The Daily Scroll - Don’t Forget

 Frank was doing his duty as a parking lot attendant for his large church on Sunday morning. The lot was full, and services had started so he could take a breather. Leaning against a tree covered in beautiful fall leaves, and sipping a cup of ok coffee from a styrofoam cup, Frank paused in reflection. He thought,  “Am I really doing anything good here?” 

Inside, the “real” workers, teachers, and ministers are surely making a difference, but me? I’m just directing traffic. Tossing his half empty cup in the plastic lined trash can, he sighed, closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and leaned back against the tree. He prayed,”Lord, what good am I?” Immediately the Lord spoke to his heart, “Frank, don’t you realize how important your work here is. Without you here it would be chaos getting these cars parked in an orderly fashion and people would still be out here instead of in the service.”

“This is what my Disciples did for me here on earth as well. They organized the thousands who came to hear me into organized groups so that everyone could hear and see what I was doing. They helped relay the message. Like you, they were overlooked by the very people they were helping because I was their focus. But don’t you know that they were my disciples who became my apostles? Cheer up! Your work is as important as those inside the building. You are also my disciple. Your faithful work is a sacrifice of praise to me. Thank you!”

The Bible says, “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.“ (Hebrews 13:14-16)

The Daily Scroll - Unshakable

 Millie a widow with 9 Children was a pillar of her village. A strong believer in Christ, she was an inspiration because of her unflinching faith. One dark night her village was raided my mercenaries who abused the women, killed most men and plundered everything they had. Not even a chicken was left. Millie and her children were safe but she was left with nothing. So she prayed. Others heard her wailing before God and they joined her in prayer. Soon almost everyone left were praying to God asking for a miracle. 

Suddenly the night sky lit up with fire and smoke. In the distant direction of the mercenary’s camp, fire, smoke and cries of pain were heard. The village trembled in fear. The next morning, Millie and two other women cautiously approached the camp of the evil ones. Smoke wafted up through the air but not a sound was heard. When they arrived at the camp they were stunned. All the men lay dead, cast around the camp like cord wood. Not one survived. However to their amazement all their possessions were untouched by fire and smoke. Even the chickens were milling about unharmed. There were barrels of wine and grain on wagons. 

Where once stood a large tent only a huge wooden chest remained. And it wasn’t smoke damaged although everything around it burned up. Millie opened the chest and found it full of treasure. Gold, silver, and jewels filled the chest. Not only did they get back their possessions which were stolen, but they got all of the mercenaries’ possessions. Millie’s unshakable faith brought the village the miracle they needed to survive and more.

The Bible says, “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.”(Hebrews 12:28-29)

The Daily Scroll - Be Scared

 Margaret was a Godly Grandmother who worried over her children and grandchildren. Especially her thirteen year old grandson Seth. He loved to watch very graphic horror movies and played the same kinds of video games. He also read graphic horror comics. His mind was constantly immersed in evil, death, and gore. His mother took him to church and Sunday school but he didn’t take to it.

Instead, he sought after evil, and Margaret knew that evil sought after Seth. When asked by anyone he would say, “Sure, I’m a Christian.” But Margaret was fearful of his eventual fate. One morning while sitting on her backyard deck enjoying her coffee and reading her Bible, she came across the following scripture, “The LORD will judge his own people.” It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)

Immediately she felt the fear of God come over her. Was God going to judge Seth a sinner and allow him to spend eternity in hell? She asked herself if she had done enough to help guide him besides prayer. So she decided to go to him and talk seriously about his soul. She went by his house and invited him out for ice cream. As they sat outside on a wooden bench, she began to talk to him about eternity and spending it in hell. She told him that as horrible as hell would be that it was a holding place until a person is cast into the lake of fire. There wasn’t none of this “I’ll see you in hell,” as he and his friends used to say to each other. No, she painted a picture for him of his being alone in horrible suffering, in utter darkness, forever falling, alone…always alone.

