favor

Psalm 44:3b ...it was not their own strength that gave them victory. It was by Your mighty power that they succeeded; it was because You favored them & smiled on them.

This is good to remember when we spend all our waking moments putting together flashy programs or events, or being as cool & hip as anyone on the planet, or worship services with enough technology to run the space shuttle.

It all comes down to His favor - the smile of God.

That's it folks - it's all "wood, hay, & stubble" if God doesn't send us His favor & smile on what we're doing.

How do I know?

The last 18 months leading House of Grace Macon.

Everyone knows I'm not a speaker.

Everyone knows I not as glittering a leader as those who surround me

Everyone knows the deal.

For those 18 months I was determined to be surrendered to whatever. I was leaning completely on the favor of God (because I knew that's all I really had going for me.)

And He favored us, didn't He? He smiled on those 18 months together in the warehouse.

We saw lives changed, people show up, & a happiness & warmth develop in one of the least likely places in Macon - in a funky warehouse at the corner of Poplar & 5th.

Those were the finest, the greatest, the most thrilling months of my life in ministry - so far!

Thank You, Father for Your smile, for Your undeserved favor.Help us to seek it & to depend on it to be the driving force, the power in all we do.

things I'm remembering today

Heb 10: 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord,

no matter what happens.

Remember the great reward it brings you!

36 Patient endurance is what you need now,

so that you will continue to do God’s will.

Then you will receive all that He has promised.

Proverbs 3:5 in The Message. Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

don't try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God's voice in everything you do,

everywhere you go.

He's the One Who will keep you on track.

Pro 4:25 Look straight ahead,

and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;

stay on the safe path.

27 Don’t get sidetracked;

keep your feet from following evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 No matter what happens, always be thankful;

for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Psalm 42:5 Why am I discouraged? Why so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

I will praise Him again - my Savior & my God.

Matthew 10:39 ...don't cling to your life

Matthew 6:25 don't worry about your life.

Psalm 139:5a God both precedes & follows me

Colossians 2:7 Sink your roots deeply into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

moving forward

Sorry I haven't written in a couple of days. We FINALLY got Internet (and TV) at the farmhouse, so we feel like we're back in the 21st century! ;-)

Psalm 42:5 Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again - my Savior & my God.

Yeah, I've been a bit discouraged in the last few days. Why? No job. No prospect of a job.

I'm also feeling a bit isolated. This is not unusual. I've felt it before when I've moved. It's just that this time I'm moving 4 hours away from a bunch of sons & daughters as well as LOTS of people I care about.

Of course, the devil is whispering all kinds of crap, pointing out things to fear, and stuff like that.

I know I'll feel more connected here when I finally have relationships here. I know that God has everything under control. I know He precedes me & follows me (Psalm 139:5). I know that God wouldn't have brought us here without jobs, people, & venues for ministry for both Lynn & and me.

I know all that. Transition many times is stressful. I guess I'm feeling that this morning.

This IS the biggest step of faith Lynn or I have ever taken. We're at a level of trust that neither of us has ever been in with God.

One of the scripture sections God gave me for this year is Proverbs 3:5 in The Message. Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go. He's the One Who will keep you on track.

There's 3 things that pop out - 1) trust, 2) listen, 3) He's the One who will keep you

And lest we forget Hebrews 10:35, 36...

Heb 10: 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.

I know, I know - I shouldn't be discouraged.

I wonder how many times I've glibly said that to someone?

I know all I can do today is put one foot in front of the other. I know I can't cling to my life that I had before today. I know that I shouldn't worry about my life.

I know. I am. I will.

favor

2 Timothy 2:1 be strong in the special favor God gives you in Christ Jesus

Here's what my Life Application Bible says about this verse...

"How can someone be strong with special favor? That "special favor" refers to grace, God's undeserved favor on our behalf. Just as we are saved by God's special favor (Ephesians 2:8,9) we should live by it (Colossians 2:6).

"This means trusting completely in Christ & His power, & not trying to live for Christ in our own strength alone. Receive & utilize Christ's power. He will give you the strength to do His work.

How many decades did I live for Christ in my own strength?

