Day 358

During a conversation with a friend of mine recently we discussed how this year went not as planned. This information isn’t new to me or the entire world, so I was waiting for her to get to specifics, how has 2020 let you down?

She told me that she wrote down what she wanted to accomplish. She recently started dental school and wanted to get straight As she wanted to remain healthy, and a few more things on her list, and she was done. There wasn’t much on her list and everything seemed like she could handle it. Then reality struck her, and it was a painful moment that she had to go through, alone.

She didn’t get straight As, and that because she got diagnosed with an illness that pulled her away from her studies and into the care of medical professionals. To top it all off, she was halfway across the country from her home and family.

As I sat listening to her tell me her story, and how she would probably never write anything down like that again, I thought of the adage “You want to see God laugh? Make plans.” But that isn’t reality. The truth happens to be that God wants to hear our plans: Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5. He desires to know what our concerns are, and when they get too heavy for us He encourages us to: Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22.

Now, this doesn’t mean that the ground beneath you won’t be shaken to its core. Only that if we make Him our foundation, our fortress that: The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2. I know this by first-hand experiences.

The same year my parents’ lost their home, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, I lost my best friend, started a new job and was finishing graduate school. I didn’t think I was going to make it. I had suffered panic attacks when I had never gone through anything like that in my life. All of a sudden my world was shaking all around me and I thought that the earth was going to open up and swallow me whole. But then there was this whisper: Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.

I was going through one emotional earthquake at a time, and the aftershocks were just as painful. But just like the buildings in Japan that are built earthquake-proof due to their structure, my foundation was prepared. Japan happens to sit on a dangerous area called the ring of fire where there are underwater volcanos which contribute to over 1500 earthquakes a year. Japan also happens to have the second tallest building in the entire world happens to be one that: includes a central pillar attached to seismic dampers that can together absorb the energy of an earthquake” (BBC.com).

They have a central pillar that helps absorbs the energy of a damaging quake. And when I had made Jesus my central pillar, He helped absorb the majority of the earthquakes that happened and continues to happen in my life. And since I still live in this earth that has an unseen ring of fire I still feel the quaking and the shaking, and trust me I have my fair share of cuts and bruises from these volcanic life eruptions. But my God who tells me: The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24.

Jesus is holding our hands through this unpredictable life. And yeah we may stumble, but we won’t be down for long or so overwhelmed we feel like we can’t keep going. Why? Well, it tells us that the LORD God, the Creator of the universe, the Inventor of time, He holds our hand.

Day 357

Recently I had the opportunity to sit across from my first godchild and her boyfriend at dinner. The fact that she is in college makes me think “where has the time gone?” I don’t feel that old. She’s the same age her mother was when she had her first and only child. I was present for the baby blessing when she was a pudgy little one, so small she fit in my arms. Then I blinked and sitting before me was the beautiful young lady who just lit up the room with her personality. Where did the time go?

I found myself smiling just because she was smiling. If I felt this way over the growth of this wonderful human being, I wondered how her mom and dad felt. And also, how does God feel about her? Her parents got to see the different phases of her growth, especially her mother, as her parents separated before she was even born. But her father stayed an active part of her life, although he lived hundreds of miles away. Yet more than her mother and father, God was and is present in her life on a micro level which defies reason.

God is so invested in this young lady, so much so, that He bargained away the life of His Son on the chance that this young lady would be as interested in Him as He was in Her. God placed His “money where His mouth is” when He took the most valuable treasure heaven had to offer “The Creator God” according to John 1:1-3 and offered Him up per John 3:16 so that if this young lady desired the opportunity to live in love for eternity, she would have every chance to do so.

I know her mother, who was mostly a single parent due to the distance, sacrificed and did everything she could that was in her power to raise this woman. But what God sacrificed is mind-blowing. God sacrificed the life of God for a young woman who wasn’t even born yet when the decision was made: the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.” Revelation 13:8.

Before the world was made, before we had this opening line in scripture: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1, there was Revelation 13:8. Here’s a poor analogy: Parents who save for their children’s college tuition before they have children, on the off chance that they might have children and if they wanted to go to college the money would have already been available. But the money is not “cashed” or taken out until a specific time.

