finding grace in the moment and living a life of Joy!
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Author: Vona Wilson
I am an ordained United Methodist pastor. I fall out of almost every "norm" there is but find that authenticity is much more faithful than fitting the box. In my former days I worked as a Paramedic and maintained a business as an Organizational Development coach. I use all of that experience along with my deep love for Christ, in everything I do each day. It is a journey I walk with much Joy.
I am laughing at myself…as I am doing a lot now! I brought my blog post via jump drive to the internet cafe but..the computer is in espanol and I am not sure yet how to access my file. There is not a lot of time to figure it out so I will start from scratch. The pictures I thought were on my jump drive are really not there…oh well…as they say here… Guatever.
Learning a different language and culture is good for my soul. I am out of my comfort zone and into the place we call Faith. It is good that my school week was only three days. I study each afternoon and night. I am ready for the weekend! We have an excursion in the morning… a hike somewhere for about 6 hours…I am ready for this.
I have moved past my initial discomfort and am now meeting people, exploring a bit and practicing with my host family. There are three children in the house which is great. They welcome my elementary speech and laughter. Lilian and I are beginning to have conversation. She is very gracious. Her cooking is FABULOUS! Yes, I miss my spinach so much and I worry if I will get to eat any fresh green produce anytime soon. But… I love her plantains, her rice, beans and eggs with homemade salsa. She had a cake to bake for 30 people today so that was fun watching her create this morning and seeing the result this afternoon.
Let me say this. God made Xela a beautiful place. Surrounded by 10 mountains….quite similar to Franklin, TN in that way of special vistas. And unlike Franklin in most other ways. Sometimes in the new places of dependence on our Creator we are able to hear the whispers that go unnoticed among the noise of ordinary life. I am listening to the whispers of God rising from the mountains of Xela. It is good. God is faithful. I am grateful. Let it be.
It is good for the soul to watch the sunrise from a different view every now and then. On Tuesday morning this was on my way south above the clouds; today it is over the rooftops of my “home away from home” in Xela (Quetzaltenango). I’ve never arrived anywhere looking for a stranger with a sign until now. A lady named Raquel met me at the airport and drove me to the local bus station where I traveled with all the regular Guatemalan people to Xela. This is a very different arrival from a mission team experience! Everyone I meet is new to me; everywhere I go is from a different perspective. My eyes are wide open now. I am seeing all things new.
When the bus arrived in Xela I called a number and the next “new” people showed up; Jaime and Luis…to take me to the home where I will stay this week.My host family is wonderful. Lilian is the “head of household” for lack of better words. Her husband died of cancer 10 years ago; she is 55. Two of her daughters (along with three grandchildren) are here most of the time. Her mother, Elcira is here and her brother, Tuto came by last night for a visit. He is an orthopedic doctor here in Xela. Lilian is a baker and does this from her home…events…weddings, etc. They have provided me with a nice room where I can study and sleep. And food! My spinach, salmon, almonds, oatmeal…basics are nowhere to be seen so far. I am learning how to eat as the family eats. I hate to admit how hard it is to do it. However, contrary to my mission trip visit…no one has offered me Pepsi yet so that is good! Politely passing the offer for tea, I am very content with water and coffee.
Casa Xelaju
Casa Xelaju is my school for the next two weeks. It is great– I completed my first day yesterday. My personal instructor is Lily de Leon. She has been gracious with my stumbling and stammering – patient and enjoyable. There are students here from Holland, Texas, Taiwan and one from sometimes Knoxville, sometimes St. Louis and sometimes Guatemala…just depending on the conversation.
Lily de Leon, my instructor this week
The school has many students during the high season, which has just ended. They come from all over the world to study here in Xela – and particularly this school. Of those here, two are teachers, two are mission/humanitarian focused and two are traveling and learning for the fun of it.
Xela is high altitude and cool. I knew to bring my jacket and a rain parka for the afternoon and evening rains. There is a beautiful cemetery here and I visited it during my last trip to Guatemala.
