5Isaiah 57-59; Psalm 103; 2 Peter 3

"The joy of Christians, even when it is unspeakable and full of glory, is an humble broken-hearted joy" (Jonathan Edwards).

I think...I think this morning I kind of get this...the feeling of joy in the midst of being or wondering if you're kind of just broken hearted and the humility to get there...to admit...you're just feeling a bit brokenhearted....

I don't know and I could of course as usual just be wrong but this morning and really leading up to this morning feeling a closeness to You / Joy in the midst of feeling broken and brokenhearted....

So now what......??
Pretty clear.......not for anyone else...for me....

9-12 "If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.

The Inner Debate a prayer by Henri Nouwen from 'The Dance of Life'
O Lord Jesus, your words to your Father were born out of your silence. Lead me into this silence, so that my words may be spoken in your name and thus be fruitful. It is so hard to be silent, silent with my mouth, but even more, silent with my heart. There is so much talking going on within me. It seems that I am always involved in inner debates with myself, my friends, my enemies, my supporters, my opponents, my colleagues, and my rivals. But this inner debate reveals how far my heart is from you. If I were simply to rest at your feet and realize that I belong to you and you alone, I would easily stop arguing with all the real and imagined people around me. These arguments show my insecurity, my fear, my apprehensions. You, O Lord, will give me all the attention I need if I would simply stop talking and start listening to you. I know that in the silence of my heart you will speak to me and show me your love. Give me, O Lord, that silence. Let me be patient and grow slowly into this silence in which I can be with you. Amen