Journey's End

Well, discipleship class is over. Nine months flew by, 32 weeks of classes finished. I'm writing this with the joy of one who completed a goal, the sadness of the absence of that community, and the expectation of the future. I, like Scott, enjoy symbolism and I chose the picture for this post purposefully. In the picture, the start and finish are the same line. As this class finished we crossed that line in celebration, remembering the blood, sweat, and many tears that went into that race. We weren't finished though, walking out the door we turned around and hit the starting line. Ready to go again on the next step.
Last night was beautiful, as Scott and his team continued to pour into us with teaching, food, and gifts for those with perfect attendance. We, the class, returned in kind with our words, our gestures, and our gifts. I'm so proud of our group, because we didn't just give them a gift card, or a letter. Some ingenious people in our group thought of giving them ourselves, by way of a book. Pictures of each of us, sharing memories of the class, and the verses of the bible dear to us. It was... our masterpiece. Something for Scott to look at and remember even more vividly the struggle, the tears, the love, and the victory. A monument, that his team's hard work and sacrifice was not in vain.
Through our memories, and our verses, we were telling him, "We got it. We understand. We know. We will press on." We learned so much, and there were times where we all wanted to quit, some of us did, but there is sweetness in the victory of accomplishing such a long commitment.
I watched people struggle through death, addiction, injury, anger, hate, loss, and depression. I remember the voice crying out, "I am ANGRY!" and the same voice telling us later in the year truths of God, as they healed. People battled with their jobs, and families. Everyone had something or someone trying to pull them away. No one was not attacked. "We fight not for victory, but from victory." That became the battle cry for many. "FEAR. False Evidence Appearing Real." Changed our views on how to understand, see, and combat lies told to us, by us, the world, others, and the enemy. So many more statements, but the biggest one and the one I'll end on.
"Remember to see Jesus in everything you do."

Thank you,
Scott, Julie, and Janice
For your Faith, Dedication, Sacrifice, and Passion
This blog could not have been written without your obedience to Christ.
God bless and be glorified in everything you say and do, from now until His return.

Dancing with Fireflies

I went for a walk tonight. My friend and I found a trail next to a shopping center and we walked, back and forth. Talking, praying. I did most of the talking, and he mostly prayed. It was a gorgeous night, the sky was dark blue, and the horizon was a line of gold fire, and spectacular colors were everywhere. The greens of the path, the dark shadows as the sun set, the fading light in the sky. As we walked, and the light faded, fireflies began to appear. Anyone who was ever a kid in North Carolina knows what fireflies mean. Summer is nearly here.
Now, this isn't about summer, or walking, or sunsets, or time with friends. It's about something I thought about as my friend was praying. I got this image of instead of walking, he and I were dancing down this path and fireflies rushed out the trees all around us... And suddenly... He was there. God was dancing with us, pure joy not corrupted or hidden by the scars and weights of this life. We were expressing ourselves, the cries of our hearts, and the image faded away. But it left hope behind, because one day there will be a new earth and I want to dance down sunset trails dancing with fireflies with my Lord.
Then there will be no shame, embarrassment, or fear.
Only Him, and Him alone.

Love is Blind

Its a common enough saying, "love is blind." People use it when someone falls in love with a "socially unacceptable" person and those people get a free pass from being ostracized because "love is blind". Mothers love their children regardless of who or what they become, again because "love is blind."

I think this is a ridiculous statement if you know what love is. Allow me to explain.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV

⁴  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, butrejoices with the truth. ⁷  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.


How can love be blind? In order to be patient you have to choose to not react in anger, to be kind you have to respond when someone isn't. To not envy, boast, or be arrogant one must see their own fallen human status. To not be rude, irritable, resentful, or insist on having your own way you have to view others above yourself. To not rejoice at something wrong you have to see it, be around it, and not react in approval. To rejoice in the truth, you must see the difference between truth and a lie. Love must bear, hope, and endure; you can't blindly hope, believe, or endure the things in this world.
How can love ever be blind?


Love sees everything and gives a hug. Love hears the hurtful words and responds with kindness. Love sits through the long hours of the night, spends hours in prayer, and allows the world to break on it like waves on rocks. Love forgives no matter the offense, love is NOT blind. You cannot express love without seeing people and situations as they are, and the greatest testimony that can ever be given is to show love when it is undeserving.


We were loved while we were far from God, He sought us when we were lost in darkness. We didn't find Him, He called us.
Have we shown love? Or anger, hate, bitterness...
Love... there's nothing that anyone can argue against it. No one can argue that anything above is not worthwhile to express.
Maybe it appears as though we are blind... but we're looking beyond the surface. Something is underneath, and it is more than the sum of the outward appearance. A value worth in innocently shed blood, sacrificially given to those undeserving. A gift of freedom and love, a gift meant to be shared, not hoarded for ourselves.
Let us show love! Let us LIVE in the attitude of love. Spreading throughout our families, and friends, so that no one can question who we are and who our Lord God is.
Onward we go...