Patrick

As I was getting out of my car on Good Friday, a man approached me, "Miss, do you have any spare change so I could get something to eat, miss? I understand if you're strapped for money or don't have any to spare. Just thought I'd ask." His speech was slurred and he couldn't walk a straight line. He tripped and almost fell as he walked nearer. "Sorry, miss, I haven't slept in a long time. And I've smoked a lot of

pot today." The smell of alcohol wafted from his breath.

I had a measly two bucks, which I handed to him. I have no idea if he bought food with it, but it doesn't really matter. As I talked with him, I could almost hear the Lord saying, "Brianna, this is Me." Matthew 25: 40 "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, My brethren, you did it to Me." We ended up talking about the Lord, about His amazing love. I felt overwhelmed by my own selfishness. If Patrick hadn't approached me, I don't think I would have seen him. I wonder how often I miss out on encounters such as these because I am simply absorbed in my own world.

This year I have become more aware and thankful of what Christ did for us then ever before. Do you ever think about the Cross and feel as if you're seeing Him for the first time? Like you hear His call for the first time, to come and follow? Oh Lord, let me not forget again. Take this life of mine and use it for Your glory.

He gives us beauty for ashes

On Thursday of last week, a twenty-four year old man massacred an elementary school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He killed twelve children - lined them up facing a wall and shot them in the back of the head, one by one. He injured twelve others. Innocent lives, snuffed out. I can’t help but think of the kids I met in the short time I spent in Rio 18 months ago, whose young lives were already riddled with tragedy and difficulty. My heart aches.

Life is hard. Often filled with pain, heartache, death, separation, and tears. Satan, the father of lies, tries to convince us to buy into counterfeit things. We become distracted by what this world has to offer – cheap imitations of true life, joy, and peace. As I read through Philippians, I’m reminded that this world is truly not our home. We were created for something better than this.

Revelation 21:1-4 “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Praise God! Oh what we have to look forward to! Lord, save me from becoming distracted with anything but You. For to me to live is Christ, to die is gain. You are life, You are hope, You are the only Way.

Post-Mexico Thoughts

"If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?" David Livingstone

One morning in Mexico, a few of us got up early and went jogging through the Mexican country hillside. The sun was barely peaking over the horizon and the moon was high in the sky. A few stars were left scattered in the dawn. It was cool and crisp and the air felt pink (do you know what I mean?). We ran on an old dirt hill, alongside some vineyards. There were no cars around. Only the sound of dogs barking, birds chirping, and the thud, thud of our feet hitting the ground.

It was difficult to see where we were going. The road was littered with potholes and mud puddles. By the time we turned around the horizon looked on fire as the sun came up, a ribbon at a time. I was amazed at how bright it seemed, just by the act of turning around and facing the sun.

Oh how similar our lives are to that. As we put our back to the Son (Jesus) and try to go our own way, it's nearly impossible to see where we're going. Potholes and pitfalls are scattered all around us, causing us to trip and fall and lose our way. But when we turn around and run towards to Son, the path is lit before us (Psalm 119:105 "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."). The road doesn't become perfect and smooth, but we can see clearly to avoid the potholes. We have direction and clarity.