Rubber Meets The Road....

“I will never leave you and I will NEVER abandon you.” ~Hebrews 13:5

I watched Rick and Kay Warren yesterday...it was their first time back in "the pulpit" since their son died.

It was powerful to watch real life rubber meeting the road.

"God is still the Red Sea God. He still restores the broken. He still heals the sick. 

Have audacious hope." -Kay Warren

There were many powerful and gut wrenching moments....at times easy to relate to and at other times unfathomable. 
There were three main areas of Biblical Truth that steadied them during the tragedy and now.

First, we know life doesn't make sense but we can have peace because we know God is with us and He Loves us.

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you! When you pass through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned up; it will NOT consume you!” ~Isaiah 43:2

Second, everything on Earth is broken, but we can have joy because God has a greater plan.

“We can have joy even in our troubles because we know that these troubles produce endurance. And endurance produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will not disappoint us, because God has poured his love to fill our hearts. ~Romans 5:3-5

Third, life is a battle, but we can have hope because we know there is more to the story.

"So we don't focus on the troubles we see right now; instead we look forward to what we don’t see yet. For the troubles we see now are temporary, 

but the joys to come will last forever.” ~2 Corinthians 4:18

These are all wonderful and true...however, as Rick Warren said, 
"The mind doesn't want to mind." 
Which means, for us, living with peace, joy and hope will require intentional living.
When we seek Him, He will meet us right where we are.  

God, Thank You for providing peace, joy and hope in Your Very Presence.

In His Dust,
DCC

Your Lane...

"We must run with determination the race marked out for us" ~Hebrews 12:1 

It is real easy for me to get caught up in looking at the other lanes.

Don't we all find ourselves at times, noticing how much easier, faster & happier those other "runners" seem to be doing.

Sometimes the lane you are in might feel muddy and hard to navigate.

Rick Warren reminds us to, "resist those who want you to run THEIR race."

God does not call us to run the same race as one another...

nor does He call us to run it faster and better than others.

Quite the opposite....

God calls us to run the race He marked specifically for us.

He also assures each one of us....He will be in that lane with us. 

"Remember I am with you always, until the end of the age." ~Matthew 28:20

Knowing this, remembering it and living in it...

is where true victory is found.

God, Thank You. I LOVE the lane You have placed me in. I am beyond grateful You are running with me.

In His Dust,

DCC

God's Megaphone....

My A/C decided this weekend would be an appropriate time to go on strike. 

In other news, it was hotter than the south side of the sun this weekend.

I was quickly reminded that the temperature of the air effects everything.
Quickly after that, I was reminded that my temperature effects others. 
As quickly as the temperature rose....so did my crankiness.

Neither adjusted well.

The air was also heavy in our community this past week and weekend.... 

Several unexpected funerals....miscarriages...jet ski accidents....blow outs... 

There was a negative wet blanket in the social media air. 

"Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, 

speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: 

it is His Megaphone to rouse a deaf world"  -CS Lewis

As someone that once used a megaphone, 
(in a Mule head nonetheless, proving the story of Balaam to be valid)
it's main purpose is to be heard and to engage a response. 

There is no avoiding it. 
Our response to God's Megaphone...should be covered in trust and love.

Love seems to be God's freon. 

Without it, we are just blowing hot air. 
And when it's already 111 in shade- that's not helpful to anyone. 

God feels your pain and mine......

God is good.

God is faithful.

God is with us.

God, Thank You for Your Very Presence among each of us.

In His Dust,
DCC