"Comfort, comfort my people! says your God."  (Isaiah 40:1  CE)

What do you think of with comfort?  Curling up, in your favorite chair with a good book?  Working on your most recent project (quilt?) with music (praise?) playing?  Sitting with a cup of something hot while watching the weather outside?  Maybe it is your favorite "comfort food" instead - tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich?  OR maybe your favorite Scripture verses?

I tend to go to my friend Isaiah when I'm starting to feel overwhelmed.  Isaiah reminds us of God's presence with us through whatever is happening.  This verse, this morning, says straight out - "COMFORT!"  Not only is God giving us "comfort" God is reminding us to "comfort" each other.   Then in chapter 41, verses 10 & 13, God reminds us He is holding our hand and has us IN His hand -- true "comfort."

So..... with all the changes and challenges...... where, or what, do you do for comfort?  How do you help, and encourage, others?  Can you share?  Maybe even help someone find help through the internet...like this page for Caregivers....  Something to think about...........

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  (John 14:27 ESV)

How are you at receiving gifts?  How are you at giving gifts?  What kind of gifts to you give or get? We like to give "memories" because we really do not need anything more.  A lot of thought goes into each gift, maybe even especially for memories.  I would also like you to be thinking about receiving.....

​Jesus is talking to the disciples helping them to understand the gift Jesus is giving - God's peace.  He is reminding ALL of us that what Jesus gives is not like what the world gives.  Jesus is giving us God's PEACE so we can "let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  There was a lot happening around Jesus, and the disciples, and more coming at them soon.  This was a good gift for the disciples and a good reminder to us.

So....are we listening to what Jesus is telling us?  Are we receiving God's PEACE?  Something to think about...........

"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the Sabbath day." (Luke 4:16a)

What do you think of for "custom"?  Returning from overseas and going through "customs"?  The "custom" of another country you are trying to celebrate?  Or something you do - like following a Lenten discipline?  Or the idea of a "custom" as more of a "habit."

Jesus is back in Nazareth but is spending Sabbath in the synagogue because that was "his custom."  Or what he regularly did.  We see it, frequently, where Jesus is in the synagogue.  On this particular visit Jesus "stood up to read" (16:b) which may, or may not, have been part of the custom.

What about you?  Is it your "custom" to be in worship on the Sabbath?  Is it a "custom" you could start?  Something to think about......... 

"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."  (I Corinthians 9:27  ESV)

How are you at discipline - especially when it is something "for" you?  Are you still doing your New Year resolutions?   Have you tried the "new" thing/project you said you were going to?  Today is Ash Wednesday the start of Lent, for those of us who follow the Liturgical calendar.  It is a time when some of us "give up" something - like chocolate, candy, treats.  A long time ago the money we supposedly saved went into a little box we turned in on Easter for whatever mission project the church was doing.

This Scripture is Paul pointing out the need to have self discipline.  To be following where God is leading so others see it.  As we are sharing our faith with others do people actually SEE us living our faith.  It is an interesting thought.

As we go into the six weeks of Lent I have a suggestion for a discipline to follow.  ADD something in.  ADD time with God.  If, like me, you already have morning and evening God time ADD more God time.  ADD time in prayer.  ADD time to listen for what God is saying to you.  Something to think about......