The street of my "home away from home"
The house where I am staying is next to it, which is nice. It is, at least, a familiar spot for me. I suppose because I am here to study and alone, the culture “shock” is quite profound to me this time. This is the city where most of the people I know
live: Adolfo, Chester, Doris of the VIM office, Juan Pablo, etc. As I walk the streets, hear the sounds and breathe in the air…I am touching and experiencing their daily life
experience.
my walk to school each day..about 10 minutes from the house. Common view of the morning walk...past the market and street vendors
Of course, everyone’s situation is different, but the common places of life are still the common places. It is a developing country. The streets are enchanting in one
perspective….rough stone obviously laid by tired hands over many years…but I’m
also thinking as I walk them…”will my shoes even last for one month on this terrain?” It is not even a thought I want to write, but it is true. Or…after the bus ride to Xela (4 hours of
curves, jostling and window views), there is no comfy easy chair to slide into and kick back for the evening. There is a plastic patio chair. Period. I brought my yoga cheat sheets and that was a stroke of genius because yoga is needed right now!
So, I am here! It is most humbling and exciting. There is much I can learn in one month – and also the very real truth is that in one month I will know so little of this
language and culture. This is a glimpse. It is a glimpse God isn’t going to let me avoid. There are no distractions to keep me from seeing. I am knee-deep in a culture I do not know and a language I’ve yet to speak. I’m OK with that. We all have to take our steps of obedience on our way to saying “yes” to the life we are given to live. Let it be. Beinvenidos de Guatemala!
A Fathers Day gift arrived yesterday from Uncle Bill's, daughter, Angela. A book of pictures from this past year.
My sister and I name each year – a name one or both of us “hears” before January rolls around. The word for this year, 2011, is Grace. It is the Year of Grace. This is affirmed to us over and over again. For the past 8 days it has come in the way of an unexpected visit from Uncle Bill.
With his wife at Stallworth for medical rehab, our Uncle Bill has found our home his “home away from home”. My nights and early mornings have been laced with stories on the patio. Stories of wisdom, stories of God’s faithfulness, stories of love. I’ve written down every word I had time to capture – every nugget of wisdom that emerged from his sharing.
He just walked out the door a few minutes ago. I watched him drive down the driveway and I felt the hole that comes in his leaving; but of course, it is time. He will pick Aunt Margie up and take her home to Kentucky. He leaves me with a week of blessing and a host of wisdom. This time with him is the most profound gift of God’s grace.
The ring on his hand represents 57 years of marriage to Aunt Margie. The ring has never been off of his finger. The book...pictures from this special chapter in their lives. His hand...Christ's presence on earth.
This morning as we were on the patio he took my hand and said, “I just want to say a prayer of praise this morning”. For Uncle Bill the blessings he is thankful for are unlimited, but especially today he offered praise to God for his wife of 57 years, for his family and for God’s love that never seems to stop overflowing our lives. How could it be that I would be so blessed to share in his praise??
Sometimes treasure is hidden in the circumstances of life. We may have to search for it; we may need to discover it…and occaisionally, we will have to let go of something else to receive it. What is God offering you in your circumstance?
SCRIPTURE: “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.” Hebrews 3:4
OBSERVATION: God uses people to “build” the house of God’s presence on earth.
APPLICATION: When I read the stories of our faith I can see the obvious purposes of God being carried out over the generations. Moses had his part in leading the people out of slavery; Joseph had his part in feeding the hungry and leading a community; Solomon had his part in building the temple; Lydia had her part in funding radical ministry; Paul had his part in sharing the gospel in other lands. The list goes on and on.
Uncle Bob does his part in keeping us grounded in the simplicity of how life works. he built bridges in his career. Today he builds hope and delivers it all over the nation. Sometimes it is in his own community teaching in church; another time it is delivering a truck load of Bibles to a community that needs them; on any given day it might be him just showing up with a truck when you are sitting there saying, "I sure do need a truck to haul away this stuff!" Uncle Bob is quite simply, an answer to prayer for many people, most of whom are complete strangers.
My Lester grandparents had their part too. P.E. and Myrtle Lester were a poor couple raising 9 kids and farming in Western Kentucky. It was a hard life. P.E. brought the gift of faith to the mix. Myrtle brought the gift of unconditional love. What started out as two young, poor but determined people, has grown into over 100 of us now that make up this small part of the “Lester generations”. We are scattered everywhere…building our part of the plan. When we are together we can see the diversity and richness of what God has created with us….what God is building with us. We have all been given the gift of unconditional love. It was not something we earned or gained by skill or even deserved. It was passed onto us by our grandparents as a gift from God.
