"The Lord replied, "I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest -- everything will be fine for you."  (Exodus 33:14 NLT)

Changes, and challenges, can happen for all sorts of reasons - some planned for, like graduations, weddings and new babies - but some are caused by changes in health or moving (or both).  Sometimes they are good and pretty easy to handle.  Sometimes they are WAY more difficult and you begin to wonder what, how, when and IF you are going the "right" way.  Thankfully my friend, Isaiah, does remind us God IS with us and directs us: "Your own ears will hear him.  Right behind you a voice will say, "this is the way you should go," whether to the right or to the left."  (Isaiah 30:21 NLT)

Sometimes the changes (and especially the challenges) are because of the technology needed to make said changes.  Thankfully, again, there are people - usually younger(!) - who can help with teaching how to make said changes.  Technology is also a way we can be reaching out to share and encourage each other.

So....what is God asking you to do? To try? To share?  How are you hearing God's voice "I will personally go with you?"  Are you listening?  Are you willing to try?  Something to think about.........

"He  (changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;" (Daniel 2:21 ESV)

Trusting God through changes and challenges is an interesting roller coaster of things happening.  Each of us has things happening, and changing, even if it is "only" the seasons of the year.  You can add in road construction and really feel frustrated.  And in the middle of all of these changes are the changes happening with both age and trying to follow where God is leading.

Age related changes include both difficulty moving (called arthritis), changes in schedule (called retirement) and locations (called moving to a different location).  The retirement, and changes in address, can be part of the following of where God is leading OR part of "our plan" for said changes.  Either way they can cause some interesting roller coaster emotions - frustration (maybe even a little anger), thankfulness, enjoyment and relieve.   We can also be very thankful of God's presence, strength and guidance.

As we are all going through these things we can start screaming (sometimes needed), crying (also sometimes needed) or we can laugh.  Each of us need to decide which way we are going to go.......  I personally think laughter works best.

"And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language."  (Acts 2:6  ESV)

How are you at talking, sharing, with other people?  Can you tell someone "new" about something you have learned?  Can you talk with family, long time friends?  When you are trying to "help" them with something - either new to them or to you - can you share?  Do they understand what you are trying to share?  One sister, and I, do a lot of quilting (surprise!) but the other sister doesn't sew at all.  We frequently get talking about a project and totally confuse the sister who doesn't sew.  Her comment was/is "I know you are speaking English but I have NO idea about what!"

The Disciples were all "gathered in one place" (2:1) when "suddenly there came from heaven" (2:2) and divided tongues "as of fire" (2:3) and they were "filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." (2:4)  They were able to speak, about the miracles and love of God, to all the people "from every nation" (2:5) so that each person was able to understand about God's love through God's Son - Jesus the Christ.   The Disciples were able to talk, and share, so that each person could understand in their own language.

So.....  I ask again.....  How are you at sharing about God's loving presence with you?  Can you talk, so the person listening understands, about God's strength and guidance?  Can you use the language, like mixing together ingredients in cooking (the sister that doesn't sew cooks!)?  Something to think about.......

"I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night."  (Psalm 63:6  NLT)

I have noticed an interesting "new" habit developing.  As I am getting ready, putting things away and even stretching out on the bed preparing for my evening God time I have lines from various praise music going through my head.  Sometimes I can even remember which song they go to.  Sometimes I only remember the one phrase.  OR.... it is the Scripture verses from my morning God time going through my mind again.

That is what happened with this verse.  My morning God time had actually been verses 7 and 8 about "singing for joy" and clinging to God's "strong hand." (Like my friend Isaiah says! 41:10 & 13)  I will admit to liking to read the verses around the particular reading for the day.  Which is how I found verse 6 about meditating.  I may not meditate "through the night" but having God's Word just before I go to sleep is a very good way to end the day (and start) the day.

So......  When are you meditating on God's Word?  Do the readings sometimes "connect" with each other?  Something to think about........