Before that young woman sat before me, before she graduated high school, before she said her first words or took her first step, before that baby girl took her first breath, her salvation account had been set up by God before He said: “Let there be light,” and there was light.” Genesis 1:3.

The thing is that God is that invested in every single one of us: The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. But what if we choose not to cash in that “Salvation check” that had been set up on our behalf before the worlds were formed? What if we reject the gift of eternal life? What then? What if we choose not to come to repentance or the Greek word metanoian – which means a change or redirection of one’s thinking. The verse tells us that if we don’t choose His salvation and repent that our alternative is to perish or to never exist again.

To be as we never were. That would be a definite shame since before you ever were a figment of your parent’s imagination, you were on God’s mind. As we close in on this year, we are also closing in on our probationary period or the waiting period where God’s patience is being exercised not wanting anyone to perish but that everyone who desires will have a change of mind and decide to live a life in love, for all eternity.

The next verse explains what it will look like for those who refused to take God up on His offer: But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.” 2 Peter 3:10. A thief catches people off, guard. And those who walked away from God’s call to repentance will be just that, caught off guard. Because God is too good to allow this pain and devastation in this world to carry on forever. He’ll soon come, and as the verse states it’ll be loud “with a roar.” But before that happens He calls out to you in a persistent voice: while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:15.

He gives out a strong warning. After all, He has invested EVERYTHING into you because He loves you. They’re 9 days left of this year. I have no idea how much time is left on probation before Jesus comes back. But in a blink of an eye time has a weird trick of passing us by. Don’t miss the opportunity to sit across Jesus at His dinner table where He says: For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” Luke 22:16,18. Believe it or not, the fulfillment of the kingdom of God coming is soon. Don’t wait until it’s too late to come to dinner.

Day 354

Your perspective sets the perimeter for your interactions in this life. Today I heard a sermon by a powerful young man. His power came from the richness of the text of scripture and by the enabling of the Holy Spirit. He discussed an event in Matthew 15 about the woman of Tyre also known as the Phoenician woman or the Canaanite woman. She doesn’t get her name recorded in the scriptures, but her faith was written down in the annals of time for all history.

We don’t know her name, but in the Hebrew mindset it might as well have been “Persistence.” You see the names given to the Hebrew people represented their character or lot in life. A famous example would be Jacob. His birth story is recorded as him grabbing the heel of his brother while still in the womb. For that, he was called “Deceiver” or “Trickster” or Jacob. He was branded untrustworthy from birth. So he lived up to his preconceived reputation. But when God got a hold of him in Genesis 32 his name changed from “One who deceives” to “One who overcomes.”

This woman was from a region that was detestable in the eyes of the Jews. Her entire nation was one that they looked down upon, one that they would avoid at all costs. I’m sure she was used to being called all sorts of names. She probably didn’t have a man in her life, because she was the one chasing Jesus down the street. Making a fool of herself before the King.

It says that she begged Him, crying out to Him making a scene. She had to do whatever it took to get the attention of the One she called “O Lord, Son of David.” That name means Master, Messiah. While Master or Lord is a general name for a leader, the phrase “Son of David” is strictly Jewish terminology. And when He answered her, He fed into her knowledge of who she knew He was: I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Matthew 15:24.

Israel as a nation was created from the backs of slaves. Those who were called terrible names by other masters who suppressed their freedoms and oppressed them. God set them free and then called them to be a light to the rest of the world, but they lost their calling, they forgot their name.

And the fact that Jesus said “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” yet the scripture says He went out of His way to this specific place, should cause us to stop and think for a minute. There is more than meets the eye. Jesus who was in step with the Holy Spirit was directed to go to where she found Him: And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.” Matthew 15:21.

Why go somewhere if you don’t care for the people, place, or priorities of those who live there? He went there so she could find Him. I wonder, how many different places has Jesus gone so that we could find Him? Sometimes we find ourselves stuck between a rock and a hard place. Or shattered and broken we realized that we have hit rock bottom. I want you to know that Jesus is there. Waiting for you. And maybe others might not know your situation or your name, but He does.