Aunt Cozi, Nancy & Ouida with Alan and Angela. Three of P.E. & Myrtle's 9 kids doing an adventure in Alaska this year. Aunt Cozi builds joy, Aunt Nan builds courage, Aunt Ouida builds people. Alan builds communication that respects and honors people. Angela builds love. Just a glimpse of that far-reaching "plan". In this picture it is reaching from Southern California, through Colorado, Washington D.C. and on down to Florida. Pretty amazing!
For my grandparents – it was building a family based on faith and unconditional love, while also caring for the land to make it fruitful for feeding the world. They had no idea how far their part of the “building plan” would reach. We have no idea how far our part of the building plan will reach. My cousins are all busy with their part. When I see them I am reminded that God is designing a house on earth that changes the daily experience of people we encounter. I want to be part of that building plan. What about you? What building plans have you been given?
Cousins! Luis and Elizabeth came into our family by way of Costa Rica when we were all kids. Teresa, on the far right, was a welcomed guest at our reunion this year. She is a friend from Mexico.Cousins! Dustin and Ellyana. These cousins build in Kentucky!Cousins! Sean and Kevin Fitzpatrick. They build in Alaska, Hawaii, and soon...Kevin will be building in India. Sean builds people and environments where they can flourish. Kevin is just receiving his part of the "building plan" and we know it involves India!
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for reminding me of how you work. Thank you for showing me this in my family. I am happy to do my part in whatever way you choose. Thank you for involving me at all.
YIELD: I will give attention to the plans of the Lord and be faithful to do my part.
Scripture: “As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed – the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. (Romans 4:17)
Observation: Abraham encountered the miracles of God because he believed that God is faithful. He followed what he could not understand. He accepted what was beyond human capability. Even when he would sometimes doubt, he kept going foward because he knew God is faithful. He was “fully pursaded” (4:21) that God would do what God promised.
Aunt Cozi, Ouida and Nan ready for the the 7-leg zip line in the Alaskan rainforest. A mere 150 feet up in the air adventure. Amazing ladies!
Application: When God nudged Abraham to do something, he did it. Most of it seemed ridiculous or impossible. He acted anyway. Because of that – things unfolded that changed the world. It started in his family and grew to “all nations”. A few months ago my Aunt Cozi posted on Facebook an invitation for any of the family to join her for an Alaskan cruise. She had decided to go on this adventure in celebation of her birthday. She felt “nudged” to invite the family to join her. When I read it, I said to myself, “impossible” and never thought another moment about it. Over the next many weeks different family members began to book the cruise…oh my goodness…the Lesters (my mom’s family) are going to Alaska! We are scattered across the country…there are over 100 of us now. In the end, 15 of us ended up on a ship bound for Alaska. My sister and I were on board. Something that was impossible happened because Aunt Cozi acted on a nudge.
Aunt Cozi with two of my cousins who live in Alaska (Kevin & Sean), one who lives in Colorado (Angela) and my incredible sister! We are standing in front of the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. A lot of "impossibles" are in this picture!
Conversations were shared, memories were made, relationships were blessed and we expereienced God’s grace in a new way….a way that forever changes our lives.
Doris from the Volunteers in Mission (VIM) office in Guatemala; Pastors Juan Pablo and Mario
Just a few weeks ago I got a nudge. Guatemala…return. But I went with the team…I did my part…how could I imagine a return? I could not ignore the nudge, and so, like Abraham, I trusted God more than I did all the reasons why it could not happen, and I shared the nudge with someone else and asked for prayer. Doors began to open. God was making a way for the impossible. I packed my bags and returned. What I encountered was God’s grace in a miracle that changed my life forever. It is not a miracle that belongs to me, it is something God is doing – much more than my eyes can see or my heart can comprehend. Ezekial is in deaf school; Bibles are in the hands of people hungry to discover God’s love; Friendships are established for collaboration and peace in the time ahead. Dreams were spoken out loud.
When have you experienced the impossible or the “what can not be” to just happen anyway?
Prayer: Gracious God, I thank you. You are amazing. You do set things into being that are impossible in human terms. You nudge us and involve us in your miracles on earth. Please help us all to have the courage and faith to act when you nudge us…however subtle or obvious. Open our eyes to the many ways you are speaking. Let us be faithful like Abraham, let us be obedient like Christ.