As I'm starting out in Blairsville, it's SO easy to be like that. I'm trying to find a job right now. Yes, I know in my head that if God has purposed Lynn & I to be in Blairsville, He has a job for me. At the same time, I've also been busy actively looking for one.

And yes, I know all the things that are whispered inside my head is just the devil trying to distract me. I know what's going on - I'm just trying to walk through it.

And I'm faced with the reality that I don't have a job yet, & haven't a clue where it might come from.

So,I put one foot in front of the other, I investigate one more lead, & I trust that god both precedes & follows me (Ps 139:5).

And I depend on His power.

What choice do a really have? ;-)

2 Timothy 1:14 with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard what has been entrusted to you.

My Life Application Bible says this about this verse...

"Timothy was in a time of transition (dan note: I know how he felt!). He had been Paul's bright young helper; soon he would be on his own as leader of a church in a difficult environment. Although his responsibilities were changing, Timothy was not without help. He had everything he needed to face the future if he would hold tightly to the Lord's resources.

"When you are facing difficult transitions, it is good to follow Paul's advice to Timothy & look back at your experience.

"Who is the foundation of your faith?

"How can you build on that foudation?

"What gifts has the Holy Spirit given you?

"Use the gifts you have already been given"

Could there be more timely words for me today?

Pastor John says often something along the line of all we need to be & do what God wants us to be & do God has already places within us. That's kinda crazy for me to think about, since I'm here in Blairsville, off on an adventure of being & doing for Him, without a clue as to exactly what that being & doing fully entails.

Those 4 questions the L.A.B. make are very interesting to apply to my life right now.

I have over 40 yrs of faith experiences from following after Him.

I can stand on the solid foundation of what I know I know about God from His continued hand on my life.

What are my gifts from the Holy Spirit?

He definitely made me a person who loves people.

He sometimes expresses gifts of healing through me.

I'm less of a fool than I used to be (and maybe more of a fool in other areas? ;-).

Sometimes He uses my words to speak into the hearts of people around me (hey, if He can talk to Balaam through a donkey, it stands to reason that He could speak through me! ;-)

Anybody see anything else? I'm not fishing for compliments or flattery, just curious if anyone sees something I don't. It would be helpful to know.

Anyway, this was good to hear this morning, as I continue to search for a job (to make money) He has for me up here; and as I continue to be open to whatever it is He wants me to be & do up here in the beautiful N GA mountains.

What about you? Does this apply to you today? Lemme know if it is.

Psalm 37

There's a whole bunch of stuff in Psalm 37 - take the time to read the whole thing - here's what came up off the page for me today...

vs 1a Don't worry about the wicked.

vs 3 Trust the Lord & do good.

Then you will live safely in the land & prosper.

4 Take delight in the Lord

& He will give you your heart's desire.

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.

Trust Him, & He will help you.

6 He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn

& the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord;

& wait for Him to act. (dan note: iow, shut up & wait!)

17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,

but the Lord takes the case of the godly.

23 The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.

He delights in every detail of their lives.

24 If they stumble, they will not fall,

for the Lord holds them by the hand.

28 For the Lord loves justice,

& He will never abandon the godly.

34 Don't be impatient for the Lord to act!

Travel steadily along His path.

He will honor you, giving your the land.

You will see the wicked destroyed.

39 The Lord saves the godly.

He is their fortress in times of trouble.

just let this wash over you

Psalm 36:5 Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;

Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds

6 You righteousness is like the mighty mountains,

Your justice like the ocean depths.

You care for people & animals alike, O Lord!

7 How precious is Your unfailing love, O God!

All humanity finds shelter

in the shadow of Your wings.

8You feed them from the abundance of Your own house,

letting them drink from Your rivers of delight.

8 For You are the fountain of life,

the light by which we see.

age

1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, & your purity.

Ya know, I've found that no matter what age we are, there's always someone around who will have something negative to say about it.

If you're young, older people will say we don't know anything because we lack experience & wisdom.

If we're in the middle years of our life, people will say we're just in some mid-life thing, which in their minds discounts the validity of our thinking or actions.

And if we're in our "senior years" (that term just makes me want to spit up!) people will simply say we're just an old fool, living in the past.

Each age we live through validates who we are, as well as can denigrate it, too.

