Deja Vu?

Happy Friday! I seriously can't believe how fast these weeks and months are flying by this year. Slow yourself, your heart and your mind down and get into the Word today. READ and meditate on our readings.

In our Gospel (John 21:1-14) Jesus reveals himself to his apostles again. This time He finds them out at the Sea of Tiberias. The men were out fishing and Jesus calls to them from the shore and tells them where to throw their nets so they will catch some fish. At this, the disciple whom Jesus loved knew it was Jesus and told Peter.

Since they weren't far from shore, some of the disciples were in the water helping with the nets, so they hopped back up into the boat to head in, but not Peter! As soon as He heard it was Jesus on the shore, he jumped out of the boat and started swimming.

When they got to shore, Jesus already had a charcoal fire going with fish and bread on it. When they saw Him there they didn't need to ask who he was because they knew. He gave them some bread and fish to eat. This meeting with them was the third time he revealed himself to the disciples after his resurrection.

Why didn't they know it was Jesus right away? Why were they out fishing? What the heck was going on?

Peter was feeling pretty dejected and lost. He decided to go fishing and the others followed him. He had been a fisherman before meeting Jesus, so that is what he knew and probably felt right to him in that moment.

The first time Jesus told Peter to put down his net was his first encounter with Jesus and it was the start of Jesus ministry. Isn't it fitting that Jesus would call Peter back into the ministry the same way?

I absolutley love Peter's reaction to hearing Jesus is on the shore. He wasn't practical or thinking at all. He just jumps in the water and starts swimming! Forget the fact he would get there faster by boat, that wasn't even on his mind. Getting to Jesus was. I think about how I feel after seeing someone I love after a long time apart. I just want to run to them and give them a huge hug. Nothing else around me seems to matter and I don't care how silly I look (even though I am not a hugger), I just want to get to them!

When we see Jesus, do we run to Him or do we hide in our own shame and guilt? When we face trials and challenges, do we try to hide from Him or seek Him out?

He is there for us, to hold us, protect us, love us and save us! Don't try to hide from Him. Chase after Him.

Be Present and Pay Attention

Although, I did get my reading in yesterday, I did not get my thoughts on "paper" for you. Our movers were here loading up the truck and taking our stuff to our next home. We have been very blessed with a fairly smooth move so far. I am happy to get back to my routine today. Spend some time READING and meditating on our readings today.

Today's Gospel is found in Luke 24:35-48. In it we read Jesus showing up and revealing himself to his disciples. They were locked up in the upper room and He just appeared. Needless to say they were startled. They had already been told that He was not at the tomb. Jesus had already appeared to 2 of them and as they were recounting the encounter, Jesus shows up!

I really have no idea what the heck would be going through my mind during any of this part of history. I imagine I would have behaved much like the disciples with total shock, disbelief and worry.

I almost feel like Jesus was poking fun at them saying "why are you troubled?" Really Jesus? I know you told us what was going to happen, but this is a bit overwhelming, and oh yeah, you just appeared into a locked room.

Jesus understood they needed to see that He was actual flesh and blood an not some sort of ghost. He showed them His hands and feet and ate and drank. Then he recounted some of the lessons He spoke to them before the crucifixion. He recounted the prophesies that he fulfilled and opened up their hearts to what the scriptures held.

He knows we sometimes struggle to believe, and if we will get present, and pay attention He will reveal himself to us too!

Do you see Him?

Happy Tuesday! Be sure to spend some time READING and reflecting on God's Word today!

Today we read John's Gospel (John 20:11-18) and His account of Mary Magdalene and the empty tomb.

Even thought Jesus told His followers He would rise up from the dead, I get the impression over and over again that they didn't really understand and perhaps they didn't fully believe Him.

Mary is in the tomb weeping because Jesus is not there, a very stark contrast to what we just celebrated on Sunday about Jesus not being in the tomb!

She doesn't see the empty tomb and immediately think Jesus must be alive, instead she thinks He had been taken away.

When Jesus asks her why she is weeping, she has no idea that it is Him. She assumes He is a grounds keeper. In her sorrow and grief she doesn't recognize Jesus in her midst. Sound familiar? How often do we miss Him when He is right there in front of us? How often are we so consumed by our own emotions that we don't see Him?