Seth was moved and she led him in the sinners prayer. Eventually, he disposed of all his evil material and went on to serve God. He learned of Gods grace, mercy, and forgiveness. He learned that eternal damnation wasn’t meant for Gods’ human children, but for the demonic hosts and the devil. And that is why Christ died for us and rose again. Dear Reader, think about this and tell whomever the Lord puts on your heart before it’s too late. Peace and love, gene.

The Daily Scroll - The Rest

 Avery is a middle aged hard working woman raising a family, supporting a husband, and caring for aging parents. Every morning when she rises from sleep, she pauses with her feet on the floor, and quietly prays, “Lord, how can I do another day?” Finally one morning after rising, she couldn’t go on so she sat in her chair and asked again, “Lord, how can I do another day?”

This time, the Lord answered her and said, “Dear child, lean back, close your eyes, and think of me.” She did exactly as He said and immediately she was at peace. To this day she couldn’t tell if she had been asleep, or just lost in the spirit realm. All she knew was that moments later, when she opened her eyes,  all the weight was lifted, the burden and worry that had persisted to plague her had simply vanished. She felt like a young girl again, rested, full of energy, and excited for the day. She picked her Bible from the small table beside her, placed it in her lap and opened it at random. Her eyes fell upon the following scripture. 

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 8:28

The Daily Scroll - Prophetic Vision 2/23/22

Dear Readers, Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

I am sharing this personal experience from my journal to illustrate to you what fellowship in the Spirit means to me, and can mean to you. This is explained in my book, Fellowship in the Spirit.

Prophetic vision February 23rd 2022

I was laying in my bed in the Princess Anne Rehabilitation center in Virginia Beach after my surgery on my broken leg and knee this evening, when I felt the Holy Spirit come over me in a very strong way, in a very new way. It felt like I was sinking down, sinking into Jesus. It was as if Jesus was laying on His back in the bed under me, and I laid on my back right on top of him, sinking into him, and becoming one with him.

This union with Jesus went on for a while, and then the Holy Spirit came over me and I saw, in the Spirit, a man in Ukraine. Which city I don’t know, but he was a priest and wore Priestly robes. He was standing in front of his church. I could see clearly that the church behind him had some damage to it, like it had been hit by a couple of artillery shells, and rockets. He was standing in front with his back to the church, in the dark, with his arms down by his side. His hands were facing frontward toward me. He was weeping, and distressed to the point of suicide. Not that he was going to, but he was right at the edge. He had lost all hope And thought it was over.

I walked up to him, and at this moment I realized that I was actually there. I was more real and alive there than I was here laying in this bed. I walked up to him and began to speak as the Lord gave me utterance. I spoke in a language that I did not know. I wasn’t speaking in an unknown tongue, I was speaking in his language and he understood everything  I was saying, as the Master spoke through me prophetically.

The Lord told him that he loved him, that he was safe, and that he and his congregation would make it through this hard time in his town. He told him not to fret because God is standing with him. The man got down on his knees facing me and wrapped his arms around my legs. We began to weep, and I could feel Jesus weeping with us, and did so for a while. Then I put my hands on his head. It was actually the Lords’ hands in my hands on his head, petting him and letting him know that God loved him. This lasted for a few minutes until the Priest passed out and fell off to his right, quietly laying there, and then it was over. I was back to myself.

The Lord let me know that I was coming into a new realm of ministry, and that there are things that I can do in him, through him, that I cannot do on my own. I recognize that it wasn’t my own ability or power, it was a supernatural event from the Lord through the Holy Spirit. I know that I’m not worthy, but he will use whom ever he wants, and do what ever he wants to do. I count myself blessed thinking back on it, the priest wrapping his arms around my legs and here I am in the hospital with a broken leg. And then when he was done he fell over on his right side just like I did when I fell and broke my leg. Coincidence? All I know is that the Holy Spirit used me to minister His Love to a hurting Priest on the other side of the world in the Spirit, and it was so real it was as if I were actually there. 

