No Matter What...

"Be Cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; 

thank God no matter what happens."

~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

No matter what.

All the time.

Are you kidding me????

Even on...

Thursday night, when someone I thought was a friend, made a cold and hurtful comment? 

Friday afternoon, when we learned the biopsy results of a young mother were malignant?

Saturday morning, when we learned of a great friend from college lost his battle with cancer and left behind two young boys and a wife?

Even on those times God??

Yes. 

When God doesn't heal the way we think He should.

When test results are not what we think they should be.

When times and schedules don't line up like we thought.

When feelings are hurt.

Maybe, Paul knows that- If we are cheerful and prayerful and thankful all the time....no matter what...we will see Him.

God, Thank You for your constant desire to hear our prayers.

In His Dust,

DCC

More Tambourine & Cowbell...

"Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing." ~Exodus 15:20

Are you kidding me?

Here they were in the middle of escaping Pharaoh and Miriam stops to packs a tambourine.

(Are you picturing Stevie Nicks in the midst of the pyramids, or is that just me?)

Yes, a tambourine. 

As impossible and bleak as redemption looked at the time....she had faith. 

In the big fat middle of hard, depressing and challenging "end of their rope" times...

She KNEW that there would come a day for Praising God and celebrating His Work. 

So, she packed up that tambourine and headed out the door.

I believe God clapped when He saw the chutzpah of His Daughter Miriam!!  

She stepped out in faith and was the original, "when praying for rain, carry an umbrella."

Crocker preached on this story yesterday...and because I am mature and spiritual....

I couldn't stop picturing Will Ferrell. 

Then I couldn't shake wondering if Miriam said,

"I've got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell....ahem, tambourine."

We'd all be better off grabbing our tambourine, or even a cowbell...and expecting greatness, grace and redemption from our Awesome God,

For one day, He promises for each one of us....He will... 

"turn my wailing into dancing; 

remove my sackcloth and clothe me with joy." ~Psalm 30:11

God, Thank You for a prescription we can all use today and in the days to come. May we all grab our "tambourines" daily.

In His Dust,

DCC

Grammy's...

James Taylor appearing at the Inauguration, like a knight on a white horse renewed my hope in seeing familiar music faces.
It messed me up. 
It raised my hopes and carried over into last night's Grammy's.

I watched...and kept my eyes and ears peeled for someone I knew or an outfit I understood.

Then around the corner like a pot of gold.....popped up Elton John.

and then Carrie....who was like a one woman coronation. 

(I am certain The Order of The Alamo is currently investigating this concept)

 and then a well dressed JT...

and dang...He was 18 levels of pretty.

And then as soon as I put my guard down....

this appeared. 

My reaction...was....akin to this.

I THINK he was part Liberace, a dash of Indian (Tatonka) with a side of Cher (circa 1970.)

I was quickly reminded to not put my guard down.

"Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. 

So keep a firm grip on your faith." ~1 Peter 5:9

God, Thank You for Your Encouraging Words. 

In His Dust,

DCC

Clouds and Fire...

Crocker preached on Exodus 13:21 yesterday. 

"By day The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, 

so that they could travel by day or night." ~Exodus 13:21

It was not the first time I had heard this verse....or actually even thought about it. 

However, it was the first time I slowed down enough to really think about.

That "Pillar of Fire", was not just  flames leading the way.

It was Very God Himself.

He was Personally providing Warmth & Security 

to scared, tired and anxious people on cold desert nights.

That "Pillar of Cloud", was not just an overcast day or a coincidence. 

It was Very God Himself. 

He was Personally providing Shade and Peace.

 to wiped out, insecure and beat down people.  

 

Make no mistake.....He still is. 
We don't need to be standing in a desert to see Him.
He is providing, wherever you are in need.
Whether or not you and I are recognizing Him.....is an entirely different story.
It might not look like a blazing torch pillar of clouds...
Chances are, it might look like a friend, a song, a text, a break in the calendar, a stranger...

Chances are it might look like you. Yes, you, to someone else.

God provides.
Always has
Always will

God, Thank You for Showing up.

In His Dust,
DCC