Bless the children and teachers! God already loves and honors them. We need to love, honor, and protect them too!! ❤️💜

Again today lifting up the idea of loving ALL PEOPLE with art/illustration—my easiest, go-to way. But thinking also how cards and pictures are just supports and encouragements. I/we still need to do the hard physical, emotional, and spiritual work of CHANGE and GROWTH. Lord God, please show the way ❤️💜

Thinking about how a new life–a truly new life for all of us–could look and be COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Full of racial justice and equity, love, respect, peace, hope, plenty for all, and joy in community… powered by God and our deep faith and connection with the Lord.

Am I ready to leave the past ways behind and fully embrace God’s kingdom way of life? Jesus often said that the kingdom is near. I’m reaching out, praying to touch it, and saying, “OK, let’s go. Bring it on!” ❤️💜

When Jesus met the fishermen who were to become his first disciples, he said: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” I pray he will see fit to make of me someone who continually “fishes” for people to wholeheartedly participate in God’s kingdom… people who want to fight for justice, to love and respect ALL persons, and to see everybody as made in God’s image. I know your kingdom people are out there, Lord. PLEASE show me how to connect with them ❤️💜

Thinking about how Jesus was forced to carry the cross on which he would be crucified… According to scripture and tradition, Simon of Cyrene helped him, yet he still stumbled and fell several times on the way to Calvary. We also have the words of Jesus: “If any wish to come after me… let them take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

But what does it mean to take up the cross? To persevere and endure, suffering and more–if need be–to stay on the path God has set before us? Continuing to proclaim and preach/teach about the kingdom of God and its justice and rightness, whatever the cost might turn out be? Never giving up, tapping out, selling out? Sticking with love for God and one another no matter what, wherever it leads? A very tall order to say the least… Lord, PLEASE give us help to follow in this way. ❤️💜

People are crying… and CRYING OUT about gun violence, murder, and killing of innocents… mass shootings, racist killings, school shootings, murders of women and girls, random killings… Why? What to do? When? Where? How to stop them? we pray.

This world is not the kingdom of God, not the righteous world Jesus explained to us, exhorted us long ago to build. It’s not the one where we love each other. When does construction on that begin? ❤️💜

Peter told people about Jesus and the new way of living he taught. “Those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day, the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:41-47)

My question is: Can we in our time have the same kind of success Peter and the early disciples did in bringing to people a new way of living? A life based on justice and love? How?

Please show us, Lord, what to do for you and your kingdom. Give us courage, strength, faith, and boldness to do what you want us to do. I pray this in Jesus’ name. 🙏🏼

The “spirit of the Lord was upon” him. May it also be on us!! ❤️💜

I wish more folks knew my Savior, Jesus. He has answers for our world today, in this time and space. He said these liberating words and followed through in his actions over and over again: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19) Let’s LISTEN to him!!

A light for the world… Peace and blessings to all!! ❤️💜