She wasn't expecting Jesus to be there and assumed He was just a gardener.

Again, sound familiar? How often are we not expecting Jesus presence in a situation and totally miss Him?

When Jesus spoke her name, however, she immediately knew who He was.

My Sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me. ~ John 10:27 (NABRE)

Jesus has a short exchange with Mary telling her that she must not on hold on to him so tightly becuase He hasn't ascended yet. He would be leaving and she needed to go and let the disciples know. When she found them she declared "I have seen the Lord."

She didn't just know who He was, she truly saw Him! She saw him through eyes of faith.

Have you seen the Lord? Do you look at Him through eyes of faith and have a relationship with Him?

Huge News

Happy Easter! Well, Monday after Easter anyway. Our Lord is Alive! We must start acting like it. Get into His Word and READ our readings to see what He has for you today!

They were told He was going to rise up from the dead, yet they were totally shocked by it! Our Gospel is Matthew 28:8-15. It opens with Mary Magdalene and the other Mary leaving the tomb. They have some mixed emotions, to say the least. They are both overjoyed and fearful all at once.

While they were on their way back to the others, Jesus greets them. I honestly can't imagine what this must have looked like or felt like. These woman watched him die the most terrible, humiliating and painful death just three days earlier, and now He is in front of them in the Flesh!

Jesus resurrection gives us Hope. We don't need to be fearful, we need to trust. We don't need to understand, we just need to have faith. Jesus met these women where they were and He will meet you and I where we are, we must open our eyes and our hearts to see and receive Him.

The women saw the open tomb and until they were told did not understand where Jesus was, even though He had told them what would happen. He knew that they would need to see with their own eyes that He was no longer there. The empty tomb is for us! Sure, we want to see with our own eyes too, but we must have faith when we can not see.

The chief priests didn't want others knowing what happened and ordered the guard to lie. We must look past what others around us say and how they try to shape our views and understanding and look to the Truth! Get in The Word, spend time in prayer and keep your faith!

Humble Love

As we are nearing Easter, be sure to spend time READING and meditating on God's Word to prepare your heart and mind for the Resurrection of our Lord.

Today's reading is a favorite for sure. In today's gospel (John 13:1-15) we see Jesus demonstrating total humility and love for His disciples. The first time I witnessed the washing of the feet in church it nearly took my breath away it was so beautiful!

Jesus knew His time on earth was coming to an end. He knew he was about to fulfill His mission and suffer the most painful and humiliating death, yet His heart was with His friends. He wanted to show them love and teach them at the same time.

Jesus gets down on the floor and washes the feet of His disciples. He takes their dirty and nasty smelling feet and cleans them, if that's not love, I don't know what is! He performs the task of a servant with all the grace and love in the world.

Jesus love has no limits. He knew He would be betrayed, He knew almost all of these men were going to leave Him in His final hour, but He loved them anyway, he loved them totally, completely and unconditionally!

Jesus taught how to love and serve in this scene. He told them that if He is their "master" and "teacher" and He washed their feet, they should do the same. He is not above showing love and humility, so they shouldn't be either!

On this Holy Thursday, mediate on the depths of Christ's love.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ~ Ephesians 3:16-19 (NABRE)

Don't become complacent

As we move deeper into Holy week, let's get deeper into God's Word by READING and meditating on in in preparation for the Passion.

Today we read Matthew 25:14-25. We see a slightly different account than yesterday of Jesus calling out Judas as the one who will betray Him.

In both Gospel's (John's and Matthew's), Jesus is distressed and/or troubled as He shares with the group that one of them will betray Him.

Why would He do this? What was His end game here? He didn't just pull Judas aside and tell Him He knew what he was up to, but He also didn't say "Judas is about to betray me."

Was Jesus trying to make the disciples skeptical and turn on each other? I really don't believe that, it would be totally out of character for Him.

His statement sure got them thinking and questioning, didn't it? They didn't emphatically say, nope, not me, I know it's not me. They questioned "surely not I, Lord?"

Do you spend time really examining your heart? Do you sometimes think you are "better" than you are and can't do wrong? We know Judas commits the ultimate betrayal, but He's not the only one who betrays Jesus in the upcoming Passion, is He?