No, the Bible does not record her name, but her name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. All because she dared cried out to the Master, to the Messiah, to the One named Jesus: you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. Who exactly were the “His people?” According to Luke 3:23-38, the complete genealogy of Jesus includes the first man, Adam.

So “His people” are you and me, the Israelites and the Canaanite woman. He came to die for us all to set us all free. And when we had messed up as a people and sinned, He came down to the Garden and called out to Adam who represents all of us. And made Himself available.

I may not know your name, and we may never meet on this side of the Jordan. But He knows your name, He knows your situation and He will make Himself available to you. There isn’t a territory He wouldn’t cross over to save you. If He did it for a woman who He “happen to just meet”, what do you think He’ll do for you who He says: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart…” Jeremiah 1:5.

There isn’t a place you can go where He can’t find you. David knew that: If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.” Psalm 139:8. So don’t be ashamed to cry out to Him to tell Him what your soul so desperately desires. Because Jesus is walking in your neighborhood, wanting to be found by you.

Day 349

I almost didn’t write tonight. Not because I didn’t want to or had nothing to say. But because I almost died. As I was taking my daily walk I came face to face with my finite end. But God worked it out for some purpose that I have no idea what it could be, that I would be alive right now, to write to you. You see as I was crossing the crosswalk a white man wearing a pink shirt in a silver SUV was on his phone making a left turn. I had the right of way, because the little person on the monitor in front of me turned on and told me to walk, so I did. Not even a quarter the way through had I walked before the man slammed on his breaks and looked up on me in shock. You see his eyes were on his phone not the road. He rolled his window down and said “I’m so sorry.” I put my hand up and told him “It’s okay.” But was I okay?

I remembered all the details around my almost end. This is why I was able to describe the man and his vehicle. There was no “my life flashed before my eyes” moment. I wasn’t scared, just disappointed. Disappointed in myself that my almost final moments weren’t focused on Jesus.

When Peter began to sink in the sea of Galilee his downfall was because he took his eyes off of Jesus. But Jesus reached out and saved him. Like He saved me today. Jesus had plans for Peter, plans that would shake the foundations of the entire world Plans to spread the gospel to those who so desperately need it (just in case you haven’t been paying attention, that’s every living person). Is this what God has called me to do as well?

In Revelation 14 God sends out messengers, 3 specific ones to warn everyone that time will not last forever, BUT if we wanted to last forever, we should begin a relationship with the One who is FOREVER: Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.” Psalm 90:2.

You see that verse brings us back to creation: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. And that is what the 1st message states in Revelation 14: Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.” Revelation 14:6-7.

This message of respecting God who is the CREATOR and is due glory and recognition for that, is also the JUDGE. In Daniel chapter 7 there is a magnificent scene that is displayed:
“I kept looking
Until thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days (God) took His seat;
His garment was white as snow
And the hair of His head like pure wool.
His throne was flames of fire;
Its wheels were a burning fire.
“A river of fire was flowing
And coming out from before Him;
A thousand thousands were attending Him,
And ten thousand times ten thousand were standing before Him;
The court was seated,
And the books were opened.” Daniel 7:9-10.

You see that God took His seat, as judge. In our courtroom today, what happens when a judge takes their seat, that means that “court is in session.” The final verse says that the court was seated and that the books were opened. What books? There are different books mentioned in the Bible, which is a discussion for an awesome Bible study. But for our purpose, you want your name written in ONE book for sure, and that is what is called the Lamb’s book of life: And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.” Revelation 13:8.

We know that Jesus is the “Lamb” as mentioned by John the Baptist in John 1:29. And in John 3:16 Jesus told us that He was come to die for the sins of us all so that we could have everlasting life. But if you reject His gift of salvation, He WILL NOT force you to be with Him forever. Only those who want to live in love will have their names written in the “Lamb’s book of Life.”

