behind every face,

there is a story.

no, many stories.

we do not know

where on the journey

of life, people are.

i was casually browsing

through nordstrom's.

san francisco. with a

special friend. wanting to

look at the costume jewelry.

just for fun.

there was a pair of earrings

similar to ones that someone

gave me and got ruined. on sale

clear down to $14. my face warmed.

$14?! i could manage $14.

a perky, young girl.

maybe in her 20's.

excuse me. is this price correct?

let me ask my manager.

returning, she said you have

even a better deal. the price has

been dropped to $9. usually, we

never sell anything this reduced in

price, but the manager said you can

have them. $9.

my eyes were large.

heart beating.

i don't know if you are a

spiritual person, but i know God

brought me straight to you. you

were the sales girl that approached

us.

suddenly,

her visual look turned cold.

only her eyes betrayed her.

i was not deterred.

God didn't send me to you to

tell you to change. to shape

you up. chastise you. almost

whispering, i said, oh, no!

Jesus wants me to tell you

that He loves you and REALLY

cares. i don't know what is

happening in your private life,

but Jesus sent me to say it

will be alright. He is working

on it.

tears began to gather

in the corners of her eyes.

her face softened.

an ordinary day.

a sales' clerk at nordstrom's.

a giant God of the entire universe.

His vast love and compassion.

don't preach.

give people hope.

touch them where they

are. plant a seed of love

where it can sprout. let the

world know they REALLY

matter to God. somehow,

bring Jesus to their level.

it is ALL about love.

sometimes,

it is just a warm smile.

telling someone they are

beautiful. a hug. people

are starved for connection,

fragile wonder.

vast open sky.

breeze on our skin.

glorious world.

amazing, glorious God.

a song across the meadows.

Jesus lives,

and that is EVERYTHING.

amen.

as tall and proud

as a towering palm tree.

stretching toward the sky.

as majestic as a mountain

standing against all obstacles

in its praise to a creative God.

not even man can call to it. it will

not shiver or blur in magnificance.

the sun that slides so quickly.

below the curve of the horizon.

rising or setting, its radiance fills the earth

with glory.

and the ocean.

pounding surf.

singing its own melody.

doing its majestic dance.

so is the Solid Rock

of our salvation. Jesus.

Redeemer. Creator. Lover

of our souls.

He calls us to join the

march. be soldiers. straight.

strong. unwavering

in our "yes" to Him.

do you understand

the wilderness?

screaming? sweating? hoping?

begging? yearning? lost?

alone? destitute? feeling forsaken?

God! where are You?!!

abandoning me?

kicking me off the team?

i am not good enough?! yet

YES! to reaching our arms

around His neck. hanging on.

to believing against all odds

that some day. some way.

God's strong arm will pull

us out of the shadows of

torment that have twisted our faith,

we will NOT be moved.

we will NOT give in.

the enemy cannot defeat us.

even as steady as

the sun to rise and set

each day, so

our eyes and hearts

are cast on you, Lord.

remember.

we are WARRIORS!

and all God has in this

bitter, lost world.

life is a marathon.

rhythmic with the eternal

God of the universe.

you WILL

laugh again.

your patience will build perseverance.

a sign you are ready

for your next mission.

dance, world. dance.

the Light of Glory

will come to us again.

amen.

amen.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith

develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish its work

so that you may be mature and complete,

not lacking anything."

James 1:2-4 (NIV)