I was sitting at an airport bar in the middle of a journey afflicted with delay after delay, surrounded by others in the same boat. Countering the general irritated vibe, a young woman exclaimed, “I love delays!” And as she explained, I saw her point.
When your flight is delayed, there isn’t much you can do about it. Events are out of your hands. As confined as you are, there’s a paradoxical sense of freedom in the situation.
God did not create us to be robots. He’s given us free will, the ability to choose, the power to create. Nonetheless, our freedom is limited. For in the end, it all belongs to the Lord. Accepting what we can and cannot do and God’s sovereignty over it all? That’s the place, even in the most frustrating of circumstances, we find peace.
Thinking about St Maximilian Kolbe on his Feast Day. He so loved Our Lady and had a special devotion to her. I have so much admiration for him,1) because he offered his life to save a man who he knew nothing about except that he had a family to care for. 2) He hid many Jews in the friary to save their lives. Like so many other saints, he followed Jesus all the way, never turning anyone down even if they weren’t of the same Faith as he was. Mother Teresa is another example of true devotion to Jesus. God created all those people too. Who are we to judge? I love you, Lord Jesus
Sovereign God, thou art our all in all. In the most difficult moments of our lives, you are there. It is in you we live, move and have our being, thank you Father!
That is why my screen name on social media is 'Who is in control? Not me!" ******* What to do in Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 16, 19-21a, "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but (1) to fear the Lord your God, (2) to walk in obedience to Him, (3) to love Him, (4) to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and (5) to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?...(6) Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and (7) do not be stiff-necked any longer...And you are (8) to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. (1) Fear the Lord your God and (4) serve Him. (9) Hold fast to Him and (10) take your oaths in His Name. (11) He is the One you praise;" *** (1) Proverbs 9:10a, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!" *** (2) 1 Peter 1:13, "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance!" *** (3) 1 John 4:8, 12, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love...No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us!" *** (4) Colossians 3:23-24, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving!" *** (5) John 15:10-11, "If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete!" (for your own good? above) *** (6) Romans 2:29, "No, a person is a Jew (or Christian) only if they are a Jew (or Christian) on the inside. And true circumcision means that the heart has been circumcised by the Holy Spirit. The person whose heart has been circumcised does more than obey the written law. The praise that matters for that kind of person does not come from other people. It comes from God!" *** (7) Proverbs 1:22-27, "How long will you childish people love your childish ways? How long will you rude people enjoy making fun of God and others? How long will you foolish people hate knowledge? Pay attention to My warning! Then I will pour out My thoughts to you. I will make known to you My teachings. But you refuse to listen when I call out to you. No one pays attention when I reach out My hand. You turn away from all My advice. And you do not accept My warning. So I will laugh at you when you are in danger. I will make fun of you when hard times come. I will laugh when hard times hit you like a storm. I will laugh when danger comes your way like a windstorm. I will make fun of you when suffering and trouble come!" *** (8) Matthew 25:35, "I was hungry. And you gave Me something to eat. I was thirsty. And you gave Me something to drink. I was a stranger. And you invited Me in!" *** (9) Titus 1:9, "The message as it has been taught can be trusted. He must hold firmly to it. Then he will be able to use true teaching to comfort others and build them up. He will be able to prove that people who oppose it are wrong!" *** (10) James 5:12, "My brothers and sisters, here is what is most important. Don’t make a promise by giving your word. Don’t promise by heaven or earth. And don’t promise by anything else to back up what you say. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” If you do more than this, you will be judged!" *** (11) Hebrews 13:15, "So let us never stop offering to God our praise through Jesus. Let us talk openly about our faith in Him. Then our words will be like an offering to God!" *** (12) Only in the Name of Jesus I pray and praise, Amen!!!
Yes, what a beautiful scripture all belongs to the Lord Simply takes heavy yoke and burdens off your shoulders. Such an honor to walk with Him. The peace that passes all understanding, in Christ Jesus. To walk in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, what a great honor. That even a little consciousness, a little prick of the finger, pulling of our heart strings, we quickly come back to Him. Walk of integrity, because we love Him. Joy unspeakable and full of glory. An honor to be in a relationship with a true and living God. Be anxious for nothing, you will walk in Gods peace. Nothing like His presence. Surrounded by Holy.
Ken, joy filled my heart reading your post from yesterday. I used to work the hospital floors as an RN—hard work, and the rules are there to try to make it so the floor can function as efficiently as possible with the least number of staff (it’s all about cost!) not necessarily the patients’ best interests in mind. That one lady who was willing to take the time to get you up to the room to visit with Terry gives me hope in humanity. Compassion and mercy are alive! You don’t even realize, you were a gift to Terry but also to the staff—by filling Terry with the grace you delivered on Christ’s behalf you made the staffs’ job that much easier—believe me patients cared for in mind and spirit are that much easier to care for in body! Yay for you Ken, rejoicing for Terry but also praying a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing to the unnamed lady who used her noodle to get you up there to see one of God’s lambs. Happy day all.
Thank you Amy for all your contributions to this site. "Event were out of our hand" wow aren't they always. Jane please forward this garden prayer to Madison's family. Madison God looked around his garden and he found an empty place. Then he looked upon the earth and saw your daughter's tired face. He put his arm around her and lifted her to rest. God's garden must be beautiful. He always takes the best. He knew that you were suffering. He knew that you were in pain. He knew that you would never get well on earth again. He saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb. So he closed your weary eyelids and he whispered "Peace Be Thine " . It broke our hearts to lose you but you didn't go alone. For part of Us went with you, the day God called you home. )) Ken
Thank you for the kind words and for reading!
Thank you for your great reflection this am. You’re so right, there is a sense of freedom in things being out of our control. I think I’m gonna pray for an email bankruptcy!! Ken, you made it to Terry! God bless you for your persistence! Hope and pray she continues to improve. Sorry, but I didn’t know that both Carl and Anthony are at the end of life. Oh Dear Lord, thank you for all your blessings and please help those who are most in need of your Love and comfort.
I recently experienced a flight delay due to storms across the Midwest. I met a couple members of a Catholic family while waiting at the gate. We expressed gratitude for Gods protection and prayed for those outdoors waiting in planes during the intense lightening. Thank you for todays devotion. It brought it all back to mind!
Always a great way to start a Monday with a reflection from Monday. I’ve also heard folks find the liberating feeling of having all their email taken out by a virus. They said they declared email bankruptcy and it was so freeing. I can see it. A very deliberate way of re-building habits and potentially possessions. Ken, so great that you found Terry and they will let her minister up. Praying for Carl and Anthony and Stephanie, too. Funeral for Madison was WELL attended by family and friends. I was finally able to send food for the household caring for their family. Happy Monday LFF.
Continued prayers for the Ukraine and the Sudan. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in Ukraine and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in Ukraine and Sudan and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace – we who are working towards it and for all who are in danger from this conflict. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. Amen
Amy, Your devotional gave me great joy today! It was a reassurance that my husband and I made the right choice for a Christmas family vacation this year rather than giving material gifts. God is good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amen. Thank you Amy, and may God continue to bless us all.☮️
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Please help me Father in Heaven to take my time and enjoy the moments that You have given to me to enjoy. Thank You Father for Your Creation Amen Amen Amen