Is it all in His Design right? Right or wrong it is designed by His hand. Sometimes that plan hurts and causes us to ask “when will His Design Let Up? I am not one to question the design of my heavenly Father. After spending too many of my younger years angry and doubtful. The pain, hurt, and death I experienced, I blamed God for it all. It was not until I was much older that I learned to keep my questions silent. We look to our Father to lead us in times of pain and hurt. He provides comfort in knowing that he has us in the palm of his hand. Does that stop the pain? No. Do we no longer feel the pain? No. However, having the faith and knowledge that those we have lost in this world await us celebrating in the next makes the hurt bearable. Being able to press in and know when it is our time we too might hear him say “well done.” Our emotions over the space our loved ones left may get the best of us at times. We find ourselves crying uncontrollably for what appears to be no reason. Our hurt pours out across our cheeks. He reaches down gently from heaven. Places a hand on our shoulder wipes our tears away. “Rest easy my child; they are now with me.” He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order […]

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Hurt comes naturally from our emotions as we expose ourselves to anger, sadness or despair. Recently I have found myself searching for answers to my pain. Suffering that has developed from watching the country implode from racial tensions. Exacerbated by the death of my grandmother at the grand age of ninety-eight. Compounded by the daily strain and anxiety, hurt seems to overwhelm my emotions. I, therefore, sought my healing, and here is what I found. 1.) I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” ~ John 16:33 He has overcome the world, all the pain all the suffering vanquished in him. I find great comfort knowing that when you put all your trust in him, you may find peace in all things. 2.) Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. ~ Philippians 4:6 He wants us to pray and ask for healing through him. Knowing that he welcomes our prayers and hears each one, I found I could pray openly to him, for others, even over others for his healing. 3.) Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. ~ Isaiah 58:8 In the early morning light, when the house is still dark, as I pour into his word. I cannot help but […]

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One of the most famous parables of Jesus’ teaching is that of the Good Samaritan. After the tragedies that have surrounded the world recently. I think it is timely that it be the reading at church this past Sunday. It is a stark reminder of how we should be treating one another. We have been quick to pass judgment as our newsfeed fills with one senseless event after another. Are we any better now than the priest of Levite in that story? Are we kind to our neighbors, our brothers, and sisters? On the streets between Jerusalem and Jericho, a man robbed, beaten left to die. To die alone as passerby’s ignored his pleas for help. How are we much different as we pass judgment and move to the other side of the street, to avoid each other rather than love one another? Are we led by our faith to where we help those in need? Click To Tweet Homeless, prostitutes, and more, we step to the other side of the road rather than encounter them. The color of someone’s skin makes us angry, or the badge they wear. Refugees from all over the world have become a political hot potato no one wants to touch. Are we not all God’s children? In the parable, it states that we should love our neighbor. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ~ Luke […]

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