B.
We teared up at her "come back" in 2010 in Central Park.

She sang, "I Look To You" as she pointed to her mama and sang to her God.

Her last song on Thursday night was "Jesus Loves Me.Yes.

He sure does.

He loves me too...

and you...
each one of us.

There but for the grace of God, go I.
Go you.
Go each of us.

God, Thank You for our God given gifts - may we use them to glorify You.

In His Dust,

DCC

Sight...

I took Communion right next to a woman named Gabriella.
She was grinning from ear to ear the entire time- As she stood up, I realized she was blind.

So, I escorted her back to her pew....
Along the way back, I asked a few brilliant questions...
"Where were you sitting?"
"Is that your black coat?"
"Is that your pink purse?"

I realized after the third dumb question, and whispered to her, "Sorry, you've literally got the blind leading the blind!"
She giggled and said, "I am used to it. My son is blind and usually walks me into walls!"

She "looked" at me smiled and said, very intentionally, "God be with you."

I immediately realized, He was.....as He always is.

God, Thank You for Your Constant Presence with each one of us.

In His Dust,
DCC