Moments

  Mark 2: 1-4 And again He entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised the He was in the house And straightway many were gathered together, in so much that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and He preached the Word unto them.   It didn't take long before people were aware of Jesus in their midst.  Don't we wish it were that way now?  Word traveled fast.  The Word was back in town. And here is that word of immediacy again -"straightway"- many came together. This meeting didn't evolve - it happened.  They moved in on Jesus and the small house and He was in quickly ran out of room.   Nothing like company barging in without invitation or notice to make you a cranky host. Folks filled up the house and even crowded around the door.   In the midst of all this Jesus never got cranky, never lost focus of His calling. He did what He came for.  He saw what they lacked and He had what ...

They had traveled for probably a week or more, on foot or riding a donkey through tough terrain. She was in the last stage of pregnancy. Yet, when they arrived at their destination, there was no room at the inn for them to stay. The gift of love God was sending to earth was turned away, to be born in a stable. Everyone had been ordered to go to their hometown to be taxed, so the hotel business was booming. There was no room for the Savior to be born. However, the innkeeper did let them have the stable. At least that was someplace as crude as conditions might have been. But, all the rooms inside were already occupied. A law of physics says that two things can’t occupy the same space at the same time. The only way for the family of Jesus to have a room would have been if one of the guests would be removed from their room. Are my rooms all filled? Are yours? The Gift of Love comes to our doors daily asking for room. Does He find the rooms filled with the things of earth? ...

“My wife died you know?” The one-time British sailor squinted up at me through ninety year old eyes as if to see if I were going to listen before he went on. There was pain and need in those eyes. “She was beautiful too; pretty as a picture; pretty as a picture, and played the piano like an angel. Sixty years we been together. She was beautiful. Played the piano like an angel. I miss her you know. I got nobody now. People don’t care about old folks like me. They don’t even seem to see me. It’s like I am some kinda piece of garbage or something cause I’m old and worthless now. I miss her you know. She was beautiful. Played the piano like an angel.” I am not too far from old and worthless myself. Some say I am already worthless. And for all the times I have gutted out races; all the times I have raised my arms in joy at some finish line, for all the awards I have won and all my other moments of accomplishments, projects completed, gardens raised, pastures mowed; de...

Standing at the edge of the lake, waiting for the event to begin, I humbly ask your blessing that Your plans and purposes for my effort be lived out in me today, for Your Glory. May I fear not to enter the waters cold, or to climb the steep hills of the course. Help me to remember that I am "beautifully and wonderfully" made, and you have placed all I need within me. Give me courage to step out in faith: to try more, to risk more, to care more, to be more than I am now, that I may grow toward all you would have me be. And when I push beyond myself, when my steps grow weary toward despair, continue to carry me on, that I might finish this race with grateful humility. In Jesus' Name---Amen