Some reflections from the Life Journal reading this morning…
Scripture: I Chronicles 28
Observation: King David was near death and a successor was needed. His closest confidantes, Bathsheba and Nathan, go to his beside to let him know….”it’s time”. David already knew what to do. The Lord had already prepared him for this day.
God had blessed David with success in battle and now the Lord had plans for a time of peace in the land. That time of peace was for a specific purpose: so the people could build a temple for worshipping the one true God. The Lord had already chosen Solomon (David’s son) to lead the building of this temple while he served as king. David had the vision, he had the plans and he had the faith. He had walked closely with God and he had listened along the way. God has shared the vision with him. and God had equipped the people all around to the work for the time ahead.
David’s advice to Solomon as he passes this mantle of leadership on: “Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” (I Chronicles 28:20)
The concrete project in Guatemala was started because the dust storms would throw dirt all over the outside walls of the school. The people said, "we need to concrete it in" Norris said, "we can make a way for you to do it".
Application: As I read this what I see in my mind is Guatemala, a couple by the name of Norris and Fran Allen, and plans. Norris is the leader for the work and teams from our area that have been going into Guatemala for several years. I’ve only just recently come to know him. He and Fran were in my office a few days ago…on May 2nd. They had just returned from a trip the night before and I was leaving for a trip the day after. We had sandwiched this meeting in between so I could hear their history and dreams about Guatemala and I could share with them my experience from the most recent mission at La Toma. It had been difficult to schedule it in for all of us. Sarah from our church’s team met with us. I’m so glad she was also there!
Norris brought water system plans and drawings. He brought stories written on paper and stories written on his heart. Fran shared dreams and an obvious joy for God’s faithfulness as she could see the unfolding of continued vision. We looked at pictures. We spoke of the future. We imagined plans. We said we would pray about it and talk to our friends in Guatemala and finalize whatever seems to be best for future work. We were all blessed in this sharing.
The plaque on the wall at La Toma School showing appreciation for the vision and collaboration of the Guatemala Methodista Church, Norris and the teams from TN
Over this past weekend Fran experienced a massive stroke. Suddenly the conversation we shared a few days ago has become more poignant and more urgent. I find myself recalling every word she and Norris said…looking at my notes and praying I remember everything. What strikes me this morning as I read the scripture is that God works things out. God has plans. Our role is not to do the planning so much, but to be open enough to hear and brave enough to follow whatever God gives each of us to do.
I returned from Guatemala on April 18th, almost a month ago. People have asked me several times, “what are your plans?” I smile and say, “I’m listening and praying”. It’s not so much about what we want (David wanted to build the temple but God chose Solomon for that part), it is rather, about paying attention to what God is planning and simply follow the Creator. Period.
This is an old suspension bridge over the river that has been replaced by a nice paved bridge. Not sure why the old one was left hanging but having it visible there speaks to me of new paths for peace, health and friendship.
Prayer: Father, please be with Norris and Fran. Please be with the people of Guatemala. Please keep me open enough to always hear my part in your work on earth, courageous enough to follow you and humble enough to see your plans. I love you.
Yield: No need to ever worry about the future. God’s got it covered.
View from Long Bay in Alaska. A God that creates this kind of beauty can handle whatever comes up in our lives. "I will exalt you, O Lord"
Scripture: Psalm 30:1-3. I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifeted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down to the pit.
OBSERVATION: King David was a great man that loved God with all of his heart. He was a great leader, a man of great compassion and a strong warrior. Still, David made a lot of mistakes, just like us. He also had tough life experiences that were not his own choosing, but that were very hard to live with each day. When these situations happened in his life, (whether by his own actions or the actions of others) David did not run from God – he ran to God! He prayed. The Lord heard his cries and responded.