Peter was super quick to say that He would go wherever Jesus was going and would lay his life down for Jesus (John's Gospel). Peter's heart is in the right place, but I almost wonder if He got a little too complacent. When I feel super connected to Christ and things seem to be on point in my spiritual life, I sometimes get a little complacent. I stop spending the intentional time in prayer that I desperately need and slowly start to drift away from Christ. I stop praying for protection against Satan and the temptations around me.

We must continually examine our heart. We must pray for God to search us and show us where we are weak and then work on it and pray on it. We must not allow an opening for Satan to get in!

Two Acts of Betrayal

Spend some time with God today! Get into His Word by READING or mass readings today.

The first thing that jumped out at me in today's Gospel (John 13:21-33, 36-38) was that it began with Jesus being deeply troubled. Jesus knows everything that is about to play out. He knows it it His father's will, and He is still deeply troubled by it. We see this more fully when He is praying in the garden for God to "take this cup" from Him. We know how the story is going to play out and in the end Jesus wins, but sometimes we skip past the human elements of Jesus. We forget that although He is fully God, He is also fully man!

The next part that grabbed my attention is the line that Satan entered Judas. Satan prowls this earth looking for souls to devour. If He can enter into someone who literally walked with Jesus daily, how much more must we be on guard? How much more intentional and diligent must we be when it comes to our faith?

The last point I want to share is a a new thought for me that came from the meditation found at dailyscripture.net.

We know Judas betrays Jesus, but we also see the foreshadowing of Peter's betrayal of Jesus. I had not every really looked at the 2 side by side before today. Satan can sure mess with things! Satan was directly in the mix with Judas's act. Judas was greedy and His heart was all sorts of twisted. He betrayed Jesus deliberately and with evil intentions.

Peter, on the other hand betrayed Jesus, but not out of evil. He was fearful! He truly loved Jesus. He truly intended to follow Jesus wherever He went, He was just too weak to do it!

Jesus knows Peter's heart and is able to show Him compassion and grace. We are gonna mess up over and over again because we are human. We must continue to seek Jesus with all our heart and remain vigilant and not allow Satan to twist and distort it.

It's time to get our hearts prepared to follow Jesus to that cross. It's time to lean on Him and His strength to carry us when we just don't feel like we can go on. This path is not easy but it will lead to life everlasting!

What possesses your heart?

Wow, Holy Week is upon us. If you haven't been spending some serious time in God's Word, START today. If you have, continue by READING our mass readings for today.

What is your most special and prized possession? Perhaps is was something that cost a lot of money or has sentimental value, maybe it was a gift, or a combination of theses. Could you imagine parting with it for anything in the world? What about for Jesus?

Mary had an extremely valuable and extremely special bottle of perfume that she didn't hesitate to give to Jesus with all her heart and soul. She took the perfume and anointed Jesus with it. She then dried it with her hair. This was an act of extreme love and total humility!

The perfume filled the entire house with a sweet smell that was not to be outdone by the incredible love shown to Jesus by this act.

Judas's true colors and feelings were beginning to really show when got annoyed at the "wasted" perfume. To try to mask his "icky" heart he tried to say it was because if could be sold and the money given to the poor. He didn't care about the poor, or the act of love, or Jesus for that matter. He was greedy and only cared about himself and money.

Yes, that perfume could have been used to take care of the poor, but this act was far more important in the moment. Jesus was literally getting ready to die for each and every one of us. He as being anointed before His dealt. His blood is the Ostermann valuable thing in the world, surely it was worth giving up some perfume for.

I think about some of the possessions I have had that have possessed me. When we hold onto something too tightly, maybe that's what we need to consider giving up or giving away. Jesus needs to possess our entire heart! There can be no room for "stuff" of this world.

Give everything you have to the Lord to include your entire heart!

We are just as bad as they were

Wow, another Friday is upon us! Let's take a look at our Mass READINGS today and meditate on The Word.

Our Gospel (John 10:31-42) opens with Jews trying to stone Jesus again. It seems like someone is always trying to put him in prison or kill Him since He began His public ministry.

