My Divine Notes

Psalm 50:6 (NLT) Then let the heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself will be the judge. Interlude. The long, hot days of August come to a close as I reflect on the grief and terror experienced  around the world  and  in America by innocent people. Somehow, this month can’t be all about me and my personal world because God opened my eyes and heart to the hatred and evil of humankind. Terrorism against any group, anywhere in the world, is evil whether it’s political or is conducted by organizations that are supposed to protect the citizens of America. We saw images of an innocent journalist, women and children harmed across the world. We saw how racism reared its ugly head in our own back yard with the killing of a young black man. I came of age in the era of desegregation and it feels like  we've  lost ground. I’m particularly appalled at the ignorance of some Christians who are hypocrites when it comes to  loving your brother as yourself....

Hebrews 5:7   While Jesus lived on earth, he prayed to God and asked God for help. He prayed with loud cries and tears to the One who could save him from death, and his prayer was heard because he trusted God.  There is only one way to move through the valley of unimaginable loss and angst:   Trust God in your deepest sorrow. Our Lord grieved and trusted his Father. We can do the same.

July 9, 2013 The best thing about being 77 is being 78.  Those were Mother’s slurred words the year she turned 77 in 2011. We celebrated her birthday at the nursing home. She passed away in late 2012. I kept a small journal and I blogged about our journey together. As I look back, I can thank God for giving me the honor of taking the journey alongside Mother. I found strength I  didn't  know I had to spend long hours in emergency rooms, ICUs, hospital and nursing home rooms.  I become an adept itinerant sojourner as I accompanied Mom in our quest to make her comfortable. She never lost her ability to understand and listen to me, but it was difficult to understand her words. My older brother directed the medical maze and details, and it was up to me to make sure the spiritual symphony played the most comfortable melodies. Over several years, everything was discussed, all was forgiven, and nothing was left under the table. We prayed. I b...

April 14, 2013 (Biblegateway.com App) 2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Many of us have been praying for Pastor Rick Warren and his family over the loss of his precious son, Matthew. Pastor Rick shared this tweet a few days ago, “After 4 days, finally got to see my son’s body. He wasn't in it anymore. “Absent from the body is to be home with the Lord.” It struck a tender cord in my heart.  My own mother left her earthly body in December and those very words are what jolted me back to reality.  I stayed alone with Mom’s body for a few hours before the funeral home’s employees arrived. It seemed fitting since I had been by her side during a very long illness. She knew and I knew she would leave this world, but nothing prepares one for the jolt of seeing a loved one’s lifeless body. That includes those of us who are fully equipped by the Lord to minister to the...

Ecclesiastes 3:12 I know the best thing we can do is to always enjoy life…  Death comes unexpectedly. It creeps up on unfinished lives; lives whose business may not be finished. Death signals the end of relationships; it leaves memories. The body is extinguished lifeless; the spirit soars away. Death changes those who remain. Death has changed me…yet again…within a span of six weeks. The thing I know for sure is that love matters. That connection…that love tie that binds humans…love never dies. Memories remain. Making memories takes an added urgency after death deals its harsh blows. Death reminds us to be in the moments that matter. Death reminds us to take time for things that make memories. Death insists that we not take those we love for granted. Death takes away time. Time is life. Life is priceless. Love those who matter. Laugh. Hug. Love like there’s no tomorrow. 

Isaiah 65 The Bible makes me strong. 17 Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth,       and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. 19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem     and delight in my people. And the sound of weeping and crying     will be heard in it no more.  20 No longer will babies die when only a few days old.     No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. When it’s hard to see through the valley I don’t know about you and your life, but I know that sometimes I’d like to wipe all the pain, sorrow and major hassles of my life away. That’s the truth. Sometimes life becomes overwhelming and I want to push back and grasp for some semblance of normal. The problem is that once you are in the valley facing whatever shadows, there’s really no going back to ‘normal.’ My life is not ideal right now. I can say that this broken ankle is not...

2 Corinthians 1:4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. I’m in a season of sorrow as I watch my mother slowly start to leave her earthly body. She’s in hospice care. Other key people in my life are also facing serious health issues, and I’ve also had to deal with the “thorns” that I battle. I am taking care of myself by sharing my burdens with the Lord and with the people who are closest to me. In short, I’m doing all I can humanly do to remain in God’s peace. And most days, I’m amazed at the joy in my heart regardless of my circumstances. But some days it’s hard… I feel helpless when Mom’s in pain and I watch her suffer but not complain. All I can do is reassure her that the staff is doing all they can to keep her comfortable and that I love her. And then I cry and my heart breaks and that’s when I feel deep sorrow. I remind myself that Jesus wept (John 11:35...

Written June 19, 2011 John 14:6 (GW) 6 Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me. Those details between the lines: The journey without my Dad A few days ago I wrote a tribute to my dad for Father’s Day on my Facebook page. But it’s what I didn’t write that’s been in my heart.   My dad died when I was 12 years old, read my Divine Note #49 for background. Knowing God as my Heavenly Father changed my life. I’m sharing notes from an impactful sermon “Healing the Father Fracture” by Pastor Gregory Dickow . ·         Many people know God as friend, savior, master, etc., and those are all important, but ·         We must know God as our Heavenly Father because we’re living in a fatherless and un-fathered generation ·         Many men have no or had no father figure; many parent through their own brokennes...