I share this entry from my personal journal to show you what is possible when you have fellowship in the Spirit with the Lord. He’ll open things up to you that you won’t believe. Later something happened that made my jaw drop. The very day after this, February 24th 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine with artillery shells and rockets. This is the truth.

The Daily Scroll - One Death

Sara was a hard working, very intelligent woman of the modern age. But with all her knowledge, she had one big flaw. She honestly believed in reincarnation. She was raised a Catholic, went to Catholic school, but somewhere along the way she lost her pure faith. She believed that Jesus was her savior, but she also believed that she had lived past lives. It’s difficult to convince some people their error and quoting the Bible doesn’t always seem to have an impact. People who believe a lie usually don’t believe the Bible either. This becomes the basis for their unbelief. 

Almost always they will say what Sara said. “The Bible was written by man, not God. Many things in the Bible aren’t true.” So at that point, don’t debate, just tell them about Jesus. Eventually I led Sara in the sinners prayer. Even the Apostle Paul was most effective when he didn’t debate the beliefs of the sinners. But simply told them about Jesus and prayed in the power of God and His demonstration of power and healing. 

The Bible teaches us, “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28)

One Death, one Savior, one eternal life in Christ.

The Daily Scroll - The Priest

 Thaddeus was groomed to be a priest. As he grew, he worked his way up the Jewish order until he became the high priest. Most men in his position became proud, boastful, and acted superior to others. But Thaddeus wasn’t that way at all. He was humble before his God. When he entered the Holy Place to make sacrifice for the sins of his nations, he first sacrificed for himself. He wanted to be pure before God in order to make sacrifice for his people, the nation of Israel. 

The older he became, his own sins diminished yet he was still a sinner. He longed for the day when he would meet God and be blameless. He wondered if this were possible. And then he died. Another man came and God Himself made Him a priest, a priest who would live forever to intercede for us forever, after the old order. The order that began when time and the ages forgot. Jesus is man and God who lived a sinless life. No sin dwelt in him. 

The Bible says, “There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” (Hebrews 7:23-25)

Come through Christ to God your Father. Receive forgiveness of all sins, and find your place in the family of God, and a place in eternal life. 

The Daily Scroll - Go Back

 Angie was a young woman of the world. She loved clubs, parties, and everything that came with that. One day she was talking to a neighbor lady who lived next door, who had just invited her to church. Angie respectfully declined. She was carried to church growing up and felt like she was so far away from God, that He had forgotten all about her by now. Really she was afraid to approach Him. 

Her friend explained her relationship with God and how she was always welcome, no matter what she was guilty of. So she led Angie in a prayer of repentance and helped her restart her relationship with God through Jesus. The Bible tells us, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16)

If you need Him, He’s there.

The Daily Scroll - Rest

 Who doesn’t like rest? Charlie was a high School football star. He played defensive tackle and offensive tackle. Which meant just about every play. Rarely did he have a chance to sit in the bench and rest. But, he loved it. Another young man sat on the same bench, Alan. He was faithful to practice, but game after game he sat on the bench and rested. He wasn’t given a chance to play. Finally during the last play of the last game of the season the coach put him in to play. Now if this were a movie, and not a true story, you might expect that Alan made an incredible catch and ran for the winning touchdown. Right? Wrong! 

On that play Alan got hit, flew upside down, lost his helmet, and laid on his back while everyone else ran by. After that he really needed his rest. Are you working hard, on the job and at home and would just like a time of rest? Or, are you recovering from illness and so tired of doctor visits, doing nothing at home, and wondering when you can get back to life because rest is killing you? 

The Bible teaches us to listen to the voice of God and obey. No matter how impossible life becomes, do not blame God your Father. Keep your heart tender toward him, not hard, and one day, one glorious day, you will enter into His rest. A permanent state of rest in Him where love will so encompass you that a moment with Him will seem like an eternity. And you know…it is.

“Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.” So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.“ (Hebrews 4:15, 19)

The Daily Scroll - Suffering

 I have a friend, a devout Christian, who is elderly and suffers from various health conditions. Congestive heart failure, diabetes, painful neuropathy, to name a few. Yet with his suffering his faith remains strong. He has seen healing for others through his own prayers, and healing of himself, yet he still suffers. Only God knows why we suffer even though we believe in Him. One thing I do know, Jesus has been through much more than any of us can comprehend, even to His death on a cruel cross. Yet He overcame as He rose from the dead. And because He did it, we will do it in Him. 

“Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.“ (Hebrews 2:18)

So if you’re suffering today, remember that He is an ever present help in the storm.

The Daily Scroll - Just Like Dad

 There was an Elder in the church called big Bob. He served the church faithfully for over forty years. Big Bob owned a large car dealership in the area, and you could catch him on TV with his commercials. “Come on down to Big Bobs for your big deal on your new car,” He would say. Everyone loved big Bob. Especially his son Bobby, the apple of his eye. Big Bob took special care to raise, educate, and train Bobby to replace him one day. 

Bobby started out washing cars as a young teenager, worked every job at the dealership over the years and recently became General Manager. People would say, “He’s just like his dad.” And it was true. Same good looks, character, and business smarts. A duplicate in every way. When you dealt with Bobby, you were dealing with Big Bob, for he poured himself into his son. 

God the Father did the same with His only begotten Son, Lord Jesus. Mankind has seen him, held him, touched him, and now through the Holy Spirit become one with Him. The Apostle John wrote about an occasion when the Disciple Phillip asked Jesus to show us the Father. 

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?” (John 14:9) The Apostle Paul wrote,

“The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.” (Hebrews 1:3-4)

The Daily Scroll - His Grace

 It was early fall, and the leaves on the trees were beginning to turn colors, as they do every year, when a police officer spotted a man asleep on a park bench. Immediately arrested as a vagrant, Charles Owens knew he was in trouble. This was just what he needed, a day in jail. Later that day he was brought before the Magistrate for charges. To his surprise, the Magistrate was his cousin the honorable Phillip Owens. Now Phillip knew that Charles had Ben thrown out of his house by his wife after he lost his job, but he didn’t realize exactly how down on his luck his cousin was. 

Charles was found guilty on vagrancy charged and released. He accepted his order to do community service. As he was leaving, Phillip asked the bailiff to take Charles to the conference room. Moments later Phillip called a recess and went in to see Charles.

“Charles,”he said, “I didn’t realize things were so bad for you.” He replied, “ Nobody really knows what I’ve been through, but there’s no excuse. Your judgement was fair.” “Well this ends today, said Phillip. Go to my house, the key is under the flowerpot on the porch. Go in, make yourself at home, have some food, and we’ll talk after work. For now, my home is your home. You’ll get through this and I’ll help.”

Phillip was very kind to his cousin, and helped him get a job, and get back on his feet. He eventually made things right with his wife and the family was restored. Did Charles deserve help? Not really, but Phillip saw through that and helped anyway, through kindness and love. 

The Bible teaches us, “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)

If God can do it for us, then we should do it for others.

The Daily Scroll - Pastors / Teachers

 Ron had been a Pastor for more than twenty years, but now things have changed. He had to seek medical care because of the stress. And on top of that, he felt a severe burden of isolation. Quitting was his only option because he just couldn’t take it any longer. He loved his congregation, and his job in the beginning, but the challenges have become too overwhelming. So last Sunday morning, he gathered his family at the pulpit after his sermon, and tearfully resigned. 