APPLICATION: As I read this Psalm (and the II Samuel 24 reading ) I can relate to how faithful God is when we call out for help. It feels awful to make mistakes and face the consequences of them. It feels awful to realize that there are destructive paths that lead us into dark places where we don’t need or want to be. The “enemies” of our lives today are different. They are the enemies of busyness, distraction, depression, addictions, rage, fear, over-indulgence….etc., etc. The “grave” and the “pit” are those places where poor decisions create a life we don’t want. Or maybe the “pit” is that situation that you want so much to get out of but it feels like you can’t. Maybe the “grave” is the reality of a big disappointment, a lost job, a relationship gone bad, or an illness that is taking up more of your life than you expected. That is the time to pray! That is when we stop trying to do it on our own and we ask God to help us. God is faithful. As the Psalm reads…”weeping may remain for the night, but joy comes in the morning!” Whatever your situation is – take it to God and know for certain that God is faithful. Prayer changes things.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for caring enough about me that you hear and respond when I call for your help. Thank you for changing circumstances every day when we invite you into our lives. Your faithfulness is my strength every day! I love you.
YIELD: Whatever comes up today, the Lord will be in it with me.
Sometimes the "kingdom of heaven" comes near in the provision of dental care for those who have none. A dentist, Dr. Robin Wilhite, lives out his obedience to Gods call on his life by providing this in Guatemala.
Matthew 7:21 (a teaching of Jesus)
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.’
OBSERVATION
God is not interested in our performance; God is interested in our obedience. A focus on performance in our own agendas distracts us from the greater life we are called to live.
APPLICATION
In this reading we are being invited into a different way of approaching life. It is a way that helps us discover the “kingdom of heaven”. The “kingdom of heaven” is not so much a place as it is a state of life…a state of abundant peace, love and joy even in difficult circumstances. (Matthew 13:31-32) The path to finding that life is being obedient to the will of God. It is easy to focus on all the things I think I am “supposed to do” and get so busy there is never time to listen and do the things God asks me to do. In truth, my life needs to be full of ONLY those things God asks me to do. It is a practice of great risk, enormous trust and incredible love. It is a practice of adventure and freedom in Christ. When we follow this path things begin to happen that are beyond what we could have imagined. The impossible becomes possible. The darkness loses its power. Families are healed. Nations are transformed. Peace seeps into our lives and takes up residence. In other words, we enter the “kingdom of heaven” in ways we never imagined. What is God inviting you into today?
PRAYER
Gracious God, thank you for this teaching. Please help me to have the courage to follow your nudges and your will in my life today. I trust you completely and I love you. Thank you for your faithfulness. Amen.
I am home in Tennessee. The dogwoods and honeysuckle are in bloom. The fields are green and the pine trees in our yard stand tall and strong. While I was away my sister (whom I call “Pincho”) took care of my dog, Tiki, in addition to the home we share.
Just before I left we had a big storm and several of our trees fell down so she has been busy taking care of everything from the storm damage. This morning I was just thinking about all the people who went to Guatemala with me. Maybe not “in person” but were still on the journey in spirit. There are many! Norris who was given a vision for Tennesse to be in relationship with Guatemala over 20 years ago; Sarah Mc Ginley who led the charge for our church to be involved in that mission; Debbie who covered my Bible study on Wednesday nights; John who covered my worship responsibilities on Sunday; Lynn who shouldered the care of the congregation; Pincho who kept our home in order; Fido Fitness who stepped into take care of Tiki when needed; and every person who offered a prayer or read the blog or had a conversation to tell a portion of the story. So many people – too many to count or even know.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21
My reading today is from Matthew 6. It is rich. It encourages us to store our treasure in the spiritual realm where NOTHING can take it away. Everything mentioned in this teaching is done in spirit – with the wisdom that wherever your treasure is – your heart will be also. We do it by
1. Praying (verse 6)
2. Surrendering to God’s will (verse 10)
3. Fasting (verse 17)
4. Seeking kingdom righteousness (verse 33)
Those who have taken this journey “in spirit” by praying, by hearing the story and by covering the gaps so I could go…every one is part of the treasure God revealed during this return to Guatemala. I am confident God will bless every one of you – those I know and those I don’t. Because when we are engaging in the spiritual with our Creator, we are no longer limited by distance or ability or resource. I am thankful for this amazing power of God! What treasure are you storing up in your life today?
