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TODAY I am in a place of deep joy and victory. I am savoring the wait and excited about what God is going to do, WHATEVER it might be. I am so thankful for this difficult but amazing journey God is leading us through.

Jesus’ exchange with Peter is especially touching. He prophesied of Peter’s coming struggle and said, “…but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (v.31-32) Jesus knew the pain and remorse Peter would feel about his denial. Jesus reassured Peter, that although He knew it would happen, he also knew that Peter would come back to Him.

Jesus did not intend for us to know the exact date and time of His return otherwise He would have told us. He said the end would come when we aren’t expecting it, like a thief in the night. He intended for us to live as if the end could come at any time.

Jesus came to give us sight. The Holy Spirit does open our eyes to spiritual truths if we seek it… but it is a process. Our vision will never be totally perfected until we shed these cursed physical bodies. But while we are here, if we seek God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds, He WILL take us on this journey of discovery, opening our spiritual eyes little by little to understand truth. It is an exciting journey.

As the world today seems to be crumbling all around us, remember Jesus has promised that God WILL bring about “justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night” …and He will bring about this justice “quickly.” (v.6-7) This is a promise!

But there’s a problem that needs to be solved… and so we obsessively search every day… for the past three months. It has been stressful. I have had a panic attack. I have cried. But really all I need to do is WAIT… “stop striving.”

Jesus’ teachings about forgiveness were radical and difficult. Jewish law had always been an eye for and eye. And now Jesus was saying to repeatedly forgive your brother who sins against you. The radical forgiveness lifestyle that Jesus describes is not humanly possible on this side of the veil. Only through the sacrifice and salvation of Christ can we be considered as pure as the way of life Jesus described. That is why faith is required. If we try to live such a radical life on our won, we condemn ourselves to the law, the old way of trying to achieve perfection by our own stubborn willpower. It can’t be done! Only through faith in Jesus, by continually throwing ourselves at His feet and covering ourselves with His perfection, can the radical life Jesus described in Luke 17 be achieved.

Be careful what you let into your life through social media. So much good can be accomplished within it. I use it every day. But it is a road lined with treacherous detours. Much foolishness lurks there… and the foolish person “does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.” (v.18)

Jesus told three stories in a row with exactly the same ending. The message is clear. There is a fantastic celebration in heaven whenever someone comes to Jesus. Think about that for a moment. If you know Jesus, there has been a celebration in heaven… for YOU!

Just then the largest, most fantastic falling star I have ever seen shot across the sky. It had a long sparkling trail streaming far behind it. I’ve never seen such a sight before or after. We all gasped simultaneously in amazement. The pastor had no idea that was going to happen. It was God’s gift just to our little group. WOW, what a beautiful sign from God! I think He was reassuring us that He was there with us and had seen our hard work. Often over the years since then, I have often heard God whisper into my ear, “Remember the falling star…” God sees us. He is here with us. He knows you intimately. He loves you and wants you to come back to Him. Remember the falling star.