This is an all to familiar scene around the country. Incredibly, the Barna research group estimates that more than 1700 Pastors resign…each month! God called men and women giving up. The church should embrace their pastor with love and support and consider themselves blessed that they have one. Pastors have always quit or retired, but now this is like an epidemic. In these last days scripture speaks of a great falling away, and could beginning with the Pastors. So many are praying congregants are praying, “come quickly Lord Jesus,” but we need to lift our Pastor to God in prayer. And we need to do it today. This admonition comes from the Bible, to our Pastors and teachers:

“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”  (2nd Timothy 4:2-4) Click on the link below for help.

https://www.absc.org/articles/how-to-pray-for-your-pastor/

The Daily Scroll - Remain Faithful

 The world today is teeming with natural disasters in various places, just as Jesus predicted it would be in the last days. But just as bad are the spiritual disasters swirling around us. So much activity and stress in the spirit realm caused by evil spiritual forces on every level of life. People who lived a lifetime of faith are now turning their back on that faith. Don’t do it. Now is the time you need your faith in your God even more. Don’t allow your beliefs to change. We have the same Bible and the same God. He hasn’t changed and you know it. What did the Apostle Paul say?

“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.”                         ( II Timothy 3:14-15)

The Daily Scroll - You’re His

 Franklin was a custodian at the Central Community Church in the heart of the city. He also taught Sunday  School to the 9 - 11 year old boys. Hundreds of boys sat under his kind and wise instruction over the years. Franklin also liked to take the boys on outings like fishing. Some would get discouraged if they didn’t catch one immediately, but Franklin would always say, “Don’t worry son, God knows the fish that belongs to you, and that you belong to Him. If someone didn’t catch fish that day, they still knew that they belonged to God. 

His quiet testimony won many friends to God. Even while sweeping the sidewalk in front of the church, a stranger would pass and Franklins’ kind greeting brought many a stranger to the church with the simple saying, “God knows that you are His.” 

After more than fifty years of service, and untold number of souls that he touched, Franklin passed into glory. A group of his former Sunday school boys, now grown men, got together and purchased a plaque and mounted it on the front wall of the church facing the sidewalk. It read, “God knows that you are His.” In honor of Brother Franklin.

The Bible teaches us, “But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The LORD knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.” (2nd Timothy 2:19)

The Daily Scroll - Contentment

 We watch TV and see a commercial for the latest new electric vehicle. Our interest is peaked and now we think, “I’d love one of those.” The video shows how many things you would do in that vehicle and now you’re not content to drive to work in your 8 year old gas guzzler. Sound familiar? Advertising does that to us. No matter the product, they make us want something that we don’t have, which makes us lose contentment with what we have. This cycle could drive us into debt and make our lives most stressful. 

However if we live our lives for God, and find satisfaction in our lives, we can have great happiness and joy. The Bible teaches us this.

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” (I Timothy 6:6-8)

Be Godly, be happy, have contentment. 

The Daily Scroll - The Widow’s Offering

 Lillie showed up for her job as a greeter at Walmart just like every other day. A petite lady with a glorious smile, it seemed as if she knew everyone in town as one-by-one people came through the door calling out, "Hello Miss Lillie!" What she didn't know was that today would not be work as usual.

Lillie grew up as the daughter of a Pentecostal preacher in the early 1900's in a humble home filled with love in the hills of Tennessee. Life was a sweet challenge for Miss Lillie, losing her son in childbirth, and raising two beautiful daughters during the great depression.

During World War II she was called to come to a secret government facility in nearby Oak Ridge Tennessee to pick up her husband who had collapsed. He had worked 48 hours without sleep in a mysterious building where we now know the government had been developing the nuclear bomb which ended the war. Sworn to secrecy, he never spoke of the activity in that building…ever.

Miss Lillie was always faithful to God, her church, and her family. A faithful tithe payer and giver, she helped those in need, even taking some into her home. Her children and many grandchildren were always remembered on birthdays and Christmas, and her prayers helped them through many a crisis. Hers was a life of humble means, yet rich in spiritual heritage.

