Yeah – awake awake – awake with the time change from my flights – I fall asleep 8pm up at 3 or 4 am- don’t even want to think about the fall back coming up soon – this weekend here in the US – already had it in Europe… it is OK because the Lord gives me this quiet time with him – (and with the cat next to me in presence) – and I have learned to accept what I get in sleep and be grateful in instruction. Quieting time with the Lord is BLESSED! (Grab a nap later – God is talking now!)

And what a fabulous overseas trip it was – my mom always saying WOW WOW WOW – and I was so happy to see her happy to see family she never met but felt like she knew them forever – now that is an amazing bond. I wish we could go for Sunday dinner each week.

Funny how life is – us both going and coming – we were with thousands of people we ignored but waited to see those we loved as family – we were waiting on the train – in the airport – in the shops – oh all these people – thousands – and my mom and I do like to engage them but also we ignore them or try not to talk to them – even one lady in the transfer airport was a fellow american – from the other coast – and she was on a long layover and SO chatty like she had no one to talk to for days – and we chatted yes but just kinda moved on as soon as we could get a break in her conversation…  Yeah funny how we travel thousands of miles ignoring people to meet up with “our people” – to whom we can never seem to see enough of…  Funny…

I had a lot of time to look at things and yeah, not surprising, I still (9 years later) have this amazing sight of the number 52 all the time… Yeah, “52” is a magic number – well magic is not the right word if you think of magic distractions as a devil’s deed but this 52 reminds me of thinking about God – so even if there is wrong in a circumstance, God can use it for right. Just let God flip it on the devil’s head – crush it!

52 – it tends to not surprise me anymore that God is trying to knock on my head continuously and remind me that HE IS IN CHARGE… 

52 – even the clock just now as I looked down – 52 – no, it’s not my lucky number, it’s just that God HAS my number. Yes, it is my house number, so it is fun of course. And I see 52 and I think of what God’s trying to tell me – like “Shhh, Be quiet”, “Let Me (God) handle this”, “Be still”, or at least I am the one who needs these reminders all the time, no matter how faithful, God is MORE faithful to us. to me…

52 – yes that is also the number of weeks in a year and cards in a deck – good thing the jokers are excluded!

52 – As I stood waiting at Gate 52 for my flight, which was one of at least 20 times 52’s showed up for this trip, I was reminded that I left my readings of the Old Testament somewhere in the 50’s and yes Isaiah 52, speaking of Jerusalem of the time and also of the future – and of course a tremendous set of scriptures about Jesus – Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider.

I also was reminded on this trip of the scripture card I had recently touched and been strengthened by: “Cling to What is Good”… from Roman’s 12:9-12 Love in Action: Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. – YES – keep looking to the Lord and be hopeful – be patient – be faithful…

Yes – today and all days, let us be looking for the Lord and what He is doing – always be aware and awake to do His work – and especially be prepped and ready for Jesus to return – I can see Him standing (no longer sitting) – lined up at the Gate – ready for His Flight back…

Amen – and here are these scriptures:

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Isaiah 52 NKJV – God Redeems Jerusalem

Awake, awake!

Put on your strength, O Zion;

Put on your beautiful garments,

O Jerusalem, the holy city!

For the uncircumcised and the unclean

Shall no longer come to you.

Shake yourself from the dust, arise;

Sit down, O Jerusalem!

Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck,

O captive daughter of Zion!

For thus says the Lord:

“You have sold yourselves for nothing,

And you shall be redeemed without money.”

For thus says the Lord God:

“My people went down at first

Into Egypt to dwell there;

Then the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

Now therefore, what have I here,” says the Lord,

“That My people are taken away for nothing?

Those who rule over them

Make them wail,” says the Lord,

“And My name is blasphemed continually every day.

Therefore My people shall know My name;

Therefore they shall know in that day

That I am He who speaks:

‘Behold, it is I.’ ”

How beautiful upon the mountains

Are the feet of him who brings good news,

Who proclaims peace,

Who brings glad tidings of good things,

Who proclaims salvation,

Who says to Zion,

“Your God reigns!”

Your watchmen shall lift up their voices,

With their voices they shall sing together;

For they shall see eye to eye

When the Lord brings back Zion.

Break forth into joy, sing together,

You waste places of Jerusalem!

For the Lord has comforted His people,

He has redeemed Jerusalem.

The Lord has made bare His holy arm

In the eyes of all the nations;

And all the ends of the earth shall see

The salvation of our God.

Depart! Depart! Go out from there,

Touch no unclean thing;

Go out from the midst of her,

Be clean,

You who bear the vessels of the Lord.

For you shall not go out with haste,

Nor go by flight;

For the Lord will go before you,

And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

The Sin-Bearing Servant

Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently;

He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.

Just as many were astonished at you,

So His visage was marred more than any man,

And His form more than the sons of men;

So shall He sprinkle many nations.

Kings shall shut their mouths at Him;

For what had not been told them they shall see,

And what they had not heard they shall consider.

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Romans 12:1-13

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Love in Action
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.