*** A man in our church an a strong image of standing in a fog so thick that he was unable to see beyond a foot in distance. Yet, in this fog, the face of the Lord was plain and clear. There is no darkness or confusion that the Lord can’t pierce.
* We humans have built a trash ring around the earth of discarded missiles and other tech waste while reaching out to the stars. We also seem to build a ring of trash around our minds and hearts, which we put between ourselves and God as we look up toward Him.
*** A builder explained about many buildings he has built. He built them for expansion. He put structure in place in which a wall or piece of wall could be easily removed and the next part of the building added. A single home could easily become a duplex, and a church auditorium could easily expand to offices and classes. The buildings looked and were finished, but not really. He saw them as a work in progress. We are created to be expanded, to continue to be a work in progress, to add-on as need and growth demands.
*** During church prayer time, the praying persons expressed the love they have for the church. Because the people of God have opened their hearts to Him, He inhabits His people, making the atmosphere one of His presence. Even when talking casually, the Lord infuses His loving presence into the relationships among individuals, making them take on the effect of encouragement and healing. The love they expressed was a natural response to the presence of the Lord in those around them.
*** Walking within my thought life, learning and hearing from the Lord, is like walking onto a job site. There are so many possibilities, things to do, things to consider, ways to spend time, productive and unproductive. Now I spend my time wondering what to do with the inner job site and how to use it. People are like the Tardis on Dr. Who. They are bigger inside than outside.
*** I mowed a church lawn for about three years with a push mower and felt I was well for doing a service project. I realized that mowing doesn’t count for anything, no bonus or quality points, no cover your failings advantage with God or anyone else. Only the things we do with the Lord count. Therefore, fantasy football or any other activity can become an active opportunity for God to work in and/or through us because He is there and involved in who we truly are as individuals. It is all about the relationship. That’s what counts. Don’t exclude the Lord from anything you do, ever.
*** We see a construction site as being an extremely raw and messy place. Left over pieces of board and concrete lie around. There are props to walls and other structures not yet established in place. Saw horses and other work implements are out. Tools are available and sometimes scattered. Raw materials are stacked and slowly being worked into the build. There are truck tracks and ruts instead of landscaping. Yet, in time, the build finished and landscaping done, it will be a sight of delight. How are we different in God’s process of taking us from a plan to completion?
*** Dorian was built into a terrific storm from a small start over the ocean. It grew to devastating size, landing and destroying the Bahama’s and missing other areas all together. The storms in our lives are often birthed in a back memory, experience, and/or desire. It can build into a powerful force, destroying some areas of our lives and skipping over others. It is a call to prayer and action.