Jesus spoke of how mighty a humble widow could be when he was in the Temple watching rich people put their gifts into the collection box. A poor widow came by and dropped in two pennies, which were called mites, the least valued coins at that time. Jesus said, "I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them, for they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has" (Luke 21:3-4 NLT).

Though just a couple of mites, her gift was mighty. The Bible also tells the story of the Prophet Elijah who was told by the Lord during a great famine to "go and live in a certain city for there is a widow there who will feed you."

This poor widow only had enough food to make one final tiny meal for herself and her son. They were prepared to die of starvation after their last tiny meal. However, the Lord had other plans for her. The prophet told her that if she gave him the tiny meal, she would never go hungry again. She obeyed in faith and her mite-sized meal was traded for a mighty supply that never ran out as long as the drought lasted. This was one of the great miracles of the Bible (1 Kings 17).

It seems that a woman of God, though left alone and in need, is not forgotten by the Lord. She is truly special in His sight and He will provide for her. If you are a widow or a single mom, take encouragement from this fact. He is mindful of you.

Even as Jesus was dying on the cross he provided for his mother, a widow. He spoke to her and his beloved disciple John and said, "'Woman, he is your son.' Then he said to his disciple, 'She is your mother.' From that day John took her into his home" (John 19:26-27 NLT). The Lord truly loves the widow.

And Miss Lillie? That day on the job at Walmart would not be work as usual, for she had a surprise in store. The store manager and employees stopped what they were doing and gave her a surprise birthday party. None of them could believe that Miss Lillie was 80 years old! She was such an active and vital greeter.

This tiny elderly widow had a mighty impact on her world. When I get to heaven and see her, I'll give Miss Lillie, my grandmother, a mighty hug.

The Daily Scroll - The Great Mystery

 So many of us love a good mystery. Books, TV shows, Plays, all intrigue us. We love to be the first to solve them. It can be fun. But the greatest mystery of all is this, why does God love us so much? Why was He willing to sacrifice His only begotten Son for us? None of us deserve it, yet here we are, standing in His presence, awash with the righteousness of God in Christ. The answer to this great mystery must lie in Gods’ love for humanity, His earthly children. The Bible teaches us:

“Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.” (I Timothy 3:16)

The Daily Scroll - Mediator

I was watching a drama on TV where the main character was a mediator at a law firm. Instead of going to court trial, the mediator helped them settle out of court. In a court trial one party wins and one party loses. In mediation both parties win. The actual definition of mediator is, (a person who attempts to make people involved in a conflict come to an agreement; a go-between.)

Mankind was in conflict with God and mankind lost, and was lost. Jesus Christ became our mediator between mankind and God. Therefore bringing us together. The Bible says, “There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.” (I Timothy 2:5)

Look what He’s done for us. He brought our relationship back with Father God. Jesus Christ, the great mediator.

The Daily Scroll - Last Month

 When thinking about last month which has now passed, I’m reminded of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, massive fires, earthquakes, earthquakes during a hurricane, oppressive heat, power outages, disease, various injuries, final passing of friends and loved ones, problem teenagers and children, infidelities, various marriage difficulties, joblessness, crime, depression, poverty, school shootings, mass shootings, and war around the world. The list goes on and on. That was last month. And we pray for all who were affected.

When thinking about these things, one could become worried and depressed, but that is not my intention in sharing my reflections. As I think and write about these things, I am inspired by hope. The hope I see in the eyes of the survivors of last month. The joy I see when a grandmother digs through the rubble to find her wedding pictures. The glory of being reunited with loved ones who could have been lost. The determination of first responders risking their safety to search for others in need. For volunteers like many of you who give of their resources and time to bless those in need. Hope.

For the millions of people who, like myself, were not directly affected by any of these events, let us give thanks to our Father God, and Lord Jesus, for keeping us, and our lives, intact. It’s not that we are luckier or more favored than those affected by tragedy, we were just not in their place. So like me, take a sigh of relief, help those less fortunate, and thank God that we made it through last month. For after all, today is the first day of the next month.