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I have Good News!

From dope dealer — to hope dealer.
From foolish youth — to following truth.
From selfish thief — to generous provider.
From defeated victim mindset — to grateful receiver of victory.
From mad at life not going my way — to grateful for the even the challenges, suffering and loss.
From afraid of the possibilities — to in awe of the reality.
From a finger pointed at “they” — to outstretched arms welcoming “all of us”.
From chasing the next desire — to being surrounded by the most precious treasures of life.
From valuing what is worthless and harmful in this world — to appreciating every truly good gift that comes from God.
From hating God — to loving Him so dearly.

Yes, the Saviour of the World has been here, and His Kingdom is marching forward in power.

Can you open your ears to hear us praising the name of Jesus?

Can you look past the imperfections to see us beginning to come alive and live and love in a beautiful, selfless way?

Have you felt the warmth of a stranger who was a kind good neighbor to you?

Have you reached out wanting to taste for yourself the living water and know that God is good?

Today, I will seek Him out like a good bloodhound on a trail in mountains — will you seek Him today?

May we find what we need — not just get what we want. Amen.

‭Isaiah 61:1-11 NLT‬
[1] The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. [2] He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. [3] To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. [4] They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations. [5] Foreigners will be your servants. They will feed your flocks and plow your fields and tend your vineyards. [6] You will be called priests of the Lord, ministers of our God. You will feed on the treasures of the nations and boast in their riches. [7] Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. [8] “For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. [9] Their descendants will be recognized and honored among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed.” [10] I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels. [11] The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.

https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.61.1-11.NLT

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Why do I pray?

I have to say that it’s very challenging knowing the hurt and pain and struggle that some are going through and have gone through. It’s hard wanting to make sense of the “why” behind a lovely and kind person ending up with alzheimers and dementia, or a parent losing a child, or a young child with a painful chronic disease, or a brutal and senseless murder, or ongoing child/domestic abuse, a beloved spouse getting a scary diagnosis, etc.

This world can be so ugly and painful in ways where I have no ability to fix it or make sense of it personally. But He encourages me to pray constantly (1 Thess 5:17), and in every situation (Phil 4:6). Jesus modeled intentional prayer for us (Mark 1:35), and promises that the Father gives good gifts to those who ask (Matt 7:11). The best gifts are not shallow or selfish, like money or fulfilled desires — but are things like unexplainable peace that washes over someone in deep turmoil and grief, patience to endure burdens heavier than we could bear on our own, kindness to see others in pain and seek how we might lighten their load or encourage them, faithfulness to hold out hope even when we can’t yet see the victory, self-discipline to stick to it even when it feels like it’s useless and meaningless.

I used to not think much about anybody other than myself (in fact, I’m still like that when I let myself run on “default settings”). But I have made this miraculous claim (that I fully believe, and that I believe my life over time begins to reveal more and more) — that Christ lives in me, and that I am being conformed more and more into His image.

It is such a miraculous claim that seems so egotistical and absurd (that the God of all time and creation would even know of me, care about me, and choose to save and use me) that you would think that I would have to be the biggest narcissist and judgemental religious bigot to make such a wild claim — yet, it instead humbles me horribly.

When I see someone living cleaner than me that makes no such claim of being powered by the Holy Spirit of the Living God — it leads me to deep repentance where I must rely on God as my strength to wash me and to heal yet another part of my heart (that has been working against myself and against yall and against His beautiful will). When I see someone making the same foolish mistakes I have made myself, it inspires me to not just see an enemy who had hurt me or others, but to remember that through the cross and risen Savior I am seeing the same victory that they too need — that we are not at different levels of need or of worthiness or of glory — that we have all fallen short of the glory of God.

Thank you so much when you encourage me, my friends. I just have to say 100% that you seeing any good in me doesn’t make me feel better about me, it just puts me in more awe of how the Father will turn ashes into beauty, mourning into gladness, despair into praise (Isaiah 61:3).

We all need to be prayed for, and we all need the act of prayer to do its work within us — to draw us closer to the Father and to His will. Amen.