This time they sayHe is speaking blasphemy by claiming He is who He is. Jesus always has the best come backs and arguments because He is ALWAYS right. He uses reason and logic which just annoys people more.

In this Gospel Jesus tells us that He and God are one in the same. He is in God and God is in Him.

When we don't listen to Jesus, when we don't follow His call or obey, we are acting just like the people in this Gospel. We are basically discrediting Jesus the way they were trying to.

We want the good stuff from God without doing the work. We want forgiveness with out forgiving and we want grace and mercy without giving grace and mercy.

We completely disregard and ignore what we are taught even though we know they are right and true.

We have a choice to open our eyes and our hearts to see and know Jesus. To see and know the Son of God, the Messiah, the one who came to take on all our sins so we may live!

It's time to start paying attention and listening to Jesus.

Your Life Depends on It

Hanging tough this lent? Keep strong and feed yourself with God's Word. Hit up our mass READINGS today!

Our Gospel is from John 8:51-59. There is a bunch in here about Jesus being "I AM" and that He existed before Abraham, but I only want to look at one small, yet hugely important statement.

Jesus flat out says "whoever keeps my word will never see death."

Do you believe in Jesus? Do you believe Him? This isn't a trick question, more of a gut check. If we believe in Jesus and believe He is who He says He is, then we believe His Word, right? If we believe His Word, why don't we follow it?

We need to start taking Jesus seriously, we need to start taking our relationship with him seriously and we need to take His Word seriously, like our life depends on it, because it does!

If we don't keep His Word we will be separated from God and we will not live in eternity.

Check yourself and pay attention to the warnings that Christ gives us all throughout scripture, our life depends on it.

Truth and Freedom

Be sure to take a look at the mass READINGS for today!

How many times have we heard "the truth will set you free"? Did you even realize that came from scripture? Our Gospel (John 8:31-42) begins with Jesus telling the Jews "If you remain in my word you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Real freedom can only come through Christ. True Joy and Peace can only be found in Him! This isn't a big secret and it is something that is offered to us freely! We just have to believe, trust and obey The Word!

Jesus is met with resistance, yet He continues preaching to the hostile people that want him in prison or dead. He continues to carry out His Father's will. He continuously lives out the message He preaches, to listen and obey The Father!

Jesus is The Way, The TRUTH, and the Life. We can only be free through Him!

I AM

It's another new day and a wonderful day to be alive! Take a few moments to thank God for the new day and READ and meditate on His Word.

Jesus is the Great I AM. In our Gospel (John 8:21-30) He is very clear who He is and to Whom He belongs.

We can't have it both ways, we are either for Him or against Him. If we oppose Jesus and His message, we are against God, since Jesus is from God.

Jesus is God's Word, living and breathing among the people. He was not of this World and never claimed to be. He told the Pharisees over and over again who He was. He told them the only way to God was through Him, and if they didn't believe Him now, they will realize it when He is lifted up.

He came to wash away our sins and take on our burdens and our struggles. He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. If we miss that, we will remain in darkness.

Throwing stones

Happy Monday! Start the week off right and READ our daily readings for today.

Today's Gospel (John 8:1-11) may be one of the most important sections of scripture for us to pay attention to in this day in age.

A woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. The law of Moses commands that this woman should be stoned. The scribes and Pharisees wanted to test and put Jesus in a position where they could bring him up on charges for doing something wrong or breaking the law.

I love the way Jesus manages to get out of these crazy jams without sinning or breaking laws.

Judging happens as much in the church as it does outside the church. Sadly, some of the women I know who are quickest to condemn or judge others were in my bible study! These weren't bad women, they were human women! How many of us will look down on a woman we know that cheated on her husband, maybe we don't cheat on our spouse, but we don't honor them and show them respect.

How many of us look down on a mom who's kids are misbehaving and using bad words, yet we are doing so while we are drinking away and cursing ourselves?

I do believe there are levels of sin and some are more damaging to our soul, however, Jesus was super clear here when he says "let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

We are all sinners! None of us has the right to judge or condemn anyone else for what they do. God is the only judge! He is fair and just, we are not!

This Gospel has us really looking inward and examining our own heart before we start "throwing" stones at another.

