Day 24 - Feels Like Friday* Adventure*Journeying with Jesus*

It feels like Friday.

The end of a long work week.

Fatigue from early alarms and 

late nights.

And the stuff of life, being out there in the dark of the day, out in the world. 

There’s no long search to find people imprinted by sadness, anger, depression, injustice, hatred, illness, abuse, apathy, a broken family, neglect, and death. 

Simple encounters, momentary conversations (for those with eyes to see and ears to hear) reveal expressionless faces, longing eyes; hopelessness and despair spoken through body language and strained voices.

I’m not referring to long nights spent on TV or movies or internet.  No, this is the stuff of real people.  And in my sphere of influence, the heart-wrenching truth - so many walking wounded are children.

People all around me are hurting, lost, anxious, lonely and suffering from the fallen-ness of mankind extending all the way back to Adam’s treasonous choice in the Garden. 

Leaving work, I pulled my car onto the road leading home, Jesus caught my attention.  He knows my thoughts and what I tend to do with them.  So, He reminds me of truth.  The words of Paul I need to catch hold of…

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8 NLT

Suddenly reminded, Good Shepherd is near, I prayed.

Jesus, You know all the stuff, I've bumped into today. I can't fix it, and I can't carry it.  It's all too much, and I am weak.  All I know for sure; Jesus, You are the only hope for everyone I've met today.  You're my only hope.  So, please do what only YOU can do for each of us; fulfill Your good plan and glorify Your name.

And then the earlier words of Paul to the Philippians pushed forward in my thinking...

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.   Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:4-7 NLT

Refreshed, thankful, I received His peace and pulled my car into home.

Weekend. Rest. Sabbath. Grateful.

Blessings of GREAT JOY following Jesus on this amazing adventure journey!

Lisa