I get by because of this prayer: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Practically a day does not pass when I am reminded of my prayerful manta: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  When I truly remember these prayerful words from Hebrews 13:8, I seem to be able to endure, persevere and even smile; with great satisfaction.  The day to day activity of my life, and dare I say yours too, can sometimes leave us far from satisfaction.  But those are the days we need to remember Hebrews 13:8 the most.  And those are the days we need to force ourselves to be still, be quiet, and listen to God talking to us and encouraging us along our daily grinds.

I am reflecting today on how quickly the traditional summer months are passing us by.  Believe me, this does not break my heart.  Summer down here is so hot and humid and can be prone to plenty of bad weather.  And summer ushers in those darn hurricanes that we all pray stay far, far away.  In fact, today is the 42nd anniversary of the killer storm Camille, which just barely missed New Orleans and slammed the Mississippi Gulf Coast with utter destruction and significant loss of life.  We continue to pray for no hurricanes but we always must keep a watchful eye, from now until late September, on those warm turbulent waters of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.

As we adjust to these late August days we realize that all the schools are in session, football is now upon us(this is so good) and maybe, just maybe we can look forward to cool weather not that far away!

While work has been challenging these past few weeks I take great refuge in faith and ministry.  Flowing from being a Deacon I am involved with class activities for both our 2012 and 2015 classes, the prison ministry at Rayburn is flourishing, I'm preparing for a baptism, a wedding, a retreat talk for our catechists this weekend and a homily for this weekend.

Some will ask me why to you love being so busy?  The answer is simple.  If I rely on the Holy Spirit; piece of cake.  If I rely on me; it just doesn't work.  And of course in prayer I keep returning to Hebrews 13:8.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  And in that promise I take great joy.  And I plough ahead.  And I can do, because I remember who I am; an ordained Deacon in God's true Church, serving as an icon of Christ the servant.

And that gives me great joy!