It's not time

Can you believe that it is the last day of March already? This year is flying by too fast. Take time to pause, slow down your heart and mind and allow God's Word to wash over you. READ our mass readings and spend some time reflecting on them today!

Our Gospel (John 71:1-2, 10, 25-30) is taking place at the feast of the tabernacles. Jesus knew that the people did not like his preaching and wanted Him dead, but He continued to proclaim that He is from God and that God sent Him.

Jesus doesn't back down even though He knows it is going to eventually lead to His painful death. Scripture shows that God has a plan that will not be thwarted. God kept anyone from laying a hand on Jesus during this time because "his hour had not yet come."

What keeps us from being obedient to God?

I think the first, we aren't listening to God. We aren't allowing ourselves to get quiet and get into a place where we can really hear from Him and know what He wants from us.

I believe the biggest reason, however, is that we are scared! I reality, this makes no sense at all. The safest place for us to be is in line with God's will, carrying out his plan and purpose for us, yet we balk at it!

We are fearful of how we will look to others. We are fearful of failing. Sometimes we are fearful of the time and effort His plans may take and that we will have to "miss out" on other things. Sometimes we will even fear for our safety!

Jesus met all of these things head on! He faced rejection, He was called to go places and leave His family and friends, and he was constantly being threatened physically and with prison.

He knew that God's plans were bigger and better and that His Will must be done! He put His personal fear and comfort aside.

Jesus knew full well that He was going to have to suffer an excruciatingly painful death, but He knew it was God's will and obeyed anyway. He willingly could have said no, but he didn't. He took all that pain and suffering on for you and for me!

Who do you believe?

Good morning! Let's cut the chit chat and dive into The Word. Get to it and READ our mass readings for today.

Let's unpack our Gospel (John 5:31-47).

The people would not accept Jesus Words or His truth. They put their trust in man and not the one God sent. They just wouldn't believe, instead they wanted to imprison and kill Jesus for claiming to be of God.

Jesus was demonstrating the love He has for His Father by remaining obedient and doing His will. He wasn't looking to please anyone but God. He wasn't concerned with all the man made rules, but only those that God laid out.

The Jews were so quick to believe John's testimony, yet Jesus's has a greater one! Jesus doesn't need human testimony, He has God's! They were willing to follow Moses, but ignore who he wrote about!

Read and study all the scripture you want, if you don't believe in Jesus and put your faith and hope in Him, you will have missed the entire point. You will have missed who scripture was pointing to the entire time and you will have missed God's way to salvation.

The life isn't in the scripture itself, it is in the One who inspired it and His Son who was sent to fulfill it!

Why is it so hard to trust?

Don't just look to "get over the hump" today! Look to thrive through the day strong. Begin by READING God's Word.

Our Gospel today is John 5:17-30. It is a little longer than some, however, it is very clear. Jesus is the son of God. He is here on earth doing the will of God. Apart from God he can't do anything. Everything He does it what He sees His Father do!

God has given Jesus the power and authority to do ALL things in His name. He has the power and authority to raise the dead and give life as well as the power to exercise judgement.

In order to know God we must know Jesus. In order to honor God, we must honor Jesus. In order to truly live we must believe the Word of Jesus because it is from God.

Jesus was sent to earth in human form to bring us back to God. He came to restore what was broken in the garden. He is here as our perfect example. We don't just have God's Word, but we have Jesus, in the flesh to learn from! He is a bridge between us and God. He loves God so totally and completely that He is 100% obedient and submissive. He follows God's will out of total trust.

When was the last time you trusted God so strongly that you submitted completely to His will and were totally obedient?

I throw these words around a lot, but I know I am struggling with this during this season of my life. I know in my head that that the only way to true peace and true life is to be in total submission and obedience, but I still struggle trusting. It makes no sense since God has never lied and I can see his promises every day around me.

It's time to buck up or shut up, right? It's time to take that leap (even though it's not really a leap, right), submit, obey and live in God's will.

Do you want to be well?

Can you believe it's already Tuesday in the 4th week of Lent? Crazy, huh? If you haven't been getting into The Word daily, don't beat yourself up, just start with today! If you have been, continue on strong and READ our readings for today.