There will always be people that we can impact, no matter what our age is, & there will always be people who will discount who we are & what we do because of our age.

So, quit listening to people who make remarks about our ages. We just need to be who we are, say what we think, & own what we do, no matter what age we are.

check it out

Psalm 34:19 The righteous face many troubles but the Lord rescues them from each and every one.

"each & every one"

Interesting that King David wrote "each & every one"

couldn't be more specific.

so, every one of our troubles God will rescue us from?

Miriam Webster define rescue as "to free from confinement, danger, or evil"

so, God will free us each & every time from confinement, danger, or evil?

It doesn't say He will keep us from encountering those things. It just says He'll rescue us from them?

Think about that as we move through our day, facing things that would confine us, place us in danger, or that are evil & are after us.

covered

Psalm 33:11 the Lord's plans stand firm forever;

His intentions can never be shaken.

I wonder how many of us REALLY believe this.

Or do we feel like we live in a world where sometimes God's intentions and plans are relative - like, that they happen as along as people & circumstances work out?

The writer of this psalm uses 2 inportant words - "forever" & "never"

Iow, the plans of God are gonna work out, unchanging, unimpacted by our futile attempts the thwart or change them - forever. Never ending. All the time. (forever is a VERY long time! ;-)

And what He's got in mind is not gonna ever be put out of commission - never.

So what does this say?

As we walk into what God has for us, we don't have to worry about things blowing up or not working out. We just walk into what He has for us, trusting Him, & He's got the whole thing under control.

I'm sure if you read my blogs with any regularity, you can see as Lynn & I walk into this next season in Blairsville that God is continuing to tell me to chill - He's got it covered

Psalm 32:8 I (God) will guide you along the best pathway for your life.

I will advise you & watch over you

10 Many sorrows come to the wicked but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.

11 So rejoice in the Lord & be glad, all you who obey him!

Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure.

Sounds like He's got my back!

1 Timothy 1:19 Cling tightly to your faith in Christ, & always keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

How many people do I know who've done that?

How many people do I know who are doing that right now?

And how do I let them know what's going on, how they are throwing away their lives?

protection

Psalm 31:14-15a I am trusting in You, O Lord, saying, "You are my God!" My future is in Your hands.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 The Lord is faithful; He will make you strong & guard you from the evil one.

Lynn & I don't REALLY know all the in's & out's of what our season in Blairsville is gonna hold.

But we do know Who does & Who's in charge of it.

Hebrews 10

35 So don't throw away this confident trust in the Lord

no matter what happens.

Remember the great reward it brings you!

36 Patient endurance is what you need now,

so that you will continue to do God's will.

Then you will receive all that He has promised.

Ya know, it's amazing how the 4 passages God gave me for 2010 become more rich & appropriate as the year passes.

It's like He knew what was ahead for me.

;-)

worthy

2 Thessalonians 1:11 ...our God will make you worthy of the life to which He has called you.

faithful

1 Thessalonians 5:24 God, who calls you, is faithful...

even if we're not

it's interesting what God's saying to me these days...

"don't cling to your life"

"don't worry about your life"

"no matter what happens"

"wait"

"I'm preparing the way, & mopping up behind you"

"trust Me"

"I got your back"

and like a GPS will say to you: "continue moving in the direction you a going"

waiting

Psalm 27:14 Waits patiently for the Lord. Be brave & courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Here's what my Life Application Bible says...

King David (the guy who wrote this psalm) knew from experience what it meant to wait on the Lord.

He had been anointed king at 16 but didn't become king until he was 30.

During the interim, he was chased through the wilderness by jealous King Saul.

David had to wait on God for the fulfillment of His promise to reign. Later, after becoming king, he was chased by his rebellious son, Absalom.

Waiting for God is not easy. Often it seems that He isn't answering our prayers or doesn't understand the urgency of our situation. That kind of thing implies that God is not in control or is not fair.

But God is worth waiting for. Lamentations 3:24-26 calls us to hope in & wait for the Lord because often God uses times of waiting to refresh, renew & teach us.

Make good use of your waiting times by discovering what God may be trying to teach you in them.

Even though Lynn & I have bought a house, started moving in (even though we're back in Macon for her to teach on Mondays & Wednesdays), and started to get to know people up here, we're still not completely sure what He has in store for us.