I’m on my way home to Tennessee. Last night we were at the grocery store and we ran into Ana, the Principal of the La Toma School. She had her family with her so we met children and grandchildren. It was so good! It is that feeling that you have when you live in a community and you run into your friends as you go about your day. We were all excited. What a blessing…unexpected…pure gift. I call this God’s grace – just showing up and making life more beautiful than we deserve or can even imagine. I have friends in this land.
from the cemetary in Xela
The experience preaching at Manuel’s church was a good one. They have a strong church. I wasn’t sure what it would be like to preach in English while Chester translated but it all worked just fine. He is used to it, of course, and I was much more comfortable than I expected to be. The message began with Revelation 5:1-10 for a vision of who we are as a church of all tribes, nations and languages to serve God on earth. We looked at John 15:9-17 to remember the primary instruction Jesus gave us before he left earth and then we ended with a reading of I Corinthians 13. The power of God’s love is able to cross every barrier and we have to brave enough to embrace it.
Even in the poverty, dust and heat of La Toma people have decorated for Holy Week. I was delighted to see their creative expression!
When we left Manuel’s I wanted to go back to La Toma. I really didn’t get to say goodbye to Elvia and Daniel’s family and they invited us for lunch again but we were with the teachers and had to decline. So we went to their house. By this time in the whole adventure, Adolfo had loaned us his car until Monday so we were driving. The road going into the community is awful. It’s like driving in a river with rocks that over which you can’t imagine you would ever drive your car. Four-wheel drive Jeep – yes; Toyota Camry – no! We were nervous and also unsure of what the kids might do to the car while we were visiting. But our concerns were of no regard. We didn’t get stuck, the kids didn’t storm the car (they would have only done it out of energy and excitement) and we got out before dark. It’s all good!
This is from the day we went home with a box of bananas!
The visit with Daniel & Elvia’s family was awesome. The father/ husband was home because it was Sunday. He talked and talked. We were able to thank him for being such a good father and raising the kids so well. As soon as we got there we received a stool to sit on and a class Pepsi, of course. Elvia ran to get Daniel, Eduardo and David – all of whom had gone to the river to swim. In a few minutes here came Elvia and her mom came with a live chicken. Knowing this was a sign for the chicken to soon become supper, we explained we couldn’t stay for dinner. So they got a box and string and began to tie the chicken’s feet together so we could take it with us!!! Chester and I both began to talk like crazy and when he explained I was leaving and we didn’t have a place to cook anyway, they said he could take it home with him to Xela!! It was so funny. Chester said, “I don’t know how to kill a chicken and then I don’t know how to cook it!” We laughed so hard; one of many hilarious things that have happened over the past 2 weeks.
I had a lot of peace as we drove out of La Toma this time. Peace about leaving and peace about the time to come. A door has been opened here. At breakfast this morning I was talking to Adolfo and he said, “a WIDE door has been opened” and all three of us spoke of the future and what God may be doing. We agreed to pray on it. Last night Manuel said he would like for us to teach the youth in his community just like we did at La Toma. So he is praying too.
The abandoned train station in Retalehulah. Revolution came and time just stopped. Many things are left standing still.
There is a need for spiritual nourishment and encouragement in this land. There is a need for us to recognize the state of life in this culture that has been ravaged by war, corruption, hurricanes, earthquakes and simple despair. For me, I know God is showing me something I need to see. It is like what I was shown when I went to Nicaragua in 2004 and again in 2008 – but something is different this time. Something is pressing, even urgent. Something is rising in a generation of young people that I see and understand. I know God opens windows and doors in special timing – the timing of the Divine. I don’t know why or what makes the “timing” perfect – but I’ve watched it happen over and over again so I know it is true.
The municipal building in Retalehulah. It has a working clock!
What I see rising in the students at La Toma is the same that I see rising in the students in our church in Franklin, Tennessee.
I know this is part of why I was called into ministry as a pastor at this time in history. It will look different than years before. It will surprise all of us in ways we can’t imagine. But the grace of God is so amazing – it will be easy for all of us to recognize and sing the new song being placed in our hearts. It will not replace the ancient songs – it will simply add to the beauty of what God is doing. In a way it is like the story of creation when God created light and saw that it was good. And then God created the waters and the land and saw that it was good. And then God created the vegetation and fruits…and saw that it was good.
God is still creating. And the song I hear gets a little more beautiful every day.
And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
Let it be!
Every step we take places us a little bit closer to the dreams God breathed into us when we were created. Keep taking steps.Luis at his front door (This is the home of Douglas who lives in San Antonio. Luis is his little brother)
The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. Daniel 4:11-12) “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32)
Life in the Deep End 