"He will feed his flock like a shepherd.  He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.  He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young."  (Isaiah 40:11 NLT)

​Today is Mother's Day.  If your mother is still with you give her a hug or at least CALL her!  If, like my mother, she is with God wish other mothers a Happy Mother's Day.  It used to be my job, as the middle daughter, to wake out mother up on Mother's Day.  I would call her first thing - because for a long time I lived several states away from where she was.  So.......  give your mother a hug or at least CALL her!

As we start into another busy week my friend Isaiah is helping us through the changes and challenges.  In verse 10 Isaiah reminds that God is coming, "ruling with a powerful arm" and, then in verse 11, how the Shepherd will care for each and all of us.  This is from this morning's God time - reminding me of both God's care AND God's guidance - either "holding the lambs in his arms" or "gently leading."   Either way it is a wonderful reminder that Emmanuel IS with us.

So......  Feel God's presence with you, gently giving you guidance, shelter and strength.  Something to think about......

"So they drew near to the village to which they were going.  He acted as if he were going further, but they urged him strongly, saying "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them." (Luke 24:28--29 ESV)

I must confess this Scripture is part of one of my favorite "stories" of the New Testament.  It is the story of two Disciples walking to Emmaus and Jesus joins them.  They don't recognize Jesus but enjoy the conversation so much they invite Jesus to "stay."  I think we can be walking and not recognize Jesus is walking right beside us.

At a meeting I was at, this weekend, something different was pointed out.  It is something I think each of us should be thinking about.  These Disciples have not "yet" recognized Jesus but the "invite" Jesus to stay with them.  Jesus had acted "as if he were going further" but he, AFTER being invited, "went in to stay with them."  So..... I want to ask you.........  Do you recognize Jesus is walking with you?  Have you invited Jesus IN?  Something to think about because Jesus DOES want to "stay."

""Mary!" Jesus said.  She turned to him and cried out, "Rabboni!" (which is Hebrew for "Teacher")"  John 20:16 NLT

When do you share something?  When you have "to much" of something?  When you are excited about something?  When you are in need of help or encouragement?  When you have found something that really helps you so you think it might help someone else?  When you DO share how do you share?

This is the Scripture from Sunday morning...the story of the Resurrection.  Mary is still at the tomb, crying even though Peter and John have left, even though the angels have spoken with her.  Now she sees the person she thinks is the gardener.  Then... this person calls Mary by name.  And Mary recognizes Jesus.  She is excited, calling Jesus "Rabboni!"  In a few verses Jesus will tell Mary to "go, find and tell" (v. 17) the Disciples.  Which... Mary DOES.

So....... God calls us, by name, and asks us to share God's love - to "go, find and tell" - do we?  We are excited, we say "He is Risen! and respond He IS risen, indeed!"  But do we share with others God's love?  Something to think about......

"So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"  (John 12:13 ESV)

How do you celebrate something?  Do you go "out to meet" it? Do you wait at home?  Do you travel to someone's house or business to celebrate?  What does it take for you to "celebrate"?  As I write this I am at my son's celebrating the middle grandson's birthday.  This is the first time, in his 19 years, I have been able to "celebrate" his birthday with him.  This is the Lenten season and clergy are a little busy (especially with a multi-point charge) to travel for a birthday.  This year, however, I am "retired" so I could be here.

The people, in Jerusalem, "went out to meet him" and were excited.  They were crying out (shouting?) "Hosanna"!    They were waving "branches of palm trees" and some translations say "spread their cloaks on the road." (Matthew 21:8 ESV)  Do we get that excited about praising our God?  Do we celebrate with family and friends?  Do we TALK about our faith let alone shout (celebrate) our faith?

What did we do for the 19th birthday?  We had a quiet family dinner "out" and played some games?  We celebrated together, talked(!) and enjoyed the food and the fellowship.  What are you doing to celebrate?  Are you getting ready to celebrate Easter?  Something to think about........

"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...........