Yes, we've ask the Lord that is starting a Sunday Morning Gathering satellite service (like downtown) & starting a House of Grace aren't His perfect will, then don't let either of them happen - & we're slowly walking toward that.

But nothing's a sure thing yet. I continue to get the feeling that God is gonna be really creative with our season here - we just need to throw away all preconceived ideas & just wait for further instructions as needed.

So, we wait. For some reason, the waiting seems a little easier - could that mean I'm growing up a little in the Lord?!!!

(nay!)

constantly

Psalm 26:3a For I am constantly aware of Your unfailing love

guidance

(I don't know how people get along without reading the Bible every day? Of course, the real question is how did I get along all those decades without reading the Bible every day - until 2003 when I started read everyday? Look at my life - not well.)

It's a really stressful time right now.
Lynn is still teaching part time at Macon State on Mondays & Wednesdays.
We've just bought a house in Blairsville & we're moving a little bit along & along.
We're not really at home up there yet because we're not up there yet.
Folks in Macon have disconnected & moved on with their lives.

It's just a funny place to be right now - not here, not there.

(We did open a checking account in a bank up there yesterday. The people at the bank were SO nice & welcoming. They were so nice, I applied for a job as a teller there! It gave us an infinitesimal feeling of belonging.)

And, I suppose it goes without saying that the devil has been kicking my butt for the last week or so.

The latest is that this whole Blairsville this is just something I've deluded myself into believing.

That doesn't sound like much to worry about, but try turning your life upside down, prepare to leave everything you've known for 30 years (that's how long we've been in middle GA), & go somewhere where virtually no one knows you & start all over again - at 60!

To calm my fears & in trying to shut the devil up, I've held on to the short sentence from Jesus in Matthew 6 right before all that stuff about lilies of the field & birds of the air...

"don't worry about your life."

Before Aaron Barth gave that to me in January, 2008, I was a world class worrier. Now, not so much.

So I hold on to that.

I've been holding on to the 4 scripture sections. The Lord reminds me the short section of Proverbs 3:5 in the Message says, "don't try to figure everything out on your own."

Yeah, I'm trying to not figure it all out.

Anyway, I said all that to say this...

When I got up this morning, I just kinda sorta told the Lord I needed to hear from Him this morning because I'm just really weak right now.

In the sequential reading that I do through parts of the Bible, I was supposed to read Hosea 10 (depressing - all about the terrible stuff that's supposed to happen to Israel), Psalm 25, & 1 Thessalonians 2

After reading Hosea, I wishing I was done with him! ;-)

Then I read Psalm 25...

Here's the verses that came up off the page... (you might say this is a coincidence - sorry, this has happened to me way too many times for it to be purely coincidental!)

Psalm 25:3a No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,

4 Show me the right path, O LORD;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.

8 The LORD is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
9 He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way.
10 The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his decrees.

So, there you have it. He's propped me up, again, with His word, reminded me Who's in charge, & just kinda said like a GPS will sometimes, "continue moving in the direction you are going."

I still don't REALLY know what's ahead. I may not ever know what all our season in Blairsville is all about. Ripple effects sometimes don't show up for years. I'm just heading into it.

Now let's be realistic about this for a minute...

Let's just talk about the elephant in the room - what if this is just a figment of my imagination & too much pepperoni one night?

Well, I'd rather be wrong actively trying to following God's leading than hold back until it's a sure thing.

What if I'd held back with moving from music to HOG in 2003? Look at all the fantastic, crazy, wonderful people I would have missed.

I know I used this youtube a few days ago. It's still true today. Take a listen. It's the resolve I continue to walk in faith in right now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TPBrwbRSxc

chosen

1 Thessalonians 1:4 We know that God love you, dear brothers & sisters, and that He chose you to be His people

moving forward

Psalm 23:3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4b I will not be afraid,
for You are close beside me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TPBrwbRSxc

anything?

I John 5:21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts.

We live in a society & culture that is incredibly wealthy. Even the poorest among us make more than the overwhelming majority of the rest of the world.