Moses knew about this: Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin…. But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.” Exodus 32:32. This is Moses pleading with God to erase his name from the Lamb’s book of Life if God couldn’t forgive the sins of the Israelites.

God is all about forgiving, so He forgave them and Moses’ name remained in the Book of Life. My question is: Has your name been written there? I pray it has been. But if not, let my near death experience be a wake up call that the Judge is seated and He is going through the books. It won’t be long until He’s turned the last page. Then, essentially, time will be up.

If you hear Him calling out to you, don’t walk away, instead go towards Him, because you never know when it will be your final curtain call. And wouldn’t you want to live forever in love?

Day 346

There are 20 days left of 2020. What will you tell those who did not experience this year, this time in history? Those who will grow up thinking that mask-wearing has always been the way life was. Even though I have come to normalize, in my mind at least, that we are a society where our facial expressions are constantly hidden, I still miss seeing people’s faces.

I enjoy people watching. I like wondering where they have been and where they are going. I don’t mind making eye contact with people that I don’t know. I view it as a challenge to see how many people will look me eye to eye. But, if it’s someone that I have a crush on…You couldn’t pay me enough money to gaze into their eyes.

I’ve often wondered why is that? Recently during my “Mental Health Checks” I discovered that intimacy is frightening to me. Not because I don’t want to be close to someone, but that I will be rejected by them. That fear of rejection has kept me up many nights thinking “what if.”

Believe it or not, God also had a concern that people would reject Him and refuse to enter into a covenant faithful and intimate relationship with Him. To think that God would be concerned with people rejecting Him is almost otherworldly to me.

I mean He is GOD! If someone doesn’t want to be in a relationship with you, their loss, right? After all: In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” John 1:4. Being without God is equivalent to being without life and light. But the Bible tells us that men prefer darkness: And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19.

What’s insane is that Jesus had just explained that God loved humanity more than Himself and had chosen to be in an intimate covenant relationship that He extends to us (John 3:16). But when He offered His hand and tried to look us in the eye, we rejected Him.

The same way Adam and Eve rejected Him when they ran from His presence (Genesis 3). The rest of us run from Him too. But it’s because like our first parents we have a misunderstanding of the character of God. We think that He is here to punish us for what we do wrong, not to correct us to live full lives.

I can’t imagine Adam and Eve trying to explain to their great-great-great-grandchildren what life was like before the pandemic of sin had swept through the world. For those generations to try and picture what life was like before sin, it’s unimaginable for us even now.

But just like they shared their stories, we must share ours. In sharing our story we become more comfortable in being in a covenantal relationship with God, and our intimacy grows more and more each day. God has the ultimate plan where we will finally see each other face to face (Revelation 22:4). Until then, I’m glad He does more than just people watch, He gets involved in our lives because He loves us and created us to receive and give love. And that’s what strengthens bonds and eradicates chiasms in relationships.

After I get past the crush phase, I enjoy gazing into the eyes of the person I am growing in a relationship with. Because they have given me enough assurance that they want to get to know me and be in my presence. And that gives me the confidence to open up a little more until I am a full-blown open blossom in the garden of Life and Love.

God wants you in His garden. He wants to get you through the awkward phase of where you don’t know if you can trust Him with your heart, and into the most beautiful and fulfilling aspects of your life, being in covenant with Him. And it only starts with saying yes to Him now.

Day 344

I have a condition. I’m not sure what it’s called, and I’ve never looked up the symptoms before. It is something that I have had my entire life. I know this because my mother shared something with me a few months ago about my childhood after I had fainted. I pass out from the lack of oxygen coming into my brain. To be fair anyone would. But this happens to me when I laugh. Not any form of laughter, but gut laughter. It only takes a minute or two and then I get lightheaded, see spots, then black. I’ve only fallen on the floor about twice. But my mother told me when I was younger I would start to cry and then fall over. She thought I was throwing a tantrum. But the truth was, I was lacking one of the most essential components to live.

I went decades without knowing that this was a problem. I was ignorant of my physical limitations. I now know when I am in a situation where laughter may cut off my oxygen I look for a place to sit down. Because the last time I fell I hit the laminated floor hard. I ended up bruising a few ribs, my wrist, and my face. So now I’m more careful.

