What a week! For you too, probably?

 Here are my little laments:

My hard drive crashed again two days ago. Can lightening strike twice in the same year? Of course, though,  “It’s very unusual,” says my computer guy with a frown. I've been limping along on a borrowed computer . . . (which is why I am posting late this week)

Last night someone spewed hate and political poison all over me and I couldn’t escape. . . 

This last week of our local elections, the competing side has gone dirty and is slandering my husband every day in the local paper . ..

 (While on local politics, here is my husband's one minute ad: watch for my son on the piano!)

So—-just normal everyday life. And in the midst of it, before we all go and cast our votes and further rend this nation---

 in the midst of all this, my daily reading takes me here. Of all places----Here: (And it must be read  s l o w l y   with music!)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?   

NO!! In ALL these things                (starvation, persecution, nakedness)       

we are MORE

 than conquerors through him

who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future, 

nor any powers, 

neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of

God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

BUT. Please Listen.

WE can separate ourselves from his love!!

 

We CAN!! We can refuse it! We seldom do it outright. Come with me and I’ll show you what I mean.

 

We’re going to go where the gospels take us, where Crossing the Waters takes us, to those moments around the fire when Jesus forgave Peter. Here’s the scene:

 

That’s what we do.

 It's ugly when we turn from God.

When we're too busy, 

(or when politics take us over . . . )

God’s love isn’t enough. We have to receive it, value it, walk in it, return it, breathe it back.

Nothing that happens this week or next----no matter who becomes president of this country---NOTHING can separate us from the love of Christ.

Nothing.

Except us.  

Do you love me?

Lord, you Know that I love you!

Take care of my sheep. 

This week, of all weeks, shall we do this, together?