What might be some of the things included in the "anything" John refers to?

money
position
great job
great car
great place to live
video games
pumped & ripped body
friends
influence
reputation
opinions of others
sex
food
time off
toys
more interested in me than others
lots of stuff, like material things
clothes
greed
relationships
smugness
hate
dysfunction
a spirit of saying "later" rather than "ok, I'll be/do what You say"
laziness
pet sins
busy-ness
hidden motives
gossip disguised as prayer concerns
jealousy
fear
my way or the highway
arrogance

what else?

It's so easy to let even good things take God's place in our hearts.

It's all about what's the single most important thing in our lives.

Is there anything we think we can't live without?

I've been thinking about that this morning. Is there anything I couldn't give up. If there is, could that thing be what John is talking about?

Or must I come to the point where everything is surrender-able, except my relationship with our Abba Father?

everything...?

anything...?

I think so.

loving & being loved

There's so many things in this section that are foundational to our identity as Christ followers. Read it slowly, & more than once.

1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other because he loved us first.

20 If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.

handholds

Just reviewing the scripture passages God gave me for this year. In light of all that's happened recently, it seemed like a good idea...

1 Thessalonians 5:18 No matter what happens, always be thankful; for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (Got this Wed., Dec 23, 2009)

Proverbs 3:5 (The Message)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
He's the One Who will keep you on track.

(Got this Mon., Jan. 18)

Proverbs 4:25 Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
27 Don’t get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.

(Got this Tues., Jan. 19)

Hebrews 10:35

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord,

no matter what happens.

Remember the great reward it brings you!

36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will.

Then you will receive all that He has promised.

(Got this Tuesday, January 19)

light & dark

1 John 1:5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you:

God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.

6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.

7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light,
then we have fellowship with each other,
and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

John jammed a lot in to just a few verses.

what he say

Psalm 16:8 I know the Lord is with me.
I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.

So much for all that stuff the devil's been saying to me. (read the blog from yesterday I wrote last night)

Here' s the rest of Palm 16, that I just "happened" to read ater aday of the devil whispering all kinds of crap to me.

Psalm 16:1 Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge.

2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you."
3 The godly people in the land
are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!
4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
or even speak the names of their gods.

5 LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!

7 I will bless the LORD who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the LORD is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.

the adventure begins

Wednesday night, after unloading the uhaul, going to WalMart, siaying hi to a 20someting greeter Ben Kerr & I met a few weeks ago, having supper at Subway at WalMart, we finally headed out to the Farmhouse to collapse into bed.

We were driving down GA 129 to the Farmhouse in the dark, I was thinkiing...

We're REALLY gonna do this...

For the past few months, there's been something of a disconnect, because we were living in Macon, & going back & forth.

But Wednesday night, as we wound our way down the road to the Farmhouse, the reality of it all began to sink in.

The the devil started whispering things to me...

How are you gonna pay for this house?

What happens if you can't?

How are people gonna get to know you, & what are they gonna think about you? (probably not good things)

Why should YOU be the one that should be doing this?

You're 60 yrs old - come on!

How in the world are you gonna pull this off?

Do you REALLY think these people up here are just gonna take you at face value, find your trustworthy, & then trust you with themselves?!

(These are just a few of the dozens & dozens of things he said to me)


And what does God say to me?

Don't cling to your life, because if you cling to your life, you'll lose it, but if you let go of your life for Me, you'll find it.

Don't worry about your life.

God both precedes & follows me.

Sink your roots deep into Him.

No matter what happens, always be thankful.

Patience endurance is what you need now to that you will continue to do God's will.

Don't try to figure everything on your own.

We are the ones who throw the dice, but God determines how they land.

Whose ideas was this anyway?


So, we're walking toward it all in Blairsville. So much of it we haven't a clue about. I've been thinking about the dozens & dozens of college friends of mine who have done this kind of thing more than once in their lives, in different countries with different languages.

I've done cold moves before, but the last one was 30 yrs ago. Here's what I remember...
It takes about a year for people to get to know us, feel our trustworthy, & then, maybe, they will trust themselves with us.
Just be real - the real us is better than anything we can contrive.
Go slow.
Live our life like we always have - the uniqueness of our life will color the world around us.
Trust God to do His thing through us.


There is not telling what is up ahead. But God's in charge.

so...

Matthew 6:25 ...don't worry about your life