In the book of Acts, in chapter 17 Paul is sharing the gospel of salvation which He states that He is NOT ashamed of (Romans 1:16). But he’s sharing the good news of a Savior, the Messiah, Christ, with people who do not know anything about the “Jewish” story of salvation. These individuals were called Gentiles by the Jews, but they were just known as Greeks to each other. And Paul had a calling on His life to share the truth of salvation with the world: But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:15.

Paul, who was previously known as Saul, had plans for his own life. Plans that were leading him in direct opposition to Life, Jesus: As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ]; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?” And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” Acts 9:3-5.

Paul was going 100 miles full speed in the wrong direction. The Bible tells us that this is not a one-off, isolated situation that occurred with Saul/Paul, but that this is human nature: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 14:12. Now, when Paul did not know better, God did not hold him accountable for what he did not know. But when he came in contact with the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6), he had a choice to make. Continue living life as he was, or make the changes needed to redirect his steps.

Paul chooses the latter. To redirect his steps from the path of eternal death and focus his walk towards eternal life. And on this new journey, he was called to share the life-giving word of God with all those with who he came in contact. So this takes us to the Greeks. Paul is sharing the story of creation with them. About the ONE true God, the creator of heaven and earth.

While he speaks, they listen. And Paul tells them that the love of God incorporates both justice and mercy. They are different sides of one currency, Love. He tells them about this LOVE who died for them, is also calling them into a relationship with Him. And all of this might be new, and God gets it. But then Paul tells them this: Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination. Although God [winks] overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:29-30.

When we finally hear the voice of God, we have 2 choices. The first one is to ignore it and continue down the path which leads to death. The second is to repent. The Greek word used there is metanoeó, which means to change your thinking. Maybe you didn’t know that the things you were doing in your life were hurtful for you and towards others. But when you hear God’s voice He expects you to do better when you know better.

Because once you find out the dangers, as I did with my lack of oxygen, why wouldn’t you change your mindset to do better so you can be better and feel better.

Day 339

Today God told me that He loved me. I have been feeling emotionally under the weather. I’d like to say that I can’t quite place my finger on it. But the truth is, I know exactly what has been bothering my spirit. I am struggling to be positive and happy for others. Now, please don’t misunderstand me, I’m usually the person that people call when they want to discuss and celebrate good news. Because I’m a great cheerleader. I enjoy uplifting and celebrating others, it brings me great joy. But lately, it has been a struggle and such an effort to just smile for someone.

I wondered if I was depressed. I didn’t want to say it loud because maybe it would be true. But there are days that I don’t want to eat or get out of bed, and the things that used to give me pleasure, I’m not into them right now. And I feel so terrible feeling this way. Because people are experiencing such traumatic occurrences in their lives, there’s still a pandemic raging, families are struggling during “the most wonderful time of the year.” And I’m melancholic over the happiness of others.

As a Christian, I feel like that’s a terrible place to be. With Jesus final unmolested moments with His disciples before His death, He said the following: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35.

There, in black and white (well red in my Bible) Jesus tells us that our command from God is that we love each other the way that He loves us. This is the way that people will know that we belong to Him. So my current internal behavior does not reflect the calling God has placed on my life, and I feel terrible about that too.

I keep smiling and try to muster enthusiasm for all the people around me who are struggling to capture moments of joy in this new normal. I ask Jesus to help me show His love because I can’t do it on my own. But then I feel like at times that maybe He’s forgotten me. But then I shake my head and recall what He said: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!” Isiah 49:15.

But I still am feeling like the 5th wheel in a car. You know, the small one that’s in your trunk that is forgotten until you need it for a few miles, and then when you get a regular size tire, you toss it in the back again to be covered in darkness until it receives a moment to shine once more.

I’m almost 40 and the last boyfriend I had was in another century. In the last 3 months, I have been surrounded by 7 different couple wedding talks. I’m invited to all 7 of the weddings and am a maid-of-honor in one of them. I am grateful that these people have thought enough of me to invite me to the most important day of their lives. I just can’t help feeling left behind.

