Just One Thing

"I just need to pick up this one thing"
Dawn said as she closed the car door and headed off into the Publix.
Immediately the banter began as her husband Tony said 2-
Then daughter Sarah chimed in,
"Are you counting the Coke-
I put the Coke in my count and I say 3".
Tony chuckles back, "No, the Coke is a given-
So I guess with that I will have to say 3 as well".

It seems there is a running wager-
Everytime my Sister-in-Law goes into a store-
For just one thing-
How many "things" she will eventually emerge with.
My wife Julie is the same-

Could it be a Woman thing?

I feel like maybe I am treading on precarious ground here-
So I best move on!

Actually, I am the same-
Not so much in shopping, but in thinking-
I start off on one idea, but before long........

My friends call it chasing rabbits-

I call it the leading of the Holy Spirit!

Anyway-
I suppose we all are subject to distraction-
And is there really ever "Just One Thing"?

Luke 10:40-42 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.

She came to Jesus and asked,

 “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?

Tell her to help me!”

    “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered,

“You are worried and upset about many things,

but few things are needed—or indeed Only One.

 Mary has chosen what is better,

And it will not be taken away from her.” 

Ah, the one thing that really matters-

The Only Thing-

The Only Thing that will not be taken away.

Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit-

I pray that as we go through this day that all the lesser things,

The things that woo and distract-

That they all would fade into nothingness-

As we set our hearts toward uniting with Your Great Heart-

Even in these lesser things.

Matthew 6:33

Amen 

Light brings Truth and Truth brings Life

There was a thick fog all around us-
As we stumbled through the black of night.

The flashlight shining in the darkness only seemed to make things worse as it highlighted the shifting mists in the night. Then there was the swaying Spanish Moss whose every movement with the breeze conjured up age old fears of some dark and evil creature lurking........
Waiting to ravage us.......
As we made our way through the cold stagnant waters of some ancient swamp.

We finally arrived at our destination-
An island of sorts-
At least some dry ground.

I watched in ever increasing terror as my friend left me there-
Slowly moving away with his light........
Into the all consunsuming black of night.
"I'll be back in a few hours", he said-
As he left me there-
Alone.........
Shivering from a combination of cold and fear-
Feeling as lost as a boy can feel.

I was 12 years old-
It was the first and last time
I have ever been Duck Hunting.

But what about now?

What is out there?

What is waiting for us-
As we make our way through the uncertainties of this life?

What kinds of monsters make the hair stand up on the back of your neck?

Do you ever feel left alone........
Like some little boy.........
In a dark, bleak swamp?

As I sat with my back to a tree on that cold wintery morning, looking out into the blackness and shivering, it was not long before I noticed something- I could begin to make out some shapes- Those are trees aren't they?

And that slight rise in the distance........

Yes, there it was-
The horizon.

Glancinging up, there was a break in the fog-

Incredible!

There were a billion stars shining through on this clear winter's night.

My heart rose a bit as I began to get glimpses...........

of Hope.....

of Truth.........

Being revealed by the coming light.

The Truth of the beauty I was surrounded by.

Still fear lingered.........

Until after a little longer-
I began to notice the horizon brightening a bit-

Could it be.......

Was that the edge of the sun-
I was seeing begin to climb in the distance?

Yes!

And what about this place-

I think I have been here before-

I remember.....
Yes my friend had brought me here before.

I have seen this- maybe I am not lost after all!

John 1: 4-5 In Him was Life,
and that Life was the light of all Mankind.
The Light shines in the darkness
 and the darkness has not overcome it.

What about you?
Is there ever something in you-

Something that feels lost-

Maybe even a little afraid?

And yet as Jesus brings Light........

As He brings Life itself.............

As we begin to be able to see-

As we begin to realize the Truth of His Life in us..........

Hope bursts forth like the sun on the horizon.

Welcome to Today-

Welcome to the Truth-
That darkness will always yield to Light-

Welcome to Life in Him.

Father God, Life Giver Jesus, Wonderful Holy Spirit-

Thank You for the Dawn-

Thank You for bringing Light and Truth and Life to put away the darkness.

Thank You for Today.

Amen

Link to "Your Love Never Fails" below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_2qG22SPwU&feature=related