“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 8:5-8 NKJV
Collision course
Inevitability. As life has proceeded, I have come to realize that there is an inevitability that life as a Christian will come in direct conflict with the world we live in. No matter how we try to shut ourselves away from the effects of the evil, we are locked in a collision course.
We are living in a time when those collisions are happening with greater frequency, with shocking outcomes that are rattling even the most jaded to the core. It seems as if the evil is prevailing, and good failing, but it is on us to remain steadfast for our God knows the end from the beginning. Remember, we know the end of the Story.
Last night evil stepped into the parking lot of Cornerstone Church in Ames and a man with a gun killed two women before turning the gun on himself. Once again the Lord met me in my darkness, and presented me with the words from His Holy Scriptures before I even knew I needed them.
The women were going to attend the kick off event for the Salt Company in Ames, an evangelical ministry aimed at college students. It was an opportunity for the young to set their minds on the things of the Spirit in a world bent on dragging them into the darkness of the flesh.
In a moment, a flash, darkness entered, and death appeared.
It is time to pray.
Brothers and sisters, we are people dedicated to following the Spirit, and not the flesh. The evil one is lurking, and he is waiting for opportunities to attack, driving people against each other. It is on us to be the people who follow Jesus. It is not a time for forensically dissecting all the events that transpired, but to offer prayers, love, kindness and humility.
As we go through our day, let us recognize that many of us are struggling today, for violence seems to be sweeping our world. Let approach each other with gentleness, walking in love, being reminded that we do not know what is happening in the lives of those around us.
May we be people who put on the cloak of love, letting all its godly attributes flow through us.
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4-8a NKJV
In taking on the cloak of God’s love, we can be effective witnesses.
Pray for the families of the victims, and the shooter. Pray for their comfort, and pray for the Cornerstone Church family.
I don’t normally do a Friday Prayer Chair, but my heart is always open to hear requests and my lips ever ready to lift people up to the Father.
#prayforCornerstone
#prayfortheharvest
Musings from an idle mind 
I am where you are today Bernie. Our former music pastor is now the lead pastor at cornerstone Church, and his wife is family with our friends at Saylorville. We are praying hard over that situation, along with you.
“I have decided to follow Jesus… No turning back, no turning back.”
Thanks so much for your prayers my friend.
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