An Autumn Path through the Mountains (Ashe County North Carolina – Photo by Milly Moss)
Living a dream takes prayer and planning. That’s the fun part! Then comes the work. Sound familiar? Rarely does a dream drop into our laps. We hear about such things, like winning the lottery, inheriting a beautiful piece of property or a fantastic business opportunity. That doesn’t happen often. In my experience, dreams unfold while working a plan. Not every plan I’ve worked is successful. In fact, most are not. But, when it works, dreams unfold. Think of your successes. Some are little spots of joy, some are the dreams of a lifetime, and some do not turn out as expected.
Searching Rural North Florida (Photo by Milly Moss)
The last post, Looking Back, was about spring and summer past. As you might have gathered from my posts. I enjoy the future tense. The past holds bitter pain and sweet memories. The future holds promise, possibilities, and adventure. While the present holds daily uncertainty, hard work and choices… and unfolding promise. Now the Lord puts my focus on the present. The question is, what is going on today? How many plates are spinning above Milly’s head? And probably above yours too…
My mango tree in full bloom January 13, 2022 (Photo by Milly Moss)
Such an American thing to do. In American culture, we always seem to run to catch something. Writing this, I feel like I’m trying to catch 2022. So what happened? Let’s catch-up…
Legend has it that retirement is the dream. Glossy pictures and fast-paced videos paint retirees as jet-setters at play. We see them as enjoying life with games, grandchildren, family, and friends. And many of us work hard to set up future playtime.
Woosh! Whoa! Slow down. Then we creep along the track straight up in the air. Prepare… Creep… Prepare… creep… tension builds. The last day, we teeter at the top of the track with nothing but clear blue skies in every direction. Ah, Beautiful. It feels like we are floating on air. We can’t see the tracks. Only “blue skies ahead.”
As we do in every year, we make changes. This is nothing new. Change is a part of daily life. There is no “normal.” We live in the present and deal with what is happening today. I received an offer from the Lord to change my journey.
This week my moms found something in the parable of the Lost Son. Usually, I glaze over when this parable is mentioned. I cannot count the number of sermons and homilies I have heard on the “Prodigal Son.” My mom pointed out a four-word phrase that changed my thinking.
I am behind in my devotional “God Calling” edited by A.J. Russell. The funny thing is the July 20th devotional is was what I needed to think about, August 2nd. All I know is it was something I needed today. Continue reading “What Standard?”→
I planned to write a different post but as the old Yiddish proverb says, Man plans, God laughs. He is chuckling today! Yesterday morning, I “heard” the Holy Spirit’s nudge, Later Milly, stay with Me now.
I picked up the devotional God Calling edited by A.J. Russell and found this scripture included in the devotion for June 7th; True Beauty:
“Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you –
The sure mercies of David.” [Isaiah 55:3]
I’ve read God Calling twice. This is my third time reading it daily. Unlike a modern devotional there is not a verse with every reading. I found it odd I didn’t notice this verse in the prior readings. This time the verse reached out and grabbed my attention. I knew I needed to write about this.
In the New King James Version Isaiah Chapter 55 titled: An Invitation to Abundant Life. I encourage you to read the entire chapter. I see a blueprint here. How do we find abundant life? How do we get beyond all the messes we have made? What about the blame and hatred heaped on our shoulders like a heavy yoke tying us to earthly things?
I can’t resolve the blame placed on my shoulders by my children. I apologize for not being perfect. Or I explain my reasons and excuses for what I have done; even if I can’t remember why. None of that works. I am forgiven only until the next time others remember the mistake or hurt. Then my shame breaks my heart again.
I am watching this play out in our Country too. This weekend I watched a video of a young woman kneeling before a Black Lives Matter representative. He startled her and demanded she kneel before him because of the color of her skin. It was interesting that I never saw the color of his skin. Only the back of his black hood and I heard his voice. The image stayed with me this weekend. It was an image of judgment and unforgiveness rolling across our country.
In my faith, I learned not to bow before idols, gods, or man. I am called to only kneel before God. I learned this from Daniel, Mordecai, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Jesus Christ, and many others throughout our Faiths. Our Country was founded on principles allowing us to choose who we bend our knee to and worship. I do not worship money, skin color, or political power. My God is worth more than all of that. I kneel for God Almighty. He is my Lord. Then I read further and I found Isaiah 55:6-7:
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
How do we live an abundant life? There is the formula. Seek the Lord, call upon Him, forsake our ways and thoughts, and return to the Lord. The only true forgiveness comes from the Lord. “For He will abundantly pardon” us (emphasis added).
Writing this, I have a new image. If we return, seek, and call upon the Lord, forsake our old ways and return to Him; His Forgiveness, Love, and Acceptance will roll across our land. It is the only way to heal our Land.
“Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
My Lord, I am listening and come to you today. Help us live abundantly in the Holy Spirit’s embrace. Forgive us, heal our souls, and give us life. Guide us back to You, Holy Father. You are the only one who can heal our nations from judgment and shame. Set our Souls free to live abundantly in you! Help us move forward with confidence in God, our Father. In Jesus’ name amen. And in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit amen.
God Bless you,
Milly
P.S. The scripture passages are from the New King James Version.
Milly Really! 