Why do we always need to be looking up?

Good morning all-

The title of this blog is "Why do we always have to look up?"  You may think that this title is a little weird but yesterday, that's the only thing I could think of.  I am currently in one of the most historical yet strange and vital cities in the US.  It's the only place I know you can walk down the street with drinks in hand, watch small children pedaling for their parents and yes, there are so many half-naked women it's just amazing.

The sites and sounds of New Orlearns are mysterious and sinful all in the same breath.  It's crazy to me that people come here just so they can get drunk, feel free and move about in a way that you can't anywhere else.  However, due to recent events the state police were everywhere so the sights weren't as crazy.  I'm here for 9 days on business.  It's not the place I would choose to be but I'm here nevertheless.  I have walked Bourban street, sat on a balcony overlooking the street and spent hours with people this week.  I'm now out of the French Quarter and up the way but you still can hear the sites and sounds of New Orleans.

After a long week, I was driven to my next destination by a client.  I got up to my room and the first thing I realized was the sound.  It was quiet and I was alone.  I hadn't been alone the whole week.  It was a strange feeling and yet, I think it was time for me to just relax and be quiet.  I took a short nap, flipped through some channels on the television and saw devastating pictures of war, a ticker that read Ebola is back and how financially we still aren't where we should be. That happened all in 30 seconds.  The sights, sounds and chaos surrounding the world we live in.

My heart goes out to the Israeli's and the Palestinians.  Their world right now consists of staying in place, dodge the bombing and threat everywhere.  The women are angry and rightfully so, the men are causing this war and all the bad things that are happening with it.  Their babies are in hospitals on floors being treated for things they should never have experienced.

I began to pray the minute I saw these events. I prayed for peace, I prayed for protection of the innocent and I prayed that God would heal those nations.  Is it possible?  Not without Jesus and I'm not sure he's going to fix what we keep messing up.  Needless to say if you watch the news, you probably feel as hopeless as I did in those moments.  And then my mind went to, "Lead us, O, Lord and conquer the evil that we create."  We create turmoil, persecution, war, and disease.  Although it is brought to us because of sin, we still participate.  My prayer is that we will continue to ask for forgiveness, repent our sins and turn toward Christ.  That's really our only recourse in a world full of bad decisions.

So last night I prayed that and I will continue to pray today.  Please pray for Africa, Israel and Palestine.  Disease and war are eating at these countries and the only thing we can do is to sit still, look up and find Jesus.  He is the Savior of the world.

Sometimes I wish I was a prophet of old but then I guess I'm glad I don't have the responsibility.  My responsibility today is to pray and to provide a picture of our Savior.  He's near even though it doesn't feel like it.  Take some time today and spend it with Him.  Ask Him what you should be looking up for. I'm sure He will tell you!

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (‭Psalm‬ ‭105‬:‭4‬ NIV)

My prayer today:

O, Lord, grant Your servant the ability to look upon Your face.  Help me to help millions of women see You and pray to You.  Help us to surrender our fears unto You and to remember that every event that we can think of has had Your hand on it somewhere.  You are a Holy God, full of wonder, awe and power.  Rain down Your power on this earth and remind Your people that the only place we need to go is to Your arms, looking up and finding You.