Things I Think…
I’ve shed more than a few tears over the last 48 hours.
Like many of you I’m already emotionally exhausted from the pandemic and the horrible division that has gripped this country in a vise.
Miss Kitty took quite ill and I’m not feeling so hot myself.
The division visited here and took root and decades long friends forgot that a human they once loved was on the other side of the screen.
I was not without sin in these exchanges.
It might make a man want to go to church, if the church were still functional…but it looks a lot like this site.
Things look terribly dark to me.
I’m seeing correctly.
Things are dark.
What a perfect setting for the Advent season.
I’ve never been big on eschatology before…but now I’m truly waiting for the return of Christ.
Short of that, I’m waiting on His provision…waiting for an end to the pandemic, an end to our social and political strife, an end to mitigations without compensation that will leave so many hopeless after the virus is tamed, an end to the love of many growing cold.
Waiting…for His Spirit to fall in power, because our spirits are weak and broken.
We wait, but we have a secret…it won’t always be this way.
Advent is about waiting in the dark…but we know the Light is coming.
May He find us faithful when He arrives…I don’t have to wait to act like I know Him…
“I don’t have to wait to act like I know Him…”
Amen!
Sorry for your loss of friends over the election. You have been the most generous, rational and measured blogger I’ve seen anywhere.
It is dark. Actually right now, I’m looking at it snow and thinking of Narnia. Kept in the cold for so long by the witch’s curse. But…the Lion is on the move. He will break the curse of perpetual winter and darkness and cause His light to shine in the darkness.
Isaiah 9
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon[d] his shoulder,
and his name shall be called[e]
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Amen. Come, Lord Messiah. Come.
Thank you, Jean
Good word, Mike…
yes, it feels like the body blows just keep coming. These events help me see myself more clearly (I’m a hot mess) and clarify what love and hope truly are and mean. The sifting and sorting continues…
May you find a measure of comfort and strength for each moment. Blessings my friend.
fil,
I’m grateful you’re still here.
I too am a hot mess…I just don’t keep it to myself… 🙂
I hear you, Michael.
Lately, just waking up in the morning leaves me wondering why I’m still alive.
Just sat down from shoveling s path from the front door, down the drive to the mailbox – my theory is that a series of small shovels full is better than waiting to do it all at once after the storm passes….
Saying good bye to faithful pets, however, may be better in one moment in time….
So many things just aren’t under our control and i pray that God gives us all the strength to go through them
Amen to Isaiah 9… Must be a selah and a hallelujah in there somewhere… 🙆
God keep you, Michael, God keep
CK,
We’re here to clean up the mess…and we need you.
Thanks Michael. Bless you, my friend.
I don’t think anyone here wants to discuss things of God, theology or church life.
Sunday I posted on Open Blogging about Advent referencing a hymn we sang composed by Ambrose of Milan and no one commented or followed up (and folks aren’t obligated to do so) – but the next 50 comments were about politics and the Jericho March etc.
MLD, if my life was not centered on the things of God, I’d be a nonfunctional basket case…. Sadly, our doctrines don’t always agree. That may make the discussions here a bit awkward? Dunno
We had to say goodbye to my son’s cat, Misty, about a week ago. She had heart failure and we had to do what was best for her. My son cried desperate tears for her. She was his girl for half of his life. I have been the last human that most of our pets have seen, and it tears me up every time I have to take them for their last visit to the vet. I always stay with them, so they know that we loved them.
This has been a year of brutal loses on so many fronts.
One of my long time best friends will no longer communicate with me. He was never political until now. I’ve studied political history all my adult life, and have never taken someone’s disagreements with me as personal. I still don’t, but now it seems that every disagreement is personal and cataclysmic. As long as folks keep seeing everyone who has a difference of opinion as an enemy, it will just keep boiling.
DavidH,
My condolences to you and your son and wife over the loss of Misty…it is brutal indeed.
Miss Kitty is still hanging on…and so am I…
A good, old friend has lost two brothers to the virus in as many weeks…what do you say? I told her I would pray for her, and I am. This post reminds me that Jesus came. Every Christmas points us to His first advent, and to His second, as He promised to return. Meanwhile, HIs presence is with us, and even more so if we take time to spend with Him.
So far I have had two students test positive for COVID. Fortunately, our district is staying virtual for the rest of the school year. San Bernardino County is a major hot spot right now. Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (county hospital) is at capacity for ICU beds. We are just hiding out and laying low. My son, Caleb, is still going to work. He’s an essential worker (courtesy clerk/checker) at a grocery store. He’s got a lot of stories about how nasty people can be. He’s been yelled at for the store running out of toilet paper, and paper towels.
On a happy note…it looks like MacKenzie Scott, who’s rich beyond compare, is busy unloading her fortune. So far this year she’s given away almost $6 billion.
Just shows that you can be wealthy and you don’t have to be a greedy, selfish bas*ard.
Good on her!
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-15/mackenzie-scott-gives-away-4-2-billion-within-four-months
Michael, my prayer for you for the past while now is that God will keep you, hold you and grant you peace…
And well said, Mike E – I do believe the lion is on the move.