Scripture standout: Ps 72: "12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight."
Ps 119: "76 May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant."
according to your promise to your servant."
1 Corinthians 5: "13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
Mark 4: "8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”
His Deed/The Day: Before yesterday's horrific turn of events at Episcopal School of Jacksonville, my mind was on my next door neighbor. She has flare ups of anger and, in my opinion, insanity. When that happens, she yells at my children or my neighbors to get off her property in a way that is visceral and unmeasurably mean. On Monday, I had to explain to Marley and her friend that there are unfortunately people in the world who are out of their mind — whose brains aren't working right, that are sick. Crazy isn't a word we use lightly, but some sick people are just that. Our next door neighbor, I explained, was sick. She is not functioning like a healthy adult. Then I reminded them to stay the hell away from the Wicked Witch and her property.
Then Tuesday. A clearly crazy person takes his illness to the highest of earthly levels and kills someone wonderful — and himself. Is that what crazy people do? Is this the message my children are somehow learning as I try to protect them from people who are one beer short of a six-pack?
The scripture today in Corinthians is clear about judging: we let God do that. It's not for us to do. But it also encourages us to expel the wicked person from among us. How the heck do we know who's the wicked witch and who's so wicked they would kill another person? Did Dale see the wickedness and illness in the young man who killed her? Was she trying to expel him from "among them" so he wouldn't hurt someone, or many others? I want to learn from this so desperately, but there are so few tangible answers.
Today, my deed will be to listen, pray and learn. More prayers aloud for all of the families, the Regans especially, who have been directly impacted by this horrible event.
Deedsclosure: Awful, I was going to talk about the obituaries today as a source for daily deeding. I was going to write about how much closer you feel to your community when you pick up the obituaries and go through, story by story, and say a prayer — aloud — for each family mentioned. "Lord, please bring Smiths comfort today. Mr. Brown, I'm thinking about you and your son right now. Lord be with them." It's a tangible reminder that we're all in this life and death business together.
Today, however, I am scared to open the paper. It's too close.
I am so sorry about this...John 16:33 says “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” From the beginning of Creation, trouble has existed here. Cain killed his own brother! Our own Savior died a violent death. But He overcame death, and He has overcome the world.
ReplyDeleteKeep crying out to God for understanding and He is faithful to give you peace. Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”