re-energize.

After helping to lead a MOSES Weekend Mission Trip to Chicago with eleven middle school students this weekend, I'm thankful that I can use this Monday to re-energize. I don't always feel like I do much other than cook on these weekends, but I always come home so tired. I felt terrible sending Rob off to work this morning when he really needs some rest (probably more so than I do) - and he has class tonight too. I have an incredible husband and I'm so humbled and thankful for everything he does for our little family.

My morning cup of coffee with peppermint cream was excellent and helped wake me up [but only a little bit].

I used one of our new mugs today. It's a mug from Origin Coffee & Tea - a coffee shop in California.
Origin Coffee & Tea was started by two men and is run solely by volunteers.
All of the money made (above their overhead costs) is donated to organizations to help stop human sex trafficking.
Their slogan/motto is: "Tell them we're coming!" ... coming to rescue the thousands trapped in sexual slavery.
www.origincoffee.org

As I think about re-energizing today and about the congregation we worshiped with in Chicago at Roseland Christian Ministries yesterday, I am reflecting on a Psalm and a poem that one woman shared with us during the service. The service was wrapped around waiting for the Promised Land of heaven, but also recognizing the Promised Land that is around us now. Roseland is a pained, broken, crime-filled suburb of Chicago and even though the Christians at RCM do see hope in their "land" - they shared yesterday that all they want for the summer is that no youth will be murdered. But they [we] know that if our hope is in the Lord - our great and mighty God - that it IS possible to stop the murders and to "re-energize" their neighborhood.

Makes my re-energizing seems a little bit less important.

The woman read part of Psalm 37. Put this picture in your mind as you read it: she had just shared that her son had been murdered, their congregation is made of women/children who live in a shelter at RCM, homeless men and women, and men and women who have found their way to a better place but continue to serve the people in Roseland - they are true, genuine worshipers who know what real hope in Christ is because they have been in the deepest, darkest places and some of them are still there.

Psalm 37

Don't worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.
For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
Trust in the LORD and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires.
Commit everything you do to the LORD.

Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.
Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.
Stop being angry! Turn from your rage!

Do not lose your temper - it only leads to harm.

For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.

Maybe you need a simple re-energizing like I did today and a slow day at home started out with a hot cup of coffee will do the trick. Maybe you're in a place of deep pain and true despair and you need a re-energizing like the people of Roseland do. Maybe you're somewhere in between. There is hope.

Regardless of where we are and what we stand in need of, the good news is this: "Trust GOD, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn and the justice of our cause will shine like the noonday sun...For the wicked will be destroyed, [and] those who trust in the LORD will possess the [promised] land."