In our Gospel (John 5:1-16) we see a man who has been ill for 38 years! He is waiting by one of the large pools that it was believed could heal those who enter when it gets stirred up. When Jesus encounters the man he asks "Do you want to be well?"

I use to read this and look at the story as the man not willing to do what it takes to get well, that maybe he didn't really want to be healed. I have actually heard this used as a message to take action and step out in faith, but today I read a reflection on it that got me thinking in a whole new way, one that lines up more accurately with the scripture here. The man was paralyzed. It's not like he wasn't trying. The man had no one there to help him, yet he didn't lose hope! He remained there year after year believing he would get well.

When Jesus asked the man "Do you want to be well?" the man explained why he couldn't get into the water. Jesus then tells him "Rise up, take your mat, and walk." Dude, got right up and walked. He believed he was well right away!

Jesus spoke healing into the man and he was immediately healed!

Do you want to change? Do you truly want to be healed? Do you believe in Jesus power to heal you wholly and completely? Don't be content in your circumstances and don't lose hope, be willing to allow Christ to transform you!

Do you have an expectant hope?

Happy Monday to you! Start your week off right by READING our Mass Readings today.

Our Gospel (John 4:43-54) begins with Jesus returning to Cana in Galilee. This is where His public ministry began when he turned water into wine!

A royal official heard Jesus was there and put his pride aside and went and asked Jesus to come heal his dying son. Jesus challenged the man suggesting that unless the people see signs they will not believe, but the official remained persistent. He asked Jesus to come before his child died.

Jesus saw right into this mans heart. He knew that he had real and genuine faith. He told him to "go; your son will live."

The man didn't argue or question, he just left confident and hopeful. He was greeted by some of his slaves part way home and learned his son became well the same moment Jesus said he would!

This man approached Jesus with a humble and expectant faith. How often do you do that? I know I don't do it nearly enough. Sometimes I sincerely come to him, but not with great expectation, and not with real faith.

The royal official took Jesus word that his son would be healed. He didn't question Jesus or want more, he simply had faith and went on his way home.

I know in my head that Jesus is always there for me. I know in my head that He keeps His promises. I know in my head that nothing is impossible for Him, yet my heart fails me sometimes. I don't go to Him with the Big (or even the little) things consistently. I don't give Him the chance to prove who He is enough in my life. I don't fully and completely humble myself with the expectant hope of the royal official.

It is time to get what's in my head into my heart. It's time to fully and totally saturate myself in God's Word. It is time to bring all my stress, anxiety and fear to His feet and allow Him to work miracles in and through me!

Let's Break it Down

I can't believe it's another Friday already! Let's dig deep and dive into The Word by READING our Mass readings.

I love when Jesus lays it out for me. Parables are great, but I like when he totally cuts to the chase and tells it like it is.

In our Gospel (Mark 12:28-34), he breaks the commandments down for us. Seriously, 10 rules to live by doesn't seem so bad, but He breaks it down even further!

He is asked what the first and greatest commandment is and His answer is:

"The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."

If we truly place God first and we truly love Him, we will obey him, making all the other commandments a moot point. If He has the first place in our heart and everything we are and do is for Him, we will be living right and naturally obeying the commandments.

Keep it simple. Scripture and God's law is not complicated, He is very clear on this. Truly and totally love God.

Don't be divided

Alright friends, it's time to get into The Word and READ our mass readings for today!

Our Gospel (Luke 11:14-23) has a lot to unpack.

Jesus was doing his thing, casting out demons and performing crazy miracles, yet the people tried to claim he was from Beelzebul or wanted him to prove who he was with a sign.

It would seem to me that plenty of signs were happening, but the people refused to see them. Their hearts were not truly open to what they were witnessing and hearing about.

It was almost easier for them to believe He was of Beelzebul than of God. If he was from God, than the Kingdom of Heaven made it's way to earth and they would never be the same again.

We have a choice to make!

Scripture is very clear, we are either with Jesus or against, we can't have it both ways.

Division leads to destruction. A kingdom divided is useless and a house divided will fall. We see this ever day! Shoot, look at our government. When we are divided, things don't get done!

I want to be on the side of Good, Right and Truth. I want to stand on the side of faith, hope, love, compassion, mercy and grace. I want to be swept up in the love, peace and protection of Christ.