#unityisourvictory

Overtaken by the news this week, the Marches Against Gun Violence nationally and internationally. School shootings, more children die every day. Senseless mass shootings, murder-suicides. What we created for our protection has led to our destruction. How could something so powerful land in the hands of those so weak? When our children are young, we do everything to protect them. Home safety checks; cover all electrical outlets, adjusting the water heater, keeping medications and poisons out of reach. We equip them for the outside world. Look both ways before crossing the street, if your ball goes into the street, don't follow it. Don't open the door to strangers. Don't talk to strangers. Keep your hands inside the car. The list goes on and on; this was parenting.

At this time in history, every day we are losing our power to protect. When we send our children to school, we transfer the "responsibility to protect" to schools and teachers. But they are ill-equipped to provide this protection because a more significant predator has assumed control. This predator has so many faces that one doesn't know they are even in the presences of an enemy. Behind the gun violence is darkness.

The plea is for those in power to take the sharp objects, these weapons of destruction off the street and out of the hands of those who could hurt themselves and others. It seems such a simple solution, and yet there is greater darkness lying beneath the surface. Evil has no demographic. It is not a respecter of persons. This foe requires the intercession of believers. Jesus, please end this. Please heal the minds of your children. Many have lost their way, no regard for life, no trust in authority. We have become a self-destructive generation. We are hurting each other. The enemy has turned us on each other. When trust breaks; humanity will retreat to self-preservation/survival. When self is at the center, destruction is not far behind. Hurting people, hurt people. This darkness is the pathway of evil. Lord, please shine your light.  Let love conquer this evil. Please protect this generation, may hope abound in the mist of this darkest. Weeping has endured over many nights; may joy rest on us once again.

Your people, called by your name must humble themselves and pray, seeking your face so that healing can come to our land. We have turned our back on you, please don't turn your back on us. You are faithful even when we are unfaithful. The blood of a new generation is crying for help. Help us, Lord! We need you so badly. We must intercede. If we don't take our place on the front lines of this, this darkness will come to every address. We must unite and do all that's in our power. We must care about EVERYONE! We must do better! It's a sad day when our children have to stand up and take matters into their own hands.

UNITY IS OUR VICTORY!

"LIFE IS FULL OF Beautiful Moments, LET THEM IN"

It's Saturday. I like Saturdays, for me, it's that one day that has no agenda, I didn't give it. I guess that's true every day, but it's more real about Saturdays if I blow something off, it's pretty much on me. Of course, my nature is to be aware of how my actions and agendas impact others. It's just a fact, what I do or don't do matters to someone. I can choose when I do it.

This morning, I had coffee and watch a Hallmark movie.  Came downstairs for the second cup, took a moment to allow beautiful in- It was only a moment, but in that inhale, exhale moment, I experienced beauty. It was a simple tree that hangs over in my yard. The tree belongs to my neighbor, most days I desire to cut it back. It's a Cherry Blossom tree, recently awakened by Spring. Beautiful Blooming Spring, I wish it would stay in this state always, but it was created to produce cherries. I love cherries, but they are very messy, and those that fall in my yard are unwanted. I know that everything is beautiful in and for a time. It's not for us to resist the change that will inevitably occur, but to cherish the present beauty of any given moment.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)
God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

"LIFE IS FULL OF Beautiful Moments, LET THEM IN" A quote from the April editions of the Coastal Living Magazine, it was the ad tagline for MARVIN windows and doors. This quote awakened something in me.