This is the time of year when the temperature drops to below half of what it was in the summer around here, there is a little more need for comforts like hot beverages and sweaters and blankets and good hot meals with comfort food. None are so satisfying as meals like thanksgiving and a piece of your favorite pie and a good cup of coffee with a friend.
In my adult life I have come to believe that every time I participate in something like a great meal with people I love or a good cup of coffee and a piece of pie with someone who loves me back that all of it is there because there is someone else who loves us all and gives us these good things because He is good. Whenever I look at the setting sun or enjoy a walk or a talk I know that He is there too and He is saying "I love you" with that good gift. When you see a shooting star or a rainbow or hear a great piece of music He is there speaking through it and telling you that you were made for more than what's in front of you.
As the temperature in the world drops, and we see from the news that things are getting colder, we need some comfort food today for the soul.
Jesus predicted in Matthew chapter 24 that the love of many would grow cold and men would fall away from what is right. While we Christ followers are not callous to the news we are not surprised because He said that all of the dark headlines around us would happen.
And I was thinking about today and praying about it and I wondered what would Jesus say over pumpkin pie this year. And the Words of Jesus from John 14 popped into my conscious mind and I knew I had my answer.
"Take Your eyes off the News."
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and so trust in me. I Am here. I am God revealed in the flesh. I am God in human skin. I have walked where you walk. I have held the hand of the hurting and I have confronted death and walked through it all the way to its defeat. I beat it. I am stronger. For I am Love itself.
When everything is ready I will appear and you will see me with your own eyes and your faith, though right now it may be small, will be made sight. Your leap of faith into the mysteries of life will end up with you safely landing in my unbreakable hands and unfailing love. Everyone who wants a place in an eternal, never-ending life will find it in me.
And the way to this indestructible life has always been right in front of you.
I AM the WAY when you don't know the way.
I AM the TRUTH you've been looking for.
I AM THE LIFE.
I Am even the LIFE that will one day permanently defeat death. I AM the LIFE that will put in You the undying life of God and save You from the futile efforts of a failing world.
I AM THE ROCK that you can build Your life on that will house you safely from the storms and the earthquakes and the ultimate shaking that will happen to this world when the bad is finally beaten out of this planet for good like the dust off an old carpet. When I burn away the impurities from this world in my fire of righteousness when I return you will remain unscathed.
You've been wondering where God is in the middle of world gone cold and dark. And today I am telling You that I AM here walking with the hurting. I AM shining through the lives of people all around you who run into the path of death and risk their lives to offer hands that heal and I am in the arms of an unconditional hug.
And in the Words of Amena Brown:
HE IS HERE
He is here - He’s right here - In this room, in your heart
He is near - Nearer than breath, heartbeat - Nearer than you are to you
Closer than second chance, or next opportunity - Closer than tonight or yesterday
He is real - More real than touch, see, hear, smell, or taste
More real than reality—he is our reality
More real than joy, pain, sorrow, or the love of being in love
He is present - Like space, wind, time, silence, night
He is waiting - Like creation, like words on the tip of tongue
Like songs that have yet to be sung
He is beauty - In oranges, blues, every hue, every shade - Sunset and sunrise whisper his name
He is holy - Cannot be touched, explained - Like sweet seconds of prayer
like grandmother on knees, wood floor bare
He is old hymns - The extending of limbs stretched across trees
Stripes to heal disease
He is Son - Distinctly three, distinctly one
The only one, the only wise, the only resurrector of lives
He is king - And no earthly throne can house him
No amount of elegant words can espouse him - He is moment and voice, power of choice
In word and deed, in fruit and seed - Nailed hands, nailed feet - Innocent wounds that bleed
He is belief - He is all, he is call and purpose
Everything we can sacrifice—he’s worth it and more, much more
Our good deeds are mere pennies, will never even the score
He is behold and wow - He is who, what, when, why, how
He’s the one who puts on the show - He’s the one that we come to see
He is soul’s cry and sinner’s plea - He is the epitome that no one light a candle to
Or come within a million foot pole of
He is above - He is a father’s love
Maker of ways, of earth and wind, Ancient of Days
Have no fear, have no fear, have no fear
Our God is here
He is here - He’s right here - In this room, in your heart
He is near - Nearer than breath, heartbeat - Nearer than you are to you
Closer than second chance, or next opportunity - Closer than tonight or yesterday
He is real - More real than touch, see, hear, smell, or taste
More real than reality—he is our reality
More real than joy, pain, sorrow, or the love of being in love
He is present - Like space, wind, time, silence, night
He is waiting - Like creation, like words on the tip of tongue
Like songs that have yet to be sung
He is beauty - In oranges, blues, every hue, every shade - Sunset and sunrise whisper his name
He is holy - Cannot be touched, explained - Like sweet seconds of prayer
like grandmother on knees, wood floor bare
He is old hymns - The extending of limbs stretched across trees
Stripes to heal disease
He is Son - Distinctly three, distinctly one
The only one, the only wise, the only resurrector of lives
He is king - And no earthly throne can house him
No amount of elegant words can espouse him - He is moment and voice, power of choice
In word and deed, in fruit and seed - Nailed hands, nailed feet - Innocent wounds that bleed
He is belief - He is all, he is call and purpose
Everything we can sacrifice—he’s worth it and more, much more
Our good deeds are mere pennies, will never even the score
He is behold and wow - He is who, what, when, why, how
He’s the one who puts on the show - He’s the one that we come to see
He is soul’s cry and sinner’s plea - He is the epitome that no one light a candle to
Or come within a million foot pole of
He is above - He is a father’s love
Maker of ways, of earth and wind, Ancient of Days
Have no fear, have no fear, have no fear
Our God is here
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