Kids that I used to babysit are inviting me to their weddings. At the last wedding I attended, I arranged the seating charts, as I was helping organize it, so I wouldn’t be sitting by myself with the elders. The single table was already full with 20 somethings, and everyone my age was either there with their spouse or children. Once again I found myself alone.

My once single friends are all now couples, and they do “couple” activities. One friend who is getting married told me that her mother and I were her only single friends. How wonderful. I am not angry nor jealous, just feeling overwhelmed that my love life is underwhelming.

And so this was how I was feeling when I made my way to the store this afternoon. As I walked past the front entrance I took a quick look to my left where the fresh flowers were located. I love fresh flowers. They were not on my list for this quick afternoon grocery run, but I glanced at them for just a moment.

And there, right in front of me were a few stems of my favorite flower, peony. I was shocked. Not because they were so bright, bold, and beautiful, but that they were out of season. Peonies grow in late spring and early summer. The best time to plant them is in the fall, no one is expecting peonies in December where I am from. But there they were, beautiful and waiting for me to take them home.

I knew at that moment that the God who runs the universe, who gave His life up for me, had not forgotten me. He sent me those flowers to show me that I am loved. Even when I can’t feel it or feel overwhelmed, that He loves me. And for that I am eternally grateful, and pray that wherever He plants me, I will blossom and flourish. Even if it means being happy for everyone else in the middle of the busiest wedding season I have ever been a part of. I’m just a late bloomer.

Day 338

I feel violated. While I was asleep last night, someone was breaking into one of my accounts. They requested that my funds be transferred to their account! And when I looked at my account it said $0.00. I contacted the company right away and told them that a HUGE ERROR had occurred. The system on its own knew something was off-kilter because they sent me an email around 4 in the morning to tell me that I had tried too many times to access my account with the wrong password and that they had locked my account. But not before transferring my money to SOMEONE ELSE! I received a response requesting 24 hours to find out what happened. I know what happened, I got robbed! This entire waiting 24 hours is utterly annoying. I want this fixed immediately. I need someone to address this problem and tell me that they will get my money back.

What if God had waited 24 hours for Adam and Eve to live in uncertainty after they had sinned? What if He had sent an angel, a messenger, to tell them “I see you’re in a bind. Please give me 24 hours to figure this out. And we’ll get back to you.” Those two giant sobbing adults would have been cowering in fear for over a day. The stress that they would have gone through is unimaginable. I think it probably would have killed them: “There are a number of ways chronic stress can kill you,” says [Dr.] Aldwin. That includes increased levels of cortisol, often referred to as the stress hormone.” (NPR.org).

We know that they were stressed and afraid, because when God did come (immediately by the way. He didn’t wait for a 24 hour period to address their concern, which was life or death) He found them like this: Then the eyes of the two of them were opened [that is, their awareness increased], and they knew that they were naked, and they fastened fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool [afternoon breeze] of the day, so the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 
But the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” Genesis 3:7-10.

This story shouldn’t be new to you if you’ve read anything that I have put out in the last 12 months. I started with Genesis, and to be honest I’ll probably end up ending there as well. You see without this story, we have no foundation no starting point as to why we are here and what the hell happened.

Let’s not pretend. Life is a cluster mess. Why do the innocent suffer? Why are babies born addicted to drugs and alcohol? Why do babies die before they have had a chance to live? Why does the criminal justice system go easy on rapists (Slate.com/news and politics)? But the federal government oppresses minorities for a profit (Smithsonian Magazine)? Why do we live in a world where people will record atrocities happening instead of helping end it (Boston Magazine)?

All these questions and more exist that for the life of me I still don’t understand. But I know why they occur. It’s because sin had entered the world: When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” Romans 5:12. And like an uncontrollable virus sin tore through our world in such rapid speed, the first child born, Cain, became a murder because he was jealous that someone did right and was acknowledged, and he wasn’t. But he purposefully chooses not to follow the rules, and then you kill someone because they did? How freakishly insane is that?

