12 November: Tuesday Refocus

"God patiently waits until we are ready to trust and surrender, In other cases, we genuinely have the desire, but need more time to grow. Even though God's grace moves swiftly, all authentic human growth happens slowly. Little by little, his grace stretches us through holy desires, careful not to break us.” - Fr. Derek Sakowski

In sorrow and suffering we can be tempted to believe that God is distant. But perhaps, these realities for the children of God are not evidence of God’s distance, but of His nearness (Psalm 77). And the good news for the people of God is that God’s nearness is always our good (Psalm 73:28). He is holding our days and our longings in the same hands where are names are engraved (Psalm 31:15, Psalm 38:9, Isaiah 49:16).

Father, thank you that our lives and longings are safe in Your hands. Amen.

Amen,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: April 18

“Like the manna of old that fell in the wilderness, He has come where you are. You do not need to go on a weary search to find Him.” - Lilias Trotter

God with us. God among us. God for us. God who indwells us. This is Emmanuel. The one who did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself and took on the form of a servant (Phil 2:6-7). He has moved close to those who were dwelling in the land of deep darkness (Is 9:2). He came to seek and to save the lost - because there is no one that searches for God, no, not one (Luke 19:10, Rom 3:11).

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” - John 6:35-40

Lord, may we taste and see that you are good. Amen.

Amen,

AB