But that is the world that we live in. And without the beginning, without the origin, the Genesis of it all, we’d have NO idea as to why we are here: And God saw that it [the earth] was good. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” Genesis 1:25-26.

We’re here because the Family Unit known as Elohim created a good world and wanted beings who were made in His image [God is love (1 John 4:8)] to care for it and to give and receive love. To be filled with joy and to grow without restrictions, without pain, without fear. Because we know what fear means: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18.

Adam and Eve were terrified when they sinned, and they should have been. Because look at the mess that we’re in today! But God did not leave them in that state of mind. He came down to address the problem immediately. In fact, the last book of the Bible stated that He had a contingency plan in place just in case they wanted to live life outside of the Covenant (Revelation 13:8). But He created an escape. A way out of this hell hole, so we could finally be whole ourselves: And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” Luke 17:19. All it requires is for us to have faith in Him and believe what He said.

He said: Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me…I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1,3. Trust Him. He’s taking care of everything. He may not be here in 24 hours, but know that there isn’t a second that goes by that you’re not on His mind, so your mind can rest at ease.

Day 335

Finally, the autumn breeze catches up to where I live. It’s in the low 60s and I’ve waited for this temperature all year long. As the was sun setting, the temperature cools down even more. It’s the perfect time to walk my dog. I ask Lola if she wants to go out for a walk, and immediately she begins her pre-walk routine. She stretches out the front half of her body, and then the back half. Then she wags her tail in delight. This evening it was particularly bright outside. The moon was shining in all its’ glory or was it. Tonight the moon was huge, round, bright, and beautiful. And then I felt God whisper, that’s you.

In my hemisphere of the world, we have a Full Moon tonight. According to NASA, that’s just one of the moon’s eight phases. When the moon is in the full phase this is: When we have a full view of the completely illuminated side of the Moon, that phase is known as a full moon” (NASA Science). The moon shines its brightest during a full moon and that is when it is in a straight alignment with the earth and the sun (Live Science).

Did you know that the moon also has over 5,000 craters or holes on its surface, but to the naked eye, it looks like the smoothest, most perfect marble you’ve ever seen. And that: because its surface reflects light from the sun…[the moon] sometimes seems to shine very brightly…reflects only between 3 and 12 percent of the sunlight that hits it” (Live Science). 

Now maybe you knew all these facts about the moon, maybe you didn’t. But did you know these facts apply to an individual created in the image of God? Let’s start with the fact that the moon cannot give light on its’ own. That it can only reflect what it is exposed to. When the sun gives off its’ light, the rays are reflected on the surface of the moon.

We have no ability to provide light to others or for ourselves. It is God who is the Light: Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12. The very One who said “Let there be light” has declared that same promise to us today.

And it is when we are in alignment, in His will that we are able to shine the brightest. When the moon is not at 180 straight lines with the sun, it only reflects part of the sun’s brightness. But when it is aligned it shines so bright, that the darkness cannot overcome it. So with us being aligned in the will of God, the darkness will not be able to overcome us: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5.

The thousands of craters on the moon are these terribly ragged dips and holes that are littered and scattered all over the surface of the moon. They are harsh and unattractive. But from a distance, when the sun is shining on that very broken looking surface, it looks like a perfectly round and smooth orb of light. That is what Jesus does for us. He shines His light on us, and what everyone sees is the love of God reflecting on our lives, not the terrible craters in our lives.

Jesus tells us in Isaiah: For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19.

God desires to make a new thing happen in your life. Don’t worry about the imperfections, because we could never fully get ourselves to be perfect. But we can be perfected in His love through His sacrifice: For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14.

Sanctification just means being made perfect in His love through a daily process. And during this process, maybe we’ll have days like the New Moon phase where it seems completely dark. Or maybe we’ll have a Waning Crescent phase, where only a sliver of light is seen reflected off of us. But no matter where we are in our process, in our walk with God, He is ever constant and more faithful than the sun, which rises and sets every day.

Next time you look up and see the moon, know that your Heavenly Father loves you to the moon and back, and beyond.